[Character Ability Upgrade Book: A classic work on the people of the Sword and Blade Demon Sealing world, this mysterious book is inscribed with ancient characters. Its text records all kinds of people born since the dawn of civilization, each with different abilities and exceptional talents. Reading it can improve the reader's corresponding abilities.]
It was a shallow, ancient book. Its writing looked old at a glance.
Mu Ye couldn't read it himself and could only glean a little from the Game System's description.
Apparently, it recorded many people from ancient times, each with different talents passed down through the generations.
They were the kinds of characters found in the game: Rangers, rogue swordsmen, Demon Sealers, and so on.
Reading it could improve the reader's abilities.
A character's innate abilities had levels, but no proficiency meter.
Presumably, abilities one was born with couldn't be ground out like secret techniques. They could only be improved through special means.
[You used an Ability Upgrade Book. Choose an ability to improve.] [Mind Eye/Demon Subduing Body]
"Demon Subduing Body."
Mu Ye chose without hesitation.
A Demon Sealer's main source of strength was this unique ability. It could undo the seals within the body, temporarily enhancing all their attributes. It also gave them a special advantage against demons.
There were rumors that this was because Demon Sealers carried Demon Blood within them.
As the official protagonist of the Sword and Blade Demon Sealing game, his origins were naturally anything but ordinary.
[Current "Demon Subduing Body" Lv. 2.] [Unlocked exclusive demon-subduing technique "Sacrificial Slash."] [Demon Subduing Body Lv. 2: Undo some of the seals within your body to temporarily enhance all your physical functions. The stronger you are, the greater the enhancement. In this state, you can use special demon-subduing techniques.] [Sacrificial Slash: A true Demon Sealer possesses the will to sacrifice himself at any moment to save the world. By consuming his own vital energy and blood, he can once again awaken the ancient, mysterious power raging within him and unleash a devastating strike against any opponent, fighting until he is on the brink of death.]
As expected of the protagonist.
Improving his abilities had unlocked an exclusive skill.
"This Sacrificial Slash looks pretty powerful..."
"It's not a secret technique..." Mu Ye found it rather interesting.
Not every character unlocked an exclusive skill upon improving their abilities. The protagonist was clearly special.
"Then let's try again..."
He reloaded his save and challenged the fighters in order, taking on five Third Grade experts in a row before facing Feng Wuque.
This time, with his Demon Subduing Body at Lv. 2, he had Feng Wuque on the back foot almost as soon as he activated it. Even though Feng Wuque fought like he'd swallowed a whole bottle of pills, he couldn't withstand a single sword or slash from the Demon Sealer in this state.
Mu Ye didn't even need to use Sacrificial Slash. His opponent was defeated before he could.
[1. Kill Feng Wuque immediately.] [2. Expose the Feng family's despicable actions in Chishui Village in front of everyone, then kill him publicly.] [3. Spare his life for now.] [4. ...]
This was interesting.
Mu Ye thought for a moment and tried option one first: kill Feng Wuque immediately.
His death instantly enraged the crowd. Mu Ye was surrounded by over a thousand Xifeng Army soldiers and five Third Grade experts. After a fierce battle, he managed to rescue Madam Shen, but only at the cost of being covered in wounds. Meanwhile, the Shen Family's reputation plummeted, and they could no longer make a place for themselves in Taiping City.
Mu Ye hadn't been surprised by that outcome.
Killing Feng Wuque in front of everyone wasn't going to convince anyone.
Option two produced a slightly different result. But with no concrete evidence, even Shen Qingchan's testimony wasn't enough—she was part of the Shen Family, after all. It still failed to convince the crowd, and the Shen Family was ostracized all the same.
With option three, sparing Feng Wuque's life, Mu Ye went on to become the head of the Taiping Martial Alliance. Everyone accepted him, and the Shen Mansion regained its reputation, making him the undisputed Young Hero of Taiping City.
But...
Just as Madam Shen had predicted, even in defeat, the Feng family wouldn't let them go easily.
Feng Wuque called out the old man, who promptly captured Mu Ye alive. He didn't harm Madam Shen, though; instead, he invited her into the Feng family's inner residence under the pretext of discussing the Taiping Martial Alliance's future.
In normal mode, even after upgrading his Demon Subduing Body, the Demon Sealer couldn't defeat the old man, whose strength was close to Fourth Grade.
Especially after fighting Feng Wuque. There was no way he could win.
"Interesting..."
Mu Ye pondered.
It seemed this was as far as the normal storyline went.
Feng Wuque had all sorts of backup plans. He wasn't half bad.
"What if I... didn't step in from the beginning?"
Mu Ye suddenly wondered.
So he tried it. At the very start, he chose to stay silent and do nothing.
This time, Shen Qingchan stepped forward.
The young woman from the Yunhai Sword Sect displayed formidable strength, challenging five Third Grade experts in a row before narrowly losing to Feng Wuque after he powered up. She fell short by just one point.
She'd run out of strength. There was nothing she could do.
In a sense, Shen Qingchan was a true local prodigy in the game, with no exaggeration or embellishment.
After Shen Qingchan's defeat, Mu Ye was given another choice: step in now or keep quiet.
Stepping in led to the same outcome as before, with little difference.
But what surprised Mu Ye was that staying silent didn't lower Madam Shen's Favorability.
It was a curious thing. Shouldn't her Favorability have dropped after he'd failed to act twice?
This time, Madam Shen chose to join the Taiping Martial Alliance and cooperate with the Feng family. She also asked that he and Shen Qingchan be allowed to leave Taiping City. Feng Wuque readily agreed, then invited Madam Shen into the Feng family's inner residence.
"..." Mu Ye.
"No way... Madam Shen really is a woman of principle..." Mu Ye's Favorability toward this leading lady rose considerably.
He hadn't expected Madam Shen to consider his interests even though he'd kept refusing to act.
Could this situation have been within Madam Shen's expectations all along?
Had she already prepared herself for it?
Mu Ye understood.
Madam Shen had probably considered every possible outcome.
After leaving the Feng family, he was presented with another choice.
[1. Return to the Feng family and take Madam Shen away.] [2. What do other people's affairs have to do with me?] [3. ...]
Mu Ye chose to go back. Feng Wuque had anticipated it and had the old man waiting in the inner courtyard. After exchanging blows, Mu Ye was surrounded by the Xifeng Army. Before he could hear what Madam Shen and the Feng family had discussed, he was defeated and killed. His last sight before dying was Madam Shen rushing out of the room, staring at him with a complicated expression...
The screen froze.
It proved that you couldn't keep wavering.
If you were going to act, you couldn't give up. If you chose not to act, then you had to see it through to the end.
Choosing one thing, then another, was nothing but fence-sitting. In games, that rarely ended well. In the end, you got nothing.
You had to stand firm in your convictions!
"I've got the general picture now..."
Mu Ye thought it through, reloaded, and returned to the game screen.
"Come on, True Mode. One life, one clear!"
Feng Mansion was crowded with guests.
The Demon Sealer wore a martial outfit and a gauze mask bearing the emblem of a Demon Sealer. Only his deep, icy eyes showed, yet he still drew the attention of countless guests.
"You've learned about the five Third Grade experts, right?" Madam Shen had already taken her seat near the front.
Mu Ye gave a slight nod.
"One of them is neutral: Chen Tianshang, who has the Hundred Artifacts Villa backing him. He isn't afraid of the Feng family." Madam Shen's voice was pleasant as she spoke seriously, seemingly reminding him. "The others are all formidable opponents. I don't know what Feng Wuque intends to do, but the outcome is obvious..."
"I can beat them," Shen Qingchan said, brimming with confidence and energy.
"Even if you can, you'll still fall into Feng Wuque's trap in the end..." Madam Shen shot her a look, her words carrying a deeper meaning. "Only step in if you think it's appropriate. Your life matters most."
Shen Qingchan snorted.
Before long, Feng Wuque made his entrance. He really was handsome, with sword-straight brows and bright eyes. He also carried a soldier's upright bearing. Yet, dressed in a white robe, he had an unmistakable air of carefree elegance.
At first glance, he made a very good impression.
After a brief speech, the dishes were served and the banquet began.
Having already sampled the delicacies at the Shen Mansion, Mu Ye wasn't impressed by the Feng family's feast.
Once everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, Feng Wuque walked to the raised platform at the front. His voice rang out like a bell.
The guests knew the real business was about to begin.
"Here it comes." Madam Shen glanced at the Demon Sealer beside her, her expression calm as still water.
The Demon Sealer nodded slightly.
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