Fantasy: I Become God by playing a game [Dungeons + LitRPG +Xinxia]

**Chapter 5: Dungeon: Ancient Cultivator's Tomb (2)**

In the dim underground tomb, Su Chen advanced cautiously. Although he could resurrect if he died in this dungeon, experiencing death was not something he wanted to repeat—especially in immersive mode, where everything felt almost too real. The knowledge of infinite resurrection made him less afraid of death, but it did nothing to dull the fear of pain.

After walking for about three minutes, he emerged from the narrow passage into a large underground chamber. In the center of the room lay a coffin, surrounded by ten humanoid puppets that gleamed with a green metallic sheen.

Su Chen halted abruptly. As he stepped closer, the once-still puppets turned their heads to look at him, their movements unnervingly synchronized. A chill ran down his spine as text materialized in front of him, providing information about these constructs:

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[Qingxuan Puppet]

[Strength]: 3rd Level of Qi Gathering Stage

[Features]: Strong bones, enhanced muscles, immune to pain

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Just as Su Chen was about to retreat, the door behind him slammed shut. The sound reverberated through the chamber, leaving him trapped.

He grimaced. With no way out, he had no choice but to confront the puppets. As if responding to the closed door, the previously motionless Qingxuan puppets began to stir. Their towering, two-meter frames and metallic armor exuded an intimidating presence. Even their slow, deliberate movements radiated an oppressive aura.

The puppets made no effort to fight him one-on-one. Instead, they closed in, step by step, like a synchronized force. Su Chen tightened his grip on his Qi-Gathering Stage sword and traced a finger along its edge.

"Sharp Technique!"

A silvery-white layer of sword energy enveloped the blade, flickering faintly like liquid metal. Though this wasn't real sword energy, the effect of the Qianjin Force was so potent that it was as if it were.

With his nerves steadying, thanks in part to the assurance of resurrection, Su Chen pointed his sword at the closest Qingxuan puppet and taunted, "Come at me."

In response, the nearest puppet suddenly accelerated, rushing forward with alarming speed. Su Chen felt a fleeting sense of familiarity as the metallic giant lunged at him. But there was no time to dwell on that thought. He instinctively swung his sword.

"Swish!"

The enchanted blade slashed across the puppet's chest, sending sparks flying in the dimly lit tomb. A long, narrow gash appeared on its surface. However, before Su Chen could celebrate, the puppet retaliated with an iron fist aimed directly at his face, completely disregarding its own injuries.

"Purple Cloud Divine Light!"

A radiant purple barrier enveloped Su Chen just as the puppet's fist made contact. The blow halted mid-air, the divine light absorbing the force entirely. Wasting no time, Su Chen swung his sword again, this time targeting the puppet's neck.

The strike was clean and precise. The puppet's head rolled to the ground with a heavy clang, and its lifeless body collapsed moments later.

Panting heavily, Su Chen wiped the sweat from his brow. As someone only at the second level of the Qi Gathering Stage, simultaneously using both the Sharp Technique and Purple Cloud Divine Light drained him significantly.

Before he could catch his breath, a deafening sound alerted him. He turned just in time to see several more metallic fists hurtling toward him.

It was then he remembered: there weren't just one or two puppets in the tomb—there were ten.

In that moment, time seemed to slow as the pressure of the approaching fists immobilized him. Though he wanted to fight back, his exhausted body refused to respond.

Before everything went black, one thought echoed in his mind:

"Using numbers to gang up on me? That's just unfair!"

"Boom!"

Moments later, Su Chen jolted awake in the underground passage where he had started.

"Ah!" he exclaimed, sitting up and clutching his chest. Only after confirming that his body was unharmed did he let out a sigh of relief.

Even so, the memory of his "death" lingered. The Qingxuan puppets, with their unyielding metallic bodies and fearlessness, were a nightmare for someone at his cultivation level. Without his perfected Sharp Technique, he doubted he could even scratch their surfaces.

Rather than rushing back into the tomb, Su Chen sat cross-legged to reflect.

The puppets' raw strength far surpassed that of a typical Qi Gathering Stage cultivator, especially at his level. Their unrelenting physical capabilities and willingness to trade blows made them formidable opponents.

But after careful thought, he identified a critical weakness: the puppets were sluggish compared to ordinary cultivators. While they could briefly accelerate in bursts, their overall movement was predictable.

"To defeat them," Su Chen mused, "I need one of two things: overwhelming destructive power to end them quickly or agility to avoid their attacks altogether.

"The first option is out for now. I don't have the cultivation base to perform such high-level techniques. So I'll focus on mobility. The school's treasure pavilion should have suitable body-movement techniques."

With a plan in mind, Su Chen exited the dungeon and returned to reality. To an outside observer, it seemed as if he'd simply rested for a moment. In truth, he had endured a relentless assault and was eager to even the score.

At the school's treasure pavilion, Su Chen combed through the catalog of techniques. With limited credits left, he had to be careful about his choices. Renting the training room and acquiring the Purple Cloud Divine Light had already drained much of his resources.

Eventually, two techniques caught his attention:

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[Floating Cloud Step]

Effect: Greatly enhances movement speed; mastery allows temporary air-walking.

Requirement: Water Spiritual Root

Price: 200 credits

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[Water Dragon Roar]

Effect: Sword strikes mimic a dragon's roar; mastery grants the power of a true dragon's strike.

Requirement: Water Spiritual Root

Price: 300 credits

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Su Chen's initial goal had been to find a movement technique, but the Water Dragon Roar sword technique piqued his interest. Though his Sharp Technique was perfected, he lacked the swordsmanship skills to fully utilize it. His current fighting style, reliant on basic slashing, was woefully inefficient.

"These two techniques complement each other perfectly," he thought. "With Floating Cloud Step, I can outmaneuver the puppets. And with Water Dragon Roar, I can strike decisively."

He purchased both techniques without hesitation. Moments later, his phone chimed with notifications, confirming the addition of their cultivation methods.

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[Status Update]

[Water Dragon Roar]: Getting Started (1/150)

[Floating Cloud Step]: Entry Level (1/100)

[Current Experience Points]: 300

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"Time to put these techniques to use," Su Chen muttered, determination in his eyes.

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[You consumed 150 experience points. Water Dragon Roar has been upgraded to Small Success.]

[You consumed 100 experience points. Floating Cloud Step has been upgraded to Small Success.]

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"As long as I can take down those ten Qingxuan puppets, the experience points I've spent will return tenfold."

With renewed resolve, Su Chen prepared to re-enter the tomb, determined to turn the tables.

(End of Chapter)