Chapter 16: Shaolin Monastery

After securing the first kill in the Black Wind Stronghold instance, Tang Xuan and the four women returned to their respective novice villages.

Tang Xuan had already reached level ten within the instance. Holding the “Entry Certificate,” he arrived at the gathering place of numerous sect messengers.

Among these were the sects of the Five Mountains Sword Alliance: Songshan, Huashan, Hengshan, Hengshan (the other), and Taishan. The renowned Wudang and Shaolin, the paragons of the martial world, were present as well. There were also the Beggar Sect, Quanzhen Sect, Snowy Mountain Sect, Emei Sect, Kunlun Sect, Kongtong Sect, Qingcheng Sect, and many other famous and reputable schools. The Ming Cult, Sun-Moon Divine Sect, Sky Eagle Sect, Five Poison Sect, Star Lodge, Divine Dragon Cult, Blood Blade Gate, and various other sects notorious as demonic or heretical groups in the martial world were also represented.

Even organizations such as the Heaven and Earth Society, Red Flower Society, Chang Le Gang, Iron Palm Gang, Qin Clan Stronghold, Yellow River Gang, and so forth were available for players to join. Then there were the likes of the Carefree Sect, Spirit Vulture Palace, Hero Island, or the Ancient Tomb Sect, Peach Blossom Island, the White Camel Manor of the Western Regions, Baiyun City ruled by Ye Gucheng, Wanmei Manor of Ximen Chuixue, Divine Sword Manor, World Society, Heavenly Gate, and others! These belonged to the category of hidden sects, accessible only after meeting certain conditions in the future.

As for the Whale Gang, Sands Sect, Divine Fist School, Hundred Herbs Sect, Infinite Sword Sect, Funiu Sect, Dragon Gate Escort Agency, Fuwei Escort Agency, the Goryeo Blue Dragon Sect, Thirty-six Caves, Seventy-two Islands, Wuyi Sect, Xianxia Sect, and so on—all these smaller factions could also be joined by players, though their prospects paled in comparison to the prestigious schools, major demonic sects, and prominent societies.

In short, within “Grand Wuxia,” you could become any kind of martial artist you wished! Even if you refused to join a sect and chose a solitary path as a wandering swordsman, that was possible. However, without affiliating with a sect, learning their martial arts skills would be immediately restricted, making development far more difficult than for the regular players in major sects.

Tang Xuan had no intention of being a lone wanderer; his choice was—Shaolin Temple!

It was said that all martial arts originate from Shaolin, and as a man blessed with unique advantages, the more martial arts skills available, the better! The famed Seventy-two Shaolin Techniques, each extraordinary in its own right—if Tang Xuan could master them all, and not just learn, but perfect them, what heights could he reach?

Even so, joining Shaolin did not grant instant access to the seventy-two ultimate techniques.

Tang Xuan smiled faintly, and using the “Entry Certificate” rewarded from the instance, sought out the Shaolin Temple messenger and made his selection.

“Congratulations to player ‘Half-God Against Heaven’ for becoming the first player to join a sect!” came the prominent announcement from the game system.

All online players were momentarily stunned; soon, debates broke out everywhere.

“Half-God Against Heaven—that’s the guy who got the first kill in the Black Wind Stronghold instance, right?”

“Who is he, really? On the very first day of open beta, he’s been on the system announcement twice!”

“Yeah, first the Black Wind Stronghold first kill, now level ten and joining a sect! I wonder which sect he chose?”

“Half-God Against Heaven—that name really is impressive!”

“… …”

“Half-God Against Heaven! You just wait!” The guild leader of Dance of Death gritted his teeth.

“Brother Tang has already joined a sect, we need to work hard too!” Wang Yajun, Luo Qingqing, and the other women were diligently leveling up; with their entry certificates in hand, once they reached level ten, they could join their preferred sects.

“It’s him.”

“It’s him?”

The Imperial Dynasty Club, ranked first among online gaming clubs, had four major guilds—all in the top ten. Among the influential figures and elite players of these guilds, a few had already seen Tang Xuan in person at the foot of Black Wind Stronghold, witnessing his prowess in dispatching the members of Dance of Death. Others had never met him, but after working with this top player, the “textbook of online games,” for so long, they had already guessed the true identity of “Half-God Against Heaven.”

Who else but him could achieve such feats on the first day of “Grand Wuxia”’s open beta?

The number one player, the paragon of online games—such titles were not given lightly.

Amidst the heated discussions among countless players, Tang Xuan made his way to Shaolin Temple.

In “Grand Wuxia,” Shaolin Temple was divided into Northern and Southern branches. Northern Shaolin lay within the boundaries of the Song Dynasty, with Abbot Xuanci as its head; the monks of the “Xuan” generation were all formidable masters of the martial world. Southern Shaolin, located in the Ming Dynasty, was presided over by Master Fang Zheng, with the renowned monks Kongjian, Kongwen, Kongzhi, and Kongxing whose reputations echoed across the land.

Despite the division, Northern and Southern Shaolin were one family, considered a single sect. Much like the Huashan Sect, with its Qi and Sword branches for players to choose from.

Tang Xuan, upon entering Shaolin Temple, opted for Northern Shaolin within the Song Dynasty.

Now, it was necessary to discuss the division of states in “Grand Wuxia.” As a game fusing numerous classic elements of the wuxia genre, its vast territory was dotted with many nations: Song, Ming, Qing, Jin, Liao, Liang, Western Xia, Tubo, Mongolia, Goguryeo, Dayu, Northern Yan, and so on.

Within the martial world of each country, myriad schools flourished, each brilliant in its own way. Players could choose their martial faction based on real-life ethnicity, personal preference, or other criteria, joining the martial forces of any country they wished.