Different bonds, different effects, and different team compositions.
Although the system before his eyes carried a sense of déjà vu that felt oddly familiar to Gu Chengming—as if it were a store that might at any moment prompt him to "Reroll for cards" or "Level up his population"—it nevertheless conveyed a relatively complex system to him in a remarkably simple way, once those playful thoughts were cast aside.
Gu Chengming looked at the traits he possessed.
【Flowing Cloud Following Moon (Cloud)】【Flowing Cloud Following Moon (Moon)】【Basic Sword Technique (Mortal)】
【Sword Intent: Entanglement】
Traits related to Resonance of a Hundred Bones, Qingxin Art, All Wonders, or Zhou Rites were notably absent.
Did this mean this specific system only incorporated traits related to sword styles?
Gu Chengming stopped pondering and focused intently, beginning to scrutinize the "pieces" he owned one by one.
First to catch his eye were two traits that shared a common origin yet were distinctly different.
【Flowing Cloud Following Moon (Cloud): Clouds have no constant shape, and wind has no fixed form. Your sword paths will become ethereal and unpredictable, making them impossible to fathom (Quality: Rare)】
【Bond/Rising Clouds: Every effective Sword Stance attack you make will increase the speed of your next Sword Stance of the same type. This effect stacks. (Activated when holding Flowing Cloud Following Moon (Moon))】
【Flowing Cloud Following Moon (Moon): The moon has its cycles of fullness and waning, casting a cold light over the nine provinces. Your Sword Intent will carry the frigid power of moonlight, exposing every flaw. (Quality: Rare)】
【Bond/Lunar Eclipse: When unleashing a special Sword Stance, there is a probability of ignoring the opponent's parry to deal damage directly to the body. If 'Rising Clouds' is at ten stacks or higher, this probability doubles. (Activated when holding Flowing Cloud Following Moon (Cloud))】
Gu Chengming’s eyelids twitched.
Breaking down 【Flowing Cloud Following Moon】, he saw that one was "Cloud," which boosted attack speed, and the other was "Moon," which focused on armor penetration and true damage.
If both were gathered and the bond activated, he would possess an incredibly high and ever-increasing attack speed, interspersed with sword attacks that had a high probability of bypassing defenses entirely.
"The guardian sword style of the Cloud Moon Sect certainly has its merits," Gu Chengming nodded inwardly, though he soon shook his head.
While these two traits were powerful, their synergy wasn't actually perfect.
One focused on speed, the other on lethality. While they seemed complementary, they actually functioned independently, lacking an internal, logical closed-loop.
In that case, his post at the Myriad Wonders Gathering claiming this sword style had "taken the wrong path" wasn't far from the truth after all.
The Cloud Moon Sect pursued slaughter too single-mindedly, neglecting the natural transformation that should exist between cloud and moon.
However, within the "Sword Chess" system, this flaw seemed to be smoothed over by some rule, converted instead into crude and straightforward numerical bonuses.
He shook his head and turned his gaze to the third trait.
【Basic Sword Technique: The Great Dao is simple; a heavy sword needs no edge. (Quality: Common)】
【Bond/Mortal Sword: (1) The base power of all your sword techniques increases by 10% (Scaling with the number of 【Basic Sword Technique】 type traits on the field).】
【(2) Proficient: The base power of all your sword techniques increases by 25%.】
【(3) Expert: The base power of all your sword techniques increases by 50%, and normal attacks can carry an extremely faint sword light.】
【...】
【(9) Returning to Purity: Every normal swing of your sword is treated as an all-out strike.】
Looking at this trait, Gu Chengming stroked his chin.
This one was remarkably plain.
There were no flashy mechanics, just pure numerical stacking.
And according to the description, it seemed that simply learning a wider variety of basic sword techniques would increase the count for this trait, thus unlocking higher tiers of the bond?
Gu Chengming calculated silently in his heart.
This was a very stable route for progression. After all, basic sword techniques were everywhere on the first floor of the Scripture Repository and were extremely easy to acquire.
But the issue lay in... cost-effectiveness.
A person's energy was limited. Even with an automatic AFK cheat like the Huiyuan Sword Manual, learning a new basic sword style took time.
Attributes like "Base Power Increase" might be significant early on, but in the later stages, faced with high-level divine powers capable of rending heaven and earth, pure basic attack damage might not cut it.
This was a typical playstyle that either dominated the very late game or only mattered at the start.
"Could quantitative change trigger qualitative transformation? I'll keep it as a backup for now."
Gu Chengming mentally flagged this trait, and finally, his gaze fell upon the last trait, the one he cared about most.
【Sword Intent (Entanglement): Cut the water with a blade, and the water flows even more. Your Sword Intent is like threads, continuous and unending. Once it touches the body, it clings like maggots to a bone. (Quality: Epic)】
【Bond/Entanglement: All your sword techniques possessing the Entanglement attribute will be treated as a 'Sword Stance.' Each successful hit or parry against an enemy will apply one stack of 'Entangle.' Each stack reduces the enemy's agility, stacking without limit.】
【Current Activation Status: Not Activated (1/2)】
"Holy crap!"
The moment he saw the effect of this bond, Gu Chengming practically bolted upright.
It was not activated.
This was because he only had one trait for 【Sword Intent (Entanglement)】 and was missing another.
But that didn't stop him from conducting an exhilarating mental test...
The trait of 【Flowing Cloud Following Moon (Cloud)】 increased the speed of subsequent "Sword Stance" attacks. These "Sword Stances" were likely special attacks more powerful than normal sword moves, similar to Flowing Light Sword Shadow.
Normally, these attacks had long cooldowns and high costs. Even when paired with its companion Moon bond, the overall strength didn't seem overwhelming.
However, this so-called 【Entanglement】 bond...
What did "All your sword techniques possessing the Entanglement attribute will be treated as a Sword Stance" mean?
Damn you, game designer! Did you not check for broken synergies?
Cloud Surge would increase the speed of the 【Entanglement】 strikes, and the latter would stack a permanent speed debuff on the enemy.
I'm accelerating while the enemy is slowing down. By the end of it, the fight turns into a turn-based game for the enemy.
How are they even supposed to play?
Gu Chengming felt more and more that this strategy was viable.
But...
Amidst his excitement, he quickly cooled down and noticed an awkward problem.
The bond for 【Sword Intent (Entanglement)】 required two traits to activate.
Currently, he only had the one provided by the Huiyuan Sword Manual.
"In other words, I need to find another sword style with the 'Entanglement' attribute and master its basic form to complete the final piece of this team comp?"
Gu Chengming frowned slightly, searching through the sword styles he knew in his mind.
Though the Wenjian Sect had countless sword styles, most of them followed the path of ferocity and brute force, seeking to break all laws with a single strike. Styles that leaned toward control, elegance, or even the "unrelenting clinging" style were not non-existent, but they were mostly obscure and extremely difficult to practice.
"I suppose... I'll have to ask Elder Ren."
Ren Wencai was widely traveled and was the Merit Elder of the Huiyuan Gate; he ought to know a thing or two.
Having made up his mind, Gu Chengming breathed a long sigh of relief and exited the "Sword Chess" interface.
His vision returned to normal.
Night had deepened in the small courtyard, and moonlight pooled like water upon his shoulders.
Simultaneously, a line of text appeared before him.
【The Huiyuan Sword Manual has awoken from its slumber.】
【It seems a bit groggy, but it quickly remembers everything that happened. It saw the 'Sword Chess' interface it constructed for you, and it saw your recent display of deep thought, deduction, and eventual realization and excitement.】
【It is a bit nervous. It doesn't know if it did well enough, or if this new ability will truly be of help to you. It's even more afraid you might find its actions redundant.】
【Is it... is it still useful?】
【It waits for your answer with great anticipation.】
Watching these lines, Gu Chengming, as a galgame expert, immediately conjured a CG in his mind.
Considering the manual's meticulous, almost nagging care in daily life, as well as the contrast of its current shy yet mature behavior...
Gu Chengming gave a thumbs up. "You've been a massive help, Mother Huiyuan."
【!!!】
The dialogue box shook once, giving Gu Chengming the sense that the next set of options would be of an 'intimate' nature.
【The Huiyuan Sword Manual is quite embarrassed and wants to argue that it is not any kind of 'Mother.'】
【But hearing your unreserved praise and feeling the genuine joy and dependence in your heart, the words reach its lips but cannot find their way out.】
【Mo... Mother and such...】
【It only feels dizzy and even more shy than before.】
Though the title "Mother" was a bit mischievous, for a technique with a personality like the Huiyuan Sword Manual, its lethality was apparently quite significant.
The next day, morning light broke, staining the peaks of the Wenjian Sect with a pale gold hue.
Gu Chengming walked along the mountain path. His pace seemed casual, but his heart was calculating his future cultivation plans.
With the addition of the "Sword Chess" system, the way Gu Chengming viewed techniques had undergone a subtle yet fundamental shift.
If anyone else entered the Scripture Repository and saw shelves filled with techniques, they would judge them based on power, grade, and potential.
But for Gu Chengming, it was no longer about which technique was strongest; it was about whether it could trigger a bond or serve as a buffer. Even low-level techniques that others deemed worthless might contain a rare "trait" that could become the core of his entire system.
Before long, the courtyard in the back mountain of the Huiyuan Gate came into view.
Gu Chengming straightened his robes and knocked on the familiar gate.
Pushing the door open, he saw the Merit Elder half-reclined in a wicker hammock with zero decorum, holding a handful of fish food and half-heartedly feeding the spiritual fish in the pond.
Ren Wencai was surprised to see him.
"What brings you here so early in the morning?"
His tone held a hint of familiar concern:
"Is it about the Cangxian Wine Sword Art? If you can't wrap your head around it, don't worry. That old wine soak's methods have always been obscure..."
Gu Chengming bowed respectfully and sat down on a stone stool, his expression serious as he said:
"I've come today to ask you, Elder—is there any basic sword style in the sect that focuses on entanglement and trapping enemies?"
"Entanglement? Trapping?"
Ren Wencai's hand stopped momentarily before he finally lifted his eyelids, looking surprised.
"A basic sword style?"
He repeated the four words, frowning slightly.
"You're already at the first Realm, Eighth Level, and your sword cultivation has produced a lethal strike like 'Flowing Light Sword Shadow.' Why do you suddenly want to go back to find some basic sword style? Do you feel your foundation is unstable?"
"Or do you wish to gain insight through cross-study, hoping to create your own moves?" Ginger is spicier when it’s old; though he didn't guess it perfectly, he touched upon the truth. "Gathering bonds" was indeed, in a sense, building a sword system unique to himself.
"I have had some sudden insights during my recent cultivation."
Gu Chengming chose his words carefully, his tone sincere.
"I've realized that although my past moves are sharp and focus on the killing blow, if I encounter an opponent who is evenly matched or even stronger than me, I could easily fall into a disadvantage if I cannot win quickly."
"Therefore, I was thinking—could I introduce a sort of 'Entanglement' intent? Not to kill the enemy, but merely to trap and bind them, overcoming strength with softness." His words were airtight.
Ren Wencai did not answer immediately. In his seemingly cloudy eyes, a flash of complex emotion appeared.
He remembered another brilliant disciple from many years ago who also enjoyed innovating—Yuan Qing.
Back then, Yuan Qing was the same, always full of wild ideas and never content with step-by-step cultivation.
In those days, Ren Wencai had always used excuses like "trying to bite off more than one can chew" or "don't aim too high without a firm foundation" to forcefully suppress the boy's ideas, making him focus solely on the sect’s traditions.
Ren Wencai tossed the remaining fish food into the pond, drawing the fish into a frenzy and splashing the water.
A moment later, he sighed. The flicker of memory and gloom vanished, and he regained his usual gentleness.
"Forget it."
Ren Wencai shook his head, a self-deprecating smile curling at his lips.
"If you wish to learn, I won't stop you."
He pondered for a moment, his mind quickly scanning through the vast catalog of the Scripture Repository.
"A basic sword manual with an 'Entanglement' intent..."
Ren Wencai tapped his finger against the arm of the hammock, creating a rhythmic 'thump, thump.'
"Got it."
His eyes brightened as he looked at Gu Chengming. "There is a manual that might suit your needs perfectly."
"The manual is called the Monster-Trapping Sword Manual."
"Monster-Trapping Sword Manual?" Gu Chengming felt a stir in his heart; the name sounded quite simple and unassuming.
"Correct."
Ren Wencai nodded and explained:
"This sword style was not created by the ancestors of our Wenjian Sect, but originated from a special bureau in the Daqian Dynasty—the Demon-Slaying Bureau."
"The territory of Daqian is vast, and demons and ghosts are endless. The Demon-Slaying Bureau has limited manpower and cannot always send out grand cultivators to suppress them. Many times, when facing those thick-skinned and ferocious great demons, the lower-level slayers are at a disadvantage."
"To stay alive and delay the demon while waiting for reinforcements, they forged this Monster-Trapping Sword Manual through battles of life and death."
Speaking to this point, Ren Wencai casually broke off a willow branch and swept it through the air.
The willow branch didn't make a sound, yet it seemed to leave behind invisible threads in the air—flexible and enduring.
"This sword style has only three forms: Snare Foot, Body Coil, and Soul Lock. It possesses no lethality whatsoever and can barely even pierce the hide of a demon beast. However, it takes the word 'Entanglement' to the extreme, focusing on redirecting force and turning sword qi into silk to trap an opponent as if in a mire; the more they struggle, the tighter it binds."
Ren Wencai dismissed the intent from the willow branch and looked at Gu Chengming.
"If you intend to trap and entangle enemies, this is undoubtedly your best choice."
"Moreover..."
Ren Wencai paused, then added: "Though it's named for trapping monsters, its core essence is the mastery of 'Momentum.' If you can fully comprehend the Entanglement Technique within it, it will be of great benefit to your future study of the more profound paths of Sword Arrays."
Gu Chengming's eyes shone brighter as he listened.
A perfect, low-cost buffer card. Its flaws were irrelevant to him, and it was easy to pick up.
"Thank you for the guidance, Elder Ren!"
Gu Chengming stood and gave a respectful bow. "I'll head to the Scripture Repository to find this technique right away."
Watching Gu Chengming’s enthusiastic departure, Ren Wencai opened his mouth as if to caution him not to get "carried away" or to "prioritize the main techniques," but in the end, it just turned into a helpless wave of his hand.
"Go on, go on."
Ren Wencai leaned back in his hammock, watching the floating clouds above, and whispered to himself:
"It's good to be young..."
After taking his leave from Ren Wencai, Gu Chengming did not delay and went straight to the Scripture Repository.
Inside the first floor, the scent of books mixed with a faint aroma of sandalwood. Gu Chengming navigated past the popular areas where the high-demand techniques were placed, heading directly toward the dust-covered shelves in the corner.
The Monster-Trapping Sword Manual was by no means a popular item.
In the Wenjian Sect, which worshiped "one sword breaking all laws" and the pursuit of ultimate lethality, this sort of frustrating sword style used only for "delaying for time" and "waiting to be saved" naturally received zero interest.
Gu Chengming searched in the corner for a long time before finally pulling the thin pamphlet from between two miscellaneous books on how to cook demon beast meat.
The cover was yellowed, and the corners were curled, clearly untouched for years.
Gu Chengming gently brushed away the dust and opened the first page.
There were no grand words at the start, only a simple line of small text: "The strength of a demon is not something human force can match. If you encounter a great demon, use your body as bait and your sword as a cage. Entangle it, coil it, trap it. To live is to win."
The opening outline was concise, devoid of any metaphysical theory, consisting entirely of practical combat experience.
Gu Chengming skimmed through it and became more satisfied with every page.
This sword style required no deep pool of spiritual power, nor did it require an understanding of the Great Dao. All it required was timing and a fine mastery over spiritual power.
These two requirements were practically a walk in the park for Gu Chengming, who had an AFK cheat like the Huiyuan Sword Manual and meridians refined by the Zhou Rites Heavenly Rectifying Art.
"This is it."
Gu Chengming took the pamphlet to the counter for registration.
The disciple responsible for registration saw the famous Senior Brother Gu, currently at the height of his fame in the inner sect, borrowing such an unrated basic manual. Although filled with doubt, the disciple didn't dare ask and respectfully completed the procedure.
By the time he returned to his courtyard, the sun was already in the west.
Gu Chengming closed the gate and activated the array to block outside surveillance before sitting down at the stone table and solemnly producing the Monster-Trapping Sword Manual.
The glow of the setting sun spilled onto the yellowed pages, making the somewhat crude illustrations of sword forms exceptionally clear.
Gu Chengming held his breath and concentrated, preparing to settle down and study carefully to see exactly what made this basic sword manual, described as "extreme" by Elder Ren, so special.
However, the very moment his finger touched the page...
【The Huiyuan Sword Manual has sensed your intention.】
【It looks at the tattered, crude, and even slightly moldy basic sword manual in your hand, then at your earnest expression of study, and its heart can't help but well up with a flurry of complex emotions.】
【The Huiyuan Sword Manual suddenly suggests that this sword style can be left to it for comprehension.】
Gu Chengming blanked for a moment, and after hesitating, he chose to trust the manual. In the next second, its inner voice appeared before his eyes.
【The Huiyuan Sword Manual thinks to itself that high-level sword styles are fine; as long as they help you, it can grit its teeth and tolerate them.】
【But some basic manual from who-knows-where actually wants to occupy your time? Not a chance!】
【It will absolutely not allow such a thing to steal even a minute of your focus!】
Why was it discriminating based on grade now?
Gu Chengming could barely hold back a laugh. He had thought the manual wouldn't get jealous; it turned out it was only because the grades of his previous techniques hadn't been low enough?
Amused, he nevertheless said aloud, "Then I'll leave it to you."
【The Huiyuan Sword Manual has felt your trust and dependence, and the knot in its heart vanished instantly.】
【It has become exceptionally active, even showing hints of being quite chipper.】
【It thinks that situations like this should happen more often—it wants to make itself indispensable to you...】
【The Huiyuan Sword Manual has entered a state of comprehension.】
Damn, did I just see a flash of a terrifying inner thought?
For the next several days, life in the small courtyard returned to its usual tranquility.
Gu Chengming felt like he had returned to his previous life's days of playing idle mobile games.
This sense of "relying on a woman's work" without having to use his brain felt slightly subtle to him.
Until the dusk of the third day.
【Mastery of the Monster-Trapping Sword Manual attained.】
As the prompt fell, Gu Chengming’s vision suddenly went dark. Immediately following that, an ink-wash style animated image slowly unfurled before him.
—It was the sign of a CG unlock.
In the image, a misty fog shrouded a wilderness. A black-haired female sword cultivator with a blurred face and indistinguishable features held a broken sword, facing a mountain-sized demon beast. The demon's giant claw struck down with overwhelming force, but the cultivator did not retreat. She advanced, and her broken sword did not swing or chop; instead, it slid against the demon's giant claw like a swimming fish.
And in the corner of the frame, a line of bold text slowly emerged:
【Winning despite weakness is not due to force, but to momentum. Heaven and earth are the cage; Sword Intent is the lock.】
【CG Unlock Process Started: Huiyuan Sword Art / Monster-Trapping】
【Current Unlock Progress: 5/100】
【Huiyuan Sword Art / Monster-Trapping has noticed your gaze.】
Gone was the usual affectionate scolding or the shy hesitation.
【It bows its head slightly and whispers: My Lord, whether it is slaying demons or purging evil... please leave all that dirty work to this servant...】
—My Lord?
Gu Chengming felt a bit strange about it, but the change in the manual's personality wasn't too surprising.
After all, according to previous experience... during the process of unlocking the "Monster-Trapping" CG, the state of the Huiyuan Sword Manual would indeed be influenced by the manual it was studying.
Just as he was thinking this, another line of text suddenly appeared before him.
【Zhou Rites Heavenly Rectifying Art has its brow furrowed.】
Gu Chengming’s heart skipped a beat, thinking: surely you won't see the manual’s current state and think it's lacking 'female virtues' and 'obedience,' right?
【The Zhou Rites Heavenly Rectifying Art pondered for a moment and said: Martial matters are affairs of state. Although women should not typically meddle with arms, to protect her liege and for the sake of justice in this world, she has actually discarded her frailty to transform into a blade that slays demons...】
【This is Great Loyalty! This is Great Righteousness!】
【Slaying traitors and purging evil to clear the air—good!】
【When it looks at the Huiyuan Sword Manual now, there isn't a hint of disdain; instead, there's a newfound level of admiration.】
Gu Chengming: "..."
Fine, so it turns out you don't just love obedience—you're just a fan of whatever the Huiyuan Sword Manual does.
In the following days, the unlocking of the CG continued as it had before; simply practicing the sword art seemed to advance the progress.
It was too slow...
It had to be said, though the progress advanced every day, it was undeniably a bit of a crawl.
After two days of hard cultivation...
【Current Unlock Progress: 6/100】【Current Unlock Progress: 7/100】
Advancing only one percent a day? It would take three months to finish the unlock at this rate.
When would it ever end?
And worst of all, while in the CG unlock state, the Huiyuan Sword Manual’s automatic cultivation had ceased.
Gu Chengming found himself forced to resume the rather tedious daily routine of breathing exercises.
Finally...
"No, I can't keep wasting time like this." On the evening of the fifth day, Gu Chengming reached a decision.
On one hand, his instincts as a Gal Master were firing, urging him to quickly clear this "Monster-Trapping" CG. On the other, he missed the way the original Huiyuan Sword Manual used to chatter incessantly in his ear.
He stood up, pacing the room while his fingers unconsciously rubbed the hilt of the Tinglan Sword at his waist.
"Monster-trapping... trapping monsters..."
"The core of this sword art is specialized against demons and monsters. Meanwhile, the current status of the 《Huiyuan Sword Manual》 is that of a servant eager to earn merits by slaying evil." It was an easy conclusion to draw: the Monster-Trapping persona was deeply obsessed with the duty of "purging evil."
But that was the tricky part. For one, regarding slaying demons, this was the vicinity of the Wenjian Sect. Ordinary demon cultivators wouldn't dare approach. As for extraordinary ones... those weren't exactly something Gu Chengming could handle.
"Do I need to take a sect mission and head down the mountain for trial?"
As soon as the thought surfaced, it was immediately discarded.
He had only just obtained the status of an Inner Sect disciple. Though he had the jade waist token, his Soul Lamp hadn't been lit yet, and the paperwork wasn't finished. Essentially, he was in the awkward "prospective Inner Sect" phase.
Requesting to leave the mountain now would not only involve cumbersome red tape but might also attract unwanted attention from certain individuals.
His current cultivation wasn't weak, but he hadn't reached the level where he could disregard all risks.
As for slaying monsters, that was even harder. Most monsters within the Wenjian Sect were either raised in pens, kept as mounts, or sent to the Back Mountain as...
Suddenly, a faint, wispy aroma of cooked meat drifted from a distance, carried by the wind.
It wasn't the scent of ordinary food; it was thick with blood-qi—an aroma unique to high-tier monster meat.
Gu Chengming's nose twitched slightly as he looked in the direction the scent was coming from. That was... the direction of the Back Mountain.
"The Back Mountain..."
Gu Chengming muttered to himself, a flash of inspiration striking his mind.
He recalled a place mentioned during a past chat with Jiang Lu.
It was the supplier for the stomachs of the Wenjian Sect's tens of thousands of disciples—the place where the worldly fire and blood-qi were at their heaviest.
—The Back Mountain.
As a major sect, while most of Wenjian Sect's high-level cultivators were in Inedia, the low-level disciples who were still growing and building their foundations, along with the massive number of Outer Sect servants, consumed an astronomical amount of spirit food daily.
To ensure these disciples received enough blood-qi, the sect transported a large quantity of low-level monsters from the outside every day. Most were processed in the Back Mountain.
Gu Chengming's eyes grew brighter.
That was it! To unlock the Monster-Trapping CG, maybe all that was needed was the process of monster-slaying—the ritualistic feeling of fulfilling a duty.
Couldn't he just go there and work a part-time job?
The next morning, as the horizon turned the color of a fish's belly, the swirling mists of the Back Mountain were already filled with noise.
This place was worlds apart from the tranquil, elegant cultivation grounds of the Front Mountain, where one heard only the pines and cranes. The valley in the Back Mountain was filled with the haze of woodsmoke and worldly labor.
Gu Chengming had changed into a set of coarse, durable cloth clothes. To avoid drawing too much attention, he specially wrapped the Tinglan Sword in cloth strips and strapped it to his back.
The moment he stepped into the Back Mountain's territory, a wave of heat hit him in the face.
"Quick, quick, quick! Has the cage of Spirit Tusk Pigs from the east arrived yet? They must be processed before noon!"
"Pluck those Scarlet Flame Chickens cleaner! Last time an elder complained about feathers, and they docked half a month's worth of my merit points!"
"Hey, you! Don't just stand there daydreaming! Go hold down those Earth-Shaking Bulls!"
Gu Chengming walked through the busy crowd, his eyes scanning until they locked onto the deepest part of the market.
—There stood the "Slaughtering Platform," specifically used for butchering large monsters.
A round, greasy-faced steward disciple was holding a ledger, frantically shouting orders.
"Senior Brother."
Gu Chengming walked up and cupped his hands in greeting.
The fat steward, annoyed, waved him off without looking up:
"Go, go, go! Can't you see we're busy? If you're here for spirit food, go queue up in the front. This is the kitchen area, restricted access."
"I am not here to collect food."
Gu Chengming's tone was calm, his voice steady: "Junior Brother Gu Chengming is here seeking a post."
"Go to the General Affairs Hall if you want a post! Why are you making trouble here... Wait?"
The fat steward's brush jerked to a stop. His small eyes, which were originally mere slits, snapped wide. He turned his neck with some difficulty, staring at Gu Chengming’s face for a long moment.
"Gu... Gu Chengming?"
The steward’s voice jumped an octave, causing several disciples brandishing bone-cleavers nearby to look over.
"Are you the Junior Brother Gu who, on the Sword-Questioning Platform, beat the Cloud Moon Sect genius into... cough, into the dust?"
The fat steward swallowed hard, his attitude pulling a complete 180-degree turn.
He quickly tucked the ledger under his arm, his greasy face erupting into a warm, enthusiastic smile, even tinged with a bit of starstruck nervousness:
"Oh my! It really is Junior Brother Gu! Forgive your brother’s poor eyesight; I was simply too busy just now and didn't recognize you! My fault, my fault!"
The surrounding disciples also stopped their work, their eyes widening. In today's Outer Sect, Gu Chengming’s name was like a clap of thunder.
Defeating higher ranks with myriad techniques—he had won both face and glory. He was essentially a role model in the hearts of countless low-level disciples.
"Senior Brother is too kind."
Gu Chengming became even more polite in response: "My foundation is still shallow, and I heard the Back Mountain is the best place to temper one’s character. Thus, I wished to come here for experience."
"Experience?"
The fat steward was stunned. He looked at Gu Chengming—whose simple clothes couldn't hide his refined aura—and then at the Slaughtering Platform, where blood flowed and the stench was overpowering. His brain couldn't quite compute.
An Inner Sect disciple coming here for 'experience'? Experiencing what? How to slaughter pigs?
"Junior Brother, you aren't joking, are you?" the steward asked cautiously.
Gu Chengming maintained a solemn face, improvising on the spot:
"I am not. There are three thousand paths to the Dao; all lead to the same destination. Do not belittle your work, Senior Brother. I come here, firstly, to temper my dao heart, and secondly, to practice a newly learned sword art. I require the bodies of these monsters to verify its efficacy."
Upon hearing this, the fat steward gave a thumb’s up, looking deeply impressed:
"No wonder Junior Brother has achieved such heights. Such insight is truly beyond us common folk! Since Junior Brother has this inclination, I would be honored!"
The fat steward beat his chest as he guaranteed:
"We might not have much else, but we have plenty of monsters waiting for the blade! Normally, the other brothers lack sufficient cultivation, so processing second realm monsters like Iron Skin Brute Bulls or Steel-Bristle Boars is a massive chore. If Junior Brother is willing to help, it would be a huge favor to us!"
With that, he prepared to lead Gu Chengming inside.
"However..."
The fat steward suddenly paused, sounding hesitant:
"This involves an Inner Sect disciple after all. According to the rules, I must inform Elder Pang. Could you wait a moment?"
"As it should be," Gu Chengming nodded.
In the backyard of the Spirit Kitchen, within a refined pavilion that felt entirely out of place, Elder Pang, who oversaw all miscellaneous affairs in the Back Mountain, was currently devouring a plate of steaming, aromatic "Braised Bear Paw."
He was brawny with a ruddy complexion. Although he was an elder, he lacked the typical transcendent air, looking more like a wealthy merchant.
"You're saying... that Gu Chengming?"
Elder Pang put down his chopsticks and licked the grease from the corner of his mouth, looking at the fat steward in surprise:
"The Gu Chengming who was taken into the Inner Sect by that old... cough, by Senior Brother Ren Wencai?"
"It’s him, without a doubt!"
The steward wiped the sweat from his forehead: "The man is waiting outside. He says he wants to use slaughter to temper his dao heart and verify a sword art. I didn't dare decide on my own, so I came to ask for your instructions, Elder."
Elder Pang rubbed his round belly, deep in thought.
He wasn't close with Ren Wencai, but he knew the old man's protective nature.
However, a moment later, Elder Pang grinned. The boy came of his own volition; Ren Wencai would have no reason to blame him.
With the Immortal Sect Grand Competition approaching, every peak’s demand for spirit food had surged—especially the high-tier monster meat used to nourish blood-qi, which was extremely difficult to process.
The disciples in the kitchen had been complaining endlessly. If a master like this could help...
Elder Pang’s eyes lit up, and he waved his hand. "Approved! Why wouldn't I approve?"
"He is a disciple with great perseverance and insight, requesting to exercise himself at the grassroots level. This is a good thing! How can we block his path to the Dao?"
"Go, arrange the best spot for him. Send him all the thickest-hided, hardest-boned monsters that no one usually wants to touch!"
"Tell him to kill as much as he likes! The more, the better! If he does a good job, not only will I grant him merit points, I’ll personally treat him to a feast!"
"Understood!" The fat steward accepted the order and scurried away happily.
The Slaughtering Platform.
This was a massive stone terrace about a hundred feet wide, engraved with arrays designed to wash away blood and suppress the monsters’ malevolent aura.
Gu Chengming stood at a corner of the terrace, facing a massive cage of refined iron.
Locked inside was an "Iron Brute Bull" at the peak of the first realm.
The beast was as massive as a small hill, its body covered in a thick layer of black scales. Its eyes were blood-red, and it snorted white steam. Every time it slammed into the cage, it produced a localized screech of metal grinding on metal.
The surrounding disciples kept a wide distance, clearly terrified of the beast.
"Junior Brother Gu, this..."
The fat steward rubbed his hands, sounding a bit apologetic:
"This Iron Brute Bull has thick hide and immense strength. Usually, it takes three or four of us together with the arrays to suppress it... If Junior Brother finds it difficult, we can swap for—"
"No matter. This one will do."
Gu Chengming stepped forward, signaling the disciples to open the cage.
Then, he casually pulled a rather dull iron sword used for bone-trimming from a nearby weapon rack.
He wasn't in a rush to pierce the bull's heart. Instead, like a master butcher, he swept the sword time and again over the bull’s joints, tendons, and key pivot points. None of the strikes were fatal, but each one caused the bull a deep, bone-seeping agony.
As the final strike pierced the bull’s throat, deep within his Sea of Consciousness, the progress bar that had been stuck finally jumped.
【Huiyuan Sword Manual / Monster-Trapping】
【Current CG Unlock Progress: 8%】
It moved! A full one-percent increase in one go!
Gu Chengming felt a wave of relief. His deduction was correct.
He turned around and looked at the fat steward, who was already catatonic. He gave a slight smile:
"Senior Brother, this one is done. Where is the next?"
The steward snapped out of it and hurriedly fumbled for his ledger, his voice trembling slightly:
"There’s more! Plenty more! Please wait a moment, Junior Brother!"
Over the following days, the Back Mountain disciples witnessed this Senior Brother Gu arrive before dawn every day and slaughter until sunset.
Furthermore, his techniques became increasingly skilled—and increasingly bizarre.
Whenever Gu Chengming stepped onto the platform, a circle of idle disciples would gather to watch as if it were a grand show. Some even started taking bets on how many beasts Senior Brother Gu could kill that day.
"Senior Brother Gu’s sword art... why does it look familiar?"
"Isn't it a bit like our sect’s 《Monster-Trapping Sword Manual》 that no one ever practices?"
Hearing the whispers of the disciples, Gu Chengming smiled secretly.
It was indeed the 《Monster-Trapping Sword Manual》, but it was certainly no longer the original version.
And through the process of slaying monsters, the CG progress soared.
【Current Progress: 15%】
【Current Progress: 30%】
【Current Progress: 45%】
In just seven days, the unlock progress was nearly half complete.
What made Elder Pang beam with joy was that, thanks to Gu Chengming’s efficiency, the half-month backlog of monsters in the Back Mountain had been mostly cleared!
To show his gratitude, Elder Pang even brought out his private stash of spirit wine, insisting on sharing a few cups with Gu Chengming, praising him as the "Pride of the Huiyuan Gate" and the "Savior of the Back Mountain."
However, the good times didn't last.
On the day the progress reached 50%, Gu Chengming discovered a problem.
【Huiyuan Sword Manual / Monster-Trapping looks at the carcass on the ground with a look of slight fatigue.】
【It feels somewhat disillusioned.】
Seeing the infinitesimal increase, Gu Chengming’s heart sank.
As expected, the progress hit a wall again.
Though the unlocking speed was slowing, after these several days of assembly-line slaughter, Gu Chengming had keenly captured a trait of the 《Monster-Trapping Sword Manual》.
That was—it looked down on the weak.
If he slaughtered a domestic monster at the early stages of the first realm that was nothing but fat and meat, the progress bar wouldn't budge.
But if he occasionally encountered a monster with vigorous blood-qi, the bar would move a bit more after he suppressed and killed it.
Based on his observations, the increment changed based on the quality. For example, a second realm monster, even if it was dying, gave more progress than a first realm Peak monster.
Gu Chengming stood before the platform, playing with the notched bone-cleaver, looking thoughtfully at the "Azure-Scaled Horned Python" that had just been brought in, still clinging to life.
Does that mean the actual realm doesn't matter, but rather what the 《Huiyuan Sword Manual / Monster-Trapping》 thinks the realm is?
Gu Chengming decided to test his hypothesis.
The python before him was only at the first realm Peak; it had no merits other than slightly thicker skin.
However, Gu Chengming did not go for the kill immediately as usual.
On the contrary, he put on a grave expression, his hand holding the bone-trimming iron sword beginning to "tremble" slightly.
"Sss..."
Gu Chengming stared intently at the writhing python, whispering in a voice only he could hear:
"This pressure... it’s wrong!"
"This is clearly just an ordinary Azure-Scaled Python. Why is there a palpitation-inducing feeling hidden beneath its scales?"
"Could this be the legendary variant that has awakened one ten-thousandth of the 'Azure Dragon' bloodline?"
With that, he gritted his teeth, his iron sword weaving a web that looked chaotic but was actually precise, entering a "fierce struggle" with the python—which wasn't actually resisting much.
The surrounding kitchen disciples were bewildered.
"What's wrong with Senior Brother Gu? Is that snake... very strong?"
"I don't know. It looks like it’s in the first realm. Is it some kind of mutated species?"
"Shh! Given Senior Brother Gu's cultivation, it must be a variant that we can't see!"
Finally, after acting for a full fifteen minutes, Gu Chengming gave a loud shout and drove his sword into the python’s heart-equivalent point, ending the "desperate struggle."
He leaned on his sword, gasping for breath as if he had survived a disaster, wiping sweat from his forehead:
"Too close... To think a mere shred of bloodline awakening could be so terrifying. If it had been allowed to grow, the consequences would be unimaginable."
Immediately after, Gu Chengming looked toward his internal notification window with high expectations.
The familiar box slowly appeared, but it didn't bring the expected surprise.
【Huiyuan Sword Manual / Monster-Trapping silently watches the Azure-Scaled Horned Python that died a confusing death on the ground, and then looks at you as you pant heavily.】
【It feels quite confused. In its perception, this was just an ordinary, even somewhat malnourished low-level monster; it didn't detect any so-called ancient pressure.】
【But out of absolute trust in you, it still examines the carcass with a bit of skepticism.】
【Perhaps... Master’s spiritual perception far exceeds common men, allowing him to see secrets that this subordinate cannot?】
【Although it doesn't fully understand this 'might,' if Master says it is so, then it must be so.】
Even with that said, the CG progress didn't budge.
So, gaslighting didn't work?
Gu Chengming shook his head, and just as he was about to give up on this unreliable idea...
A new line of text appeared.
【《Hundred Bones Resonating》 is horrified. To think Emperor Gu managed to pick up another hidden treasure?!】
【If not for Emperor Gu's Wisdom Eye piercing the heavens, it might have almost mistaken this Peerless Treasure Medicine for common meat!】
【Emperor Gu! Quickly take this ancient spiritual beast meat before others notice!】
"..."
Even if I didn't trick Monster-Trapping, tricking Emperor Bai is still an unexpected bonus, right?
Since Emperor Bai had handed him the line on a silver platter, he had to keep the act going until the end.
Gu Chengming kept his expression taut, turned, and cupped his hands to the fat steward:
"Senior Brother, about this... Azure-Scaled Horned Python."
This thing was considered "waste" in the spirit kitchen—the meat was stringy and carried a hard-to-remove earthy stench. Its skin was incredibly tough. Other than the gallbladder, the rest was usually tossed into a pit to feed lower beasts.
"My recent cultivation has reached a fever pitch, and I am in dire need of blood-qi replenishment. Although this python meat is coarse, its blood-qi is relatively full. I wonder if I might..."
"Oh! Junior Brother Gu, don't say another word!"
Upon hearing this, the fat steward slapped his thigh in delight:
"We usually find this thing takes up too much space! If Junior Brother likes it, take it all! Even the whole thing if you want! It saves us the trouble of dragging it to the Back Mountain pits!"
"Then, my thanks."
Gu Chengming looked like he had found a treasure. Ignoring the mess, he personally loaded the large, rock-hard slabs of python meat into his storage pouch.
By the time he returned to his courtyard, the night was deep.
Gu Chengming closed the doors and windows before taking out the pitiful-looking python meat. He didn't add any expensive spirit herbs; he even used salt as his only seasoning.
As the fire flared up, a smell that wasn't pleasant—though certainly not an "ancient divine aroma"—filled the room.
The meat was far too old. Even after stewing it for an hour with spirit fire, it remained as tough as a rubber tire.
Gu Chengming picked up a piece and tried a bite.
This was too hard on his teeth...
However, 《Hundred Bones Resonating》 deep within his mind did not share that opinion.
【《Hundred Bones Resonating》 exclaims: So this is the physical body of the Ancient Dragon-Python?!】
Fine, Emperor Bai, you win.
Gu Chengming forced himself to swallow the meat. Immediately, the Hundred Bones Resonating Art began to circulate.
【Hundred Bones Resonating dares not show the slightest negligence. In its cognition, this is the essence blood of the Ancient Dragon-Python. If it cannot perfectly absorb it, wouldn't it be failing Emperor Gu?】
An unprecedented torrent of heat surged through his meridians, scouring his four limbs and all his bones.
His bones vibrated, his muscles cheered, and his physical strength—which had already reached a bottleneck—began to climb at an incredible speed under the push of this force created by "complete self-delusion"!
He had found the same feeling as when he cultivated with the dragon blood grass!
This scene was watched carefully by the cold eyes of the 《Huiyuan Sword Manual / Monster-Trapping》.
【Huiyuan Sword Manual / Monster-Trapping witnesses the blood-qi tumbling like a dragon within you after you eat that meat. When it sees your physical strength surge visibly, it is left stunned.】
【It is a bit dazed. If that were truly just an ordinary monster, how could there be such a terrifying effect?】
【Could it be... it was actually the one who was wrong?】
【This is simply... a dereliction of duty! A supreme disrespect!】
【A powerful wave of shame wells up within it. It looks at Gu Chengming, its eyes now full of awe.】
【CG Progress: 65%】
Watching the progress bar jump fifteen percent in an instant, Gu Chengming’s half-eaten piece of python meat fell onto the table with a wet thud.
Rate on N.U.
