This guy... could he be a Summoner too?

The same confusion echoed in the minds of the professional players on site. The intelligence provided by the cyber monitoring department only mentioned that Lulina among the Otherworld travelers is a Summoner, and described Pifu as adept at close combat and extremely dangerous.

But looking at this mechanical giant snake, this hovering battle vehicle, this farmer’s spiritual body...

And yet you say you’re not a Summoner?

No time to hesitate, Brother Bing aimed at the wooden door of the two-story cabin and forcefully threw the metal pole styled like a street lamp.

Li Cheng’s arm sprang out the Bone Blade, taking half a step forward, the sharp blade sliced through the metal pole like cutting bamboo, splitting it into two, and continued to nail into the lawn in front of the house.

Brother Bing dove down, grasped from the void two ninja scythes wrapped in blood-stained bandages.

His left foot hit the ground, body leaned forward, nearly parallel to the ground, holding the scythe handles in reverse with both hands, slashing toward Li Cheng’s ribs.

Li Cheng raised his right hand, palm facing upward, the Mantis Arm Bone Blade suddenly retracted, firmly clamping the scythes, rendering them immobile.

And his right hand, thrust forward, struck nothing but air.

Huh?

Li Cheng raised an eyebrow, watching Brother Bing decisively release the scythe handles, body shifting to one side to roll, simultaneously tossing a hidden Smoke Bomb, instantly becoming invisible.

The smoke smelling of sulfur enveloped the entire lawn, the smoke particles possessing a masking effect, blocking the scan of Information Integration Glasses.

Unfortunately, when it comes to ghosts in the smoke, Li Cheng, who has long mastered the Fog Concealment Skill and still equips it in his Skill Bar, is more experienced.

He didn’t need reconnaissance scans, using just the flow direction of the smoke particles, he reverse-engineered the opponent’s position, sweeping the Mantis Arm Bone Blade horizontally.

Clang—

Brother Bing hastily drew a Two-handed Long Sword, blocked the Bone Blade, still was flung away by the brute Strength, falling outside the smoke’s range, his form restored.

Li Cheng took a deep breath, chest puffed up, a Red Dragon’s shadow appeared overhead, spewing crimson flames, burning and dispersing the smoke.

While Brother Bing raised a giant shield entirely composed of ice blue solid ice, blocking the Dragon Breath.

"Another street lamp, then scythes, long swords, shields, a Weapon Master indeed."

Li Cheng casually quipped, closing in, fist hammering the surface of the Ice Shield, Condensed Qi Explosion shattering it.

Brother Bing dropped the ruined shield, gripped the sword’s handle with both hands, chaining slashes.

He did not activate the [Knight Never Dies Unarmed] Skill, using solely the Mantis Arm Bone Blade, blocking all thrusts, chops, and slashes, calmly asking, "Are you from a martial arts family?"

Most professional players in the Home game are accustomed to one-click Casting, paying Magic Power to release Skills.

Yet, this Brother Bing before him, actively conserving Energy, Magic Power, using his own skills to wield Weapons—in the peaceful era on Earth, that would merit a Martial Artist’s title.

"For those who study martial arts, the proliferation of brain-machine interfaces marks both the best and worst of times."

Li Cheng said casually, kicking out his foot, hitting the opponent’s ankle,

Brother Bing suddenly lost his balance, yet seized the momentum to support himself with a single hand on the ground, rolling like a washing machine drum, sword blade whirling.

"The best of times means Martial Artists can freely showcase their killing skills in virtual worlds without worrying about the so-called ’outlaw heroes’.

The Tragedy lies in, no matter how realistic, it’s still fake. Failing to attract more learners, united efforts, advancing martial arts."

Li Cheng dodged all slashes, seizing the moment when the opponent’s old strength subsided, new force not yet born, steadied himself, stomped the ground, knee extended, hip turned, waist twisted, shoulder aligned, Elbow Strike directed at the opponent’s chest.

Brother Bing flew heavily out, the Protective Magical Artifact given by the cyber monitoring department shattered for the most part, emitting a loud "cracking" noise.

"The way of weapon striking, when dissected, is simply physics and mathematics. The efficiency of the kinetic chain between arm and Weapon, human joint maneuverability, lever principle of long and short-handled Weapons, angular momentum of swinging Weapons..."

Li Cheng’s task was to buy time for Gray Rain to chisel the gate, he did not pursue, but waited for the opponent to rush up again,

"Like your move Swallow Return, the inertia centrifugal force, linear velocity, Acceleration at the blade tip are directly related to the radius, governed by angular velocity. Tangential Acceleration and normal Acceleration determine the difficulty in changing the blade’s speed and direction."

Li Cheng slightly shifted his body, with a gentle flick of fingers at the opponent’s sword handle, the upward slashing long sword veered sharply.

Brother Bing’s pupils shrank, "...Has this become an essential skill for Martial Artists in your world?"

"Pretty much, every two blocks in our area has a martial arts hall, cold weapons, unarmed Fighting, Gun Fighting Skill and so on, all comprehensive.

Buying a white membership card grants unlimited broadband access, free use of virtual Fighting arenas.

A blue membership card, besides virtual Fighting arenas, allows free herbal baths. Soaking with Blood Vine Ginseng, relax tendons, wash muscles and bones.

A gold membership card offers one-on-one guidance from renowned instructors, Yujiro Hanma, Miyamoto Musashi, Dugu Qiubai, Uncle Long... master guidance, quick improvement."

"If I remember correctly, Yujiro Hanma seems to be a HOMO, is it really okay to have him as a coach?"

Brother Bing instinctively quipped, "Above the gold membership card, wouldn’t there be diamond?"

"You guessed right."

Li Cheng nodded, "Quite a few martial arts halls’ diamond membership cards are a directional teleportation scroll.

If a disciple just can’t beat the opponent, they can tear up the scroll to summon their teacher above Level 30 to fight on site."

With that, Li Cheng suddenly activated the [Swallow Return] Skill, pulling a Forbidden Army War Car to the ground, smashing toward Brother Bing, shattering his last protective barrier.

Though the protective tools were freely given by the cyber monitoring department, they still consumed the user’s Magic Power Value.

A resolute look flashed across Brother Bing’s face, he pulled from the void a sheepskin scroll.

It was a trump card prepared by the RLG Team for him before the cyber monitoring department’s intervention.

The scroll exuded an ancient aroma, covered in obscure ancient runes, clearly conveying the meaning of the Scroll Name—

[Summoning God]

...Though the Suicide Notebook didn’t have related scenes, Li Cheng instinctively felt something was amiss, subconsciously maneuvered the Alpha Snake Head, looking down, charging a plasma beam.

In the next moment, Li Cheng himself, Gray Rain, White Horse Tombstone, a gaggle of professional Players, even the Alpha Snake Head, all froze, collectively focusing on Brother Bing.

This was akin to the transformation of the magical girl Lulina, forcibly requiring all surrounding living beings to witness the Skill release process, without interruption.

Buzz!

In the silence, the clouds divided, revealing a vague, majestic figure emanating Holy Light.

"You,"

The figure raised his palm, pointing at the diminutive Brother Bing on the ground, speaking in a grand voice: "Now you are Shi Yi Shang, history’s number one top laner."

Brother Bing’s body shocked intensely, his depleted Magic Power instantly restored to full, upper limit greatly increased,

Not only that, the divine-like vague figure waved his palm, draping Brother Bing in a set of resplendent yet practical heavy Armor.

"Is this the power of Shi Yi Shang?"

Brother Bing murmured, suddenly recalling something, asking the deity, "What about the horse head once hailed as Shi Yi Shang before me?"

The slowly disappearing deity paused, laughed heartily, "Ah Yi Gu, it’s been a long time since anyone called me that."