I wanted to see just what level Guo Se Tian Xiang was.
A figure swayed gracefully toward him. Mu Ye stared without blinking. She was just a game character—what kind of modeled face hadn't he seen before?
Yet when she stepped out, Mu Ye's breath caught.
The figure wore hemp mourning clothes and a white headband as she came forward with measured steps. She was full-figured, her generous curves impossible to conceal beneath the loose mourning robe. Tall and graceful, she moved with delicate, lotus-like steps, carrying an otherworldly air, like a goddess descended to the mortal realm. And her face was even more exquisite, every feature seemingly sketched straight from a painting.
Dressed in mourning, her bright, peach-blossom eyes held a trace of gloom, blending her bewitching charm with a hint of confusion and sorrow...
Mu Ye was captivated for a moment, but soon came back to himself.
The other guests, however, were completely dumbstruck. It was as if they had never seen such a heavenly beauty before; they couldn't tear themselves away.
As for Mu Ye, he hadn't snapped out of it because he was used to beautiful women. If not for the notification, he felt he could have kept looking for a while. There was no helping it: Madam Shen really was beautiful. Especially in that plain mourning robe, paired with such a face, the longer he looked, the more he felt the forbidden clash between the two.
But...
[Madam Shen is dead. Mission failed.]
"?" Mu Ye.
Mu Ye was confused. Wasn't she standing right in front of him, perfectly fine?
How could she be dead?
The next instant, Mu Ye's heart jolted. He immediately activated Mind Eye.
The surroundings turned black and white, and only unusual auras continued to flow.
The 'Madam Shen' before him was wreathed in a surging pink Demonic Aura.
"It's a demon!" Mu Ye was startled.
Was this Madam Shen a fake? Not a True Person?
At the same time.
[1. Fox demon, take my blade!]
[2. Watch and wait for a good opportunity.]
Mu Ye calmed down and thought it over.
If he attacked now, with so many guests and servants around, the fox demon could use Madam Shen's identity to send them swarming at him. He might not even get the chance to touch the demon before he was done for.
"I'll wait a little. Once this fox demon slips up and reveals its true form, that'll be enough."
Madam Shen was already dead. To clear the level now, he at least had to make sure more people in the Shen Mansion survived. That would give him a better clear rating, too.
After a long wait, Madam Shen, just as expected, first gave a sorrowful speech, then announced that the banquet was beginning.
The instant the banquet began, Madam Shen transformed into a man-high Man-Eating Demon Fox and lunged at the guests, who had been eating their fill.
In an instant, terror and screams swept through the entire banquet. Though some guests were fairly capable, they had almost no strength to fight against the aura radiating from the demon.
The people from Divine Fist Martial Hall were there, for example, but only two or three representatives had come.
"It's time to act."
Seeing this, Mu Ye activated Demon Subduing Body without hesitation and strode like a shooting star to the Man-Eating Demon Fox.
The fox demon froze, apparently not expecting anyone to come straight to their death. It let out a vicious, rasping laugh.
The shrill sound was painfully piercing.
The next second, Mu Ye drew the long saber at his waist in a flash.
Mu Ye wasn't familiar with sabers and had barely even used one, but now it felt as if he had handled one countless times.
Of course, that was because the Demon Sealer character's own experience had made him quite proficient with blades.
With practiced ease, he cut open his palm, then traced strange markings across his face with the blood, entering the Demon Sealing Body state.
"Golden Blade Art."
Then Mu Ye's heart stirred. He formed a hand seal and gently brushed the long saber.
In an instant, the saber shone with golden light, as if enchanted.
Holding the saber, Mu Ye leaped into the air, his body a streak of crimson light. He brought the blade down on the Man-Eating Demon Fox before him.
This time, the saber cut through the demon like a knife through tofu. Bathed in golden light, it tore through the fox demon's body in an instant. Every guest present was dumbfounded.
The Little Maid, who had been so terrified that she had accompanied 'Madam Shen' outside, collapsed to the ground and stammered:
"Y-you... you... you..."
Mu Ye glanced at her. He knew he had cleared the level, though it was a pity Madam Shen was gone.
Looking at the guests around him, Mu Ye sheathed his saber and leaped up to the roof. The scene gradually faded to black.
[You have slain the Man-Eating Demon Fox. Tutorial cleared.]
[Completion: 78%]
[Rating: B+.]
[People saved in the Shen Mansion: 56/230.]
[Achievement "Legacy of Wei Wu": Not achieved.]
[Reward: 100 Paradise Coins, Character First-Clear Treasure Chest x1]
[First clear in True Mode. Game Paradise Mall unlocked.]
[Player has been playing for too long. Game Paradise anti-addiction measures activated. Forced logout. Please get sufficient rest before playing again.]
"..." Mu Ye.
This clear had obviously been easier and more relaxed than the last.
Especially after he used Golden Blade Art, he had killed the Man-Eating Demon Fox in a single blow.
This indirectly showed that Golden Blade Art was quite effective in Sword and Blade Demon Sealing. Although in the cultivation world, it was only the lowest-level Gold Element Spell. Of course, that was also thanks to the original body's years of using the art to mine, which had raised its proficiency quite high.
"I cleared it, but... something feels off."
His rating had gone up.
"Wait, why did only a little over fifty people survive?" Mu Ye found it strange.
He had killed the Man-Eating Demon Fox almost the moment it appeared.
There had been so many guests there. Almost none of them should have died. So how had only a little over fifty survived?
"Whatever. I'll come back next time. What's this Character Ability Treasure Chest?"
Mu Ye pondered, then decided to open it and take a look.
He couldn't enter the game, but the game interface was still there. Only the icon in the bottom-right corner of Sword and Blade Demon Sealing was locked, meaning he couldn't enter.
[Character First-Clear Treasure Chest: A treasure chest awarded for clearing True Mode with the current character. Requires a Key of Reality to open. Opening it will synchronize the character with the player, granting the character's abilities.]
[Use the Key of Reality to open?]
"Gain a character's abilities?"
Mu Ye's heart gave a leap. Could that be real?
Could playing a game really do that?
If he cleared the game as a Demon Sealer and gained their abilities, would he get Mind Eye and Demon Subduing Body?
What if he cleared it as a Brothel Patron...
But where could he get a Key of Reality?
Mu Ye discovered that clicking on the treasure chest showed where to get the required item.
[Key of Reality: A mysterious key that unlocks the Gate of Reality. Can be obtained by meeting certain conditions or completing special missions in game stages. The Paradise Mall occasionally offers a limited quantity for sale.]
Come to think of it, Mu Ye hadn't taken a close look at these rewards yet, such as Paradise Coins.
[Paradise Coin: A rare game currency that can unlock exclusive characters, revive saves, make purchases, and much more. Please spend wisely. Tip: If you don't know what to use in the game, just use Paradise Coins.]
Mu Ye opened the Paradise Mall. It was completely bare, with nothing but a key that shimmered with silver light.
[Key of Reality. Redeem for 50 Paradise Coins. 2/2 available this season.]
"Limited redemption for this season? Otherwise, can you only get this thing in the game?" Mu Ye mused. Did that mean he would have to grind more games?
Whatever. He'd redeem one first and see how it went.
"Open."
[Character treasure chest opened. Obtained Demon Sealer ability: Mind Eye Lv. 1]
Before you continue