Chapter 1 A Disappointing Spectacle

The countdown on the stage ticked down, the start of the duel drawing ever closer, yet the eyes of the entire arena were glued to Shi Feng beneath the platform.

"Letting a single person fight Nine Heavens Dragon Cloud, that's just disrespecting the name Sword Maniac too much."

"Exactly! Nine Heavens Dragon Cloud was being generous, giving the Asura Battle Team a chance to win, but now they're throwing that opportunity away. It's just idiotic!"

"Is the leader of the Asura Battle Team deliberately forfeiting the match?"

"How boring. They accepted Nine Heavens Dragon Cloud's challenge, but now they're resorting to these little tricks right before the fight. Do they think they won't lose face this way?"

…

The crowd couldn't help but cast scornful glances at the members of the Asura Battle Team.

What was supposed to be an exciting match had devolved into a disappointing farce.

"Hahaha, this Asura Battle Team is really something." In a VIP box on the third floor, Nine Dragons Emperor chuckled at the scene and turned to Feng Qianyu. "Qianyu, I know you have a lot of resources, but there's no need to waste them like this. You might as well sell them to me for cash."

Feng Qianyu had just used the Epic-rank magic robe that the guild had painstakingly acquired as a wager, and now the Asura Battle Team was pulling this stunt.

Nine Dragons Emperor suspected that the Asura Battle Team was secretly hired by the Divine Grace Guild.

She had to know that the Epic-rank magic robe was something the Grand Elder had given as a reward for Feng Qianyu.

If it was lost like this, the Grand Elder's fury would be unimaginable.

Feng Qianyu didn't reply, but her expression clearly soured.

"What is Night Blade thinking?"

She chose to wager the weapons, equipment, and items meant for the Thunder Island conflict, not because of Nine Dragons Emperor's provocation and ridicule, but because it was the result of her careful consideration.

Right now, she had too few resources. It was impossible to hire a strong helper. Even with the contract she had signed with Shi Feng earlier, it would still be too difficult to secure those two monster gathering locations on Thunder Island.

If she only occupied one monster gathering location on Thunder Island, she would definitely lose out to Nine Dragons Emperor, who was cooperating with the Divine Grace Guild. In that case, her position in the Dragon-Phoenix Pavilion would probably be the same as if she hadn't occupied a monster gathering location at all.

It was better to take a gamble.

At least if she succeeded, her chances of occupying two monster gathering locations on Thunder Island would greatly increase. Even if she failed, she was confident she could occupy one.

But now, Shi Feng's actions were making things very awkward for her.

Qing Huang, standing beside her, was hopping mad. She wished she could rush to Shi Feng and crack open his head to see what he was thinking. A battle that had some chance of success had been turned into one with absolutely no chance at all.

…

As the crowd discussed, the match countdown finally ended.

On the stage, Nine Heavens Dragon Cloud glanced at Fire Dance standing in the corner, then at the heroic and valiant White Light Snow, who looked like a female war god. A flicker of fire flashed in his eyes, and he said with slight anger, "This is your arrangement?"

He thought he could have a satisfying fight, but the Asura Battle Team had pulled this stunt.

White Light Snow was indeed talented. She had been the president of a first-rate guild and was a peerless beauty. She was very famous in the virtual gaming world and was a top expert and goddess in the eyes of the public, but these things didn't count for much at their level.

In his eyes, the only thing worth mentioning was her fight in White River City, where she had stepped into the Realm of Micro.

But with that level of combat skill, wanting to fight him was out of the question. Even if he hadn't changed classes to become the hidden class, Magic Swordsman, he could easily kill White Light Snow, let alone now.

"That's right, I'll be your opponent," White Light Snow said indifferently.

"Are you trying to anger me, Nine Heavens Dragon Cloud?" Nine Heavens Dragon Cloud looked at White Light Snow, his words so cold that the surrounding air seemed to freeze. "I'll give you one last chance. The two of you can come at me together!"

But White Light Snow and Fire Dance responded by not moving, with no intention of changing their minds.

"In that case, don't blame me for being impolite!"

Nine Heavens Dragon Cloud shouted and used Chasing Wind Sword to charge straight at Fire Dance in the corner. His speed was so fast that people could only barely see afterimages.

Ten yards passed in the blink of an eye, and Nine Heavens Dragon Cloud was less than a hundred yards away from Fire Dance, just a few seconds away from reaching her.

"So fast!"

Everyone present was surprised by Nine Heavens Dragon Cloud's speed. Even top-tier assassins who prided themselves on their speed couldn't compare.

Nine Heavens Dragon Cloud was less than 20 yards away from Fire Dance, but she seemed to be watching like a bystander, calmly watching Nine Heavens Dragon Cloud rushing towards her as if it was none of her business.

"Courting death!" Nine Heavens Dragon Cloud roared in anger.

He had already locked onto Fire Dance with his killing intent, wanting her to be alert and attack, but Fire Dance was still showing such an attitude, underestimating him too much.

Saying that, Nine Heavens Dragon Cloud didn't hold back, drawing the light blue greatsword from his back and slashing fiercely at Fire Dance.

At the moment this light blue greatsword was swung, everyone in the entire venue could hear a metallic hum that was exceptionally piercing. At this time, people couldn't see Nine Heavens Dragon Cloud's swinging hand and sword at all, as if they didn't exist, disappearing from everyone's sight.

"As expected of Sword Maniac, his Godspeed Sword has improved again!" Nine Dragons Emperor looked at Nine Heavens Dragon Cloud on the stage and said playfully, "It's a pity that Fire Dance will end without seeing anything."

Godspeed Sword could be said to be Sword Maniac Nine Heavens Dragon Cloud's signature ability.

It seemed like just a single sword swing, but this sword was one that used all the strength of the entire body's muscles. After several accelerations of the body's muscles, it was thrown out like a whip, exceeding the original speed limit set by the system for players. This was like stacking strength.

But although it sounded simple, there were very few top experts who could actually do it, and there was no one like Nine Heavens Dragon Cloud at all, which was why Nine Heavens Dragon Cloud had the name Sword Maniac.

This sword, which exceeded the speed of the naked eye, was extremely difficult for even experts who had reached the Vacuum Realm to deal with. They had to go all out, concentrate all their energy, and push their five senses to the limit to barely cope.

Fire Dance had only stepped into the Realm of Micro, so being killed without even seeing the sword was perfectly normal.

This was also why it would take two people to deal with Nine Heavens Dragon Cloud to have a chance of winning.

Clang!

A loud bang echoed throughout the entire arena.

The light blue greatsword in Nine Heavens Dragon Cloud's hand stopped about five yards away from Fire Dance. White Light Snow had somehow stood in front of Fire Dance, her silver-white greatsword like a wall, firmly blocking Nine Heavens Dragon Cloud's attack trajectory, preventing him from touching Fire Dance at all.

"You!" Nine Heavens Dragon Cloud looked at the suddenly appearing White Light Snow in surprise.

He didn't understand at all how White Light Snow had appeared, and he didn't understand how White Light Snow had blocked his Godspeed Sword.

Just as Nine Heavens Dragon Cloud's heart was full of questions, White Light Snow used a little force with both hands, and the silver-white greatsword in her hands shook Nine Heavens Dragon Cloud back several steps.

The difference in strength was obvious!

"I don't know, can you fight seriously now?"

White Light Snow glanced at Nine Heavens Dragon Cloud, her words indescribably indifferent, as if the previous Godspeed Sword was not worth mentioning at all.

ps: Thank you Lang Lang 263 for the 10,000 reward!