The Despicable Sect

The Despicable Sect is a long web novel by the author Long Qi, serialized and completed on Zongheng Chinese Network in May 2013, running 615 chapters and about 2.08 million characters. Set in the virtual-reality game Sword Immortal, a xianxia online game from the company behind the "Double Sword" series that countless players have been eagerly awaiting, the protagonist Duanmu Yu goes through many twists and turns to obtain one of the first activation accounts, only to be delayed half a month by an unexpected errand, so that by the time he enters the game others are already far ahead. To save money, Duanmu Yu originally planned to join the prestigious Mount Shu Sect, but by a series of mishaps he enters the somewhat disreputable "Despicable Sect" of the jianghu and becomes a disciple of the hermit "Drunken Sword Immortal" Situ Zhong, learning the Drunken Silver Sword Technique and becoming the so-called "chief disciple of the Despicable Sect," while also unexpectedly gaining a unique dual cultivation of the sword path. Thereafter he adventures with friends such as Bi Yuntao and Fu Zhiyixiao, hunting the Hook-Tailed Moon Scorpion, exploring the Immortal's Cave, and raiding the Tomb of the Prince of Huainan, repeatedly clashing with the rival guild Chimei Wangliang; he is also drawn into the "Mount Shu Incident," fighting when the demon armies besiege Mount Shu and venturing deep into the Demon-Sealing Pagoda, passing through heavenly tribulation, obtaining the divine weapons Eternal Suppression of the Southern Wilds and Destroyer of the Red Dust, exploring the undersea city, competing in the "Immortal-Demon Great Way Assembly" tournament, uniting the Southern Wilds, and finally ascending. The book depicts the game's jianghu in a light, humorous tone, blending technical play with sneaky, underhanded tactics, and is a representative work of the early game-based xianxia genre.