Chapter Sixty-Eight: My Weapon Was Taken Away

Xie Jing had mastered countless techniques, but he did not possess the powers of the Ghost Cry. The source of that strength lay in the mastery of ghostly force, allowing one to summon spirits—something Xie Jing could never learn.

Thus, when faced with the boss, the only thing Xie Jing could wield was his swordsmanship. Or perhaps… there was another ability.

Looking down from above at the intruding adventurer, the lord let out an incomprehensible roar. Sparks scattered around his body, hissing as they fell to the ground.

Xie Jing disliked looking up at others, so he grew taller!

Giant Transformation was a unique ability of Ultraman; the light within his body could shape itself to any size he desired.

Now three meters tall, Xie Jing wore a pale red warrior’s attire—not the samurai of Japan, but simply battle-ready clothing.

He did not adopt the appearance of an Ultraman; Xie Jing preferred to use his original form.

Flames splattered everywhere. Fitz bellowed, and four flaming lieutenants appeared nearby.

Waves of speed-carried fireballs shot toward Xie Jing’s face.

With a single stroke.

Sword energy flashed like light, dispersing the fireballs. His figure moved like lightning, the roar of a dragon echoed, and a soaring dragon thrust behind the lord Fitz.

Countless sword images descended, forming a furious curtain of blades that tore Fitz apart.

Magma and fire scattered across the small chamber. Standing behind it, twelve luminous swords appeared, hovering at Xie Jing’s back.

The magma and flames gathered, and Fitz’s form reappeared. His fire slaves lunged at Xie Jing, unleashing a powerful force.

Roaring flames surged forth, blazing with heat.

The twelve luminous swords pierced through the sky-darkening fire, precisely targeting Fitz’s position.

One blade pierced his body; the remaining eleven easily hoisted him into the air.

In an instant, the overwhelming flames vanished.

Xie Jing’s gaze was divine, his right hand resting on his sword, body crouched.

He struck!

A brilliant flash enveloped the surroundings.

Crack—

The sword’s radiance passed through, then flew into the ruins, carving a bottomless scar.

Drawing Blade Slash!

A crisp sound echoed—the shattering of an energy core.

Fitz’s body glowed, flames erupting.

And then, he vanished.

At the same time, a cascade of brilliance fell straight from the clouds above, descending onto Xie Jing’s head.

Level up!

LV.81

He could distinctly feel the light within him strengthen, a mysterious force making the glow more solid, more powerful.

Xie Jing was delighted by the sensation of growing stronger, though he felt he had been missing out until now.

Ever since he acquired his inner light, he had tried cultivating or absorbing its energy, but to no avail.

The light within him neither increased nor decreased—it simply never grew.

Though he was already powerful, far stronger than most Ultraman, without continued growth, Xie Jing had no confidence to face ever more formidable foes.

Now, he had found the way!

Monster hunting, monster hunting!

Behind him, the Matchmaker tilted her head, watching her master. In the recent battle, she had not acted, lacking orders. From comparison, she knew this enemy posed no pressure to her master.

Fitz’s death scattered equipment and coins everywhere, as well as several Abyss Party invitations.

The equipment was mostly trash—common and rare items—but Xie Jing didn’t mind. He sorted through them, donning a mix of blue and white armor.

Xie Jing was a pragmatist, willing to try every method to grow stronger, unconcerned with the appearance of his gear.

With a casual swing, a massive cylindrical structure beside him shattered instantly, a burst of icy energy transforming into a dragon that darted away.

...

Abyss Party invitations weren’t easy to obtain, but after slaying numerous monsters in the ruined energy center, Xie Jing finally amassed twenty-four.

Staring at the screen prompt—whether to challenge the Abyss Party—Xie Jing chose yes.

A vortex immediately engulfed him.

It was the familiar terrain, but the lights were much brighter, the sky dim, as if something was about to break through the firmament and descend upon the world.

Ruined debris surrounded him, and ahead, many monsters lay fallen.

Hmm? Were there others here?

Xie Jing pondered and pressed forward.

Suddenly, the environment flickered, like the screen glitches often seen in movies; everything became unclear, disappeared, and then reappeared in the next instant.

Returning to normal human size, Xie Jing saw a mass of flame approaching.

The corpses of monsters that had littered the ground now revived.

Drawing Blade Slash!

Sword radiance swept across, the monsters dissolving into ashes floating in the air.

The flicker appeared again!

Xie Jing waited carefully, sensing an eruption of sword energy ahead.

A two-men-tall black pillar stood in the middle of the path, wreathed in dark energy, inscribed with unknown runes.

A swordsman clad in black, his chest emblazoned with a tiger’s head, was attacking the monsters around the pillar.

Above the swordsman’s head, an ID shone brightly.

Jiuri Baby!!!

That unlucky fellow again! It was the alt account of Jiuri Bebe, the renowned national server pro!

In the real world—

After losing over ten billion gold coins, Jiuri Bebe was mocked by his fans as the “Reverse King.” He swore never to gamble again, disappointing his followers.

Whenever Jiuri Bebe bet on a knight, the wily audience in his livestream would rush to bet on the knight’s opponent; and every time, the opponent won.

Jiuri Bebe suspected the company was deliberately targeting him. He even called the customer service hotline to complain, but it was useless—the losses kept coming!

Swearing to cut off his hand if he bet again, Jiuri Bebe decided to clear his mind by farming the Abyss. His Sword Saint class had completed the Epic Magic Battle gear set; all he needed was the Epic light sword, Barumke’s Blade, to graduate.

Players could farm Abyss easily—usually one-shotting everything. Today alone, he’d run a dozen times and gotten two Epic items, albeit useless ones, but it improved his mood.

“Brothers! This run, Barumke’s Blade will drop for sure! Believe it! Come on, place your bets! If you trust me, bet left and enjoy a wave of beans!”

After defeating the pillar demon and leaving one monster alive, Jiuri Bebe had his character jump left and right, giving viewers time to bet.

“All right! Bets are closed! Eyes wide open, it’s time to witness a miracle!”

Before he could even press his skill, Jiuri Bebe saw a figure appear beside the monster.

A single sword strike!

A brilliant golden flash soared upward, accompanied by a crisp ‘ding.’

A golden-white glowing blade leapt from the monster’s body and landed on the ground.

[Barumke’s Blade]!!!

Then, before tens of thousands of viewers, the figure bent down, picked up the light sword, and even smiled at Jiuri Bebe.

???

Jiuri Bebe’s jaw nearly hit the desk. His eyes widened in disbelief.

“Brothers… my weapon… seems to have been stolen by that horse-racing NPC?!!!”