Chapter 82: Prey

Ever since obtaining the system mission, Fang Qi had begun to consciously practice his skills.

A technique like the Sword Control Technique was indeed just as An Huwei had described, heavily testing the practitioner's control; although he utilized Li Xiaoyao's extraordinary talent within the game to learn it, precision remained something he could only rely on himself to master.

To this end, Fang Qi drew inspiration from several excellent methods, such as treading water with lightness skills and carving flowers via sword control.

Sword-controlled flower carving: taking a piece of solid wood, one would control the sword with qi to carve a flower onto it without the hand ever touching the blade, a feat that rigorously tested one's mastery over the technique.

As for treading water with lightness skills, it was far from being as simple as merely skimming across the surface.

It required using the lightness skill to render oneself as light as a feather, thereby standing motionless upon the water's surface for extended periods.

This was a highly familiar training posture, serving not only to practice the manipulation of spiritual qi but also to simulate and adapt beforehand to the turbulence of sword-riding by using the undulating surface of the water.

"My goodness! The boss is actually using this method to train his Sword Control Technique!" Shen Qingqing made it a habit to check what Fang Qi was playing the moment she entered each day, and today she actually saw that Fang Qi’s in-game character was standing completely still upon the water! Such an act was truly astonishing.

Hearing Shen Qingqing’s voice, An Cheng, who had just stepped through the door, immediately looked over, quickly discerning Fang Qi’s practice at a glance: "To think he could devise such a method! This kind of targeted training is indeed countless times better than us gathering blindly in front of the door to practice haphazardly!"

"Utilizing the flowing and unstable nature of water ripples to enhance one's control over qi and personal balance..." Nalan Mingxue commented as she looked over while eating Haagen-Dazs, offering a rare reprieve from her usual biting tongue, "Mm, Boss Fang seems to be quite clever?"

Of course, as long as Fang Qi kept his mouth shut, no one would ever know that this water-treading training was something he had learned from watching cartoons before his transmigration!

...

Carving flowers with sword control was entirely different from doing so while holding the hilt; it was akin to suspending the entire blade by a single steel wire to dictate its every movement.

Even if one could pull and tug the sword into motion, the moment a truly delicate gesture was required, the execution would become exceedingly awkward!

Cradling the block of wood in his hands, he directed the sword with his own qi to begin carving whenever he found a spare moment; by now, the wood in his hands had begun to take the rough shape of a flower, and though it remained somewhat askew, one could see that as his control strengthened, the petals carved later grew increasingly refined.

Within the game, Fang Qi was now capable of controlling the sword with qi quite proficiently; though flying upon the sword was still slightly out of reach, given his current pace, it would likely not be long.

As his mastery over the Sword Control Technique within the game became more effortless and instinctual, his intrinsic control over qi grew steadily in tandem.

...

The booming popularity of the Origin Internet Club had indeed infringed upon the interests of many, and the one bearing the brunt of it was the most premium establishment of leisure for the nobility of Jiuhua City—the Beast Garden.

For instance, the Qin Mountain Beast Garden, which used to see an endless stream of nobility, was now noticeably more deserted than before; clearly, the aristocrats of today were gradually losing interest in the pastime of hunting demonic beasts!

Indeed, for most people, it was merely a pastime rather than true entertainment!

Yet an establishment like the Beast Garden, which kept a vast number of demonic beasts in captivity, required an immense expenditure of manpower, resources, and wealth daily to maintain; if it went without financial replenishment for too long, one could easily foresee the consequences without even thinking.

Could the owner of an enterprise grand enough to cater to such a distinguished clientele possibly be someone easily crossed?!

Pang Rulie was by no means a man to be trifled with; his mansion was built against the mountainside, where the rolling peaks rose and fell like interlocking beastly fangs, and as he sat within his estate with muscles bulging like a ferocious beast, his countenance was profoundly grim!

"Very well! Very well!" His low voice reverberated through the room like muffled thunder; sitting there, he resembled a crouching predator, "Has it been investigated thoroughly? What exactly is going on?"

The recent decline in patrons had been within acceptable bounds, but today he discovered that, almost overnight, the Qin Mountain Beast Garden had grown significantly more desolate!

Pang Rulie drew out a pipe of dark jade hue, took a deep draw after it was lit under the meticulous care of a beautiful maidservant, and inhaled deeply.

Though it was not yet enough to cripple the Beast Garden, in the first place, if this persisted, a devastating blow would eventually land, and in the second place, snatching food from a tiger's jaws...

Pang Rulie exhaled a plume of white smoke that shot out like a pillar of vapor over a meter away: "How many years has it been since such a thing last occurred...?"

Just then, a maidservant leaned in and whispered a few words into his ear.

Pang Rulie’s expression grew increasingly somber: "Merely because a tiny shop has stolen our patrons? The background of the shopkeeper is unknown, yet many of the customers possess exalted statuses?"

Pang Rulie bared his teeth in a vicious grin: "In that case, proceed with caution!"

After all, in this world, there was no shortage of underhanded methods that could never see the light of day!

Assassination?

That was the most foolish path of all.

In a place like Origin, if the owner were to die, one could easily deduce without a thought what a massive sensation it would stir!

Even if it succeeded, it would only bring endless trouble upon themselves!

Having navigated the highest aristocratic circles of Jiuhua City for so many years and expanded the Qin Mountain Beast Garden to such a grand scale, Pang Rulie naturally possessed his own unique methods and finesse; he would never commit an act that would only invite self-immolation.

His gaze darkening, Pang Rulie whispered a few words into the maidservant's ear: "Send the people from the 'Blood Network'!"

After all, many matters in this world could be resolved without spilling a single drop of blood!

...

For instance...

They had already discovered a lone little girl.

"The prey has left the cage." Outside the internet cafe, several pairs of sinister eyes fixed firmly upon Jiang Xiaoyue as she stepped out of the shop.

The "Blood Network" consisted originally of hunters who reaped exorbitant profits by tracking rare and exotic demonic beasts; naturally, if the price was right, they minded not if their quarry happened to be human.

Since they regularly contended with rare and even high-tier demonic beasts, their prowess was naturally formidable!

Far from lacking, every individual capable of joining their ranks possessed overwhelming strength and seasoned experience; among them, even the one with the lowest cultivation had already taken his first steps into the Martial Ancestor Realm!

Ordinary martial artists and cultivators would absolutely never dare provoke these ferocious individuals!

"To think it is merely such an defenseless young girl!" Though it appeared to be an exceedingly simple task, a lion would still deploy its full might even when hunting a rabbit!

A pair of grim eyes vanished; with their veteran experience, they would never allow the prey to slip away easily: "The quarry is advancing toward the strike zone. Prepare yourselves!"

Jiang Xiaoyue had been deeply moved by yesterday's session of The Legend of Sword and Fairy!

"Why did Caiyi have to meet such an end, and why must Ling'er's destiny be so fraught with hardships?!"

"This princess must play through The Legend of Sword and Fairy faster! This princess will surely rescue them all!" Jiang Xiaoyue resolved secretly in her heart.

At the thought that their fates might very well change because of her, an inexplicable wave of joy washed over Jiang Xiaoyue's heart: "This princess is so much smarter and more capable than that foolish boss; I can definitely achieve it!"

She had stepped out for no other reason than to buy groceries; after all, to earn money, she had to learn how to cook, and most importantly, she still owed Fang Qi several spirit crystals!

"I must pay him back quickly! I absolutely refuse to owe money to that foolish boss!" She puffed out her cheeks, thinking to herself in a huff.

Yet at this moment, Jiang Xiaoyue seemed completely oblivious to anything amiss.

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