After the crystal plate shattered, the metal wires curled up, forming golden particles the size of soybeans, shimmering like gold. They felt a bit soft to the touch but were incredibly tough.
Though these golden particles were small, they weren't light; each weighed about as much as a two-inch-long embroidery needle.
This was why Dragon Beard Needle, despite being as fine as hair, could be used as Hidden Weapons.
"Buzzing…"
Ye Liangchen directly compressed the golden particles with his spirit power, expanding them into needles as fine as hair.
"Swish, swish…"
Ye Liangchen waved his hand towards a tree trunk, and the fine needles immediately embedded themselves into the bark. Losing the compression of spirit power, the fine needles quickly curled into a ball, causing a small bulge on the tree bark.
"As expected of Dragon Beard Needle, this is simply the perfect Hidden Weapons for ambushing enemies."
In the original plot, Tang San told Xiao Wu that to master these Hidden Weapons techniques, one had to cripple their spirit power. Ye Liangchen thought that was pure nonsense.
"This guy clearly didn't want to teach Xiao Wu, so he made up a ridiculous excuse. This method of launching Hidden Weapons is completely child's play for a cultivator."
Thinking this, Ye Liangchen sneered and directly shot the remaining hundreds of golden beads into the cracks in the rocks. Then, he found a dry cave, preparing to spend the night.
Meanwhile, in Saint Spirit Village, Nuoding City, a dilapidated thatched hut housed a boy of about 12, vigorously hammering iron.
Beside him was a young girl with two pink rabbit ears on her head, looking very cute. At this moment, the girl quietly watched the boy, a happy smile on her face.
"Clang, clang… clang, clang…"
The hut was very quiet, with only the continuous sound of hammering.
These two were Tang San and Xiao Wu. They had now graduated from Nuoding City Junior Spirit Master Academy and would soon be heading to Shrek Academy.
"Xiao Wu, help me pull the bellows."
Thinking that he was about to forge several extremely lethal Hidden Weapons, Tang San felt great and swung the hammer with even more vigor.
Suddenly, Tang San shivered, and the hammer in his hand slipped, directly smashing onto his toes.
"Ouch!"
Tang San clutched his toes, rubbing them continuously.
"Little San, what's wrong?"
Xiao Wu, who was pulling the bellows for Tang San, quickly ran over to check the injury on his foot.
"It's nothing, I'm probably just too tired. I'll be fine after some rest." Seeing Xiao Wu so concerned about him, Tang San smiled.
Tang San didn't know what was wrong with him. A few months ago, he had shivered during class at school, and now that feeling had returned.
"Brother, then you should rest well! We can forge tomorrow." Xiao Wu also thought Tang San was tired, so she urged him to rest.
Over the past six years, Tang San had a smooth journey under Grandmaster's guidance. His spirit power had risen to level 29, and he had obtained two optimal spirit rings, one from a 400-year-old Datura Snake and another from a 600-year-old Ghost Vine, making him stand out in Nuoding City Academy as the most outstanding student.
Xiao Wu's spirit power was also the same as Tang San's, and she had become his younger sister, causing his old and lonely heart to begin to stir.
...
Balak Kingdom is adjacent to Fasinuo Province, and its southern border touches Star Luo Empire, separated only by the Border Mountains.
Seeing that he still had plenty of time, Ye Liangchen decided to explore the Border Mountains, look for some medicinal herbs, and practice his shooting skills.
The Border Mountains stretch for hundreds of kilometers, from the western part of Balak Kingdom all the way to Fasinuo Province, including the mountains behind Saint Spirit Village.
There were no Spirit Beasts in the Border Mountains, so Ye Liangchen wasn't worried about safety. He spent his days traversing the forest, eating various wild game, living a carefree life.
He had spent most of his time in the mountains during this trip, and he was almost becoming the otherworld version of Bear Grylls.
One morning, Ye Liangchen was roasting wild boar meat in a mountain forest. Although there were no Spirit Beasts in the mountains, there were still common animals. This wild boar had just been hunted with the King of Chicken.
"Sizzle, sizzle…"
At this moment, the wild boar meat was sizzling with oil as Ye Liangchen roasted it. Sprinkled with some spices and salt water, the aroma was intoxicating, making one's mouth water.
"Catch her quickly."
"Crack…"
Suddenly, a woman's delicate cry came from a thousand meters away, along with sounds of pursuit and fighting.
"Hmm! Who could it be?"
Ye Liangchen immediately pulled out his Assault King HK416, disengaged the safety, and surveyed his surroundings.
"Swish, swish, swish…"
Just then, a tall, black-clad woman appeared a few hundred meters ahead, running quickly towards his location.
This woman was very young and beautiful, with two cat-ear-like ornaments on her head and a tail-like decoration behind her, looking somewhat cute. Her large eyes revealed an anxious and frightened expression, and a hint of blush adorned her fair face, making her look exceptionally pretty. Especially her tight leather outfit, which perfectly showcased her fiery figure.
The woman's attire made Ye Liangchen's eyes light up. Clearly, she was a top-tier beauty.
"Tight leather outfit? With cat ears and a tail? And that fiery figure?"
"Could this be Xiao Maomi, Zhu Zhuqing? Why would she appear here?"
"I suppose this girl wouldn't dare to openly pass through the border checkpoints between the two Empires; she could only cross through the Border Mountains."
From the scope, seeing the woman's attire, Ye Liangchen instantly recalled Zhu Zhuqing, whom he had met a few years ago.
So Ye Liangchen quickly put his gun into his game backpack, picked up the roasted wild boar meat, and slowly ate it, watching everything in the distance as he ate.
"Swish, swish, swish…"
About a minute later, Zhu Zhuqing rushed to within ten meters of Ye Liangchen and immediately stopped.
Looking at Ye Liangchen's handsome face, Zhu Zhuqing suddenly felt a flicker of memory, but she was also afraid that he might be a bad person. So she immediately activated her Spirit, her two fingers transforming into sharp claws, turning her into a cat-eared girl, looking fiercely adorable and very charming.
"Who are you?" Zhu Zhuqing asked cautiously.
"I'm just here to gather herbs in the mountains."
Ye Liangchen said calmly, then continued eating the roasted meat, pretending not to pay attention to her.
"Someone is chasing and trying to kill me from behind. You should leave here quickly, otherwise, you'll be implicated."
Zhu Zhuqing didn't want an innocent young man to be implicated because of her, especially since he was so handsome.
As expected of Xiao Maomi! Her heart is truly kind.
Ye Liangchen silently praised her. Among the Shrek Seven Devils, this girl had the most righteous moral compass.
"I haven't even finished my roasted wild boar meat yet! Besides, the enemy is chasing you, not me, so what does it have to do with me?!"
Ye Liangchen said casually, then continued eating the fragrant roasted meat.
Zhu Zhuqing was momentarily stunned. She had expected him to play the hero and save the beauty after seeing her, but she didn't expect him to completely disregard her. However, she also understood; he wasn't anyone to her, nor did he have an obligation to help her.
This guy was quite handsome, and the meat he roasted smelled so good that it aroused Zhu Zhuqing's appetite, making her involuntarily swallow her saliva.
"Xiao Maomi! You look hungry. Do you want a piece?"
Seeing her swallowing saliva, Ye Liangchen even picked up a golden, crispy rib, dangled it in his hand, and deliberately called her "Xiao Maomi."
"Didn't your elders tell you? When you're out, how can you eat things from strangers?"
Zhu Zhuqing grew up under her sister's oppression, so her vigilance was naturally very high.
"You just called me Xiao Maomi? You… you are…!"
Just then, Zhu Zhuqing heard the incredibly handsome young man in front of her call her Xiao Maomi, and she immediately lost her composure.
In Zhu Zhuqing's memory, a 6-year-old boy named Ye Liangchen had once called her Xiao Maomi. That little boy left a deep impression on her, one she would never forget. And the more she looked, the more she felt that the young man in front of her bore some resemblance to that little boy from years ago.
"Your attire, just like a cat-eared girl, isn't that Xiao Maomi?"
Ye Liangchen smiled faintly. He hadn't worn his mask while wandering in the mountains these past few days. It seemed his calling her "Xiao Maomi" had revealed his identity.
"Quick, run! My sister's people will be here soon to kill me."
Zhu Zhuqing had now confirmed that this young man was the little boy from back then. She immediately rushed over, grabbing Ye Liangchen's hand, ready to run away together.
"Swish, swish, swish…"
Just then, five masked men and a fiery-figured woman in black appeared, blocking their path.
"My dear sister, where are you going?"
The woman in black asked Zhu Zhuqing calmly. Upon seeing Ye Liangchen's incredibly handsome face, her eyes immediately lit up.
"Zhuqing, who is he?"
The woman in black bore some resemblance to Zhu Zhuqing, also had a fiery figure, and was a bit more mature than Zhu Zhuqing, exuding a strong allure.
"Zhu Zhuyun, it has nothing to do with him. Don't involve an innocent person in our affairs."
Zhu Zhuqing stood in front of Ye Liangchen. She didn't want him, a young man who had once saved her life, to be harmed because of her own troubles.
"Run quickly, as far as you can."
Zhu Zhuqing pushed Ye Liangchen, urging him to leave quickly.
"You said this beauty is your sister, why would she try to kill you?"
Ye Liangchen stood still. He had powerful Hidden Weapons, and these people posed no threat to him.
"Little brother, although you're very handsome, and I'm a little reluctant to kill you, there are some things I can't help but do." Zhu Zhuyun smiled at Ye Liangchen, and with her fiery figure, she was incredibly alluring.
"Eliminate that young man and take Zhuqing away."
Zhu Zhuyun turned and coldly ordered the people beside her. She was a very pragmatic person; the struggle for power left her with no choice but to be ruthless.
"Yes, Crown Prince Consort."
The five men walked towards Ye Liangchen, their mouths emitting arrogant laughter.
"Hehehe…! Kid, it's just your bad luck. Some things, once you see them, you have to die."
"Buzzing…"
These five people had all activated their Spirits at this moment. Three of them were Spirit Kings, and the other two were high-level Spirit Elders.
"Don't come any closer! If you do, I'll get angry."
"I'm telling you, when I get serious, even I get scared!"
Ye Liangchen moved swiftly with his Five Elements Mysterious Steps, retreating quickly while pretending to be very scared.
"Hehehe…! Kid, why don't you stand up and let us see how powerful you are?"
The assassins looked at Ye Liangchen's frightened expression, their eyes filled with mockery, laughing unrestrainedly.
"Zhu Zhuyun, don't hurt him. I'll go with you."
Seeing the five assassins preparing to attack Ye Liangchen, Zhu Zhuqing immediately activated her Spirit, ran over, and prepared to help.
"My dear sister, it seems your relationship with this handsome young man is not simple."
"However, as a member of the Star Luo Zhu family, you should know that what you're doing will bring disaster to the Zhu family."
"Laifu, kill that kid."
Zhu Zhuyun activated her Spirit, blocking her sister, and coldly ordered the assassins. Although she didn't want to attack her own sister, the cruel power struggle left her with no choice.
"Swish, swish, swish…"
"Zhu Zhuyun, stop slandering me. He and I just met by chance; there's nothing between us."
Zhu Zhuqing directly fought with her sister, but the gap in their strength was too great; she was no match at all. Zhu Zhuyun kept toying with her, like a cat playing with a mouse.
"My dear sister, you can't win against me. Hurry and come back with me." Zhu Zhuyun easily resolved her sister's attacks while trying to persuade her.
"Zhu Zhuyun, I would rather die outside than go back with you." Zhu Zhuqing said coldly.
"If you come any closer, I'll fight back."
Ye Liangchen maneuvered with his mysterious footwork among the assassins, while also glancing at the battle between the two sisters in the distance.
"Hehehe…! Kid, quickly hand over your footwork cultivation method, and perhaps we can let you die a quicker death."
The assassins felt Ye Liangchen's footwork was a bit strange; he always managed to cleverly evade their pursuit.
"You all stop first, and I'll tell you."
"Hehehe…! Kid, hurry up."
As soon as Ye Liangchen said this, the five opponents looked at each other and burst into laughter.
"Almost ready."
Just then, Ye Liangchen suddenly pulled out his Glock 21 and fired at the five assassins.
"Pfft… Pfft… Pfft."
The Glock 21 was equipped with a silencer, making very little sound. The assassins were hit before they could even react, the entire process taking only a few seconds.
"Ahhh…! Kid, you're not playing fair."
The five assassins pursuing Ye Liangchen fell straight to the ground and died.
"I told you, I'm very scary when I get serious."
After Ye Liangchen eliminated the five assassins, before Zhu Zhuqing and her sister could react, he put the gun back into his game backpack, then quickly took out the Lan Yan Sword and pretended to wield it.
Originally, Ye Liangchen intended to resolve the situation with force, but upon seeing that the opponents included Spirit King powerhouses, he realized that if he fought, his Spirit would definitely be exposed. So he immediately used the gun to resolve it, which was fast and efficient, and also allowed him to maintain his mystique.
Ye Liangchen didn't know why, but these weapons and equipment seemed to have greater power in this Douluo World. The Glock 21's range reached a hundred meters, while the HK416 could reach over a thousand meters. Even more terrifying was the Barrett MK22; once, during practice, Ye Liangchen directly shattered a tree trunk as thick as a large bowl from 2.5 kilometers away, almost like a cannonball.
These Spirit Kings, at such close range, simply couldn't withstand the lethality of the Glock 21 and were instantly killed.
The sudden screams also caught Zhu Zhuyun's attention. The next moment, seeing all her subordinates dead, she was instantly terrified, her face losing all color. She directly collapsed to the ground, begging for mercy in horror while retreating.
"Ahhh…! Don't kill me! Don't kill me!"
Zhu Zhuqing rubbed her eyes, looking at the five assassins lying straight on the ground, feeling as if she were dreaming. She immediately ran to Ye Liangchen's side and said in disbelief.
"You… you eliminated them? How did you do that?"
Ye Liangchen spread his hands: "They were going to attack me, what else could I do? As for how I eliminated them, I'll keep it a secret for now."
"Hey! Xiao Maomi, what do you plan to do with your sister?" Ye Liangchen asked Zhu Zhuqing.
"Don't kill me, don't kill me." Zhu Zhuyun screamed in terror.
Zhu Zhuqing looked at Zhu Zhuyun, who was terrified in the distance, and shook her head: "Let her go!"
"Zhu Zhuyun, go back and be your Crown Prince Consort! From now on, we go our separate ways."
Upon witnessing Ye Liangchen's mysterious methods, Zhu Zhuqing made an important decision in her heart, but she didn't immediately show it, keeping it hidden instead.
"Thank you, sister."
Seeing that her sister had let her go, Zhu Zhuyun immediately fled into the depths of the mountains.
"Who was that young man? He instantly dealt with the few subordinates Dai Weisi sent, and Laifu and the others were Spirit King powerhouses! How did he do it?"
"When did such a monstrous talent appear in the Heaven Dou Empire? Looking at that young man, his age is similar to Zhuqing's. It's too terrifying."
Thinking this, Zhu Zhuyun immediately broke into a cold sweat, her entire body drenched. She immediately quickened her pace, rushing towards the Star Luo Empire.