Chapter 4

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At noon, the autumn sun hung high, its rays piercing through the clouds like ten thousand swords, striking the earth directly.

Lin Xiao walked under the autumn sun with a light and quick pace. Although his expression was indifferent, a hint of joy occasionally flickered in the corners of his eyes.

Indeed, when one is happy, it's hard to completely hide it.

First, he went to the temporary base of a member of the elite gang who had a conflict with him. The person wasn't there, but his five subordinates were. They started with some sarcastic remarks, and Lin Xiao used this as an opportunity to draw his sword and defeat them one by one, earning five points of battle achievements, which made him feel relieved.

However, his battle achievements were deducted by one point.

He spent two points to advance his basic sword technique to a minor level of proficiency. The remaining two points were not enough to continue the upgrade. Then, he found the eight subordinates of the last two elite gang members under Wang Tiegeng. After a few words, they clashed, and he defeated them with his sword technique, earning another eight points of battle achievements.

Unexpectedly, there was a pleasant surprise. When Chen Zong had defeated ten people in total, he received an additional reward of ten points of battle achievements.

This trip, he earned a total of twenty-two points of battle achievements, a significant harvest that also initially confirmed Lin Xiao's hypothesis.

Only by defeating those who were hostile towards him could he earn battle achievements, whether it was through words, actions, or thoughts, as long as they were hostile towards him.

Lin Xiao spent three more points to advance his basic sword technique to a major level of proficiency, and then to a perfect level, which required not four points but five points of battle achievements.

Returning to the temporary base, Wang Daniu and the other two had not yet returned from gathering information. Lin Xiao sat on a stone bench in the courtyard, rubbing his chin in thought.

"I still have twelve points of battle achievements. Let's try to improve the horse stance," he thought.

"Hmm, can it still be improved after reaching perfection?" A thought suddenly popped into Lin Xiao's mind, and he couldn't resist trying: "Improve the basic sword technique."

Just as he thought nothing would happen, he was suddenly pulled into a dim space. He saw a figure practicing the basic sword technique, getting faster and faster until it became a blur. Suddenly, the figure exploded, turning into countless sword shadows that filled the sky, like a mighty river surging towards Lin Xiao.

Unable to dodge or block, Lin Xiao was instantly overwhelmed. His consciousness felt pierced, torn, and shattered, as if his soul had dispersed into the darkness.

After an unknown amount of time, a faint light appeared in the darkness, gradually converging at the center. Lin Xiao slowly regained consciousness, his eyes full of confusion, asking himself, "Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?"

"Spent ten points of battle achievements, basic sword technique advanced to the realm of mastery." The stiff and mechanical voice seemed to carry a hint of surprise, awakening Lin Xiao from his confusion.

"I am Lin Xiao."

"I just used battle achievements to improve the basic sword technique."

"Basic sword technique advanced to the realm of mastery... Does that mean it's at the level of divine mastery?" Lin Xiao muttered to himself, feeling his mind blocked as if filled with stones. Countless secrets of the basic sword technique flooded his mind, and he grasped them one by one, amazed.

It turned out that the sword could be wielded in such a way, and the sword technique could be executed in such a manner. A feeling of sudden enlightenment, like drinking a bowl of iced plum soup on a scorching summer day, filled him with clarity and comfort.

Inspired, Lin Xiao drew his sword and thrust it forward. The sword trembled, emitting a sharp sound. Immediately, he felt a sense of smoothness, his strength coiling into a single force, reaching the sword tip, and the sword moved like a meteor through the air. Before it reached its peak, he suddenly changed his move, slashing horizontally, then thrusting upward, and finally stabbing downward, his strength and movements changing instantly, his muscles and tendons contracting and relaxing with perfect control.

As if his limbs were extensions of his will, he wielded the sword with ease.

Sheathing his sword, Lin Xiao used his arm as a sword to practice the basic sword technique. This feeling was very strange, as if his body itself could become a sword, executing the sword technique, as if he had ingrained the basic sword technique into his very bones and muscles, making it an instinct.

Feeling the thrill, Lin Xiao couldn't help but laugh heartily, feeling extremely satisfied.

He had originally thought about spending some time learning basic boxing and kicking techniques, but now it seemed unnecessary. His boxing and kicking could all be used to execute sword techniques.

...

On his third visit to the Blue Tiger Martial Arts Hall, when Lin Xiao and his three companions entered, the dozen or so disciples practicing boxing inside all looked over, wanting to approach but not daring to. Someone immediately ran to inform the hall master, without Lin Xiao even needing to speak.

"You little punk, you dare to come and collect the monthly fee again." The hall master, with a fierce expression like a powerful tiger, stepped forward, a sinister smile on his cold face.

"The monthly fee must be collected." Lin Xiao's heart trembled slightly, but he took a firm step forward and said calmly, "I have a compromise. I will fight each of your disciples one by one. If I win all of them, you will pay the monthly fee. If I lose even one, I will never step into the Blue Tiger Martial Arts Hall again."

"If I lose one, you can do whatever you want with me." The hall master was slightly taken aback, then looked at Lin Xiao closely and sneered.

"Agreed." Lin Xiao thought for a moment. He had already had Wang Daniu and the others gather information. These dozen disciples were all locals who had not practiced before joining the martial arts hall. In just ten days, what could they have learned? He nodded and looked at the dozen disciples, his eyes filled with an indescribable excitement: "Who wants to go first?"

This could mean over a dozen points of battle achievements.

The disciples looked at each other, none daring to step forward. They still remembered what had happened not long ago.

"Unarmed combat." Lin Xiao handed his sword to Wang Daniu.

"I'll go." The tall young man who had been kicked down and urinated on by Lin Xiao shouted, determined to avenge his humiliation: "You ambushed me in the morning. Now, I'll show you my strength."

Lin Xiao moved like a horse, swift as the wind, and punched out, his fist like a sharp sword, making the tall youth feel a chill, as if a sword was piercing through the air towards him. The hall master's eyebrows furrowed, his expression turning serious as he watched Lin Xiao's every move more closely.

With the basic sword technique at the realm of mastery, ingrained into his bones, Lin Xiao could use his fists, feet, fingers, and palms to execute the sword technique. In just a few moves, he knocked the tall youth to the ground, leaving him groaning and unable to get up.

"Where are my battle achievements? Did you deduct them again?" Lin Xiao, hearing no prompt, silently fumed.

"Repeating defeats are invalid." The stiff and mechanical voice unexpectedly responded.

"If you had said that earlier, you would have saved me time. You can kneel and rest now." Muttering, Lin Xiao immediately looked at the others: "Next one."

"I'll go." A strong-looking young man shouted, charging at Lin Xiao like a bull. Lin Xiao's eyes flashed with a sharp light. Without dodging, he stepped forward, his right arm striking like an iron sword, hitting the strong youth's neck, and then his elbow like a sword striking his chest.

"Who's next?" Lin Xiao's gaze swept the room, his eyes piercing, and the remaining disciples shrank back, looking like ostriches trying to hide their heads.

"You..." Lin Xiao's gaze swept the room, pointing at one of them: "Yes, you. Don't hide, come out."

The disciple Lin Xiao pointed at hesitated, trembling in fear.

"Go." The hall master, with a fierce expression, barked, and the disciple, trembling, charged at Lin Xiao and was easily knocked down again.

"Next." Feeling the thrill, Lin Xiao couldn't help but shout.

"You two, come together." Lin Xiao pointed at the last two disciples, who tried to retreat, but he couldn't let them run away. Those were two points of battle achievements.

The dozen disciples huddled together, looking pitiful and helpless, like a girl who had been brutally assaulted by a hundred men. They looked at Lin Xiao with fear, seeing him as a demon. Wang Daniu and the others were stunned, wondering if this was the same Xiao they knew.

(To be continued, please turn the page.)

When did he become so powerful?

"Body-sword realm..." The fierce hall master couldn't hide his surprise. A small-time thug from a small gang had reached such a level of sword mastery, which was simply unbelievable.

"Twenty consecutive victories, rewarded with twenty points of battle achievements." When this voice sounded, Lin Xiao felt it was the most beautiful sound in the world, making him feel light and almost float away.

The Blue Tiger Martial Arts Hall had fourteen disciples. Deducting the one he had defeated before, Lin Xiao earned a total of thirty-three points of battle achievements, a huge harvest that made him almost jump for joy.

Unfortunately, he was two short of thirty defeats, which would have earned him a reward of thirty points of battle achievements.

"I won. The first month's fee is ten taels of silver. From the second month, the fee will be adjusted based on the hall's income, increasing but not decreasing." Lin Xiao said, panting, having used up most of his strength after defeating fourteen people.

"Young man, come to me tonight." The hall master, very straightforward, took out ten taels of silver and handed it to Lin Xiao, his fierce face forcing a smile that looked even more terrifying and lecherous.

"I, Lin Wuming, am a decent person." Lin Xiao's heart raced, feeling the silver in his hand become hot, and he ran away like a streak of smoke.

...

Every small leader had a formal base, big or small.

The Moonlit Pavilion was Wang Tiegeng's formal base. At this moment, four people were gathered inside the Moonlit Pavilion.

The burly Wang Tiegeng sat at the head of the table, with two seats on either side, three of which were occupied by elite gang members under his command, and one seat was empty.

"Wang Boss, that Lin Xiao is too infuriating. He came to my base and beat up all my subordinates," Wang Daqiang complained angrily.

"Wang Boss, my subordinates were also beaten by Lin Xiao," Wang Erqiang, who was Wang Daqiang's brother, complained angrily as well.

"Wang Boss, my subordinates were also beaten by Lin Xiao," Zhou Xiwen shouted, waving his arms and legs: "And I heard that he still hasn't collected the monthly fee from the Blue Tiger Martial Arts Hall."

"Damn it, where is that Lin Xiao now? Find him for me quickly," Wang Tiegeng's face darkened, and he shouted angrily.

Outside the Moonlit Pavilion, Lin Xiao walked up, looked at the sign above, and couldn't help but smile.

Wang Tiegeng was an uneducated rough man who often swore, but he couldn't resist his desire to appear cultured.

"Wang Boss." Lin Xiao quickly entered the Moonlit Pavilion and bowed respectfully.

"Damn it, Lin Xiao, you came just in time. Why did you beat up the brothers in the gang?" Wang Tiegeng glared and shouted: "Do you know that attacking gang members is a violation of the gang rules and will be punished?"

"Wang Boss, this is not my fault. They mocked me and violated the gang rules by being disrespectful," Lin Xiao responded calmly and indifferently.

"Lin Xiao, you are just making excuses, distorting the facts, and stirring up trouble..." Zhou Xiwen, jumping up, tried to think of learned and scholarly words to accuse Lin Xiao.

"Wang Boss, we can call witnesses," Lin Xiao ignored Zhou Xiwen and met Wang Tiegeng's gaze fearlessly.

"Lin Xiao, you dare to ignore me..." Zhou Xiwen, seeing that Lin Xiao ignored him, shouted angrily.

"I can't stand fools in my eyes," Lin Xiao's words made Zhou Xiwen first stunned, then almost explode with anger when he realized he was being insulted.

"Shut up, all of you shut up, you're giving me a headache," Wang Tiegeng roared, pressing his forehead, then glared: "Lin Xiao, you only have one day left. If you don't collect the monthly fee, don't blame me for being ruthless."

Zhou Xiwen, who had been angry, immediately smiled when he heard this.