Chapter 1 Just the Beginning

Laughing Heavens also heard Gui Xiao's earlier warning, "Don't use energy attacks." He had fought Gui Xiao before, so he believed that if the kid said it couldn't be used, then it really couldn't.

Therefore, after the loud shout, Laughing Heavens rushed towards Lute and executed a close-combat martial skill – [Great Compassion Thousand-Leaf Hand]. He pointed with his fingers, chopped with his palms, his movements were as fast as lightning, and the force of his palms was powerful and turbulent.

In terms of power alone, this move was comparable to Southern Dipper Flying Dragon Fist, but its variations were more exquisite, making it extremely difficult to defend against even with rapid reactions.

Unexpectedly… Lute didn't seem to care about Laughing Heavens' attack. She stood still and allowed him to attack, then slowly turned her head and fixed her gaze on Devouring Sky Gui Xiao: "Finally found… the perfect candidate."

Gui Xiao snorted coldly: "Sorry, you're not my type…" With that, he also strode forward and attacked with a punch.

"Now that I've decided it's you…" Lute raised a hand to catch Gui Xiao's fist, while chanting, "Then things will be simple…"

*Bang*—

Gui Xiao's fist was firmly caught, and his body stopped in mid-air, unable to advance an inch.

Lute stood still, not moving a step.

"You're really strong…" Lute smiled, and in the next second, her back suddenly burst open, and a mass of paste-like metallic liquid splattered from her cracked spine.

Laughing Heavens knew that this was Gui Xiao's usual attack method. This kid could let his power penetrate the opponent's defense and directly affect the area beneath the surface, injuring their internal organs. Therefore, most defensive abilities were meaningless in front of Devouring Sky Gui Xiao. If there was any player who could defend against Gui Xiao, it would probably only be Zhaoying Wang with his rebirth and restoration abilities…

"Just stay at the edge of this space for a while." After being injured, Lute didn't seem nervous at all. She pushed forward with the hand that caught the fist, sending Gui Xiao flying.

Gui Xiao's feeling at this moment was as if he was tied to the rear of a train, flying backwards under the pull of an indescribable force… soaring into the sky.

If he were to say "I hate this feeling" or "You'll remember this," it wouldn't feel out of place at all…

Everyone watched as the top-ranked expert disappeared from view, powerless to help… the situation took another sharp turn.

"So now… let's start with you…" Lute turned her head and looked at Laughing Heavens, who was closest to her, "You're very unhappy that I killed your friend, aren't you?"

Laughing Heavens was stunned when he heard this, and a strong premonition of death surged into his heart…

He didn't answer her question, but while he was still alive, he made one last attack that he could muster… He abandoned those moves that pursued "swiftness, agility, and change", relying solely on a fierce and pure force, and used a [Prajna Palm] that couldn't be blunter.

The wind from his palm broke through the air with a sharp whistle, and the force surged like a mountain torrent.

The moment he attacked, even Lute was momentarily stunned.

*Boom*—

The skill hit again, and this time, Lute had to block.

She used the metal carapace outside her right elbow to meet Laughing Heavens' palm strike. After the strike, Lute's right arm bent and deformed, turning into a semi-solidified state. And Laughing Heavens' own arm was shattered into bone, blood, and flesh, spraying in all directions.

"Don't want to answer my question?" Lute continued her previous words, "Or do you disdain to answer the question of a low-dimensional being like me?"

Laughing Heavens really couldn't speak at this moment. He never expected that the opponent would be so strong. The force that rebounded from that palm not only shattered his own arm, but also severely injured his internal organs. Laughing Heavens felt like his insides were burning, and his survival points were already at rock bottom. Even if Lute didn't attack, he probably wouldn't survive for more than a minute.

"Then let me tell you…" As Lute spoke, her right arm had already recovered, "When my compatriots fall, my anger and pain are a hundred times greater than yours…" When she said the last two words, she spread her arms forward and swung them open violently.

In a Wuxia novel, this move would be called "Parting the Clouds to See the Sun," which could force back enemies when encountering a pincer attack. However, when Lute in her seventh form performed this action, the effect was… Laughing Heavens, who was close at hand, was torn in half by the palm wind.

Then, a raging wind pressure rolled out, scraping layers of cracks from the exterior walls of the buildings on both sides of the street. The players standing on the street felt as if they were in a level sixteen typhoon, and those who had nothing to hold on to were blown away and crashed into the walls. The three who were fighting Quaid, including Quaid, were also blown away.

"Fuck!" This was the common voice in the hearts of all the players present except for [Not Afraid At All].

Only Not Afraid At All inserted the "Raging Lightning Mace" in his hand into the ground, grasped the mace, and stood firmly without moving.

"Too exaggerated… this kind of monster… how are we supposed to… without energy attacks…" Uncle Worthless pushed up his sunglasses and muttered.

"I advise you not to be wishful thinking." Drunken Grief said to him from the side, "That kid Gui Xiao, although he gets a little out of control once he enters battle… his judgment is still very reliable. You saw the result of No Knife's attack earlier… energy attacks might make the opponent stronger and stronger." He paused at this point, "Besides… I was just about to ask you… can you still use your Demon Containment Wave?"

Uncle Worthless turned his head and glanced at the other party: "I can…"

"Then you can't act rashly." Drunken Grief said, already walking forward, "We still don't know how many times this person can be resurrected. Maybe your Demon Containment Wave… will be the last resort."

"Oh? Taking the initiative to come to my door?" Lute looked at Drunken Grief, who was walking towards her, and said with a sneer.

"You… are not invincible." Drunken Grief said as he walked, "Your current form… has at least four weaknesses." As he said this, he raised his right hand and extended four fingers.

Lute responded with a smile: "Oh… you might as well tell me."

"First, your speed has decreased." Drunken Grief continued, "Second, you have lost the ability to freely deform your body, and you can no longer use the trick of extending your fingers that you used before…"

Lute's expression changed slightly when she heard this.

"Third, you cannot use energy attacks." Drunken Grief lowered a finger each time he said something. At this time, only the last index finger remained, "Fourth… your recovery power has decreased."

This man, who usually spouted nonsense and was always carefree, would become extremely shrewd and capable once he became serious in battle.

Drunken Grief was not a strategist, unable to devise any ingenious strategies; nor was he an investigator, unable to solve difficult puzzles like the average person. But… in terms of battle, he possessed a unique and extraordinary talent – analytical ability.

Using boxing as an example… Drunken Grief was like having both the skills of a boxer and the mind of a coach. Even when he was in the middle of the game, he could accurately perceive the opponent's weaknesses from an observer's perspective.

It was this talent that made him one of the top professional players. And in Thriller Paradise, his ability… had already been materialized at some point, becoming – Soul Intent.

"As a player, you are very impressive." Lute actually praised, "You were able to see these things in such a short time…" She pondered, "Did Laughing Heavens' last attack let you see it? Or…" She smiled, "Forget it, that's not important." She paused, then continued, "You're right… My seventh form sacrifices speed and the ability to manipulate energy while greatly increasing attack and defense, and I've also lost the flexibility to fine-tune my body… That's why I said 'very inconvenient'."

"This Boss is really magnanimous… actually telling us her weaknesses." Sky Horse muttered in the distance.

"Tch…" Honghu spat, "She's just looking down on us… She thinks that even if she reveals her weaknesses, she still can't lose." As he said this, his expression became even more suppressed, "And the term 'seventh form' seems to be foreshadowing a very bad situation…"

The former only knew one move, and the latter's fighting style was also mainly based on energy attacks. In this situation, they couldn't help at all, and could only watch.

"Don't be so quick to praise me." Drunken Grief lowered his hand and continued, "If I'm not mistaken… even if your current form is destroyed, you won't die… right?"

"Yes." Lute said bluntly.

"Okay…" Drunken Grief tilted his head, scratched his hair, and used this action to consciously wink at Uncle Worthless. Then, he raised his head and said with a solemn expression, "Then… after I destroy your seventh form, you can praise me."

"Hmph… with your data strength?" Lute snorted coldly, "The injuries on your body were left by Quaid, right…" As she said this, she absentmindedly shifted her attention and looked at Quaid in the distance.

At this time, Quaid was once again fighting with Red Iron, Crazy Tracker, and Dream Awakening Zen. The sound of metal clashing was as dense as rain, and the sword energy that was激荡 scattering roamed around the battlefield.

"You can't beat Quaid…" Lute continued, "But you have the confidence to beat me?"

"Can't you see such a simple reason?" Drunken Grief said, "Besides wanting to get more information from your mouth, it's obvious that I'm stalling for time…" As soon as he finished speaking, he happened to walk in front of Lute.

"Oh? How come I can't see any energy changes on your body?" In Lute's eyes, there was indeed a stream of data flickering with white light, and she was very confident when she said this.

"Huff…" Drunken Grief took a deep breath and said, "The preparation for some moves is not in the form, but in the heart…"

"I want to remind you of two things…" Lute's tone became colder and colder, "First, bluffing and pretending to be mysterious are meaningless to me. Second, if you want to make a move like self-destruction, you should first consider whether the nature of this damage is energy."

"Don't worry…" Drunken Grief replied indifferently, "I know what I'm doing…"

No sooner said than done, his killing intent erupted in an instant… and was pushed to the limit.

Even Lute's expression suddenly changed in that fleeting moment.

In fact… after Drunken Grief analyzed the other party's situation, he already understood… that only he could break through this seventh form of Lute.

Because in his skill bar, there was an A-level, purely physical damage consumption skill.

[Name: Heaven and Earth Supreme Fist]

[Skill Card Attribute: Active skill, disappears after one use]

[Skill Category: Fighting]

[Effect: Strike the target in front with a straight punch]

[Consumption: 80% of maximum stamina value (before the skill is activated, you need to enter the "Concentration" state for one minute)]

[Learning Conditions: Fighting Expertise A]

[Remarks: The ultimate mystery of Kyokugenryu Karate, the highest technique that combines mind, skill, and body. The move has reached the realm of returning to simplicity, and it will kill the enemy with one blow.]

If [Dragon Slayer] represents the highest level of energy damage, then this move should undoubtedly be listed as one of the strongest physical skills.

Drunken Grief knew that this move couldn't hit Quaid, but… it could hit Lute.

In an instant, time and space froze, a surge of energy gathered on Drunken Grief's fist, the ultimate technique of the unity of man and nature, as fast as the wind and as fierce as a dragon, roared out!