Starting off by becoming a bandit, robbing a birthday tribute, learning intermediate martial arts from bandits, and acquiring startup capital, then exposing the bandits and building good relations with the authorities...
This move is truly audacious, audacious like myself.
But Wen Xishu finds it peculiar.
"Why is he so devoid of martial virtue? What happened to being a hero and standing for justice? What happened to helping the weak?"
Wen Xishu realized something was off.
The Scorpion Knife was a divine assist this time, providing Wen Xishu with a wealth of information.
This information, most importantly, appears to be a simulation of Liu Jianxin's movements, but Wen Xishu feels there's even more crucial information hidden within.
"Liu Jianxin learned intermediate martial arts, the Water Margin Sword Technique."
"But why did his innate martial arts... Original Heart Sword Technique drop from Level 4 to Level 3?"
Original Heart Sword Technique?
Wen Xishu murmured this name, seeming to have some guesses about the whole story.
He planned to continue the simulation to observe Liu Jianxin's next moves.
[Simulation started, due to exceeding three days, the precision from the fourth to sixth day will decrease.]
[Liu Jianxin purchased a "Sharp Sword (Grade: Advanced)" and a martial arts weapon "Mongolian Sweat Medicine" at the black market.]
[Liu Jianxin headed to Lingjiang City and at the Lingjiang Immortal Inn met a burly man with a slightly Beihu appearance. Liu Jianxin drank with the man, having previously given a silver ingot to the waiter to serve him plain water while serving the man with fine wine.]
[The burly man drank eighteen bowls with Liu Jianxin, and Liu Jianxin showed no signs of intoxication, gaining the man's admiration and becoming sworn brothers with him.]
[Liu Jianxin self-deprecates, wondering what qualities he possesses to meet such heroic men like the burly man. He mocks his own martial prowess as low, a mere no-name in the martial world.]
[Liu Jianxin revealed the whereabouts of the stolen birthday tribute but claimed he was pursued throughout the journey and only managed to find safety upon arriving at Lingjiang City, fearing to leave.]
[The burly man admired his courage, teaching Liu Jianxin a move and a half.]
[Liu Jianxin gained martial arts: Capture Dragon Claw Fragment Level 1 (Top grade)]
[Liu Jianxin gained martial arts: Beggar Sect Mentality Level 1 (Intermediate)]
[Liu Jianxin swore brotherhood with the hero Xiao Jianglong.]
The simulation gave Wen Xishu the impression that Liu Jianxin seemed to have read the script.
This martial world is undoubtedly perilous, but Liu Jianxin appears even more treacherous. But the simulation isn't over yet; Liu Jianxin's most audacious moments are still to come.
[Liu Jianxin followed Xiao Jianglong to Apricot Forest, experiencing Xiao Jianglong being reported by Beggar Sect disciples and discovering Xiao Jianglong's lineage is not Han but Beihu.]
[The voices condemning Xiao Jianglong grew louder, the Beggar Sect could no longer tolerate him, Xiao Jianglong left the Beggar Sect and was severely injured after conflicts with its members.]
[As Xiao Jianglong felt despondent, Liu Jianxin insisted they were brothers, and they drank together that night.]
[Having gained Xiao Jianglong's trust and with Xiao Jianglong being restless at the time, he didn't notice the Mongolian Sweat Medicine in the wine.]
[Xiao Jianglong was drugged unconscious, Liu Jianxin severed his brother-in-arms Xiao Jianglong's tendons, rendering his martial skills useless, and acquired the full version of Dragon Subduing Palm and Capture Dragon Claw from him.]
[Gained martial arts: Dragon Subduing Palm Level 1 (Divine grade).]
[Martial arts: Capture Dragon Claw Fragment upgraded to "Capture Dragon Claw."]
[Gained achievement: Betraying Brothers.]
[Martial arts Original Heart Sword Technique level dropped to Level 2.]
Wen Xishu was stunned.
This move cannot be merely called audacious; it's outright insane.
Unexpectedly, within just a few days since starting, Liu Jianxin gained divine martial arts and eliminated a prominent figure in the martial world.
The martial world is dark, but it's not darker than Liu Jianxin.
Wen Xishu had some understanding.
"If I didn't have 'Madness Peak,' then the Martial Arts Alliance Hierarch would be Liu Jianxin."
"And Liu Jianxin's path to becoming Martial Arts Alliance Hierarch is likely the first path of continually betraying friends, abandoning his original camp, relentlessly pursuing self-interest."
"He ultimately became Martial Arts Alliance Hierarch, relying on his treachery and cruelty, reaching the peak of the martial world."
Thinking of this, Wen Xishu asked casually:
"Do you think I'm a good person?"
The woman was startled, finding the question amusing. The Martial Arts Alliance Hierarch a good person? Are you treating this like a wuxia movie?
But she quickly adjusted her expression:
"Of course, you are the best person in this world; good or bad, right or wrong, are defined by you."
"As long as you wish, killing on the street can be an act of charity, snatching someone else's wife can also be an act of kindness. See, wasn't I taken by you?"
Wen Xishu's heart clicked his tongue.
So, the original Demon King was actually a "greedy thief"?
He roughly understood that the role he played was that of a heinous villain, only that he succeeded, reached the peak of the martial world, and now the concept of good and evil is written by the victor.
He replaced Liu Jianxin.
But Liu Jianxin cannot be underestimated; even if he has nothing and returns to Newbie Village... his kingly qualities are intact.
His viciousness and ruthless means, even if he returns to Newbie Village, regardless of many changes from how it used to be, he can still reach the pinnacle.
With the head of "Beihu Spy Xiao Jianglong," Liu Jianxin is probably going to gain a lot of reputation in the martial world.
Of course, this martial world is a chaotic mix of martial hero world, with many other adventures waiting for Liu Jianxin to trigger.
Wen Xishu could imagine... Liu Jianxin's rise would be remarkably swift.
"Logically, Liu Jianxin is an absolute scoundrel..."
"Continually betraying friends, cruel means, devoid of martial virtue..."
"But when I question my heart, the inquiry should be about a person with a heroic heart, right?"
Wen Xishu sensed many incongruities.
This martial world is so damn dark; the new protagonist of the martial world is darker than the world itself.
Suddenly he spoke:
"What was the martial world like before I became Martial Arts Overlord?"
The woman found it strange, wasn't this question something he would be most clear about?
But she knew, sometimes these pinnacle figures become eccentric due to cultivating divine skills, like Mr. Ouyang, one of the Five Masters, who became confused due to his practice.
She said:
"Back then, because Ye Jianxin hadn't retired yet, everyone followed order; back then, the martial world was like a huge game of make-believe."
"Everyone had a belly full of wickedness, but due to Ye Jianxin's constraints, they had to act heroically, stand for justice and thwart the strong."
"They were truly naïve, and because of that, you toyed with them, playing them like pawns."
Ye Jianxin?
That's indeed a name with a genuine martial hero flavor.
Some clues gradually connected.
"Ye Jianxin retired? Didn't I defeat him?"
The woman knew not to show a mocking expression, only saying:
"You did have a duel arranged with Ye Jianxin."
"But due to various reasons, Ye Jianxin couldn't come to the invitation, and soon after, at the Hero Conference, he announced his withdrawal from the martial world, no longer concerning himself with its matters."
"In my heart, you are a hundred times stronger than him; after all, you have the ability to win without fighting. Facing your strategies outside the duel field, he didn't even dare to draw his sword against you."
"After Ye Jianxin's departure, the martial world became your martial world, a true martial world."
Wen Xishu asked again:
"If it were me now, could I kill Ye Jianxin?"
The woman cleverly replied:
"You have a hundred ways to make him die, but first you'd have to find him."
Wen Xishu was somewhat annoyed:
"You just need to tell me, in a face-to-face duel, no tricks, am I able to match him?"
The woman saw the Martial Arts Alliance Hierarch was showing his might, hurriedly lost the coquettishness, yet dared not speak the truth.
Wen Xishu did not blame her.
Because not daring to answer is an answer.
"Turns out, I'm only second in the world, turns out a defender of the former martial world order was forced into retirement by me."
"His prowess should be unparalleled."
Undoubtedly, Liu Jianxin walked a path of evil cultivation, and it proved successful, through deceit, betrayal, treachery... he reached the peak of the martial world.
But this isn't the martial hero people dream of; there is actually a more correct, yet despised road, a difficult path to completion.
And with Ye Jianxin, Original Heart Sword Technique, continually degrading Original Heart Sword Technique...
Wen Xishu seemed to understand the true storyline of this game.
"Since I'm here, Liu Jianxin, you shouldn't hope to continue smoothly on your path anymore."
(Thank you everyone for the blessings, much appreciated!)