The Three Realms Thief Chapter 20

“Congratulations.”

“You received a ‘blaze of light’ in the open competition.”

“This ‘blaze of light’ has brought you a special reward.”

As these small words appeared, the “Qi Refiner’s Combat Preparation Room” automatically opened.

A brand new shelf came into Xu Yuan’s view.

The corresponding prompt lit up:

“You won a ‘blaze of light’ in the competition.”

“With this performance, you can now ‘upgrade’ a piece of equipment or skill.”

“Current options are:”

“Qiongxia Sword, Yan Song Sword Art, Eaves-Walking Movement Technique, Inch Punch.”

“Please choose.”

“After selection, please place it on the ‘Upgrade Shelf’ and wait a few seconds to complete.”

—Equipment upgrades are understandable.

Skills can also be upgraded?

Xu Yuan was surprised and looked around calmly.

By this time everyone had already hidden in the subway station.

Jiang Xueyao was surprisingly also skilled in array formations.

She was currently setting up small buffering arrays for some pregnant women, the elderly, and children.

Zhao Afei was squatting in front of a middle-aged man with a broken leg, having just checked his condition and was now taking out elixirs from his gourd.

A white crane flew in from outside, whispering nonstop into Yang Xiaobing’s ear.

The team members were all at their posts.

Nothing to do for now.

So—

Should I try this so-called “upgrade”?

Xu Yuan pondered for a moment, then, with a thought, he addressed the illusory shelf:

“I choose Yan Song Sword Art.”

The next second.

A booklet immediately appeared on the shelf, with the four large characters “Yan Song Sword Art” written on its cover.

Tiny glowing words flashed quickly:

“During your practice of the ‘Yan Song Sword Art,’ you gained unique insights and created a new sword technique, making it the fifth move of this sword art.”

“This is your personal unique sword technique, named—”

“Yan Qu.”

“A basic flying sword skill, can be further upgraded.”

“Effect: Your sword flies out three meters and strikes in mid-air.”

“Note: Everyone has different understandings of sword techniques, and everyone also has a unique combat style, and you are no exception.”

The sword manual on the shelf disappeared.

At the same time.

A wonderful insight emerged in Xu Yuan’s mind.

He involuntarily drew his long sword and gestured a few times in the air in front of him, completing the entire “Yan Qu” sword art.

—This sword art was as if he had comprehended it himself.

In an instant.

Xu Yuan understood it completely.

But he quickly frowned.

It was said to be a flying sword, but this move was useless!

The sword flies out three meters to strike.

And then?

The sword would fall to the ground!

If the enemy pressed him down, wouldn’t he lose his weapon?

Learning this kind of move would be quite suitable for a villainous BOSS, acting out impotent rage to set off the protagonist’s wisdom and greatness.

I don’t want to be a villain!

Xu Yuan was unwilling and looked at the prompt again.

Basic skill…

Can be further upgraded…

It seems more “blazes of light” are needed to upgrade this skill before it can be used in actual combat.

On the other side.

Jiang Xueyao saw him draw his sword, glanced at him from a distance for a few times, then her eyes suddenly fixed, she put away her array disk, and drew her sword to attack.

Xu Yuan instinctively blocked, and his sword art was instantly activated, his face changing as he said:

“Be careful!”

A streak of sword qi shot out from the Qiongxia Sword, directly attacking Jiang Xueyao!

Jiang Xueyao retreated a few steps, waving her Chixiao sword several times to neutralize the sword qi.

“Were you just trying out a new sword technique?”

She tucked her hair back, a hint of curiosity in her tone.

“After the battle just now, I had a feeling and wanted to see if it would work,” Xu Yuan said.

“No, you used a pistol to kill the wolf demon just now,” Jiang Xueyao said.

“I had the feeling when I killed the Tree Demon,” Xu Yuan shrugged.

Jiang Xueyao said nothing, staring at him, a strange look flickering in her eyes.

After a moment.

She said softly:

“Yan Song Sword Art is inherently an ‘enlightenment’ sword art, leading beginners to experience the profoundness of sword usage and then find a sword technique suitable for themselves.”

“For you to be able to create a move from this set of sword arts means you have grasped its true essence.”

“—I also created a move called ‘Yan Shuangfei (Swallows in Pairs)’.”

Xu Yuan was startled.

She also created a sword technique!

Interesting.

This girl really has talent.

Although I vaguely had some feelings, I wasn’t quite there yet, after all, I hadn’t been here for long.

It was only with the help of the “blaze of light” ability that I created a sword technique!

What?

The “blaze of light” was one of the abilities activated when I was pinned to the bridge, facing life and death, so it was my inherent talent?

…I’m a genius.

Xu Yuan nodded and casually said:

“Yan Shuangfei? ‘A lone figure beneath fallen blossoms, two swallows fly in a light rain’—good sword technique, good name.”

Everyone looked at him.

“I haven’t heard of that poem…”

Zhao Afei murmured softly.

Jiang Xueyao lowered her beautiful eyes, her expression calm as she said:

“Shall we try a move?”

“Here? No, not really,” Xu Yuan said coyly.

“You promised me.”

Jiang Xueyao remained unmoved, stating faintly.

“Look around, let’s talk about it after we get out,” Xu Yuan said.

Jiang Xueyao looked around, only to see ordinary people crowding the vicinity.

The sword qi was too fierce.

The power of the two swords was also very strong.

Fighting here, a moment’s carelessness could injure others.

Xu Yuan’s reason was simply irrefutable.

She sighed, visibly annoyed, and silently walked back to the area with women, children, and the elderly, burying herself in constructing small buffering arrays.

Xu Yuan breathed a sigh of relief.

—Your sword can spit fire!

I’d be a fool to fight you!

“They’re here.”

Yang Xiaobing suddenly said.

“What’s here?” Zhao Afei asked.

“The Flood Dragon’s technique—everyone be careful!” Yang Xiaobing yelled loudly.

Everything around became silent.

The entire world seemed to fall into a vacuum.

Immediately after.

It was as if a thunderclap exploded a few inches above everyone’s heads.

All the lights in the subway station went out.

Accompanied by the sound of steel and concrete cracking, dust showered down from the ceiling, and continuous sounds of dense碎石 (broken stones) falling echoed.

“It’s going to collapse!”

Someone shrieked.

Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.

In the previous few times, he had focused on the main points of the questions.

But this particular test question was a bit elusive.

Question: The Flood Dragon’s destruction of the world, what emotions of the question setter does it express?

A critique of human civilization?

A questioning and reflection on human nature?

—It couldn’t be expressing his homesickness.

If you unleash a full-screen attack and kill all the examinees, telling them to go back, then what’s the point of the exam?

“It won’t collapse, stay calm!” Yang Xiaobing shouted.

She drew a talisman and threw it out.

Whoosh—

The talisman floated in mid-air, quickly burning and illuminating the entire platform.

This talisman burned for a long time without extinguishing.

The crowd, about to fall into chaos, gradually calmed down after Yang Xiaobing demonstrated this miraculous talisman art.

What was there to fear!

There were cultivators guarding them here!

However, the cracks on the ceiling above everyone’s heads were constantly widening.

Zhao Afei jumped up, looking helplessly at Xu Yuan, then at Jiang Xueyao, Yang Xiaobing—

It might really collapse!

What should they do?

“Xiaobing, it’s up to you.” Jiang Xueyao fiddled with the array disk, not even lifting her head.

Yang Xiaobing nodded, took a damp piece of wood from her backpack, pressed one hand on it, and quickly formed a hand seal with the other.

“Water magic…”

She murmured softly, her body emanating a faint, spiritual mist of water vapor.

The spell was cast!

In an instant.

A huge mushroom sprouted from the wood, rapidly growing larger and harder, shooting up towards the ceiling.

Its cap, with a radius of tens of meters, firmly propped up the ceiling!

Even if other places collapsed, it didn’t matter.

The area above everyone’s heads was safe!

Many people cheered.

Yang Xiaobing, however, paled and her body swayed.

Xu Yuan quickly stepped forward, supported her, slowly sat down against the mushroom, opened his gourd, and handed her a Spirit Replenishment Pill.

He understood.

This question was a direct assessment of the students’ strength.

“Although this mushroom is big and thick—it shouldn’t explode, right?”

Xu Yuan asked worriedly.

“How could it! Would I harm myself?!” Yang Xiaobing rolled her beautiful eyes.

—Why would a mushroom explode? Xu Yuan’s mind was truly unfathomable.

Wait a minute.

Mushroom…

Perhaps it could be made to explode…

Maybe it could be used to catch the enemy off guard in battle?

Yang Xiaobing fell into deep thought.

Xu Yuan looked up at the mushroom, contemplating the unfolding situation, unaware that his unintentional words might genuinely initiate “Plants vs. Zombies” in this world.

While thinking, Yang Xiaobing popped the elixir into her mouth, chewing quickly, and then patted the white crane beside her:

“Go and scout again, report back.”

The white crane immediately flew towards the subway station entrance and exit.

At this moment.

In the dark underground station.

Only the continuously burning talisman emitted bursts of light.

No one spoke.

—No one knew if the Flood Dragon would continue its attack.