Free Web NovelChapter 1673: Chapter 1290: Mastery Breeds Skillful Artisans, Bitter Practice Yields True Skill
"Village Chief!"
"Village Chief!"
As Jiang Dali leisurely strode forward with a majestic demeanor around the Martial Arts Arena, the Mountain Village Players standing along the corridors respectfully called out and stood at attention, their eyes fervently fixed on Jiang Dali’s handsome and rugged face.
"Greetings, young men!"
Jiang Dali waved his hand with a smile, greeting them politely and warmly. Wherever his sharp gaze fell, the Mountain Village Players burst into cheers, filled with excitement.
This unique affection and charisma might be hard for some new players in the Martial World to understand, how an NPC could cause such fervent attraction among players. But by imagining how an ordinary person feels when a celebrity they adore suddenly appears before them and greets them, it becomes easier to understand.
At this moment, Jiang Dali was unquestionably the brightest star in the Mixed Martial Arts World, naturally adored by players.
After everyone accompanied Jiang Dali into the Martial Arts Arena, the manager of the arena quickly ushered them to the center Taishi Chair, seating the guests in order, while attendants served tea.
"My time is limited, let’s get straight to the point!"
Jiang Dali took a sip of tea, placed the cup back on the table, and casually motioned with his hand.
Wen Chouchou, waiting at the side, eagerly made amends by greeting everyone.
Ning Su and other waiting players eagerly stepped forward, their eyes filled with anticipation as they looked toward Jiang Dali, sitting in the chief seat, tall and godlike.
Among this group of players, Ning Su was slender and graceful, with a straight posture, wielding a longsword as she walked elegantly yet briskly;
Tie Niu appeared stout and rugged, wielding a large long spear, wearing the Great Strength Armor resembling a bull-headed warrior, fierce and formidable;
Ping Shengaoqi had a well-proportioned, upright figure, graceful demeanor, and empty hands, but the famous Little Li’s Flying Knife could be unleashed from anywhere on his body, not to be underestimated.
These three were now the most outstanding players of Black Wind Village who had reached the Heavenly Human Realm.
Others such as Ancient Color Strange People, Huakai Jianhong, Li Jianfeng, and Central Plains Miao Renfeng, Yi Guan Chu Chu Ren Zhonghe (name changed due to Divine Beast), Hu Tianguang, and Drunk Green Robe were also top-notch players in the Gang Qi Realm, having mastered one Heavenly Rank Martial Arts or several Earthly Rank Martial Arts, nearing the Heavenly Person rank, and were hailed as the ten top experts among Black Wind Village players.
Notably, of these ten players, eight were the original members who joined the mountain village from the beginning.
Only Hu Tianguang and Drunk Green Robe joined mid-way, departing from other sects as potential talents.
The former was the Senior Brother among all Abnormal People players from Zhongxin Hall, renowned for his chivalrous integrity, joining Black Wind Village only after recognizing the devilish nature of Shangguan Yun (see Chapter 1134).
The latter’s reason for joining was also quite flamboyant, having become the top Huashan player after over a year, yet still unable to learn Dugu Nine Swords, he defected to Black Wind Village, hoping for a better future, even if it meant learning Life-taking Thirteen Swords instead.
It should be noted that although Huashan and Black Wind Village didn’t become utterly hostile due to Feng Qingyang’s presence, relations were still cold.
For a Huashan player to defect to Black Wind Village was an extremely risky move, shocking many players at the time. Some Eight Desolates Disciples in Huashan secretly cursed Drunk Green Robe as a fool, thinking he could learn Heavenly Rank Sword Skill as an Eight Desolates Disciple, just with more difficulty compared to Black Wind Village disciples.
Unexpectedly, Drunk Green Robe was easily accepted into Black Wind Village, even the punitive pursuit team from Huashan was blocked by Black Wind Village’s Seven Kills Team, which led many players in Huashan who were tempted to defect, forcing Feng Qingyang to personally send a letter to Jiang Dali to stabilize the situation.
Only Jiang Dali truly understood the intricacies involved.
At this moment, he slowly scanned the faces of these ten strongest Black Wind Village players, finally resting his gaze on Drunk Green Robe, wearing a blue robe, unshaven, carrying a longsword, looking rather sloppy and downcast. Though calm on the surface, Jiang Dali was filled with emotions, reminiscing the days when he was a Hua Mountain disciple, Fierce Sword Mang Dali.
The Drunk Green Robe in front of him was once considered his greatest rival, the number one of Hua Mountain.
In the past, with only his sword in the Martial World, he used the Dugu Nine Swords to retreat even from players among One God, Two Queens, Three Immortals, earning the title of Sword Master of the Six Masters, full of pride and elegance.
Now, however, over a year ago, he had given up on Dugu Nine Swords to join Black Wind Village and learn Life-taking Thirteen Swords, becoming a disciple of Fierce Sword Mang Dali. He appeared more disheveled, yet Jiang Dali knew Drunk Green Robe had grown stronger, with the transformation rooted in the "heart".
As the saying goes, "Three years of initial learning, sweeping through the world; three more years of learning, unable to move an inch."
This martial arts aphorism speaks not only of a change in the state of mind but also of a very real issue, the process of maturity.
And now, this former rival turned follower, such a twist of fate truly evokes a sigh, "People do not see the ancient moon, the current moon once shone on the ancients. Ancients and people now are like flowing water, all see the bright moon the same way."
"Village Chief...?"
Wen Chouchou cautiously inquired, pulling Jiang Dali’s wandering thoughts back, his eyes flashing from light to dark.
Jiang Dali’s tiger eyes fixed slightly, his thoughts returning as his gaze shifted away from Drunk Green Robe, allowing the latter, who seemed calm on the surface but was actually tense from fear, to let out a sigh of relief, his body trembling slightly like a current had passed through.
"Everyone... you are the most outstanding talents cultivated by our Black Wind Village. Summoning you here today, as you might have guessed, is for our village chief to see your true skills."
Jiang Dali’s eyes swept across the crowd, smiling faintly, "I have heard that a new force in the Martial World, Heavenly Gate, recently announced that they can elevate exceptional individuals among you Abnormal People to the Heavenly Human Realm through transmitting power..."
Upon hearing this, all the players who were listening with their ears perked up were stirred inside, thinking indeed the exciting event had come, their expressions turning even more excited.
Jiang Dali, with the demeanor of a Martial Arts Master, continued, "You must know that in the way of Martial Arts, progression must be gradual and grounded, no shortcuts can be taken. To learn astounding skills, one must put in hard work; deep skill produces skilled artists, diligent practice yields true skill, training in winter’s three nines, practicing in summer’s three fives, winter strengthens, summer boosts qi... a minute on the stage requires a hundred days of practice."
My strength and iron-hard skills were obtained through sweating and hard training back then. The old brothers in the mountain village are well aware—ask among them, whose stick hasn’t been used on me, the village chief?"
As he spoke to this point, the few old mountain bandits watching and listening from afar, dispatched from the Black Wind Village headquarters, were each moved to tears, recalling the unforgettable passionate times when they held sticks and fiercely struck the village chief in the small woods or rooms back in the day.
At that time, though their hands and feet were often numbed by the village chief’s formidable body, yet they felt fulfilled and only regretted not cherishing those moments. They’re grateful the village chief still remembers the old brothers who swung sticks and played sparring partners.
Some players who initially wanted to hear the main event but were impatient when they hadn’t heard it were infected by the atmosphere, collectively casting envious and respectful glances at the familiar rugged faces of the old mountain bandit NPCs standing in the corner, recalling these were once small leaders, task guides when they were still weak in the mountain village, and couldn’t help but sigh.
Jiang Dali was very satisfied with the effect brought by his earnest lecture based on his own experience, nodded and smiled, "Of course, while practice is important, one must also make reasonable use of resources. This is not to say that the Black Wind Village relies solely on training and cannot compete with the so-called Heavenly Gate.
You must know that however strong you are, there is always someone stronger. Don’t boast in front of others. It’s not that I can’t elevate some among you who have reached bottlenecks to the Heavenly Human Realm through transmitting power....."
"What?"
"The village chief can also directly elevate us to the Heavenly Human Realm through transmitting power?"
"Shit! This news is too shocking."
"I said there was no reason for Shakyamuni in Heavenly Gate to be able to do something that our village chief couldn’t. Turns out, our village chief was being low-key and just hadn’t mentioned it."
The players in the Martial Arts Arena were suddenly in an uproar. Even though those present were the elite of the elite, very disciplined, they couldn’t help but start whispering and discussing this explosive news.
Among the players present, including Martial World natives like Hong Ying Shangren, couldn’t help but show shocked and excited expressions.
Jiang Dali raised a hand to make a gesture.
The scene quickly quieted down again.
Over a thousand pairs of eyes collectively focused on him.
He continued shaking his head, "I haven’t finished my speech. Elevating those of you who are only a bit short of reaching the Heavenly Human Realm is not difficult, but it returns to the point I mentioned earlier: the way of martial arts requires gradual, grounded progression. To gain one thing, you must give another.
Those elevated directly to the Heavenly Human Realm through transmitting power will not have as profound an understanding of martial arts as those who realize it themselves, reflected in combat power in battles and future martial arts advancement speed; they will lag behind significantly... these gains and losses will become very clear when you compare in the future."
Upon hearing these words, many players were still skeptical, yet full of excitement that hadn’t dissipated.
For most people, breaking through to the Heavenly Human Realm is considered excellent, without having to think much about future pros and cons.
Of course, Jiang Dali was also aware of this consideration and human mindset, so he did not elaborate further to avoid dampening the enthusiasm and mood of this group of players, looking at Hua Kai Jianhong and others with calm expressions, he calmly said.
"Among you, there are seven who have not yet broken through to the Heavenly Human Realm. Today, after examining your strengths, if any of you wish to be directly elevated to Heavenly Human by the village chief through transmitting power, I can satisfy you! But the pros and cons within this transmitting power relationship, as I mentioned earlier, you also need to consider."
Upon hearing this, Hua Kai Jianhong, Li Jianfeng, and others’ expressions changed slightly, then each cupped their fists and bowed to Jiang Dali, indicating understanding, subsequently, each eagerly looked at Jiang Dali, awaiting his guidance.
Jiang Dali smiled faintly, made a gesture, and Wen Chouchou beside him immediately followed the instructions to escort two people from the Martial Arts Arena, then shook his fan, stood up, and announced proudly.
"Next, the two to be escorted over are the two generals under the command of Heavenly Gate Master Shakyamuni—Ice Emperor and Divine Mother. Now, these two have been reduced to prisoners of our Black Wind Village, the defeated subordinates of our village chief! Ah, pui pui pui! They’re spies deliberately joining our mountain village, not worthy even to carry sandals for our village chief.
Now, these two, representing Heavenly Gate higher-ups and Black Wind Village prisoners, will engage with you, hoping this group of mountain village elites can showcase the momentum of our village! Don’t disappoint the village chief!"
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(Good night!)
