novelraw Chapter 103
Chapter 103
After leaving Su Wan’s office, Su Wangchuan felt as though his entire world had been overturned.
He had never imagined—
That such a secret lay hidden behind 《spirit realm》.
He had never imagined—
That the magnificent and luxurious Warring States Building, a game studio built at the cost of tens of billions, was in fact nothing more than armor for some powerful figure in the upper echelons to preserve his own life.
And even more unthinkable—
That in the near future, 《spirit realm》 would be fully opened and spread across the globe.
A game in which the death of a character led to the death of the player would bring terror to every single person.
When he returned to his room, Su Wangchuan’s mood was heavy.
He could already foresee it: once global players came into contact with 《spirit realm》, they would be stunned by its impact, then descend into unprecedented fanaticism…Yet without realizing it, they would already be trapped within the cage of 《spirit realm》.
The moment they touched the game, there would be no escape.
In the end, they would have no choice but to struggle desperately to survive.
Perhaps…
This was also the so-called unanimous decision of the upper echelons of nations around the world.
Perhaps it was for self-preservation.
Or perhaps it was to force those who had lain flat like salted fish to rediscover a purpose in life, to regain the drive to struggle and survive.
But—
This was too much.
Such disregard for human life was revolting.
Su Wangchuan could not accept it.
Because…
No one could guarantee that they would never encounter an accident in the game.
Life came only once.
He did not want to die.
Yet he was already bound to 《spirit realm》.
Perhaps tomorrow, or sometime next year, he would follow in the footsteps of Heipi and Old Li.
He recalled the last words Su Wan had spoken before he left her office:
“Keep the silver and coinage you have. Use it to buy martial arts manuals. Money in the real world will soon become useless. Only by becoming stronger will you have the right to live.”
“…Live.”
Su Wangchuan silently clenched his fists. His gaze gradually hardened.
“I will live.”
He walked to the training mechanism he had constructed and activated 《Fish Scale Technique》.
He released the rope.
The barbell’s potential energy converted into an impact force equivalent to two hundred and eighty kilograms, crashing down violently!
Bang!
Su Wangchuan was sent flying and slammed into the foam cushioning zone.
The robot walked over and sprayed ice compress solution onto him.
After stretching his limbs slightly, Su Wangchuan stepped forward again and stood firmly in place.
Bang!
Again and again he was knocked flying.
Again and again he returned to his original position, his eyes unwavering.
I will not be knocked down.
Nor will I submit to fate.
The experience points of 《Fish Scale Technique》 increased slowly.
He trained from daytime until night.
Close to nine o’clock, he logged in and heard the system notification:
“Ding!”
“《Fish Scale Technique》 has advanced from ‘Minor Mastery’ to ‘Practice Makes Perfect.’ Reward: 2 Stamina.”
“Next realm: ‘Entry-Level Mastery.’”
Su Wangchuan summoned his Status Panel:
Wangchuan: Male (Hunger 50/100)
(Life Profession: Blacksmith)
(Combat Profession: Martial Artist, Unranked)
Strength 8+14; Attack 7–8;
Agility 8+9; Defense 3.4; Speed +17;
Stamina 8+10; Health 180/180;
Spirit 8: (Unactivated).
Free Attributes: 0 (Assignable)
First-Rank Martial Art ‘Fish Scale Technique,’ Practice Makes Perfect. Next realm ‘Entry-Level Mastery’ 0/500;
(Most techniques folded)
Stimulated by the information Su Wan had revealed, Su Wangchuan felt as though an invisible hand was pushing him forward, urging him to cultivate faster, to grow stronger more quickly.
Those who had entered 《spirit realm》 two years earlier—what had they encountered?
He did not know.
But he did not doubt their intellect, resources, or capabilities in the slightest.
If even they had to mobilize vast manpower to build defensive lines for self-preservation, then the danger within 《spirit realm》 must be unimaginably terrifying.
He had to prepare as soon as possible.
All for the sake of survival.
“The next martial art: cultivate 《Wind-Splitting Sword Art》.”
“Before that, I need to train 《Basic Sword Technique》.”
“If possible, I will cultivate them together and achieve twice the result with half the effort.”
Su Wangchuan did not possess a manual for 《Basic Sword Technique》, so he took the initiative to visit Song Minshu.
“Hall Master Song.”
Song Minshu was practicing saber techniques in his courtyard. His blade flashed, cutting through the air with a sharp, heavy hiss, imposing and powerful.
When he saw Su Wangchuan arrive, he smiled, sheathed his saber, and wiped the sweat from his brow.
“Wangchuan, what brings you here?”
“There is something I would like to seek your guidance on.”
“We are brothers here. There is no need for such formality. Speak,” Song Minshu said. Ever since the battle at Blackwind Stronghold, he had held Su Wangchuan in even higher regard and no longer treated him as a subordinate. Their exchange was one of equals.
Su Wangchuan smiled.
“It is like this—I wish to cultivate 《Wind-Splitting Sword Art》, but I have not yet found a manual for 《Basic Sword Technique》…”
“That is all?”
Song Minshu laughed.
“If you do not mind, brother Wangchuan, I can instruct you myself!”
With that, he took a longsword from the weapon rack, effortlessly twirled it into a sword flower, and casually slashed once.
The wooden stake beside him split smoothly into two halves.
Su Wangchuan’s eyes lit up.
…
By the time he left Song Minshu’s residence, Su Wangchuan had already grasped 《Basic Sword Technique》.
Guidance from a true Martial Artist was indeed far more efficient.
Under Song Minshu’s instruction, he learned the fundamentals of swordsmanship. Sword techniques emphasized speed, ferocity, and precision.
Speed, because the sword was light and nimble.
Ferocity, because the blade was razor-sharp.
Precision, because the sword’s edge possessed powerful penetrating force.
《Wind-Splitting Sword Art》 built upon the basics, focusing especially on the principle of “splitting.”
Light and effortless, yet capable of erupting suddenly. It could tear through wind and waves, or create its own storm.
The shortcut to mastering 《Basic Sword Technique》 was to strike at a wooden stake and carve gashes more than three inches deep. Once ten thousand such gashes had been made, one would have essentially mastered the technique of channeling force and could advance.
Su Wangchuan did not hesitate. He immediately went to the training ground, longsword in hand, and began practicing against the wooden stake with steady, methodical strikes.
With forty taels of gold in his possession, he was no longer short of money. Naturally, he devoted himself wholeheartedly to cultivation.
When his right arm grew sore and numb, he switched the sword to his left hand and continued.
The wooden stake soon became covered with dense marks and cuts.
However, none of them reached three inches deep.
Su Wangchuan did not grow impatient. He understood that a sword was different from a spear. It could not rely on brute force. It required finesse—inch force applied with precision.
He had yet to grasp that subtle strength.
That was a good thing.
It meant he still had room to improve.
CLICK HERE to Rate/Review