Snow blurred my vision, compelling everyone to rely solely on instinct for self-protection. Much like Ye Ying, who, without a moment's thought, issued a sharp command, unleashing two vibrant ribbons from her sleeves to envelop herself in an impenetrable cocoon against the storm.
My meticulously prepared offensive was rendered futile against this silken shield, yet I remained undeterred. If necessary, I could always start anew; this girl was hardly my match, even if she brandished a weapon.
Such a flamboyant martial art! I ought to consider adopting a more striking technique.
In the midst of this distraction, a thought struck me: I should purchase another set of martial arts cards. When I originally selected my rewards from Judina, I had contemplated acquiring a swordsmanship card to compensate for my lack of weapon proficiency.
However, the martial arts cards on Demon Island were predominantly bundled sets. The better internal skill cards ranged from level one to ten, while the techniques comprised dozens of moves, requiring numerous cards. Adhering to the principle of selecting the costly over the suitable, I ultimately chose not to opt for any martial arts-related rewards.
During my time on Demon Island, I had been preoccupied with work and had yet to explore the auction house, leaving me with no acquisitions. Consequently, my techniques remained limited to the Flying Flower Sweeping Leaves and the Carefree Cave Palm.
Once the wild girl regained her composure and dispelled the anomalies from her eyes, she shouted again, her two ribbons swirling gracefully, akin to a dancing dragon, leaving me momentarily dazzled. Nevertheless, this level of distraction did not hinder my response.
There seems to have been a misunderstanding; I had no intention of engaging in such a tasteless display in a crowded setting, nor did I plan to resort to weapons. I shifted my palm techniques and re-engaged her, striving to maintain distance.
Though her weapon excelled in ranged attacks, I had discerned early on that this girl, resembling Ye Ying, lacked sufficient internal energy.
Unable to unleash the full potential of her peculiar martial art, her ribbons became feeble at a distance, providing me the perfect opportunity to explain as we fought.
What will it take for you to relent? Although your skills are commendable, you cannot hope to best me. The main battlefield lies over there; stealing the spotlight is not so simple!
"Once I bring you down, I'll show you who truly prevails!"
Her fierce declaration ignited my irritation; this had devolved into a matter of pride. There was no room left for reason. Not every beautiful girl would receive special treatment from me; my earlier concession was merely due to my own fault. If she continued to be so ungracious, the rationale would swiftly shift in my favor, leaving no room for politeness.
The martial art she employed was called Colorful Phoenix Flying, a level seven martial arts card comprising one hundred and eight moves. I had first noticed it while searching for martial arts cards at the auction house, priced at sixty million demon coins. Although I had money at the time, the exorbitant costs had intimidated me, preventing any reckless spending. Moreover, the intricate nature of this technique was clearly tailored for women, leading me to ultimately opt for the more economically viable unnamed martial arts manual.
If mastered to perfection, this technique would blend offense and defense seamlessly, proving exceptionally practical. Yet, this striking girl was evidently a novice on Demon Island, having acquired a complete set of moves without matching internal skills, allowing me ample opportunity to counter her techniques.
I deliberately slowed my left hand, letting her ribbons ensnare me, then swiftly grasped her other ribbon with my right hand. Channeling my unnamed martial arts, I directed an icy internal force through the two ribbons.
With a sharp cry, the wild girl's complexion turned ashen. My unnamed martial arts had reached the fifth level of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians; had I not harnessed the power through her ribbons, it would have been sufficient to freeze a robust man instantly.
I had shown restraint, merely seeking to disarm her; otherwise, her hands would have been frostbitten by now. I tugged twice, but the girl proved stubborn, refusing to relinquish her weapon.
I thought to myself, "If you refuse to let go of your weapon, then I shall subdue you along with it."
Having absorbed the impact of my internal energy, her movements slowed, and as I pulled her closer, she retaliated with a kick, sealing six or seven acupoints on her body.
My skills in acupoint sealing were rather rudimentary. However, my chilling internal energy was unparalleled; once it entered her body, even a slight deviation from the acupoints would leave her immobile, allowing me to demonstrate my prowess with my feet.
Even other martial arts masters, despite being far superior to me, would not possess such a flamboyant technique.
"Very well, it is clear that I have the upper hand now. I assure you, my earlier actions were unintentional. You may either accept my apology or return to your training and seek greater mastery before seeking retribution. I shall release you now."
"Waah!"
As soon as I let go, the once fierce girl did not accept the ribbons I offered but instead curled up, sobbing uncontrollably. This left me feeling rather awkward.
You had been the one attacking all along; I merely defended myself and did not inflict any pain. Please, stop crying; there are so many people here!
My attempts at consolation only exacerbated her tears, creating chaos around me and distracting me from the battle between Yan Tianhong and Killing King Jack.
At that moment, Yan Tianhong had unleashed her formidable prowess, severing Killing King Jack's arm with a single stroke. However, the man was indeed peculiar; the severed limb, upon hitting the ground, emitted a metallic sound. Yan Tianhong's five-foot-long blade was enveloped in a faint azure flame along its edge, resembling a fiery blade, which she had used to cleave Jack's arm.
The outcome of the battle was evident; the elder appeared quite pleased and sent forth a tall, striking man to join the fray, while the opposing faction grew increasingly agitated, dispatching a bald man into the arena.
I cast a fleeting glance at the battlefield, finding little interest in the clash. As I turned to offer another remark, I hastily distanced myself from the irritable girl. Yet, she suddenly seized her ribbons, her voice choked with emotion as she said, "I'm sorry; I know you didn't mean it, but I'm feeling so low. I just wanted to find someone to spar with. Please forgive my earlier rudeness."
"Forgiving you is no trouble at all. Is there anything you need my assistance with? It seems you are not only feeling down but also facing some kind of trouble!"
This girl, strikingly similar to Ye Ying, piqued my interest, and her willingness to admit her faults was commendable. If the opportunity arose, I would not mind lending her a hand.
"Thank you, but... I actually have no idea what trouble I'm in, nor do I know how to ask for your help. So, I appreciate your kindness, but I think I should handle this myself."
After brushing off her hunting attire, the girl wiped away her tears and put away her weapon.
I squinted slightly, slipping my hands into my pockets. Activating the ability of the Temporal Order Keeper, the silver symbol on the back of my hand glowed subtly beneath the fabric. In an instant, I glimpsed fragments of her past and future, gaining insight into her predicament.
Ah, so it is your father who is in grave trouble. While I may not be able to assist him directly, I can help you navigate Demon Island. Perhaps once you gain strength, you might be able to aid your father!
My suggestion seemed considerate. The wild girl, although astonished that I knew about her father's situation, expressed her gratitude softly, yet her expression soon turned troubled as she said, "I am indeed facing some difficulties. My father's funds have run dry. Could you tell me how to hunt valuable prey on Demon Island?"
"Ran out completely? Did you spend it all on the Colorful Phoenix Flying martial arts card? You also purchased a set of internal skills and a fist technique, along with these two ribbons."
I was astonished that this girl could afford so many martial arts cards and even buy a weapon. After all, weapons of treasure grade are typically more expensive than martial arts cards of the same level. I exclaimed, "Your family must be quite wealthy!
When I was mingling on Demon Island with the Wolf King and Jack the Killer, I was lucky enough to stumble upon someone else's bank card, and that fellow happened to be a super-rich guy. The others were nearly penniless!"
My praise was sincere, yet the girl appeared bashful, her shyness lending her an endearing quality. It was true that girls were often more charming when they exhibited a touch of gentleness.
However, that moment of shyness quickly dissipated as she regained her composure, wiping her tears and quietly stating, "This was the last account my father gave me. I spent it all in an instant!"
"There's no need to dwell on regrets. Earning money on Demon Island is relatively easy. Fortunately, I have some free time these days, and I can accompany you on a few tasks!" I offered in a comforting tone, then curiously asked, "Why did you not learn the internal skills you purchased? Your internal energy seems rather weak; otherwise, you wouldn't have lost to me so swiftly."
The girl summoned the Book of Demons and inquired, "I don't know why, but no matter how hard I practice, my progress with this martial art remains stagnant!"
Seizing the rare opportunity to examine another's Book of Demons, I glanced at the inner cover. A lively demon lady was sleeping soundly on the first page, revealing her delicate shoulder and rosy legs.
"How did you come to acquire this set of internal skill cards?"
Having spent considerable time on Demon Island, I quickly discerned the issue she faced, as I had encountered a similar obstacle myself. The martial arts card she purchased was called the Great Peng Carefree Technique, one of the highest-priced martial arts cards at the auction house, with a base price of two hundred and ninety million demon coins.
The difficulty in cultivating this level of martial arts is evident. My own breakthrough to the fifth level of the Transformation of the Great Freedom was only achieved after witnessing the duel between Yan Tianhong and Jack the Killer. With her lack of foundation, mastering such a technique in a short time would be nearly impossible.
I meticulously analyzed the pros and cons of the martial arts card for her, advising her on where to focus her efforts. Given our similar ages, we quickly forged a solid friendship.
After exchanging names and adding each other to our communication cards, I learned that this girl, who bore a striking resemblance to Ye Ying, was named Guan Ling. She had come here not to engage in the conflict over Flying Cat Valley but rather to seek opportunities for making money.
Her father's background was rather unclear. My ability to glimpse past and future was still developing, so I could not ascertain his precise identity. However, I did not believe he would become entangled with me, so I did not expend much effort on the matter.
Guan Ling's father faced significant setbacks in his career and might be on the verge of being hunted down, with his power crumbling and his family facing dire consequences. He sent his only daughter to Demon Island, reminiscent of high-ranking officials who embezzle vast sums and send their children abroad for education, attempting to pave a path for the next generation despite their own misdeeds. However, I held no admiration for such paternal love.
Guan Ling had not been on Demon Island for long—just over ten days. Her demon companion was rather lazy, rarely offering her guidance beyond sleeping most of the day, leaving her to navigate on her own. A girl alone in such a peculiar place, lacking financial acumen, inevitably found her circumstances increasingly dire, leading to her despondent state. I inadvertently became a sounding board for her frustrations.
During our conversation, I discovered that despite her fiery temperament, Guan Ling was not a bad person. Her every word and action revealed a solid upbringing. Noticing my continuous attention to the battlefield, she wisely fell silent.
The bald man sent by the Four Directions Group was formidable, able to unleash flames with a mere breath. Fearless in battle, he concealed secret weapons within his arms and chest, capable of emitting fierce flames. In a matter of moments, he had charred his opponents, forcing them to retreat.
As both sides claimed a victory, we entered a brief intermission. I patted Guan Ling on the shoulder and remarked, "You see, that martial artist who was turned to charcoal was still beneath your level, yet he was overly specialized, lacking any magical knowledge, rendering him defenseless against his foes.
You cannot solely focus on martial arts; you should also learn some related magical techniques. I happen to possess half a set of magical cards; would you like to use them?"
Guan Ling showed no aversion to my friendly gesture. After a moment of hesitation, she nodded and accepted the four Wind and Fire Blade magic cards I offered. Though the value of these cards was considerable, it was not a significant loss for me.
Despite Guan Ling's differing temperament, character, and demeanor from Ye Ying, her striking resemblance made me thoroughly enjoy her company.