Divine Illumination Scripture Acquired!

Wang Xuan's words—"You won't die"—were like a spark that ignited the greed lurking within the deathly silent crowd.

No one knew who first let out a hoarse roar, shattering the suffocating silence.

"He's injured! His chest is still bleeding—he can't hold on for long!"

"Blood Blade Ancestor stabbed him deep! Brothers, charge! Seize Ding Dian, take the Divine Illumination Scripture, and riches are right before our eyes!"

"Strike while he's down and finish him! Eight hundred taels of gold, Mid-Grade Martial Arts—if we miss this chance, there won't be another!"

The Martial Artists who had just been terrified out of their wits by Wang Xuan caught sight of the gruesome bloody hole in his chest and his bloodless face. In an instant, greed overwhelmed their fear.

No one knew who took the lead, but dozens of men charged forward again with reddened eyes and roaring voices, weapons raised. Nothing remained in their eyes but the madness of plunder.

Ding Dian's expression changed drastically. He clenched his fists and was about to rush forward to help, only for Wang Xuan to shove him harshly behind himself.

"Stay back. Don't get in the way." Wang Xuan's voice was hoarse yet icy, devoid of any unnecessary emotion. Though the wound in his chest still throbbed faintly, the killing intent in his eyes did not lessen in the slightest.

In the blink of an eye, two skilled Martial Artists at the front had already reached him. One wielded a pair of Judge's Pens, their cold gleam flashing as they stabbed straight for Wang Xuan's eyes. The other swung a Ghost-Head Blade with tremendous force, slashing at the wound in his waist, clearly intending to take the chance to grievously injure him.

Wang Xuan's gaze sharpened, and his killing intent surged. Though severely wounded, dealing with such insignificant pests was still effortless. The Wild Goose Movement Technique abruptly activated beneath his feet, and he slid half a step aside like a ghost, perfectly evading both the Judge's Pens and the Ghost-Head Blade. His movements flowed as smoothly as clouds and water, without the slightest hesitation.

Before the two could react, Wang Xuan gripped the newly drawn Blood Blade in his right hand and slashed backward in a horizontal arc without even shifting his gaze. The man with the Judge's Pens only saw a flash of blood before an icy chill pierced his neck. The next second, he watched helplessly as his headless body continued charging forward before crashing to the ground.

Thud!

The head hit the ground, and blood sprayed out, staining the bluestone slabs beneath their feet red.

The other man was frightened out of his wits. How could he dare keep fighting? He turned and tried to flee.

How could Wang Xuan give him the chance? He spread the five fingers of his left hand and unleashed the overwhelming palm force of the Great Monument-Breaking Hand without a trace of hesitation.

The man took the blow squarely in the back and flew seven or eight zhang away like a broken sack. He slammed heavily into the brick wall of the Death Prison with a dull boom, then slid limply to the ground. A large portion of his chest had caved in, and his breath stopped instantly. He was dead beyond doubt.

The scene fell into deathly silence once more.

Wang Xuan held the dripping Blood Blade as his cold gaze swept over those who still looked restless. His tone was calm, yet carried bone-piercing pressure. "Who else wants to try?"

His voice was not loud, and it even carried a hint of hoarseness. Yet paired with the unhealed wound on his chest, the blood-dripping Demonic Blade in his hand, and the two fresh corpses on the ground, his intimidation was instantly at its peak.

The crowd that had just been shouting for blood immediately wilted. One after another, they shrank their necks and backed away. No one dared step forward again. With absolute strength, Wang Xuan suppressed every hint of a counterattack.

Wang Xuan wasted no more words. He turned and strode to Blood Blade Ancestor's corpse. The old devil was already thoroughly dead, his skull crushed in, red and white matter congealed upon his monk's robe.

He crouched and quickly searched through the bright yellow monk's robe. Soon, he felt a hard object and pulled it out. It was a yellowed thread-bound booklet, with three savage characters written in cinnabar across the cover: Blood Blade Scripture.

"Move!" Wang Xuan grabbed Ding Dian by the wrist and barked in a low voice. The Water-Skipping Technique burst forth at full strength beneath his feet, and he shot away like a wisp of smoke toward the west side of the Prefecture Office, where he had previously hidden Ling Shuanghua.

The two vanished into the maze-like streets and alleys in an instant, leaving behind only devastation and a group of terrified, bewildered Martial Artists and Players.

Outside Jingzhou City, Ten-Mile Slope.

The battle here was many times more brutal than the one at the Death Prison within the city.

The slope, above and below, was packed densely with people—or rather, densely packed with corpses, along with survivors clinging to life and wailing in agony upon the ground. Blood had dyed the yellow earth a dark red, while an unbearably thick stench of blood hung in the air.

Severed limbs were scattered everywhere, and broken sabers, spears, swords, and halberds stood embedded in piles of corpses like a grotesque dead forest.

Most of the corpses wore the Uniforms of government soldiers, while even more were Players clad in mismatched clothing. Many were missing arms or legs, sprawled in pools of blood and crying out in agony, their eyes filled with terror and numbness.

"It hurts so much... I can't take it anymore. Brother, give me a stab and let me leave the Plot World!" One Player had a gash torn open across his abdomen, his intestines spilling out. Pale as paper and trembling from blood loss, his voice was so weak it was nearly inaudible.

Beside him, a Player searching corpses for valuables had blood smeared across his face and a numb expression. He casually picked up a wooden spear and expressionlessly drove it into the other man's throat. After a muffled sound, the wailing Player instantly stopped breathing, while he did not even change expression as he continued searching the next corpse.

At the top of the slope stood two men. One wore an embroidered robe and had a stern face—it was Yu Qingtian. The other wore white, his aura as deep and still as an abyss—it was Shen Chenzhou.

Both stood with their hands behind their backs, coldly overlooking the battlefield of corpses and blood below. Their faces showed not the slightest ripple, as if the slaughter before them was nothing more than ants fighting.

"Brother Shen, after this battle, we're short on expendable manpower," Yu Qingtian said blandly, with no trace of pity in his voice, only the calm indifference of someone whose tools had been used up.

Shen Chenzhou's lips curled into a cold arc as he replied, "Then recruit more. Outside the Heavens Tower, they wouldn't even qualify to be expendables. Here, being able to trade their lives for a trifling profit is already their good fortune."

Two hours earlier, more than ten thousand Players had assembled beneath Ten-Mile Slope. Most had signed Servant Contracts and been bought by the Royal Clan with a little Basic Martial Arts and silver, charging wave after wave like a tide against the several thousand government soldiers brought by Ling Tuisi.

The soldiers could initially hold formation and resist, but the Players feared no death. They rushed forward one after another, trampling over their companions' corpses as they charged. For Players, death merely meant leaving the Plot World. But when government soldiers died, their souls truly returned to the Yellow Springs.

The outcome of such a one-sided battle had long been decided. After over half the soldiers were slaughtered, they completely collapsed and scattered in every direction. Yet they soon discovered that Players had already surrounded them from all sides, leaving them with no chance of escape.

In the end, several thousand government soldiers were all slaughtered without a single survivor. Ling Tuisi, meanwhile, was dragged before Shen Chenzhou and Yu Qingtian like a dead dog by several minor Player leaders.

The once imposing Prefect of Jingzhou now had a crooked official hat, a torn official robe, and a bruised, battered face. He looked utterly disheveled, without the slightest bearing of an imperial official.

His knees gave out, and he dropped to the ground, kowtowing frantically as his voice trembled. "Two heroes! Spare my life! I have money, and I know the secret of the treasure—the Secret of the Linked Cities! I'll tell you everything, as long as you spare me!"

This Coffin-Nailing Prefect, who cherished wealth as his life and was cunning and vicious by nature, had long been frightened out of his wits by the dangers of the battlefield. At this moment of life and death, he abandoned the Secret of the Linked Cities, which he treasured most, without hesitation, all for a chance to survive.

Shen Chenzhou did not even raise an eyelid as he coldly ordered the Player leader beside him, "He has wasted too much of our time. If not for this old dog, we would have completed the Main Quest long ago. Drag him away and flay him."

"Yes, Guild Leader!" The Player leader answered and stepped forward, hauling the limp Ling Tuisi down the slope.

Ling Tuisi rolled his eyes back and fainted from terror. But to the Players carrying out their orders, even fainting took time. They dragged him away like a dead dog.

Yu Qingtian finally turned to look toward Jingzhou City, his eyes as cold and sinister as ice. "Word came from the city. That 'Skull-Crushing Hand,' Wang Xuan, killed Blood Blade Ancestor and rescued Ding Dian."

Shen Chenzhou raised an eyebrow, rare surprise entering his tone. "Oh? He has some skill, then. Blood Blade Ancestor was an old devil at the Post-Heaven Eighth Layer. His martial arts were not weak."

"The Royal Clan's dignity shall not be profaned." Yu Qingtian's voice was icy and brooked no argument. "Gather the men and enter the city at once."

Shen Chenzhou neither agreed nor objected, saying blandly, "It doesn't matter. He won't be able to run far for the moment." To them, neither the treasure nor the Divine Arts mattered much. Once they returned to Origin Earth Star, they could have as much as they wanted. What they truly cared about was completing the Main Quest and securing the Final Rating.

Within Jingzhou City, in a secluded, abandoned courtyard.

Wang Xuan led Ding Dian lightly over the low wall and landed in the weed-choked yard. There was only one dilapidated tile-roofed house inside. Wang Xuan walked straight over and pushed open the creaking wooden door.

Inside, Ling Shuanghua still lay unconscious upon a crude wooden bed.

The moment Ding Dian entered, his eyes locked tightly onto her. He rushed to the bed in a few strides, his hands trembling as he wanted to touch her cheek but feared disturbing her. His movements were hesitant and careful.

"Shuanghua... Shuanghua!" His voice was hoarse, and he could not hide the sobbing in it.

Perhaps she had heard the familiar call. Ling Shuanghua's long lashes fluttered lightly, and she slowly opened her eyes.

When she saw the weathered face she had longed for day and night, tears instantly filled her eyes and slid down her cheeks.

"Brother Ding... is it really you?" Her voice was weak, yet brimming with disbelieving joy.

"It's me, Shuanghua, it's me!" Ding Dian tightly clasped her hand. This unyielding man, who had endured every torture in the Death Prison and refused to yield even unto death, now could not stop his tears from falling. "You're all right... That's wonderful. As long as you're all right..."

Wang Xuan leaned against the doorframe, coldly watching their tender reunion without the slightest expression on his face. Only after their emotions settled somewhat did he speak, his tone direct and decisive. "I helped you rescue her. Now it's time for you to fulfill your promise."

Ding Dian's body stiffened. He gently patted Ling Shuanghua's hand to reassure her, then turned to Wang Xuan. His expression was complicated—gratitude, vigilance, and a trace of indescribable helplessness all mingled in his eyes.

"Brother Wang, words cannot express my gratitude." Ding Dian cupped his fists in salute, his tone solemn. "But if you want the Divine Illumination Scripture, I must know what you intend to do with it."

Wang Xuan answered bluntly, without concealing anything. "Become stronger. Stay alive. Kill those who deserve to die."

Ding Dian stared at him intently, his tone serious. "The Divine Illumination Scripture is an orthodox inner cultivation method of the Arcane Gate. Sitting in Divine Illumination, once mastered, its inner force becomes inexhaustible, and it can even revive the dead. I will never let it fall into the hands of someone with an evil heart and bring disaster upon the Jianghu."

Wang Xuan sneered, his smile cold and mocking. "Hero Ding, do you think today's Jianghu still distinguishes between good and evil? The Four Wonders of the South chase empty fame, Ling Tuisi is venomous as a scorpion, and Blood Blade Ancestor murdered people like flies. Those so-called 'heroes' outside will draw their blades against complete strangers for gold, silver, and martial arts." He pointed at the scar on his chest, his tone sharp. "This is the Jianghu you speak of. With the Divine Illumination Scripture in your hands, you couldn't even protect yourself or the woman you love. Give it to me. At the very least, I can guarantee that while I'm alive, the two of you can remain together."

His words were exceptionally harsh, but every one of them struck at the heart. They were all true.

Wang Xuan had seized Ding Dian in full view of everyone. No matter what, the entire Jianghu would believe that both the Divine Illumination Scripture and the Secret of the Linked Cities were in his possession.

Ding Dian fell silent. He recalled the torture within the Death Prison, the suffering Ling Shuanghua had endured over the years, and the greedy faces of those Martial Artists just now. The struggle within his heart gradually faded.

The young man before him was ruthless and decisive in killing, yet he kept his word. He had saved Ding Dian and Shuanghua. Furthermore, Ding Dian had witnessed Wang Xuan's strength when he killed Blood Blade Ancestor. Ding Dian himself was still seriously wounded. If Wang Xuan chose to use force, he had no power to resist.

After weighing the pros and cons, Ding Dian took a deep breath, as if making the decision of his life. "Fine! I, Ding Dian, keep my word. You rescued Shuanghua and me from our predicament, so I will teach you the Divine Illumination Scripture's mnemonic!"

He walked before Wang Xuan, lowered his voice, and clearly recited the introductory mental method, circulation route, and key acupoints of the Divine Illumination Scripture, word by word.

Wang Xuan listened with complete focus and silently memorized it. As Ding Dian explained, many of his doubts regarding inner cultivation were suddenly resolved. The Divine Illumination Scripture truly lived up to its reputation.

"The Dao bore One; One bore Two. Divine Illumination begins: sit in divine illumination, embrace the origin and guard the One. Gather Xiantian pure qi and draw it into the violet palace of the dantian. Circulate it through the Ren and Du meridians, pass through Baihui, connect to Yongquan, guide pure qi to nourish the organs, transform primal qi to strengthen sinews and bones, let qi and meridians interlink, and unite spirit and qi as one."

The mnemonic was not long, yet every word was profound, containing the mysteries of Daoist teachings. After reciting the final line, Ding Dian solemnly added, "I have already taught you the mnemonic. As for... the Secret of the Linked Cities, I might as well give it to you as well."

The Secret of the Linked Cities was not a martial arts manual. Though Iron-Boned Ink Crocodile Mei Niansheng possessed a Tang Poetry Sword Technique, it was actually utter nonsense. He taught it to three disciples, yet none achieved anything with it. Its secret was merely that, when matched with passages from [Selected Tang Poetry], it produced a series of numerical codes such as four, fifty-one, thirty-three, and twenty-eight, ultimately leading to: west of Jiangling City, the Buddha statue in Tianning Temple's main hall; worship it devoutly, offer a spiritual prayer, receive the Buddha's blessing, and attain rebirth in ultimate bliss!

That was all the information there was.

[Side Quest: Secret of the Linked Cities Treasure completed]

[Congratulations, Player. You have obtained the Secret of the Linked Cities. You must carry [Selected Tang Poetry] to Tianning Temple in order to open the treasure!]

[Congratulations, your completion rating has increased!]

[Side Quest: Peerless Divine Arts Divine Illumination Art]

[Congratulations, Player. You rescued Ding Dian and obtained the Divine Illumination Art.]

[Congratulations, your completion rating has increased!]

[Congratulations, Player. You have completed the first stage of the Main Quest 'Ascent to the Martial Peak': Jianghu Strife!]

[Congratulations, your completion rating has increased!]

[World Announcement: The Main Quest 'Ascent to the Martial Peak' has entered its second stage: Dominate the Martial World]

[The Reputation System encountered an error, &# ... The quest completion method has now been changed. The first to step into Xiantian will complete all Main Quests. The Plot World will end in one month!]

A string of notifications and World Announcements echoed in Wang Xuan's mind, nearly overwhelming him. After opening the System Panel and sorting through the information, he finally understood. Previously, the Treasure of Emperor Liang Yuan within Tianning Temple required completing the Side Quest and obtaining both the crucial "Secret of the Linked Cities" and "Selected Tang Poetry" before it could be opened. Now that he had completed this Side Quest, the right to open it was directly locked to him. That meant that unless he went there himself, even if every Player lived in Tianning Temple, they would not find the slightest trace of the treasure.

As for the Reputation System failing to activate, he instead considered it a good thing. With the Divine Illumination Art in hand, he could use One-Click Max immediately, then swiftly clear this Plot World and avoid a great deal of trouble.

After coming back to his senses, Wang Xuan did not exchange any further pleasantries. He walked to the window, glanced at the darkening sky outside, and spoke gravely. "We can't stay here long. Ling Tuisi is probably unable to protect himself now, but too many people in the city are looking for you. Find somewhere safe to hide as soon as possible. I'll draw their attention away."

With that, he did not linger. His figure flashed, and he left the broken house, vanishing into the night and leaving behind only a swift afterimage.

Inside, Ding Dian and Ling Shuanghua held each other tightly. The joy of surviving disaster intertwined with their confusion about the future, filling the rundown tile-roofed house.

Carrying the Blood Blade Scripture and the Divine Illumination Scripture's mnemonic, Wang Xuan slipped swiftly into the labyrinthine streets of Jingzhou City like he held two blazing fires capable of stirring the entire Jianghu. In the next moment, he would kill his way straight through the competition.