23: GSD

The blind old man, his eyes covered with a cloth, sat kneeling on the ground. Upon hearing Quan Wudi's words, he pulled out a tree branch from behind him and prepared to whip it against Quan Wudi's calf.

"Ouch!" Quan Wudi cried out, hastily dodging backward. However, the blind old man was even faster, and the 'clap-clap-clap' sound of whipping rang out incessantly.

"Stinky brat, where are your manners?" the blind old man said.

Xiao Hongyuan hurriedly said, "Please don't be angry, Elder. He's just a bit careless by nature."

The blind old man put away the branch, sat back down on the ground, and began to write his name on the earth with the branch.

"My name is G.S.D, not some 'Ji-Ai-Si-Di'!"

"Isn't that just 'Ji-Ai-Si-Di' anyway?" Quan Wudi muttered under his breath.

Hearing this, the old man immediately stood up, about to draw the sword strapped to his back.

A Fei quickly spoke up, "Senior, hello. Regarding what you told me last time, I still don't quite understand it."

"Oh, it's you, kid. Kid, you are very sensitive to the power of Ghosts and Gods; you must use it well. Do not let its power corrode you. If utilized properly, you will definitely be a powerful swordsman in the future!" G.S.D said to A Fei.

"Senior, Pung Jin sent us to find you. May I ask what task you have for us?" Jian Wuxie didn't mess around and asked directly.

"Oh, that matter. Go to the Vicious Thunder Ruins and bring me the Poison Cat King's Poison Sac. I need it for an experiment." G.S.D didn't waste words and handed the task directly to them.

Seeing the task was in hand, the four didn't linger and prepared to set off.

However, G.S.D said, "Little ones, when you are out adventuring, if you encounter a powerful swordsman, ask him for me if his name is Siran. Tell him I am here waiting for a duel."

"Oh, right. If it is him, remember not to provoke him. He can kill you with ease. Currently, on this continent, he is the only one who can match me in a fight." G.S.D's voice drifted eerily from behind them.

The group looked at each other, said nothing, and silently walked away.

Once they were far enough, Quan Wudi mocked, "Just an ordinary blind old man, yet he speaks as if he's the number one swordsman."

Xiao Hongyuan shook her head. "Don't judge a book by its cover. Didn't you notice the swords on his back? Just looking at the hilts, they aren't ordinary weapons. Do you think a common blind old man would possess so many powerful weapons?"

"Could it be that he really is a hidden master?" Jian Wuxie wondered skeptically.

"That Senior's understanding of the Way of the Sword is extremely profound. He told me a lot about it last time, but unfortunately, I didn't quite understand most of it," A Fei added at this moment.

"Argh, whatever! Hurry up, let's finish the task first!" Quan Wudi led the group straight to the entrance of the Gran Forest and chose the path leading to the Vicious Thunder Ruins.

As soon as they entered the Vicious Thunder Ruins, the four were captivated by the scenery before them.

Xiao Hongyuan looked at the incredibly beautiful flowers blooming in the swamp ahead and smiled. "This place isn't as scary as its name suggests; there are even such pretty flowers."

"Senior Sister, if you like them, don't worry. I'll go pick one for you." Jian Wuxie ran straight toward a red flower.

Jian Wuxie walked up to the red flower. Just as his hand touched the surface of the petals, the red flower retracted beneath the ground with extreme speed.

Jian Wuxie was stunned, then turned back and laughed. "This flower is indeed peculiar; it's quite shy."

Just as he spoke, from the small hole where the flower had retracted, a sharp spike covered in barbs suddenly shot out.

"Watch out!" A Fei suddenly shouted.

Jian Wuxie didn't react in time and was stabbed directly in the arm by the spike. He cried out in pain and hastily retreated.

"How are you?" Xiao Hongyuan hurriedly stepped forward to ask.

"I'm fine, just lost some health points," Jian Wuxie said after checking.

"Everyone be careful. This place is definitely not as simple as it looks," Xiao Hongyuan told the group.

As they continued forward, they saw several blue-skinned Goblins with small flags on their backs.

A Fei was the first to attack with a Three-Stage Slash. Upon reaching them, he used an Uppercut to launch one into the air, followed by a rapid series of sword strikes. Suddenly, a bolt of heavenly thunder fell, striking the Goblin directly on the head. It shrieked and transformed into white light.

"As expected of a Divine Artifact! The power of that heavenly thunder is truly extraordinary; it didn't give that Goblin a single chance to counterattack!" Jian Wuxie praised.

Hearing the praise, A Fei scratched his head bashfully and said shyly, "It was just luck."

Quan Wudi had also engaged a blue Goblin. He ran forward, suddenly leaped into the air, and shouted, "Vajra Shatter!"

While in mid-air, Quan Wudi thrust both fists downward, slamming into the ground in front of the Goblin. With a 'boom', the ground cracked from the vibration, and the Goblin was flipped over by the massive impact, sent flying backward.

Before the Goblin could land, Quan Wudi followed up with a punch-elbow combo, grabbed the Goblin with both hands, and slammed it into the ground with a Suplex.

Seeing his maneuvers, Xiao Hongyuan couldn't help but praise him, "These combat techniques are truly fierce!"

Hearing Xiao Hongyuan's praise, Quan Wudi couldn't help but get smug. He flexed his muscles ostentatiously, striking a few bodybuilding poses.

But he forgot that his weapon was only a temporary gauntlet given to him by A Fei; its power wasn't high, and the Goblin wasn't dead yet.

The blue Goblin stood up with a wicked grin and threw an icicle, which impaled Quan Wudi.

Quan Wudi was frozen solid right there, still holding his bodybuilding pose.

Xiao Hongyuan was somewhat speechless. After a sigh, she quickly stepped forward and helped Quan Wudi finish off the Frost Goblin.

The three of them looked at Quan Wudi, who was frozen into an ice sculpture with his arms still held high. Seeing him motionless in that state, they couldn't help but burst into laughter.

A moment later, the ice shattered, and Quan Wudi recovered from the frozen state. Looking at the three who were trying hard to stifle their laughter, he scratched his head and said, "Laugh if you want to, why hold it in!"

"Hahahaha!" Jian Wuxie was the first to crack, laughing while mimicking Quan Wudi's poses.

"Brother Quan, you should be more careful," Xiao Hongyuan said, exasperated.

The four continued forward and encountered a purple swamp.

"Be careful, this swamp isn't right. See if we can go around it?" Xiao Hongyuan's expression was grave.

"No, it looks like this is the only way through," A Fei replied after checking the surroundings.

Quan Wudi walked directly into the swamp. After taking a few steps in the disgusting purple mud, he said, "So far, there doesn't seem to be any danger. Let's just go."

Seeing that Quan Wudi was indeed fine—at most just a bit disgusted—the others felt slightly more at ease and stepped into the swamp one after another.