Chapter 86: Chapter 86: Nine Dragon Key List (One More Update)
Profound Yellow Sect.
Xu Nian and his team hadn’t returned yet, but Junlin and his team had privately sent word about the Second Test. When they learned the Second Test would commence after Xu Nian’s return, all players were beyond excited.
Why?
There were three hundred players in the Second Test. If all these people could be recruited, it would make things much easier for the First Test Players as well. This was especially true for Flourishing Flowers. If Second Test Players could join his Cloud Lament, then his faction would remain the largest player group.
Junlin had already decided to pursue a high-level player strategy. With the arrival of Second Test Players, it was highly unlikely he would recruit them en masse. If they could divide the numerous Second Test Players, it would also ease their own burden. The only worry was whether the official side would secure quotas for the Second Test. That was something they had to monitor closely.
Flourishing Flowers gathered his Cloud Lament Hall members. "Junlin discussed something with me," he began. "He wants our help to customize a batch of specific clothes. From his tone, it seems he wants to use clothes to distinguish between First Test and Second Test players. I had a similar idea. Junlin’s group plans to introduce suits in the game. What should we do?"
Suits? The idea of Junlin and his Lingxiao Hall in suits was already intense. Were they planning to go the suit-wearing mobster route? TSK TSK. Imagine Junlin and his team, dressed in suits, fighting various Bosses in Jianghu. What a stunning scene that would be!
"Let’s keep it simple," Chaotic Dance Steps suggested, agreeing. "We have many people, but not everyone will accept a uniform, so a simple symbol or something similar should suffice."
With more people, things could easily get chaotic. Cloud Lament certainly didn’t want unnecessary conflicts arising from the arrival of newcomers. Distinguishing players was still very important.
Flourishing Flowers glanced at everyone present and calmly asked, "What do you all think?"
"Let’s go with a tag. It’s also easier to recognize."
"I say we just get tattoos. I’ve always wanted one but was too scared. Getting one in the game wouldn’t be bad."
"Heh, there’s no tattoo equipment here. Maybe some common people in Liang City know how, but are you sure you want to go there?"
"Let’s make a badge. After all, it’s just to confirm identity. We don’t need to make it too complicated."
The players voiced a flurry of opinions.
Chaotic Dance Steps sat to one side and said, "Let’s do a badge. Since we have a weapon forging station, we can design the badge as a type of hidden weapon. Maybe it’ll come in handy later?"
A hidden weapon badge? That could work!
Flourishing Flowers nodded. "Alright, Old Chaotic, you handle that. I’ll go down the mountain to check on the suit situation for Junlin. If the people in Liang City can’t make them, then we’ll have to rely on ourselves."
The members of the Profound Yellow Sect were all eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Second Test Players, seemingly unconcerned about other matters.
But at this moment, the Jianghu was already in turmoil. With all Nine Dragon Keys having appeared, each with a known master, the people of Jianghu were growing impatient.
Why? The Nine Dragon Keys were crucial to unlocking the Nine Dragons Secret Treasure! If they could open it, they would gain the power to control the world! Who wouldn’t want that?
"It’s unexpected that Grand General Qian Baichuan’s Silver Dragon Spear is actually one of the Nine Dragon Keys."
"I heard that even the Imperial Court is shaken and has dispatched people to the frontier to summon Qian Baichuan back to the capital."
"Golden Mountain and Silver Sea Manor actually possessed a Nine Dragon Key. Their Manor Master had hidden it remarkably well. Just last month, during his mother’s 80th birthday celebrations, many from Jianghu went to offer congratulations, yet he hadn’t shown the slightest concern about it being exposed."
"Leng Huatuo was ambushed at Silver Armor Snow Mountain. The martial arts experts from the Snow Mountain have already begun hunting him down."
In just one day, pieces of news like this began circulating throughout Jianghu. Everyone possessing a Nine Dragon Key was now a target.
Cui Shengshu, Eleventh in the World, didn’t have much to worry about. Those Jianghu people lacked the capability to cause him trouble. As for some of the others...
「Qingzhou Prefecture.」
At the foot of a mountain fortress, a young female warrior, dressed in coarse hemp clothing and shouldering a Cyan Dragon Crescent Moon Saber, surveyed the surrounding bandits with a cold, imposing demeanor. The bandits’ gazes towards her had already lost much of their earlier fervor. Instead, the Cyan Dragon Crescent Moon Saber in her hand had become the object of everyone’s burning desire.
"Guan Guan Jujiu, you can’t protect that thing. You’d better hand it over to us brothers. We’ll keep it safe for you!" the chieftain of the mountain stronghold sneered.
Ever since the list detailing the Nine Dragon Keys appeared in Jianghu, everyone had started scrambling for them. Real or fake, once they got their hands on one, their thinking was straightforward: find out who leaked the list, and then confront the person on it for confirmation, right? So simple!
Unfortunately, there were too few they could actually try to snatch. Cui Shengshu, Qian Baichuan, Little Sage Manor’s Sage’s Tomb, Golden Mountain and Silver Sea Manor, the Imperial Palace—these were all entities they dared not rob rashly. That left only the likes of the Profound Yellow Sect, Guan Guan Jujiu, and Leng Huatuo as viable targets for them to contest. Now that Guan Guan Jujiu had stumbled into their stronghold, they naturally wouldn’t let this opportunity slip. If they obtained the Cyan Dragon Crescent Moon Saber, they would have the leverage to contend for the Nine Dragons Secret Treasure!
"Keep it safe for your father, huh? Do you think I’m dead or something?" Guan Guan Jujiu retorted sharply. "Trying to snatch something from my hands? Why don’t you lot drop your pants and compare first? With those cowardly looks of yours, do you even think you’re worthy?"
Her words left the chieftain stunned for a moment. Once he snapped out of his shock, he led his followers to charge, intending to seize the Cyan Dragon Crescent Moon Saber by force.
But Guan Guan Jujiu was not to be trifled with. Could a woman who roamed the Jianghu alone be an easy target?
The Cyan Dragon Crescent Moon Saber danced in her hands, cyan light flashing with each swing, sending heads flying. Even when surrounded, the female warrior showed no sign of panic. On the contrary, the great saber seemed to have become an extension of her. Every slash carried an indescribable quality, making killing as effortless as chopping melons and vegetables.
She single-handedly cut a swathe through them, striking such fear into the hundreds of bandits in the stronghold that they lost their nerve. The chieftain, realizing he had picked a fight he couldn’t win, immediately made to flee, but unfortunately, his power was too meager.
Guan Guan Jujiu’s Cyan Dragon Crescent Moon Saber descended.
"AH—"
The chieftain, terrified, collapsed to the ground. The blade stopped just an inch from his neck.
"Speak! How did you know this Cyan Dragon Crescent Moon Saber of mine is a Nine Dragon Key?" Guan Guan Jujiu demanded, her eyes narrowed.
The chieftain hurriedly explained, "News has spread throughout Jianghu that all the Nine Dragon Keys have been claimed, and there’s even a list of their holders."
Saying so, he handed over a list.
Guan Guan Jujiu took the list and glanced at it. The chieftain seized the opportunity to scramble away in escape. She didn’t pursue him, instead scrutinizing the list carefully.
Cyan Shirt Blood Sword Cui Shengshu actually has two? Strange... I have a feeling someone is pulling strings behind the scenes. They better hope I don’t find out who it is, or I’ll definitely chop them to bits!