Umbrella Sect

The carriage moved forward slowly. As it passed the stone bridge connecting the inner and outer city, it began to snow.

The snow fell quietly. The cold wind lifted the curtain, and white snowflakes drifted in from outside.

Piece by piece, strand by strand.

Qi Yu's pupils constricted slightly.

At the edge of his vision, umbrellas were floating. Black umbrellas. Those black umbrellas were like blooming flowers of filth in a white current.

What is the world view of the game [Abandoned World]?

Gods were born in this land, yet they also fled from it, transcending the three realms to look down upon the mortal world and indulge in pleasure.

The gods' eccentricities were perhaps varied, and they held grudges against each other, but they shared one common interest: blood duels.

These duels determined not only victory or defeat but also life and death.

Blood, victory, and death brought auspiciousness and the blessings of the gods.

These blessings came in many forms and continued to accumulate with each version update.

When Qi Yu played [Abandoned World], it was already in a later version. The current era was likely before the first version.

However... he had also learned a little about the initial version. The first version did not yet have blessings. Players' combat power was determined by three factors: 1. Cultivating martial arts to break through realms; the higher the realm, the higher the lower limit of combat power. 2. Comprehending the killing moves within martial arts; the stronger the killing move, the higher the upper limit of combat power. 3. Weapons and items like poisons could provide additional combat power.

As for the later versions, there were too many stacked blessings... The difficulty and controls were also quite high.

To play with maximum enjoyment, the cheat Qi Yu used included some special functions.

He glanced at his status panel.

[Qi Yu]

[Realm: None]

[Skill Points: None]

[Combat Power: 0~1]

[Martial Arts: None]

[Blessing: None]

This panel seemed ordinary, just like any player's panel in [Abandoned World]. However, after altering the internal logic, it greatly enhanced the gaming experience.

Skill points were normally obtained through "hunting Yaos and Mos" and "sparring with martial artists." Now, it had become "touching Yaos and Mos" and "diligent cultivation."

There were two main ways to obtain blessings:

1. Believers. Cults had their own methods of bewitching people, perhaps through some secret incense or secret texts, which could make believers abandon their families and children, their eyes only on the holy sect.

2. "Various blood duels, pleasing the gods with death and victory to obtain blessings." These blessings could sometimes be quite outrageous, even capable of completely overturning the game's balance.

But... a god's blessing could be revoked at any time. Once you became powerful enough, the god would definitely revoke the blessing and bestow it upon someone else.

Of course, gods would not bestow blessings lightly, because all blessings were essentially just the gods dividing their own power.

With this blessing system, the gods maintained the vitality of this land, making it a place that revered martial virtue and produced countless strong individuals, each rising and falling like the tide, with rivers of heroes' blood flowing endlessly.

Yet, even though heroes were as numerous as carp crossing a river, none could leap over the dragon gate. Because by the time they could leap over the dragon gate, their blessings would be revoked.

But the blessing on Qi Yu's panel, even if the gods revoked it, would still leave behind a "copy."

As the saying goes, "one proof is forever proof."

Qi Yu returned home, and a servant hurried over with an umbrella to meet him.

A black umbrella.

Qi Yu asked, "With this little bit of snow, is an umbrella still necessary?"

The servant replied busily, "Master ordered it. He said the snow is cold and chilling, so it's better to use an umbrella."

Master, of course, was the third son of the Qi family, also known as Third Master, Qi Yu's father—Qi Changshun.

Qi Changshun was a middle-aged man with a scholarly air, refined and elegant, with jet-black hair. However, there was a noticeable sickly pallor to his complexion. In his youth, he was chivalrous and righteous, fond of martial arts, and had even made a name for himself. Otherwise, he wouldn't have become sworn brothers with Song Qinghong, the "Spirit Serpent Vajra." But... after suffering a severe injury, the old wounds from his youthful recklessness and chivalry erupted, leaving Qi Changshun powerless and an ordinary person.

When Qi Yu saw his father, the following numbers floated above his head: 0~1 (50~100).

"50~100" represented his former seventh-rank strength, while "0~1" was his current state.

Qi Changshun was in the reception hall.

His eldest uncle, Qi Changfu, the eldest son of the Qi family, was also there.

Compared to his father, Qi Changfu was much sturdier. His padded jacket was puffed out, and he sat upright, exuding an imposing aura. He was an eighth-rank Bloodburst Realm martial artist in the clan. However... his martial arts practice was solely for strengthening his body, not for combat. Naturally, he hadn't researched killing moves much, hence the numbers above his head: 12~20.

Opposite the two was a guest.

A middle-aged guest.

He wore a red padded jacket, his short hair neatly combed, seemingly with pomade. His eyes were quite deep, but he wore a smile on his face. The numbers above his head were strange: 10~70, with a significant gap between the lower and upper limits.

His father saw him walk past the doorway and called out, "Yu'er, come here!"

Speaking, he smiled at the short-haired man in red and said, "Master Chen, this is my son."

Immediately, he said to Qi Yu, who was approaching, "Yu'er, this is Master Chen from the Holy Umbrella Sect. You should call him Uncle."

Qi Yu's pupils contracted slightly. He didn't know when his family had gotten involved with the Umbrella Sect. This was not a good thing. If this really was the [Abandoned World], then sects wouldn't exist in a good way; the only difference would be how insane they had become.

Master Chen watched him with a smile.

Qi Changshun chuckled, "The child is introverted. Didn't he donate a large mansion for one of your sect's followers just the other day, only to receive a sachet in return?"

Beside him, his elder brother Qi Changfu added, "He's been introverted since he was little and not good with words."

Master Chen continued to smile, observing. The smile and his gaze made Qi Yu very uncomfortable. After a long while... Master Chen finally said with a mask-like smile, "This child is blessed, he's just been suppressed."

Qi Changshun smiled, "Then please, Master Chen, offer some guidance."

Master Chen said, "He needs to wear red."

Qi Changshun nodded thoughtfully, then waved his hand and said, "Go play."

In his eyes, his son was a playboy, but playboys had their advantages. He had never seen a prominent family brought down by a playboy.

The Qi family's fortune could withstand his play.

Qi Yu left the room.

What was this about being blessed and suppressed? Needing to wear red to break free?

Bullshit.

This was a test of obedience.

He had considered that the Umbrella Sect could enter Mount Wei City, and that they must have the support of prominent families within the city. But he had never imagined... that this prominent family could be his own Qi family.

No wonder no one said anything when he donated a mansion.

He didn't know if his father would actually buy him red clothes, but he knew... he had to hurry and become stronger.

Qi Yu arrived at his own small courtyard.

In the courtyard, his personal maid, A Bi, with her sharp eyes, spotted him and hurried to greet him. Upon seeing his swollen and red fists, her eyes instantly filled with heartache. She then quietly turned and began to heat water.

A Bi had been bought into the mansion when she was seven or eight. Because she had a delicate and pretty appearance, she was assigned to serve the young master.

Over the years, she had studied and written with Qi Yu, and played with him, accompanying him through countless moments.

When Qi Yu reached his teenage years and began to experience budding romance, it was also she who, in a gentle and considerate manner, guided the young master to understand romantic love between men and women, helping him gradually shed his youthful awkwardness.

A moment later, the water was boiling.

Inside the inner room, behind the screen, a medicinal pack for invigorating blood slowly dissolved into the warm water, and an aroma that seemed to heat the blood essence permeated the air.

Steam rose in wisps, and fine medicinal powder floated gently.

The charcoal stove in the quiet room burned Beast Gold Charcoal, emitting a hint of pine fragrance.

A Bi lightly lifted her fair wrist, reached out to stir the water's surface, then tilted her head slightly and said in a soft, sweet voice, "Young Master, it's ready."

After saying "it's ready," she quickly walked out to help Qi Yu change and bathe.

Qi Yu let her small hands skillfully undress him, his gaze sweeping lightly over her.

Although A Bi was not a beauty of unparalleled allure, her gentle and considerate demeanor was comforting. With such a maid, why would he need to seek out women elsewhere?

From this day forward, he would dedicate all his thoughts and energy to practicing martial arts.