Abundant Martial Arts Virtue
Chapter 52 - 42: Facing the Giant!

Chapter 52: Chapter 42: Facing the Giant!

Zhao Junyu left the palace and went to the hotel where Wu Xiaode was resting. He ordered a bottle of wine in the restaurant and drank quietly while waiting.

Wu Xiaode had said he had something to do in the suburbs.

He was supposed to be busy until noon and then return.

But now, there was news of some communication issue outside the city, and he couldn’t be reached for the time being.

"This kid... well, I’ll eat something first."

Zhao Junyu snapped his fingers and beckoned a waiter over to order food.

He had just started ordering when a beautiful woman with a touch of a virtuous temperament walked into the restaurant and sat down opposite him.

"Hi, Brother Junyu, long time no see. Do you still remember me?"

The beautiful woman said.

Zhao Junyu studied the woman carefully and said, uncertain, "Are you — Dan Dan from the Ouyang family?"

"Yes, Brother Junyu, haven’t seen me for a few years and you don’t recognize me?" the beauty pouted.

"What’s with this sudden visit?" Zhao Junyu asked.

No sooner had he asked when another pretty girl entered the restaurant and sat down next to him.

"Brother Junyu, I’m Bingbing from the Yang family. I was also just admitted to Capital University this year, so I came to add you as a friend."

The girl took out her phone.

Zhao Junyu glanced at a man not far away.

The man gave a barely perceptible nod.

Her identity was correct.

It was indeed the legitimate daughter from the military’s Yang family.

But it was said that this girl was so proud that she looked down on everyone. What brought about this sudden act?

As he was pondering, he saw another girl walk into the restaurant.

The girl caught Zhao Junyu’s eye from afar and smiled, "Brother Junyu, do you still remember me?"

Zhao Junyu waved to her with a smile on his face, "What a coincidence, what are you doing here?"

"Came to eat. Just happened to run into Brother Junyu, why not eat together?" the girl suggested.

"Haha, sure, I’ll just go wash my hands, see you in a bit."

Zhao Junyu greeted them and, with his head held high and his chest out, walked confidently and gracefully from his seat to the restroom.

As soon as he closed the door behind him, his brow furrowed.

"Something’s not right... these families have always been indecisive. Why are they suddenly showing me goodwill?"

"Or could it be—"

Zhao Junyu picked up his phone and dialed a number.

"Sister, didn’t you say we would talk about the arranged dates later?" he whispered.

A typically indifferent female voice came through the receiver: "I didn’t arrange anything for you."

Zhao Junyu paused in confusion.

A strange feeling emerged in his heart.

Every one of them was prettier than Sun Mingyue, with even more exalted status. Could it be—

Is my charm beginning to be widely recognized?

Zhao Junyu pushed aside the far-fetched thoughts in his heart and said, "Sister, although I’m very confident in my own charm, something feels odd today."

"What is it?" the female voice inquired.

"The number of people pursuing me has increased— their families were deliberately keeping their distance from us. I don’t believe their affections are genuine," Zhao Junyu stated.

It must be true love.

He silently thought to himself.

The female voice said with satisfaction, "Hmm, not bad. My brother is finally not an idiot. They are chasing you because our royal family’s power has intimidated those indecisive families."

"Ah? Huh?" Zhao Junyu said, bewildered.

"There was an incident in the suburbs that I thought you might want to check out— I believe other families have also captured this video."

"Father didn’t stop it?" Zhao Junyu asked in surprise.

"His Majesty thought it was fine for everyone to see, so he allowed them to capture it."

The female voice finished speaking and then hung up.

Zhao Junyu was puzzled.

Why did it feel like his usually aloof sister was speaking with a hint of mirth today?

When was she ever in such a good mood?

While he was thinking, a video was sent to his phone.

Zhao Junyu tapped on it.

The video immediately began to play.

After watching for a while, Zhao Junyu sighed and said,

"Fine, society is really pragmatic. I always knew their affections weren’t pure..."

...

Whoosh!

Wu Xiaode emerged from that mirror world and returned directly to his room in the martial arts school.

He carefully sensed for a moment and felt that his hearing and vision had improved. Many problems came to mind and he could deduce answers quickly.

Apart from that, there was nothing else.

...Nothing?

Wu Xiaode hesitated for a moment and then adopted a boxing stance on the spot, neatly completing a set of Iron Wire Fist.

His reaction and judgment had improved significantly.

Some moves when executed, which he previously couldn’t vary, he could now change several times in succession.

Plus—

Clang!

He drew his saber and slashed hundreds of times in place, stirring up gales throughout the entire room.

"Arcane knowledge" had enhanced his thinking and agility in reactions.

He had previously also obtained a "sub-level agility (passive)" power.

This ability made him more agile in any combat, moving and striking faster, making it easier to dodge enemy attacks.

One was the mind, the other the body.

Together, they improved his lethality by a whole level.

Because of speed!

This change seemed inconspicuous and felt devoid of power.

But—

Wu Xiaode knew this was a considerably terrifying improvement.

—When others were just drawing their saber, his had already completed a strike.

This was a watershed in combat levels.

He looked up into the air.

Letters made of ice crystals appeared on the Book of the Dead:

"Hint:"

"You’ve become faster, man."

"No, boy."

Wu Xiaode’s lips twitched slightly, completely ignoring the Book of the Dead and turned to pick up the long saber for a glance.

The cracks on the blade had increased a little more.

Indeed, just as the Ancestor Spirit had said, the sword was only a temporary measure for an emergency.

Wu Xiaode couldn’t help shaking his head and sheathed the sword again.

That was a minor issue.

He could always find a better sword later.

What mattered was that he had finally seen a glimmer of hope.

Just as the mage had mentioned—

If the Battle Armor could gather Heroic Spirits.

Then, when the princess brought the Battle Armor into the Death Demon Cave, it must have collected countless Heroic Spirits!

Wu Xiaode pondered for a few moments and then spoke again, "There are two types of Demon Skills. I have already tried the first one; as for the second one, if I recite that spell, will I be able to return to that moment?"

On the Book of the Dead, lines of ice crystal tiny script appeared quietly:

"Correct, that is your only chance."

Wu Xiaode understood then.

Now was not the time to use the second kind of skill.

The Book of the Dead revealed new lines of ice crystal tiny script:

"Trial of the first skill has concluded."

"From now on, at any moment, you can use the power of the Battle Armor to go to the moments of death of those Heroic Spirits."

"Each use of the ’Mirror Archive Refresh Spell’ will consume one point of your Soul Power."

This Battle Armor was simply too formidable.

He could use it to return to the Death Demon Cave once again, to face the One-eyed Giant.

And even if he died, he would only be completing those souls and Heroic Spirits’ predetermined deaths, while he would exit the mirror and return to reality!

—There was hope!

There was finally hope for survival!

Wu Xiaode felt somewhat invigorated and gently ran his hand over the Scale Armor.

On the Book of the Dead, a line of ice crystal tiny script emerged:

"Each Scale Armor piece is attached to a Heroic Spirit. When you need it, you can use the Demon Armor to return to their moment of death, and take their place to face the One-eyed Giant."

Wu Xiaode rested for a while, waiting for his Soul Power to recover slightly, and then said:

"Count me in."

Whoosh!

He vanished from the room in an instant—and the next moment—

he found himself standing in sheer darkness.

Despite the dim red shadows enveloping the surroundings slightly obscuring his vision, Wu Xiaode knew immediately where he was.

Yes.

This was the Death Demon Cave.

With the Battle Armor forged by the fairies, he had returned here.

As he looked around,

he saw the One-eyed Giant sitting atop Corpse Mountain, tearing apart the body of some unknown creature.

His appearance had also changed—

transformed into a man in full armor, wielding a shield and a sword, carefully observing the movements all around.

This was a Heroic Spirit who had died here.

Wu Xiaode understood instantly but then felt a sharp pain in his brain.

Countless memories flooded through his mind, even scenes of practicing Knight skills.

In an instant.

The pain disappeared.

Wu Xiaode had gained all the memories of the Heroic Spirit from when he was alive.

He raised his hand, hesitated for a moment, and then said softly, "Holy Light protect me."

A layer of Holy radiance quietly emerged on his hand.

Indeed—

He had acquired all of the abilities of that Knight, along with his own Iron Wire Fist and Saber Skill.

However, this situation would only be like this at the moment.

Once he returned, the Knight’s abilities would all vanish, leaving only what he originally knew.

Nevertheless, Wu Xiaode was not disheartened; he was actually somewhat excited.

—Because the experience gained in battle would not disappear!!!

Gaining so much knowledge about Knights and combat techniques was already quite an achievement.

Someone patted Wu Xiaode on the shoulder.

"How did we end up here? Anthony, what is this place?"

A man also clad in armor and wielding a sword asked.

It turned out the Knight’s name was Anthony.

Thanks to having already gone through a "trial" experience before, Wu Xiaode said with composure:

"I don’t know either, but I guess we’re in trouble."

The man followed his gaze and immediately saw the One-eyed Giant upon Corpse Mountain.

"A monster..."

The man whispered softly.

"Yeah, that seems to be the mythical One-eyed Giant, very difficult to deal with," Wu Xiaode continued.

Looking back, he saw a small team leaning against the wall not far behind the man, ready in a combat formation.

The Great Mage he had seen before.

Several Knights wielding tower shields, their bodies completely covered in Battle Armor.

And a few Priests with dull radiance about them, wearing hoods.

Further in were several maids, chefs, and stewards.

The girl was protected at the very innermost.

In the dim light, through layers of blood-red mist, Wu Xiaode could only make out her figure generally.

But there was no mistake.

It had to be her!

Wu Xiaode withdrew his gaze, feeling a bit eager to try.

This was the beginning of a fatal destiny.

Though not a match for the One-eyed Giant—

at least he had become a professional.

With the Demon Armor, he could keep returning to this moment in the Death Demon Cave and could leave at any time.

So.

Why not try out his current strength?

Thud—thud—thud—

A heavy series of footsteps sounded from deep within the cave.

The One-eyed Giant!

It approached from the darkness and fog, its ferocious single eye fixed on the Knight and Wu Xiaode.