The Lion King's Test

The Lion King's Test

At that moment, an impatient player had already rushed onto the wooden platform ahead of everyone else. Then, everyone saw him vanish from reality the instant he set foot on the arena.

Ye Weiming lowered his voice. "This is an instance dungeon."

Yin Bukui nodded slightly. "There are at least eighty, if not a hundred, players here. If they challenged him one by one, how long would that take? Of course it makes more sense to design it as an instance."

As the two spoke, Xuan Xiaobi stepped onto the arena from the side. As his teammates, Ye Weiming and Yin Bukui were pulled into the instance along with him.

After receiving the notification that they had entered the instance, Yin Bukui could not help complaining, "Xiaobi, you were too impulsive."

Xuan Xiaobi explained dismissively, "We had to challenge him anyway. The sooner we finish, the sooner we're done."

Yin Bukui was speechless. "Even if we were going to challenge him, we should at least have observed the situation first."

Xuan Xiaobi retorted as if it were only natural, "Didn't you two say it was an instance? Who were we supposed to observe?"

Xuan Xiaobi's self-righteous reply left Yin Bukui thoroughly exhausted.

After exchanging a few barbs, the three began to inspect the instance.

The scene inside was actually no different from outside. The only difference was that, aside from the three of them, the only person present was Xie Xun, standing at the center of the wooden platform with the Dragon Slaying Saber in hand. Everyone else had vanished.

"Finished talking?" Xie Xun said to the three in a lofty tone. "If you are, then I'll explain the rules for challenging me. I'll only say this once, so listen carefully..."

As Xie Xun explained, the three gradually grasped the rules of the instance.

First, Xie Xun said he would not take advantage of players. They could freely choose the contest, while he would suppress his level and attributes to match theirs before accepting the challenge. However, the chosen contest had to be related to martial arts.

Second, Xie Xun said he hated evil with a passion. Therefore, members of the Sea Sand Gang, Giant Whale Gang, and Divine Fist Sect, along with players who had come with them, would receive only system-granted experience and cultivation points even if they won. But since none of Ye Weiming's group had done evil, Xie Xun would give them a martial arts manual if they won.

Team Channel...

Xuan Xiaobi: Damn, this is handing out freebies! ヾ(≧▽≦*)o

Ye Weiming: It's only a freebie if you win. ╮(╯▽╰)╭

After saying that, Ye Weiming stepped forward and cupped his fists at Xie Xun. "Senior Xie said earlier that you would suppress your level and attributes. Then what about martial arts proficiency...?"

"Haha... You're a clever one." Xie Xun burst into laughter. "The only advantage I'm giving you is the difference in levels and attributes. As for how exactly you intend to challenge me, you can figure that out yourselves."

Upon hearing that, all three cursed Xie Xun's shamelessness in the Team Channel.

Suppressing his attributes and level to match the players' seemed to offer them hope of defeating him, but the actual gap between them was still as vast as heaven and earth!

Wasn't the reason Ye Weiming had become an expert that he had trained a Low-grade "Moon Maiden Swordplay" to an extremely high level?

But what about Xie Xun?

Even conservatively speaking, he must have at least one or two intermediate martial arts at Max Level, right?

With identical attributes, Xie Xun could crush everyone on skill alone!

"Look on the bright side." Ye Weiming shook his head gently. "With Senior Xie yielding to us in level and attributes, we still only have a slim chance of survival. Otherwise, there would be no chance at all. Who's going first?"

"I will!"

As he spoke, Xuan Xiaobi stepped forward and drew out his Judge's Brush. "I want to compete with Senior Xie in calligraphy." Without waiting for Xie Xun's reply, he circulated his inner power and began writing upon the wooden boards beneath his feet.

Supreme in the martial world, the Dragon Slaying Saber;

Commanding all under heaven, none dare disobey;

Before the Heaven Reliant Sword appears, who can contend?

The twelve characters flowed from his brush like dragons and serpents, with the strength of Iron Painting, Silver Hook. No wonder Zhang Cuishan had taken him as a personal disciple.

Even Ye Weiming, who knew little about calligraphy, could not help praising quietly, "Xiaobi's handwriting is really good."

"Of course." Yin Bukui explained, "Before immigrating, Xiaobi won the provincial youth calligraphy competition. After entering the game, he also received bonuses from his calligraphy skill. What he writes now is probably already close to the standard of a modern master."

After finishing, Xuan Xiaobi looked up and smiled at Xie Xun. "This junior has made a fool of himself. I ask Senior Xie to judge it."

Xie Xun nodded and praised him sincerely. "Excellent handwriting. At such a young age, you already possess the air of a master. Truly rare!"

Then Xie Xun slapped Xuan Xiaobi into a streak of white light.

Ding! Your teammate Xuan Xiaobi has died and left the team.

While the other two stood there dumbfounded, Xie Xun said disdainfully, "I said the contest had to be limited to martial arts. What the hell does your writing have to do with martial arts?" Naturally, Xuan Xiaobi could no longer hear that explanation.

After speaking, Xie Xun looked up at the two again. "Second one. Which of you is next?"

"I'll go!" Yin Bukui spoke up again. "This junior knows no fist or kicking techniques, and has only a superficial grasp of swordsmanship. But if this junior is fortunate enough to damage even a corner of Senior's clothing..."

"Then that counts as your victory!"

Hearing their exchange, Ye Weiming's eyes immediately lit up. So the terms could be set like that!

Yin Bukui had already drawn his longsword and thrust straight at Xie Xun. Yet he used only an ordinary Wudang Sect introductory sword technique. Its level was not high now, and even if it were trained to Max Level, Xie Xun would not have taken it seriously.

In just one exchange, Xie Xun seized an opening and locked Yin Bukui's throat from behind. "Boy, with those little tricks of yours, you think you can damage even Xie's clothe—damn it!"

Just as Xie Xun was smugly preparing to declare victory and casually crush Yin Bukui's throat, Yin Bukui raised his longsword high and then fiercely drove it into his own lower abdomen.

Xie Xun realized what was happening, but with his level and attributes suppressed, his reaction was still half a beat too slow. The sword tip that pierced through Yin Bukui's abdomen left a tiny, almost imperceptible tear in Xie Xun's clothing.

"Pfft!" After pulling out the sword, more than half of Yin Bukui's health bar had vanished. But since he had not activated pain mode, he did not care in the slightest. Turning back, he said to Xie Xun with a trace of pride, "Senior Xie, thank you for yielding!"

"Good boy, ruthless enough!" Xie Xun was straightforward as well. "That move truly gave Xie quite a fright. Can you tell me what it was called?"

Yin Bukui respectfully cupped his fists. "A few days ago, I saw Third Martial Uncle crippled in all four limbs by treacherous villains. I told my master that if I ever encountered an enemy I could not defeat, I would rather perish together with him than fall into his hands. My master deeply agreed after hearing my thoughts, so he created this move, 'Heaven and Earth Together,' and taught it to this junior. This was my first time using it today, and I owe my success to Senior's mercy."

"What a Heaven and Earth Together!" Xie Xun praised. Then he asked, "What Kung Fu do you wish to learn?"

Yin Bukui's eyes shifted as he replied, "This junior is not in a hurry to claim his reward. How about we wait until Brother Ye has challenged Senior, then ask Senior for our rewards together?"

At those words, Xie Xun's gaze settled on Ye Weiming. "Boy, how do you intend to compete?"

Was it finally his turn?

Ye Weiming stepped forward and met Xie Xun's murderous gaze. "Senior is a busy man of importance. This junior would not dare delay Senior for too long. How about we settle victory and defeat in a single move?"