Chapter 12

Though they weren’t together, Qin Lang could still message Xia Xifeng through the System.

They hadn’t been apart before, so neither knew the maximum range of the System’s communication.

Xia Xifeng didn’t reply.

There was only one reason the chatterbox Xia Xifeng wouldn’t respond immediately: he was utterly engrossed in a book.

No reply meant tacit approval. Without the slightest psychological burden, Qin Lang accepted this debt of favor.

The sensation of resetting his stats was peculiar. Qin Lang flexed his limbs, then redistributed his points.

Amuruo did not guide Qin Lang through the process.

He discovered Qin Lang already possessed a perfect internal logic for character growth. This was normal; Guardian Knights were also “God’s Favored.”

Once Qin Lang finished his reallocation, Amuruo resumed his instruction.

Qin Lang’s combat movements were strange.

When it came to individual combat techniques, he moved like a seasoned veteran of many years, without a single superfluous action.

But in the transitions between each polished technique, Qin Lang suddenly became a raw beginner, making his chain of actions jerky and incredibly jarring to watch.

Yet, Qin Lang’s combat talent was monstrous. After a few stuttering sequences, his movements became considerably smoother. Though they still hadn’t reached the level of “adept,” they no longer hindered his combat flow.

Amuruo analyzed the reason for Qin Lang’s drastically split combat performance.

Qin Lang wasn’t just a genius with extreme combat talent and awareness; his mind was already filled with vast combat knowledge, and even “experience.”

This “experience” wasn’t the standard direct infusion granted by Divine Favor abilities—Amuruo possessed such abilities himself.

Divine Favor could only bestow “knowledge,” not “experience.” Transforming “knowledge” into “experience” required immense amounts of time.

But Qin Lang seemed as if he’d already acquired the “experience,” only his body hadn’t adapted yet.

He was like a war hero, paralyzed for years, suddenly granted a youthful and healthy body. To recover his former peak combat prowess, he needed to undergo a long and arduous “rehabilitation.”

But this “rehabilitation” wasn’t learning; it was retracing a path he had already walked.

The difference between “rehabilitation” and “learning” was this: as long as Qin Lang put in the effort, he was guaranteed to grow back to his former heights.

“You seem very familiar with my combat instruction,” Amuruo noted, sheathing his dagger. “You don’t need to explain why, just answer me: yes or no.”

Qin Lang replied, “I’ve never received combat instruction from the City Lord, but I’ve witnessed it many times.”

In the game, he had sparred with Amuruo countless times.

Fighting with his full strength meant he couldn’t hide his familiarity with Amuruo’s combat habits. But it didn’t matter; Xia Xifeng’s “Prophet ability” would surely take the blame. He’d already prepared this excuse.

As Qin Lang expected, Amuruo immediately attributed Qin Lang’s familiarity with his fighting style to the “Prophet” and “Guardian Knight” abilities.

This capability wasn’t too outlandish; it just bypassed the process of recording with an Image Sphere.

“Leo, release your restraints. You instruct Lang,” Amuruo said.

Since Qin Lang was already familiar with his combat style, continuing to guide him would disrupt Qin Lang’s own emerging combat logic and reduce training efficiency.

Leo placed a hand on the ornate bracer on his wrist. “Fully released? Lang won’t even be able to take a single blow from me then.”

Amuruo’s eyebrow twitched violently. “Suppress your power, just as I did! Do I need to teach you that?!”

While slowly and reluctantly undoing the complex Power Suppression Runes, Leo said, “Even if I suppress my power, the abilities and techniques I can still use are comparable to a warrior who has just entered the Path of Legend. That’s unfair to Lang…”

What does fairness have to do with instruction? Are you saying my instruction was unfair to Qin Lang?

The moment Leo started his nitpicking, Amuruo felt an irresistible urge to thrash him.

Perila hastily tried to cast a Silence Spell on Leo, but it was deflected.

Leo mocked Perila, “Did you forget you’re also wearing Power Suppression Runes? Idiot.”

His face darkening, Perila undid his own Power Suppression Runes, then used vines to hoist Leo upside down.

Having run his mouth, Leo obediently allowed himself to be hung.

Qin Lang had just been startled by the sudden eruption of a powerful aura from Leo, and now he watched speechlessly as Leo was trussed up by vines into a green rice dumpling.

Even the spectating Damon felt awkward. “Let me switch in and spar with Lang instead.”

Qin Lang said, “I’ve also seen your combat a few times.”

Damon replied, “It was only a few times…”

Amuruo cut him off. “Let Leo do it. When he says ‘a few times,’ it’s just modesty.”

Damon’s eagerness grew. Qin Lang was familiar with his combat patterns too? He really wanted to fight Qin Lang!

But since this was currently instruction, Damon could only wait for another opportunity.

Perila lowered Leo back down.

Leo stretched his limbs on the spot, his twin axes appearing in his hands. “Even with my strength suppressed, I’m still incredibly strong, Lang. Be careful.”

Amuruo instructed Damon to apply a layer of protection to Qin Lang. “Give it your all; you won’t injure him.”

Leo muttered, “Maybe not injure, but it’ll still hurt.”

His teacher’s instruction was always brutal.

Still muttering, he kicked off the ground with both feet, launching into a charge. In the blink of an eye, both axes slashed down towards Qin Lang’s head.

Qin Lang’s eyes flickered, but he hadn’t even registered the movement before both axes struck his skull, sending him flying backward a considerable distance.

He touched his head, which felt like it had been smashed by a rock.

With the protection applied and his power suppressed, Leo indeed couldn’t hurt him. But even ignoring the pain, the visual impact of twin axe blades cleaving into one’s skull—if it were Xia Xifeng, he’d surely have fainted from fright.

Qin Lang was fine, just mildly startled. A few deep breaths were enough to calm his racing heart.

Rubbing his head, Qin Lang pushed himself up from the ground.

Leo bounced on the spot, waiting for Qin Lang to recover.

He really didn’t want to bully a friend, but once they stepped onto the training grounds, if he didn’t train Qin Lang until he couldn’t lift a single finger, he would absolutely never leave.

Teacher Amuruo’s instruction was always this harsh.

“How did you end up being cornered by wild beasts and screaming for help?” Qin Lang asked casually, still rubbing his head to distract himself from the throbbing pain.

Leo answered helplessly, “What can I say? Seeking the Path of Legend is just that difficult.”

Perila added, “Stepping onto the Path of Legend isn’t hard; what’s hard is reaching that state where the path ahead is unbroken—the true threshold of Legend. But the City Lord only wanted him to re-experience life from a weaker perspective; he didn’t forbid him from undoing the power seal if he encountered danger.”

Leo argued, “If you don’t face death head-on, what’s the point of sealing your power? Let me tell you, being pushed to the brink of death and then surviving, I gained an incredibly powerful insight! I’ll find my path soon!”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Perila said dismissively. “It’s just that, if you hadn’t met Lang and Feng, I’m not sure that insight would have let you step into Legend as an undead.”

Qin Lang lowered his hand from his head. “Perila, your power suppression… are you also seeking the Legend path that leads to godhood?”

Perila nodded. “Correct. But I don’t need to court death like Leo. The path to godhood I’ve chosen is the exploration of the unknown. I never expected to encounter the mysterious Feng at this time. I’m truly fortunate.”

Damon quipped, “Perila, Leo, did you two swap your Sunflower Pendants?”

After a few moments of casual chatter, Qin Lang recovered his condition and continued receiving Leo’s instruction.

Leo used the same trick, but this time Qin Lang dodged it with ease.

Yet, just as Qin Lang landed from his dodge and hadn’t steadied himself, Leo’s axes struck him back out again.

The guy even deliberately used the sharp edge of the axe every time he struck Qin Lang, creating an absolutely terrifying visual.

Leo laughed. “Lang, why do you always leave such a huge opening after every dodge? It’s practically an invitation to get struck.”

This time, Qin Lang recovered even faster than before.

He stood up, wiped the cold sweat of pain from his forehead, and said, “Again.”

…

Xia Xifeng closed his book and shut his eyes for a brief rest.

Suer looked at the small mountain of books beside Xia Xifeng, inwardly marveling once more.

They hadn’t known each other long, yet Xia Xifeng had already astonished him repeatedly.

Even for him, speed-reading such a vast volume of books would cause dizziness. With Xia Xifeng’s mental fortitude, he shouldn’t have been able to endure this long.

Although Suer had provided him with energy potions, real fatigue couldn’t be faked.

Suer could tell Xia Xifeng was searching for information with a clear purpose.

Now that Xia Xifeng had finally stopped to rest, perhaps he had found what he was looking for? He wondered what it was and whether it was connected to the future he could supposedly see.

Xia Xifeng kept his eyes closed for a long time, the near-death-by-sleep-deprivation pain in his head—like he’d pulled several all-nighters in a row—finally easing slightly.

He hadn’t intended to push himself this hard, but he’d quickly found the clues he was seeking, and his hands simply couldn’t stop turning pages.

Just as he was about to notify Qin Lang, Xia Xifeng discovered that Qin Lang had informed him they now owed an enormous joint debt.

Xia Xifeng: “…”

Thanks a lot. His groggy mind instantly cleared.

Qin Lang, you son of a bitch! How much combat difference is there between taking one level of Bard and going full Assassin? A few decimal places?

With the hundred and ten levels required to bridge a few decimal points of difference, and considering we’ve latched onto the mighty thigh of the Lord of Green Sand City, is leveling really that difficult?!

You just can’t bear to see an unclaimed advantage and not exploit it, you’re so shameless!

Xia Xifeng spoke weakly, “Mr. Suer, I will certainly return the Respec Potion to you as quickly as possible.”

Suer evidently had his own special channels to contact Amuruo and was already aware of the matter.

He said kindly, “It’s an item I have no use for; no need to return it.”

Xia Xifeng knew the game’s lore: Respec Potions were something few potion masters could craft, but for those NPC alchemists who could, the item was essentially useless.

Those who needed Respec Potions couldn’t afford them, and even if they scraped the money together, it wasn’t cost-effective compared to investing those same resources elsewhere. Those who could gather the materials themselves and commission a master alchemist had already carved out their own path and didn’t need to start over from scratch.

As long as one could step onto the Path of Legend, early detours wouldn’t hinder their future ascent. Moreover, NPC abilities weren’t like players’—they couldn’t simply reallocate points. For alchemy masters, crafting Respec Potions was time-consuming, labor-intensive, material-costly, and hard to sell.

This item was entirely a tool provided by the game developers for players. Even players didn’t use it much; most just kept it as a commemorative trinket.

As a game that had been running for years, Fantasy Realms had long since retired experience boost packages. Various experience events were plentiful. Why would players need to grind levels the hard way? Resetting a character was less hassle than starting a new one.

But just because the Respec Potion was trivial to Suer didn’t mean Xia Xifeng and Qin Lang could accept the gift with a clear conscience. They would remember the debt themselves and quietly repay it when the time came without arguing over it.

Suddenly burdened with enormous debt, and already mentally exhausted, Xia Xifeng couldn’t be bothered to contact Qin Lang. He directly checked whether Qin Lang had finished getting beaten up.

Qin Lang had long since finished.

Unfamiliar with Leo’s combat style, he’d been cleaved away dozens of times before he collapsed, unable to rise again, his body feeling like it had been run over.

Now, it was Leo getting pummeled on the training grounds.

“Teacher… ah! City Lord, stop, stop! Save me some strength; I haven’t even shown you the path I’ve comprehended!” Seeing his teacher getting serious, Leo quickly called for a halt. “This ultimate move of mine will definitely injure you!”

Amuruo sheathed his weapon and folded his arms. “Try it.”

“Here it comes!” Leo also put away his twin axes, letting his arms hang down.

Powerful waves of energy rippled outward from Leo’s body in concentric circles, expanding three or four meters before refracting back into him.

Leo’s body emitted a golden light. Layer upon layer of golden light enveloped him, his form growing taller and taller, transforming into a golden giant with indistinct features.

Damon urgently boosted the training ground’s protective shield output.

Amuruo: “Is that it?”

Leo’s cheerful voice came from within the giant of light: “It’s not over yet.”

His words had barely faded when the giant of light began to shrink, condensing back to Leo’s original size, though his features remained blurred.

Only then did Amuruo’s expression shift slightly. He uncrossed his arms.

“Teacher, catch!” Leo transformed into a blade of light, hurtling towards Amuruo.

Amuruo extended a single finger, blocking Leo’s straightforward assault.

He flicked his finger, sending the golden light bouncing back.

The golden light shattered. Leo lay motionless on the ground.

A fine, thin line of blood appeared on Amuruo’s finger.

A wound this minor, with Amuruo’s current physical constitution, should have healed in the blink of an eye.

He lowered his gaze, carefully examining the injured finger.

A faint layer of golden light clung to the cut, preventing the wound from closing.

Leaning against the wall, observing, Qin Lang’s pupils trembled sharply.

In the final phase of the Inson boss fight, when Evil God Inson shed his divine form, reverting to a twisted and blurred Halfling shape, there was a golden wound on his chest.

For players to truly slay Inson, they had to pour all their attacks into that wound.