After the commotion where "Xiao Ye Wanspirit" was dragged out by "Ke Shanru Meng".

Jiang Shang coughed, acting as if nothing had happened, "Mr. Pu, now that you're in the same boat as us, the second in command of the bandit stronghold who escaped must have gone to report to the Black Tiger Escort Agency. The pressing matter is how to deal with this!"

"Black Tiger Escort Agency..."

Upon the mention of his adversaries, a look of hatred surfaced on Pu Dongyun's face: "They're not easy to deal with. The three dart masters are all in the Martial Artist Realm! Two are Seventh-Grade, and one is Sixth-Grade, ah... it's tough, tough, tough!"

"Regarding the Martial Artist Realm, I would ask Mr. Pu to enlighten me!"

Jiang Shang earnestly requested.

"You don't know?" Pu Dongyun looked at him as if he were a child ignorant of life's commonsense.

"In truth, we do not."

Jiang Shang well understood that a half-truth was better than a lie, and a part-truth better than the full truth: "Please, would you educate me!"

"The path of a martial artist is a step taken towards the heavens!"

Pu Dongyun organized his thoughts before explaining, "Ordinary people practice martial arts as a way to enter the path, but without reaching the rank of Ninth-Grade Martial Artist, one merely lingers at the threshold. Martial artists can be divided into nine realms, also known as grades!"

"Among them, the Ninth-Grade Martial Artists are called 'Copper Skin Realm.' Those in this realm have skin like copper, their strength increases by a hundred pounds, and they can fight ten enemies at once!"

"Eighth-Grade Martial Artists are called 'Iron Bone Realm.' Their arms possess the massive strength of five hundred pounds, incredibly powerful with just a few vital points..."

"Was the leader of Woniuzhai previously an Eighth Grade Martial Artist?" Jiang Shang thought of the copper hammers and couldn't help asking.

"Zhang Aniu was simply a man of unusual talent, with brute strength at best a ninth-rank martial artist..." Pu Dongyun shook his head in disdain: "Seventh-Grade Martial Artists are known as 'Steel Muscle Realm.' Once this realm is achieved, the tendons and bones can be both rigid and flexible, permeating the entire body, known as 'minor perfection.' A martial artist's power becomes refined enough that within ten steps, one can catch a sparrow about to take flight... Although unworthy, I was once a martial artist of this realm, but after the grave injury, my tendons and bones have been rendered useless, and I fear I might now only match a ninth-rank martial artist..."

"The last is the Sixth-Grade, which we call 'Inner Qi.' The first three grades of martial artists focus on physical perfection, but upon reaching this realm, one generates Inner Qi, capable of True Qi externalization and injuring opponents from air!"

"As for the ranks beyond fifth grade, I am but a humble individual from a remote county town, and truly do not know..."

...

"Ninth-Grade Copper Skin, Eighth-Grade Iron Bone, Seventh-Grade Steel Muscle, Sixth-Grade Inner Qi..."

Jiang Shang's eyes sparkled: "Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Pu."

"The reason I'm telling you this is... Black Tiger Escort Agency boasts numerous experts, and given enough time, they would have received the news and sent people here..." Pu Dongyun said: "From what I observe, none of you have a deep understanding of martial arts despite being well kept, perhaps you should preserve your useful bodies first..."

In other words, he was hinting... it was time to run!

"No, Woniuzhai is ours."

Jiang Shang stated firmly.

He planned to keep Newbie Valley as the real stronghold for the players, not to be revealed to outsiders, thus Woniuzhai would be perfect as a second base.

He spoke evenly, "Mr. Pu, please be at ease. We, the foreigners, have our own ways to survive in the wild, having one or two tricks up our sleeves. The question, however, is if we avenge you and retrieve your daughter, would you be willing to teach us martial arts?"

Although Jiang Shang spoke calmly, his tightly clenched fist within his sleeve gave something away.

"Of course, I used to run a martial arts school."

Pu Dongyun said solemnly, "Should you avenge me, I shall impart all my skills without reservation, and not hide a single thing. Should I break this oath, let heaven strike me with thunder!"

"Excellent!"

Jiang Shang exited the bedroom, quickly went offline, and posted on the forum: "A tide of monsters is coming soon, are the players ready? There are skill rewards this time!"

...

Seven Luminaries Heaven.

Zhong Shenxiu's true form was sitting quietly under a plum tree, boiling water for tea.

"Master, it's terrible, Master!"

Er Ha cried out as if possessed, running into the backyard.

Zhong Shenxiu frowned as petals of plum blossoms fell around him, "What's the matter?"

"Report from the frontlines, hostilities have flared up again in the Western Expedition Protectorate!"

Er Ha, tongue lolling out, handed over a piece of intelligence to Zhong Shenxiu.

The so-called Western Expedition Protectorate was actually the area previously under the rule of the Clement Kingdom. It was an established tradition for Yan Han to organize newly conquered lands into protectorates.

The Western Expedition Protectorate was rather remote, and after the war, it was bestowed upon some of the large sects as a reward.

Even the Grand Protector had the backing of a sect.

'So fast... Have Enrique and the higher-ups of the Bauhinia Kingdom recovered this quickly?'

Zhong Shenxiu pondered in silence, "Or... has the Western Court Empire finally made its move?"

He put down the letter and suddenly turned to Er Ha, "Er Ha, you are my family's general, and I have a task for you!"

"Woof, please issue your command, my lord!"

Er Ha stood up straight, and for some reason, he suddenly felt a chill down his spine.

"Don't worry, I'm not sending you to your death. It's just a short assignment. Go play with some of your kind..."

A mysterious smile spread across Zhong Shenxiu's face, "Of course, this relates to a secret of mine, so before you go, I must place the 'Ha Seal' on you. Should you unconsciously leak the secret, the seal will activate and temporarily lower your intelligence..."

"My lord, spare me, my uncle already says I'm quite dumb..."

Er Ha howled in protest, but it was in vain. Zhong Shenxiu slapped him on the head and tossed him into a mysterious door that appeared before them.

"Huff..."

He blew the steam off the surface of his tea and suddenly felt much calmer. His mind's eye seemed somewhat clearer...

...

Xuanming Sky.

"Woof... Master?"

Dazed and confused, Er Ha looked up at Zhong Shenxiu, immediately falling to his knees, "Spare me, please..."

"Relax, it's really just a trip away..."

Zhong Shenxiu's incarnation sat upon the clouds, patting Er Ha's head, "This is a Grotto Heaven I've recently discovered. Some of my believers are down there, and I intend to play a game with them. You're going to play the role of a professional NPC. I will directly instill the specific tasks and the language of this world into you."

"And if you need to contact me, just silently call upon my esteemed name..."

Zhong Shenxiu thought for a moment, his lips curling up as he said, "My esteemed name is... Lord of Order, God of the Game, Supreme Ruler of Data, Guardian of Players!"

"One last reminder, don't be courteous to the players—kill when you must!"

With that, he slapped Er Ha on the forehead once more.

Although catalyzing could create some real NPCs, Zhong Shenxiu still preferred using people.

Er Ha instantly grasped much, "I understand, my lord!"

The concept of Grotto Heavens was long known within Yan Han, and even within the Imperial Palace existed different small spaces forming tiny worlds with untold depths.

To Er Ha, this seemed to be another small Grotto Heaven of his master, harboring a group of beings called 'players.'

His task was to guide them, an effortless job...

"Well, first travel to a place to eliminate someone, then report for duty in Newbie Valley! Do this well, and I guarantee you a Primordial Pill!"

Zhong Shenxiu looked beyond Three Elements City, where three dark shadows were racing at high speed towards Woniuzhai.

They were none other than the three head dart masters of the Black Tiger Escort Agency.

'Two Seventh-Grade Martial Artists are fine, but a Sixth-rank Martial Artist could indeed deplete a player's revivals... not suitable for contact just yet!'