Chaotic World Book

Sun informed Zhao Changhe as they took a few steps towards the edge of the arena. He heard Sun ask, "Have you come to learn the Blood Evil Skill?"

Zhao Changhe nodded, "Yes, I seek your guidance."

Sun seemed to hesitate, as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself. After a pause, he finally said, "The Blood Evil Skill is indeed very powerful and suitable for your age... However, it has several drawbacks, and you must later switch to cultivating the Blood God Skill to compensate. Unfortunately, the Blood God Skill isn't easy to obtain. Even core members of the sect have to perform great deeds and might not be granted the complete technique. If you intend to cultivate the Blood God Skill in the future, you should be prepared."

Zhao Changhe bowed again, "Thank you for your guidance. I understand."

Sun nodded and added, "Moreover, it's not enough to just practice cultivation techniques without learning combat techniques. You might have seen yesterday's Chaotic World List, our Sect Hierarch was one level higher than Yue Hongling. Why did he lose? It was mostly due to inferior combat skills. The Sect Hierarch has been busy with sect affairs in recent years and might have neglected his training. His defeat might not be a bad thing."

Zhao Changhe coughed dryly without saying a word. Are you really speaking ill of the Sect Hierarch like that? But the example is good, simple and easy to understand.

Sun continued, "Here, everyone practices with the saber. Do you know why everyone trains with the saber instead of other weapons?"

Zhao Changhe replied without hesitation, "Because the saber is the quickest to master? As long as you have some strength, slashing wildly can still be quite effective in combat, while a beginner with a sword wouldn't be as fierce as with a saber."

That was Zhao Changhe's own reason for also using a broadsword in his dreams, otherwise why pick up a broadsword and not switch... Even now, Zhao Changhe didn't fuss about how stylish a sword might be, or about any sentimental attachment to a lifetime with a flute and a sword. What he needed was to develop combat ability as quickly as possible. Style couldn't fill his stomach.

"Correct, the saber is the easiest weapon to generate combat power with. The sword has a much higher learning curve," Sun explained. "Many heroes in the Worldly Society have neither learned Inner True Energy nor possess high-end External Skills. They rely solely on a saber to carve out their own territory. The saber is the most universally appropriate weapon in the Worldly Society."

Zhao Changhe thought to himself, I understand, that's typical of the extras, indeed very common.

"The Blood Evil Skill comes with a set of accompanying techniques, including boxing, swordsmanship, and saber techniques. Among them, the Blood Evil Saber Technique is a brutally formidable technique. Since you are being taught the Blood Evil Skill, you are automatically qualified to learn this saber technique. However, since you haven't learned the saber before, there's no rush... It so happens that we're a new branch, and many newcomers are starting from scratch. You should come here every day and learn the basics of saber techniques with them. When the time is right, I will teach you the Blood Evil Saber."

Zhao Changhe was overjoyed, "This is great news. I thought I would have to find another way to learn the saber techniques."

"No need, you have already made your pledge. What is meant to be yours will be yours. Who among the bandits has the patience for petty haggling? It's damn petty."

Sun's words clearly indicated his dissatisfaction with the squad leader. Zhao Changhe didn't dare make a sound, but he secretly relished the comment.

It seemed that Sun was not just an ordinary instructor. Considering his responsibilities at the Main Temple of the sect, could his position be akin to that of a Transmission Elder? Guardian Level? That would make him a top-level member of the sect, a right-hand man of the Sect Hierarch. In that case, Sun's position within the branch must also be in the first few ranks, giving him the standing to challenge the squad leader.

"That's enough pleasantries," Sun said, bringing a brisk bandit-like demeanor. Without further ado, he began teaching, "The Blood Evil Skill doesn't involve specific pathways for the flow of True Qi but requires blood activation. The Basic Skills need to be paired with foundational movements, which you can learn from the secret book... As for the knacks of Energy Transfer, obviously, you won't grasp them just from this booklet, they must be done like so…"

Zhao Changhe quickly became engrossed. The instructor's words echoed in his ears, and it seemed he could already see the flow of blood and Qi in his body, like a stream slowly starting to surge and boil.

Soon, he felt a kind of heat building up, akin to the frustration of watching your team lose in the World Cup, eyes reddened, head buzzing, a rush of blood ready to smash the TV.

And, the power that could be unleashed in such a state was, of course, much higher than usual. Was the Blood Evil Skill designed to enable one to enter such an intense state deliberately?

What was even more miraculous was that last night, trying out those movements, he had not been squatting for long when his legs grew too sore to hold up. But now, it felt like a warm current was easing that soreness and bolstering the strength of his muscles and bones, making it easier to endure longer.

Was this just the beginning of his training? What would it be like to delve deeper?

Was this what they called a Demon Skill?

Before he knew it, the instructor's voice had faded, and the surroundings had grown bustling, somewhat resembling the noise in a cafeteria after a university class lets out.

Zhao Changhe slowly opened his eyes.

It really was a cafeteria…

A kitchen worker had pushed a cart over, containing a barrel of cornmeal rice with some wild vegetables and even a bit of meat sprinkled in, the aroma wafting from afar. The other members who had been practicing martial arts swarmed over with their bowls and utensils, and the worker began distributing meals to everyone.

By this time, Zhao Changhe also felt his stomach growling. The hunger sparked by practicing the Blood Evil Skill felt as if he hadn't eaten all day. He raced to his room to grab his bowl.

When he returned, Luo Qi was nowhere to be seen, but Zhao Changhe didn't mind. He grabbed his bowl and sprinted back to the serving line.

The core of this bandit stronghold was still a sect, and there were rules to follow. The chaotic scene one might imagine, with people squeezing together, simply didn't exist; everyone queued up neatly. Zhao Changhe also lined up at the back quite habitually and craned his neck to see that the distribution of food was, indeed, meticulous. In some people's bowls, not a shred of meat could be seen, whereas others, like Zhang Quan, had a small chunk of braised meat in theirs.

Others looked at their bowls filled with meat with eyes colored by jealousy but didn't lose their temper at the cooks. This place was probably under Sect Hierarch Sun's control regarding rewards and punishments; he decided who could have meat.

When it was finally Zhao Changhe's turn, the cook glanced at him and, sure enough, gave him a piece of braised meat, even larger than Zhang Quan's piece. Zhao Changhe was overjoyed; Sect Hierarch Sun really treated him well—nowadays, meat was extremely important to him!

Holding his bowl, he happily squeezed out of the crowd only to see Zhang Quan approaching with a few others, smiling in a not-so-friendly manner, "Wow, a whole piece of meat…"

Zhao Changhe's expression darkened and he frowned, "There's no need to ruin the mood over this, it's quite 'low' for such a cliché villain."

"Ruin the mood? We don't have any 'mood' with you!" Zhang Quan, not understanding the latter half of his sentence, sneered, "A turncoat who won the sect's favor by stabbing his own Young Master in the back and got awarded the Blood Evil Skill, that's one thing. But now, cozying up to Sect Hierarch Sun, even making our share of meat less, mood?"

Zhao Changhe was speechless, "So, it's all about a piece of meat, isn't it?"

A malicious gleam flashed in Zhang Quan's eyes. Of course, it was about a piece of meat. Was that strange? From something as minor as food to major things like cultivation techniques, they were all "resources". He would create trouble over nothing, let alone deal with a newcomer. Everyone was part of the Demon Sect's bandits; since when did they start showing restraint?

He waved his hand dismissively, "Grab it!"

Several bandits who were friendly with him surged forward. Zhao Changhe, who was holding his bowl, was hardly in a position to fight. He awkwardly protected his bowl for a while and took several hits to the back; the wild vegetables in his bowl spilled out.

A crowd gathered around, loudly cheering, seeming to view such scenes as normal.

Mutterings could even be faintly heard, "This Zhao Changhe, hogging all the limelight, it displeases me. Zhang Quan's putting him in his place is brilliant."

"Sect Hierarch Sun seems favorable to him, pulling him aside for a private chat… isn't Zhang Quan afraid of Hierarch's reprimand?"

"Why fear? Anyone with clear eyes can see, squad leader Fang disdains him, how could Sect Hierarch Sun show partiality?"

Amid the secretive whispers, unseen by anyone, Zhao Changhe's eyes grew redder, blood-like.

With emotion surging as if smashing a TV during a football match, Zhao Changhe suddenly stopped dodging and fiercely threw his bowl to the ground, "If I can't eat, do you think you can?"

"Smash!" The rice bowl shattered, scattering rice and meat mixed with broken porcelain everywhere—no one could eat it now.

Zhang Quan and his group were stunned, "Fuck, this kid is ruthless!"

"Ruthless?" Zhao Changhe abruptly turned, his eyes filled with unbridled violence and insanity, "You think it's over?"

As people were still regretting the wasted rice on the ground, Zhao Changhe had already lunged forward, grabbing Zhang Quan by the collar.

This move was extremely swift. Zhao Changhe himself didn't even know how he had gotten so fast; all he knew was his legs filled with a surge of Blood Qi, propelling him forward like an arrow released from a bow. Even he was surprised when he grabbed Zhang Quan.

He didn't dwell on the sensation, instead swiftly tripping Zhang Quan and slamming him to the ground. He then grabbed Zhang Quan's hair and maliciously shoved his face into the spilled rice, "Want to eat? I'll feed you to your fill!"

With a "bang," accompanied by Zhang Quan's pitiful scream, the surrounding crowd shuddered.

This kid was truly brutal! The ground wasn't just covered in rice but also sharp fragments of the bowl. Pressing him down like that, Zhang Quan was definitely disfigured, and if any shard hit an eye...

It took a moment for Zhang Quan's friends to react, rushing over like madmen. Some wildly kicked at Zhao Changhe, others tried to pull him away, but Zhao Changhe, taking blows without flinching, continued smashing Zhang Quan's head into the rice, unstoppable by anyone.

After three or four smashes, the ones pulling at him cautiously backed off, and those kicking also dared not continue, all slowly retreating.

On the ground, Zhang Quan had completely stopped making any sound.

Zhao Changhe, gasping for breath, stood up, his face expressionless as he turned around, "What now, wasn't he the one who wanted my meal? Too full, and it's my fault? Want a taste?"

Zhang Quan's friends, frightened by his ferocious gaze, instinctively cleared a path, watching as Zhao Changhe strode confidently away.