76: Chapter 76 Return

Ye Liuli and I supported each other, staggering as we walked toward Tianqi City.

Honestly, with my current appearance, if this were in reality, I bet even my mom wouldn't recognize me. There wasn't a single good spot on my entire body; my clothes were torn to shreds like a beggar's, my face was covered in bloody scratches, and my hair, blasted by that ghost thing, the Shadow Ghost King, was standing straight up—I was the spitting image of a reincarnated Super Saiyan.

Ye Liuli wasn't doing any better. This guild leader, usually as cold and aloof as an iceberg, had messy hair, a tattered robe, and a face smeared with black and white streaks, looking just like she'd crawled out of a coal pile.

"I say, Xiguang," I said, wincing, "With how we look right now, if someone snapped a photo and posted it on the forums, wouldn't your thousands of admirers have their hearts broken?"

Ye Liuli rolled her eyes at me, though that eye-roll lacked any intimidation given the black soot on her face: "Shut up, save your energy for walking."

"I'm just trying to liven up the mood," I chuckled, only to pull at the wounds on my face, making me gasp in pain, "Hiss—that Shadow Ghost King was too ruthless, giving us such a blow right before it died."

"Being alive is good enough." Ye Liuli's voice was somewhat weak, but her tone remained calm, "A level 30 BOSS, for two of us around level 25 to take it down, that's something to brag about for a lifetime."

I nodded, feeling a lingering fear in my heart.

That battle was truly perilous.

The Shadow Ghost King's final move, [Netherworld Explosion], almost sent both me and Ye Liuli back to the respawn point. If I hadn't grasped the complete version of the Sword Saints Three Styles' third style, [World Annihilation], at the critical moment and split that mass of nether energy with one sword strike, we would probably be queuing at the respawn point right now.

Thinking of this, I subconsciously gripped the longsword in my hand.

[World Annihilation] complete version...

The power of this move was far beyond my imagination. When I unleashed the complete version of World Annihilation, the entire Death Swamp was shrouded in sword qi; the might of that single strike felt as if it could truly destroy the world.

"Ergou," Ye Liuli suddenly spoke, "Your World Annihilation... is more powerful than I imagined."

"That goes without saying," I lifted my chin triumphantly, "Don't you know who I am? The most handsome guy in Tianqi City..."

Before I could finish, I saw the silhouette of Tianqi City ahead.

The tall city walls, the imposing city gate, and that row of heavily armed guards at the entrance.

"Finally here..." I breathed a sigh of relief, "I'm about to fall apart."

However, when we approached the city gate, we found something was wrong.

Those guards were on high alert, their spears pointed straight at us.

"Stop! Who goes there!"

The leading Guard Captain shouted sternly, his eyes scanning us vigilantly.

I was stunned for a moment, then realized—with our current appearance, it would be strange if we weren't treated as enemies.

"Don't be nervous, don't be nervous," I quickly raised my hands, "Friendly fire, friendly fire!"

"Friendly fire?" The Guard Captain sneered, "Who would believe that with you looking like this? Speak! Are you spies from the Shadow Pavilion!"

"Spies my foot!" I didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "Have you ever seen such miserable spies?"

Ye Liuli also spoke up, her voice weak but carrying an unquestionable dignity: "I am the Dawn Guild leader, Xiguang, and this is Chen Ergou, an inner sect disciple of the Sword Pavilion. We just returned from a mission in the Death Swamp and are severely injured; please let us pass."

The Guard Captain paused, clearly he had heard the name "Xiguang" before.

But he didn't let us through immediately, instead eyeing us suspiciously: "Dawn Guild leader? Inner sect disciple of the Sword Pavilion? Do you have proof?"

"Yes, yes, yes," I quickly fished out my inner sect disciple token from my chest, "Take a good look, this is the Sword Pavilion inner sect disciple token, genuine and authentic."

The Guard Captain took the token, checked it carefully, compared it with my face, and then returned it to me with lingering doubts.

"You're really an inner sect disciple of the Sword Pavilion?" His tone softened, but his eyes remained alert, "What happened to you all... How did you end up in this state?"

"Don't ask," I waved my hand, "Killed a level 30 BOSS and almost lost our lives."

"Level 30 BOSS?!" The Guard Captain's eyes widened, "The two of you?"

"Otherwise?" I shrugged, "Alright, alright, let us in, if we delay any longer, it's really going to be life-threatening."

The Guard Captain hesitated, but finally stepped aside: "Let them pass!"

Ye Liuli and I supported each other and limped into Tianqi City.

Whispers came from the guards behind us:

"Level 30 BOSS? Is that for real?"

"Those two look like they're only level twenty-five or twenty-six, can they kill a level 30 BOSS?"

"What do you know, they are an inner sect disciple of the Sword Pavilion and a Dawn Guild leader, could they be ordinary people?"

I listened to these discussions, feeling secretly triumphant.

Heh heh, didn't expect that, did you? I'm now a big shot capable of killing a level 30 BOSS!

Passing through the bustling streets, we headed toward the Sword Pavilion.

Players on the road saw us and cast surprised looks. Some sharp-eyed ones recognized Ye Liuli and were even more shocked, their mouths agape.

"Is that... Guild Leader Xiguang?"

"My god, how did Guild Leader Xiguang end up like this?"

"Who's that next to her? Looks pretty miserable too..."

"Seems to be that Chen Ergou from the Sword Pavilion?"

"They're together? Could it be..."

"Don't talk nonsense, didn't you see they're injured?"

I listened to these discussions, secretly finding it funny.

These onlookers sure have vivid imaginations.

Finally, we arrived at the gate of the Sword Pavilion.

The guarding disciples were also shocked to see us: "Senior Brother Chen! What happened to you..."

"Don't ask," I waved my hand, "Take me to see Elder Mo, I have something important to report."

"Yes!"

That disciple didn't dare delay and quickly led the way.

Passing through several courtyards, we arrived at Mo Wentian's residence.

Mo Wentian was drinking tea in the courtyard. Seeing us enter, the teacup in his hand fell to the ground with a "clatter".

"Ergou! Lady Xiguang! You... what happened to you guys?!"

Mo Wentian rushed over in a stride, seeing our injuries, his old face turned pale.

"Elder," I grinned, though this smile looked a bit ferocious on my blood-stained face, "We're fine, just went for a stroll in the Death Swamp."

"Death Swamp?!" Mo Wentian gasped, "Why did you go to that ghost place! That's the territory of the level 30 BOSS, the Shadow Ghost King!"

"Just went to kill it," I took out the crystal core emitting a dark light from my chest, "Here, the spoils of war."

Mo Wentian looked at the crystal core, his eyes widened, and his mouth was open wide enough to fit an egg.

"This... this is... the Shadow Ghost King's crystal core?!"

"Genuine and authentic," I nodded triumphantly, "Level 30 BOSS, Xiguang and I joined forces and slaughtered it."

Mo Wentian stood frozen on the spot, unable to speak for a long while.

After a good while, he tremblingly took the crystal core, examining it carefully, his expression changing from shock to ecstasy, then to gratification, unpredictable.

"Good! Good! Good!" Mo Wentian said "good" three times, his eyes even a little moist, "Ergou, you... you really brought honor to this old man!"

"Heh heh, just average, third in the world," I scratched my head, "Elder, don't get too excited yet, heal our wounds first, if we delay any longer, it's really going to be life-threatening."

"Right right right, heal! Heal!"

Mo Wentian finally reacted, quickly calling for disciples to prepare medicinal herbs and tools for healing.

Half an hour later, Ye Liuli and I were lying on two soft couches, covered in ointment, with blood-replenishing pills in our mouths.

Mo Wentian sat on the side, listening to us recount the battle.

When he heard that I had grasped the complete version of the Sword Saints Three Styles' third style, [World Annihilation], Mo Wentian's eyes shone like lightbulbs.

"Complete version of World Annihilation?!" He grabbed my hand, "Ergou, did you really grasp it?"

"Really, really," I was hurt by his grip, "Elder, take it easy, this is my hand, not a pig's trotter."

Mo Wentian let go, but the excitement on his face was plain to see: "Great! Great! The complete version of the Sword Saints Three Styles, how many years has it been since someone grasped it... Ergou, you are truly the pride of the Sword Pavilion!"

"That goes without saying," I lifted my chin triumphantly, "Don't you know who taught me."

Mo Wentian laughed loudly, stroking his beard and nodding repeatedly.

After laughing, his expression became serious: "Ergou, Lady Xiguang, you came just at the right time. This old man has something important to tell you."

"What is it?" Ye Liuli and I asked simultaneously.

"About the Shadow Pavilion," Mo Wentian said in a deep voice, "The Sword Pavilion has united with other forces in Tianqi City and is preparing defenses. The City Lord's Mansion and all major guilds will participate."

"Oh?" I raised an eyebrow, "Moving quite fast."

"It concerns the survival of Tianqi City, we have to be fast," Mo Wentian sighed, "The strength of the Shadow Pavilion far exceeds our imagination; this battle will likely be a fierce one."

I nodded, inwardly understanding the importance of this battle.

"Elder," I suddenly remembered something, "I have an idea."

"Speak."

"I want to use this Shadow Ghost King crystal core to make a [city defense array core]."

"city defense array core?" Mo Wentian was stunned, "You mean..."

"Exactly," I nodded, "The Shadow Ghost King's crystal core contains powerful nether energy. If it can be converted, it can be used to create a powerful city defense array. When the city is under attack, it can activate a protective shield to protect the people inside."

Mo Wentian's eyes lit up: "This... this is a way! But, do you know how to make it?"

"A little," I scratched my head, "I learned some basic knowledge of artifact refining in the stall system, making a city defense array core shouldn't be a problem."

"Good!" Mo Wentian slapped his thigh, "Then it's settled! I will send a few artifact refiners to assist you!"

"Many thanks, Elder!"

Just like that, under Mo Wentian's arrangement, I took a few artifact refiners and began the work of closing off to create the city defense array core.

Ye Liuli was also arranged to rest; her injuries were heavier than mine and she needed to recuperate properly.

Before parting, she looked at me with a trace of worry in her eyes: "Be careful."

"Don't worry," I grinned, "I'm Chen Ergou, I won't die."

Ye Liuli nodded and turned to leave.

I watched her back, took a deep breath, and turned to walk into the artifact refining room.

Shadow Pavilion, you just wait for me!

I'm going to prepare a big gift for you!