Chapter 52

“You’re a Martial Arts cultivator too?”

Leng Tianxing couldn’t help but ask as he watched Gu Qingshan wear the pauldrons.

Gu Qingshan didn’t bother answering and just pointed in one direction as he asked, “Is that the direction in which we’re headed?”

Leng Tianxing looked in the direction of his hand and replied, “That’s right.”

That side was filled with so many demons that there didn’t even seem to be space for them to stand. It was like looking out at a sea of demons.

If they wanted to break through that area, then a bloody war was going to ensue.

Gu Qingshan frowned.

He and Leng Tianxing were pretty good at long-range attacks, but without any Martial Arts cultivators to handle the demons at close range to increase the distance between themselves and the demons, then the two of them were going to be surrounded by the demons in no time.

For the battle coming up, they really needed a Martial Arts cultivator to fight closely against the demons.

Actually, a sword cultivator could fight this number of demons, too.

When this thought hit Gu Qingshan, he suddenly reached into his storage bag and pulled a long sword out.

This was the sword that Gu Qingshan had used all his strength to grab when the sword cultivator, Wang Cheng, had died.

Gu Qingshan gripped the long sword and inspected it carefully.

From the outside, it looked like a standard long sword. The only difference was the two words

“Cavalry Regiment” carved on the sword handle.

Gu Qingshan continued to feel the sword, and he sensed a coldness coming from the sword itself.

Gu Qingshan gently swung the long sword, and the coldness soundlessly filled the air.

The sword cultivator, Wang Cheng, was a Cavalry Regiment Commander, so in accordance with his status, a little of the valuable Chilly Soul Iron had been added during the creation of this sword.

With the addition of Chilly Soul Iron, this long sword was now twice as sharp.

The only problem was that the swordsmith had been focused on making the sword as sharp as possible, so the sword body was half an inch thinner than usual. At this thinness, the blade might bend or even break in a tough battle.

“You know about swords?”

Leng Tianxing asked another question when he saw Gu Qingshan inspect the long sword so intently.

He didn’t dare to look down on this low-level Formation Master anymore. He had started to place Gu Qingshan on the same level as himself.

Gu Qingshan’s expression didn’t change as he responded, “I know some.”

The data fields on the War God Operating Interface started to flash crazily in front of his eyes.

“Sword weapon discovered.”

“Confirmed that Player knows 1,753 sword techniques.”

“Confirmed that Player has War God Operating Interface and has War God Techniques.”

“This is a different world with no deities or demons tracking the space-time dimension—environment is stable and safe.”

“Protection seal to be removed; memories to be returned.”

“Awakening!”

“From now onward, Player can use Soul Power to awaken his past sword techniques and cultivation.”

Gu Qingshan stood up and did a few quick swings of the long sword.

DING!

The system rang again.

“In accordance with the Player’s memories and considering the Player’s current cultivation level, the techniques that will not cause the Player’s body and/or soul to break down are as follows:”

A few options popped up on the War God Operating Interface.

“Sword technique: Wind Slash”

“Sword technique: Eternal Peace”

“Sword technique: Flowing Clouds”

“Sword technique: Mountain Split”

“Sword technique: Four Seas”

“Secret technique: Watercut”

“As the Player already has a deep understanding of all these sword techniques, the cost of awakening the sword cultivation level of the past will be pushed as low as possible.”

“Awakening sword techniques will cost 5 points of Soul Power. Awakening the secret technique will cost 10 points of Soul Power.”

A secret technique was a sword technique that was virtually invincible in power. This technique often only needed one move, and it was the best technique out of all the sword techniques.

From the point of view of other cultivators, a secret technique would be like the Magical Power of sword cultivation.

Gu Qingshan scanned the screen, then made his choice quickly.

“Awaken Wind Slash and Mountain Split. Awaken secret technique Watercut.”

DING!

“Wind Slash, Mountain Split and Watercut have been awakened. Total cost is 20 points of Soul Power.”

“Current Soul Power: 1/7.”

Once the Soul Power was consumed, Gu Qingshan could feel images of the past jumping out from his memories.

Those memories that had been sealed away suddenly came to life as if they had just happened the day before.

Within one of the frontline camps.

There was a group of soldiers who were whispering among themselves and exchanging comments.

“Haha, a punk like him wants to learn the first three steps of Wind Slash?”

“He’s just a piece of trash. The game has been running for half a year, but he’s only just entered.”

“Exactly. We’re all getting familiar with sword techniques already while he’s just arrived at the Vanguard Battalion. But the good part is, at least we’ve got someone to take the brunt of the enemy’s attacks.”

“You’re right. The next time we have a mission, we’ll put him right in front.”

“Hohoho, that’s right, that’s right…”

The whispering disappeared, and the scene in front of him changed.

The moon was high in the sky, and there was nobody around.

He was young and practicing his sword technique all by himself in a deserted place.

The skin on his right hand was all callused, and there were several layers of bandages on his hand. There was a throbbing pain whenever he gripped the sword.

But he couldn’t give up just because of the pain. This was his only chance to change his fate.

Gu Qingshan clenched his teeth hard and became more determined.

He started to wield his long sword again.

Blood started seeping through the bandages.

His sweat poured down as he practiced his techniques diligently.

This scene slowly faded, then a new, vivid scene appeared.

“Gu Qingshan from the Vanguard Battalion reporting. I am decisive, bold, and brave, I have achievements in killing demons, and I am well versed in the sword technique Wind Slash.”

“Okay!”

The scene faded, and another scene appeared.

Gu Qingshan finished putting up a beautiful display of Wind Slash on a high platform.

“Hmm, quite interesting. But it’s a pity that he’s a bit too old.”

“At this age, his potential is limited, so we don’t want him either.”

“Exactly. He’s nearly 20 years old, but he only knows how to use Wind Slash. He doesn’t have that high a level of understanding either, so we don’t want him either.”

“I assume the decision is unanimous? The result of the Annual Examination is elimination?”

“Yup. I agree.”

“We’ll settle on that then. Prepare for the next person to go on stage.”

The scene changed again.

Gu Qingshan looked like a zombie. He was standing in a daze by the street as the cold snow covered his body.

Suddenly, two cultivators walked past him and were whispering to one another.

“There are quite a number of sword techniques up for auction at the bidding house. I’ve got my eye on one book, but it’s so expensive. I’ve got to save up more Spirit Stones.”

“Oh? Do you need me to lend you some?”

“I would be more than grateful to you, my senior.”

These words reached Gu Qingshan’s ears, and he immediately turned around.

“Friends, may I ask if what you said earlier is true?”

“Where did this lowly Qi Refining piece of trash come from? Get lost!”

…

“Your name is Gu Qingshan? Have you really thought through it carefully? You really want to infiltrate the demons and pick herbs from the back of their camp?”

“Yes, as long as you don’t change the promised reward.”

“Our shop has a thousand years of credibility; we won’t change this for sure.”

“Then, it’s not a problem.”

“Young man, I want to remind you: If you die there, we’re not going to collect your body.”

“No worries. Nobody will mourn for me if I die, anyway.”

“…well then, you’re quite a pitiful lad too. That’s a deal, then.”

The scene faded.

Countless scenes appeared and disappeared as the sword techniques became clearer and clearer in Gu Qingshan’s mind.

All his memories were back.

Gu Qingshan sighed and picked up the long sword.

“I’m finally back.”

“I am sword cultivator, Gu Qingshan.”

He said these words in a low voice.

Leng Tianxing was utterly confused by these words and started feeling wary.

Was Gu Qingshan going through a nervous breakdown? Had the Heaven Demon struck again?

Gu Qingshan took slow steps as he waved the long sword about and slowly got used to the various sword techniques.

Those sword techniques that had appeared on the War God Operating Interface were all techniques he not just knew how to execute, but had also attained a high level in their execution.

Gu Qingshan had considered his choices very carefully before picking these three techniques.

Wind Slash was a quick technique, while Mountain Split was a powerful one, so they complemented each other.

Watercut was the first secret sword technique he had learned. He definitely wanted it back so that he could use it to kill.