Chapter 51: Qiankun Bag
But it was all for naught. After winning the first couple of games, Tantai Mengxue got the hang of the rules, and Ye Xing found to his dismay that he lost every single game afterward.
It wasn’t that Ye Xing was a terrible player; Tantai Mengxue was just too good. While his skills weren’t exactly expert-level, he was actually quite decent for his age.
"Miss Mengxue, there’s something I’d like to ask you, if I may," Ye Xing said as they played.
"Hmm? What is it?" Tantai Mengxue flipped over a piece—an Elephant—and captured one of Ye Xing’s Chariots in the next space.
"Damn, you’re so lucky, flipping a piece that could take my Chariot. Um... so... that Space Bag you used last time, how many Gold Coins is it worth? Where can they be bought? I want to get one too!" Ye Xing asked. ’A Space Bag would be incredibly useful and tempting for him. He was currently trading between two worlds; if he could get a Space Bag to carry his goods, life would be perfect.’
"A Space Bag?" Tantai Mengxue looked puzzled, pointing a delicate finger to the exquisite pouch at her waist. "You mean this?"
"Yes, that’s the one," Ye Xing said, his face lighting up. "Last time, I saw you take the *Innate Skill* manual out of it."
"This is a Qiankun Bag, not a Space Bag!" Tantai Mengxue explained. "Qiankun Bags are crafted from the hide of a very special High-tier Demon Beast, along with many other precious materials. They’re divided into three grades based on quality: upper, middle, and lower. Upper-grade Qiankun Bags are rarely put up for sale. As for lower-grade ones, there are usually one or two at every auction held by the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower. The starting bid is about five thousand Gold Coins!"
’Haha, it’s great that they’re for sale!’ Ye Xing was thrilled. ’Looks like I really do have to make a trip to Sunset City in a few days!’
"Ye Xing, if you’re going to Sunset City, I can give you a lift," Tantai Mengxue offered. "I have to go out for something the day after tomorrow anyway, so I can have the Wind-Chasing White Crane drop you off in Sunset City along the way."
The Wind-Chasing White Crane was Tantai Mengxue’s demon beast companion—an incredibly powerful flying demon beast. Its feathers were white as snow, and when it took to the skies, its speed was simply insane.
"Haha, that’s wonderful!" Ye Xing grinned. "Hey, wait a second. Your General can’t capture my Pawn!"
"It can’t capture a Pawn?" Tantai Mengxue asked, looking puzzled. "But didn’t you say the Generals are the most powerful pieces, and the Pawns are the weakest?"
"Well, the Generals are the most powerful, that’s true, but they just so happen to be countered by the Pawns. So... heheh, my piece is about to capture your General!" Ye Xing said with a devious grin. ’There was no other way. This girl was just too good; he had to pull out all the stops just to win a game or two.’
"Oh, so that’s how it is. If your Pawn can capture my General, does that mean my Pawn can capture your General?" Tantai Mengxue asked.
"Yep, that’s right, that’s... uh..." Ye Xing trailed off, his eyes going wide.
He watched as Tantai Mengxue casually flipped a piece in the space next to his General. A Pawn appeared. Then, the Pawn nonchalantly slid into the General’s spot, capturing it.
"Uh... I... come on... Mengxue, isn’t your luck a little too ridiculous? Your Guard takes my Elephant, your Elephant takes my Chariot, and now you just happen to flip a Pawn." Ye Xing didn’t know what to say and could only force a bitter smile.
"Luck?" Tantai Mengxue shook her head. "This has nothing to do with luck. It’s all about memory."
"Memory?" Ye Xing froze for a moment, then stammered, "You don’t mean... you’ve memorized what every single piece on the board is?"
"Mm-hmm," Tantai Mengxue nodded.
Ye Xing immediately pointed to one of the pieces and asked, "What’s this one?"
"A red Horse," Tantai Mengxue replied.
Ye Xing quickly flipped the piece over. Sure enough, there was a large, red character for "Horse."
’Oh my god, how is anyone supposed to play against you?! That memory is just insane! A straight-up photographic memory!’ Refusing to accept it, he pointed to another piece. "What’s this one?"
"An Elephant."
"And this?"
"A Pawn."
"This one?"
"Pawn."
Ye Xing was speechless.
...
A crescent moon, sharp as a scythe, hung high in the night sky, casting down its cold light.
Within a small courtyard in the White Cloud Mountain Ye Mansion, a gentle breeze rustled through the trees, casting mottled shadows on the ground. Mingled with the sound of the wind was the sharp whistle of a sword.
Beneath the moonlight, a young man in green robes could be seen practicing with a sharp sword in hand.
The sword whistled through the air, its blade flashing cold in the moonlight.
The young man practicing was none other than Ye Xing. He was training in the Lingfeng Sword Skill, a Yellow-tier, Top-grade manual known for its speed and ferocity.
Inner Strength alone wasn’t enough to unleash true power; it had to be combined with External Skills like sword techniques to produce lethal force. Because of this, Ye Xing had been training diligently in his sword skills. Whenever he was stuck, he would ask Tantai Mengxue for help. Tantai Mengxue’s insight and power were on a completely different level, and with her guidance, Ye Xing’s swordsmanship improved by leaps and bounds. He reached the Entry Level in just two days and was now on the verge of breaking through to the Minor Achievement Realm.
The mastery of External Skills Manuals, such as Sword Technique Manuals and Saber Technique Manuals, is generally divided into four realms: Entry, Minor Achievement, Great Success, and Perfect. The Entry Realm means one has just stepped over the threshold. Minor Achievement indicates some initial success. Great Success represents true mastery, allowing one to use the techniques with great skill. As for the Perfect Realm, it implies that every iota of the technique is under one’s complete control, moving as naturally as one’s own limbs. With every advancement, the power becomes more terrifying, even allowing one to challenge opponents of a higher level.
For example, a Second Realm Martial Artist whose skills were at the Entry Realm would be no match for a First Realm Martial Artist whose skills were at the Great Success Realm. Although Inner Strength is the foundation, true combat prowess relies on External Sword Techniques. Progress in Inner Strength is generally affected by three factors: the grade of one’s cultivation skill, cultivation resources, and one’s innate constitution. The cultivation of External Sword Techniques, however, relies on one’s own comprehension, aside from the guidance of sect elders. The greater one’s comprehension, the deeper one’s grasp of the sword skill. Given the same manual, someone with poor comprehension might need months of practice to reach the Entry Level, while a gifted individual might need only a day or two—or even just a few hours. Of course, the Entry Level is only the first step. Beyond it lie Minor Achievement, Great Success, and the Perfect Realm, and the difficulty of training multiplies with each new stage.
Fallen leaves whipped through the courtyard in a wild wind, filled with the flickering shadows of a sword.
As he was practicing in the courtyard, Ye Xing’s ears suddenly twitched.
’Someone’s here!’ Ye Xing keenly heard the shuffling of footsteps steadily approaching from outside the courtyard wall.