Chapter 21: Four Maidens Join the Sect

Tang Xuan led the four women—Wang Yajun and her companions—through the pass, where a familiar expanse of bluestone plaza awaited them. Upon the plaza, the level-20 boss, the Third Master of Black Wind Fortress, was practicing martial arts.

“A handful of brats dare to wreak havoc in my Black Wind Fortress! You must have a death wish! Prepare to die!” he shouted, delivering the customary opening line.

The Third Master stopped his practice, displayed his agility, and charged at Tang Xuan and the others wielding a blade. He was using a lost version of the Five Tigers Gate-Breaking Blade, a third-grade sword technique. However, it was clear that his mastery was far from complete. Had his skill reached level eight or nine, or even perfection, Tang Xuan in his earlier days could never have bested him.

“A true tool character,” Tang Xuan smirked, refraining from using agility skills. With his current speed of 1180, he dashed forward, his movements swift as lightning.

He threw a punch—the perfected Shaolin Arhat Fist! His attack power soared by 180%, with an additional 60% boost from the perfected Arhat Thousand-Pound Skill. A total increase of 240%!

His attack reached 6868 points.

-6500

-2020

Two blood-red numbers floated above the Third Master’s head. Tang Xuan’s Arhat Fist, infused with profound inner strength and the tremendous force of a thousand pounds, sent the Third Master’s blade flying and, without pause, slammed into his chest.

Just one punch dealt 6500 damage!

This level-20 boss had only a few hundred points of defense, diminishing the damage by little more. As a boss, his health was unusually robust; only after suffering over 6000 damage was he left gravely wounded, not instantly dead.

But Tang Xuan followed up with a regular punch—another 2000 damage—finishing off the defenseless, dying Third Master.

Wang Yajun, Luo Qingqing, Qin Yanran, and Li Weiwei stared in stunned silence.

That was a level-20 boss!

And he had been killed in just two blows!?

They already knew from Tang Xuan himself that he had joined the Shaolin Temple. But after joining, hadn’t he become a little too powerful? Did he perhaps encounter the legendary Sweeper Monk and receive some secret martial arts?

Since entering the dungeon, the waves of bandits had already boosted their experience from the peak of level seven to level eight, and even to the peak of level eight.

Upon clearing the dungeon and receiving the reward experience, their levels jumped straight to nine.

Tang Xuan, however, remained at level ten.

After level ten, the experience required to level up increased dramatically. No matter how many monsters he defeated or how much dungeon experience he gained, he had not reached level eleven.

“But it’s close—let’s go again!” Tang Xuan grinned as he looked at the Tiger Fang Blade dropped by the Third Master.

This was different from the first time he cleared the dungeon; only one green item dropped this time. Previously, they had received five green items and a third-grade skill book in one go!

Tang Xuan picked up the Tiger Fang Blade—he now had three of them.

He again led the four women out of the dungeon and re-entered the Black Wind Fortress dungeon at normal difficulty.

Once more, they swept through with unstoppable momentum!

Tang Xuan finally reached level eleven as he wished.

The four women—Wang Yajun and company—moved from level nine to ten, reaching the entry standard for all major sects!

Though they were not the first among all players to join the sects—since Tang Xuan had already claimed the first clear—they were the first to join their respective sects, and thus received announcements and special rewards.

Each returned to her novice village, found the sect envoy, and used her “entry certificate” to join her chosen sect.

“Congratulations to player ‘A Touch of Dust’ for being the first to join the Huashan Sect.”

“Congratulations to player ‘Midsummer’ for being the first to join the Five Venoms Cult.”

“Congratulations to player ‘Early Summer’ for being the first to join the Emei Sect.”

“Congratulations to player ‘Li Weiwei’ for being the first to join the Quanzhen Sect.”

Four game announcements appeared, witnessed by all online players, sparking countless discussions!

“Aren’t these the ones who cleared Black Wind Fortress alongside that ‘Half a Step Above Heaven’ monster?”

“It’s not even been twenty-four hours since the server opened, and these people are on the announcements again!”

“They’ve reached level ten too! Though a bit behind ‘Half a Step Above Heaven,’ it’s not surprising. Anyone who clears Black Wind Fortress can’t be ordinary. Fast leveling is expected.”

“Huashan, Five Venoms, Emei, Quanzhen—the first clears have all been claimed! Since there’s a game announcement, there must be hidden rewards!”

“I wonder which sect ‘Half a Step Above Heaven’ joined. The earlier announcement didn’t say—just that he was the first to join.”

“……”

“It’s them!”

Those high-level players who had seen the four beauties beside ‘Half a Step Above Heaven’ at the foot of Black Wind Fortress now knew exactly who they were.

The guild leader of Dance of Death watched with a dark, grim expression.

Meanwhile, Wang Yajun and the other three had successfully entered their sects and received the hidden rewards for being the first.

As the first outsiders to join, they were immediately promoted to inner disciples, skipping the outer disciple stage altogether.

Wang Yajun chose the Huashan Sect, specifically the Qi School, one of the two branches. She became a disciple of Ning Zhongze, wife of the Qi School’s leader Yue Buqun, thus entering the Huashan Qi School as an inner disciple.

Such was the limitation for female players; upon entering Huashan, they could only join the Qi School and become Ning Zhongze’s apprentice, as the Sword School did not accept female disciples!

Had she joined the Sword School, she could more easily meet the hidden character Feng Qingyang and possibly learn the peerless martial art, the Nine Swords of Dugu!

Feng Qingyang belonged to the Sword School.

Wang Yajun was ambitious for the Nine Swords of Dugu. Though unable to join the Sword School, becoming Ning Zhongze’s pupil was still a leap forward, sparing her the cumbersome outer disciple stage.

Luo Qingqing chose the Five Venoms Cult.

Also known as the Five Immortals Sect, it is based in the Miao territory of Ming, within the same nation as Huashan. The sect is considered demonic in the martial world, skilled in poisons and medicine.

Luo Qingqing clearly had her own plans for joining the Five Venoms.

Qin Yanran chose the Emei Sect, a reputable orthodox sect, fitting her gentle and refined temperament.

Both Luo Qingqing and Qin Yanran became inner disciples of their respective sects.

These two sects are somewhat unique.

In the Five Venoms Cult, all inner disciples are personally taught by the leader.

Thus, Luo Qingqing became the apprentice of Blue Phoenix, the leader of the Five Venoms Cult.

Emei’s inner disciples are likewise under the direct tutelage of the sect leader.

Qin Yanran became the pupil of Abbess Miejue, head of Emei.

Li Weiwei picked the Quanzhen Sect.

Female players who join Quanzhen as inner disciples must apprentice under the only woman among the Seven Masters, Sun Bu’er, known as the Quiet Wanderer.

Quanzhen is closely linked to the hidden Ancient Tomb Sect, and Li Weiwei’s choice was not without ulterior motives.