Chapter Two: The Crimson Blood Longsaber

Chen Qi turned around and saw a young boy dressed in the azure robes of an outer disciple. The youth wore an expression of dissatisfaction, one eyebrow arched high, contrasting sharply with his stern face.

Chen Qi explained to the outer disciple, who was even younger than himself, “I’m learning the skills of the senior disciples. I’ll go sweep up soon.”

The boy was clearly unwilling to let Chen Qi off so easily, raising his brow again as he retorted, “You, a menial disciple, talking about martial arts? I think you’re just shirking your duties!”

Chen Qi watched the boy’s eyebrow with a smile but said nothing.

Seeing Chen Qi remain silent and still fixated on his eyebrow, the boy flew into a rage. “You dare act so arrogant while slacking off? Come, let’s have a match. I want to see what qualifies you to learn martial arts!”

Chen Qi restrained his smile a little, inspiration striking. “I’m skilled with the blade, but alas, I have no knife. I fear I can’t compete.”

The boy stamped his foot in anger and shouted, “Wait here! I’ll find you a blade. Don’t you dare leave!”

With that, he rushed off, anxious and hurried.

The nearby outer disciples, witnessing the scene, watched with amusement. One stepped forward and teased Chen Qi, “Brother Sun is the grandson of Elder Sun from the outer sect. Aren’t you afraid he’ll ask his grandfather to make things difficult for you?”

Another disciple chimed in, “Elder Sun only had a grandson late in life, and dotes on him immensely. You’d best not injure him!”

A third disciple scoffed, “Even if Brother Sun is young, he’s not someone a menial disciple can contend with. You’d better think of some flattering words and beg for mercy.”

Chen Qi gave no reply. His mind was entirely occupied with the prospect of acquiring a blade, inwardly delighted.

Soon, the Sun youth came running back, breathless and clutching a knife.

This time, Chen Qi’s gaze bypassed his eyebrow and fixed straight on the blade.

The knife lay concealed in a scabbard entwined with vines. Its edge glowed red, emanating a faint, ominous gleam. The slender blade was etched with intricate patterns, resembling a predatory beast poised to devour.

Seeing the knife, a nearby disciple joked, “Brother Sun, have you stolen your grandfather’s blade again?”

The boy’s face flushed as he retorted, “I’m his grandson. His things are mine. How could it be called stealing? Matters between grandfather and grandson can hardly be called theft.”

The atmosphere among the outer disciples grew lively and cheerful.

The boy then addressed Chen Qi, “I’ll lend you the knife, but it’s not yours. Once the match is over, you must return it.”

Chen Qi’s eyes twinkled, his thoughts consumed by the blade. He protested, “You’re an outer disciple, I’m a menial disciple. I’m fighting above my station—surely there should be some stakes?”

Sun, intent on teaching Chen Qi a lesson, pondered briefly, then agreed, “Fine. If you win, I’ll give you the knife. If you lose, you’ll have to clean my grandfather’s room and mine for a month—free of charge!”

Afraid the other might back out, Chen Qi instantly accepted.

Just then, the “Sprout Space” seemed to be adding its own wager, and Chen Qi received a prompt.

[Selected: Triggered side quest—Wager Duel. Accept: Yes/No]

Quest summary: Win the wager duel against Sun Ruohai, an outer disciple.

Quest info: You’re engaged in a wager duel with a youth intent on teaching you a lesson. He’s not as weak as his age might suggest. Don’t disgrace the reputation of a Sprout Space Chosen.

Quest duration: This duel.

Failure penalty: Main quest rewards halved.

……

Chen Qi had full confidence in himself, so he accepted the side quest without hesitation, then took the long knife offered by Sun Ruohai and headed for the dueling platform.

Sun Ruohai hurried ahead, quickly surpassing Chen Qi, and ascended the platform first. Drawing the deep blue sword at his waist, he looked impatiently at Chen Qi.

Seeing how eager the boy was, Chen Qi decided to let him stew for a moment. Glancing at the long knife in his hand, which flickered with a blue glow, he chose to inspect its attributes first.

[Crimson Blood Long Knife]

Origin: Cangxing Continent

Quality: Blue

Type: Long knife

Attack: 11-21

Durability: 62/68

Requirement: Strength 8, Constitution 8

Effect 1: Bloodstain (Passive)

Bloodstain: After the knife drinks blood, the next strike deals +30% damage (cooldown: 8 seconds).

Effect 2: Crimson Crystal (Passive)

Crimson Crystal: True Qi and blood energy conduction efficiency +20%; on burst, adds 5 fire attribute damage.

Rating: 158

Description: This blade was once a standard weapon of the Crimson Blood Hall of Cloudsea Sect, forged from Crimson Crystal. After years of slaughter by Sun Jingyun in the Cloudsea Mountains, its ferocity only grew. It has drunk the blood of fierce beasts and grows stronger with blood.

Price: 2200 universal points

……

While Chen Qi was still admiring the knife, Sun Ruohai called out from the platform, “Hey, are you fighting or not? If not, give the knife back!”

Seeing the moment was ripe, Chen Qi leapt onto the stage.

After both had saluted at the center of the platform, the duel began!

Sun Ruohai, impatient from waiting, advanced at once, his body suffused with blood energy. He swung his sword straight for Chen Qi’s head, aiming to end it in a single blow.

But Chen Qi wasn’t some novice unfamiliar with weapons. Twisting his body, the sword swept past his head, the gust ruffling his hair.

He remained unflustered; after their initial exchange, he realized his agility surpassed Sun Ruohai’s. Dodging simple, direct attacks would be no great challenge.

Chen Qi swung his knife, the red-glimmering blade reflecting Sun Ruohai’s chest.

Seeing Sun Ruohai make no attempt to dodge, Chen Qi was a bit surprised, but did not hold back his hand.

He trusted that since even the Sprout Space had issued a quest, the other’s strength would at least equal his own—surely he would not fall to a single strike.

Suddenly, Sun Ruohai reached out with his other hand to grab Chen Qi’s blade, his palm flushed red with surging blood energy.

Blade met hand, but instead of the sound of flesh being cut, it was more like striking stone.

“It’s the Azure Cloud Hand!” exclaimed a disciple below. “I can’t believe Sun Ruohai can use such a move at his age.”

“Pa! Pa! Pa!” Chen Qi, refusing to yield, kept swinging the knife, each strike landing on Sun Ruohai’s hand as if chopping at an unyielding rock.

Sun Ruohai’s sword finally found its opening, timed precisely as Chen Qi was mid-swing and unable to evade.

Chen Qi gritted his teeth, trusting in his nanofiber combat suit, and continued his slashing motion, only slightly diverting the blow from a vital spot.

“Hiss!” Chen Qi felt a sharp pain at his waist—a wound opened. But his blade was stained with blood, and his relentless slashes had finally broken through Sun Ruohai’s Azure Cloud Hand.

Seeing his palm bleeding profusely, Sun Ruohai grew only more excited, pressing his attack with renewed vigor.

Chen Qi dared not continue trading injury for injury, and withdrew.

Sensing Chen Qi was intimidated by his own momentum, Sun Ruohai pressed closer, driving Chen Qi to the edge of the stage. His excitement grew, and he shouted in delight.

Unleashing his blood energy, Sun Ruohai thrust his sword at Chen Qi’s wounded waist.