Hongyu was quickly bandaging herself when she saw the watermelon knife, and was puzzled:
"What kind of crappy knife is this?"
It's been a long time since I've seen Ye Xingge; I'm appreciating it now.
"Just giving it a try. Anyway, it can turn back, and a shorter length is easier to carry."
Hongyu also wanted the divine weapon, but her master hadn't given it to her. A hint of envy flickered in her eyes, and then, adopting a wise demeanor, she gave him some instructions:
"If you get this sword, you can't surpass Wu Chenglie before the end of the year, or you'll lose both of your divine weapons. So once you get back, you'll have to start 'using war to sustain war,' and time is of the essence, so you need to hurry."
Ye Xingge had vaguely heard of the effects of "using war to sustain war," but didn't know the specifics, so he inquired:
"Does this 'using war to sustain war' mean killing people everywhere?"
Hongyu quickly shook her head:
"If practicing martial arts by killing people everywhere were the only way to gain experience, how come it took Gold-Chasing Gentleman so long to reach the Third Rank? The divine weapon corresponds to its 'intent,' while greed is like 'a snake trying to swallow an elephant,' so its effect is that the greater the risk, the greater the reward..."
Ye Xingge listened attentively and quickly understood the meaning:
[ Devour Ten Thousand Powers ] is a skill that increases one's own power based on the difference in strength between the two opponents after defeating them.
Its effectiveness can be roughly divided into three levels:
The opponent is evenly matched – the improvement is equivalent to the progress of "one year" of arduous training in terms of current physical condition and skill level.
If your opponent is weaker than you – the advantage decreases with each subsequent difference; if they are 30% weaker, there is no benefit.
The opponent is stronger than oneself – the gap increases progressively, capped at two years.
This theory of improvement has no upper limit; if you kill enough people in a day, you can get into the First Rank on the same day, but in reality, it's very difficult.
As his skills improved, his opponents had to improve in tandem. Third Rank opponent could only kill Third Rank, Second Rank opponent could only kill Second Rank.
As for how many opponents need to be defeated to break into the First Rank, that can also be calculated.
Wu Chenglie is sixty-three Seven Eminent Confucian Families and his talent and skills must have been top-notch since childhood.
To surpass him in skill, he first needed to bring his physical attributes and techniques to the same level, and then use the Fate-Robbing Saber to catch up with at least forty-five years of skill.
He consistently triumphs against stronger opponents, and with the maximum reward, theoretically, killing more than twenty opponents would allow him to surpass Wu Chenglie.
However, his cultivation method and physical attributes could not compare to Wu Chenglie's, which is why the number of his disciples was at least doubled.
Secondly, with the rewards capped, the risks are bound to be enormous. Under such intensity, he was lucky to have survived three times.
Therefore, the opponent can only choose "evenly matched", and the number of kills may exceed one hundred.
But the Gold List only includes five hundred people!
In the early stages, the difference in skill level is not significant. In the Third Rank, he might jump thirty or thirty places at once, while in the Second Rank, he would slowly climb up two or three places.
Therefore, he might have to eliminate half of the Second Rank candidates to get into the First Rank!
After carefully analyzing the data, Ye Xingge frowned and wrote:
"Are you kidding me? How could I possibly take down half of the Second Rank team?"
After Hongyu finished bandaging the wound, she sat down in front of him:
"As for your physical constitution and cultivation techniques, Great Yan will find a way for you. [ Blood Courses Through the Eight Meridians ] can 'burn blood and transform it into qi,' temporarily increasing your power by 30%. This will allow you to reliably defeat stronger opponents, and killing around forty of them should be enough."
"Forty..."
Ye Xingge did a quick mental calculation:
Six months, averaging seven per month, doesn't that mean one person is killed every four days...?
So what should we do for the remaining three days?
Oh right, and there's also the little whip; three more days of nightly revelry...
Ye Xingge thought for a moment and felt that the difficulty was indeed not high, then asked:
"Is the [ Blood Courses Through the Eight Meridians ] a fight to the death?"
Hongyu picked up the watermelon knife and ran her fingers along the dark red blade:
"No. Twelve Divine Weapons are 'good weapons.' Although this sword is a weapon of greed, it is actually advising people to 'let go.'"
"The higher the return, the greater the risk. Excessive greed will inevitably lead to harm, but if you restrain your greed and know your limits, this knife will have no negative effects."
" The Blood Courses Through the Eight Meridians is not a fight to the death, but rather what drives this blade is human greed."
"You kill for power, but you can't kill those who are greedy and insatiable, so you will never stop."
"But if you're attacked passively, this method will naturally stop once you've escaped."
Similarly, if you lay down your weapon, your murderous intent will naturally dissipate.
At this point, Hongyu suddenly leaned closer, blinking her big eyes:
"Of course, if you start a fight and then give up because you can't win, it doesn't count."
"You've not 'realized' anything, you're 'afraid.' The Fate-Robbing Saber will only fuel your passion and embolden you."
"Well..."
Ye Xingge blinked, thinking that this knife actually had a Zen-like quality to it.
If we really have to compare them, the small whip is indeed better than the Fate-Robbing Saber!
Although the Filth-Severing Whip doesn't grow as fast as the Fate-Robbing Saber, it's safer, only requiring the user's kidneys to be used, not their strength.
He can hide at home and fight at his own pace, discussing the speed and moves with his opponent. He can easily take on two or three opponents at once, and even ten at once is no problem!
Even after the fight, you might get a few compliments like "That was amazing~" or "You're so awesome~", maximizing the emotional value...
But there are plenty of opponents to kill, so where can one find a high-quality Daoist partner...?
Thinking of this, Ye Xingge blinked and looked at Great Yu'er beside him.
Hongyu was studying other famous soldiers when she saw this and frowned:
Why are you looking at me like that?
Ye Xingge sat a few inches closer:
" Yu'er, did you want to kiss me last night?"
"?"
Seeing that Ye Xingge Hongyu was deliberately bringing up a sore spot, Hongyu couldn't help but gasp, causing her to puff out her cheeks and turn red in the face. She quickly suppressed her anger and frowned, saying:
"What nonsense are you talking about? I had been holding my breath for too long, and my mind was no longer clear. Besides, in an emergency, one must act expediently. If there was no other way when it came to life and death, do I look like the kind of person who would be concerned with trivial matters?"
"Tch~"
Ye Xingge made a disgusted face. "I should have known I should have pretended to be stupid. Being too honest sometimes doesn't do any good..."
"..."
Hongyu almost kissed him yesterday, so hearing this made her a little embarrassed. She pursed her lips, sat a few steps closer, and considerately helped him straighten his clothes.
"How can there be no benefit? Haven't you proven your character? As things stand, you're already qualified to be a son-in-law of the Mountains and Rivers Association... But I'm your sister-in-law, so you can't be wicked."
sister-in-law?
Seeing that Great Beauty was still trying to fool him, Ye Xingge moved a little closer:
" Yu'er, have you ever heard the proverb?"
What proverb?
"My sister-in-law is like half of my brother-in-law..."
"Half of what?"
Hongyu blinked, somewhat puzzled.
Seeing Ye Xingge Great Beauty really didn't know, Ye Xingge didn't want to make a lewd joke, so he just smiled and said:
"She's like a little darling, nothing special."
Hongyu sensed a hidden meaning in the boy's words. After making a disgusted face, she adopted the demeanor of an elder sister acting like a mother and brought over the other things:
"Since you're working in the Great Yan, the Mountains and Rivers Association can't give you anything. Use all of this as your starting capital, but don't squander it on things like buying houses or concubines..."
Upon seeing this, Ye Xingge picked up the remaining items and examined them.
The famous weapons I acquired last night, aside from the Return to Origin Cult's communication token and the Gang-Shaking Ring which weren't very valuable, included five other items, all gifts from Gold-Chasing Gentleman.
Because Gold-Chasing Gentleman never showed his face, it was difficult for outsiders to know the specific parameters of the famous soldiers he carried; they only knew the general outline.
Meanwhile, Great Beauty was studying the matter alongside them, and they could roughly determine the quality as follows:
[ Dust-Returning Robe ] - Its miraculous effect of Shadow Vanishes with the Form needs no further comment; it's top-tier.
Nurturing a renowned soldier can enhance its effectiveness. The initial effect of the Dust-Returning Robe is to weaken the enemy by 50%, which is actually not very useful.
After being nurtured to perfection, it becomes 90% invisible, with the added effect of being completely invisible when standing still. This piece, clearly nurtured to perfection by Gold-Chasing Gentleman, is priceless.
[ Water-Repelling Pearl ] -- Its effect is extremely powerful, and it is a special and irreplaceable effect.
[ Wind-Traveling Talisman ] -- After being activated by boosting Qi, it makes people run faster. Although the load is extremely heavy, even if it only lasts for half a minute, it is enough to make opponents of the same level look far behind. Whether chasing or escaping, it is a divine weapon. It also belongs to the Wood element of the Five Elements and does not occupy the slots of weapons or armor.
Moreover, this item was also Gold-Chasing Gentleman, not only increasing its speed by 70%, but also running silently.
This thing, paired with the Dust-Returning Robe, looks like a ghost; no wonder the entire martial arts world can't catch it.
As for [ Gold-Chasing Bell ], the Gold-Chasing Gentleman is not called "Guichenlang" or "Fengxinglang" already clearly indicates his status.
This item also possesses special and miraculous effects, and is a renowned economic weapon. Whether it's tomb raiding, jade gambling, treasure appraisal, or being a thief, there are a hundred ways to use it, and it can even serve as a warning and life-saving tool.
Although this item belongs to the metal element of the Five Elements and conflicts with weapons, it is still an extremely valuable treasure.
As for the final [ Gold-Melting File ], it can destroy famous weapons and break down doors and locks. Moreover, famous weapons of the Five Elements Fire are rare, making it an excellent auxiliary weapon.
After studying Gold-Chasing Gentleman's vast wealth, Ye Xingge's eyes widened in amazement:
"No wonder everyone wants to kill Gold-Chasing Gentleman. With his wealth, just the Dust-Returning Robe and the Wind-Traveling Talisman alone cost him a First Rank? Even if he manages to keep the sword, what good will it do?"
Hongyu was actually quite envious, and she shrugged slightly in response:
"Life is too short. With these things, who wouldn't want to rush headlong into the First Rank and live like an old demon for hundreds of years?"
Ye Xingge thought about it and realized it made sense.
However, wearing this set of equipment is indeed not conducive to direct combat; it's only suitable for running away. He thought for a moment and asked:
Are there any famous soldiers in the martial arts world who can carry things?
Hongyu was studying the bell when she heard the sound and nodded.
"Yes, there is the Mountains and Rivers Pouch, but it is in the hands of the Seven Eminent Confucian Families, the Three Northern Mountains, and the Reclusive Old Demon. You probably won't be able to get it in a short time."
"Oh..."
Ye Xingge thought that as long as they existed, that was fine. He then looked at the two divine weapons in his hand and asked:
"Holding two divine weapons, if you weren't wearing the Heaven-Obscuring Arm, which one Heaven-Observing Decree see?"
Hongyu briefly recalled:
According to Master, the Fate-Robbing Saber is a weapon of killing and is associated with metal. Metal and water are yin, so it will occupy the dominant position at night.
" The Filth-Severing Whip' is associated with wood, and wood and fire are yang elements, so it will occupy the dominant position during the day."
"If there are more divine weapons, then divide them equally according to the twelve two-hour periods of the day, and the divine weapons will also correspond to the twelve earthly branches."
"Oh..."
Ye Xingge understood what he meant—after he made it into the Third Rank, he could remove his wrist guards at night and use the Fate-Robbing Saber to cover his short whip, preventing the Heaven-Observing Decree from seeing it.
If one were to truly use the Dust-Returning Robe, one could go out at nightfall and steal every night...
However, since the Heaven-Obscuring Arm has to be worn every day, it's easy for the Heaven-Observing Decree suspicious over time.
Therefore, he would have better grab a " Heaven-Obscuring Armor " or something similar as soon as possible. It's perfectly normal for him to have to wear such top-tier protective gear that covers the torso.
Thinking of this, Ye Xingge looked at the many objects again, pondering the treasures he could use at any time: Wind-Traveling Talisman, Water- Water-Repelling Pearl, Gold-Melting File, Heaven-Obscuring Arm, and Ravine-Leaping Tiger.
The effect of this set is...
Break the lock and sneak in, throw a smoke bomb and take him down with a single blow. (Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Wind!)
Afterwards, covering one's buttocks can also conceal the filth...
Smoke Demon Set!
That sounds pretty domineering...
Hongyu was a little tired. Seeing Ye Xingge looking thoughtful and giving a wicked smile, she didn't know what he was thinking, so she crossed her arms, leaned against the wall, and closed her eyes to rest.
Ye Xingge was also a little sleepy, so he put his things away.
"If you're tired, take a nap. Or I can let you lean on me?"
"?"
Hongyu blinked, crossed her arms, gave a disgusted look, moved aside, and rested by herself.
Ye Xingge also mimicked a disgusted expression, then leaned against the corner of the wall and closed her eyes.
I was so exhausted that I fell asleep almost immediately.
The lower deck also quieted down.
Meanwhile, the grain transport boats, laden with gifts of birthday tribute, sailed northward under the scorching summer sun.
After traveling for an unknown period of time, several large official ships suddenly appeared on the river.
The official ships were densely packed with figures dressed in rust-green robes, and the lead ship even flew the Great Yan Dragon Flag.
Four imposing commanders stood atop the ship's deck. A woman dressed in blue and wearing a veiled hat stood at the front, gazing south through a telescope.
The entire fleet moved at incredible speed and was imposing and solemn, like heavenly soldiers and generals descending to punish the demon monkey.
As the canal boats passed by, several canal workers looked up in awe, but the imperial soldiers and generals on the official boats, with urgent missions at hand, naturally paid no attention to a small canal boat.
After passing each other, they sailed menacingly downstream towards Black Dragon Island...
It burned out or 2!