Chapter 25: Triggering a Side Quest

After eliminating one of Nie Huixiang's guards, before anyone else could react, Wu Tian instantly appeared before another guard. His Black Dragon Blade swept horizontally, emanating a wild and domineering aura that enveloped the guard in an instant.

Ding!

"Congratulations, player Wu Tian, for slaying a level-four Martial Master wild monster. You gain 3,000 experience points and 2,000 taels of silver!"

Ding!

"Congratulations, player Wu Tian, for slaying a level-five Martial Master wild monster. You gain 4,000 experience points and 3,000 taels of silver!"

...

Wu Tian darted among the dozen or so guards surrounding Nie Huixiang, leaving carnage in his wake. System notifications echoed ceaselessly in his mind; his experience and silver accumulated rapidly. Yet, ascending from level twenty (Martial Master level ten) to twenty-one (War Spirit level one) required an enormous amount of experience, and for the moment, Wu Tian could not advance.

Nie Huixiang and Song Qianqian gazed in disbelief at the scene. Was this the same Wu Tian who had been a useless wretch just months ago? How could he possibly be a waste—he was more like a god of slaughter.

When Wu Tian drew his blade across the throat of the last guard, the ground was littered with their corpses. In barely a quarter of an hour, he had slaughtered every one of Nie Huixiang's Martial Master-level guards.

"Only a few tens of thousands of experience points—damn, I need over two hundred thousand experience to level up. This is nowhere near enough!" Wu Tian muttered to himself, then looked at Nie Huixiang with irritation. "Nie Huixiang, next time bring more guards. Today's killing spree was utterly unsatisfying!"

Ding! Just as Wu Tian finished speaking, a system notification rang in his mind.

"Congratulations, player Wu Tian, for triggering a side quest!"

"Side Quest: Slay 200 members of the Nie family in Pingyang City. Reward: Title of 'Nie Family Terminator.'"

"Quest Rewards: Immediate level-up and a clue to one piece of the Black Dragon Blade set."

"Time Limit: One month."

"Progress: 15/200."

Wu Tian's eyes widened as he saw the side quest notification on his attribute panel.

"Damn! Just by killing a few Nie family guards, I've triggered a side quest. This is incredible! Even more incredible is the instant level-up, and best of all, a clue to a piece of the Black Dragon set. This is amazing—too amazing! I can't wait for the Black Dragon set clue. Now, hurry up and kill, kill, kill!"

Having triggered the side quest, Wu Tian was elated. He looked fervently at Nie Huixiang—this fellow was a member of the Nie family; killing him would bring Wu Tian closer to completing the quest.

Sensing Wu Tian's sinister gaze, Nie Huixiang felt something was wrong and quickly retreated, "Wu—Wu Tian, you have nerve! How dare you oppose our Nie family? You're nothing but a useless member of the Qitian Sect. Do you not value your life?"

"So what if I oppose you? If you have guts, stop running and let me kill you!" Wu Tian raised the Black Dragon Blade, preparing to strike Nie Huixiang.

At that moment, a large troop of city guards, clad in armor and wielding battle blades, came charging in, surrounding Wu Tian. Judging by their numbers, there were at least a hundred.

"How dare you commit murder in the streets of Pingyang City! Do you not respect the city guards? Drop your weapon at once, or we will execute you without mercy!" the leader of the city guards shouted angrily at Wu Tian.

"Captain Ma, hurry and arrest this lunatic Wu Tian! He's lost his mind!" Song Qianqian called out to the city guard leader.

"Rest assured, Miss. We are the defenders of Pingyang City. We will never allow anyone to harm you!"

Nie Huixiang finally breathed a sigh of relief. With the city guards present, he felt Wu Tian wouldn't dare act, regardless of his audacity.

"So, you're the city guards. Strange, isn't it? Since when did the City Lord's forces mingle with the Nie family? Truly peculiar," Wu Tian said, showing no fear as he casually waved his Black Dragon Blade.

Captain Ma frowned, pointing at Wu Tian in anger. "Wu Tian, what do you mean by that? You incite trouble in the streets of Pingyang City and murder Nie family guards. Do you not respect the laws of Pingyang City? Seize him—arrest this troublemaker!"

Wu Tian snorted. When he had been hailed as Qitian Sect's greatest genius, killing a few people never drew any attention. Now, having lost favor, people immediately dared to step on him.

"So, when a Nie family member kills, it's not illegal, but when I kill, it is?" Wu Tian questioned coldly.

"Wu Tian! I am a member of the Nie family—one of Pingyang City's four great powers. You're nothing but a useless member of the Qitian Sect and will soon be expelled. And you still want to talk about laws? Let me tell you, whoever has the biggest fists makes the law! Captain Ma, don't waste words with him—just arrest him!"

"Go! Arrest Wu Tian!"

"Anyone who dares touch me, I will kill!" Wu Tian roared, unleashing a wild and domineering aura that shook even the air around him; dust rose in chaotic swirls.

The city guards preparing to apprehend Wu Tian were stunned, frozen in place, unable to move a muscle.

Nie Huixiang, Song Qianqian, and Captain Ma all stared at Wu Tian in shock. Most of these city guards had cultivation at Martial Disciple level eight or nine, already considered formidable by ordinary standards. Yet with a mere glare from Wu Tian, they were rendered immobile—unbelievable.

"What a powerful aura! I'm already at Martial Master level six, and I too am shaken by Wu Tian's presence. Wasn't this kid supposed to be crippled? Why does he possess such overwhelming force? Has he already reached the verge of War Spirit level?" Captain Ma thought in terror.

As the others stood in shock, Wu Tian returned the Black Dragon Blade to his system pack. With the city guards present, he couldn't go on a killing spree, lest he attract even more guards to besiege him. For now, he'd have to let Nie Huixiang go.

"Captain Ma, what are you waiting for? Arrest this useless Wu Tian immediately!" Song Qianqian shouted, furious at the guards' hesitation.

Seeing her rage, Wu Tian pushed past a few city guards and said, "Song Qianqian, I'm grateful you broke off the engagement back then. Otherwise, I'd regret it to death now. Truly, I thank you!"

With that, Wu Tian departed.

Song Qianqian was nearly beside herself with rage. She yelled at Captain Ma, "Captain Ma, what are you thinking? As the young lady, I command you to arrest Wu Tian!"

"Yes, Captain Ma, that brat Wu Tian killed so many of my guards; he must be brought to justice!" Nie Huixiang chimed in.

Captain Ma gave a bitter smile, shaking his head. "Miss, Young Master Nie, it's not that I don't want to, but Wu Tian's cultivation is unfathomable. We're simply no match for him. Just look at my men."

He gestured to the city guard subordinates around him.

Thud, thud, thud...

Dozens of city guards rolled their eyes and collapsed to the ground in succession; those with slightly higher cultivation slumped on the ground, panting heavily.

Seeing this, Song Qianqian and Nie Huixiang were left with their mouths agape.