C4 A Little Famous!

Crackling noises emanated from his body, as if something within was shattering.

The breakthrough happened swiftly, a surge of power greater than before coursing through him.

Advancing from First Rank to Second Rank marked a significant transformation.

"How weak I was before this breakthrough, compared to now," Qin Buyi reflected.

He accessed his personal information panel.

Name: Qin Buyi

Cultivation: Second Rank, Golden Core Early Period (14/50)

Strength: 14

Speed: 14

Stamina: 14

Attack Power: 14

Defense: 14

Luck: 14

...

Killing Saber, Second Rank (14/50)

Attack Power: 14

Killing Saber Technique, First Rank (10/10, incomplete due to missing follow-up)

Attack Power: 10

"Are you the leader of the Nine-dragon Gang?" Qin Buyi inquired.

Through his Probing Eye, he discerned that his adversary was in the Golden Core Early Period, with slightly higher stats than his own.

"Impossible! You were just at the peak of the Foundation Stage, and now you've broken through to the Golden Core Stage in the blink of an eye? You must have concealed your true cultivation level."

The Nine-dragon Gang Master couldn't fathom Qin Buyi's abrupt advancement, which defied all logic.

"Young friend, since you've reached the Golden Core Stage and slain seven of my Hall Masters, why don't we put this matter to rest?" proposed the Nine-dragon Gang Master.

It was foolish to provoke someone of equal cultivation, especially when their capabilities were unknown.

Subordinates could be replaced, but the Nine-dragon Gang Master had to reconsider his stance now that he faced a Golden Core Stage adversary.

Such is the advantage of increased power; it commands respect and negotiation on equal terms.

"It looks like it's you, after all."

Qin Buyi dismissed the Nine-dragon Gang Master's offer. If he spared his life, the system would exact its own lethal justice.

They were already enemies, and Qin Buyi was not one to show undue mercy.

As Qin Buyi assumed an aggressive posture, the Nine-dragon Gang Master internally cursed, "Madman!"

"Killing Saber Technique, First Move: Slaughter."

Qin Buyi brandished the Killing Saber, its high-speed vibrations casting a chilling light. As it hummed, the blade exuded a sinister, bloodthirsty aura.

Qin Buyi was unleashing the Killing Saber Technique for the first time. To him, the Hall Masters of the Nine-dragon Gang had been laughably weak.

So weak, in fact, that he could have easily dispatched them without resorting to his special technique.

The Nine-dragon Gang Master's eyes narrowed in alarm. "This blade, this technique—it's lethal, not to be met with brute force!"

A palpable sense of danger emanated from Qin Buyi at that moment, prompting a dire premonition in the Gang Master: a direct confrontation would surely leave him gravely wounded, if not dead.

Without a moment's pause, the Nine-dragon Gang Master turned tail and ran.

He was quick, but Qin Buyi was quicker.

Having recently made a breakthrough, Qin Buyi's speed had surged, and in an instant, he was hot on the Gang Master's heels.

"Damn, what is this creature? How can he be so incredibly fast?"

Cornered with no escape, the Gang Master conjured a long sword and, steeling himself, turned to face the onslaught.

Qin Buyi gripped his long saber and brought it down in a vicious arc. The Gang Master raised his sword horizontally above his head to block.

"Clang!"

The sound of metal on metal rang out as the two weapons collided with ferocity.

The force transmitted through the blade sent the Gang Master's sword arm into immediate numbness.

"Such immense strength," he thought, teeth gritted as he struggled to hold his ground.

"Crack!" "Crack!"

Beneath his feet, the limestone pavement began to fracture, bit by bit.

"Smash!"

The overwhelming force transferred from the Gang Master's body to the ground, and the limestone could no longer bear the strain, shattering and scattering across the courtyard.

"Slash!"

Qin Buyi roared, his strength surging another 30 percent.

"Ah!"

Sweat beaded densely on the Gang Master's brow.

"What sort of beast is this? Fast, powerful, and with such incredible stamina?"

Unbeknownst to the Gang Master, Qin Buyi's attributes had been finely tuned by the system, making him a balanced behemoth whose attack power, defense, speed, and endurance could all reach their zenith.

"Crack!"

The sound of the sword fracturing echoed, sending a shiver through the Nine-dragon Gang Master's heart. In this life-or-death moment, a broken weapon might as well have been a death sentence.

"How can your weapon be inferior to his?"

"I surrender, I surrender! I'll give you all my wealth, just spare my life," the Nine-dragon Gang Master pleaded.

Qin Buyi remained silent, his grip unyielding.

"Kill me, and the Tang family from Azure Sun City won't let you off," the Gang Master warned in desperation.

The sword he clutched was riddled with growing cracks.

"Crack!" "Crack!"

"Bang!"

The sword fell apart.

"Sssht!"

The sound of the Killing Saber slicing through flesh resonated as the Nine-dragon Gang Master was cleaved in two.

Qin Buyi exhaled deeply.

Ding! Main Mission 2: Annihilate the Nine-dragon Gang, Complete.

Mission rewards have been distributed.

He allocated the attribute points gained from the mission to his cultivation, breaking through the Killing Saber Technique that had been stalled at the First Rank, advancing it to the Second Rank.

Name: Qin Buyi

Cultivation: Second Rank - Golden Core Early Period (19/50)

Strength: 19

Speed: 19

Physical Strength: 19

Attack: 19

Defense: 19

Fortune: 19

...

Killing Saber Technique: Second Rank (19/50)

Attack: 19

"Had I achieved the Second Rank of the Killing Saber Technique earlier, the Nine-dragon Gang Master would have fallen to a single strike."

The ease with which he dispatched the Nine-dragon Gang Master was a testament to the Killing Saber Technique, now significantly more potent after its breakthrough.

Reflecting on the confrontation, Qin Buyi recognized the full extent of his prowess: unrivaled in the Golden Core Early Period and a formidable challenger in the Middle Period.

Ding! An Epic Level mission has been triggered!

[Epic Quest: Obtain the star core from the Falling Star Mountain Range within three months.]

[Mission Reward: Return to Blue Star, ten attribute points, Third Rank Killing Saber Technique, and one entry into the Awakening Secret Realm. Failure will result in erasure.]

[Beep! Main Quest Three has been activated!]

[Main Quest Three: Proceed to the Tang family and secure their secret treasure, the Star Compass.]

[Note: To locate the star core in the Falling Star Mountain Range, the Star Compass is highly recommended.]

[Mission Reward: Eight attribute points and access to the System Mall. Failure will result in the loss of five attribute points.]

[Beep! Prerequisites for the war mission have been met!]

[War Mission Prerequisites: Choose to either ally with the Tang family or become their sworn enemy.]

[If the host opts to ally with the Tang family, the war mission will transform into a side mission.]

[If the host elects to oppose the Tang family, the war mission will commence.]

[Note: A war mission involves a single individual initiating conflict, engaging in slaughter, conquest, and plunder to become the ultimate force.]

[Note: War missions are exceedingly dangerous!]

"Star core? The Tang family? A war mission?"

These three tasks are interlocked. To secure the star core, one must first acquire the Tang family's Star Compass.

"The Nine-dragon Gang Master warned before his demise that the Tang family would not forgive me."

Qin Buyi stood still, deep in thought.

"Given the current circumstances, the chances of forming an alliance with the Tang family seem slim."

"Even if I were to win their favor, it's unlikely the Tang family would simply hand over their prized Star Compass."

"The most straightforward method to get the Star Compass is to take it by force. So, wouldn't attempting to befriend the Tang family be superfluous?"

"The real unknown is the level of danger that will accompany the war mission should I choose to confront the Tang family."

Having reached a conclusion, Qin Buyi removed a ring from the right hand's ring finger of the Nine-dragon Gang Master's corpse.

After emptying the contents of the ring, Qin Buyi found some miscellaneous items, a heap of Spirit Stones, and a token among them. Discarding the trivial items, he counted over two thousand Low Grade Spirit Stones and promptly stored them in the Storage Space. The token bore a prominent "Tang" character.

"This must be the covert power cultivated by the Tang family," he mused.

With a decisive "Clang!" the saber's blade sliced through the token, cleaving it in two right through the "Tang" character. In this manner, Qin Buyi made his opposition to the Tang family clear.

At the restaurant, Qin Buyi took a seat on the second floor by the window, a spread of dishes before him. Since his arrival in the Falling Star Mountain Range, he hadn't yet savored a proper meal. The restaurant was abuzz with the news of the Nine-dragon Gang's destruction, the topic on everyone's lips.

"Did you hear? The Nine-dragon Gang crossed someone they shouldn't have," one patron said.

"From the Gang Master to all seven Hall Masters, not a single one was spared. They were wiped out in less than a day," another chimed in.

"Are we talking about that fringe Nine-dragon Gang?"

"I heard their Gang Master had just advanced to the Golden Core Stage recently. How could he have been killed?"

"Since the Nine-dragon Gang Master reached the Golden Core Stage, his followers have grown increasingly insolent. They've really hit a snag this time."

"The one who took them down must be a force to be reckoned with. It looks like it's the end of the road for the Nine-dragon Gang."

"I just walked by the Nine-dragon Gang's stronghold. The gang members were scrambling to grab anything of value and flee."

Meanwhile, in Azure Sun City, the Tang family held an internal meeting. The family's Patriarch, Tang Zhentian, was rumored to have ascended to the Nascent Infant Stage.

"Three hundred years ago, our ancestor discovered the Star Compass in some ruins, along with a clue. There's a star core hidden in the Falling Star Mountain Range. With the star core's power, our Tang family will ascend to the upper echelons."

Three centuries ago, our Tang family's ancestors discovered a Star Compass and a message while exploring ancient ruins: within the Falling Star Mountain Range lies a star core. Harnessing the power of this star core could elevate our Tang family to the ranks of the top families."

"In three months, the star core of the Falling Star Mountain Range will emerge, and this will determine whether our Tang family can rise to prominence. We cannot afford any mistakes during this period. Anyone who could potentially impact our century-long plans must be eliminated."

After Tang Zhentian finished speaking, he took a brief pause before addressing the Second Elder, who oversaw the family's intelligence network. "Second Brother, any recent developments?"

The Second Elder responded, "Patriarch, there have been no significant events. However, today, the entire leadership of a minor faction that our family has been nurturing in secret was eradicated within a single day."

Tang Zhentian didn't even bother to lift his eyelids; such trivial matters hardly warranted his concern. He asked in a detached tone, "Have we identified the perpetrator?"

"A stranger whose origins are unknown, with a cultivation level estimated to be in the early stages of the Golden Core." The Second Elder reported.

"Once you find him, kill him. He's just an outsider," Tang Zhentian said dismissively.

"Understood," the Second Elder acknowledged.