The Monster is Coming

Chapter 456 Do you want to become stronger?
After an unknown amount of time, Tu Hu (stiff as a board) slowly woke up.

He sat up abruptly.

I found myself on a lush green hillside, with a babbling brook in the distance and exotic flowers and plants emitting a hazy glow nearby.

The spiritual energy here is abundant, and a gentle breeze carrying the sweet scent of grass and trees caresses his face, making him feel completely comfortable with every breath.

"Where...is this?" Alarm bells rang in his mind, and he decisively called up the team channel.

Tu Hu: Can you hear me? What's going on?
Little Milk Bottle: Hard Bro! You're still alive! You just vanished in a flash.

Drifting with the Wind: Holy crap, Hard Bro, I heard you time-traveled to a goblin tribe and became their chieftain. How many years have passed there? Have you advanced to a super goblin?

Tu Hu: Stop joking, I don't know where I am either. It looks pretty safe around here. How's it over there?
Pan Shi: "We are still in the main hall, discussing how to save you. Why don't you just return to the city yourself?"

When questioned, Tu Hu looked around and immediately replied:
"No rush, let me find out the situation first. Perhaps this is my opportunity."

"Okay, you decide for yourself. Keep in touch and report back as needed."

After the brief exchange, Tu Hu calmed himself down a bit.

As he stood up, his gaze was quickly drawn to a meticulously tended garden at the foot of the hill.

An elderly man dressed in simple linen clothes was standing with his back to him, bending over and tending to several spiritual plants that exuded vibrant life force. His movements were natural, as if he were one with the world around him.

Just as Tu Hu was about to step forward, the old man seemed to sense something, slowly straightened up, and turned around.

His face was thin and gaunt, his hair and beard were all white, and his eyes were clear as spring water, without the slightest hint of turbidity. He just stood there quietly, without any imposing aura, yet Tu Hu felt as if he were facing an endless starry sky or a silent mountain range.

As the analysis was completed, the old man's information immediately flooded into his mind:
【Cangxuan (Shadow)】:
Hunting level: 20.

Target Description: A Dreamweaver warrior, carrying some of the original's memories, created by Cangxuan to make up for regrets.

……

At this moment, the old man's gaze fell on Tu Hu. He was not surprised by Tu Hu's appearance, but simply smiled slightly, his voice as gentle as jade:

"you're awake."

Before he could finish speaking, the old man's figure swayed slightly, and Tu Hu only felt a blur before his eyes before the figure in hemp clothing silently stood in front of him.

Even though they were only inches apart, they could clearly smell the fresh scent of grass and trees emanating from each other.

So fast!

Tu Hu felt a chill run down his spine; this was clearly not the kind of skill a level 20 player should possess.

He suppressed his doubts and asked curiously:
"Senior, you seem to have known I was coming?"

Cang Xuan shook his head:

"I don't know who will come, but since you've come, it must be fate."

Before Tu Hu could think it through, Cang Xuan abruptly changed the subject and said directly:

"Want to become stronger? I'll teach you."

"Huh?" Tu Hu was completely dumbfounded, his mouth agape, almost unable to react.

Is it... really that direct?
If the story involves a reclusive master passing on their knowledge, shouldn't there be challenges that test one's character and present numerous difficulties?

This old man is being way too proactive.

"Want to learn or not?" the old man asked again, his tone as indifferent as if he were asking if the old man wanted a cup of tea.

"study."

Tu Hu nodded decisively, adhering to the player's mindset that "it's foolish not to accept a fortuitous encounter."

Regardless of any hidden meaning, I'll learn it first. At worst, I'll just go home and visit my brother Di Zhao.

"Okay." Cang Xuan's face showed neither approval nor joy; the four of them had simply completed a simple confirmation procedure.

"From now on, I will teach you swordsmanship."

As he spoke, Cang Xuan produced an iron sword from who-knows-where:
"Okay."

Having said that, he took half a step forward, and with his arm, he swung the iron sword from bottom to top, making a very simple upward slash.

The movements were slow, even somewhat clumsy, without any dazzling special effects or the sharp sound of tearing through the air; they were movements that any child learning swordsmanship could make.

"Do as instructed." Cang Xuan sheathed his sword and stood up, looking at him calmly.

Tu Hu was stunned, thinking to himself:
"That's it?"

But he did as he was told, taking the iron sword the old man threw to him and mimicking the upward thrust.

Even faster than the old man.

"That's not right." Cang Xuan shook his head.
"Your sword has no feelings; infuse your feelings into the sword."

"No, I have to incorporate emotion into my sword practice?" Tu Hu was dumbfounded.

"Yes, again."

Tu Hu frowned slightly, adjusted his posture, and tried again.

"It's still not right. Your mind is too restless. Feel the power within you and repeat it ten thousand times."

Tu Hu: ...

If it weren't for the need to conceal the opportunity, I would have smashed his head in after hearing his request ten thousand times.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the absurdity and impatience in his heart, and began to repeat this extremely boring upward flick over and over again.

This is believed to be the process of unlocking hidden rewards.

If he completes the task, he will also receive a chance to become extremely wealthy, enough to change his destiny.

Then we'll have the money to lead our brothers to form a large-scale battle group.

For the sake of sacrificing power, I will endure!
For the next three days, Tu Hu spent his time in this extremely tedious repetition.

He went from initial frustration and resentment to later numbness and mechanicalness, feeling almost no progress.

No matter how he tried to channel his anger and frustration into his sword, no matter how powerful and forceful his swings, Cang Xuan remained silent, uttering "No" after "No," constantly extinguishing any remaining hope in his heart.

Just when he felt he was about to turn into a ruthless sword-wielding machine, Cang Xuan arrived again.

With a grab from a distance, the training iron sword slipped from his control and returned to Cang Xuan's hand.

"Okay."

As the old man spoke, he held the iron sword horizontally in front of him, his movements as slow as an old man doing morning exercises in a park, and he made a parrying motion that even a child could imitate.

"This is a parry."

Then, he slowly pushed the sword forward, as if handing something over.

"This is drawing the sword."

The two movements were simple and unadorned, without any dazzling light or sound of air being cut. They were so ordinary that Tu Hu felt that the old man seemed to have some skill, but it was more like he was fooling him.

"Now, go and defeat your enemy." Cang Xuan tossed the iron sword back to him and casually pointed forward.

Tu Hu subconsciously turned his head and saw the space in front of him ripple slightly, and a blurry phantom began to condense.

He habitually threw out his analysis.

【Dreamweaver (phantom)】

Hunting level: 127.

Tu Hu: ? ? ?
He blinked hard, wondering if he was hallucinating from repeatedly swinging his sword for too long.

Level 127? You want him to use those two moves from that old man in the park to defeat a monster that could send him to meet Emperor Zhao with a single slap?

This is utterly absurd. Are you trying to bully me?

The giant beast's phantom solidified, its blood-red gaze locking onto him like a searchlight. The mere pressure emanating from its very existence caused Tu Hu's blood to surge.

Gazing at the massive, mountain-like phantom ahead, he glanced down at the unremarkable training iron sword in his hand, and only one thought occupied his mind:
"If you want me dead, just say so! This whole thing is going too far!"

Just then, the phantom of the Dreamweaver raised its front paw, and instantly the elements of heaven and earth converged, with dense elemental arrows falling like raindrops.

Tu Hu decisively held his iron sword horizontally in front of him, assuming a blocking stance:
"I'll block... block my ass, how am I supposed to block this?"

The next second, everything went black before his eyes, and the connection was instantly lost.

Suddenly opening his eyes, Tu Hu found himself lying on the same lush green grass where he had first awakened, the sun shining brightly and a gentle breeze blowing, as if the threat of death had just been a dream.

"An illusion?" He immediately realized that he was in a special space and would not actually die.

But this was not directed at his illusion.

As a player, he has a protective mechanism that can forcibly dispel even the Elysium Illusion released by Ah Le.

The only reasonable explanation is that the illusion exists in the form of space, rather than being imposed on his consciousness.

I stood up, a surge of inexplicable anger rising to my head.

What kind of teaching is this? It's more like mockery.

But he learned those sword techniques, and they were completely useless to him.

As players, all we care about are the numbers; any skill is just fancy fluff.

No matter how powerful a sword technique is, it's no match for a high-damage basic attack.

Just as he angrily scrambled to his feet, ready to unleash a torrent of curses, Cang Xuan's figure reappeared silently before him like a ghost, his expression still as calm as still water.

"Have you learned it?"

His tone was so flat it was as if he were asking, "Have you eaten?"

"I'll learn from your grandpa!" Tu Hu's pent-up frustration, grievances, and anger from the past few days exploded instantly as he pointed at the old man's nose and cursed:
"I'm not learning anymore. What bullshit is this 'emotional sword' or 'parrying and striking'? It's all bullshit."

His chest heaved violently with anger, and he slammed the training iron sword to the ground.

This opportunity is for whoever wants it; I'm going home to have a heart-to-heart talk with my brother, Emperor Zhao.

As he spoke, he prepared to start his self-destruction and return to the village.

Just then, Cang Xuan, who had been standing still, suddenly took a step forward.

This move, shrinking the distance between them, allowed him to appear directly in front of him.

Immediately afterwards, the old man raised his right hand and gently touched the center of his forehead.

hum~
Tu Hu felt as if a thunderbolt had been thrown into his mind, causing a tremendous tremor. Countless chaotic images, like a flood bursting its banks, surged into his mind.

He saw an old figure standing alone on a crumbling battlefield, where the world had lost its color.

Ahead, a horde of monsters is surging in.

In the next instant, a torrent of fire, icefalls, and thunder intertwined, pouring down on the old man like divine punishment. The light was blinding, and the power was enough to dry up rivers and destroy mountains.

Faced with this devastating elemental bombardment, the old man's figure appeared small and frail.

But the old man showed no fear. He slowly stepped forward, raised the seemingly ordinary iron sword in his hand, and held it horizontally in front of him.

Block.

There was no earth-shattering explosion, no dazzling sword light.

Just as the iron sword stood there, the surging torrent of destruction seemed to collide with an invisible barrier.

The flames died down silently, the icefalls vaporized abruptly, and the lightning twisted and dissipated... like ice and snow melting away layer by layer under the scorching sun.

The elemental frenzy collapsed with a roar, turning into nothingness and a gentle breeze, not even lifting the old man's robe.

This scene brought Tu Hu an indescribable shock.

Immediately afterwards, Cang Xuan flicked his wrist, and the iron sword changed from horizontal to vertical, thrusting forward.

It was still a sword strike that was simple to the extreme.

The moment the sword was thrust out, Tu Hu felt a release of emotion, as if it were a declaration from within: Here, silence reigns.

The sword tip pointed ahead, revealing a dense array of monsters radiating a powerful life force. Their forms were erased as if by an eraser, annihilated inch by inch from head to toe, without screams, without struggles, and without even a speck of dust being stirred.

With a single sword strike, a thousand armies vanished into nothingness.

The scene stopped abruptly.

Tu Hu stood frozen in place, his back already soaked with cold sweat.

He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. All that remained in his mind was the terrifying power of that simple, utterly simple stab, which brought about earth-shattering changes and annihilated armies.

He suddenly realized that the old man probably possessed a kind of "power".

In the Liver Emperor Group's live stream, there was a lesson on "momentum," which the training camp instructors described as an emotional force emanating from within.

Forum enthusiasts have also analyzed this, believing it to be essentially a set of rules.

rule?!
This word was like a key, instantly unlocking the door to understanding Tu Hu.

Yes, that makes sense!

The old man's seemingly ordinary parries were able to defuse devastating attacks not because of his exquisite technique or immense strength.

Instead, the moment the blocking action is completed, his momentum releases a rule-level effect. Within the range of his "sword momentum," the rules determine that the attack in front should be blocked, and then all laws cease.

Even the most violent elements will eventually be worn down by the rules.

This is a kind of confidence that comes from within, and it can even influence the laws of the outside world.

I believe that if something can be blocked, it can also be blocked.

Similarly, the reason why a seemingly ordinary straight thrust can annihilate an army is not because the sword's edge is particularly sharp.

This is because the sword's momentum contains a rewritten rule: "This sword will surely hit, and if it hits, death will ensue."

When the old man's conviction is that the target must be destroyed, he releases his "sword aura," and the opponent's life form naturally comes to an end.

This is no longer in the realm of skill or power; it is... a rule-level realm where words become law and intentions become law.

Having figured this out, Tu Hu's feelings towards the unassuming old man before him were completely different.

This is no ordinary veteran of the Dreamweaver Clan; he is clearly a top-tier expert who has refined his own will into rules and created rule-level power.

What he taught him before wasn't sword techniques at all, but rather guiding him to master rule-level power.

The same applies to their own "Pressure System," which requires players to find the corresponding emotional state before they can enter the Pressure System.

Cang Xuan quietly observed the changes in Tu Hu's expression:
"Now, do you see clearly?"

"I see now, the old man is really amazing, how long will it take me to learn?"

Cang Xuan shook his head:

"Ignorance is a fleeting moment, enlightenment is a lifetime."

He made no promises, only conveying one meaning: there are no shortcuts on this path, only self-realization.

Tu Hu took a deep breath and asked no more questions.

He gripped the training sword tightly in his hand, his eyes no longer showing the previous restlessness and utilitarianism, but only focus.

In the days that followed, the training remained monotonous, consisting mainly of the most basic blocking and sword strikes.

But Tu Hu's mindset was completely different.

He no longer pursued mere resemblance, but instead immersed himself entirely in the experience, repeatedly savoring the awe-inspiring images of the rules manifesting in his mind, carefully feeling the flow of power with each exertion, and trying to capture the subtle moments when rules might be born from the unseen.

I don't know how long he practiced, and his teammates urged him several times, but Tu Hu chose to continue.

His eyes were fixed only on the trajectory of the sword in his hand.

Until one day, Cang Xuan appeared silently beside him and gently waved his hand.

Three clear, resonant sword cries rang out, and three beams of light, each with a distinct shape, unfolded before Tu Hu, transforming into three suspended sword shadows, each radiating a completely different aura.

The first one is blood red.

The sword was long and narrow, as if it were forged from congealed blood and endless killing intent. Just by looking at it, Tu Hu could almost hear the wails of millions of living beings and see the illusion of mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

The second one is dark purple.

The sword twisted and writhed, the surrounding space collapsed continuously, emanating an aura of absolute stillness that could cause everything to crumble.

The third sword, a pale gold greatsword, did not shine brightly. When Tu Hu gazed at it, he felt not a desire to destroy, but a firm resolve to protect everything behind him.

Cangxuan's gaze swept over the three sword shadows, finally landing on Tu Hu, his voice deep and resonant:

"Slaughter, destruction, protection—the cultivation of sword intent begins with a choice. Which way does your heart lean?"

Three swords floated silently, awaiting the tiger-slaying decision.

He knew that this choice would determine his future direction.

Tu Hu fell into deep thought.

He was the front-line tank of the squad, always taking a defensive role, and protecting his comrades behind him was his role in the team.

It seems that the Guardian Sword suits him better.

Without hesitating for long, his eyes hardened, and he reached out, pointing without hesitation at the pale gold greatsword.

"I choose it."

As soon as he finished speaking, the blood-red and dark purple sword shadows vanished like a dream.

The pale golden greatsword emitted a deep hum, transformed into a stream of light, and fell into his hand.

His arm suddenly felt heavy; the weight of the sword surprised him, but he clearly sensed that the sword's "essence" had changed.

A profound and warm feeling, like a blood connection, emanated from the hilt of the sword, as if the sword had truly become an extension of his will.

A faint golden halo flowed across the sword's blade before disappearing.

"Protecting is not about cowering, but also about wielding a sharp blade to cut through calamity." Cang Xuan looked at him and said slowly:
"Your journey has only just begun." With that, the old man vanished.

The following training sessions will still focus on the most basic blocking and sword techniques.

But with each swing of his sword, Tu Hu felt as if he were communicating with a deeper power.

He no longer pursued perfection in his movements, but instead devoted all his energy to the idea of ​​"protection": protecting his teammates, protecting his dreams, and protecting his hopes for the future.

From then on, I was sweating profusely every day. My arms went from being sore and numb to losing all feeling, and then they were reborn after breaking through the limits.

In this daily relentless training, he gradually forgot about time, his level, and the characteristics of his life soul; only the purest intention remained in his mind:
If you parry, you will be immune to all attacks.

Once the sword is drawn, there is no turning back.

Every so often, the old man would arrive, offer some simple guidance, and then leave.

That day, Tu Hu had just finished a round of extreme training and was panting with his heavy sword when Cang Xuan's figure appeared silently again and began to give him instructions.

After giving his instructions, the old man prepared to leave.

Tu Hu raised his head, panting, and looked at the old man's calm and expressionless face. A long-suppressed question finally escaped his lips:

"Old Master, that corpse in the main hall... is it you?"

Cang Xuan did not deny it, and nodded slightly.

"Why?" Tu Hu couldn't help but ask.

"With your strength, you should be able to leave... Why are you sitting there, waiting to turn into a skeleton?"

Cang Xuan remained silent for a moment, and the only sound on the empty grassland was the rustling of the grass in the breeze.

When he spoke again, there was a hint of unease in his voice:
"When trees wither, they should return to dust; so should civilization, and so should I."

He slowly raised his hand, pointing to the seemingly vibrant, yet actually solidified, illusory world around him:

"What is forcibly continued is merely the lingering shadow of obsession; it has lost its soul and remains only its form, which is the greatest desecration of the past glory."

"I witnessed its birth, accompanied it to its peak, and naturally... I should also witness its end." With that, the old man's gaze returned to Tu Hu, his clear eyes reflecting a calm acceptance of the cycle of rise and fall.

"This is my choice, and also... my destination."

"Then why did you leave this shadow behind? Why did you choose to teach me?" Tu Hu asked the most crucial question.

Cang Xuan slowly turned around, his back to Tu Hu, and said slowly:

"Civilization may die, but the 'Tao' should not disappear."

"What I am waiting for is a successor who can carry on this 'way'."

As his words fell, his figure gradually vanished, like morning dew merging into the sunlight, leaving only a final, ethereal sentence echoing in Tu Hu's ears:

"The sword will not grow old, but the person who wields it will. No matter how strong the swordsmanship is, it cannot withstand the erosion of time."

(End of this chapter)