NOVEL NEXT Chapter 49: Faceless Mask
The massive blood-red sword, with a single slash, held a power that even the Divine Realm couldn't ignore. Not to mention, Qi Yuan was already at level 95.
According to the classifications of Wangyue Continent, this was already considered the late stage of the Divine Realm. One more step, and he would become a major powerhouse.
The immense shockwave uprooted trees, and hundreds of clothed monsters lost their courage and souls, becoming the nourishment for Death's Radiance.
With one sword stroke separating the world, Qi Yuan's experience surged crazily, and the form of the Ugly-Clothed Emperor appeared somewhat disheveled.
Several black claws on its massive paw were broken, revealing white flesh underneath.
The Ugly-Clothed Emperor, seemingly devoid of intelligence, didn't care about the pain of its injuries and continued charging at Qi Yuan.
"It seems today we not only decide the victor but also life and death!"
Qi Yuan wielded his giant sword with ease, without the slightest instability.
He now felt as though he could slash down a mountain with a single stroke.
Of course, not a mountain within the Forbidden Land.
The terrain here was special.
With each sword swing, the wind and clouds moved.
His activated minor skill, Rending Clothes, had an advantage against the Ugly-Clothed Emperor and other clothed monsters.
Rending Clothes had an armor-piercing effect on clothes and armor.
And for the Ugly-Clothed Emperor, being inherently made of clothes, bathing was like washing clothes.
Rending Clothes didn't just break their armor; it tore their very essence.
The Ugly-Clothed Emperor's mask, black and white with no color, clashed with the sharp sword and eerie claws.
Claws broke, flesh peeled back, exposing ghastly white bones.
"You have bones?" Qi Yuan was a bit surprised.
The Ugly-Clothed Emperor remained silent, its horrifying mask staring at him.
In the eerie silence of the Forbidden Land of the Clothed, the scene was terrifying.
The two clashed again.
Throughout the Forbidden Land of the Clothed, countless clothed monsters were killed by the shockwaves of their battle.
The Ugly-Clothed Emperor's injuries grew more severe, looking increasingly miserable.
On the other hand, Qi Yuan fought more fiercely as the battle progressed.
He surveyed the now nearly ruined Forbidden Land of the Clothed, and his giant sword shrank.
"This place is soon going to be shaped by me; I can't destroy it further."
He held his sword, ready to end this pointless battle.
Dominant Power!
Sky-Slashing Sword Technique!
Two major skills used simultaneously, his most powerful strike in a normal state.
Boom!
The blood-red sword thrust toward the Ugly-Clothed Emperor.
To Qi Yuan's slight surprise, the Ugly-Clothed Emperor didn't dodge or couldn't dodge in time. It allowed Qi Yuan's terrifying strike to pierce its chest.
It looked at Qi Yuan, the expressionless black-and-white clown mask seemingly showing a hint of relief.
This strike ended all its vitality.
Then, its body collapsed.
In the air, a layer of human skin floated.
A faceless mask also fell to the ground.
Qi Yuan looked at the human skin, feeling an inexplicable sorrow.
He picked up the faceless mask, and images flooded his mind.
"You are the most gifted in the clan, with the potential to reach the pinnacle of the Heavenly Realm!"
"However, with the demonic scourge patrolling Wangyue Continent, you must hide your identity and not reveal your talent!"
"This is the Faceless Mask; from now on, you will wear this mask and leave the clan."
"One day, when you reach the supreme emperor's realm, you will enter the four forbidden lands!"
"Remember, never step into the Heavenly Realm outside!"
Qi Yuan saw a plain-looking boy, barely considered handsome, donning the faceless mask, abandoning his name, and forgetting his past.
But when he arrived at the Forbidden Land of the Clothed, stepping into the Heavenly Realm, he was greeted by a fishline descending from the sky.
All his blood and vitality were drained in an instant.
Only a layer of human skin remained, attached to a clothed monster.
Qi Yuan involuntarily looked up at the sky.
"Fishline?"
"Demonic Scourge?"
He recalled the invitation to the Demon-Slaying Conference.
"The big boss of this world has some strong methods."
He looked at the human skin.
"NPCs...can be quite human too."
"Killing him got me to level 91, almost at level 92."
He picked up the faceless mask and put it on.
At this moment, a prompt sounded in Qi Yuan's ear.
[The Forbidden Land of the Clothed dungeon has been cleared, rewards received.]
*[Reward 1: Polluted Heavenly Dao Fragment 10.]
[Reward 2: Control of the Forbidden Land's Forbidden Guards.]
"Polluted Heavenly Dao Fragments?"
Qi Yuan was stunned.
In the Xuanyuan Forbidden Land, he didn't encounter such a problem.
The Heavenly Dao Fragments then were intact.
Qi Yuan immediately thought of the scene where the fishline from the sky drained the previous form of the Ugly-Clothed Emperor.
"So, this forbidden land...has been polluted by the so-called demonic scourge?"
"I need to kill the demonic scourge to get complete Heavenly Dao Fragments."
"However, according to the invitation, the demonic scourge is in Earth Abyss."
"To obtain complete Heavenly Dao Fragments, I must go to Earth Abyss."
"This doesn't really affect me, though; it just means I can't fully control the Forbidden Land of the Clothed."
That meant he couldn't set the rule for the Forbidden Land of the Clothed to be as accessible as a back door.
"No, my mind is too exhausted today; I need to log off quickly." Although Qi Yuan wasn't injured in today's battle, his mental energy was greatly consumed.
The mana regeneration from Death's Radiance couldn't replenish the mental energy drained from playing the game for too long.
Staying in the game too long would harm his real-life self significantly.
Qi Yuan held Little Bride close, and this time, instead of digging a pit, they both lay flat together.
...
In the palace, the lights were bright.
Imperial guards surrounded the outside, and a tense and murderous atmosphere filled the entire palace.
To Jin Li's surprise, after summoning Kong Qi during the day, Duke Yu also sought an audience, expressing considerable dissatisfaction with Sima Ting.
His words subtly suggested that Jin Li should escape if possible.
Jin Li understood these reasons.
But she couldn't leave.
The night was deep, and she tossed and turned.
Now, the only thing that could lift her spirits was talking with Qi Yuan.
Unfortunately, it was already late, and Qi Yuan hadn't sent any messages.
She wondered how he was doing in the Forbidden Land of the Clothed.
She wondered if she could survive this ordeal.
The ancient Catalpa tree was visible but untouchable.
At this moment, a faint light flickered from the exquisite jade.
Jin Li loosened her grip and looked at the message inside.
"I have good news to tell you, I've conquered the Forbidden Land of the Clothed!"
"The Forbidden Land of the Clothed is mine!"
"I need to log off now, I've expended too much energy today, I'll go to another forbidden land tomorrow."
Seeing this, Jin Li felt a small weight lift off her chest.
The Forbidden Land of the Clothed was finally taken by Qi Yuan.
"Be careful." After sending the message, Jin Li felt her face warm.
She recalled seeing her female imperial guards whisper similar words to their husbands.
She thought of her recent predicament, originally wanting to tell Qi Yuan in person.
But seeing that Qi Yuan seemed exhausted, she decided to wait until he rested well to tell him.
However, the exquisite jade flickered again.
"Little Jin Li, I have a brilliant plan to help you stabilize Southern Qian. Do you want to hear it?"