Chapter Nine: The Celestial Dragon Flowing Hand!

Returning to Dali, I headed straight for the appraisal shop. Seeing me arrive, Ah Wang ushered out the veteran appraiser from the back room. The old man, with his benevolent face and white beard, stroked it gently and said with a smile, "You have returned safely, traveler. Have you successfully obtained the Black Tiger Bone?"

I took the carbon-black tiger bone from my backpack and handed it to the old appraiser solemnly. "I have not failed the mission!" I replied happily.

"Haha, you are truly blessed with good fortune."

At that moment, the system prompted: "Congratulations on successfully completing the E-rank hidden quest. Reward: 100 Reputation, 2 Charisma." In *Fantasy*, quests are categorized into seven ranks—S, A, B, C, D, E, and F—with the legendary double-S rank existing as well. Generally, the higher the rank, the greater the difficulty and the more generous the reward. Of course, there are exceptions. For example, if a mundane F-rank quest like "Finding Aunt Wang's missing kitten" fails 100 times, the quest level automatically upgrades, though the reward remains the same. If the original prize was a steamed bun, it stays a steamed bun, only the Reputation or Charisma gains increase. If it upgrades to E-rank and another 1,000 players fail, it continues to D-rank, and so on for 10,000 or 100,000 players... If no one completes it, it eventually accumulates to S-rank.

I had three pieces of silver-tier equipment that were still unidentified, so I asked earnestly, "Sir, could you please appraise these items for me?" The old man rummaged through them carelessly, running his bark-like hands over them a few times. The gear emitted a soft white glow. He handed them back to me with a smile, saying, "Although these are far inferior to the necklace you brought last time, they are still decent pieces. You fulfilled a long-held wish of mine today, so I'll do this for free." Savings are always welcome, so I did not skimp on my "thank you" in return.

Just as I was about to check the equipment stats, the old man picked up a thread-bound book from the counter, its edges frayed from constant use, and placed it in my hands. "This was passed down to me by my master, and I passed it on to Ah Wang. Although it is only a simple introductory book on appraisal, all profound knowledge begins with the basics. As they say, the master leads you to the door, but the cultivation is up to the individual. Ah Wang no longer needs it, and since I see you are kind-hearted and upright, I will give it to you." These NPCs love to spout flowery philosophy when giving gifts. Listening to these life lessons felt like playing the lute to a cow; I never liked to complicate things, thinking too far ahead or seeing too deeply is just worrying unnecessarily. Living for today and planning for tomorrow is enough to rest easy.

However, the book he gifted me was a pleasant surprise. It was the "Appraisal Skill" I had been regretting not learning all day. For a player, having Appraisal means being able to understand one's opponent within a certain level range—as the saying goes, "know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated." The more detailed the information on an opponent, the better the chances of victory. Furthermore, leveling up the Appraisal skill would save me quite a bit on appraisal fees, which was the most important thing to me. I pressed my hands against the book, and after a moment, it dissolved into white light. Looking at my skill bar, "Appraisal (Novice, EXP 0/100)" had appeared. It allows for the identification of silver-tier equipment, and if the target is not more than 5 levels higher than the user, more detailed information can be obtained.

Leaving the shop, I headed toward the bank. The city was sparsely populated with players. The 8 bronze-tier items and 12 non-attribute items I had looted were all level 13 or above, and since I was the highest-level player at just under 14, I decided to wait a couple of days before putting them up for consignment to ensure a better price. I checked the three silver items:

Silver Bracers (Black-Veined Leather Bracers): Level 15, Strength requirement 10, Agility requirement 10, Defense 11-17, Stamina +3, Evasion +5%, Weight 10, Durability 100/100.

Spider Silk Vest: Level 16, Intelligence requirement 10, Stamina requirement 5, Defense 8-12, Intelligence +3, Defense +5%, Weight 6, Durability 80/80.

Night Spider Ring: Agility +3, Luck +1, Level 15, Weight 4.

Have I stepped in dog droppings lately? If so, don't pity me—let me step in more! I’ll get used to the disgust eventually!

Passing by the Professional Guild, I saw Dashan standing at the entrance with a refined and ethereal-looking girl. They were in a heated discussion and didn't notice me behind them. The beautiful girl, however, flicked her bright, lovely eyes toward me, a hint of curiosity in her gaze. She tugged on Dashan's sleeve and gestured toward me with her delicate, rosy lips, looking incredibly cute.

Her nudge caught Dashan’s attention. He turned, clapped my shoulder with a laugh, and said, "Speak of the devil! We were just wondering what kind of boss you killed. Let me introduce you..."

Dashan's introduction was cut short by the girl's nightingale-like voice: "You must be Blue Bat! My brother has mentioned you many times! You’re amazing, the top player on the China server leaderboard. I thought someone like you would be arrogant with a crowd of followers, but you’re so relaxed, kind, and handsome! Brother Bat, it’s a pleasure to meet you."

I shyly scratched my head. If I accepted such high praise from a beauty too readily, I’d seem conceited, so I used a clumsy gesture to deflect it. I laughed, "Don't say that! It's a good thing I showed up, or you might have imagined me as some three-headed monster. Honestly, I just got lucky."

Amidst the girl's light laughter, Dashan spoke in his booming voice, looking at her with doting eyes, "Bat, this is my sister. Call her Xiaoyue—she's a real little imp."

I took a closer look at Xiaoyue. Her fine, soft eyebrows rested above crescent-moon eyes, and her smile was as fresh as the moon itself—she lived up to her name. Her flawless, rosy face still held a touch of youth, and her small, delicate mouth revealed cherry-red lips that looked ready to drop. Her slender figure and long legs perfectly combined fragility and purity, like a magnolia in the morning breeze—vibrant and fragrant. As I studied her, she looked back boldly, her bright eyes twinkling. She smiled and asked, "Brother Bat, is your profession Sword Warrior?"

Dashan added, "Bat, I chose Axe Warrior. Xiaoyue hasn't decided yet; she’s torn between Water Daoist and Holy Witch. Do you have any suggestions?"

"Xiaoyue, what are your requirements for a profession?" I asked softly.

"I don't like fighting and killing. I want a support class, and of course, it has to be a pretty one," Xiaoyue said, her face full of longing.

"Ah, I remember the *Fantasy* promotional trailer where the two classes wore their sets. The Holy Witch was gorgeous and colorful, while the Water Daoist was elegant and serene. I think your temperament suits the Water Daoist better." ...Heh, only young girls care about these trivial details instead of focusing on making money!

Xiaoyue didn't hesitate. "Alright, then I'll be a Water Daoist. Oh, by the way, Brother Bat, you haven't given Xiaoyue a greeting gift yet!" Seeing her pure smile and hearing the sweet "Brother Bat" made my mood incredibly bright. I took the Spider Silk Vest from my backpack, along with a few other items, and gave them to them! Seeing his sister happily accept the gift, Dashan stopped being reserved and said gratefully, "Bat, thanks!"

Xiaoyue beamed a radiant smile. "Thank you, Brother Bat! Yay! Silver equipment! Once I learn my skills, I'll grind levels with you. Can I be your little nurse?"

Sweat! Little nurse...

I stored the gear and materials and equipped the Green Edge Sword. The four-foot-long blade and two-finger-wide edge felt much better than the brass sword, though it was still far from my ideal legendary blade. Liang Wei was still struggling to qualify for his profession; after all, for a student, studies come first. As one university counselor once said, even cultivating one's imagination in the classroom is more noble than skipping class to play games.

Players were still low-level, so the gap in strength wasn't obvious yet. Level was the advantage, so I had to rush to grind. I cleared the other materials from my backpack, bought some potions, and headed toward the Black Wood Forest. I was already familiar with the monsters' attack patterns there. Although the spiders were a bit disgusting, living with roommates for four years had hardened me to all sorts of unspeakable odors—I had reached the Buddhist state where "stink is fragrance, and fragrance is stink." Though, a trace of my old germophobia still lingered.

I practiced in the Black Wood Forest for nearly an hour and reached level 14. The system had given me 7 basic attribute points for the previous levels, but only 6 for this one—3 Strength, 1 Agility, 2 Stamina. Perhaps the intensity and difficulty of leveling up had decreased significantly.

By using skills frequently, my experience soared: Appraisal (Novice, 65/100), Basic Swordsmanship (Intermediate, 613/1000), Level 1 Swordsmanship (Intermediate, 432/1000), Gathering (Intermediate, 112/1000), and Haoran Heart Method (Intermediate, 85/1000). My 5 points of Luck brought a bountiful harvest. In just over an hour, I had gathered 4 bronze-tier items, 9 non-attribute items, over 80 silver coins, and a variety of materials that filled most of my backpack.

It was time to rest. I finished my mandatory pre-sleep routine: 10 minutes of leg stretches and 50 push-ups, fully digesting the braised carp and sweet-and-sour pork from dinner. I opened my phone and saw a text from Xiaolan right on time: "My dear Xi, did you miss me? Were you a good boy today? Did you go looking for trouble just because I wasn't there? I'll assume you wouldn't dare, but if I hear any rumors, you'll pay! I'm going to sleep now. I really wish you were by my side. Goodnight." Before I could reply, a second text followed.

"Xi, I forgot to tell you—I bought a Platinum Helmet today and created a character in *Fantasy* named 'Xinxin Xiaoxi'. Don't even think about hunting for beauties in the game! The public eye is sharp, and I'll be supervising you whenever I have time! Also, we can have dates in the game. I'll whisper you as soon as I log on."

"My dearest Lan, the summer night is windless and my heart is restless. Who can soothe my lonely soul? Only your sweet texts and deep longing are the last drops of dew for my parched heart. You are my lifeline, the Goddess of Light who saves me from the sea of bitterness. I love you more than my own life. Of course, if I could hold you in my arms to sleep right now, listening to your unmasked joy, I think I would be a god. Your Xi will be perfectly well-behaved, don't worry, baby. Goodnight!"

Four years of single life in college had honed my ability to endure loneliness. I’m not a flirtatious person; even when I look at beautiful women, it’s mostly with an appreciative eye rather than raw desire. Fantasizing only makes one restless and brings no real joy. Learning to choose and let go was something I had started practicing in high school.

...

Looking up at the colorful clouds in the east, a new day was already busy the moment the sun burst forth. The red sun looked like a giant pancake, provided the color was a bit lighter. The shy sunlight spilled onto my body, bringing a unique sense of enjoyment—lazy and warm. Where in reality could one find such tranquil, pure morning light? The entire *Fantasy* world was like a dream, intoxicating and enchanting. At this moment, if Xiaolan were by my side, I would want to stay here forever.

The deep, secluded mountains of Black Gorge Mountain added a touch of grandeur and mystery under the morning glow. There were no towering trees, no abundant wildlife, and the shrubbery was sparse; cold, hard rock was the main theme. After dispatching a few adult mountain tigers at the foot of the mountain, I reached the hillside. Noisy, erratic sounds of mining filled the peaceful morning. Who was so annoying, digging for ore this early in the morning! Damn, I had just gathered enough inspiration to compose a poem, and it was all ruined by them.

Following the sound, I looked toward a low-lying cliff and saw over a hundred dwarves swinging pickaxes, hacking away at the mountain. I called them dwarves because they were all under 1.5 meters tall, with dark faces, short, coarse black beards, muscular arms, and sturdy chests, all swinging their picks against the rock. The descendants of the Foolish Old Man were certainly flourishing.

I approached one cautiously and used Appraisal: Black Iron Miner, Humanoid, Level 18, HP 750/750, MP 100/100, Physical Attack 55-84, Physical Defense 72-136, Skill Attack 68-102, Speed 40, Evasion 40. Skill: Flying Pickaxe Strike.

Perhaps sensing my "Appraisal," the miner stopped, turned, and caught me just as I was trying to hide. Well, since I’m here, I might as well face it. Although he was level 18, I had nothing to fear with my strength. But if he called his friends for a group beating, I would have to use the most common strategy of the Thirty-Six Stratagems.

The miner didn't show any other reaction. He rolled up his grimy sleeves and marched toward me with a murderous look, carelessly tossing his pickaxe aside. You’re on! Bare-handed duel it is! Just as I was feeling smug, the pickaxe whistled through the air in a semi-circular arc. So that's why he threw it—it was a long-range attack!

I hurriedly drew my sword to parry, but the pickaxe was too close, and I was hit—195! I swung the Green Edge Sword diagonally, chasing the rebounding pickaxe to attack him. Under the dual assault of my Haoran Heart Method and Level 1 Swordsmanship, he quickly faltered. Seeing he was about to die by my blade, he let out a shrill, desperate scream—perhaps trying to die heroically. Having grown accustomed to the dying cries of beasts, I didn't take this sound to heart; it was child's play. I looted the spoils: besides 1.2 silver coins, there was a bronze-tier broadsword and some black iron ore. Humanoid monsters are definitely more generous. I like!

Just as I was preparing to ambush the next isolated miner, the nearby Black Iron Miners suddenly gathered around a leader, who was taller than the others, and marched toward me with murderous intent. The dry dust rose into the air under their frequent footsteps, adding to their intimidating presence. The death of their companion had clearly ignited their anger and hatred; they looked determined to tear me to pieces. Damn it! If hundreds of pickaxes flew at once, being hit would be worse than slow slicing. My hair stood on end, and fear took hold—run! Otherwise, I would definitely die here.

The path down the mountain was blocked by miners. Breaking through seemed impossible; if I were stalled for even a second, the others would surely surround me. In my desperation, I ran blindly toward the direction with no one else, not caring if there was a path or not. Paths aren't made until people walk them. The rugged rocks couldn't stop my flight; I leaped over stones and trampled through grass. I’m sure Liu Xiang would feel inferior if he saw my speed right now! When life is threatened, one's potential is often triggered.

Unfortunately, my luck only went so far. I accidentally stepped on a patch of dry grass, lost my footing, and my body instantly lost balance, falling uncontrollably. I screamed internally: "My life is over!" Who would have thought that the loose grass was actually a camouflaged cave entrance?

My falling speed increased. If I hit the ground like this, I was a goner. Panic and fear were useless; only calmness could save me. The entrance was on the hillside, and Black Gorge Mountain was only 500-600 meters high. The hillside was about 300 meters up. Falling without any obstruction meant I would surely end up a pile of broken limbs. If the bottom of the cave was level with the foot of the mountain, I would hit the ground in about 8 seconds. I had to slow my descent.

These thoughts flashed through my mind like lightning as I watched the towering cliffs zip past my eyes. I opened my right hand holding the sword, channeled the Haoran Heart Method into my Level 1 Swordsmanship, and the cold blade emitted a faint green glow. Taking advantage of the gravity from my tumbling body, I thrust it with all my might into the cliff wall. With a loud "clang," the Green Edge Sword sparked against the stone, successfully embedding half an inch deep. The rock was incredibly hard; even with the force of a thousand pounds, the sword could only go in half an inch. I gripped the hilt with both hands, forcing the Haoran Heart Method through the tip to keep it locked into the rock. If I lost my grip even for a second and the sword slipped out, my fate would be sealed. This precious moment of slowing down didn't stop the speed entirely, but it was much slower than before. The sharp tip ground against the hard rock, sending visible sparks flying.