Chapter 32 Martial Arts Ceremony - Prelude "Uncle Igor."...
For the quest "Flame in Ice", Crane Kite can simply follow Igor to his training ground for practice and still get the reward marked below.
However, anyone who has played a few games knows that world quests like "Zhang San's Request" and "Li Si's Wish" can be completed by simply following the quest guide. But when you encounter a quest with a proper name and an NPC who is quite good-looking, you need to have a certain sense of smell.
Once you unlock the hidden storyline in these types of missions, the rewards will far exceed what you see now.
Crane Kite is currently trying to unlock the hidden storyline.
Generally speaking, hidden quests require NPCs to trust and open up to you, so you can't just run around like an errand boy or do things like consuming quest items to farm achievements.
Be more disciplined and learn to be a decent person.
At the same time, a relatively quiet environment is also required.
He Yuan, holding the identity token given to him by Ying Xing, arrived at a temporarily closed exhibition hall near the Bureau of Works.
Looking at the lock on the door, Igor asked nervously, "Will going in here disqualify me from the competition?"
Crane Kite keenly remembered this sentence.
Normally, one would ask themselves if they would be arrested by the authorities, right?
“No. The weapons stored here were originally intended for display,” He Yuan explained. “This place will be open to the public for a period of time after the martial arts ceremony.”
After all, if they develop something new every year, they have to show it off and let the galaxy see their strength.
Of course, those things that need to be kept secret will not be here.
Igor pondered the crane's intention.
Is it the principle of "know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated"?
He learned this from a booklet issued by the Earth Balance Bureau.
The exhibition hall is regularly cleaned, so there is no dust, only a dazzling array of weapons.
It has everything.
There's nothing you can't do if you put your mind to it.
He Yuan casually picked up the long sword hanging at her waist and twirled it.
Light streams down, reflecting like a bright mirror.
Igor could tell at a glance that this was a very, very good sword.
Thinking of the weapons used by the guards in his hometown, he couldn't help but feel a pang of envy.
"If you want to defeat the Immortal Ship People, start by understanding our weapons."
He Yuan held the sword hilt in one hand and handed it to Igor, saying, "Try it."
A long, narrow sword?
Forgive Igor for speaking frankly, but this sword looks quite light.
He ignored the young man's mocking gaze and grasped it with his unmodified right hand.
As soon as He Yuan let go, the sword brought Igor to the ground.
He looked up and happened to see the young man pinching out the soft flesh of his leg ring, so he immediately lowered his head and looked away.
The man used his left hand, which was equipped with a robotic arm, to pick up the sword.
“The first thing to know is its weight,” He Yuan said casually as she took back the sword and made it float behind her with a wave of her hand. “The sword I own is six feet three inches long and weighs… according to common calculations, about 15,000 jin.”
Igor: "..."
When he first stepped onto the immortal ship, he was wondering why everyone here was using cold weapons.
Unlike his hometown, which lost a lot of data due to the disaster.
Looking back now, I realize that his vision was limited.
The weight alone would be enough to kill a whole bunch of people if it hit them.
“However, this is considered top-tier in the Cloud Cavalry, so you don’t need to worry,” He Yuan added. “But it’s better for you to know that this year’s reigning champion, Jing Yuan, is a Cloud Cavalry Vanguard and a disciple of the Luofu Sword Master Jingliu.”
"Kenpo Kagami-ryu's fragmented sword is as heavy as a thousand pounds. As her disciple, Jingyuan is not far behind."
"If your goal is to challenge the champion, you'll have to think of a way to do it."
Igor emerged from this newfound understanding, his golden eyes gleaming with intense conviction.
It's not about the desire to win, it's about conviction.
He didn't come for honor; it was as if he was carrying a heavy burden on his shoulders.
He Yuan was somewhat tempted.
“I can try using a robotic arm to carry it first,” Igor said.
He Yuan nodded, "Let's try it after we've finished watching it."
He led his men further inside and turned on a projector light.
It displays many weapons.
Then, a fox-girl picked up a bow, and without even aiming, every arrow hit the enemy.
"This is a ray gun mounted on a bow."
Then, cloud riders wielded four flying swords, moving at will, weaving through the enemy ranks and disrupting their formation.
"These are floating cannons mounted on flying swords."
Then the Cloud Cavalry wielded their broadswords on the battlefield, and wherever they went, the enemy was nearly torn to pieces.
"This is a knife that uses single-molecule blade vibration technology."
...
This trip completely overturned Igor's first impression of the Fairy Ship.
It turns out that the six-fold fold fan in the hands of the fox-woman from the Sky Ship Company was made of fine iron, and it was incredibly painful to use on someone.
He felt as if he had returned to his childhood, absorbing knowledge like a sponge.
The Immortal Boat Alliance is known for its strong martial spirit; this is a consensus across the galaxy.
At first, Igor thought they would crush the company just like they did, relying on their advanced technology and fleet.
But one scene after another told him that this was not the case.
He couldn't help but ask, "Why not just bombard them with the fleet's cannons?"
In some places here, artillery bombardment would clearly be a more appropriate approach.
He Yuan glanced at him. "You'll see it at the opening ceremony. But generally speaking, the Cloud Cavalry travels by fleet to fight on land, while the Flying Warriors fight in the air."
"As for why we didn't use artillery..."
He Yuan pointed to the hunting mark on the sword, "Because we believe in [hunting], not [destruction]."
"We only hunt down acts and things that are unjust and unfair."
He moved his finger and opened an album containing scenes of logistics personnel rescuing local residents on the battlefield.
"If we directly use imaginary pulse-type weapons... what will they do?"
It wasn't that the Immortal Boat Alliance was acting out of "weak" kindness, but rather that they were capable of doing it, and capable of doing it very well.
If it can be done, why not do it?
Having a good reputation in the galaxy means you can do so many things.
From the moment Igor heard the word "destruction," he fell into an indescribable state.
He moved his lips, and just as He Yuan was about to lead him to the next place, he suddenly spoke up: "Mr. He Yuan, would you like to hear a story?"
He Yuan stopped and turned to look at him gently.
"OK."
[Mission Description: The participants in the martial arts ceremony all have their own goals—fame, fortune, or anything else in the mundane world. But Igor, from an unknown planet, seems different…]
Here it comes, the familiar taste.
He Yuan suppressed her laughter, her face showing concern. Like a confidante, she sat on the steps with Igor, listening to his story.
"I come from a very beautiful planet..."
The man, who was around thirty years old, began to talk about his hometown.
According to Igor, his home planet, Yalilo VI, was a habitable planet, and many people settled or traveled there before the arrival of the Destroyer Legion.
“But when I was a child, our living space was already very limited, so limited that we had to live in two separate areas, and so limited that we could only have one meal a day. I grew up watching all this, and when I read in a book that a Star Train had come here to explore, I had the idea of seeking help from the Milky Way.”
Hearing this, He Yuan could roughly guess what he had gone through.
In this world, few people are willing to do a losing business.
If even the Interstellar Peace Corporation is unwilling to save this planet, its value will be infinitely diminished, reducing it to a tiny speck of dust in the galaxy.
"...But this tiny speck of dust is my everything."
"The reason I came to Luofu Immortal Ship this time is to seek help from the Immortal Ship Alliance."
"Mr. Ibrahim said that, apart from the now-missing Star Train, the only other party in the galaxy willing to lend a helping hand to Yalilo is the Celestial Alliance."
Igor has told this story many times, and each of his post-match speeches brings tears to people's eyes.
His eyes reddened slightly, and he spoke calmly as if he were telling a story that had nothing to do with him.
He Yuan blinked, and a tear fell from her eye, landing on the back of her hand.
This is an inspiring yet tragic and realistic story.
In fictional stories, everyone can be kind, virtuous, and helpful. But in reality, people are often driven by self-interest.
He Yuan remembered something and felt a sense of empathy for Igor.
In real life, he grew up on a garbage planet. The only scenery there was a place called the "rich people's area," which he once secretly climbed over the wall to try to touch the sky and break through that layer of gray barrier.
Unfortunately, the last piece of scenery was also smashed down by the spaceship falling from the sky and turned into ruins.
His hometown also became a battlefield.
...
He Yuan thought that if there were no more wars between the people of Fengrao, perhaps the Immortal Boat Alliance would lend a helping hand and help save this planet.
but……
“Igor, I think… there’s something I need to tell you first.”
Just to be on the safe side, He Yuan went to ask Teng Xiao, who had just returned.
He was a lawless player, but he was still willing to listen to Yuan Mi when she acted cute towards him.
[Crane Kite: Can you reveal anything about the upcoming expedition after the martial arts ceremony?]
[Teng Xiao: It's not a secret; all six imperial forces are currently preparing.]
"The people of Fengrao are gathering and are about to go to war with the Yaoqing Immortal Ship. After the Luofu Immortal Ship finishes its martial arts ceremony, it will gather its army to support the Yaoqing Immortal Ship."
He Yuan sighed, "If this hadn't happened, the Immortal Boat Alliance might have been willing to lend a hand."
The most despairing thing in the world is to finally see hope, only to have it shatter in an instant.
war.
Igor knew about war, and he knew that the Immortal Boat Alliance and the Abundant People would fight to the death every time.
Can Yalilo VI hold out until the end?
Igor looked up abruptly. "And what happens after the war?"
After the war ends, will the Immortal Ship Alliance...?
Crane Kite realized that she had reached a critical juncture.
Neither Igor nor he could make a decision for the Immortal Boat Alliance regarding whether or not to accept the question.
They all knew it very well.
He Yuan was silent for a moment, then said, "I don't know."
Igor closed his eyes briefly, his voice hoarse: "I see."
The atmosphere in the exhibition hall was frozen. The two people sat side by side without saying a word.
“Igor, I don’t know if the Immortal Boat Alliance will be able to provide assistance at that time, but I know I will be willing to go.”
In his soft, blue-purple eyes, a face resembling Igor's shimmered.
"I... am not a formal member of the Cloud Cavalry. After the war ends, I will travel to your world as a patrolling sea knight."
Reject bad endings, starting with him!
He Yuan is a player, and this world revolves around players.
He wanted to help Igor.
It's not just because of the mission.
Rather, it's because of... some past regrets.
At that time, he lacked Igor's courage and the ability to act independently, and could only become a refugee and be taken in, with no room for resistance.
...Fortunately, we were lucky.
Igor's eyes widened instantly, softening his otherwise rough demeanor considerably.
He has traveled to countless worlds and given countless speeches, and now, he has finally received his due—
Tell him firmly that someone will help him.
What if you're alone?
Igor, also alone, relied on the remaining books to repair the spacecraft, stumbled and struggled into the sea of stars, and embarked on a journey to save his homeland.
He has come this far and found the first person willing to help him.
In the future, there will be a second, a third, a fourth...
Amidst the rollercoaster of emotions and the feeling of finding a "companion," the previously unnoticed heartstrings slowly began to sing.
“Alright,” Igor said, “if you come, I’ll treat you to my secret stash of wine and some sausage.”
He Yuan shook her head, "No wine, but red sausage is fine."
"By the way, can I see your robotic arm? The Xianzhou people can't install this, and I've been curious about it for a long time."
Igor paused for a moment, then extended his left hand.
He Yuan examined it for a moment and asked, "Can the robotic arm lift a much heavier weight?"
"Yes, he will enhance the power I already possess."
He Yuan stared at it for a long time, making Igor feel flustered.
Even knowing that those bright eyes were looking at the robotic arm, he still had a moment of strange feeling.
"Have you ever thought about using a robotic arm to control better weapons?" He Yuan asked.
The galaxy is already in the age of firearms. When it comes to large-scale weapons of mass destruction, the company and Xianzhou are evenly matched, but when it comes to individual combat, Xianzhou dares to say it's second, and no one dares to say it's first.
In Igor's words, he didn't need weapons that could destroy the world at any time, but rather weapons that could arm everyone.
Because he also wants to do his best to preserve the original appearance of his hometown.
Igor shook his head.
His gaze toward the robotic arm was complex.
He Yuan noticed this and subtly steered the conversation in that direction.
"The Immortal Ship people once received the blessing of the [Abundant] Star God Pharmacist, and have a core that can store power and true energy here."
As He Yuan spoke, he flicked his finger, and the longsword spun around in front of him as he instructed. "You've already seen the power, but true qi is what allows one to control flying swords."
"Our weapons are unusable by ordinary people, but if we make some modifications and add powerful mechanical arms or exoskeleton armor, we might be able to put up a fight against the Ember Legion."
“…I’m sorry,” Igor lowered his head and took a few deep breaths, “I’m thinking of some unpleasant memories.”
He saw himself lying on the operating table, where people in white coats anesthetized him, cut off his entire arm, and installed this robotic arm.
Then, on the field, he almost tore his opponent's arm apart with this mechanical arm.
When the cheers and applause from the audience reached the ring, Igor felt no joy of victory, only... a bewildered feeling of being swept up in the madness.
He took a deep breath. "This arm... was installed to have a better visual effect on the field."
He Yuan hummed in agreement. "It's the company's suggestion, isn't it?"
"They take you to bigger arenas, bet on you, and have already made a fortune."
But Igor was still wearing the fur-trimmed vest he had brought from his hometown, with a simple white shirt underneath.
He Yuan flipped through the information provided in the task bar and glanced at him again.
It's hard to believe that he was the champion.
“But I have to say that the starting point of this arm is for the visual effect on the field, but its ending point is not necessarily,” He Yuan said. “Just like how the Immortal Boatmen initially accepted the blessing of abundance, but eventually, when they realized the harm caused by the Abundance People, they chose to go and resist and go on a hunt.”
"You can use a robotic arm to win games, and you can also use it to protect your hometown. I don't think they conflict."
Igor stared blankly at the crane.
He thought that the young-looking man from the Immortal Ship was probably already in his 30s and had more experience than him, and that he could say something that would enlighten him.
Since he had no way to ask for help, he decided to save himself.
Even if the hope is slim, he will fight to the very last moment.
Thank you.
Igor thanked him and asked, "May I give you a hug?"
you……?
A look of confusion appeared on He Yuan's face.
He asked Igor, "How old are you this year?"
Igor: "Thirty-three."
He Yuan paused for a moment, then said, "I'm twenty this year. Considering the age difference, I guess I can call you 'uncle'?"
"Uncle?" he said with a smile.
Igor looked surprised. "I once paid for a drink for a pointy-eared kid, and he told me he was two hundred years old."
"I saw that you had an extraordinary bearing, and I thought... I thought you were also..."
He felt his tongue was a little hot.
When the young man called out "Uncle," his eyes were smiling, with the corners of his eyes slightly upturned, giving him a sly look.
It truly stirs the soul.
Igor lowered his head somewhat embarrassedly, "I'm sorry, I..."
He Yuan chuckled, "What's there to apologize for?"
Even the laughter was as soft and light as a feather, stirring the heart.
Igor still couldn't lift his head.
"The age of the people on the Immortal Boat... is indeed like winning the lottery. You don't need to apologize for this. We're all used to it."
Every year, a few outsiders come to the Immortal Boat and mistake someone for someone else; we're tired of hearing this gossip.
Igor did not do this because...
He felt a little strange.
He was a little afraid to look He Yuan in the eye, just like when he was a child he was afraid to look his teacher in the eye.
“Alright, Uncle Igor,” He Yuan stood up, “if you want to do well in the martial arts ceremony, then come with me.”
Igor hurriedly followed, the neuro-controlled mechanical arm humming as he quickly shut it off.
Inside the exhibition hall, there is a martial arts training ground, specifically for guests to practice their skills.
"Guests?" Igor asked doubtfully. "Would the Immortal Ship Alliance sell these weapons?"
He Yuan nodded, "Yes. But the premise is that these weapons are not for starting a war, but for resistance."
The specific details will be verified by the Tianbo Company.
After all, the Immortal Boat Alliance is busy with hunting and can't possibly handle everything. If they can solve problems on their own with weapons, then it's best to solve them themselves.
"Then what about your suggestion just now..." Igor asked somewhat embarrassedly, "Could you ask the Manufacturing Company if they can customize a batch based on my body measurements?"
"I have plenty of bonuses! I can do without any discounts!"
His bright golden eyes shone with an extremely strong determination and resolve that was truly moving.
He Yuan raised her hand and patted his shoulder. "Uncle Igor, this isn't the first time the Industrial Construction Division has done this kind of order. They have all the data over there, so you don't need to go."
"Also, weapons made with this kind of technology don't cost you much money at all. You should save up and buy more exoskeleton mechs instead."
After all, there aren't many people who can undergo physical surgery. And in Yalilo, there's not much of a good surgical environment. It's better to make some exoskeleton armor, which is easier to inherit than a mechanical arm.
Igor really didn't know how to thank Heyuan.
The young man helped him uncover a corner of the mysterious veil of the Immortal Boat Alliance, and after telling him that there was no one else to turn to for help, he offered him another idea.
He couldn't buy an army, but he could go back to Jarillo, back to Beloborg, and build one.
He felt as if he had returned to the moment he set off, his mother's tearful gaze still vivid in his mind's eye.
"Crane Kite...is there anything you want?" Igor asked somewhat shyly.
He Yuan pretended to think, then shook her head.
"Uncle Igor, if you want to repay me, then throw a punch with all your might until the moment I arrive."
He lacks nothing, and given Igor's current situation, it's unlikely he can offer him anything.
He Yuan understood this feeling very well.
"Now, clench your fist and swing it at me."
He Yuan threw down her sword.
They started punching each other with their bare hands, as if this were a boxing match.
The sounds of flesh colliding were interspersed with the sounds of machinery hitting the ground.
"Igor, push hard here."
"Igor, don't hesitate, swing at my opening."
“Igor…”
It was more of a coaching match than a competition.
Crane Kite's attacks were deadly, and even with reduced force, Igor was already drenched in sweat from the training.
He had never been so tired, yet he had never felt so exhilarated.
There were no spectators, no cheers, yet it stirred up all his emotions and energy, making him excited to an unprecedented degree.
He knelt on the ground, his arms supporting him, looking at his shadow cast on the floor.
The young man looked exactly the same as when they first met, except that his hair was slightly disheveled.
Crane Kite... isn't the champion?
Igor asked the question.
“The champion is usually the Yunqi Xiaowei of each year, and I’m not old enough,” He Yuan said. “I have also appeared in the competition, but you’d better pray you don’t run into me.”
Meeting He Yuan means that Igor lost a match and is now in the revival round.
Igor raised his head, his golden eyes burning with crimson flames.
"If I meet you, I will give it my all until I can no longer lift my hands."
He stood up unsteadily, feeling his blood boiling.
"Again!"
If he can't even get past this hurdle, how can he win on the field?
He Yuan stretched his limbs and relaxed his brows and eyes.
This is the direction he prefers.
He glanced at Igor's stats, which were already much better than the previously disparate triangle.
The sound of flesh colliding rang out again, until Yingxing, who had received the message from his identity card and hurriedly completed the order, arrived.
-----------------------
Author's note: Ying Xing: This direction feels a bit familiar.
Last night, after my birthday dinner, I had a burst of inspiration, but I didn't finish writing this part, so I started writing like crazy this morning.
In short, I've finished writing my six thousand words for today!
Tonight's update will be inspired by my thoughts OvO
In addition, the people of the Immortal Boat do indeed possess a Danfu (energy center) and true Qi.
So, it's true cyber-immortal cultivation.
The Mirror Style's fragmented sword can sink into the ground; its weight would be too much for an ordinary person to lift.
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