[100x MELEE DAMAGE]They Laughed at The Mage Who Cant Cast Spells,Until I 1-Shot a Boss With My STAFF
I was once the world’s strongest martial artist. Now, a death game has given me a unique SSS rank talent, 100x damage at close range. Then, the system made me a mage. Fine. Starting today, I’m going to teach every single monster the true meaning of the word staff. My name is Yenjiyo, a traffic cop. With a single wave of my hand, I stopped a red Maserati straddling the double yellow line. The door opened, and a woman in black stockings leaned against it, winking at me. Officer, can’t you bend the rules a little? I walked over expressionlessly, ticket book in hand, crossing a solid line, 200 fine, 1 point, driving in high heels, 200 fine, 1 point. She laughed, her leg in black stockings brushing against mine. Sir, did I cross the line, or, did I cross into your heart? I took a step back and gave a standard salute. Ma’am, please show me your driver’s license and vehicle registration. Just as she was about to press further. the entire world fell silent for a second. The sky turned dark without warning, and two giant, star -like characters materialized above the city, Phantom Realm. Then, a cold, emotionless electronic voice echoed in everyone’s minds, global announcement, the large-scale immersive virtual reality game, Phantom Realm, is now live. All humans aged 18 and over will be granted access. A minimum of six hours online per day is required. Failure to comply will result in immediate death. The woman’s smile froze. The next second, screams, cries, and the explosive sound of car crashes wove into a prelude to the apocalypse. I merely glanced at the words in the sky, then my gaze returned to the dumbfounded woman, as if the anomaly in the sky was less important than the ticket in her hand. Amidst the chaos, I remembered a dusty martial arts hall from many years ago. As a boy, I had kicked a so-called grandmaster in the chest. The sound of his bones breaking was as crisp as snapping a dry twig. He didn’t look at his caved-in chest, only at me, his eyes empty. There was no hatred, only the hollow void of a shattered faith. From that day on, I shackled my own power, choosing to be an ordinary traffic cop, eroding my strength in the sea of cars and people. rather than touch that power that could so easily destroy others. But now, this thing called Phantom Realm was forcing everyone’s hand with the threat of death. I returned to my apartment. Next door, I could hear the suppressed sobs of my landlady, Sujia. I pushed her door open. She threw herself into my arms like she was grabbing a lifeline, her soft, hot body pressing against me, smelling of perfume and liquor. I’m scared. I’m all alone. Expressionless, I scooped her up in a princess carry, walked to her bedroom. gently placed her on the bed, and pulled the covers over her. Don’t be afraid. I’m right next door. Just knock on the wall if you need anything. I turned, left, and closed the door behind me. Back in my own room, I locked the door. A cold, mechanical voice sounded in my head. Identity confirmed, Yen Jiu. Welcome to Phantom Realm. Please enter your name. After a thought, I entered Yen Jiu. My vision transformed into a boundless sea of stars, where a giant golden will materialize before me. Every ascendant will receive one chance to draw an initial talent based on their own aptitude. Expressionless, I gave the wheel a casual spin. It spun wildly before stopping in a brilliant golden section. Congratulations, Ascendant Yen Jio. Based on your own powerful aptitude, you have obtained the SSS rank unique talent, Martial God. Martial God, SSS rank. Unique you yourself are the world’s strongest weapon. All damage gains up to a 100x multiplier based on distance, reaching maximum at point-blank range. My heart, dormant for nearly a decade, began to pound uncontrollably. The power I had suppressed for so long was now, at this moment, completely ignited. Talent awakening complete. Matching you with the optimal profession based on your soul fluctuation. Bring it on, I whispered, my eyes shining with unprecedented light. Warrior, knight, assassin, anything. matching complete. Based on your soul, the system has automatically selected your profession. Congratulations, you have awakened as a mage. The ecstatic smile on my face froze instantly. The sea of stars faded, and I found myself in a novice village, wearing a loose-fitting mage’s robe and holding a thin, long, novice staff. Ha! A single, utterly bewildered sound escaped my throat. The village was a cacophony of shouting and haggling. I opened my status panel, strength 5, agility 5, constitution 5. Abysmal. My only skill was, fireball, with a 1. 5 second cast time. I took the village chief’s quest to kill 10 rabbits and the herbalist’s quest to gather 10 herds. then headed straight for the plains. Just outside the village, a warrior streamer named Brother Howe was showing off his, dash 20, damage skill, heavy slash, to a crowd. He saw me and jeered, yo, a mage? All alone? Can’t find a team? Fine, I’m in a good mood. I’ll carry you. Just follow us and last hit the mobs. i looked up at him and slowly uttered two words thanks no then holding my ridiculous staff i walked deeper into the plains not far away a white rabbit was chewing on grass i raised my staff and began to chant fireball one Five seconds later, the wobbly fireball flew out and hit empty ground. The rabbit had already moved. Miss, my face darkened. This time, I didn’t try to cast. I gripped the staff like a sword. I moved. My body sank, and my feet pushed off the ground, launching me like an arrow. The smirks on Brother House and his followers’ faces froze. They saw a blur, and the mage was suddenly in front of the rabbit. I raised the staff high and brought it down with all my strength. Thwack! A dull thud. The rabbit exploded into a shower of white light. A massive, blood-red number floated up slowly. Dash 605. Ding! Your nimble footwork has attracted the attention of the wind spirits. You have learned the skill, wind step. There was dead silence on the high ground. A level 1 mage, with a novice staff, a basic attack, had dealt 605 damage. I slowly straightened up, turned, and gave brother Howe and his crew a brilliant smile. Then I walked towards the next rabbit, staff in hand. Thwack! Minus 601. Thwack! Minus 605. The 10 rabbits were dealt with quickly. Brother Howe, trying to save face on his stream, began analyzing my talent as a fixed 600 damage bonus with no growth potential. I paid him no mind and went deeper into the plains to gather herbs. As I rounded a large rock, a grey shadow leaped out. Gale Wolf, Elite, LV2. It lunged for my neck. My body reacted before my brain could process it. I flicked my wrist, and the staff swung up. precisely striking the wolf on its jaw. Thump! A heavier thud. The wolf exploded into a brighter shower of white light in mid-air. Dash 542. Just then, the air grew still. All around me, pairs of green, glowing eyes lit up. Dozens of gale wolves had me surrounded. One kill had drawn the whole pack. The wolves charged in unison. The smell of blood filled the air, but I felt completely relaxed. The combat instinct, buried for a decade, roared back to life. flooding my veins and drowning out the dam i had built over ten years an uncontrollable grin spread across my face as i held the novice staff before me parry strike entangle jab lift guide seal spin the staff techniques i thought i had forgotten were now crystal clear in my mind my body became a wisp of smoke weaving through the wolf pack. Every swing of the staff was met with a wolf turning into a shower of white light. Minus 589. Minus 670. Weak point crit. Ding. Congratulations, you have leveled up to LV2. Ding! Martial God, talent effect has increased. Close range damage multiplier increased to 110x, minus 762. When the last wolf vanished in the light, I stood amidst the glowing motes, leaning on my staff. Before I could catch my breath, a much stronger sense of danger emerged from a distance. On the highest rock, a massive figure, twice the size of a normal wolf, slowly appeared. Gale Wolf King, Black Iron Boss, LV3, Health, 1000 over 1000. Its crimson eyes locked onto me, standing in the center of the massacre. I glanced at my remaining 71 health, then at the 1000 health boss. I slowly tightened my grip on the novice staff in my hand. The oppressive presence of the gale wolf king felt like a solid lead block, weighing heavily in the air. Its steps were slow, yet each one caused a slight tremor in the ground. The crimson pupils reflected the slender figure of Yenjo. Within them roiling the fury of a lost clan, Yenjo faced the wolf king, staring directly into its enraged eyes. Did I avoid its sharpness? It not only did not retreat but instead pressed down slightly on the wooden staff in its hand, adopting a stance that was both offensive and defensive. The wolf king seemed enraged by his reckless provocation, its powerful hind legs pushing off the ground, transforming its massive body into a silver flash, charging straight at Yan. Gio. A stench of blood howled through the air, its sharp claws tearing an invisible rift. Yan Gio’s pupils suddenly constricted. Fast. It was much quicker than the previous ordinary gale wolves. His body reacted before his brain could. Catch up. He lightly tapped his toes on the ground and shifted half a step to the left. It was this half step that narrowly allowed him to evade the wolf king’s deadly lunge. The sharp wolf claws brushed past the edge of his mage robe, tearing the fabric with a crisp rip. Opportunity. A glint flashed in Yen Jiu’s eyes, his body twisting with the momentum of his dodge, his waist, and abdomen exerting force, the wooden staff swinging upward like a cannonball, aimed, fiercely at the wolf king’s soft belly. Bang. 670. A massive damage number floated above the wolf king’s head. Awua. The Wolf King howled in pain, letting out a thunderous roar, its tail sweeping back at an incredible angle. Clearly, the damage was too high, directly triggering the boss’s second phase, as the Wolf King roared and swept its tail simultaneously. This strike was both swift and brutal, completely defying the logic of a beast’s attack. Yanjio almost forgot that this was a game, and bosses had skills. Just as Yanjio’s attack finished, his old strength was exhausted, and new strength had yet to arise. There was no escaping it. In the blink of an eye, he did not choose to retreat in a Panic but made a mad decision. He would gamble, betting that the non-lethal damage would be a bit lower, that it wouldn’t kill him outright. He abandoned all defense, pouring all his strength into his arms, and swung the wooden staff. Again, targeting the wolf king’s massive head. A life for a life. Put. The sound of claws tearing through flesh. Bang. The sound of the staff shattering bones. The two sounds almost occurred simultaneously. Yenjio’s shoulder was. Slashed open, blood instantly staining his tattered mage robe. 6-9. His health plummeted to single digits, leaving a pitiful 271sts. Meanwhile, the Gale Wolf King had its massive head crushed inward by the staff, its crimson eyes dimming. Instantly, its enormous body crashing to the ground, transforming into a shower of even more brilliant light spots. 550. The entire world fell silent. He had bet right, if the Wolf King’s attack had been just a bit lower, it would have. Been him turning into white light. Ding. Congratulations, you have leveled up to LV3. Ding. talent war god effect enhanced melee damage increase raised to 120 times dot ding congratulations strength plus one agility plus one intelligence plus one spirit plus one constitution plus one ding congratulations you have gained five free attribute points current free attribute points 10 a pile of gleaming items lay quietly where the wolf king had vanished with the level up his fatigue was swept away and yenjio stood up picking up the spoils one by one Congratulations, you have obtained, ring of wind, black iron level, congratulations, you have obtained, wolf king leather armor, black iron level, congratulations, you have obtained, skill book roar of the wolf king, he first picked up the ancient looking ring. Ring of wind quality, black iron equipment type, ring attributes, agility plus 3, spirit plus 3, movement speed plus 5% equipment requirement. None good stuff, Yanjou unhesitatingly put the ring on his finger, and a gentle breeze enveloped him, making his body feel a bit lighter. He glanced at the leather armor, the silver white wolf fur was smooth and soft, emitting a faint glow, looking quite formidable in defense. Wolf king leather armor quality, black iron equipment type, leather armor attributes, defense plus 5, agility plus 5, critical hit rate plus 3% equipment requirement, proficient in leather armor. Class note, as a master of magic, you seem unable to wield this wild armor dot. The corner of Yanjio’s mouth twitched. As a mage, he had obtained a top tier leather armor but couldn’t wear it. He then curiously flipped through the skill book. Hull of the Wolf King class requirement, warrior effect, increases agility of nearby teammates by plus 10%, lasts for 30 seconds, cooldown time 3 minutes. Note, as a master of magic, you seem unable to learn this wild skill book. Yen Jio was filled with black lines, where was he a master of magic? He tossed the leather armor and the skill book Hull of the Wolf King, which he also couldn’t learn, into his backpack, preparing to find a place to sell them. Just then, a series of system notification sounds rang in his ears. As you are the first player to kill a black iron level boss, the system will grant you a special reward. The first kill reward chest has been sent to your backpack, please check. Id. Would you like to announce your name, letting your fame resonate throughout the world of illusion? A huge yes and no option box appeared before him. Yenjiyo looked at the shimmering yes, as if he could already foresee. Countless troubles following in its wake. He didn’t like trouble. So, he extended his finger and decisively clicked on the inconspicuous no. You have chosen to remain anonymous. Then the server-wide announcement rang out, server. Announcement, congratulations to player Anonymous for successfully killing the first Black Iron level boss in Illusion, the Gale Wolf King. Yanjio breathed a sigh of relief and opened his backpack, a bronze chest emitting a faint glow lay quietly in the corner. He chose to open it directly. Congratulations, you have obtained the title, Wolf King Slayer. Wolf King Slayer quality, special effect, increases movement speed by plus 10% when equipped damage to wolf type. Creatures plus 10% another 10% increase in movement speed. Yanjio equipped the title, feeling that he should be able to create a gust of wind when he ran now. He was somewhat satisfied with his current state. However, what he didn’t know was that at the moment he chose to remain anonymous, the entire world of illusion had erupted into chaos. World Channel Lu Ocean. One night seven times, what the hell? Am I seeing things? First kill announcement? Drunk in. The wind, black iron level boss? What is that? I struggle to fight level one rabbits. Long time. All realms, anonymous? Who is this big shot? So low-key, this is the best opportunity to make a name for oneself. Tian Shang Shang Kong. What do you know upstairs? This is called the demeanor of a master. Maybe the big shot is right beside you, waiting for you to be careless so the dragon king can slap you. E Tian Shu, everyone calm down. How long has the server been? Open? Less than a day. Being able to solo a boss means the talent and class are absolutely top-notch. The talent boosts in this game are much deeper than we imagined. Long time. Skin peeler, the understanding brother has appeared. Yen Jio was completely unaware of the commotion in the world channel. He glanced at his attributes, he had only taken a look at the quest panel. Collect herbs, 8 out of 10 he hoisted the novice wooden staff. That had contributed greatly, turning to walk towards another patch of grass. Just two more to go. His silhouette, under the afterglow of the setting sun, was elongated, looking somewhat lonely yet also. Leisurely. The clamor of the orange plains was even greater than when he had left, every player’s face was filled with excitement and unease, the blood red. Announcement of the first kill in the world channel acting like a potent stimulant, injecting adrenaline into everyone’s nerves. Did you hear? Someone. Soloed the boss. Anonymous big shot. This prestige is off the charts. It must be a big shot from a top guild, hiding their strength. Yen Jio carried. His wooden staff, weaving through the thrumming crowd, filtering out the chatter with his mind. He circled around the rocky hills again and easily. Found the last two herbs. Task complete. He opened the map, confirmed the direction of the novice village, and began his return journey. As he walked, he suddenly stopped. Not far away, a familiar figure was vigorously swinging a one-handed sword. It was the streamer named Li Hao. A few followers beside him were still shouting encouragement and their target remained those harmless Oren Plains rabbits. Brother Hao is mighty. Did you see that efficiency? Li Hao slashed down a rabbit, a minus 13 damage number floating up. He wiped non-existent sweat from his forehead, a satisfied smile on his face. The potion master Anna in the novice village still wore a kind and gentle expression. Oh, brave adventurer, you have truly helped me a lot. Task gather herbs completed. Congratulations. You have received, basic life potion asterisk 2, basic mana potion asterisk 2. Yen Jio took the few bottles of glowing potions. He opened his backpack, there wasn’t much inside, just 10 rabbit skins and, a pile of wolf fangs, as he hadn’t turned in the novice task of hunting rabbits yet, but two items stood out prominently, the shiny wolf king leather armor, and that book, howl of the, wolf king, which could only be learned by warriors. These items were useless to keep, it would be better to exchange them for money. But the question was, where to sell them? He looked. Around, the village had a blacksmith shop and a potion shop, but there wasn’t a place that resembled a trading post. His gaze fell on a woman leaning against a wooden fence, polishing arrows. She wore a neat set of leather armor that outlined her toned physique, a longbow slung across her back, exuding an air of unapproachable competence. She looked like a seasoned player. Yen. Gio thought he could get answers by asking her. He walked over and stopped three steps away from her. Hello. She looked up, revealing a strikingly handsome face, her features sharpen her. Gaze is piercing as an eagle’s. But the moment she recognized Yanjio, that sharpness seemed to deflate like a popped balloon, dissipating instantly. A hint of an unnatural blush crept up her healthy, sun-kissed cheeks, so fast it was almost imperceptible. The motion she had prepared to stand up froze, her fingers instinctively tightening around her longbow. Yanjio was. About to speak, inquiring about the black market or trading locations. However, as soon as he opened his mouth, not even a syllable escaped. The huntress, like a startled rabbit, suddenly. Stood up, her gaze darting away, not daring to meet his eyes. Ah, um. I have something to do, she stammered, covering her flushed face and turned to run. Her movements were shy, like. A girl experiencing her first crush, starkly contrasting with her earlier composed and capable demeanor. She left behind a flustered silhouette that quickly vanished into the crowd. Yen. Joe’s outstretched hand hung in the air. He stood there, often encountering such situations. The other party would either cover their face and run away or desperately cling to him. He didn’t expect it to be the same in the game. Just as he awkwardly scratched his head, a rough voice sounded behind him. Hey, kid, what did you do to our yeah yeah just now? Yen Jio turned around. Two players were approaching him aggressively, subtly surrounding him. The leader was a burly warrior with the ID mad blade, holding a broad-bladed sword and staring at him with a scrutinizing gaze. Beside him stood a slender assassin with a sinister gaze. They were clearly teammates of that female hunter from earlier. The volume of Quangdao’s voice drew curious glances. From nearby players. I just greeted her, Yanjio maintained his calm demeanor. To the others, his calmness seemed like provocation. The assassin player, Guiying, sneered. Greeted her? I think. You were trying to flirt and got rejected, huh? I see he’s that kind of person, looking decent but just a scammer targeting young girls. Yanjio’s brows furrowed slightly. He disliked. Being misunderstood and even more so, he disliked trouble. However, he was not afraid of it either. His primary goal was to sell his equipment for money, then continue to strengthen himself. And seek stronger opponents. Arguing with these people was a complete waste of time. I just wanted to ask for directions, Yan Zhou explained patiently, but his gaze gradually turned. Cold. Ask for directions? Quan Dao laughed as if he had heard the biggest joke. Can asking for directions make someone run away covering their face? Do you think I’m a three-year-old? Stop wasting time with him, Dao Gu. People like him need a lesson to behave. Guiying sheathed his glimmering dagger and assumed a fighting stance. In the novice village, malicious PK was prohibited but physical conflicts and shoving were not interfered with by the system. Yenjio looked at them and suddenly felt a bit tired. Communicating with these people was more exhausting than fighting the Wind Wolf King. Quangdao’s questioning tightened the air around them. I’ll say it one last time, I just wanted to ask for directions. Yenjio’s voice remained calm but there was a cold killing intent beneath that calm. If explanations failed, then he would fight until they could be explained. Ask for directions? The broad-bladed sword in Quangdao’s. Hands scraped loudly against the ground. I think you’re tired of living. The assassin Guying beside him lowered his body slightly, his hands already in a standard boxing guard, his. Gaze I see. In the novice village, the guards will come to catch you for PK, but they won’t care if someone gives you a beating with fists, which have no damage judgment, to teach you a. Lesson. To them, this man in a ridiculous mage robe was just a lucky scammer who happened to look decent. and people like that were the most deserving of a beating. Yen Jio looked at them, as if they were two corpses. He had a rule, never repeat himself. He had already explained patiently twice. There would be no third time. Gu Aying struck first, he shifted his footwork, and, his whole body became a blurred shadow, his left fist transforming into a sharp line aimed directly at Yen Jio’s face. The wind from the punch howled, carrying a sense of pressure. He was, a trained fighter, and a fast one at that. Yen Jio’s body reacted quickly, he sidestepped and tilted his head. That powerful straight punch nearly grazed his ear, the wind from it ruffling, a few strands of his hair. However, at the moment he made that evasive move, a strong sense of delay surged through his limbs. Too slow. His body’s reaction was lagging far behind what, he had anticipated. Although this mage’s body had been upgraded, its strength was only 7 points, and agility was also just 7 points. Even with the 10% speed boost from the title Wolf King, Slayer and the 3% from the Wind Ring, it barely allowed him to keep up with his opponent’s speed. His real-life body, honed to surpass human limits had been reduced to a string of cold. Numbers here. A feeling of being bound enveloped him. In that moment of delay, Quangdao’s attack arrived. He might not be as fast as Guiying, but he was bulkier and packed more power. A heavy. Swinging punch aimed at Yanjou’s temple came sweeping in, clear in its target and merciless. The two worked together seamlessly. One fast, one heavy, they sealed off all of Yanjou’s. Escape routes. The surrounding players gasped in shock die in their eyes. This frail mage was about to be sent flying by a heavy punch in the next second. Li Hao and his group of followers were. Watching not far away, their faces filled with glee. Hit him. Hit him hard. Let him show off. However, the bloody scene they anticipated did not unfold. Yen Jo’s face remained as calm. As ever. His body was weakened, but his experience, his skills, and the essence of his martial arts were untouched. The heart that belonged to a martial god still beat within his chest. Facing the inevitable punch from the mad blade, Yen Jio did not retreat but advanced. He stepped forward with his left foot, twisting his body at an incredible angle, just in time to evade. The punch. At the same time, his right hand rose, palm open, like a gentle willow leaf, resting lightly on that sturdy arm, guiding it away. A burst of skill instantly dissipated all the force. Behind the opponent’s punch. The mad blade felt as if his fist had struck a mass of cotton, all his strength misapplied, and the immense inertia caused him to stagger forward uncontrollably. For several steps. A missed strike. Meanwhile, the Ghost Shadow, who had thrown the first punch, was about to retract his fist and change his move. Yanjou’s hand, which had just completed. The guiding motion, shot out like lightning, his index and middle fingers coming together to precisely tap the joint of Ghost Shadow’s wrist. Pop. A light sound. Ghost Shadow let out a muffled groan, feeling half of his body go numb, his left arm instantly losing sensation and drooping limply. The entire process happened in the blink of an eye. The surrounding players couldn’t even see what had happened. They only saw the mage leisurely walking a circle amidst the two burly men’s assault. Then, one of the aggressive warriors and the assassin staggered. Nearly falling, while the other clutched his wrist, retreating with a pale face. The arena fell into dead silence. What? What just happened? What did he do? I didn’t see clearly. The. Smile on Leehouse face also froze. He rubbed his eyes, unable to believe what he had just witnessed. The mad blade steadied himself, looking at Yenjio with a mix of shock and anger. You. He couldn’t understand why he had lost his balance when the other party clearly hadn’t touched him. Ghost Shadow was even more horrified. He looked at his still numb arm, then at Yen. Jio, his eyes now tinged with fear. That finger jab, if it had been aimed at his throat instead of his wrist? He dared not think further. Let’s go together. The mad blade roared, the feeling of humiliation overpowering his reason. He discarded the warrior’s tactics and charged at Yen Jio like an enraged bull. Ghost Shadow gritted his teeth and, using his still functioning right hand, rushed toward Yen Jio’s back. Yanzhou watched the two charging at him, his eyes wide, a smile of excitement tugging at his lips, he hadn’t encountered such a battle in over a decade. He simply stood his ground. Just as the mad blade was about to collide with him, he sidestepped, extending his right foot lightly to the side. A simple trip. Bang. The mad blades. Robust body lost all balance with that gentle trip and he fell forward uncontrollably. The direction he fell was right into the path of the rushing ghost shadow. Ghost shadow’s pupils. Constricted, he wanted to stop but it was already too late. The two collided solidly, tumbling into a heat. Ouch. My back. Cries of pain and wails echoed. Yenjiyo retracted his foot. Watching the two rolling on the ground. He didn’t even notice the excited, manic smile on his own face. Yenjiyo shook his head, his expression returning to calm as he looked at his hands. Murmuring to himself, this is just a game, this is just a game. In the square of the novice village, one could hear a pin drop. Everyone stared in shock at this scene. A mage. Barehanded. Effortlessly took down a warrior and an assassin. The entire process didn’t even qualify as a fight. It felt more like a, ridiculous farce. And the protagonist of this farce, the man, in the wizard’s robe, was currently looking down at his hands, seemingly pondering some life philosophy. All he wanted was to sell his equipment and make some money. Then he could quietly, level up. Why was it so difficult? Yenjo felt exhausted, he glanced at his game time and decided he had played enough for the day, so he chose to log off right there. His consciousness, detached, the starry sea faded away. Before him reappeared that small yet incredibly familiar rental room. The neon lights outside still stubbornly penetrated the glass casting modeled. Shadows on the wall, like a silent mind performance. He stretched his limbs, the steady and powerful sense of strength in the real world returned, starkly contrasting with the frail body of. The wizard in the game. Without a moment’s hesitation he took off his shirt and began a set of unyielding daily exercises. He had been boxing less lately and had instead become quite. Interested in health practices feeling it helped stabilize his internal energy. eight parts of the Vedra, Tai Chi, five animals. His movements were standard, and he unconsciously employed. Breathing techniques during the workout, sweat sliding down the smooth lines of his muscles, splattering on the floor and creating a small dark mark. An hour later, he stopped, his chest, slightly heaving, all his muscles in a perfectly activated state. The clock pointed to midnight. After a quick shower, the cold water washed away the heat and fatigue from his body, and he, fell asleep immediately. Discipline had already been ingrained in his bones. The next day, in the police station’s office, the atmosphere felt somewhat unusual. The air was less serious than usual, infused with an indescribable excitement and restlessness. The arrival of the illusion was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, although it initially caused chaos, humanities. Strong adaptability quickly restored order. After all, a job was more important than a game. Have you heard? Old wine next door has a B-level talent, Iron Wall, with super high defense. Ha, what’s that? I heard there’s a tough guy in our city bureau who got an A-level talent and has already leveled up to three. Yanjio sat at his desk, quietly listening to his colleagues. Heated discussions, feeling like an outsider. Suddenly, a hand rested on the edge of his desk. What are you thinking about? Yanjio looked up to see his captain, Lu Xia. Today, she was. Dressed in a crisp police uniform, the deep blue fabric perfectly outlining her curvaceous figure, her long hair neatly tied back, with a few strands falling by her ears, adding a touch of. Softness. Thinking about the game, Yanjio answered honestly. Lu Xia raised her beautifully shaped eyebrows slightly, pulled out a chair beside him, and sat down, leaning forward naturally, a faint fragrance wafting over. Oh, it seems our officer Yen is quite invested in the game, she teased lightly. I want to ask, Yen Jiu felt this was a good opportunity, how do you sell things in the game? Lu Xia’s smile faltered for a moment, a hint of surprise flashing in her beautiful eyes. Sell things? Did you get something good? Her voice was not loud, but in. The gossip hungry office, it rang out clearly. With a whoosh, several heads turned simultaneously. Yengio, you kid, not bad. Quietly making a fortune. Quick, tell us what treasure you found. Is it white gear or green gear? What are the attributes? His colleagues instantly surrounded him, chattering excitedly, their enthusiasm overwhelming Yengio. He wasn’t used to being the center of attention. It’s just a piece of leather armor, adds defense and agility, he mumbled. Good armor. What we need most right now is equipment. A slightly plump colleague. Immediately chimed in, clearly a seasoned player. Don’t tell me you don’t know how to sell it? The newbie village doesn’t have an auction house, but there’s a black market. Yenjio shook his head, indicating that he really didn’t know. I told you, you definitely didn’t do your tasks properly. The chubby colleague had a I knew it expression and began to explain. You have to finish the initial tasks first, go to the village chief to turn them in, and complete the three tasks he gives you. After that, he’ll give you a quest called Hope of the Village, which requires you to talk to all the important NPCs in the village. Among them is an unassuming old man, he’s the black market merchant who can unlock the auction house feature. Unfortunately, each novice village only has about 3,000 people, and the auction house and gold coins don’t interconnect, so you can only trade within your own village. Otherwise, your armor might sell for a high price. So that’s how it is. Yenjio suddenly realized that he had only completed the initial tasks of killing rabbits and gathering herbs yesterday, and he hadn’t turned in the rabbit task yet. Alright, alright, stop crowding around, it’s time to get to work. Lu Xia waved her hand, dispersing the onlookers, and the office returned to its normal working order. In the morning, the superior’s documents were issued. To cope with the social changes brought by illusion, all units’ working hours would be adjusted. The police station would implement a shift system, allowing everyone to leave work by noon to ensure they could complete the required six hours of online time each day. Similarly, salaries and performance would be adjusted accordingly. Time passed quickly. At noon, work ended on time. Yanjio packed his things and was about to leave when Lu Xia walked over again. She leaned against Yanjio’s desk, arms crossed, in a relaxed posture that didn’t resemble a captain but rather a senior from next door. She got closer to Yanjio, affectionately helping him adjust his tie. What’s your game? ID, she asked directly. Yanjio was taken aback for a moment, looking into her eyes and instinctively wanted to make up a random name, but for some reason, the words that came to his lips turned into two characters. Yanjio. Yanjio? Lucia repeated, a meaningful smile curling at the corners of her mouth. Got it. She didn’t ask further, straightened up, and turned. To leave, leaving behind a capable and neat silhouette. In the narrow hallway, before reaching his door, the sound of clattering mahjong mixed with the smell of cigarettes wafted into his nostrils. The door of the landlord, Sister Sue, was wide open. The woman who had been curled up on the sofa, trembling and tearful yesterday, was now sitting with her legs crossed on a chair, the slit of her cheepaw pulled up to a dangerous height, revealing a segment of her snow-white thigh. Her long fingers skillfully explored the mahjong tiles. Pong. The sound was. Crisp. Filled with a fierce energy. The other three were all middle-aged women from the neighborhood, each full of spirit and combativeness. The gloom brought by the illusion seemed to have. Been significantly diluted by the smoke around this square table. Sister Su glanced up and saw Yen Jo at the door, her eyes instantly brightening. She pushed the tiles on the table away. Stood up, revealing a glimpse of her snow-white skin from the slit and swayed her curvy waist towards Yen Jo. Little Yen is back? Are you tired? Do you want your sister too? Before she could finish her sentence, she suddenly slammed the table in front of the other women, her voice booming. Who? Pure hand. Pay up, pay up. Sister Su’s movements froze, and she turned her head to look at the exposed tiles, her beautiful face instantly falling. Damn, did you step in dog poop when you went out today, she cursed as she pulled out a few red bills from her wallet, and tossed them on the table, her charming demeanor instantly turning into a streetwise fierceness. Seizing the opportunity, Yen Jio slipped back into his rental room. Click. the door was locked behind him leaning against the door he could still hear sister sue’s unwilling curses from next door and the corners of his mouth involuntarily twitched he lay down on the bed the blue countdown on his arm resembling a death warrant yet also an enticing invitation without any hesitation he lay on the bed and closed his eyes entering the game after the cold mechanical voice his consciousness was once again pulled into the boundless sea of stars and then immersed in a world filled with the sounds of birds and fragrant flowers the scent of grass mingled with the fragrance of earth so real it was almost unbelievable. The first thing Yenjiyo did was open the quest panel to confirm what that chubby colleague had said. Beginner. Quest. The overpopulation of wild rabbits in the Oran Plains. Please go to the Oran Plains and use your staff to kill 10 wild rabbits. Completed. Please report to the village chief to submit. The quest. He hoisted the slightly worn beginner’s wooden staff and walked towards the largest wooden house in the center of the village. In the novice village, players came and went. Most dressed in dull gray starting clothes, their faces reflecting curiosity, excitement, or confusion. The village chief was an old man with white hair and beard, sitting leisurely in a rocking chair in front of his house, basking in the sun. When he saw Yen Jio approaching, he squinted his eyes open a crack. Brave stranger, what brings you here? Yen Jio stepped in front of him and handed over the quest. Chief, the rabbits have been cleared. Oh, well done. The chief nodded, a hint of approval showing in his murky eyes. Ding. Quest completed, gained. 100 experience points, and 10 copper coins.A soft white light flashed, and Yanzhou’s experience bar increased slightly. The old man slowly stood up from the rocking chair and walked in. Front of Yanzhou, patting his shoulder, the gesture no different from that of an elder in reality. Young man, your courage and strength have been witnessed by the village. His voice became a bit more serious. However, the real threat has only just begun. In the forest to the east of the village, a group of goblins has recently taken up residence. They not only steal. food from the villagers but have also injured several of our villagers who went out to gather herbs they are much more vicious than the wild rabbits the chief sighed a trace of worry in his eyes i hope you can once again fight for the peace of the village and deal with those evil creatures ding you have triggered a new quest the goblin threat dot quest content go to the goblin lair and kill 20 goblins recommended to form a team of two or more i accept yen joe did not hesitate at all after bidding farewell to the chief he had just stepped out of the yard when a crisp notification sound rang in his ear. Player Summer requests to add you as a friend.Summer? A strange name. Yenjio frowned slightly. He didn’t know anyone, in the game, let alone actively at friends. Was it a scammer selling equipment? Or did he accidentally click on someone in the village just now? He hesitated for a moment, looking at they, named Summer, and inexplicably thought of Lu Xia’s figure at the end of the workday. After pondering for a moment, he clicked agree. It didn’t matter, if he guessed wrong, he could just. Block them. The next second, a private message from the other party popped up. Summer, guess who I am? Yen Jio, team leader Lu? Summer, finally figured it out, I thought you had forgotten your own leader. Summer, how are you finding the novice village? Let me tell you, this game is quite deep, don’t get scammed. Lu Xia’s tone was like that of an older sister giving gentle advice, completely different from the capable police team leader he remembered. Yen Jio felt a bit unaccustomed to this change. He stared at the screen, unsure how to respond. His relationship with Lu Xia in reality was very straightforward, just superior and subordinate. But she always seemed to prefer this intimate tone, leaving him feeling somewhat at a loss each time. Summer, alright, I won’t tease you anymore. Looking at your name, Yanjio, it has quite a martial arts vibe. So, how are you finding the game? Yanjio, it’s, okay, quite fun. Summer, let me tell you, this game isn’t as simple as you think. Your talent in class basically determine your development speed in the early stages if you don’t draw. Well, even beginner quests can be tough. Her words carried a familiarity of a senior guiding at junior.Sea Tian, by the way, what level are you? How come you’re not in a newbie village? Yat? I’m already level 2, impressive, right? After the message, there was a smug emoji with sunblasses. Yenjiyo blanced at Lucia’s data, which only showed an ID. It seemed that people, from different newbie villages, or rather different regions, wouldn’t display detailed data until they met. Yenjiyo took a look at his character panel. Level, LV3, 150-400, he thought for a moment and decided to be honest. Yanjio, level 3. There was silence on the other end for a good 10 seconds. Long enough for Yanjio to think the signal had dropped. Xia Tian. Level 3? Are you kidding? There aren’t many who can reach level 2 now. Many people need to team up to kill monsters. How could you possibly be level 3? Her tone was. Filled with disbelief, a barrage of question marks almost bursting through the screen. Yanjio, I just killed a boss, the experience was quite generous. Xia Tian. Another silence. This time, Lu Xia seemed to be processing the information. Xia Tian, you killed it alone? Yen Jio, yeah. Xia Tian, what boss? Yen Jio, Wind Wolf King. On the other end of the chat, there was complete silence. A few seconds later, Lu Xia’s message popped up. Again. Xia Tian, wow, Yen Jio, it’s only been a few hours and your bragging skills have improved. Wind Wolf King, huh? Why don’t you say you killed the creator god while you’re at it? Yen Jio. Frowned. He was telling the truth, why wouldn’t the other party believe him? Xia Tian, forget it, I won’t argue with you about this. Since you’re so good at bragging, I’ll let you in on a secret. To broaden your horizons. Her tone returned to that slightly boastful familiarity. Xia Tian, my talent is A-grade ShadowClan Bloodline, the ultimate talent for assassins. How about that? Isn’t it strong? Xia Tian, now you believe me, right? It’s because of this talent that I could level up to two so quickly. So, talent is key. Xia Tian, you have to keep this a secret for me. Okay? Don’t tell anyone. It’s chaotic out there and you know better than I do that innocent people suffer for the guilty. Xia Tian, I’m only telling you Lu Xia’s cheeks flushed slightly. As she waited for Yen Jiu’s reply. Yen Jiu, okay, I’ll keep it a secret. He replied promptly. Lu Xia was busy attacking a vulture with her dagger and upon hearing this reply, an inexplicable fire rose within her, but she changed the subject. Xia Tian, which newbie village are you in? Yen Jiu, number 952766. Xia Tian, number 32177. Two completely different numbers. Xia Tian. Why is there such a big difference? What time did you log into the game yesterday? Forget it, I was going to help you level up, but. It seems there’s no chance now. There was a hint of regret in her tone. Yen Jio looked at the wooden staff in his hand. Help him. Level up? Xia Tian, just be careful, mages are fragile, don’t get too close to monsters. Use your fireball spell more, don’t always. Think about going in to hit, your little frame can’t take a beating. Lu Xia was still worriedly advising him, like a concerned. Old team leader. Yen Jio, yeah, got it. Xia Tian, alright, I won’t say more, I have a quest here too. Remember, develop. Quietly, don’t be like those people causing trouble everywhere. Yen Jio, okay, thanks, captain. The conversation ended. Yen Jio. Closed the chat box, and the whole world returned to tranquility. He glanced at the quest list. Quest content, go to the goblin. Nest and kill 20 goblins, recommended to go with a team of two or more, dot. He turned around, picked up the newbie wooden staff, and Walked towards the forest on the east side of the village. The path from the village to the forest was dappled with shadows. As soon. As Yinjio stepped out of the newbie village’s range, he saw a figure, she was a cute girl, wearing a loose-fitting mage robe just. Like his, but it couldn’t hide her alluring curves. She also held a novice wooden staff, standing on tiptoe and waving at a few passing. Warrior players. Want to team up? My damage output is really high. Her voice was sweet and a bit eager. However, the leading. Warrior merely glanced at her chest, swallowed hard, and made no further moves. One of the girls noticed this and kicked the leading. Warrior, then bluntly said, a mage? Forget it, casting fireballs at the beginning is like scratching an itch, teeming with her. Is worse than teeming with a piece of charsu. The girl’s smile froze on her face and she reluctantly lowered her hand. Yen Jiu’s footsteps came to a halt. He looked at the woman, at the staff in her hand, and couldn’t help but recall the time he had missed. A wild rabbit with a fireball spell yesterday, the floating miss. A sense of shared misfortune arose within him. He solemnly nodded. At the woman, expressing his empathy. This gaze had nothing to do with gender, only understanding, and sympathy. The woman was. Fuming, and when she turned her head, she saw Yenjo in his infuriating expression, still nodding at her. She was momentarily taken. Aback by Yenjo’s ruggedly handsome face, a hint of pink flashing across her cheeks. But then she was angered by his infuriating. Expression, and the blush on her face instantly faded. She sized Yanzhou up and down, dressed in plain clothes, with a dull expression. He looked nothing like a skilled player, but she had already been rejected 7 or 8 times. Still, she tried to invite. Yanzhou, want to team up? Two mages should be more efficient at killing monsters. Yanzhou thought that if he didn’t have the god of war talent, he would probably struggle just like her to take down a monster. Then he remembered the quest suggesting that too. Or more people should go together. Although he felt one person would be fine, it was his first time playing the game, and if there. Were any mechanisms that required two people to activate, he would have to run back again. So he nodded. The girl quickly sent a. Party invitation. Player Little Cream invites you to join the party, do you accept? Yengio clicked to accept. Ding. You have. Joined the party dot. My name is Little Cream, what’s yours? Little Cream asked. Yengio. Little Cream nodded, acknowledging the. Introduction. She casually opened the party panel, preparing to check her teammates’ attributes to have some idea. The next second. Her eyes widened in shock. You, you’re level 3? Her scream rose an octave, drawing curious glances from several passing players. Yengio looked at the party panel, noticing the lonely LV1 next to Little Cream’s name, feeling a bit curious. Is leveling up hard? Little Cream almost gasped for breath. She pointed at her own nose, huffing angrily, the game just launched a day ago, and most people need to team up for the initial quests, and you’re already level 3. Is it hard or not? She felt this guy was showing off. What’s your talent? How are your attributes? Little Kreen leaned closer, her astonishing softness almost brushing, against Yanzhou’s arm. She proudly puffed out her chest, like a peacock displaying its beautiful feathers. I’ll go first, I have. An A-grade talent, Black Flame, which adds 30% true burn damage to all fire damage, true damage. The swaying curve. Was dizzying to behold. Yanzhou nodded. Although he didn’t quite understand what true burn damage meant, it sounded impressive. Very. Strong, he genuinely praised. little cream was pleased with his reaction and urged your turn it’s mostly just adding to normal attack damage yenjio said though he didn’t want to lie he instinctively held back a bit little cream’s gaze was fixed on yenjio’s handsome face the air seemed to freeze normal attack her sweet voice carried a hint of absurd tremor she pointed at herself and then at yenjio is this a joke a mage dealing normal attack damage she couldn’t comprehend this combination at all It was like giving a sniper a baseball bat as their main weapon, absurdly ridiculous. Yanzhou’s life had only revolved around martial arts, and after sealing his fists, he had lost interest in everything else. He had long developed a personality that ignored others’ expressions and spoke to himself. Yanzhou said to himself, talent awakens based on one’s own qualifications. That means I’m quite capable. This wasn’t a joke, but a fact. Little cream. She looked at Yanzhou’s serious and handsome face and suddenly felt like she had encountered someone not quite right in the head. all right all right you’re at a higher level you get to decide she waved her hand deciding not to dwell on this ridiculous topic after all his level three couldn’t be fake let’s go to the goblin nest the two walked one after the other into the depths of the forest soon a clearing surrounded by low shrubs appeared before them in the center of the clearing was a dark cave its entrance decorated with crude wood and beast bones emanating a foul fishy smell a few small green-skinned creatures with pointed ears were wandering around the cave entrance wielding bone clubs Goblin scout, normal monster, level, LV2 health, 120 attack, 19 little cream’s face instantly turned pale. She was just, a level 1 mage, with barely 60 health points. Getting hit a few times by this goblin would likely send her back to the village. Wait. She saw Yenjo heading inside without any caution and quickly grabbed his arm, pulling him towards her. Are you crazy? We’re. Mages, two fragile ones. Are we just going in there to die? Her voice trembled slightly. Yenjo stopped, turned his head, and, looked at her hand gripping his arm. How can we kill if we don’t go in, he retorted. Little Cream was momentarily speechless. Then remembered his talent, could it be that he was a level 3 who relied on basic attacks? He lifted his foot to head towards the dark cave entrance. Wait, let me pull one over first, it’s safer this way. Even if you have melee talent, being surrounded by a few monsters is still too dangerous. She stealthily moved towards the cave entrance, keeping her body low, trying to use a patch of shrubbery taller than herself to hide her figure. Yenjio watched her ridiculous sneaking attempt and then glanced at the goblins, pacing back and forth at the entrance. Their gaze wasn’t even directed this way. Little cream hid behind the bushes, poking her. Head out slightly, took a deep breath, and a ball of orange-red flame began to gather in her palm. Fireball spell. The fireball. Wobbled as it flew out, and with a poof, it landed three meters away from the nearest goblin’s feet. The flames sparked a few grass. Clippings, then extinguished. The goblin scout at the cave entrance seemed to have heard something, looked over in confusion, then. Turned back, bored. The air fell into an awkward silence. Little Cream’s face instantly flushed red, as if she could bleed from. Embarrassment. How humiliating, she had forgotten to calculate the distance she had always played as a warrior in previous online. Games. Yen Jio watched all of this with a blank expression. Then, he bent down and picked up a fist-sized stone from the ground. Yen. Jio swung his arm back, his wrist exerting force, the movement clean and swift, like a top-notch pitcher. Whoosh, the stone whistled. Through the air, accurately smashing into the goblin’s forehead. One a trivial damage number floated up. However, the aggro was. Firmly established. Gore. The goblin let out an angry shriek, swinging the bone club in its hand, and charged straight towards Yen. Joe with its short legs. Little cream hurriedly prepared to cast fireball again when she heard a dull sound, like a watermelon being. Smashed. Bang. She stiffly lifted her head. She saw Yen Joe take a step forward, his body slightly sinking, and the novice wooden. Staff and his hand swung in a simply yet powerful arc, striking the goblin’s chin with precision from below. 8-0-3. A massive, dazzling scarlet number slowly floated up from the goblin’s head before dissipating into the air. The goblin, which had just been, charging fiercely, paused min-air for a moment, then flew backward like a broken sack, landing as a burst of white light. The entire world fell silent. Little Cream’s mouth slowly opened, wide enough to fit an egg. Her brain had completely crashed. She looked at Yenjio, then at the yefragile novice wooden staff in his hand, topped with a blue glass orb. She rubbed her eyes, doubting. whether she was hallucinating due to excessive tension. Eight hundred? A mage? Achieving that with a wooden staff? You? A dry. Syllable escaped her throat. What was that? A one-time burst skill. That was the only possibility she could think of, a simple. Permanent talent could never achieve such an effect. Yen Jio turned his head, looking at her ghostly expression with some confusion. What skill? He asked in return. Just a normal attack. Little cream. She felt her worldview shattering inch by inch. A. Mage’s normal attack could deal 800 damage? What about that little fireball she had just smashed into the ground? Was that a humiliating attack? Gore. Gore. At the cave entrance, several other goblins were clearly startled by their companion’s instant death, letting out angry cries as they brandished their bone clubs and rushed out in a swarm. There were four of them. Yen Jio stood. His ground, like an old pine rooted in the earth, unmoving. Not only did he not retreat, but he also raised his wooden staff again, to face the four charging goblins. His gaze was calm, without a hint of turbulence. It was as if the four ferocious monsters were. Merely four wooden stakes waiting in line to be hit. It’s over. Little Cream despaired inwardly, resignedly closing her eyes. She. Thought that even if Yinjo’s damage was high facing the onslaught of four goblins he would be taken down by the other three the. Moment he killed one, after all, mages were too fragile. Next, she heard a series of rhythmic, dull thuds. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. For muffled sounds, clean and crisp, without a trace of hesitation. She cautiously opened a slit in her eyes. She saw the four goblins, fall to the ground in various positions, like bowling pins struck by a bowling ball, transforming into four soft bursts of white. Light. And Yenjio remained in the stance of retracting his staff, standing still. The wind gently blew, lifting his wide mage robe. That silhouette looked, surprisingly lonely, like a master. Little Cream’s worldview was shattering inch by inch. She looked. At Yenjio, then at the few dissipating white lights on the ground, her mind blank. You. A dry syllable squeezed out of her throat, her voice trembling. Wasn’t that melee talent damage supposed to be a one-time thing? Yenjo retracted his staff, naturally, resting it on his shoulder, and glanced at her. What one-time thing? I already said it. His tone was calm. You just don’t believe it. Little Cream’s expression froze. The worldview that had shattered a second ago was quickly pieced together and reshaped by immense joy in the next second. She had struck gold. This was no mere teammate. This was a golden thigh thicker than gold itself. Big Shot! Little Cream’s fear was instantly replaced by a flattering smile as she dashed to Yen Jio’s side, her eyes, sparkling with admiration. Big Shot, are you thirsty? Tired? I have bread and water from the novice village. Yen Jio was taken aback, by her sudden enthusiasm and silently took a step back. Little Cream, completely oblivious, imitated her surroundings by slinging, her brand new novice wooden staff over her shoulder, puffing out her chest and striking a pose of false bravado. Let’s go, Big Shot! We’re going to take down the goblin’s lair. She swaggered behind him, heading into the dark depths of the cave. The way she acted, it was as if the person who had just screamed and wanted to run away was not her at all. The cave was dark and damp, with only some moss on the walls emitting a faint glow to provide illumination. Gore. In the darkness, another goblin spotted the intruders and charged out, swinging a bone club. Little Cream instinctively shrank her neck and hid behind Yanjou’s broad back. Then, she heard a dull thud. Thump. 801. The world fell silent. little cream peeked out from behind yen joe looking at the white light on the ground her smile growing even brighter a sense of security overflowing the scene that followed became simple and pure yen joe walked ahead like an emotionless pile driver thump another goblin flew out thump thump thump the dull thudding echoed in the cave carrying a peculiar rhythm little cream followed behind him needing to do nothing but bend down to pick up a few copper coins dropped by the dead goblins while her experience bar climbed steadily she even had the leisure to observe yanzhou’s movements simple direct without any flashy techniques just the most basic swings yet the simplest of actions contained an indescribable sense of power and beauty each strike precisely hitting the most vulnerable parts of the target soon yanzhou’s task notification lit up task completed kill 20 goblins they had ventured deep into the cave and the surroundings had become increasingly spacious at that moment little cream’s eyes widened in shock She extended a trembling finger, pointing to the other. Side of the hall. Be big shot, look at that. Following her direction, Yanjio saw a goblin that stood out from the rest. It was. Taller than the ordinary goblins, clad in a crude armor made of scrap metal, and instead of a bone club, it wielded a rusty short. Knife. Above its head, a silver pattern surrounded its name. Little cream shivered in fear, pressing herself almost entirely against. Yanjio’s back, her astonishing softness once again pressing against his muscles without reservation. Yanjio paid no mind today. Sensation behind him, calmly observing the special monster. An information box appeared before his eyes. Goblin elite warrior. Elite, level, LV3 health, 320 attack, 47 skill, charge elite monster. Yenjiyo recalled the Gale Wolf King. In that wolf valley, several elite Gale Wolves also surrounded the boss. Did this mean? Big shot, be careful. That’s an elite monster. The forum said. That elite monsters require at least a 5 person team to tackle. Even though your damage is high, this elite’s damage isn’t. low either, and we have no idea what the charge skill is. Yenjiyo did not turn back. He dismissed the thought of retreating. Since there was an elite, it meant they had come to the right place. He hoisted his wooden staff and walked straight towards the goblin. Elite warrior. The goblin elite had clearly noticed him as well. It let out a roar much louder than an ordinary goblin’s, raised its short knife, and charged at Yenjiyo with all its might. Yenjiyo merely took a step forward, shielding little cream behind him, and raised his wooden staff once more. Facing the charging elite monster, he didn’t even change his stance. Thumb. The wooden staff. Struck first, cutting through the air with a whoosh, and accurately smashed into the forehead of the goblin elite warrior. 873. Weak hit break a similarly massive damage number floated up. The goblin elite warrior’s charge came to an abrupt halt, its fierce expression frozen, the red light in its eyes. Quickly dimming. That imposing body, which seemed quite intimidating, fell backward like a severed log, crashing to the ground and transforming into a patch of white light that was. Slightly brighter than an ordinary goblin. Another hit. Yenjiyo dismissed the thought of immediately returning to turn in the quest. He turned around and walked deeper into the caves. Darkness. Let’s go, take a look further in. Behind him, Little Cream’s breathing was rapid, like a worn-out bellows. Her fear had been replaced by a kind of almost worshipful awe. Yenjiyo continued forward, his footsteps echoing in the empty cave, rhythmic and steady. Soon, another goblin elite warrior charged out from the shadows around the corner, letting out. A sharp roar, its rusty dagger raised high. I just saw on the online forum that this charge skill has been learned by warriors, it can close the distance quickly and has a knockback. A fact. Little Cream immediately warned, clearly not idle during this time. Yen Jo’s movements didn’t even pause for a moment. He was like a train moving at a constant speed, while, that elite monster was like a moth flying toward the wheels. The staff swung out. There was no wind sound, no unnecessary movements, only a dull thud of impact. Thud. 805. The goblin elite warrior’s body froze momentarily in mid-air, then collapsed to the ground like a sack with all its bones removed, turning into white light. Another clean and decisive strike. The journey ahead turned into a repetition of this pattern. Along the way, they encountered another seven or eight elite monsters. Little Cream would occasionally share tips she had seen on various guides in the forum during their downtime. Big shot. Be careful of its back. Warrior monsters might suddenly turn around and ambush when facing away from their enemies. Yenjo’s response was always that unremarkable wooden staff and the damage number that could make any warrior player feel ashamed enough to delete their account. Gradually, little cream stopped talking, silently following behind, watching the figure in the mage robe, her gaze, shifting from initial shock to numbness and finally to a dazed reverence as if witnessing a deity descending. She began to question her life. Was this really the elite monster that required a team to barely defeat? Was this really the elite monster that could kill fragile classes in two hits? Why were they so weak as if made of paper in front of this man? Passing through a narrow corridor, they suddenly found themselves in. A vast underground cavern. A terrible stench filled the air, a mix of rotting flesh and excrement, making one feel nauseous. In the cavern, several crude huts made of thatch and beast bones were haphazardly constructed, with various unknown creature skulls hanging from the roofs. Their dark eye sockets silently watching the intruders. Yenjo’s brows finally furrowed. He hated this chaotic environment. His gaze swept. over the disordered camp finally settling on the largest and most dilapidated thatch hut in the center a massive figure was sitting on a throne made of huge beast bones its body was nearly twice the size of any goblin he had seen before its dark red skin covered in gruesome scars in its hand it held a gigantic stone axe stained with dark red blood goblin king black iron level boss level lv4 health 1800 attack 69 defense her voice trembled and almost instinctively she grabbed yenjo’s mage robe again wishing she could hide completely behind him big boss let’s forget about this if it really comes to it i’ll just go up and take a hit from a skill in her eyes even though yen joe’s damage was terrifying it would be hard to last more than a few rounds against the boss with an attack of 69 any enhancement skill could easily send a fragile mage back home before she could finish her sentence yen joe was already shouldering his staff and walking towards the massive figure thud thud thud the goblin king had clearly noticed him it stood up from its throne striking the ground with its enormous stone axe producing a dull thud. With a deafening roar, the goblin king’s massive body transformed into a black whirlwind, charging straight at Yanjio. A charge, faster than an elite monster, with a stronger sense of pressure. This humanoid creature’s attack pattern seemed much simpler to him than that of the beast-like wind wolf king from before. Flaws were everywhere. Just as the goblin king was about to collide with him, Yanjio slightly tilted his body. The enormous stone axe barely grazed the tip of his nose. The gust of wind it created billowing his robe. At the same time, the staff in his hand moved. Thud. The staff struck precisely at the knee joint exposed by the Goblin King’s Charge. 720. The Goblin King’s momentum suddenly halted, letting out a painful howl as its massive body stumbled. Seizing. The opportunity, Yanjou sidestepped and circled to its side, swinging his staff at a tricky angle, aiming directly at its lower back. Thud. 713. Another massive damage number appeared. The Goblin King’s health bar visibly evaporated by more than half in an instant. Roar. The intense pain completely enraged the goblin leader. Its skin turned a bright red, muscles bulging in an unnatural manner, blood vessels. Filling its eyes. Fury. It let out a furious roar that shook the entire cave. Reinforcements. From the nearby shabby grass huts, two elite. Goblin warriors armed with short knives suddenly charged out, roaring as they flanked Yenju from both sides. Little Cream’s heart sank to. The bottom. It was over. The boss was enraged, summoning minions, and attacking from both sides. This was a textbook wipe scenario. Just as Yen Jio was about to swing his third staff, the two suddenly emerging elite monsters interrupted his rhythm. If he forced an attack on the goblin king, he would surely be hit by the charge of those two elite monsters. In the blink of an eye, he chose not to retreat. The mana within him began to circulate actively. Wind step. His figure left a faint afterimage in place. The next moment, he appeared behind the goblin elite that had charged to his original position on the left. That elite monster was still in a forward charge but had already lost its target. Thud. The staff fell without any suspense. The elite monster didn’t even have time to let out a cry before turning into a white light. Yen. Joe’s movements were fluid. He lightly pivoted on his toes, dodging the charge of the second elite monster. The boss’s skill had just finished. Casting. Yen Joe’s figure had already appeared in front of it. The slender staff raised high in his hand like a judge’s gavel. Thud. 735. The goblin king’s massive body crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. The elite monster also turned into a white light. Upon the boss’s death. The world fell silent once more. The dust on the ground slowly settled. The echo of the Goblin King’s roar completely. Vanished. Little Cream’s eyes remained wide open, staring intently at the spot where the boss had turned into light, her hand was still frozen. In mid-air, forgetting to retract it, everything had happened too quickly. A gentle golden beam of light descended from the sky, completely. Enveloping Yen Jio. Ding. Congratulations, your level has increased to LV4. Ding. Talent, War God, Effect Enhanced, Melee Damage Increase. raised to 130 times dot ding congratulations strength plus one agility plus one intelligence plus one spirit plus one constitution plus one ding congratulations you have gained five free attribute points current free attribute points 15 almost simultaneously the same light fell upon little cream she blinked then blinked again mechanically she looked down at her hands and then as if remembering something she suddenly pulled up her attribute panel level lv3 Along the way, she had soared from level 1 to level 3. She had merely followed him through a cave. Ah. A suppressed scream broke through the cave’s gloom filled with immense joy. She jumped up excitedly, her body trembling slightly from overwhelming excitement. This was faster than riding a rocket. Yenjiyo showed no reaction to her celebration. His attention was entirely focused on the glowing orb left behind after the goblin king vanished. The light was much brighter and denser than that of an elite monster. He stepped forward. and began picking up the loot piece by piece the first item was a massive stone axe with dark red already dried bloodstains still on the blade goblin king stone axe quality black iron equipment type two-handed axe attributes attack plus 27 strength plus 10 constitution plus 10 critical hit plus five percent class requirement warrior paladin level requirement lv4 another weapon he couldn’t use he expressionlessly tossed it into his backpack the second item was a ring made from a piece of yellowed finger bone with a rugged design Goblin King’s Bone. Ring quality, black iron equipment type, ring attributes, constitution plus 10, movement speed minus 20%, recovery, 2 health points per second during. Combat equipment requirement, none the life recovery attribute was very tempting, but a 20% reduction in movement speed was a fatal flaw. To him, the inability to dodge danger was far more terrifying than a few extra health points. He would never sacrifice his mobility. For this little recovery, this item was equally useless to him. Annie’s Cloth Shoes Quality, Black Iron Equipment Type, Shoes Attributes, Intelligence Plus 5, Spell Power Plus 5, Casting Time Dash 20% Equipment Requirement, Mage Priest Fortunately, he finally found something he could use, though the attributes were not to Yinzhou’s liking. Next, he picked up a book wrapped in rough beast skin. Summon Goblin, Summon a Goblin. To fight for you, attributes affected by your intelligence and skill proficiency. Duration 1 minute, cooldown 3 minutes. Class Requirement. mate skill book fury class requirement warrior effect can be activated when health drops below 30 percent after activation damage taken is reduced by 30 percent damage dealt is increased by 30 percent lasting 30 seconds dot note as a mage you should delve into the mysteries of the elements not this barbarian’s roar dot yen joe’s face remained calm he had grown somewhat accustomed to the system sarcasm and directly learned summon goblin the last item was somewhat different It was not equipment, but a small silver box hanging from a thin chain, its surface, covered in scratches feeling cold to the touch. Annie’s pendant tie quest item description, an exquisite but old pendant, engraved with. The name Annie. Perhaps someone in Orin village will recognize it. A quest item. He casually put it away. After finishing the pickups, he. Turned around little cream had stopped bouncing and was looking at him with a gaze brighter than the glowing moss in the cave, unblinking. He. Took out the stone axe and bone ring he had just picked up, displaying their attributes in front of her. Do you want them? I’ll sell them. To you cheap. Little Cream’s mouth slowly opened. Me? Her voice trembled. This was black iron level boss equipment. Any one of these. Items, if put on the trading market, would cause a frenzy. That stone axe was undoubtedly the dream artifact of all warrior players at this. Stage. The ring, although it had penalties, was practically a divine tool for tank classes. That cloth shoe was simply the best tool for a mage. To get through the early difficult times. He actually wants to sell it to me just like that? Countless thoughts swirled in her mind. Buying. The equipment, even if she sold it again, would give her a huge starting capital, allowing her to gain a significant advantage in the early. Game. But, her gaze shifted from the three floating pieces of equipment back to Yanjou’s calm and handsome face. No, no, no. Big shot. I can’t take it. She shook her hands like a rattle, her head bobbing along. I haven’t done anything, just followed behind and picked up a. Few copper coins. I absolutely can’t take such a huge advantage. Her expression was one of genuine panic and resistance. Yen Ji-oh looked at. Her exaggerated expression. Her refusal seemed a bit too intense. He was just selling it to her, not giving it away, why did it feel like a confession? Seeing him silent, little cream took a deep breath, her chest puffing up. Her gaze was incredibly sincere, filled with carefully. Adjusted admiration and hope. Big shot, I really can’t take it. These items are useless to me, I’m just a little fireball mage. She pointed. To herself with her thumb. As long as, as long as you don’t mind me being a hassle when you fight monsters in the future, and can take me. Along to gain some experience, that would be the best reward for me. Yen Jio processed her words. He recalled the silence of Wolf Valley and. The dullness of the cave before her scream. Having someone chattering beside him didn’t seem like a bad thing. At least it made the tedious. Monster hunting process feel less monotonous. He gently nodded. Whom. A single word of confirmation. To Little Cream, this word was like music. From the heavens. A brilliant smile instantly blossomed on her face, dispelling all the gloom in the cave. Thank you, big shot. You are. Like my reborn parents. Yenjo had already turned around, his back to her, walking back the way they came. Let’s go, back to the village. Okay. Little cream used all her strength to respond, almost jogging to catch up. She mimicked Yenjo’s posture, shouldering the brand. New wooden staff, her steps light and bouncy like a little deer. The two figures, one tall and steady, the other petite and lively, walked out. Of the deep, dark cave together. The darkness at the cave entrance was completely left behind and the warm sunlight of Auron Village, mixed with the scent of grass and earth wrapped around the two once more. Little Cream took a deep breath, feeling as if she had come back to life. She walked proudly along the village path with the wooden staff, her steps carrying a hint of boastful lightness. By the roadside, a few players who had just entered the game were surrounding a level 1 slime, each taking turns to strike, thoroughly enjoying themselves. Go. For it. It’s almost out of health. Be careful. Don’t let it run away. Little Cream’s gaze swept over them, and the corners of her mouth, involuntarily lifted into a superior arc. Once upon a time, she was one of them. And now, she was a distinguished level 3 big shot. All of. This was thanks to the man beside her. Big shot, where are we going next? Are we going to hunt monsters again? Her voice was crisp-filled, with anticipation, as if all it took was for Yenjo to nod, and she could immediately fight another 300 rounds. First, let’s turn in. The quest. Yenjo’s response was as concise as ever. Oh, okay. Then I’ll go stroll around the village, get familiar with the surroundings, and see if there’s anything good for sale. Little cream said with a keen sense of timing. Her eyes twinkled, her tone laced with a hint. Of mischievous excitement. Yenjio glanced at her, not calling out her little desire to show off her level. N’mem, he acknowledged. Shall. We meet at the blacksmith’s shop later? No need, you do your thing. Yenjio’s reply was crisp and straightforward. Ah, oh, alright. Little. Cream paused for a moment, then laughed again, waving her hand vigorously at him before bouncing off into the crowd, quickly disappearing. From sight. Yenjio, carrying the wooden staff stained with the blood of two bosses, walked through the bustling crowd straight to the thatched cottage at the deepest part of the village, marked with the village chief’s sign. Inside, an elderly man with white hair sat by the hearth, smoking a pipe. Young man, what brings you here? The goblin quest, completed. Yenjio approached the table, succinctly stating. His accomplishment. Oh, so soon? The village chief was somewhat surprised, rubbing his sleepy eyes. Suddenly, a series of crisp system. Notification sounds rang in Yenzhou’s ears, projecting a virtual light screen. Quest completed. Trouble in the goblin den. Ding. Detected. That you have exceeded the quest requirements. Extra kills. Goblin elite warrior x11. Goblin king x1. Received extra rewards, or in village. Reputation plus 40. Silver coins plus 5. Experience plus 500. The weariness on the village chief’s face vanished in an instant. His eyes widened, bursting. With incredulous light and he sprang up from his chair. You, you killed the goblin king? His voice trembled with excitement, his dry. Fingers pointing at Yenjo quivering at the tips. Yenjo did not answer, merely nodding. The village chief circled around Yenjo twice. As if examining some rare treasure, muttering to himself. Heaven bless our village. Heaven bless our village. He rubbed his hands together. Excitedly, and the look in his eyes shifted from initial indifference to a fervent mix of awe and ecstasy. Hero. You are truly the hero of Warren. Village. That demon lurking deep in the cave has been a thorn in the side of our village for generations. I never expected it to be resolved. By you alone. The village chief took a deep breath, speaking with an unprecedented seriousness. Hero, since you possess such formidable strength, I wonder, would you be willing to help our village with another task? A bounty criminal who fled from Maple Forest City has recently been hiding near our village, and our village’s guards are utterly helpless against him. As soon as he finished speaking, a new quest. Panel popped up in front of Yanjio. Ding. Do you accept the hidden quest, Threat to Orin Village? Quest Objective, Eliminate the Bounty. Criminal, Savage Bear, Quest Rewards, Maple Forest City Reputation plus 20, Orin Village Reputation plus 100, Silver Coins plus 10, Item, Introduction. Letter from the Village Chief of Orin Village, Maple Forest City Reputation. Yan Zhou’s attention was drawn to these words. It seemed that, killing the Goblin King had indeed triggered a deeper storyline. Suddenly, he remembered something and took out the silver pendant he had found. On the Goblin King. Annie’s pendant. He handed the pendant to the village chief. The village chief took the pendant, brought it close to the oil lamp, and ran his fingers over the deep scratches and the name engraved on it. Annie. That name sounds familiar, but I’ve never seen a pendant like this. He pondered for a moment before returning the pendant to Yanjio, the blacksmith at the village entrance, old. Tom, has lived here his whole life and has seen more than I have, perhaps he might know something. Yanjio put the pendant back in his backpack. Is there an auction house in the village? He asked the question that concerned him the most. Upon hearing it, the wrinkles on the village chief’s face blossomed into a smile like a chrysanthemum. He patted Yanjio’s shoulder heavily. Hero, you are now the benefactor of our entire village. Your reputation is enough to allow you to move freely in own village. Forget about the auction house as long as it’s a facility in the village. Someone will warmly welcome you. He understood. Normal players needed to complete three prerequisite tasks issued by The village chief to gather enough reputation to unlock various functional NPCs in the village. But he, having gained immense reputation from defeating the goblin king boss, directly skipped this tedious process. It was highly efficient. He liked this feeling. Yanjio accepted the hidden quest and then said to the village chief, I’ll go take care of something first. Go ahead. If you need anything, feel free to find me. The village chief waved his hand enthusiastically. Yanjio turned around and pushed open the door of the wooden house. The noisy voices. and sunlight from outside rushed in. His goal was clear. While these items were still at their peak value he would exchange them for the most tangible currency. Pushing open the door of the village chief’s wooden house the clamor of voices and the blinding sunlight flooded in. Yanjio squinted, adjusting to the light for a moment. His gaze swept across the square and quickly fixed on a large tree not far away. The female hunter he had scared off yesterday was standing there with her hands on her hips, loudly saying something to two men. Those two men were. the warrior, Mad Blade, and the assassin, Ghost Shadow, who had fought him yesterday. At this moment, both of them had their heads down, looking dejected, allowing the female hunter to scold them. The female hunter’s sleek leather armor accentuated her long legs and tight waist, but her face was filled with anger. She seemed to sense Yanjou’s gaze and suddenly turned her head. Their eyes met. The anger on her face, deflated like a balloon pricked by a needle, instantly dissipating. She froze in place, her previous imposing demeanor replaced by a flustered expression. Then, as if she had made up her mind, she quickly ran towards Yanjio. Um, about yesterday. I’m sorry. Her voice was small, carrying a barely noticeable tremor. Yanjio looked at her. He was solely focused on selling his equipment and hadn’t given yesterday’s. Incident much thought. It’s fine. His response was straightforward. The female hunter seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, but the blush on. Her face deepened. She turned back and shouted at her two companions under the tree, aren’t you coming over to apologize? Her voice was loud. and powerful, a stark contrast to the shy demeanor she had just shown him. Madblade and Ghost Shadow jumped in surprise and quickly jogged. Over, standing in front of Yanjio. Their expressions were somewhat complex, a mix of embarrassment and a hint of awe. Bro, we were wrong. Yesterday, we didn’t recognize the mountain. Madblade spoke in a deep voice, his attitude much more sincere than the day before. Ghost Shadow. Beside him nodded eagerly. Yeah, yeah, we didn’t expect you to be such a master, those two moves were really impressive. They were genuinely impressed. After returning yesterday, Ghost Shadow’s numb arm took a long time to regain feeling, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt a chill. That was not something an ordinary player could achieve. Yen Jio waved his hand, indicating that he didn’t mind. What’s your name? I’m Jinue, and they are Mad Blade and Ghost Shadow. The female hunter, Jinue, introduced herself actively, her bright eyes, sparkling with curiosity. I’m Yen Jio. Yen Jio. Jinue repeated the name softly, her smile growing wider. Um, we are about to go hunt. Elite monsters, do you want to join us? With your skills, we’ll definitely be efficient in a team. She extended a party invitation, her eyes filled with anticipation. Yen Jiu glanced at his quest panel.Hidden task, the threat of Auron Village’s current goal was clear. First, deal with the equipment in his backpack. He had been holding it in for a long time. No, I have something else to do. He refused, directly. Jin Yu’s expression instantly crumbled, disappointment visible to the naked eye. Behind her, Kuang Dao’s eyes lit up. Yen Jiu ignored the Little antics between them and looked at Jin Yu, asking his question. Do you know where the auction house or black market in the village is? He paused and added, I wanted to ask this yesterday. Ah, Jin Yu was taken aback. Her cheeks flushed bright red, almost as if they were. About to bleed. Not only had she run away yesterday, but she also caused Kuang Dao and the others to go trouble someone, which was utterly. Embarrassing. Seeing his goddess so flustered that she might as well sink into the ground and then noticing the way she looked at Yen Jo with. Eyes that seemed to melt, Kuang Dao’s heart raced. He couldn’t let them continue talking. He dashed forward, positioning himself between the two and casually hooked his arm around Yanjio’s shoulder. Hey, brother, it’s just an auction house, right? You can ask me about this. I’m familiar with it. His voice was overly enthusiastic. Come on, I’ll take you there. It’s right at the east end of the village, that biggest tent. As Kuang Dao spoke, he forcibly pulled Yanjio’s shoulder, leading him in another direction. Yanjio felt a bit uncomfortable with this sudden physical contact and frowned slightly. but he finally got the information he wanted and didn’t bother to dwell on it. He let Kuang Dao push him away. Kuang Dao! You come back here! Jin Yu’s furious shout came from behind. Yanjio didn’t look back, shouldering his staff. As he walked toward the auction house, the so-called auction house was actually a shabby tent made of huge animal skins, with a crooked, wooden sign hanging at the entrance that read Black Market. Unlike the bustling atmosphere of other places in the village, this area felt particularly desolate. Yanjio lifted the curtain and walked inside. The tent was dimly lit, with only a few oil lamps providing faint illumination. A middle-aged NPC with a goatee was dozing at the counter. Hearing the footsteps, he lazily lifted his head. But upon seeing Yen Jio, his eyes instantly brightened. Oh, honorable hero, welcome to my little shop. The black market owner’s attitude made a complete turnaround, as he enthusiastically came out from behind the counter, bowing and nodding at Yen Jio. How can I serve you? I want to auction something. Yen Jio was straightforward. Of course, of course. It’s my honor to serve you. The owner took out a piece of yellowed parchment from under the counter and respectfully handed it to Yen Jio. Hero, please record the information of the items you wish to auction on this transaction. Contract, it will automatically list them for you. Yen Jio took the parchment. The texture of the paper was rough but as his fingers touched the surface, lines of virtual item slots and option boxes appeared and the page scrolled with his thoughts. It was like a translucent. Tablet. An interesting design. He didn’t waste time and, with a thought, listed the items he didn’t need from his backpack one by one. Wolf. King Leather Armor, Black Iron Level, Skill Book, Roar of the Wolf King Goblin King’s Bone Ring, Black Iron Level, Skill Book, Blood. Rage Goblin King’s Stone Axe, Black Iron Level. He set a starting bit of 10 silver coins for each item and chose to auction anonymously. After finishing all this, he returned the parchment to the owner. Then, he opened the team list and sent a message. Let’s go, time to do the task. The forest path leading to the bandit den was dappled with light and shadow filter through layers of overlapping treetops. Little cream, followed behind Yenjiu like a lark, chattering about her glorious achievements since reaching level 3. You should have seen it, when I, returned to the village and actively revealed my level, the looks those players gave me. Such admiration. There are even people willing, to pay me to help them level up, but I didn’t agree. She puffed out her chest, her tone betraying her pride. Someone on the forum has already. discovered the boss and started the hunt, but their 20-man teen was completely wiped out. Yanjio remained silent, simply listening. It wasn’t a bad feeling. Soon, the forest ahead became sparse, and the outline of a village built from rough wood and stones appeared at the edge of their vision. At the entrance of the village, several wandering figures were their mission targets. There was also a group of old acquaintances. Everyone, get your spirits up. The bandits are level 3 monsters, much tougher than rabbits and goblins. Li Hao was. animatedly rallying the few remaining followers beside him, his voice loud as if afraid others wouldn’t hear. However, the attention of those followers was instantly drawn to the little cream puff that had just emerged from the woods. Several gazes stuck to the exaggerated curves of the little cream puff’s body, unabashedly. One skinny follower instinctively gulped then suddenly realized hurriedly wiped his mouth and put on a self-righteous expression. Li Hao also noticed the two. His gaze lingered on the little cream puff for a full three seconds before. reluctantly shifting to yen joe’s excessively handsome face li how quickly composed himself revealing a practiced expert smile beautiful lady are you here to clear the bandit den it’s too dangerous he approached deliberately ignoring yen joe’s presence the bandits here are all level three in common groups you two mages won’t stand a chance why not join our team i can lead you to clear it ensuring safety and efficiency li how was still fixated on leveling up others yen joe looked around There were indeed more players in this area than before, but most were fighting their own battles, hurrying along. It seemed that as levels increased, players’ activity zones began to overlap slowly. He had heard his colleagues chatting yesterday, the initial quests were mostly different, some required killing slimes, while others involved hunting chickens. He also noticed that the followers around Lee Howe had decreased by more than half since their last encounter in the Orin Plains. It seemed that even fans were starting to consider their futures in the face of harsh reality. The little cream puff showed. no interest in li hao’s invitation she didn’t even glance at him shrinking back like a startled kitten directly hiding behind yen joe’s broad back this action was the most direct rejection the smile on li hao’s face froze completely it was that guy yen joe again a nameless anger flared up in his heart beautiful lady don’t let someone like him deceive you he pointed at yen joe his volume suddenly rising don’t be fooled by his high damage right now i tell you that’s just a fixed damage talent for the early game it’s fine for level one and two monsters, but once the monster’s health increases later on, his damage will be like a scratch. Moreover, the bandits here come in. Groups, if he rushes in, he might take down one at most before dying and respawning in the novice village. The little cream puff was infuriated. By his words. She poked her head out from behind Yenjo, her soft body that had been pressed against him now pushing forward a bit more. Due to the movement, Yenjo could clearly feel the astonishing elasticity coming from his back. Mind your own business, the little cream. Puff retorted without hesitation. I have an A-level talent. Even if a god’s talent becomes useless later on, it will be my turn to lead. Who do you think you are? Yanjio scratched his head, initially wanting to take down Li Hao in one blow, but seeing the little cream puff, fiercely defending her territory, he dismissed that thought. Although Li Hao looked tough, he wasn’t a bad person at heart, he had initially wanted to help him level up. Adhering to the principle of resolving issues, he decided to clarify things. Yanjio withdrew his gaze from Li. How’s purple face and casually said, actually, I’m quite strong, taking on a dozen bandits at once shouldn’t be a problem. The voice was not loud, but every word clearly fell into the ears of everyone present. Lee How was stunned. The few followers beside him were also taken aback. The air seemed to be sucked out at that moment. In Lee How’s live stream, the bullet comments exploded in an instant. Ha ha ha, what did I just hear? More than 10? Howzie, get lost, don’t disturb them from dating. This guy is not only handsome but also knows how to tell cold jokes. shut up in front am i the only one who noticed this beauty what is that what is blocking my eyes how’s he get lost they are a perfect match born to be together who are you a monster to oppose ah a lively little girl and a sharp-tongued young master i ship it li how looked at the rapidly scrolling comments each teasing and mocking remark felt like sharp knives stabbing into his heart his mind went blank leaving only endless humiliation and anger more than 10 is he humiliating me he must be humiliating me kid li how took a step back his eyes bloodshot glaring fiercely at yenjio a deep purple duel invitation box suddenly popped up in front of yenjio play air how goo has sent you a duel invitation normal mode do you accept i’ve tolerated you for long enough liao’s voice became somewhat hoarse with anger don’t say i’m bullying you this isn’t a life and death duel you won’t lose levels if you lose do you dare to duel with me the deep purple duel invitation box quietly hovered in front of yenjio emanating an ominous glow the surrounding air felt like a Lit powder keg, the atmosphere instantly tense. Duel? The voice of Little Cream was sharp with disbelief as she peeked out from behind Yen. Jio, glaring at Li Hao. You, a warrior, have the nerve to duel with a mage? Where’s your face? Li Hao’s eyes were bloodshot. He completely ignored Little Cream’s questioning and just stared intensely at Yen Jio as if he wanted to swallow him whole. Yen Jio sighed. He considered himself to have a good temper, but he wasn’t a soft persimmon to be squeezed. He reached out and gently tapped on the purple box. Except, eh? translucent light curtain instantly enveloped the two, isolating them from the outside world. The dual arena was generated. Li Hao saw that. Yen Jio accepted the challenge, and a flicker of calmness passed through his blood-red eyes. He wasn’t a fool. He knew very well that this mage named Yen Jio had an absurdly high damage output. The terrifying 600 damage that could one-shot a wild rabbit was still fresh in his memory. But after all, he was a somewhat famous streamer who loved various combat sports in real life and had absolute confidence in his. physical control and combat intuition. He believed that no matter what he would not lose to this seemingly dull guy in front of him. He was. Already level 3. The weapon in his hand was also a white equipment bandit’s broadsword that had just dropped from a bandit, with an attack. Power higher than the initial one-handed sword. He had calculated that with a solid hit he could deal at least 30 damage to this fragile. Mage. 3 hits. At most 3 hits, and he could end the battle. And he was absolutely confident that he could win this duel without being. touched by that ridiculous wooden staff. The dual countdown began. 3, 2, 1, start. The moment the countdown ended, Li Hao’s entire aura suddenly changed. His legs slightly bent, his body weight sank, and the broad -bladed sword in his hand was held horizontally across his chest, striking a standard starting pose. His entire being was focused like never before. He could even feel the subtle movement of the air. The wind was blowing from left to right. So was his sword. Li Hao’s state was surprisingly good. Now’s the time. Li Hao suddenly exerted force with. His feet, his body following the wind’s momentum, charging towards Yenjiu like a cheetah, the banded blade in his hand drew a sharp arc. In the air, carrying a force that seemed capable of tearing the very air apart. Heavy slash. Victory was assured. A smile of triumph appeared. On Li Hao’s face as he looked at the mage standing frozen in place, seemingly stunned by fear, his eyes filled with delight. In the next. Moment, his smile froze. Yenjiu moved. There was no significant evasion, not even a shift in his steps. He merely tilted his body slightly. To the right, a mere angle, a sidestep. Li Hao’s decisive strike just grazed Yanzhou’s mage robe and struck hard into empty space. A huge, bright red font floated above Yanzhou’s head. MISS how could this be? Li Hao’s mind went blank. In that instant, Yanzhou moved. He didn’t. Even turn around. He simply reversed the novice wooden staff he had been holding the entire time and casually flicked it backward. The motion. Was so nonchalant, as if he were swatting away an annoying fly. Thud. A dull sound echoed, heavy and profound. The end of the wooden staff. Struck precisely at the back of Lihau’s heart. A damage number that made everyone present hold their breath slowly rose above Lihau’s head. 9-0-1. In an instant, Lihau’s health bar was completely emptied. His body froze in place, maintaining the posture of swinging his blade. His expression shifting from determination to shock and finally to a dazed state. Dual-ended player Yen Jiu wins. The cold system. Notification rang out, and the light screen enveloping the two of them dissipated. Yanjio looked at his attribute panel with great interest. Each level would increase all his attributes by a little. And with the War God talent, each level up would increase melee damage by 10%. Base damage, combined with this increasingly exaggerated amplification multiplier, the damage would only become more outrageous. On the other side, Li Hao slowly lowered his head. He didn’t even dare to look at the barrage in his live stream. Humiliation, anger, unwillingness, various emotions nodded his heart like venomous snakes. It was over. This live stream incident would surely cause his popularity to plummet. He gathered all his strength, mustered his courage, and, tremblingly raised his head to look at the virtual screen that only he could see. The expected mockery did not appear. Instead, it was a flurry of gift effects and skyrocketing popularity. What? The hell? 900 damage? Is this a wooden stick? Is this damage poetic? The streamer is amazing. He actually dared to fight against such a god, commendable courage. I would call this, the king of show effects. Li Hao getting one shot looks so pathetic falling on his but made me laugh to death. So entertaining. Li Hao looks like a maggot. Li Hao’s mind crashed. What? What is happening? A wave of ecstasy instantly dispersed all negative emotions. He understood. What the audience wanted to see was not him showing off but him getting beaten up. The light in Li Hao’s eyes reignited in an instant. He performed a graceful leap from the ground, his movements elegant, exuding a touch of a master’s style. He flashed a smile that was more painful than crying at the air and excitedly began to interact with the viewers in the live stream. Did you see that, family? This is the power of a top-tier boss. My brother Hao, no, I mean, my Housie, is your damage tester. Want to see? Who beats me up? You decide. Only the few remaining followers by his side were still immersed in the earth-shattering blow from earlier. Wasn’t that mage supposed to have fixed damage talent? This damage seemed much higher than when he hit rabbits. Li Hao didn’t notice the expressions of his followers at all. He waved his hand grandly. Let’s go. Let’s challenge the other masters in this novice village. Li Hao’s excited roar echoed through the forest at the entrance of the banded den.He danced. And gestured in front of the empty space, his smile twisted and fervent, as if he could already see himself reaching the pinnacle of popularity and stepping onto the peak of life. The few remaining followers exchanged glances, their expressions, shifting from shock to confusion. Being a streamer isn’t easy, Little Cream said, peeking out from behind Yen Jo, genuinely sighing. Yenjio looked at the figure lost in madness, unable to comprehend the logic behind such behavior. He turned around, holding the unremarkable novice wooden staff, and walked towards the crude wooden village ahead. At the entrance of the village, several figures in tattered leather armor, wielding rusty curved blades, were wandering about, their names glowing, in bright red above their heads. Bandit, blade, level, LV3 health, 120 attack, 30 defense, 20 further away, on the arrow tower, there were a few figures carrying inferior longbows. Bandit, bow, level, LV3 health, 100 attack, 36 defense. 14 The attributes of these monsters were even inferior to the elite monsters in the goblin nest. Yenjio’s footsteps did not pause at all as he walked straight towards the village gate. The commotion behind him was completely cut off. Little cream, swayed in front of him and hurriedly followed, lowering her voice. Big god, should we lure one out to try? No need, Yenjio replied as succinctly as ever. He stepped into the bandit’s alert range. The nearest blade-wielding bandit immediately. let out a garbled roar, raising his curved blade and swinging it towards Yenjo’s head. Almost simultaneously, an arrow from the distant tower whistled through the air. Yenjo didn’t even glance at the incoming curved blade. He simply took a step forward. With that step, his body tilted slightly and the sharp edge of the blade grazed the edge of his mage robe, landing in empty space. The arrow shooting towards him was also completely evaded by his perfectly timed movement. The entire process flowed smoothly, as if it had undergone thousands of precise calculations. Two days were enough for his body, suppressed for 10 years as a martial artist to perfectly adapt to this game’s mechanics. Although his attributes were weak, dealing with monsters of this level was more than sufficient. The wooden staff in his hand moved at that moment. Thud. The end of the staff struck the bandit’s temple at an extremely tricky angle, arriving after the initial attack. 995. A shocking. Number floated up. The bandit’s body didn’t even have time to convulse before it transformed into a ball of white light and vanished. Immediately after, Yanjio flicked his wrist, sending the staff out in a straight trajectory, accurately hitting the chest of another charging bandit. Thud. 992. Another ball of white light. The entire process took no more than three seconds. The other bandits around seemed to just be reacting, roaring as they rushed forward. Yanjio, with his staff, charged. Into the midst of the bandits. He moved like a lone boat navigating through a storm, his figure elusive, yet his movements were strikingly simple. Each step, each sidestep perfectly dodged all attacks. With every swing of the staff, a bandit. Inevitably turned into white light. Thud. Thud. Thud. The dull thudding sounds became the only melody in this area. The bandits couldn’t even touch the hem of his robe before being sent back to the respawn point one by one. Big God is amazing. Wow. Go, Big God. Little Cream stood not far away, waving her small fists, the astonishing curve of her chest bouncing with her movements, becoming the only splash of color in this bloody battlefield. Around them, there were a few scattered. Player teams. They had been consciously luring monsters, struggling to maneuver with the bandits. At this moment, everyone stopped their actions, staring blankly at the mage who was strolling leisurely among the bandits. Is that, a mage? Am I seeing, things? Is he using a wooden staff for basic attacks? One -shotting a level 3 monster? This damage, he must be cheating. The murmurs were kept to a minimum, fearing they might disturb that immortal. Soon, the dozen or so bandits at the, village entrance were cleared out by Yenjio without breaking a sweat. He held the wooden staff, not even taking a breath, ready to push deeper into the village. Just then, a well-organized squad emerged from the nearby houses, heading straight for. Yen Jio. At the forefront was a man dressed in a novice priest robe, holding a staff topped with a blue gem. Though his gear was ordinary, he exuded an air of composure and nobility typical of someone in a higher position. He approached Yen Jio. With a gentle smile on his face. Hello, my friend. His voice was neither servile nor arrogant, carrying an irresistible warmth. Your strength is truly impressive. Yanjio stopped and looked at him. What do you want? The man’s smile widened. May I ask, your talent must be some kind of fixed damage melee talent, right? This type of talent can indeed give you a huge advantage in the early game, putting you ahead of most players. He paused, then shifted his tone. However, you should also be aware that the growth potential of fixed damage talents is quite low. By the late game, when monsters have tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of health points, your damage might become negligible. He spoke with reason, as if he could see through Yanjio completely. My name is Tian Quan, and I am the president of the Oracle Guild. He smiled and extended his hand to Yen Zhou. Although we are all in the novice village now, trust me, the Oracle Guild can definitely accommodate a skilled player like you. Why not join us now and team up? Your early advantage, combined with our team’s coordination, will lead to even higher leveling efficiency. In the late game, even if your talent falls behind, based on this early friendship, we, Oracle, will definitely give you a core member position, you won’t be treated poorly. His smile was filled with strong confidence, as if he was certain Yen Jiu would take his hand. The members behind him stood tall, their faces reflecting the pride of top guild members. Just as Yen Jiu was about to speak, a female rogue in tight leather armor, agile and fit, suddenly changed her expression and hurriedly approached Tian Kuan. President. Her voice was low, but it couldn’t hide her shock and urgency. The black market. Two skill books just went up for sale, plus three pieces of black iron-level equipment. Tian Kuan’s smile faltered slightly. What? The rogue quickly replied, our undercover agent just sent the news. The seller is anonymous. The Dragon Rising and Luoxun guilds have already gotten wind of it and are gathering a large amount of cash to raise funds. The president’s expression changed instantly, but composure and nobility vanished in. That moment, replaced by a predator-like sharpness and decisiveness. Immediately contact all online members of 952 ,766 Novice Village and concentrate all available game funds. He commanded rapidly, his voice carrying an undeniable authority. Also, secretly investigate the anonymous seller. At all costs. To obtain something of this level, it’s likely that it’s the mysterious expert who completed the boss first kill. This person must be brought into our, Oracle. Notify the undercover agents. Don’t be too eager for quick results. The more urgent it is, the easier it is to expose ourselves. Shaocheng, contact the company, gather all funds, and make every effort to consolidate the gold coins in 952,766 Novice Village. No, it’s too late. Use the funds from my personal account first and buy copper coins at 10 times the price. This is the best time to make a name for the guild. Even if we have to pay a premium, successfully acquiring the equipment will greatly enhance our guild’s reputation. Notify the undercover agents from other guilds not to be reckless. The more chaotic it gets, the easier it is to expose their identities. The team members behind him immediately sprang into action, and the entire group fell. Into a tense yet efficient busyness. No one dared to glance at Yen Jio again. Yen Jio looked at the chaotic scene before him and pulled up the still-dazed little cream beside him. Taking advantage of the confusion among the crowd, they quietly slipped. Away. The frenzy and clamor that engulfed the group formed an invisible wall, completely isolating Yen Jio as he turned away. Big God. Little cream jogged to catch up. A hint of lingering shock still sparkled in her big eyes. Is that black? Market auction they mentioned, yours? MMM. Yenjio replied, his pace unbroken. I knew it. Little cream’s tone instantly rose, her face alight with prideful excitement. No wonder the president of the Oracle Guild was so high and mighty one. Moment, and the next, he looked like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. The real culprit was right in front of her. She stole a glance at Yenjio’s profile, his handsome face still bore no extra expression, as if the one stirring up the storm. In the novice village was not him at all. As the two delved deeper, the wooden huts around them grew denser and the smell of blood in the air intensified. However, the players’ figures had completely vanished. Only a few bandits patrolled their respective areas, moving stiffly. Yenjo’s method of clearing was strikingly simple. One strike per stick. The dull thud-thud sound became the only accompaniment in this desolate area. Soon, they reached the innermost part of the camp, where a relatively spacious clearing lay before them, with a bonfire burning in the center. Then, there was nothing else. No elite monsters of a larger size as imagined, nor any trace of the bounty criminal mentioned in the quest prompt. Where are the monsters? Yanjio scratched his head, staring at the empty space, lost in thought. Could they have been cleared out early? But there wasn’t even a shadow of a player here. Little Cream remained silent, her lively big eyes scanning the surroundings. As a seasoned gaming enthusiast, she keenly sensed that something was off. The layout of this camp was too orderly, the positions of the large tents surrounding the clearing seemed to follow some kind of pattern. Her gaze finally landed on the entrance. Of one of the largest tents, on the patch of ground that had been trampled dark. The soil there was much looser than elsewhere. Big god, look over there. She quickly ran over, crouched down, and used her delicate little hands to dig a bit. A well-camouflaged wooden board revealed a corner. Together, they pried up the board, and a dark, narrow entrance to a cellar appeared before them. A damp, decaying smell wafted from the opening. Let’s go. Yenjiyo didn’t hesitate, gripping his wooden. Staff, and was the first to descend. The cellar wasn’t deep, after descending a few meters down a rudimentary wooden ladder, they stepped onto solid ground. It was more spacious than they had imagined, with several burning torches on the walls, casting flickering shadows around. At the end of the cellar was not a wall, but a newly dug tunnel leading deeper. A faint sound of wind could be heard from within. Looks like the bounty criminal is hiding in there, Little Cream whispered, following, closely behind. The two entered the tunnel, one after the other. The structure inside was far more complex than they had anticipated. The passage branched out in all directions, resembling an ant’s nest, with a new fork appearing every few dozen meters. Not long after, at a corner ahead, a figure much taller and sturdier than an ordinary bandit blocked their path. The IT was clad in heavy bear-skin armor, holding a disproportionately large stone axe in its hand, its muscles bulging, exuding a fierce aura. Mighty bear guardian, elite, level, LV4 health, 500 attack, 68 defense, 43 skills, charge, whirlwind slash, support, passive, be careful, great god. little cream’s heart tightened sharply upon seeing the staggering attack power of 68 this value was significantly higher than that of the previous goblin elite if it hit her even once with a mage’s fragile body she might be crippled on the spot the mighty bear guardian also noticed the two of them letting out a deep roar raising its massive stone axe high its feet already gathering power seemingly preparing to unleash the charge skill yen joe’s expression showed no change he didn’t even activate wind step he simply took a step forward walking towards the elite monster Just as the opponent was about to charge out, he extended the wooden staff in his hand from bottom to top. Thud. A light sound echoed. The tip of the staff precisely struck the Mighty Bear Guardian’s chin. That massive body, poised to spring into action, seemed to have been pressed on the pause button, all movement abruptly halted. A blood -red critical hit number slowly floated up from its head. 1410. The Mighty Bear Guardian couldn’t even unleash its skill before. Its enormous body fell straight back, transforming into a dazzling white light. Only a few clinking copper coins were left behind. Little Cream’s heart, which had been hanging high, hadn’t even had the chance to settle before she saw that formidable, elite monster vanish. She opened her mouth, unable to utter a single word. The two continued deeper into the maze. This underground cave resembled a natural labyrinth, with so many forks that it made one’s scalp tingle. After consecutively defeating a few lone mighty bear guardians, they were completely lost. Before them appeared three identical forks in the road. Yenjo stopped, turned his head, and looked seriously at Little Cream behind him. Which way do we go? Ha? Little cream. Was taken aback for a moment and then her pretty face flushed bright red. Is the great god asking me for directions? But she was directionally challenged too. I? I don’t know either. She lowered her head, her voice as soft as a mosquito’s. Buzz, her two index fingers nervously poking at each other. Seeing her like this, Yanjio didn’t ask further. He casually chose the middle path and stepped inside. Just then, from the left tunnel they hadn’t chosen faint hurried footsteps and hushed. Arguing could be heard. Hurry up. Hurry up. A crisp voice rang out, clearly urgent. That pack of mad dogs from the Oracle Guild is right behind us, we’ll be done for if they catch us. Another voice replied, filled with frustration. What? Bad luck. If I had known, I wouldn’t have been greedy for those few chests, how could we run into them here? Stop talking nonsense. This place looks unusual, there might be something hidden. The voices grew closer. Yanjio pulled the still awkward, little cream and quickly ducked behind a recessed stone wall. The recess in the wall was so narrow it was almost unbearable. Yanjio nearly shoved little cream inside. The dark, damp smell of earth instantly enveloped the two. To avoid being discovered, Little Cream had to curl up, squatting down. Just as she steadied herself, Yanjou squeezed in after her. The recessed cave was simply too small, leaving almost no gap between them. Little Cream’s cheeks instantly burned, she could clearly feel another person’s heartbeat and warmth. What made her even more embarrassed was that her squatting position caused her too soft, ample mounts to inevitably press tightly against Yanjou’s thigh. With her nervous breathing, that astonishing. Softness unconsciously squeezed and deformed.A sensation never felt before clearly transmitted through several layers of fabric. Little Cream’s brain went bang, leaving her in a blank state. What was that? Ing! She let out a short, suppressed! Exclamation, both shy and urgent. The footsteps in the tunnel came to an abrupt halt. Who’s there? A crisp and alert female voice rang out. Yen Jio sighed helplessly. He reached out, grabbing Little Cream by the back of her fluffy mage robe, pulling her out of the stone cave as if he were lifting a cat that had done something wrong. Immediately after, he stepped out of the darkness as well. In the tunnel, three figures were watching them warily. At the forefront was a woman, tall and. Striking, with long silver hair, clad in a sleek silver full plate armor, holding a heavy kite shield and a one-handed long sword. Her appearance was stunning, her aura sharp like a drawn blade, exuding a heroic spirit. Ming Yao class, paladin behind. Her stood two others. One was a petite girl, looking only 14 or 15, holding a staff topped with a purple magic crystal. Xingqin class, mage the other was a gentle-looking priestess in novice robes, her demeanor pure, cradling a hefty, holy scripture. Luan Guklas, priest all three were, without exception, breathtakingly beautiful. Although most of their gear was novice equipment, it fit them perfectly. Little cream looked at the three dazzling female players before her, each. With a distinct style, and an inexplicable sense of comparison arose within her. She instinctively straightened her back, her astonishing curves becoming even more pronounced, as if silently declaring her advantages. Who are you, the paladin named. Mingyao spoke, her voice as cold as her appearance. She tightened her protective stance around the mage and priestess, adopting a standard defensive posture. We’re here to find the boss, Yanjio replied casually, glancing around. As soon. As he finished speaking, the petite mage Qingcheng, carrying a massive staff, burst into laughter. Find the boss? With just you two mages? Come on, can’t you come up with a better excuse? This lie is just too amateurish, who would believe it? Yan. Jio shot her a glance and continued, I’m very strong. I can solo the boss. The air froze once more. The leading paladin, Ming Yao, furrowed her brows tightly, her gaze sharpening. That joke isn’t funny. Her voice turned icy, her grip on the sword hilt causing her knuckles to turn slightly white. We don’t want to fight but our patience is limited. Last chance, state your purpose. Otherwise, don’t blame us for being rude. To her, this was no ordinary lie. At this point in time, anyone who could find this hidden cave was certainly not an ordinary person. The other party’s clumsy and arrogant excuse was likely a test or even an insult to them, especially since they had just escaped the pursuit of the Oracle Guild. This suddenly appearing, oddly behaving man was hard not to be wary of. Yen Jiu sighed again. Why did telling the truth always complicate things? He really couldn’t understand the matters of the game. He no longer looked at the three women before him, all wearing expressions that seemed to say, if you keep talking nonsense, I’ll take action. He pulled Little Cream, who was still competing with them in a silent chest comparison, and turned towards another path. Let’s try this way. His movements were decisive and brisk, without a hint of hesitation. It was as if the tense standoff just moments ago was merely an inconsequential illusion. Ming Yao and her two companions were left completely stunned in place. They watched in disbelief as the strange man pulled the exaggeratedly proportioned female mage and disappeared around the corner of the dark tunnel without looking back. He, he just left like that? Qingqing said, her mouth agape, a look of incredulity on her face. Sister. Yao, is there something wrong with this guy’s head? Ming Yao didn’t answer. She furrowed her brows, staring in the direction the two had vanished, her eyes filled with seriousness and confusion. That person had shown no hostility from beginning to. End. His calmness didn’t seem feigned. Soloing a boss? Impossible, even with her S-class talent, she couldn’t do that. But if that wasn’t the case, what was his purpose in doing this? Having created an image, the author said in the dark. tunnel, only the faint sound of footsteps from the two remained. There were too many forks in the road, too many to remember. Yen Jiu led Little Cream, casually choosing a path to walk down. The structure here was exceptionally twisted, after just. A few minutes, they encountered another identical fork in the road. He randomly chose another path. Turning a corner, his vision suddenly opened up. Three familiar figures stood not far ahead, seemingly arguing about something. It was Ming Yao’s. Trio. They noticed them at the same time. The air froze. The leading paladin, Ming Yao, had her cold, frosty face twitch slightly. She then shielded the two priests behind her, taking a combat stance. Yanzhou’s footsteps halted. He pretended not to see them, tugged at Little Cream’s sleeve, and silently turned to walk back the way they came. The entire process was soundless. After a detour, Yanzhou once again found himself in familiar open space, along with a familiar trio. Little Cream’s face was so red it looked like it might bleed, her head buried deep, wishing she could dig a hole in the ground and hide. It was too embarrassing. Yanjio ignored the three and turned back into the tunnel. As soon as they stepped into the dark tunnel, a stifled giggle erupted behind them. They, they are laughing at us. Little Cream’s voice was choked with tears, a mix of shame and anger. Yanjio said nothing. He simply quickened his pace. A few minutes later, they once again, without any suspense, encountered the three female players. Their eyes met. No, it was ten eyes meeting. This time, even Yanjio couldn’t maintain his composure. He could feel his ears burning. This feeling was more disconcerting than facing thousands of monsters. He pulled little cream along and chose to silently turn around again, trying to leave through another path. Stop. A cool voice tinged with a hint of helplessness came from behind. Yanjou’s body stiffened for a moment. He stopped but didn’t. Turn around. Mingyao crossed her arms, leaning against the stone wall, watching the two stiff figures. Behind her, the lowly mage and the priest were struggling to hold back laughter, one shaking with suppressed giggles, while the other wore a face. Of sympathy. Are you two lost? Mingyao’s voice held no trace of mockery, only a calming tranquility. Yet this calmness was more damaging than direct ridicule. Little Kreen’s sense of shame skyrocketed. She suddenly poked her head out from behind. Yenjio, her pretty face flushed. Mind your own business. After shouting, she quickly shrank back. Mingyao was amused by her outburst, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly before returning to her usual expression. She sighed and took a couple of steps forward. Most of the forks here are dead ends. There’s only one path that truly leads to the core area. yenjio finally turned around his ears still bore a hint of red but his eyes shone with remarkable brightness do you know which path it is he directly ignored the other information in her words honing in on the part he was most concerned about mingya looked at his serious expression slightly taken aback she nodded i think i know she paused for a moment her tone becoming serious but i must remind you the danger inside far exceeds that of these lone elite monsters outside it’s very likely that high level elites or a boss are lurking there With the three of us, we have no absolute confidence. In pushing forward, let alone. Her words trailed off, but her gaze swept over Yenjio and Xiao Nayo. The implication was clear. Two fragile mages going in would be a death sentence. That’s just perfect. Yenjio’s response interrupted her scrutiny. We’re here to find the boss. Mingyao. She felt like she and this man were completely on different wavelengths. Are you really going? Mingyao furrowed her brows, confirming once again. MMM. Yenjio nodded. Lead the way. His tone. was simple and direct. Mingyao felt a bit uncomfortable with his attitude, but in the end, she didn’t explode. For some reason, looking at this man’s face in his clear, serious eyes, she just couldn’t get angry. Perhaps he really was just not. Thinking straight? She shook her head, dismissing the absurd thought from her mind. Keep up. She said no more and turned to walk towards an inconspicuous, shadowy passage. But remember, if we encounter any danger we can’t handle, we will retreat. At any time and won’t care about your lives. Okay. Yenjio replied straightforwardly. He pulled along the still sulking Xiao Nayo and quickly followed. Mingyao walked at the front, her shield protecting her side. The one-handed sword in her. Hand reflected the faint light of the torch. The temporary team of five silently traversed the deep underground tunnel. The atmosphere was subtly awkward, especially for Xiao Nayo. She stole a glance at Yanjio beside her. This great god seemed to have completely brushed off what had just happened. His attention seemed entirely focused on the unknown darkness ahead. Um, Xiao Nayo finally couldn’t help but break the silence, her voice very soft. How do you know the way here? Ming. Yao, walking at the front, didn’t stop her pace. I have a mission. She took out a yellowed, slightly curled parchment from her backpack and unfolded it in front of everyone. Hidden mission, destroy the armory of the barbarian bear bandit camp. After defeating the captain of the guard in Oren village in a duel, I was able to obtain this mission. Ming Yao’s tone was very flat, as if she were discussing something trivial. But Xiao Nio’s eyes whitened in shock. The captain of the guard in. Auron Village was an 8th level NPC, a being that players at this stage simply couldn’t challenge. This paladin named Mingyao actually managed to defeat him. We were originally clearing out bandits outside, but we ran into people from the Oracle. Guild. Mingyao continued explaining. Their leader, Tian Quan, is basically my arch nemesis. I didn’t expect to be so unlucky to end up in the same novice village. We hadn’t encountered them before, but then we ran into them at the bandit. Dan. There was a hint of barely concealed irritation in her words. Fortunately, I discovered the entrance to this cellar in advance, or we would have been blocked by them. I don’t know what Tian Kuan was busy with, he just symbolically chased us for a bit and didn’t go any deeper. Xia Nayo’s heart skipped a beat upon hearing this. She instantly recalled Tian Kuan’s anxious and flustered demeanor not long ago. I know. She couldn’t help but speak up. They’re raising money. Someone in the black market is selling skill books and black iron equipment, and the Oracle Guild is frantically buying gold to prepare for the auction. After Shao Nayo finished speaking, she nervously looked at Mingyao. She also remembered the other two guilds Tian Quan had mentioned. Are you from the Dragon Rising or Luo Shen guild? Mingyao shook her head. No. She hadn’t had the chance to say more when the petite girl behind her, Qingqing, who was carrying a huge staff, couldn’t help but pout and jumped in to take over the conversation. What a dead enemy, just a mad dog driven to rage by unrequited pursuit. Her voice was crisp, laced with unabashed disdain. Back in other games, that guy named Tian Quan was like a fly. Buzzing around our Yao Jia. Sending flowers, sending gear, he clung to her relentlessly, Yao Jia never paid him any mind. Later, when Yao Jia publicly rejected him, he flew into a rage, feeling humiliated, and since then, he has been opposing us. At every turn. He steals monsters, snatches bosses, and even sends people to block us during PvP, using every dirty trick in the book. Luan Gu cites softly, a hint of helplessness on her face. This time is no different, the illusion is unlike. Before, and all humans in the world have joined this game. There, Oracle, guild seems to have secured funding from some big conglomerate, making their power even greater and their actions increasingly arrogant. The petite mage added indignantly. If it weren’t for Yao Jie being so capable, we would definitely have been corpse-camped by them today. Yen Jio had no interest in the love-hate relationships and guild disputes they spoke of. His attention was entirely focused on the increasingly deep dark tunnel ahead. He could sense that the wind blowing from the depths of the tunnel carried a stronger scent of blood. There was even a peculiar smell of steel and gunpowder mixed in. Inside, there were stronger opponents. He was already feeling impatient. He finally spoke, interrupting the petite mage’s incessant chatter. Where’s the boss? The tunnel fell silent in an instant. The petite mage, still fuming, abruptly stopped speaking, as if a duck had its neck squeezed. Mingyao and… The priest turned to look at Yenjio, their expressions complex. This man, his thought process was truly different from that of normal people. While they were discussing life and death struggles, he was only concerned about the boss. The little. Cream Puff awkwardly tugged at Yinjio’s sleeve. Great God, could you please read the atmosphere before speaking? Mingyao stared at Yinjio for a few seconds. From those clear eyes, she saw no pretense or mockery. Only an utterly pure desire. For battle. She averted her gaze and silently turned away. We’re almost there. The teen continued forward. This time, no one spoke. After turning another corner, the scene ahead opened up. They found themselves in a massive underground cavern. In. The center of the cave lay countless weapon crates and armor racks, swords, spears, and halberds arranged ominously, glinting with a cold light under the flickering torches. This was the armory of the Barbarian Bear Bandit Camp. At the very front of the armory stood a figure even taller than the Barbarian Bearsguards facing away from them, seemingly polishing a massive battle axe. Clad in heavy black metal armor, a blood-red name above it radiated an ominous aura. Barbarian Bear Guard. Captain, Black Iron level boss, level, LV5 health, 2300 attack, 89 defense, 85 skills, whirlwind slash, charged the sight before them made the air feel instantly thick. The blood drained from the cute face of the petite mage, Xingqing. 89. Attack. 85 defense. Her voice trembled. What a joke, how are we supposed to fight this? The priest Luangu beside her also wore a grave expression, instinctively tightening her grip on the holy book. Only Mingyao remained calm. She quickly. Scanned the boss’s attribute panel, analyzing it coolly. The problem isn’t the attributes. It’s its skills. Charge combined with whirlwind slash, that’s a standard warrior monsters charge output combo. Her voice echoed clearly in the vast. Cavern. Normal attack plus charge is enough to one shot anyone in our team except for me, Luanji’s healing wouldn’t come in time. It’s health and defense, my talents will struggle to deal with it. Once we are close enough to be hit by charge. We won’t even have the chance to create distance. She made her final judgment, her gaze landing on Yenjio, her tone devoid of any emotion. We can’t fight. This is a death sentence. Yanzhou’s attention had been locked onto the massive figure, polishing its battle axe from the very beginning. The fierce aura made the blood within him start to simmer. Hearing Mingyao’s words, he finally turned his head, a hint of pure confusion on his face. Why can’t we fight? His question was like a… lit fuse. Are you deaf or something? Qingqing exploded instantly, her huge staff in hand, jumping up and down in anger. Sister Yao already said. It can split us in half with one swing. If it charges at us, we won’t even be able to run away. Mingyao raised her hand, stopping Qingqing’s complaints. She patiently explained to Yanjio once more. Its speed and explosive power far exceed ours. Getting close means total annihilation. And it has the charge skill, we have no chance of. Escaping. Yanjio nodded after listening, seemingly understanding her logic. Then he said, so we just need to avoid being hit by it. The cave fell into a dead silence. Time seemed to pause at that moment. Qingqing opened her mouth forgetting what to say. Luanjie’s gentle eyes were also filled with astonishment. For the first time, a crack appeared on Mingyao’s eternally frozen face. She looked at Yanjio as if she were staring at a creature from another world. Before anyone could react. Further, Yanjio moved. He didn’t even greet anyone, simply picking up that unadorned wooden staff and walking straight towards the boss. Are you crazy? Come back. Mingyao shouted sharply. But it was too late. Yanjio’s foot stepped into the boss’s. Alert range. Roar. The barbarian bear’s captain suddenly turned around, its crimson eyes locking onto the intruder in an instant. It let out a deafening roar, the massive battleaxe dragging a trail of sparks across the ground. In the next second, its enormous body slightly sank. Charge. The black heavy armor transformed into an unstoppable shadow, charging straight at the seemingly insignificant mage. Mingyao tightened her grip on her longsword and kite shield, instinctively leaning forward, but then she withdrew her advancing step. They were merely strangers, there was no need to reveal their trump cards for him. Just as the gleaming battleaxe was about to touch Yenjo’s body, he simply took a small step to the left. Just. That one step. Boom. The enormous shadow, with immense force, brushed past the edge of his mage robe, whistling by him. The powerful shockwave even tore the air behind him, creating a loud bang. The barbarian bear’s captain crashed into the distant. Stonewall, shaking the entire cave. Minus 85, collision damage, behind him, a collective gasp was heard. The boss shook its slightly dazed head and let out an even angrier roar. It turned around, raising its massive battle axe high, slicing down with a whistle that tore through the air. This swing sealed off all of Yanzhou’s escape routes. However, Yanzhou did not retreat. Instead, he stepped forward to meet the descending axe blade, twisting his body at an incredible angle. The sharp axe blade. Fell almost right next to his nose. Clang. The battle axe slammed heavily onto the ground, sending debris flying. Seizing the brief moment when the boss was exhausted from its previous attack and had yet to regain its strength, Yanzhou’s wooden staff. Moved. Thud. A sound so faint it was almost inaudible. The tip of the staff precisely struck the gap in the boss’s heavy helmet. Thud. A blood-red number, so shocking it nearly made everyone’s eyes pop out, slowly floated up. 1150. Weakness. Critical hit, the barbarian bear’s captain’s health bar visibly shrank by a large chunk, the intense pain drove it into a frenzy. Roar. It suddenly straightened up, the battle axe in its hand began to spin at high speed. Whirlwind slash. A. Storm of deadly steel instantly enveloped the area around it for several meters, the ground carved with gruesome scratches. Fall back. Mingyao shouted. But Yanzhou still did not retreat. He made a move that left everyone’s minds in a freeze. He bent down. So simply, he bent down. His body leaned forward, almost parallel to the ground. The whistling axe blade, carrying the fierce wind of death, swept past the top of his head. It even sliced off a few strands of his black hair. The entire process was perilous yet flowed smoothly like a dance rehearsed countless times. As the whirlwind slash ended, the boss’s movements froze for a moment. Now’s the time. yenjo straightened up and the wooden staff in his hand followed through thud another precise strike landed on the boss’s nape this time a more terrifying golden critical hit number jumped up one two one zero weak point broken the massive body of the barbarian bear guardian trembled violently the remaining health bar above its head was instantly emptied the enormous body crashed to the ground revealing four pairs of astonished eyes behind it ding congratulations your level has increased to lv5 ding talent war god effect enhanced melee damage amplification increased to 140 times dot ding congratulations strength plus one agility plus one intelligence plus one spirit plus one constitution plus one ding congratulations you have gained five free attribute points current free attribute points 20 next to the massive body lay a small pile of gleaming copper coins a skill book and several pieces of shining equipment the entire cave was eerily quiet only the distant crackling of burning torches could be heard yenjo held the staff his breathing not even slightly disordered he turned around and looked at the three women behind him who had completely turned to stone he pointed at the pile of loot on the ground it’s done after saying that he walked straight over and bent down to pick up the skill book shield strike use a shield to attack an enemy dealing damage equal to twice your defense and increasing your defense by 30 for five seconds cooldown 10 seconds class requirement paladin warrior he then looked at the dropped equipment Barbarian Bear Guardians Bracers Quality, Black Iron Equipment Type, Leather Armor Attributes, Attack Plus 5, Defense Plus 5, Agility Plus 3, Constitution Plus 3 Equipment Requirement, Hunter, Rogue Barbarian Bear Guardians Shield Quality, Black Iron Equipment Type, Shield Attributes, Defense Plus 8, Constitution Plus 10 Equipment Requirement, Warrior, Paladin The Elves Around You Are Sighing, This Is Not The Equipment A Learned Person Like You Should Have. Yen Jiu Sighed As Well, He Wanted To Change Equipment 2, But The Problem Was That Nothing Usable Had Dropped. Silence. The cave was filled with a suffocating silence. Mingyao, Xingqian, and Luanggu stood frozen in place as if under a spell. Their minds were still stuck on the moment. The boss turned into a speck of light. Those two seemingly casual strikes, those two damage numbers that shattered their understanding, were etched in their minds like a brand. Yanzhou’s sigh pierced the frozen air like a needle. None of it was usable for them. Mingyao was the first to come to her senses. Forcing down the tumult in her heart, her gaze shifted from Yanzhou to the few pieces of loot shimmering with a black iron sheen on the ground. Barbarian Bear Guardian’s Bracers. Barbarian Bear Guardian’s Shield. And that skill book coveted by both warriors and paladins, Shield Strike. Any one of these would be enough to cause a qualitative change in the strength of melee classes at this stage. Are you selling these? Ming. Yao spoke up, her voice carrying a hint of hoarseness she was unaware of. As soon as she finished speaking, the little cream puff that had been hiding behind Yan Zhou suddenly poked its little head out, she looked at Ming Yao, her delicate little, face filled with vigilance and a hint of barely perceptible hostility. Sell it to you? Her voice was crisp, laced with a touch of provocation. Do you know that outside, the three major guilds, Divine Oracle, Dragonsaur, and, Goddess of the? Luo, are practically tearing each other apart over a few pieces of equipment in the black market? Do you think you can afford the price for these few black iron top-tier items? The little cream puff puffed out her proud chest, like a hen guarding. Her food, her demeanor fierce. Her words instantly heightened the tension in the air. The lowly mage, Ching Ching, who was carrying a huge staff, immediately wanted to retort. But Ming Yao raised her hand to stop her. Instead of getting angry at the little cream puffs question, she smiled gently. A faint smile blossomed on her cold face, like snow beginning to melt. What the little sister said is not wrong. If that’s the case, then the prices outside will indeed be crazy. She looked at Yen. Gio, her gaze sincere. However, I can offer a different approach. Aren’t those pieces of equipment up for auction? Once the final transaction prices for those items come out, how about I buy your pieces of equipment at the same price? This. Proposal left everyone stunned, including the aggressive little cream puff. It was equivalent to handing over the pricing power to the most frenzied buyers in the market. This was not just a reflection of financial strength but also a display of boldness. Yen Jiu shrugged. For him, how to sell and to whom didn’t matter. He just wanted to get rid of these space-consuming items. Sure. He uttered a single word then made a gesture that left Ming Yao and the others baffled. He bent down to pick up the skill book, shield, and wrist guards from the ground, casually handing them to Ming Yao. It was as if he was passing over a few worthless stones. No transaction request. No deposit demanded. Not even a single unnecessary guarantee. He simply. Handed over the invaluable equipment. Mingyao’s outstretched hand paused in mid-air. For the first time, her sharp eyes were filled with unmasked surprise. You. Aren’t you afraid I’ll take your equipment and run? Yengio looked at her. Seriously pondering. You brought me in, saving me a lot of time finding my way. I’m quite grateful to you. His tone was very calm, as if he were stating the most ordinary thing. Then he shifted his tone. Moreover, if you want to take the equipment and run, I can kill you before you leave the novice village. The air froze once again. He said that last sentence with the same calmness. There was no hint of killing intent, no trace of threat. Yet this calmness sent a chill down the spine more than any fierce threat could. You dare to threaten Sister Yao. Qingqing instantly exploded, ready to retort. Shut up. Ming Yao whispered to stop her. Mingyao did not look at the furious Qingqing, her entire focus was on the man before. Horror. She looked into Yanzhou’s eyes. Those clear eyes held no emotion. They were as calm as a bottomless ancient well. He said he could kill them before they left the novice village. That feeling was exactly the same as when he previously said, just don’t let it touch you. It wasn’t arrogance. It wasn’t intimidation. It was a statement of a fact he considered self -evident. At that moment, countless chaotic threads rapidly connected in Mingyao’s mind. The sudden appearance of high level. equipment in the black market stirring up a storm this man before her with his unfathomable terrifying strength that crushed bosses and his lack of common gaming knowledge that was so disproportionate to his power a ridiculous yet perfectly fitting thought emerged in her mind she held the few pieces of equipment still warm from the boss her fingers tightening slightly the first kill announcement from the novice village mingyao slowly began her voice becoming a bit dry from tension that anonymous player is it you Yanzhou remained silent, only focusing on the equipment in his backpack. Xingqing’s pretty little face flushed red and then pale. She opened her mouth, seemingly wanting to say something to refute, but, not a word came out. Just then, the body of the barbarian bear guard captain, which should have dissipated into light, suddenly twitched. Following that, its massive body leaped up from the ground and turned to dash towards an inconspicuous opening, deep within the cave. Not dead yet? Little cream instinctively exclaimed. Yanzhou’s reaction was faster than anyone else’s. In a flash, he swung his staff, striking precisely at the back of the corpse. A grey word entry floated up from above. The corpse’s head. The staff passed through its body without causing any harm. The barbarian bear guard captain crashed headfirst into the dark opening. In the next second, a hard rock wall rippled like the surface of water disturbed by a stone, creating circles of blue ripples. A swirling light screen, emitting a faint blue blow, appeared out of thin air at the entrance. Immediately after, a vast and solemn voice echoed simultaneously in the minds of the five players. Congratulations, players Yanzhou, Mingyao, Little Cream, Qingqing, Luanggu for successfully opening the hidden dungeon, the Barbarian Bears Hideout. As the first players to open the dungeon, each of you will receive 5 free attribute points and a random skill book. May I ask, do you wish to reveal your names so that your fame resonates throughout the world of illusion? A huge yes and no option box appeared before them. Yanzhou still chose no, while Mingyao and the others pondered for a moment and also decided not to reveal their names. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to, but the Oracle knew their location and could very likely block them at the dungeon entrance based on the announcement. Little Cream’s mind was racing, looking, left and right, and then reluctantly clicked no. Server announcement. Congratulations to the new village players Anonymous, Anonymous, Anonymous, Anonymous, Anonymous for successfully opening the hidden dungeon, the Barbarian Bears. Hideout. As the first players to open the dungeon, each of you will receive 5 free attribute points and a random skillbook. Opening the dungeon. the first players to open a dungeon on the server. This reward was more shocking than any previous announcement. Ming-Yel looked at the swirling blue light screen and then at the calm man beside her, a storm of emotions surged within her. It turned out that the true purpose of destroying the armory was not to kill the boss but to open this hidden dungeon. If it weren’t for him, achieving the conditions to open this dungeon would have been incredibly difficult. She took a deep breath forcibly suppressing her swirling emotions and solemnly bowed to Yen-Jo. Thank you. She said those too. Words with utmost sincerity. Yanzhou ignored her. He directly opened the skill book rewarded by the system. Frost arrow, condenses an ice arrow, dealing 10 base damage plus spell damage as frost damage to the target, and causing slow. The ice arrow. Has a very fast shooting speed and is hard to dodge. Mana cost, 10 points. Casting time, 1 second. Yanzhou paid no attention to this skill. He was completely captivated by the mysterious blue light screen. There, lay a stronger challenge. He stepped. Forward, heading straight for the dungeon entrance. without a hint of hesitation. Just as his body was about to touch the light screen, an invisible barrier blocked him from entering. A minimum of five players is required to enter the dungeon. A line of cold system prompts appeared before his eyes. Yanzhou’s footsteps halted. He frowned, seemingly dissatisfied with this setting. He turned around to look at the four women still immersed in their immense surprise. His gaze swept over Ming, Yao, over Qingqing, over Luangu and finally landed on Little Cream. Shall we enter the dungeon together? The voice of Yen Jio echoed particularly clearly in the vast cave. Shall we go into the dungeon together? This question pulled the fore. Players, still immersed in the joy of the system announcement, back to reality. Little Cream was the first to react, her small head popped out from behind Yen Jio, her face brimming with unrestrained excitement. Yes. Of course. This was the first. Dungeon in the entire server, and it was a hidden one at that. The rewards for unlocking it were already so generous, and there must be even more good things inside. Following a godlike player meant there would be loot to share. This was the only thought in little cream’s mind at that moment. Qingqing pouted, clutching her staff, and muttered softly, who wants to go with him? Despite her words, her eyes uncontrollably darted towards the swirling blue light screen filled with curiosity. The priest, Luan Gu, said nothing, merely looking at the team’s decision-maker, Ming Yao, with a questioning gaze. Ming Yao did not respond immediately. She looked down at the few pieces of equipment in her hands, still warm from the boss. The skill. Book, shield strike, the black iron shield, the black iron bracers. Each item represented the peak of player combat power at this stage. And this man had tossed them to her as if they were trash. Then, he casually asked if they wanted to go into the dungeon together. He seemed to have no idea what the first clear of this dungeon meant in terms of honor and benefits. He just wanted to go in and find stronger opponents. This realization made Mingyao’s emotions exceptionally complex. She raised her head to meet Yenjio’s clear, untainted eyes. Okay. The word slipped from her lips. Almost the moment her voice fell, a party invitation popped up in front of her. Player Yanjio invites you to join the party, do you accept? Mingyao. Clicked accept. The party interface unfolded, neatly displaying the names and statuses of the five players. Then, her pupils constricted sharply. Behind Yanjio’s name, the number representing his level was glaringly bright. Yanjio LV5, and the three of them, who had spent the entire day grinding in the game, priding themselves on being top players at the pinnacle of the pyramid, had only just reached level 3. The enormous level gap hit Mingyao’s heart like a heavy hammer. The Slight Hope. She had a showcasing her value as a top paladin in this dungeon, even trying to win over this mysterious powerhouse, suddenly seemed somewhat laughable. But soon, the shock in her eyes transformed into a stronger resolve. This man had absurdly high damage, but he was ultimately a fragile mage. The dungeon would test more than just damage. Tactics and cooperation were essential. This was the biggest difference between her and him, and it was also the value of her role as a team leader. took a deep breath and learned to use the shield and skill book. A warm current surged through her body, and the boost in attributes brought a solid sense of control. Let’s go. She was the first to step forward, resolutely following Yanjou into. The swirling blue light screen. Ding, please select dungeon difficulty, easy, normal, hard, epic. This option was only visible to the captain, Yanjou did not ask the others and directly clicked epic. The light and shadows shifted. The scenery. Before them twisted in an instant, then reshaped in the next second. The cold, damp air hit them, mixed with a strong earthy smell and the stench of beasts. They appeared at the entrance of a narrower cave passage. On either side of the passage, two ghostly green torches burned, casting elongated and eerie shadows of the five players. Less than ten meters ahead of them, two massive figures, like iron towers, blocked the only way forward. They wore tattered but thick leather armor, there. Muscular arms bulging with veins, wielding enormous stone axes with chipped edges.Mighty bear bandit, elite, level, LV5 health, 1200 attack, 88 defense, 39 88 points of attack. Xingqin gasped, her adorable face instantly turning pale. This. Number was not far off from the bosses outside. Mingyao’s expression also grew serious. She stepped forward, shielding herself with the kite shield, and spoke in a low voice to Yanjio behind her. These monsters deal high damage, and there are two of. Them. I’ll go in first and use, shield bash, to pull one, then attack the other to draw their fire. Xingqing, focus your fire on the one I’m attacking, and Luanga, keep an eye on my health. She quickly laid out the strategy, her voice calm and, steady. Yanjio, look for an opportunity to deal damage. We’re not clear on the dungeon mechanics of this game, so we must be cautious. She emphasized her words, her gaze fixed on Yanjio, as if trying to read some agreement from his face. Yanjio. Nodded. Mingyao felt a sigh of relief in her heart. The next second, she saw Yanzhou’s figure turn into a blur, gripping that plain wooden staff, charging directly at the two elite monsters. Windstep, Mingyao felt a vein throb on her forehead. What, what did you just click on? Madman, she cursed angrily, but didn’t dare to slack off for a moment, immediately raising her shield to follow. She had already learned, shield bash, and equipped a black iron shield along with several, whiteboard gear pieces she had farmed outside. Her strength was no longer what it used to be. Shield bash. She struck first, the heavy kite shield whistling through the air, crashing hard into the chest of the bandit on the left. Minus 77. A bright red. Number popped up. The corners of Mingyao’s mouth involuntarily lifted. This damage, even among top players, was definitely a rare occurrence. Roar. The bandit howled in pain, swinging the stone axe down at her. Mingyao raised her shield to block. Her body sinking slightly. Dash 27. It was nothing serious, she was already wearing plate armor, and with a defense boost from, shield bash, killing this elite was a piece of cake. A green healing number quickly followed, instantly filling her health bar. Plus 27, Xingqin’s fireball also whizzed in, exploding in a shower of sparks on the bandit. Dash 34, tanking, controlling, dealing damage, healing. The cooperation among the three was as if they had practiced a thousand times, seamless and intimate. Thud. A light sound came from the side, quickly drowned out by the fierce sounds of battle from Mingyao and the others. Just as Mingyao adjusted her position, preparing to connect the second, shield bash and firmly lock the aggro of this. Elite monster onto herself. Thud. A blood-red damage number, causing her breath to hitch, slowly floated up from the head of the bandit in front of her. Dash 1357, the bandit’s stone axe, raised high, froze in mid-air. Its massive and sturdy body seemed to have all its strength drained, collapsing softly to the ground, turning into fading specks of light. Mingyao maintained her shield-raising posture, her entire body frozen in place. The skill she was about to release, having lost its target, transformed into a ball of light with nowhere to go in her hands, then quietly faded away. What’s going on? Her mind went blank for a moment. She suddenly turned her head. On the other side of the passage, it was empty. The bandit that should have been restrained by Yenjo had long since vanished, leaving only a few lonely copper coins on the ground. And Yenjo stood at the spot where the bandit had disappeared, holding his plain wooden staff. He had just retracted his striking motion, the tip of the staff still hovering in the air. The whole process was so fast that Mingyao didn’t even see when he made his move. He swayed slightly, walking deeper into the passage. The sound of his footsteps echoed clearly in the silent cave. All that. Was left for them was a gradually receding figure. And a dead silence. Wow. The great god is amazing. The cheers of the little cream broke the frozen air. She jogged to catch up with Yanjou’s pace. Her delicate little face filled with a proud. Sense of honor. She glanced back at the petrified trio. Like a victorious little hen. Mingyao sighed. Then she put away her weapon and followed Yanjou. Her heart skipped a beat uncontrollably. Walking at the back of the group. She looked at the. leisurely figure ahead, and a sense of absurdity welled up within her. The dungeon lay at the feet of this man, as if he were taking a stroll in his own backyard. Beside her, Xing Cheng, whose face was always puffed up with anger, now wore a look of confusion. She carried a staff taller than herself, and several times she opened her mouth, seemingly wanting to say something to salvage her dignity as a high-level player, but in the end, she merely pouted in frustration. What could she say? That his fighting style was unorthodox? That he didn’t follow orders? But he had taken down an elite monster with just two strikes, one they needed to handle with utmost care. Facts spoke louder than words. This sheer power crushed all tactics and skills. Sister Yao, we. The priest Luan Gu softly broke the silence. Ming Yao stopped, turning to look at her two companions. We will do our own jobs. Her voice was soft but exceptionally firm. She had given up on the idea of directing that man, instead viewing him as an uncontrollable, strategic weapon that needed to be coordinated with. Ahead in the passage, it opened up once more. This was a cavern even larger than the previous armory, with stone walls embedded with oars that emitted a ghastly green glow. In the center of the cavern stood the previously fleeing barbarian bear captain. But now, it was even larger, its black armor gleaming with an ominous bronze sheen, and the blade of the battleaxe in its hand flowed with dark, red energy. On either side of it stood two barbarian bear guards wielding stone axes. Barbarian Bear Captain, Bronze Level Boss, Level, LV5 Health, 3500 Attack, 129 Defense, 155 Skills, Whirlwind Slash, Charge, Shield Bash, Fury Barbarian. Bear Guard, Elite, Level, LV5 Health, 1600 Attack, 93 Defense, 46 Skills, Support, Charge, Heavy Slash These numbers exceeded their comprehension. A hit on a squishy target meant instant death with no suspense. Ming Yao’s expression was more serious than ever. This time, she had to do something for the team. Her pride as a top paladin wouldn’t allow her to hide behind others. Xingqin, Luangu, let’s hold the elite on the right. She shouted, no longer hesitating, raising her shield. And charging forward. The three of them had to prove their worth. However, Yenjio was faster than her. Almost the moment Mingyao finished speaking, he had transformed into a shadow, heading straight for the boss. Roar! The boss and the elite. Monster roared simultaneously. The large and small massive bodies charged at Yanjou from two different directions like two out-of-control heavy trucks, with an unstoppable momentum, launching a simultaneous charge. A deadly pincer attack. But her shield had already collided with the elite monster on the right, leaving her no time to focus on her own battle. Just as those two massive battle axes were about to turn Yanjou into mush, his body merely swayed slightly to the left. An extremely subtle sidestep. Boom! The tremendous force caused the boss and its guards to crash into each other, producing a dull thud. 215215, collision damage, Yanjou’s figure, like a ghost, appeared at the side of the elite guard. The wooden staff in. His hands silently struck out. Thud. 1312 A blood-red number pierced through everyone’s nerves of the elite guard let out a painful howl, suddenly turning around, the stone axe in hand sweeping out like a whirlwind. Heavy slash. This strike was. So fast that it left no time for reaction. However, just before the axe blade made contact, Yanjou transformed into a wisp of breeze, drifting back several meters. Wind step. The elite guard’s heavy slash missed entirely, and the immense force, caused a brief stiffness in its body. Now’s the time. Yenzhou’s figure closed in again, the wooden staff striking precisely at the back of its neck. 1520. Weak point hit, the elite guard’s health bar was instantly emptied. Its massive body collapsed. Helplessly to the ground, then transformed into a shower of light. From the moment it charged to being killed, the entire process took no more than 5 seconds. On the other side, Ming Yao and her companions had just begun their battle. Mingyao’s shield bash successfully hit, causing the elite guard to stagger. The fiery ball from Qingqing followed closely. Dash 32. Luan Ji’s healing spell landed on Mingyao just in time after the elite’s attack. The three top players coordinated. Seamlessly, yet they could only chip away a layer of health from the elite monster. Roar. The thoroughly enraged bronze-level boss finally recovered from the days of the impact. Its crimson eyes locked onto Yanjio, and the battleaxe in its hand began to spin rapidly. Whirlwind Slash. The deadly steel storm appeared once more. Yanzhou did not retreat but advanced, sliding close to the ground, slipping into the attack’s blind spot. Thud. The wooden staff struck the boss’s lower. Leg armor. 1290 Thud. It fell into a complete frenzy, abandoning the whirlwind slash and brought the massive battle axe down with force. Yanzhou easily dodged, twisting her waist and turned back to deliver a counter-strike with her staff. 1307 The boss’s health bar plummeted at a visible rate. The entire battle turned into an unequal farce. A solo dance. Just then, the elite guard, tightly entangled by Mingyao and her companions, suddenly let out a thunderous roar. A blinding. Red light illuminated its body. Support. It abandoned Mingyao in front of it, its massive body abruptly turning to charge at Yanjio, who was engaged with the boss. The elite guard forsook Mingyao, letting out a deafening roar. A blinding red. Light shone from its body. Support. Not good. Mingyao’s pupils suddenly constricted. She knew very well that with Yenjo’s health below 100, as a cloth armor class, being hit by this frenzied elite monster would only lead to one outcome. Instant death. Her dignity as a leader, her duty as a paladin, were ignited to their peak at this moment. He cannot die here. This thought flashed through her mind like lightning. She held nothing back anymore. Light of dawn, she shouted, unleashing. Her ultimate talent. Light of Dawn, S when using this talent skill, summon a Holy Light Angel to protect oneself, increasing all attributes by 30%, defense and healing received by 300%, helping nearby teammates bear 80% of the damage taken, until health drops to 20%. At the end of the duration, deal 100% of the damage taken during the duration to all enemy units within a 5 meter radius for 40 seconds, cooldown time 3 minutes. In an instant, a brilliant golden light erupted from Mingyao’s body, enveloping her entirely. The light coalesced, transforming behind her into a pair of enormous and magnificent holy light wings. Sacred, majestic. An unprecedented powerful force filled her limbs and bones. She felt she could withstand. Anything. Be careful, she cried out, her wings flapping, transforming into a golden streak of light, rushing towards Yanzhou. She aimed to stand in front of the charging elite monster, creating an absolute barrier for that man. However, she. Was fast. Yanzhou was faster, facing the elite guards rushing in from the side. Yanzhou didn’t even spare them a glance. His attention remained fixed on the bronze level boss in front of him, just as the elite guard was about to collide with him. He raised his staff one last time, then brought it down. The movement was understated, yet carried an indescribable rhythm. The tip of the staff precisely struck the junction between the boss’s helmet and neck armor. Thud. A muffled sound. 1475. Weak hit break a golden critical hit number, shattering the sanity of everyone present, slowly floated up from the boss’s head. The 3000 plus health points of the bear guard. captain were completely wiped out by this final blow its raised battle axe froze in mid-air the massive body crashed to the ground almost at the same moment the boss fell the elite guard that had activated support charged right in front of yenjo the stone axe in its hand howl through the air as it swung down the attack was imminent yet just before the axe blade connected with his body yenjo’s figure transformed into a blurred afterimage wind step the stone axe slammed heavily into the ground where he had just stood sending shards of stone flying Yenzhou’s figure appeared like a ghost behind the elite guard. Due to its excessive force, the guard’s body momentarily stiffened. This flaw was utterly. Fatal. Thud. Another light sound. The staff struck the elite guard’s back. 1388 The elite guard’s body trembled violently, its health bar evaporating in an instant. It didn’t even. Have time to let out a cry of despair before it followed its leader, turning into countless specks of light. All of this happened in just a few dozen seconds. When Mingyao, transformed. into a golden streak of light, arrived with the momentum to save everything, the battle was already over, several beams of light lit up on a few people, and everyone leveled up, ding, congratulations, your level has increased to lv6, ding, talent war god effect enhanced, melee damage increase raised to 150 times, ding, congratulations, strength plus 1, agility, plus 1, intelligence plus 1, spirit plus 1, constitution plus 1 ding, congratulations, you have gained 5 free attribute points, current free attribute points 30. She maintained her forward posture. Stopping in the open space, the magnificent wings of holy light behind her still radiated a soft yet majestic glow. Her golden hair shone like a deity under the light. The entire cave was silent. Only the sparkling loot on the ground remained, proving that a fierce battle had just taken place here. Yen Jio turned around. He looked at Ming Yao, who was shining, with golden light and had a pair of large wings behind her, his face revealing pure curiosity. He tilted his head, studying her earnestly. No thanks, no surprise, no relief from surviving. A disaster. Just pure, untainted scrutiny. The temperature on Ming Yao’s cheeks began to rise uncontrollably. She felt like an actor who had mustered all their energy to perform. Only to find that the audience had already left the venue. There was even a child pointing at her splendid costume, asking why she was dressed so strangely. Awkward. And unprecedented. Awkwardness washed over her like a tide. She could even feel the tips of her ears burning. You. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something to ease the suffocating atmosphere. But Yen Jiu spoke first. This looks pretty good. His tone was sincere. Ming Yao’s eternally frozen face cracked completely. Almost instinctively, she deactivated her talent. The holy light wings behind her instantly transformed into countless golden specks dissipating into the air. The aura of sacred majesty also faded away. She returned to her original appearance, though her cheeks still bore an unusual flush. It’s nothing. She awkwardly averted her gaze, her voice dry. Mingyao unnaturally changed the subject and quickly walked. Towards the pile of sparkling items on the ground, she dared not look at the man any longer. For on his face, there was not a trace of frivolity, only pure curiosity, like a child who had just discovered a fascinating new toy. Embarrassment and anger, two unfamiliar emotions, churned within her like scalding lava. Ahem. She gently cleared her throat, trying to mask the tremor in her voice with the action. This purity made all her emotions feel as if they had hit cotton, with nowhere to vent. Look at the equipment. Mingyao’s voice returned to its usual calm, but the slight flush of her ears betrayed her inner turmoil. She bent down and picked up a helmet that gleamed with a black iron luster. Mighty Bear’s Guardian. Helmet quality, black iron equipment type, plate armor attributes, attack plus 8, defense plus 8, constitution plus 8 equipment requirement, warrior, paladin this was a top tier plate armor helmet, with balanced attributes, enough to elevate any tank player’s survivability to a new level. Next was a rugged looking two-handed sword. Bandit’s greatsword quality, common equipment. Type, two-handed weapon attributes, attack plus nine, constitution plus three equipment requirement, warrior, paladin a basic piece of equipment, average in attributes but notable for its decent. Attack power. Xingxing followed closely behind, her gaze immediately drawn to two items emitting a bronze sheen beside the boss’s corpse. Bronze, bronze equipment. Her voice. Trembled, and her breathing quickened. At this stage, black iron equipment was already enough to cause a stir, bronze items were legendary. Mingyao’s movements paused for a moment as, she carefully picked up a necklace, Mighty Bear Guardian’s amulet quality, bronze equipment type, necklace attributes, attack speed plus 10%, agility plus 10, when attacking, has a chance, to trigger fury, fury, attack speed plus 30%, equipment requirement, none no equipment requirement, a terrifying dual attribute bonus plus an attack effect, the value of this necklace, could no longer be measured in money, it was enough to cause a seismic shift in the output of any physical class. Mingyao’s heart skipped a beat uncontrollably. Just then, Yanzhou staggered over. He glanced at the necklace in Mingyao’s hand, then naturally reached out and took it. Under the astonished gazes of everyone, he casually equipped the priceless, bronze necklace on himself. A faint glow flashed, and the necklace vanished. The entire process was smooth and fluid, without a hint of hesitation. It was as if he had taken not a piece of top -tier equipment that could drive all guilds mad, but merely a pebble from the roadside. You. Qingqing was about to say something, but found herself unable to find any reason to blame him. He had killed the boss alone, the equipment rightfully belonged to him. Yanzhou ignored her, his attention drawn to another piece of bronze equipment. It was a. Prayer book radiating a soft glow. Mighty Bear Guardian’s prayer book quality, bronze equipment type, offhand attributes, spirit plus 20, healing effect plus 20, when casting skills, has a. Chance to summon the Mighty Bear Guard to assist in attacks, lasting 30 seconds equipment requirement, priest, sister Luangu. Qingqing exclaimed in delight upon seeing the attributes of this equipment. The previously silent priest Luangu also showed a flash of incredulity in her gentle eyes. 20 points of spirit, 20% healing effect, and a special effect that could summon a companion. This was practically a tailor-made artifact for priests. Finally, there was the skill book dropped by the boss. Whirlwind Slash, swing your weapon to unleash a series of strikes on surrounding enemies, dealing damage equal to your melee attack power. number of spins equals 5 plus agility slash 30 class requirement warrior whirlwind slash this time even ming yao couldn’t remain calm this was the signature aoe skill of warriors from past games a monster clearing divine skill the value of this skill book in the eyes of warriors in the early game far exceeded that of a piece of black iron equipment their tinglon pavilion guild was in dire need of such a powerful warrior with this book they could cultivate a core mainstay in the cave the atmosphere became somewhat heated due to these few exceptional pieces of equipment Everyone’s breathing grew a little heavier. Then, they witnessed. A scene that would be etched in their memories for a lifetime. Yenzhou bent down and picked up the, Mighty Bear’s Guardian Helmet, Bandit’s Great Knife, the Bronze Level, Mighty. Bear Guardian’s Prayer Book, and that skill book capable of causing a bloodbath whirlwind slash. He didn’t even glance at the attributes of these items. He simply gathered them. Together and, as if handing over a bundle of cabbage, stuffed them all into Mingyao’s arms. Mingyao instinctively reached out to catch them, her whole body stiffening. The Cold Helmet. The heavy prayer book and the skill book still warm to the touch weighed down on her hands, yet she felt no weight at all. Her mind was a blank. Yanjio looked at her, his tone flat. Can you help me sell these? After saying that, he turned and walked toward the only passage deeper into the dungeon. It seemed that for him, getting rid of this garbage was, more important than assessing its value, leaving only a leisurely silhouette behind. Mingyao stood there in a daze, cradling the pile of goods that could cause any guild leader to, have a heart attack. She had become completely numb to Yanjio’s straightforwardness. Yen Jiu’s figure disappeared around the corner of the passage. Ming Yao looked down at the pile of equipment and skill books radiating different blows in her arms. The cold touch felt like a branding iron burning in her hands. Her heart, which had long been tempered to remain calm, was now in a chaotic mess. Sister Yao, what does he, mean by this? Xing Chun leaned over, looking at the bronze level priest’s offhand and then at the warrior’s dream skill. Whirlwind slash, her small face filled with confusion. Is he collecting junk? she muttered softly. This sentence struck Ming Yao’s taut nerves like a needle. She took a deep breath, handed the offhand weapon book to Luan Gu, and then stuffed the remaining equipment into her backpack. Let’s go. Her voice carried a hint of hoarseness that she herself hadn’t noticed. Meanwhile, in the novice village 952766, at the black market tent. Once deserted, the tent was now bustling with people, the atmosphere tents. Several players with ID prefixes, of, Dragon Rising, and, Goddess of the Luo, were staring intently at the semi-transparent virtual screen inside the tent, their faces ashen. On the screen, the auction price is 4. Several pieces of equipment were skyrocketing at a frenzied pace. President, the people from Goddess of the Luo have raised the price of the leather armor to 1 gold and 80 silver. Let. Them. Tian Kuan’s voice was calm as he stood outside the black market tent, appearing merely as a spectator. Our goal is the skill books and weapons, those are what can establish. An absolute advantage at this stage. The, howl of the wolf king, and, goblin king stone axe, must be obtained at any cost. Understood. On the other side, Kuan Dao’s eyes were. Bloodshot. The three of them had pooled together for a long time, even selling the white gear dropped by elite monsters and had only managed to gather 93 silver coins. Just a. Little more. Just a little more. He stared intently at the. Blood Rage. Skill Book. The price having climbed to 88 silver coins. Skill Book. Hull of the Wolf King. Its price had. Surged from the initial 10 silver coins to a number that left all ordinary players breathless. 1 gold and 80 silver. Insane. This group from Divine Oracle has gone mad. A player. From the goddess of the Luo, Gild clenched his fists tightly, his nails nearly digging into his flesh, all the brothers in our village pulled their money together, and it barely exceeded one gold coin. Where did they get so much money? Right now, trading across the novice village hasn’t even opened, and we can’t contact the seller for direct cash transactions. It’s Tian Quan, the president of Divine Oracle, is in this village. The person in charge of the novice village 952766 from Dragon Rising had a face as dark as water. They’ve activated funds in reality and are frantically buying gold coins in this village. The prices have skyrocketed. We were a step too slow, it took too long to report to our superiors. With the game currency channels still closed, they could only mobilize resources in the most primitive and effective way. Inside the tent, the elites of the Divine Oracle guild surrounded Tian Quan in the center. He still wore that plain white priest robe, a gentle smile on his face as if the smokefree war before him had nothing to do with him. President, the price is approaching two gold coins, it seems, Luoxian, can’t hold on much. Longer. A thief reported in a low voice. Keep raising it. Tianxuan’s voice was calm and steady. This auction is not just about a. Few pieces of equipment, it’s about the reputation of, Divine Oracle. I want everyone to see who truly dominates in this game. Yes. Finally, amidst a dead silence, the countdown ended. The skillbook, Hull of the Wolf King, was acquired by, Divine Oracle 4. The exorbitant price of two gold coins and 40 silver coins. The Goblin King’s Stone Axe was snatched by Divine Oracle for 1 gold coin and 70 silver coins. The remaining Wolf King leather armor was taken by the Luoxian Guild at the maximum price of 1 gold coin and 30 silver coins. The Goblin King’s Bone Ring was won by Dragon Rising for 1 gold coin and 20 silver coins. And that skill book, Blood Fury, was picked up by Mad Blade for 90 silver coins amidst the chaos. The auction ended. Tianquan once again wore a gentle smile. Ling Jian, contact the media. Let the headline be, Divine Oracle Descends, lavishly spending 40,000 copper coins to forge the first throne of illusion. Yes, President. The people from, Dragon Rising, and, Luoxen, left with gloomy faces hurrying away. Un. Invisible war had ignited, spilling from the game into the real world. The entire world was stirred up because of a few eliminated items belonging to one person. Major media platforms in the real world were already prepared and news surged forth like a tide. Shock. On the first day of the illusion’s opening, the Divine Oracle Guild lavishly spent nearly 40 ,000 copper coins to secure the first batch of black iron artifacts. Capital enters the arena. Dragon Rising and Luoxun refuse to back down. A money war unfolds in the Novice Village. An anonymous player has stirred the winds of the entire illusion. The mysterious bronze first kill. Where is the dungeon? Inside and outside the game, the winds were rising. Countless people speculated about the identity of that mysterious anonymous figure. At the center of this storm, Yanzhou was leading his four teammates through a long stone passage. At the end of the passage was a spacious stone chamber filled with decaying books on the surrounding shelves and the air was thick with a strange mix of dust and magic. In the center of the stone chamber stood a figure. It was an old man dressed in a gray robe, thin and emaciated, holding a black wooden staff with deep-set eyes and two flickering green flames of soul fire within. Apprentice Mage Dio Bronze level boss, level, LV5, health, 2500, attack, 69, magic attack, 169, defense, 75, skills, flamestorm, fireball, frost, aura, summon skeleton, a magic type boss. Qingqing’s eyes instantly lit up. She instinctively glanced at Yanjio beside her. The previous bear boss was tough and fierce in close combat, which was indeed your advantage. But now, this one is a mage. Great god, this. Boss will cast area spells, your defense. Little Cream said worriedly, her impressive curves rising and falling slightly with her. Breath. Finally, it’s our turn to shine. The heavy stone in Mingyao’s heart quietly fell. Facing a magic-type boss, especially one. That had AoE abilities, ranged classes were the absolute main force. This time, it should be their turn to control the battlefield. Unknowing intruders. Boss to AoE emitted a dry, hoarse voice as he raised his staff. Feel the wrath of the flames. Yen Jio looked at. The skinny mage and then at the wooden staff in her hand. It was as if she couldn’t even withstand a single hit from the boss, Yanzhou. Raised an eyebrow. She didn’t think much of it and just charged in. She hefted her staff and walked towards the boss. Mingyao and the others almost simultaneously stopped in their tracks. Their gazes were locked onto the figure with the wooden staff, leisurely approaching. The magic type boss. This was completely different from the previous bear boss. That was a warrior type boss that needed to be. Up close to unleash its power, Yanzhou charging in, the reckless, at least made logical sense. but the one before them was a genuine. Mage. A bronze level mage boss with area spells and a spell attack of up to 169 points. Yenjo’s health was only 101 points. Horror. Defense was a pitiful 8 points. Being grazed by any skill would lead to only one outcome. Instant evaporation. Unknowing intruders. Boss de Ao’s dry, hoarse voice echoed in the stone chamber as he raised his black wooden staff, the green soul fire at the tip suddenly. Flaring brightly. A massive flame, far larger than the basic fireball spell, rapidly condensed at the tip of his staff. Fireball. The. Boss’s casting speed was astonishingly fast. Mingyao’s muscles tensed instantly, her shield raised in front of her, ready to provide. Support at any moment. However, Yanjio did not dodge. He didn’t even stop moving. Just as the massive fireball was about to be. Released, his body suddenly sank, transforming into an arrow released from a bow, shooting straight towards the casting boss. Mingyao. completely gave up on persuading yanzhou and began to fully cooperate with this uncontrollable powerful weapon he couldn’t die here light of dawn she called out softly holding nothing back a brilliant golden light erupted from her body once more transforming behind her into a pair of huge and magnificent wings of holy light sacred majestic she flapped her wings turning into a golden streak of light rushing towards yanzhou almost at the same time bang minus 1631 A blood red damage number, which nearly halved the boss’s health bar, slowly floated up from DAO’s head. The boss’s casting action was momentarily stiffened by this sudden blow. The condensing fireball also slowed for a moment. It was this moment that gave Yen Jio an opportunity. The massive fireball whizzed past his body, the scorching shockwave billowing his robe. Yen Jio’s body bent backward at an angle impossible for an ordinary person, narrowly avoiding this deadly strike. He sent out the wooden staff in his hand, aiming straight for the boss’s face. The soul fire embossed Ayo’s eye. Sockets flickered violently and he let out an angry roar. An ice blue halo suddenly expanded around him. Frost aura. Countless sharp. Ice crystals materialized around his body, spinning rapidly. On the ground, several decayed skeletons rattled and crawled up. Red light. Glowing from their hollow eye sockets. Summon skeleton. Ice spikes surrounded him, and skeletons attacked. The area around the boss. Instantly transformed into a death zone. The wooden staff that Yen Jio had just extended had to be retracted, his figure transformed into a wisp of breeze drifting back several meters, narrowly avoiding the range of the frost halo. Wind step. He was well aware that a single touch from those ice spikes or the skeletal claws would mean his end here. Just then, a golden figure, like a deity descending, boldly charged into that death zone. Ming Yao, cloaked in holy light, held the heavy kite shield in front of her and directly collided with the summon skeletons. The chill of the frost halo and the sharp claws of the skeletons tore at her body mercilessly. Minus 37. Minus 13. Minus 37. A series of damage numbers jumped densely above her head. The S-class talent was terrifying. The threefold defense bonus. Allowed Ming Yao to withstand the boss’s onslaught successfully. A gentle green light followed closely, landing precisely on her. Plus 158. Luan Ji’s healing spell, under the blessing of Dawn’s light, was also incredibly formidable, instantly bringing her health back. To a safe level. Now’s the time. Mingya shouted hoarsely to Yanjio, braving all the damage. Yanjio did not waste the opportunity. She created. His gaze pierced through the swirling ice crystals and the clawing skeletons, accurately locking onto the boss’s main body. His body surged forward again. This time, he did not move in a straight line. His steps followed a strange rhythm, weaving through. The gaps in the skeleton’s attacks and the rotations of the ice crystals. It was like dancing on the edge of a blade. There was only one. Chance. He arrived in front of the boss. The staff was raised, then brought down. Thud. Minus 1627. The last blood red number jumped up. The soul fire in the eyes of the apprentice mage de AO was completely extinguished. Its massive body weakly knelt to the ground, then. Transformed into countless specks of light. The surrounding ice crystals and skeletons also dissipated. The battle was over. The stone. Chamber returned to silence. Great god. Are you okay? Little cream rushed over, her staff in hand, the astonishing curve of her. chest rising and falling with her hurried movements her face filled with relief and admiration for having survived yen jio ignored horror his attention was completely drawn to the few shining items on the ground for the first time a clear smile appeared on yen jio’s face it was a heartfelt pure smile filled with childlike joy he he smiled xing xing’s voice was very small almost inaudible as she rubbed her eyes hard thinking she must have seen it wrong this man from their first meeting until now always warren expression of indifference to the outside world As if nothing in the world could stir a ripple in his heart. But now, he smiled because. Of a few pieces of equipment. Ming Yao’s heart skipped a beat uncontrollably. She instinctively held her breath and even the holy. Light wings behind her stopped flapping. He bent down and picked up three items that had fallen to the ground. One was a hooded robe. Emanating a ghostly light. De Ao’s shadow hood quality. Bronze equipment type. Cloth armor attributes. Intelligence plus 15. Spirit plus 10. Casting speed plus 15% special effect, equipment requirement, mage, priest the second was a staff that was significantly longer and, thicker than a novice’s staff, with a withered yellow crystal embedded at the top, withered soul staff quality, bronze equipment type, staff attributes, intelligence plus 15, spell power plus 10, melee attack plus 5 equipment requirement, mage finally, there was a skill book, radiating an ice blue aura, skill book, frost halo effect, centered on one cell, releases a frost halo, dealing continuous spell damage. 1 plus intelligence asterisk 10% frost spell damage per second and slowing effect to enemies within range. Plus requirement, mage both. Xing Cheng and Little Cream’s breaths paused for a moment. 3 items. 3 pieces of top tier bronze equipment for mages, any one of. These would be enough to make the current mage players ecstatic. Especially that staff in that area attack skill book. Ming Yao’s heart. Skip to beat uncontrollably. The magnificent wings of holy light behind her transformed into countless golden specks, slowly dissipating. She looked at the three pieces of equipment, then glanced at Yen Jio. Yen Jio stood tall, holding the three pieces of equipment, without any pleasantries or refusals. Under the complex gazes of everyone, he directly used the skill book skill book frost aura. The skill book transformed into a stream of ice blue light and entered his body. Immediately after, he removed the initial hood from his head and replaced it with the shadow hood of Dio. The dark hood obscured most of his face, revealing only his sharply defined jawline, giving him an air of mystery. Finally, he replaced the novice staff that had accompanied him since level 6 with the sturdy, withered soul staff. The entire process was smooth and fluid, without a hint of hesitation. Ching Ching’s lips moved, but in the end, she said nothing. She understood the reasoning. The boss was killed by him alone, so the equipment should rightfully be his to distribute. But watching a melee brute collect all the top-tier mage equipment was simply too frustrating. It felt like watching a strongman snatch away a princess’s lace dress and put it on right there. Yenjo held the brand new withered soul staff, satisfied as he. Weighted in his hand. This staff was significantly heavier than the previous one and it felt solid in his grip. Then, he happily swung. It a couple of times. The whooshing sound of the wind proved the weight of this staff. A pure, childlike smile reappeared on his. Face. So that’s it. At that moment, Mingyao finally understood. He was happy, not because this was top-notch equipment for mages. He was. Simply, purely happy because he had switched to a longer stick. Ha, men. Yanjio turned around and looked at the three women behind. Him, each with different expressions. His gaze finally landed on Mingyao’s face. Under the shadow of the hood, his voice sounded. Somewhat muffled. Let’s go. Mingyao looked at him, at the mage hood he wore, and the staff in his hand that exuded an ominous aura. Numbly, she nodded and took a step forward. The new passage was even deeper than before, and the ghostly green torches on the walls. Became sparser, casting mottled shadows on the ground that projected flickering ghostly figures. Along the way, there were several waves. of elite monsters, and with Mingyao’s cooperation, Yanzhou’s output was very easy. The drop rate of the elite monsters was also high, and they found several white items along the way, which everyone happily divided among themselves. At the end of the dungeon, it opened. Up suddenly, a massive underground cavern appeared before them. Countless huge stalactites hung from the ceiling of the cavern, and the walls were embedded with crystals that emitted a ghostly light, illuminating the entire space in a flickering manner. In the very Center of the cavern, a tall figure sat on a throne made of piled boulders. This was a man much larger than all the previous barbarian. Bandits, standing nearly four meters tall, with muscles as hard as rock. On his face, a gruesome scar stretched from his forehead. Down to his jaw, one eye was blind, leaving only the other eye, which flickered with a cruel and brutal light. The barbarian bear held. No weapon in his hands, yet just sitting there exuded a heart-pounding sense of oppression. Barbarian bear, dungeon boss, level. LV 6 health, 5500 attack, 200 defense, 200 skills, thorns, passive, charge, whirlwind slash, fury, barbarian bear roar, summon. Guards the terrifying attributes made everyone’s heart sink. Mingyao’s expression became extremely serious as she raised her shield in. Front of her, entering a battle stance. Everyone be careful. This boss is too high level. Luangu, keep an eye on my health. Little. Cream, Xing Xing, you two watch your positions, don’t get too close to the boss. I’ll go in first to test it out, see what skills it. Has. She quickly laid out the tactics, her voice calm and firm. However, as soon as she finished speaking. Okay. Yenjio responded. The next second, he lifted the withered soul staff and transformed into a blur, charging straight at the boss on the throne. Ming. Yao was already accustomed to windstep and immediately raised her shield to follow. But it was too late. Yenjio’s speed was too. Fast. He seemed to turn into an arrow released from a bow, with an unstoppable momentum, instantly crossing dozens of meters to appear. Right in front of the boss. The one-eyed bear on the throne slowly opened its eye, a hint of disdain flashing within. It didn’t even. Stand up, nearly raising a thick arm to block in front of itself. Yen Ji-o leaped high, the withered soul staff in his hand whistling. Through the air as it struck down hard on the bear’s arm. Boom. A heavy sound that shook the entire cave. A blood-red damage number. Slowly floated up from the boss’s head. 1-9-7-4. The long health bar above its head was instantly reduced by a large chunk, nearly. Half. However, before they could react. An unexpected change occurred. Just as that terrifying damage number appeared, a blinding light. Light erupted from Yanjou’s body. 3888. A number even higher than the damage the boss received popped up above Yanjou’s head. His health bar instantly hit zero. His entire being in the air transformed into specks of white light, vanishing without a trace. Player Yanjou has died. A line of cold system prompts appeared before the four girls. The air seemed to freeze at that moment. Yanjou’s consciousness floated in a pure white space. It was warm and quiet. You have died, would you like to choose to resurrect at the entrance of the dungeon? Note. Dying in the dungeon will result in a loss of 10% of your current experience points. Before he could react, another line of new prompts jumped out in front of. Him. Ding, player Luangu has used the talent skill Resurrection, A class, on you, would you like to accept Resurrection? Yanjio hardly thought. Accept. The. Next second, a gentle and warm light enveloped his entire consciousness. Countless golden light points gathered out of thin air, reassembling into Yinzhou’s form. You, Mingyao was about to say something but found her voice extremely hoarse. She wanted to question, to shout in anger but looking at the calm-faced man, all her words got stuck in. Her throat. Be more careful next time. Her voice carried a hint of fatigue and hoarseness that she hadn’t even noticed herself. That boss’s passive skill thorns should reflect. Physical damage. Your melee attack is too high so the reflected damage is absurdly high. She forced herself to calm down, quickly analyzing the previous battle situation. Next, I’ll take the lead, I’ll activate my talent, my defense is sufficient, and Luongo can heal the reflected damage. You three mages stay back and deal damage. She glanced. At Yanjio, her tone becoming particularly serious. Wait until the boss’s health drops below 2,000, then you find an opportunity to take it out in one hit. This was the safest and. Only way. Cheng Cheng and Little Cream nodded vigorously, a glimmer of hope reigniting on their faces. Yanjio scratched his head. He had been invincible in reality for too long. And this was the first time he had suffered such a big loss. He looked at the thick health bar above the boss’s head, then glanced at Mingyao. Thorns reflect physical damage. Right, he asked. Yes, just now Ching Ching’s fireball also hit the boss, and there was no reflected damage. We ran out of range and the boss didn’t chase anymore Mingyao. Nodded slightly, unsure why he would ask that. You’re a mage, you don’t need to use that stick of yours, do you? Ching Ching couldn’t help but speak up, her tone laced with a hint. Of sarcastic annoyance. Great god, sister Yao is right, it’s too dangerous, let’s play it safe. Little cream also advised softly. I don’t need a stick, Yanjio said, his. Tone slightly softened after the earlier death. Then what will you use? Your head to charge at it? Qingqing’s eyes nearly rolled to the heavens. This man, has he still not figured. Out the situation? Yanjio ignored her. He gently nodded towards Luangu to express his gratitude, then charged towards the boss again. Come back. Mingyao’s furious shout. echoed in the empty cave but it failed to make that figure pause for even a moment her rationality was burned to ashes in that instant by anger and helplessness did this man not understand human language let him die then mingyao’s chest heaved violently with anger though she said that her eyes were fixed on the figure rushing towards death once more yenjo’s silhouette was like a ghost instantly cutting in front of the barbarian bear the burly man on the throne let out an impatient roar the disdain in its single eye nearly overflowing It was even too lazy to get up, nearly swinging its arm thicker than a human waist, creating a gust of wind that swept towards Yen Jo’s head. However, Yen. Jo did not attack. He simply stood there quietly. A layer of ice blue light radiated from his body, suddenly expanding. Frost aura. Minus 515. Minus 515. A series of stable damage. Numbers began to float steadily from the barbarian bear’s head. He, he used magic? Little cream covered her mouth, her eyes filled with disbelief. Ming Yao’s pupils suddenly. Constricted. That’s right, thorn armor only reflects physical damage. Using magic to attack was the right idea. But this damage, how could a continuous aura skill have such high damage? This was unreasonable. Just as they were filled with uncertainty, the barbarian bear’s massive arm had already swung in front of Yanjio. He was doomed. Mingyao’s heart. Leaped to her throat. However, Yanjio didn’t even move his feet. He merely tilted his head back slightly, and that arm capable of shattering stone whistled past his nose. Immediately. After, the barbarian bear’s other fist came crashing down like a battering ram. Yenjo’s body twisted oddly to the left, the heavy fist smashing into the ground beside him, sending debris flying. Throughout it all, his feet never left the ground. He stood there, allowing the storm-like attacks to rain down, his body dancing like a willow fluff in the wind, always managing to evade all damage by mere inches. Meanwhile, a ball of orange -red flame was slowly gathering in his palm, rowing larger. Fireball. Marshal. God. Close combat damage amplification by a hundred times. The talent description never stated that this amplification only applied to physical attacks. It amplifies all damage. Occurring within melee range. The closer the distance, the higher the damage. The barbarian bear’s attacks grew faster and more frenzied, as if it had suffered a great insult. But, no matter how it attacked, it could not touch even a corner of this tiny human’s clothing. And the flame in Yanjou’s palm had fully coalesced. Then, he released it. That massive, burning fireball, wobbling and even a bit clumsy, directly imprinted itself on the barbarian bear’s chest. There was no earth-shattering explosion. Only a blood-red number. So large it made one’s heart stop, slowly floated up from the barbarian bear’s head. Minus 8650. The barbarian bear’s enormous body froze. The brutality and rage in its eyes were instantly. Replaced by an unbelievable terror. The thick blood bar above its head was instantly emptied. Roar. It didn’t even have time to let out its final roar before its massive. Body crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. The battle was over. Ding. Congratulations, your level has increased to LV7. Ding. Talent, War God, Effect Enhanced. Melee damage increase raised to 160 times. Ding. Congratulations, Strength plus 1, Agility plus 1, Intelligence plus 1, Spirit plus 1, Constitution plus 1. Ding. Congratulations, you have gained 5. Free Attribute Points, Current Free Attribute Points 35. However, the anticipated scene of the boss turning into light and disappearing did not occur. The barbaric bear lay on the. Ground in agony, its chest heaving violently, and in its single eye, there was no longer cruelty but a deep sorrow and unwillingness. Don’t. It let out a broken, thunderous, whimper. Don’t be deceived by the people of Maple Leaf City. The city lord’s wife is fake, it’s a disguise by the Shadow Church. The entire upper echelon of Maple Leaf City has been controlled by them. I need, to gather strength to go back, to save the city lord. I beg you, don’t kill me. Ming-ya was stunned. She, instinctively looked at Yen-jio. This dungeon actually had hidden plotlines. To kill or not to kill? If they killed it, they could obtain the boss’s dropped equipment and materials. Which was the most practical gain. If they didn’t kill it, perhaps they could unlock a hidden questline, but the future rewards were filled with uncertainty. She said nothing, just quietly waited for Yen Jio’s decision. After all, from beginning to end, it was this man who had been leading everything. Yen Jio looked at the dying giant on the ground. Scratched his head. Then, he nodded. Alright, I believe you. In an instant, the massive single eye of the barbaric bear burst forth with joy and gratitude. It struggled to rise. From the ground, deeply bowing its head to Yenjo, then limped away, disappearing into a side path deep within the cave. Behind the throne where it had originally lain, a magnificent treasure chest radiating a soft glow slowly appeared. Almost simultaneously, a series of system notification sounds rang in everyone’s ears. Congratulations Players Yen! Zhou, Mingyao, Little Cream, Xingqing, Luanggu for successfully clearing the dungeon, the barbaric bear’s hideout, epic difficulty. As the first team to clear an epic dungeon, each player is rewarded with 10 free attribute points and a random skill book. One designated bronze equipment from the dungeon. Would you like to announce your names? So that your fame resonates throughout the world of illusion? Yanjiao still chose no. He just wanted to fight freely and everything else was irrelevant to him. Mingyao looked at the system notification, her heart racing. first clear of an epic dungeon. This honor was enough to elevate the reputation of their Tinglan pavilion to a whole new level in the world of illusion. Yen Jio, what do you think? She looked at Yen Jio, seeking his opinion. Doesn’t matter. Yen Jio’s response was as simple as ever. Ming Yao nodded. Having made her decision, she chose to announce her and her members’ names. The next second, an announcement that echoed throughout the entire server exploded in the ears of all players. Server Announcement Congratulations to the Tinglan Pavilion Guild Players Mingyao, Qingqing, Luongo Players, Anonymous, Anonymous 4 successfully clearing The Epic Dungeon, Barbaric Bears Hideout As the first team to clear an epic dungeon, each player is rewarded with 10 free attribute points and a random skill book. 1 Designated Bronze Equipment from the Dungeon As soon as the announcement was made, the entire world channel erupted. That cold system announcement was like a boulder crashing into a calm lake, the ripples instantly transforming into towering waves. The entire world channel, after a brief silence, exploded completely. Tian Cheng say, what the hell? What was? That just now? A hallucination? First clear of an epic dungeon? 10,000 miles arrow, Tinglan Pavilion? What is that? I’ve never even heard of it. And what’s with those two? Anonymous? How can there be two anonymous people in one team? Luo Shun. One night seven times, the key point is the rewards. 10 points of free attributes for each person. Plus. Designated bronze equipment. This is a direct boost. Professional drainage expert, the upstairs has a narrow view. Didn’t you see the name Ming Yao in the announcement? The. President of Ting Lan Pavilion. A guild of pure female players. How did they manage that? Yifan Xu, the upstairs hit the nail on the head. But you overlooked the most crucial. Point. Yifan Xu, two anonymous dot. Yifan Xu, in a team of five, three are members of Ting Lan Pavilion and two are mysterious anonymous players. And they cleared an epic. Difficulty dungeon. Ifanshu, do you really think it was Tinglan Pavilion leading the charge to clear it? His few words were like buckets of cold water, instantly extinguishing. Many people’s envy and jealousy, replaced instead by endless speculation and inquiry. Long Ting, skin peeler, understanding brother has appeared again, but this time, it seems, he has a point. I’ve heard of Tinglan Pavilion, their strength isn’t even top tier among second rate guilds. How could they clear an epic dungeon? Luo Shun, one sword toppling. The city, the only explanation is those two anonymous players. They must be two super experts. Battle god hall. Madman, could it be, one of them is that anonymous big shot. Who got the first kill on the wolf king? As soon as this speculation came out, the world channel erupted again. Damn. It’s possible. A top tier big shot taking a girl through. A dungeon, I’m familiar with that plot. But there are two people. Could it be that the big shot has an equally abnormal companion? In the novice village number 952766, outside. The Black Market Tent. Just moments ago, Tian Kuan, who had spent lavishly to earn face for the Oracle Guild, had a gentle smile on his face that froze for the first time. The elite members of the guild behind him also wore expressions of shock. President. The thief named Ling Jian looked grim. His gaze fell on the rolling subtitles in the world. Channel, and the calmness and nobility in his eyes were replaced by a cold sharpness. The first clear of the epic dungeon. The weight of this honor far surpassed the several. Hundred thousand he spent on a few pieces of equipment. More importantly, it was a hard slap to his face. Just moments ago, he had been proclaiming who the true master of this game was. And the name above was the one he least wanted to see, Mingyao. A storm had already formed. And the people at the center of the storm, the members of Ting Lan Pavilion, were still completely unaware. Mingyao’s private message channel had been completely flooded with red notification markers. Some were congratulatory, some were probing for information, and more were olive branches from various guilds, each offering increasingly tempting conditions. Sister Yao, we, we are famous now. Qingqing’s small face flushed with excitement as she waved her staff. Ming Yao took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. She knew that all this honor stemmed from the man who was currently squatting in front of the treasure chest figuring out how to open it. She also knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. An opportunity for the named Ting Lun Pavilion to truly resonate throughout the entire illusion realm. She opened the world channel, looked at the heated discussions, and revealed a wry smile. Sure enough, everyone’s focus was on the identities, of those two anonymous. She closed the world channel and walked over to Yen Jio. Yen Jio. Yen Jio was frowning at the magnificent treasure chest, which seemed to have no lock but just wouldn’t open. Hmm. He looked up, puzzled. Mingyeo looked at his handsome yet slightly clueless face, momentarily unsure of how to start. Words of thanks felt too pale. She organized her thoughts and said seriously, this first clear honor is very important for us at Tinglan Pavilion. I know, this is all your credit. Previously, I. would convert the equipment into a market price that is 30% higher for you. Also, thank you. From now on, you will be a forever friend of Tinglan Pavilion. Yen Ji-oh. Let the words go in one ear and out the other, then pointed at the treasure chest. How do you open this? Ming-yao. The sudden shift in topic left her prepared words stuck. In her throat. In the end, she sighed helplessly. You can just check it on the system interface. There’s a skill called Eye of Detection. This is a team treasure chest and everyone needs to be nearby for the captain to open it. Oh. Yanzhou nodded and called everyone over. Come on, come on, it’s time to divide the loot. Mingyao looked at him and suddenly felt that her earlier worries were somewhat ridiculous. This man didn’t care about reputation or trouble at all. He only cared about what he could fight in front of him and what was in the treasure chest afterward. Yanzhou gathered everyone around, squatting in front of the ornate treasure chest and skillfully selected to open it. The chest lid popped open with a click and a soft but not blinding golden light spilled out casting a warm hue on everyone’s faces. as the light faded for items lay quietly on the red velvet at the bottom of the chest what caught their eyes was a somewhat old ragdoll dressed in a dirty dress with one button i missing leaving only a thread little cream and ching ching’s eyes were instantly drawn to the other three glowing pieces of equipment captain’s grip quality bronze equipment type cloth armor bracers attributes intelligence plus 18 spirit plus 12 spell critical rate plus 5 equipment requirements priest mage dot bear claw blade quality bronze equipment type one-handed sword attributes strength plus 20, agility plus 10, attack speed plus 10% equipment requirements, warrior, paladin dot. Tranquil water drop quality, bronze equipment type, necklace attributes, spirit plus 25, mana. Recovery speed plus 30% equipment requirements, priest, mage dot. Another three pieces of top-notch bronze gear. Especially that bracer, the attributes were simply tailor-made for mages. Xingqing’s heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively tightened her grip on her staff. However, Yanjio’s gaze directly passed over those three pieces of equipment and landed on the Shabby doll. Annie’s doll type, quest item description, a poorly made doll that looks weathered, it seems to be searching for its other half dot. He almost immediately took out. The pendant that had dropped from the goblin king from his backpack. Annie’s pendant in front of everyone, he equipped the captain’s grip and then placed the doll and the pendant. Together, examining them for a moment before putting them back in his backpack. Mingyao looked at him, her expression complex. She glanced at the one handed sword and then. At the necklace. This sword is suitable for me, the necklace can go to Qing Qing. Luan Ji’s mana consumption isn’t high. All this equipment counts as mine, don’t worry, I won’t. Let you suffer. She spoke up, breaking the silence. Jingjing looked at Mingyao in surprise, then at Yanzhou, and finally nodded, accepting the necklace. Thank you, Sister Yao. Thank you, Yanzhou. Yanzhou showed no interest in their distribution. He glanced at the system interface on his arm. Game online duration, 9 hours 52 minutes I’m logging off. My game time has long exceeded. He looked up and said to Mingyao. Then he turned to Little Cream, who was standing aside. Are you leaving or not? Leaving. Little Cream’s. Response was quick and loud, afraid that if she hesitated for even a second, she would be left behind. Mingyao looked at this unpredictable man in front of her, feeling somewhat. Astonished. Nowadays, high-level players in major guilds spend all day in the game except for eating and sleeping, who cares about game time, she quickly extended a hand, a system. Gesture inviting a friend, rather silly. Yenjio, let’s add each other as friends. I’ll tally up the equipment from this time and send it to you later. She sent a friend. Request. Yen Jiu clicked to agree and then fell silent. Little Cream hurriedly said goodbye to Ming Yao and the others, then followed closely behind Yen Jiu. Sister Yao, sister. Ching Ching, sister Luanga, I’m going with the big shot now. Ching Ching looked at the two figures leaving and couldn’t help but hum softly again. Ming Yao glanced at the brand new name. On her friend list, feeling a mix of emotions, Yen Jiu, with Little Cream in tow, walked out of the cave. The deep entrance was left behind. The air outside was filled with the moist scent of grass and soil, a stark contrast to the decaying, fishy smell inside the cave. Little cream followed behind Yenzhou, feeling her steps much lighter, as if walking on clouds. From time to time, she would sneak a glance at the figure ahead. The hood obscured his face, leaving only a straight neck and broad shoulders visible, looking both reliable and mysterious. The world channel had exploded. The name of Tinglan Pavilion, along with those two glaring anonymous tags, had become the hottest topic in the entire world of illusion. And she was one of the witnesses to that storm. Little Cream’s heart was still racing. Big shot, she called softly. Yenjio’s pace did not falter. We, we. Really got the epic first clear. Her voice trembled with an unreal, dreamlike quality. Yenjio responded with a simple mm. His attention seemed completely elsewhere, lost in. His own thoughts. Little Cream didn’t feel awkward, she had grown accustomed to this man’s rhythm. She continued to speak in an excited tone. Sister Yao and the others must be. Overjoyed. Tinglon Pavilion is going to be famous now. And that reward, 10 free attribute points. You can only get that much after leveling up twice. Big Shot, how are you planning? To allocate the points? All into intelligence? Then your magic damage will be off the charts. She chattered away like a newly-fledged lark, her clear voice echoing along the forest path. Finally, Yanjou stopped. He turned around to look at Little Cream. She felt a bit shy under his gaze, her cheeks slightly flushed, and her voice softened. Wah! What is it, Big Shot? Yenjo said nothing, only extended a hand. Little Cream was momentarily stunned and instinctively offered her delicate little hand. Then she saw Yenjo’s brow furrow. He looked at the hand extended towards him, pausing in silence for a moment. Friend, he uttered two words. Ah, oh oh oh. Little Cream’s face flushed bright red, like a ripe apple, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to hide in. She hurriedly retracted her hand, frantically tapping on the system interface until she sent the friend. Request. Player Little Cream requests to add you as a friend, do you agree? Yengio clicked to agree. The return journey was no longer as desolate as the way there. Groups of players were gathering from various directions towards the village, their expressions varied, some excited, some frustrated, but more were mixed with jealousy and fervor in their discussions. Did you hear? The epic dungeon has been cleared. A hunter with a short bow lowered his voice but couldn’t hide the shock in his tone. The warrior beside him swung, his arm vigorously. How could I not have heard? It was announced server-wide. Those from Ting Lan Pavilion are too amazing. The key point is those two anonymous big shots. Okay, another small thief interjected, his eyes sparkling. A pure female guild, accompanied by two mysterious experts, cleared the epic dungeon. I love this story. Their voices were not loud, but they clearly drifted into little cream’s ears. The girl’s back instinctively straightened a lot. Soon, the crude wooden fence of the novice village appeared. At the end of her sight, the village entrance was much livelier than when they had left. A large number of players gathered here, loudly selling equipment or shouting to form. Teams. And the center of all discussions revolved around the recent server announcement. Is Tinglan Pavilion still recruiting? Those two anonymous. Definitely top-tier experts. I wonder which guild is hiding these aces. Is anyone taking me to do quests? Cash transactions. Maybe they are teaming up to suppress the oracle. Buying copper coins. Message. Me for the price. I have excess rabbit fur, wolf fur, and wolf tooth animal skins for trade, buying in bulk, free processing of various professional products. Who cares? Which guild it is, anyway, this time the oracle guild got their face slapped, just finished showing off and got overshadowed, it’s hilarious. Shu, keep it down, the oracle people. Are over there? Yenjio still wore an indifferent expression, his face hidden under the hood, showing no emotion. He seemed completely uninterested in the surrounding clamor. After greeting Shao Nayo, Yenjio chose to log off. A cold sensation came from beneath him. Yenjiu opened his eyes. What met his gaze was the slightly yellowed, ceiling of his rented room. He sat up. The mage robe he wore had transformed back into an ordinary t-shirt in reality. The cold countdown on his arm had disappeared. Gulyolu. A clear sound came from his abdomen, breaking the silence in the room. He touched his stomach. Hungry. From being forced into the game at noon until now, it was almost midnight. He rolled out of bed and walked to the door. He opened the door, and a gust of cold wind rushed in from the hallway. The door next door was ajar, a sliver of light from a flickering television seeped through, along with a woman’s deliberately lowered yet alluring, humming. It was landlady’s sister Sue. Her chipao had a high slit, one fair leg casually draped over the armrest of the sofa, gently swaying to the off-key tune. The silk of the chipao clung to her body, outlining a mature, curve that made one’s blood race. She seemed unaware of the movement at the door, still leaning on the sofa, leaving Yenjio with a graceful silhouette. Yenjio remained silent, turned around, and closed his own door, treading lightly. The motion sensor light in the hallway did not turn on, he blended into the night outside like a ghost. This city was not completely dead yet. On the street, a food stall, a place Yanjio often visited. The owner was a bald man, with a dragon tattoo over his shoulder who was now carefully flipping noodles in a pot with a spoon. Boss, a bowl of beef noodles. Yanjio sat down in a corner. Coming right up. The bald. Owner responded cheerfully. The people around were whispering, and the topic was invariably about the game called Illusion. How long have you been online today? I died half an hour short, scared me to death. Who? Isn’t? That broken game, I’m a grown man, and they matched me with a priest class, totally ridiculous. You’re lucky, my buddy got a mage, and he’s still level 1, takes forever to kill a wild monster. Yen Jio lowered. His head, silently waiting for his noodles. The noodles were quickly served, steaming hot, sprinkled with green onions. He picked up his chopsticks, just about to take a bite. Ah! A sharp, piercing scream from a woman. Shattered the night. Followed by a man’s coarse curse. Damn woman, let go of me. A shadow suddenly dashed out from a nearby alley, tightly clutching a lady’s handbag, running frantically toward the other end of the street. Behind him, a girl in a dress stumbled out, tears streaking down her face, her hair disheveled as she ran. Help! Someone’s being robbed! The girl’s voice was choked with tears as she cried out in despair. The diners at the food stall shrank back like startled rabbits. A few men who had just been boasting about their prowess in the game now lowered their heads, pretending to focus on their noodles. The bald owner gripped the frying. spatula tightly, glancing at the meager possessions on his stall, but ultimately dared not intervene. Who would be foolish enough to meddle now? Yen Jiu set down his chopsticks. He didn’t even stand up, he just lightly tapped his left foot on the ground. In the next second, he shot out like an arrow released from a bow. There were no unnecessary movements. His running posture was textbook perfect and coordinated, each step measured as if with a ruler. The sound of the wind howled in his ears. The man who had snatched the bag clearly hadn’t expected anyone to dare intervene. He glanced back and ran even faster. Yenzhou’s expression remained unchanged. For a moment, his attention fell on his ankle. A strange sensation rose from the soles of his feet. It was as if an invisible, light current wrapped around his feet, making each step lighter and faster. This feeling was too familiar. Wind step. Although it was faint to the point of being nearly imperceptible, that unique sense of power was identical to the only displacement skill he had learned in the game. The robber was getting closer. 10 meters. 5 meters. 3 meters. 1 meter. Yen. Joe’s body sank slightly, his right leg sweeping out like a whip gliding along the ground. A clean and swift sweeping kick. Bang. The robber. Didn’t even have time to let out a scream before he lost his balance, crashing face first onto the asphalt, eating a mouthful of dirt. The. Bag in his hand flew away. The thug was already unconscious, Yan Joe was confident in his strike, he wouldn’t wake up for at least a night. He. Then opened his phone to contact his on-duty colleagues, asking them to handle the situation, as he was off work and too lazy to deal with. It. He hadn’t even finished his noodles yet. The surrounding diners were stunned. The girl who had chased after them stood frozen, mouth agape, forgetting to cry. Yen Jio picked up the bag from the ground, dusted it off, and walked over to hand it to the girl. Here you go. Ah. Th thank you. The girl snapped back to reality, stammering her thanks, her eyes filled with gratitude and admiration as she looked at him. Around them, a wave of uncontrollable cheers erupted. Awesome, brother. So cool. So cool. The bald owner also gave him a thumbs up. Yanjio merely scratched his head, seemingly unaccustomed to such attention. He turned and walked back to his seat, picking up his chopsticks again. The bowl of noodles was still warm. He ate expressionlessly, as if the person who had just subdued the robber was not him at all. Yet, inside, a storm was brewing. It was not an illusion. The current that had formed beneath his feet moments ago was definitely not a figment of his imagination. As a martial arts master who had honed his body to perfection, his control over every muscle and every ounce of strength had reached an unfathomable level. He was 100% certain. Something had seeped from that virtual game world into reality. He instinctively looked at his arm. It was empty, devoid of the game’s system interface. But the sensation of power feedback was indelibly etched in his nerves. He raised his head and surveyed the surroundings. The diners were still excitedly discussing the scene that had just unfolded, but soon, the topic shifted back to illusion. Their faces were a mix of fear, excitement, confusion, and greed. Each person was being transformed by that game. Or rather, they were being swept forward by the world transformed. By that game, Yen Jio finished his noodles expressionlessly. This game, this so-called illusion. I’m afraid it’s far more complicated and dangerous than anyone imagines. He put down his chopsticks and stood up. The next day, the air in the police station office was like a pot of boiling water, with invisible steam rising from every corner. The sound of keyboards clacking and mice clicking was more hurried than usual, mixed with hushed excited discussions. Have you heard? Epic Dungeon. Someone got the first kill. No way, is that true? The server just opened two days ago, who’s that strong? The Oracle Guild spent so. Much money, and in just a few seconds it turned to scrap, I’m dying of laughter. Tinglon Pavilion. That’s the guild full of beauties. They’re amazing, not only did they get the first kill, but they also released. The dungeon strategy and boss data for free, the forum exploded. Damn, what a move. This wave of goodwill is off the charts. The slightly plump colleague was spitting as he spoke, his face flushed, as if he. Himself had gotten the first kill. Yanjio sat quietly at his workstation, meticulously cleaning his sidearm, the surrounding noise seeming to be separated by an invisible glass. Previously, Mingyao had indeed asked for his opinion on whether to release the dungeon data, and he hadn’t refused. Most people, after two days of fierce battles, were hovering around level 3, while a few top players who could team up to farm. Elites had reached levels 4 to 5. Yanjio wasn’t too far ahead, after all, he only played for a short while each day. Tinglan Pavilion. Yanjio silently repeated the name in his mind. the plump colleague swiveled his chair and slid over to yen joe’s side nudging him with his elbow did that piece of equipment sell yesterday what level are you now the office fell silent for a moment several curious gazes turned towards him yen joe looked up at his colleagues inquisitive faces and a number instinctively popped into his head seven he recalled lucia’s expression from yesterday you’re just bragging just as he was about to casually throw out a number to brush it off a figure approached Lu Xia had one hand in her pants pocket, the other tapping on Yanjio’s desk, the deep blue police uniform on her exuding a different vibe. What are you chatting about? It’s so lively. The onlooking colleagues immediately scattered, returning to their workstations, yet they all perked up their ears. Lu Xia pulled out a chair and naturally sat across from Yanjio, leaning slightly forward. How did you sleep last night? You look pretty good. Not bad, Yanjio replied. How about the game? What level are you now? She asked casually, as if. inquiring about what he had for dinner. Yengio looked into her probing eyes and swallowed the seven back down. About the same as everyone else, he gave a vague answer. Lu Xia’s beautiful brows raised slightly, the curve of her lips taking on a playful twist. She probably interpreted his words in another way. Perhaps he was too low level to admit it. After all, he had previously boasted to her about killing a boss. Alright. Lu Xia didn’t press further, just nodded and stood up. She reached out to straighten his slightly crooked tie, her fingertips brushing against his Adam’s apple unintentionally. Take your time, don’t rush. Horror. Voice lowered a bit carrying a closeness that only the two of them could hear. After saying that, she turned and left, leaving Yanjio with a sharp and capable silhouette. Yanjio touched his collar, where. There seemed to linger a faint warmth. The busy morning flew by amidst various documents and reports. At noon, the closing bell rang on time. The entire office came alive in an instant, packing up faster than. Responding to a call. As Yen Jio walked home, the flow of people on the street was noticeably more hurried than yesterday. Everyone wore an expression of indescribable anxiety and anticipation. The world was quietly being altered by something called illusion. He returned to his rented room and locked the door behind him. There was no sound of mahjong from next door, only a dead silence. He took off his uniform and changed into casual clothes, the blue countdown on his arm like a precise bomb, reminding him of the call from another world. Without a moment’s hesitation, he lay down on the bed and closed his eyes. entering the game consciousness crossed the cold sea of stars and descended once more the fragrance of grass mixed with the scent of earth filled his nostrils and the wind’s touch on his skin felt incredibly real yen joe opened his eyes and found himself standing in the center of the novice village square a new day and the hustle and bustle of the novice village seemed to have settled much more than yesterday the fervent discussions about the epic first clear had been replaced by more practical demands looking for a strong shield warrior for the wild bear dungeon don’t come if your gear isn’t good Elite Goblin Patrol, 3 for 1. Need a heavy damage dealer. Freshly made life potions, 20 copper coins for a set, buy quickly. Is there anyone who can protect this old man while I go see the scenery over there in the plains, paid? Long-term purchase of linen cloth, price negotiable. The shouts of vendors and the calls for team-ups rose and fell, forming the most authentic backdrop of the world of illusion. Yanjou’s figure appeared in a flash of teleportation light and he paid no attention to everything around him. He swayed through the crowded crowd and found a forgotten stone stump at the edge of the village square, sitting down heavily. He. Took out the two unopened rewards from yesterday from his backpack. A skill book with an ancient cover and a chest emitting a faint glow. He opened the skill book first. Ding. You have used a random skill book. Congratulations, you have obtained the skill. Dragon Breath, LV1. Dragon Breath continuously spews Dragon Breath in a cone-shaped area in front, dealing 5 plus 20% spell damage as fire damage to enemies every second. This skill is a continuous channeling spell, consuming 15 mana points per second, instant cast dot. A powerful area damage overtime skill. Yanjio nodded and then turned his attention to the chest. This chest allowed him to choose one piece of equipment from the boss’s drop list in the dungeon. He leisurely browsed through the system interface, each piece of equipment’s attributes extremely tempting. Yanjio carefully selected. For a long time, finally, he chose a ring. The ring slot on his left hand was still empty. Dark star ring quality, bronze equipment type, accessory, ring attributes, intelligence plus 15, spirit plus 10, mana regeneration, plus 2 per second special effect, shadow’s fury, passive, when you cast a spell that deals damage, there is a 5% chance to deal an additional 50 points of shadow damage. Equipment requirement, none note. The dark elves around you dance at your feet, they really like this ring not. Yengio looked at that strange note, raising an eyebrow slightly. He directly chose to equip it. He opened his attribute panel, name, yen. Geo, level, 7, class, mage, talent, war god, SSS grade, unique, attributes, strength 11, agility 24, plus 13, constitution 11, intelligence 80, plus 69, spirit 46, plus 35, health 111, mana 360, spell critical rate. 5%, movement speed, plus 27%, equipment, title plus 15%, casting speed, plus 3%, equipment minus 20%, melee damage, 16, strength 100%, plus weapon attack power, weapon plus 5, spell damage, 95, intelligence plus spell power, equipment, plus 15, physical defense, 12, equipment plus 1, magical defense, 11, equipment slot, title, wolf king slayer, movement speed plus 10%, two -handed weapon, withered soul staff, bronze intelligence plus 15, spell power plus 10. Melee Attack plus 5, Hat, Dios Shadowhood, Bronze Intelligence plus 15, Spirit plus 10, Casting Speed plus 15%, Shoes, Annie’s Cloth Shoes, Black Ion Intelligence plus 5, Spell Power plus 5, Casting Speed dash 20%, Bracers, Captain’s Grip, Bronze Intelligence plus 18, Spirit plus 12, Spell Critical Rate plus 5%, Clothes, Novice Robe, Defense plus 1, Intelligence plus 1, Accessory, Necklace, Barbarian Bear Guards Amulet, Bronze Attack Speed plus 10%. Agility plus 10, attack has a chance to trigger fury, fury, attack speed plus 30%, accessory ring 1, ring of wind, black eye and agility plus 3, spirit plus 3, movement speed plus 5%, accessory ring 2, dark star ring, intelligence plus 15, spirit plus 10, mana recovery plus 2 per second, with such luxurious attributes, his spell damage was already approaching the 100 point mark, just as he closed the attribute panel, a crisp and vibrant, voice came from not far away, filled with unrestrained excitement, great god, I finally found you. Little Cream almost ran over, her ample chest rising and falling with her movements, attracting the attention of many male players around. She had changed into a new mage robe today, also exchanged from a treasure chest, looking spirited. Great god, you have no idea how noisy the world channel was after you logged off. Yesterday. She leaned closer to Yen Jio, lowering her voice, but the excitement in her tone was impossible to hide. Now everyone is guessing who those two anonymities are. Yen Jio looked up and glanced at her. Oh. What do you mean oh? Little Cream was momentarily taken aback by his reaction, stamping her foot in dissatisfaction. Where are we going next? Are we still going to grind that dungeon? Or are we going to fight elite monsters? She had completely immersed herself in the role of a little follower, her eyes full of anticipation. Yen Jio stood up, brushing off the dust from his pants. First, let’s turn in the quest. Then figure out who this Annie is. Yen Jio stood up, brushing off the dust from his pants. Little Cream blinked, still not recovering from that sentence, when she saw Yen Jio already striding towards the black. Market tent. Great god, wait for me. She hurriedly followed, her fullness creating a heart-racing arc with her quick steps. The black market tent looked the same as usual, simple yet mysterious, but today the crowd was far from the frenzy of yesterday’s auction. Yenjio walked confidently to the light screen, opening his auction earnings. A string of golden numbers popped up on the screen. For gold 80 silver, this was. During the early game, when ordinary players only had a few dozen copper coins in their pockets. This number was enough to drive any guild crazy. However, there was no ripple on Yanjio’s face, his fingers tapped. Leisurely on the light screen, he first took out one gold coin and stored it in his backpack. Then, he opened his mailbox, found the ID Mingyao, and sent the remaining three gold coins and eighty silver coins, along with a small change, all packaged together. He added a note saying, help me convert this into cash. Yanjio took the gold coins out of his backpack and played with them with great interest. Big shot, why are you keeping one gold coin? Little Cream asked curiously. Pocket money, Yanjio replied as if it were obvious. Little cream was momentarily taken aback, looking at his calm demeanor as if he were just handling a few coins, unsure of what expression to wear. Just then, a message notification sounded. System, your friend Mingyao has sent you a message. Yen Jiu clicked to open it. Mingyao, received. Mingyao, you. The. Ellipses on the other side of the screen seemed to condense countless unspoken emotions. After a few seconds, a new message popped up. Mingyao, if you don’t mind, send me your bank card number. Mingyao, the. Money will be transferred in batches, we need to assess the specific value of those previous items, which will take some time. Yanzhou glanced at it and casually entered the number of his salary card, sending it. Over. There was another long silence on the other side. Finally, a few words came through. Mingyao, got it. After handling all this, Yanzhou turned and walked out of the tent. Let’s go, turn in the quest. Inside the village chief’s small house, a mix of old wood and herbs filled the air. The elderly village chief, wearing reading glasses, was struggling to read a roll of yellowed parchment. When he saw Yanzhou and little. Cream walk in, he slowly raised his head. It’s you young folks. His voice carried a hint of fatigue. Yanzhou wasted no time and spoke directly. Quest. The village chief’s murky eyes glanced at him then he let out a. Long sigh. Ah, you really have worked hard. Although you couldn’t kill the vicious bandit leader, driving it out of our territory has removed a great worry for the village. He said this while shaking his head, his face. Full of regret and relief. Little Cream, wanting to correct him, hesitated when she saw Yanzhou’s indifferent expression and swallowed her words. Ding! Quest threat to the village completed. Experience gained, 300. Points. Items gained, Maple Leaf City reputation plus 10, Orin village reputation plus 40, silver coins plus 10, item, introduction letter from the Orin village chief. He looked with interest at the letter with a wax seal in his backpack then raised his head to ask the village chief. How do I get to Maple Leaf City? The village chief sighed again at this. Young man, the mountain road to Maple Leaf City has strange skeletons and werewolves. Lurking nearby, so we have temporarily closed the road, no one can pass through now. Big shot, this must be a prerequisite quest to unlock the road to the main city. Little Cream immediately whispered beside him, fully. Accustomed to this feeling of being carried by a game illiterate, Yanjio nodded and did not press the village chief further. He turned and walked straight toward the blacksmith’s shop at the other end of the village. Clang, clang, clang. The heavy and rhythmic sound of hammering iron, accompanied by the hot air, hit them. Inside the blacksmith’s shop, a muscular man with his upper body bear was swinging a large hammer, repeatedly pounding a piece of red-hot iron, sweat sliding down his bronze skin, and evaporating into white steam in the high temperature. The arrival of Yen Jio and Little Cream did not make him stop his work. Yen Jio didn’t. Mind, he quietly stood by until the blacksmith quenched the iron piece, producing a loud hiss. The blacksmith casually tossed the hammer. Aside, picked up a towel hanging around his neck to wipe his sweat and then asked in a booming voice, what do you need? Yen Jio did not answer, but took out two items from his backpack, the somewhat dull Annie’s pendant, and there was that old Annie’s doll. He gently placed the two items on the wooden table in front of the blacksmith, which was cluttered with tools. Clang, the water ladle the blacksmith had just picked up slipped from his hand and fell to the ground. His large hands, like fans, trembled slightly as they reached for the two small objects on the table. The once deafening sound of the forge fell silent, leaving only the faint breathing of the bellows. The blacksmith’s rough, fingertips carefully brushed over the patterns on the pendant and then touched the fabric of the doll. A hint of nostalgia and sadness, starkly, contrasting with his rugged appearance flickered across his face. This is Annie’s stuff. His voice was no longer booming, instead, it had become somewhat hoarse. How do you have these? He looked up, his bloodshot eyes fixed intently on Yen Jio. They dropped from a monster. Yen Jio replied. seeing this little cream quickly added we want to know about annie is there anything we can help with the blacksmith fell silent staring down at the two items as if lost in distant memories a long time ago in a thatched cottage south of the village there lived a magician with his daughter he came to our remote village to care for his ailing daughter his daughter was named annie she was a lovely child but unfortunately her illness was too severe the magician tried every means but couldn’t save her after annie died The magician became mad, and not long after, he left the village alone and never returned. The story was short, yet it carried an inescapable sadness. Yen Ji-ho listened quietly. Where is the thatched cottage located, he asked, breaking the heavy atmosphere. The blacksmith glanced. Again at the pendant and doll on the table, his complex gaze seeming to look through these two items at the little girl who had long since passed. He then picked up the pendant and placed it in his pocket. He didn’t ask anything further but took out a rough animal skin map from his chest and pointed to a location with his finger. A coordinate appeared on Yen Jio’s map. Ding. Lost item, Annie’s pendant. Do you accept the? Hidden quest, the mysterious magician? Yen Jio looked at the system prompt and extended his finger to click on it. Ding. You have accepted. The hidden quest, the mysterious magician? The system notification faded away in his ear. Yen Jio withdrew his hand and turned to leave the. Shop filled with the smell of rust and sweat. Big god, wait for me. Little cream hurriedly followed, matching his pace. The two walked one. After the other towards the coordinates marked by the blacksmith on the map, the clamor of the novice village gradually faded behind them, replaced by the tranquility of the forest path. Big god, do you think that magician could be the job transfer mentor? Little cream’s voice was. Chris, breaking the silence. The forums say that no one has found a way to transfer jobs yet. If we could be the first to complete it, wouldn’t? We become famous across the server? Maybe we could even get a special title, like, career pioneer. That sounds super cool. Yen Gio. remained silent, lost in his own thoughts. Little cream didn’t feel awkward and continued to switch topics on her own. By the way, guess what I. Just saw? The oracle guild is buying bronze equipment at high prices on the world channel. I heard they had a rough time clearing the barbarian. Bear dungeon yesterday, their equipment durability is almost gone. Now in the black market, even the worst white gear is being sold for. 3 silver coins. Big god, you really have foresight. The price of gold is skyrocketing now, if you cash out your gold coins, you could. Make quite a bit. She chattered on like a lark that never tires. After walking for an unknown amount of time, a dilapidated thatched cottage finally appeared at the end of their sight. The house stood lonely in the clearing of the forest, surrounded by overgrown weeds, half of its roof collapsed, revealing a dark hole that resembled an eye forgotten by the world. As the two approached, a wave of decayed, damp air hit them. Yanjio pushed open the creaking wooden door. The scene inside was laid bare, a wooden table with a broken leg, a cracked earthen jar, and The corners filled with cobwebs, dust dancing and the beams of light streaming through the hole in the roof. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Little Cream rushed in first, eagerly rummaging through the place. Master, there’s a box here, but it’s empty. It looks like there’s I. Book underneath, oh no, it’s all rotten. Yen Jiu was not as enthusiastic as her, he slowly paced around the room, his gaze sweeping over every corner. He walked to the corner, reaching out to brush aside the thick cobwebs. Just then, the wardrobe door next to him burst open with I. Bang. A shadow shot out with astonishing speed, carrying a foul wind, lunging straight at Yanjou’s face. Ah! Little cream let out a short, sharp scream. It was a monster standing upright covered in grey-brown fur, with exposed fangs and a pair of blood-red eyes filled with frenzied madness. It was a werewolf. Yanjou’s expression showed no change. He didn’t even take a step back, he simply flicked his wrist, and the withered. Soulstaff in his hand transformed into a blur, accurately striking the werewolf’s jaw from below. The movement was clean, swift, and… even carried a sense of violent beauty. Bang! A dull sound of bones shattering echoed. An exaggerated red damage number popped up above the werewolf’s head. 2560 The aggressive werewolf froze mid-air, then collapsed to the ground like a puddle of mud, dissipating into specks of white light. On the ground, only a small, engraved metal plate remained. Little Cream stood with her mouth agape, staring at the scene, and, after a while, she regained her voice. M. Master, your damage seems to have increased again. Yen Jiu ignored her shock and bent down to Pick up the plate on the ground. William’s plate, master, let me see. Little cream leaned over and took the plate. It says number 007. Horror. Eyes lit up. Master. There must be other werewolves nearby. If we find them all, we might trigger the next quest. Yanjio nodded, finding the suggestion quite good. The two stepped out of the thatched house and began to search carefully in the surrounding woods. Soon, they discovered a second wandering werewolf behind a thicket. Yanjio still used his staff. 2548 the werewolf turned into white light, dropping a second. Plate. Number 006, just as I thought. Little cream clapped her hands excitedly. After that, things became simple and straightforward. Search. Then one hit kill. The third, fourth, fifth. Each werewolf fell under Yanjio’s unadorned staff, contributing a heart-stopping damage. Number, leaving behind a plate with a decreasing number. Finally, when Yanjio struck down the werewolf numbered 001, an unexpected change. Occurred. A roar filled with endless rage echoed from deep within the woods, shaking the leaves. Who is it? Who killed my sons? Immediately. After, a figure larger and more imposing than all the previous werewolves leaped out from the shadows, landing heavily in front of the two. It was a giant wolf, entirely black, its fur-like ink, standing nearly twice the height of a person, with a pair of golden vertical pupils. Burning with fury, locking onto Yen Jio. William’s most proud creation, black iron level boss, level, LV7 health, 1800 attack, 49 defense. 35 skills, charge, fury, wolf king’s claw looking at the popped up attribute panel, a clear disdain appeared on little cream’s face. Only. 1800 health the attack and defense were pitifully low. With such attributes, let alone a great god, even Mingyao and the others could easily. Handle it. Little cream’s perspective had gradually warped under the influence of the perverse yenjo, the black iron level werewolf boss. Seemed to sense the disdain in little cream’s eyes and its golden vertical pupils instantly shrank to pinpricks. Roar. It was enraged. It’s. Massive body sank slightly and its hind legs suddenly exerted force, charging at Yenjiyo like a black cannonball. Thud. Another muffled. Sound. The werewolf boss’s charge came to an abrupt halt. Yenjiyo didn’t even change his stance, still executing that unremarkable upward strike. 2-6-1-2 an even more glaring damage number than any before slowly floated up. The imposing werewolf boss, unable to unleash a single skill, transformed into a shower of light points, completely vanishing. As the light points dissipated, the violent aura lingering in the air also faded. away on the ground lay a few pieces of equipment shimmering with black iron luster along with a pile of scattered copper coins yen geo bent down and picked up the spoils one by one three pieces of black iron equipment all with unremarkable attributes one of them was a staff wolf bone staff quality black iron attributes intelligence plus eight spirit plus five equipment requirement lv5 he glanced at it and casually tossed it to the still dazed little cream beside him take it ha four for me little cream instinctively caught it the staff’s icy touch snapping her back to reality, a mix of surprise and flattery flushing her face. This, this is too precious. Yen Jio had already turned. Around, stuffing the remaining two useless pieces of equipment into his backpack, preparing to find an opportunity to sell them. I can’t use. It’s. His response was simple and direct. Just then, a piercing wolf howl seemed to penetrate the barriers of time and space, echoing deep within. The woods. It wasn’t a roar before death, but more like a curse of unwillingness. Yen Jio paused for a moment. He felt a slight, almost. imperceptible vibration coming from a corner of his backpack. He opened the backpack interface, his gaze sweeping over the packed items. Finally, it settled on a worn-out doll. Annie’s doll. At this moment, the originally dull doll was emitting a faint, eerie purple glow. Yenjo took it. Out. The item description of the doll had also changed. Annie’s doll, a doll affected by the wolf howl, emitting a strange glow from within. Perhaps there is a secret inside the doll. On the doll’s coarse fabric belly, there was a previously unseen protrusion that looked like a. button do you want to press it great god this doll little cream leaned in closer but she hadn’t finished her sentence yen joe’s finger had already pressed down without hesitation don’t little cream’s warning came just a moment too late the doll instantly transformed into a handful of purple quicksand before her eyes slipping through yen joe’s fingers in its place was a mysterious rune suspended in mid-air composed entirely of pure ghostly light williams hideout special map rune do you choose to enter great god it’s best to wait for this kind of thing. Little Cream’s words were interrupted again. Yenjio had already extended his finger, pointing at the yes option. Whoosh, with a light sound, his figure vanished from the spot, completely swallowed by that ghostly light. Gee, great god. Little Cream stood, frozen in place, left with the wolf bone staff still warm from the other person, proving that what had just happened was not an illusion. The acrid smell of chemical agents mixed with the stench of blood and decay invaded his nostrils. Yenjio’s consciousness recovered from a brief dizziness. He found himself in a sealed, airtight space.It was like an underground laboratory, the walls made of cold stone, various unnameable dissection tools hanging on the walls, glinting with a sinister cold light. In the center of the room stood a massive alchemical table, piled high with bottles and jars, colorful liquids bubbling in the glass containers. A figure was busy at the alchemical table, facing away from him. It was an extremely emaciated old man, dressed in a gray robe stained with dirt, his white hair dry and disheveled, resembling a skeleton that could fall apart at any moment. Hearing the noise behind him, the old man slowly turned around. His face was covered in deep, gnarled wrinkles, his eye sockets sunken, but a fanatical, almost pathological light shone from his murky eyes. His gaze, like a venomous snake, locked onto Yanjio. There’s a scent on you. The old man’s voice was as hoarse as two pieces of sandpaper rubbing together. Of my. Lovely experimental subjects. Yanjio ignored his words. He simply raised the withered soul staff in his hand, pointing the tip at the old man, and asked bluntly, are you going to fight? The old man seemed taken aback by his reaction, a flicker of astonishment passing through his murky eyes. He disregarded Yanjou’s provocation and began to speak to himself, his tone filled with a twisted nostalgia and madness. The shadow church gave me hope. They promised that as long as I could complete the great sacrifice, offering the vitality of the entire village of Orin to my lord, I could exchange it for my daughter’s soul. Annie. My poor Annie will be back soon. The old man’s eyes flared with a fierce light, and the aura he exuded became incredibly dangerous. Young man, your power is quite impressive. Submit to me, become my most. Perfect experimental subject, or. Die. As his last word fell, a line of blood-red system information appeared before Yanjio. William, black. Iron level boss, level, LV8 health, 2400 attack, 19 defense, 55 magic attack, 63 skills, shadow arrow, shadow fury, summon skeleton. Summon werewolf Yanjio looked at the string of attributes, feeling a rush of wind at his feet, and charged towards the boss. William’s bony. Fingers traced a strange rune in the air, and the ground cracked in response. Four pale skeletons struggled to crawl out from the crevices, their hollow eye sockets flickering with ghostly blue soul fire. They moved slowly, the sound of their bones creaking was particularly jarring. In the silent laboratory, a sickly grin spread across William’s lips, and his other hand began to gather shadow energy. Become my most perfect. Collection. A deep purple energy ball rapidly formed in his palm. Shadow arrow the airflow beneath Yenjo’s feet subtly swirled. His entire. Being transformed into a blurred afterimage, instantly crossing over the four skeletons that were still stumbling. He didn’t even spare. Them a glance. The sound of wind exploded in William’s ears. For the first time, his wrinkled face showed a look of horror. The shadow arrow. He had gathered had yet to be released. That seemingly unremarkable withered soul staff had already struck heavily against his chest with a. Sound that pierced the air. Thud. A muffled sound. 2688 A blood red number slowly floated up from above William’s head. This black iron. Level boss didn’t even have a chance to leave a dying word before his body froze in place, then transformed into a flurry of light spots. Scattering across the ground. Two pieces of equipment and a skill book automatically entered Yenzhou’s bag. Ding. Congratulations, your level. Has increased to LV8. Ding. Talent war god effect enhanced. Melee damage increase raised to 170 times. Ding. Congratulations, strength plus 1. Agility plus 1. Intelligence plus 1. Spirit plus 1. Constitution plus 1 ding. Congratulations, you have gained 5 free attribute points. Current free attribute. Points 50. Ding. Congratulations on completing the hidden task. The mysterious mage? Please head to the village chief in Orin village to. Submit the task. The moment the system prompt sounded, the surrounding scene began to twist and peel away. Light and shadow shifted. In the next. Second, Yan Zhou’s figure reappeared in the clearing outside the thatched cottage. He scratched his head. Great. Great god. Little cream. Almost lunged at him, her ample chest heaving violently from the urgency of her movement. Her face was filled with fear. Are you okay? I’m. Fine. Yanjio’s response was as concise as ever. Was there anything inside? Little cream looked him up and down. Well, I was teleported. To a laboratory, and there was an old man there. I knocked him dead. Dead? Little cream was taken aback. Was it William? Did he say. Anything? Like his background or any other clues? He did. Yanjio recalled. He said he joined the shadow church and wanted to sacrifice the entire Orin village to resurrect his daughter Annie. Sacrifice. Little Crean’s expression instantly turned serious. I knew something was. Wrong. She anxiously paced in place, her beautiful brows tightly knitted together. Great god, this isn’t right. Killing William might just. Be treating the symptoms, not the root cause. He must have set up some kind of sacrificial formation long ago, and that thing must still be. There. Yen Jio looked at her. And then? And then? Little Cream was momentarily stumped by his question, pulling at her hair in frustration. We need to find a way to locate it and destroy it. Otherwise, everyone in the village will be doomed. This must be a follow-up hidden. Tass. Her analysis was sound, her logic clear. Yen Jio nodded. Where do we look? I. Little Cream was again at a loss. She racked her. Brain, going through all the clues in her mind, from goblins to savage bears, then to werewolves and mages. But the trail ended completely with. William. She slumped her shoulders in defeat. I don’t know either. Then let’s go submit the task first. Yen Jio patted her head and started. Walking towards the village. Oh. Little cream had no choice but to follow, still muttering in frustration as they walked. There must be. Clues we haven’t discovered, the village chief? The blacksmith? Or maybe the clues are in Maple Leaf City? In the village chief’s small. House, the familiar scent lingered. The old man saw the two return, and a hint of relief shone through his murky eyes. Young people, judging. By your expressions things must have gone smoothly. Yenjio directly selected the option to submit the task. The village chief nodded in. Satisfaction. Great, thank you so much. The monsters lurking on the road to Maple Leaf City have been completely cleared by you, and now that road can be traveled normally. As soon as the village chief finished speaking, a brilliant golden light rose from beneath the two of them, shooting up into the sky. A new system prompt popped up in front of them. Would you like to announce your name, letting your fame resonate, throughout the world of illusion? Little Cream’s cheeks flushed with excitement, and she instinctively looked at Yen Jo. Then, she saw Yen. Jo extend his finger and, without hesitation, click on No for the two options. Immediately, a series of deafening system announcements erupted. In the ears of all players in the entire world of illusion. World announcement, congratulations to player Anonymous 4 successfully. Unlocking the teleportation function of Novice Village 952766. As the first Novice Village to unlock the teleportation function, other players. in novice village 952766 are rewarded free attribute points plus 5 a random common item world announcement as the first player to unlock the teleportation function player anonymous is rewarded free attribute points plus 10 a random black iron item in an instant the entire world channel exploded what the hell teleport point which village is so awesome 952766 it’s our village wow i got five extra attribute points and a free piece of equipment. Who is it? Who’s the good person? It’s another anonymous big shot. Definitely those two who got the epic first kill before. Please, big shot, take me with you. I want to go to village 952766. Wake up upstairs, no one can go to other. Villages now, I’m so envious. In the guild channel of Tinglon Pavilion, Mingyao stared at the two announcements falling into a long silence. It’s them again. That crushing progress again. She opened her friend list, looking at the avatar of Yenzhou and remained silent for a long time. In the village chief’s small house, Little Cream stared blankly at her attribute panel where ten free attribute points had suddenly appeared, along with a pair of mage leggings radiating a black iron glow in her backpack. Happiness came too suddenly. She felt like she was dreaming. The dizzying joy almost made Little Cream unsteady on her feet. She looked at her attribute panel, those ten free attribute points, glowing enticingly. In her backpack, a pair of black iron quality mage leggings, with attributes far superior to the plain ones she was currently wearing. All of this was because she had followed the right person. Big shot. She was about to say something when she saw Yenjo had already turned around, looking at the relieved village chief beside him. Maple Leaf City. Yenjo’s tone was flat, as if the announcement that had stirred the world had nothing to do with him. Ah, right, Maple Leaf City. The village chief slapped his forehead, his wrinkles smiling like a chrysanthemum. The road is open, just at the village entrance, you’ll see a carriage. Tell the driver, and he will take you there. Yen. Joe nodded, turned, and walked towards the door. Big shot, wait. Little cream hurriedly followed. As the two stepped out of the village. Chief’s small house, a deafening roar hit them like a tsunami. The entire Orin village had gone crazy. Ha ha ha. Five attribute points. I just. Maxed out my strength. Look at this piece of clothing. It adds five defense. Better than what I farmed from goblins for half a day. Who is it? Which big shot opened the portal? I want to set up a longevity tablet for him. It must be those two anonymous big shots. Who else could? It’d be. Noise, excitement, ecstasy. Countless players gathered in the central square of the village, dancing and discussing, turning the entire novice village into a sea of joy. Little Cream shrank her neck in surprise at the commotion, instinctively hiding behind Yenjo. Yenjo’s brow furrowed slightly. He didn’t like noise. He pulled Little Cream and skillfully turned into a secluded alley, isolating them from the clamor. behind big shot are we going to maple leaf city now little cream’s heart was still racing yen joe didn’t answer but opened his backpack taking out the loot he had just obtained from william a well-crafted gray robe a pointed hat and a skill book exuding a faint dark aura william’s shadow robe quality black iron equipment type clothing attributes intelligence plus 10 spirit plus 5 defense plus 5 shadow resistance Plus 5 Williams Apprentice hat quality, black iron equipment type, hat attributes, intelligence plus 10, spirit plus 8, shadow damage plus 5% summon. Skeleton, summons a skeleton to fight for you, attributes affected by your intelligence and skill proficiency. Duration 1 minute, cooldown 3. Minutes dot. Class requirement, Mei Jianjio blanced at it and tossed the hat to little cream. Then, he changed out of his worn bandit’s linen shirt, and put on the Williams shadow robe. A cool and powerful magical energy seeped into his skin through the fabric. his attributes experienced. A small leap once again. Little Cream held the hat in her hands, this is black iron equipment, with attributes not much worse than the shadow. Hood of Dio that the great god is currently wearing. I can’t use it, Yanjio casually replied, reaching out to pat the skill book. Ding! You have learned the skill, summon skeleton, LV1. He raised his hand and tried to release it. On the ground, a small pile of bones, appeared out of nowhere, clattering together to form a crooked skeleton frame. The skeleton soldier, looking bewildered, held a rusty bone knife. Its hollow eye socket staring at Yanjio, seemingly waiting for orders. Skeleton, summon, level, LV8 Yanjio extended his staff and gently. Tapped the skeleton’s forehead. Bang. The skeleton soldier fell apart, turning into a pile of shattered bones and disappearing. Too fragile, he concluded. Little cream watched from the side, her eyes twitching. Is it possible that the great god’s damage is just too high? After dealing with this, Yanjio opened his mailbox and packed up several pieces of equipment he had looted from the werewolf boss, sending them. All to Mingyao. Almost the moment the email was sent, a message from Mingyao popped up. Mingyao, received. Mingyao, is it you who did? The world announcement? Her tone carried a restrained inquiry. Yanjio, yeah. On the other side of the screen, there was a long silence. After a full half minute, a new message finally appeared. Mingyao, how did you do it? This question was what all the guild leaders wanted. To know the most right now. Yanjio’s response was as concise as ever. Got a pendant from the goblin nest. Got a doll from the barbarian. bear cave. Went to the blacksmith shop, got a coordinate. The coordinate is a thatched cottage, there are werewolves inside, killed them and. Then another boss came out, also killed it. Then went into a laboratory, killed the last boss, named William. Turned in the quest, and. The teleport opened. In Yanjio’s eyes, this was a completely uninformative account. Yet it made Ming Yao on the other side of the screen. Feel a chill run down her spine. Goblin nest, barbarian bear cave, hidden blacksmith quest, werewolves, boss. This series of terms formed a. complete and logically clear quest chain. Mingyao took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. Her mind was racing. Mingyao, Yanjio, listen to me. About this quest chain, if possible, don’t tell anyone else in the village yet. Right now, everyone is stuck in the novice village, and we are the only ones who can go to the main city. This means that all the first kills, first completions, hidden quests, rare materials in Maple Leaf City, before the other large teams arrive, they are all ours. This first mover advantage is worth its weight in. Gold. Once we establish ourselves in Maple Leaf City and gain enough benefits, we can consider whether to reveal this method. Of course, the choice is yours. Her words were clear and filled with shrewd calculation. This was not just a suggestion, but also a gesture of goodwill. She was using her experience and foresight to exchange for a more solid relationship with this powerful individual. Yen Jiu looked at the text on the screen and scratched his head. He found it a bit troublesome, but he still replied with three words. Yen Jiu, got it. Ming Yao seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. Ming Yao, when you arrive in Maple Leaf City, if you need anything feel free to contact me. Ting Lan Pavilion. Also has some early arrangements that might help. Yen Jio closed the chat box and walked towards the village entrance. There, a simple cart. Was quietly waiting. Let’s go, he said to Little Cream, who was still happily wearing her hat. To Maple Leaf City. The two of them passed. Through the bustling crowd and arrived at the village entrance. A plane cart stood quietly there, the horse pulling it lowering its head and. snorting while the driver was a taciturn middle-aged man his face etched with the marks of time to maple leaf city yen joe said succinctly of the coachman lifted his eyelids glanced at them nodded and opened the carriage door just as the two of them settled into the carriage the wooden door creaked shut with a squeak the world changed there was no jolt from rolling wheels no retreating scenery outside the window one second it was a dim and narrow carriage the next second blinding sunlight and a cacophony of voices rushed in little cream instinctively raised her hand to shield her eyes, and when she opened them again, she was completely stunned. Magnificent. That was the only word. Towering. Grey-white city walls stretched up to the clouds, extending to the horizon, with intricate and ancient magical runes carved into the stone, shimmering faintly in the sunlight. The street, wide enough for ten carriages to travel side by side, was paved with massive bluestones, with not a single weed visible in the cracks. On either side of the street stood stone buildings of various styles, the black smoke from the Blacksmith’s chimney billowed into the air and the ensign swayed gently in the wind. The air was filled with the aroma of toasted bread, the burnt scent of metal, and a faint, almost imperceptible, magical fluctuation. Guards in standard armor, wielding long halberds, patrolled. In formation, their steps synchronized, their gaze as sharp as eagles. This was Maple Leaf City. A completely different world from the rural village of Oren. A few players, like them, were already standing at the city gate, their faces reflecting the same shock and confusion. They were. cautiously looking around, trying to find clues for quests. Big. Big god, this place is just too big. Little Cream’s voice trembled. Slightly, a mix of excitement and awe at the grandeur of the scene. Yenjio’s reaction was much more subdued, he simply observed the patrolling. Guards with interest. Just then, a squad of guards happened to patrol in front of them. The leading guard captain’s gaze swept over Yenjio. And suddenly stopped. A subtle change appeared on his serious face and he nodded slightly in greeting to Yenjio. Yenjio seemed unaware of. anything unusual and nodded back. He felt nothing but pure curiosity about everything in this world. Little Cream immediately realized. It was. Reputation. The 10 points of Maple Leaf City reputation from the quest reward had such an immediate effect. She felt a surge of joy, her back. Straightening unconsciously, and she stepped forward, asking the guard captain in the sweetest voice, Hello, Mr. Guard, could you please tell me where the profession trainer is? Little Cream thought that the trainers in a big city might have more skills than those in the village. Profession trainer? Yanjio turned to look at little cream upon hearing this new term. What do they do? Before the guard captain could answer. Little cream was already looking at him as if he were an alien. Big god, you don’t even know what a profession trainer is? Every novice. Village has one, right in the small church behind the village, where you can learn new profession skills. You, you haven’t learned a single. Skill, have you? Yanjio nodded. Fireball is a default skill, the others are learned from skill books. Little cream was utterly speechless. A mage who didn’t even know about a trainer had achieved the first epic kill in the entire server and opened the main city teleportation. Portal. Who would believe that? She felt her worldview being rubbed against the ground repeatedly by this man once again. The guard captain. Had clearly overheard their conversation. His gaze towards Yanjio held a hint of peculiarity, but he dutifully pointed in the distance. Follow. This main avenue straight ahead, cross the commercial district, and you’ll see the mage alliance’s temple. The trainer is inside. Thank. You. Little cream quickly expressed her gratitude, then grabbed Yenzhou’s arm and started walking forward. Come on, big god, I’ll take you. To learn skills. The two of them walked along the wide central avenue. Soon, a magnificent building appeared at the end of their line of. Site.it was a church entirely built of white marble, its towering spire seeming to pierce the heavens. The massive circular dome was inlaid. With unknown crystals, refracting sunlight into a rainbow of hues that enveloped the entire structure. On the walls, visible magical runes. flowed like water, emanating a soothing wave of magical energy. This was the temple of the Mage Alliance, the sacred ground for spellcasters in Maple Leaf City. The two entered the church. The interior space was even more expansive than it appeared from the outside, the dome soaring. Astonishingly high, sunlight streamed through the enormous stained glass windows casting vibrant patches of light on the polished floor, while the air was filled with the scent of ancient parchment and magical incense. An elderly man, dressed in luxurious robes with hair and beard. as white as snow stood before a magical array in the center of the hall eyes closed in meditation he seemed to sense the arrival of the two and slowly opened his eyes they were deep starry eyes that seemed to see through the soul welcome to the mage alliance young mage his voice resonated with a peculiar echo in the vast hall i sense the pure magical energy within you do you wish to learn new spells yen geo stepped forward a semi-transparent skill list unfolding before him fireball lv1 launches three fireballs in succession each dealing 50 spell attack damage casting time 1.5 seconds learning cost 1 silver coin dot earth spike lv1 summons an earth spike from the ground to attack a single target dealing 80 spell attack damage with a chance to stun casting time 1 second learning cost 20 copper coins dot wind blade lv1 releases an invisible wind blade dealing 50 spell attack damage to enemies in a straight line casting time instant learning cost 10 copper coins dot Yanjio looked at the descriptions, then glanced down at the withered soul staff in his hand. He extended his finger and. Tapped on the three skill icons one by one. Ding. You have learned the skill. Fireball. Ding. You have learned the skill. Earthspike. Ding. You have learned the skill. Windblade. He felt that these skills were not as powerful as he had imagined, but then again, his level was not. High. After learning the skills, Yanjio withdrew his hand. Before him, the elderly mage, Alistair, had a strange expression flicker in his. Deep eyes. He sensed an unprecedented magical quality from this young man. Wild, pure, yet with a kind of, almost barbaric physicality. Like, an unrefined or brimming with endless energy, yet being used as a hammer. At that moment, Yen Jiu’s gaze fell on a grey option at the bottom. Of the skill list. Class change he reached out and tapped it, but nothing happened. What about this, he asked succinctly. Alice stares. Thoughts were interrupted. He glanced at the grey option and regained the authority of a mage alliance trainer. That is the class change option. Only when your level reaches LV-10 do you qualify to choose your own path. Class change? Little Kreen’s eyes lit up instantly, and she excitedly leaned forward. Master, master, what can mages change into? This question seemed to touch Alistair’s pride. He straightened his back, his voice carrying an undeniable authority. The path of a mage is the broadest and most profound among all professions. You can choose to specialize in an element and become an elementalist. Of course, you can also explore more primal forces and become a mysterious arcanist. The old mage paused, his bony fingers lightly tracing the air, and several illusory images appeared before him. One image was a blend. Of flames and frost, while another was pure purple arcane energy surging forth. Moreover, one can sign contracts with beings from other worlds. And become a powerful summoner. Even. The old mage’s tone became somewhat subtle as he pointed to an image shrouded in black mist. To explore those forbidden realms, to dance with death and become a necromancer. His words echoed within the cathedral filled with temptation. Each branch. represented a powerful and bright future. Little cream listened, her heart racing, nearly drooling. So, is there a melee class, one that uses weapons, or fists to attack? An untimely voice abruptly interrupted Alistair’s lecture. Yanjio asked this question with a serious expression. He had little interest in those flashy spells. He remained devoted to close combat, a passion that stemmed from his very soul. Fists? Alistair repeated the word first. In shock, then his serious face wrinkled in dismay. Young man, what nonsense are you talking about? His tone grew cold. Magic is a noble and pure art, the crystallization of wisdom. And a warrior relies on brute strength, the path of courage. To conflate the two is a desecration of magic. It is also an insult to warriors. Young man, the old mage’s voice was somewhat dry. The glory of a mage lies in our understanding of the world’s rules, in our exquisite control over magical power. We leverage wisdom and knowledge to wield forces capable of destroying the world. Not, he pondered his words, to solve problems in such a crude manner. He felt that every word he spoke was filled with wisdom, enough to guide any lost young person. After listening, Yen Jio nodded. Oh. So, there isn’t one? The old mage took a deep breath, feeling his blood pressure rise. No. He almost squeezed the words out through clenched teeth. All right. Yen Jio. Sighed, his tone clearly disappointed. This all right, light and airy, left Alistair’s prepared lecture stuck in his throat. He had anticipated the young man’s defiance, arguments. Even anger. What he never expected was this calm, almost indifferent acceptance. It was as if his passionate reprimand had all landed on cotton. A sense of powerlessness surged within Alistair. He looked at Yanjou’s handsome yet unperturbed face for the first time doubting his judgment of character. Had this young man truly given up or did he simply not take his words seriously? Let’s go. He pulled little Cream, who was still pretending to be a mushroom, along. Let’s go level up outside the city. He stepped forward, heading straight for the cathedral’s main door without a hint of nostalgia. That decisive and brisk figure left Alistair completely stunned in place. Little Cream. Hurriedly jogged to catch up. The two exited the cathedral, warm sunlight pouring down on them once more. Little Cream followed behind, her mind still echoing with the old mage. Alistair’s scolding. We’re leaving. Yen Jo’s voice interrupted her thoughts. At the city gate of Maple Leaf City, the crowd was even denser than when they had entered. Players. From the 952766 novice village mingled with NPCs, the sounds of shouting, conversation, and neighing horses creating a noisy yet vibrant symphony, just as they were about. To push through the crowd to exit the city, a cool voice called out to them. Yen Jio. Yen Jio stopped and turned around. It was Ming Yao. She stood with Chang Chang and Luan Gu, looking particularly striking in the crowd. You guys? Ming Yao’s gaze swept over Yen Jio and little cream, finally landing on Yen Jio’s face. What are you preparing to do? Leveling up. Yanjio’s answer was always so simple and direct, Mingyao nodded, this answer was within her expectations. We plan to stroll around the city and see if we, can pick up any hidden quests. She paused and added, the clue mentioned by the barbarian bear might lead us to a breakthrough in the city. Her tone was very calm, yet it, subtly placed herself and Yanjio on the same level. Yanjio merely responded with a mm, indicating he had heard her. Mingyao didn’t seem to expect more of a reaction from him. Her gaze inadvertently drifted to the little cream girl closely following Yanjio. The girl’s figure was alluring, and at that moment, she looked at Yenjiu with admiration. A kind of unreserved trust that seemed ready to overflow. A faint smile curved at the corners of Mingyao’s mouth. Little cream, are you coming along too? Am um. Little cream. Nodded vigorously, puffing out her chest, her voice crisp. Wherever the great god goes, I go. Her words carried a hint of youthful innocence, along with an undeniable declaration. Mingyao’s smile seemed to deepen a little. It seems you two have a really good relationship. Xingqin, standing nearby, looked at her club president with confusion, not understanding why she was so interested in this big -breasted airhead. Luongo remained silent, quietly standing behind Mingyao. In the air, there seemed to be a subtle tension that only women could perceive. Yenzhou saw that they had chatted enough and tugged at Little Cream’s arm. Let’s go. After saying that, he shouldered his staff and was the first to pass through the city gate heading towards the vast wilderness outside the city. Little Cream immediately followed like a happy little tail, running after him. Ming Yao stood in place, watching the two figures, one tall and one short, gradually disappear into the light and shadow at the city gate. The smile on her face had unknowingly faded, replaced by a complex, indescribable emotion. Sister Yao? Qing Qing called softly. Ming Yao did not respond. Her fingers unconsciously tightened at her side, her knuckles turning slightly white from the pressure. After a moment, she slowly relaxed, her voice returning to its usual calm. Let’s go, we have our own business to attend to. She turned around, leading Ching Ching and Luangga back into the bustling streets of Maple Leaf City. Yet that silhouette, compared to when they arrived, carried an unexplainable coldness. Outside the city, the world fell silent in an instant. The clamor of the crowd was left behind, replaced by the desolate sound of the wind blowing through the wild. Grass. The air was filled with the scent of mixed earth and grass, along with a faint, hint of blood. A few ferocious-looking wild wolves were wandering in the nearby wasteland, their muscles bulging, fangs bared, and their dark red eyes glinting with a bloodthirsty light. little cream instinctively activated her detection wild wolves level lv 11 health 1100 attack 68 defense 39 t10 level 11 great god we’re only level 8 the level suppression is too severe why don’t we go back to the novice village to level up there were already fearless people summarizing this on the forum in illusion for every three levels a player is below a monster the monsters attributes receive some enhancement while the player’s damage is slightly reduced However, the exact reduction seems to depend on the amount of damage dealt, and there isn’t a clear formula yet. Nevertheless, Yanjio merely glanced at the wolf’s attributes, and instead of showing fear, a hint of interest appeared on his face. He casually walked over, holding the seemingly unremarkable withered soul staff. The nearest wild wolf had already noticed him, letting out a low growl before transforming into a gray flash. Pouncing fiercely at Yanjio, Yanjio did not dodge. Just as the foul-smelling wolf’s maw was about to brush against the hem of his clothes, he swung the staff in a way that was incongruous with a mage’s identity filled with a sense of violent aesthetics from bottom to top. Bang! A dull thud echoed, enough to make one’s teeth ache, the pitch black. Staff struck solidly against the wolf’s jaw. A blood -red number slowly floated up from the wolf’s head. Minus 1836. Level suppression, the fierce wolf didn’t even let out a howl, its massive body stiffened for a moment in mid-air before it fell to the ground like a puddle of mud, motionless. In that instant, both of their experience bars surged dramatically. Yenjiyo looked at his experience bar, his eye shining. So, defeating monsters above his level grants this much experience? It felt like he had discovered a whole new. World. He turned his head to look deeper into the forest where more shadows of wolves were faintly swaying. Let’s go, he said succinctly to Little Cream. There are more. Inside. Let’s go. He reiterated tersely. There are more inside. Thud. Thud. Thud. The dull thudding sounds rhythmically echoed across the wilderness. Each sound represented. An LV-11, wild wolf, turning into experience points. Yenjo’s movements were incredibly simple, with no unnecessary positioning or flashy techniques. He just walked over, raised, his staff, and struck down. When a wolf lunged at him, he didn’t dodge, he met it head-on with a strike. Dash 1855. Level suppression, Dash 1821. Dash 1831. Weakness critical hit. One by one, the blood-red numbers made little Kreen’s eyelids twitch. She followed behind, like a little girl picking mushrooms, humming a tune as she happily collected the copper coins and materials from the ground into her backpack. The experience bar was rising at a visibly frantic pace. She looked at Yen Jo’s back, the Wu Williams shadow robe. He wore added an inexplicable air of mystery and power to him. Just as they were about to clear the area of wolves, a faint cry for help drifted through the wind from deep, within the forest. Help, is anyone there? Help! The voice was intermittent and filled with fear. Yenjo paused, listening intently, then shouldered his staff and walked toward the source of the sound. Little Cream hurried to keep up. As they passed through a dense thicket, the sight before them made both of them stop in their tracks. A man in leather armor was clinging desperately to a not-so-thick oak tree, his face pale and trembling all over. Below the tree, four wild wolves that were even larger than the ones they had seen before paced back and forth, their crimson eyes fixed on the man in the tree, growling low in their throats. Upon seeing Yenjiyo and Little Cream, the man in the tree seemed to see his saviors, his eyes lighting up instantly. Warriors. Two warriors. Save me. Yenjiyo did not respond immediately. He simply raised his hand and released. A skill he had just learned at one of the wolves. Summon skeleton, a pile of bones rattled on the ground, quickly assembling into a skeleton soldier wielding a bone knife. The skeleton soldier glanced blankly at Yenjiyo, then, upon receiving its orders, marched stiffly toward the wolf. The wolf under the tree was drawn to the sudden appearance. of the bony figure, and one of them impatiently swiped a paw at it. At that moment, when the skeleton drew the fire, Yanjou moved. Wind step, his figure left an afterimage. In place, and he transformed into a bolt, instantly charging into the pack of wolves. One wolf reacted quickly, turning its head to bite. Yanjou’s body tilted at an incredible angle, narrowly avoiding the foul -smelling wolf’s bite. The withered soul staff, in his hand, accompanied by a howling wind, came crashing down on the wolf’s waist. Thud. Dash 3749. Level suppression, the wolf’s body was struck as if hit by a battering ram, its howl caught in its throat as it flew straight out, colliding with another wolf. Before the other three wolves could react, Yenjo’s footsteps did not pause for a moment and the staff in his hand traced black death trajectories. His movements were so agile that he resembled not a mage but rather an assassin dancing on the edge of a blade. Each dodge was perfectly timed and each strike was fierce and precise. Thud. Thud. Two more. Muffled sounds echoed. The remaining two wolves didn’t even manage to touch the hem of his clothes before they followed in their companion’s footsteps. The last wolf that had. Been knocked down had just gotten back on its feet, still unable to let out a roar, when the staff, carrying the aura of death, rapidly enlarged in its field of vision. Thud. The. World fell silent. Little Cream stared wide-eyed at everything happening. The entire process flowed like water, filled with the beauty of violence. From summoning skeletons. To attract attention, to charging into the wolf pack and killing four, it took no more than five seconds. The man in the tree was left dumbfounded, almost forgetting that he was. Still in danger. It wasn’t until Yenjo tapped the tree trunk with the tip of his staff that he snapped back to reality, scrambling down from the tree in a flurry. Brave. Warrior. You. You are truly powerful. The man ran up to Yenjo, his face filled with excitement and admiration for having survived. My name is Buck, I’m a messenger, and I can’t thank you enough. If it weren’t for you, I would have. Been devoured by wolves today. Yenjo merely nodded, remaining silent. Buck carefully pulled out a letter sealed with wax from his pocket and handed it over. Warrior, I have an urgent task that requires your help. This letter must be delivered to the lord of Yunli city as soon as possible, it’s of great importance. But I was delayed by these damned wolves, and now my legs are weak, I really can’t move anymore. Can you help me with this? The lord will surely reward you handsomely. As he finished speaking, a task window popped up in front of Yinjio. Do you accept the task, urgent letter? Little cream leaned in closer, her eyes lighting up at the sight. Of the task. Great God, it’s a delivery task. Such tasks are safe and come with rewards. Yen Jio looked at the yes option and extended his finger. Just as his fingertip was about to touch the screen, his movement halted. His gaze fell on Buck’s hand, which was still offering the letter. Beneath the other sleeve, at the wrist, a black mark resembling twisted vines flickered in and out of view. He had seen that mark before. In that dark, underground laboratory, on the old mage named William. It was identical. Buck seemed to sense Yen Jio’s gaze, and his expression subtly changed, instinctively trying to retract his hand. Warrior, what’s wrong? His voice. Carried a hint of tension that he himself was unaware of. Yen Jio did not answer. He slowly raised the withered soul staff in his hand. The gratitude and sincerity on Buck’s face were instantly replaced by terror. You. Thud. Another dull thud echoed. The terror on Buck’s face froze, he couldn’t even finish a complete sentence before his body fell straight down, dissipating into a wisp of light. A letter dropped onto the grass. gee great god you you killed him little cream was completely stunned looking at the letter on the ground then at the expressionless yenjiu feeling utterly bewildered why wasn’t that an npc for the task yenjiu ignored her shock his attention was entirely drawn to a new system prompt in front of him ding you have triggered a hidden optional task option one deliver the letter to yunli city and hand it to the lord task reward 50 silver coins maple leaf city reputation plus 50 one random black iron equipment dot Option 2. Investigate the secret of the letter. Task reward. Maple Leaf Brotherhood Reputation plus 50. Maple Leaf City Reputation. Maple Leaf Brotherhood Reputation. Yen Jio looked at these two options. The first one had clear and generous rewards, the second option was a mysterious reputation reward filled with unknowns. He hesitated for almost no time at all, his finger directly tapping on the second choice. He chose to investigate the secret of the letter. Little cream froze completely. The city guards will be after us. We’ll become red-named players. Little Cream was so anxious she was about to jump up, she could already imagine the tragic fate of being hunted down by the guards throughout the city. Yen. Joe bent down and picked up the letter that had fallen onto the grass. He didn’t even glance at Little Cream, simply saying in a calm tone he has a problem. After saying that, he pinched the edge of the envelope with two fingers and tore it open forcefully. Rip. The wax seal cracked in response. A piece of yellowed parchment slid out from inside. Yen Joe unfolded the letter and the writing was in an. Elegant cursive script. Little cream, driven by curiosity, leaned in closer, her little head poking beside Yenzhou’s arm. The content of the letter was not complicated. It roughly stated that there was an urgent need for a batch of high-quality bloodflame rubies in the city to be used for crafting a special alchemical potion, hoping that the friends from Yunli City could gather them quickly and secretly. Send them to Maple Leaf City to be handed over to a person named Sir Eisenhardt. At the end of the letter, there was a drawing of a twisted vine-like black mark, identical to the one on Buck’s wrist. Little. Cream gasped after reading it. The fear from earlier was instantly replaced by excitement brought on by the game. This was definitely a hidden quest chain. Moreover, it was a major task related to a mysterious-sounding Maple Leaf Brotherhood. Big God, you’re amazing. How did you know he had a problem? Little Cream’s eyes sparkled with admiration again. Yen Jiu pointed to the mark at the end of the letter. I’ve seen this mark on Mage William. Mage William? Little Cream paused for a moment before recalling the boss that the big god had smashed in the underground laboratory of the novice village. So, that’s how it was. She understood in an instant. This so-called messenger buck was in cahoots with that evil mage William. Then this Sir Eisenhardt must also be up to no good. Little Cream deduced immediately. The letter says we need to go to Yunli City to get a batch of blood flame rubies and then hand them over to the Sir. She rubbed her chin, entering analysis mode like a seasoned player. Blood flame. rubies just the name sounds like a rare material we definitely can’t get any right now how about this i’ll post a question on the game forum later see if there’s any news or if any life players have dug some up we can buy a batch at a high price this was the most prudent and logical approach in a normal game after listening to her lengthy analysis yenjiyo simply shook his head too troublesome little cream’s analysis was interrupted and she blinked ha then what should we do yenjiyo casually crumpled the letter and stuffed it into his pocket then hoisted the withered soul staff onto his shoulder His tone was as flat as if he were saying, let’s go eat. We go directly to the city, find that Sir Eisenhardt. Beat him up or kill him. Little Cream’s expression froze. The air seemed to quiet down. She looked at Yanjou’s serious face, momentarily unable to tell if he was joking or if he really meant it. Her voice even changed pitch. Big God, but he’s a sir. He’s a noble. If we lay hands on a noble in the main city, the guards will turn us into meat paste. Yanjou glanced at her, this wasn’t reality, he could do whatever he wanted in the game. Interrogation is the fastest way to obtain information. Oh, Little Cream replied, already at a loss for words. The two of them walked one after the other, returning once again to the tall city gate of Maple Leaf City. Little Cream’s hand instinctively tightened around the staff, her palm slick with sweat. She kept replaying the impending tragedy in her mind. The alarm echoed throughout the city, countless guards armed with long spears surged in. From all directions, their eyes cold as they surrounded them. Then, numerous sharp weapons fell. Great God, do we really have to go in? Yanzhou ignored her, shouldering his staff and stepping forward towards the city gate. Little cream closed her eyes, adopting a tragic expression as if preparing for a heroic sacrifice, if they were truly besieged, she would use her little life to buy time for the great god, to escape. Then she followed with small, hurried steps. The anticipated alarm did not sound. The imagined roars of the guards did not come. The surroundings remained filled with the noisy crowd and the bustling sounds of vendors. Cautiously, she opened a slit in her eyes. She saw that the patrol of guards at the city gate not only did not draw their weapons, but the leading guard captain, upon seeing Yen, Jio, even stood at attention as before and gave him a standard, respectful military salute. Yen Jio nodded in acknowledgement, a customary return. The entire process was natural and smooth, without any oddities. It was as if the NPC he had just killed outside the city was not a task character, but an ordinary wild rabbit. Little Cream mechanically quickened her pace to his side, gazing up at him with an expression as if looking at a deity. Gee great god. Her voice was as elusive as smoke. How do you know, we won’t be wanted. This completely overturned her gaming understanding of over a decade. Yen Jio. Looked at her with the eyes of someone observing a fool. I don’t know. Little Cream felt a headache coming on, silently following behind Yen Jio, deciding to abandon thought for the remainder of the day. Excuse me, where does Sir Eisenhardt live? Yen Jio stopped a passing merchant and asked directly. The merchant, with a beer belly, paused for a moment at the question, then looked Yen Jio up and down warily. Sir Eisenhardt? What do you want with him? It’s a matter. Yen Jio’s response was as concise as ever. The merchant’s expression changed, and he waved his hands repeatedly, as if afraid of getting into trouble. I don’t know, I don’t know, I know nothing. After saying that, he squeezed into the crowd, fleeing faster than a rabbit. Yen Jio didn’t mind and stopped another guard who was polishing his armor. Sir Eisenhardt. The guard reacted even more strongly than the merchant, tightening his grip on the spear and frowning deeply. Adventurer, I advise you not to inquire about that person. Stay away. From him, it’s for your own good. After saying that, he ignored Yen Jio and turned to continue his patrol. Next, the two wandered aimlessly like headless flies in the commercial district. Yen Jio asked. Everyone he saw. Little Cream also tried to use her sweet voice to get close to some NPCs. However, whenever the name Sir Eisenhardt was mentioned, all the NPCs reacted surprisingly uniformly. Either they fled in terror or warned in vague terms. Not a single person was willing to reveal the specific whereabouts of the nobleman. Great God, what should we do? Little Cream felt a bit disheartened, leaning against. The wall of a tavern with a frown. It seems this nobleman has a bad reputation in the city. No one dares to say where he is. Yanjio stroked his chin, also deep in thought. Just as the two were at. Alas, a clear and familiar voice sounded behind them. Are you looking for Sir Eisenhardt? They turned around. Mingyao stood quietly not far away, accompanied by Qingqing and Luanggu. She seemed to have just. Come from somewhere, holding a half-open manual wrapped in black leather. The manual was filled with densely packed information written in elegant handwriting. How do you know? Little cream instinctively. Asked. Ming Yao did not answer her, only directing her gaze towards Yen Jiu, her bright eyes carrying a hint of understanding. She shook the manual in her hand. I just organized some character information. About Maple Leaf City at the Adventurers Guild. Sir Eisenhardt, the former core girl, was stripped of most of his power for certain reasons, yet he still retains his noble status. He is greedy, has a violent temperament, and has a very poor reputation. It is said that he has countless connections with various criminal forces in the city. Her voice was flat, yet it clearly outlined the background of a character. Xingxing looked at her guild leader with admiration. This is Tinglan Pavilion. This is Mingyao. While others were still worrying about how to level up, they had already begun to establish their own intelligence network. It was the same back in the novice village, if it weren’t for the guild leader, even with Yanjio’s high damage, they wouldn’t have been able to find the dungeon entrance. Yanjio looked at her. Where is he? The corner of Mingao’s mouth curled into a slight arc. This was exactly the result she wanted. She didn’t keep them in suspense and directly flipped through the booklet in her hand, pointing to a page. West of the city, number 17, Zijinghua Avenue. That’s his residence. Receiving a confirmed answer, Yanjio nodded and prepared to set off. Great God, are we going? Now. Little cream followed, her face still showing the relief of having survived a disaster, along with anticipation for the new task. Emem. Yanjio replied, shouldering her staff and ready to leave. Where are you going? Mingyao asked. Yanzhou didn’t turn back, her steps unceasing, to kill that earl. Her tone was flat, as if she were discussing the most ordinary matter. Maybe we can complete a hidden quest. Mingyao’s hand holding the booklet froze in mid-air. She thought she had misheard. Xingqing and Luangu exchanged glances, their faces filled with astonishment. Mingyao looked at the figure that had already taken a few steps away and couldn’t help but ask, Did you just say, kill him? or beat him up? Yanzhou added. Mingyao was completely at a loss for words. Good luck. In the end, Ming Yao only managed to squeeze out those few words through clenched teeth. She chose to give up on persuading them, because she knew very well that any persuasion would be futile for this man. Watching Yen, Joe and Little Cream’s figures disappear around the corner, Ching Ching finally spoke softly. Sister Yao, are they, are they really going to kill an Earl? Are they crazy? Ming Yao closed the booklet in her hand and gently rubbed her temples. He’s just playing this game in his own way. Let’s go. Based on the current intelligence, the old beggar on West Street is very likely to be a fallen member of the temple, we can definitely obtain a hidden quest from him. Zijingua Avenue. The wealthy area in the western part of Maple Leaf City. The architectural style here is completely different from the crowded and noisy commercial district. Each mansion has its own independent courtyard and the roads are lined with blooming Zijingua trees filling the air with a sense of luxury and comfort. Yen Jiu and Little. Cream stood in front of the mansion at number 17 on this avenue. It was an estate surrounded by walls over two meters high, with a black iron gate tightly closed. Two fully armed guards stood at the entrance. Their armor polished to a shine and the long swords at their waists were clearly not ordinary. Great God, how, how do we get in? Little Cream whispered, glancing around like a thief. There are. Guards at the entrance, if we force our way in, will definitely be discovered. Maybe all the guards in Maple Leaf City will be drawn over. Her concerns were not unfounded. Yenjio did not respond, she. simply walked around the high wall for a while until she reached a relatively secluded corner. The wall here was made of huge stone blocks, with a smooth surface that offered almost no footholds for climbing. Little Cream looked up at the wall, utterly despairing. This, this is impossible to climb over. However, before she finished speaking, Yen Jo had already moved. Her toes lightly tapped on several nearly imperceptible small protrusions on the wall, and her whole body leaped upward silently like a weightless feather, his body traced a graceful arc in the air, and with a gentle push against the wall, he flipped over and disappeared inside. The entire process was fluid and silent, without a hint of unnecessary noise. Little Cream stood frozen, her mouth agape. Mimicking Yenjiyo, she took a few steps back, then suddenly dashed forward and jumped up with all her might. However, her fingers barely grazed the cold wall before she helplessly slid down, landing on her backside. Ouch. She rubbed her rear, undeterred, and tried again. The result was the same. Just as she was preparing for a third attempt, a rhythmic sound of footsteps came from around the street corner nearby. A squad of patrolling guards was approaching. Little Cream’s heart raced in fear. At that moment, Yanjio’s voice came from the top of the wall. Wait outside. The voice was not loud, but it reached her ears clearly. Little Cream looked up, but all she saw was an empty wall. Not daring to linger any longer, she quickly hid in the shadows of the nearby flower bushes, holding her breath. Yanjio flipped over the courtyard wall, landing lightly on the soft lawn. The interior of the courtyard appeared even more luxurious than it did from the outside. The neatly trimmed lawn, a rockery constantly gushing with clear spring water, and a winding path made. Of white pebbles led towards the brightly lit main building of the estate. In the air, besides the fragrance of flowers, there was a faint hint of blood. He did not take the conspicuous path but instead moved. Quickly along the shadow of the wall towards the main building. Just as he rounded a flowerbed, he saw two figures standing on the terrace in front of the main building. One was a corpulent man dressed. In an ornate robe sewn with golden thread, the master of the estate, Sir Eisenhardt. The other figure was shrouded in a wide black cloak, obscuring their features. Sir Eisenhard level, LV 14 health, 3000 attack, 105 defense, 89 shadow church liaison, Kalos, elite, level, LV 15 health, 8000 attack, 45 magic attack, 197 defense, 139 skills, shadow arrow, shadow burst, shadow breath, summon shadow, demon, that’s how it is. The cloaked figure spoke in a hoarse voice, as if sandpaper had rubbed against it. The church is very dissatisfied with the progress. If we can’t secure enough sacrifices. Soon, the day of the lord’s descent will be delayed. A hint of obsequiousness mixed with fear appeared on Sir Eisenhardt’s face. Rest assured, my lord, I have already sent someone to urge them. In no more. Then three days, the next batch will definitely arrive. That’s good. The cloaked figure nodded. I’ll take my leave now, you’d better not disappoint me. With that, the cloaked figure turned to leave from the other side of the terrace. Now’s the time. Yenjio’s figure shot out from the shadows like an arrow released from a bow. He did not choose the cloaked figure, who looked more like a leader, but charged. Straight at Sir Eisenhardt. Thud. A dull thump echoed. Yenjo’s staff struck solidly against Sir Eisenhardt’s plump neck. A bright red number floated above the gentleman’s head. Hashtag name? Almost simultaneously. A frosty blue halo suddenly expanded around Yenjo. Frost aura. Hashtag name? Who? Sir Eisenhardt roared in a mix of shock and anger. The response came from Yenjo’s staff. Hashtag name? The fat noblemans. Reaction speed was completely at odds with his size. He didn’t even use any skills, he simply turned around in anger, his fist adorned with gem-encrusted rings, carrying immense force, swung towards Yanjio’s face. Yanjio immediately interrupted his spellcasting, his body leaned back, narrowly avoiding the powerful punch. At the same time, the staff in his hand swung out again, propelled by the inertia of his. Dodge. Thud. Another muffled sound echoed. Sir Eisenhardt’s massive frame suddenly stiffened. The anger on his face froze in an instant, replaced by an expression of disbelief. He slowly lowered his head. And with a thud, fell straight back, kicking up a cloud of dust on the expensive carpet. The battle ended unexpectedly. Ding! You have killed the noble of Maple Leaf City, Sir Eisenhardt. Please eliminate. Witnesses within the time limit, or you will be wanted. The battle concluded so quickly that the figure in the black robe had just finished chanting a summoning spell and was beginning to chant a second. Spell when Yanjio swiftly closed in. Windstep he raised his hand and struck the black -robed figure’s hand, interrupting the spellcasting. Minus 1103 level suppression the black-robed figure staggered back, the ethereal light of the spell dissipating in his hand. Beside him, a swirling mass of shadow energy coalesced into a more than 3 meter tall, grotesque creature. Shadow demon it was pitch black, with bulging muscles, and a pair of crimson eyes locked onto Yenjo. Intruder, you will pay for your recklessness with your soul. Kalos’s voice was no longer hoarse, instead, it carried a chilling. Smoothness. An arrow made of shadow energy formed instantly at his fingertips, shooting towards Yanjio with a sharp whistle. Yanjio did not retreat. He stepped to the left, his body tilting at an almost imperceptible angle. The shadow arrow graced his shoulder, embedding itself in the wall behind him, corroding a hissing black hole. Meanwhile, the shadow demon’s claws were already lunging at him from behind, bringing with it a foul wind. Yanjio didn’t even look back. He surged forward, closing the distance to Kalos once more, his staff drawing a clever arc from below, striking at Kalos’s wrist. Another. Spell was interrupted. But the shadow demon’s attack was upon him. Swish. The claws sliced through the air and Yanjio rolled to evade the strike. Taking advantage of this moment, Kalos floated back. Creating a distance of over 10 meters. He finally had time to complete a full spell. Feel the wrath of my master. He opened his mouth and a thick, inky black breath surged forth like a tide. Shadow. Breath. The black mist covered the entire fan-shaped area ahead, the ground eroding rapidly and even the air seemed distorted. There was no space left for Yanjio to evade. Wind step. His figure left an. After image in place as he dashed towards the source of the breath at a speed that defied the laws of physics. Shadow breath was a continuous skill. Standing still would lead to certain death. The most effective. Way was to rush behind Calus. A cruel smile appeared on Calus’s hooded face. However, in the next second, his smile froze. A figure rapidly appeared behind him. Thud. The third time. The staff struck. Calus squarely in the face. Calus let out a muffled grunt and the shadow breath abruptly ceased. The roar of the shadow demon came from behind, its massive fist crashing down with tremendous force. Yanzhou’s. Body twisted oddly to the side, as that fist, capable of crushing steel, landed heavily on the floor beside him. Boom. The expensive cashmere carpet was smashed into a deep pit, debris flying everywhere. Yet, Yanzhou’s feet never left the 3 meter range in front of Kalos. He didn’t use any flashy skills. Just dodging, then swinging the staff. Dodging, then swinging the staff. Thud. Each attack landed. Precisely on Kalos. Each dodge perfectly avoided the shadow demon’s lethal strikes, his movements were simple to the extreme, yet efficient to the utmost. Kalos was engulfed in an unprecedented frustration. And rage. He was a powerful mage, wielding devastating power. But now, all his spells were being interrupted time and again by this barbaric melee mage in the most primitive way. He felt like a giant stuck. In glue full of strength yet unable to unleash it. Die. Just die. He abandoned the powerful spells that required incantation and began to frantically cast shadow arrows. One after another, the arrows. Shot towards Yenjiyo like a torrential rain. Yenjiyo’s body swayed like willow fluff in the wind. He merely moved within a tiny range, twisting his body. All the shadow arrows landed in empty space. Yet. His staff always found the gaps, striking Kalos accurately. The attacks of the shadow demon grew increasingly violent, each punch and sweep made the entire room tremble. But it could not touch him. It’s. Could never touch that human who kept swaying before its eyes. Kalos’s health points slowly and steadily decreased with each dull thud. 6,000, 3,000, 2,000. When his health dropped below the warning line, Kalis finally felt fear. He stopped attacking. He turned to flee. However, Yen Jio was like a shadow, always following. Thud. Kalis stumbled, nearly falling to the ground. The fervor and brutality in his eyes were completely replaced by terror. No, you can’t kill me. I am the liaison of the shadow church. If you kill me, the church will not let you go. Yen Jio ignored his threats. What answered him was. Another cold strike from the staff. Kalos’s last health points were completely drained. His body, shrouded in a black robe, frozen place, then slowly disintegrated like a handful of sand, leaving only a black robe and a few gleaming items. With his death, the frenzied shadow demon let out a reluctant wail, transforming into a wisp of black smoke that dissipated into the air. Ding. You have eliminated. All witnesses. Ding. Congratulations, your level has risen to LV9. Ding. Talent war god effect enhanced, melee damage amplification increased to 180 times. Ding. Congratulations, Strength plus 1, Agility. Plus 1, Intelligence plus 1, Spirit plus 1, Constitution plus 1 Ding. Congratulations, you have gained 5 free attribute points. Current free attribute points 70. Yen Jio walked over to the corpse of Sir Eisenhardt, bending down to pick up the items he had dropped. A beautifully designed key and a heavy pouch of coins. Eisenhardt’s Manor key pouch filled with gold coins, opens to obtain 5 gold coins. He then walked to the place where Kalos had disintegrated. A black iron level mage robe, a skill book, and a letter made of special material. Skill book, shadow arrow Yanjio didn’t even look at it and learned it directly. It seemed that the drops from such special characters were not abundant, Yanjio sighed. He picked up the letter. The envelope was unsealed, and he pulled out the letter inside. The content made him furrow. His brow slightly. Dear Kalos, how is the sacrificial ritual in Maple Leaf City progressing? The blood flame in the south is ready, as long as you can open the gate on your side, we can proceed to the next step at any time. Remember, the arrival of our Lord must not fail at this crucial moment. Your friend, Angmar. At the end of the letter, the same twisted vine-like black seal was drawn. Ding. You have completed the task, the Shadows Conspiracy. Please find the traces of the Maple Leaf Brotherhood to complete the task. Ding. You have triggered a hidden task, the Shadows Conspiracy, 2. Task. Content. Investigate the truth of the sacrificial ritual and the gate and stop the plans of the Shadow Church. Yen Jo scratched his head, they didn’t even provide a place to turn in the task.He tucked the letter into his chest and turned towards the high walls of the manor. He took a few steps back, ran forward, and with one hand pushed off the rough edge of the wall, flipping over like a nimble. Raccoon. Outside the wall, little cream was curled up in the shadow of a large tree, hugging her knees like a frightened rabbit. Upon seeing Yen Jo’s figure, she quickly stood up and nervously brushed off the grass clippings from her skirt. Great god, you. She wanted to ask if he had found it, but the words caught in her throat. Was there even a need to ask? Yanjio walked towards her and nodded. I. Killed it. Just as she thought. Little cream was completely numb. From the goblin lair to the bandit camp and now to this obviously formidable noble manner. Her threshold for the word surprise had been. Infinitely raised by this man. She simply let out an O. Completely lacking the energy for astonishment. So, what do we do next? Yanjio took the letter that had fallen from Kalos out of his backpack. And handed it to her. Little cream took it quickly reading through it in the moonlight. Sacrifice ritual? door her small face was filled with seriousness great god this task seems quite serious yen joe shared the new task prompt with her please find the traces of the maple leaf brotherhood and complete the task dot maple leaf brotherhood little cream read the name aloud then looked up in confusion where do we find that there isn’t even a hint yen joe shrugged indicating that he didn’t know either the two of them stood outside the silent manor staring at each other the only sound in the air was the monotonous chirping of insects Yenjio glanced at the system countdown appearing on his arm, time was running out. I’ll head down first. Ah? Oh, okay. Little Kreen nodded and looked back. At the manor shrouded in shadows. Great god, you go ahead. I’ll look around here a bit more to see if I can find any clues. Yenjio said nothing more and his figure slowly faded away, disappearing. Consciousness returned to his body and Yenjio sat up in bed. The curtains were not drawn and the chaotic city outside still flickered with scattered lights, casting the room in a dim, flickering glow. The countdown on his arm had vanished. This time, the game time was just right, exactly 6 hours. He picked up his phone. From the bedside, the screen lit up and a series of text notifications popped up one after another. Your account ending in XXXX received a deposit of 300,000 renminbi at 21,32. Your account ending in XXXX received a deposit of 280,000 renminbi at 21,33. Your account ending in XXXX received a deposit of 630,000 renminbi at 21,35. One after another, they almost flooded the screen. Adding them up, the total exceeded 4 million. Yenjo stared at the long string of numbers for a long time. So much money. He was a bit dazed. In. His life, he had never seen so much money before. In the past, when sparring with ancient martial arts masters, money came quickly and went just as fast, mostly used to cover medical expenses and venue. Damages. After becoming a police officer, he earned just a meager salary each month, and with his large appetite, it barely covered rent and living expenses. Now, how should he spend it? His mind was a bit overwhelmed. After a moment, he slapped his thigh. First, he would go have a good meal. Once that thought emerged, it could no longer be suppressed. He jumped off the bed, changed into a clean outfit, and opened the door to his room. The hallway lights were broken, casting a dim light. Just then, the door next door creaked open. A graceful figure leaned against the doorframe, appearing before. Him. It was Sister Su, the landlord. She was wearing a dark green cross-collared cheapow, the neckline slightly open, revealing her delicate collarbone. A subtle fragrance instantly filled the air. Upon seeing Yen Jiu, her previously sleepy eyes immediately brightened, she twisted her water snake-like waist and took a few steps closer to Yen Jiu. The warm, fragrant breath gently brushed against Yen. Jiu’s ear. Xiao Yen, are you tired? Yen Jiu instinctively scratched his head. But as he looked at Sister Su’s face, which still appeared radiant and charming in the dim light, he inexplicably spoke. Uh, Sister Su, let me treat you to a meal. Sister Su froze completely. Her enchanting eyes blinked in disbelief, as if she doubted she had heard correctly. Then, a mix of ecstasy and astonishment blossomed. On her face. You, you finally came to your senses? She took a step forward excitedly, her body almost pressing against Yenjo. Come on, what do you want to eat? Sister will take you to have. Something good. Yenjo shook his head. No. I just made some money playing games. Thank you for taking care of me all these years. The smile on Sister Su’s face stiffened for a moment but it quickly melted back into an even brighter one than before. Finally, Sister Su let out a soft laugh. She reached out her hand, painted with bright red nail polish and happily linked her arm with Yen. Jiu’s pressing her body closely against him. That astonishingly soft touch came through the thin fabric. Alright. Her voice returned to that charming tone. Then let’s sister see what our Xiao Yen has. earned, and what good things he can treat sister to. She pulled Yen Jio and walked into the dark corridor. There were no lights in the corridor, the darkness was thick like ink, swallowing all light. Sister Su’s body was pressed against him, the silk fabric of her chipao smooth and cool, transmitting a heart -fluttering warmth through the thin layer of clothing. They walked one after the other down. The creaking wooden stairs. Below the old residential building was a semi-open parking lot, where a few dim yellow streetlights barely dispelled the darkness in the corners. Sister Su released his. Arm rummaged through her handbag for a car key and pressed a button. Not far away, a sleek red sports car flashed its lights twice, emitting a low response. That dazzling red stood in stark contrast to the surrounding dilapidated environment. She tossed the key to Yanjio, creating a graceful arc in the air. You drive. Yanjio reached out to catch it, the cold metal of the key resting in his palm. He looked down at the car emblem in his palm, then looked up at the flashy sports car. I don’t really like driving, he answered honestly. Sister Su paused for a moment, then covered her mouth. and let out a series of light, bell-like laughs. The laughter echoed in the silent parking lot, carrying a hint of helplessness and a touch of indulgence. She swayed her body as she walked over, took the key back from Yenjo’s hand, and opened the driver’s side door. Get in, my big boss. The low roar of the sports car’s engine sounded like a beast awakening. Sister Su skillfully maneuvered the steering wheel, and the vehicle smoothly drove out of the parking lot, merging into the empty streets of the late night. Outside the car window, the city rapidly receded in a blur of neon in firelight. So, tell me, having made a lot of money, where are you planning to take sister to see the world? Sister Su held the steering wheel with one hand, her other hand propping up her chin, her profile. Particularly captivating in the shifting light. Suddenly, a chubby colleague from the squad, who loved to boast, flashed into Yanzhou’s mind, bragging about having dined at Tian Shang building. Tian. Shang building, he uttered those three words. Sister Su’s foot on the gas pedal paused imperceptibly. She turned her head, looking at Yanzhou with some surprise, as if she were meeting him for the first time. That place isn’t cheap. M-m. Yanjio replied, not elaborating further. Sister Su didn’t press for more details, but the curve of her lips became even more pronounced. She suddenly pressed. The gas pedal, and the red sports car let out a roar, transforming into a streak of light, disappearing at the end of the long street. Tian Shang building, located in the most prosperous area of the city. Center, was an ancient-style building with flying eaves and bracketed roofs, exuding a sense of luxurious independence amidst the surrounding concrete jungle.A heavy red carpet lay at the entrance. flanked by two imposing stone lions. As the sports car came to a stop, a sharply dressed doorman approached and respectfully opened the car door. Yanjio stepped out from the passenger seat, his faded t-shirt and jeans clashing somewhat with the opulence surrounding him. A slender hostess walked over. She glanced at Yanjio, although her face wore a professional smile, it didn’t reach her eyes. Good afternoon, sir. Do you have a reservation? Her tone was polite but carried a hint of formal detachment. Before Yanjio could respond, Sister Su had already come over from the other side and naturally linked her arm with his. The expression on the hostess’s face changed instantly. The professional smile was quickly replaced by a genuine respect and warmth. She bent her waist lower. Ms. Soo. Welcome. Soojin merely nodded slightly. Please arrange a quieter spot for me. Of course, Ms. Soo, this way please. The hostess immediately stepped aside, bowing slightly in a gesture of invitation. Her attitude exceedingly humble. Soojinjin ignored the hostess further and leaned more closely against Yenjo. She leaned in to whisper in his ear, her breath fragrant. So, shall we sit in? The hall or? Yenjio glanced around, the hall was bustling with noise and clinking glasses. Since we’re here, let’s go to a private room. His thought was simple, he just wanted a quiet place to enjoy a meal. Sujinjin chuckled softly. I’ll follow your lead. Under the hostess’s guidance, they passed through a corridor adorned with intricate carvings and arrived to the private room named, Listening to the Rain Pavilion. Pushing open the heavy wooden door, a subtle sandalwood fragrance wafted out. The room was decorated in an antique style, with a massive round table made of redwood at its center, and outside the window was a small, exquisite Jiangnan-style garden. The waiter presented two thick menus that resembled dictionaries. Yanjio flipped one open casually. Boiled cabbage. 888, Buddha jumps over the wall. 3888. Even the most ordinary seasonal vegetable was priced in the triple digits. He flipped through expressionlessly, as if perusing a regular picture book. He ordered a few dishes that looked somewhat appealing in the pictures. Then he pushed the menu in front of Sujinjin. Sujinjin didn’t look at the menu, she simply rested her chin on her hand, gazing at him. Intently. Whatever you order, I’ll eat. Yenjio had no choice but to order a few lighter dishes for her. The waiter respectfully took the menu and stepped out. Soon, exquisite dishes that resembled. Works of art were served one after another. White porcelain plates with gold trim, each dish exuding an enticing aroma. Yenjio picked up his chopsticks and took a bite. The taste was indeed good, but. The portions were too small, gone in just a few bites. Sujinjin ate delicately, her movements graceful. Most of the time, she was watching Yanzhou rather than the food in front of her. The meal ended. In a somewhat subtle atmosphere. The waiter entered with the bill, presenting it with both hands. Yanzhou took it and glanced at the total. 18,000 yuan. His hand holding the bill paused. In mid-air. Although there were millions in his account, the string of numbers still struck him hard. 18,000. That was the amount he would have to save for a long time as a police officer. just like that it was gone for a meal a sense of absurdity washed over him he silently pulled out his wallet from his pocket took out a regular savings card and handed it over charge it the waiter respectfully accepted it and turned to leave the private room fell silent again sujinjin picked up her teacup and gently blew on the floating tea leaves what’s wrong are you feeling the pinch yenjio shook his head it’s not that he answered earnestly i just feel that spending this money doesn’t feel like anything Sujinjin set down her teacup and laughed. Silly boy. Isn’t money meant to be spent? If you can spend it without feeling anything, it means you’ve really made a lot of money. Soon, the waiter returned with the bank card and the bill. The two stood up and left the private room. They walked through the resplendent corridor and exited the grand doors of Tian Shang building. The evening breeze carried a hint of coolness, dispersing the warmth of the food and drink on their bodies. The doorman had already brought the red sports car over, parking it at the entrance. Sujinjin did not rush to get in the car. She turned around, facing Yanzhou, her entire body almost pressed against him. The curves outlined by her chipow appeared even more breathtaking in the night and the lights. She leaned close to Yanzhou’s ear, her warm breath mingling with a faint scent of wine and perfume, drifting into his ear. We’ve eaten and drunk. Have you thought about which hotel to go to next? Her tone lingered, carrying a hook. Yanzhou scratched his head, seemingly pondering the question seriously. After a moment, he gave his answer. Let’s go back, I still need to practice. A hint of resentment appeared on Soojinjin’s face. I thought you finally got it, you brat. The images in the author’s words, the high heels are too beautiful, so they weren’t deleted for aesthetics QAQ. She looked at the man beside her, who was seriously gazing at the rapidly retreating street scene, his profile appearing somewhat cold and hard in the flowing light. After a moment, she couldn’t help but chuckle softly. In that laughter, there was helplessness, annoyance, and a hint of indulgence she herself had not noticed. The red silhouette once again blended into the city’s night. Back at the old residential building, the two walked up the creaking stairs, one after the other. The corridor lights were still broken, and darkness hung like a heavy curtain. Good night. Yenjio stopped in front of his door. M-m-m. Sujinjin replied, her voice revealing. No emotion. She opened her door, her graceful figure disappearing behind it, leaving only a faint, almost imperceptible scent. Yenjio also pushed open his door and locked it behind him. The 18.000 dishes in his stomach seemed to have brought him little sense of fullness. He walked to the table and tore open a package of braised beef noodles. Hot water poured into the bowl, the rising. Steam blurring his face. Three minutes later, he held the bowl and began to slurp the noodles. It was still this taste, solid and reassuring. After finishing the noodles, he washed the bowl and chopsticks. Then in the small space in the center of the room, he took off his shirt. He assumed a stance and began to practice. There was no earth-shattering momentum, only the most basic movements. Sweat. Trickled down his well-defined back, soaking the floor with dark marks. This was a habit ingrained in his bones, more important than eating or sleeping. An hour later, he stopped, his muscles trembling. Slightly, a refreshing sensation after a thorough workout. He took a shower, the cold water washing away the heat and fatigue from his body. Then, he collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep. The next day, at the city squad. In the office, the cold air from the air conditioning dispersed the morning’s heat. Yenjio sat at his desk holding a cup of hot tea, his mind still on that deposit of over 4 million. Should he get a bigger house? Hey, have you heard? You can now exchange gold coins for money in illusion. The official trading platform is out. His chubby colleague Wang Chang leaned in, lowering his voice, looking mysterious. Is that true? What’s the exchange rate? Another colleague immediately showed interest. 1 to 10,000. 1 gold coin equals 10,000 yuan. I killed wild boars half the night yesterday and only got 20 copper coins. And the price? Seems to be fluctuating, it just rose to 1 to 13,000. Excitement was written all over the colleague’s face. Damn, that whiteboard axe I got yesterday sold for 5 silver coins, doesn’t that mean I hit the jackpot? Li Wei slapped his thigh, his eyes shining. What jackpot? 5 silver coins is just over 500. Look at those experts on the forum. Yesterday, a guild posted a video of defeating the Black Iron boss, the Rabbit King, and one piece of Black Iron equipment sold for 130,000. A collective gasp echoed in the office. Yen Jiu quietly took a sip of tea. The morning flew by amidst his colleagues’ enthusiastic discussions about Illusion Realm. At noon, Yen, Joe didn’t return to his rental apartment but instead found a small stir-fry restaurant near the police station. He sat at a greasy table and picked up the menu. In the past, his gaze would subconsciously linger on the prices. Today, he merely glanced at the dish names and chose a few of his favorites. Boss, one serving of garlic pork, one serving of boiled fish, one serving of couple’s lung slices, and three buckets of rice. Alright, not having to fuss. Over a few dozen yuan difference felt quite nice, Yen Joe thought. After finishing his meal, he strolled back to his rental apartment. The hallway was very quiet, there was no sound from Sister Su’s room next door, and he couldn’t tell if she was still in bed or playing a game. He returned to his room and locked the door behind him. The familiar motion was done in one smooth action. He sat on the edge of the bed, and a blue virtual interface appeared on his arm. Yen Jio didn’t hesitate, with a thought he activated it. Enter game as the countdown ended, his consciousness detached, and before him transformed into an endless sea of stars. A cold mechanical voice echoed in his mind. Welcome back to Illusion Realm, and enjoy your game. The light faded. He still stood outside the high walls of that luxurious manor. Yanjio opened his friend list. Little Kreen’s name was Gray. She hadn’t logged in yet. The quest. Prompt still hovered in the corner of his vision. Please find the traces of the Maple Leaf Brotherhood to complete the quest. Yanjio put away the manor key and turned to walk towards the center of Maple Leaf City. Being alone made it. More convenient to act. The streets of Maple Leaf City were as lively as ever. Players and NPCs mingled together with the sounds of vendors, the clanging from the blacksmith’s shop and the ruckus from the tavern creating a vibrant scene. Yanjio’s goal was clear. He navigated through the crowded throng and headed straight for a group of patrolling guards. The captain of the guards was the same one who had saluted him earlier. Hello, Yanjio stopped him. The guard captain straightened up upon seeing him, a hint of respect on his face. Sir, how may I assist you? Do you know about the Maple Leaf Brotherhood? Yanjio asked directly. The respect on the guard captain’s face vanished. In an instant, replaced by extreme vigilance and seriousness, his grip on the spear tightened. Sir, I’m not sure what you’re talking about. Almost as soon as the guard finished speaking, a system prompt popped up in front of Yanjio. Warning, due to your public mention of a wanted organization within Maple Leaf City, reputation-1. The guard captain’s body tensed even more. Adventurer, I don’t care where you heard that name. In Maple Leaf City, that name is taboo. If you don’t want to be thrown into the dungeon, never mention it again. With that, he no longer looked at Yen Jio and continued patrolling with his fellow guards, marching in unison as if avoiding a plague. Yen Jio. Scratched his head. It seemed this brotherhood was more troublesome than he had imagined. Asking directly wouldn’t work. He didn’t seek out other NPCs. Instead, he began to wander around the city but his steps were purposeful. The. Letter mentioned a sacrifice ritual and the door. These things couldn’t just appear out of nowhere. He walked through the bustling commercial district, pausing for a moment in front of the alchemy shop and the magic materials store. He found no clues related to the blood flame ruby. He then circled around to the slums. The air here was foul, the streets narrow, and the houses on either side were dilapidated. A few ragged NPCs huddled in the corners, numbly, watching the passers-by. This didn’t seem like a place to hide secrets either. Maple Leaf City was vast finding a deliberately hidden organization here is like searching for a needle in a haystack. Time passed second by second. Yen. Jio finally arrived near the city gate. Under the tall city gate, the flow of people and carriages was incessant. Those leaving the city, those entering, the guards were meticulously checking every carriage and questioning every suspicious person. Yen Jio did not move. He simply leaned against a wall not far from the city gate, quietly observing. His profession was that of a police officer, observation and waiting were ingrained in his very bones. A cart. Transporting weed beer was carefully inspected and then allowed to pass. A merchant’s package was completely emptied to confirm there were no contraband items. Several players who appeared to be acting suspiciously were stopped by the guards and taken aside for repeated questioning. Everything seemed orderly and well defended. At that moment, a very ordinary-looking black carriage slowly approached the city gate. The carriage bore no family crest, and the driver had a face that could easily be lost in a crowd. As usual, the guard stepped forward to conduct a check. The driver pulled something from his pocket and discreetly slipped it into the captain of the guard’s hand. It was a small bag of coins glinting with a silver sheen in the sunlight. The guard captain paused for a moment. He weighed the bag of coins in his hand and then waved it off. Go on. The other guards did not approach again. The black carriage passed. Through the checkpoint without even lifting the curtain, heading out of the city. The entire process was astonishingly quick. The surrounding players and NPCs seemed oblivious to this small anomaly. But Yen Jio saw it. He straightened. Up, adjusted the withered soul staff on his shoulder, and then followed. His steps were slow, blending into the crowd of people leaving the city, drawing no one’s attention. After the black carriage exited the city gate, it began to accelerate along the official road. Yenjio also stepped out of the city gate. He did not take the official road but turned into the woods beside the road. The shadows in the forest provided the best cover. Wind step. His figure left a residual shadow in place and he transformed into a gust of wind, silently weaving through the woods. The carriage jolted along the official road. He sped through the forest. The two maintained a distance that was neither too far nor too close. The carriage bumped along the official road for about five or six minutes before finally turning into a secluded clearing in the woods. The wheels crunched over the dry leaves, making a rustling sound, and, finally came to a stop. The driver jumped down from the carriage and respectfully opened the rear door of the carriage. Four figures stepped out of the carriage in succession. The leader was a man dressed in a black robe similar to that of Calus but his aura was colder holding a staff embedded with a skull. Behind him were three similarly dressed black-robed attendants but they were much shorter in stature. shadow cult captain barlow elite level lv 13 health 4000 attack 50 magic attack 245 defense 140 skills summon shadow demon shadow arrow shadow breath shadow burst dot shadow attendant level lv 9 health 2500 attack 60 defense 40 the leading black robed man barlow commanded in a hoarse voice prepare the crystal i need to contact lord angmar yes the three attendants responded in turn to retrieve something from the carriage a shadow shot out from the forest’s shadows without warning wind step Yenjo’s target was not the seemingly strongest Captain Barlow, but rather the three attendants who were only level 9. The withered soul staff in his hand traced a simple trajectory in the air, striking precisely on the head of the nearest shadow attendant. Thud. Minus 2703. A massive damage number floated up from the attendant’s head. No wails. No struggles. The body of the shadow servant didn’t even have time to react before it transformed into a white light and vanished. The other two servants froze. Barrow also stood still. The entire clearing in the forest fell into a strange, eerie silence. Yanzhou’s movements did not stop. He stepped forward, sweeping his staff. Minus 2 ,693. Minus 2,698. Two more damage numbers appeared. The other two shadow servants followed in their companion’s footsteps, not even able to utter a single line before turning into experience points. From Yanzhou’s appearance to the elimination. Of the three servants, the entire process took no more than three seconds. Baro finally reacted, his hooded face turning towards Yanjio, his voice filled with shock and anger. Who are you? Yanjio did not answer. He had already. Rushed to Baro’s side. Baro reacted quickly, the skull staff in his hand glowing with a ghostly light as a shadow energy ball the size of a human head rapidly condensed. However, Yanjio was faster. Bang. The staff came. Down once more. Hashtag name? Baro’s spell was interrupted, the condensed shadow ball dissipating in his hand. He staggered back a step, trying to create some distance. You dare to obstruct the plans of the shadow church. You will pay. For this. Yenjio gave him no chance to breathe, following closely like a shadow. Another heavy blow. Hashtag name? Barrow completely abandoned his spellcasting, roaring in anger as he swung the skull staff directly at Yenjio’s head. Yenjio slightly tilted his body, dodging this aimless strike. At the same time, his staff jabbed upward at an awkward angle, striking Barrow’s chin. Hashtag name? Barrow’s health points plummeted rapidly under this series of simple yet. Brutal attacks. His proud shadow magic had no opportunity to be unleashed in front of this savage melee mage. Who, who are you? A hint of fear crept into his voice. The response to him was still the cold staff. Hashtag name? Barrows. Final health points were depleted. He fell to the ground, filled with unwillingness, turning into a pile of dropped items. The battle was over. Yenjiyo glanced at his experience bar, which had increased a notch. He bent down and picked. Up Barrows dropped items. No equipment. Not even a coin pouch. Just a map drawn on some kind of animal skin. Yanjio frowned. These guys from the Shadow Church were all poorer than the last. He tucked the map into his pocket and turned his gaze towards the black carriage. The cargo. He recalled Barrow’s earlier words. He also remembered the sacrifice and cargo he had heard in the Duke’s mansion. He walked to the side of the carriage and reached out to pull open the tightly shut door. A mixed stench of sweat and fear rushed out. Inside the carriage, the light was dim. Several small figures were piled together like bags of potatoes. They were all wearing tattered coarse cloth. Clothes, their faces abnormally flushed, eyes tightly closed, seemingly in a deep coma. They were children. Seven or eight kids, no more than five or six years old. Yen Jo’s movements halted. His hand instinctively tightened around. The staff. These were the cargo and sacrifices they spoke of. He silently closed the carriage door, leaning against the side, scratching his head. What to do? Leaving these children here was definitely not an option. Sending them. Back to Maple Leaf City? The guards at the city gate were clearly in cahoots with these people. sending them back would be like returning sheep to the wolf’s mouth for a moment he found himself in a dilemma this was far more troublesome than fighting a boss he opened his friend list he saw that familiar id ming yow he hesitated for a moment but still clicked on the chat box the road to the left of the city towards the wild wind forest follow the path a black carriage with seven unconscious children inside do you have any way to handle this i have something else to do i’m leaving first send out he didn’t wait for a response and directly closed the chat window he believed that with the capabilities of tinglon pavilion and mingyao handling this matter would be more efficient than his own solitary efforts he unfolded the beast skin map he had just received the map was somewhat rough in its drawing but the route was clear starting from this clearing in the woods and heading north about five kilometers in there was a symbol resembling a cave marked in red paint next to the symbol two words were written in the common tongue altar Yanjio put away the map and took one last look at the cart carrying the children. After waiting for a few minutes, he saw Mingyao and the others approaching with an old beggar. Yanjio did not go over to greet them. He shouldered his staff and turned to stride in the direction marked on the map. North of the wild wind forest was a denser primeval forest. Towering ancient trees obscured the light, with only model shadows filtering through the gaps in the leaves, falling onto the thick layer of dead leaves. The air was filled with a cool, dampness that had not seen sunlight for years. Yen Jiu walked forward, matching his steps to the beast skin map, his feet sinking and rising unevenly. The sound of his cloth shoes crunching on the dry twigs and leaves was the only noise in this dead silence. After about 10 minutes, a slightly open area appeared ahead. Several figures in tattered black robes were aimlessly wandering in the woods. Their movements were stiff, their expressions numb, like puppets that had lost their souls. Shadow Church Low Level Followers Level, LV11 Health, 2600 Attack, 70 Defense, 40 Skill, Shadow. Arrow Yen Jiu’s steps did not pause for a moment. One of the followers noticed him, sluggishly raising a hand as a mass of shadow energy began to gather in its palm. Yenzhou’s figure had already swept past it. Bang. Minus 2705. A bright red. Number floated up from above the follower’s head. Its body didn’t even sway, it directly transformed into a white light and vanished. The spell’s gathering was interrupted. Yenzhou’s momentum did not decrease, he drew a simple arc. With his staff and struck at the neck of the second follower. Bang. Minus 2697. Another white light. But commotion here finally alerted the other followers nearby. They all turned around, and shadow arrows began to form in their hands. Yen Jio ignored the arrows flying toward him. His body weaved through the trees, his steps peculiar, always managing to avoid those attacks with minimal movement. Shadow arrows grazed the hem of his clothes, embedding themselves in. The trunks behind him, corroding small holes that emitted black smoke. Bang! Bang! The dull thudding sounds echoed continuously in the forest. Each sound represented the disappearance of a follower. Dealing with these LV-11 monsters would not trigger level suppression. His staggering 180-fold melee amplification turned every physical attack into a devastating blow. It only took two strikes. He cleared the area and continued deeper into the forest. Along the way, he encountered several waves of scattered followers. He did not take detours. Nor did he sneak around. He simply carried his staff and strode forward. Anyone blocking his path was cleared away in the most direct manner. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! This monotonous yet efficient clearing work lasted for about 10 minutes. The scene before him suddenly opened up. He emerged from the dense forest to stand beneath a massive cliff. In front of the cliff was a circular, clearing that had been artificially cleared. At the center of the clearing stood a bizarre altar. The altar was made of some black rock inscribed with twisted and sinister runes, and at the very center of the altar, a gigantic blood-red cross was firmly fixed in place. A man was bound in a humiliating position to the cross by thick black chains. He wore a simple gray mage robe, stained with dust and dried blood. His hair was disheveled, and with his head bowed. His face was obscured. Dark red light flowed along the black chains, as if they were living things, deeply embedded in his flesh. Next to the altar stood another figure in a black robe. His robe was more exquisite than those of. Calus and Barlow, with intricate silver thread embroidery along the edges, and he held a staff set with a massive ruby. Just standing there, he exuded a chilling sense of oppression that filled the entire clearing. Shadow Church. Bishop, Angmar, Black Iron Boss, Level, LV 15 Health, 10,000 Magic Attack, 350 Defense, 180 Skills, Corrupt Earth, Summon High Level Shadow Demon, Shadow Arrow, Shadow Breath, Shadow Shield, Demon Contract Angmar had not noticed. Yen Jiu, who had reached the edge of the forest. His attention was entirely on the Bound Mage. Star Walker, a mage who studies the paths of stars and time. Angmar spoke, his tone laced with a condescending admiration. I envy your. Lineage, it’s rarer than that of dimensional mages. If it weren’t for several archbishops personally intervening, I might never have the chance to meet such lofty figures as you. A small character like me shouldn’t be here to interrogate you, but the archbishop has assigned me an important task. As long as you are willing to cooperate and help me open this door. I could even invite you to witness the great moment of our lord’s arrival. The mage on. The cross stirred slightly. He slowly raised his head, revealing a face marred with blood yet still distinctly defined. His lips were cracked, but he uttered two words with remarkable clarity. No way. The voice was hoarse, yet it carried an unbreakable pride. Dogs of the Shadow Church, your conspiracy will not succeed. The stars will not allow me to do such a thing. Angmar let out a light laugh. So stubborn. Do you think that if you don’t cooperate, I will have no way? Their souls and flesh are equally fine fuel. It’s just that using your power to open it would be more stable and quicker. It seems I can only let you see for yourself how ridiculous your persistence is. The Archbishop will be here soon to witness the death of the Starwalker and this great moment of opening the door. Ongmar raised his staff. The ruby at the top of the staff suddenly blazed with blinding light. At that moment, a series of system notifications sounds echoed in Yenzhou’s mind. Ding. You have completed the task. Investigate the secret of the letter. Ding. You have triggered the follow-up task. The Conspiracy of Shadows. Ding. You have triggered a hidden class change task. Save the Starwalker. Astrolos. The Riftweaver. The Conspiracy of Shadows. Destroy the altar. Kill Bishop Ongmar. Save the Starwalker Astrolos, the Riftweaver. Rescue the Starwalker before the Archbishop. Arise. Remaining time 4 colon 59 slash 5 colon 00. Yen Jio shouldered his staff and stepped out from the shadows of the forest. His movement finally caught Angmar’s attention. Angmar turned his head, his eyes hidden beneath the hood falling on. Yen Jio. He seemed somewhat surprised. An adventurer? How did you find your way here? His tone carried a hint of displeasure at being disturbed. Yen Jio did not answer his question. He merely glanced at Angmar and then at the mage on the cross. Then, he pointed his staff at Angmar. Let’s have a fight. His tone was flat, as if he were simply commenting on the nice weather. Angmar was taken aback. The starwalker on the cross suddenly lifted his head, looking at the man who had appeared out of nowhere with an expression of disbelief. The entire clearing fell into an eerie silence. Angmar seemed to be laughing in anger. Want to fight? With you? First, let your mentor teach you how. To wheel this staff. Then Angmar began to chant a spell. Yanjio scratched his head, shouldering the withered soul staff, and charged towards the center of the altar. Angmar’s chanting abruptly stopped mid-charge. An arrow, infused, with dense shadow energy and trailing a long purple flame, whistled towards Yanjio’s face. Its speed was twice as fast as any shadow arrow he had encountered before. Yanjio did not stop his steps. Just as the arrow was about to touch his body, he stepped to the left. The tilt of his body formed a slight angle. The shadow arrow grazed past the tip of his nose, crashing heavily into the mountain wall behind him. Boom. Debris flew, and a pit over half a meter. Deep exploded in the hard rock wall, the edges still emitting hissing corrosive black smoke. The star walker on the cross, for the first time, showed a flicker of disturbance in his gray eyes. At this distance, at this speed, he. Actually dodged it. Yanjio had already charged in front of Angmar. The withered soul staff in his hand came down towards Angmar’s head without any fancy techniques, cutting through the air with a whoosh. Angmar didn’t even have time. To react. Thud. A dull impact sounded. A damage number that wasn’t particularly high floated above the bishop’s head. Minus 812. Level Suppression Angmar staggered back two steps, the blood bar above his head visibly dropping a small segment. Angmar seemed momentarily stunned, then a low, disdainful chuckle came from beneath his hood. A mage who only knows how to use brute force? What an insult to the elements. Did your mentor not teach you what real magic? Is? Angmar raised his red gem staff. Let me show you what true destruction is. A circle of dark purple translucent shield instantly enveloped him. Shadow shield. The moment the shield formed, Angmar showed no hesitation and immediately began chanting a more complex incantation. Beneath his feet, a massive magic circle composed of countless sinister runes began to spin rapidly, emitting an ominous red light. This was a precursor to a summoning spell. Yen. Joe’s face remained calm and unperturbed. A colorless blade of wind brushed against the shield and instantly released. Wind blade. Minus 1170. A damage number jumped from Angmar’s shadow shield, and the shield’s glow dimmed slightly. Immediately after, a small surge of orange-red flames erupted from Yen Zhou’s palm, roaring like a fire dragon, instantly engulfing Angmar’s figure. Dragon Breath. Minus 570. Minus 570. Under the dual erosion of frost and flame, that’s solid. Shadow Shield barely held for less than two seconds before emitting a sound like shattering blast, turning into countless specks of light. The flames of Dragon Breath continued to spew forth. But at the moment the shield shattered, Yen. Jio interrupted his spellcasting. He stepped forward, swinging his staff once more. The target was not Angmar’s body but his hand tightly gripping the red gem staff. Thud. Minus 708. Angmar let out a pained grunt. The spell energy he had gathered instantly dissipating and the summoning magic circle beneath him extinguished. His summoning was interrupted. The entire clearing fell into a dead silence. Only the sound of the wind rustling through the treetops could be heard. Angmar’s hooded face turned towards Yen Jio, this time filled with uncontainable shock and anger. You. He raised his staff again, trying to create distance, instantly firing a shadow arrow. Yanjyo’s body shadowed him. Closely, moving in again. A simple sidestep caused the shadow arrow to fall into empty space. Thud, dash 715. Damn bugs. Angmar completely abandoned the powerful spells that required long incantations. He began to retreat frantically, continuously casting shadow arrows. One. Another. Dark purple energy arrows poured down like a torrential rain towards Yanjyo. However, it was useless. Yen Jiu’s movements were simple to the extreme. Charge forward, sidestep, swing. The staff. Dodge, close in, swing the staff. His body was like a ghost that could not be locked onto, always finding the only gap amidst the dense rain of arrows. And the staff in his hand, every strike landed with pinpoint accuracy. On on mar. Thud. Minus 809. Thud. Minus 823. Astralothis on the cross was completely dumbfounded. What was he seeing? A mage chasing a church bishop hitting him with a stick. And that bishop, known for his devastating spells, had no power. To fight back, only retreating in embarrassment and making futile attacks. Angmar staggered back his hood askew, revealing half of his pale and twisted face. He was a noble bishop. He wielded shadow powers capable of destroying an army. But now, he was like a street thug, being beaten repeatedly in the most primitive and humiliating way by a barbarian with a staff. All his pride was shattered with each dull thud. Astralothis stared blankly at it all. He, even forgot the pain he was in. This scene was too absurd and too satisfying. It subverted all his perceptions of the mage profession. Die. Die for me. Angmar’s roar had taken on a hint of madness and hysteria. Thud. Another. Heavy blow. Angmar’s health had dropped below one-fifth. He finally stopped his futile attacks. He knew that if this continued he would be beaten to death. A glimmer of determination and madness flashed in his eyes hidden beneath. The hood. You forced me. He no longer retreated but instead stopped in his tracks. He spread his arms wide, raising the ruby staff high, pointing it at the sky. With my flesh and blood as sacrifice. With my soul as the guide. Open the gate to the abyss. His voice was no longer a roar but a chant filled with fervor. The entire altar was instantly illuminated. The sinister runes carved into the ground erupted with blinding crimson light. Waves of pure. Energy surged from the black stone of the altar, pulling free from the chains binding Astralothis, transforming into streams of blood that rushed madly into Angmar’s body. Astralothis on the cross changed color dramatically. B. Careful, he shouted with all his might. He’s going to sacrifice himself to summon a demon. Stop him. Yen Jio did not stop his attack. He continued to swing his staff. Thud. Minus 1020. Level suppression, however, around Angmar’s body, A. Storm of pure energy had already formed and his attacks could not interrupt this process at all. Angmar’s body began to undergo terrifying distortions under the infusion of massive energy. His body swelled like an inflated balloon. The black bishop’s robe tearing inch by inch. Something was writhing madly beneath his skin, and his bones made a sickening cracking sound. Ha ha ha ha ha. Come on. Feel the true despair. His laughter no longer belonged to a. Human becoming sharp and twisted. Putt. A dull sound of flesh being torn apart. A massive claw covered in black scales, with sharp backward hooks, suddenly burst forth from Angmar’s back. Following that, a second one. Angmar’s. Body was like a stuffed doll that had been burst, cruelly torn apart from the inside. Flesh and entrails mixed with shadow energy splattered everywhere. An even larger, more grotesque figure slowly crawled out from the shattered remains. Of Angmar, the creature stood completely upright. It was two heads taller than Angmar, its body covered in obsidian-like scales, with muscles that seemed to flow with magma beneath. A pair of twisted, massive horns jutted from its forehead, and a pair of emotionless, crimson vertical pupils locked onto Yengio. Roar. A roar that seemed unearthly erupted from its tooth-filled maw, transforming into a visible shockwave. The entire mountainside buzzed, and loose. Stones tumbled down. Astralos, nailed to the cross, turned ashen. The Abyssal Ripper. He recognized this creature, a demon born purely for slaughter and destruction, a fusion of power and speed. This young man was doomed. Yet, there was not a trace of tension on Yanjou’s face. He even had the leisure to bring up the monsters a tribute panel. Abyssal Ripper, Bronze Boss, Level, LV18 Health, 19 ,000 Attack, 450 Defense, 250 Skill, Lifesteal, Passive. No active skills. The corners of Yanjou’s mouth curled into a slight arc. If the opponent were another powerful spellcaster, he might have felt some trouble. But this one was merely a beast with brute strength. This primal clash. Of skill and savagery was what he truly craved. The blood of a martial arts genius within him was completely awakened at that moment. The way he held the withered soul staff suddenly changed. In Yinzhou’s eyes, it became a long rod. A long rod capable of splitting stone and shattering rock. Astralos noticed this change. The man’s entire aura shifted. If he had been an inconspicuous reef moments ago, now he was a legendary weapon drawn from its sheath. Ha! Yanjou exhaled a breath of turbid air, a hint of excitement in his smile, and began to perform a dazzling series of staff techniques. The shadows of the staff danced, creating gusts of wind. Astralos was completely dumbfounded. The abyssal ripper would not wait for him to finish. It moved. Its massive body transformed into a black afterimage, charging towards Yanjou with an unmatched ferocity. The ground cracked under its tread. Yanjou did not retreat. Instead, he stepped forward, his long rod tracing an arc like an antelope’s horn, meeting the demon’s slashing claws head on. Clang! A crisp sound of metal clashing rang out. A damage number floated. Above the demon’s head. Minus 801. Level penalty, Yanzhou’s body was propelled back several meters by the force of the collision, deftly dissipating the terrifying impact. He was not disheartened. This amount of damage was. Within his expectations, the Abyssal Ripper, having missed its strike, flashed a hint of brutality in its crimson pupils. It roared again, its other claw slicing through the air with a shriek, aiming for Yen Jo’s head. Yen. Jo’s body twisted oddly, evading the attack at an unimaginable angle. The staff in his hand struck precisely at the demon’s wrist joint like a venomous snake emerging from its hole. Thud. Minus 898. Level penalty, the two. Engaged in fierce combat. This was the most exhilarating fight Yen Jo had experienced since entering the illusion. The entire clearing became their stage. No, it was Yen Jo’s stage alone. The demon from the abyss was. Like a clumsy dance partner, each of its frenzied attacks, each of its vicious pounces, only landed in empty space. Meanwhile, Yen Jo’s figure was like a specter. He charged forward, then retreated, slid sideways, and. Rolled. Every step he took was perfectly placed. Every dodge was effortless. The long rod in his hand transformed into countless shadows, striking the demon from various tricky angles, again and again. Thud. Minus 805. Level. Penalty. Thud. Minus 815. level penalty the demon couldn’t touch him at all not even once all its strength all its anger felt like it was striking against cotton with nowhere to land a blow this suffocating feeling made it even more frenzied astra halos on the cross had completely frozen he watched the figure moving gracefully beneath the demon’s claws as if strolling leisurely he watched that unremarkable staff transform into the deadliest weapon in that man’s hands he watched the abyssal demon capable of destroying an army being toyed with like a helpless enraged wild dog the scene was absurd beyond belief Absurd enough to make him forget. The pain he was in. Yanzhou’s fighting spirit soared to its peak with each clash. A thrilling sensation surged from his limbs and bones. Ding. Your soaring fighting spirit has infected the surrounding fire elements, you. Have learned the skill, flame blade flame blade, enchant your or your ally’s weapon, causing it to deal 10 plus 100% of intelligence damage on attack, lasting for 15 seconds. Cooldown time, 30 seconds. Mana cost, 50. Points dot. The system’s prompt echoed in his mind. Yanjio didn’t even bother to look at the skill’s detailed description. Enchant? No need. Using magic to end this pure martial arts duel would be an insult to martial arts. His offensive became even more fierce. Each swing of the staff carried an unstoppable momentum. The abyssal rift’s health slowly but surely dwindled under these seemingly harmless strikes. When its health dropped below the last 10%, a hint of fear finally appeared in its brutal eyes. It let out a reluctant roar and turned to flee back into the void. Yanjio would never give it that chance. He took a quick step forward, leaping. High into the air. The staff in his hand gathered all his strength and came crashing down on the demon’s nape. Thud. Minus 1221. Weakness critical hit. The massive body of the abyssal rift suddenly stiffened. It turned back in. Disbelief to glance at Yenjo. Then, that enormous body crumbled like a weathered sand sculpture, exploding into countless black specks that dissipated into the air. Ding. Congratulations, you have leveled up to LV10. Ding. Talent war god effect enhanced, melee damage increase raised to 190 times. Ding. Congratulations, strength plus 1, agility plus 1, intelligence plus 1, spirit plus 1, constitution plus 1 ding. Congratulations, you have gained. 5 free attribute points, current free attribute points, 75. The battle was over. Ding. Quest, shadows conspiracy completed please find the trace of the maple leaf brotherhood to complete the quest. 3 items shimmering. With different lights lay quietly where it had vanished. shadow bishop’s robe quality bronze equipment type cloth armor chest armor level requirement 10 attributes constitution plus 10 intelligence plus 38 spirit plus 20 dark attribute damage plus 30 class requirement priest mage bishop’s majesty after equipping there may be unexpected effects.demon’s blade level requirement 12 equipment type dagger attributes strength plus 70 agility plus 70 critical hit rate plus 30 class requirement rogue warrior.demon’s curse after equipping skills cannot be used. Demons roar, stuns surrounding units for 1.5 seconds. Cooldown time 1 minute class requirement. Warrior Yen Jio stepped forward slowly, collecting the spoils one by one. The soaring fighting spirit gradually receded, and his expression returned to that calm demeanor. He turned to look at the cross in the center of the altar. Astra Halos was also looking at him, as if Yen Jio were the demon that had crawled out of the abyss. After a long silence, Astra Halos’s cracked lips finally. Moved. Youthful foreigner, his voice was hoarse. Break these chains, let me down. Yanjio walked to the front of the altar and stopped. On the cross, the old man who called himself Astralos was looking at him with an extremely complex expression. Yanjio did not answer immediately. He walked around the cross, reached out, and knocked on the black chains binding Astralos. Clang! The crisp sound of metal echoed in the empty altar. The surface of the chains flickered with dark red runes, and a faint repulsive force traveled along his fingertips. Anti-magic chains. Instruments specifically designed to bind spellcasters. Astralos watched Yanjio’s actions. A hint of urgency flashing in his eyes. This thing can suppress magical power, you can’t open it with magic. You need to find the key, it should be. Before he could finish his sentence, he stopped himself. Because. Yen Jio had raised the withered soul staff in his hand. He wasn’t going to cast a spell. He simply swung the staff and aimed it at one of the chains. Then, he brought it down. Clang. Minus 2938. A louder, almost deafening. Explosion. Sparks flew. The anti-magic chain, engraved with sturdy runes, broke with a resounding crack. astralose was jolted by the tremendous force letting out a muffled grunt his whole body swaying he looked incredulously at the severed chain yenjio did not pause he adjusted his stance and the staff swung out again clang the second chain snapped minus 3017 clang clang two more crisp sounds the chains binding astraloses limbs were all shattered in the most brutal and direct way without support his body fell from midair crashing onto the cold stone slab with a thud cough cough cough astralos lay on the ground coughing violently raising a cloud of dust ignoring the pain in his body he struggled to lift his head looking at the broken chain links scattered on the ground marked with the twisted traces of being forcefully torn apart you you he pointed at yenjiu struggling to complete a sentence a mage had broken the anti-magic chains with sheer force yenjiu rested the staff back on his shoulder looking down at him the key is hard to find this is simpler astralos choked a bit He slowly got up from the ground, brushing off the dust from his tattered robe, and re-evaluated the young man before him. This man could not be judged by the common sense of a mage. He was a complete anomaly. A monster cloaked in a mage’s robe. Then he grasped Yanzhou’s hand, and points of starlight appeared in his palm. Yanzhou felt the surrounding space shifting continuously, as if traversing through the river of space. The two stopped by a small stream, and Astrolos, catching his breath, said, if it weren’t for my limited magic, even the archbishop wouldn’t be my match. Fortunately, that bunch of fools from The shadow cult only sent one bishop to interrogate me. Kid. Astralos finally caught his breath and his address changed. Do you want to learn true power? Yen Jio showed little reaction. Not the kind of childish. Tricks like casting fireballs. Astralos emphasized trying to pique his interest. It’s the power to traverse between the stars to wield the authority of space. Become a star walker and study the magic of stars and space with me. He spoke passionately as if bestowing an unparalleled honor. Yen Jio scratched his head. Can it be used in close combat? he asked. Preferably with fists or something. The air instantly fell silent. Astralos’s enticing words felt like a punch hitting cotton, sinking softly without stirring any ripples. His expression froze. After several seconds, he seemed to re-evaluate Yanjou from head to toe as if seeing him for the first time. What exactly is this guy thinking? Astralos is certainly much slicker than those rigid trainers in Maple Leaf City. His eyes darted around, and he quickly came up with a response. Fists? I don’t have any. He cleared his throat, a mysterious smile appearing on his face. However, there is indeed a melee technique. He extended a bony palm facing upward. Watch closely, kid. Don’t blink. A completely different energy began to gather in his palm. It wasn’t fire, it wasn’t ice, and it wasn’t shadow. It was a profound energy, as if it contained the entire night sky, with countless tiny points of light flickering within, resembling distant stars. The energy rapidly stretched and condensed. A uniquely shaped blade appeared in his hand. The blade had no physical form, entirely composed of flowing nebulae, with a deep purple body wrapped in countless brilliant star rivers, emitting a cold and mysterious glow. Just holding it made Astralos’s entire aura become ethereal. He held the starry blade and gently swiped it toward the empty space ahead. Szz space tore open like, fragile fabric, silently creating a rift. On the other side of the rift was not a mountain wall, nor darkness. Instead, it was a vast and boundless real universe. Countless stars slowly revolved within, magnificent nebulae. unfurling like a scroll silent grand yet carrying a breathtaking majesty astralos retracted the blade and the rift in space slowly closed star tier a skill that can be learned at level 20 it should be similar to the melee you mentioned his words were filled with confidence and pride of course he had a second half to his sentence which he quietly kept to himself although it was just this one move the magnificent cosmic scroll slowly closed and the surroundings returned to silence The starry blade in Astralos’ hand also dissipated and he stood with his hands behind his back, deliberately maintaining an air of superiority. He waited. Waiting for the young man before him to show shock, or fervor, or at the very least, some longing. Instead, Yen Jio merely tilted his head, examining his empty palm. Not bad. Good. Yen Jio clapped his. Hands. Then I’ll join. He agreed too quickly, too decisively. So fast that all the responses Astralos had prepared got stuck in his throat. He was stunned. It was as if he was holding a priceless treasure, earnestly, persuading a passerby that this thing was worth a fortune. Yet the passerby didn’t even glance at it, simply pulled out money and said he’d buy it, thinking it was perfect for propping out the table. A sense of immense absurdity, gripped Astralos. You, you’re not going to think it over? Think about what? Yen Jio retorted. Astralos was completely at a loss for words. He realized he couldn’t understand this young man’s thought process at all. Forget it. It didn’t matter. As long as he could tie him to his chariot, any reason was irrelevant. Astralos put on a profound expression again. Very well, young man, you’ve made a wise decision. However, if you want to become a Starwalker, you still need to pass my test. He changed his tone, trying to regain control. A deep blue light screen unfolded before Yenjo. Ding! NPC Astralos has issued you a job change quest. Starwalker, I, quest content, accept Astralos’s test and successfully follow him to resolve the crisis in Maple Leaf City. Quest reward, job change, Starwalker do you accept? Resolve the crisis in Maple Leaf City. Upon seeing these words, Yanjio immediately thought of the task he had just received. The shadow’s conspiracy, too. Investigate the truth behind the sacrificial ritual and the gate and stop the plans of the shadow. Church.He thought for a moment and it seemed that the target was similar to that barbaric bear he encountered before. Both were aimed at the shadow church. Yanjio came to a conclusion and decisively nodded. I accept. Ding. You have accepted the quest, Astral Walker, I. Astralos looked at the prompt indicating the quest had been accepted and let out a long sigh. Finally, he had managed to persuade this monster. He gazed at Yen Zhou’s, handsome yet expressionless face feeling a mix of emotions. The mysteries of stars and space, in this kid’s hands, were likely to turn into a hammer for cracking walnuts. The trial has begun, young man. Astralos resumed. His mentor’s demeanor. The headquarters of the Astral Walkers is established in the boundless starry sky, a junction of reality and illusion, the anchor point of the world. Until you have officially completed the trial and become one of us, I cannot invite you in. He waved his hand, looking as if to say, you are not worthy yet. You should return to Maple Leaf City. I will come find you. All right. Yen Jio nodded. He was also heading back. Several quests indicated he needed to go to the Maple Leaf Brotherhood to report, but he had no idea what kind of place that was. He turned around, shouldering his staff, and was about to leave. Wait. Astralos called out to him. Kid, what’s your name? Yen Jio. Very good, Yen Jio. astralos nodded solemnly remember from today on you are my apprentice in training astralos this is your honor yen joe showed no reaction nearly waved his hand and his figure quickly disappeared leaving astralos alone he recalled the broken magic suppression chains scattered on the ground each fracture bearing the savage marks of violent tearing he also remembered the scene of that young man using a staff to bludgeon a demon from the abyss to death he chuckled softly like a real person without a hint of an npc’s demeanor the days ahead were unlikely to be boring. Stepping out of the vast forest, the midday sun was somewhat blinding. Yenjio squinted, adjusting to the change in light. He didn’t rush to continue his journey but opened his equipment panel, his gaze. Landing on the robe he had just acquired. The attributes were quite good, especially the intelligence bonus, which was far superior to the one he was currently wearing. He put on the robe. The black long robe was well tailored. Adorned with intricate and bizarre silver-threaded patterns, adding an air of mystery and severity to his presence. It surprisingly matched with the shadowhood of Dio. As for the effect of Bishop’s authority, he wasn’t particularly concerned. As long as it was usable, that was enough. He shouldered his staff again and set off towards Maple Leaf City. Upon re-entering Maple Leaf City, Yanjio Kili sensed a slight difference. The streets were still the same, hustling with crowds. But the NPCs passing by seemed to instinctively keep their distance from him. Those vendors who had previously called out enthusiastically lowered their voices as he walked past. A few children playing around immediately tucked away their smiles and hid behind their mothers upon seeing him. An invisible sense of awe and fear spread around him. He didn’t think much of it, assuming it was just the robe that looked intimidating. The guards from before now only watched him from a distance, standing straight, but none dared to approach. He recalled the scene he had seen in the slums, where all sorts of people mingled, perhaps he could gather some different information there. He crossed several blocks and entered the most dilapidated tavern he could find. The tavern was dimly lit, the air mixed with the sour smell of cheap ale and sweat. In the corner, a few drunken mercenaries lay sprawled on the table, fast asleep. Behind the bar, a portly tavern owner was wiping a wooden cup full of chips, doing so absentmindedly. Yen Jio’s entrance. Instantly silenced the few sober patrons in the tavern.Everyone’s movements froze for a moment. They looked at the black bishop’s robe on Yen Jio, their faces displaying a mix of fear and disgust. Yen Jio paid them no. Mind. He walked straight to the bar, tapping on the greasy tabletop. Boss, a cold beer, please. The tavern owner’s body visibly stiffened. He slowly raised his head, forcing a smile on his plump face that was more grotesque than a cry. M. Milord, please have a seat. His address had changed from guest to Milord. Yanzhou found an empty table by the window and sat down. Soon, the tavern owner approached with a beer, carefully, balancing it. When he set the glass down, his hands trembled slightly and he didn’t dare to meet Yanzhou’s gaze. Milord, your beer. Whom? Yanzhou acknowledged, lifting the glass to take a sip. The tavern owner seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and turned to slip back to the bar. Yanjio called out to him. The owner’s body stiffened again, cold sweat trickling down his chubby cheeks. Milord, is there anything else you need? Do you know the Maple Leaf Brotherhood? Yanjio asked directly. This question landed like a bomb in still waters. The entire tavern fell into a dead silence. The few patrons who had been whispering suddenly shut their mouths, looking at him in terror. The tavern owner’s face turned pale in an instant. His lips trembled, unable to utter a word. Yanjio frowned. Just then, the tavern door creaked open. Two men in leather armor, with long swords hanging at their waists, walked in. Boss, two servings of baked potatoes, two beers. They paused, taken aback by the strange atmosphere in the tavern. Then, their attention shifted to Yen Jiu. More precisely, it fell on his black bishop’s robe. One of the tall men’s expression darkened immediately. He exchanged a glance with his companion, and then the two of them moved in unison, one to the left and one to the right, approaching Yen Jiu’s table. The entire process was quiet and swift, executed with a soldier’s efficiency. The other patrons in the tavern, witnessing this scene, were even more terrified. Some fumbled in their pockets, tossing a few copper coins onto the table before bolting out of the tavern without looking back. In an instant, the already sparsely populated tavern was left with only Yanjio and the two men. The tavern owner had shrunk beneath the bar, clutching his head and trembling. The tall man stopped in front of Yanjio’s table. He didn’t act immediately but scrutinized Yanjio with a piercing gaze, taking him in from head to toe. You are not Angmar. He spoke, his tone very certain. Yanjio looked up and met his gaze. You actually know who Anmar is? The other, slightly thinner man had already circled behind Yanjio, blocking his escape route. That’s none of your business. The tall man replied coldly. He was just a butcher with blood on his hands. Yanjio continued sipping his cold beer, the taste refreshing, better than canned. Oh. He responded. Why is that robe on you? The tall man’s hand was already resting on the hilt of his sword. I killed him. The robe is a trophy. Yanjio answered matter-of-factly. The air fell silent once more. The tall man and his companion were stunned. They exchanged glances, both seeing disbelief on each other’s faces. Bishop Angmar, a level 15 bronze tier boss. In the vicinity of Maple Leaf City, he was an absolute overlord. Their brotherhood had attempted several. Assassinations, each ending in disastrous failure, costing them many skilled members. Now, this mage, who seemed to be around their level, casually claimed he had killed Angmar. The tall man’s expression shifted unpredictably. Do you have any proof? he asked in a low voice. Yenjiyo thought for a moment and pulled a dagger from his backpack.Demon’s blade, bronze level, this is another piece of equipment dropped by the Abyss Ripper. When that dagger, with its fierce appearance and faint black aura, appeared on the table, both men’s pupils suddenly constricted. A hostility on the tall man’s face slowly faded away, replaced by extreme shock and caution. He re-evaluated Yenjiyo, the seemingly unremarkable mage. Who, exactly are you? Yenjiyo put away the dagger and took a sip of water. My name is Yenjiyo. I took a job to find the Maple Leaf Brotherhood. Are you. Them? He asked the question again. This time, no one showed any signs of fear. Outsider. The tall man fell silent for a moment, as if weighing something. Finally, he slightly bowed to Yenjo. I am Tian Shu, the captain. Of the third squad of the Maple Leaf Brotherhood. This is my deputy, Monkey. The small man behind him also relaxed his guarded stance. Tian Shu’s expression remains serious. Follow us. This is not a place for. Conversation. With that, he turned and walked towards the back kitchen of the tavern. Yanjio stood up and followed. The man called Monkey walked at the back, casually closing the tavern’s door and securing it from the inside. Behind the bar, the tavern owner peeked out, saw the scene, and quickly withdrew. In the kitchen, beside the greasy stove, Tianxu pushed open a hidden door disguised as a storage cabinet. A narrow, deep stone staircase leading underground appeared before the three of them. Ding! Task the Shadows conspiracy updated task content, enter the Maple Leaf Brotherhood stronghold and meet the leader. Yanjio looked at the task. Prompt, shouldered his staff, and stepped inside. The staircase extended downward, disappearing into a damp darkness. Cold droplets of water seeped from the walls, carrying a mix of earthy and moldy odors. The torchlight. Flickered in the narrow passage, casting the shadows of the three onto the mottled stone walls, distorting and twisting them. Occasionally, closed doors could be seen on either side of the passage. Pressured gazes seeped. Through the cracks, filled with vigilance and scrutiny, landing on Yenjo, the stranger. The people here seem like rats living in a sewer, maintaining the highest alertness to any disturbance. Tianxu and Monkey were. Already accustomed to this, they kept their eyes straight ahead, leading Yenjio through the long passage until they reached a heavy wooden door. Tianxu knocked rhythmically three times. A steady response came from within. Come in. Tianxu pushed the door open. Behind the door was a relatively spacious stone chamber, illuminated by several long-lasting lamps that dispelled most of the darkness, revealing the interior scene. A massive, wooden table stood in the center, covered with a rough map of Maple Leaf City, marked with various red symbols. Several men, dressed differently but with equally stern expressions, were gathered around the map, whispering, about something. When they saw Tian Shu enter, they stopped their conversation. A young man raised his head from behind the map, his gaze passing over Tian Shu and landing directly on Yanjou. He wore a clean linen outfit, which seemed out of place in the surrounding dilapidation. His face was thin, and his demeanor refined, resembling not a rebel hiding underground, but more like a scholar who spent his days among books. Tian Shu. Who is this? The young man spoke, his tone gentle yet carrying an undeniable air of authority. Leader, this outsider claims he killed Angmar. Tianxu stepped aside, fully exposing Yenjio to the other’s view. The stone chamber fell silent. Everyone’s movements froze. The young man, referred to as the leader, slowly walked out from behind the map. He looked at Yenjio’s clothing, remaining silent for a long time. The air in the stone chamber seemed to solidify. He was not as tall as Tianxu, but there was an invisible pressure about him. You say you killed Angmar. His statement revealed no hint of joy or anger. Yes, you, the monkey couldn’t help but want to say something but was stopped by a gesture from the young man. The young man paused in front of Yenjio, not asking any further about the details of the battle. He simply stared intently at Yenjio and then made a move that surprised everyone. He adjusted his clean linen clothes and, facing Yenjio, solemnly performed a noble bow. My name is Reinhardt, the lord of Maple Leaf City, son of Kashin, the field mouse, and the monkey immediately knelt on one knee. Yenjio blinked, looking at the young man who claimed to be the Lord’s son. I witnessed my mother being killed by the people of the Shadow Church. Reinhardt’s face showed. Little sadness, only a kind of tempered, cold hatred. Then, a fake took on my mother’s appearance and usurped the position of the Lady of the Lord. The entire upper echelon of Maple Leaf City, including my father, has rotted under her seduction and control. I explained this to my father, but he wanted to expel me, even sending someone to assassinate me on the way. They have all become puppets of the Shadow Church. Cashin raised. His head, his narration was calm, yet it made the surrounding air feel oppressive. I established the Maple Leaf Brotherhood to reclaim everything that belongs to me, to avenge my mother and the innocent victims harmed. By the Shadow Church. Outlander, I need your help. He opened the quest panel and clicked through several completed tasks that had not yet been submitted all at once. Hidden Quest, The Threat of Orin Village, submitted. Quest, Investigate the Secret of the Letter, submitted. Quest, The Conspiracy of Shadows, submitted. Cashin stared at the faint light appearing before Yenjio, completely stunned. He saw the names of those quests. And the calmness on his face was shattered for the first time, replaced by a violent tremor. The bear, is he okay? There was a hint of urgency in Reinhardt’s tone. He ran away, Yinjio replied. I didn’t kill him. He was originally my bodyguard. Reinhardt’s body swayed slightly. He closed his eyes, seemingly trying to suppress his emotions. I sent him to Orin Village to find a way to break the shadow magic. I didn’t expect. That he. He didn’t continue. The others in the stone chamber were completely stunned by what was happening before them. Who exactly is this outlander? Not only did he kill Bishop Angmar, but he also completed so many core tasks related to the Brotherhood. Almost simultaneously with Reinhardt’s words, a series of dense system prompts flooded Yenzhou’s mind. Ding! You have gained Maple Leaf Brotherhood Reputation plus 50, experience plus 500, silver coins plus 50. Ding! You have gained Maple Leaf Brotherhood Reputation plus 150, experience plus 500, silver coins plus 50. Ding! You have gained Maple Leaf Brotherhood Reputation plus 300, Experience plus 1000, Silver Coins plus 50. Item, Brotherhood Emblem. Ding! When Maple Leaf City is reclaimed by the Brotherhood, your Brotherhood Reputation will automatically convert to Maple Leaf City Reputation. Ding! Your Reputation in the Maple Leaf Brotherhood has reached, Respect. Ding! The Reputation System has been activated, with 5 stages, Hostile, Unfamiliar, Friendly, Respect, Worship, Dot. The Experience Bar shot up significantly. Yanzhou’s attention fell. on the newly acquired item. Brotherhood emblem, type, ring, attributes, strength plus 10, agility plus 10, constitution plus 10, intelligence plus 10, spirit plus 10. A symbol of identity for members of the Maple Leaf Brotherhood, when worn, you will be regarded as an ally by all Brotherhood members within the Maple Leaf City area. Each emblem carries a history of unyielding resistance. Reinhardt reopened his eyes and took out an ancient bronze badge. From his pocket, engraved with interwoven maple leaves and a sharp sword, he handed the badge to Yen Jo. Mr. Yen Jio. His address had shifted from that of a foreigner to a gentleman. On behalf of the Maple Leaf. Brotherhood, I formally invite you to join us. Please accept this badge. From today onward, you are our most esteemed ally. Yen Jio reached out and took the still warm emblem. He slipped the bronze badge onto his finger. The cold metallic touch was soon assimilated by his body heat and then Yen Jio looked at his attribute panel. He raised his head to gaze at the young man before him who claimed to be the son of the Lord. What should I do next? With Angmar’s death, the Shadow Church’s power in Maple Leaf City has severed its most crucial link. Reinhardt turned and walked back to the large wooden table. His finger pointed to the central area of the rough map painted red, the heart of Maple Leaf City, the Lord’s Mansion. Most of the guards in the city are unaware of the infiltration at the higher levels. They are merely following orders from the Lord’s Mansion. They remain loyal to my father, loyal to Maple Leaf City. As long as we can prove to them that the current Lady of the Lord is an imposter, they will surely obey my command again. Reinhardt’s words were clear and calm, carrying an innate persuasiveness. The members of the Brotherhood around him showed expressions of excitement. Yen Jiu nodded. How do we do it? Reinhardt’s finger slowly moved from the position of the Lord’s Mansion to another corner of the map. There, a simple sketch of a church was marked with a black cross. The original Church of Holy Light in Maple Leaf City, after the arrival of the Shadow Church, had most of its members branded as heretics. There was a hint of sorrow in his tone. They were exiled, imprisoned, and even secretly executed. but they are the only ones who can expose the true identity of that witch. His long fingers finally rested on a dark green forest area. Nightfall Forest. According to the intelligence from our informants embedded within the guards, the former Grand Paladin, Rainer Lifeforge, is imprisoned there. I don’t know why the Shadow Church hasn’t killed him but instead chose to imprison him. There must be a greater conspiracy behind this. But now, we must go rescue him. Reinhardt raised his head and looked solemnly at Yenjo. Only the Grand Paladin and the Archbishop can forcibly purify the disguise, revealing the witch occupying my mother’s body before everyone. This is the call to our counterattack, and our only chance. As soon as he finished. Speaking, a new system prompt appeared before Yenjo. Ding! You have triggered the core mission of the Maple Leaf Brotherhood, Rescue the Grand Paladin. Mission objective, go to Nightfall Forest, find and rescue the. Imprison Grand Paladin Rainer Lightforge. Mission difficulty, unknown mission reward, Maple Leaf Brotherhood reputation plus 500, experience plus 500, gold plus 1. Mission hint, Nightfall Forest is an area controlled by the Shadow Church, inhabited by numerous corrupted creatures and church guards, please exercise caution. Gold. This was the first time Yanjio had seen the word gold in a mission reward. He closed the mission panel. I’m. Going. Reinhardt seemed to have anticipated his response, he picked up a small parchment scroll from the table and handed it over. This is a rough map of Nightfall Forest, obtained at the cost of our people’s lives, I. Hope it will be useful to you. Additionally, Field Mouse and Monkey will accompany you. They are very familiar with the terrain around Maple Leaf City and can help you deal with some unnecessary troubles. Field Mouse. And Monkey immediately stood tall. Yes. Chief. To be able to act alongside this foreigner who has slain the Shadow Bishop, they felt both nervous and an inexplicable excitement. Yenjo took the map but did not open it. Immediately. He merely glanced at the Field Mouse and the Monkey. No need. The air in the stone chamber froze once again. A hint of helplessness flashed across Reinhardt’s face as he rubbed his brow. Mr. Yenjio, I. Know you are powerful, but the nightfall forest is different from elsewhere. Having two more people can always provide extra support. Yenjio thought for a moment and then pointed at the monkey. He can. He then pointed. At the field mouse. He can’t. The field mouse’s weathered face instantly turned a shade of liver. I, why can’t I? He panicked. This was simply public humiliation. Yanjio hoisted his staff and tapped the ground. With the end of it, you can’t outrun me. The field mouse opened his mouth but couldn’t utter a word. Reinhardt watched the scene and could only shake his head with a bitter smile. All right, then let the monkey follow. You, at least he can help divert some sentries. Yanjio nodded, agreeing. He turned around, shouldering the withered soul staff and walked towards the exit of the stone chamber. The monkey paused for a moment, quickly, followed, and before leaving, he turned back to give the field mouse a sympathetic look. The field mouse hung his head in despair, his fists clenched tightly. Until the two figures disappeared outside the door, the others. In the stone chamber seemed to come back to life. Boss, this guy, is too arrogant, right? A bearded man couldn’t help but speak up. Yeah, he completely disregards us. Reinhardt waved his hand to stop the discussion. He walked to the map, staring at the words Nightfall Forest and remained silent for a long time. Arrogant? Perhaps. But the strong always have the right to be arrogant. He could only hope that this mysterious foreigner. could create miracles once again, because they had no way out. At the edge of the nightfall forest, the air was filled with the scent of decaying plants. The sky had not yet fully darkened, but the light in the forest had already dimmed. The monkey walked ahead, his steps light, like a relay, weaving effortlessly through the complex terrain. Beyond that little stream ahead is the patrol range of the shadow church sentries. His voice was low, blending with the surrounding chirping of insects. Yenjio, shouldering his staff, followed behind at a leisurely pace. His gaze did not linger on the path beneath his feet but swept back and forth among the shadows of the trees on either side. Just then, he stopped. A few figures were hidden behind a thicket several dozen meters ahead. They moved very cautiously, seemingly tracking something. The monkey also noticed Yan. Zhou’s pause and immediately crouched down following Yan Zhou’s line of sight. Is it the shadow church? The monkey asked uncertainly. Yan Zhou did not answer. He recognized one of the figures. Ming Yao. Shi, along with Chang. Shang and Luan Go was quietly following a ragged old beggar. The old beggar’s back was hunched, his hair a tangled mess resembling a bird’s nest, and he walked with a limp, each step appearing laborious. Everything seemed very strange. The moment the monkey saw the old beggar clearly, his body jolted. A complex expression of shock and ecstasy appeared on his lean face. He even forgot to hide, standing up directly from behind the tree. His lips trembling as if he wanted to shout something but dared not make a sound. Do you know him? Yen Jio asked. The monkey turned back sharply, nodding vigorously before shaking his head quickly. His emotions were so. Stirred that he was somewhat incoherent. He looks too much like him, but how could he be here? He no longer hesitated and rushed out a few steps. Bishop Kly. This shout made the few people in front stop in. Their tracks simultaneously. Ming Yao and the others immediately turned around, taking up defensive stances. The old beggar also slowly turned around. His face was smeared with mud, but in his eyes shone a sharpness and authority that did not belong to a beggar. When he saw the monkey, a flicker of surprise crossed those eyes. You are, the guard by Reinhardt’s side? His voice was no longer the horse rasp of old age but a steady, baritone, carrying the weight of someone accustomed to high positions. The monkey rushed a few steps forward and knelt excitedly on one knee. My lord bishop, it really is you. I thought, I thought you had already. The light of God will not be easily extinguished. Bishop Clay extended his dirty hand and patted the monkey on the shoulder. Mingyao noticed Yanjio, who was following the monkey, and her wariness turned into surprise. Yanjio? She walked over, curiously sizing him up. What are you doing here? On a mission. Oh, where’s little cream? Didn’t she come with you today? Mingyao felt an inexplicable joy at not seeing that familiar figure behind him. She hasn’t logged in. Yanjio’s response was as concise as ever. Mingyao seemed to have long been accustomed to his way of chatting, shrugged, and did not press further. Bishop Clay’s gaze fell on. Yanjio. He noticed the inconspicuous bronze ring on Yen Jiu’s finger, the emblem of a maple leaf and a sword on it causing a glimmer of light to spark in his murky eyes. That child Reinhardt has finally found a trustworthy ally. He spoke, his tone tinged with a hint of relief. The foreigner has arrived, obeying the will of God, the horn of counterattack has already sounded. He lifted his head, gazing into the depths of the dark. Forest. Those brothers and sisters imprisoned in darkness are waiting for our rescue. Ming Yao turned to Yen Jiu and extended an invitation. Since our goals align, why not act together? She then looked at Bishop Clay. My lord Bishop, Yanjio is very strong. With him joining us, our chances will be greater. Bishop Clay nodded. To fight against the shadows, we need every soul with courage and strength. He extended his hand towards. Yanjio. Child, are you willing to join us in bringing the holy light back to this defiled land? A system prompt popped up in front of Yanjio. Mingyao invites you to join the team and shares the mission. Dawn in. Darkness, do you accept? Yanjio opened the mission details. Mission, dawn in darkness, mission objective, infiltrate the nightfall forest and rescue members of the Holy Light Church imprisoned by the Shadow Church. Mission reward, Holy Light Church reputation plus 300, experience plus 800. With aligned goals, he had no reason to refuse. I accept. You have accepted the mission, dawn in darkness. Bishop Clay revealed a look of approval. He withdrew his hand and his entire demeanor shifted once more. That hunched back straightened as if he were a sword drawn from its sheath. Time is of the essence, we set off. He did not waste another word, turning, first towards the forest that devoured the light. The monkey immediately got up, closely following him, his face filled with the joy of having regained something lost. The three of them quickly followed suit. Yanjio, carrying his staff, walked at the back of the group. The six of them silently merged into the shadows of the nightfall forest. The moment the team channel was established, Mingyao instinctively glanced at the member list. Then, her movements halted. Yanjio, level, ten. You’re level ten? Mingyao’s tone carried an unmistakable tremor. The girls beside her, Qing Cheng and Luan Go, also leaned over, and upon seeing that glaring number, their expressions mirrored each other’s astonishment. It was worth noting that the three of them had practically been immersed in the game without rest, except for mandatory sleep time. They had even completed two extremely difficult hidden missions with Bishop Clay. Even so, they had barely reached level 7. Yet this Yenzhou had clearly not logged in for long. Yeah, Yenzhou’s answer was so simple it left people speechless. Ming Yao looked. and his calm face and could only shake her head, suppressing the surging emotions within her. Forget it. This game requires more than just damage. In the later stages, teamwork, tactical execution, and resource allocation are the keys to determining victory or defeat. She was confident that one day she would catch up, even surpass this monster. Let’s go, Bishop Kly said in a deep voice, interrupting this brief interlude. The team continued to push deeper into the forest. The path through the woods became increasingly difficult, with slippery mud hidden beneath the rotting leaves. Not far ahead, several staggering figures emerged from the twisted thicket. They were the patrolling members of the shadow church. Dressed in tattered black robes, their skin displayed an unhealthy grey pallor, their movements stiff, and they emitted meaningless growls. Just as the monkey was about to warn everyone to be careful, Yanjio had already shouldered his staff and charged forward. He didn’t even use any skills. The withered soul staff swung with a dull whoosh, striking the first member on the head with a ferocity completely unbefitting a mage. Bang! Minus 3660, a dull shattering sound. The member’s head burst like a smashed watermelon, red and white matter mixed with black blood splattering everywhere. His body. Didn’t even have time to fall before Yanjio kicked him aside. The Brotherhood’s emblem provided such a significant boost that the 10 points of strength elevated Yanjio’s damage to another level. The second. The third. The entire process took no more than 5 seconds. Yanjio returned with his bloodied staff, as if he had merely swatted a few flies. The team fell into a dead silence. Ming Yao and the others were no longer surprised. They simply averted their eyes, not wanting to witness the bloody scene. The monkey gaped, unable to close his mouth for a long time. He knew this foreigner was strong enough to kill Bishop Angma, but he hadn’t expected. Such overwhelming strength. That wasn’t casting spells, that was slaughter. A flicker of unusual color passed through Bishop Kly’s murky eyes. He scrutinized Yanzhou, then glanced at the staff in his hand, deep in thought. Let’s go, Yanzhou urged. Only then did everyone seem to awaken from a dream and continue forward. The next stretch of the journey was surprisingly smooth. All the scattered members were dispatched by Yen Jiu in the simplest and most brutal way, one blow each. The atmosphere in the team became somewhat strange. Ming Yao and her companions had completely given up on the idea of intervening. Qing Qing clutched her staff, pouting, whispering, something to Luang Gu. Luang Gu just smiled, saying nothing. After passing through a marsh shrouded in black mist, the path ahead suddenly opened up. An open space appeared before them, in the center of the clearing. stood a thatched hut completely out of place in the eerie surroundings. It looked dilapidated with moss crawling over the slanted wooden walls and the thatch on the roof had rotted away significantly. But strangely, the pervasive aura of decay in the forest dissipated as they approached the thatched hut. This is the place Bishop Klai stopped. Mingyao stepped forward, observing carefully. There are remnants of holy light barriers around this hut. Though very weak, they are indeed repelling the encroachment of shadows, she concluded. They must be trapped down below. Not underground again, Yen Jiu sighed. From the barbarian bear dungeon to the underground stronghold of the Maple Leaf Brotherhood, and now here. He felt he was becoming a professional at digging holes. Upon hearing his complaint, Ming Yao and the others showed a hint of awkwardness mixed with amusement. This guy’s focus was always so peculiar. The monkey stepped forward, exploring around the thatched hut. He quickly found a cleverly disguised metal pool ring beneath a pile of rotten wood. He pulled it hard, creak. A heavy wooden door was pushed open, revealing a dark staircase leading underground. A chill, mixed with the scent of blood and dampness, rushed out from the tunnel. I’ll go first. Ming Yao skillfully pulled a torch from his bag, lit it, and descended first. Yen Jio followed closely behind. The tunnel was deep, the walls damp, covered in sticky moss. After walking for about several dozen meters, a wide underground space appeared. A head. It resembled an abandoned mine that had been repurposed. Several rows of crude cells lined the stone walls. In the center of the cells, several figures wrapped in dark armor were facing away from them, seemingly torturing something. It’s the Shadow Inquisitors. Bishop Cly’s tone was filled with anger for the first time. The figures heard the noise and slowly turned around. They had no facial features beneath their helmets. There was only a swirling mass of shadowy flames. Black tendrils occasionally slithered out from the gaps in their armor, then retracted. Shadow Church Inquisitor, Elite, Level, 12 health, 4100 attack, 95 defense. 99 skills, shadow whip, shadow slash, undying bodied be careful, these are elite monsters, Ming Yao immediately warned loudly, Xingqin, control them, Xingqin had already begun chanting, and several icy vines emerged, from the ground, wrapping around one inquisitor’s feet, Luangu also waved her staff, casting a golden halo over Yanjio, you have received the blessing of courage, strength plus 5, intelligence plus 5. The shadow inquisitors, let out a silent roar, raising their black greatswords and charging forward. Their speed was far greater than that of the congregants outside. The monkey’s figure flickered, and a dagger slashed towards one inquisitor’s back, only to create a shower of sparks. Their defense is so high, he exclaimed, quickly retreating. Yenjio, shouldering his staff, charged forward as well. Bang! The withered soul staff struck solidly against. One inquisitor’s helmet. Minus 4560 The inquisitor merely swayed slightly, a shallow dent appearing on the helmet, not instantly killed like the previous congregants. The shadow flames inside the helmet flickered violently, and, It swung its sword back, sweeping towards Yanzhou’s waist. Yanzhou did not dodge, raising his staff again. Bang! The second strike. Minus 4352 the dent in the helmet deepened. Health points reached zero, but the Inquisitor. Did not disappear, it maintained its stance, swinging the greatsword towards Yanzhou. Yanzhou twisted his body to the side, evading the attack while sending out his staff again. Bang! The third strike. The pitch black. Helmet finally shattered with a crisp sound. The shadow flames inside extinguished instantly. The heavy armor crashed to the ground. So resilient, it seemed to be a passive effect, only the skill names were visible, making it quite troublesome not to see the effects. After dealing with one, Yanjio immediately turned to the next. His movements were simple and efficient, yet carried a heart-stopping sense of pressure. The remaining shadow. Inquisitors seemed enraged, abandoning the others and charging directly at Yanjio. Yanjio stood his ground, watching the approaching armored figures, simply shouldering his staff, waiting for them to enter his attack. Range. Three heavy figures, accompanied by the whistling sound of metal scraping, lunged at Yanjio from three directions simultaneously. The shadow greatsword sliced through the damp air, sealing off all escape routes. Just as Qingqing’s vines wrapped around one inquisitor’s ankle, they were brutally snapped by the opponent’s strength. Useless. Can’t control them. This was no longer a battle, but a hunt. The one being hunted was. The man with the staff. Just before the three greatswords were about to reach him, Yanjio moved. Windstep. His figure instantly transformed into a blurred afterimage, slipping through the gaps between two sword blades. Fast to the extreme point one of the shadow judges, unable to stop due to inertia, brought his dark giant sword crashing down onto his companion’s armor. Clang! The piercing sound of metal clashing echoed in the enclosed, underground space. Another judge, having lost his target, swung his sword into empty air, carving a deep trench into the ground. Yenjo’s figure appeared like a ghost behind the third judge. Without a moment’s pause, he brought down the withered soul staff with immense force. Bang! Minus 4545 this time, he did not strike the hard helmet but aimed for the connection point at the back of the judge’s neck. That was the weakest part of the armor. A dull crack of breaking bones sounded. The judge’s body stiffened for a moment and the shadow flames within the helmet flickered violently. It slowly turned, attempting to counterattack. Yanjou’s second strike was already upon him. Bang! Minus 4510 the withered soul staff landed precisely in the same spot. The judge’s health points instantly dropped to zero, triggering the passive effect of his undead body, and he continued to swing his giant sword. But Yen Jio was no longer in place. Wind step activated again. He moved like a specter, weaving between the three heavy iron cans. Each flash was accompanied by a heavy and precise strike. Each hit brought forth a damage number exceeding 3000. Bang! Bang! Bang! The dull thuds became the only melody in the underground space. Ming Yao completely abandoned the thought of moving forward. She just stood. There, watching the figure that strolled leisurely amidst the flashes of blades, every movement, every attack he made carried an indescribable sense of rhythm. Xingqin had stopped complaining. She pouted, her twin, ponytail swaying gently with her slightly bobbing head. The dagger in the monkey’s hand had unknowingly slipped to the ground. He watched the scene, his body trembling slightly from extreme shock. He recalled the legends, circulating in the brotherhood about the powerful outsiders. Finally, with the last crisp sound, the third judge’s head was forcefully smashed off his breastplate by the withered soul staff, rolling onto the ground. The shadow flames inside extinguished with a puff. The entire underground space returned to silence. Only three soulless hollow armors lay scattered on the ground. Yanjio, carrying the staff, had the tip still dripping with black liquid. He walked up to Mingyao. It’s done. Mingyao didn’t know what to say. She struggled to find the right words, finally managing to squeeze out, how much blue do you have left? Yanjio glanced at his. Status bar. Used windstep three times, still over 90% left. Mingyao closed her mouth. Bishop Klai snapped back to reality from his shock. He didn’t comment much on the battle but quickly walked towards the. Cells. Hurry. Save them. His tone was filled with urgency. The monkey also seemed to awaken from a dream, picking up the dagger and rushing towards another row of cells. Captain. Lord Raynor. Are you there? He shouted. Loudly while prying at the rusty lock. Inside the cells, the imprisoned members of the Holy Light Church were all ragged and emaciated. Most of them had been tortured beyond recognition, their bodies covered in whip, marks and brands. Upon seeing Bishop Klai, a glimmer of light reignited in their eyes. It’s Bishop Klai. We are saved. Yen Jiu and Mingyao stepped forward to help, using their weapons to break open the fragile cell doors. Soon, all the cells were opened. Over a dozen rescued clergy members leaned on each other, many of them so overwhelmed with emotion that they were in tears. Bishop Kly counted the numbers but his expression grew increasingly grim. Where’s Raynor? He asked a seemingly higher ranking priest. The priest weakly shook his head. The judge took Lord Captain down below. Below? Bishop Kly’s heart tightened.At that moment. The monkey’s exclamation came from the other end of the mine. Leader! Bishop! Here! Over here! Everyone hurried over. At the end of the mine, in a more concealed corner, they discovered a pit sealed off by iron bars. Leading downwards, the monkey was crouched at the entrance, desperately peering inside. Bishop Clay pushed him aside and leaned in with a torch. The pit wasn’t deep, about four or five meters. Below, a figure was chained to the stone wall by thick iron chains. His limbs were pierced by iron nails, his body hanging limply, motionless, covered in dark red blood and black corrosion marks. His life was like a candle flickering in the wind, ready to extinguish at any moment. Reynolds. Bishop Clay cried out in anguish. Quick, go down and save him. Without needing to be told, Yen Jio was the first to jump down. Using the withered soul staff, he smashed the chains. Binding Reynold in just a few strikes. Reynold’s body fell softly into his arms. Yen Jiu lifted him up and sent him up. Ming Yao and the monkey quickly caught him. When they laid Reynold flat on the ground, everyone gasped in shock. Reynold’s health was less than 1%. Moreover, it was steadily decreasing at a slow but firm rate. A visible black aura surrounded him. Target Reynold? Lightforged is in shadow decay state. Losing 20 health points per second, all healing effects reduced by 90%. It’s the vile curse of the shadow church. Bishop Clay’s face turned ashen. Luan Gu. Ming Yao called out urgently. Luan Gu was already kneeling. Beside Reynolds. Without a moment’s hesitation, she pressed her hands together and a holy light began to shine from her palms. A warm beam of light descended from the sky, enveloping Reynolds. A faint green number, almost negligible, floated above Reynolds’ head. Yet he was losing 20 health points per second. This amount of healing was a drop in the bucket. Beads of fine sweat appeared on Luan Gi’s forehead. Word of power, spring. A. Fountain of Light appeared around Reynold, and Luan Ge’s beam of light grew even brighter. The healing amount increased slightly to 413942, but it was still a drop in the bucket, the minus 90% healing reduction was too deadly. No, the curse is too strong. A tremor crept into Luan Ge’s voice. If this continued, this paladin would die before their eyes in less than half a minute. Just then, Bishop Clay suddenly placed his hand on Luan Ge’s shoulder. Holy Light, please heed the prayers of your humble servant and heal the pain before us. He closed his eyes and began to chant a prayer. A force of holy light far more pure and powerful than that of Luan. Gu, surged through his arm and into her body. You have received Bishop Clay’s blessing, your healing effects increased by 300%, mana consumption reduced by 50%, lasting 10 seconds to. Luan Gu felt a warm current spread. Throughout her body, her nearly exhausted mental energy instantly replenished. She dared not delay and began to chant the healing spell again. This time, the beam of light descending from above almost solidified. The dazzling golden light dispelled all the chill and darkness around. A huge green number, 588, erupted from above Reynolds’ head. His health bar shot up visibly. Effective. Everyone’s hearts raced. Luangu dared not stop. Casting healing spells one after another upon Reynolds. 592579 Reynolds’ health finally stabilized above 20%. The ominous black aura surrounding him was gradually purified under the pure holy light, ultimately dissipating. Completely. On the ground, Reynolds’ eyelids fluttered, slowly opening his eyes. His gray-blue pupils, once unfocused, gradually sharpened in the afterglow of the holy light. He saw the weary face of Bishop Clay Clay. His voice was as if it had been scorched by flames, dry and cracked like a broken bellows. You old bastard, you’re still alive. A rare bitter smile appeared on the usually taut face of Bishop Clay. The light of God does not extinguish. Easily. Reno’s gaze swept around, spotting the monkey, Ming-Yau and the others, finally resting on Yen-Jiu, who was shouldering a staff. He struggled to rise but was held down by Bishop Clay’s hand on his shoulder. Don’t move, you’re injured. At that moment, a series of crisp system notification sounds echoed in the minds of Yenzhou, Mingyao, and the others. Ding! You have completed the quest, Save the Paladin. Commander! You have gained plus 500 reputation with the Maple Leaf Brotherhood, plus 500 experience, plus 1 gold. Ding! You have completed the quest, Dawn in the Darkness. You have gained plus 300 reputation with the Holy Light Church, plus 800 experience. Almost the instant the notification sounded, 3 soft golden lights shone from Mingyao, Qingqing, and Luanggu. then quickly merged into their bodies. Wow! I leveled up again. Xingqin exclaimed in delight, waving her small fist. She opened her attribute panel, looking at the number that. Jumped from level 7 to 8, her little face brimming with uncontainable joy. Luangu also breathed a sigh of relief, the fatigue from continuous high-intensity casting was swept away. In the moment of leveling up, and she radiated renewed vitality. Mingyeo looked at her increased level, but felt no waves in her heart. She instinctively glanced at Yanzhou. who still wore that indifferent expression, his level still glaringly at 10. With Bishop Clay’s support, Reno finally sat up against the damp, cold stone wall. He listened as the monkey quickly summarized the current situation. When he heard Reinhardt and Maple Leaf Brotherhood, a glimmer of sharpness finally flickered in his dim eyes. That kid has finally grown up. Unlike that fool of a father, Reno suddenly cursed under his breath, each breath pulling at the wound in his chest, causing him to cough violently. That idiot in the Lord’s Mansion. His emotions flared, and his voice rose accordingly. The evidence of the Shadow Church’s infiltration is piled up three feet high in front of him, yet he acts like a blind man. I told him long ago that. Woman was suspicious. He said I was slandering. Reno’s fist slammed heavily into the ground beside him, raising a cloud of dust. If, if I could get my hands on the blade of annihilation. His breathing became labored, each word squeezed out like it was forced through his teeth. The first thing I would do is rush back to Maple Leaf City and, in front of everyone, cleave that monster occupying the Lord’s Wife’s. Body in half with one strike. And then. I would throw that filthy head right in the face of that bastard lord. His suppressed roar echoed in the underground space filled with endless fury. Xingqin flinched at his words. Unconsciously shrinking behind Luangu. Mingyao, however, calmly analyzed the information in his words. The blade of annihilation. Reno took a moment to catch his breath, his emotions slightly calming. He raised his head and. Looked at everyone. I have found a clue to that weapon. But just having a clue isn’t enough, my strength hasn’t recovered yet, and I need your protection. He looked toward the depths of the all-consuming dark forest. Protect. Me, go to the deepest part of the troll territory in the forest. The blade of annihilation is very likely in the hands of those savage creatures. A new quest prompt popped up before everyone. Ding. You have triggered the. Follow-up quest, escort the night commander, quest objective, protect Reno Lightforge, travel to the troll territory, and assist him in obtaining the blade of annihilation. Quest reward, plus 1,000 reputation with the Holy Light. Church, plus 800 experience. Looking at the generous rewards, Ming Yao hesitated not at all. We accept, Reynold nodded. Good. Very good. He struggled, and with the help of Bishop Clay, stood up. Let’s go. The group did not. Delay, escorting the still-injured Reynold out of the cold underground prison. Back in the forest, the damp, decaying leaf scent hit them. The atmosphere of the team grew heavier with Reynold’s presence. He was like a moving. Powder keg, each step filled with suppressed rage, his pale cheeks taut from pain. Bishop Clay and the monkey supported him on either side, carefully navigating through the tangled woods. Just then, the bushes ahead rustled, and several forest wolves, covered in black pustules, lunged out from the shadows, bearing their dripping fangs. Watch out! The monkey instinctively shielded Reynold behind him. Yenjo’s movements were faster than his warning. He didn’t even look back. The withered soul staff swung back in a half circle, the heavy in tracing a precise arc boom. The head of the first corrupted forest wolf exploded into a mist of blood mid -air. Minus 4,250 Yanjio did not stop. The staff came down on the second wolf’s back. A crisp crack of bones echoed. The wolf didn’t even have time to howl before its body collapsed turning into a puddle of flesh. The third. The fourth. The entire process flowed. As smoothly as clearing weeds by the roadside. Reynolds’ pupils contracted as he watched Yanjio’s back. His throat moved as if to say something, but he swallowed it back. All right. Yanjio hoisted the staff back onto his shoulder and continued forward. The atmosphere in the group became even stranger. Qingqing whispered to Luanga, it’s like this again, we didn’t even get a chance to strike. I wanted to show off a bit. Luanga nearly patted her back. In reassurance, Mingyao fell into deep thought. She noticed that Yanjio’s damage numbers seemed to have increased significantly. The group pressed deeper into the forest. The trees around them grew increasingly twisted and, bizarre, and a strange odor, a mix of fishy and burnt smells, began to permeate the air. On the ground, the remains of enormous, unknown creatures were scattered everywhere. We’re almost there. Reynolds’ voice carried a sense of urgency. The troll’s territory is just in that valley ahead. After walking for another ten minutes, the path opened up. A massive camp, surrounded by rough wooden stakes and beast bones, appeared before them. In the camp, tall totem poles were adorned with dried heads. Several trolls, over two meters tall, with dark green skin and bulging muscles, wandered at the entrance, wielding massive stone clubs. Forest troll, elite, level, 12 health. 4500 attack, 145 defense, 89 skill, rage ching ching gasped. All the monsters here are level 12 elites. So many. Can we handle them? Hmph, a bunch of simple-minded barbaric creatures. Reynolds snorted coldly but had to lean. On bishop clay to barely stay upright. Before he finished speaking, Yanjio had already moved. Without a moment’s hesitation, he charged straight toward the massive figures at the camp entrance, armed only with his staff. Hey! Mingyao instinctively shouted. It was too late. Yenjo was incredibly fast, instantly reaching one of the trolls. The troll clearly did not expect a human to dare provoke it, it let out an angry roar, raising its stone club, thicker than a person, to smash down. Yenjo did not dodge, he met the attack with his withered soul staff. Bang. Minus 4244 a loud crash echoed. The troll’s body swayed, and a large chunk of its health vanished in an instant. Its body turned bright red, triggering the skill rage. Yenjo’s second strike followed immediately. Bang. Minus 4251 The troll’s roar got stuck in its throat as its massive body began to wobble. Its health hit zero. It crashed to the ground with a thunderous sound, kicking up a cloud of dust, clean and neat. The remaining trolls saw the scene and abandoned their original positions, all roaring as they charged towards Yanjio. We can’t let him take it all. On alone. Ming Yao immediately made a judgment. Ching Ching, control the one on the far right. Luanga, bless me and Yanjio. Got it. Ching Ching quickly began to chant, and an ice arrow shot out, accurately hitting one troll’s knee. slowing its movements for a moment. The vine and slow spell took too long to chant, so Qingqing quickly chose the most suitable method. Luanga also waved her staff, and two golden halos fell on Mingyao and Yanjio respectively. Mingyao raised his shield and faced another charging troll, bracing himself against the heavy blow. The scene was somewhat chaotic, but under Mingyao’s command, it gradually became orderly. Soon, the few elite trolls at the entrance were cleared away. Yanjio, holding the staff, stood in place, seemingly waiting for them. Let’s go, he urged. The group passed through the camp, heading towards the largest tent at the deepest point. At the entrance of the tent, a figure taller than an ordinary troll sat on a throne made of piled bones. It wore crude iron armor and held a rusty giant battleaxe. Forest troll chieftain? Grum, black iron level boss, level, 15 health. 12,000 attack, 150 defense, 130 skills, warstomp, frenzy, Cleave Reynolds’ breathing became heavy. The blade of annihilation must be on it. The troll chieftain also noticed the intruders, standing up from the throne with. A deafening roar, grabbing the battle axe and stomping forward. Yanzhou charged in first once again. Bang! The withered soul staff struck solidly against the troll chieftain’s chest plate. Minus 20-20, level penalty, a damage number. Far lower than before floated above the boss’s head. Not good, level penalty. Xingqin exclaimed. The troll chieftain merely swayed its body, its crimson eyes locking onto Yanzhou, the massive battle axe whistling through. The air as it swept towards him. Wind step. Yanjio’s figure instantly vanished from the spot, appearing at the side of the troll chieftain. The staff struck down again. Bang! Minus 2010 the troll chieftain howled in pain, turning around as the battle axe swung empty once more. It seemed thoroughly enraged, abandoning its attack and instead raising its right foot high. Its war stomp spread out. Mingyao shouted. Boom! The troll chieftain’s right foot stomped down heavily, a visible shockwave radiating outward from it. Yanjio quickly rolled away. Mingyao and the others also retreated awkwardly, dodging the attack. Qingqing, slow it down. Mingyao commanded. Qingqing slow. Spell landed on the troll chieftain but only the word resist appeared. The boss’s level suppression was too evident. Yanjio steadied himself, looking at the raging giant, only frowning slightly. He charged in again. Dodge. Attack. Dodge. Attack. His movements were simple to the extreme, yet precise to the extreme. Each time, he struck the staff hard against the troll chieftain during the gaps in its attacks. Minus 2005 to 2101 damage numbers repeatedly. Floated above the boss’s head. The troll chieftain’s health was rapidly decreasing. When its health dropped to 20%, its body suddenly swelled, its skin turning dark red. Frenzy. Its attack speed and power received a tremendous boost. The battle axe swung in a dense pattern, almost forming a net of death. Yenjo’s figure weaved through this net. He moved like a top-tier dancer, each step taken on the edge of a knife, narrowly avoiding all lethal. Attacks finally, after dodging a powerful downward slash, he seized the fleeting opportunity. The withered soul staff, infused with all his strength, struck fiercely against the troll chief’s head. Bang. Minus 2030 the massive body of. The troll chief crashed to the ground with a thunderous impact. Moments later, several beams of rich light shot up from the troll chief’s corpse, transforming into a few items that scattered around its enormous form. One item. Caught everyone’s attention, it was a knife. A slender, almost straight knife, its blade exhibited a strange black hue as if it could absorb all surrounding light. It lay quietly on the ground devoid of any glow, yet emanated a chilling aura of extinction. Troll Chief Sharp Fong Quality, Black Iron Level Requirement, 15 Equipment Type, Necklace Attributes, Strength plus 10, Agility plus 10, Critical Hit Rate plus 10% Class Requirement, Warrior, Ranger, Rogue, Paladin. Grom’s great axe, two-handed weapon, quality, black iron level requirement, 15 equipment type, two -handed axe attributes, strength plus 30, attack power plus 10, attack speed dash 20% class requirement, warrior dot. Blade. Of annihilation, quest item, Yanjio side, even the strength boosting necklace began to impose class restrictions. It seemed he would need to collect all attribute gear like the brotherhood emblem in the future. Mingyao withdrew. Her gaze from the slender knife and glanced at Yanjio. Old rules, right? She skillfully picked up all the equipment except for the quest item. Consider these as me purchasing them from you. Yen Jio nodded. Alright. Just then, Reno broke free from Bishop Clay’s support. He staggered, step by step, toward the slender knife. He bent down, trembling hands picking up the blade of annihilation. He coughed violently, spitting out a mouthful of blood tinged with black. But his hunched back slowly straightened. Gripping the knife, he stood up like a reforged sword, sharpened filled with unmasked killing intent. Very good. Reno’s voice remained hoarse, yet it carried. A metallic rasp. He did not look at anyone, merely brushed his fingers lightly over the dark grey blade. With this, it’s enough. He turned around, his eyes burning with fury, finally meeting Yanjou’s gaze. He appraised the man. Wielding the staff, as if evaluating a weapon. You are strong. Stronger than I imagined an outsider to be. Next, I will return to Maple Leaf City. I will completely eliminate the monster that has taken over the Lord’s. Mansion. A series of system prompts popped up before everyone. Ding. you have completed the quest escort the knight commander you gain holy light cathedral reputation plus 1000 experience plus 500. ding reno lightforged has issued you the final quest revenge do you accept yen joe opened the quest details quest revenge quest objective escort reno lightforged back to maple leaf city publicly exposed the truth that the lord’s wife is a succubus in disguise and eliminate her completely. Quest Rewards, Maple Leaf Brotherhood Reputation plus 3 ,000, Holy Light Cathedral Reputation plus 2,000, Experience plus 2,000, Special Title Savior of Maple Leaf City. Looking at the long list of rewards, Yen Jio had yet to speak. Reno spoke again. Maple Leaf City, I, Reno, have returned. With that, he no longer looked at anyone, tightened his grip on the Blade of Annihilation, turned, and stepped forward. His steps, no longer wavered, each one was firm and steady, heading toward Maple Leaf City. Reno’s figure stood tall like a battle flag raised anew, straight toward the direction of Maple Leaf City, his steps were steady, each footfall. Crushing the dry leaves in the forest and shattering the humiliations of the past. Yanjou silently accepted the task, shouldering his staff and following closely behind. Ming Yao and the others exchanged glances and quickened. Their pace. The atmosphere of the group turned grim due to Reno’s transformation. Bishop Clay and the monkey followed closely, their faces filled with complex emotions as they watched Reno’s back. The return journey seemed even. Longer than the way there. The shadowy cultists and corrupted beasts in the woods, like hyenas sensing blood, occasionally darted out from the shadows. Swish! A corrupted cheetah, lurking in the treetops, lunged at Reno, who was walking at the front, like a bolt of black lightning. Reno didn’t even turn around. Yen Jio, behind him, moved faster. The Soulbreaker staff sliced through the air, swung upward from an awkward angle. Bang! The cheetah’s body twisted into a grotesque shape mid-air, the sound of shattering bones clearly audible. A cloud of blood mist exploded and the lifeless body fell to the ground. Yanzhou retracted his staff, resting it back on his shoulder. His steps never faltering. Rino’s pace also showed no signs of slowing, as if all of this had nothing to do with him. Qingqing opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but was stopped by Luangu tugging at her sleeve. Mingyao silently watched Yanzhou’s back. The sound of the staff striking and the cracking of bones became the only accompaniment on this return journey. Finally, the oppressive forest came to an end. The towering walls of maple leaf. City appeared before everyone. A gentle yet resonant female voice, imbued with an invisible authority, echoed through the sky above Maple Leaf City, amplified by some magic. Warriors of Maple Leaf City. Capture him. Seize. The sinner, Reno Lightforge, who has betrayed the holy light and consorts with darkness, and his accomplices. The voice reverberated between the city walls and the sky, each word clearly reaching everyone’s ears. The city. Gate slowly closed, emitting a heavy grinding sound. The grim atmosphere instantly enveloped the entire area. On the city walls, countless soldiers appeared, drawing bows and unsheathing swords, their cold weapons reflecting a chilling light. Reno halted his steps, raising his head to gaze at the city he had once protected with his life. He tightened his grip on the blade of annihilation, the dark gray blade seeming to absorb the surrounding light. Monster, he whispered in a voice only he could hear. I have come. Bringing the just judgment of the holy light. He resumed his steps, walking toward the closing city gates, one step at a time. His pace was resolute, each step seeming to question the soul of the city. At the city gate, a dense formation of soldiers had already gathered. They stood in neat ranks, shields and spears forming an insurmountable barrier. At the forefront was a man on a tall warhorse, clad in fine plate armor, exuding an imposing presence. His armor was far superior to that of the ordinary soldiers, with the emblem of the Lord’s Manor stamped on the breastplate. He looked at Reno, who was approaching. Step by step, his expression incredibly complex. Reno, his voice came through the helmet, sounding somewhat muffled. You know I can’t let you pass. Reno’s steps showed no signs of stopping. He didn’t even look up at the man on the horse. As he walked, he spoke. His voice was hoarse but carried a penetrating strength. You must do what you believe is right, Noxum. Noxum, the captain of the Maple Leaf City guard, once a comrade who fought. Alongside Reno, we fought together for Grand Knight Egramar. Reno’s voice rose slightly. Did he misjudge me? Do you really believe my intention is to destroy Maple Leaf City and tarnish the holy light? His questioning struck like a heavy hammer against Noxum’s heart. The soldiers behind Naksham began to stir restlessly.Reynolds’ footsteps grew faster and more resolute. Behind him, Yen Jio and the others silently followed his rhythm. Faced with the iron wall of soldiers composed of hundreds, they showed no signs of retreat. The formation of soldiers behind Naksham unconsciously took a half-step back under Reynolds’ advancing momentum, the shield formation showing a barely perceptible disturbance. Reynolds’ steps became increasingly firm, his voice rising filled with repressed anger. Have I brought shame upon our heroes? Reynolds’ voice suddenly transformed into a roar. The anger and resentment that had been suppressed for countless years erupted completely at that moment. With each step he took forward, Noxum and the soldiers behind him instinctively retreated a step. It was not fear, but a wavering. That came from within. Blocking me here is not a wise decision, Noxum. He was less than 10 meters away from Noxum. Noxum slowly lowered his head, as if unwilling to meet Reynolds’ fiery gaze. I am ashamed, old friend. His voice was filled with helplessness. I don’t know what to do anymore. It is not you who has brought shame upon the spirits of Aggramar, but me. He raised his head, looking towards the lord’s mansion. It is I, along. With those fallen politicians. They have filled our lives with hollow promises and endless lies. Noxum slowly raised his hand, releasing the sword at his waist. With a clang, the longsword fell to the ground, emitting a crisp. Lament. This action stunned all the soldiers. Reynolds’ steps finally halted before Noxum. The two were only three steps apart. Don’t do this, Reynolds. Noxum’s voice carried a hint of pleading. I still have family. Reynold looked at him, a flicker of sorrow passing through his fiery eyes. But I have lost mine, Noxum. I have nothing left. He raised the blade of annihilation in his hand, the dark grey blade seeming to weep. You will. Not make the great sacrifice for the people and for the light like Grand Knight Aggramar, I understand that. But now, it is time to end all of this. Noxum closed his eyes and sighed deeply. When he opened his eyes again, all struggle and pain transformed into resolve. He suddenly turned around and let out a thunderous roar at the bewildered soldiers behind him. That voice seemed to take him back to the battlefield where he fought alongside Reynold. Drenched in blood. Step back. Don’t you see, a true hero stands before us. The soldiers were stunned by this roar, instinctively retreating to the sides. The once impenetrable shield wall cracked open, creating a path. Leading into the city. Naksham paid them no further heed. He turned back to look at Reynold, who had already passed by him. Go, my friend. May the light guide you. Reynold did not look back, only raised the blade of annihilation. High in his hand. The iron wall of soldiers slowly parted before him, creating a path to the lord’s mansion. Where Reynold walked, the soldiers knelt on one knee. The cold metal armor clashed against the stone slabs, producing a dull sound. They lowered their heads, paying the highest knightly respect to Reynold’s back. Knight Commander Reynold, welcome back. You are the courage of the Maple Leaf Knights. These voices were low but filled with strength. They all had concerns families, unable to march alongside Reynold and could only express their final respect in this way. Mingya watched this scene, a complex emotion surging within him that was hard to articulate. Each soldier’s face bore different struggles and pains. Some tightly closed their eyes, gritting their teeth. Some showed shame, unable to lift their heads.In past games, NPC reactions were always uniform, like a preset program. But the people before me, every subtle movement they made was so real it was startling. Were they really just NPCs? The path was clear. The road opened by the guards led straight to the power center of the city. The Lord’s Mansion. Soon, the magnificent building appeared before everyone. A few did not pause at all and stepped onto the white stone steps in front of the mansion. Inside the residence the luxurious decorations contrasted sharply with the oppressive atmosphere. Rainer, holding the blade of annihilation, walked straight into the depths of the hall. There, a middle-aged man dressed in fine clothes, looking haggard, sat in the main seat. He was the lord of Maple Leaf City. Beside him stood a woman with an enchanting figure and stunning beauty. She was the lord’s wife. raynor halted his steps raising the blade of annihilation in his hand the dark gray blade pointed directly at the woman it’s time to settle this you she demon upon hearing this title the lord’s wife not only did not panic but instead laughed charmingly her voice sultry to the bone settle this her body swayed slightly full of temptation ha you will soon be judged for treason i would be delighted to see you on the gallows she looked at raynor with disdain her words dripping with contempt what do you want do you want to kill the lord’s wife here and leave and scathe Raynor ignored her taunts. He slowly raised the blade of annihilation. For these past years, I have been searching. His voice was hoarse but carried a resolute determination about to erupt. Now, I have finally found this opportunity. Before his words fell, Raynor’s figure shot forward like an arrow released from a bow. The dark gray blade traced a line of annihilation through the opulent hall. Putt. Blood splattered. A deep bone visible wound appeared on the lord’s wife’s arm. Bold. Raynor. The lord finally reacted, springing up from his seat with an angry roar. But the lord’s wife paid no heed to her wound, she let out a piercing. Scream. The sound was no longer seductive but filled with inhuman resentment. Under the astonished gazes of everyone, her injured arm began to melt, her beautiful skin dripping like wax, revealing beneath it a dark, scaly claw. Her body twisted and elongated, her beautiful face rapidly decaying into a terrifying visage with fangs and blood -red eyes. It’s a she-demon. Rainer, save me. The lord looked at the monster beside him, letting out a second. Terrified scream. The she-demon’s sharp claws carrying a pungent stench of blood lunged toward Rainer’s chest. At that critical moment, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, dozens of figures surged in through the windows and doors of the Lord’s Mansion. They moved with agility and were well-equipped. They were members of the Maple Leaf Brotherhood. Several arrows swiftly shot toward the she-demon’s claws. Leading them was Reinhardt. Attack. With his command, the Brotherhood members immediately began to set up defenses around the Lord’s Mansion while quickly mobilizing the already shaken guards. The situation in the city turned on a dime at that moment. Seeing this, a glint of malice flashed in the she-demon’s crimson eyes. She abandoned her attack on Raynor and turned to grab the now dumbfounded lord, her sharp claws pressed against his throat. Don’t move, she screamed in a hoarse voice. Everyone hesitated, not daring to act rashly. The she -demon, holding the lord hostage, transformed into a shadow and crashed through the dome of the hall, flying in a certain direction. The Cathedral of Holy Light. Bishop Clay looked in. That direction, his expression turning extremely grave. The cathedral has long been controlled by the shadow cult. However, this is still Maple Leaf City. He turned to look at everyone. It’s time to make a final resolution. Then a series of systems sounds echoed. Ding. Task. Revenge completed. Rewards. Maple Leaf Brotherhood Reputation plus 3000. Holy Light Church Reputation plus 2000. Experience plus 2000. Special title. Hero of Maple Leaf City. Hero. of maple leaf city maple leaf city will forever regard you as a hero all your expenses in maple leaf city will be at half price and you can receive the title of baron from the city lord ding your reputation with the maple leaf brotherhood has reached worship ding your reputation with the holy light church has reached respect ding congratulations your level has increased to lv 11 ding talent war god effect enhanced melee damage increase raised to 200 times ding Congratulations, Strength plus 1, Agility plus 1, Intelligence plus 1, Spirit plus 1, Constitution plus 1, Ding. Congratulations, you have gained 5 free attribute points, current free attribute points, 80, Ding. Congratulations to players Yanzhou, Mingyao, Luangu, Qingqing for opening the dungeon, the corrupted holy light church. Rewards, 5 free attribute points, 1 random level 10 black iron equipment. May I ask, do you wish to reveal your name, allowing your fame to resonate throughout the world of illusion? Yanzhou still chose no. Ding! Congratulations to players Mingyao, Luangu, Qingqing from the Tinglan, Pavilion for Opening the Dungeon, the Corrupted Holy Light Church, Rewards, 5 free attribute points, 1 random level 10 black iron equipment, another series of system announcements, the familiar term anonymous once again, detonated like a bomb throughout the world of illusion. Qingqing’s mouth fell open as she looked at the 5 additional free attribute points on her attribute panel, along with the piece of equipment that had appeared out of, nowhere, radiating a black iron sheen in her backpack. Happiness came too suddenly. She felt like she was dreaming. Again, again it’s us, she murmured, turning to look at Mingyao and Luangu beside her. At the same time, the World Channel. World Channel, player one sword pierces the clouds, did I see that right? Another new dungeon opened? And it’s in Maple Leaf City? World Channel, player chasing the wind in the wind, the key point is, who opened the dungeon? Ting Lan Pavilion. And that damn anonymous big shot. World Channel, player I am your father, damn. What kind of monsters are those guys from village 952766? We’re still fighting wolves in the village, and they’ve already started opening the main city dungeon? World channel, player Uncle Wang next door, is there a problem with the game balance? Why can only their village go out? World channel, player chest, crushing big stone, hey, don’t be sour. They opened the portal, that’s their skill, a system reward. If you have the ability, go open one too. World channel, player I am your father, I’ll open your mom. I finished all mine. tasks and didn’t see a thing. How can I open it? World channel, player Luo Shun Moon Shadow, President Mingyao, interested in chatting? You’ve blocked messages. In an instant, the entire world channel erupted. Opening. The main city dungeon could no longer be explained by mere luck. It represented an absolute crushing power. Mingyao had long since blocked all private messages. She watched the excited, incoherent comments, but her mood was not as relaxed as she had imagined. Her words made Mingyao’s feelings even more complicated. Yenzhou, however, seemed not to hear the three’s excited discussion. He glanced at the time on the system interface. Game online. Duration, 6 hours 43 minutes. He felt that he had spent enough time in the game today. I’m logging off, he said to Mingyao and the others. Mingyao froze. She thought she had misheard. Log off? Aren’t you going to go for? The first kill of this new dungeon? Xingqian’s adorable eyes widened in disbelief. This is the first kill of the main city dungeon. The rewards must be better than before. Yanjio scratched his head at his handsome face bore a hint of natural nonchalance. Whatever, he uttered three words. The air seemed to freeze. Whatever. These three words fell like a heavy hammer on Mingyao and Qingqing’s hearts. It was the honor that countless guilds would fight. Tooth and nail to seize. It was a divine opportunity that could elevate a guild’s reputation to its peak. Yet, from this man’s lips, it was merely whatever. Mingyao let out a long breath feeling the pent-up frustration. In her chest finally ease. She had gotten used to it. Or rather, she was forcing herself to adapt to this man’s way of doing things. Alright. Then you can log off first. She tried to make her tone sound calmer. Goodbye. Yen. Jio nodded slightly, and his figure transformed into specks of white light, vanishing from sight. Mingyao remained still, silently opening her friend list, staring at the great-out avatar, lost in thought for a long time. A cold sensation came from beneath her. Yen Jio opened his eyes. What greeted him was the slightly yellowed ceiling of his rented room. Outside. The window, the city remained shrouded in shadows. Inside the room, there was a deathly silence. He sat up, the magnificent mage robe he wore, had transformed back into a somewhat faded ordinary t-shirt in reality. The cold countdown on his arm had disappeared. Gurgle. A clear sound. Came from his abdomen, breaking the stillness of the room. He rubbed his stomach. Hungry. From being forcibly logged into the game around. Noon to now, it was already past seven in the evening. He rolled out of bed, walked to the door, and opened the creaking wooden door. Yen Jio. Descended the creaky stairs, the dim light stretching his shadow long. Not far downstairs, he ordered a bowl of beef noodles. After a moment’s thought, he extravagantly added a portion of braised beef tripe and ten skewers of freshly grilled lamb kebabs, the aroma of cumin and chili. Wafting through the air, the steaming noodles warmed him from the inside out. His previous life was a monotonous routine of training in tasks. Dull yet regular. Now, there was an eccentric game world added to the mix. Savoring the last lamb skewer, Yen Jiu wiped his mouth and was about. To head upstairs. Suddenly, his phone in his pocket vibrated violently. He took it out, and a familiar number flashed on the screen. The call. Connected, and an urgent voice came through. Yanzhou, emergency deployment. Yanzhou’s expression remained unchanged. He hung up the phone, and turned to walk briskly back to his rented room. A sudden knock echoed on the door. Knock knock. Xiaoyan, why are you in such a hurry? At this hour, a lazy yet somewhat alluring voice sounded from outside. It was Sister Su, the landlord. Yanzhou opened the door. Sister Su leaned against the doorframe, wearing only a semi-transparent silk nightgown, her beautiful figure partially visible. She yawned, her gaze hazy. As she looked at Yanjio, Yanjio’s attention was entirely on the gear in his hands. Just a little something, he replied briefly, sidestepping. Past Sister Su and hurriedly heading downstairs. Sister Su watched his disappearing figure at the stairwell, lingering for a long time. Soon, Yanjio arrived at the police station. He quickly changed into a black tactical uniform, skillfully checking his equipment. The duty room was bustling, the first wave of officers had already been dispatched. Yen Jio just caught the second wave. He didn’t ask much and directly jumped into a running police car. The door closed, and the siren wailed. Sitting next to him was a slightly plump officer, wiping the sweat from his forehead while briefly explaining the situation. There’s been a robbery at the pharmacy in the west of the city, and they’ve taken a staff member hostage. The plump officer took a breath and continued. Strangely, the guy didn’t have a weapon. But he’s incredibly strong, our colleagues who got. Their first were knocked over along with their shields. Yanjou’s eyebrows twitched slightly at the words. Boundless strength. He became somewhat interested. The police car sped through the night and quickly arrived at the scene. A long cordon had already been set up around the convenience store. Dozens of police cars flashed red and blue lights, illuminating the area as if it were daytime. Armed with riot shields, the armed police had completely surrounded the small pharmacy, while a negotiation expert held a megaphone futilely attempting to persuade. Yanjio got out of the car, pushed through the crowd, and walked to the front. Through the large floor-to-ceiling glass of the pharmacy he could vaguely see the situation. Inside, a tall man was tightly choking a young female clerk with his arm. His eyes were bloodshot, muttering to himself, and his body was trembling slightly. Yanjio’s brow furrowed. He could see clearly that as more police cars arrived, the red and blue lights cast a fierce glare on the man’s face. Yanjio could tell that the female clerk was not seriously harmed, just a bit overly frightened. Although Yanjio had sealed his fists, that was for ancient martial arts competitions and fights. Rescuing someone was another matter. He turned and walked towards the scene commander, an old police officer with two stripes on his shoulder. Report, I want to go in and try, he said. The commander, who was observing with binoculars, lowered them and glanced back at the young officer. He recognized Yanjio. This young man had scored full marks in every physical test and was the overall champion of the military district competition. After a moment of silence, the commander. Nodded. Be careful. With the commander’s approval, Yen Jio said no more. He removed his gear, leaving only his black combat uniform, and slowly walked towards the pharmacy’s closed glass door. His movements were slow, without any hint of threat. Like an ordinary citizen just passing by wanting to buy a box of digestive tablets. Creak, the glass door was gently pushed open a crack. Inside, the man holding the hostage immediately became alert and let out a beast-like growl from his throat. Don’t come over. Yanjio ignored him and walked straight to a row of shelves, casually picking up a pack of hawthorn slices. He sat down on the floor not far from the man. Rip. The sound of the packaging being torn open was particularly jarring in the dead silence of the convenience store. Crunch. He picked up a slice and put it in his mouth, chewing it with enjoyment. I say, Yanjio spoke with his mouth full, his words muffled. Why are you doing this? The man’s eyes. Widened even more, the blood vessels almost bursting from his eye sockets. What was this cop doing? If you want money, wouldn’t it be better to rob a bank? Yenjio picked up another slice of hawthorn. How much cash can there be here? Then he held out a slice to the man. Do you want to eat? Roar. The man was clearly enraged by Yenjio’s extremely casual attitude. He released the female clerk in his arms, letting her collapse to the ground, then charged at Yenjio like an enraged bull, roaring. His fist, as big as a sandbag, whistled through the air, aiming straight for Yenjio’s head. Yenjio leaned back, narrowly dodging the powerful punch. However, his movement was somewhat awkward, and he stumbled, almost falling. His. Recent battles had all taken place in the illusion. That mage body with only basic attributes made him almost forget how terrifying the power of his real body was. The man, missing his first strike, became even more furious. The second punch. Followed closely, carrying the momentum to shatter the air. Yenjiyo steadied himself, bouncing lightly to loosen up. This time, he did not dodge. He simply extended his right hand fast as a shadow. At the moment the man’s fist was about to hit. His face, he accurately grasped the man’s wrist, the terrifying strength of the burly man, enough to topple an adult male, was in Yanjio’s hands like a vice, locked in place and unable to advance even a fraction. Time seemed to freeze at that moment. The fury on the man’s face instantly solidified, transforming into disbelief and terror. Yanjio revealed a smile, innocent and harmless. Now, can we have a proper talk about what happened? The fluorescent lights of the pharmacy illuminated the man’s face, making his fear appear ghostly pale. The muscles in his arms were still twitching, yet he could no longer move forward an inch. It felt as if he had swung a heavy hammer with all his might, only to strike an immovable mountain. The recoil was a terrifying force that made his bones tremble. The burly man staggered back two steps, falling to the ground, looking at Yenjo with the expression of someone staring at a monster. Outside the pharmacy, the police officers saw. This scene threw the glass. Everyone fell silent. The man who could topple a riot shield with a single punch appeared as fragile as a child before this young officer. The commander lowered his binoculars, a fine sheen of sweat breaking out. On his forehead, Yanjio picked up the crushed bag of hawthorn slices from the ground and dusted it off. Now, can we talk? Yanjio popped another slice into his mouth. Why? The burly man’s chest heaved violently, the fury in his eyes slowly. Fading, replaced by a deep despair. He did not answer, only lowered his head, cradling it in his hands, his shoulders beginning to shake violently. The suppressed sobs echoed in the silent convenience store. Yanjio did not press further. He sat. There, eating slice after slice. After a long time, the burly man’s cries gradually subsided. My daughter, she has asthma. His voice was hoarse, like it had been rubbed with sandpaper. The pharmacy is closed, and this is the only place with. Her urgently needed medicine. Yen Jiu paused in his chip eating. So you decided to rob? I have no money. The burly man’s voice was laced with tears. I was just fired by my boss today, I can’t reach my wife on the phone, and I can’t. Find anyone to help. I didn’t get a health insurance card to save money, only my wife did, but she hasn’t been heard from in days, and all the money at home has been taken. Since the illusion appeared, the whole world has gone chaotic. I begged the clerk for a long time, but he wouldn’t give it to me, he said it was the rule. The burly man raised his head, his bloodshot eyes filled with pain. Rules? Who the hell cares about rules now? People all over the world could die at. Any moment, is a life not worth more than a box of medicine? His emotions flared up again. I just want to save my daughter. What did I do wrong? He roared, like a wounded beast trapped. Yen Jio stuffed the last slice of hawthorn into his. Mal crumpled the bag into a ball and accurately tossed it into a nearby trash can. He stood up and walked in front of the burly man. All your attribute points went into strength, right? The burly man was taken aback. He hadn’t expected the other party to ask this. Yes. He answered instinctively. I was lucky, I was in the 952766 newbie village, so I had a few more attribute points than others. I didn’t think about it and just put them all into strength. Yanjio nodded. You did. Nothing wrong. His words left the burly man stunned again. Wanting to save your daughter is not wrong. Yanjio continued, his tone is flat as stating a fact. But you used the wrong method. You scared her. Yanjio pointed to the trembling. Female clerk huddled in the corner. He then pointed outside. And you scared them too. The burly man followed his gaze, outside were countless flashing police lights and tense faces. Your strength is not meant to be used against these people. Yanjio extended his hand. Get up. The burly man hesitated for a moment but ultimately grasped Yanzhou’s hand and he was pulled up from the ground. Where’s the medicine? Yanzhou asked. It’s, it’s right behind that counter. The strong. Man pointed to the cash register. Yanzhou walked over and indeed found a box of asthma spray in a drawer under the counter. He then waved it at the female clerk, put it on my tab, I’ll settle the bill after I’m done. Holding the medicine, he. Returned to the strong man. Here. The strong man trembled as he took the box of medicine, as if he had received the most precious thing in the world. Thank you, thank you. Tears welled up in his eyes once again. Let’s go. Yen Jio turned. And walked towards the door. The strong man was completely stunned. He looked at Yen Jio’s back, then at the medicine in his hand, unable to comprehend for a moment. I? I won’t be arrested? Yen Jio pushed open the glass door and stepped. Outside first. The strong man clutched the life-saving medicine tightly and followed closely behind him, like a child who had done something wrong. The air outside instantly froze. All the police raised their guns, the dark muzzles aimed at the Strong man who had just taken hostages. Don’t be nervous. Yen Jio waved his hand at the commander, then turned sideways, blocking the strong man. The situation is resolved. The commander lowered his hand and approached, his brows furrowed into. A frowness he scrutinized the silent strong man, then glanced at the calm Yen Jio. Resolved? The commander’s tone carried a hint of displeasure. His daughter had an asthma attack and urgently needed medication, so he acted impulsively, Yen. Jio explained. No one was hurt, and the store suffered no loss, let him go. The commander fell silent. The surrounding officers exchanged glances, clearly not expecting this development. Nonsense. The commander’s voice suddenly rose. He committed. Robbery, assaulted an officer, took hostages, causing a huge social impact? Just like that, we let him go? Where do we put our faces? What about the dignity of the law? The commander pointed at the overturned police cars and the terrified. Pedestrians, his tone severe. This matter must be handled according to protocol. After he finished speaking, he gave Yen Jiu a look. The nearby fat officer immediately understood and grabbed Yanzhou’s arm. Yes, yes, yes, the leader is right. It must be dealt with seriously. The fat officer said as he forcefully dragged Yanzhou towards the police car. We’ll regroup first and the rest will follow the procedure. Yanzhou stood still and the fat officer couldn’t move him an inch. Despite using all his strength. Wait. He broke free from the fat officer’s grip. He didn’t do it on purpose, he just. You don’t understand anything, listen to me, bro, please, that guy is fine. The fat officer shouted in his ear. Increasing his grip, Yen Jio only gave in after hearing the last sentence. He was almost shoved into the police car by the fat officer. The door slammed shut with a bang, isolating him from the outside chaos. Yen Jio looked out the window, seeing the strongman being handcuffed by two officers and led to another vehicle. He didn’t resist, just tightly clutched the box of medicine in his palm. The police car started and slowly drove away from the scene. Inside the car, the fat officer let, out a sigh of relief, pulled out a crumpled pack of cigarettes from his pocket, and offered Yen Jio one. yenjio shook his head the fat officer lit one for himself took a deep drag and the smoke blurred his round face you kid are still too young he said some things can’t just be solved by right or wrong yenjio remained silent just watching the rapidly retreating street scenery outside can the leader just let him go in front of so many people the fat officer flicked the ash from his cigarette does he not care about face does our police force not care about face if we let him go today will someone dare to rob a bank tomorrow claiming their mother is sick Rules are rules. Especially at a time like. This, if the rules are broken, the sky will really fall. Yanjio frowned. What about his daughter? Don’t worry. The fat officer smiled and patted his shoulder. Did you not see the leader giving him a look? The meaning of handling official. Business is to first take the person back, record a statement, and go through the process. As for what comes next, that will be easier to manage. There’s a reason for everything, the hostage wasn’t harmed, and he didn’t commit robbery. It’s. Should be classified as a brawl at most, maybe just a day or two in detention for some education before being released. Our people will deliver the medicine to his daughter right away. The fat policeman took another puff of his cigarette, his tone carrying a hint of experience. Do you really think the leaders are that heartless? They know better than anyone that in this world, when people are pushed to the edge, they can do anything. Just putting on a show, maintaining order while solving the problem, this is called human affairs, you understand? Yen Jio looked at the fat policeman feeling as if he was attending a very new class. These convoluted matters were even more complex than the dungeons in Illusion. He sighed, fell silent, and leaned his head against the cold car window. The next day, just as dawn broke, Yen Jiu finished his routine morning exercise, steam rising from his body, and returned to his rented room. Just then, his phone rang. It was the fat. Policeman. Hey, kid. The voice on the other end sounded in a good mood. Just wanted to let you know, that strong man from yesterday, namely Chang, has been granted bail and went home this morning. He asked me to say thank you. Oh. Yen Jio replied, picking up a towel to wipe the sweat from his neck. All right, don’t dwell on this anymore. We were on duty last night, but you don’t have to work today. You can comfortably play games now. Got it. After hanging up, Yen Jio tossed his phone onto the bed. He closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into that familiar sea of stars. Welcome back to illusion the blinding light faded, and the fresh scent of grass and trees from the orange plains replaced the stuffy air of the rented room. Just as Yen Jio’s vision cleared, a series of notification sounds exploded in his ears like a machine gun. Your friend little cream has sent you a message. Your friend little cream has sent you a message. Your friend little cream has sent you a message. A flurry of private message windows popped up in front of him, nearly blocking his view. Boss. Boss. You’re finally online. We have exams at school these days and I don’t know what’s going on, the exams. Don’t start until the afternoon, so we can only grind game time in the morning. Where are you, boss? I heard you opened a new dungeon yesterday, it’s such a pity I wasn’t there. Boss, have you heard? A guild has already cleared the normal difficulty of the barbarian bear’s lair and there are full walkthrough videos online now. The messages kept ringing incessantly. Yen Jio scratched his head, feeling it was even noisier than listening to reports at the police station. He opened the reply box and typed, Where are you? Little Cream almost replied instantly. I’m in the dungeon fighting monsters. I can’t handle the monsters around Maple Leaf City by myself, so I joined a team for the normal difficulty barbarian bear. Dungeon. Boss, you don’t know, now mages above level 5 are in high demand. Our village’s mage has the attribute points you unlocked for the portal, and after adding intelligence, the damage is already much higher than others of the same class. Many teams are eager to recruit me, my level isn’t bad, so they grouped me. There was a hint of pride in the words. Yenjo nodded, this was indeed good news. Just as he was about to close the chat box to work on his job change task, he felt a vague gaze on his back. It was as if he had eyes on the back of his head, he suddenly turned around. Astralalos, with a gentle smile on his face, appeared silently less than half a meter behind him. Yenjio was startled and jumped back a large. Step, his heart skipping a beat. He almost threw a punch. I didn’t expect you to finish so quickly. Astraloro seemed completely unconcerned by Yenjio’s reaction, his smile still gentle, tinged with a hint of admiration. I indeed underestimated. You. Go, eliminate the Siren Linda, resolve the crisis in Maple Leaf City, and become a noble Astral Walker. Ding. Class transfer quest, Astral Walker, I, completed quest reward, star council reputation plus 20, skill book stellar impact ding. NPC Astraloros has issued you a class transfer quest, Astral Walker, 2, quest content, except Astraloros’s trial, successfully eliminate the Siren Linda, and resolve the crisis in Maple Leaf City.Quest reward? A series of system. Prompts appeared. Yenjo’s attention was entirely drawn to the skill book glowing with starlight in his backpack. Without any hesitation, he chose to learn it directly. A flash of light and the skill book transformed into countless star points, merging into his body. A brand new skill icon appeared in his skill bar. Stellar impact, summons a surge of stellar energy, dealing 30 plus 195, intelligence 30% plus spirit 100% plus equipment spell power, damage to enemies, and dealing 30% damage to, all enemy units within 10 yards of the main target. Mana cost, 80 points. Casting time, instant, cooldown, none dot. A stellar type spell. Yengio looked at the skill description, deep in thought. It seemed this should be the core spell system. After the class transfer. The damage bonus was quite decent, and it came with an area splash effect, making it much more efficient for clearing small monsters. Currently, Yen Jo’s equipment was luxurious, with Intelligence 130, Spirit 85+, an additional 10 points of spell power, a stellar impact would probably take out an ordinary player in one hit. As he was studying the new skill, Astraloros’ voice rang out again. Go, young mage, the will of the stars will guide you forward. With that, Astraloros’ figure transformed into specks of starlight dissipating into the air. Yanjio opened the map, planning to spend some time in Maple Leaf City, as he hadn’t spent any of the several gold coins in his pocket. Just a few. Steps out, his friend list began to flash wildly again. It was still little cream. Boss, boss. Help. We got wiped. I was corpse camped, boohoo. The messages were increasingly tragic. Yanjio stopped, frowning. What happened? We were. Fighting the normal barbarian bear den, everything was going well, we were close to the last boss, planning to go out for some supplies. They call themselves the Rogue Guild, attacking without reason, and they blocked the dungeon entrance. Not letting our people in. I barely managed to run back to revive, and then they killed me again, now I’m just lying at the dungeon entrance. Yanjio didn’t hesitate, turning around and heading towards the carriage at the city gate. At the entrance of the barbarian bear den, chaos reigned. A dozen players with the ID prefix, Rogue, blocked the entrance completely, led by a berserker wielding a giant axe whose ID was Rogue Black Industry. Damn it, a bunch of useless trash. Black Industry shouted arrogantly, stepping on the corpse of a recently revived player. Opposite them stood 20 to 30 players, most of them poorly equipped, their faces filled with anger and resentment. Who do you think you are to clear? The area. This dungeon isn’t owned by you. Even the Oracle, Dragon Rising, Goddess of the Moon, and Tylan Pavilion didn’t say they wanted to monopolize it. Aren’t you afraid they’ll come after you? A paladin shouted courageously. Why should? I. Black Industry laughed heartily, pointing his giant axe at the paladin. Just because my axe is harder than yours. The big guild has already gone to Maple Leaf City to develop. Now in the novice village, we rogues call the shots. If you want to enter the dungeon today, it’s a toll of five silver coins per person, or you can just die here. You guys? The paladin’s face turned red with anger, yet he dared not step forward. Although the opposing side was outnumbered, their equipment was clearly superior and their levels were generally higher. They were almost crushed like dried weeds. Either pay up or end up like her, lying on the ground enjoying the scenery. He pointed with the axe handle to a short distance away. where little cream had just resurrected only to be ambushed by a stealthy rogue turning into a white light as her body fell the crowd fell into a dead silence only the arrogant laughter of the members of the madman guild remained at that moment a brilliant starlight fell from the sky without warning precisely striking the top of madman high s head it was as if the night sky had been torn open minus 191 a scarlet number exploded above his head centered around him several members of the madman guild also had small green bean size damage numbers float up Minus 63. Minus 63. Minus 63. What the hell? High had not yet reacted when he felt his health bar plummet to the bottom, leaving only a thin layer of health flickering in the wind. He didn’t even have time to turn his head to look for the source of the attack. The second star, carrying a breath of destruction, smashed towards the mage beside him. Minus 191 minus 63. The arrogance in High’s eyes froze, hit by the spell splash. Damage, his body fell straight down, dropping a few silver coins. Immediately after, it was as if a meteor shower had begun in the sky. The third, fourth, fifth. Brilliant starlights fell continuously, accurately, and mercilessly striking. Every player with the, madman, prefix on their heads. The screens rose and fell, only to be instantly cut off. Those once arrogant members of the madman guild fell like harvested wheat, collapsing in groups and disappearing into white light. The. Entire process took less than three seconds. The world fell silent. Everyone stood frozen in place, staring blankly at the scattered equipment and coins, as well as the few lonely madman guild rogues standing on the outskirts. They were frozen. In place, their expressions more vivid than if they had seen a ghost. Before they could make any move, several more beams of starlight fell, accurately sending them back to the resurrection point. System, you have killed the red-named player. Madman high, royal guard, balance of hands reputation plus one. System, you have killed the red-named player madman bloodhand, royal guard, balance of hands reputation plus one. System, you have killed the red-named player Madman Dark Stinger. Royal Guard, balance of hands reputation plus one. A series of system notifications flashed through Yanjou’s vision. He stood at the edge of the crowd, not even revealing himself, silently putting away the withered soul staff in his hand. At the entrance of the dungeon, after the silence, there was a roar of cheers like a tsunami. Holy crap. They were all wiped out. Who was that big shot? So awesome. It must be that anonymous big shot. Only he has that kind of power. Grab the equipment. Damn, I got a black iron axe. Don’t let those robes from the madman guild get away. Kill them. Where’s the anonymous big shot? Don’t crowd, let me in to see what he looks like. Players surged towards the dungeon entrance, either. Wanting to grab equipment or catch a glimpse of the big shot, with no one noticing Yenjiyo on the outskirts. Yenjiyo pulled little cream, who had just resurrected at the edge of the crowd and looked bewildered, quietly exiting the crowd. Big. Big shot. Little cream looked at the chaos around her, then glanced at the expressionless Yenjiyo, stammering, is. Is it you? yenjiyo did not answer only looking at her didn’t you say your team was wiped out yeah right little cream lowered her head a bit aggrieved her fingers fiddling with the staff we were doing well about to see the savage bear but then we ran out of potions and wanted to come out for supplies and they ambushed us they were all level five to six and their equipment was decent we couldn’t fight back at all yenjiyo frowned if you couldn’t fight back why did you still charge in because because i can’t accept it little cream raised her head her eyes filled with stubbornness why can they kill us We must fight back. We’ve died several times and lost a lot of experience. The staff that the big boss gave me was even destroyed. Yen Jio looked at her almost crying expression and fell silent for a moment. He reached out his hand, wanting to pat her head like a police academy instructor would a rookie, but halfway up, he lowered it again. The tactical arrangement was flawed, intelligence gathering was insufficient, and there was a serious misjudgment of the strength of both sides. His tone was flat, as if he were summarizing an accident report. Choosing a direct confrontation when aware of the power disparity is an irrational act. You should have retreated at the first opportunity to preserve. Your forces then called for support or looked for the enemy’s weaknesses instead of leading your team to their deaths. Little Cream was taken aback by his serious lecture, the tears in her eyes held back. I, I, she stammered for a long, time but couldn’t utter a single rebuttal. Yenjio continued his post-battle analysis in his unperturbed tone. Although he didn’t quite understand human emotions and often offended people with his words, he wasn’t stupid, his analysis of the situation was quite professional. The enemy’s goal is to clear the area and monopolize the dungeon and their behavior pattern is violent expulsion. Your goal is to pass through the dungeon and your behavior pattern is teamwork. With different goals, the logic of actions is naturally different. In the face of absolute power suppression, showing temporary bravery will only lead to greater losses. What you should do is record their IDs, guild names, and the location of the incident. then contact a stronger guild for intervention. This is called making reasonable use of the rules, understand? Little Cream foolishly nodded, then quickly shook her head. Seeing her dazed expression, Yen Jio sighed. It’s a shame you still call yourself a gaming veteran. Little Cream stuck out her tongue and muttered softly, Big shot, you sound just like our school’s principal. After saying that, she hurried to catch up with Yen Jio, afraid of being lectured again. Yen Jio dragged his feet, walking ahead. Little Cream followed behind, head down, like a student who had done something wrong. Let’s go to Maple Leaf City. Yanzhou turned and walked toward the cart at the village entrance. On the way, Yanzhou casually checked his attributes, name, Yanzhou level, 11 class, mage talent, war god, SSS grade, unique, attributes, strength 25, agility 28, constitution 35, intelligence 130, spirit 85 health, 341 mana, 830 defense, 47 melee damage, 30, strength. Plus Weapon Damage, Spell Damage, 135, Intelligence plus Spell Power, Equipment, Hat, Dio’s Shadow Hood, Bronze Intelligence plus 15, Spirit plus 10, Casting Speed plus 15%, Clothes, Shadow Priest’s Robe, Bronze Constitution plus 10, Intelligence plus 38, Spirit plus 20, Defense plus 5, Dark Attribute Damage plus 30, A Belt, Bandit’s Linen Belt, Spirit plus 5, Defense plus 1, Gauntlets, Captain’s Grip, Bronze Intelligence plus 18, Spirit plus 12, Spell Critical Rate plus 5%, Shoes, Anise Cloth Shoes, Black Eye and Defense. plus 3, intelligence plus 5, spell power plus 5, casting speed dash 20%, ring 1, ring of wind, black eye and agility plus 3, spirit plus 3, movement speed plus 5%, ring 2, brotherhood emblem, strength plus 10, agility plus 10, constitution plus 10, intelligence plus 10, spirit plus 10, necklace, dark star necklace, intelligence plus 15, spirit plus 10, mana regeneration plus 5 per second, shadow fury, when dealing damage, there is a certain probability of dealing an additional 50 points of shadow damage. Weapon, two-handed, withered soul. Staff, intelligence plus 15, spell power plus 10, melee attack plus 5 The two traveled in silence and soon arrived at Maple Leaf City. Yanjou checked his friend list, Mingyao and the others were offline, so he planned to head to the dungeon entrance to see if he could call a few more people. Little Cream hurried to catch up. When they reached the city gate, four players blocked their path. They stood at the gate, looking around as if they had just arrived in Maple Leaf City. These four were well-equipped, their gear radiating a faint glow, clearly not ordinary items. Just as Yen Jiu was about to bypass them, the heavily armored guards of Maple Leaf City stationed on either side of the gate suddenly straightened up. Their movements were synchronized, right hands clenched into fists, they struck their armored chests with a heavy thud. Bang! The dull sound of metal striking metal echoed clearly at the morning city gate. We salute you, heroes of Maple Leaf City, the guards shouted in unison, giving Yen Jiu a standard military salute. The air fell silent for a moment. Little cream gaped, staring at the exaggerated scene. The four well -equipped players also turned to face them. A woman with sharp silver short hair. Stood out, wearing a tight black leather armor that accentuated her stunning waist and hip curves, with two gleaming daggers crossed on her back. The three behind her were equally impressive. One was a warrior clad in heavy armor, holding a tower shield taller than a person. Another was a priest in the same William robe that Yenjo had worn before, with a staff glowing with a bronze hue. The last was a rogue, shrouded in shadows, as if he could vanish at any moment, likely due to his talent effect. This was a top -tier four-person team. Yanzhou analyzed them quietly. The silver-haired woman stopped in front of Yanzhou. She didn’t look at him but glanced first at the two guards still holding their salute. The silver-haired woman sized Yanzhou up. Hello. She initiated, with a hint of curiosity. How did you manage to get the guards to salute? Yanzhou scratched his head, finding the question a bit odd. You just need to have enough reputation. He answered. Matter of factly. The silver-haired woman was momentarily taken aback by his response. The heavily armored warrior behind her couldn’t help but mutter, of course, who doesn’t know you just need enough reputation? The question is how to grind it. Little Cream looked at these people curiously, their fierce aura was completely different from the players in Auron Village. You? Aren’t from our village, are you? She asked cautiously. The silver-haired woman laughed. Our village? She repeated, finding the phrasing amusing. Are you referring to the? 952766 newbie village? We are from newbie village number 9. The warrior behind her chimed in, a hint of pride on his face. We just finished a teleportation quest and. Came to take a look. Teleportation quest. Yanjio glanced at them a few more times. The final task in that quest chain required soloing a 2400 health black iron level boss. William. These people in front of him were indeed formidable to have passed it. He opened his quest list and glanced at the dungeon name, Fallen Cathedral. The dungeon. Required 5 people, and Mingyao was still offline. Yanjio scratched his head. Do you want to team up for the dungeon? I have a quest to go to the Fallen Cathedral. The silver-haired woman looked at Little Cream, who was hiding behind Yenjio. She was very familiar with that robe. It was a drop from the bear warrior dungeon. The strength of these two was likely beyond what she imagined. She didn’t hesitate. Sure. I’m called Silver Fox. He’s called Rock. She pointed to the heavily armored warrior. That’s spirit string. She pointed to the priest. Finally, she looked at the rogue shrouded in shadows. He’s called One Blade. Yenjio nodded. Yenjio. Little. Cream. He gestured to the girl beside him. We haven’t been to the fallen cathedral either. Silver Fox continued, perfect, let’s clear the area together. She was decisive. In her actions, without a hint of hesitation. Then, she turned to the rogue behind her. One Blade. You go check the surroundings first, get a general idea of Maple. Leaves City. The rogue named One Blade nodded silently. His figure swayed for a moment in place before completely blending into the air, disappearing without a trace. Ding. Players Silver Fox, Rock, and Spirit String have joined your team nut. The system notification sounded in the ears of the group simultaneously. Yanjio opened the team panel and glanced at the information of the new teammates. Silver Fox, Level 8, Class, Ranger. Rock, Level 8, Class, Warrior. Spirit String, Level 8, Class, Priest. All of them were Level 8. Yanjio paused for a moment. Mingyao and the others were able to quickly level up because they had completed a series of hidden quests. With him. But these people had completely relied on themselves to grind their levels to 8 in the novice village. That was no easy feat just as Yanjio was sizing them up. The heavy armored warrior named Rock let out a gasp. His gaze was fixed on the team panel, on the number representing the level. You, you’re level 11? Rock’s voice. Was loud, startling several passing players nearby. Yanjio nodded. He pointed to the towering church in the distance. I did a few hidden quests, that dungeon should be the. Final step. His tone was matter of fact, as if he were discussing something utterly ordinary. Silver Fox and Rock exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of seriousness. on each other’s faces. Hidden quests. This term represented immense opportunities and vast experience for any player. They could open portals, and naturally, they had also completed hidden quests, but compared to this man before them, it was like comparing a small fry to a big fish. Let’s go. Yenjiyo didn’t linger on the topic, leading the way toward the Cathedral of Holy Light. The five chatted casually and soon reached their destination. The once holy church was now shrouded in a chilling atmosphere. The square in front of the church was packed with fully armed guards. Reinhardt and Knight Commander Reno stood at the front of the line, their expressions serious, as if facing a formidable enemy. These guards had surrounded the entire church, leaving only a narrow passage at the main entrance. At the end of the passage was a portal, emitting an ominous purple light, slowly swirling like a giant mouth of a demon. As Yen Jio and the others approached, the guards automatically parted to make way. Yen Jio showed no hesitation and walked directly up to the purple halo. Would you like to enter the dungeon, the corrupted Cathedral of Holy Light? He selected yes. Please choose. Dungeon difficulty, easy normal hard slash epic Yenzhou’s finger lightly tapped on the epic option. In the next second, the five figures were engulfed by the purple light. The scenery before them twisted. When their vision cleared again, they found themselves standing in a dilapidated, eerie hall. The air was thick with a stench of blood and decay. The stained glass of the dome had long shattered, pale light streaming through the broken holes, illuminating the dust swirling in the air. In front of the hall, several figures in dark robes were wandering. Their shapes flickered in the shadows, murmuring incantations, producing unsettling whispers. A reconnaissance spell was cast. Shadow cultist, elite, level, LV 12 health, 7000 attack, 43 spell attack, 273 defense, 186 skills, shadow arrow, summon shadow demon rock froze upon seeing the health bar of 7000. Such attributes rivaling a boss. He suddenly turned his head and let out an angry roar at Yanjio. Are you crazy? An elite monster with 7000 health. What difficulty is this? Hard or epic? His voice became somewhat shrill from excessive shock. Yen Jo’s ears buzzed from a shout, and he nodded seriously. Um, epic. The breath of the rock instantly halted. He opened his mouth but couldn’t utter a single word. He only felt a chill rush from the soles of his feet straight to the crown. Of his head. Epic. This man actually chose epic difficulty. Didn’t he know what that meant? The epic bosses were simply beyond the capability of their level 8 team. Not. Just rock, even the usually calm silver fox furrowed her brows tightly. We can’t clear this. She calmly analyzed the situation before them, her tone carrying an undeniable decisiveness. The attribute disparity in an epic dungeon is too severe. We might barely handle the elite monsters, but for the final boss, we probably won’t even see the second phase. That was the crux of the matter. The level and attribute gap was right there, any skill would be futile. After speaking, she looked at Yanjio, seemingly waiting for his explanation. However, Yanjio just scratched his head, still wearing that naturally dazed expression. He seemed completely unaware of the crazy. decision he had made. Silver Fox’s heart sank. She had originally thought he was an exceptionally skilled top player. Now it seemed he might just be a lucky fool with a shallow understanding of the game. She was about to speak up, suggesting they exit the dungeon and choose a different difficulty. Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind. Like lightning. No. Something was off. A player who could complete the teleportation task alone and unlock the main city map. A player who could raise their reputation to the point where the city guards would salute. A player whose level far surpassed everyone else’s. How could such a person be an ignorant fool? Unless, unless he had. Absolute confidence. A terrifying confidence that could ignore the level and attribute disparities. Silver Fox’s pupils suddenly constricted. She recalled the server-wide. Announcement that echoed throughout the entire server. She remembered that mysterious ID that had achieved the first epic clear alongside Tinglan Pavilion. That ID was. Anonymous. silver fox looked at the man before her that handsome face with a hint of confusion slowly overlapping with the image in her mind of someone who could sweep through armies with divine might her throat felt a bit dry you you are that anonymous player silver fox’s voice floated gently in the eerie hall you are that anonymous player there was no answer not even a moment’s pause at the instant silver fox finished her last word yin joe’s figure had already moved it was not the movement style of a mage there was no chanting no blow from a staff He shot forward like a black arrow released from its bow, heading straight for the two wandering shadow. Cultists. Wind step. Rock’s pupils shrank sharply. What speed was that? However, before he could comprehend it, an even more mind-boggling scene unfolded. Yen Jiu’s figure. Instantly closed in on one of the shadow cultists, and the withered soul staff in his hand lightly tapped down in an unadorned manner. Thud. A dull, somewhat ridiculous, sound of impact followed. Immediately, a blood-red number explosively burst from the cultist’s head. Minus 3930. The air seemed to freeze at that moment. Rock’s mouth fell open. Unable to say a word. An elite monster with 7000 health. Just like that, more than half was gone. They had seen skilled players before, those who could emerge from. Countless novice villages to open portals. They themselves were elites among elites. But the scene before them had completely overturned their understanding of this game. Damn. The first to react was Panchar, who let out a curse, not out of anger, but pure shock. Yet, true to his status as a top-tier warrior, his body’s instincts surpassed. The brain’s astonishment. He roared and charged forward like a heavy war chariot crashing violently into another shadow cultist who hadn’t yet reacted. Roar! The cultist! Winston Payne, immediately raising his staff as a mass of shadow energy rapidly coalesced. Minus 203. A shot of shadow arrow struck precisely against Puncher’s heavy armor, taking away nearly a quarter of his health. Lingxian’s casting voice quickly rang out and a gentle holy light descended. plus 193 the healing amount was terrifying instantly pulling his health back to a safe level little cream waved her staff and a fireball whistled out smashing into the monster pancher was holding minus 130 minus 43 true damage a standard damage number the cultist entangled by pancher began to chant an obscure incantation a small purple magic circle appearing on the ground summoned shadow demon seeing this silver fox quickly aimed her longbow a precise arrow with a whoosh arrived first thud The arrow firmly pinned into the cultist’s raised arm, the sharp pain halting its chant. Minus 397. Critical hit. At this moment, Yanjio had already dealt with the first cultist and was now like a ghost, circling behind the second. Cultist. Thud. Minus 3973. Another heart-stopping number. The second elite monster fell straight down without even seeing the shadow of its summoned creature. The battle was. Over. From start to finish, it took less than 10 seconds. The entire hall fell into a deathly silence once more. Pancher stood dazed, watching the two corpses gradually transform into light spots and disappear. He suddenly turned his head, staring intently at Yenjio, the delicate face, even carrying a hint of natural foolishness. Dude. His Adam’s apple bob. What’s your talent? This damage must be cheating, right? He simply couldn’t think of any other explanation. This was beyond what skills or equipment could explain, it was pure data crushing. Yenjio blinked at his shout, seemingly pondering the question. Then, he nodded seriously. Melee talent, enhanced attack. Silver Fox and Lingxian exchanged glances, both seeing a hint of absurdity on each other’s faces. Ahem. Silver Fox cleared her throat, breaking the awkward silence. She put on that calm smile again, as if the one who had just lost composure. Wasn’t her. Since brother Yenjio is unwilling to elaborate, let it be. Everyone has their own secrets. She glanced meaningfully at Yenjio. With this damage, and this epic dungeon, we might really be able to clear it. Her words. Slightly reassured Pancho and Lingxian. Yes. No matter what talent it was, no matter if he was bragging. This monstrous damage was real. That was enough. Let’s go. Yanjio ignored their complex mental activities for him fighting monsters and then moving on to the next place was the most important thing. He led the way deeper into the hall. The team set off again, but the atmosphere was entirely different. Pancho and the others followed behind Yanjio, silent, only. Stealing glances at his back with the eyes of observing a prehistoric creature. A mage, yet wielding a wooden staff to strike. A mage, yet dealing physical damage dozens of times higher than a top-tier warrior. This man named Yenjo. Exuded an eerie aura. The three, being a top-tier team quickly adjusted their strategy and began coordinating their attacks with Yenjo. The efficiency was extremely high, and they soon cleared the monsters in the hall. Before long, they. Passed through the dilapidated hall and arrived at a massive stone door, intricately carved with faded murals. Within, shadowy energy surged faintly, this should be the location of the first boss. Yen Jio did not hesitate for a moment and pushed open the heavy stone door. A more magnificent and more corrupted prayer room appeared before everyone. At the end of the prayer room, a figure dressed in a luxurious bishop’s robe was kneeling before a desecrated statue, facing away. From them. He seemed to hear the commotion behind him and slowly turned around. It was a face eroded by shadow energy, unrecognizable as human, with a sickly grayish blue skin and purple flames burning in his eyes. Fallen bishop. Savies. Bronze level boss, level, LV 15 health, 20,000 spell attack, 329 defense, 255 skills, shadow arrow, shadow sacrifice, summon high level shadow demon, shadow shield, demon contract on Savi’s corrupted face, there was no emotion belonging. To humanity, only cold malice. Desecrators will all become food for the shadows. He raised the staff in his hand. Be careful, his last skill is demon contract. Yen Jiu’s voice echoed in the silent prayer room, sounding particularly jarring. When he is low on health, he will sacrifice himself to summon a stronger demon, it’s best to kill him before he can sacrifice himself. Silver Fox’s heart skipped a beat. Silver Fox quickly arranged the tactics, Lingxian, activate. Your talent when the boss starts the sacrifice, and bless us with a few buffs when he reaches half health. Rock, be careful to interrupt the boss’s summoning skills, I’ll break the shield. Before Yenzhou’s words fell, he had already. Disappeared from his spot. Win step. Keep up. Silver Fox shouted sharply. Rock roared, activating charge, arriving ahead of time, and the heavy tower shield slammed hard into Saviz’s side, forcing the boss’s incantation back. Bang! Yen! Joe’s wooden staff followed closely, striking the back of Saviz’s head. Minus 2130. Level suppression, a number far lower than the previous instant kill of the elite monster floated above the boss’s head. Rock roared, his giant axe whistling, through the air as it swung towards Saviz’s shoulder. Minus 58. Level suppression, Saviz let out a painful howl and retaliated with a shadow arrow. The black purple energy ball instantly struck Rock’s tower shield. Minus 302. Rock’s health bar. Visibly dropped significantly. A gentle holy light almost simultaneously descended from the sky, accurately enveloping him. Plus 198. Ling Sien’s healing followed in time, stabilizing his health line. Such high spell damage. Ling Sien’s tone. Carried a hint of seriousness. Little Cream’s fireball also came crashing down. Minus 23. Level suppression, minus 43, true damage, silver fox’s arrows, meanwhile, aimed skillfully at Savi’s wrist holding the staff. Minus 71, critical damage. The bosses. Aggro was instantly drawn to Yenjo, who dealt the highest damage. Savi’s abandoned rock in front of him and turned to face Yenjo, raising his staff high, a circle of dark purple shield enveloping him. Shadow shield. Immediately, a. Familiar summoning array composed of sinister runes began to appear beneath his feet. He’s about to summon. I’ll handle it. the light of the shield flickered violently silver fox’s shock shot followed closely this was a skill book she obtained by completing a hidden quest from the hunter in the novice village shock shot deals weapon damage plus 100 agility physical damage causing 500 special shield breaking damage to shield type skills dot crack minus 1073 shield breaking damage silver fox smiled in surprise it seemed that special shield breaking damage would not be suppressed by level the shadow shield shattered in response turning into countless light points rock directly gave up his attack raising the tower shield with both hands and using all his strength to activate shield bash bang the heavy tower shield slammed down hard on saavis saavis’s summoning chant was interrupted by this control and the array beneath his feet extinguished the coordination was seamless this was the kind of synergy a top tier team should possess the blessing of the spirit strings appeared just in time above everyone’s heads courage blessing lv3 strength plus 15 agility plus 15 duration one minute cooldown three minutes dot Wisdom Blessing, Lv2 Intelligence plus 10, Spirit plus 10, Duration 1 minute, Cooldown 3 minutes.Defense Blessing, Lv3 Constitution plus 15, Regenerate 15 health per second, Duration 1 minute, Cooldown 3 minutes. With everyone’s cooperation, Yen Jo’s output was exceptionally easy, quickly lowering the boss’s health. However, the bloodied Savi showed no anger, instead, a strange smile appeared on his twisted face. Foolish mortals. Do you think this is the end? This is just, the beginning. He suddenly threw away his staff and drew a dagger inscribed with blood-red runes from his waist. With my fallen blood as the guide. With my shattered soul as the offering. Open, the abyssal gate. He chanted fervently, and then, under everyone’s gaze, he plunged the dagger deep into his own heart. Put. Blood gushed out like a fountain. But the blood was not red, it was a blackish purple, exuding a. Corrosive aura. A storm of energy, larger and more malevolent than the previous summoning spell, erupted violently from his body. Spirit strings. Silver fox shouted in shock. The chant of the spirit strings transformed into a completely different melody in the instant the energy storm swept through. It was no longer a simple healing prayer but a grand, solemn hymn as if descending from the heavens. Behind her, several angelic phantoms appeared, holding harps and blowing. Horns, their holy light cascading down like a waterfall, enveloping the entire team. S-ranked talent, holy hymn. Holy hymn, friendly units within 20 yards, attack speed plus 30%, casting speed plus 30%, all damage plus 30%, regenerate 100 plus spirit. 100% plus intelligence 100% health per second. Duration 30 seconds, cooldown, 3 minutes. In an instant, Rock felt his heavy tower shield as light as a wooden board, every breath filled with power. Silver Fox drew her bowstring so fast that. It left an afterimage in the air. The fire elemental in Little Cream’s hands became unprecedentedly furious and blazing. Now. Silver Fox’s voice was chillingly calm. Focus fire. At that moment, the four of them unleashed an attack far. Beyond their usual strength. Great axes, arrows, fireballs, each howling as they wove a net of death in midair, aimed at the center wrapped in blackish purple blood. However, before everyone else, a figure had already approached that mass of evil energy. Yenjo’s staff was devoid of any flourish. It was just a simple downward strike. Bang! Minus 3131, level suppression, minus 3117 numbers popped up above Sabi’s head as he continued to spew black blood. This attack seemed like a signal. Just before everyone’s attacks were about to land, Yenzhou’s empty left hand suddenly lifted. In his palm, there was no flame, no frost. Only a pure point of light, as bright as the brightest star in the night sky, rapidly condensed. In the next moment, that point of light erupted violently. A shockwave composed of brilliant starlight slammed into Savi’s. Stellar impact. The shockwave ignored the raging energy surrounding Savi’s body and directly imprinted on his chest. Time seemed to freeze for a second at that moment. A colossal number, so immense it caused everyone’s minds to short-circuit, slowly emerged. Minus 9013, level suppression, Saviz’s fervent chanting abruptly ceased. The dagger he had plunged into his heart slipped weakly from his grasp. The last expression on his corroded face was one of utter, incomprehensible astonishment. He seemed to want to say something, but the life force within him, along with the soul he had sacrificed, was completely evaporated under that starry impact. The abyssal gate had just torn open a barely perceptible crack when, with the death of the offering, it thunderously closed. The broken body, filled with endless unwillingness, fell. Straight back. Thud. The corpse hit the cold floor, kicking up a cloud of dust. The entire prayer room fell into a deathly silence. The giant axe of the boulder was still suspended in mid-air. The silver fox’s arrow had just left the bowstring. The little cream’s fireball was still in flight. All the attacks landed in empty space. The boss was dead. It had been killed in two hits before the sacrificial ritual was completed. This, the boulder swallowed hard, feeling his throat dry as if it were on fire. The silver fox slowly lowered her longbow, looking at the corpse of Sabis on the ground, then glancing at the man with the wooden staff, who wore a calm expression. What was that damage of over 9,000 just now? Lingxian, your talent. The silver fox’s words trailed off, and she stopped herself. No, that wasn’t right. The effect of the holy hymn was a 30% damage increase. Even if the 500 plus damage from Yanzhou was doubled, it could never reach such an outrageous number as 9,000. It could only be. What skill did you just use, the silver fox couldn’t help but ask. Starry impact, Yen Jo answered as if it were obvious. A mage skill? MMM. The prayer room fell silent once more. A mage, using a mage’s skill, dealt an unfathomable amount of damage. This sounded normal. But why did the three feel it was so strange happening to this brute who swung a stick? What a pity, Yen. Jo suddenly sighed, shrugging his shoulders. A pity? The silver fox thought she had misheard. A pity about what? That demon, Yen Jo’s tone carried a hint of obvious disappointment. The thing summoned by the sacrifice, I’ve fought. it once before. I’ve completely mastered its attack patterns, it wouldn’t be interesting to fight it again. His words struck like a heavy hammer, hitting the hearts of the silver fox, the boulder, Lingxian, and little cream hard. They stared blankly at Yanjio. What was this man disappointed about? Was he disappointed that he couldn’t fight a stronger demon? What he pursued was not clearing the dungeon, not equipment, not experience. He was simply looking for an opponent. That could make him fight with pleasure. An indescribable feeling rose from the soles of their feet, instantly spreading throughout their bodies. They had always thought they were teaming up with a damage exploding freak. Now they realized. They were standing alongside a pure madman who enjoyed the battle itself. The boulder even instinctively took half a step back. He felt that the mage in front of him holding a wooden staff was 10,000 times more dangerous than the previous boss. You. The silver fox opened her mouth but found she couldn’t say a word. Little Crean looked at the silver fox’s expression, mirroring Mingyao’s reaction at that time. With both hands spread open, he shook his head. Helplessly. Yanzhou paid no attention to their reactions. He could even be stronger. After activating the skill flame blade, the little monsters would probably die with just a touch. For him, the joy of battle always lay in exploring the unknown. Through repeated dodges and attacks, discerning the opponent’s weaknesses and ultimately defeating them. That was the ultimate pleasure belonging to a martial artist. Repetitive battles were like solving the same math problem over and over again, tedious and boring. He stepped forward, beginning to collect the spoils on the ground. Bishop’s Lament Quality, Bronze Level Requirement, 15 Equipment Type, Ring Attributes, Strength plus 30, Constitution plus 15, Shadow, Resistance plus 10, with a chance to summon a Shadow Shield that absorbs, Defense asterisk 10, Damage when attacking, Class Requirement, Warrior, Paladin. Cloak of Shadow Erosion Quality, Bronze Level Requirement, 15 Equipment Type. cloak attributes intelligence plus 30 spirit plus 20 defense plus 10 shadow erosion increases spell critical hit rate by 1% when casting spells stacking up to 10 times and recovers after leaving combat class requirement mage priest dot skill book shadow shield shadow shield casts a shield on an ally that absorbs 100 plus intelligence asterisk 100% plus spirit asterisk 100% mana cost 30 points casting time 1 second dot class requirement priest silver fox looked at the three items On the ground, each glowing with a different light. A ring, a cloak, and a skill book. All of bronze quality, with astonishing attributes. Any one of them would drive an ordinary player crazy. But now, no one dared to make a move. The air in the prayer room seemed to have solidified. Silver Fox finally made a move, slowly putting away her longbow. She walked up to the loot, forcing herself to calm down. You contributed the most. She turned to Yenjo, trying to keep her tone steady. You take two pieces, and the four of us will share one. How about that? This was a well-crafted statement, she deliberately included Little Cream and her team. It was a gesture of goodwill and an attempt to build a closer. Relationship. Rock and Spirit String had no objections, they felt it was only natural to give Yanjio two pieces, or even three. Without him, they might have already been a pile of bones in the dungeon. Yanjio walked over, glanced down. At the items on the ground. He bent down and picked up the cloak. I’ll take this. Then he stood up straight and looked at Silver Fox. You all can divide the rest, just sell the extra one for gold for me. After saying that, he turned and walked towards the exit of the prayer room as if he had just done something trivial. Silver Fox stood frozen in place. That exquisite ring, that rare priest’s skill book, he didn’t even have the interest to look at them again. Has he always been like this? Rock couldn’t help but ask Little Cream quietly beside him. Little Cream shrugged, showing an expression of I’m used to it. The Great God has never had much concept of equipment. He just likes to fight. Rock swallowed hard. Was that called fighting? That was one -sided slaughter. Silver fox smiled. Bitterly. Teaming up with someone like this, you never know which would explode first, your heart or his damage. She squatted down and picked up the ring and skill. Book. Spirit string, you learn the skill book. This ring, let’s keep it for you, rock. After we finish the dungeon, I’ll find someone to appraise it. Okay. Okay, fox sister. Rock nodded quickly. Spirit string didn’t hold back either and directly learned the skill book. A soft white light flashed, and a powerful protective spell appeared in the skill. Bar. The five continued forward. Passing through the prayer room, they entered a deep and narrow corridor. The walls of the corridor, once adorned with murals depicting the glorious deeds of the church, were now completely covered by a viscous black-purple substance. The substance seemed alive, slowly writhing on the walls, emitting a faint stench of decay. The air was filled with a mixed smell of rust and flesh. Be careful. Silver Fox lowered her body, drawing her longbow again. At the end of the corridor, a harsh sound of metal scraping against the ground echoed. Creak. Creak. several tall figures slowly emerged from the darkness they were clad in heavy plate armor but the armor was rusted and in some places it seemed to have fused with flesh and blood black purple evil energy seeped out from the gaps in their armor forming an ominous mist around them their helmets were askew and from the gaps in their faceplates no human features could be seen only two points of crimson light flickering silently.corrupted templar knight elite level lv12 type undead i feel like i should add war monster types i’ll go back and modify the earlier chapters Health, 8000 attack, 193 defense, 206 skill, shadow slash these. Were once the most loyal guardians of the church, but now they have become wandering corpses. I’ll hold them off, you guys deal. Damage. Rock roared, raising his tower shield and preparing to charge. However, a figure moved faster than him. With a wooden staff. In hand, he rushed towards the few corrupted knights. Rock’s words got stuck in his throat before he could finish. Immediately, he. Charged at another monster near Yanjio. Wind step. Yenzhou’s body transformed into an afterimage, instantly darting in front of the nearest Templar knight. The knight sluggishly raised his massive sword and swung it down. Yenzhou merely tilted his body slightly, allowing the heavy blade to graze the edge of his clothing and crash heavily onto the ground. Boom. The stone floor cracked under the impact. At the same time, the staff in Yenzhou’s hand was thrust upward at an extremely tricky angle, precisely striking the joint. Exposed in the knight’s raised armpit. Thud. minus 4015 an astonishing damage number erupted from the knight’s head the heavy plate armor seemed non-existent against that seemingly fragile staff the templar knight let out a roar that was anything but human becoming even more frenzied the other knights were also alerted brandishing their rusted weapons and surrounding him from all sides be careful silver fox instantly released an arrow from the bowstring yen joe’s figure under the assault of four or five templar knights move like a butterfly weaving through flowers and trees dashing forward, sliding sideways, stepping up, retreating. Each of his movements was stripped down to the essentials yet executed with exquisite finesse. He always found paths that seemed almost impossible to others. And with every swing of his staff, there was a dull thud and sparks flying. Thud. Minus 4099. He did not attack the hard breastplate or helmet. He targeted the joints, the neck, the weak points where the armor connected. Rock was completely dumbfounded. As a top-tier tank, he understood better than anyone the difficulties posed by these armored monsters. High defense, thick health, and attacks that caused stiffness. If it were him, surrounded by two or three, he would only be able to passively take hits, hoping his teammates would resolve it quickly. But Yanjio? He wasn’t fighting. He was dismantling. He was like a masterful surgeon, using his scalpel to precisely peel away every vital point of these monsters. She silently lowered her bow, then redirected her aim to start attacking Rock’s target. She knew her attacks would have no effect. In fact, they might even disrupt Yanjyo’s rhythm. Thud. The last Templar knight was swept away by Yanjyo in a clean and decisive strike, shattering the joint of its knee. Minus 4039 it’s massive. Body lost balance and crashed heavily to the ground. Yanjyo stepped forward, gripping the wooden staff in a reverse hold, and brought it down like a warhammer onto the knight’s knee. Minus 4350 crack. A crisp sound of bones breaking echoed. The health bar above. The knight’s head instantly emptied. The entire corridor fell silent once more. Only a few broken armors and scattered parts remained. On the ground. The corridor was left with a few disassembled pieces of armor. Beneath the remains of one Templar knight lay a piece. Of plate wrist armor glowing faintly with white light. A small surprise. Silver Fox walked over and picked up the wrist armor. Knight’s wrist armor, white equipment, she glanced at the attributes, it was very ordinary, nothing special. I’ll hold on to this. Piece of equipment for now. She looked at Rock and Lingxian. I’ll help you sell it later. Yen Jio ignored her and continued to carry. His staff forward, the movements of the few people were somewhat stiff, still unable to recover from the one-sided slaughter that. Had just occurred. Passing through the dim corridor, they suddenly found themselves in a grand hall. The dome soared high above, and. The walls were adorned with intricate holy light runes. But at this moment, everything here had been corrupted. The sacred runes. Were covered in a black purple slime, emitting a nauseatingly sweet and fishy odor. At the end of the hall stood a tall throne. A bloated. and massive figures sat upon the throne made of bones and black iron. He wore a luxurious yet tattered lord’s robe, and his skin, had an ominous gray pallor, with twisted black veins pulsating like contorted earthworms on his exposed skin. He leaned on a gigantic, two-handed sword, its blade rusted and smeared with dark red blood. As if sensing the intruders, he slowly raised his head. It’s, was an old acquaintance, Yen Jio still remembered him, having spoken only two sentences in total. Reynold, what are you doing? Reynold, save me. The Lord’s face was twisted in extreme pain and hatred. Corrupted Lord Graham, bronze boss, race, undead level. LV 15 health, 21,000 attack, 310 defense, 350 skills, corrupted cleave, despair roar, fallen aura, it’s the second boss. Silver. Fox whispered sharply, quickly drawing her longbow. Rock, get ready to tank. She rapidly laid out the tactics, her voice comment. Professional. Rock let out a roar, his tower shield thudding heavily, making a dull sound as he prepared to charge. But at that moment, a languid voice came from the side. This one looks pretty sturdy. Yen Jio observed the giant on the throne with interest. Those knights were too fragile, shattering upon contact, which was rather dull. This one should be able to withstand a few hits. I’ll play with him. Silver Fox’s command had not finished before it got stuck in her throat. Rock’s charging steps abruptly halted. Before they could react, Yen Jio had already lifted the withered soul staff and walked alone towards the throne. His pace was slow, even somewhat casual, as if he were strolling in his own backyard. The Lord Graham on the throne let out an angry roar. He suddenly. Stood up from the throne, his once small frame now immensely large, exuding a strong sense of oppression. He raised the giant sword. In his hand and swung it down fiercely at the tiny figure approaching him, oblivious to the danger. Corrupted Cleave. The black. Sword light, accompanied by a shrill scream that tore through the air, came crashing down. However, Yanjio merely stepped casually to. The left. The heavy sword tip barely grazed his nose before crashing heavily into the ground in front of him. Boom. The stone slab. Shattered, debris mixed with black corrupted energy splattering in all directions. At the same time, the wooden staff in Yan Zhou’s hand made a remarkably light upward motion. Thud. The tip of the staff accurately struck the gap at the joint of Graham’s raised. Arm. Minus 2012. A damage number that was completely disproportionate to the boss’s massive body floated up lazily. Graham’s movements clearly. Stalled. He seemed not to expect that this robed figure could inflict such damage on him. Roar. He was enraged and swung back. with another horizontal strike. Yen Jiu leaned slightly back, executing an iron bridge maneuver, allowing the sword blade, carrying a malicious wind, to graze past his chest. At the same time, the wooden staff in his hand reached out again. Thud. Minus 2008. This time, it struck the boss’s knee joint. The hall fell into a strange silence. Silver Fox, Rock, Ling Sien, and Little Cream stood dumbfounded. At a distance, watching the scene unfold before them. There were no earth-shattering spells. No brutal melee combat, the scene did. not resemble a challenge against a powerful dungeon boss. It felt more like a skilled beast tamer teasing a clumsy black bear. Graham’s every attack was heavy and forceful, carrying the momentum to destroy everything. Yet each time, it only struck empty air. Meanwhile, Yanjou moved through the storm of attacks with ease, advancing, sidestepping, stepping back, and retreating. Every movement was stripped down to its essence, yet executed with pinpoint precision. The staff in his hand, with each swing, produced a crisp sound. Thud. Minus 2015. Thud. Minus 2021. Each strike landed accurately on the boss’s joints, the gaps in its armor, and other weak points. Each attack interrupted the boss’s next action, leaving it momentarily stunned. As a tank, Rock could see more clearly than anyone. Else. Every position Yanzhou took, every attack he made, was deliberate. He was exploiting the boss’s massive size and slow attack. Speed to continuously create opportunities for attack. With the slightest effort, he was achieving the most effective control. Graham. Had completely lost his mind. despairing roar a visible wave of black sound spread out from him radiating like an explosion watch out it’s area control silver fox shouted instinctively but yen joe’s movements were faster than her warning in the second before the boss roared he had already used a wind step to nimbly leap out of the skills coverage the roar ended yen joe closed in again thud minus 2030 grams health slowly and steadily dropped with each of these insignificant strikes he possessed devastating power, yet he couldn’t even graze the opponent’s clothing. That feeling of frustration and helplessness made the crimson glow in his eyes grow even more frenzied. Finally, when his health fell below 10%, he gave up on attacking. He raised his massive sword. High, the tip pointing towards the ceiling. An ominous black halo lit up beneath him. Fallen Halo. This was his last skill. Grams. Momentum peaked, and a rich purple aura appeared beside him. Gripping the sword with both hands, he poured all his strength into, delivering his strongest blow towards Yen Jiu. Yanjio moved. Instead of retreating, he advanced, charging towards the sword light. That split the ground. Wind step. His body transformed into an afterimage, brushing against the sword as it fell, plunging into. The boss’s embrace. A sudden thrust struck the lord’s chest. Minus 2064 then he reversed his grip on the wooden staff. With all his might, he thrusted upward, driving it hard into Graham’s chin. Crack. A crisp sound of bone breaking echoed throughout the hall. Minus 3189. Weakness critical hit. A bright red critical hit number popped up above the Lord’s head. Graham’s massive body suddenly stiffened. The giant sword in his hand clattered to the ground. He incredulously lowered his head to look at the tiny figure in front of him. Then, his enormous body crashed to its knees. Finally, it fell heavily to the ground, transforming into a flurry of scattered light. Points. The last light point that constituted Lord Graham also dissipated into the murky air. Rock slowly lowered the tower shield in. His hand, the edge of the shield scraping against the ground with a soft sound. Silver Fox exhaled deeply, her entire being relaxing. They seemed to have begun to get used to this scene. Three items, each shimmering with different lights, lay quietly where Graham had vanished. A massive two-handed sword entwined with black mist. A round shield intricately carved with complex emblems. And a necklace, emitting a faint, sorrowful glow. The four of them stood at the entrance of the hall, momentarily hesitant to step forward. Rock and Ling Sien’s reactions had gradually shifted from initial shock to a kind of numbness. Another boss. Another one-on-one duel.it. Didn’t seem strange at all. But in Silver Fox’s heart, a storm was raging. The longbow in her hand unconsciously drooped. What, she saw was completely different from what others perceived. Earlier in the corridor, when Yen Jio dealt with those corrupted temple. Nights, she had already sensed something was off. That fluid dismantling, that insight into the enemy’s weaknesses that was almost. Second nature, had surpassed the realm of gaming skills. Yet she could still barely convince herself that it might be some kind of. powerful talent or a special technique effective against humanoid monsters. However, the scene just now, where he single-handedly faced Lord Graham shattered all her hopes. That was no longer skill. It was a form of combat art that could be deemed perfect. Every frenzied attack from Graham was effortlessly neutralized by him with minimal movement and the most economical posture. A step to the left, neither more nor less, just enough to evade the sword’s edge. A lean back, neither too early nor too late, just right to avoid the sweeping strike. not a single superfluous motion. She couldn’t even conceive a more efficient or precise response than this in her mind. To someone like her, who understood the craft, this was no longer a battle but a flawless performance. Silver Fox recalled the so-called ancient martial arts masters her family had hired at great expense. They spoke in profound terms, their stances imposing, each move carrying the weight of centuries of tradition. But now, looking back, those beautiful techniques seem like the clumsy play of children in the face of Yen Jiu’s simple yet extreme evasion and strikes. This man, he was a weapon honed to perfection. Who exactly was he? Yen Jio was unaware of the complex thoughts swirling in the woman’s mind behind him. He walked straight to the loot, crouched down, his loose mage robe dragging on the dust-covered ground. He picked up each item, and the attribute panels appeared in turn. Corrupted Lord’s Great Sword Quality, Bronze Level Requirement, 15 Equipment Type, Two-Handed Sword Attributes. melee damage 15 strength plus 30 constitution plus 20 critical hit rate plus 10 corrupted power 5 chance to reduce the enemy’s attack power by 10 for three seconds upon attack dot class requirement warrior paladin lords emblem quality bronze level requirement 15 equipment type shield attributes constitution plus 30 defense plus 20 fortitude reduces damage taken by 5 after a successful block Class requirement, Paladin, Warrior Whale of the Banshee quality, Bronze level requirement, 15 Equipment type, Necklace attributes. Intelligence plus 20, Spirit plus 30 Lament, restores an additional 20% of mana based on intelligence when casting spells. Class. Requirement, Mage, Priest He picked up the Whale of the Banshee, placed it in his backpack, and pushed the Greatsword in shield in. Front of Silver Fox. You can divide the rest, sell the extras for gold. His tone was flat, as if he were handling two worthless, pieces of trash. Silver Fox mechanically extended her hand and took the two pieces of equipment. Her mind was blank, just staring at the man before her. After finishing all this, Yen Jiu turned and walked toward the back of the throne, his loose mage robe swaying. Gently with his movements. There, was supposed to be the exit to the next area. The entire hall was left in a deathly silence. Yen. Jiu reached the end of the throne. He stopped. In front of him was a cold and solid stone wall, engraved with the already corrupted church emblem, with no signs of any doors or passages. Yanjio tapped the wall gently with his withered soul staff. It was solid, there was no way through. He turned around, and for the first time, a hint of confusion appeared on his otherwise expressionless face. His gaze passed over everyone, finally settling at the back of the group. Little cream, which way do we go next? Little cream. Shivered all over, the actions of the other three members of the team all turned towards her in unison. I, I, little cream’s face. Instantly flushed bright red, her fingers tangled around the staff. I, I’ll take a look. It was as if she needed to prove something. Stammering out a sentence before rushing forward like a gust of wind. She ran around the throne once, then dashed to the wall. Extending her small hand, mimicking Yenjo’s earlier actions, tapping here and feeling there. The cold stone wall offered no response. Undeterred, she pressed her whole body against the wall, trying to find hidden mechanisms among the mottled reliefs. Silver Fox. Sighed, putting away her equipment and stepping forward. Don’t rush, let’s search together. Rock also scratched his head in a clumsy. Manor, awkwardly tapping on the wall with his shield, producing a dull thud-thud sound. Time passed second by second. Nothing. There’s no mechanism here either. Rock and Silver Fox gave up one after the other. The last hope rested on Little Cream. Her movements grew slower, and, finally, she weakly let her hands drop, leaning against the cold stone wall, slowly sliding down to the ground. Silver Fox furrowed her brows tightly, quickly analyzing the situation before her. Had they overlooked some crucial hidden condition? Yanjio scratched his head, looking at the busy people around. Him, feeling bored. He then strolled around the throne made of bones and black iron at a leisurely pace, before plopping down onto the throne. His loose, mage robe spread out, covering the menacing skulls on the armrests of the throne. He even adjusted his position to sit more comfortably. Silver Fox looked at. Yanjio helplessly. What time was it? And this person still had the mood to sit in the boss’s chair? Yanjio leaned back in the throne. It’s uncomfortable. He frowned, reaching behind him to feel around, then lifted the tattered tiger skin draped over the throne. Beneath the tiger skin, on the cold black iron seat, there was a clear circular indentation. In the center of the indentation was a carving identical to the emblem of the lord’s mansion. This is. Ling Xian was the first to react, quickly walking to the front of the throne. Silver Fox was also stunned, instinctively looking at the shield in her backpack. Lord’s emblem. Yen Jiu stood up from the throne, and extended his hand towards Silver Fox. The shield. Silver Fox mechanically took out the heavy round shield from her backpack and handed it over. Yen Jio took the shield, aligned it with the indentation, and gently placed it inside. Click. A soft sound. The Lord’s Emblem and the indentation on the throne fit together perfectly. Boom, a dull roar came from behind the solid stone wall in front of everyone. Stone dust began to fall. The wall, carved with the emblem of corruption, started to tremble violently. Cracks spread across the wall at a visible speed. Finally, the entire wall slowly sank inward, revealing. A deep, dark entrance. A chill, even colder and filthier than that in the hall, surged out from the entrance. Rock’s mouth fell open, nearly dropping the tower shield in his hand. This, this works too? Let’s. Go. Yenjo casually stuffed the tiger skin into his backpack, clapped his hands, and was the first to step into the pitch black passage. The others snapped back to their senses and immediately followed. At the end of the passage was a circular cavern. In the center of the cavern floated a massive crystal, radiating a ghostly blue light. The surface of the crystal shimmered with a brilliance-like liquid. Stars, illuminating the entire cavern in a dreamlike glow. A seductive figure sat naked at the top of the crystal, her snow-white skin glistening with a sickly sheen under the blue light, and her long black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, she seemed to be using the power of the crystal to heal her wounds. The arm that had been severed by Renault had now regrown, though its color was much paler than the other. Arm. It seemed she sensed the intruder, slowly opening her eyes. They were a pair of crimson orbs, devoid of any human emotion. it was the very succubus who had taken the lord hostage and ultimately escaped upon seeing yenjo a flicker of shock crossed her face quickly replaced by endless resentment and fury it’s you she let out a piercing scream her voice no longer seductive but filled with inhuman hatred you damned insects succubus linda bronze boss race succubus level lv 18 health 32 000 attack 450 magic defense 400 skills enchanting gaze life siphon shadow spear void form boss silver fox whispered sharply instantly entering combat mode Rock, prepare to taunt. Lingxian, buff Rock first, and look for an opportunity to activate your talent. Her commands were clear and swift. Rock, let out a roar, his tower shield thudding heavily as he prepared to engage. But Linda’s target had never been them from the start. Her crimson eyes were locked onto Yanjio at the front of the team. It was. This man who had brought her to this state. I will tear you apart, she screamed, her body transforming into a shadow as she leaped down from the crystal. Her sharp claws, carrying a pungent scent of blood, aimed directly for Yanjio’s head. Yenjiyo didn’t even lift his eyelids. The withered soul staff in his hand sliced through the air, rising from below to meet the shadow with precision. Bang. Minus 2398. Level. Suppression, Linda’s figure paused mid -air, forcefully knocked back by the strike, landing once again on the crystal. Attack. Silver Fox commanded, and an arrow was already loosed from the bow. Rock also charged. Forward, his massive tower shield like a moving wall, crashing toward the crystal. The battle erupted in an instant. Linda’s methods of attack were far more bizarre than those of the previous Lord, Graham. She no longer engaged in close combat but floated around the crystal, her hands constantly waving. Shadow Spear. Three spears made of pure shadow energy materialized out of thin air, whistling as they shot. Toward Rock and Yanjio. Minus 387. Minus 387. Black energy exploded on Rock’s tower shield. His health dropped by more than half in an instant. Yanjio dodged the attack with a swift movement. Lingxian’s healing. Spells landed on him just in time. Plus 210. 197. Her spell damage is very high. Silver Fox warned quickly while drawing her bow and shooting. Minus 38. Minus 101. Weakness critical hit. Her arrow struck Linda, only dealing. Double digit damage. The succubus’s spell defense was terrifyingly high. Little Cream. Silver Fox shouted. Oh. Oh. Little Cream finally reacted, hurriedly raising her staff. Fireballs wrapped in black. Flames whistled toward Linda. minus 35 minus 76 true damage minus 39 minus 74 true damage the true damage from the a-grade talent black flame played a crucial role at that moment the damage was even higher than silver foxes linda let out a painful scream shifting her attack target to little cream but her attacks were always precisely blocked by rock shield the entire team’s cooperation was seamless yet the one dealing the most damage remained the man wielding the staff constantly moving around the crystal thud minus 2102 Thud. Minus 2,411. Each of his strikes landed precisely during the gaps in Linda’s spellcasting, causing brief moments of stiffness. Linda’s health slowly and steadily dropped under the concentrated fire of the group. When her health fell below one-third, she let out a reluctant roar. You all, must die. She abandoned. All attacks, and her entire body suddenly exploded. It transformed into a thick, impenetrable black smoke. Void form. Be careful. Silver Fox hurriedly warned. Yenjo’s reaction was even faster. With a windstep, he charged towards the black mist, thrusting his withered soul staff fiercely into the center of the smoke. However, this time, his usually unstoppable staff struck nothing but air. The tip of the staff passed straight through the black mist, causing no damage and yielding no sensation. Physical immunity, a gray status effect, slowly floated up from the mist. Yanzhou’s movements came to a halt. For the first time, the collision of the boulder passed directly through the black mist. Silver Fox’s arrows vanished as if they had shot into thin air. At that moment, all physical attacks became completely ineffective. The entire cavern fell silent in an instant. The black mist began to slowly writhe and coalesce, as if brewing some kind of apocalyptic attack. The movements of Silver Fox, the boulder, and Ling. Xian seemed to be paused. In the next second, three heads turned in unison to look at Yanjio and Little Cream. In the team, there were only two mages. The swirling black mist, like a formless nightmare, that could not be touched, mocked everyone’s attacks. Silver Fox’s command abruptly halted in his throat. All physical attacks had been utterly nullified. In that instant, the burden of the entire battle shifted. Entirely onto the shoulders of the only two mages in the team. Ling Sien. Silver fox’s voice tightened like a string pulled to its limit. Holy spirits surrounded Ling Sien who once again began the sacred. Him. Little cream raised her staff, beads of sweat forming in her palm. A ball of ominous black fire shot out from the tip of her staff. It silently merged into the black mist. Minus 45. Minus 86. True damage. The. True damage from the black flame talent was indeed effective, but the base spell damage had been severely reduced by level scaling. Almost simultaneously, a brilliant star fell from the darkness at the top of the cavern. It was Yen Jio’s star impact. The light precisely struck the center of the rolling black mist. Minus 87. Level suppression, Yen Jio lacked the black flame talent for increased damage, although his equipment was better, the damage numbers were even more dismal. The black mist began to pulse violently, a low, rumbling sound filling the entire space. This won’t do, the boulder stated in a deep voice. Laying bare the harsh reality. We can’t kill it before it strikes. A heavy, suffocating silence descended. Despair, like a cold hand, began to grip the hearts of this elite team. They had faced powerful enemies. Before, but they had never encountered one that could render their core output completely ineffective. Silverfox glanced at his talents, gritted his teeth, his talents were utterly useless against a boss. With such physical immunity, it was almost a perfect counter to their team composition. Yengio sighed softly. He shifted his gaze from the floating evil energy to the rugged stone walls of the cavern. It seemed. They needed to get up close. In the next moment, he moved. A gust of azure wind erupted beneath his feet. Wind stepped. His body transformed into an afterimage, not charging towards the black mist but instead, hurtling towards the side wall. What is he doing? The boulder had yet to react. Yenjio’s mage boots had already stepped onto the vertical wall. He did not fall, instead, he ran up the natural indentations. and protrusions of the wall as if it were flat ground, his body parallel to the ground, racing upward. The entire team was left dumbfounded. This defied all common sense of the game. When Yen Jo’s figure reached mid-air in the cavern, he suddenly pushed off with his feet. Using the wall’s rebound, he launched himself like a bird breaking free from its restraints, diving toward the swirling black mist at the center of the cavern. In mid-air, he stretched his body, executing a flip that would be impossible for an ordinary person, adjusting his posture perfectly. The loose mage robe fluttered around him. The Withered soul staff in his hand at that moment seemed no longer a medium for casting spells but rather a spear poised to strike he was less than a meter away from the black mist he unleashed the starburst in his hand this time the brilliant starlight did not descend from the heavens it gathered directly at the tip of yinjo’s staff and exploded it was as if he had forcefully pressed a compressed star into the body of that black mist boom minus 11 817 Level suppression, a glaring crimson five -digit damage burst forth from the violently swirling black mist. Yenjo’s body traced an elegant arc in the air, landing lightly on the ground without making a sound. He brushed off the dust from his mage robe as if he had merely accomplished a trivial task. Damn. The tower shield in Rock’s hand climbed loudly against the ground. Are we filming a movie? Lingxian’s mouth hung open, having forgotten to maintain her healing spell. Ah. A shrill scream, more inhuman than human, erupted from the black mist. The mist instantly. dissipated, reforming into the figure of the Banshee Linda. She was charred black, cracks covering her body, with only a sliver of health remaining. This scream also jolted the still-dazed little cream. Awake! Almost instinctively, she raised her staff. A fireball wrapped in black flames wobbled through the air, accurately smashing into Linda’s face. Minus 34, level suppression, minus 74, true damage, the last sliver of. Linda’s health bar was emptied. Her vengeful expression froze on her face as her body transformed into specks of black light dissipating into the air. System, your team has successfully killed the Banshee. Linda dot. Ding. Congratulations, your level has increased to LV 12. Ding. Talent, War God, Effect Enhanced, Melee Damage Amplification increased to 210 times dot. Ding. Congratulations, Strength plus 1, Agility plus 1, Intelligence plus 1, Spirit plus 1, Constitution plus 1 ding. Congratulations, you have gained 5 free attribute points, current free attribute points 95. Ding. Congratulations, you have completed the job change task. Astral Walker, 2, please go to Astralaros to complete the task. Congratulations players Yanjio, Silver Fox, Little Cream, Rock, Lingxian, for successfully clearing the dungeon, the Fallen Cathedral. Epic difficulty. As the first team to clear the Fallen Cathedral, each member is rewarded with 5 free attribute points and 1 designated bronze equipment from the dungeon. May I ask, do you wish to announce your name, so that your fame resonates throughout the world of illusion? Yanjio still chose no. He just wanted to fight without restraint, everything else was irrelevant to him. Little Cream sighed. And also chose no, this honor had little to do with her. She was well aware that with her strength, she could at most tackle the normal difficulty of the Barbarian Bears hideout. However, Silver Fox and the others had no such concerns, nodding at Yanjio and choosing yes. Server announcement Players Silver Fox, Rock, Lingxian, players, Anonymous Anonymous have successfully cleared the epic. Dungeon, The Fallen Cathedral As the first team to clear the Fallen Cathedral, each member is rewarded with 5 free attribute points and 1 designated bronze equipment from the dungeon. The three consecutive. Server announcements rang out like thunder, echoing throughout the world of illusion. Yet, in this cavern where a myth had just been born, there was only a deathly silence. Rock and Lingxian’s mouths remained. In an exaggerated shape. Their thoughts were still lingering on the scene that had defied the laws of physics just moments ago, Little Cream hugged her staff, her small face flushed with excitement. She. Looked at Yenzhou’s back, her big eyes almost sparkling with stars. Silver Fox did not look at anyone. She just stood quietly, watching the man who brushed the dust off his robe, as if his soul had been drawn. Away. She thought of her own family. She remembered the heavily guarded manor, where her father had hired those ancient martial arts successors with a fortune. They wore flowing training outfits, there. Conversations filled with yin, yang, and the five elements, every move exuding an air of profound mystery. But now, looking back, those beautiful postures, the skills displayed by Yenjio while dealing with the city lord, and the graceful wall running seemed so ridiculous. Skills can be learned, imitated, and surpassed. But what Yen Jio exhibited was an almost instinctive, absolute control over his body. Silver Fox. Understood that her current body, in the eyes of ancient martial artists, was shackled. Moreover, Yen Jio was just a mage. That was not skill. That was a complete crushing of talent. Her long-held pride, her confidence as a top player, her confidence as an ancient martial artist, was utterly shattered in that moment. A sense of powerlessness, mixed with an indescribable loneliness, spread from the deepest part of her. heart. Perhaps, in her lifetime, she would never be able to reach that man’s realm. The moment that thought arose, she forcibly extinguished it. Her lonely gaze instantly became resolute. She did not need to chase after that unreachable figure. She only needed to walk her own path. How many people stood on the road ahead was not something she needed to consider. Silver Fox slowly exhaled, suppressing her chaotic thoughts. She shook her head, took a step forward, and walked slowly towards the man who was squatting down with great interest, examining the spoils. the loot from the succubus linda was even more abundant than that of the city lord graham corrupted codex quality bronze equipment type offhand level requirement 15 attributes intelligence plus 35 spirit plus 25 light and dark duality when more than 10 yards away from a monster spell damage plus 10 when within 10 yards of a monster casting speed plus 10 class requirement mage priest succubus’s grasp quality bronze equipment type wrist armor Leather, attributes, agility plus 35, strength plus 15 special effect, 5% chance to infect the target when attacking, dealing 15 damage per second for 5 seconds. Class requirement, Ranger, Rogue Vale. Of the succubus quality, bronze equipment type, head, cloth, attributes, intelligence minus 20, spirit plus 60 agility, mana recovery speed increased by 10%, interrupted when casting. Class requirement, Mage. Priest skill book, succubus whale succubus whale, causes enemies within a 5 yard radius to enter a state of fear for 1.5 seconds. Mana cost, 20 points. Casting time, instant. Cooldown, 45 seconds dot. Class requirement, priest city lord’s mark. The city lord’s son Reinhardt may need this item. Quest item, Yanjio picked up a large pile of items and put them into his backpack. He couldn’t equip them yet due to insufficient level. After glancing at the quest item, he tucked it into his pocket. The city lord was dead, and Reinhardt might not be feeling too well either. After finishing all this, he threw the remaining leather wrist armor towards Silver Fox. Rock and spirit strings stood by, silent. They even felt that this was how it should be. This dungeon, from start to finish, was a performance. By this man alone, they were merely spectators. Being able to share in the experience and system rewards was already a tremendous stroke of luck. Silver Fox instinctively reached out to catch the wrist. Guard. The touch of the leather armor was icy, still retaining the residual warmth of the energy from the dissipating banshee. She looked at the attributes of the wrist guard then raised her head to glance at the man who had already stood up. Good. Silver Fox uttered a single word and placed the Banshee’s grasp into her backpack. As the last piece of loot was distributed, the tense atmosphere in the dungeon finally showed a hint of relaxation. Big brother. Rock’s honest voice broke the silence. That wall running of yours, is it a hidden skill? He asked while tentatively stepping his foot against the nearby stone wall, only to slip and nearly fall. Yanjio turned around, and for the first time, a hint of difficulty appeared on his otherwise expressionless face. He seemed to be trying hard to recall the movements. From earlier. No. You just, ran up like that. You need to pay attention to your strength and your body’s balance. Yanjio said while gesturing. Rock opened his mouth, nodding thoughtfully. Ling Sien and Little Cream also wore expressions of I don’t quite understand, but it seems really impressive. However, the corner of Silver Fox’s mouth twitched uncontrollably. She collected her thoughts and began. Checking the system rewards each person had received. Completing the dungeon, each person received 5 free attribute points. There was also a designated bronze equipment from within the dungeon. What do you all plan to choose for your designated equipment? Silver Fox asked, as the team leader, she needed to coordinate these resources. The three began chattering excitedly, but they didn’t notice that the world channel had exploded again. World channel professional drainage expert, am I seeing things? Another server-wide announcement? Wanli Jin Chang, the fallen cathedral? Did it get cleared so quickly again? Tianxing say, the key point is the names. Silver Fox? Rock? Lingxian? Where did these gods pop out from? E. Tianxu, did you not notice? E. Tianxu, these three are not from Tinglan Pavilion. E. Tianxu, moreover, the announcement once again mentioned to Anonymous. Long time. Popeye, damn. Brother Dong has appeared again. Quick, analyze it. The world channel, after a moment of silence, was once again ignited. If the first epic first clear was like a boulder crashing into a lake, then this time, it was like a meteorite that evaporated the entire lake. Countless players stared blankly at the continuously refreshing announcement, feeling as if their worldview was being rubbed into the ground again and again. Inside the dungeon, Rock was looking at Yanjio with admiration, trying to mimic his pay. Attention to your strength posture, only to stumble again. Ouch. Lingxian covered her face, unable to bear watching her warrior’s clumsy appearance. Rock, don’t try anymore, you don’t have that talent. As. Soon as she finished speaking, her private chat notification went off like crazy. Not just her, Rock and Silver Fox’s private chat channels were also instantly flooded with red indicators. My goodness. Ling. Sien opened her system panel, looking at the messages filled with shock and question marks from friends in newbie village number 9, her expression slowly transforming from surprise to ecstatic joy. Captain. We, we are famous too. She excitedly waved her staff, her voice trembling. Rock also reacted, he no longer cared about mimicking any wall running, hurriedly opening the world channel. When he saw the rolling messages, his honest face instantly turned the color of pig liver. Holy crap. Silver Fox. Rock. Ling Sien. They’re talking about us. He pointed at the panel in the void like a 200-pound child. Silver Fox was not as excited as they were. She quietly opened the world channel, her gaze sweeping over the lines of scrolling text. Luo Shun. One sword toppling the city. Does anyone know these few silver? Fox? The Luo Shun guild is willing to offer a high price to invite them to join. War God Hall. Madman, upstairs, stop thinking. These people are clearly with that anonymous big shot. Who would care about your little money when they hang out with a big shot? Hua Quang, I said it. The anonymous big shot is from our village. No doubt about it. Madman, black industry, exactly. How could outsiders be so fierce? They must be led by our big shot. Wandering me, shut your mouth. Is 952766 village that impressive? Why do all the good things go to you? Is our number 9 novice village not worthy of having experts? Wandering. me the silver fox team is well known in our number nine novice village all four of them have s level talent can you 952 766 novice village compete chest crushing big stone upstairs don’t get too worked up the question is are those two anonymous the same group as the last time at tinglon pavilion ichiba ki that’s an interesting question ichiba ki we can do a simple logical deduction ichiba ki the first epic first clear was three members of tinglon pavilion plus two anonymous dot Ichibaki, the second time the main city dungeon was opened, it was three members of Tinglon Pavilion, plus one. Anonymous. Ichibaki, and this time, clearing the main city dungeon, it was three members of the Silver Fox, team, plus two. Anonymous. Ichibaki, friends upstairs, since you’re Silver Fox from number 9 novice. Village is a four-person team, why is there only one Anonymous? Ding! Player Ichibaki has been muted for 30 minutes due to excessive speaking in the world channel. The entire world channel fell into a brief. Silence again. Indeed. From beginning to end, the only thing that seemed truly stable and unchanging was that mysterious, anonymous. Or rather, those two, anonymous. In the dungeon, the excitement on the. Faces of Pancher and Lingxian gradually solidified. They subconsciously turned their gaze to the man who was looking down at his attribute panel and the little cream beside him, who was holding a staff and. Looking at him with admiration. Silver Fox turned off the world channel. He looked at Yenjio who was demonstrating how to step on the stone wall grooves to Pancher. The player who stood at the top of the. Pyramid, speculated by countless people and sought after by numerous forces throughout the illusion. It was this seemingly silly man. Apart from being handsome, he was indeed far from what he had imagined. And just now, he had been feeling pleased about completing the novice village teleportation task. He even thought about whether to support this seemingly dull local player. A hint of self -mockery appeared. On Silver Fox’s face again. Let’s go, it’s time to head out. Yanjio clapped his hands, breaking the strange silence. Wait, Yanjio. Silver Fox called out to Yenjo, extending his hand towards him. Ding! Player Silver Fox wants to be your friend. Yenjo nodded at Silver Fox, accepted it, and then walked towards the light gate at the dungeon exit first. Little Cream followed closely behind him, like a loyal little tail. The three of them exchanged complex glances and followed suit. Passing through the twisted light gate, the glaring sunlight made them squint slightly. They returned to the square in front of the cathedral. However, the scene before them instantly tensed the bodies of the Silver Fox team. In the square, hundreds of heavily armored Maple Leaf city guards were lined up in two neat rows. They firmly blocked the church’s exit, leaving only a narrow passage in the middle for two people to walk side by side. The atmosphere was grim. At the end of that passage, outside the guard line, a dozen players were gathered. Their equipment was top-notch, gleaming with bronze and even black iron luster, clearly elite scouts from various major guilds. At this moment, everyone’s attention was focused on the recently appeared Yen Jio and his group. Unfortunately, they were too far away, blocked by the soldiers, making it impossible to see their IDs and appearances. The entire square was so quiet that a pin drop could be heard. Only the sound of the wind rustling through the flags. What, what is going on? Panjure lowered his voice, his hand already gripping the tower shield behind him. Lingxian also nervously tightened her. Grip on the staff. Only Yenjio still looked oblivious, curiously examining the guards on either side. Little Cream, however, shrank back a bit in fear, quietly moving behind Yenjio. Just then, an NPC dressed. In a grey linen robe, with a hood pulled low obscuring his face, stepped out from the line of guards. He walked straight up to Yanjio. Well done, stranger, the NPC spoke, his voice carrying a strange. Resonance, as if it came from a distant time and space. You have successfully passed my test. He extended a pale hand and grasped Yanjio’s arm. Come, I will take you to the headquarters of the Starwalkers. The Star Council. As soon as he finished speaking, Yanjio felt darkness envelop him and the entire world lost its color and sound. The sensation of spinning lasted only a moment. When his vision returned, he found himself standing in a peculiar space that defied description. There was no sky nor any ground. All around him was an endless, profound darkness. Countless magnificent nebulae flowed slowly in the distance, like paint splattered by an artist. A magnificent galaxy spanned his entire field of vision. He looked down. Beneath his feet was not solid ground, but a void. Yet when he tentatively lifted his foot. and set it down again, a small cluster of stars would bloom into existence, securely supporting his body. The starlight was soft yet incredibly solid. A pure sense of wonder spread across Yanjou’s face. He resembled a child who had discovered a new toy, unable to resist bouncing lightly. Bang! A more brilliant star flower immediately burst forth beneath him, its light splashing outward. He jumped again with more force. Bang! He began to bounce up and down in place, having the time of his life. In the silent starry sky, the cheerful sound of him bursting stars echoed. After a while, he felt it wasn’t enough. He even. Bent down, preparing to see if he could lie on this carpet of starlight and roll around. A hand suddenly grabbed the back of his collar. Astrolos pulled back his hood, revealing a wrinkled yet remarkably. Spirited face. At that moment, the old man’s face was flushed. Don’t embarrass yourself, he nearly gritted out through clenched teeth. Every star in the sky is a member of the Star Council. They are all. Watching you. Yen Jiu froze. He looked up blankly, glancing at the countless bright and dim points of light surrounding him, as numerous as the sands of the Ganges. Then, he scratched his head. Astralos held his forehead, feeling his blood pressure rising. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to regain the composure and mystery that belonged to the Starwalkers. Follow me. He pulled Yanjou towards the most splendid. Galaxy. With each step, a path paved with stars extended automatically before them. The two finally stopped at the center of the galaxy. Astralos released his hand and turned to look at Yanjou solemnly. Stranger, Yen Jio. You possess the courage to cross boundaries and a soul unbound by the mundane. Do you wish to join us and become a star walker, traversing the gaps of time and space to seek the truths? Of the universe? His voice was solemn and grave, echoing in the vast starry sky. System prompt, NPC Astralos has extended a hidden class transfer invitation to you. Do you accept? Yen Jio simply nodded. Astralos took another deep breath then raised his right hand, pointing to the endless sea of stars. Then, please swear an oath with me. I, witness by the stars, Yanjou followed. I, witness by the stars. I vow to seek the mysteries of the void and guard the order of time and space. I vow to seek the mysteries of the void and guard the order of time and space. To measure the galaxy with my steps, to perceive the future with my wisdom. Measure the galaxy with your footsteps, perceive the future with your wisdom. The light never extinguishes, the journey never ends. The light never extinguishes, the journey never ends. As the last syllable fell, the entire starry sky seemed to resonate with it. A brilliant starlight descended from the center of the Milky Way, completely enveloping Enjo. Ding! Congratulations, you have successfully transitioned to the hidden class, Starwalker. Ding! Your class mage has advanced to Starwalker. Ding! You have gained class-specific skills, Starwalk, Meteor Strike, Mobile Casting, Passive, Starbound Body, Passive. As the first player to successfully transition, you are rewarded with 10 free attribute points and a hidden skill book. May I ask, do you wish to reveal? Your name, allowing your fame to resonate throughout the world of Illusion? Still no. Server Announcement Player Anonymous has successfully transitioned to the hidden class, Starwalker. As the first player to successfully transition, you are rewarded with 10 free attribute points and a hidden skill book. Yengio looked at the hidden skill book and directly chose to learn it. Illusion, you can modify. Your ID and appearance. The skill effect is nullified when taking damage, duration 1 hour, cooldown 1 hour, mana cost, 100 points. Casting time, instant dot. a good thing indeed a truly good thing for yenjo this skill was far more powerful than any divine skill he then began to browse through the newly learned skills star walk tear open a rift in space teleporting 8 to 10 yards in any direction cooldown 10 seconds mana cost 30 points casting time instant dot meteor strike summon a massive meteor to attack enemies dealing 100 plus spirit 100 plus intelligence 100 plus equipment spell power star damage mana cost 80 points Casting time, instant. Cooldown, none. Mobile casting, passive you can cast spells while moving, with movement speed reduced by 50% during casting. Starbound body, passive your body has been. Tempered by the stars, becoming more resilient, gaining 50% additional constitution. The surrounding stars began to accelerate their flow, and the vast Milky Way gradually blurred in his vision. The figure of. Astrolos became ethereal, his last words seemed to come from a distant time and space, resonating directly in Yanjou’s mind. Starwalker, your journey has only just begun. Remember, within the torrent of time and space, countless opportunities lie hidden, accompanied by equal dangers. Do not be deceived by appearances, nor trust anyone easily. Yen Jio had no time to digest this information when the light, before him suddenly shrank to a point, then completely dimmed. He found himself standing once again on the dilapidated staircase, with the shattered dome of the Holy Light Cathedral above him, cold winds rushing, in through the gaps, stirring the edges of his robe. Everything felt like just a dream. The surrounding players had long since dispersed, only little cream was excitedly waving at Yanjio. But the new skills, displayed on his attribute panel, along with the oath echoing in his mind, proved how real everything just was. At that moment, a cold, emotionless system notification sound echoed without warning in every corner of the illusion world, booming in every player’s ears. Server announcement, as a player has successfully completed their class advancement, the game process has progressed, and the leaderboard system is now officially open. May all warriors strive to be the first and leave their names in history. This announcement struck like a thunderclap. Following it, the second, third, and continuous announcements rang out like a dense drumbeat, pounding on the hearts of all players. Server announcement, level leaderboard has been opened. Server announcement, guild comprehensive strength leaderboard has been opened. Server announcement, mercenary team leaderboard has been opened. Server announcement, the profession leaderboard is now open. Server announcement, the arena leaderboard is now open. A series of. System notifications plunged the entire world into several seconds of dead silence. Then, it erupted like a volcano. The World Channel was instantly flooded with a tsunami of text. World Channel Uncle Wang next. Door, what the hell? A leaderboard? Did I hear that right? This game finally looks competitive. World Channel player I am your father, dammit. It’s that anonymous again. What kind of monsters are these dogs from Newbie Village 952766? I’m still outsmarting wild wolves and they’ve already got hidden classes? World channel player sweet shrimp is the best, this game’s balance is definitely off. Why is all the good stuff coming from their village? We can’t even get to the main city. World channel wind chasing wind, the key point. The key point is the first announcement. A player has successfully completed a profession advancement. Isn’t that referring to that anonymous big shot who just got the hidden class? World channel professional drain cleaner, damn. It’s him again. World channel heart. Shattered by a big stone, stop the nonsense. Quickly look at the leaderboard. I want to see who the highest level player is now. Countless players frantically opened the newly appeared leaderboard interface. When they clicked on the level leaderboard, the world channel fell into an eerie silence once again. The leaderboard interface was simple and solemn, clearly listing names in golden font. Level leaderboard. 1st place, Anonymous level, LV12 Profession, Thief 2nd place, Anonymous level, LV12 Profession, Warrior 3rd place, Anonymous level, LV12 Profession, Starwalker 4th place, War God Hall. Yen level, LV11 Profession, Paladin 5th place, Flowing Light level, LV11 Profession, Mage. 28th place, Silver Fox level, LV9 Profession, Ranger. 37th place, Ming Yao level, LV9 Profession, Paladin. 89th place, little cream level, LV8 profession, mage after a long silence, the screen was flooded with even more madness. World channel 10 ,000 miles arrow. Am I blind? The top 3, all anonymous? World channel Luotion. 7 times a night, wait. The top 3 are all LV12. The first and second are also anonymous? World channel Ichiba tree, I get it. I completely understand. World channel Ichiba tree, previously, during the epic dungeon first clear, there were 2 anonymous. now with the hidden class transfer one anonymous as soon as the level leaderboard comes out the top three are all anonymous world channel achiba tree what does this indicate it indicates that the anonymous big shot we thought was just one person is actually not world channel achiba tree he is a team a mysterious team with at least three top players achiba tree’s analysis was like a key instantly unlocking everyone’s thoughts the world channel exploded world channel sky blue damn One anonymous big shot is already enough of a freak and now you’re telling me there are three on the mountaintop? Is this even playable? World channel sweet shrimp is the best. Protest. Serious protest. How are we supposed to play? We can’t even get into the main city and they’ve already got hidden classes. The leaderboard has been slaughtered. World channel 10,000 miles. Arrow, damn. Are they triplets? Or is this anonymous actually a guild name? World channel dragon rising. Skin peeler, thief, warrior, starwalker, this profession configuration. one can tank one can deal damage and the other is a hidden class they are definitely in cahoots world channel professional drain cleaner i bet it was definitely these three who got the first kill on the wolf king and cleared the epic dungeon those girls from tinglon pavilion were just there to mooch off the soup world channel i am your father i don’t accept this what kind of feng shui treasure is newbie village 952766 why is that world channel i love flowers i’ve never seen this prefix for the war god hall is it a new guild World Channel professional non-baker, the three big guilds that were boasting so loudly. Before, why are there so few people on the leaderboard? I’m dying of laughter, haha. Various speculations, jealousy, insults, and admiration intertwined into a torrent of information in the World Channel. And, at the center of the storm, in the Cathedral of Holy Light, Little Cream was staring wide -eyed, looking at the level leaderboard over and over again. When her gaze landed on the ID in 89th place, she was completely stunned. I, I made the list. She rubbed her eyes hard, confirming she wasn’t mistaken. Big shot. I made the list. 89th place. She was so excited she almost jumped up, her little. Face flushed, her ample chest rising and falling violently. Maple Leaf City, Tinglan Pavilion Guild Residence. Ming Yao had just logged in when a series of system announcements left her a. Bit dazed. She opened the leaderboard, and when she saw her name in 37th place, an uncontrollable excitement surged within her. This ranking was enough for Tinglan Pavilion to stand tall among all. The Guilds. But as her gaze continued to rise, landing at the very top of the list, that excitement was instantly replaced by a cold shock. Three Anonymous. Sister Yao. Sister Yao. Big News. Xingqin and Luanga rushed in from outside, their faces mixed with excitement. Our guild’s overall strength has ranked 15th. Xingqin waved her fist. A graceful figure sat atop the tallest gravestone. She wore a tight black leather armor that outlined breathtaking curves. Too long, fair legs swayed under the moonlight and her bare, delicate feet seemed to be the only clean thing on this filthy land. Below her, a dense mass of skeleton soldiers knelt before her in a strangely devout manner. Their jawbones opened and closed slightly, but no sound emerged, only the ghostly blue flames of souls flickered in. Their hollow eye sockets. System prompt, you have gained the recognition of all souls, do you accept the job change to become the hidden class, soul devourer? The cold system prompt quietly hovered in the void before her. The woman did not choose immediately. Instead, she let out a soft sigh, tinged with a barely noticeable hint of regret. A step too late. She opened the leaderboard she had just unlocked. Her gaze swept over the noisy names, directly fixing on the very top of the list. First place, anonymous level, LV12 class, thief. Her fingertip gently tapped on her own entry. Then, her gaze moved down. Third place, anonymous level, LV12 class, starwalker. Still got snatched away. The woman’s voice was soft, like a wisp of smoke about to dissipate. She closed the panel, no longer looking at the world channel. That was boiling over a hidden class. She stretched lazily, her astonishing body curve unfolding under the moonlight. Then, she gently tapped on that system prompt. Yes in an instant, all the skeletons in the graveyard had their soul flames and their eye sockets surge violently. They all raised their heads, opened their jaws, and let out a silent roar. Countless black streams of soul energy filled with resentment and unwillingness were forcibly drawn from their bodies. Converging into black streams that surged towards the woman atop the gravestone, she closed her eyes, calmly accepting the immense power capable of shattering any mortal soul. On the other side, amidst the scorched earth seared by sulfur and flames, a warrior of extraordinary stature stood at the edge of an impending volcanic eruption. In his left hand, he wielded a grotesque tower shield nearly as tall as a person, while his right hand gripped a wildly designed giant axe. The boiling lava surged less than 10 meters beneath his feet, and the scorching heatwaves could not budge him in the slightest. Behind him stood a young girl dressed in a pure white priest’s robe. Her beautiful face and holy demeanor were utterly out of place in this hellish environment. Brother, you could have changed your class long ago, why have you dragged it out for so long? Look at the world channel, those people have turned the three of you into a group under an anonymous name. It’s quite amusing, the girl said, unable to hold back as she gazed at the warrior’s broad back. And that so-called starwalker stole the spotlight for the first class change. The warrior did not turn around. He simply replied in a deep voice, reminiscent of metal scraping against metal, what’s the rush if it’s not a hidden class? The girl pouted. She also opened the leaderboard. Second place, anonymous. level, LV 12th class, warrior. 8th place, frost moon, level, LV 11 class, priest. But, the world channel is buzzing, everyone is guessing who that starwalker is. And you with that thief, the three of you, are now the most mysterious figures in illusion, the enigmatic moonlit trio. The warrior finally showed a slight reaction. He turned around, his face mostly obscured by the helmet’s visor, revealing no, discernible expression. A bunch of fools who can’t even find their way, do their thoughts matter? He raised his giant axe, pointing towards the center of the volcano, where a massive crystal floated above the lava, continuously absorbing the essence of the flames. Let’s go. This task is almost complete. His tone held no trace of concern for that starwalker. It was as if that hidden class, which stirred the entire game’s dynamics, was merely a peculiar stone by the roadside in his eyes. The girl nodded and obediently followed the warrior’s lead. She understood her brother’s character. His goal had always been. Singular. To be the strongest. Not one of many, but the only one. The enormous flame crystal sensed their approach and began to pulse violently. A colossal beast, entirely composed of lava, slowly rose from the magma, letting out a roar that shook the heavens and the earth. The warrior raised his tower shield. It’s time, frost moon. Amun. An epic battle, known only to them, quietly commenced on this forgotten scorched earth. Inside the Cathedral of Holy Light, Yanjio continued to gaze at the leaderboard. The excitement of little cream had faded, and she leaned over to take a look at Yanjio’s screen. curiously asking, great god, what are you looking at? the first and second places are impressive, they’re even higher level than you. yenjiyo did not respond. he was not looking at levels. he was examining. those two unfamiliar classes. thief, warrior. in his understanding, these two classes were purely melee. yet his own talent, war god, granted him unparalleled dominance in melee combat. however, these. two had surpassed him. this meant they likely possessed talents that were at least as powerful as, war god. A strange feeling surfaced in his heart for the first time. It was neither jealousy nor anger. Rather, it was a pure excitement of finding a worthy opponent. Like a solitary swordsman seeking defeat, suddenly hearing of two unparalleled swords he had never seen before. He wanted to see. He wanted to try. Just how sharp were those two swords? Let’s go. Yenjio closed the leaderboard and turned to walk outside the church. Hey, big shot, where are we going? Little cream hurried to catch up. Yenjio’s pace did not falter, leaving behind a simple reply. to level up. He wanted to be faster. He wanted to be stronger. He wanted to stand before those two people. Then, without hesitation, he wanted to fight. The city of Maple Leaf was bustling with activity. The players wore a variety of equipment, most still in rough novice robes, mixed with a few pieces of leather and chainmail. Faces filled with curiosity, excitement, and confusion were examining this grand main city. Clearly, during Yanjou’s class change, elite players from various novice villages had gradually completed the teleportation quest. Big shot, where are we? Going now? Little Cream followed closely behind Yanjio, her big eyes sparkling with excitement. She had just been thrilled to rank 89th on the leaderboard, and now she was swept up in the lively atmosphere. Let’s take a look outside the city. Yanjio’s response was as concise as ever. The fighting spirit ignited by the leaderboard, although somewhat deluded by the surprise of the class change, had not completely extinguished. Yay! Little Cream happily waved her small fist. The two walked towards the city gate, one in front of the other. The number of players around them increased and the noisy discussions merged into a buzzing sound that constantly filled their ears. Wow, is this the main city? It’s way bigger than our village. Look at that NPC guard, so cool, his equipment is glowing. Have you seen? The leaderboard? That one called Anonymous is too overpowered, taking up three spots by himself. What do you mean by one person? Didn’t the guy above explain? That’s a damn team. A team with three LV12? Is there even a chance for others to play? Little Cream listened to these discussions and couldn’t help but sneak a glance at Yanjio walking ahead, her lips involuntarily curling up. This feeling of the whole world discussing something while she alone knew the truth brought her a secret joy. Big shot. She jogged a couple of steps to catch up with Yanjio, lowering her voice. They’re talking about you. Yanjio’s pace did not slow. Whom? The first and second places are also anonymous. What do you think they are like? Little Cream asked curiously. Could they also have amazing talents like you? I don’t. No. The two navigated through the crowded throng and soon arrived at the east gate of Maple Leaf City. At the city gate, several well-equipped player teams were proudly recruiting new members, their bronze gear gleaming and attracting many newcomers just entering the city. A warrior with the ID, Iron Blood Blood Blade, noticed the curvaceous little cream, whose beauty was striking, when he saw the equipment. On the two, his attitude immediately became enthusiastic. Hey, you too! Iron Blood Blood Blade strode over, blocking their path. He flashed a self-proclaimed charming smile. Ladies, are you interested in? Joining our, Iron Blood Alliance? Our guild may have just been established, but the guild leader is a top 100 expert on the leaderboard. Stick with us, and you’ll definitely enjoy the best perks. Little. Cream was taken aback by this sudden approach and instinctively moved behind Yenjo. And no. It’s fine, I already have a team. Iron Blood Blood Blade showed no embarrassment on his face, instead, he became. Even more enthusiastic. Having a team is no problem. we can join together our iron blood alliance is eager for talent especially beautiful players our guild offers the best benefits as soon as he finished speaking a sharp voice interjected from the side iron blood alliance a small guild that nobody’s heard of dares to recruit a mage with the id oracle starlight approached his equipment clearly shining brighter than iron blood blood blades this lady don’t listen to his bragging come to our oracle guild our guild leader is ranked 45th that’s a real powerhouse our guild’s goal is to be number one in the entire server. A small stir arose among the crowd, after all, the name of the Oracle Guild was quite renowned. The expression on Tai Sweetshu Dao’s face immediately turned sour. Is the Oracle Guild really that impressive? In front of our Dragon Rising Guild, they’re nothing. Another rough voice chimed in. A warrior with the ID Dragon Rising frenzied warrior pushed through the crowd and stood among a few people. He pounded on his sturdy chestplate, producing a dull thud. Our Dragon Rising Guild’s leader is ranked 30th, have we been bragging? What does it take to do well in the game? Is it level? Is it equipment? No. It’s information. Our intelligence department in Dragon Rising is the best in the entire illusion realm. Many strategies are produced by us. The three factions instantly. Surrounded Yanjio and Shao Nayo. They glared at each other, spitting insults, but no one paid attention to Yanjio and Shao Nayo anymore. Bullshit. What good is information without strength? Can you. Tell me what skills the latest church boss uses to fight you? You Iron Blood Alliance can’t even make it into the top 50 of the level rankings and you still have the nerve to talk? What are you even? Just lucky. The argument grew louder, quickly attracting the attention of all nearby players. Yanzhou frowned. He just wanted to level up outside the city but found himself blocked here. Big shot, we. Xiao. Nayo tugged at Yanzhou’s sleeve, a bit scared. The three arguing finally remembered their target. Oracle Starlight turned to Yanzhou. Friend, your equipment looks good, you must be a skilled player. Come. to our oracle and i guarantee you a spot in an elite team dragon rising frenzied warrior immediately interjected join us in dragon rising information sharing all dungeon strategies hidden quest clues prioritized for you tai suekshu dao grew anxious our iron blood alliance is the most united anyone who dares to touch our people the whole guild will fight to the end the three began a new round of boasting and belittling yenjio was getting a headache from the noise He glanced at the three still arguing and then at the slight gap that had appeared behind them due to the pushing. He took Xiao Nayo’s. Hand. Let’s go. With that, he squeezed through the gap, his movements quick and decisive. Xiao Nayo was taken aback for a moment but quickly followed. The three, who were in a heated debate, suddenly. Realized their target was gone. Where did he go? Damn it. Who the hell pushed him away? It must be your oracle people playing dirty. Shut the hell up. It was clearly your dragon rising that pushed me. The argument escalated rapidly. Tyswek Shidao couldn’t hold back any longer, he shoved Oracle Starlight in the chest. Say that again? Push me? You’re asking for death. Oracle Starlight was equally. Unyielding, raising his fist to strike back. Seeing this, Dragon Rising frenzied warrior let out a roar and joined the fray. The three, along with their respective guild members, instantly got into a brawl. They. Engaged in the most primal hand-to-hand combat at the city gate. After all, PKs inside the city would get caught by the guards, but this kind of fight without skills or weapons, as long as it didn’t result. In death, the guards couldn’t be bothered. Yen Jio had already walked quite a distance with Xiao Nayo. He turned back to glance at the chaotic scene at the city gate. He sighed. Having such conspicuous equipment seemed to be a trouble as well. It looked like he needed to buy some plain gear to wear normally. The two walked for a while and the surrounding players gradually thinned out. A damp scent of grass and wood filled the air. Tall trees blocked out the sun, allowing only speckles of light to filter through the gaps. This was the territory of the level 15 tree spirits. A tree spirit, resembling a withered tree with limbs, swayed out from the forest. Yenjiyo didn’t waste any words. He raised his hand, a glimmer of starlight igniting at his fingertips. Starwalk starfall technique Yenjiyo’s figure instantly collapsed and vanished, leaving only a few specks of starlight behind then, out of thin air, a miniature meteor appeared behind the treyant. It condensed in his hand and then whistled as it smashed down onto the treyant. Boom! The massive star damage directly blew the treyant into a flurry of wood chips. A bright red dash 6105 damage number floated past Little Cream. Her small mouth slowly formed an O shape. Gee great. Great god, what? What skill is this? A gift from the job change, Yen Jo replied, then walked towards the next monster. For the next hour or so, the entire tray ant. Forest echoed with the roar of falling meteors. Little Cream followed behind, hardly needing to lift a finger. She just had to watch her experience. Bar soar up like she was on a rocket. This feeling put her in an extremely euphoric state. However, Yanzhou began to feel drowsy. It was too boring. These monsters were too clumsy, and his desire to engage had been completely worn down. He yawned and casually checked his system panel, name. Yanzhou level, 12th class, Starwalker talent, War God, SSS grade, unique, attributes, strength 26, plus 10, agility 36, plus 13, constitution 57, plus 31. Intelligence 104, plus 78, Spirit 63, plus 40, Health 571 Mana, 640 Spell Critical Rate, 5% Attack Speed, plus 29 .5%, Equipment plus 10%, Movement Speed, plus 29.5%, Title plus 10%, Casting Speed, plus 12.5%, Equipment minus 20%, Melee Damage, 31, Strength 100%, plus Weapon Attack Power, Weapon plus 5, Spell Damage, 119, Intelligence. Plus Spell Power, Equipment plus 15, Physical Defense, 62 Equipment plus 5, Spell Defense, 57 Shadow Resistance, 5 Equipment Slot, Title, Wolf, King Slayer, Movement Speed plus 10%, Two-Handed Weapon, Withered Soul Staff, Bronze Intelligence plus 15, Spell Power plus 10, Melee Attack plus 5, Hat, Dios, Shadow Hood, Bronze Intelligence plus 15, Spirit plus 10, Casting Speed plus 15%, Shoes, Annie’s Cloth Shoes, Black Eye on Intelligence plus 5, Spell Power plus 5. Casting speed dash 20%, wrist, captain’s grip, bronze intelligence plus 18, spirit plus 12, spell critical rate plus 5%, clothes, William’s shadow robe, black, iron intelligence plus 10, spirit plus 5, defense plus 5, shadow resistance plus 5, necklace, bear guards amulet, bronze attack speed plus 10%, agility plus 10, has a chance to trigger fury when attacking, fury, attack speed plus 30%, ring 1, brotherhood emblem, strength plus 10, agility plus 10, constitution plus 10, intelligence. plus 10 spirit plus 10 ring 2 dark star ring intelligence plus 15 spirit plus 10 mana recovery plus 5 per second unfortunately the equipment that dropped in the church earlier required level 15 to equip otherwise his attributes would have increased significantly he glanced at the system time it was almost the six hour mark i’m going to log off and return to town first he said to little cream who was still excited beside him oh okay little cream felt a bit unsatisfied but still nodded obediently the two returned to the main city At the inn’s entrance, Yanjio greeted Little Cream, and his figure transformed into white, light and disappeared. Little Cream stood in place, watching where Yanjio had logged off. She opened the level leaderboard and saw her ranking had moved up one place, her small face filled with joy. Then, she began to look around. Leveling alone was too slow. She started searching the crowd for teams that looked like they were heading out to level up. Yanjio woke up to a dead silence in the room, only the old air conditioning unit in the next room struggled to turn its fan, emitting a faint hum. The sunlight at 1 o’clock in the afternoon pierced through the gaps in the curtains, cutting. A blaring bright line on the concrete floor. His stomach let out a clear gurgle at an inopportune moment. He touched his belly. This time, he was really hungry. Since entering the game in the morning, he hadn’t even had a sip of water. Yen Jio rolled off the bed. The big eatery downstairs should still have the owner napping at this hour. He decided to give up on the idea of instant noodles. The money he earned in the game was quietly resting in his bank account, a string of numbers that felt somewhat unfamiliar to him. He thought to himself that he could now be considered a wealthy man. Yanjio puffed out his chest with pride. Today, when dining out, he had to order several dishes and the noodles had to be in a large bowl. He also wanted to add a fried egg to the noodles. This thought made him feel extravagantly indulgent. He wiped his mouth, changed into a clean t-shirt and shorts, and slipped on a pair of flip-flops before heading downstairs. A wave of heat hit him as he stepped out, the air above the street distorted by the heat. Yanjio wandered aimlessly by the roadside, his gaze sweeping over the greasy signs of small restaurants. Suddenly, a quaint tea house at. The street corner made him stop in his tracks. A wooden plaque with golden characters on a black background hung at the entrance, standing out starkly against the surrounding environment. Through the. Spotless glass window he saw a familiar figure. Lu Xia. His team leader. She sat upright, dressed in a crisp uniform, contrasting sharply with the relaxed atmosphere of the tea house. Opposite. Her sat an elderly man in a grey zhengshan suit. The old man had white hair and beard, but his back was straight as a javelin, intently examining the purple clay teacup in his hands. Yen Jio had no intention of interrupting. Just as he was about to turn around and sneak away, pretending he hadn’t seen her, Lu Xia had already lifted her head. Her gaze locked onto him with precision. Then, she raised her hand and waved at him. Yen Jio scratched the back of his head. He could only let out a resigned sigh and pushed open the heavy wooden door to walk in. Team leader. Yen Jio approached the table and greeted her simply. You finally made it. Lu Xia nodded, gesturing to the empty seat across from her. Sit. The old man gently placed the teacup back on the table, and the moment the bottom of the cup touched the redwood surface, it made not a sound. Every movement he made was slow and precise, carrying an invisible sense of pressure. This is Elder Chen, Lu Xia introduced. Elder Chen, this is Yen Zhou. Elder Chen did not speak immediately, he simply fixed his calm eyes on Yen Zhou. That scrutiny made Yen Zhou feel like a new recruit being inspected for gear on the training. field, uncomfortable all over. Young man, just come out of the illusion? Elder Chen finally spoke, his words clear and unhurried. Yes, Yan Zhou answered honestly. How does it feel? It’s okay. Quite interesting. Elder Chen picked up the teacup, skimmed off the foam with the lid, and blew on the rising steam. The research institute has conducted some thorough analysis on this suddenly. Emerging game. The results are not very optimistic. Lu Xia’s expression was serious, liking any of the sternness she usually displayed during training, instead revealing a weighty concern. Analysis indicates that when players exceed level 40, conventional firearms will struggle to inflict effective damage on them. If they exceed level 60, a single person can face off against a fully armed tactical squad. The old man paused, seemingly allowing Yenjo to digest this information. As for level 100, a single person is a moving army. Yenjo blinked, not responding. He had already sensed these things vaguely through his war god talent, just not with such precise data. Therefore, the higher-ups have decided that we must prepare for the worst. Elder Chen sat down the teacup and continued speaking. We are preparing to select the most elite and reliable personnel from the active-duty armed police and military ranks to form a brand new special response unit. The sole mission of this unit is to deal with high-level players who may use their gaming abilities to commit crimes in the real world in the future, to fundamentally maintain social stability and order. Old Chen’s fingers lightly tapped on the table. Comrade Yen Jiu, in all the physical fitness tests during your time in the military, your records are perfect. in the last armed police competition you were the champion your opponent in the finals couldn’t even manage to land a single move against you you are one of the most suitable candidates for this unit the air in the tea house seemed to freeze because of these words lucia’s gaze also fell on yenjio filled with a hint of expectation however yenjio scratched his head a look of confusion on his face let me join some new unit forget it i’m quite happy where i am now i don’t want to change lucia’s brows instantly furrowed Old Chen’s face, however, showed no signs of emotional fluctuation. But, Yanjio added seriously, if someone really causes trouble outside in the future, I am willing to help maintain public order. This statement eased Lu Xia’s tightly furrowed brows a little. Old Chen’s fingertips, which had been tapping the table, also came to a stop. He looked at the young man before him again. From Yanjio’s face, he saw no fear, nor any hint of evasion or politeness. That phrase, I am willing to help, did not sound like a promise made in a moment of passion, but rather a calm assertion of his own capabilities. His gaze conveyed not I dare to go, but I can go. For the first time, a faint smile appeared on Old Chen’s wrinkled face. He nodded slowly. Good. As long as you carry this sense of responsibility, that is enough. You and comrade Lu Xia are. Both key focus points of this plan. Lu Xia is because she has demonstrated an exceptionally rare A-level talent in illusion realm. And you, Old Chen paused, his tone becoming significant, is. Because you already possess terrifying combat power in the real world. After hearing this, Yan Jio simply responded with an O. His attention had already drifted to the sign of the ramen shop, outside the window. He just wanted to find a place to eat quickly. The thought of adding a fried egg to his meal had become increasingly strong in his mind. Old Chen’s wrinkled face showed no signs of joy or anger. He merely picked up his teacup and used the lid to skim the already clear tea. How about this? Old Chen set down the teacup with a soft sound. I will give you a special quota. You can enjoy the top privileges and treatment without being bound by the unit structure. Lu Xia leaned slightly forward, surprised that Old Chen would make such a concession. Old Chen looked at Yen. Zhou En continued, After we form the team, every month, we will select the strongest member recognized within the team. That person will compete with you. If you win, your treatment remains the same, and you are still free. If you lose, Old Chen’s fingers tapped the table, you will honestly join the team and accept unified management, how about that? Yen Zhou’s face still bore that. Inscrutable Kong. He seemed to be contemplating the pros and cons of this proposal. Old Chen thought his conditions were still not enough and added, just like what happened yesterday at the Jishentang pharmacy. You know that the father of that person namely Chang is a good man and you also understand that he acted out of desperation, which is excusable. However, under the current rules, you can do nothing but watch him be taken away, waiting for the bail process. But if you are the strongest member of this special team, then, saving the next person would just be a matter of your word. You will possess not just brute force but something that matches it. Old Chen paused. Power. The tea house fell silent, with only the hum of the air conditioning remaining. Lu Xia held her breath, waiting for Yanjou’s response. This was a condition that no one could refuse. The corners of Yanjou’s eyes drooped slightly. He was indeed straightforward, but he was not foolish. He understood what this statement implied. He finally nodded. All right, he said to old Chen, expressing his decision. If it comes to a fight, I will accompany you. Yanjou felt that after the trials and the illusion, he might muster the courage to duel again. As long as he went easy, perhaps the other party wouldn’t show that kind of desperate expression. Yanzhou comforted himself. He. Needed that power. Lu Xia’s taut nerves finally relaxed. A hint of a smile appeared on old Chen’s serious face. He glanced at Lu Xia’s earlier affectionate yet slightly anxious gesture and nodded. With a smile. Then it’s settled. This afternoon, I will send someone to pick you up for the first match. Yanzhou had no objections to this and instead nodded in satisfaction. Speed is of the. Essence, I like that. The four words came out of his mouth with an inexplicable humor. Lu Xia helped Old Chen stand up and escorted him to the tea house door. A black sedan, which looked ordinary but, had an unusual license plate number, silently glided to the roadside. The car door opened, and Lu Xia carefully helped Old Chen inside. She straightened up, exhaling a long breath, her face showing. The ease of a task completed. But when she turned her head, she found Yen Jio had already walked into the middle of the road, heading straight towards the Lanshow beef noodle shop. Lu Xia almost. Choked. She quickly caught up, blocking Yanjio’s path, and spoke irritably. Where are you going? To eat. Yanjio replied confidently. Eat, eat, eat. That’s all you think about. We’re going to. Compete this afternoon, are you prepared? The people in that team are not weak. Hurry up and warm up, I’ll be your sparring partner. Lu Xia said fiercely, but Yanjio looked at her with a wronged. Expression. Can I eat first, sister? I’m so hungry. His voice was soft carrying a hint of pleading. Lu Xia was completely amused by his demeanor and the little anger she had built. Up vanished instantly. She reached out, grabbed Yanzhou’s arm and pulled him into the noodle shop filled with rich aromas. The softness of her chest wrapped around Yanzhou’s arm. Eat, eat. Her tone. Was filled with helpless affection. Whatever you eat counts as my treat. The noodle shop was permeated with the rich aroma of beef bone soup. Yanzhou showed no courtesy, directly ordering from. The menu. Cumin beef, scallion stir fried beef, give me a large portion, money is no object, and one bowl of Lanzhou beef noodles with two servings of meat and two eggs. He paused and pointed. Add the picture next to it. And add two servings of fried rice. Lu Xia sat across from him, propping her chin on one hand, watching him. Martial artists have strong vitality, and their appetite. Naturally exceeds that of ordinary people. Although Yen Jio had sealed his fists for many years, he had never neglected his daily physical training. The table was soon filled. Yen Jio picked up his. chopsticks and began to eat voraciously. Large pieces of beef, wrapped in rich broth, were swallowed in one bite. The golden poached egg, when gently poked with chopsticks, let the runny yolk flow out. Slowly, mixing into the noodle soup, Lu Xia watched him devour a table full of food with a smile. He ate with such focus, as if he were completing an extremely important task. When the last bite of fried rice went down, Yan Zhou satisfiedly burped. Lu Xia stood up, preparing to go to the counter to pay. A hand stopped her. Let me handle it. Yanjio scratched his head, a bit embarrassed. I earned some in the game too, it wouldn’t be right for you to treat me. Sit down. Lu Xia firmly pushed him back into his seat. She walked to the counter and elegantly scanned the code. I made. Quite a bit. She returned to her seat. Her tone tinged with a hint of pride. Yesterday, we cleared the hard mode of the Barbarian Bears hideout in the dungeon, split two pieces of black iron gear, and sold them for over 80,000. The game had been live for several days now. most elite players had already leveled up and improved their gear capable of challenging those hard mode dungeons naturally the prices of equipment had also dropped significantly the two of them having eaten and drunk their fill strolled aimlessly in a park by the roadside to digest on a summer afternoon the cicadas chirped noisily and sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves casting dancing spots of light on the ground lucia’s phone rang it was a call from old chen soon a car stopped at the park entrance The vehicle took them on a winding route, finally stopping in front of a building decorated in an ancient style. Jingyi Martial Arts Hall. The plaque was adorned. With elegant calligraphy, exuding a sense of deep history. In the land of the nine provinces, the inheritance of ancient martial arts has a long and rich tradition. There are many who practice ancient martial arts, and the military is no exception. Pushing open the heavy wooden door, a spacious training ground appeared before them. In the center, a tall ring stood out prominently. On the ring, stood a burly man with a buzz cut. He was bare-chested, his bronze skin covered in fine scars, and his slightly bulging temples indicated that he was a seasoned master of internal martial arts. Lu Xia instinctively tightened her grip on Yanjou’s arm, the soft sensation radiating from his limb. Be careful, she said, her tone laced with a hint of tension. Yanjou said nothing, simply removing his flip-flops. Barefoot, he stepped toward the ring. With each step, the floor emitted a slight tremor. As his foot landed on the first step of the ring, the surrounding scene seemed to twist in an instant. Past images surged before him like a tide. That dusty martial arts hall. The master who claimed to be the best in the world. And those hollow eyes, completely crushed of all belief. Those. Eyes were like an invisible shackle, binding him for ten years. Yenjio shook his head, trying to expel those images from his mind. It was useless. The deep-seated despair still clearly surrounded. Him. He stopped, standing at the foot of the ring. The man on the ring saw him and grinned, revealing a set of white teeth. He flexed his wrists, the joints cracking like popping beans. You must. B. Yen Jio? The man’s voice was loud and resonant. I heard you’re quite the fighter. Yen Jio did not respond. He simply stood there. The man didn’t mind, he continued, Olchen said that as long as I can beat you, the captain of the special reaction force will be mine. I’ve been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. Come on, let me see what level the champion of the military. Competition really is. Yen Jio still didn’t move. He looked at the man, he was too weak. Those desperate eyes surfaced before him once more. Engaging with him would only bring despair to this man. And it held no meaning. The feeling of crushing a person’s faith, dignity, and even the meaning of existence was too terrible. He didn’t want to experience it again. Lu Xia, watching from below, noticed something was off with him. Yanzhou, she called out tentatively. Yanzhou’s body trembled slightly. I concede. The arena fell silent, and Lu Xia was stunned. The man’s smile froze on his face. What did you say? I said, I concede, Yanzhou repeated. Are you fucking with me? The man was furious, feeling an unprecedented insult. You concede without even fighting? Is this looking down on me? Yen Jiu sighed, then lowered his head and walked toward the exit. The man’s facial muscles twitched. He had waited too long for this moment. He didn’t want to wait any longer. Conceding. Without even fighting. Who do you look down on? The man’s aura suddenly changed, like a powder keg that had been ignited. He couldn’t stand such words. With a sudden burst of strength, he stomped. Down, and the hard surface of the redwood arena cracked clearly beneath his feet. He shot forward like a cannonball, carrying a fierce wind, and instantly reached Yen Jiu’s face. A heavy punch aimed. Straight at Yen Jiu’s nose. The punch tore through the air, producing a piercing explosion. Yen Jiu didn’t even turn around. He merely tilted his head slightly, and that fist, capable of shattering. Granite, whistled past his ear. Then, he casually extended his right hand, as if he were receiving an apple from a friend. That hand gently grasped the man’s fist, which was still thrusting forward. Time seemed to freeze at that moment. The crew-cut man exerted all his strength, his face turning red, veins bulging on his forehead like worms. Yet, the fist he held remained completely still. Yen. Jio released his grip. The man, having exerted too much force, lost his balance and stumbled backward, landing heavily on the ground. The entire arena fell into a dead silence. Lu Xia instinctively covered her mouth with her hand, stifling the gasp that was about to escape. In the corner, the silent observer, old Chen, paused imperceptibly with his teacup in hand. This was not a battle of the same level. This was a game between an adult and an infant. A complete dimensional suppression. The man sitting on the ground looked down at his slightly trembling hands. Impossible. This was. Absolutely impossible. He had been immersed in ancient martial arts since childhood and had been practicing internal energy techniques since he could remember. After joining the special forces, he. Had relied on his hard-earned skills, rarely encountering an opponent. How could he have lost so embarrassingly? He hadn’t even touched the opponent’s clothing. Yenjio looked at the man’s eyes, which. were beginning to turn hollow, and sighed inwardly. That feeling again. He spoke up. You should know that the attributes in the game can now be brought into reality. I have a high level, and, I’ve maxed out my strength in the game. So it’s normal that you can’t beat me. This was a lie. A lie meant to protect the other’s dignity. This kind of lie, he had been practicing in his heart. Since he was twelve, various reasons, various excuses, all at his fingertips, just for this moment. The man sitting on the ground suddenly lifted his head. His dazed pupils refocused. Yes. The game. That damned game that required six hours of play every day. He had always looked down on it, thinking it was a waste of time, if it weren’t for the officer’s insistence he would probably still be level. One, it turned out that the gap was opened here. The dead silence in the man’s eyes was gradually replaced by a realization. He slowly stood up, brushed off the dust from his clothes, and solemnly, cupped his fists towards Yanjio. I understand. Thank you. You shown me how terrifying the bonuses in the game can be. This time, I lost. The man’s face reignited with fighting spirit. even more vigorous than before. But next time, it might not be the same. Yanjio looked at him, walked over, and patted his solid shoulder. I look forward to it. The man’s departing figure was. Straight, like a freshly polished gun. Old Chen stepped out from the corner, a subtle smile hidden within the deep wrinkles of his face. He walked up to Yanjio and handed over a cool black terminal. This is my promise. If you encounter any trouble you can’t solve, use it to contact me. Yanjio took the terminal, which was slightly thicker than a phone, and without asking further questions. simply nodded. Olchen glanced at him, then at Lu Xia, who was still in shock, before leaving the martial arts hall with the man named Wang Longtian. The heavy wooden door closed, cutting off the light from outside and the noise. In the training hall, only Yen Jiu and Lu Xia remained. Lu Xia let out a long breath, her chest rising and falling as she quickly walked over to Yen Jiu, examining him from head to toe as if she were meeting him for the first time. Yu, she organized her words, seemingly unsure of where to start. That Wang Longtian, he ranks among the top 10 monsters in. The special forces combat sequence. His hard qigong training allows him to withstand close range shots from small caliber handguns. And yet here with you. Lu Xia’s words trailed off but. The meaning was already clear. Yanjio nodded his expression serious. I’m too strong. That’s a kind of trouble too. Lu Xia opened her mouth feeling a lump stuck in her throat neither here nor. There. To be able to kill the conversation without changing expression and to speak so sincerely without a hint of boasting required skill. She gave up on continuing to dwell on this topic and. Simply reached out, naturally linking her arm with Yen Jio’s. Her arms sank into a soft, warm sensation. Let’s go, accompany me for a stroll. Lu Xia’s tone carried a hint of familiarity that brooked. No refusal, forcibly changing the subject. Where to? I don’t know, just wandering around. She pulled Yen Jio and walked out of the oppressive atmosphere of the martial arts hall. The sunlight. Outside was a bit blinding. On this summer afternoon, time seemed to stretch endlessly. They sat in the park for a while, then wandered around the mall. The two of them strolled aimlessly down the street, neither of them speaking again. Lu Xia didn’t ask him why he was so strong, nor did she inquire about his past experiences. She simply linked her arm with his, feeling the reassuring warmth, radiating from him. Time passed quickly, and when the sky was painted with orange-red evening clouds, Yanjio stopped. I should head home. Lu Xia’s smile faltered slightly, her hand instinctively, tightening around his arm. So early? Yeah. Yanjio replied. Lu Xia looked at his calm face and ultimately let go, forcing a smile. Alright, be careful on your way. Her tone carried a hint of reluctance that she herself didn’t even notice. Yen Jio waved at her and turned to board the bus home. Through the bus window, he saw Lu Xia still standing in place, until the bus turned a corner and she was completely out of sight. He had eaten too much at the ramen shop at noon and wasn’t very hungry now. After getting off the bus, he stopped at a still open bun shop by the roadside, simply ordering a few meat buns along with a bowl of plain kanji, which would serve as his dinner. He ate slowly, watching the hurried pedestrians on the street. The illusion had descended for several days. But life seemed to continue. After the panic, people had to hustle for survival, anxious about balancing the six hours of game time and work time that needed to be completed each day. Returning. To his rented room, the hallway was livelier than usual. The door of the neighbor, Sister Sue, was open, and the sound of clattering mahjong tiles mixed with the laughter and scolding of women drifted. Out. I won. All one suit. Pay up, pay up. It was Sister Sue’s charming yet slightly triumphant voice. Yenjo didn’t disturb them, he quietly opened his own door and gently closed it behind him. The room was dim, and he didn’t turn on the light. He walked to the window, watching the night gradually settle into silence outside. The neon lights still flickered, but they were much dimmer than before. A long lost restlessness stirred within him. Before the appearance of the illusion, his life was a straight line, work, then home. Day after day, year after year. He had lost interest in. Everything, life felt like a stagnant pool, stirring not a ripple. He had grown accustomed to this state, even thinking he would live his life in such numbness. Until that cold electronic voice echoed in the minds of everyone in the world. He felt as if he had come back to life. His lifelong pursuit, his only joy, was fighting. Pure, unadulterated fighting, free from everything else.In the real world, he had long since found himself without opponents. That kind of invincible loneliness felt like an invisible cage, trapping him for a full decade. Yet in the game called illusion, he was still quite weak. Countless powerful monsters, unknown players and innumerable challenges awaited him. This feeling made the blood that had lain dormant for 10 years begin to boil again. But. A terrifying thought suddenly emerged from the depths of his heart without warning. What if one day he also found himself without opponents in. Illusion? What if he once again stood at the pinnacle, experiencing that emptiness of being able to crush everything with a single punch? The. Moment that thought appeared, it was forcefully suppressed by Yenjo. He dared not think further. He looked at his arm, the blue countdown like. An hourglass of life flowing silently. He sighed softly. On his arm, the virtual game panel automatically appeared. He extended his finger. And tapped on the enter game option. Welcome back to illusion. The cold mechanical voice pulled him from his thoughts of reality. As the. System prompt faded, Yanzhou returned to the familiar maple leaf city. There were countless noisy voices compared to the last time he left. Looking around, the central square was bustling with people, shoulder to shoulder. Players donned various types of gear, shouting loudly, and the. Entire city resembled a massive, ignited marketplace. Wild wolves at the west gate. Strong warriors only, don’t come if your gear is bad. Commissioned herbalism, potion crafting, fair prices, no cheating. Clearing the normal cathedral dungeon. Level 9 and above required, if you know what you’re doing, don’t waste everyone’s time. The wings of the sky guild is recruiting. Top 50 in the server, generous benefits. Sign up for startup funds. The discussions rose and fell, but more were about the big shots on the leaderboard. Look at the level rankings. Top-ranked Anonymous Big Shot just changed to a hidden class called Soul Eater. Damn it, we can’t even reach the level for a normal class. Change, and the Anonymous Big Shot is already going for hidden classes. How are we supposed to play? Have you seen the forum? Someone has. Already cleared the normal cathedral. Yeah, people are calling for Silver Fox and the others to release their epic strategies, but we haven’t. Seen any movement from them. So Stingy, look at how grand the Tinglon Pavilion is, the Barbarian Bear strategy is just released whenever. tailoring commissions, free linen for making cloth armor white gear to level up. Yen Jio stood at the edge of the crowd, quietly listening. He still had things to do. The city lord’s seal dropped by the banshee needed to be delivered to Reinhardt. The baron title awarded by the system should also be collected from the lord’s mansion. But before that, he wanted to go to a certain place first. With so many gold coins in his pocket and no chance to spend them, he decided to splurge at the auction house. He stepped forward, heading towards the auction house. The set. Of gear he wore, radiating a faint glow, stood out starkly among the players mostly clad in plain white and scattered black iron. As he passed, the crowd instinctively parted to make way for him. Various discussions turned into hushed whispers. Which guild’s big shot is this? Such good. Gear, must be a player on the leaderboard, right? Soon, someone couldn’t hold back and approached him. Hey brother, nice gear. Interested. In joining our Crimson Battlefly Guild? Good benefits. Yen Jo ignored him and continued walking. A female player in cloth armor, with a stunning figure, directly blocked his path, leaning slightly forward. Hey there, are you alone? Let’s team up, I’m a healer. No team. Yen. Joe sidestepped her, his pace unwavering. The magnificent auction house building soon came into view. He walked inside, there were fewer players. Then outside, but the atmosphere was equally lively. Yen Joe opened the trading panel directly, quickly browsing through it.A few pieces of black iron equipment were scattered around, priced outrageously. There was not a single piece of bronze equipment. He closed the equipment panel. And opened the consumables instead. He bought some of the highest level recovery potions available for his current level. Just as he was. About to leave, an icon caught his attention. The return scroll looked like something crafted by a manufacturing player. He clicked on the. Description, which read, After use, you can be teleported back to the nearest main city after a 30 second casting time. 30 seconds of casting. Time. In battle, that was no different from suicide. No wonder it only sold for 5 silver coins. However, there was no sign of disdain on Yen. Joe’s face. He directly entered 50 in the purchase quantity. Then, he bought a set of the most ordinary white quality mage robes, a hood. That could cover most of his face, and an unremarkable wooden staff from the auction house. Finding a corner with no one around, he quickly changed. Into this outfit. The glow of his equipment instantly faded, making him look ordinary, blending into the crowd without drawing attention. The curious gazes around him indeed diminished significantly. he was quite satisfied with this after finishing all this he walked towards the lord’s mansion the square in front of the lord’s mansion was no longer the grim sight it once was now it was bustling with people louder than any market looking for a tank for the hard cathedral full black iron gear required don’t come if you’re missing a piece selling gold private message for the ratio may the scammers die with their whole family he mingled in the throng like a drop of water merging into a torrent utterly inconspicuous He walked towards the heavy oak doors of the Lord’s Mansion, and the players along the way didn’t spare him a glance. But just as he was about 10 meters away from the thick wooden door, an unexpected change occurred. Swish! The two rows of guards, stationed at the door moved in perfect unison, suddenly standing up straight. They clenched their right fists and struck them heavily against the armor on their left chests, producing a dull metallic sound. This was a military salute. A salute reserved for the highest officials or city. Heroes. The surrounding players fell silent for a moment, then erupted into louder discussions. What’s going on? Is a big shot coming out? Make way, make way, don’t block the road. The crowd seemed to be pushed apart by an invisible hand, automatically creating a path in front of. Yen Jio. But as they waited and waited, they saw no convoy or glamorous figure emerge from the door. Their gazes eventually landed on the solitary. Figure in a white mage robe walking towards the door. Who is this person? Is he blocking the way? What an idiot. Some players impatiently. Glanced back at Yenzhou, wanting to see which big shot had prompted the guards to give such a salute. Yenzhou ignored the pointing and whispering. Around him, walked up the white stone steps, and pushed open the door of the lord’s mansion under the watchful eyes of the two rows of guards. The heavy wooden door closed behind him, shutting out all the noise. The hall was spacious and quiet, the atmosphere heavy enough to make one gasp for breath. Reinhardt was standing with Reno in front of a large sand table, frowning and discussing something. Hearing the door open, both of them looked up simultaneously. When they saw that it was Yenjio, a hint of genuine warmth finally appeared on Reinhardt’s weary face. He quickly stepped forward. You’re here. Yenjio nodded and took out the Lord’s seal, tainted with shadowy energy from his backpack, and handed it over. He opened his mouth but in the end, he just sighed. I couldn’t save the Lord. The seal was cold, like a piece of unmelting. Ice. Reinhardt took the seal, his body swaying slightly. Reno reached out to steady his shoulder. The hall fell into a brief silence, with. Only the faint sounds of the bustling crowd outside reminding them that this was still the world of the living. After a moment, Reinhardt took a deep breath, tightly grasped the seal in his palm, and straightened his body again, the sadness in his eyes was replaced by something more. Resilient. Ding. Due to the change of the city lord, your reputation in the Maple Leaf Brotherhood has automatically converted to Maple Leaf City. Reputation. Ding. Your reputation in Maple Leaf City has reached the highest level. Worship. A series of system prompts popped up in front. Of Yen Jiu. Reinhardt spread a large map on the table, the edges of the parchment worn, marked with dense symbols in various colors of ink. Baron Yen Gio. Reinhardt’s voice regained its calm. This is our gratitude to you, Maple Leaf City will never forget your kindness. Please, choose a territory that belongs to you on this map. Yen Gio leaned in. On the map, the most prosperous commercial districts were circled in red. Ink, particularly eye-catching. As long as he spoke, the most valuable land in Maple Leaf City would be within reach. His finger slowly moved. across the map but in the end it passed over those red areas and stopped at an inconspicuous patch marked in green. It was a piece of wasteland. Near the river outside the city. This one. Reinhardt was somewhat surprised. Here? This land is very remote and has no commercial value. I like it. Yenjio’s answer was simple and direct. Reinhardt looked at him, no longer trying to persuade, just solemnly nodded. Alright. Ding. You have obtained the fief, riverside west of the city. Ding. As the first player to obtain a title in fief in the illusion, you will. Receive a special reward. Reward, a random set of house blueprints, automatically constructed, random furniture x30. May I ask, do you want to announce your name so that your fame resonates throughout the world of the illusion? Again, this familiar option. Yen Jio looked at the yes and no buttons on the panel and a sudden thought popped up. If he changed his ID now, which name would the system announcement display? He found this idea amusing. Even if his real ID was displayed, occasionally appearing in the world channel didn’t seem like a problem. He opened the skill panel and used illusion form. Yanzhou hesitated not at all, entering his carefully thought out new name in the ID modification field. Lanzhou Beef Noodle. He looked at this new name with satisfaction. Then, he raised his hand and heavily clicked yes on the system announcement. Option. The next second. In the entire world of the illusion, all players heard a crisp system prompt sound. World announcement, congratulations. To player Lanzhou Beef Noodle for becoming the first player to obtain a main city title, awarded the title of Baron of Maple Leaf City. World. Announcement, as the first player to obtain a fief, you are rewarded with a random house and 30 pieces of random furniture. The World. Announcement rang out twice. The entire world of The Illusion seemed to have been paused. After a brief silence, the World Channel was instantly flooded with a tsunami of text. World Channel, chasing the wind, what the hell? Lanshow Beef Noodle? What kind of name is that? World Channel. Riding a pig on the highway, no way, dude, did I hear that right? Title? Fief? This game can be played like this? World Channel, Blood. Rose, the point is, who is this Lanzhou noodle? There’s no one by that name on the level rankings. World Channel, Elder Capitalist, Noodle? As a person from Lanzhou, I’ll say it seriously once, that’s beef noodle. World Channel, I think it’s fine, I’ve also checked the profession. Rankings, from start to finish, not to mention Lanzhou noodle, there isn’t even a food seller. World Channel, Elder Capitalist, that’s beef. Noodle, you. Ding. Player Elder Capitalist has been banned for one day due to inappropriate remarks. The speed at which the messages. Rolled was dizzying, countless players frantically refreshed every leaderboard in the game, trying to find a trace of this mysterious player. The. Result was in vain. There was no such person. World Channel, Oracle Tenchuan, interesting, it seems to be a hidden big shot, or a secret weapon. Of some guild. World Channel, Dragon Rising Bashan, Tianquan, stop pretending, is it one of your guild members? You’re hiding them pretty well. world channel, oracle tenchuan, not us, if our guild had such a powerhouse, we would have brought them out to intimidate small fries like, you, the entire world channel exploded, a player not on any leaderboard, an id so bizarre it seemed randomly generated, he had obtained the, coveted title and territory that everyone dreamed of, what did this mean, world channel, salty fish king, damn, brothers, i’ve realized, this, lance how raman is just an ordinary player, he just got lucky and triggered some epic hidden quest. World channel, I am miss lu’s dog, exactly. He’s not one of those hardcore players who spend 24 hours a day in the game, nor is he one of those big spenders from major guilds. He’s. Just one of us. World channel, next door old wang, damn, I’m suddenly fired up. Turns out this game isn’t just for big shots. We ordinary people. Also have a chance to shine. World channel, su hua on sauerkraut, wo wo, I’ve decided, starting today, I’m going to talk nicely to every. NPC, who knows, I might trigger a quest. The god of lands how beef noodles is my idol. The name Lanshow Beef Noodles spread throughout the entire illusion in a way that no one could have anticipated. He became a beacon in the hearts of countless ordinary players. A symbol of hope. Recruitment messages from major guilds began to flood the screen, with only one condition. High rewards for recruiting Lanshow Beef Noodles. You. Set the terms. The Wings of the Sky Guild sincerely invites Lanshow Beef Noodles to join. The vice president position is waiting for you. Meanwhile, in a remote leveling area, Lucia had just defeated an elite-level wild boar. she wiped the sweat from her forehead opened the system panel and prepared to check the messages in the guild the three bright red world announcements instantly occupied her entire view when she saw that name she paused slightly lands how beef noodles the image of the man who had devoured his meal at the noodle shop during lunch immediately surfaced in her mind the man who seriously said i want to add to lucia couldn’t help but laugh her teammates around her cast puzzled glances sister sia what are you laughing at nothing Lu Xia closed the panel and shook her head. Just thought of someone. Very interesting. Inside the lord’s mansion. Yengio was completely unaware of the storm outside. He turned off the system prompt in front of him feeling that the effect of this new ID was indeed quite amusing. Reinhardt and Reno had no idea what was happening. They just looked at Yengio, their eyes filled with respect. My lord, your land deed has taken effect. Reinhardt handed over a piece of parchment exuding the scent of ink. You can go check it out anytime, the city defense team will. Ensure the safety of your property. Thank you. Yenjo took the deed and stored it in his backpack. He then changed his ID back to Yenjo. He had nothing to say and turned to walk towards the door. Wait. Reinhardt called out to him. Yenjo stopped, turned back. Maple Leaf City will always be your home. Reinhardt said solemnly. Yenjo nodded and did not respond further. The commotion outside was ten times more intense than when he had entered. Someone turned to look. at yenjio then glanced at his id and continued discussing with the person next to them almost all the players were excitedly discussing the name lance halamian this guy is definitely the chosen one no way i have to go check out the west side of the city maybe i’ll run into him come on he’s probably hiding right now who would dare to show their face with all this attention where do you think his territory will be next to the lord’s mansion or on the commercial street yenjio dressed in a plain white mage robe blended into the crowd as he walked past them No one gave him a second glance. The players who had just been paying him attention were now completely captivated by that mysterious ID that had suddenly appeared. He was quite pleased with this. He opened the map and found the marker for Riverside in the west. It was a corner located on the edge of the city, right next to the city wall, with a small stream flowing. Beside it, he crossed the crowded streets and walked through the bustling commercial area, where the number of players dwindled and the buildings changed from grand stone structures to low wooden houses. The lively sounds of vendors gradually. faded away, replaced by the tranquil sounds of the wind and flowing water. After walking for about 10 minutes, an open space surrounded by a simple wooden fence appeared before him. The clearing was large, with lush green grass, and, right next to it was a clear river. In the center of the clearing stood a solitary building. It was a small two-story wooden house made of logs. The roof was thatched, vines of unknown origin climbed up the walls, and there was a tiny chimney. In front of the wooden house there was a piece of cultivated land, which was completely empty. Ding! Welcome to your territory, Riverside.Detected that you have random furniture x 30, would you like to place it immediately? Yes. With his confirmation, 30 beams of white light descended from the sky and landed inside the wooden house. Yen Jio pushed open the creaking wooden door and stepped inside. The interior of the wooden house made him retract the foot he had just stepped out with. He had expected a warm and simple style, but instead, it felt like he had walked into a royal warehouse that had been ransacked. A luxurious redwood four-poster bed blocked the staircase to the second floor. beside it an extravagant throne made of pure gold faced a window that didn’t exist in the corner there was a dressing table encrusted with gems and next to it stood a massive bookshelf that nearly reached the ceiling yet it was completely empty most of these 30 pieces of random furniture were excessively luxurious but also incredibly large they had been crammed into the small two-story wooden house so roughly that there was hardly any space left to stand yen joe even wondered if he would get stuck between the sofa and the dining table if he tried to squeeze in this system was ridiculous It provided a simple two-story house but furnished it with a bunch of large palace furniture. He reached out and tried to push the gilded wardrobe. It didn’t budge. These system-generated items seemed immovable by players. He gave up. This place was uninhabitable. He had planned to fish here today. Yanjio turned around and walked back toward the city. He needed to find a craftsman to level the land and build a bigger house. Just as he returned to the busier street, a patrol of city guards approached him. The captain of the guards, upon seeing his unremarkable white mage robe, suddenly. Stiffened. He immediately stopped, clenched his right fist, and struck it heavily against the armor on his left chest. Hello. Yenjio spoke first. Excuse me, where can I find someone to build a house in the city? The guard was momentarily. Taken aback, then responded in a more respectful tone. Honorable Baron, you can go to the Mason’s Guild. The dwarves there are the best craftsmen, they are skilled in construction and forging. Thank you. Yenjio nodded, shouldering his. plain wooden staff as he walked in the direction indicated by the guard. The mason’s guild was somewhat out of the way, located behind a clanging blacksmith’s shop the IT was a low but sturdy stone building. Before even stepping inside, the sound of a heated argument reached his ears. You black-hearted little man, we agreed on 80 silver coins, why are you raising the price? The voice sounded somewhat familiar. Yen Jiu pushed the door open and indeed saw two acquaintances, Kuang Dao and Gui Ying, the two unfortunate souls he had knocked down back in the novice village. At that moment, the warrior named Quang Dao was pointing at a bearded dwarf NPC, his face flushed with anger, almost the color of liver. The dwarf NPC crossed his arms, his beard bristling, refusing to budge an inch. Just then, the dwarf noticed Yanjio walking in. He paused for a moment and then his angry face instantly transformed into a respectful smile, ignoring the nearly boiling Quang Dao and walked straight towards Yanjio. He bent down and performed a standard dwarf greeting. Honorable hero, what wind has blown you into my filthy workshop? Quang Dao and Guiying were stunned. They followed the dwarfs. Gaze and saw a man carrying a staff dressed in a plain white mage robe. Yanzhou cheerfully greeted Kuang Dao. Yo. The muscles on Kuang Dao’s face twitched. Yanzhou ignored him and looked at the dwarf. What’s going on? The dwarf glanced. At Kuang Dao, his tone filled with disdain. My lord, you actually know this poor foreigner? It’s like this. The dwarf cleared his throat. This foreigner, a few days ago, was lucky enough to dig up a piece of fine mithril or outside. The city and wanted me to forge a bow for him. He pointed to the dazzling longbow on the workbench. I originally agreed to charge him 80 silver coins for the labor. But during the forging process, I discovered that a wind magic crystal I recently obtained was a perfect match for this bow. It’s the will of the god of forging. So, I embedded it into the bow. Now, the value of this bow far exceeds what we initially agreed upon. If sold outside, it could fetch at least 5 gold coins, and I’m only charging him 2 gold coins for the cost price, which is very fair. Quang Dao was so furious he nearly jumped up. Fair my ass. We’ve spent all the money we earned in the dungeon on upgrading our gear, and. Now the three of us have emptied our pockets and barely scraped together a little over one gold coin. Guiyang beside him also wore a worried expression. That bow was meant to be a gift for the archer in their team, Jinyu. The dwarf. Puffed out his beard, spitting as he spoke. A true weapon allows for no carelessness. You muscle-headed fools don’t understand the value of art at all. Just as it seemed the two were about to argue again, Yanjio pulled out two shiny gold. Coins from his backpack and casually tossed them onto the counter, producing a crisp sound. The argument came to an abrupt halt. Quangdao and Guiyang were stunned, staring at him blankly. The dwarf immediately beamed with joy as he collected. The gold coins. You are truly generous, my lord. Quangdao’s face shifted between red and white as he walked over. Brother, we’ll remember this favor and the money will be returned to you as soon as possible. Yanjio ignored the two of. Them. He was still eager to build a house. He turned to the dwarf. I want to build a bigger house, you should be able to do that, right? Mentioning his trade, the dwarf immediately puffed out his chest, his face filled with pride. But, soon, he deflated, letting out a heavy sigh. Alas, great hero, it’s not that I don’t want to serve you. It’s just that building a sturdy house requires a large amount of stone. The quarry near Maple Leaf City has long been occupied by a bunch of damn spider demons due to the incompetence of the former lord. Ding. Do you accept the quest, liberate the quarry? quest description go to the abandoned quarry outside the city and clear out the spider demons that have taken over restoring the stone supply for the mason guild.quest reward mason guild reputation plus 50 silver coins plus 30.the system quest panel appeared before him and quickly disappeared yengio showed no hesitation and directly chose to accept.he was determined to get the house in order today not even jesus could stop him he hoisted the staff and turned to walk out of the guild’s main gate ready to head straight to the quarry wait brother Kuang Dao’s boisterous voice rang out from behind. Yen Jio halted his steps. Kuang Dao and Gua Ying quickly caught up. Brother, we’re coming with you on this mission. Kuang Dao pounded his chest, making a thudding sound. Consider it a favor returned. Gua Ying beside him. Nodded vigorously. The spider demon is tough to deal with, the more people, the better. As a mage, it’s hard for you to fight alone, but with a few melee fighters, it should be easier. I just went to replenish Eros this month, I’ll be there soon. Yen Jio glanced at them. Teaming up? It didn’t seem like a bad idea, it might speed things up. Right now, all he could think about was his little house. Ding. Player Quangdo invites you to join the team, do you accept? Yanjio clicked to agree. The next second, Quangdo and Guiying froze in place as if petrified. Their movements halted, mouth slightly agape, and they seemed to turn into stone sculptures at the workshop entrance. In the team invitation. Interface that had just popped up, next to the ID Yanjio, an eye-catching level number was quietly hovering there. LV12. This number hit them like a heavy hammer. crashing down on their heads. In the entire illusion realm, only three people had reached this level. Those three, high above, had slaughtered the leaderboard, anonymous. That was the pinnacle that ordinary players looked up to. It was a legend that all guilds both revered and feared. It was an existence that had been analyzed, deconstructed, and mythologized by countless people on the forums. After a long silence, Ba Dao’s body began to tremble violently, not out of fear, but from an uncontrollable, volcanic excitement. He suddenly jumped in. Front of Yanjio, his emotions so stirred that his voice changed pitch and he addressed him as big brother instead of brother. Be big brother. Why you are one of the three absolutes? Yanjio was momentarily taken aback by his sudden outburst. What are the three absolutes? This question left Quangdo and Guiying once again frozen. The very person who was one of the three absolutes didn’t know what the three absolutes were? What a transcendent state that was. Quangdao felt his breath quicken. He looked at Yanjio as if he were gazing at a deity walking among mortals. He swallowed hard and, with an almost preachy fervor, began to explain in a torrent of words. Big brother, you don’t know? The forums. Are exploding right now. Because the leaderboard has opened, and all the top players’ strengths are laid bare. Those at the top of the professional leaderboard, aside from U3 Anonymous, are collectively referred to by players. As the Six Peaks. It means six insurmountable heights. But, Quangdao’s tone suddenly shot up. In front of U3 LV 12 big shots, the Six Peaks can only be considered a pile of dirt at the foot of the mountain. So, players have. Dubbed those three mysterious anonymous on the level leaderboard as the three absolutes. Supreme. Unmatched. Unparalleled. They have transcended the realm of mortal understanding. Six peaks and three absolutes. This is the current. Top tier power structure in illusion realm. We’re all guessing who those three anonymous are. The warrior. The hidden class starwalker. The soul devourer. Who would have thought, we actually. Quangdao trailed off, becoming somewhat. Incoherent. Guiying behind him also wore a dazed expression. It turned out that the one who had beaten us up in the novice village was actually one of the three absolutes. After hearing this, Yanjio couldn’t help but scratch his head. He had forgotten that he was already level 12. If he had known, he wouldn’t have teamed up. He chose to remain anonymous simply because he found it troublesome. He didn’t want to be disturbed by endless private messages and various guild. Invitations however, now that he had been exposed in front of these two, there seemed to be no way out. Oh, he responded lightly. Since it was out in the open, so be it, it didn’t matter. Yanzhou watched as the two of them looked like they were about to kneel and bow down right there and he raised his index finger, gesturing near his mouth. Shu, keep it a secret for me. This casually spoken sentence sounded to Quang Gao and Gua Ying like a divine decree. They immediately snapped back to reality, like cats whose tails had been stepped on, nodding their heads vigorously. Keep it a secret. Definitely keep it a secret. Don’t worry, big brother. We can keep our mouths shut. At that moment, a storm was brewing in their hearts. The three absolutes, they had actually crossed paths with one of the three absolutes back in the novice village. Although they had been pressed to the ground, still, this was a resume they could boast about for a lifetime. This experience was simply surreal. The three of them walked along the stone path leading to the city gate. Quan Dao and Gu Aing flanked Yen Jiu, almost sticking to him as they moved. They had now completely become Yen Jiu’s most loyal guards and fervent followers. Big brother, are you thirsty? Quan Dao pulled out a water pouch from his backpack and offered it with both hands. Big brother, are you hungry? I bought this from the best tavern in the city. Gu A-ing. Quickly followed up with a shiny roasted chicken wrapped in oil paper. Yen Ji-o smiled awkwardly, repeatedly waving his hands. This sudden enthusiasm made him feel uncomfortable all over. The three of them soon arrived at the magnificent. City gate in this strange atmosphere. A fiery red figure was already waiting there. Ji-yu. She was dressed in well-tailored leather armor that accentuated her fiery figure to perfection. Upon seeing the three approach, she rushed directly. In front of Yen Jio. The shyness and blushing from their earlier encounter in the novice village had been completely shattered by the heavyweight title of three absolutes, leaving no trace behind. Now, only one thought remained in her mind. How can I become as strong as you? Her question was direct and frank, devoid of any longing for love, only filled with a desire for power. Yen Jio was momentarily taken aback by the question. He instinctively scratched his head. Become. Stronger? He was just playing the game in a simple way. I just killed a boss. and then triggered a hidden class change quest. Leveling up quickly was also because I completed a few epic dungeons. His response was straightforward, as. If he were talking about something utterly mundane. Yet, to Jin Yu and the others, it was like a thunderclap. Just as expected. The anonymous big shot from novice village 952766 who stirred up a storm was him, first clear of the epic. Dungeon. All the clues perfectly connected at that moment. The light in Jin Yu’s eyes grew even brighter. She leaned in closer, almost pressing against Yen Jiu. What about the other two anonymous big shots? Are they your teammates too? A. Team made up of the three absolutes, you guys are terrifying. Quan Dao and Gu Aing perked up, their faces filled with anticipation and curiosity. Yen Jiu shook his head. No. The only friend who went anonymous with me when we cleared. The dungeon was just a friend. In his mind, the lively and adorable face of Xiao Nayo appeared. She’s only level 8 now. She shouldn’t be one of the three absolutes you mentioned. The air instantly froze. The expressions on Jean. You and the other’s faces were nothing short of spectacular. Shock, disbelief, incredulity. The person who cleared the epic dungeon with the big shot was actually just an 8-level newbie? Let’s go, aren’t we supposed to head to the quarry? Yen Jo interrupted their petrified state and took the lead toward the city exit. The three of them snapped out of their daze and hurriedly followed. Along the way, they no longer asked about becoming stronger, but instead chattered. Excitedly about the identities of the other two mysterious three absolutes, with all sorts of wild guesses, their enthusiasm undiminished. Yanjio also took the opportunity to add the three as friends, passing through the city gate and walking through the farmland on the outskirts. The sounds of people and the smell of smoke gradually faded away, replaced by the silence of the wilderness and the scent of earth. After walking for about half an hour, the terrain began to grow. Rugged. A strange odor, mixed with decay and sulfur, wafted through the wind. The once lush green grass was covered in large patches of grayish white filaments, as if the earth had been draped in a filthy shroud, the trees lining the road. had long since withered, their twisted branches adorned with fist-sized white egg sacs that swayed gently in the breeze. It’s just a head, Quang Gao said, putting away his playful expression, drawing the long knife from his back. His demeanor’s serious. The group continued forward for a few hundred meters, and their vision suddenly opened up. A massive, downward-sinking circular valley appeared before them. This was once the largest source of stone for Maple Leaf City, an abandoned quarry. But at this moment, it had transformed into a lair of spider demons. Everywhere they looked was gray and white. Enormous webs, like layers of tattered cloth, connected the cliffs of the valley to the ground, blocking out the sun. The ground was thick with layers of spider silk, sticky and elastic underfoot, each step lifted nauseating white threads. The air was filled with a repulsive stench and occasionally they could see the remains of beasts, reduced to bones, wrapped in webs and hanging high on the cliffs. Countless spider demons of various sizes crawled in this white world. The smallest were the size of hunting dogs, while the largest were as big as bulls. They had the limbs and abdomens. of spiders, but their upper bodies resembled humanoid torsos, sporting two pairs of sharp foreclaws. Hiss, one of the closest spider demons detected the intruders. It let out a sharp hiss, its eight crimson compound eyes locking onto. Yen Gio and his companions. Spider demon guard race, spider demon level, LV 12 health, 3500 attack, 125 defense, 99 skill, web binding the spider demon guards hiss shattered the valley’s silence. Without a moment’s hesitation, it’s eight. Limbs moved swiftly across the sticky web, transforming into a gray blur as it charged directly at the fore. Puff! A white web shot from its mouth, enveloping Yanjio, who was at the front. Watch out, big brother! Kuang Dao shouted. Angrily, raising his long knife to intercept. Yanjio’s movements were faster than his voice. The massive web nearly grazed the edge of his mage robe as it flew past, sticking to the rock wall behind him. The spider demon guard, propelled by. Inertia, rushed past the spot where he had just stood. Yanjio didn’t even look back. He swung his staff backward, striking the spider demon guard’s head with precision. Minus 4630. A blood-red number suddenly popped up above the spider demon. Guard’s head. The ferocious creature’s body stiffened in mid-air, and before it could let out a whale, it transformed into a pure white light, dissipating into the air. The entrance of the valley fell into three seconds of absolute silence. Quang Dao, Gui Ying, and Jinya stood frozen, as if collectively hit by a spell, their movements halted and expressions blank. The next second, a volcanic eruption occurred. Damn. Awesome. Quang Dao plunged his long knife into the ground, raising both hands above his head and clapping vigorously. Did you see that? Did you see that? This is the power of the three absolutes. A seemingly ordinary strike. 4600 damage. Is that reasonable? It’s too reasonable. Gu Aing nodded vigorously beside him, his face a mix of admiration and fervor. This is the kind of damage a big shot should have. Jin Yuzai sparkled as she waved her fists excitedly. Go for it. Big shot, go for it. Yen. geo smiled awkwardly he felt as if three oversized little cream puffs had suddenly appeared beside him the feeling of being treated like a mascot made him extremely uncomfortable he just wanted to get things done quickly no one was going to stop him from building his house today he ignored the three excited cheerleaders behind him hoisted his staff and charged straight into the depths of the spider demon’s lair his inconspicuous white mage robe was like a solitary flash of lightning slicing through this gray white world of spider webs big brother is charging in let’s hurry up We’ll just shout 666. The three of them hurriedly followed, and the valley was soon filled with their boisterous cheers. Before long, the outer area of the quarry was cleared out completely. The ground was littered with white light spots left behind by the vanishing monsters. Yenjo’s advance was clean and efficient, with no unnecessary movements. Move. Forward, swing the staff, monsters disappear. The entire process flowed smoothly like a pre-choreographed dance. Just as he was about to delve deeper, the ground of the circular valley suddenly trembled slightly. Thud, thud. Heavy. Footsteps echoed from a massive cave deep within the quarry. A figure much larger than an ordinary spider demon guard slowly emerged. Ignorant foreigner, leave this place, it roared in a deep, warning tone. You have no idea what has erupted. Here. Spider demon guardian, elite, race, spider demon level, 12 health, 5200 attack, 145 defense, 92 skills, web bind, charge it’s an elite monster. G and you quickly called out. Before the words had left his mouth, the spider demon. Guardian had lowered its upper body, its forelimbs clawing at the ground, and suddenly surged forward. Its massive body transformed into an out-of -control war chariot, rumbling towards Yanzhou. Charge Quang Dao and Guiyang felt their hearts leap into their throats. However, the enormous spider demon guardian, carrying immense force, missed its target and crashed heavily into the stonewall behind, causing a shower of debris to fly. Yanzhou didn’t look back at the result. Of the impact. As he turned to dodge, he swung his wooden staff in a precise arc, striking one of the joints of the spider demon guardian’s limbs. Minus 4360. Another heart-stopping damage number. The elite monster’s health bar was instantly. Reduced by more than half. Good. Beautiful. The three behind him erupted into another round of enthusiastic cheers. Before the spider demon guardian could recover from the days of the impact and before the cheers of the three had fully. Subsided, Yen Jiu’s left hand was already raised. No incantation, no starting gesture. A brilliant starlight quickly gathered in his palm, bursting forth with a blinding radiance. Star Impact. Minus 23 ,000. A terrifying damage value, larger than. All the previous numbers combined floated slowly from above the spider demon guardian’s head, trailing a long string of zeros. At this moment, the valley fell completely silent. The cheers of Quang Dao, Gu Aing, and Jin Yu were abruptly cut off as if by an invisible hand. Their expressions shifted from fervent admiration to pure daze. If the previous damage of over 4,000 could still be explained as truly the three wonders, then this number exceeding 20,000 had completely surpassed their understanding. Even the final boss in the dungeon would probably not withstand such a blow. This was no longer just strong. It was absurd. Yanzhou paid no attention to his three teammates, who had turned. To stone. He didn’t even look at what items the elite monster that had turned into white light dropped. He had only one goal now. Build a house. He turned around, shouldering the withered soul staff, and walked into the place where the. Elite had jumped out. The massive cave yawned open like a giant mouth ready to devour, dark and gaping. A putrid stench surged out from within, ten times more intense than outside. Jenjio did not pause for a moment, shouldering his staff and stepping inside in one stride. Behind him, the three members of Kuang Dao remained frozen in place, like three stone statues weathered by a thousand years, their mouths agape as if they could fit an egg inside. This damage. Gui Ying’s voice was incredibly dry, like nails scraping against stone. Did I just, see things? That number no longer belonged to the realm of players. Big brother went in. Let’s hurry and follow. Quang Dao was the first to react, grabbing the long knife from the ground and sprinting after him. Don’t let Big Brother face danger alone. The three of them tumbled and crawled into the cave. The sight inside the cave made their just-taken steps come to a sudden halt. The light here was extremely dim. The walls were covered in sticky cobwebs, but unlike outside, these webs exhibited a bizarre gray-black color, with large patches of yellow-green mold attached to them. The air was a nauseating mix of decay and sulfur, forming a toxic gas that made one want to retch. Monsters, similar in size to the spider demon guards outside, were lurking deep within the cave. But their appearance was a hundred times more terrifying. The exoskeletons of these spider demons had largely peeled away, revealing rotting, blackened muscle tissue beneath. Puss yellow foul liquid dripped continuously from the gaps in their limbs, corroding the ground into sizzling little pits. Some spider demons had half of their heads missing, exposing white bones and writhing tissue. Others had large gaping holes in their abdomens, with gray-black organs dragging on the ground, leaving a sticky trail as they crawled. Their crimson compound eyes had long lost their. Luster, leaving only a dead, resentful glare at all living beings. Mutated spider demon soldier, elite, race, undead level, 12 health, 5200 attack, 145 defense, 89 skills, necrotic plague, spider venom what the hell are these. Things. Quang Dao screamed, feeling a tingle run down his scalp. The race is undead. They look too disgusting. Gui Ying’s voice trembled slightly. Jin Yu’s face turned pale, instinctively taking half a step back. The appearance of these. Monsters had surpassed the normal game realm, resembling scenes from a horror movie. Big brother, be careful. These monsters are not right. Quang Dao shouted at the top of his lungs. However, Yanjio seemed to have not hurt at all. He. Didn’t even bother to check the attributes of those monsters. It was too annoying to not kill them in one hit. He just wanted a quick resolution. Build a house. He raised the withered soul staff in his hand. His left hand’s fingers gently. Brushed over the surface of the withered soul staff. Flame blade whoosh. A ball of crimson flames ignited out of thin air, instantly enveloping the entire staff. The flames coalesced and did not dissipate as if they had taken on substance, transforming the originally simple wooden staff into a burning war spear. The shouts of Quang Dao and the others caught in their throats. They watched in wide-eyed astonishment as the figure wrapped in flames made a motion that would be etched in their memories for a lifetime. Yen Jo’s figure abruptly vanished from the spot. There was no warning. Only a few dying embers of starlight remained where he had stood. astral walk in the next second he appeared at the deepest part of the cave directly above a mutated spider demon soldier in the air the flame-wrapped staff traced a line of elegance that was almost unbelievable making a graceful circle the fiery staff in his hand carrying immense force came crashing down minus 4670 normal damage a blood red number popped up first from the top of the undead spider demon’s head immediately following it Minus 22,610 flame blade damage, an even larger, more dazzling golden number exploded forth, booming. Loudly. The mutated elite, which looked fierce and terrifying, didn’t even have time to let out a roar before its massive body was instantly reduced to ashes in the crimson flames. Ding. You have killed the mutated spider demon soldier. Experience points plus 200.In order to experience the thrill of battle, he rarely used such auxiliary skills. But now, he just wanted to clear away these pesky creatures. He wanted to build a house. He wanted to fish. His figure transformed once. More into specks of starlight, appearing in the cave as the spider demons roared and charged at Yenjio, met only by the burning blades. –4870-22712-4921 -22873 10 seconds later, in the cave, apart from the howling of the flames, there was nothing else. Quang Dao, Gu Aing, and Jin Yu had completely abandoned all thought. By the time they arrived, panting, the battle was already over. In the entire cave, apart from the four of them who were still alive, there was not a. single standing monster to be seen. In the air, only the white specks left behind by the dissipating monsters remained, along with a faint smell of charred flesh. This, Kuang Dao opened his mouth but found he couldn’t say anything. What are we here for? Gu Aing looked at his hands in confusion. Jin Yu clutched her chest, breathing heavily, gazing at the figure standing at the end of the cave, shouldering a burning staff, feeling as if she were looking up at a deity. Yen Jio did not turn back. He was looking into the deepest part of the cave. There, there was an even narrower and deeper passage. He hoisted the staff and stepped inside. Today, not. Even Jesus could stop him from building a house. At the end of the passage was a more expansive underground cavern. Here, the sticky spider silk was gone, replaced by jagged rocks and cold stone walls. In the center of the cave lay a massive coffin made of obsidian, quietly placed. Wisps of black mist continuously seeped from the gaps in the coffin, swirling and twisting in the air as if alive. The three of them rushed. In, panting, and what they saw was this bizarre scene. Yen Jiu stood before the coffin that exuded an ominous aura. The burning staff in his hand was the only source of light in this dead silence, the flickering, flames casting a long, thin shadow of him. Big brother! Quang Dao shouted, his face filled with urgency. That thing is not right, stay back. Gu Aying and Jin Yu also tightened their grips on their weapons. Their bodies tense. Just then, a grating sound echoed, a painful screech as the heavy obsidian coffin lid slowly slid aside. A denser black mist surged forth like a geyser. A decayed limb, almost unrecognizable. emerged from the coffin, heavily resting on the edge. Following that, a second, a third, a total of eight arms. A massive and twisted figure slowly stood up from the coffin. Its lower body remained in the form of a spider, but its upper body had eight arms, each ending in flickering azure claws. Its body was in a state of extreme decay, large chunks of exoskeleton falling away to reveal writhing black tissue beneath. An overwhelming sense of oppression enveloping the entire cavern as it rose. Elderling Kaga’s, black iron level boss, race, undead level. 12 health, 9000 attack, 170 defense, 142 skills, plagues fury. Bloodthirsty swarm, shadow arrow, a black iron level boss. Jin Yu exclaimed in shock. Quan Dao’s expression instantly turned serious as he positioned his long knife defensively across his chest. Big brother. I’ll hold it off. You look for an opportunity to deal damage. Gui Ying, Yu. Quan Dao’s tactical deployment had just begun. Before he could finish his sentence, Yenzhou, standing before the coffin. suddenly became ethereal, leaving behind only a few flickering embers of starlight about to extinguish. The words Quang Dao was about to blurt out got stuck in his throat. He froze. Where did he go? In the next moment, Yen Jiu’s figure appeared like a ghost above the boss Lin Kaga’s, the flamestaff in his hand traced a burning arc, simple and direct, without any unnecessary movements. Bang. Minus 4921, a blood red damage number. Violently jumped from the boss’s head. Lin Cagas’s massive body shook violently, eight arms frantically reaching for the top of its head but grasping at nothing. Following that was the additional damage from the staff’s flame blade. Minus 22,873, a colossal golden number that overshadowed the entire cavern, exploded with a thunderous sound. Elder Lin Cagas, who had just stood up, froze in place. It didn’t even manage to let out a proper roar before being completely consumed by the crimson flames turning into a sky full of flying ash. Ding! Task, liberate the quarry completed. Please proceed to the Mason’s Guild to complete the task. The entire world seemed to have been muted. Quangdao still held the stance of preparing to charge, his entire being turned into a statue. The dagger in Guiying’s hand fell to the ground with a crisp clatter. Yenjio landed back on the ground, the flames on the staff slowly extinguishing, reverting to an ordinary wooden stick. He didn’t even glance at the few pieces of shimmering equipment dropped by the boss. With a casual wave, he stored them all in his backpack. Then, a scroll emitting a soft white light appeared in his hand. He directly crushed the scroll. I’m heading back first. He turned his head and casually greeted the three petrified statues. As the return city countdown finished, his body transformed into a streak of light shooting upwards, instantly disappearing from the spot. Only three people remained, staring at each other in the empty, silent cavern. After a long silence, what just happened? Guiying’s voice was dry and hoarse, carrying a dreamlike daze. Quangdao slowly lowered the long knife in his hand and sat down heavily on the ground. He looked at the place where the boss had vanished, then at where Yanjio had disappeared, his expression one of extreme bewilderment. We, seem to have come to help fight. The boss? Guying picked up the dagger from the ground, looking utterly disillusioned. We seem to, be here for sightseeing? No. Quangdao suddenly stood up from the ground, a fervent light reigniting on, his face. We witnessed history. We personally witnessed the power of the three absolutes. Did you see that just now? That damage. Over 20,000 fire damage. That was a black iron level boss. just like that it was gone his voice echoed in the empty cavern filled with excitement and that attitude guiying also reacted excitedly chiming in he didn’t even glance at the drops the drops from a black iron boss just a casual swipe and into the bag it went how composed how stylish and and jean you also joined the discussion her cheeks flushed with excitement he even greeted us when he left i’m heading back first oh my god the big shot is so gentle The big shot must have thought we were too weak, afraid we would be in danger, so he handled everything alone. Exactly. It must be that way. He. Didn’t even mention us slacking off. What a magnanimous heart. The three became more and more excited, looking towards the direction where Yen Jiu had disappeared, filled with reverence and gratitude. In their. Hearts, Yen Jiu’s image of the three absolutes had transcended from a mere strong person to an extraordinary master with immense power, who cared for the weak and was indifferent to gains and losses. Let’s go. Let’s hurry back. Kuang Dao waved his hand. We still owe the big shot money. Right, we need to thank the big shot for taking us to level up. With so many monsters, I’m almost leveled up. The three seemed to be infused with new energy, turning and running towards the cave entrance. However, none of them noticed.at the bottom of the recently opened obsidian coffin, a barely perceptible rune, deeper than the night. Itself flickered silently for a moment before quickly vanishing. As the light faded, Yanjou’s boots stepped onto the hard stone pavement of the main city. He did not pause for a moment. The clamor and shouts of. Surrounding players were automatically filtered out by him. He oriented himself briefly and then strode purposefully towards the Mason’s Guild. All he wanted now was to turn in his quest. Then, to build a house. Inside the Mason’s Guild, the sound of clanging and hammering echoed. The air was thick with the scent of stone dust. A burly dwarf, bare-chested, swung a massive stone hammer, striking fiercely at a block of granite, sweat cascading down his knotted muscles. Yen Jio walked straight up to him. Turn in quest. The dwarf, Mag, paused his hammer for a moment, lifting his dusty face with a hint of annoyance at being disturbed. What? I got it done. Yanjio repeated, his tone flat. The dwarf Mag blinked in surprise, and as he recognized Yanjio’s face, his impatience quickly turned to astonishment. Hero. You, you finished. So quickly? Ding. You have completed the quest, liberate the quarry quest reward, Mason’s guild reputation plus 50, silver coins plus 30 dot. The system notification chimed in Yanjio’s ear, which he ignored completely. Yes. He nodded. Where’s my house? House. Dwarf Mag set his massive hammer down with a thud. He wiped the sweat and dust from his face with a towel hanging around his neck. Thank you, great hero. Our masons. Guild will organize a team to gather materials right away. Mag’s voice was loud and rough. Rest assured, in three days. At most, within three days, we will build you the sturdiest house in Maple Leaf City. Three days? Yanzhou frowned. So it wasn’t as simple as turning in the quest and moving in immediately. Too troublesome. Can’t it be faster? He asked stubbornly. Three days is too long. Mag’s expression turned. Difficult as he spread his rough hands. Hero, this is already our fastest speed. Gathering materials, polishing, transporting, constructing, all of these take time. We dwarves cannot cut corners on our craftsmanship. Yen Jio looked at the dwarf’s expression of this is the rule and felt a bit irritated. He just wanted to go fishing. Is there any way to speed up the construction? He leaned forward a step. Looking seriously into the dwarf’s eyes. Actually, I’m quite strong. Mag was startled by his sudden movement, instinctively shrinking back. He felt a terrifying pressure emanating from this foreigner. Quick! Ways to speed it up. Mag’s atom’s apple bobbed, and his voice dropped significantly. Yes, there is. He seemed to have made a decision, lowering his voice. Hero, if you really want to speed things up. Perhaps, perhaps you could help us with a task. Speak. Yen Jio was succinct. In our guild, the best craftsman master is named Tara. He is a madman who pursues craftsmanship to the extreme. Mag’s face showed. A mix of admiration and helplessness. Not long ago, he heard that the bandits of Black Wind Mountain had a piece of meteorite iron, perfect for forging hammers, and he went to trade with them alone. And then? Yen Jio was impatient to hear the story. And then, he was captured by those damned bandits. Mag slammed his fist down on a nearby stone, sending up a cloud of dust. Those bastards forced Master Tara to forge weapons in armor for them day and night. We organized several attempts to rescue him, but those bandits are too brutal, we are no match for them. Mag’s tone was filled with anger and helplessness. If, if you can rescue Master Terra, with his skills, not to mention three days, he could help you build your house in just one day. It would definitely be the most magnificent house in all of Maple Leaf City. Yen. Joe’s eyes lit up for a moment. He had automatically filtered out all the nonsense about meteorites, weapons, and armor. He only caught a few key words. Save a person. House. One day. That was enough. He brought. Down the withered soul staff on his shoulder, the tip striking to ground with a light sound. He raised his head. Speak. Where to? Who to kill? Ding. You have accepted the quest, Rescue Master Terra Quest. Reward, Mason Guild Reputation plus 500, Silver Coins plus 50. Dwarf Mage’s thick fingers pressed heavily on the virtual map in front of Yenjio. A Scarlet Skull Mark appeared on a rugged mountain range to the north of. The City. Black Wind Mountain. The Bandit’s Lair is right there. Yenjio did not respond. He simply put away the map and turned to leave. His movements were crisp and decisive, without a hint of hesitation. He ran straight out of the Mason Guild’s entrance, stirring up a breeze that scattered a pile of blueprints on the ground. Mage remained frozen in place, still pointing at the map. He watched the rapidly disappearing figure, opened his mouth, and finally could only shake his head helplessly. Crossing the bustling streets, running past the magnificent city gates, Yan Zhou’s footsteps did not pause for a moment. His mind was filled with a single thought. Save the person, then build the house. The pastoral scenery on the outskirts of the city quickly receded from his peripheral vision, soon replaced by desolate hilly terrain. The road to Black Wind Mountain was nearly a dirt path, repeatedly trampled by wheels, winding and rugged. In the air, a burnt smell lingered, a remnant of extinguished campfires, mixed with the sourness of cheap. Ale. After running for another ten minutes, a simple wooden watchtower appeared at the bend of the mountain path. A bored bandit was leaning against the railing, yawning. Bandit, knife, race, human level. LV-12 health, 3100 attack, 95 defense, 89 stop. The bandit finally noticed the lone figure approaching and immediately straightened up, shouting loudly. This is Black Wind Mountain’s territory, if you don’t want to die, get lost. Yanjou’s footsteps did not even pause for a moment. He didn’t even look up at the shouting sentry. He simply raised his left hand. No incantation. No signs of spellcasting. A point of. Starlight gathered in his palm, instantly transforming into a thick beam of light that shot into the sky. Boom. The bandit on top of the wooden watchtower, who hadn’t reacted in time, was instantly turned into. Flying debris in the blinding white light. Astral walk dot. Star impact. Minus 25 ,127. A massive damage number slowly drifted away amidst the flying wood splinters. A sharp alarm instantly pierced the silence of the. Mountains. Enemy attack. Enemy attack. Someone’s coming in. At the end of the mountain path, a large wooden gate built from thick logs was suddenly pushed open. A dozen bandits wielding curved blades, there. Faces filled with ferocity, rushed out from inside. Who dares to cause trouble in Black Wind Mountain, roared the leading bearded man. Before he finished speaking, a white figure abruptly appeared before them. The figure was so fast that it left behind a trail of starlight embers. Astral walked the sneers on the bandits’ faces froze instantly. They didn’t even have time to see the appearance of the newcomer. Yen Jio. Had already charged into the crowd, carrying the plain soul staff. There were no dazzling spells. No flashy skills. He simply treated the staff as an ordinary stick. A horizontal suite. Minus 4680. The three bandits. On the far left were struck as if by an invisible truck, instantly turning into three streaks of white light. A vertical chop. Dash 4712. The burly man with a beard in front of him was smashed into data streams by a. Single strike of the staff. The entire process was eerily quiet. There were no screams, no loud clashes of weapons. Only the dull sound of wind generated by the staff’s swing and the faint popping noise as the monster. Turned to light. The remaining bandits were completely stunned. They looked at the figure strolling leisurely among them and felt that they were not facing a mage. That was a war god cloaked in a mage’s robe. Devil. He is a devil. One bandit shouted in despair, dropping his weapon and turning to flee back to the stronghold. Yanjio swung his staff back, the end of it precisely striking the man’s back. Minus 4755. Another. White light rose. In just a few seconds, there was no longer a single standing bandit at the entrance of the stronghold. Yanjio hoisted the staff and kicked open the heavy wooden door in front of him. The. Seen inside the stronghold was suddenly revealed. It looked more like a massive open air forge. In the center of the stronghold, a huge furnace blazed with fierce flames, distorting the surrounding air. Dozens of craftsmen dressed as bandits were hammering away at the anvil, sparks flying. A man of extraordinary stature, with a grotesque scar across his face, stood with his hands on his hips, bellowing at a corner. Hurry! Up! You damn dwarf! Lord Schmeier’s patience is limited. If you don’t deliver that set of armor by tomorrow, I’ll twist your head off and use it as a night pot. In that corner, a dwarf covered in coal dust was, desperately swinging a hammer, sweat soaking through his tattered clothes. It was Master Terra. The scar-faced man seemed to sense something and suddenly turned around. He saw Yen Jio kicking the door open. Black Wind Stronghold Leader Carl, Black Iron Boss, Race, Human Level, LV 12 Health, 8000 Attack, 185 Defense, 169 Skills, Charge, Whirlwind Slash, Cleave, Berserker’s Roar Outlander? Carl was momentarily, taken aback, then let out a disdainful sneer. Perfect. Strip the gear off you and present it to the lord. He waved his hand. Take him down. The bandits who had been forging immediately dropped their work. Grabbed their weapons, and surrounded him with unfriendly expressions. Yanjio did not take another step forward. He simply raised the withered soul staff in his hand. His left hand’s fingers gently brushed. Over the staff. Flame blade whoosh. Crimson flames erupted, transforming the ordinary wooden staff into a burning spear. The next second, his figure vanished from the spot. Astral walk when he reappeared. He was already above the head of Black Wind stronghold leader Carl. The burning staff traced a deadly arc in the air, crashing down with the momentum to incinerate everything. The sneer on Carl’s face had not yet faded. Minus 4,890. Normal damage, minus 22,750. Flame blade damage, two numbers, one red and one gold, exploded almost simultaneously above Carl’s head. The imposing elite leader did not even have time to leave a final. Word, his massive body was instantly reduced to ashes in the crimson flames. The entire stronghold fell into a deathly silence. The bandits who had just surrounded him with fierce intent were frozen in place, as if turned to stone collectively, the weapons in their hands clattered to the ground. Yenjo, holding the burning staff, landed back on the ground. He walked straight towards the trembling dwarf in the corner. He struck the dwarf’s shackles with his staff, breaking them. Are you Tara? His tone was flat, revealing no emotion. The dwarf looked up, his face covered in soot, filled with fear and confusion. He instinctively nodded. I ask you. Yanjio stepped closer, the burning staff casting flickering shadows on his face. Can you build my house within a day? Tara was completely bewildered by the question. A house? What? House? I? I can. He was enveloped by an invisible sense of oppression, stammering his response. But, but those weapons. Tara seemed to remember something, urgently pointing to the set of black armor that was just taking shape by the forge. Those aren’t for the bandits. They were custom made by Lord Schmeyer. He must have some kind of conspiracy. Yanjio tilted his head. Schmeier? Never heard of him. Does this have anything to do with me? He hoisted his staff and turned to walk out of the bandit camp. Let’s go. Don’t delay me from building my house. Ding. You have completed the quest, rescue master Tara. Tara’s mouth was still agape, the word conspiracy barely escaping his lips. He watched the figure carrying the burning staff, turning to leave his mind a blank slate. The surviving bandits in the camp seemed to have their bones pulled out, collapsing in place, unable to even think of escaping. This was no longer a battle. It was a one-sided massacre. Just as Yen Jio turned his head, the temperature suddenly dropped. A cold, deathly shadow spread rapidly from the spot where the black wind bandit leader Carl had turned to ashes. A twisted, translucent soul slowly rose from where Carl had vanished. The face of that soul still bore the terror and unwillingness of its final moments. Before this soul could disperse, the air above it split open without warning, revealing a pitch-black rift. An indescribable, gaping maw made of pure darkness, emerged from the rift, swallowing the wailing soul in one bite. The sound of chewing echoed clearly in the dead silence of the bandit camp. Following that, a complex and sinister rune teleportation array lit. Up on the ground, casting a ghostly purple light that illuminated the entire camp like a haunted place. Foolish foreigner. A deep, resentful voice resonated in everyone’s minds. You dare to kill my puppet. Accept my wrath. The light of the teleportation array surged. A figure composed entirely of twisted shadow energy slowly rose from the array. It had no fixed form, resembling a constantly writhing, shifting. black mist with only the vague outline of a human shape and flickering crimson eyes discernible phantom of the lord of the night bronze boss race spirit level lv 12 health 20 000 attack 202 defense 219 skills shadow charge corrupt earth shadow spider swarmed the dwarf tara who had just steadied himself collapsed once more he looked despairingly at the monster that emerged from the teleportation array a bronze level boss it was over this time he was doomed The monster hovered in mid-air, its surrounding black mist swirling incessantly, seemingly relishing the feeling of spreading fear. It was about to utter. A more intimidating line. But Yen Jio had already lost his patience. Another one. Wasn’t it enough to let people build houses? He didn’t even bother to use flame blade, finding it too troublesome. He simply. Raised his left hand. No incantation, no warning. A point of brilliant starlight rapidly coalesced in his palm, bursting forth with a blinding radiance that seemed capable of purifying all darkness. Starwalk. stellar impact tremble mortals in my great the roar of the night shadow abruptly stopped yenjo’s figure had vanished leaving only a few twinkling stars it only saw a palm in front of it and a pure white light a thick beam of light strong enough to pierce through heaven and earth tore apart all the darkness before it instantly engulfing it in an unreasonable manner boom minus 25 127 another five digit damage Value slowly floated up from the head of the bronze boss, the invincible soul entity, composed entirely of pure shadow, couldn’t even let out a scream before being completely evaporated in the holy starlight, leaving not even a wisp of black mist behind. Ding. Congratulations, your level has increased to LV13. Ding. The effect of the talent war god has increased, melee damage amplification raised to 220 times. Ding. Congratulations, strength plus 1, agility plus 1, intelligence plus 1, spirit plus 1, constitution plus 1 ding. Congratulations, you have gained 5 free attribute points, current free attribute points 105. Ding. You have incurred. The hatred of the Lord of the Night, Lord of the Night’s favorability-500 The hideout fell into an eternal silence once more. The light of the teleportation array extinguished. That cold breath of death also. Dissipated. Only the crackling flames in the furnace remained, proving that everything that had just happened was not an illusion. Yanzhou expressionlessly retracted his left hand, extinguishing the flames on. His staff. He turned around and looked again at the completely dazed dwarf, Terra. Let’s go. His tone carried a hint of urgency. Let’s go. Let’s go. Go build me a house. Terra sat dumbly on the ground, looking. At Yenjiyo, then glancing at the empty teleportation array. A gurgling sound came from his throat, as if something was stuck. He felt his worldview being repeatedly crushed, reassembled, and then smashed to. Pieces within just a few minutes. What did he see? A black iron level boss that the stonemason guild couldn’t handle after several attacks, was taken down in a single strike. a seemingly more powerful mastermind, who didn’t even finish a harsh word before being purified by a beam of light. What exactly is this outsider? Tara opened his mouth but couldn’t utter a word. Yenjio frowned. Why was this person so slow? He walked over and lifted the stout dwarf Tara off the ground as if he were picking up a small chicken. Don’t waste time. After saying that, he shouldered his staff and carried the dwarf, striding towards the exit. Of the hideout, the surviving mountain bandits lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to lift their heads, their bodies trembling like chaff. They only hoped that this killing god would leave quickly. Never to. Return. When Yanjyo’s figure completely disappeared at the entrance of the hideout, a slightly bolder bandit dared to sneak a glance. He looked at the mess on the ground and the already extinguished teleportation. A ray, his face reflecting a mix of relief at surviving and an indelible fear. On the mountain path, Yanjyo pulled on Tara’s collar, striding forward. Tara, dangling in mid -air, kicked his feet wildly, like a duck being choked by the neck. The wind howled past his ears. Brave, brave man, Tara’s voice was distorted by the wind. I? I can walk by myself, Yanjio paused for a moment and let go. Tara fell to. The ground with a thud, kicking up a small cloud of dust. Yanjio sighed softly. If he were using his real body, he could carry this little dwarf for several kilometers without breaking a sweat. This body is. Still too weak. The two walked silently towards Maple Leaf City, one in front of the other. Tara wanted to speak several times, to ask about the terrifying Lord of the Night, to discuss the conspiracy of Lord. Schmeier. But every time he saw the figure ahead, shouldering the staff and remaining silent, he swallowed all his words back down. There was an indescribable sense of oppression. It felt as if saying one more. Useless word would be a desecration of this killing god’s time. Soon, the tall outline of Maple Leaf City appeared on the horizon. When the two stepped back into the stonemason guild, the clanging sounds of hammers abruptly stopped. Tara, the dwarf mage, who was swinging a hammer, was the first to see the familiar figure and the stone hammer in his hand fell to the ground with a clang. It’s master Tara. The master has returned, all the busy dwarves stopped their work, joyfully gathering around to cheer for Tyra. After a brief commotion, their movements seemed rehearsed. They all turned to Yen Jio and deeply bowed, performing the most solemn gesture of the dwarven race. Ding. You have completed the task, rescue master Tyra Ding. You have received task rewards, Mason Guild reputation plus 500, silver coins plus 50. Ding. Your reputation in the Mason Guild has reached, respect Yen Jio ignored the system notifications, he was only concerned about one thing. He looked at Tyra, surrounded by his companions. My house. Tyra snapped back to. Reality at this question. He squeezed out from the crowd of companions, patting his dust -covered chest, his face filled with the excitement of having survived and an unparalleled confidence. Don’t worry, warrior. His voice was loud and firm. With me, Tyra, here. I guarantee, within a day. Just one day. I will build you the most solid and magnificent house in all of Maple Leaf City. A day. Yen Jio frowned again. He. Wanted to sit in his house, quietly fishing before returning to the real world. A day was still too long. He scratched his head, took a step forward and looked at Tyra seriously. Can’t it be a bit faster? The entire Mason Guild fell silent. All the dwarves looked at Yenjio with expressions of disbelief. Building the most magnificent house in. The city in a day was already incredibly fast. This man was actually not satisfied. The confidence on Tyra’s face visibly crumbled. He opened. His mouth but didn’t know how to respond. If you need help, just say so, Yanjio added. Seeing his stubborn demeanor, the dwarves in the guild didn’t dare to slack off. Since their reputation had reached respect, they instinctively wanted to meet any request from this benefactor. Even if it sounded absurd, the dwarves began to whisper among themselves, pondering quietly. They were genuinely racking their brains to think of ways to speed up the project for Yanjio. After a moment, an older dwarf stepped forward. Warrior, my grandmother lives in Apricot Blossom, town outside the city. She is an expert in making runes and can create a summon earth elemental rune. If you can bring her 5 roasted quails and a bottle of maple leaf honey brew, she should be willing to sell you a summon rune for 1 gold coin. With the earth elemental summon rune to help transport materials, our speed can at least increase by several hours. This suggestion seemed to open the floodgates. Another dwarf immediately chimed in. I heard that in the eastern black forest mountains, there’s a group of goblins. Those guys somehow got there. hands on a magical item called hand of the earth that can cut the hardest rocks like tofu. If you can bring it back, our stone processing speed can also increase by several hours. And, and, in the southern marshes there’s a type of extremely sticky slime, their slime is the best building adhesive. On the northern snow-capped mountain peak there’s a kind of ice crystal flower, grinding it into powder and mixing it with the stone can instantly solidify the walls. One by one, the dwarves eagerly shared their ideas. To them, these were troublesome and unprofitable tasks. But in front of this man, they seemed to be no problem at all. A series of task notifications continuously popped up. Before Yanjio, he didn’t hesitate for a moment. He simply slammed the withered soul staff down, the staffs end striking the ground with a light sound. He raised his head and scanned all the eager dwarves before him. Don’t worry. Leave it all to me. The wind in apricot blossom. Town carried a sweet floral fragrance. Yanjio’s figure passed through the crooked old tree at the town’s entrance, holding five golden, oil-dripping quails. An NPC grandmother in the town sat in a rocking chair, squinting her eyes until she caught a whiff of the rich aroma from the bottle of maple leaf honey brew, at which point she slowly opened a slit. She accepted the gift in gold coins, then, with her wrinkled hands, handed Yen Jio a yellowed rune paper. Yen Jio spent an additional five gold coins to buy a few more for backup. Next stop, the Black Forest Mountains. The dark mine was filled with the pungent smell of sulfur mixed with damp earth. Don’t touch. That’s our treasure, eh? Dog-headed overseer, wearing a miner’s helmet and towering over his kind, shouted as he swung a pickaxe and charged forward. Yen Jio ignored. It’s ruckus. The withered soul staff in his hand traced a simple and direct trajectory. Bang! The dog-headed overseer’s body was struck as if by a battering ram, instantly caving in, and he flew backward, crashing into the mine wall, turning into a puddle of mush. Deep within the cave, a metallic glove, embedded in a stone platform and magnified countless times, emitted a faint earthy yellow glow. The hand of the earth. Yanjio walked over and pulled it off the stone platform. In the southern marshlands, green bubbles gurgled up. Yanjio stood at the edge of the swamp for a moment when a massive, translucent slime surged out of the mire. He stepped forward, and as the creature slithered toward him, he struck its core with a flaming staff. The slime’s body instantly solidified and then exploded, leaving behind a sticky, gelatinous mass. In the northern snow-capped mountains, the cold wind cut like a knife. Yanjio used astral walking in wind. Steps in succession, drinking eight blue recovery potions along the way. Finally reaching the summit, he found a crystal clear flower, seemingly carved from frost quietly blooming at the cliff’s edge. He reached out to pluck it. Four whole hours later, when Yen Jio returned to the Mason’s Guild, carrying his staff and covered in dust, the dwarves had completed all their preparations. Design blueprints were spread across the long table. The foundation of the house had already been built by the riverside, even completing the initial load-bearing structure. Yen. Joe took out the items from his backpack one by one. Warrior, your furniture. Tara looked at the tables and chairs, somewhat perplexed. Yen. Joe raised his hand and stored them back in his backpack. Fortunately, these items could be stored, otherwise, just moving them would have been a huge hassle. No problem. He picked up a piece of parchment and quickly sketched on it with a charcoal pencil, muttering to himself. This wardrobe goes here, the bed against the load-bearing wall, and this fishing chair must have the best view. He professionally listed all. the furniture in a chart, ensuring they could be perfectly accommodated in the new house. Once the house was built, he could simply take them out of his backpack. Then, the official work began. Roar. As the rune paper was activated, a three-meter-tall earth elemental roared up from the ground. Its massive body carried tons of stone materials yet moved with incredible speed. Another dwarf donned the hand of the earth and, the once incredibly hard granite was cut into perfect cubes as easily as tofu in his hands. The sticky slime residue became the best adhesive. Ground ice crystal flowers were mixed in, and the freshly built walls solidified almost instantly, becoming indestructible. The entire construction. Sike transformed into a symphony filled with magical colors. Terra stood in the center, waving his arms, his face flushed as he directed. Everything, his voice louder than ever. Warrior. He ran up to Yanjou, excitedly wiping the sweat from his face. Now, it only needs two. Hours. Two hours is enough. Still need two more hours, hot Yanjou had done his best. He looked at the system time appearing on his arm, it. was now 10 o’clock in the evening. He had entered the game at 5. By around midnight he should be able to see his new house. This result was acceptable and Yanjio nodded in satisfaction. The waiting time was always long. He thought of that bottle of maple leaf honey brew. At the time, just packing it had already made him crave that sweet and rich flavor. He turned and walked towards the maple leaf tavern. Inside the tavern, warm lights mingled with the aroma of beer. A bard in the corner was strumming a lute, singing ancient ballads of heroes and dragons. Yen Jio immediately spotted a familiar figure. Night Rainer was sitting alone at the bar, slowly polishing his dark grey spirit sling. Blade. Rainer also saw him and raised his glass in greeting. Yen Jio walked over and sat down beside him. A glass of honey brew, he said. To the bartender. Then he turned to Rainer. How’s your injury healing? Rainer burst into hearty laughter, his voice booming and full of strength. Completely unlike someone who had just suffered a serious injury. As long as the holy light protects me, I will never fall. He sheathed. The spirit slaying blade and took a big gulp of beer. He set down his glass, but the smile on his face slowly faded. However, the city probably won’t be peaceful for a while. Lord Reinhardt has discovered traces of the undead plague in the villages outside the city. Rainer’s voice grew somber. And we are not clear on which nobles were enchanted and controlled by that banshee. They are like bombs buried in maple. Leaf City, ready to strike at Reinhardt or those around him at any moment. Yenjo took a sip of the honey brew. The sweet liquid slid down. His throat. He curiously asked, can’t you tell with the spirit’s laying blade? Rainer sighed heavily. If it were possible, just causing a. Trivial injury with the spirit’s laying blade should free them from the banshee’s mental control. But the key is, we can’t tell who is the one. Enchanted. Are we supposed to forcibly test every noble? That would likely shake the very foundations of Maple Leaf City, the already. Unstable situation would collapse in an instant. Yenjiyo looked at Rainer and took another sip of his drink. Just leave it to me. Sneak in. and make a cut on each person’s hand. Rainer stared blankly at Yenzhou as if seeing this man for the first time. The expression on his face, filled with entanglement and worry, froze. Sneak in? Make a cut on each person? This plan was simple, crude, and unreasonable. Yet, dammit, it was effective. The nobles wouldn’t know who did it. They would only think it was some kind of curse or accident. And he, a foreigner, could easily brush it off as a misunderstanding if discovered. Raynor looked at Yanjio’s serious face and suddenly felt that all his previous worries and considerations seemed somewhat ridiculous. If, is Adam’s apple bob? If it really can be done, Baron Yanjio. On behalf of Maple Leaf City, I thank you for your contribution. A series of system prompts popped up in front of Yanjio. Do you accept the hidden quest, Crisis in Maple Leaf City, Quest Reward, Maple Leaf City Reputation Plus 800. When the main city reputation reaches worship, if you gain a title, every 1000 points of reputation can elevate your title by one level. Yen Jio almost didn’t. Hesitate and directly selected to accept on the panel that appeared in the void. You, you really are willing? Raynor’s voice carried a barely perceptible tremor. His hands, calloused from years of sword wielding, were tightly gripping the beer mug in front of him. This plan was too crazy, infiltrating the residences of all. Suspicious nobles in the city, using a blade that can break mental control to carve a wound on each of them. This is no different from playing with fire next to a powder keg. Any misstep could ignite the entire upper class of Maple Leaf City. Whom? Yanzhou nodded, taking another sip of the honey brew, which really tasted good. Reno looked at his nonchalant demeanor and suddenly felt that his previous hesitations and concerns about the noble powers seemed somewhat ridiculous. Perhaps. Sometimes what is needed is not a meticulous plan, but a reckless madman. He loosened his grip on the wineglass, as if he had made a certain resolution. He unsheathed. The blade of spirit extinction from his waist cradled it in both hands and solemnly placed it on the bar in front of Yenjo. The blade clashed with the oak table, producing a dull sound. The future of Maple Leaf City is entrusted to you, Baron Yenjo. Every word from Reno was spoken incredibly slowly and heavily. Yen. Joe’s attention was instantly drawn to the knife. This knife was no longer the task item he had seen before. It emitted a faint silver glow and had transformed into an equippable weapon. He reached out to grasp the hilt. Blade of Spirit Extinction quality, silver level requirement, 12 Equipment type, one-handed. Sword attributes, physical attack plus 20, spell attack plus 40, attack speed plus 30%, ignore defense plus 30% when attacking Spirit Extinction, increases damage dealt to undead type. Monsters, lich, siren, undead, by 30%, and dispels all their buff effects. Class requirement, none. The increase in physical attack was not much, but the spell attack was decent. Yen Jio was currently level 13, just meeting the equipment requirement. The key were those two attributes. Attack speed increased by 30%. Ignore defense increased by 30% when attacking. These two attributes were indeed powerful. No wonder it was a silver-grade weapon. This knife can identify any soul that has been corrupted by dark forces. Reno was unaware that Yanjio was examining the equipment attributes he continued to explain in his steady tone. As long as it breaks the skin, the siren’s mental imprint will be instantly dispelled. You don’t need to use excessive force, just a trivial wound is enough. After saying this, he took out a scroll of parchment sealed with wax from his pocket. Inside is the list of nobles in Napoli City that need to be investigated. A total of 18 people. Reno pushed the parchment in front of Yen Jio. Most of them hold power or have had frequent contact with the sirens. Yen. Jio picked up the scroll, casually breaking the wax seal. He unfolded the list and glanced over it. It listed 18 names, along with their addresses and some basic family information. Just right. Waiting for the house to be built is also waiting. He could start with a few. He stowed the parchment and the blade of spirit. Extinction into his backpack, then stood up, picked up the half-finished honey brew on the bar, and drank it in one go. I’m going. He set down the empty wine glass, and turned to walk towards the tavern door. Wait. Reno hurriedly called out to him. What? Yenjiyo turned back. Tonight, are we acting tonight? Reno had hoped. That Yenjiyo would take a few days to carefully plan the infiltration route and timing. After all, those noble residences were heavily guarded, and there might. Even be powerful family guardians stationed there. What else? Yen Jio retorted. Reno was once again left speechless. He remembered how Yen Jio had killed the troll chieftain in the same manner. He looked at the figure that had already reached the door with a thousand words stuck in his throat, reminding him to be safe, telling him to be cautious. Such words seemed superfluous in front of this man. In the end, Reno could only let out a long sigh.He poured himself another glass of wheat beer but the mood for drinking had vanished. All he could do was pray. Pray that the holy light would bless this baron who played by his own rules. The nights in Maple Leaf City were much quieter than the days. Yanjio stepped out of the tavern, the evening breeze carrying a hint of chill. He took out the list and found the nearest target. Baron Ma N Address, 17 Golden. Leaf Avenue, Maple Leaf City Yanjio oriented himself and set off. Golden Leaf Avenue was the affluent district of Maple Leaf City, lined with expensive golden leaf sycamores, each mansion sprawling with deep courtyards. At the Entrance of number 17, two fully armored guards stood like statues, holding long halberds. Maple Leaf City Guard, Elite, Race, Human Level, LV14 Health, 5500 Attack, 155 Defense, 180 They were a level higher than him. Yen Jio. Had no intention of entering through the front door, he circled around the tall courtyard wall and found a relatively secluded corner. The wall here was over 4 meters high, embedded with shards of porcelain to prevent climbing. Yen Jio took a few steps back. Winstep his figure transformed into a breeze, instantly darting forward a distance, then he lightly tapped the wall with his toes and his whole body floated over like a weightless feather, silently slipping into the courtyard. The entire process was soundless. Inside the courtyard, the flowers and grass were neatly trimmed and a cobblestone path led to the brightly lit main building at the back. A few patrolling. Guards happened to walk by from a distance, their laughter echoing far into the quiet night. In the moment they turned their heads, Yen Jiu’s figure had already vanished into the shadows of the nearby trees. He was like a ghost. Walking in the shadows, relying solely on his timing and speed, he perfectly avoided all the patrolling guards. He soon arrived beneath the window of the main building. He pressed his ear against the window and could clearly hear the conversation inside. Father, have you really decided to give half of the family caravan’s profits to that mysterious gentleman? A young voice, filled with strong discontent. Be quiet. An old and authoritative voice reprimanded. That gentleman’s wisdom is beyond your comprehension. He will lead us to unprecedented glory. That brat Reinhardt doesn’t even understand how to govern this city. He stopped eavesdropping. He had confirmed the location. Of Baron Ma’en. He circled to the other side of the main building, found a window that wasn’t locked, gently pushed it open, and slipped inside. It was a study. The air was filled with the scent of old books and ink. Yen Jio. Took out the black blade of annihilation from his backpack. Holding the sword, he silently pushed open the study door and walked toward the room where he had just heard the voices. At the doorway stood two attendants. Yen Jio. Didn’t pause for a moment, his figure darting passed like a flash of lightning. Astral walk the two attendants didn’t even notice the movement, only a few twinkling stars in the corner indicated that Yen Jio had been there. Yen. Jio pushed open the ornate oak door in front of him. Inside the room, an elderly man dressed in fine clothes, with graying hair, stood with his back to the door, scolding a dejected young man in front of him. It was Baron Man. How many times have I told you not to question my decisions? Before he finished speaking, a cold sensation suddenly coursed through the back of his hand. He instinctively looked down. A faint trace of blood appeared on his wrinkled hand. A wisp of dark energy seeped from the wound, letting out a piercing shriek before dissipating into the air. Baron Mahan’s body trembled violently. His previously murky eyes suddenly regained a hint of clarity. What? What was I just doing? He stared blankly at his hands, then glanced at his astonished son in front of him, his mind was a mess. Who? He turned around abruptly. There was no one behind him. At that moment, Yen Jiu was already standing on the Street outside mansion number 17. He reopened the list, tracing a line gently with his finger over the name Viscount My N. 17 left. The golden-leaved avenue under the night sky reflected a cold light on the cobblestone surface. Yen. Joe walked down the empty street, weighing the black spirit’s laying blade in his hand. The feel of the blade was far more comfortable than that of the withered soul staff. The weight, the balance, and the cold metallic texture made it irresistible. There weren’t many blades a mage could wield. This weapon had to be somehow swindled from Rainer. It was clearly tailored for him. Yen Jio opened the list and found the second name. Count Rodney, address, number 9 Silvermoon Street. The mansion on Silvermoon Street was much more low-key than those on Goldenleaf Avenue, but its defenses were even more formidable. A faint magical aura flowed along the courtyard walls, which were inscribed with warning runes. Yen Jio took a quick glance. He chose not to climb over the wall. Instead, he walked into a dark alley beside the mansion. astral walk, his body transformed into specks of starlight, directly penetrating the magically imbued wall, appearing in the shadow of a rockery within the courtyard. Not far away, two snarling hellhounds were warily sniffing the air, low growls rumbling in their throats. Yen Jio remained still. He waited for a patrol of guards to pass by. The wind carried his form, silently gliding over the lawn, close to the base of the main building. Count Rodney’s bedroom was on the second floor. The window was tightly shut. Yanjio looked up to estimate the height, then lightly tapped his toes against the wall, his body defying logic as he ascended vertically, easily gripping the windowsill with both hands. He peered through the gap in the window. A plump figure lay on a velvet-covered bed, snoring thunderously. Yanjio gently pushed open the window latch, his movements as soft as a falling leaf. He rolled into the room. Count Rodney turned over, mumbling in his sleep. More gold coins, all mined. Yanjio approached the bedside, lightly slicing with the spirit’s laying blade. An almost invisible blood mark appeared on the Count’s plump arm. A thicker wisp of black mist, accompanied by a piercing scream, surged from the wound quickly purified by the faint glow on the blade. Ha! Count Rodney’s snoring stopped. He suddenly opened his eyes, sitting up in bed, a look of terror and confusion on his face. I? I had a nightmare. He looked down at his hands, feeling as if his mind had been stirred into a pot of porridge. In the room, apart from his own heavy breathing, there was nothing else. Yanjio had already returned to Silvermoon Street, drawing a line through the second name on the list. 16 left. Next. Another one. Two hours passed swiftly in a flurry of infiltration and. Crossing off names. Nine names had already been marked out with charcoal on the list. The remaining nine were scattered across various corners of the city, far apart from each other. Yanjio rubbed his eyes. He was a bit tired. Normally. At this time, he would have just finished his evening physical training. What a pity. It seemed there would be no time to go fishing by the lake today. He put away the list and the blade, oriented himself, and headed towards his own territory. Before he even got close to the lakeshore, he saw a bright firelight from afar. The clanging of metal, mixed with the dwarves’ booming calls, echoed far into the night. As he approached, the busy scene made him stop in his tracks. A brand new stone fortress had risen from the ground, standing by the lakeside. It was not as luxurious as the noble mansions in Maple Leaf City. The entire structure was built from massive grayish-blue stones, with rugged and strong lines, exuding a sense of power. The main building stood three stories high, featuring a wide terrace facing the shimmering lake.On the side of the castle, a sturdy stable connected to a warehouse stood firm. The surrounding land had been leveled, with low walls made of stones outlining the shape of a courtyard. The earth element had long since vanished, but the dwarves’ enthusiasm remained undiminished. Some were making final touches to the stone fortress, while others were constructing small buildings in the courtyard, such as an open-air forge and a quaint pavilion. Tara stood in the center of the construction site, waving her arms, her voice was somewhat hoarse from shouting, yet her face radiated immense. Satisfaction from the completion of her creation. Yenjio simply nodded in approval. He did not disturb the busy dwarves. A wind step connected to Astral Walk. His figure instantly vanished from the spot and the next moment, he appeared. Directly on the large terrace on the third floor, facing the lake. He pushed open the door leading indoors and began to explore floor by floor, starting from the third. The internal structure of the stone fortress was even more spacious than he had imagined. The walls were not overly decorated, nearly polished smooth, retaining the texture of the rock itself. Following the hasty blueprint Terra had given him, Yanjio began to pull items out of his backpack one by one. First, he set down the soft large bed against the load-bearing wall of the master bedroom on the third floor. Then came the wardrobe, desk, and bookshelf. The second floor was designed as a spacious living and dining area. Yanjio arranged the Long dining table with matching chairs and placed several sofas around an empty space where a fireplace had yet to be installed. The first floor was the largest space, divided into several areas. There was a storage room, a kitchen, and a training hall spacious enough for horseback riding. Yenjo categorized and arranged his tables and chairs neatly. Finally, he placed the fishing chair he had been longing for in front of the largest floor-to -ceiling window in the living room on the first floor. He set the chair down and adjusted the angle. From here, he could see the most tranquil waters of the lake’s center. Looking at this brand new home he had filled with his own hands, Yanjio hummed a tuneless song. With delight, he walked over to the fishing chair and comfortably lay back. He hummed as he selected to log off on the system panel. Logging out of the illusion, his consciousness withdrew from the cold stone fortress, returning to the familiar, slightly warm bedroom. Yanjio sat up in bed and stretched lazily. His bones made a slight cracking sound. He glanced at the electronic clock on the wall. It was 12.17am. He did not lie down immediately but walked barefoot to the Empty space in the center of the room. He spread his legs apart and sank into a horse stance. A series of punches followed. Sweat dripped down the defined lines of his muscles, splattering dark marks on the wooden floor. This body was his. Most familiar weapon. After finishing several sets of punches, the clock’s numbers had already ticked forward a bit. Yanzhou took a shower, washing away his fatigue and sweat, then lay back down in bed, falling into a deep sleep. Early the next morning, he was awakened by a series of urgent knocks on the door. Knock, knock, knock. Xiao Yan. Are you up yet? It was Sister Su. Yanjio rubbed his eyes and opened the door, instantly waking up at the sight of the woman standing. There. Suzhengen was holding a bag of steaming breakfast, dressed in a red chonsam with slits. She even wore black stockings, accentuating the breathtaking curves of her long, fair legs. Suzhengen looked at Yanjio’s bare upper body. Nearly drooling. She placed the breakfast on the table and leaned toward Yanjio, her body softening against him. Sister brought you breakfast. Yanjio sidestepped, avoiding her. Sujinjin missed her target and fell directly onto Yen, Jo’s bed, which she hadn’t had time to tidy up. The hem of her chongsam nearly flipped up to her waist with the movement, her black silk legs exposed in the air without any cover. Yenjio couldn’t help but steal a glance, they were purple. She did not get up immediately instead, she buried her face deeply into Yenjio’s quilt, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. The look on her face was one of pure ecstasy. Yenjio wiped the sweat that had beaded on his forehead. He Thought to himself that if it weren’t for the fact that sister Su was indeed a stunning beauty who could turn heads, this behavior would definitely be that of a lovesick fool. Su Xinjin finally climbed out of bed, satisfied, and adjusted her. Slightly disheveled Qipao. Xiao Yan, she said. Your sister Su has run into some trouble in the game. She sat down on a chair by the table, her legs elegantly crossed. In our newbie village, someone finally completed the village exit. Quest yesterday. We’ve now made it to Sunset City. I spent the whole day yesterday hanging out in the tavern in Sunset City. As a result, I inexplicably accepted a hidden quest. But I can’t complete it by myself. I don’t want to. Ask anyone else for help. As she spoke, she stood up from the chair again and leaned toward Yen Jio once more. This time, her movements were quicker. I can only trust you, Xiao Yen. Yen Jio raised an eyebrow. He turned slightly to the. Side. This time, it seems Sujinjin had anticipated his movement. Her foot twisted unexpectedly and she was about to crash straight into the wardrobe beside her. Yen Jio sighed. He couldn’t just stand by and watch her collide. With no other choice, he reached out and grabbed her arm. Su Xinjin seemed to have been waiting for this moment. Following the force, she spun around and crashed directly into Yanjou’s embrace. Soft and fragrant, she filled his arms. She stood on. Her tiptoes, her warm breath brushing against Yanjou’s ear. Xiao Yan. Her eyes sparkled like they held a pool of spring water. Yanjou held her without moving. Sister Su was truly a wonderful person. He suddenly recalled many years ago. when he had just started boxing, wandering the streets in a daze, with nothing to his name but fighting skills. He was a stranger in a foreign land, a lonely soul out of place in this bustling world. It was Sister Sue who, holding a red umbrella, found him squatting by the roadside, drooling over a restaurant in the rain. It was Sister Sue who brought him home, giving him a place to shelter from the storm. It was also Sister Sue who, like a mother teaching a child, patiently, showed him how to use mobile payments, how to take the subway, and how to learn. Although Yenjo didn’t understand the complexities of human relationships, he was smart. Under Sister Su’s guidance, he quickly learned how to survive in this modern society. In the end, he even became a police officer. He owed her so much. Yenjo remained silent, tightening his arms around the woman in his embrace, giving her a firm hug. Thank you, Sister Su. Then, bending down, he lifted her up in a standard princess carry, much to Sujinjin’s astonishment. He carried Sister Su out of his room with long strides, arriving at her room’s door. Gently, he placed her on the bed. When I get off work, I’ll see if I can find you in the game. After saying that, he closed Sister Su’s door. Inside the room, a frustrated stomp echoed. The air conditioning in the office blew out a musty breeze, but it couldn’t suppress the restless heat. When Yen Jio walked into the police station, he was met not with the usual silence but with a buzzing murmur of discussion. Have you heard? Team leader Liu has been transferred. Is that true? Where did he go? A young officer whispered, speaking mysteriously. Internal news says he went to the newly established special operations team, specifically handling cases related to illusion.Damn, doesn’t that leave our team leader position vacant? Yanjio didn’t join their discussion, quietly sitting, down at his desk and unscrewing his thermos. The chubby officer leaned over, excitement written all over his face. Xiaoyan, how have you been doing in the game these past few days? Not bad, Yanjio replied, taking a sip of water. Now. Most of the novice villages are connected, and as soon as the teleportation array opens, everyone rushes into the main city. Another officer interjected. Someone on the forum did account, there are about 200 novice villages corresponding to one main city. God knows how many main cities this damn game has created. Fortunately, the auction house is interconnected worldwide, otherwise, just moving things around would wear us out. The chubby officer, Shinde, clicked. His tongue. Have you seen the guild rankings? It’s a whirlwind of change. The big guilds that used to be impressive in reality, like Longten, Luoshin, and Shinyu, have all been pushed down, now they’re just hanging around in 4th. And 5th place. The top three are all names I’ve never heard of. Mingfa Chen Kuan Pavilion, War God Hall, Joutin. Yen Jiu was not interested in these. Gilds, Main Cities, Rankings. Are these things more important than that fishing? Chair by the lake? The office door was pushed open. The deputy director walked in with his hands behind his back. The previously noisy office fell silent in an instant. Everyone stood up. The deputy director’s gaze swept over the faces of. The crowd, finally landing on Yen Jiu, pausing for a moment. Comrades, I have something to say. His tone was very calm. Comrade Lu Xia has been reassigned due to work needs. After research and decision by the higher-ups, starting. Today, Comrade Yen Jio will take over as the captain of our criminal investigation team 3. The air froze. Everyone’s movements came to a halt. The smile on Shinda’s face stiffened. Everyone turned in unison to look at Yen Jio, who was. Still sitting in his chair, preparing to take another sip of water. Yen Jio was also stunned. He held the thermos cup, his hand frozen in mid-air. Captain? What captain? After a moment of dead silence, Shinde was the first to react. He raised his hand and clapped with all his might. Clap! Clap! Clap! The applause broke the silence. The others, as if waking from a dream, also joined in with enthusiastic clapping. There was no hint of insincerity in the applause. Yen Jio. Although sometimes he could kill a conversation and was a bit dull, everyone knew in their hearts that he was a good person. Capable, down-to-earth, and not entangled in the office’s complexities. Having him as captain was a hundred times. better than parachuting in some arrogant second-generation official from outside. Amidst the warm applause, Yinjio finally set down the thermos cup. He stood up, looking at the deputy director, his face showing visible confusion. Um. He started. If I become captain, can I still leave work on time? The applause came to an abrupt halt. The entire office fell into an eerie silence once again. Shinda’s mouth twitched, almost unable to suppress a laugh. The deputy director’s expression cracked for a moment. He probably didn’t expect that the first feedback he would receive from his carefully considered personnel appointment would be such a question. He took a deep breath, forcibly steering the topic. Back on track. He walked up to Yanjio, raised his hand, and patted his shoulder heavily. The force was less like encouragement and more like confirmation. Do a good job. The deputy director said with a meaningful tone. Then, he didn’t. Give Yanjio a chance to ask any more questions, turned around, and left the office. The door closed. The tense atmosphere in the office instantly relaxed. Congratulations, Captain Yen. Captain Yen, does that mean you have to treat us to dinner? Exactly, you must treat us. Colleagues rushed over, chattering their congratulations. The chubby officer squeezed to his side and slapped him on the back. You kid, really something. Yen Jio was overwhelmed by their noise, his head spinning. He completely didn’t understand what was happening. How did he become captain? He was pushed by his colleagues into the office that originally belonged to Lu Xia. On the desk, documents were piled up like a small mountain, the highest nearly touching the lampshade. The top document was pressed down by something. Yen Jiu reached out to remove it, it was a sticky note. It bore Lu Xia’s flamboyant handwriting. I leave these to you, Captain Yen. I’m off to save. The world, cheer me on. Smiley face that smiley face was drawn round and cheeky. Yen Jiu crumpled the note into a ball and tossed it into the trash can. He picked up the first document and opened it. It was a case closure report on the series of. Theths in the southern warehouse district filled with various data charts, analyzed thoroughly, yet the conclusion remained unresolved, dragging on for several weeks. Yenjio read through it from start to finish. Then he began processing. It, most of this he had learned in police academy, so it wasn’t difficult. Soon, he tossed the document into the processed file basket. He picked up the second one. Shindi and a few colleagues, who had been teasing him, now fell silent. Standing not far away, watching him. Time ticked by. The only sounds in the office were the rustling of paper and the occasional sound of Yen Jiu unscrewing his thermos to drink water. Those pile up, tedious reports seemed to transform into the simplest fill-in-the-blank questions in the hands of this new captain. He hesitated not at all. Read, judge, process opinions, signed. A series of actions flowed smoothly, fast enough to dazzle the eyes. When the clock struck twelve, Yen Jiu tossed the last document into the basket. That little mountain had been flattened by him. He stood up, stretched, and prepared to head to the cafeteria for lunch. Just as he stepped out, he was blocked by a group of people. Captain. Yen. Shinda smiled like a Mithraya Buddha, spreading his arms to block his way. On your first day of promotion, aren’t you going to treat us? Exactly, you have to treat us. I know a new restaurant nearby, the food is amazing. Yen Jio. Was surrounded by them, feeling a bit dazed. Shinda, without waiting for a response, threw an arm around Yen Jio’s shoulder and half dragged him outside. Let’s go, let’s go, today Captain Yen must splurge. A crowd of people surged out. Of the police station. The restaurant wasn’t far, decorated in an antique style, and as soon as they entered, a rich aroma of hot pot base filled the air. Shinde expertly requested a private room and slapped the menu on the table. Today, it’s on our Captain Yen, so don’t hold back. The colleagues cheered. A few young officers were still a bit shy, quietly discussing the menu. Shinde snatched it away, looking at Yenjio. Yenjio generously pushed the menu over, saying, order whatever you want. With Yenjio’s permission, Shinde grinned widely and shouted at the waiter. Bring us your signature dishes, like snowflake beef, premium tri, and deep sea shrimp, two portions of each. And open a box of beer. Yen Jiu sat at the head of the table, watching them make a fuss. He wasn’t quite used to such a lively scene. He just felt hungry. While waiting for the dishes, the conversation naturally turned to him. Captain Yen, I really didn’t expect you to take over team leader Lu’s position. Yeah, I thought they would send someone from the city bureau. Yen Jiu picked up his cup and took a sip of sour plum soup. I didn’t expect it either. Shindig picked up a piece of freshly, cooked tripe and placed it on yenjio’s plate you’re just a hidden gem but it’s good having one of our own as captain is better than having an outsider from now on our team three will rely on you to protect us yenjio stuffed the tripe into his mouth chewing loudly i can’t protect you he swallowed and added i just know how to work the atmosphere in the private room cooled briefly at his words shindy quickly smoothed things over listen listen what do we call this from our captain yen this is called being pragmatic Come on, let’s raise a glass to our new captain, wishing our team three, under Captain Yan’s leadership, to create new glories. Everyone raised their glasses. Captain. Yan is generous. Captain Yan is mighty. Yanjio felt a bit helpless in the face of this enthusiasm and had no choice but to raise his glass and clink it with theirs. He downed a large cup of sour plum soup in one go. The dishes came pouring. Out like a stream quickly filling the entire table. Everyone ate heartily. Yanjio didn’t say much, just focused on eating. His eating style was quite refined, yet his speed was astonishing.A plate of fatty beef, and just as someone had picked up two chopsticks, the plate was already empty. A plate of large shrimp, and he had peeled nearly half of it all by himself. The entire table gradually stopped eating, watching him devour his meal. Like the wind sweeping away the clouds. An hour later, the table was a mess of cups and plates. Everyone leaned back in their chairs, rubbing their round bellies, looking utterly satisfied. Only Yenjiyo sat up straight. He wiped his mouth and looked around. Full. So. Full. Shindib burped. Captain Yan, you really splurged this time. Yanjio didn’t respond, just called out towards the door. Waiter. The waiter pushed the door open. Sir, what do you need? Yanjio pointed at the table. Bring me two. More plates of three-flavored dumplings. The entire private room fell silent in an instant. Everyone looked at him with expressions of disbelief. After eating so much meat and seafood, he wasn’t full? Yanjio ignored their reactions. Two. Steaming plates of dumplings were quickly served. He dipped them in vinegar, eating them one by one, unhurriedly. After finishing the last dumpling, he finally felt that familiar sense of fullness in his stomach. He stood up. I’m full. He. Walked to the door, swiped his card to pay. Then, under the complex gazes of his colleagues, he staggered out of the restaurant alone. Behind him, Shinda’s voice came with a sigh. Our new captain, really has a good appetite. Yen Ji-ho. Walked under the afternoon sun, the street bustling with people. He felt great. Work was done. He was full. Now, he could go home. Yanjio staggered back to his rental apartment. The hallway was empty, only the sound of his footsteps echoed. The peeling wall paint casting mottled shadows. Sister Su’s door next door was tightly shut. No light seeped through the crack, nor was there any sound. She must be gaming. Yanjio didn’t disturb her, twisting open his own door and stepping inside. The room was filled with a stuffy air. He took off his uniform, still smelling of hot pot, casually draping it over the back of a chair, then walked into the bathroom for a shower. Water poured down from above, washing away. The fatigue and noise of the afternoon meal. He dried off, wearing only a pair of shorts, and lay down on the bed. On his arm, the blue countdown continued to pulse silently. He didn’t hesitate, his consciousness sinking into that familiar. Sea of stars. Welcome back to illusion as the cold mechanical voice faded, the stars before him quickly dimmed. The salty lake breeze brushed against his cheeks, carrying the fresh scent of water plants. Yen Jio opened his eyes. He was. Lying on that familiar fishing chair, the lake gently lapping at the shore nearby, sparkling with light. He comfortably turned over and stretched. Facing the endless lake view, he whistled, the clear sound startling a few water birds. Just then, a message notification flickered in the corner of his vision. It was Silver Fox. Boss, are you online? Yeah. Yenjo’s response was as concise as a period. The batch of equipment we brought out from the dungeon has all been sold. Silver Fox’s message quickly popped up again. A total of 67 gold coins were sold, you get 65 gold, the rest will be split among the three of us and little cream, is that okay? Sure dot. Yen Jio replied. It seemed that his players. Gradually left the novice village and flooded into the main city. The production and circulation of gold coins had sped up significantly. Yen Jio didn’t reply further. He stood up from the fishing chair, stretching his limbs. Today’s goal was. Clear. First, get a fishing rod. Then solve that task for Reno. After that, find out how to get to Sunset City. He stepped towards the manor’s exit. Just as he reached the grand entrance of the manor, his steps halted. A parchment list. secured with a thumbtack, was firmly pinned to the heavy wooden door. It was written in an ancient cursive script. Manor construction cost list total 80 gold coins. Barren title discount dash 50% amount due 40 gold coins. Please pay at the Masons Guild within three days. Yen Jio scratched his head. He turned back to look at the grand stone mansion that occupied a considerable area and glanced at the bill at the entrance. 40 gold coins for such a large place didn’t seem too expensive. He turned and walked back to the mansion, retrieving the money pouch that Silver Fox had just mailed from the mailbox not far from the entrance. It was heavy, containing exactly 65 gold coins. He weighed the pouch in. His hand and turned towards the mason’s guild. Inside the guild, the sound of hammering echoed everywhere and the air was filled with the scent of stone dust. A stout, one-eyed dwarf was sitting behind the counter, focused on hammering. A piece of stone with a small hammer. What do you want? The dwarf grunted without looking up. Payment. Yenjio slapped the bill he had torn from the door onto the counter. The dwarf finally paused his work, saw it was Yanjio, and quickly stood up to bow. He then picked up the bill, squinting his one eye to read it carefully. Lakeside Manor 40 Gold Coins. Yanjio counted out 40 gold coins from the pouch and placed them on the counter. The coins clinked together, producing a crisp sound. A flicker of surprise crossed the dwarf’s one eye. He collected the coins and tossed them into a wooden box under the counter with a loud clank, then bowed to Yanjio. Welcome back, esteemed hero. Yanjio then. curiously asked can you forge swords or daggers for mages here the dwarf gave him a strange look and replied no he then picked up his small hammer and resumed his work yen joe paid no mind to his attitude and turned to leave the guild he touched the black long knife at his waist the hilt of the blade of annihilation felt icy to the touch next he needed to complete reno’s task the night breeze swept by stirring up a few dry yellow leaves at the street corner as yen joe stepped out of the mason’s guild the weight of the pouch of gold coins felt much lighter in his hand He weighed the hilt of the Blade of Annihilation at his waist, the cold sensation spreading through his palm. It was time to get to work. The remaining nine nobles were scattered across various districts of Maple Leaf City from the bustling commercial area to the secluded Scholar’s Tower, quite far from each other. Yen Jio did not call for a carriage. He set off. On foot, his figure quickly blending into the shadows of the street. Windstep a gentle breeze brushed past, leaving a shadow of his form in place as he instantly appeared at the end of a narrow alley several dozen meters away. The next Target was a baron who loved alchemy. His residence was less of a home and more of a vast alchemical workshop, with the air thick with the sour scent of potions. The courtyard walls were covered in sharp metal thorns, with several jingling, alarm bells hanging from them. Yen Jio circled the mansion. He stopped outside an inconspicuous sidewall and jumped inside. Inside was a narrow, damp passage. Without any hesitation, he moved through the darkness, perfectly avoiding all. Patrolling alchemical puppets. In the barren study, a man in a robe was mumbling to himself in front of a pile of bottles and jars. A cold glint flashed. A thin line of a wound appeared on the man’s arm. He froze, suddenly turning around, but. The study was empty, save for a test tube on the experimental table that rolled off and shattered on the ground due to a slight vibration. Next. A retired general. The defenses of his residence were like a military camp. Yen Jio directly. Infiltrated from the rooftop. Astral walk his body passed over the thick tiles and beams, appearing in the general’s bedroom. The general was sitting on the edge of the bed, polishing a gleaming long sword. Yanzhou threw a pebble at the door to catch the general’s attention. Then he dropped down, lightly touching the general’s sturdy arm. The general’s sword-cleaning motion halted, and he turned to look, seeing only a few twinkling stars that he stared blankly at his arm, where. There was only a shallow cut. Next one. Another one. The whole process was almost boring in its smoothness. The names on the list were crossed off one by one. Until the second to last. Count Barton was known for his suspicious nature and. Extreme fear of death. His estate, rather than a residence, resembled a fortress. Every three steps there was a guard, every five steps a sentry. On the high walls, not only were there patrolling archers but also two small alchemical crossbows set up. Yen Jio did not choose any conventional infiltration route. He walked to the back of the fortress where there was a steep cliff. He looked up at the brightly lit tower at the top of the cliff. He took a few steps back and crouched slightly. Windstep his body transformed into a gust of wind, racing up the nearly vertical cliff face. Then, at the moment of exhaustion, he pushed off from a protruding rock with his toes. Astral walk his figure turned into. A shower of stardust directly penetrating the thick stone wall of the tower and appearing in an extremely luxurious bedroom. The room was covered with thick carpets, making no sound even when walking. A short, stout figure was curled up. On a bed made of fine steel, covered with three layers of blankets, revealing only a pair of darting eyes that warily scanned every corner of the room. Who? Who’s there? Count Barton’s voice was sharp, laced with unmistakable fear. Yenjo’s figure materialized from the air. He didn’t waste words and walked straight toward the fine steel bed. Assassin. Someone. There’s an assassin. Count Barton screamed in terror, desperately pressing a red button on the headboard. But. It was too late. Yenjo, with a disguised face and ID, reached the bedside. The blade of annihilation in his hand gently fell. No. The count closed his eyes and let out a desperate howl. A cold sensation flashed across the back of his. Hand. The expected excruciating pain did not come. Only a trivial sting. The scream abruptly stopped. Count Barton’s body ceased to tremble. He slowly opened his eyes. The murky eyes, clouded by fear, were first filled with confusion, then replaced by an incredible clarity. He felt that the voice that had whispered in his ear day and night had vanished. The world was quieter than ever before. He stared blankly at the cut on the back of his hand. A nearly invisible wisp of black mist was seeping from the tiny wound, silently dissipating. He raised his head to look at the man in front of him, holding a black blade, with an expressionless face. The fear had disappeared. Count Barton hurriedly climbed out of bed, not even bothering to put on shoes, his bare feet touching the cold floor. Before the count could speak, Yenjo’s figure transformed into specks of starlight and vanished from sight, leaving Count Barton alone, standing dazed in the empty bedroom, with the sound of approaching guards gradually growing louder behind him. On the street, Yenjo crossed off the last name on the list. A series of system prompts popped up before him. Hidden task, hidden crisis in maple leaf. City completed. You have eliminated the threat lurking deep within Maple Leaf City in the most direct and effective manner, without causing any disturbance.Task reward, Maple Leaf City reputation plus 1200, perfect evaluation bonus 400.Points, your Maple Leaf City reputation has reached, admired, 1200.Please report to the Lord’s Mansion tonight Commander Reno.Yenjo oriented himself and walked toward the most magnificent building in the city center.The gates of.The Lord’s Mansion slowly opened before him. The guard at the door stood at attention and saluted upon seeing the Baron’s emblem on his chest. He walked through the long corridor, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the empty stone hall. From a distance he could hear voices arguing, No, absolutely not. Reinhardt’s roar was filled with an uncontrollable anger. Directly sending troops to occupy Whitewood Town will only cause greater panic and may even force those infected civilians to revolt. In the center of the hall, a large military map was spread out on the long table. The young Lord Reinhardt was pointing at a location marked Whitewood Town, his cheeks flushed red. What should we do then? Knight Commander Raynaud was equally unyielding, his booming voice causing dust to fall from the ceiling. Are we just going to watch the plague spread and turn the entire Whitewood Town into a wasteland? My knights are ready. Add a single. Command, we can seal off the entire town before dawn and contain all the infected. Purify them all, you mean? Reinhardt interrupted him, slamming his fist heavily on the table. Raynaud. They are not enemies, they are the citizens of. Maple Leaf City. They are merely contaminated. Yenjio stepped closer, curiously peering at the map. The location of Whitewood Town was not far from Maple Leaf City. I’m back, he said. The heated argument came to an abrupt halt. Reinhardt and Raynaud turned their heads simultaneously to look at the suddenly appeared man. The mission is complete. Yenjio took out the noble list that had been crossed out and the pitch black spirit vanquishing blade from his backpack. He placed both items on the map. What? Raynaud picked up the list, his hands trembling slightly. 18 names, all crossed out without exception. All, resolved? Reinhardt leaned in closer, disbelief etched on his face. Had it only, been a few hours? Yes, Yanjio nodded. Reinhardt picked up the spirit vanquishing blade, the blade still shimmering with a faint light that dispelled evil. He could feel that this blade had feasted on the dark energy of those spiritual marks. Last night, you, didn’t cause any disturbances? Reinhardt pressed. No, Yanjio replied matter-of-factly. I just slipped in and made a cut on each. Reinhardt and Reinhardt exchanged glances. They saw a mix of absurdity and shock. reflected in each other’s faces. Ding! Mission completed. You have lost the item, Spirit Vanquishing Blade. Your reputation has reached the required level, please go to the official to upgrade your title. Raynaud solemnly sheathed the Spirit Vanquishing Blade back at his waist. Yanjio’s hands were empty. He instinctively clenched his fist, the cold-fitting metallic feel was already gone. That blade felt really good. The key was that a mage could use it. He looked at the blade at Raynaud’s waist, growing fonder of it. Knight Commander Raynaud, Yanjio spoke up. Hmm, Baron Yenjio, please go ahead. Reinhardt put away the list from the map and saluted him with a nightly gesture. Is there any task? That could reward me with that weapon? Yenjio pointed at the spirit vanquishing blade at his waist. I quite like it. The hall fell into a dead silence. Reinhardt opened his mouth, wanting to say something but couldn’t utter a word. Reinhardt also looked bewildered. He had never thought someone would so straightforwardly ask the paladin order for a silver weapon. This was against the rules. It was simply. Raynaud looked at Yenjo’s face, which was filled with seriousness, and then at Reinhardt. This time, there was no longer shock on Reinhardt’s face, but rather a hint of contemplation. He glanced at Whitewood Town on the map and then at Yenjo. A crazy thought emerged in his mind, just like when he had entrusted Yenjo to save Maple Leaf City. Baron Yenjo, you heard it just now. Whitewood Town has erupted with the undead plague. We suspect that the source of the plague is likely related to that banshee from before. It may be a trap she left behind. Raynaud immediately understood Reinhardt’s meaning. He took over the conversation, speaking in his heavy voice. My plan is to directly seal off the town and purify all the infected. Although it will result in sacrifices, it is the fastest way to contain the plague. Lord Reinhardt hopes to find the source of the plague without causing large-scale casualties fundamentally solving the problem. However, Whitewood Town is now shrouded in the aura of death and anyone sent to investigate has gone and not returned. The two spoke in harmony, clearly laying out the severity and complexity of the issue before Yen Jio. Yen Jio simply listened. He understood the gist. So, he asked. Reno and Reinhardt exchanged glances again. In the end, it was Reno who stepped forward, one hand resting on the spirit’s laying blade at his waist. Alright, he uttered two words. If you can infiltrate Whitewood Town and find and destroy. The source of the necromantic plague without alarming those controlled by the plague. Each of Reno’s words seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth. Then I, Reno Lightforge, swear in the name of the Holy Light. This spirit slaying. Blade will belong to you. This was almost an impossible task. Infiltrating a town shrouded in plague. Finding an unknown source among thousands who could turn into undead at any moment. This was a hundred times harder than slicing. Through eighteen heavily guarded noble estates. Good. Yen Jio replied crisply. Reinhardt and Reno had prepared a heap of persuasion and descriptions of the task’s difficulty, only to be silenced by that one word. Leave it to me. Yen Jio. Patted his chest. Then, under the stunned gazes of Reinhardt and Reno, he reached out and naturally unfastened the spirit-slaying blade from Reno’s waist. He grasped the hilt and gave it a shake. The familiar weight and cold touch returned. Just let me borrow it for a while. Yenjio said, holding the blade as if it were only natural. Reno’s hand remained in the position of resting on the hilt. Only the blade was gone. Reinhardt’s mouth hung open, unable to close for a long time. In the entire Lord’s Hall, only the slight sound of wind from Yenjio swinging the long blade remained. Ding! You have accepted the mission, investigate the necromantic plague This mission is a special task and rewards will be based on your completion level. Yen Jiu walked out of the Lord’s Hall. He performed a beautiful flourish with the spirit-slaying blade in his hand, the dark blade carving a cold arc through the air, and then with a crisp clang, it smoothly returned to its sheath, then he looked at his attributes after changing into new equipment, level, 13 class, astral walker talent, war god, sss rank, unique, attributes, strength 22, plus 10, agility 35, plus 13, constitution 53, plus 41. intelligence 89, plus 63, spirit 63, plus 40, health 541 mana, 640 spell critical rate, 5% attack speed, plus 57.5%, equipment plus 40%, movement speed, plus 27.5%, title plus 10%, casting speed, plus 11%, equipment minus 20%, melee damage, 42, strength 100%, plus weapon. Attack power, weapon plus 20, spell damage, 129, intelligence plus spell power, equipment plus 40, physical defense, 61 equipment plus 5, spell defense, 56 shadow resistance, 5 equipment slot, title, wolf king slayer, movement speed plus 10%, one handed. Sword, blade of annihilation, silver physical attack plus 20, spell attack plus 40, attack speed plus 30%, ignores defense plus 30% when attacking, hat, deals shadowhood, bronze intelligence plus 15, spirit plus 10, casting speed plus 15%, shoes, anise cloth. Shoes, Black Iron Intelligence plus 5, Spell Power plus 5, Casting Speed dash 20%, Bracers, Captain’s Grip, Bronze Intelligence plus 18, Spirit plus 12, Spell Critical Rate plus 5%, Clothes, Williams Shadow Robe, Black Iron Intelligence plus 10, Spirit plus 5, Defense plus 5, Shadow Resistance plus 5, Necklace, Guardian Bears Amulet, Bronze Attack Speed plus 10%, Agility plus 10, Chance to Trigger Fury when Attacking, Fury, Attack Speed plus 30%, Ring 1, Brotherhood Emblem, Strength plus 10, Agility plus 10, Constitution. plus 10, intelligence plus 10, spirit plus 10 ring 2, dark star ring, bronze intelligence plus 15, spirit plus 10, mana recovery plus 2 per second with the blade of annihilation and the enhancement from war god he could deal tens of thousands of damage with. A single strike, and with the flame blade, it would probably be even more terrifying. The streets outside the lord’s mansion were bustling with noise and excitement. What a pity. The few pieces of equipment that had dropped in the cathedral. Dungeon were still not at the required level, so he couldn’t equip them at all. He had no choice but to leave them in the corner of his backpack for now. He opened his friend list, where a few names lay lonely. There’s strength in. Numbers. Following this simple principle, he sent messages to his few friends. Little Cream’s avatar was grey, probably busy studying for exams. Lu Xia had set his status to do not disturb, likely implementing military management in the. Game as well. The only ones still online were Silver Fox and Ming Yao. There were also the newly added Crazy Blade, Ghost Shadow, and Jin Yu from yesterday. Yanjio didn’t think much and directly edited a message to send to everyone. Does anyone know about the Necromancer Plague? The first to reply was Crazy Blade. Necromancer Plague? Never heard of it, boss Yanjio. Ghost Shadow quickly replied as well. Boss, do you want to join us for monster hunting? We just found a place that levels up super fast. No thanks. Yanjio declined quickly. Soon after, Jinyu also sent a message. Yeah, boss, come play with us. Silver Fox’s response was as concise and efficient as ever. I don’t know, but I’ll ask around. For you. Yen Jiu looked at these replies and closed the chat box. Just then, a new message notification popped up. It was Ming Yao. Her reply was a long string of dense text. Necromancer plague, I’ve seen records about it in the library. Of Maple Leaf City. It is a very ancient and malicious curse, originating from a fallen necromancer lord. In the early stages of the plague, the infected will feel no symptoms at all, and may even feel a surge of energy and improved. Physical strength. but that is merely an illusion caused by the corruption of the soul a few days later the infected will begin to fall ill exhibiting symptoms such as high fever delirium and skin ulcers the physical pain will gradually destroy their sanity turning them aggressive causing them to frantically attack all living things around them once their life force is completely drained they will die in extreme agony but that is not the end after death their bodies will be controlled by the residual necromantic energy rising again as mindless corpses that only know how to devour flesh and blood Yanjio watched the messages pop up, marveling at them. Oh, he decided to personally check. Out this by MuTown. Knowledge gained from paper always feels shallow. On Mingyao’s side, it seemed his response had caught her off guard, and she paused for a moment. An ellipsis appeared. Then, another new message popped up. Are you, going alone? Yeah. Yanjio’s response was without hesitation. This time, Mingyao’s reply came back astonishingly fast. Can I go with you? She seemed afraid that Yanjio would refuse, quickly adding, after all, I have some. knowledge about the necromantic plague, and I might be able to help. Yanjio thought for a moment. It seemed to make some sense. All right. I’ll wait for you at the city gate. Outside the north gate of Maple Leaf City, players were bustling about. Yanjio strolled over and immediately spotted her figure. Mingyao stood under a withered tree, clad in exquisite silver armor, but she wasn’t wearing a helmet, a few strands of her smooth long hair were lifted by the wind. She seemed a bit distracted, unconsciously twirling a lock of hair that hung in front of her chest with her fingers. When she saw Yanzhou approach, she immediately put her hand down, stood up straight, and for a moment, her expression seemed a bit unnatural. Yanzhou walked up to her. I’m here. He greeted her cheerfully, then ostentatiously unsheathed the pitch black long knife from his waist and presented it to Mingyao. Look at this. The blade was long and entirely black, yet it seemed to absorb all the surrounding light, exuding a cold texture. Mingyao took the long knife, and its weight made her pause slightly. This is, the blade of annihilation? She quickly recognized the weapon. Yeah, the knight. commander lent it to me. Yanjio’s tone carried an obvious sense of pride, like a child showing off a new toy. Melee weapons that mages can use are already rare, and silver quality ones are even more so. Ming Yao returned the knife to him and added, this is a one -handed weapon, you can equip a secondary item, like a tome or a mana core, to boost your attributes significantly. Yanjio scratched his head, it seemed he did have something like that in his bag. A tome had dropped in the cathedral dungeon, but unfortunately, he wasn’t high enough level to equip it, he needed to be level 15. Mingyao, not wanting to be outdone, seemed to want to bridge the gap with Yanzhou. She raised her left arm, and a silver shield adorned with an iris pattern instantly materialized on her forearm, the edges of the shield radiating a faint golden glow. I’ve also changed my class. Her voice carried an unmistakable joy. Holy Domain Knight. This is a hidden class for paladins, and the combat style involves using a shield to create a protective domain to fight within, which pairs perfectly with my talent. To achieve this class change, she had practically treated Bishop Clay like a grandfather these past two days, running herself ragged to complete all the tasks. Yen Jiao nodded. Impressive. He swiftly reattached the blade of annihilation to his waist. Both of them were not very talkative types. At this moment, the atmosphere became somewhat quiet. It was Mingyao who broke the silence first, she seemed unwilling to let the recently warmed atmosphere cool down. Let’s go, the road to Bai Mu Town isn’t short. Along the way, Mingyao was unusually talkative. It seemed she wanted to express everything she had bottled up over the past two days. So, do you have any plans for our trip to Baimu Town? No, Yanjio replied quickly. We’ll go in and assess the situation first. Mingyao fell. Silent for a moment, sometimes she envied the little cream puff, not just because she could always stick close to Yanjio, but also for her remarkable ability to keep the conversation going. I’ve looked up some information. The source of the necromantic plague is usually some items imbued with powerful necromantic energy, or a spellcaster. She continued to analyze diligently. What we’re looking for might be an altar, a cursed relic, or a necromancer hiding in the shadows. Oh, Yen Jiu acknowledged, indicating he was listening. The road ahead grew increasingly desolate, with no farmers to be seen in the fields, only withered wild grass swaying in the wind. A faint scent of decay began to permeate the air. Mingya was indeed talking much more than usual today. By the way, your astral walker profession is a hidden class for mages, right? Yeah. Aren’t your skills different from other mages? They’re okay. What level are you now? After. Asking this question, Mingyao realized it was somewhat inappropriate as players could see each other’s levels when in a party. Just as she was about to apologize, she heard Yanjio’s response. Level 13. Mingyao felt like she was. Being suffocated by the conversation. Suddenly, she felt as if she was a little closer to him, yet also further away. The two continued walking forward. The sunlight stretched their shadows long. As they neared Bai Mu Town, Mingyao’s desire to chat finally faded, replaced by a heavy sense of vigilance. On the horizon ahead, the outline of a small town became visible. At the town’s entrance stood a crooked wooden sign, painted with the faded words Bimutown. The closer they got, the more pronounced the faint scent of decay became as if it were seeping up from the ground, wrapping around their ankles. But the scene inside the town was in stark contrast to this atmosphere. In the streets, several children were chasing and playing, their laughter ringing out. A woman by the roadside leaned against the doorframe, chatting with a neighbor about trivial matters, a relaxed smile on her face. A burly man walked past them carrying a sack of flour, nodding kindly at the two. Everything seemed so normal, even overly peaceful. The people here seemed to be in good spirits, Ming-Yao lowered her voice, her hand instinctively resting on the hilt of her sword at her waist. Yeah, quite. Lively, Yen-Jio replied matter-of-factly. He felt the atmosphere here was even better than in Maple Leaf City, lacking the oppressive feeling of a big city. Perhaps this special aura could only be sensed by players. We should probably go, find the mayor and ask about the situation, Ming-Yao suggested. In a place like this, the official in charge should know the most. Sure, Yanjio agreed without objection. With someone planning the route, he was happy to relax. The two. Asked an elderly woman who was trimming flowers by the roadside for directions to the mayor’s house. The woman enthusiastically pointed the way, her face wrinkling into a smile. The mayor is in the biggest house at the center of the town. You too will see it at a glance. The mayor’s house was indeed very conspicuous. It was a two-story stone building, much more impressive than the surrounding wooden houses. The two walked to the door, and Yen Jio stepped forward to knock. After a while, the door was pulled open a crack from the inside. A middle -aged man with a haggard face and deep-set eyes peered out, warily sizing them up. Who are you? The man’s voice was hoarse, tinged with exhaustion. Mingya stepped forward, revealing her paladin badge. We are adventurers from Maple Leaf City, sent by Knight Commander Reno to investigate the plague incident in Baimu Town. Hearing the name Knight Reno, the man’s tense body relaxed slightly. He opened the door and let the two in. Please, come in. The room was dimly lit, the curtains drawn tightly, and the air was filled with a mix of herbal and musty odors. I am the mayor of Bai Mu Town. The man poured two cups of water for them, and then plopped down into a chair, wearily rubbing his brow. You two have finally arrived. What’s the situation in the town? Ming Yao asked straightforwardly. The mayor sighed, his hand trembling slightly as he lifted the cup. The situation is very bad. Since last week, people in the town have started suffering from insomnia, unable to sleep through the night, yet frighteningly energetic during the day. I called the town’s physician to take a look, but he couldn’t find anything wrong. Until last night. The mayor’s voice trailed off, a hint of fear appearing on his face. What happened last night? Yen Ji oppressed. Jim from the blacksmith shop. He suddenly went missing, the mayor said. His wife said he suddenly ran out of the house in the middle of the night, shouting nonsense, and no one could stop him. He just ran into the blackwood forest behind the town and never came back. Didn’t Maple Leaf City send anyone before? Ming Yao caught the key information. The mayor nodded, then shook his head. They came, several waves of nights came one after another. But each time they just took a quick look around the town, didn’t greet us, and then disappeared. As he spoke, his fingers unconsciously rubbed against his sleeve. Yanjio’s gaze fell on it. On that coarse fabric sleeve, there was a small dark brown stain, like dried blood that had been there for a long time. The mayor seemed to notice. His gaze and awkwardly pulled his hand back, hiding it under the table. This subtle action did not escape the eyes of the two. He was hiding something. Mingyao and Yanjio exchanged a glance. It seemed they wouldn’t be able to extract more. Useful information from the mayor. Thank you for the information, Mr. Mayor. Mingyao stood up. We will investigate. The two bid farewell and returned to the sunlit street. The heavy wooden door of the mayor’s house creaked shut behind. Them. He wasn’t telling the truth, Mingyao said with certainty, especially regarding those missing knights. Yeah. Yanjio was also recalling the stain on the mayor’s sleeve. So what do we do now? He looked at Mingyao. Mingyao. Pondered for a moment and quickly came up with a plan. We’ll split up, it will be more efficient. I’ll go check the blacksmith shop first. Jim’s disappearance must be a breakthrough, perhaps we can find some clues at his home. She looked. At Yen Jio. You should wander around the town, see if there are any other suspicious places, especially those townsfolk who seem overly energetic. Pay attention to any common traits they might have. Okay. Yen Jio agreed readily. One. Would be responsible for a detailed on-site investigation, while the other would conduct a broad search. The division of labor was clear. Watching Mingyao head towards the blacksmith shop at the other end of the town, Yanzhou began to stroll. Alone down the empty street. He looked left and right, every house seemed like a haunted place. He walked to the edge of a small river. The water was murky, flowing slowly, with some dead branches and leaves floating on the surface. A little girl in a floral dress was squatting by the riverbank, poking at something in the water with a small stick. She was so focused on her play that her body leaned further and further forward. Suddenly, the ground beneath her feet slipped. The little girl let out a scream and fell into the river. Yenjiyo’s figure left a blur in place. Windstep he instantly appeared by the riverbank, reached out, and grabbed the back of the little girl’s collar, pulling her back. The little girl was so frightened that she burst into tears. Lily. A woman’s voice cried out from not far away.A young woman hurriedly ran over, lifting her skirt, and embraced the little girl tightly. Thank you. I really can’t thank you enough. If it weren’t for you, my Lily would. The woman spoke in a flurry, bowing repeatedly to Yenjiyo. It was just a small effort. Yenjiyo waved his hand dismissively. No. You saved my daughter, you must come to our home so I can prepare. A lavish meal to properly thank you. If Lily’s father finds out, he’ll definitely scold me. The woman was resolute, grabbing Yenjio’s arm. Yenjio looked at her, then at the still sniffling little girl. Alright. He followed the woman. And the little girl as they turned into a narrow alley. The little girl quickly stopped crying, she clutched her mother’s hem and curiously looked back at Yenjio, tears still glistening in her dark grape-like eyes. Big brother, you run. So fast. Their home was at the end of the alley, a simple wooden house, but the small yard in front was tidy and had several pots of flowers whose names he couldn’t recall. Upon entering, a sweet aroma of food greeted them, dispelling the cold mist outside. The interior was simply decorated, yet exuded warmth. A portrait of the three of them hung on the wall, painted clumsily but filled with love. Please sit down, Lily’s father should be back soon. I’ll go prepare some food for you, the woman warmly invited. Yenjo sat on a wooden chair, looking around the cozy little house, feeling something tight within him slowly loosening. Before long, the door swung open, and a tall man walked in. His gait was somewhat odd, with his right leg dragging slightly. Dear, you’re back. The woman rushed to him and recounted what had just happened. After listening, the man quickly walked up to Yen Jio and solemnly thanked him. I’m Buck, I can’t thank you. Enough, my friend. My wife just told me that if it weren’t for you, I can’t imagine what would have happened. The woman brought out a steaming apple pie and a cup of hot milk. Try this, I just baked it. Yen Jio picked up a piece of apple pie and took a bite. It was sweet and warm. Delicious. Buck sat down across from Yanjio and began chatting with his wife. Today, I helped Grandma Hannah at the village entrance move some old things down from the attic, she insisted, on giving me a basket of eggs. The wooden chairs next door are finished too, I can deliver them tomorrow. Buck rambled on about the town’s trivial matters, a satisfied smile on his face. He had once been the captain of the Whitewood Town. Guard. During a patrol, he sustained a severe knee injury while protecting the townsfolk, which led to his retirement. Now, he did some farming at home and helped out with the neighbors in town. By the way, I went to deliver firewood to the mayor today and saw him hurriedly burning a bloodstained shirt. Buck suddenly lowered his voice. I asked him what happened, and he stammered, saying it was stained while he was butchering a chicken. The woman listened quietly, knitting a sweater. Little Lily finished her piece of pie, climbed into her father’s lap, giggling and playing with the stubble on his chin. Yanjio quietly ate his pie and drank his milk. He listened to their warm conversation, watching the Mother lovingly wiped the crumbs from her daughter’s mouth and the father indulgently holding his daughter. His thoughts drifted. Is this the feeling of home? The last sweetness of the apple pie lingered on his tongue. Yenjiu contentedly finished the last crumbs on his plate. He stood up and waved goodbye to the Buck family. I’m leaving. Be careful on the way. The woman held Lily, standing at the door with genuine gratitude on her face. Goodbye, big brother. Buck followed him out, patting Yenjiu’s shoulder. Friend, next time you come to Whitewood Town, be sure to visit us again. Yanjio nodded and turned to leave the warm little house.As he walked back into the desolate alley. The warmth from the food was quickly dispelled by the cold air surrounding him. Buck’s hushed words echoed in his mind. The mayor burned the blood-stained clothes. He strolled aimlessly, unknowingly arriving at the town’s entrance again. There stood a crooked, wooden sign. A young boy was sitting on a stone beneath the sign, hugging his knees, looking dejected. Yanjio looked up at the floating NPC name, Shepherd Boy Deli. Yanjio approached. The boy lifted his head, and upon seeing the unfamiliar. outsider, his eyes showed a hint of weariness. Don’t you have a sheepdog? Yenjio asked curiously. At the mention of a dog, the boy’s eyes turned red. Ah Hwang. Ah Hwang is gone. His voice trembled with the threat of tears. The night before last, it suddenly started barking wildly at the dark woods over there and no one could hold it back. The boy pointed towards the dark forest outside the town. Then it dashed in and never came back. I secretly went to look. For it yesterday. The boy sniffed, pulling out a small handful of something from his pocket and carefully spreading it in his palm. It was a clump of dog fur stained with dark brown blood. I found this at the edge of the woods. There was also a black paw print nearby. The boy gestured on the ground, much larger than a wolf’s paw. In the dark woods, there were unknown beasts. As Yen Jiu pondered this, a light, cheerful footstep approached from behind. Ming Yao walked. Over. The shyness she had when they first met was gone, replaced by a serious demeanor as if she had a mission. I found something over here. She skipped the small talk and got straight to the point. The blacksmith shop is empty but I found this in an adjacent room that has been vacant for a long time. She took out a yellowed notebook from her backpack and handed it to Yen Jio. This is the journal of the town’s missing apothecary, Martha. The townsfolk said she went missing last week. Yen Jio opened the journal. The handwriting was neat but as he progressed it became increasingly messy and chaotic. The earlier entries contained various potion recipes and daily records. Until the last few pages. The latest batch of mature wheat has issues, it seems to be mixed with a type of black grain never seen before, carrying an ominous aura. I extracted those grains for research, and the townsfolk who consumed this batch of wheat began showing symptoms of excitement. This is definitely not a coincidence. They are all talking about the ancient well, the one that has been abandoned for decades. They say the water from the well has become sweet. That batch of wheat was most likely irrigated with the water from the ancient well. All clues point to the ancient well, I must go take a look. The journal abruptly ended here. Two clues. One was the beast that left a huge paw print in the dark woods. The other was the cursed ancient well. One, an unknown beast. Attack the sheepdog. Two, the source of the plague is likely the water from the ancient well. What should we do? She looked at Yanjio, handing over the decision making to him. Split up or go together? Yanjio scratched his. Head. Let’s split up. That’ll be quicker. Mingyao nodded, seemingly not surprised. Alright. She raised her left arm, and the silver shield with an iris pattern reappeared. Although her current gear was just a mix of black, iron and bronze, the hidden class of holy domain knight combined with her S level talent was enough for her to face most unexpected situations. With all her cards on the table, even if she encountered a black iron level boss, she would still have the strength to fight. The forest is yours. Mingyao pointed towards the dark woods. I’ll go to the ancient well. Be careful, don’t lose a level. Mingyao reminded her. Emem. The two said no more. One. Turned and walked towards the eerie dark woods, while the other stepped forward in the direction of the ancient well mentioned in the journal. The dark woods just hearing the name, it was clear it wasn’t a good place. The moment Yen. Joe stepped into the forest, the sunlight was blocked out by the dense, interwoven branches above. The temperature around him dropped several degrees out of nowhere. A damp, decaying leaf smell filled the air. He continued to. Stumble forward, unable to resist pulling out the pitch black blade of annihilation. The narrow blade seemed to absorb all the surrounding light, exuding a chilling, heart-stopping quality. Not bad, he muttered softly, casually, twirling the knife. The black blade cut through the dim forest, creating a sharp whooshing sound. He hummed a disjointed tune, looking quite pleased. For him, this eerie environment was no different from a stroll in the backyard. A shadow wolf lurking in the bushes suddenly lunged out, opening its gaping mod a bite at his neck. Yenjo merely sidestepped, swinging the blade of annihilation backhandedly, the blade flashing. The level 10 ordinary monster. Traced a parabolic arc in the air before crashing heavily into a distant tree trunk, vanishing in a flash of white light. throughout the entire process he never stopped walking occasionally some foolish monsters would attempt to ambush him from the shadows needing a fate similar to the first shadow wolf either they were blasted to bits by his spells or they were simply sliced down in one swift motion not even qualifying to show him a damage number as he delved deeper the scenery in the forest grew increasingly bizarre normal beasts had vanished even the sounds of insects and birds had completely disappeared the surroundings were terrifyingly silent with only the sound of his footsteps crunching on the dry branches and fallen leaves. Animal remains began to appear by the roadside, bones covered in mangled flesh, emitting a foul stench. Yenjio stopped. He no longer hummed. He crouched down, looking at the corpse of a wild boar on the ground. The body was highly decomposed, but the fatal wound was clear, several massive claw marks on the throat, nearly tearing the entire neck apart. This was not something an ordinary beast could do. Just then, a stronger stench wafted through the air, mixed with a sharp, acidic odor. Yenjio stood up, gripping the blade of annihilation tightly. He walked slowly toward the source of the foul smell. Passing. Through a patch of low ferns, the cena head opened up. It was a small clearing. In the center of the clearing, a creature far larger than an ordinary wolf was gnawing on something. The creature resembled a wolf, but its fur had. Mostly fallen off, revealing dark red rotting flesh and stark white bones underneath. Chitinous black spikes protruded grotesquely from its back, making it look particularly menacing. Its claws were as black as ink, sharp as iron. Hooks. The most nauseating part was the dark green saliva constantly dripping from its mouth. When that saliva hit the ground, it immediately corroded small pits that emitted black smoke. It heard the movement behind it and slowly turned its head. In its hollow eye sockets burned two ghostly green flames. Corrosive Black Wolf, Elite, Race, Undead, Level, 13, Health, 6700, Attack, 165, Defense, 119, Skill, Corrosive Bite, The Corrosive Black Wolf. dropped the leg bone of an unknown creature from its mouth, crouching low on its limbs, letting out a low growl that sounded like stones grinding together. It had locked onto this new prey. In the next second, the black wolf’s hind legs suddenly powered up, transforming into a streak of black lightning as it lunged at Yanjou. Its sharp claws sliced through the air with a piercing sound. Corrosive bite. From its gaping maw, a layer of rich dark green. Light clung to its fangs, a putrid stench assaulting him. Faced with the elite monster’s deadly strike, Yanjou’s reaction was astonishingly simple. He merely stepped lightly to the left. Just that one step, the corrupted black wolf’s. Swift Pounce barely grazed the edge of his clothing, missing entirely. The immense inertia caused the black wolf to awkwardly roll on the ground. It hadn’t even had time to adjust its posture when a cold, black blade of light suddenly magnified in its field of vision. Yanjio didn’t even use any skills, he simply turned around and swung his knife in one smooth motion, as if he had practiced it a thousand times. The blade of the spirit extinguishing. Blade silently sliced through the corrupted black wolf’s waist. Minus 9370. A bright red, shocking damage number floated up from the top of the corrupted black wolf’s head. Its health points were instantly depleted. The wolf’s forward. Motion came to an abrupt halt. It froze in place. In the next moment, its upper body slowly separated from its lower body along the smooth cut. No blood gushed forth. Only a stream of black mist escaped from the severed edge. The. Two halves of its body fell to the ground quickly transforming into a bubbling pool of black water which ultimately dissipated into the air. Ding. A silver coin and a piece of equipment shimmering with white light dropped to. The ground. Yenjo casually stowed them in his backpack without even looking. He retracted the long knife, satisfied as he performed a beautiful flourish, then with a clang, sheathed it neatly. The knife felt comfortable to use. He thought to himself, feeling quite pleased. He stepped forward, continuing deeper into the forest. The shepherd boy said his dog went missing right here. Now it seemed likely that it had been eaten by one of these corrupted. Black wolves. But how did such an elite monster appear? Was it a product of the plague, or was there something even more terrifying lurking in this forest? As Yenjo walked, he pondered. The rotting stench in the woods was so thick it was almost tangible. Yenjo’s steps did not falter. Where he passed, a pool of dissipating black water was left behind. Another corrupted black wolf leaped out from the shadows to the side, only to be sliced in half by his casual strike. These creatures were far too weak. They didn’t even qualify to warm him up. This forest was absurdly large, after walking for so long he hadn’t seen a single ghostly shadow. Oh no, he had seen plenty of ghostly shadows. He kicked aside a rotting beast bone at his feet and continued deeper. The shepherd boy’s dog, Ah Huang, Jim, who had gone missing from the blacksmith shop. They had all entered this dark wood. They had probably already become part of the bubbling black water on the ground. The trees ahead began to thin out. Yen Jiu paused for a moment. He passed through the last tangle of branches. Before him appeared a small clearing. In the center of the clearing stood a solitary wooden cabin. A hunter’s cabin. The house was quite dilapidated, with half of the thatched roof collapsed and the wooden walls covered in moss. In front of the cabin, two large monsters were gnawing on a deer carcass. They were even larger than the previous corrupted black wolf, with more rotting flesh and longer, thicker bone spurs protruding from their backs. Grom’s corrupted hound, elite, race, undead level, 13 health. 6700 attack, 251 defense, 49 skill, corrosive bite their attack power was frighteningly high, but their defense was as fragile as paper. Yanzhou’s gaze shifted away from the two hounds. A hunched hunter, dressed in tattered leather. Armor, leaned against the cabin’s doorframe. He held a longbow in his hands, and his hollow eye sockets burned with a ghostly green flame. Above his head floated a line of crimson text. Hunter Grom, Black Iron level boss, race. Undead level, 15 health, 15,000 attack, 199 defense, 190 skills, aim shot, shot shot, scatter shot Finally, a decent opponent had appeared. Yen Jio thought to himself, tightening his grip on the spirit extinguishing. Blade. The two corrupted hounds also noticed him. They stopped eating, raised their heads, and emitted a threatening growl from their throats. The hunter grump slowly straightened his body, raising the longbow in his hand, an arrow, formed from black mist knocked on the string. Three pairs of eyes, burning with soul fire, simultaneously locked onto this uninvited guest. Yen Jiu’s figure vanished from the spot. Wind step. In the next moment he had appeared. At the sight of the left corrosive hound. The hound didn’t even have time to turn around. A pitch black flash of a blade, accompanied by a sound that tore through the air, swept across. Minus 8,554. Minus 9 ,154. An exaggerated damage number. Popped up above the hound and the boss. Its massive body stiffened for a moment, then collapsed to the ground like a puddle of mud, quickly turning into black water. Almost at the same time, the arrow in Grom’s hand was released. The black arrow, with a sharp whistle, shot straight towards the spot where Yen Jio had just appeared. Shock shot. Unfortunately, it missed. Yen Jio’s figure, amidst a flurry of star-like light points, vanished from the spot. Astral Walk. He appeared behind another corrosive hound. The hound was stunned by the sudden death of its companion. It sensed the killing intent behind it and turned around sharply. What greeted it was the cold blade of the soul. Extinguishing blade. Another slash. Minus 9,554. The other hound met the same fate, turning into a puddle of black water. From the moment Yenjo struck to the elimination of the two elite corrosive hounds, the entire process took no. More than three seconds. Incredibly fast. The soul fire in Grom’s eyes flickered violently. Yanjio didn’t give him much time to react. He flicked the black mist off the blade, shifted his steps, and swung his knife towards the hunter boss. Grum finally reacted. He frantically pulled the bowstring, unleashing a barrage of black arrows towards Yanjio. The arrows intertwined in the air, forming a massive net of death. Scatter shot. Yanjio’s body weaved. Through the rain of arrows, his steps showing no signs of disorder. Each sidestep, each duck perfectly avoided the deadly attacks. Occasionally, a few arrows grazed the corners of his clothes, but Yanjio deflected them with. His blade. It felt less like a battle and more like an elegant yet deadly dance. The soul fire in Grom’s eyes flickered even more intensely. He abandoned the scattershot, redrew the longbow, the bowstring pulled taut like a full. Moon. An arrow, more solid than all the previous ones, formed on the bowstring, its tip glimmering with a dangerous light. Aimed shot. This arrow locked onto Yanjio’s presence. There was no way to dodge. Yet Yanjio seemed completely unaware of the danger. He maintained his forward posture. just as the arrow was about to be released his figure vanished once more astral walk the target of the aimed shot disappeared into thin air grom’s movements stalled what are you looking for a calm voice rang in his ear grom stiffly turned his head that handsome face was now just inches away in those calm eyes he saw the reflection of his own hollow eye sockets burning with soul fire he wanted to retreat but it was already too late the cold narrow blade sliced upward across his chest minus 9025 A terrifying four -digit damage floated up from the black iron level boss’s head. Grom’s health was instantly. Depleted. The longbow in his hand slipped weakly to the ground. His body split in half, releasing a thick black mist and ultimately turned into a puddle of black water, vanishing into the air. Ding! A few silver coins and two. Pieces of equipment radiating black iron luster fell to the ground. One was a black iron quality leather leg armor and a longbow. Yanjio bent down to pick up the loot and casually tossed it into his backpack. The entire clearing. Returned to silence. Only the dilapidated hunter’s cabin stood there, lonely and desolate. Yenjio performed a flourish with the sole extinguishing blade before sheathing it. He raised his head, looking at the tightly closed, wooden door. He took a step forward, walking slowly towards the cabin, he pushed open the creaking wooden door. The hinges groaned under the strain, raising a cloud of choking dust. The scene inside was even more dilapidated than outside. A smell, a mix of decaying wooden aged blood, hit him like a wave. Light squeezed through the open crack of the door, illuminating the countless specks of dust dancing in the air. An overturned wooden table, a fireplace, filled with black ash, and in the corner, a bed covered with rotten straw. Everything was coated in a thick layer of dust, as if forgotten by time for ages. Yanjio stepped inside, his footsteps echoing sharply in the dead silence. Of the small room, his gaze swept across the interior, finally resting beside the overturned wooden table in the corner. Under the table lay a book with a leather cover. He walked over, kicked the table leg, and bent down to pick. Upped the book. The cover was cracked and dry, smeared with dark brown stains. He blew on it, and dust swirled into the air. Why does this town of whitewood love to write diaries so much? Yenjio muttered, flipping open the hunter’s. Log. The handwriting was strong and vigorous, but as he read on, it became increasingly scrawled, revealing an uncontrollable panic. The wolf pack in the forest has been acting strangely lately, they have become unusually. irritable and even started leaving the northern valley where they have lived for generations coming into my hunting grounds this is abnormal dot my old partner barton is gnawing on a dead wolf today i couldn’t stop him in time the wolf’s corpse it suddenly moved biting into barton’s neck dot i killed that monster i also killed barton with my own hands dot i buried barton under the oak tree behind the cabin he was my only family when i buried him a piece of a shattered bone cut my arm a small wound it doesn’t matter anymore dot Looks like I need to buy a new hunting dog. Yengio closed the log. He turned to look out the window at the massive oak tree, its branches twisted. Under the gloomy sky, like ghostly claws. He reopened the log and flipped to the next page. The handwriting began to distort. Today I bought a new hunting dog in town, I named him Barton too, hoping there won’t be a third. I. Feel great, really great. Better than ever. I have an endless supply of energy. The wound on my arm no longer hurts. I decided to check out the northern valley to see what those wolf pups are up to. i the last page of the log contained a scrawl that was almost illegible rather than a word it resembled a symbol drawn with all one’s might hungry dot yen joe’s finger lightly traced over the word hungry he closed the log filled with despair and gently placed it back where it belonged the room was terrifyingly quiet he could almost see the hunter named grom how he transformed in this small cabin from a lonely hunter into a mindless monster from the grief of burying his beloved dog to the exhilaration after being infected and finally to being consumed by hunger A faint sigh dissipated in the dust. Yen Jio turned away, no longer looking back at the small cabin filled with sorrowful memories. He stepped out of the wooden door and re-entered the eerie black forest. This time, he had a clear direction. The Northern Valley. The hunter’s cabin faded behind him. Yen Jio walked towards the Northern Valley mentioned in Grom’s. Log. The further north he went, the stronger the stench of decay became, almost solidifying into a malevolent presence that clung to his skin. But corrupted black wolves no longer appeared sporadically. They came in packs. Emerging. From the shadows of the forest, the ghostly green soul flames merged into a mass, like river lanterns on a ghost festival night. A dozen corrupted black wolves surrounded him. Low growls rose and fell, their dark green saliva, sizzling as it corroded the ground. Yanjyo stopped. He scanned the area and sheathed the blade of spirit extinction. Just in time to try something new, he muttered to himself. He had yet to properly use this passive ability. Of moving spells, the wolf pack moved. They pounced from all directions at once. Their sharp claws tore through the air, bringing with them a stench of blood. Yenjo did not retreat but advanced, taking a sudden step forward, before leaping into the air. His body began to spin mid-air. A surge of intense energy gathered in his mouth. Dragon Breath Technique Crimson flames erupted violently from his mouth. Due to the passive effect of casting while moving, the dragon breath technique did not cease despite Yenjo’s rotation. His spinning body propelled the flames of the dragon breath technique, forming a terrifying firestorm. The flames illuminated the entire dark forest. The howls of the wolf pack were swallowed entirely by the flames before they could even escape. Countless damage numbers danced wildly in the fire vortex, densely packed like a red rainstorm. Yen Jiu spun twice in the air before, landing lightly on the ground. The ground around him was charred black. A dozen corroded black wolves were left with not a single bone intact, all turned to ashes. Not bad, he said, satisfied as he clapped his hands and continued, deeper into the valley. After walking for a while, the trees ahead finally became sparse. He passed through the last row of twisted black wood. The scene before him suddenly opened up. A vast valley appeared in front of him. However, there was no grass or streams in the valley. Only an endless gray mist, like a pot of boiling thick soup, rolled slowly, shrouding everything. Within that mist there was a deathly aura a hundred times more intense than in the Blackwood Forest. You have entered the Necromancer’s Miasma area. Warning, your field of vision has been reduced to 5 meters. You have gained the corrosion effect. Lines of red system prompts popped up before his eyes. Corrosion. Accumulates one layer every five seconds, losing one point of health per second per layer. Duration refreshes upon accumulation. Duration 30 seconds. Yen Jiu glanced at his status bar. An icon of a skull had lit up, followed by the number one. His health began to decrease at an imperceptible speed. He pated no mind and stepped into the gray necromancer’s miasma. His vision was instantly compressed. Beyond five meters, everything was chaos. The air was cold and thick, inhaling it felt like swallowing a handful of sand. Silence. It was quieter here than in the Blackwood Forest. Even the sound of the wind had vanished. The only sound was his footsteps on the soft, decaying soil. A few translucent, phantom-like butterflies drifted lazily past him. Ghost butterflies had no level, no attributes, like harmless decorations. Yen Jiu instinctively reached out to brush aside a butterfly blocking. His path. Just as his fingertips touched the translucent wings, the ground beneath him suddenly exploded. A long, pitch black vine covered in sinister bone claws burst forth from the earth like a venomous snake coiling towards his ankle. Everything happened too quickly. Yen Jio’s figure vanished in a flash of starlight. Astral walked the bone clawed vine struck the ground heavily, making a dull thud. Yen Jio appeared behind the vine. He drew the blade of annihilation without hesitation and slashed down. The pitch black blade light cut through the thick mist. Minus 8,965. Boneclod Vine, Elite, Race, Plat Level, 12 Health, 7500 Attack, 173 Defense, 146 The Vine’s Attribute Panel. Flashed by. Its health was instantly depleted, and the massive vine twitched twice on the ground before rapidly withering into a puddle of black water. Yanjio sheathed his long knife. He glanced at his status bar. The number. Behind the skull icon had changed to 3. His health was continuously dropping at a rate of 3 points per second. He frowned. He continued to move forward. In the miasma, those ghost butterflies were everywhere. and beneath each butterfly, there could be a deadly bone-clod vine lurking. Yengio was too lazy to test it further.He directly activated windstep, his body transforming into a fleeting shadow as he sped through the thick fog. Occasionally, vines would shoot up from the ground, but they couldn’t keep up with his speed, only flailing uselessly at the air. He burst through nearly a hundred meters in one breath. When he stopped, the erosion effect on his status bar had stacked to ten layers. He was losing ten health points per second. He glanced at his health value. It had already dropped a small segment. He was like a glass cannon, no matter how high his damage, he couldn’t withstand this. Continuous real damage. This valley was bottomless. If he kept going like this, he would probably die from the miasma before even seeing the final boss. This path was impassable. An old saying suddenly popped into his mind. Within. Seven steps of poison, there must be an antidote. Yen Jio no longer hesitated, immediately turning back to the edge of the miasma. He then began to search the entrance of the valley thoroughly. The ground here was eroded by the. Miasma, pitch black and exuding a foul stench. All the plants had long since withered, turning into a black-grey, shriveled appearance. He searched patiently, his gaze sweeping over every inch of land, not missing any anomalies. Finally, beneath a lifted rock, he saw a faint white light. The glow was dim, yet it stood in stark contrast to the surrounding decay and darkness. Yanzhou approached and crouched down. He gently brushed aside the layer of black. Soil with his fingers. A small grass, entirely white, appeared before him. It had only three leaves, with a faint, moonlight-like soft glow on the leaf surfaces. Moonlight grass Although the moonlight grass in the forest is polluted, its roots can neutralize the necromantic poison. He found it. Yenjo carefully uprooted the moonlight grass and without hesitation, stuffed the whole plant into his mouth. The roots had a muddy taste, with a hint of cool sweetness. A warm current flowed down his throat, spreading throughout his body. The skull icon on his status bar, which had been stacking continuously, vanished in an instant, and his declining health finally stopped. Lingering sweetness from the moonlight grass remained in his mouth. That warm current dispelled the chill that had invaded his bones. The annoying skull icon on Yanjou’s status bar completely disappeared. He resumed his steps. Re-entering the gray necromantic miasma. His vision was still compressed within 5 meters and the thick air remained uncomfortable. But he no longer felt that sense of continuous erosion. The ground beneath his feet exploded. Again. Another boneclaw vine burst through the soil, its dark claws striking at his calf. This time, Yanjou did not dodge. He drew his sword in a reverse motion. The blade of annihilation carved a black arc through the fog. Minus 9011. The massive vine stiffened in mid-air, then quickly withered, turning into black water. He sheathed his sword, his movements fluid and graceful. He continued forward. Along the way, boneclaw vines kept ambushing him from the ground, meeting the same fate as the first. Occasionally, he could see some completely black beetles, their shells covered in sharp spikes, crawling out from the humus. Mutated stone beetle, common, race, insect level, LV-12 health. 5000 Attack, 105 Defense, 219 These creatures had decent defense, but in front of the Blade of Annihilation, they were no different from paper. Where he passed, a ground of dissipating black water and shell fragments was left. Behind, the miasma in the depths of the valley seemed to thin out a bit. The scene ahead gradually became clearer. He passed through the last swirling gray mist. An abandoned campsite, cleared by human hands, appeared before him. A few tattered tents leaned awkwardly on the ground, their canvas corroded with countless holes. Scattered on the ground were various charred crucibles, broken glass bottles, and some metal instruments whose purposes were unrecognizable. In the air, besides the foul stench of death miasma, there was also a sharp chemical odor.I in the center of the camp, a dozen monsters wandered about haphazardly. Some were small in size, their fur falling out, limbs twisted in strange ways, and pus oozing from their bodies like wolf cubs. Deformed Wolf Cub Race, Undead Level, LV 15 Health, 6000 Attack, 155 Defense, 129 Skills, Howl, Plague Infection There were also a few monsters that were much larger. Their bodies appeared to be a chaotic patchwork of several wolf heads sewn together, with countless eyes irregularly scattered across their surfaces, pus and blood seeping continuously from the stitched seams. Wolf Head Stitching Monster, Elite, Race, Undead Level, 15 Health, 8500 Attack, 295 Defense, 0 Skills, Corrosive Bite, Charge All of them were only Level 15. No level suppression had been triggered. Yen Jio shrugged. These monsters had also noticed him, the intruder. A woe, a deformed wolf cub raised its head and let out a sharp howl. Howl. An invisible wave of sound spread out. All the monsters in the camp were instantly stirred. There. Movements became frantic and in their hollow eyes, ghostly green flames ignited in unison. Dozens of pairs of ghostly flames locked onto him simultaneously. He sheathed the blade of annihilation. In the next second, he transformed. into a gust of wind, charging into the midst of the monsters. Wind stepped. The heavy body of the wolf head stitching monster immediately changed direction, lowering its head and charging at him with its stacked wolf heads. Charge. Yen Jiu weaves between the monsters, his steps light as a feather. He sidestepped the charge of a stitching monster. All the monsters were drawn to him, trailing behind like a chaotic torrent. The deformed wolf cub’s plague. Infection skill began to take effect and green toxic mist spread out beneath their feet. Yen Jiu’s health started to decline at an unpleasantly slow rate. quite annoying. He didn’t stop, continuing to run in circles around the camp. The monsters behind him grew in number, forming a massive rolling ball of flesh that relentlessly pursued him. The timing was almost right. Yenjio suddenly stepped forward and then leaped into the air. His body spun mid-air. A terrifying energy rapidly gathered in his mouth. Dragon breath. Crimson flames erupted from his mouth like a volcanic eruption. His spinning body, fueled by the flames of dragon breath, created a fiery storm connecting heaven and earth above the camp. The entire valley was illuminated by this terrifying blaze. The monster’s whales barely escaped their lips before they were engulfed in flames, instantly turning to charcomblous bright red damage numbers. Danced wildly in the fiery vortex. Midas 13,699 to 13,246 The scene was dense, like a red rainstorm had fallen. Yen Jiu spun twice in the air, and as the flames dissipated, he gracefully landed back on the ground. The area where he stood was surrounded by a circle of charred earth. A dozen elite monsters were left with not a single bone intact. all had turned to ash. Not bad, he clapped his hands, quite satisfied with the effect of the mobile casting. The entire camp fell completely silent. A few silver coins and some pieces of equipment lay scattered on the charred ground, glimmering faintly. Yenjiyo leisurely picked up the spoils one by one, tossing them into his backpack. His attention was drawn to a corner deep within the camp. There, an iron cage had been overturned. Inside the cage lay some dried straw, still stained with dark brown blood. Next to the cage, several torn pages of parchment were. scattered about. Yen Jio walked over, crouched down, and picked up the largest fragment. The writing on it was in a script he couldn’t understand. But beside the runes, a few words were hastily noted in the common tongue .Living. Fusion. Failure. Out of control. He threw the fragments to the ground. It seemed that the monsters here were all products of these failed experiments. He stood up, ready to leave this unpleasant camp and continue exploring deeper into the valley. Just then, a. Faint sound, like nails scraping against metal, came from a tattered tent not far away. Was there still something alive inside? Yen Jiu gripped the hilt of the Blade of Annihilation. He stepped forward, heading towards that tent. The scratching sound inside abruptly stopped. Yen Jiu’s footsteps halted as well. He stood in front of the tattered canvas tent, his right hand already resting on the hilt of the Blade of Annihilation. The surroundings were deathly silent. Only the wind, passing through the cam, made a faint whoosh sound as it stirred the tattered fabric. He did not wait any longer. He took a step forward, reached out, and grabbed the filthy tent flap. With A sudden pull to the side, ripped the already decayed canvas was violently torn open, creating a huge gash. The scene inside the tent was laid bare. A monster was curled up in the corner, facing away from the entrance. Its form was. Between that of a human and a wolf, covered in dull gray fur, its back arched high, with long, thick bone spines piercing through its skin, exposed to the air. It was frantically scratching at a rusty iron box with its sharp claws. The harsh sound of metal scraping came from here. Hearing the noise behind it, the monster froze in its movements. Slowly, inch by inch, it turned around. It had a twisted face, belonging to a werewolf. Its fangs were. Bared, dripping with disgusting saliva. The most bizarre thing was its eyes. They were not the hollow soul fires of undead creatures, but a pair of blood -red pupils filled with madness, pain, and brutality. Above its head. Floated a line of scarlet text. Research Supervisor, Sean, Black Iron Level Boss, Race, Werewolf Level, 15 Health, 15,000 Attack, 225 Defense, 160 Skills, Charge, Wolf King Howl, Bone Spikes Roar. The mutated werewolf. Let out a deafening roar. Wolf king howl. A visible wave of sound exploded outward. Yanzhou’s body swayed slightly, and his health dropped significantly. Immediately, the werewolf dropped to all fours, its hind leg muscles. Tensing up. Charge its massive body transformed into a gray blur, rushing towards Yanzhou with a foul wind. Faced with this fierce charge, Yanzhou’s reaction remained simple. He merely sidestepped to the left, his body like a weightless feather. The werewolf’s charge brushed past the edge of his clothing, crashing heavily into a pillar on the other side of the tent, producing a dull thud. Before the werewolf could adjust its position, the menacing bone spines on its back suddenly vibrated in unison. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. Dozens of sharp bone spines shot out from its body like arrows, sealing off all of Yanjio’s possible escape routes. Bone spikes. Yet Yanjio did. Not dodge. The blade of annihilation in his hand finally came out of its sheath. A pitch black blade light drew a perfect circle in front of him. Clang, clang. The sound of dense metal clashing rang out. All the bone spikes were precisely blocked and deflected by that blade light falling to the ground. It seemed that ranged skills could also be countered by blocking. He just didn’t know if it would work against spells or other powerful ranged skills. As Yinjio swung his long knife, he pondered. He moved like an elegant swordsman, entangled with the beast. Each dodge was perfectly timed. Each block was precise and accurate. The boss was indeed a boss, Yinjio could. Sense its intelligence, knowing how to evade and maneuver, unlike those undead outside, which were merely empty shells driven by instinct. The werewolf’s attacks grew increasingly frenzied, its claws leaving trails of afterimages. In the air. Yen Jiu weaved through the claw shadows with ease.He had seen enough. Just at the moment when the werewolf missed its leap, its old strength gone and new strength not yet born, Yen Jiu moved. Wind step. His. Figure left a residual shadow in place and instantly appeared at the werewolf’s side. The werewolf sensed danger and tried to forcefully turn its body. Too late. A cold, narrow blade silently sliced through its neck. Minus 12,588. A shocking damage number floated above the mutated werewolf’s head. The werewolf angrily swiped with its claws, but Yenjio dodged, and with a swift motion he struck again at the werewolf’s neck. Minus 18 ,137. Weakness critical hit. Its health bar was instantly emptied by this fatal blow. All of the werewolf’s movements came to an abrupt halt. It froze in place, and in its blood-red pupils, the madness and pain rapidly faded, replaced by a sense of relief. and calm. Yanjio sheathed his blade. He thought this boss would dissolve like the previous monsters, turning into black water or white light. However, it did not. The mutated werewolf did not dissipate. Its massive body fell. Heavily to the ground. Then, under Yanjio’s slightly surprised gaze, it used its already broken claws to support itself, slowly and painfully crawling in one direction. It was crawling towards the center of the camp. There, surrounded by various abandoned instruments and cauldrons, was an inconspicuous pool. The pool was not large, only about three to four meters in diameter. The water inside presented a strange, boiling bright green bubbles. Surged from the bottom of the pool, bursting and releasing a nauseating stench of chemical agents mixed with rotting flesh. Through the churning green liquid, one could vaguely see a layer of something settled at the bottom of the pool. It was white. It was bones. A dense pile of human bones, no less than dozens. The mutated werewolf dragged its severed neck, persistently crawling inch by inch towards that green pool. With every inch it crawled, a Black trail of blood was left on the ground. It seemed to want to return. To the place that created it and also destroyed it. Yen Jio unleashed a star impact, revealing an immunity message. It seemed to be the same situation. As with the barbarian bears guards, it was a scripted event that could not be interrupted. Finally, the mutated werewolf reached the edge of the pool. It used its last ounce of strength to roll over and fell into the boiling. Green water. Splash. It did not create a large splash. The werewolf’s body began to dissolve at a visible speed the moment it touched the green liquid. Flesh and organs turned into a puddle of pus within a few breaths, merging into the pool. Only a complete skeleton belonging to the werewolf slowly sank to the bottom. The entire camp returned to silence once more. Yanzhou frowned. Is it over? Just as this thought arose, a mutation suddenly occurred. The green pool began to boil violently at an unprecedented speed. Glug. Glug. The pool water surged with huge bubbles as if it were boiling. At the bottom of the pool, those human bones that had been silent for who knows how, long began to tremble. Crack, crack. The sound of bones rubbing and colliding came from the bottom of the pool, dense enough to make one scalp tingle. An invisible force awakened at the bottom of the pool. The scattered. Bones, as if attracted by a magnet, began to converge towards the center. Their target was the werewolf skeleton that had just sunk to the bottom. Arms, leg bones, ribs, skulls, all the human bones surged madly towards it, clinging to the werewolf skeleton, squeezing, merging, deforming. It was no longer a simple stacking, but a twisted, evil, reshaping of life. A brand new monster was slowly taking shape in that boiling pool of water. Yen Jio. Tightened his grip on the hilt of his blade unconsciously. He felt it. A presence far more powerful than all the previous monsters combined was rising from the pool, crash, a massive and grotesque claw made entirely of white bones. Suddenly shot out from the pool, landing on the edge. Following it was a second, a third. A colossal monster, so overwhelming it took one’s breath away, slowly rose from that green purgatory. It had no flesh, no organs, it’s… Entire body was forcibly twisted and fused from countless human and beast skeletons. Dozens of hollow skulls were irregularly embedded in its massive form, their dark eye sockets all gazing at Yenjo. It had no mouth, yet it emitted a soundless roar that echoed throughout the valley. That roar directly impacted the soul. A line of golden text slowly appeared above its head. Bone Abomination, Bronze Level Boss, Race, Undead Level, 20 Health. 32,000 attack, 310 defense, 450 skills, bone cage, reign of bones, grasp of the dead, reassemble a level 20 bronze boss. Yen Jiu’s breath momentarily halted. The massive body of the bone abomination fully stood up from the green water, and with each movement, countless bones emitted a sound that made one’s teeth ache. The skulls embedded in its body turned their dark eye sockets simultaneously, finally locking onto Yen Jiu. Without hesitation, Yen Jiu’s figure instantly vanished. Wind step. He chose to take the initiative. A shadow sliced through the silence of the camp, appearing at the sight of the bone abomination in an instant. The blade of annihilation in his hand, with an unstoppable momentum, struck down fiercely at the monster’s knee joint, twisted from leg bones and ribs. He aimed to cripple its mobility first. The blade clashed against the white bones. A dull sound of metal. Striking metal rang out. Minus 3821. Level suppression. A red damage number floated up from the bone abomination’s head, unhurriedly. Roar. The bone abomination let out a sharp roar, and its massive claw, entirely made of arm and finger bones, swept towards him with a whistling sound. Yanjio instinctively leaped back, narrowly avoiding this powerful strike. The bone claw crashed heavily into the spot where he had just stood. Boom! The ground cracked. Open, and debris flew everywhere. If that had landed squarely, with his meager defense, he would have likely been a corpse on the spot. The bone abomination, having missed its strike, began to turn its massive body, the hollow. Eye sockets of dozens of skulls relocking onto Yanjio. It raised another bone claw. That claw opened, aiming at Yenjio. Bone cage. Crack, crack, crack, the ground beneath Yenjio suddenly trembled. Walls made of pale white. Bones erupted from the ground, instantly closing in to form an airtight bone prison, trapping him tightly within. The bones on the walls continued to rise, sharp bone spikes extending from the gaps, compressing the internal space. Almost simultaneously, the dozens of skulls on the bone abomination’s massive body all opened their jaws. Reign of bones. Above the cage, sharp bone spikes, as if arrows condensed out of thin air, densely packed, like dark clouds, then poured down like a torrential rain. Seal off, then conduct indiscriminate area attacks. A perfect combo. Yen Jio looked up at the rain of death. His figure vanished in a flurry of star-like light points. Astral walk. The bone spike rain fell into the empty cage, producing a dense puff-puff sound, turning the ground into a porcupine. Outside the bone cage, Yen Jio’s figure reappeared. He faced off against the massive monster. From a distance. He did not rush in again. A change of strategy was necessary. The bone abomination clumsily turned around, seemingly unable to comprehend why the target had suddenly disappeared and then reappeared. It raised. Its bone claw once more. Grasp of the dead, a ghostly claw made of pale mist shot out from its palm, reaching for Yenjiyo. Yenjiyo sidestepped to avoid it. The ghostly claw grazed his body and struck a tattered tent behind. Him. In an instant, the tent was corroded by an unknown force, turning into a pile of flying ash. Was it an instant death judgment or high damage? Yenjiyo certainly wouldn’t try to find out. He positioned his knife in front. Of him, his left hand brushing over the blade. Flame blade. A ball of crimson flame instantly enveloped the blade of the spirit vanquishing knife. Then, instead of dodging, he charged forward to meet the next attack of the. Bone abomination. Just as the massive bone claw of the bone abomination was about to come down. Wind step. Yenjiyo’s body moved like a butterfly, slipping through the enormous bone claw. The spirit vanquishing knife in his. hand, glowing with an eerie red light, struck again at the joint of the Bone Abomination’s leg. Minus 3,151. Minus 9,013 new damage numbers floated above the boss’s head. The Bone Abomination’s attacks were still powerful and heavy, each strike capable of altering the terrain in a small area, but its movements were too slow. In front of Yenzhou, all its attacks seemed so clumsy. Yenzhou’s figure darted around the massive monster, evading one lethal attack after. Another. The damage numbers fluctuated steadily. The bone abomination’s health began to decrease slowly but surely at a visibly noticeable rate. Finally, cracks began to appear on the boss’s enormous body, with fragments of bone continuously falling from the struck areas. It seemed to be enraged by this enemy that was as agile as a fly. It halted all attacks and dozens of skulls simultaneously looked up to the sky, letting out a silent roar. A tremendous suction force emanated from its body. All the scattered bone fragments, discarded instruments, and even the black water from the monsters Yenjiyo had killed earlier began to tremble, then were drawn by an invisible force towards the bone abomination’s body. Reassemble. Its health bar began to recover wildly. Yenjiyo showed no hesitation, using astral walk to appear right in front of the bone abomination. He raised the spirit vanquishing. Knife high. The power of the stars within him surged towards the blade. No staff needed, a knife would do just as well. Star impact. Meteor strike. solid beams of starlight erupted from the tip of the blade, transforming into a meteor that fiercely pierced into the hollow of the Bone Abomination’s chest composed of countless ribs. 15000 -1901915000 The health restored by the Bone Abomination’s reassemble skill was partially offset by Yen Jiu’s high damage. Its body shook violently and its health finally stabilized around 20,000 points. Reassemble was interrupted. The Bone Abomination’s health remained stuck around 20,000. points. But Yanjyo’s mana had also been significantly depleted. He could no longer wait for this monster to use the same trick again. A war of attrition was not in his favor. The bone abomination’s sluggish thinking seemed unable to comprehend why its recovery had been interrupted. Its massive body turned back towards Yanjyo and the dozens of hollow skulls reignited with a ghostly light in their dark eye sockets. It raised its menacing bone claw. Yanjyo did not give it another chance to cast a skill. Wind stepped. His figure transformed into a blurred shadow, skimming along the ground, actively approaching. He moved like a tireless ghost, circling around the enormous, skeletal monster, beginning a new round of maneuvering. The crimson flame blade effect on the spirit vanquishing knife was about to fade, leaving a charred slash on the bones with one last stroke. Minus 3862. Minus 10,055. The Bone. Abomination clumsily swung its bone claws, each attack shattering the ground and sending debris flying. But it couldn’t touch Yen Jiu. Not even the hem of his clothes, every dodge by Yen Jio seemed to be calculated with the utmost. Precision, always managing to evade by a hair’s breadth just before the bone claw struck down. His target, from beginning to end, was singular. The left knee of the bone abomination. That joint forcibly twisted and pieced. Together from countless human leg bones and animal ribs. The blade of annihilation struck the same spot once more. Crack. A faint, crisp sound, almost inaudible amidst the dull thud of impact. But Yen Jio heard it. The massive. Body of the bone abomination lurched violently. A clear crack was slowly widening at its left knee. Affective. Yen Jiu’s spirit lifted. His attacks became even more ferocious and cunning. The bone abomination seemed to. Since its weakness, it began to wildly swing its arms, trying to swat this annoying fly dead. Rain of bones. Grip of the dead. Various skills were unleashed chaotically, enveloping the entire abandoned camp in a haze of pale. Bone spikes and deathly mist. Yen Jiu’s figure darted through the gaps between the skills. At times, he would use astral walk, vanishing into thin air, only to reappear elsewhere. At other times, he would make an extreme sidestep, letting the deadly ghostly claws brush past his nose. He danced like a performer on the edge of a blade, graceful yet filled with lethal danger. Crack! Another, even clearer sound of fracture rang out. The bone at the knee joint of the bone abomination was forcibly severed in half. Its massive body could no longer maintain balance and suddenly toppled to one side. Boom! The enormous skeletal form crashed to the ground, kicking up clouds. of dust and shattered bones. The ground trembled violently, and several tattered tents were completely torn apart by the shockwave. The bone abomination struggled to rise, but its broken left leg rendered all its efforts futile. It could only drag its mangled limbs across the ground, flailing its intact bone claw aimlessly. Dust slowly settled. Yen Jio did not rush forward. He stood at a distance, calmly observing the fallen monster. The massive, skeletal body had several ribs in the chest cavity broken from the violent impact, and the entire structure had become loose. Through those enormous gaps, Yanzhou saw that at the center, wrapped in countless pale human bones, there was a skeleton of a werewolf, distinctly different in color. It was the skeleton of Shin. It served as a core, a framework, forcibly twisting and linking all the human bones together. So that’s it. This was its vital. Point. The scattered bones on the ground began to tremble slightly, as if wanting to be drawn by that force, to undergo reassembly once more. He couldn’t give it a chance. Yanzhou’s figure vanished again. Astral walk. He. appeared above the fallen body of the bone abomination, looking down from a height. With both hands gripping the blade, the power of the stars within him poured unreservedly into the blade of annihilation. The blade hummed, and, on the pitch black edge, starlight and flames intertwined. He aimed at the position of the werewolf skeleton, diving down like a falcon. One slash. Minus 10,977. Weakness critical hit. This strike landed precisely on the werewolf. Skeleton’s chest. A critical hit number floated up from above the bone abomination’s head. Its health points plummeted to zero in an instant. But it wasn’t over yet. At the very moment the blade touched the core, Yanjio pointed. With his other hand at the same spot. Falling star technique. A miniscule star, condensed to perfection, trailing a brilliant tail, followed the blade without any delay, crashing into the werewolf skeleton’s chest cavity. Boom. There was no deafening explosion. Only a blinding white light erupted from within the bone abomination, consuming everything. Minus 19,019 the light faded. The massive body of the Bone Abomination stood frozen in place. The next. Second, the werewolf skeleton, as the core, shattered into fine dust, losing the core connection. The hundreds of forcibly aggregated human skeletons seemed to instantly lose all their strength. With a crash, they collapsed like. A landslide, scattering across the ground, reverting to a pile of lifeless, disordered white bones. The entire camp fell into an eternal silence. Congratulations, you have killed the bronze-level boss Bone Abomination. In the center of that mountain of bones, several items were emitting different colors of light. The experience from the bronze level boss was indeed terrifying, directly increasing significantly just a hair’s breadth away from. Leveling up. Yen Jio sheathed his sword and walked towards the pile of loot. A ground of white bones. The entire camp was covered by the remnants of these skeletons as if a brutal rain of bones had fallen. Yen Jio navigated. Through the towering pile of white bones, stepping on shattered ribs and skulls, producing a crunching sound. He approached the few pieces of loot that were glowing faintly among the bones. He bent down, and the first thing he picked up was an unremarkable, rusty iron key. It lay next to a broken finger bone, almost blending in with the scrap metal on the ground. If it weren’t for the glow, Yanzhou wouldn’t have noticed it. Key to the laboratory. Quest item, item description. The key carried by research supervisor Sean. After he was infected and lost his sanity, he still followed his instincts, wanting to open the box containing all his research efforts and sins, but… had long forgotten that the key was on him. Yen Jio weighed the cold key in his hand, so it was for that iron box. He tossed the key into his backpack and turned his gaze to the next item. Heavy bracers of the stitching. Monster quality, bronze level requirement, 15 equipment type plate armor bracers attributes, strength plus 30, constitution plus 20 stitching fury, 5% chance to increase your attack power by 10% for 10 seconds when attacking. Class. Requirement, warrior, paladin next. He pulled a dagger from a pile of broken bones. This dagger had a very unique design, with a long blade and a small wolf head carving at the guard, the wolf’s mouth wide open as, if silently howling. Sean’s shadow dagger quality, bronze level requirement, 15 equipment type, dagger attributes, agility plus 23, strength plus 15, attack speed plus 20% child of shadows, while stealthed, mana recovery speed plus 100%, movement speed plus 30% ambush, the first attack while stealthed has a 10% chance to stun the target for 1 second dot. Class requirement, rogue, assassin another exceptional item. a bronze weapon with dual effects, and the attribute. Bonuses were quite considerable, even having some utility in the later stages of the game. Gaze of the dead quality, bronze level requirement, 15 equipment type, 2-handed staff attributes, intelligence plus 40, spirit, plus 20 soul siphon, your damaging spells have a 5% chance to restore 1% of the mana cost of the damage dealt. Class requirement, mage, warlock, undead sorcerer after clearing all the loot, Yanjio stood up straight. The entire. Camp, aside from the pool still bubbling with eerie green foam, was left in a state of ruin and silence. He turned around and looked at the tattered canvas tent in the corner of the camp. The iron box that Sean had desperately clawed it was still there. He stepped forward and walked back over. The lock on the iron box made a soft click sound. Yenjio pulled out the rusty key, tossed it aside, and then lifted the heavy iron lid. Inside the box, there were no treasures or powerful equipment. Only a thick stack of manuscripts, the edges of the paper already yellowed and curled, filled with dense symbols and text, next to the manuscript, there lay a thumb-sized glass vial containing some silver powder that reflected a faint light in the dim surroundings. He reached out, took the stack of manuscripts and the small vial and stuffed them into his backpack. Just then, a system notification chimed in his ear. Friend Mingyao has sent you a message. He opened the message bar. How’s it going on your side? I need help here. Yenjio closed the interface and glanced at the camp covered in bones, not lingering. Any longer. I’ll be there soon. Fortunately, there were still two moonlight grasses left. He passed through the poisonous miasma and the eerie woods, quickly re-entering Whitewood Town. In the town center, Mingyao stood on. The empty street carefully wiping the blade of her knight’s sword with a white cloth. Hearing footsteps, she paused and looked up. You’re back. Upon seeing Yanjio, Mingyao immediately straightened up and sheathed her sword. Did you find anything? Yanjio asked. An abandoned underground river. Mingyao’s response was quick, without any hesitation. I followed the river and found a secret passage leading to the town cemetery. A hint of. Lingering fatigue was visible on her face. As soon as the gravekeeper saw me, he attacked directly and summoned all the nearby undead creatures. I dealt with them all. But the situation inside the cemetery is a bit strange. She paused, seemingly organizing her thoughts. There’s a stronger force deep within the tombs. I didn’t dare to go further. Ming Yao candidly explained her predicament. If I go deeper, I’m very likely to die in there. She. Looked at Yen Jiu. So, I retreated there and waited for you to come in together. Ng Yanjio replied. He walked up to Ming Yao, took out the thick stack of manuscripts from his backpack and handed it directly to her. Ming. Yao instinctively caught it. What is this? I found it in that camp, it should be notes on the necromantic plague, Yanjio explained. You take it, I’m too lazy to read it. Ming Yao held the stack of musty manuscripts, glanced at Yanjio’s nonchalant expression, and finally put the manuscripts into her own backpack. The two of them walked one after the other through the deserted street, heading towards the cemetery shrouded in a deathly aura. I also have some findings. On the way, Yen Jiu briefly recounted his encounters in the Blackwood Forest and the matters concerning the bone abomination to Ming Yao. At the entrance of the cemetery, there was a strange buzzing. In the air, like countless invisible insects flapping their wings, the powerful energy fluctuations almost solidified, causing a prickling sensation on the skin. Ming Yao tightened her grip on the sword hilt. Just standing. At the entrance, she could feel the oppressive force, which was several times stronger than when she faced the grave keeper. No wonder she had chosen to retreat without hesitation back then. Yanzhou, however, seemed unfazed. Stepping down the stairs. Wait. Mingyao called out to him. Yanzhou turned back, a hint of inquiry on his face. I’ll go first. Mingyao raised her left arm, and the iris shield materialized in front of her, radiating a gentle holy light. My defense is high, I can support you. She didn’t want to be like before, merely following behind and watching this man solve everything. She was confident that she could be his strongest arm, not just a spectator who cheered. Yen Jio looked at her and then at the shield in front of her. All right. Contrary to the imagined scene of undead everywhere, the depths of the tomb were surprisingly empty. Only a few skeletons in. Tattered cultist robes wandered aimlessly in the corners of the tomb. The energy they emitted was out of sync with the intensity of the entire environment. Yen Jio walked past Ming Yao. I’ll take care of it. before he finished speaking his figure had already transformed into a fleeting shadow the dark blade of wind step flashed through the air in an instant the scattered undead cultists didn’t even have time to react before being cleaved in half turning into a pile of shattered bones minus 10 397 the entire process took no more than three seconds ming yao held up her shield her defensive stance seeming somewhat unnecessary she silently lowered her arms yen jiou sheathed his sword and began to survey the empty tomb it was very clean but the powerful energy fluctuations undeniably filled every inch of space. Did the gravekeeper drop anything special? Yen Jio kicked a piece of broken bone at his feet and asked. Mingya shook her head. Only a few pieces of black iron equipment. The two fell into silence. The clues here seemed to have run dry again. Mingya stood still, her brow slightly furrowed. The intuition of a seasoned gamer told her that at times like this, something must have been overlooked. When in doubt, check the quest text. Suddenly, she remembered something and took out the stack of yellowed manuscripts that Yen. Gio had given her. I haven’t had a chance to look at this yet, she said, holding the stack of papers that exuded a musty smell and the scent of death and began to flip through it quickly. Sheen’s handwriting started off. Neat but became increasingly frantic and scrawled. Mingyao read quickly, her expression changing constantly with the content of the paper. From confusion to surprise, then to realization. So that’s how it is. She murmured. What’s wrong? Yen Gio walked over. Mingyao raised the manuscript in her hand towards him. This place was created by the shadow bishop Angmar. Angmar? Yenjiu recognized the name, it was from the shadow council bishop. They had killed earlier. Yes, Mingyao nodded. The notes say that Angmar secretly established a base in the valley to study a new type of necromantic plague. As a result, during one experiment, a werewolf pup used four. Testing accidentally escaped. It infected the wolf pack in the blackwood forest, Mingyao continued to explain. Originally, Shin could barely hold the camp with the remaining people. But then, Lord Angmar suddenly lost contact, causing some internal chaos. Yen Jiu scratched his head, he was the root cause. Later, news came from the city that Angmar was dead. Not long after, the banshees in the city also lost contact and supplies were completely cut off. With the threat of the infected wolf pack outside, internal strife broke out in the camp due to the remaining resources being fought over, after all, these people had no ability to cross the poisonous miasma. In desperation, Sheen locked all the research reports and logs in that iron box. Mingyao flipped to the last page of the manuscript and read aloud a sentence written in blood. This is the last powder, I must protect it. Well, everything connected. The source of the plague, the monsters in the blackwood forest, the crazed townsfolk, the terrifying valley, and this eerie underground tomb. The starting point of all clues pointed to the shadow. Bishop who had already been taken down by Yen Jiu. Mingyao turned another page of the heavy manuscript, her fingertip tracing over the scrawled, frenzied handwriting. She mentioned in the logs that Angmar activated this. tomb at the same time he was building this base. Her speech was slow, as if she were organizing a complex logical chain. He said this is where Angmar conducted the highest level rituals, the core of the entire plague plan. Why would a researcher know the bishop’s core secrets? Yen Jio raised a very practical question. Because Shin was Angmar’s most trusted apprentice. Mingyao flipped to one of the pages, where there was a relatively neat record. Angmar even promised that once the plague successfully infected the entire Maple Leaf City and its surroundings, he would make him one of the managers. What a pipe dream, Yanjou’s comment was sharp and to the point. Ming. Yao ignored his jokes. In the final notes, Shin’s condition was already very unstable, he was losing his sanity but he had only one obsession, to protect that iron box, to safeguard his final research. That is this. Bottle of powder. She lifted her head and looked at Yanjou. The energy field in this tomb is strange, powerful, but without a source, it resembles a massive seal. And sealing something, or initiating a ritual, doesn’t necessarily require a traditional ki. This powder might be an alchemical product, a catalyst for some ritual, or perhaps it is itself the key. Yenjio took out the thumb-sized glass bottle from his backpack. The silver powder inside seemed to resonate faintly with the invisible energy in the dim tomb. Is this it? Give it to me. Mingyao reached out her hand. Yenjio handed over the bottle. Mingyao took the cold glass bottle but did not open it immediately. She held up the iris flower shield and the holy light illuminated the ground around them. She began to carefully search the open space in the center of the tomb. What are you looking for? Yen Ji-o. Followed behind her, somewhat impatient. A ritual magic circle, or similar markings. Ming-yao replied, examining the stone slabs on the ground inch by inch like an archaeologist. The humming sound in the tomb seemed to grow. Stronger. Finally, Ming-yao stopped in front of an inconspicuous stone slab. This slab was indistinguishable from the surrounding ground, but under the careful scrutiny of the holy light on the shield, one could see some almost. Worn down scratches that were finer than a hair. Found it. Mingyao crouched down and gently brushed away the dust with her fingers. A complex circular magic circle, composed of countless geometric shapes and unknown symbols, revealed itself. In the center of this magic circle was a small groove. Mingyao flipped through the stack of manuscripts to a certain page, where a similar symbol was also drawn in the corner. Sheen had unconsciously recorded this crucial clue. She pulled out the cork from the glass bottle. A peculiar scent, mixed with metal and herbs, wafted out. Without hesitation, she aimed the bottles opening at the groove in the center of the magic circle, and carefully poured the silver powder inside. The moment the powder fell into the groove, there was no light, no sound. It lay there quietly. Nothing happened. Yen Jio had just taken out a bottle of honey brew from his bag, intending to blow on the bottle. Suddenly, a change occurred. The invisible energy in the entire tomb seemed to have found an outlet, wildly converging towards the magic circle on the ground. A low resonance echoed from deep, within the earth. The silver powder in the groove was instantly ignited, transforming into silver liquid flames that rapidly spread along the fine scratches on the stone slab. In the blink of an eye, the entire circular magic circle was completely illuminated by silver light. Ancient and obscure runes lit up one after another, emitting powerful magical fluctuations. Crack, crack! The ground began to tremble violently, and the stone slab beneath. Their feet made a grating sound that was painful to the ears. The massive circular stone slab beneath Yen Jiu and Ming Yao was slowly sinking. An endless, spiraling staircase appeared before them. A cold wind, thick with the scent of death and decay, suddenly surged upward from below the staircase. The wind carried the unique stench of undead creatures, along with a faint hint of sulfur. Mingyao tightened her grip on the knight’s longsword, the light from the iris flower shield firmly protecting both of them. Yanjou stowed the wine bottle back in his bag, drew the blade of spirit extinction, and the dark blade did not reflect any light under the glow of the silver. Magic circle. He looked down. Endless darkness. There are good things below, he said. Mingyao stepped in front of him and was the first to step onto the first step of the staircase. Let’s go. The spiral staircase descended. As if it had no end. A cold wind surged from below, carrying the scent of death and decay, causing Yanjio’s cloak to flutter. The holy light on the iris flower shield was the only source of illumination in this endless darkness, casting a small area beneath their feet into brightness. It’s deep here, Mingyao’s voice echoed in the narrow stairway, tinged with a hint of hollowness. MMM. Yanjio walked behind her, the blade of annihilation held. In his hand, the tip nearly grazing the ground. The darkness did not discomfort him, instead, it felt oddly familiar. The material of the staircase transitioned from rough stone to polished obsidian. Distorted reliefs began to appear on the walls, depicting scenes of undead sacrifices. Finally, the staircase came to an end. A vast underground cavern loomed before them. It was more than ten times larger than the tomb above the dome so high it was. Lost in darkness. In the center of the cavern stood a massive altar constructed from bones and black rock. Upon the altar lay a thick purple arm, as large as a giant python, bound tightly by dozens of pitch black chains inscribed. With runes. The arm still pulsed slightly, each throb sending ripples of purple energy through the surrounding air. A pressure more terrifying than the loathing of bones enveloped the entire space. Ming Yao raised her shield. The holy light dimming under this oppressive force. A translucent panel appeared before Yen Jiu. Right arm of the lord of the undead, silver level boss, race, undead level, 15 health, 42,000 attack, 505 defense, 400 skill. Plague eruption, passive attacks will inflict plague effects, continuously eroding the target’s health and contaminating the surrounding ground. Silver level. Mingyao’s tone grew serious. Be careful, it’s bound. By chains, so its attack range shouldn’t be too large. She quickly analyzed the situation. We can keep our distance and use ranged skills to wear it down, that’s the safest approach. Yanjio blanced at the still pulsing purple. Arm. The blood is quite thick. After saying this, he took a step forward. Wait, you. Mingyao’s words were cut short as Yinzhu’s figure transformed into a gust of wind charging toward the altar. Wind step. He didn’t. Even activate flame blade. Against an opponent without level suppression, relying on equipment’s additional effects would be too dull. Mingyao swallowed the rest of her words. She should have anticipated this. Explaining. Tactics to this man was like playing the loot to a cow. Without hesitation, the iris flower shield in her left hand shone brightly and a pair of magnificent golden wings suddenly unfurled behind her. Light of dawn. A soft and sacred radiance spread out from her, enveloping the surroundings. Holy Domain. The golden light formed a massive circular magic array on the ground, covering Yen Jyo’s path as he charged forward. The moment he stepped into the Holy Domain, Yen Jyo felt his body lighten, a warm current coursing through him, enhancing both his strength and speed. Just as he was about to step onto the altar, the bound purple arm suddenly shook violently. It broke free from the two outermost chains, and five sharp purple nails, like long spears, shot toward Yen Jyo with a whistling sound that tore through the air. The speed was beyond imagination. Yanzhou’s body twisted impossibly. In mid-air, narrowly avoiding the deadly claw. Boom. The purple giant claw smashed into the spot he had just occupied, the obsidian ground instantly shattering, a purple plague mist spreading from the cracks. The ground. Emitted a hissing sound of corrosion. Yanzhou’s figure had already appeared on the other side of the arm. The blade of annihilation in his hand traced a dark arc, striking the thick wrist of the arm. Dash 9541, a striking damage. Number floated up from above the arm. Roar. The arm throbbed with pain, emitting vibrations that seemed beyond the capacity of any living creature. It swung violently, trying to shake off Yen Jio, this little bug. But Yen. Jio was faster. His body moved like a ray, gliding along the surface of the arm, dodging the wildly flailing chains. The blade of annihilation swung again and again, leaving deep, bone-revealing wounds on the purple skin. Minus 9899. Minus 9731. Minus 9317. The life points of the Lich Lord’s right arm began to plummet at a terrifying speed. It had completely gone berserk. No longer attempting to attack Yinzhou, it brought its massive palm crashing down onto the altar’s ground. Boom. Boom. Boom. Each impact sent violent tremors through the entire underground hollow. A thick miasma of plague erupted from the altar, spreading in all directions. Mingyao stood at a distance, holding. Her shield, her brow furrowed. As soon as the miasma touched the golden light of her, sanctuary, it melted away like ice and snow, emitting a piercing sound of purification. But the range of the sanctuary was limited. Yen Jio. Executed a, dimensional walk, his figure vanishing from the spot and reappearing directly above the arm. With both hands gripping his blade, he thrust down fiercely into that massive wound. Splat! The blade of annihilation. Plunged completely into the arm through the gash. At that moment, all movements of the Lich Lord’s right arm froze. Its enormous body began to tremble violently. The next second, blinding purple light erupted from its wound. Boom. The entire arm, along with all the runic chains binding it, exploded into a sky full of purple specks. Congratulations, you have killed the silver level boss Lich Lord’s right arm. The purple light rain slowly descended. On the altar, only a few items flickered with different glows remained. Yanjou glanced at the system and found no notification, which meant that the two of them were not the first to kill the silver boss. Yanjou’s figure reappeared, shaking the purple blood off his blade as he walked towards the loot. Mingyao silently retracted her sanctuary in wings of light. She approached him. Can you let me finish speaking next time? There was a hint. Of helplessness in her tone. Mingyao sighed quietly and put away her irish shield. She felt like a worried mother, while the other was that genius son who always did as he pleased yet managed to come first in everything. Yen. Zhou had already stepped onto the altar made of obsidian and bones. The purple specks left behind after the explosion of the lich lord’s right arm were slowly dissipating like fireflies. In the center of the altar, three items lay. quietly radiating a more dazzling light than the previous bronze equipment he bent down and first picked up a pitch black cloak the material of the cloak was peculiar as if woven from solidified shadows and upon closer inspection it seemed to be writhing abyssal shadow cloak quality silver level requirement 15 equipment type cloak attributes agility plus 60 constitution plus 45 veil of the void when you remain still for more than three seconds you automatically enter stealth mode moving or attacking will break this effect Corosive Aura, reduces the defense of all enemies within a 5 meter radius by 10%. Equipment Requirement, Rogue, Plague Lords. Ring, Quality, Silver, Level Requirement 15, Equipment Type, Ring, Attributes, Strength plus 55, Agility plus 55, Touch of Plague, your attacks have a 10% chance to inflict the minor plague effect on the target, dealing 100. True Damage per second for 5 seconds. This effect cannot stack. Equipment Requirement, Warrior, Rogue, another exceptional item. Without hesitation, Yen Jiu tossed the ring into his bag and then looked at the third piece of equipment. It was a heavy silver breastplate, and in the center of the breastplate, broken runic chains formed the grotesque face of a one-eyed giant.Chest armor of the binding tyrant quality, silver level requirement. 15 Equipment type, plate chest armor attributes, constitution plus 70, physical defense plus 50, spell defense plus 50 unyielding will, when your health drops below 30%, you will immediately gain a shield equal to 20% of your maximum. Health, lasting for 10 seconds. cooldown time 5 minutes.Equipment requirement, warrior, paladin this attribute. Mingyao’s heart skipped a beat. The power of this chest armor exceeded her imagination, even stronger than the bronze equipment she was wearing, surpassing it by more than one tear. Silver equipment, terrifying indeed. With it, her survivability would leap to a new level. Thank you. She softly said to Yen Zhou’s back. Ding. Your. Task. Investigate the undead plague has been completed please go to the mayor’s mansion in Maple Leaf City to claim your reward task completed. Yanjio clapped his hands, preparing to turn and leave. Completing the task meant that the matters here had come to an end. Mingyao nodded, just about to say something. Suddenly, the entire altar, no, the entire underground cavern, began to shake violently without warning. Boom, the altar, built of bones. An obsidian, cracked open with huge fissures from within. Countless thick purple mists surged out like a flood breaking through a dam, pouring out madly from the cracks. This mist was much denser than the light points that. erupted from the right arm of the lord of the undead before carrying a nauseating pure aura of destruction run yen joe’s expression changed and he grabbed ming yao’s wrist turning to dash towards the staircase they had come from the altar behind them collapsed with a deafening roar turning into a pile of rubble the purple mist now unbound formed a towering wave chasing after them wherever the mist passed both the obsidian ground and the reliefs on the walls were instantly corroded turning to dust they rushed up the spiral staircase without looking back The cold stone steps crumbled beneath their feet, falling into the endless abyss below. As the two of them stumbled out of the tomb entrance, the staircase behind them collapsed with a thunderous crash, completely sealing off the entrance with fallen boulders. But the scene outside was even more horrifying. The entire graveyard was in turmoil. The mounds of earth covering the graves were being pushed outward from within. Decayed, withered arms broke through the soil. Countless swaying undead crawled out of their graves, their hollow eye sockets, burning with purple soul flames, mirroring the mist that surged from below. How could this happen? Mingyao murmured, staring at the sea of undead before her. The task had clearly been completed. Back to the town. She, decisively pulled Yanjio and ran towards the direction of Whitewood Town. The town was no longer peaceful as before. The piercing screams and the roars of the undead mixed together, rising into the sky. The once clean streets, were now filled with staggering undead. Some zombies dressed in townsfolk clothing were tearing at their former neighbors. The survivors were fighting while retreating, all gathering towards a sturdy stone tower in the center. of the town. That was the last line of defense for the small town. Yanzhou’s gaze cut through the chaotic mass of corpses, landing at the entrance of the tower. But, the man with an injured right leg, was bracing himself. Against the wooden door with his body, wielding a chipped machete. With every swing, he could knock down an approaching undead. Beside him, several men armed with pitchforks and wooden sticks were fiercely resisting. Inside the tower’s window, a young woman tightly held a little girl named Lily. Lily’s small face was pale, tears welling in her eyes, yet she shouted with all her might towards the ground below. Go, dad. We can’t hold this position. Any longer. Mingyao tugged at Yanzhou’s sleeve. Her judgment was very calm. This might be a plot kill, a scene that plays out after the mission is completed. Staying here won’t change anything. We need to go back and turn. In the quest. She believed this was just a game sequence that players couldn’t intervene in. Yanzhou didn’t move. He released the hand that Mingyao had been pulling. In his mind, the image of that warm little house surfaced, the sweet aroma of food and the satisfied smile on that man’s face, and that warm, delicious apple pie. He didn’t want that family to just die like that. He also didn’t want the little girl who shouted, Daddy, keep going, to watch her father be overwhelmed by the undead. You go back first. Yen Jio turned his head to look at Mingyao. Go get help. He took a return scroll from his backpack and directly shoved it into Mingyao’s hand. After. Saying that, he no longer looked at Mingyao, drawing the blade of annihilation and charging straight towards the tower surrounded by the undead. Yu. Mingyao stomped her foot, her face filled with anxiety and helplessness. Her way of thinking was fundamentally different from Yanjio’s. To her, or rather to the vast majority of players, this was just a game. NPCs were data, the plot was a setup, and the quest was the core. Weighing pros and cons, seeking benefits and avoiding harm, was an instinct ingrained in her bones. But Yanjio was different. He had never played a game and never played by the rules. His standards for action were not tasks, not benefits, but purely, based on his own preferences. He didn’t want this little town that had given him a moment of warmth to disappear in a plot kill. Watching the figure charging recklessly into the tide of corpses, Mingyao tightly clutched the return scroll in her hand. She understood that she couldn’t stop him. At the moment this man made his decision, any persuasion would be futile. Wait, she suddenly shouted, throwing two blowing runestones towards Yanjio. With all her might. They were one of the rewards from her hidden quest and her trump card to deal with the gravekeeper alone. Thunder Rune. A one-time powerful item, there were three in total, and she had used one, leaving. Her with two. Yanzhou didn’t look back, effortlessly catching the two runestones. Mingyao no longer hesitated. She tore apart the return scroll in her hand. A circle of white light enveloped her. She knew that if she stayed. Here, with her own strength and full talents, she could at most withstand the attack of a dozen zombies. In Yanzhou’s eyes, she was just an extra burden. Going back to get help was the only optimal solution now. As the white light dissipated, she vanished from her spot. At the tower’s entrance, Buck’s sturdy body stood like a rock, bracing against the precarious wooden door. The old injury on his leg made him unsteady, and the machete in his hand was dull from use. Each swing was accompanied by heavy breaths. He cleaved through one zombie, but more undead surged forward. Astral walk, Yen Jo’s figure transformed into specks of stardust at the spot, and the next moment, he appeared in front of the tower door. He didn’t pause for a second, pushing forward with his left hand. Stellar impact, brilliant starlight gathered in his palm, transforming into a visible shockwave that fanned out. Explosively. Minus 7580. Minus 23055. Minus 7997. A series of terrifying damage numbers exploded above the heads of the few zombies charging at the tower. Their bodies seemed to be struck by an invisible giant hammer, instantly shattering. Into a rain of flesh and bones. The entire world fell silent for a moment. buck and the few surviving townsfolk beside him stared blankly at the area that had been instantly cleared then looked at yenjo who had appeared out of nowhere yenjo retracted his hand and turned to buck you all retreat first i’m afraid i might hit you by mistake buck opened his mouth looking at his pitiful minus 152 damage then recalling the tens of thousands of numbers from earlier feeling as if he were dreaming he no longer hesitated forcefully pushing his still dazed companions into the tower hurry everyone inside the heavy wooden door slammed shut behind them In the towers. Window, the cries of the little girl Lily ceased as she clung to the windowsill, watching the figure blocking the door. Yen Jio did not turn back. He gripped the blade of annihilation tightly, and crimson flames erupted along. The blade. With the flame blade, one man, one sword, he faced the surging tide of undeads sweeping over the entire town. He charged out. The pitch black blade, wrapped in flames, carved deadly red lines through the horde of. Corpses. Starlight flickered with his steps, each advance was like a meteor plunging into a silent ocean, exploding into brilliant and lethal ripples. As a zombie’s claws reached for him, he sidestepped, the blade slicing upward, cleaving the zombie from chin to crown in two. The rotting townsfolk let out a howl, but he couldn’t be bothered to look, with a swift motion, he severed its head. Flames and stars danced around him, illuminating the death-shrouded street like a mythical battlefield. Dragon breath, stellar impact. His movements were devoid of any excess, each swing, each dodge, was as precise as a textbook, efficient and deadly. The undead fell like harvested wheat, one after another. Yet the tide of corpses seemed endless, as one fell, more staggered forth from the end of the street and the dark alleys. Gradually, the flames on his blade began to dim. The brilliance of the stars. No longer shone as brightly. Finally, after pinning a decaying wolf attempting to bite him to the ground, his mana was completely depleted. Yanjio shook off the black blood clinging to the blade of annihilation, the flames. And starlight extinguished, leaving only the pure, light-devouring darkness. He wiped the blade. Next, it was time for close combat. without the enhancement of skills the aura he exuded felt even more dangerous like a beast that had broken free from all chains he abandoned grand sweeping attacks lowering his body slightly gliding close to the ground like a black lightning bolt weaving between the legs of the undead the blades glow was no longer dazzling but it was more venomous and lethal each flicker precisely severed the tendons and spines of the undead the incapacitated undead were left behind for the subsequent tide of corpses to trample time passed in the relentless slaughter In the forest, more corrupted beasts joined the fray. A giant bear covered in festering sores and a wild boar with purple liquid oozing from its eyes charged in droves, bringing greater pressure than the zombies. Yenjio remained steadfast at the tower’s entrance, not retreating an inch. These undead and monsters dropped no items, not even a hint of experience points. It was a battle with no rewards, purely a drain. But, he was stubborn. Just for that delicious apple pie. Just for that little girl calling out, Daddy, go for it. His arm gripping the sword began to feel a slight ache, his stamina rapidly depleting. At that moment, a strange sensation emanated from the ground beneath him. Ding! Your tenacity and persistence have moved the surrounding earth elements. You have learned the skill, earth shield. Earth shield, summons an earth element shield to protect. One self, absorbing 100 plus 100% intelligence plus 100 % spirit damage. When the shield breaks, it deals earth element damage equal to the maximum absorption value of System prompt, then at his empty mana bar. He learned it, but couldn’t use it. An elite level corrupted bear roared as it charged at him, its massive paw slamming down with a foul wind. Yenjiyo no longer held back. He instantly. Pulled out an ancient scroll from his backpack. It was the scroll he had bought during a house building quest. Earth elements summoning scroll the scroll transformed into light and dissipated in his hand. Boom, the ground in. Front of him suddenly heaved, and a three-meter-tall earth elemental giant made of rock roared as it rose from the ground, meeting the corrupted bear’s paw with its massive stone fist. Taking advantage of the moment the giant bear was obstructed, Yanjio swiftly pulled out the two runestone fragments that Mingyao had thrown to him. Thunder rune without a moment’s hesitation, he crushed both runestones simultaneously. ZZZ. Blinding arcs of electricity. Erupted from his hands, transforming into two writhing lightning serpents that instantly darted into the densest part of the corpse swarm. Wherever the lightning passed, large swathes of ordinary undead were instantly turned. To ash, clearing a brief space. Seizing this precious opportunity, Yanjio quickly fished out a bottle of deep blue potion from his backpack, twisted off the cap, and gulped it down. The icy liquid slid down his throat, and a warm current surged through his limbs. The desiccated mana pool began to recover at a visibly rapid pace. He slammed his left hand onto the ground. Earth’s shield. Buzz, the earth emitted a dull rumble, and countless brown. Earth elemental motes rose from the ground, rapidly coalescing around his body. A heavy, rune-etched rock shield enveloped him securely. After completing this, he gripped the blade of Annihilation tightly again, facing the elite corrupted bear that had just torn the earth elemental giant to shreds. The heavy rock shield gave Yenjo a moment to breathe. The elite corrupted bear’s sharp claws struck hard against the earth shield. Crack, the shield. Shattered with a sound, and the brown runes dimmed instantly. A powerful shockwave erupted from Yenjo, radiating outward. The surrounding ordinary undead were shattered by the elemental blast collapsing in unison. The giant bear was also pushed back a step, its movements momentarily sluggish. Now’s the time. Yenjo’s figure surged forward, the regained mana allowing him to cast wind step once more. He transformed into a ground hugging. After image, circling around to the back of the giant bear. The blade of annihilation pierced precisely into the bear’s nape from an awkward angle. Minus 14,954. Weakness critical hit, a massive damage number floated above the bear’s. head. Its enormous body crashed to the ground convulsing twice before falling still. Yen Jio did not pause for a moment, pulling out his blade and turning to charge at another elite monster. It was a familiar figure. The old. Mayor of Whitewood Town, now completely corrupted, one eye turned a murky purple while the other hung hollowly from its socket. He wore that signature respectable coat, now tattered and stained with dirt and black blood. 4. The mayor’s throat emitted an unintelligible growl as he staggered toward Yen Jio. Yen Jio silently met him head on. no flashy skills just a simple exchange the dark blade flashed the old mayor’s head flew into the air his body collapsing weakly to the ground yenjo tirelessly continued to slash the numbness in his arms had turned into excruciating pain yet his movements remained unyielding precise efficient deadly he was like an unflagging killing machine firmly anchored before the tower inside the tower everyone held their breath lily’s small hands tightly covered her mouth afraid to make any sound lest she disturbed the man outside who resembled a god of death Time passed though how long he could not tell. In the distance, at the entrance of the town, a blinding golden light suddenly flared. Light of dawn. A clear, cold voice pierced through the undead’s howls. The soft and sacred radiance, like a sharp sword, tore through the densest tide of corpses at the town’s entrance. A team composed. Of dozens of female players appeared in everyone’s sight. They were well equipped, working in perfect harmony, weaving a net of death with holy light and magic purifying swathes of undead. Leading them was. Ming Yao. Her holy wings made her look like a Valkyrie on the battlefield. Tinglan Pavilion, all members advance. I’ll clear the way. The voices of Yingying and Yengyan were now filled with a chilling. Intensity. They were the elite of the Tinglan Pavilion online. Mingyao led the charge, her iris shield held high, forcefully carving a bloody path through the endless tide of corpses towards the tower. Are you okay? She rushed to Yenjio’s side. Yenjio finally stopped swinging his blade, turning to look at Mingyao, who was surrounded by holy light. I’m fine, he replied. After saying that, Yanzhou could no longer hold on and collapsed onto the ground. His hand, which held the blade, trembled uncontrollably, almost dropping the spirit extinguishing blade. He took out a bottle of high-grade mana recovery potion. From his backpack, twisted the cap open with shaking hands, and gulped it down. Hold this position. Mingyao ignored him and directed the members of Tinglan Pavilion to quickly form a solid defense line. In front of the tower. Boom, the tower’s door swung open from within. Buck, wielding a chipped machete, was the first to charge out. Brothers. we can’t always hide behind others. For Lily. For Whitewood. Town. Kill. The surviving townsfolk, armed with pitchforks, wooden sticks, and even stones, followed Buck into battle. Their damage was minimal, but their presence greatly boosted morale. Just as the battle reached a delicate balance, the sound of synchronized hoofbeats echoed from outside the town. The banner of Maple Leaf City appeared on the horizon. It’s the knights. The knights are here. Someone in. The tower cried out in joy. Knight Commander Rainer led the charge, followed by Bishop Clay and Reinhardt, bringing a well -equipped knight order that surged into the chaotic battlefield like a torrent of steel. Purify this filth. Bishop Clay raised the holy emblem, and a downpour of holy light fell like rain, causing the undead to wail and turn to ash in the radiance. The situation shifted in an instant. Yanjou’s mana and stamina recovered somewhat. He stood up again. Now, he no longer had to hold the tower alone. He lifted the pitch-black long knife, without a hint of hesitation, and charged once more into the tide of corpses. This time, he was not fighting alone. Beside him were the elites of Tinglon Pavilion, the knights of Maple Leaf City, and the fearless townsfolk of Whitewood. He was like the sharpest. Dagger, plunging straight into the heart of the undead army. Starlight and flames ignited once more on his blade. It was a long and bloody battle. When the last corrupted beast was pinned to the ground by Commander Raynor’s knight sword, the entire Whitewood town finally returned to a deathly silence. The air was thick with the acrid smell of blood, the stench of burning, and the refreshing scent of purification. From the Holy Light. Yenjiyo collapsed onto the ground. He did not reach for the recovery potion. Instead, he took out a bottle of honey brew from his backpack. He pulled the cork, tilted his head back, and gulped down the cool, sweet liquid. The drink slid down his throat, bringing a hint of icy sweetness that washed away the fatigue from his limbs. His hand that held the knife still trembled slightly and uncontrollably. Only the crackling sound of burning would remained, along with the peculiar freshness lingering in the air after the holy light’s purification. A girl in a light green robe with a stunning Figure hurried over, it was Luangu. Her staff glowed with a soft light, and a warm healing energy enveloped Yenzhou. A wave of warmth, infused with the breath of life, slowly flowed into his body, soothing the deep aches and tearing sensations in his muscles. Are you okay? Before Luangu could finish her sentence, more girls surrounded him, instantly blocking him in, their chattering voices nearly lifting the roof off. Handsome, let’s be friends. You look even better up close. Great god, you worked hard, drink a potion. You really scared us just now. Big brother, you held this place alone, so cool. Yen. Jo looked somewhat at a loss at the scene before her. The way they looked at Yen Jo didn’t seem like they were looking at a player. Those lecherous gazes were more like hungry wolves eyeing a newborn lamb. The blood and dirt smeared on Yen Jo made her appear even more alluringly masculine at that moment. Thank you, everyone. The little lamb, Yen Jo felt a bit out of place in this situation and could only offer a simple thank you. Mingyao watched as the elite members of her guild crowded around Yanjio, almost pressing against her, and her brows involuntarily furrowed. She cleared her throat. Stand straight. Pay attention to formation. The girls stuck out their tongues but still obediently stepped back a bit though their enthusiasm showed no signs of waning. Just then, Knight Commander Reno and Reinhardt strode over. Their expressions were serious and Mingyao had already briefly explained what had happened here on the way. Reinhardt approached Yanjio and solemnly performed a knightly salute. Honorable. Hero, on behalf of Maple Leaf City and all its residents, I extend to you our highest respect. His movements were meticulous and filled with sincerity. If it weren’t for you holding back the undead, waiting for them to gather into a tide and burst out of Whitewood Town, our entire Maple Leaf City would have been doomed. Yen Jio was taken aback. But didn’t I fail the mission? The task of, investigating. The undead plague, showed us completed, but the subsequent disaster made him feel it was more like a punishment for failure. No, you did not fail. Reinhardt shook his head, his expression turning extremely grave. What you destroyed was a fragment of the Undead Lord’s body. Undead Lord? Yen Jio had seen this name on the boss panel. Reinhardt continued to explain. About 70 years ago, the Flame Nation launched a surprise attack on the Forest Nation to seize the border mines. In that war, the army of the Flame Nation inadvertently destroyed another seal located at the border of the two nations. From that day on, the Undead Lord’s body became lost and its whereabouts unknown. This matter must be reported to the capital immediately. Reinhardt glanced at the devastation in Whitewood Town and added, The. Sealed area at the border of the Forest Nation and the Flame Nation has now completely turned into a wasteland of undead. There are rumors that the heart of the undead lord lies deep within that wasteland. However, the two nations have been at odds for years and neither is willing to expend their full effort to deal with that mess, resulting in the undead forces they’re growing ever larger. Yen Jio listened. To this and nodded thoughtfully. He went through this long string of information in his mind and then asked a question he felt was crucial. What country are we in? The air fell silent once more. The members of Tinglan Pavilion around him, along with Reinhardt, looked at him with strange expressions, as if they were looking at an alien who had just saved the world but didn’t know what the world looked like. Mingyao could no longer hold back. She dashed over, answering before anyone else could. We are in the forest nation. We are currently within the borders of the forest nation. Her voice carried. A hint of frustration she hadn’t even realized. How could this man be so ridiculously strong yet so clueless that it made people want to hit him? Yanjio responded with an O, indicating he understood. His. Reaction made Mingyao feel as if she had punched a cotton ball. Meanwhile, the guild members behind her, seizing the opportunity while she was distracted, once again surrounded Yanjio. Little handsome. Guy, a one bold member had already carefully brought a piece of cut strawberry cake to Yanjio’s mouth. Yanjio instinctively opened his mouth and ate it. It was sweet but not cloying, and quite delicious. Thank you, he mumbled. Ming Yao watched this scene, a vein twitching at her temple. She could no longer maintain her composed president image, she could no longer hold back. Ting Lan Pavilion. All units. Assemble. Form up. Team 1, prevent enemy ambushes. Stay alert. Team 2, clear the battlefield. Team 3, restore personnel status. A series of commands shot from her mouth like a rapid fire barrage. Hurry. The girls trembled in fear, not daring to delay any longer, scattering like birds and beasts, clumsily beginning to execute the orders. The whole world finally quieted down. The world finally quieted down. The battered wooden door of the tower creaked open from the inside. Residents helped an elderly man with white hair to step out. Behind him was a young woman, tightly holding Lily’s hand. More. Surviving townsfolk gradually emerged from the tower. They looked at their devastated home, at the mountain of remains of the deceased, their faces a mix of sorrow and the bewilderment of having survived. Buck walked up to Knight Commander Raynaud and the burly man nearly knelt down, his knees buckling. Raynaud was quick to catch him. No need for that, citizen. It is a knight’s duty to protect you. Buck’s lips moved and he ultimately just nodded heavily. He turned around, leading all the surviving townsfolk to stand before Yanjio. They said nothing. They simply bowed deeply to him in the most earnest and solemn manner. Little girl Lily broke free from her mother’s hand and ran up to Yanjio. She pulled out something carefully wrapped in a handkerchief from her pocket and handed it over. Big brother, this is. The dinner my mom saved for me. You’ve been fighting for so long, you must be hungry, so here, eat this. Yanjio looked at the somewhat deformed apple pie in silence and accepted it. Reinhardt watched. This scene with a look of satisfaction on his face. He walked to Yanjio’s side, placing a hand on his shoulder, his gesture solemn and strong. Bearing Yanjio. His voice was clear and resonant, echoing. Across the silent ruins. No. Reinhardt paused, correcting himself. Count Yanjio. on behalf of the great royal family of the forest kingdom on behalf of the entire maple leaf city i thank you for your selflessness and bravery ding your special mission investigate the undead plague trigger hidden completion conditions dot completion rate 170 mission reward blade of extermination silver grade one-handed sword maple leaf city reputation plus 2000 current title count choose one piece of equipment from the maple leaf city treasury title hero of maple leaf city upgraded dot hero of maple leaf city you are the hero of maple leaf city your deeds will be recorded and passed down through generations attack speed plus 30 movement speed plus 30 when releasing skills there is a 10 chance to summon three elite guards from maple leaf city to fight for you for one minute dot a series of system notifications flashed before yin joe’s eyes he looked at the suddenly acquired title of count and then at the shining title he scratched his head reinhardt and reynod exchanged glances both wearing unabashed admiration on their faces In the next second, they each grabbed one of Yen Jiu’s arms. For the hero, Raynaud shouted. Loudly, the two of them lifted Yen Jiu up and tossed him into the air. The surrounding members of the night order erupted in thunderous cheers, reaching out to catch him again and again as he was thrown up. The surviving townsfolk of Bai Mu Town joined in as well. Yen Jiu soared up and down in the air, looking at the cheering, excited faces below, feeling a bit dizzy. He even felt several soft hands, taking advantage of the chaos, groping around his body. The owners of those hands were the members of Ting Lan Pavilion who had just been scolded by Ming Yao. They wore triumphant, foolish grins on their faces. Finally, things came to a close. Yen Jiu returned to Maple Leaf City. The bustling crowd and the noisy calls of vendors made him feel as if he had stepped into another world after experiencing a life and death battle. Elite monsters in the spider cave are forming a group looking for a strong tank. If your gear is bad or your awareness is low, don’t come. Freshly baked black iron staff, high intelligence bonus, with spell crit, selling. Cheap. Going for forging. Collecting variosaurs in bulk can craft all kinds of weapons for free. Buying herbs in large quantities, however. Much you have, the price is negotiable. Does anyone know where the cooking trainer is? Tinglan Pavilion Guild is recruiting. Only female players. Are accepted, with the guild leader leading the team for dungeons, lots of benefits. Yanjio strolled along the wide stone-paved street. He still. Held that unfinished bottle of honey brew, taking a sip now and then. The warmth of the alcohol completely dispelled the last trace of chill lingering. In his body, he comfortably hummed a tuneless little tune as he walked towards his manor. He lay back comfortably in the fishing chair at his manor. The evening lake surface was tinted with a layer of shattered gold by the setting sun. A gentle breeze blew, carrying the mixed scent of water. Vapor and fresh grass brushing against his tired cheeks. Unfortunately, after a busy day, he forgot to buy a fishing rod. Yen Jio really didn’t want to move anymore. He just wanted to lie here quietly, not thinking about anything. He subconsciously reached for his backpack. The honey brew. Was finished. Forget it. Tomorrow will do. Every cell in his body was clamoring in protest, refusing to execute any more commands. He glanced at. The game interface. Today’s gaming time had already reached 6 hours. Yen Jio chose to log off. Exiting the illusion, wishing you a pleasant. Life. Yen Jio opened his eyes. The room in reality was already pitch black. Outside the window, only the distant high-rise buildings flickered with. Neon lights, slicing the night into mottled color blocks. He felt a bit dazed. Inside the illusion, it was just a peaceful evening. In reality, however, it was already deep into the night. A strong sense of disconnection surged from deep within his body. The body in the game was trembling, exhausted to the point of near collapse. Yet this body in reality was filled with explosive power, every inch of muscle firm and strong. He stood up and walked to the empty space in the center of the room. Without hesitation, he assumed a stance. The wind from his punches howled, creating a heavy sense of pressure in the silent room. After finishing a few sets of punches, he broke a slight sweat and the disconnection lingering between his mind and body finally dissipated a little. He walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower. The warm water washed over his body, cleansing away the last remnants of bloom from that bloody battle. Lying in bed, he fell into a deep sleep almost the moment his head touched the pillow. The next morning, Yen Jiu was awakened on time by his biological clock. He got dressed and prepared to go out, just as he opened the door to his rental. apartment, a figure blocked the doorway. It was his landlady, Sister Sue. The woman was wearing only a semi-transparent silk nightgown, her graceful curves barely concealed and the air was suddenly filled with a tempting fragrance. Xiaoyan, what’s your ID? I knocked on your door yesterday. But you didn’t respond. Were you in the game? Tell me, we can be companions in the game too. As she spoke, she twisted her waist like a water snake, almost pressing her whole body against Yanjio. Yanjio took half a step back, creating a bit of distance. Yanjio. He answered simply. Then, he flashed a somewhat silly smile at Sister Sue, sidestep through the door, and quickly walked towards the stairs. It wasn’t until he turned the corner of the hallway, leaving that sweet fragrance behind that Yanjio’s cheeks uncontrollably flushed with warmth. His previous life felt like a still pond, making him uninterested in everything. But the emergence of the illusion gradually made him feel more human. In every sense, the morning streets were wet from the sanitation truck’s wash, exuding a clean cement smell. Yanjio walked unsteadily. He turned into the breakfast. Shop he often visited, where the rich aroma of soy milk and the crispy scent of fried dough sticks filled the air. Boss, two bowls of soy milk. And five pieces of fried dough sticks, four meat buns. He found a seat by the window and soon, steaming food was served. The warmth of the soy. Milk slid down his throat, dispelling the last trace of illusory fatigue in his body. After eating and drinking to his heart’s content, he walked. Contentedly towards the police station. As soon as he stepped through the door of the criminal investigation team 3, the previously noisy office. fell silent for a moment. Good morning, team leader Yen. The captain is here. Several young officers immediately stood up, greeting him awkwardly. Yen Jio waved his hand. You all carry on, don’t mind me. The tense atmosphere in the office relaxed immediately and everyone began chatting. Again, though their voices were deliberately lowered. Yen Jio did not walk towards the spacious independent office. He went straight to his original workstation, pulled out a chair, sat down, and opened his thermos, leisurely listening to his colleagues joke around. He realized he still preferred. This position. He could hear voices and feel the liveliness. The worldview of this game has been pretty much uncovered. The chubby Shin de lowered. His voice, excitement evident on his face. There are seven countries, Jin, Sen, Hai, Yen, Shan, Tian, Enin. We players are alike scattered. Beans, randomly thrown into the nooks and crannies of each country, another officer, Xiao Li, added. Exactly, just the Yen kingdom alone has over a hundred towns listed on the forum. And that doesn’t even count the undiscovered ones. Damn. A young officer, who was engrossed in his phone, suddenly exclaimed, drawing everyone’s attention. You guys come look. A big shot has appeared on the forum. He excitedly held his phone up high. Someone posted that he has entered the national capital ahead of time through a hidden quest. Not some newbie capital like Maple Leaf City, but the real national capital. The capital of the mountain kingdom, the city of rock. Is that for real? Shinde was the first to rush over. And the others quickly gathered around. The young officer opened the screenshots in the post. Majestic images appeared on the small phone screen. It was a city that could not be described in words. The entire city seemed to be carved directly from an immensely towering mountain. A massive waterfall cascaded down from a cliff thousands of feet high, with mist forming a rainbow that lingered above the city year-round. The outlines of the buildings perfectly blended with the textures of the rocks and wide stone bridges spanned across bottomless canyons, connecting various areas of the city. The patrolling guards on the streets wore heavy obsidian armor, wielding giant axes shaped like mountains. Wow! shind is adam’s apple bobbed the level of these guards 30 level elites how can we even play isn’t going in just delivering food the player who posted quickly continued to comment brothers the capital is here but it feels like it’s not the npcs here are all so arrogant they don’t even acknowledge you i came from hill city and my reputation there isn’t enough so i can’t even pick up a side quest here now i can only run errands for my main quest npc can’t go anywhere else and the shops aren’t open to me The crowd let out a series of tsk tsk sounds. Yen Jiu was also drawn in. By those screenshots, he stood up and walked over. The colleagues who were watching saw him coming and immediately respectfully made way for him. To stand at the front. Shinda saw him and immediately asked, Team leader Yen, how have you been these past few days? What level are you now? Yen Jiu chuckled. Haven’t played much. Just found a place to fish. He was telling the truth. At his own estate by the lake, the lounge chair was. All set up. Just missing a fishing rod. You really know how to enjoy yourself, team leader. This is how the game should be played, all that. Fighting and killing is so tiring. That’s right, enjoying life is the most important thing. The crowd praised him again. Yanjio felt a bit embarrassed. By their compliments, scratching his head as he walked into the office that once belonged to Lucia, closing the door to shut out the noisy. Discussions outside. On the desk, the file basket he had emptied yesterday now had several new reports stacked inside. Yanjio skillfully reviewed. Those documents. Then he turned on the dusty computer in the office. The case emitted a loud, old-fashioned hum, and the screen slowly lit up, the Windows startup music sounding slightly off-key. Yenjio studied it for a moment and quickly found the largest online community for illusion, the Dreamweaver Forum. The webpage loaded and a variety of posts instantly filled the entire screen. Hot Post 818 The Mysterious Big Shot Who Single-Handedly Defeated the Undead Catastrophe With pictures and videos, so handsome it makes you weak in the knees. Essence Detailed Guide 2 All class skill builds, version 3.1, under continuous construction, help why is my newbie village chief a swindler? Half of the quest rewards are cut. Is there any law? Chit chat are there any sisters in the heavenly kingdom? Let’s form a fixed team and be beautiful together. Data complete. Analysis of the reputation system from indifference to worship, teaching you how to make NPCs your close friends recruitment, dynasty, guild. Actively recruiting PvP experts, players from the flame nation camp preferred. Yen Jio paused his fingers on the mouse. He clicked on the hottest. Gossip Post. The poster was Ting Lan Pavilion’s first cutie. Sisters, let me tell you, I saw a deity today. Right in Whitewood Town, we were about to be overwhelmed by the undead, and then a man descended from the sky. The post was filled with a plethora of sparkling emojis and various exaggerated adjectives, describing him as a silent, breathtakingly handsome savior. In reality, it should be that they descended from the sky to save Yen. Gio, he thought. There were also a few blurry screenshots attached. In the screenshots, a vague silhouette stood atop a mountain of corpses, surrounded by twinkling starlight. The comment section had already surpassed 10,000 replies. Don’t keep us in suspense, what’s the ID? That’s special. Effect, is it a starwalker? Is it a triple master? So cool. Requesting a frontal photo. Requesting encounter coordinates. Yen Jiu expressionlessly closed the post, thankful that he had hidden his ID with illusion at the time, otherwise, those big mouths from Tinglan Pavilion would have made him famous sooner or later. He then clicked on the data analysis post about the reputation system. The post detailed the effects of reputation. Using rigorous formulas and numerous examples. Reputation 100-500, neutral. NPCs will assign you some simple tasks. Reputation 500-3000, respect. NPCs will see you as a friend, willing to answer most of your questions and shops will offer you discounts. Reputation above 3000, worship. NPCs. We’ll share everything with you, even proactively giving you precious gifts, significantly increasing the chance of triggering hidden quests. Yen Jio looked at the line respect deep in thought. He browsed through several posts about skill allocation. The strength gains for warriors, the intelligence thresholds for mages, the function relationships between agility and critical hit rates for assassins. Each post was well written, filled with complex calculations. Time quietly passed as he delved into these trivial pieces of information. The wall clock steadily pointed to twelve. O’clock. Off work time. Yanjio almost immediately closed the webpage and stood up. He opened the office door. Outside, Shinde and the others were still passionately discussing the national war in the game. I’m leaving, Yanjio simply greeted. Take care, team leader. Goodbye, captain. The crowd immediately stopped their chatter and respectfully bid him farewell. Yanjio waved his hand and walked out of the police station alone.On the street, the midday rush hour traffic flowed together like a slowly moving iron river. Yanjio swayed as he walked along the roadside, contemplating. what he should do when he got back. First, he needed to find a way to get a fishing rod in the game. Second, he had to ask Reinhardt how to cross towns for long-distance teleportation. Third, and this just came to mind, he needed to ask Sister Su which country she was in. After all, she had invited him to be her companion in the game. Yen Jo quickly returned to the old rental building. He took out his keys and opened the door. The living room was dim, with only the large projection screen lit up, casting shifting shadows over the graceful curves of a body on the sofa. In. The air lingered that familiar, enticing scent of perfume. Landlady Sister Su was reclining on the sofa, her silk nightgown as thin as a layer of cicada wings, her long, fair legs casually crossed. Hearing the door open, she lazily lifted her head. Xiaoyan, you’re back? Yengio replied. With a mm and closed the door behind him. Instead of going to his own room, he walked straight over. Sister Su, he spoke up. Sister Su’s eyes. Brightened, and she sat up, the strap of her nightgown slipping off her shoulder, revealing a large expanse of snow-white skin. What’s up? Yen Jiu. Stood at a safe distance, not moving closer. Which country are you in the game? he asked directly. Sister Su was taken aback for a moment. Then, an unmistakable joy spread across her face. She seemed to blow. The country aflame, she said, her voice tinged with a hint of playful reproach. What’s wrong, Xiaoyan? You finally know to care about your sister? She twisted her waist, preparing to stand up from the sofa, wanting to lean. Closer. Come, let sister give you a massage, you must be exhausted from working all day. Yen Jiu nodded. Just as Sister Su thought he had agreed, and her body had lifted half an inch off the sofa, Yen Jio reached out and gently pressed down on her shoulder, stopping her from getting up. No. Need, he said seriously. After that, he turned around and walked straight to his room. In the bedroom, Yen Jio leaned against the door. The country. Of flame. Reinhardt had mentioned before that there had been a war with the forest country, and now the relationship between the two countries was. Quite tense. Sister Su was originally from the opposing faction. This seemed a bit troublesome. He opened his eyes again. Yanzhou sat up from the fishing chair he had been thinking about, stretching his muscles. He needed to get a fishing rod first. The other matters could be considered later. He got up and changed into a white robe. Humming a tune, he headed towards the center of Maple Leaf City. Passing through the lush green grass of his estate, the city’s hustle and bustle surged like a tide. The auction house was crowded and the information flow on the light screen refreshed at a speed that was hard to catch with the naked eye. Yanjio skillfully opened the operation interface and first replenished a batch of recovery. Potions. Then, his actions paused at a newly appeared category. Food. He clicked on it, and a dazzling array of products popped up. Juicy roasted. Wolfleg. Increases strength by plus 1 for 30 minutes after consumption. Crispy fried fish fillet. Increases agility by plus 1 for 30 minutes after. Consumption. Honey apples. Instantly restores 50 mana points upon consumption. The life professions of players had developed to this extent. Yanjio. Glanced at the golden numbers in the corner of his backpack, it was a waste not to spend. Without any hesitation, he waved his hand. 10 portions. Of roasted wolf leg. 10 portions of fried fish fillet. 20 honey apples. He also saw the beer and juice brewed by players, which, although, lacking any attribute bonuses, looked very refreshing. By. All of it. The little space in his backpack was soon filled with various snacks and drinks. Satisfied, he closed the food page, only to remember the true purpose of his visit. He typed fishing rod into the search bar. A product popped. Up.Ordinary wooden fishing rod quality, white required level, none selling price, 20 copper coins. Yen Jio clicked to purchase directly. Done. He. Casually browsed the equipment section. Black iron gear was no longer rare, with prices generally stable around 10 gold coins. Clearly, as a large. Number of players flooded into the main city, the output from low-level dungeons had begun to saturate. Meanwhile, bronze gear remained a rarity. Occasionally appearing, but before he could even see the attributes, it was snatched away. Those large guilds were like ravenous beasts, greedily, devouring every piece of equipment on the market that could enhance their strength. Yen Jio opened his backpack and two pieces of equipment radiating. A silver glow lay quietly in the corner. They were two drops from the lord of the undead. A cloak and a ring, both enhancing agility and strength, but restricted by class. Useless for him as a magic user. It was better to convert them into gold coins. He dragged the two pieces into the auction. Bar, just as he was about to set a suitable price for them. At that moment, a grand system announcement echoed throughout the world of illusion. World announcement, due to the, Nine Heavens, guild being the first to obtain the guild territory token, the guild war is about to open for. Registration. All guild leaders are requested to go to their respective national main city guild management office to register. Event name, guild. War participation conditions, guilds above level 3 number of participants, 30 to 300 people participation time, June 16, 2039, preliminary matches can. be participated in starting tomorrow event rewards first place three pieces of level 15 silver selected equipment three selected profession hidden skill books one guild territory token dot second place one piece of level 15 silver selected equipment two pieces of bronze selected equipment one profession hidden skill book one guild territory token dot third place three pieces of level 15 bronze selected equipment one guild territory token dot tenth place one guild territory token dot silence After a brief silence, the world channel exploded instantly. The speed of information flow was more than 10 times faster than the auction house. World, Dragon. Rising Goverlord, Damn. Guild War? What did those bastards from Nine Heavens do? World, Luoshen Moon Dance, Guild Territory Token, This is the reward for our hidden quest, and Nine Heavens got it first. World, Wind Chaser, Oh My God. Three pieces of silver. Three hidden skill books. The first place reward is too insane. World, Divine Oracle. Heavenly punishment, 9 heavens, guild, very good, you’ve successfully caught everyone’s attention. World, a bystander, selling sunflower seeds, peanuts, and mineral water in the front row. Can someone explain what this guild territory token is for? World, 1. Field tree, upstairs, in previous games, guild territory was equivalent to your own domain where you could build various functional buildings like guild warehouses, training grounds, and alchemy rooms. The benefits are beyond your imagination. This token is the ticket to enter the next version’s competition. just don’t know what illusion will be like world i am miss lose dog don’t know what you’re talking about world dragon rising frenzy hee hee interesting looks like our old friends can’t sit still world riding a pig on the highway damn our guild only has 21 people we don’t even qualify to register crying world first little cutie wow a fight is there a live stream to watch world frenzied blade level 10 powerful berserker looking for a guild all three members of the team are skilled is there a top 10 guild willing to take us in world leave a hand the troops have not moved but the supplies must be prepared first selling various potions and food bulk discounts world dynastic isar brothers of the flame nation let the people of other countries see who the true ruler is sign up you must sign up world only love money is there an opening i’m betting on the war god temple guild to win three to one the world channel had completely turned into a boiling pot of porridge jealousy greed excitement and fighting spirit all players emotions were ignited by this sudden announcement Yanjio pulled out a honey apple from his bag, crunching on it as he walked out of the auction house. The crowd outside was even more fervent than before, each person’s face glowing with excitement. Discussing the recent announcement in groups of three or five. The guild competition. Yanjio didn’t feel much about the event itself, but he was very interested in those three hidden skill books. He recalled. The skill called illusion. A skill that could even alter system announcements, powerful to the point of being almost unreasonable. If he could get a few more similar items, wouldn’t he be able to do whatever? he wanted in this game? Yenjo munched on the honey apple, thinking about the recruitment ads from those guilds in Maple Leaf City, which were deafening. Just as he was pondering whether to find a guild to join, his private message interface lit up with two avatars almost simultaneously. He first clicked on the Silver Fox avatar. Silver Fox, boss, are you interested in joining us at War God Temple? Silver Fox, we are the second best guild in the server, and I guarantee you’ll be satisfied with the treatment. Yenjo looked at that message and then clicked on Mingyao’s avatar. Mingyao, can you come to, Ting Lan Pavilion to help us? Mingyao, we want that guild territory token. Yengio didn’t reply to either side immediately. His fingers tapped on the interface as he sent the same question to both. Yengio, how will the hidden skill books be divided? Silver Fox’s reply came quickly. Silver Fox, this, might be a bit difficult, boss. Silver Fox, the core elites of the guild are all eyeing these skill books, and I can’t make the decision alone. Silver Fox, I need to discuss it with the guild leader, but he’s in a meeting right now. On the other side, Mingyao’s reply was extremely simple. Just one sentence. Mingyao, everything except the token is yours. Yanjio looked at these two completely different replies. He hesitated for almost no time. Although Ting Lan Pavilion was just a women’s guild, the conditions Mingyao offered were full of sincerity. Moreover, he had just received their favor in by Mu Town. Yanjio, okay. He sent a single word to Mingyao. Almost instantly, an invitation to join the guild popped up. Ding. Player Mingyao invites you to join the guild, Ting Lan Pavilion, do you agree? Yanzhou looked at the invitation but paused. He sent a message to Mingyao. Wait for me, I need to change my ID. Mingyao? Yanzhou ignored Mingyao’s series of question marks, recalling the explosive post on the forum. He also remembered the expressions of those girls in Ting Lan Pavilion when they looked at him as if they wanted to swallow him whole. He certainly didn’t want to be surrounded by hundreds of girls as soon as he entered the guild. Yanzhou’s fingertips gently tapped on the illusion skill. Icon. A virtual panel unfolded before him. He thought for a moment and began to fiddle with his appearance. Thinning his eyebrows a bit. Enlarging his eyes a bit. Sharpening his chin a bit. He was surprised. To find that this skill could even adjust his body shape, it was indeed a divine skill. His waist needed to be thinner. His shoulders needed to be narrower. After a series of adjustments, a female face that even. He found unfamiliar appeared on his personal information panel. It was pretty enough, but not stunning, the kind that would not attract any attention in a crowd. He nodded in satisfaction. Next was the ID. The ID Yanzhou definitely couldn’t be used anymore. He looked down at the half-eaten honey apple in his hand that he entered four characters in the ID modification field. After completing everything as honey apple, he clicked to agree to join the guild with a sense of satisfaction. He sent a message to Mingyao. I joined, honey apple is me. Ding. Welcome honey apple to, Tinglan Pavilion. You have entered the, guild channel almost simultaneously. The originally quiet guild channel was instantly flooded with messages. Guild Luangu, huh? The president brought in a new member? Guild Xanxan Tian Tian, honey. Apple? What a cute name. I love eating honey apples too. Guild Iwucheng Cheng, welcome, newcomer. Applause. Throw flowers. Guild Mingyao. Guild Mingyao, um, all members, please pay. Attention. Guild Mingyao, this is Honey Apple, a powerful external aid we invited for this guild battle. Guild Mingyao, I hope everyone keeps her information confidential for now. Do not spread it. Guild, Aichi Maodayu, wow. The president personally invited an external aide, she must be a big shot. Guild, Yuxia Duja, hello, big shot. Do you need any accessories? The kind that shouts 666. Guild, Mingyao, everyone, quiet down. Mingyao sent three words, and the channel fell silent instantly. Guild, Mingyao, apple, where are you now? I’ll come find you. Yenjio, or now honey apple, replied. Guild, honey apple, at the entrance of the auction house. Guild, Mingyao, stay there and don’t move. Yanzhou turned off the chat channel. Leaning against the huge stone pillar at the entrance of the auction house, she took out the wooden fishing rod she had just bought from her backpack and swung it back and forth out of boredom. Before long, Mingyao, dressed in military attire and exuding an air of heroism, hurriedly approached through the crowd with several corps members of the guild. She looked around. Where is she? Luangu beside her also stretched her neck. I don’t see her, President. What does the external aid look like? Mingyao frowned. She opened the guild member list and clicked on Honey Apple ID. A light green dot marked the girl leaning against the pillar, boredly waving her fishing rod. Ming Yao’s footsteps halted. The girls behind her followed her gaze. The girl in front was wearing the most ordinary novice mage robe, had a delicate face, and an unremarkable figure. She was holding a cheap-looking, white -quality fishing rod. This, is this the powerful external aid the president mentioned? Ming Yao’s private message came almost immediately. Ming Yao, what’s your situation? Yen Jio did not reply with. text. He simply sent her a screenshot of the detailed description of the skill illusion. Ming Yao was silent for a moment. Ming Yao, can I learn this skill? Honey apple, it’s from a hidden skill book. Ming Yao fell silent again. This silence lasted longer than the last. Yen Jiu could even imagine the complex expression on the face of that heroic woman on the other side of the screen. She finally understood why he was so obsessed with those three hidden skill books. Who wouldn’t want such a useful skill? Just as Mingyao was still digesting this shocking information, the guild channel, which had quieted down, erupted once more. Guild, Aichi Maodiyu, wow. Sisters. Quick, look at the guild rankings. Guild, Yuxia Duja, aha. Fifth. We are in fifth place. Guild, Iwu Chengchang, what happened? Weren’t we 15th just now? Did the system bug out? Guild, Xanxan Tian Tian, it must be a bug. How could we jump 10 places all of a sudden? Mingyao’s body stiffened, she suddenly lifted her head and… looked again at the girl leaning against the pillar, innocently waving her fishing rod. An absurd yet perfectly reasonable thought struck her mind in an instant. According to people’s calculations, the guild. Ranking is determined by a series of complex data, including the overall strength of guild members, average level, equipment quality, and total reputation value. To achieve such a significant leap in a short time, there could only be one possibility. A top-tier powerhouse, whose level and strength far surpassed all current players, had joined the guild. It was him. Yen Jio. although he had never admitted it that glaring level and the earth-shattering achievements from by mu-town were undeniable without a doubt he was one of the legendary three extremes just the addition of one person had pulled the mid-tier guilds ranking from 15th to 5th such influence could no longer be described as terrifying it was nothing short of a miracle mingya shook her head forcibly suppressing the shock swirling in her mind she no longer hesitated she stepped forward weaving through the crowd and walked straight up to yenjio Under the puzzled gazes of Luangu and the others, Ming Yao reached out and grabbed Honey Apple’s wrist. Come with me. Her action left no room for refusal. Yanjio stumbled slightly as she pulled him, nearly dropping the fishing rod from his hands. After all, Yanjio’s strength was no match for the night-born Ming. Yao. The group quickly made their way to the cafe where the members of Ting Lan Pavilion liked to gather. As soon as they pushed open the intricately carved wooden door, a wave of warmth mixed with the aroma of coffee and pastries hit them. The cafe was filled with the chatter of Ting Lan pavilion members. When they saw the president bringing in a strange girl, there was a moment of silence. The next second, everyone. Surrounded them. President, is this the external aide you invited? Hello, little sister, what’s your name? Wow, you look so cute. Luanga leaned against the door, arms crossed like an older sister. When I called you all to do a dungeon, I didn’t see you so eager. A priest girl with the ID Xinxing Tian Tian squeezed to the front, tilting her head curiously to examine Yenjio. I don’t know. I just. inexplicably wanted to get closer to little apple as she spoke she reached out her hands and pinched yenjo’s cheeks pretending to lean in for a kiss come on little apple let your sister give you a kiss yenjo was so startled that he quickly dodged back narrowly avoiding those warm lips he wiped the sweat from his forehead um let’s focus on leveling up first it’s safer he quickly thought of a way to change the subject i want to reach level 15 before the championship starts the cafe fell into a brief silence again then a burst of good-natured laughter erupted Cut. Little apple, it’s not that. Fast. A female rogue laughed. Our guild president, Ming Yao, is only level 12 and the competition starts tomorrow. You want to reach level 15, another archer teased. Do you think you’re one of the three? Extremes, just saying you want to level up? Exactly, too cute. Yen Jio felt his cheeks flush from their teasing, unsure of how to explain. He looked to Ming Yao for help, only to find her watching him with. An extremely complex expression. The girl named Xinxin Tian Tian seemed eager to see what level this new powerful external aid really was. She giggled and casually opened the guild member panel, clicking on. Honey apples, information. Let me see what level our little cutie is at. Her voice suddenly stopped. The noise in the cafe vanished in an instant with her silence. Everyone’s movements froze, all eyes. Turning to her. Xinxin Tian Tian held the virtual screen, her hand trembling slightly. One girl couldn’t help but lean in closer.On the light screen, a line of concise text clearly floated in mid-air. Honey. Apple guild position, member class, astral walker level, LV-14 in the cafe, the sound of a pin dropping could be heard. Just a second ago, the air was filled with a sweet aroma, but now it seemed to have solidified. Into something tangible, weighing heavily on everyone’s hearts. The priest girl named Xinqing Tian Tian held up the virtual light screen, her hands seemingly frozen. What’s wrong, Tian Tian? What are you looking at? Your face is pale. No way, could it be a low-level account? The whispers finally broke the dead silence. Xingxing Tiantian’s lips trembled slightly as she suddenly turned the light screen towards. Everyone. 14. Level 14. The entire cafe erupted like a deep water bomb had been dropped, instantly boiling over. Ah. Level 14? I can’t be seeing this wrong. Is this for real? Isn’t the highest. Level in the whole server 3 absolutes just around this level? Our guild has a 3 absolute? No wonder. No wonder our guild ranking shot up to 5th place. Oh my god. Little Apple, you, you. Are that legendary mysterious expert? Big shot. Please take us alone. Dozens of girls instantly surrounded Yinzhou, their excited chatter nearly lifting the cafe’s roof off. Their enthusiasm was ten times more intense than before, each one trying to squeeze to the front for a closer look at this living legend. Everyone, quiet down. A cold reprimand finally subdued the clamor. Mingyao pushed through. The crowd and stood at the front, surveying her guild members who were on the verge of losing control. From now on, I will take charge. I will select personnel to take turns with Honey Apple to clear the epic Fallen Cathedral. The goal is for all elite members to reach level 12 and ordinary members to reach level 10 before the guild battle starts tomorrow. The girls gasped in unison, then erupted into even louder cheers. Long live the president. Can we really reach level 12? With a 3 absolute here, it’s definitely possible. Mingyao raised her hand, signaling for silence. In this operation, all equipment and drops will be prioritized for Honey Apple. The rest will be distributed uniformly by the guild, and no one is allowed to object. This decision left everyone momentarily stunned, but no one voiced any opposition. They all understood that to recruit such a powerful figure, the guild must have paid a hefty price. Just then, Yanzhou’s private message shined. It was from Mingyao. Mingyao, for each dungeon. Run, I will personally pay you 1 gold as a reward. All equipment in the dungeon will belong to you, and if you have anything you don’t need, the guild can buy it at a price above market value. What do you think? Of this arrangement? Yanzhou looked at the message. One gold per run, doing this for a day would be quite a substantial income. Honey apple, okay. Honey apple, but once I reach level 15, I might not want to run anymore. Honey apple, we’ll talk about it then. Mingyao, alright. Mingyao nodded, seemingly not surprised by the response. She quickly picked out the first batch of team members from the crowd. It was the same few who had been the most excited earlier, including Xinxing Tian Tian, all around levels 8 or 9, not even close to the job change threshold. The group from Ting Lan Pavilion chattered. Excitedly as they headed towards the dungeon entrance, attracting quite a few gazes. The five soon entered the cathedral dungeon, with four girls nervously rubbing their hands and looking around. Is this, really the dungeon? It feels so scary. Can we really do this? I’m not even level 10. Don’t worry, we have the big shot apple with us. Yanjio confidently led the way, donning her full gear, this time with, the blade of annihilation at her side, making her even stronger than before. The dungeon began effacing those once dead monsters, Yanzhou now couldn’t even be bothered to use his skills. He simply strolled. Leisurely. The long knife in his hand waved casually, carving out deadly arcs of black light. Those grotesque undead couldn’t even approach within 2 meters of him before they wailed and turned to ash. Wow. Did, did it just die? So fast. Apple Boss 666. Four girls followed behind him, and throughout the whole time, apart from screaming and shouting 666, they couldn’t find a chance to make a move. They felt. Like they weren’t here to clear a dungeon but had bought the most expensive VIP sightseeing ticket to enjoy a magnificent slaughter show. Yanzhou’s movements showed no signs of stopping. He sliced through enemies. Like chopping vegetables and soon stood before the final boss, the Banshee Linda. This time, without the immense pressure of a level-up challenge, Yanzhou even had the leisure to observe the surrounding. Decor, thinking about how to replicate it in his own manner later. The battle ended without any suspense. With a piercing scream from the Banshee, she turned into light points and dissipated, and the system. Notification for clearing the dungeon rang out. Yanzhou blanced at his experience bar. After one run of the dungeon he had only gained about a quarter. Soloing was indeed faster. However, Mingyao had helped him. Quite a bit, so he didn’t mind spending some time, considering it a favor returned. The rewards from this run were quite substantial. The girls excitedly looked at the equipment, chattering away. Wow. I’m level. 10. I leveled up more than one level in one run. Me too. So awesome. Thank you, Apple Boss. The equipment dropped from the previous bosses was either something he already had or mismatched for their classes, so he directly handed it over to the girls to pass on to Ming Yao. His gaze fell on the items dropped by the Banshee Linda. He couldn’t use most of them, but one item caught his attention. He reached out. And picked it up. Mayor’s Wife’s Waist Dress Quality, Bronze Level Requirement, 15 Equipment Type, Cloth Armor Belt Attributes, Intelligence plus 30, Spirit plus 20, Defense plus 10, Casting Speed plus 10% Set, Love of. The mayor, one quarter, class requirement, mage, priest it was actually a set item. Yenjio then remembered that when he first cleared the dungeon he hadn’t gotten a single set item, his luck had been quite poor. In. His backpack, the dungeon equipment selection chest from the first kill reward lay quietly, still unused. He had originally planned to wait until level 15 to see what he would get. Now it seemed the goal was. Clear. As long as he could get two more set items, he could directly use the chest for the last one. At the dungeon entrance, Mingyao was already waiting with another batch of fresh faces. The first wave of. Four girls waved at him reluctantly. A new round began. Yanzhou became even more skilled, slicing through enemies like chopping vegetables, and cleared the dungeon once again. He picked up that pitch black long. Knife again. The second batch of girls who came in wore expressions of nervousness and excitement, almost identical to the first batch. Is this an epic dungeon? I’ve only done easy ones, and that was with sister. Qingqing leading us. Are we really going to fight this? With apple boss here, what’s there to be afraid of? Yanzhou couldn’t be bothered to speak. He simply held the blade of annihilation and walked. Forward. His movements were fluid, without a hint of excess. The blade flashed, and the undead turned to ash. He didn’t even look back. The screams and gasps behind him were no different in tone from the previous. Wave. Wow. Another instant kill. Apple boss, please don’t be so cool. 66,666. Yenjio had thoroughly grasped every corner of the fallen cathedral, knowing the spawn locations of every wave of monsters. This time, the clearing speed was even faster than before. The Banshee Linda let out another unwilling wail before turning into light points, several pieces of equipment were scattered on the ground. Yen Jio. Glanced over and found no set pieces he needed. He casually tossed the gear at the girl’s feet. After speaking, he turned and walked towards the dungeon exit, not pausing for even a moment. A new round began. Again. The third run. Yen Jio stepped into the familiar ruins once more, accompanied by several new faces. His movements became increasingly numb, swinging his sword, advancing, swinging again. It was as if he were. A soulless killing machine. This time, he still didn’t get any set pieces, but the Fallen Bishop Savies dropped a ring he could use. It was a ring. Fallen Bishop’s Emblem Quality, Bronze Level Requirement. 15 Equipment Type, Ring Attributes, Intelligence plus 20, Spirit plus 30 Corruption Power. When releasing a skill, there is a chance to trigger Corruption Prayer, increasing damage of friendly units within 5 yards. By 10% and reducing defense by 10%. Class Requirement, Priest, Mage it was a good item. Yen Jio tossed it into his backpack. Wow, the big shot got a drop. Congratulations, Big Apple. The girls were happier than if they had received the equipment themselves. Yenjiyo merely nodded and continued towards the exit. The fourth run. It was still like chopping vegetables. The drops this time were unimpressive. Nothing caught his eye. Just as he was about to teleport out of the dungeon, a series of system notification sounds rang in his ears. Ding. Congratulations, your level has increased to LV15. Ding. Talent war. god effect enhanced melee damage increase raised to 240 times dot ding congratulations strength plus one agility plus one intelligence plus one spirit plus one constitution plus one ding congratulations you have gained five free attribute points current free attribute points 115 a warm current surged through his body sweeping away the slight fatigue from the previous dungeon runs the fifth run this time the banshee linda finally showed some respect A gossamer dress, as thin as a cicada’s wing, lay quietly on the cold floor. Lady Mayor’s gossamer dress quality, bronze level requirement, 15 equipment type, cloth armor chestpiece attributes. Intelligence plus 40, spirit plus 20, constitution plus 10, defense plus 10, movement speed plus 10% set, love of the Lord Mayor, two-fourths, class requirement, mage, priest very good. With the belt he had dropped earlier, he now had two pieces. Yen Jiu’s mood improved slightly. The sixth run, nothing at all. Only the girls eagerly picking up equipment. The seventh run. Yenjio could no longer suppress his yawns. He felt like he. Wasn’t playing a game but working on an assembly line in a factory. The banshee fell. Another belt appeared on the ground. Lady Mayor’s dress belt. He already had one. Yenjio’s face darkened for a moment and. He tossed it to the girls in the team. The eighth run. Yenjio’s patience was nearly exhausted. He even began to reminisce about the time spent studying those tedious data posts at the police station. At least. back then he didn’t have to repeat the same actions like he did now the banshee linda let out a piercing scream and transformed into a shower of light once again a pair of gloves radiating a soft glow appeared among the drops yen joe’s spirits lifted lady mayor’s dress gloves quality bronze level requirement 15 equipment type cloth armor gauntlets attributes intelligence plus 20 spirit plus 30 defense plus 10 critical hit rate plus 10 percent set love of the lord mayor three quarters class requirement mage priest finally gloves chest piece belt Three pieces now. As long as he used the selected treasure chest from the dungeons. First kill reward to exchange for the last piece he could complete the entire set. He could finally clock out. Yen Jio let out a sigh of relief and teleported out of the dungeon. At the dungeon entrance, Ming. Yao stood quietly with the last batch of waiting members. Upon seeing him emerge, the girls who had already been taken through the dungeon immediately surrounded him again. Apple boss, are you coming to lead? Us tomorrow? Goodbye, boss. You must come tomorrow. Does the boss need a healing partner? My healing output is super high. Amidst the regretful voices of the crowd, Yen Jiu waved his hand at them, as a form of greeting. He ignored Mingyao and swayed directly towards the teleportation array in Maple Leaf City. Mingyao stood still, watching the slightly frail figure of the girl disappear into the crowd. Next, to her, Wangu couldn’t help but exclaim, President, where did you find such a monster? So strong, it’s simply not human. Mingyao remained silent. She opened her private message interface, and the screenshot. of this illusion skill lay quietly there the last line of the skill description was written clearly the illusion effect will be invalidated when damage is taken eight times a full eight times in epic dungeons from start to finish he had not shown a single flaw in his ordinary female disguise in other words amidst the countless players who hesitated at the epic dungeon under the siege of numerous undead he had not taken a single point of damage yenjio walked into the city and the surrounding clamor showed no signs of diminishing The recruitment calls from various guilds rose and fell, mixed with. Players heated discussions about the guild war, making the air in Maple Leaf City feel scorching. He paid no attention to those players trying to recruit him. With the female ID Honey Apple and a delicate appearance, he avoided quite a bit of trouble. He navigated through the crowded throng towards his manor located on the outskirts of the city. Returning to the familiar manor, he pushed open the heavy wooden door, instantly isolating himself from the external noise. He sat down on the soft couch in the living room and pulled up his backpack interface. The chest that had not been used since the first kill of the dungeon was radiating an enticing blow. Epic level Fallen Cathedral equipment selection chest. He did not hesitate and directly opened the chest, revealing a dazzling list of equipment, all items that could drop. In the Fallen Cathedral, his finger slid across the virtual screen, quickly locking onto a target, a pair of uniquely designed shoes. Mayor’s wife’s dress high heels, quality, bronze, level requirement. 15. Equipment type, cloth armor shoes, attributes, intelligence plus 20, spirit plus 20, defense plus 10, spell damage plus 10, set, love of the mayor, one quarter, class requirement, mage, priest, this was it. Yanjio clicked confirm. He then equipped all the level 15 gear in his bag. The attribute panel underwent a dramatic change. He opened his personal information, and a long string of brand new data clearly presented itself before him. Name, Yanzhou, Level, 15, Class, Astral Walker, Talent, Martial God, SSS Level, Unique, Attributes, Strength 29, Plus 10, Agility 29, Plus 10, Constitution 186, Plus 157, Intelligence 234, Plus 205, Spirit 274. plus 245 health 1870 mana 2550 melee damage 49 strength 100% plus weapon attack weapon plus 20 spell damage 264 intelligence plus spell power equipment plus 50 physical defense 236 equipment plus 50 spell defense 236 equipment plus 50 equipment bar title hero of maple leaf city attack speed plus 30 movement speed plus 30 when casting skills there is a 10 chance to summon three elite guards from maple leaf city to fight for you lasting one minute one-handed sword main hand blade of annihilation silver physical attack plus 20 spell attack plus 40 attack speed plus 30 ignores defense plus 30 when attacking tome off Hand, Contaminated Tome, Bronze Intelligence plus 35, Spirit plus 25, Hat, Wraitha’s Veil, Bronze Intelligence minus 20, Spirit plus 60, Shoes, Lady Mayors Dress High Heels, Bronze Intelligence plus 20, Spirit plus 20, Defense plus 10, Spell Damage plus 10, Cloak, Shadow Erosion Cloak, Bronze Intelligence plus 30, Spirit plus 20, Defense plus 10, Critical Hit plus 1% when casting spells can stack up to 10 times, recovers after leaving combat, Belt, Lady Mayors. Dress Waist Wrap, Bronze Intelligence plus 30, Spirit plus 20, Defense plus 10, Casting Speed plus 10%, Wrist Slash Gloves, Lady Mayor’s Dress Gloves, Bronze Attributes, Intelligence plus 20, Spirit plus 30, Defense plus 10, Critical, Rate plus 10%, Clothes, Lady Mayor’s Tool Skirt, Bronze Intelligence plus 40, Spirit plus 20, Constitution plus 10, Defense plus 10, Movement Speed plus 10%, Accessory, Necklace, Wraitha’s Tear, Bronze Intelligence plus 20, Spirit. plus 30, when casting spells, restores an additional 20% of your intelligence as mana.Accessory Ring 1, Brotherhood Emblem, Strength plus 10, Agility plus 10, Constitution plus 10, Intelligence plus 10, Spirit plus 10, Accessory. Ring 2, Fallen Bishop’s Badge, Bronze Intelligence plus 20, Spirit plus 30.Yinjio looked at this terrifying array of stats and nodded in satisfaction. With such attributes, let alone participating in a guild war, even. Standing still here while being attacked by ordinary players would take quite a while. his attention finally landed on the four pieces of equipment glowing with the same light as he equipped the last pair of shoes a new system prompt popped up ding you have collected the set love of the lord mayor for fourths you have gained the set skill phasing you have gained the passive skill wraith’s love he immediately clicked to view the detailed description of the skills phasing active skill upon activation you will enter a phasing state for 10 seconds during this time you cannot be targeted by physical damage cooldown two minutes dot cannot be targeted although it’s only physical it’s still very useful a full 10 seconds of time the power of this skill exceeded his expectations this meant that when facing physical classes like warriors rogues and archers he would have 10 seconds of absolute dominance he then looked at the passive skill wraith is love passive skill all your spell attacks will deal an additional 30 of your intelligence as extra damage dot he glanced at his impressive 234 points of intelligence this passive was more terrifying than the bonus from a top tier piece of equipment He walked into the courtyard. Of the manor and drew the pitch black blade of annihilation from its sheath. He casually swung it forward. A normal slash. The blade cut through the air without triggering any special effects. Then, he focused his mind. Wind step. His figure instantly surged forward a distance. Almost simultaneously he activated astral walk. His form vanished from the spot, leaving behind a trail of dazzling stardust. The next second, he appeared at the other end of the courtyard. A series of movements flowed seamlessly, incredibly fast. Yanjou stood up and jumped a bit. Fortunately, the heels of these high-heeled shoes weren’t too high, and they felt stable, like gently rising on tiptoes. He looked down at the love of the Lord Mayor’s set he was wearing. The skirt was as thin as a cicada’s wing. The exquisite, form-fitting, dress wrapped around his waist, and those shoes that made him a few centimeters taller. The attributes of this set were powerful. Powerful enough to sweep through the entire guild war. But this outfit, a scene, uncontrollably surfaced in Yanjou’s mind, on tomorrow’s guild battlefield. He, Yenjio, would take a bit of damage and revert to his original male identity. Then, dressed in this female demon veil, lace long, skirt, and high-heeled shoes, wielding a pitch black long knife, he would charge through the sea of soldiers. Just thinking about that scene made him feel utterly wrong. He walked to the huge floor to ceiling. Mirror in the manor’s hall. In the mirror, Honey Apple, with her delicate face, was calmly gazing back at him. The originally delicate features, under the contrast of this veil and skirt, seemed to gain a touch. Of cold elegance. Yenjio’s fingertips hovered over the skill icon for illusion. He needed to test it in advance. To see what changes would occur after removing the disguise and if this female outfit would remain unchanged on him. If it really did stay intact then before the guild battle began he had to find a way to get another set of gear. Even if the attributes were slightly worse it would be better than going into battle in a dress. He no longer hesitated. His fingertip gently pressed down. Ding! You have released the skill illusion. The image in the mirror rippled violently as if a stone had been. thrown into water the originally delicate female silhouette began to elongate becoming more robust the slightly thin shoulders widened the pointed chin regained its sharp lines the person in the mirror transformed back into himself it was yen joe’s handsome face which always bore little expression yen joe’s attention immediately shifted from his face to his body he braced himself for the worst however the ridiculous female outfit he had anticipated did not appear The demoness veil that had covered his face turned into a pair of silver monocles, with a subtle magical glow flowing across the lenses, perfectly resting on his right eye. The lightweight, lady mayor’s skirt transformed into a well-tailored black tailcoat made of exquisite fabric with a rich texture. The shirt inside was as white as snow, without a single wrinkle. The dress waist wrap morphed into a finely crafted black leather belt with an antique silver buckle. The dress gloves on his hands also changed from lace material to form -fitting black leather. Gloves. Finally, the pair of high heels he was most concerned about. They had now become a pair of shiny black leather shoes, classic in style, understated yet elegant. The entire outfit shifted from feminine softness to a set of classical European noble attire. Yen Jio looked at himself in the mirror. Handsome, upright. Paired with the monocles he even exuded a hint of the refined rogue charm. He tried moving his hands and feet. There was no sense of restriction. It was far better than he had imagined. Quite user -friendly, he murmured to himself, feeling quite satisfied with the result. Finally, he didn’t have to worry. About social death tomorrow. Just then, a crisp notification sound rang in his ear. His private message interface lit up. It was Mingyao’s avatar. Mingyao, you can sign up for the guild battle anytime. Tomorrow. You can match three times throughout the day, and winning two will allow you to advance. Mingyao, I saw you logged in this afternoon. Let’s meet at 2pm in the central square of Maple Leaf City. Does that time work for you? Mingyao, also, the rewards for your dungeon runs today total 80 gold coins. I’ve sent them to you via mail, so keep an eye out. Mingyao, 8 runs of the epic dungeon dropping. Bronze gear is no small amount. I’ll tally it up and transfer it directly to your bank card later. Yanjio looked at these messages, his fingers tapping on the keyboard. Yanjio, okay. Mingyao glanced. At the message, her lips twitching. Couldn’t she reply with a few more words? He closed the private message with Mingyao, and the mana returned to its tranquility. Just as Yanjio turned around, intending to head to the courtyard to try out the fishing rod he had just bought and hadn’t used yet, the air around suddenly rippled. Dots of starlight seeped from the void without warning, converging into a brilliant stream that spiraled down onto the carpet in the living room. As the light faded, a figure cloaked in a robe of stars appeared before Yanjio. It was Astralos. He looked at Yanjio with a grin, his eyes seemingly containing the entire universe, curiously surveying the furnishings of the manor. Count Yanjio really knows how to enjoy life. Such a luxurious manner. Yengio raised an eyebrow. He was no stranger to. Such sudden appearances. Is there something you need? He asked directly. By the way, I’m already level 15. How do I get to the star council? Where do I learn new skills? Astrolos let out an awkward laugh. Then his tone turned somewhat serious. Ha ha ha. There was once a traitor in the council, which caused quite a bit of damage. Since then, the stargate has added a threshold. Only when the council’s reputation exceeds respect can one qualify to learn the stargate. astralose paused then shifted the topic as for skills every time you level up by five i will personally appear to teach you new skills yenjio nodded understanding he did not inquire further about the traitor’s story seeing him so calm a hint of approval flashed in astralose’s eyes he raised his hand and gently waved it a soft light curtain sprinkled with starlight unfolded in the air between them on the curtain three lines of brand new text slowly emerged double moon passive your damage type star spells will release an additional Time, dealing 70% damage. Learning cost, 40 silver coins falling star, summon a burst of energy, dealing 150 plus intelligence 100% plus spirit 200% star damage to all characters within 5 yards, casting time, 2. Seconds, cooldown, none, mana cost 50. Learning cost, 50 silver coins star domain control, passive your spell range increases by 10 plus, spirit plus intelligence, slash 100, yards. Learning cost, 20 silver coins. Yengio looked at the skill descriptions on the light curtain. His star impact was an instant cast area spell, but its damage could only be considered average. Starfall technique was a single target instant. Cast spell, with damage significantly higher than star impact. Now, this falling star was a powerful area spell that required casting time, with damage far surpassing that of star impact. And there was the. Passive star domain control. He glanced at his attributes. Intelligence 234, spirit 274. Combined, they exceeded 500. This meant that this passive could directly increase his spell range by a terrifying 15 yards. He hesitated for almost no time. Learn all. Ding. You have learned the skill double moon. Ding. You have learned the skill falling star. Ding. You have learned the skill star domain. Control. Ding. Your gold minus 1, silver dash 10 dot. A series of notification sounds rang out. Yenjiyo felt the newfound knowledge about star energy accumulating in his mind. Now, he wouldn’t even need to get as close to enemies as before. Relying solely on these spells, he could stand at an absolutely safe distance and obliterate his foes. Astralose’s figure transformed into starlight and dissipated, restoring the living room. To its original tranquility, Yanjio stood up, crossed the spacious hall, and pushed open the back door leading to the courtyard. He intended to test the newly learned skills. The casting range of an ordinary. Mage typically hovers around 35 yards. He raised his hand, feeling the mana within him gathering at an unprecedented speed. With the enhancement of the passive skill star domain control, his maximum. Casting range had reached a terrifying 50 yards, this meant that he could launch a deadly attack before the vast majority of enemies even realized his position. At the edge of the lawn in the courtyard, a wild rabbit was leisurely nibbling on the grass. Yenjiu locked it as his target. He began to chant the spell Falling Stars. The complex incantation flowed through his mind, and his powerful mental attributes compressed the original two seconds of chanting time to less than one second, almost instantaneously. above the wild rabbit the space suddenly twisted and a brilliant pillar of star energy crashed down boom the ground trembled slightly two bright red damage numbers exploded from the light point that had transformed from the rabbit minus 932 minus 74 love of the siren following that was the second attack triggered by the passive double moon minus 652 minus 74 subsequent damage will be consolidated a total of over 1700 points of damage This was merely an area spell, dealing damage to a single target. Yen Jio. Looked at this result, falling into a brief contemplation. He needed a reference point to assess his current true combat power. He opened his friend list and found several familiar names. He first clicked on the private chat box with Ming Yao, his fingers tapping on the virtual keyboard. Yen Jio, what are your health and magic defense stats? Almost instantaneously, he received a reply. Ming Yao, health 2700. Magic defense 215. Yenjiyo did not respond to her question and clicked on another avatar. The Vice President of the War God Hall, Silver Fox. Yenjiyo, what are your health and magic resistance stats? Silver. Fox, question mark. Silver Fox, 2000 health, 167 magic resistance. Silver Fox, so, Yenjiyo, have you figured it out? Want to join our War God Hall? I’ll save you a spot in the elite team. Yenjiyo still did not. Reply. He found a third person, Crazy Blade. Yenjiyo, your health, magic resistance. Crazy Blade’s reply was filled with obvious excitement. Crazy Blade, boss. You’re finally online. Crazy Blade, I. Have 1500 health, 100 magic resistance. Is my berserker build too low? Crazy Blade, are you going to participate in the guild war? Which guild did you join? Yen Jio closed the private message interface. He began to calculate quickly in his mind. Ming Yao and Silver Fox were both top experts on the level leaderboard. Crazy Blade was also a formidable player. Taking Mingyao’s 215 magic defense as an example. A. Complete Falling Stars could deal over 1,200 points of damage to a top knight like Mingyao, and her total health was 2,700. Not enough to kill her, but if the target were a fragile warrior like Crazy Blade, with only 100 magic resistance he would evaporate instantly under a Falling Stars. Yen Jio reached a clear conclusion, except for those shield warriors and paladins who primarily invest in constitution and Defense, any other class, unless they were top players on the leaderboard, could not withstand a single falling stars from him. He didn’t even need to get close. As long as he stood 50 yards away, he was. The most terrifying artillery piece on the battlefield. Yanjio stretched his body with satisfaction, pacing back and forth in the courtyard in his tailcoat. He was now filled with confidence for tomorrow’s guild. War. Just then, his private message lit up again. Mingyao, why are you asking about my stats? Yanjio, calculating damage. In Maple Leaf City, at the guild base of Ting Lan Pavilion, Ming Yao looked at the five brief words on the screen, momentarily unsure how to respond. Ming Yao, are you going to participate tomorrow as honey apple? Yen Jiu, mm. The two of them always engaged in awkward small talk. Ming Yao wanted to continue the conversation but couldn’t think of anything to say despite racking her brain. After Yen Jiu replied, he closed the private message. He walked to the edge of the pond in the courtyard and took out a brand new fishing rod from his backpack. It was time to enjoy the rare leisurely moments in the game to eye in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, there was a lounge chair and a fishing rod. Yenjio, dressed in a tailored black tailcoat, lay leisurely in the chair, a pair of refined single-lens glasses perched on his nose. The fishing float gently swayed on the water’s surface. A light breeze swept through the courtyard, brushing against the collar of his crisp white shirt. A notification sound from a private message broke the tranquility. It was Ming Yao. He opened the message, and a long block of text instantly filled the entire screen. Mingyao, I’ve compiled information on the top 10 guilds currently in the illusion. Take a look. Mingyao, ranked first, Mingfei Qian Kouengou. This guild is, the most mysterious, with members rarely appearing in public, but some have seen several of their teams operating simultaneously in the Moon Spirit City dungeon area. 5 members per team, moving in an orderly, fashion, silent and efficient, like soldiers who have undergone strict training. Mingyao, everyone suspects that this is a guild formed by military forces in reality. Mingyao, second, Zhang Xin Dian. Every member is combative, said to be inheritors of ancient martial arts and reality. The way to join is simple and brutal, as long as you can defeat any official member of the guild, you can join. We have a few of their members in Maple Leaf City, and they are quite powerful. Ming Yao, third, Jotian. Even more mysterious than Ming FH and Kuang Gu. So far, no main city has specific information about their guild activities. Yet their guild level steadily ranks third. Ming Yao, fourth, Shen Yu. An old-school gaming guild, backed by significant capital, with substantial financial resources. Core members receive. Salaries, they are true professional players, equipped to an astonishing degree. Mingyao, 5th, Long Tong. The largest player forum was established by them. The guild gathers a large number of tech, enthusiasts and data analysts, and many game strategies and data posts originate from their hands. Mingyao, 6th, Qi Ming Xiao Zhu. Primarily aimed at helping newcomers, many players have benefited. from them, and it is the guild with the most members, but also the most laid-back. Most members spend their days fishing, mining, and enjoying the scenery. However, don’t provoke them, they have a very high reputation in the game. Mingyao, 7, Luo Xin. The guild leader is a well-known beautiful streamer in reality, and almost all members are her fans, creating a strong sense of cohesion. Don’t underestimate them. For their leader, this group would do anything. Mingyao, 8, Shui Se Huang Hun. A purely PK guild, the most notorious red-name organization in the illusion. They take pleasure in hunting. Down solo players, acting without any bottom line, and are the public enemy of most ordinary players. Mingyao, Nai, Fong Yuja, composed of top thieves and rangers. They are the best player informants. And the deadliest assassins. As long as you can pay the price, they can provide the coordinates or heads of anyone. Mingyao, 10th, Song Feng Shi. Most members have regular jobs, with average dueling. Abilities, no one expected how they managed to reach 10th place having just been pushed out of the top 10 by us. Mingyao, although we, Ting Lan Gu, have reached 5th place, these old guilds have deep foundations, and each one should not be underestimated. Yanzhou’s fingers glided across the screen, reading through all the information line by line. His expression showed no change, as if he were reading an ordinary case file in a police station. His attention lingered a few more seconds on the section about Mingyafei Qian Kuan Gu. Orderly and efficient. The private message interface flickered again. Mingyao, how? Is it? Yanzhou, not bad. In the guild residence of Ting Lan Gu and Maple Leaf City, Ming Yao looked at the two characters on the screen, nearly gasping for breath. He typed a long string of words on the screen, then deleted them one by one .I in the end, she could only send a smiling emoji. Yen Jiu turned off the private messages. The fishing float suddenly sank. He flicked his wrist and lifted the fishing rod. The empty hook drew an arc in the air, trailing a few droplets of water. The fish had escaped. He didn’t throw the hook back into the pond. The list of the top 10 guilds swirled in his mind. Ming Fa Chen Kun pavilion. The ranks were orderly, silent, and efficient. Lu Xia might just be in that guild. Unfortunately, her do not disturb status had been set, making private chat impossible. Heroes across the world are. As numerous as the fish in the river. Yen Jiu stood up, filled with fighting spirit. The brand new fishing rod was casually placed on the lounge chair. It was time to claim another reward. The previous task in. Bai Mu Town allowed him to choose an equipment piece from the treasury in Maple Leaf City. He remembered how Knight Commander Reno treated the Silver Grade Blade of Annihilation as a treasure. The Lord’s Treasury. Probably wouldn’t have anything earth-shattering. But anything was better than nothing. Perhaps he could find something better than what he currently had. He changed into his novice robe and wobbled toward. The Lord’s Mansion. Crossing the white stone -paved street, the grand building of the Lord’s Mansion soon came into view. The guard at the entrance straightened up upon seeing him clenched his right fist, and. Thumped it heavily against the armor on his left chest. My Lord, the Count. Yanjio paused for a moment before realizing they were calling him. He nodded and walked straight in. In the vast conference hall, only Reinhardt was present. He was facing a huge sand table, his brow furrowed as if studying something. Hearing the footsteps, he looked up. Count Yanjio. Yanjio didn’t respond. I’m here to claim my task. Reward, he stated directly. Oh, right. Reinhardt slapped his forehead. Please follow me, my lord, the treasury of Maple Leaf City will be opened for you. He personally led the way, guiding Yanjio through. several heavily guarded corridors until they reached a heavy golden door. The door was engraved with intricate magical runes, emitting a faint energy fluctuation. Reinhardt placed his palm on the door and quietly recited an ancient incantation. In the name of the glory of Maple Leaf City, the runes lit up one by one, and a heavy mechanical sound came from behind the door as it slowly opened inward. A mix of metallic and magical dust wafted out. The space inside the treasury wasn’t very large. On both sides, weapon racks displayed a variety of arms, swords, spears, halberds, axes, and hooks, everything one could. Imagine. Deeper inside were rows of armor and robes. Most of these items gleamed with a bronze and black iron luster, with only a few shimmering with silver light. My lord, you may choose any item here at your leisure, Reinhardt gestured invitingly, his tone filled with pride. This Lionheart battle axe was the weapon of the previous knight commander, possessing armor-piercing effects. And this moonshadow chainmail. is a masterpiece of elven craftsmanship, very lightweight and highly resistant to magic. Yenjio’s gaze swept over the equipment. He casually picked up a silver-grade one-handed sword. The attributes were. Decent. But compared to the blade of annihilation in his hand, it fell short by quite a bit, and a mage couldn’t equip it anyway. He put the sword back. He looked through the few silver pieces available, checking. Each one. As he expected, none could compare to what he was wearing. Reinhardt watched him shake his head all the way, the pride on his face gradually turning into a hint of embarrassment. These pieces of equipment, coveted by ordinary adventurers, seemed completely unworthy in the eyes of this count. Just as Yen Jio was about to casually pick one to sell for money, his movements halted. In a corner at the back of the treasury, there was an inconspicuous bookshelf. Neatly arranged on it were some skill books. Skill books. Yen Jio walked over.Heavy strike whirlwind slash frenzy rain of fire spring of healing yen. Joe patiently flipped through the books, one by one, all powerful skill books, but none that he particularly needed. Just as he was about to feel disappointed, he pulled out a thin booklet from the very bottom of the shelf. This booklet had no title, its cover made of some unknown leather, and it felt peculiarly warm to the touch. Spell Surge, your next spell cast will deal plus 100% damage, but casting time plus 100%. Mana cost plus 100%. Cooldown, 1 minute. Learning requirement, intelligence 150. Yen Jio looked at this simple description. Damage doubled. The cost was that both casting time and mana consumption also doubled. His. Mental attributes were extremely high, and his chant time was already much shorter than that of an ordinary mage. Even if it doubled, a falling star would only take 2 seconds to chant. As for the damage. A falling star, combined with the secondary trigger of twin moons plus the additional damage from whale of the banshee and if he activated spell surge as well. He couldn’t. Even be bothered to calculate the final number that would pop up. He just knew that with this shot, even a knight of Mingyao’s caliber would likely melt on the spot. This was. A burst skill tailor made for him. This is it. He said to Reinhardt, holding the nameless booklet. Then he directly slapped the booklet against his chest. The booklet transformed. Into a soft white light and merged into his body. Ding. You have learned the skill spell surge. Spell surge, active skill upon activation, your next spell cast will deal. Plus 100 % damage, casting time plus 100%, mana cost plus 100%. Cooldown, 1 minute. Casting time, instant. Mana cost, 200. A new knowledge formed in his mind. Yanjio nodded at Reinhardt, as. A farewell. He hummed a tombless little song, satisfied as he walked out of the treasury. Yanjio reached the door of the council hall and paused. He turned around and casually. Asked, do you have any tasks here? It’s quite boring right now. Reinhardt smiled. The remnants of the shadow church in the city have been completely cleared out, and the. Higher ups are in agreement. The source of the plague outside the city has also been resolved by you. Currently, Maple Leaf City is experiencing unprecedented peace, and for now. For now, there’s nothing that requires your direct intervention. Reinhardt straightened his back, his tone filled with sincerity. All of this is. Thanks to you, Count Yanjio. You have brought peace to Maple Leaf City. Yanjio scratched his head. Oh, alright. He replied and turned to leave. The Lord’s Mansion. After taking two steps, Yanjio suddenly turned back. This abrupt return startled Reinhardt greatly. The lord instinctively took half a step back to steady himself. He looked at Yanjio who had come back, wiping non-existent sweat while cautiously speaking. My lord, is there? Anything else? Yanjio completely ignored the other’s demeanor. Do you know how to get to other towns? I have friends in other towns, but I don’t know how to get there. He paused and added, it seems they are in other countries. This time, Yanjio was a bit smarter. He didn’t directly mention the country of Yenjinjin. After all, based. On the information he had gathered, the relationship between the two major kingdoms was not exactly harmonious. Upon hearing this question, Reinhardt’s tense nerves relaxed. It turned out he was just asking for directions. He nodded, his expression becoming serious. There are indeed ways to reach the main cities of other countries. But, Reinhardt’s words carried a hint of difficulty. But what? Yen Jio pressed. Your Excellency, you should know that the continent we are on, is connected by large ancient teleportation arrays between the various kingdoms. Reinhardt carefully chose his words, trying to explain. Clearly, the Last Kingdom War caused irreversible damage to the magical veins of the entire continent. Since then, these cross-border teleportation arrays have frequently encountered problems. Spatial turbulence, coordinate shifts, and even being torn apart by void energy, are all possible occurrences. He paused for a moment, as if recalling some terrifying record. For the safety of the citizens, His Majesty the King has already issued a decree. It is strictly forbidden for anyone to use the cross -border teleportation arrays without permission. Only delegations holding a royal permit equipped with an alchemical artifact known as the Spatial Stabilization Beacon are allowed to teleport. Yen Jio understood. There was a way, but it was not allowed. How do I obtain the permit? Or, how do I get that beacon? He directly asked the core question. Reinhardt revealed a bitter smile. Your Excellency, neither of these items is something a mere lord of a border city can access. The permit is personally issued by His Majesty the King, while the Spatial Stabilization Beacon is a strategic resource strictly controlled by the Alchemical Council in the Royal Capital. To obtain either of them, one must have the King’s permission. So, I have to go to the Royal Capital? Yengio asked. In theory, yes. Reinhardt replied. But the Royal Capital is heavily guarded, and gaining an audience with His Majesty the King is as difficult as ascending to the heavens. Reinhardt looked at Yengio and suddenly thought of something. If you truly wish to obtain teleportation qualifications in advance, there is not entirely no way. There is. A special unit under the royal guard, known as the Hand of Balance. Reinhardt lowered his voice a few notches. As long as your reputation. There is high enough, you can obtain the title of guard commander. And the guard commander must go to the royal capital to receive the. King’s personal appointment. Yenjio’s movements halted. The Hand of Balance. He recalled helping little cream at the dungeon entrance. The. Guild he cleared out that was blocking the door had a long string of reputation gains in the system prompts. What was that guild called? Black hand? Blood hand? Yengio couldn’t quite remember, but it was a bunch of guys with the same prefix. So, I just need to kill red names. Right, he summarized in the simplest way. Reinhardt was taken aback for a moment, then nodded with a bitter smile. In theory, yes. Players with a red name value below 50 can still enter the main city, but most guards and merchants will not treat them kindly. Once it exceeds 50, they will be wanted and arrested. He added. If you, my lord, wish to take action against them in the city, the guards, will turn a blind eye. We welcome the cleaning of these city pests, Yen Jio thought to himself. The guards really had little to manage. They didn’t care about barehanded brawls and now they didn’t care about killing red names either. Where is the hand of balance? Yen Jio. Asked directly. Reinhardt turned and waved to the guards at the door. Take his excellency the count to the hand of balance’s base. The guard. quickly stepped forward saluting yen joe with a standard military gesture his movements precise your excellency please follow me yen joe followed the guard passing through the lord’s mansion and entering the bustling streets of maple leaf city the base of the hand of balance was not in a conspicuous location but rather deep in a secluded alley an unremarkable stone building with no sign at the entrance only two faded stone lions silently guarding it the guard brought him to the door and then bowed and stepped back yen joe pushed open the heavy wooden door and walked inside, the light inside was dim and an elderly officer was dozing off at the table. Hearing the noise, he reluctantly lifted his head and rubbed his sleepy eyes. Is there something? His tone carried a hint of impatience. Yen Jio remained silent, simply standing there quietly. The old officer scrutinized him for a few moments, as if the system had determined his identity. The impatience on his face vanished in an instant and he abruptly stood up from his chair, straightening his wrinkled uniform. So it’s count. Yen Jio. We’ve heard of your previous noble deeds. The old officer’s attitude shifted to one of respect. I didn’t expect you to be so. Dedicated to maintaining order. It seemed that his reputation of over 10 points was enough to unlock the tasks here, Yenzhou thought to. Himself. He took an ancient bronze token from the drawer and handed it over with both hands. One side of the token bore the kingdom’s emblem. While the other side featured a delicate scale. This is the scale token, a symbol of our guard member’s identity. Your reputation in the. royal hand scale guard is sufficient to directly accept extermination tasks ding you have accepted the task judgment of the scale one task objective hunt down red named players and gain 100 points of scale hand reputation current progress 13 out of 100 dot task reward token upgrade the guard’s gale emblem dot ding you have obtained the task item scale token scale token after use it can detect the coordinates of the highest red named player within 1000 yards around maple leaf city dot yenjiyo took the token waited in his hand and then turned to leave count may you have great success in your endeavors the old officer behind him bowed again yenjiyo stepped out of the alley breathing in the fresh air outside he looked at the token in his hand and thought about the guild war starting tomorrow he would take the field as honey apple he still wasn’t used to wearing that dress it was just right to practice on these red named players with a thought his body was enveloped in a soft glow as the light faded the tall man in novice robes vanished In his place stood a cool girl in a gauzy dress and veil. Yenjio, or rather honey apple, moved his limbs a bit, feeling the hem of the dress swaying around his legs, which was somewhat awkward. He raised the scale token in his hand. The token trembled slightly and a faint red light shot out from the pointer of the scale, pointing towards the west of the city. A coordinate appeared in his view. Tavern of the Breath of Maple Leaf. Tavern? Yenjio recalled. The honey brew he had stored in his bag seemed to be finished. Just right, he could take care of business and buy. A few bottles of wine. On the streets of Maple Leaf City, a figure that seemed out of place attracted the attention of all passers-by. The hem of the gauzy dress swayed gently with her steps, and each movement made Yen Jo feel a wave of awkwardness. The gazes around him were mixed with amazement, curiosity, and scrutiny. He paid no mind to it. He adjusted the veil on his nose and soon arrived at the tavern of the breath of Maple Leaf. The wooden sign swayed slightly in the wind, making a creaking sound. Rich aromas of alcohol and the sounds of Chatter wafted out from the crack of the door. Yen Jio did not push the door open. He lifted his foot and kicked the oak door directly. Bang! A loud noise echoed. The door slammed heavily against the inner wall and the entire tavern fell silent in an instant. Everyone stopped. What they were doing in turn to look at the entrance. Light poured in from the open door, outlining a slender and tall silhouette. The scale token in Yen Jio’s hand was emitting a faint red glow. In his line of sight, a bright red mark precisely locked onto the head of A. Berserker in the corner of the tavern. ID, Blood Color Longfei. Red Name Value, 27. Blood Color. Yen Jiu recalled the intelligence sent by. Ming Yao. Blood Color Dusk. A guild that took pleasure in hunting ordinary players. He stepped into the tavern, stepping on the wooden floor. A rhythmic thud, thud echoed clearly in the dead silence of the air. Hey, where did this little beauty come from? You must be in the. Wrong place, a rogue whistled from the blood red table, his words flippant. The few people sitting around the table all had the same. blood-red prefix in their IDs. They burst into loud laughter. Yanzhou ignored them and walked straight towards blood-red Longfei. He stopped. In front of the table. The next second, he lifted his foot again and accurately kicked the leg of the stool Longfei was sitting on. Crack. The sharp sound of wood breaking. Blood-red Longfei was caught off guard, and with the broken stool, he fell to the ground in a disheveled heat, making a muffled thud. Ha ha ha. Longfei, are you okay? Knocked down by a little girl? His companions erupted into even more. unrestrained laughter, completely dismissing the situation. Blood-red Longfei’s face instantly turned the color of liver. He jumped up from the ground, his face twisted in a furious snarl. You damn bitch, you’re looking for death, he roared, grabbing the giant axe beside him and swinging it down towards Yanjio’s head with a glint of cold light. The wind howled. Yanjio didn’t even take a step back. He simply raised his hand and grasped the blade of annihilation at his waist. Clang! The sound of the long knife being drawn was clear and sharp. A silver light. Arriving first. Before the giant axe could fall, it traced an incredibly swift arc blood-red lung phase movement came to an abrupt halt. The anger on his face froze. A terrifying scarlet number slowly floated above his head. Minus 6716. He didn’t even have time to let out a scream. Before his tall body turned into a white light and vanished from the spot, the heavy giant axe fell to the ground with a loud clang, sparking a few embers. Several silver coins and a piece of equipment burst forth from the white light. System, you have killed the red named. Player Blood Red Longfei, Royal Guard, Balance of Hands Reputation plus 1. It seemed that the level of red name value had nothing to do with reputation, Yanjio was still hoping for a 20-point increase in one go. Yanjio flicked the void light spots off his blade. He replaced several pieces of equipment that increased strength and agility, and indeed, his melee damage had decreased significantly. However, the increase in spell damage was a qualitative change. In the tavern, laughter vanished. Everyone looked like ducks with their necks grabbed. staring blankly at the equipment on the ground, then at the slender girl standing in place. You, you dare to kill our blood-red people? The remaining three members of the blood-red guild finally reacted, standing up in a mix of shock and anger. They drew their weapons, their eyes filled with fierce light. Yen Jio gave them no chance. With a flick of his wrist, the blade flashed. At the same time, a spell. That required no incantation formed in an instant with a thought. A brilliant starlight appeared in the palm of his hand, then suddenly. Blasted out. Boom. A small star, carrying the breath of destruction, smashed down between the three of them. The blade light swept past. Dash 6370 starfall technique 19810, not at the closest distance, damage bonus reduced, the starlight exploded, and Yenjio followed up with another. Slash. Minus 6397 the screams had just begun to sound before they were instantly silenced. The three players with the blood red prefix didn’t. Even managed to take a step before they followed in their companion’s footsteps, turning into three beams of white light and disappearing. System, you have killed the red-named player Bloodred Butcher, Royal Guard, Balance of Hands Reputation plus 1. System, you have killed the red-named player Bloodred Shadow, Royal Guard, Balance of Hands Reputation plus 1. System, you have killed the red-named player Bloodred Windblade, Royal Guard, Balance of Hands Reputation plus 1. The world fell silent once more. Only the coins and equipment scattered on the ground sparkled under the dim light. Yenjo twirled his knife, sheathing the Blade of Annihilation, then collected the coins and equipment. into his bag. The entire process flowed smoothly filled with a violent aesthetic that was in stark contrast to his current appearance.He turned around and walked towards the tavern owner who had been completely petrified, still holding a cloth for wiping glasses. The owner’s body trembled slightly, his lips quivering, unable to utter a word. Yenjiyo slapped a gold coin on the bar. Ten bottles of honey brew. His voice was cold, without a hint of emotion. The owner, shaking, retrieved ten full bottles of honey brew from under the counter, presenting. Then with both hands, as if they were not drinks but some life-saving offering, Yanjio casually swept the bottles into his backpack. He hoisted the long knife that clashed with his current attire and pulled out a honey apple from his bag. Crunch, the crisp sound of chewing, echoed in the dead silence of the tavern. He showed no semblance of ladylike grace, biting into the apple heartily, turning to walk. Out of the mess, Yanjio walked along the road, raising the balance token in his hand once more. The red light pointed to the next coordinate. Maple Leaf City, South Citygate Yenjio finished the last bite of the apple, tossing the core with precision into a distant trash. Can. He stood up and walked towards the city gate. Soon, he arrived at the city gate. This scene was much larger than that in the tavern. A large group of players was gathered around a temporary recruitment point. The atmosphere lively. The flag at the recruitment point bore a splendid harp emblem. The Oracle Guild. Yenjio’s token was precisely locked onto a paladin in front of the crowd. The paladin was. well-equipped, his silver-white armor shining brilliantly in the sunlight, passionately introducing the guild’s benefits to the newcomers. ID. Oracle Starlight. Red name value, 1, this was a bit troublesome. After all, the Oracle Guild was an established major guild, known for its elite and orderly image. Unlike the blood-red dust, which was a rat everyone wanted to beat. To act in front of so many people just for one point. Of red name value seemed a bit excessive. Yenjio stood at the edge of the crowd, quietly observing. The paladin named Oracle Starlight was. still energetically giving his speech. Join us at the Oracle. You will receive the most professional dungeon guidance and the highest priority in equipment distribution. We have the strongest capital support, as long as you have the ability, your salary will definitely be top -notch in the entire server. The surrounding newbie players erupted in waves of admiration and longing. Yenjio took a step forward, slowly making his way up. His slender figure passed through the crowd, the gauzy skirt brushing against the player’s legs, causing a small stir. Many turned to look at him, their faces filled with astonishment. Yet he walked straight up to the paladin. Oracle Starlight was in. The midst of his passionate speech when he suddenly felt a shadow fall before him, a girl in a gauzy dress blocking the light. He was. Momentarily taken aback, about to ask a question. The girl’s movements were quicker than his thoughts. Without a spell, without a flash of a. Blade. She simply raised her hand, a fair finger gently tapping his forehead. The world before Oracle Starlight suddenly plunged into darkness. The next second, the light returned, and he found himself no longer at the bustling city gate. Surrounding him were cold stone walls, the air thick with a damp, moldy smell. A row of iron bars separated him from the outside world. Ding! Your red name value is detected as 1. Minor offense. According to the laws of the balance guard, you will serve one hour in prison here, with offline time not counting. Prison. Location, balance guard prison Oracle Starlight was completely dumbfounded. He stared blankly at the system prompt, his mind a blank. What? What happened? wasn’t i just recruiting how did i end up in prison at the city gate under the astonished gazes of everyone the once mighty elite paladin of the oracle guild after being touched by that mysterious girl with a cool light at her fingertip vanished in a flash of white light minus 6731 this time even his equipment didn’t drop taking advantage of the surrounding people still being in shock yen joe did not linger for a moment his body transformed into specks of starlight instantly disappearing from the spot astral walk in the Next moment, he appeared dozens of yards away, followed by a sudden dash. Wind step. His figure transformed into a blurred afterimage. Slipping into the complex streets of the city before the crowd erupted into chaos. Where’s Starshine Boss? Who was that girl just now? So beautiful, and her clothes are nice too. Damn. Starshine Boss got taken out in an instant? One-shotting a full health paladin? What? Kind of joke is this? Over 6,000 damage, is he fighting a boss? Where are the guards? Aren’t they going to do anything? The commotion. behind him was left far behind. Yenjio took a winding path and entered a deserted alley. He took out the balance token again. The red light. Flickered, pointing to a tailor shop at the other end of the city. Ignoring the storm behind him, he continued to look for his next target. Ding. You have killed the red named player or a clustershine, royal guard, balance hand reputation plus 1. Current progress, 18 slash 100. 15 minutes later. In the largest tailor shop in Maple Leaf City, a female mage who was selecting fabric suddenly let out a shriek and vanished in a flash of white light. The surrounding players hadn’t reacted yet, they only saw a figure in a gauzy dress disappearing at the doorway. System, you have killed the red-named player Windflower Snowmoon, Royal Guard, Balance Hand Reputation plus Wanda. Half an hour later, in the blacksmith shop in the east of the city, a berserker who was repairing equipment was haggling with the blacksmith owner. The space behind him slightly distorted. A brilliant pillar of star energy crashed down. Boom. The berserker and the floor beneath him evaporated in an instant. System, you have killed the red-named player one hit one kid, royal guard, balance hand reputation plus one nut. An hour later. The regional channel of Maple Leaf City was in complete uproar. Region master of water flow, are you crazy? What’s happening in the city? My friend was standing at the auction house entrance and suddenly disappeared. Region, milk tea. 7 sugar, it was a woman. Dressed in a gauzy dress, wearing a veil. She kills him then runs, you can’t catch her at all. region i really will thank you i saw it she teleported she also uses special spells with starlight quite beautiful damage jumping in thousands what the hell is this goddess the blood red dusk people have been killed by her more than a dozen region who will the flowers fall to starshine could it be one of the three absolutes that star realm walker region blood redaver lord where is that damn woman anyone who dares to touch our blood red people the whole guild will hunt her down until she quits region silver fox at blood redaver lord does your guild still have members I just saw. A five-man team from you guys get wiped out in the city. The entire Maple Leaf City was in a state of panic. Those red-named players who usually relied on their skills to occasionally kill and loot were now hiding in corners, not daring to breathe. They. Feared that the reaper in the gauzy dress would suddenly appear behind them. And the root cause of all this chaos was by the pond in his own mansion’s courtyard. Restored to his original appearance, Yen Jio lay leisurely on a fishing chair. He glanced. At his task progress. Judgment of balance, current progress 51 out of 100, after more than 3 hours he had eliminated 33 red-named players. The efficiency was quite good. He looked at the system time, it was also time to meet the game’s requirement of 6 hours. He put away the token, stretched, and yawned. It was time to log off and eat. He was completely unaware of the bloody storm he had stirred up in Maple Leaf City. Accompanied by a flash of white light, his figure disappeared from the game world. The night seeped into the curtains like ink, slowly. Yen Jo sat up in bed, the room was dim, with only the computer case glowing with a faint blue light. He glanced at his phone, it was just past 7 in the evening. The remnants of the game slaughter lingered in his body, a strange exhilaration mixed with a hint of lost at he got up and changed out of his t-shirt, slipping on a clean black hoodie, and staggered out of the room, ready to head downstairs to find something to eat. Just as he was about to turn towards the door, he paused in front of Sujinjin’s room. A faint sound seeped through the crack of the door. It wasn’t the noise of a television show, but rather a suppressed yet sharp argument. Sujia was on the phone. Yen Jio. Couldn’t make out the specific words, only catching fragments twisted by emotion. He didn’t have the habit of eavesdropping, he simply found himself naturally stopping in the shadows not far from the door. Leaning against the wall, he stood quietly. The corridor’s motion sensor light didn’t turn on, hiding him completely in the darkness. A few minutes later, the intermittent argument finally ceased. The room fell into a dead silence. He waited a moment longer before raising his hand and gently, knocking on the door. Knock, knock. There was no response from inside. He knocked again, this time with a bit more force. After a few seconds, the door lock made a soft click and the door opened a crack from the inside. Yanjio pushed the door open. The room was lit only by a dim bedside lamp and Soojinjin sat on the edge of the bed, her back to the door, her shoulders slightly heaving. She seemed to have been frowning, but when she heard the door open and turned to see Yanjio, all the tension in her face instantly relaxed. In the next moment, she stood up and, like a small boat finding a harbor, dove straight into Yanjio’s arms. A familiar fragrance filled his nostrils. She buried her face in his chest, rubbing against him vigorously, as if drawing strength from him. Yanjou’s body stiffened for a moment. Normally, he might have instinctively stepped back, but this time, his hand rose halfway before dropping back down. He could feel her slight trembling. Is something wrong, Sujie? His voice broke the silence in the room. I can say a few words at the police station now. He paused and added, if you need money, I have quite a bit on me. The person in his arms shook her head, remaining silent. She only buried her head deeper. greedily inhaling the clean, fresh scent on him, as if it were the only antidote that could bring her peace. Yanjio scratched his head. In this situation, he really didn’t know what to do. Those martial arts techniques were of no use at this moment. He remained silent for a moment, abandoning the complex speculations and chose the most direct approach. Sujia, to me, you are my only family. His tone was serious, as if he were making an important report. If there’s anything, just tell me. Trust. Me. The person in his arms finally stirred. Soojin slowly lifted her head, her beautiful eyes still glistening with unshed tears, but she let out a soft laugh. That smile washed away the clouds of worry on her face. It’s not that serious. She, reached out and gently pinched Yenjio’s cheek. My family wants me to go back, but I’m quite happy living here, I don’t want to leave. Family matters. Yenjio caught onto this key phrase. Since it was family matters, he really couldn’t say much more. He had been deliberately rejecting Soojinjin’s feelings, drawing a certain line. Yet he also regarded her as the person closest to him in this world. If Sujia really left, the moment that thought crossed his mind, his heart suddenly felt empty. Like a stone that had been in place for years, suddenly moved away, leaving only a damp imprint. A strange feeling. He had never felt this way before. Yenjio felt inexplicably restless, a kind of restlessness that couldn’t be explained logically. He didn’t like this feeling of losing control. So he chose the simplest way to deal with it, eating. Shall we go eat together? he asked Sujia. Sujian-jin looked at him, her eyes sparkling with even more joy, like a lake filled with stars. She smiled. sweetly at yenjio sure she released her hand and stepped back from his embrace to be honest i didn’t need enough the last time we went to tian shang lu he added suzhenjin looked at him her eyes sparkling with laughter like a lake filled with stars she smiled sweetly at yenjio all right she stepped forward again naturally linking her arm with yenjio’s her movements smooth and without hesitation the warm touch from his arm brought a familiar scent suzhenjin leaned almost half her weight against him wishing she could press her entire body against his I’ll do whatever you say. Yenjo didn’t pull away. He simply took her along, walking out of the room, through the living room, and down the stairs. The night breeze carried. The coolness of early autumn, brushing against their faces. Yenjo chose not to drive to some upscale restaurant but instead led Sujinjin down a small alley behind the community that he knew well. Deep in the alley, the lights were bright, and the sounds of people filled the air. An outdoor food stall had set up a dozen greasy folding tables, with plastic stools of varying heights. The air was thick with the mixed aromas of cumin, chili, and the charred scent of charcoal, pungent yet full of. The essence of life. A bald boss, bare-chested and wearing an oilcloth apron around his waist, was busy at the grill, sweating profusely. Upon seeing Yenzhou, he grinned, revealing a set of smoke-stained yellow teeth. Xiaoyan, why are you so late? Today? The boss’s voice was loud and robust. He flicked the skewers in his hand, sending a few hot oil droplets splattering onto the ground. Then, his gaze fell on Sujengen beside Yenzhou. The boss’s movements paused for a moment. He glanced at Su Jinjin, then back at Yanjio, a hearty and slightly gossipy smile appearing on his face. Well, Xiao Yan, got yourself a girlfriend? She’s really beautiful. Su Jinjin’s cheeks flushed slightly, she instinctively tightened her grip on Yanjio’s arm but didn’t explain. This time, Yanjio didn’t refute him either. He led Su Jinjin to a relatively clean table in the corner and began to order. Two bowls of beef noodles. One small bowl, one large bowl. Add double portions of beef and tripe. 20 skewers of lamb, extra spicy. stir-fry a vegetable, and a plate of mouth-watering chicken. His words came out quickly, without a pause, as if he were reciting a well-memorized code. The boss chuckled heartily. All right, coming right up. Sujinjin rested her chin on her hand, quietly watching Yanjou across the table, not saying a word. The dim yellow light from the bulb above cast a soft glow on his rugged features. The efficiency of the food stall was impressive. Soon, too large. Bowls of steaming beef noodles were served. The thick slices of beef and tripe piled high in the bowls, nearly obscuring the noodles below. Following that, the sizzling lamb skewers, vibrant stir-fried vegetables, and a plate of red oil mouth-watering. Chicken filled the small table. Yenjiu picked up his chopsticks and dug in without any pretense of politeness, slurping a large mouthful of noodles into his mouth. He devoured his food ravenously. Sujinjin was swept up in the atmosphere as well. She picked up a freshly grilled lamb skewer and took small bites. The spiciness and meaty aroma burst on her tongue, washing away the last remnants of gloom in her heart. Sister Su, Yan Zhou said, his mouth full of beef, speaking indistinctly. Ever since. We went to Tian Shang Liu last time, I noticed. You’re not an ordinary person. He swallowed his food, took a sip of the noodle soup, and continued. But I’ll say it again. I can definitely help you. His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable certainty. As for your family matters, I might not be able to intervene, but whenever you need me, just a call. I’ll be there right away. Su Xinjin paused her chewing. She looked at the man across from her who was focused on his meal. He didn’t. Say any sweet words or make any grand promises to IT was just a simple fact, almost clumsy, yet incredibly reliable. Soojinjin suddenly stood up. She extended her slender fingers and gently flicked Yanjyo’s forehead. With a crisp pop, it resonated. Clearly. Alright, she said with a smile. Yanjyo covered his forehead, feeling a bit dazed. The meal was quickly finished. Soojinjin was very considerate, eating the small bowl of noodles clean. Yanjyo, on the other hand, was like a bottomless pit. devouring the large bowl of noodles and clearing all the remaining dishes on the table. He leaned back in his chair, satisfied, and wiped his mouth. After settling the bill, Sujinjin took Yenjio’s hand, her palm warm and soft. Come with me to explore the surroundings. I’ve lived here for so long but I haven’t taken a good look around yet. There was a hint of subtle coaxing in her request. Yenjio did not refuse. He let Sujinjin lead him out of the brightly lit alley and into the flow of the city’s night. The two walked aimlessly, slowly along the sidewalk. The glow of the neon lights dyed the sky a dreamy purple, replacing the stars and moon. They passed through a bustling pedestrian street, where loud pop music blared from speakers. On the roadside, and stylish young men and women laughed as they walked by. A couple stopped in front of an ice cream shop, the boy awkwardly wiping the cream from the girl’s mouth with a tissue, while she smiled with her eyes crinkled. Yen Ji-ho paused. For a moment. He glanced at Su-jin-jin beside him, she was curiously examining the exquisite cakes in the window, her profile appearing particularly soft under the colorful lights. a strange emotion like a very fine needle gently pricked his heart when he was young the world was filled only with the sweat of the martial arts gym and the dull thud of sandbags after becoming an adult and sealing his fists a thick layer of ice had encased all his passion and perception he had grown accustomed to being alone used to isolating all emotions from the outside but now that layer of hard ice seemed to have developed a crack he didn’t know what it was he only felt a bit restless as if there was a breath stuck in his chest neither rising nor falling They crossed the pedestrian street and entered a quiet park. There were not many people in the park at night, only a few. Couples cuddling on benches, whispering sweet nothings. The wind rustled through the treetops, creating a soft sound. The two remained silent. Sujinjin tightened her hold on his arm, almost leaning her entire body against him, as if she could absorb enough warmth that way. Yenjio did not move. He stood there like a silent statue, accompanying her as they walked down the long tree-lined path. Before they knew it, they had returned to the entrance of their residential complex. The dim streetlights stretched their shadows long. When they reached the entrance, Sujinjin stopped, reluctantly loosening her grip on Yanjio’s arm. Just as her hand was about to completely withdraw, Yanjio suddenly grasped her wrist with his other hand. His grip was not strong, but it was unyielding. Sujinjin looked up, meeting his gaze. Yanjio did not speak. He did not repeat the promise. About helping for the third time, he simply looked at her with a focus that Sujinjin had never seen before. In that focus, there was his clumsiness in expressing what he felt, as well as his undeniable determination. Sujinjin suddenly smiled. She gently shook her head, remaining silent. This time, she took the initiative, using her other hand to pry his fingers open one by one. Then, she revealed a radiant smile, free of any shadow. Good night. She turned, opened the door, and the door. Gently closed behind her. In the corridor, only Yenjio remained. He stood in place, his hand still in the grasping position, as if he could still feel the warmth and delicacy of her wrist. After a long while, he finally let go, turned, and returned to his room. He took off his shirt, revealing a lean and muscular physique. Each muscle seemed shizzled, filled with explosive power .He began to punch in the empty space of the room as usual. The air was filled with the sound of his fists slicing through. A low, howling whistle. Sweat quickly soaked his short hair, sliding down the rugged lines of his face. The boxing techniques that usually calmed him could not suppress the inexplicable restlessness brewing within him tonight. He retracted his fists and walked into the bathroom. Cold water poured down from above, washing away the heat from his body, but it could not cool the burning anxiety. After showering, he threw himself onto the bed and turned off the light. The room was plunged into darkness. He forced himself to close his eyes, commanding his body to enter a state of rest. He didn’t know how long it had been, just as he was about to drift into a light sleep. A faint, almost imperceptible sound came from outside the door. It was the sound of suitcase wheels rolling on the smooth floor. Very light, very slow, carrying a sense of deliberate restraint. yenjo’s body did not move not even the rhythm of his breathing changed he simply opened his eyes in the darkness then he let out a soft sigh he had no family so he could not truly understand the feeling of being bound by family he knew that if it were family matters as an outsider he indeed had no position to interfere perhaps it was just that sujia’s father was truly on his deathbed wanting his daughter to fulfill her filial duty at his bedside or maybe a relative at home was critically ill needing sujia to rush over to take care of them These were all reasonable, and he could not stop them, nor should he. But, what if it wasn’t? What if the family was using some means to force her back into a marriage she didn’t want? What if, upon returning this time, her phone was confiscated, completely cutting off her contact with the outside world, like a canary locked in a cage? Those melodramatic plots that only played out in TV dramas, Yenjio had never believed in before. But when the possibility arose that it could happen to Soojinjin, he could not help but imagine the worst scenarios. Soojie was his family. the only family he acknowledged in this world. No matter what happened, he had to see it with his own eyes to confirm that she was safe and sound, before, he could feel at ease. Once that thought arose, it could no longer be suppressed. Yanjio suddenly flipped over and sat up in bed. In the darkness, his bare upper body tensed, muscles bulging instantly. Smooth and. Powerful lines clearly emerged on his body. That formidable physique, which he had deliberately suppressed for years, was like a sleeping volcano finally awakening at this moment. For the first time in many years, it was. ready to operate at full power. He did not turn on the light. In the darkness, Yanjou’s body was like a taut bow, pushing open the glass door leading to the balcony. The night wind rushed in, stirring the curtains. Below, a red sports car’s taillights traced an arc, merging into the flow of traffic on the street. Sujinjin’s car. Yanjou hesitated not at all, his leg muscles tensed instantly, and he shot out from the third floor. Balcony like a cannonball. His body traced an astonishing parabola in the air, landing precisely on the rooftop of the opposite apartment building. He landed silently. The asphalt and gravel ground beneath him didn’t even tremble. Like a cheetah, he crouched low and sprinted swiftly along the edge of the rooftop. The red sports car below weaved through the traffic, moving quickly. Yen Jio was faster. He had never practiced any internal martial arts since childhood. He simply breathed in the way that felt most comfortable to him, exerting force in the most effortless manner. This innate instinct had long surpassed the so-called internal masters of the mundane world. At the end of one building, he pushed off the ground, leaping again, crossing the street that was over 10 meters wide, landing steadily on the air conditioning unit of another building. He lightly tapped his toes on the metal casing, using the force to spring out again. The wind howled past his ears. The city’s neon lights flowed beneath him, forming a blurred sea of light. He ran for several blocks, feeling no fatigue at all, his heart beating steadily and powerfully. Finally, the red sports car slowed down and turned into a secluded old district in the west of the city. It eventually stopped in front of an ancient courtyard. The high walls. With grey tiles loomed, and two stone lions squatted at the entrance, where a crimson gate stood firmly closed. Two exceptionally burly men stood at the door. Upon seeing Soojinjin get out of the car, they immediately. Bowed and opened the heavy gate. Soojinjin’s figure quickly disappeared behind the door. Yenjo stayed in the shadow of a building in the distance, blending into the darkness. He waited for a moment, confirming that. There were no pedestrians around. His figure flickered, swiftly moving along the shadow by the wall. The two burly men at the entrance had bulging temples and long breaths, indicating they were trained fighters. They dutifully watched the gate but noticed nothing unusual. Yanjio circled around to the side wall of the courtyard. He took a few steps back, ran, and stepped on the wall three times, propelling himself upward, grabbing the top of the wall, and silently flipping over into the courtyard. Inside, there were rockeries and flowing water, with winding paths leading to secluded spots. He avoided the patrolling guards and, following a faint sound of conversation, slipped into the inner courtyard. In the courtyard, an elderly man dressed in a dark silk tang suit sat in a rocking chair, gently swaying. He hid in the shadow behind the rockery, like a lifeless stone. The warm yellow light in the courtyard could not reach his corner. Sujinjin stood in the center of the courtyard, her back appearing somewhat frail. The elderly man in the rocking chair across from her was the one who had argued with her on the phone earlier. Grandpa. Sujinjin’s voice was soft, tinged with fatigue. The old man did not stop rocking, he didn’t even open his eyes. You still know I’m your grandpa? His voice was. Aged but carried an undeniable authority. I didn’t ask you to come back just to indulge you. The old man’s rocking chair stopped. He opened his eyes, and in those murky eyes there was no warmth of an elder, only the shrewdness and coldness of a businessman. The Sioux family has raised you for so many years, now, it’s time for you to repay the family. Sujinjin clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. Isn’t the money I send back every month enough? Money? The old man let out a short, contemptuous laugh. Do you think the Sioux family lacks your little bit of money? He picked up a printed document from a small table beside the rocking chair and casually tossed it to the ground. The papers scattered and the top sheet bore a complex emblem. Yen Ji-ho recognized that emblem. He had seen it in the guild records sent to her by Ming-yao. The emblem of the Wind Whisperer Guild. It was something from the illusion. Stop playing dumb. The old man’s tone grew impatient. You have the guild territory token in your hands, don’t you? Su-jin-jin’s body stiffened. That’s just something from the game. It has nothing to do with reality. Nothing to do? The old man seemed to have heard the greatest joke. Jinjin, you are still too naive. What do you think it is? An ordinary game? He leaned forward, resting his hands on a dragon-handed cane, slowly rising from the rocking chair. That is a second world. A brand new world that has not yet been divided. Whoever establishes a foothold in their first, will hold the power for decades to come. The Sioux family must be the first. His voice was filled with an irresistible ambition and fervor. Hand over the item and I will let the most elite team of the Sioux family take over. establishing our first main city in illusion at the fastest speed. You, Sujinjin trembled with anger. That is my own thing. We earned it with our abilities. Your abilities? The old man struck the ground. Heavily with his cane, producing a dull sound. Your abilities were also given by the Su family. Without the Su family, you are nothing. Right now, I’m not negotiating with you. I am commanding you. Sujinjin. Stubbornly raised her head, tears welling in her eyes but never falling. I won’t give it. Impudent, the old man slapped Soojinjin across the face, the crisp sound shattering Yanjou’s defenses. The atmosphere in the courtyard instantly dropped to freezing point. Several black-clad guards, who had been lurking in the shadows, silently surrounded Soojinjin, blocking all her escape routes. The old man returned to his rocking chair, his face regaining that calmness as deep as an ancient well. I gave you a chance, he paused, then shifted his tone. Do you think I don’t know about that guy living with you? In the shadows behind the rockery, Yanjou’s breath hitched for a moment. A mere little armed police officer, orphan at a young age, with no roots. The old man spoke slowly, as if stating an inconsequential fact. Very capable, isn’t he? Unfortunately, in this era of impending illusions, fists are the most useless things. His fingers lightly tapped on the armrest of the rocking chair, producing a rhythmic thud, thud sound. If you don’t hand over the item, I can make him disappear from this world without a trace by tomorrow. You dare. Sujinjin screamed, tearing through the tranquility of the courtyard. Do you think I wouldn’t dare? The old man closed his eyes, saying no. More. The threat was already sufficient. The lights in the courtyard had, at some point, become blinding. Soojinjin stood in that bright light, her face pale, like a flower on the verge of wilting. She slowly closed her eyes, a stream of tears finally sliding down her cheek. Just as she was about to open her mouth to compromise, a shadow emerged unexpectedly from the darkness behind the rockery. He stepped forward, one step at a time. Into the light. There was no sound of footsteps. It was as if he had not walked out but had materialized from the air. Yen Jio? Sujinjin opened her eyes wide, incredulously staring at the suddenly appeared figure. How could you? The black-clad guards also reacted, immediately taking up defensive stances. Who goes there? The leading burly man shouted, charging towards Yen Jio. His large hand, like a fan, rushed towards Yen. Jio’s shoulder with a whoosh. Yen Jio did not look at him. His body didn’t even sway. Just as that hand was about to touch him, he casually raised his own hand. Slap. A crisp sound, completely unlike anything flesh could produce. Yanzhou’s hand accurately grasped the opponent’s wrist. The man’s momentum came to an abrupt halt. The ferocity on his face instantly transformed into fear and bewilderment. He tried to pull back his hand, only to find his wrist felt as if it had been welded in place, unable to move. Crack! Yanzhou exerted force with his five fingers. The sound of bones shattering echoed clearly in the silent courtyard, sending chills down the spine. The nearly six-foot-tall man didn’t even have time to scream before he crumpled to the ground, clutching his arm twisted at an unnatural angle, writhing in pain. The remaining guards stood frozen in place. They looked at their fallen comrade, then at the man standing there, his expression unchanged, a wave of coal rushing from their feet to the top of their heads. Yenjo clapped his hands, sealing his fists, aimed at people. These things were not even human. The old man in the rocking chair opened his eyes. For the first time, shock appeared in his murky pupils. Yenjou released his grip as if he had merely accomplished a trivial task. He walked up to Sujinjin. He did not look at the trembling guards or the pale-faced old man. He simply extended his hand towards Sujinjin. Let’s go. Sujinjin stared at him blankly. She looked at his calm face, at his outstretched hand. All the fear, grievance, and despair in her heart were completely washed away by an overwhelming sense of safety at that moment. She placed her cold hand into his warm palm. Want to leave? The old man finally spoke, his voice dry and somber. Do you think this is just any place? You can come and go as you please? Yanzhou finally turned his head, facing the old man sitting in the rocking chair. What you just. Said, his tone was very flat, as if he were inquiring about the weather today. Who do you want to make disappear? The old man felt his heart clench sharply under Yanzhou’s gaze. What kind of feeling was that? It was not. Being targeted by a beast, nor was it being aimed at by a gun. It was a more pure, life-level suppression. As if he were not a high-ranking figure wielding family power, but an ant that could be crushed at any moment. Young man, don’t be too impulsive. The old man forced out a sentence through clenched teeth. Some consequences are beyond your bearing. Yenjio pulled Sujinjin and turned to leave. He answered the old man’s threat. With his actions. Stop. Two guards immediately stepped forward, blocking Yenjio’s path. Several more figures emerged from other corners of the courtyard, surrounding him and Sujinjin completely. These people were. Bodyguards hired by the Su family at great expense, each one exceptionally skilled. Yenjio held onto Sujinjin and did not stop, continuing to walk outward. One of the guards, seeing this, no longer warned him, he lowered his body and delivered a fierce whip kick aimed at Yanjou’s knee. Yanjou’s leg did not move. He simply lifted his other foot and stepped down on the guard’s kicking calf with the sole of his shoe. Crack! The Chris! Sound of a bone breaking sent shivers through everyone in the courtyard. The guard’s leg bent at a strange angle and he screamed as he flew backward, crashing heavily into the rockery, falling silent. Yanjou’s shoe! Soul didn’t even pick up a speck of dust. He had incapacitated a person as if he had merely kicked a small stone by the roadside. The remaining people froze in place. They looked at Yenjo as if they were staring at a monster emerging from hell. Yenjo pulled Sujinjin and walked through the midst of their stiff bodies continuing toward the gate. Useless. The old man in the rocking chair let out an angry shout. He slammed his hand. On the armrest. Clap, clap. Two soft sounds. Three dark figures, like ghosts, emerged from the deepest shadows of the courtyard. They silently landed on the ground, completely sealing off Yenjo’s path. The aura of. These three was entirely different from that of the previous guards. It was a condensed killing intent, refined over decades belonging to ancient martial artists. One of them, dressed in a training outfit and sporting a. Goatee, pulled a disdainful smile. Young man, it’s a good thing to be a hero saving a beauty. But unfortunately, it depends on whether you have that ability. You are not worthy. Before his words fell, his figure. Suddenly became blurry. With strange footwork, he transformed into an afterimage, instantly circling behind Yen Jio. His speed broke through the limits of ordinary vision. A cold dagger slid out from his sleeve, silently, stabbing toward Yen Jio’s back. This thrust condensed all his lifelong power. However, the dagger stopped in mid-air. Yen Jio didn’t even turn around. He simply reached back with one hand and accurately grasped the wrist holding the dagger. Then, he released Sujinjin’s hand and turned his body. His empty hand formed a fist and was thrust forward in an unremarkable manner. Bang! A punch struck the ancient martial artist’s chest. There was no earth-shattering roar. Only a dull sound, like a hammer striking wet cowhide. The expert’s body instantly curled up like a shrimp flying backward and dragging a long mark on the ground before finally crashing. Into the corner of the wall, coming to a stop. He did not lose consciousness. His eyes widened, the bones in his chair he looked at the man who still stood in place, his breathing unchanged, and with his last bit of strength, squeezed out a few hoarse syllables from his throat. And no. Way. How could you, possibly, be this strong? It was a despair and helplessness that came from the very essence of life, akin to facing a mountain collapse or a tsunami. Yenjo paid no attention to the dying worm at his feet. He continued to pull Sujinjin along, walking towards the main gate. The remaining two ancient martial arts masters exchanged glances. From each other’s reactions, they saw extreme shock. But without facing it personally, they could never understand that kind of terror. The two tightened their grips on their weapons, refusing to believe in the supernatural. Without a moment’s hesitation, they shouted in unison, one to the left and one to the right, simultaneously attacking Yanjyo. The one on the left unleashed a flurry of palm strikes, creating a howling wind. As he aimed for Yanjyo’s head, the one on the right, with fingers like hooks, tore through the air, reaching for the arm that Yanjyo held Sujinjin with. They were ancient martial artists. They had their own pride and code and did not attack the weak woman, Sujinjin. This was their final bottom line. Yanjyo’s steps finally came to a halt. He gently shielded Sujinjin behind him, freeing his hands. facing the combined assault. Of two well-known ancient martial arts masters he made a simple motion. He raised both hands. With his left hand he grasped the wrist of the man on the left. With his right hand, he seized the wrist of the man on the right. Then, he forcefully brought his hands together. Bang! The two masters’ bodies collided uncontrollably, crashing into each other. The sound of shattering bones was like a string of firecrackers being ignited. One of. Them fainted on the spot, collapsing limply to the ground. The other still retained a glimmer of consciousness. He lay on the ground, staring blankly at the dim light in the courtyard, his mind a complete blank. He had practiced martial arts since childhood, training in the harshest winters and the hottest summers. Now in middle age he had become a master in his own right. After the arrival of the illusion realm, he thrived, combining the powers inherited from the game with his own martial arts, earning a place on the leaderboard. He thought he was among the top individuals in personal combat power in this world. But today he couldn’t even withstand a casual move from this young man. The beliefs he had held for decades were shattered in that moment. The entire courtyard was deathly silent. Only the heavy breathing of the old man sitting in the rocking chair remained. Yenjiyo didn’t even glance at the two incapacitated men on the ground. He took Sujinjin’s hand again, leading her step by step out of the oppressive courtyard. From start to finish, no one dared to stop them. Again. Outside the red-painted door, the cold night wind blew against their faces. Behind them, the sound of a cane striking the ground echoed, again and again, filled with frantic desperation. Sujinjin’s grip was tight. her fingertips icy. In Soojinjin’s eyes, Yanjio was just a charming young man. Without parents, without relatives, even if she spoke up, he couldn’t help her much, after all, the Soo family’s power was too strong. A mere police officer, even if he earned some money in the illusion realm, couldn’t shake the great tree that was the Soo family. After all, Soojinjin had never seen Yanjio make a move and didn’t know his strength. This time she witnessed it, these three masters had been brought in at great cost by the Soo family, treated like lords with the best food and drink. Sometimes even Su Lao was disregarded, while in Yen Jiu’s hands, they were tossed aside like trash. But she clung tightly to Yen Jiu’s arm, her body trembling uncontrollably. She understood that sometimes brute force did not represent everything. Su Xinjin’s words carried a broken tone. This is the Su family, a power that dominates Jingzhou. You’ve provoked the Su family, there will be no place for you here. Yen Jiu led her to the red sports car, opened the door, and said nothing. He simply expressed his attitude through his actions. Soo Jinjin got into the car, and Yanjio confidently walked around to the passenger seat and sat down, the sports car smoothly drove away from the ancient mansion. Where are we going? Soo. Jinjin’s emotions had calmed down a bit, but she was still filled with confusion and fear. Yanjio did not look at her. Hong. It’s fine, we can go somewhere else. His response was simple and direct. He paused for. A moment and added, as long as you’re with me. He said this as casually as if he were commenting on the nice weather. But to Soo Jinjin’s ears, it was like a violent earthquake. She froze completely. Her mind went. Blank. All the fear, all the unease, all the grievances were washed away in that instant. Only that plain, almost clumsy sentence echoed repeatedly in her mind. She stared blankly at the road ahead. The sports car passed. Through the night and soon returned to the bottom of their rented apartment building. The two of them went upstairs one after the other. Yanjio opened the door and stepped inside first. Sujujin followed behind, and the moment the door closed with a soft click, she could no longer suppress her emotions. She suddenly rushed forward from behind, using all her strength to tightly hug Yen Jiu’s back. Her cheek pressed against his broad, solid back, feeling the reassuring warmth of his body. This time, she did not cry. She just held him, holding on tightly. Yen Jiu’s body remained still. He could feel her trembling, which was completely different from the fear-induced shivering she had experienced at Su’s house. Su Jin Jin slowly released her grip, moved to face him, and looked up. In the dimly lit living room, her cheeks were flushed with an unusual redness. I want. You. Her request was low, tinged with a hint of pleading, yet incredibly clear. Yen Jio did not respond this time. He simply bent down, his arms slipping under her knees and around her back, lifting her effortlessly. Sujinjin let out a soft gasp and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck. His movements were steady, holding her as if she were a bundle of cotton. The world began to spin in her vision. The familiar living. Room and hallway turned into a blur of colors. Yen Jio kicked open the door to her bedroom. The curtains were not drawn tightly and the cold moonlight streamed in through the gaps, casting a narrow silver edge on the floor. He walked to the side of the bed and gently placed her on the soft mattress. The mattress sank slightly under their weight. He did not leave immediately. He leaned down, one hand propped up beside her. The distance between them was extremely close. The clean, fresh scent of him, mixed with the coolness of the night air he had just encountered, enveloped her completely. Soojinjin’s breathing quickened. Her hands slid from his neck too. His solid chest clearly feeling the outline of his muscles beneath the thin fabric. And that steady, powerful heartbeat. Yenjio’s other hand found the zipper at the back of her dress. Sizzle, the sound of the metal. Zipper sliding was amplified in the silent room. The cold air instantly pressed against her back. She couldn’t help but flinch. In the next moment, a body with a burning heat covered her. Sujinjin glanced at him and, couldn’t help but say, no, this size won’t work. Yenjio did not respond, his weight, his breath completely enveloped her. All thoughts were stripped away. Only the most primal sensations remained. She closed her eyes, her long eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings. The sound of clothes being removed was intermittent. His kiss descended with an irresistible force, rough and clumsy, yet carrying a deadly allure. She let out a suppressed moan quickly swallowed up, but that sharp pain was soon replaced by an unprecedented feeling of being completely filled. She clung to his neck like a vine wrapping around a giant tree. In this storm he was the only thing she could hold onto. He was too strong. Not just the strength that others could see from the outside. It is this most primal, masculine conquest. Sujinjin gave up thinking. All her grievances, fears, and despair, were completely crushed and released in this ultimate descent. She didn’t know how long it had been, from begging for mercy to enjoying it and finally to losing her voice entirely, until a hint of dawn broke on the horizon outside the window. This long battle finally came to a halt. The next morning, sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains casting bright patches of light in the room. Sujinjin struggled to sit up in. Bed. Her whole body felt as if it had been taken apart and reassembled, every inch of her bones aching and soft. She glanced at the messy bed. On the white sheets, a streak of crimson, like a plum blossom stubbornly. Blooming in the snow. Her cheeks instantly flushed. The crazy fragments of last night surged uncontrollably into her mind. She bit her lip, propping herself up with her arms, trying to sit up from the bed. As soon as she. Exerted strength in her legs, they felt as soft as noodles, and she fell heavily back onto the bed. Sujinjin lay on the bed, burying her face in the pillow, letting out a faint, delicate hum. Yenjio was simply too strong. Strong to the point of being inhuman. She couldn’t bear it alone. At this rate, she would have to check into the hospital tomorrow. After a brief rest, Sujinjin leaned against the wall, her legs trembling as she walked out of the bedroom. The empty living room was devoid of anyone. Just as she stepped out of the bedroom door, the door behind her opened. Yenjio came in, carrying the breakfast he had just bought, the soy milk. Still steaming. He pushed the door open and happened to see Sujinjin leaning against the wall, taking small, shaky steps, her legs uncontrollably trembling. Yenjio set down the breakfast and walked a few steps to her. He didn’t ask anything, bending down, his arms scooping her up once again. Where do you want to go? His movements were as natural as if he had done it a thousand times before. Sujinjin’s cheeks instantly turned. Crimson, burying her head in his chest. To, to the bathroom. Yenjio carried her, turning towards the restroom. He directly brought her to the toilet. Soojinjin’s face was so red it seemed like it could bleed. Put. Me down. I can’t pee like this. Yenjio said with an O, gently setting her down as instructed. He looked at her shy and helpless appearance, unable to resist, and leaned down to kiss her. I’ll go to work after. I finish eating. Soojinjin nodded obediently like a newlywed wife. Okay. Be careful on the road. Yenjio quickly finished his breakfast, humming a tuneless little song, and walked out the door. He felt that the. Thick layer of ice in his heart had melted a bit more. It seemed like he was becoming more and more like a real person. When he reached downstairs, he took out the black terminal given to him by old Chen from his pocket. The screen lit up and he dialed the only number. The call was almost instantly answered. Speak. The voice on the other end was as steady as ever. Yanjio was brief and to the point. The Su family in Jingzhou wants to kill me and I taught them a lesson. Also, I need to ensure one person’s safety. There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line. Understood. Just a small matter. Is there anything else? No. The. Call ended. Yanjio put away the terminal and disappeared around the corner of the street in the morning. Meanwhile, at the Su family estate, the old man had not slept all night, his eyes bloodshot. He sat in the rocking. Chair, the bloodstains from last night still not completely cleaned up in the courtyard, the air filled with a faint metallic smell. He picked up the phone and dialed the number of the chief of the Jingzhou police station. The call connected and the chief’s warm voice came through. Old Su, what brings you to call me so early? I’m still not sober from last night’s drinks. A sinister smile crept onto the old man’s face. Shif Zhang, help me look into someone. A kid named Yanjio, former armed police, I want him to disappear from Jingzhou immediately. Shif Zhang on the other end was still laughing. Just a small matter, old Su, you. His words were cut off suddenly as if someone had grabbed him by the throat. What did you say his name was? Yanjio. On the other end of the phone, the breathing suddenly became heavy. Silence. A deathly silence. A few seconds. Later, director Zhang’s voice rang out again but it had completely changed tone filled with fear and detachment. Old Su, I can’t investigate this person. I don’t know anything, so please don’t call me again. Beep, beep, beep. The phone was abruptly hung up. The old man held the phone, his face filled with astonishment. He couldn’t understand why a director, who had been like a brother to him for years, would react this way. Unwilling to accept it, he dialed several other influential figures in Jingzhou. Each of them treated him with utmost respect. Don’t worry, old Su, just a young brat. before dark i’ll make him sink into the jing river leave it to me old su just wait for good news tomorrow i’ll apply pressure to have him take off this hat after hanging up the old man’s expression improved slightly but within five minutes his phone rang wildly it was those same people calling back old su grandpa su you are my dear grandfather please don’t harm me that yenjo we can’t afford to mess with him we won’t get involved in the su family’s matters anymore please have mercy just pretend you don’t know us One call after another, each filled with a tone of crying, as if the name Yenjiyo was some kind of forbidden curse. Before he could recover from this series of unexpected events, partners from various Su family enterprises began to call in succession. Director Su, our board has just decided to terminate all cooperation with your company, we will pay the breach of contract fee. Old Su, listen to my advice, what kind of deity have you offended? Hurry and apologize, or the Su family is finished. Old Su, our decades-long friendship ends here. Calls came in one after another, all with the same content. Terminating contracts. Disassociating. Urging him to back off. The phone in the old man’s hand finally slipped and fell to the ground. He looked around helplessly. In the courtyard, the lampshade he had knocked. Over with his cane last night still lay askew. A moth had struggled inside the lampshade all night, ultimately exhausting itself to death, its tiny body pressed against the cold glass. The old man looked at the moth, feeling as if all his strength had been drained away. His hand, which had been tightly clenched and covered in blue veins, trembled and finally fell weakly. The door to the criminal investigation team 3 was pushed. Open. Yenjio’s figure appeared at the entrance. The almost boiling excitement in the office seemed to have been paused, freezing for a second. Good morning, Team Yen. Captain. Several officers scrambled to their feet, their faces still showing the excitement they hadn’t had time to hide. Yenjio wore a slight smile that he himself didn’t notice. Sit down, everyone. He waved his hand, as usual, not heading towards the spacious, independent office. Instead, he walked straight to his corner workstation. The tension in the office eased. The noisy voices rose again, though the volume was subtly lowered by an invisible hand. Yen Jio pulled out a chair. And sat down, unscrewing his thermos, steam wafting up to his face. He listened to the chatter as if he were tuning into the daily news broadcast. Damn, you guys haven’t seen the forum. The chubby shin dis slapped his. Fi, his voice uncontrolled, drawing the entire office’s attention. Yesterday in Maple Leaf City, it was like gods fighting. Another officer, Shaoli, immediately chimed in, his face equally excited. Not just gods. Fighting, it was a one-sided massacre. What happened? Which big guild had a brawl, someone asked curiously. Shin dislit his office chair over, lowered his voice, but his expression was exaggerated as if he were telling. A story. It wasn’t a guild fight. A female player, dressed in a white gauze dress, wearing a veil, wielding a black long knife taller than herself. She killed anyone with a red name. One slash, clean and swift. After killing someone she just teleports away, and the guards can’t even catch a glimpse of her shadow. Another young officer, engrossed in his phone, joined the discussion. I watched the video. Damn, she looked so. Cool. He turned his phone screen towards everyone, showing a blurry recording. In the footage, a slender figure flashed through the city, the glint of her blade exploding like starlight and five players from Blood Twilight. Instantly turned into white light. Shaoli nodded furiously beside him, adding details. I saw that video too, it was so damn cool. She doesn’t even need a second strike to kill. Just that one slash. He gestured. You all know that famous berserker Longfei from Blood Twilight, right? He ranks high on the professional leaderboard and she took him down with a single slash in the tavern. Is that for real? A young officer. Couldn’t believe it. Shinda wore a you’re too young expression. The video clearly shows a damage number over 6 ,000 floating above Longfei’s head and he just disappeared. 6,000? A gasp echoed in the office. Damn, after I changed classes, my fireball spell only deals 200 damage and she can deal 6,000 with a normal attack? Is that even humanly possible? Of course not, who can compare to her? Xiao Li. Looked starry-eyed. The forums have analyzed it, she’s definitely one of the three legends. She’s the first one to change classes to Starwalker. Isn’t Starwalker a mage? How can she use a sword and be so fierce? That’s what makes her amazing. A ranger’s agility, a mage’s damage, she’s practically a bug. Everyone in the office gathered around, chattering excitedly. I saw it, she not only uses a sword but also star spells. One. move and a beam of starlight came crashing down wiping out a whole five-man squad from blood twilight leaving not a single scrap behind blood twilight has really hit a wall this time i heard their guild leader in maple leaf city was cursing in the regional channel putting a bounty on that woman and within 10 minutes his whole crew got wiped out too ah that’s so satisfying those scoundrels from blood twilight deserved to be taught a lesson but this woman is too ruthless killing right in the city without a shred of mercy Even someone from the Oracle Guild got taken down by her just because that person had one point of red name. Value. Is that true? The Oracle Guild is notoriously protective of their own. This is going to be a good show. Yen Jio held his thermos cup, quietly listening. His expression didn’t change much, but he drank water a bit faster. The gauzy skirt swayed back and forth. Quite awkward. So, who do you think this woman really is? A newly hired female officer asked, her eyes sparkling. She must be incredibly beautiful, you can tell from. Her figure in the video, that aura is just stunning. Shen did chuckle. Her ID is honey apple, but now everyone on the forums calls her the skirted reaper. Beautiful and fierce, she’s every man’s dream and every. Red named player’s nightmare. I’m curious about her outfit, it doesn’t look like a common item. Our tailor shop couldn’t possibly create that effect. No doubt about it, it must be from a hidden quest, or she opened. Some kind of system treasure chest. The excitement grew as they spoke, shifting the topic from the female player’s strength to her background. I bet she’s the daughter of some big corporation, not short on cash, just. Here to experience life. No way, look at her decisive killing style, you can’t achieve that without thousands of hours of practice. She’s definitely a professional player. I think she might be a retired special forces. Ace, just look at those skills, clean and efficient, she’s definitely a dragon king in real life. At this point, Yanjio nearly choked on his tea, the discussion among the crowd quieted a bit due to his subtle movement. Shen. Dezge swept around before finally landing on Yanjio, who was leisurely sitting in the corner. Team Yen, what do you think? He shifted his chair a bit closer to Yenjo, his face showing a hint of curiosity. You mean this skirt reaper? What’s her aim with this? Is it simply to clear red names? That’s the least popular thing in the game, it offends people without any real benefit. All eyes turned to Yenjo. He paused for a moment contemplating the judgment of the balance quest which indeed offered little reputation. Killing a red name only granted a small amount. The profit was not high. He raised his head, meeting the expectant gazes. of everyone and seriously provided his analysis maybe she just wants to get to the capital quickly the office fell into an eerie silence go to the capital this answer was completely off the mark compared to all their previous speculations what connection was there between killing red names and going to the capital shinde’s mind stalled team yen do you mean she’s killing for some hidden quest that leads to the capital he tried to grasp the captain’s line of thought yen joe nodded mm he felt his explanation was reasonable and made sense After all, Reinhardt had told him just that. The atmosphere in the office grew even stranger. Everyone exchanged glances. They had expected to hear some profound analysis about game balance or player psychology. Instead, they received an answer that seemed completely unrelated. Shaoli scratched his head. The first to break the silence. As expected of Team Yen, your thought process is just different from ours. While we’re still on the second level thinking she’s out for fame, Team Yen has already reached the fifth level seeing through her ultimate goal. Shindi also reacted, slapping his thigh. Right. How did I not think of that? It must be. Maple Leaf City is just a novice main city. The real treasures are in the capitals. Of various countries. This goddess is definitely aiming for higher level maps. High. Truly high. This perspective just opened up. The office was once again filled with a lively atmosphere. Yenjio felt a bit dazed. By their words. Is this the power of leadership? How did the perspective just open up? He stood up and amidst the crowd’s praises of Team Yan’s keen insight, he walked into the office that once belonged to Lucia. Closing the door, he isolated himself from the outside noise. He sat behind the desk and picked up a new report. After reading just two lines, his movements halted. He took out his phone from his pocket and opened the official forum of the illusion. The pinned hot posts had exceptionally eye-catching titles. Hashtag explosive hashtag guessing the true identity of the Skirt Reaper. Hashtag analysis hashtag deconstructing the class strength of the Starwalker from skills and damage. Hashtag bounty hashtag the blood twilight guild issues a high level bounty. Yen Jio clicked on one of the posts. Hashtag explosive hashtag guessing the true identity of the skirt reaper. He scrolled through the screen with. Interest. The speculations inside were bizarre and varied. She’s definitely the young lady of some hidden ancient martial arts family, raised with rare treasures since childhood, otherwise, she couldn’t be this strong. I guess she’s a super soldier secretly trained by the state, specifically sent to rectify the game’s atmosphere. Stop talking nonsense, the cousin of my uncle’s classmate works in the security bureau and says this is a retired soldier king codenamed dragon. Yen Jiu’s finger paused on the screen, he expressionlessly swiped away this post and clicked into the next one. Hashtag analysis hashtag deconstructing the class strength of the starwalker. From skills and damage, this post was much more professional. It listed all the battle records where honey apple had appeared, marking the teleportation landing points and the angles of attack with red circles and Arrows, the conclusion is that this is a monster that perfectly combines the mobility of a mage with the explosive power of a warrior. At the end of the post, the original poster wrote in bold font, We have reason to believe. That this player possesses extraordinary combat skills and reflexes in real life. This is no longer a level that an ordinary player can reach, it is a kind of talent. Yanjio closed the post. He felt the analysis made. A lot of sense. His talent was indeed that of a martial god. The last hot post had a title that carried a hint of bloodshed. hashtag bounty hashtag the blood dawn guild issues a top level assassination order clicking in it was the blood dawn guild leader making a public statement on the forum the content was nothing more than condemning honey apple for breaking game rules and maliciously slaughtering players offering a huge bounty in gold coins and real currency to hunter down to level zero most of the replies below were mocking laughing to death you’re running around with a red name like a lantern and you still have the nerve to say others are breaking the rules can’t win so you call for help and offer a bounty Wasn’t it you guys who got wiped out yesterday? Support the Skirt Reaper. Kill this group of game locusts. Yanzhou found it all quite entertaining. He thought the forum was even more interesting than the game itself. After watching for a while, he exited those posts and clicked on the pin leaderboard at the top of the forum. A gilded list slowly unfolded on. The screen. Hall of Fame, 3 Absolutes and 6 Peaks at the very top of the list were 3 equally dazzling names. 3 Absolutes 1. ID, Anonymous, Class, Soul Eater, Level, 16-2. id anonymous class thunder lord level 16 3 id honey apple class astral walker level 15 yenjo’s finger gently brushed over the id honey apple he remembered that he was also anonymous below the leaderboard was a line of small print note due to the actions of player honey apple yesterday causing a huge discussion at the request of many players the forum leaderboard will temporarily replace her id the in-game leaderboard remains anonymous so that’s how it is yenjo continued to look down 6peaks mage class leader, ID, anonymous, class, mist shadow sorcerer, level, 13 ranger class leader, ID, wind spirit, class, windwalker, level, 13 warrior class, leader, ID, anonymous, class, weapon master, level, 14 paladin class leader, ID, god of war, flame, class, sunwalker, level, 14 rogue class leader, ID, anonymous, class, king slayer, level, 14 priest class leader, ID, frost moon, class, holy word priest, level, 14 yengio looked at this leaderboard. He gazed at those unfamiliar IDs and the classes that sounded formidable. The calm surface of his inner lake finally rippled slightly. In the illusion, he still had many opponents. This feeling was quite novel. The tea in the office was finished. The forum had also been browsed through. The morning passed quietly in this somewhat monotonous calm. As noon approached, Yanjio stood up. He casually waved to the officers outside who were still discussing in low voices. Then, he turned around, opened the office door, and walked out. He quickly headed in the direction of home. In the past, Yenjiyo always meandered, having no concept of time. But now it was different. The way home seemed longer than ever. Yenjiyo’s pace quickened, shifting from a brisk walk to a light jog. His mind was free of complex thoughts. There was only one idea. Someone was waiting for him at home. This thought was like a scorching branding iron, leaving a clear mark on his frozen heart. Yenjiyo almost sprinted back downstairs, taking two steps at a time up the stairs. He pulled out his keys and opened the door. In the living room, Sujinjin was lying on the sofa, idly watching the midday drama playing on the television, she was wearing a light-colored, form-fitting chipow, with a slit that revealed a smooth, rounded thigh. Black stockings wrapped around her long, slender calves, and her ankle’s curve was exquisite, like a piece of art. The glow from the television screen cast a hazy halo around her. In the past, Yenjio had seen this scene too many times. Female colleagues at the company flirts on the street, they would always try various ways to showcase their charm. He had never felt anything. But today, something was different. A strange, burning impulse surged through him in an instant. Yen Jo’s rationality was completely severed in that second. He didn’t even change his shoes. He lunged. Forward directly. Ah. Sujinjin let out a short gasp. Her whole body pressed down onto the sofa by a tremendous force. The soft sofa cushion sank deeply. Just as she was about to struggle, she caught a whiff of that. Familiar scent, mingled with a hint of sunlight and soapberry. It was Yen Jo. She turned her head and saw that handsome face, so close it made her heart race. He didn’t say a word. He expressed everything through his actions. Sujinjin’s body instantly softened. Yenjio’s kiss came down forcefully. He lowered his head, awkwardly searching for her lips. There was no gentle probing. His kiss was direct, domineering, carrying an irresistible force, like the punches he threw in the Sioux family courtyard. Sujinjin felt as if she were about to suffocate from his kiss. She could only reach out her arms, wrapping them around his neck, forced to endure. This sudden storm. One of his hands slid under the hem of her chi-pao. The touch of the stockings was smooth and cool, but his palm was hot, like a branding iron. RIP, the sound of fabric tearing echoed sharply in the quiet living room. Yenjo’s hands slowly moved downward, the heat of his palm making her shiver. Then, she felt herself easily flipped over by him, lying on the back of the sofa. Ah! Sujinjin arched her body, her nails digging deep into the sofa cushion. He was like a beast that had just tasted blood following the most primal instincts. The springs of the sofa groaned under the strain. Sujinjin had already felt weak and sore. that morning, and it had taken her a while to recover. She wanted to plead for mercy, but all that came out were intermittent whimpers. She gave up. She could only cling to him, like a leaf in a storm, letting him carry. Her, rising and falling in the ocean. She didn’t know how long it had been. The movie on the television had already finished its ending credits, and the screen fell into darkness. Yanjou’s movements finally came to a halt. The two of them held each other tightly, Yanjou silently listening to Sujengen’s heavy breathing. The sofa was in disarray. The air was thick with the salty scent of sweat and desire. Yenjio’s body was still tense. The lines of his muscles appearing like hard rock in the dim light. He looked down at Sujinjin, who was limp in his arms. She had her eyes closed, drool trickling from her cherry-like lips, as if she had just been pulled. Out of the water. A strange emotion, mixed with guilt and a hint of satisfaction he couldn’t even identify, surged in his chest. He picked her up. Her body was light, soft, without any strength, completely dependent. On him. Yenjio carried her into the bathroom. He turned on the shower, warm water cascading down, creating a cloud of white steam in the small space. Yen Jiu wanted to help her wash up. As a martial artist, he was naturally. Vigorous, and he was among the best. Now, having tasted the sweetness, the body’s memory was far more honest than rationality. While washing Sujinjin, he almost couldn’t hold back again. That familiar impulse, which nearly burned away his rationality, surged up from his lower abdomen once more. He forced himself to turn his head, looking at the cold tiles on the wall. He began to recite the internal martial arts techniques. He had never memorized before. He had always thought these things were useless .Suzhen Jin’s fingers gently grasped his arm. Her strength was minimal, like a cat scratching an itch. I’m sorry, I didn’t satisfy you. Yen Jo’s body stiffened. He felt his previously vague emotions towards people, like a solid ice block being scorched by fierce flames, slowly melting away. He quickly helped her rinse off, wrapping her entirely in a large bath towel, and carried her back to the big bed in the master bedroom. The soft mattress sank into a comfortable curve. He tucked her in, leaving only her flushed face exposed. What do you want to eat? His words were. Somewhat stiff. Sujinjin weakly opened her eyes, looking at the man standing by the bed, who seemed a bit at a loss. How about some porridge? Her voice was slightly hoarse. With some meat, she added. You have. Strength. Yenjo’s heart felt as if it had been sharply pierced by something. Guilt washed over him like a tide, completely drowning him. He felt like a beast that didn’t understand restraint. He decided he wouldn’t do. This again in the future. At least, not so frequently. He turned around and quickly walked out of the bedroom, even forgetting to close the door. He went downstairs, not to the fast food restaurant he usually frequented. He found a clean-looking seafood restaurant at the corner. He ordered the most expensive seafood porridge, carefully packed it in a thermos. He himself hastily devoured two bowls of seafood fried rice in the restaurant. His mind was filled with thoughts of Sujinjin, he could taste the food, but it didn’t matter. He grabbed the thermos and rushed home as fast as he could. Soo Jinjin was still in the same position he had left her. Seemingly too tired to even move. He walked to the bedside and opened the thermos. The rich, seafood-scented porridge aroma instantly filled the entire room. He scooped a spoonful, blew on it and then brought it to Soo. Jinjin’s lips. She looked at him and then opened her mouth. Yanjio fed her bite by bite. She ate slowly, one small spoonful at a time. The only sound in the room was the soft clinking of the spoon against the bowl. The bowl of porridge quickly reached the bottom. Soo Jinjin’s complexion seemed to have reddened a bit. Sister Su, did you get enough game time today? Yen Jo asked a very practical question. Su Jin Jin didn’t answer. She, simply extended her arm, reaching out from under the blanket and gently hugged Yen Jo’s waist. Her cheek pressed against his chest feeling the solid and warm muscles beneath the thin fabric. Aren’t we waiting to play? Together when you come back? Her voice was muffled. This way we can be together. Yen Jo’s body stiffened again. He had never thought someone would wait for him. Even less had he imagined someone would adjust there. Time to sync with him. This feeling was very unfamiliar, but it wasn’t bad. He nodded and uttered a single syllable. And um, he didn’t say anything more, just allowed her to hold him. After a while, Sujinjin released. Her grip. I’m done eating. Yenjiyo blanced at the time. It was five in the afternoon. There wasn’t much time left before he had to enter the illusion. Yenjiyo and Sujinjin lay on the big bed in the master bedroom. Sujinjin actively leaned closer, curling up in his arms like a cat seeking warmth. She hugged Yenjiyo. They both closed their eyes. Their consciousness was instantly pulled away, plunging into a torrent made of data. And starlight. Welcome back to the illusion the cold system prompt echoed in his ears. Yen Jio opened his eyes. He was still sitting in his comfortable fishing chair by the pond in his estate. The leaves of the maple tree in the courtyard were bathed in a warm orange hue under the twilight of the game world. A sense of tranquility. This tranquility, however, was completely shattered by a series of urgent prompt sounds. His private. Message interface, the avatar belonging to Mingyao, was flashing red at an almost frenzied rate, as if it were about to jump out of the screen. Yengio clicked on it. A flood of messages, like a dam bursting, instantly. Overwhelmed the entire chat box, Mingyao, are you online? Mingyao, finally online. Mingyao, did something happen? If you need my help, just call me anytime. Mingyao, we’ve already finished a match. Mingyao, we lost. Mingyao, we had bad luck, in the first round of the qualifiers, we drew the 13th ranked, Iron Blood Lion, killed. Ming Yao, they had 300 fully equipped members coming at us like a wall, while we only had 68 sisters available to fight. Ming Yao, even though we fought with all our might and took down over a hundred of them, we still got worn out in the end. Ming Yao, but I saw the strength difference. Was too great, so I didn’t use my talents and held back a bit. Ming Yao, the current situation is that we must win two more matches in a row to advance. Ming Yao, we don’t dare to play anymore, everyone has stopped. To wait for you. Ming Yao, if you don’t get online soon, we might not even be able to queue for the next match. Mingyao, remember to use, illusion form. Yenjiyo looked at the cold lost message and then at the time displayed in the upper right corner of the system. It was 5.47pm. He scratched his head in guilt. The time he had originally agreed upon with Mingyao was 2pm. He and Sujinjin had indeed been messing around. On the sofa for too long. He shook his head, trying to dispel those enchanting images from his mind. This wasn’t the time to think about that. He quickly replied to Mingyao. Yenjiyo, okay, I’m coming right away. He stood. up without any hesitation. His fingertips gently tapped the familiar icon in the skill bar. Illusion form. A virtual panel unfolded before him, light and shadow flowing. Soon, the ID Yenjio, the astral traveler, transformed back into a young girl in a flowing dress with a delicate appearance. He looked down at the ethereal dress he was wearing and then at the four characters in the ID bar. After completing all this, he headed towards. The meaning point agreed upon at Tinglan Pavilion. As he passed through his own estate, the streets of Maple Leaf City were even more bustling than yesterday. The air was filled with a mix of tension and excitement. Players hurried by everywhere. They were loudly discussing tactics, debating which guild had the best chance of winning. Damn, I just ran into someone from Dragon Rising. Almost couldn’t beat them. Hurry, go to the guild warehouse for supplies. The next match is about to start. Are there any healing class brothers? Our team is short a healer. The treatment is negotiable. The entire main city had turned into a massive battlefield. Yenjio, or rather Honey Apple, wrapped in her dress that clashed with the surrounding atmosphere of clashing swords and galloping horses, kept her head down and quickly navigated through the throne. Soon, someone recognized Yenjio. Look, it’s the Dress Reaper. Big shot. Can we take a photo? Countless players quickly surrounded her. Yenjio helplessly used astral travel, leaving only a few sparkles and the screams of players behind. He soon arrived at a secluded alley near the central square of Maple Leaf City. At the entrance, dozens of anxious figures were gathering together. They were members of Ting Lan Pavilion. Leading them was Ming Yao. Dressed in military attire, her brow furrowed as she paced back and forth. Luan Gu beside her also looked serious, occasionally glancing towards the alley entrance. President, will she, really come, a female rogue? Asked quietly. What if she doesn’t come? Today has to end. Yeah, with our strength, if we run into another top 20 guild, it will still be tough. Ming Yao stopped in her tracks. She will come. Her words were. Calm but carried an unshakable determination. Just then, Luangu, with sharp eyes, spotted the slender figure squeezing out of the crowd. She’s here. All eyes instantly focused on the alley entrance. Yanjio walked. Into the alley dozens of eyes fell on him all at once, some curious, some scrutinizing, but more than anything, there was a sense of relief. Sorry, I’m late. He walked up to Mingyao and spoke in a crisp, sweet voice. That belonged to Honey Apple. Mingyao looked at him. She didn’t say a word, just stepped forward and grabbed his wrist. Her palm was icy, still damp with a slight sweat. It’s fine, Ming-ya shook her head. What matters is that you’re here. She released his hand and turned to the guild members behind her. Everyone, get ready to enter. A priest girl with the ID, heart heart sweet sweet, the same one who almost kissed Yen-jo. Last time, squeezed to the front again. She tilted her head and circled around Yen-jo. Apple boss, your dress today looks even better than yesterday’s. Did you buy a new one? Yen-jo’s body stiffened for a moment. Yeah, he replied vaguely. Heart Heart Sweet Sweet giggled and reached out to pinch his face. Stop it. Mingyao grabbed her hand. Prepare for battle. Her tone was serious, without a hint of jest. Heart Heart Sweet Sweet stuck out her tongue and obediently stepped back. Mingyao opened the team interface and quickly added Yenjio to the team. Ding. You have joined Mingyao as team. Mingyao didn’t say another word. She directly opened the guild war matching panel. In front of everyone. It was a semi-transparent virtual screen, scrolling with countless guild names and emblems. Her finger glided across the screen, finally landing on the start matching button. Matching your opponent, match. Successful. A line of blood-red text appeared in the center of the panel. Guild, crazy Thursday number of people, 92 seeing this name and number, a barely audible sigh of relief spread through the Tinglon Pavilion team. It wasn’t a famous. Guild, they had only a little over 20 more members than them. Compared to the last opponent, the seemingly insurmountable wall of the Iron Blood Lion, this opponent looked like a gift from the system. A hint of relaxation appeared. on everyone’s faces. Only Mingyao’s expression remains serious. She turned to Yanjio and said, Honey Apple, you shouldn’t attack in this match. This sentence was like a stone thrown into the recently calmed water. Why, President? The priest girl named, Heart Heart Sweet Sweet, was the first to speak up. Her face was filled with confusion. With Apple boss here, can’t we just rush in and take them out? Yeah, yeah, a female warrior beside her chimed in. We lost. Last time because of numbers, now that we have a boss, why do we need to drag it out with them? Complaints began to spread quietly through the team. This was a very normal player mentality. With the best weapons they naturally wanted. To crush their opponents in the simplest and most brutal way. Yen Jiu also found this arrangement a bit strange. In his view, a quick resolution was the best way to conserve strength. Ming Yao didn’t explain immediately. She looked around. Taking in the confusion and dissatisfaction on each sister’s face. Then she spoke. In the last match, we lost. We lost to the iron hooves of the Iron Blood Lion with 300 members. But our 68 people took down. Over a hundred of them. Some people on the forum said that although we lost, we still held our heads high. Some said we are the most spirited female player guild. But have you thought about it? If today, we rely solely on Apple in every match, what will others say about us in the future? Her voice wasn’t loud, but it clearly reached everyone’s ears. They will say, Ting Lan Pavilion? Oh, that’s just the guild trailing behind the dress skirt reaper. They will say that the victory of Ting Lan Pavilion has nothing to do with them. Do you want to hear such words? Do you want our Tinglan Pavilion’s name to be just a backdrop for others? Why did we establish this guild? To prove that we can also carve out our own territory, not to hide behind some strong individual being a dispensable background. In this battle, I want the more than 90 people on the other side to see just how capable our sisters from Tinglan Pavilion are, and to let the three absolutes see that we are not just burdens dragging them down, we have the right to be their teammates. Mingyao drew her long sword from her waist, the tip pointing straight ahead. For the glory of Tinglon. Pavilion. The entire alley fell into a deathly silence. Then, it was unclear who shouted first. For the glory of Tinglon Pavilion. Let’s take them down. Let those stinky men see our strength. The president is right. We are not. Just ornaments. The atmosphere, previously filled with complaints and confusion, was ignited in that moment. Every female player’s face burned with fierce battle intent. Their equipment might not be the best. Their levels might not be the. Highest. but their momentum at this moment was enough to make any opponent tremble. Yanjio quietly watched all of this. He observed the excitement and pride on the girls’ faces. He slowly began to understand this emotion. He could also feel that Mingyao’s words were indeed very effective. This was a kind of power he had never encountered before, a power belonging to the team. Qingqing ran to Yanjio’s side, speaking softly yet filled with immense pride. Apple boss, did. You see that? This is our president. Yanjio nodded. He indeed saw it. The battle is about to begin, please all players enter the designated area. Countdown, 10, 9, 8. The cold system prompt echoed. A massive light gate slowly opened at the end of the alley. On the other side of the light gate was a vast battlefield of wilderness. At the other end, the team of more than 90 from Crazy Thursday had already formed their formation. Tinglon Pavilion, Charge. Ming Yao commanded. More than 60 figures, like swallows and warblers, without a hint of hesitation, cried out and surged into the light gate like a torrent. Their formation might still be a bit scattered. Their steps might still be a bit hesitant. But their silhouettes, on the battlefield at dusk drew a decisive arc. Yenzhou did not move. He stood on this side of the light gate, like an outsider, watching them rush towards the distant enemy. He saw Mingyao at the forefront, her shield glowing with a sacred light. He saw Wango following behind Mingyao, the tip of her staff gathering a gentle healing light. He saw the mage named Qingqing, with twin ponytails hiding behind the crowd, conjuring one ice spike after another. He saw every female player, in her own way, fulfilling that earlier vow. The president of, Crazy Thursday, a berserker with the ID, KFC grandpa, clearly did not take this group of female players seriously. He, had previously studied the battle videos of the top 30 guilds, deliberately waiting until after 5 o’clock to start matching. This 5th ranked Tinglan Pavilion had also watched the video, having been directly torn apart by, Iron, Blood Lion, and he wondered how this 5th place even came to be. Brothers, let’s make it quick. He raised his battle axe high, leading the tide of people, like a murky wave crashing towards the small reef of Tinglon Pavilion. The two streams of people collided violently in the center of the wilderness. The crisp sounds of weapons clashing, the booming explosions of skills, and the sound effects of players turning into white light upon death instantly mixed together. The numerical disadvantage of Tinglon Pavilion was revealed in the very first moment of contact. Their line was easily torn open.A female swordsman was besieged by three warriors, her shield blocked two attacks, but the third struck true. The battle axe crashing down on her shoulder. She vanished in a flash of white light. The breach was instantly widened. Players from surged in like sharks smelling blood. Hold the line. Mingyao’s voice rang out across the battlefield. She slammed her iris shield heavily onto the ground. Light of dawn. A brilliant golden beam shot up into the sky, centered on her. The golden halo spread outwards, enveloping every member of the Ting Lan Pavilion on the battlefield. They were all coated in a faint layer of holy light. The blood bars that had been steadily declining were instantly stabilized. Sanctuary. Ming Yao raised her arm with the irish shield once more. An even larger translucent golden barrier enveloped everyone in the Ting Lan Pavilion. Inside the barrier, sacred runes flowed slowly. Counterattack. Ming Yao’s sword pointed forward. The Ting Lan Pavilion members, bolstered by the holy light, felt their morale surge. They let out cries of determination, stabilizing their line and even beginning to push back the incoming enemies bit by bit. The previously one-sided situation was forcefully turned around. Both sides fell into a tense stalemate. The Yuzan’s face vanished. Damn, how is that woman’s skill so powerful? Focus fire on that paladin. Take her out. Cowbless fireballs and arrows rained down on Mingyao, but those attacks merely rippled against the sanctuary barrier, causing pitifully low damage. Yanzhou stood outside the light gate, calmly observing everything. On his team panel, beneath Mingyao’s avatar, a golden pocket watch icon appeared. The duration of. 20 seconds remaining. Once the effect faded, the Tinglan pavilion would immediately revert to their previous disadvantage and might even collapse faster due to the skill’s cooldown. This was the critical moment. Yanjou’s mind began to simulate the subsequent battle. Conditions. Just then, he saw Mingya move. She did not retreat. Instead, she stepped forward. Whirlwind squad, prepare. The two female warriors beside her, who had silently endured damage, sprang into action at her command. They both. Took a deep breath, gripping their greatswords tightly. Whirlwind slash. Two rapidly spinning steel storms suddenly appeared in the crowd. They tore through the dense formation of like merciless neat grinders, carving out two. Paths. Those blocking the way were instantly swept in, blood and flesh flying. A path leading straight to the enemy’s backline of mages was cleared. Charge with me. Mingyao’s shield was at her back. She gripped her longsword with both. Hands and was the first to dash down that bloody corridor. Her speed was astonishing. The holy light surrounding her burned even brighter as she advanced. The countdown for had only 10 seconds left. Yanzhou’s pupils slightly constricted. He understood. This was an extremely risky strategy. Using the commander as both bait and the most lethal bomb. It required immense courage and unconditional trust from her teammates. Mingyao’s figure darted swiftly through the enemy ranks. The members of the Tinglan Pavilion behind her followed closely without hesitation, fiercely holding and expanding the breach. The players from were thrown into complete disarray. They never expected this female paladin. Would dare to push in so far alone. Stop her. Kill her. Countless people turned to pounce on Ming Yao. But it was too late. Ming Yao had already reached the very center of their formation. There, was the most concentrated area of. Their mages and priests. She halted, driving her longsword into the ground beneath her. She raised her head, her face showing no fear. The countdown for reached zero. The soaring beam of light did not disappear.IT suddenly contracted. Inward, all the light converging onto Ming Yao. Her body shone like a small sun. The next second. Boom. An indescribably massive explosion occurred. Holy light erupted in a devastating manner. Waves of white light swept across the. Entire battlefield. Countless four-digit white damage numbers erupted wildly from the heads of the fragile classes in Crazy Thursday. That area was instantly cleared. Over 40 players, not even having time to scream, turned into white. Light. A strange vacuum zone appeared on the battlefield. Everyone was stunned into inaction by this sudden scene. Now. Luan Gi’s voice was the first to ring out. The remaining members of Ting Lan Pavilion reacted. They looked at the cleared enemy formation, at the expressions of the surviving enemies that seemed to have seen a ghost kill. The scales of victory had completely tilted. The ensuing battle could no longer be called a battle. It was a one-sided massacre. The girls of Ting Lan Pavilion poured out all the anger and fighting spirit they had accumulated just moments ago. In less than three minutes, the last player of Crazy Thursday fell beneath Ching Ching’s ice spike. The massive word. Victory appeared in the air above the battlefield. After a brief silence, thunderous cheers echoed across the wasteland. We won. We won. We won by ourselves. Xanxan Tian Tian threw away her staff and directly leaped into the arms of a nearby female warrior, crying tears of joy. The girls embraced each other, screaming and laughing. The cheers reverberated across the battlefield and Yen Jiu walked over, clapping his hands. The girls of Ting Lan Pavilion completely released the joy of their recent victory. They hugged each other, screamed, completely shedding the cautious restraint they had before. A few bolder female players even ran over, surrounding Yen Jio in the middle. They no longer held the distant awe they had before. Now, they stood tall, their faces radiating a genuine confidence. Apple boss, aren’t we amazing? XINXIN Tian Tian’s face was flushed with excitement. We took them all down by ourselves, a female warrior. Said proudly, waving her fist. Yen Jio looked at them and nodded. He cleared his throat, mimicking Mingyao’s earlier demeanor and spoke in a crisp feminine voice. Well, you did well. You showed me the glory of Ting Lan Pavilion. And, we need to let the other side see that we are not just burdens dragging them down. He tried hard to imitate Mingyao’s passionate tone. However, coming from the delicate girl honey apple, it sounded somewhat awkward. The entire scene fell silent for a moment. Then, a burst of even louder laughter erupted. Ah, apple boss, you don’t sound like her at all. The president is way more imposing when she speaks than you. Qingqing laughed so hard she held her stomach. Her twin tails swaying. Yanjio stood there awkwardly, unsure how to respond. Mingyao walked over, a hint of helplessness in her smile. She patted Yanjio’s shoulder. Alright, enough of that. Prepare for the next match. Her presence. Quickly silenced the crowd. Everyone stood straight again, their smiles fading, replaced by anticipation and determination. Mingyao opened the matchmaking panel once more. This was the final round of the preliminary competition. If they. Won, they would advance. Everyone instinctively eased their breathing. Matching you with an opponent, the progress bar rolled slowly. Match successful. A new line of text appeared on the screen. Gild, Blood Red Dusk number of. Players, 300 The moment they saw this name, the previously lively atmosphere felt as if a bucket of ice water had been thrown over it, instantly cooling down, the air seemed to freeze. Blood Red. Dusk? A trembling voice came from a. Female thief. Is it that infamous Blood Red Dusk, ranked in the top 10? How could they be ranked above US? Panic spread rapidly through the team like a plague. The confidence that had just been built was easily shattered in the face of the name Blood Red Dusk. It was not just a difference in strength, it was a deterrent based on reputation. The players of Blood Red Dusk were known for their ruthless methods and vicious words. In the wild, they were the nightmare of all solo players. On the battlefield, they were merciless butchers. Previously, facing the 13th ranked Iron Blood Lion, a 300-person team had been directly crushed by Tinglon Pavilion. Now, this was the 8th ranked. Team, also fully staffed. Despair enveloped everyone. Mingyao’s expression also turned exceptionally grim. She knew that at this moment, any words of encouragement would seem pale and powerless. The facts were laid out before them. This, was a battle that was almost impossible to win. She did not utter any grandiose statements. She simply turned around and said in an extremely serious tone, Everyone, follow my command. Then, she looked towards the back of the team, at. The figure in a gauzy dress who had remained silent. She nodded heavily at Yanjio. That nod contained all her trust and reliance. Yanjio also nodded. The battle is about to begin. Please all players enter the designated area. The light. Gate unfolded before them. This time, on the other side of the gate, it was no longer a wasteland, but a dense and dark forest. Tall trees blocked out the sun, with only model spots of light filtering through the gaps in the leaves, casting swaying shadows on the ground. Everyone, stand by. Ming Yao issued the first command. Yanjio did not hesitate. Alone, he carried the spirit extinguishing blade, which was quite inconsistent with his youthful appearance, and walked. Into the light gate, heading straight into the depths of the forest. Apple boss. A female player couldn’t help but want to remind him. Mingyao raised her hand to stop her. We follow behind, keep your distance, and be ready to support. At any time. She carefully led the remaining members of Tinglan Pavilion, cautiously following Yenjio, searching for cover at the edge of the forest. Blood Red Dusk had branches in every main city. Those who could participate in the. Guild War were the elite among the elite. In Yanzhou’s guild information, he could see the two IDs selected from the opposing Maple Leaf City. Blood Red Ski Road. Blood Red Long Fae. He had some impression of these two names. They, were both players he had defeated yesterday. Yanzhou felt that revealing all his trump cards in the preliminary rounds was not a wise choice. He preferred to use some small tactics to solve the problem for now. He easily climbed up a giant. Tree dozens of meters high, hiding his body in the dense canopy. His field of vision suddenly opened up. He quickly spotted the team from blood-red dust. Just as he had expected, they didn’t take Ting Lan pavilions seriously at all. The large force of 300 was divided into five small teams, each with 60 members, carelessly advancing through the forest like a comb. The distance between them was quite wide, clearly intending to find and toy with this group of female players as quickly as possible. He silently slid down from the tree. He stealthily approached the nearest 60-member team, hiding behind a dense thicket, watching as the group chatted and laughed while passing by not far away. Now was the time. Yanjou’s figure vanished in a flash of starlight. Astral walk. The next second, he appeared directly in the center of that 60-member team. He took a deep breath. Then, his body began to spin at high speed. Dragon. Breath technique. Crimson flames erupted from his mouth forming a deadly fire tornado as he spun. What the hell? Enemy attack. Healer. Heal. The players of Blood Red Dusk finally reacted. But it was all too late. The searing flames. Instantly engulfed them. The damage numbers, densely packed and merging into one, jumped wildly, minus 57,320 minus 37,620 minus 21 ,860. The 60-member team couldn’t even muster a decent resistance. Amidst their wails, they transformed into a sea of white light. It took no more than three seconds. Yanjio stopped spinning and lightly landed in place. He cast a earth shield on himself to prevent stray bullets from hitting him, which would cause the illusion effect to disappear. As the flames dissipated, only a patch of charred earth remained, with a few scattered warriors and knights on the periphery staring at him in terror. Yen Jio gave them no chance. He gripped the blade of annihilation and charged forward. With a swift motion, he struck down the remaining few, sending them back to the graveyard. The entire process was fluid and seamless. He flicked the void light spots off his blade without pausing for a moment. He walked towards the second. Team, ready to repeat the process. Waves of firestorms erupted in another part of the forest. One by one, the 60 member teams evaporated into thin air. Soon, only two teams remained. In the battlefield channel of blood-red dust, chaos had completely erupted. Since only the battlefield channel could be used within the battlefield, private chats and guild channels were unavailable, leaving the entire blood-red guild in confusion. What happened to team 2? Instant. Why? Team 5 is also unreachable. Damn, they’re all gone too. How is that possible? Not even a battle report sent out? There must be something. There’s something in this forest. Yen Jio stood in the shade of a tree, unable to hear their panic. He calmly identified the direction and moved towards the fourth target. Panic spread like a virus in the blood-red dust guild channel. Team 4 is gone too. Damn, I just saw their icons on the map, one by one turning. Black. What’s going on? What is attacking us? The remaining two teams no longer dared to advance separately. They began to instinctively pull back towards the center of the forest, trying to gather together for a shred of safety. Guild leader, Bloodred Thunder, had a face as dark as thunderclouds. He finally realized the problem. Something’s not right, he shouted in the guild channel. When Tinglon Pavilion fought Iron-Blooded Lion, they definitely hid there. Strength. They have a monster. A monster that can instant kill a 60-member team. Everyone. Gather around me immediately. Hurry. Just at noon, he had mocked Iron-Blooded Lion for being chewed up by a female player guild, a tremendous disgrace. Now, he felt a burning pain in his cheeks. This was not just being chewed, it was clearly being devoured. The two remaining teams, totaling 120 people, began to madly sprint towards the center of the map. The forest behind them, in their eyes, was no longer a battlefield but the throat of a giant beast that could swallow lives at any moment. Yen Jiu stood atop the crown of a giant tree, watching the two red arrows on the map rapidly converge. He did not pursue them any further. It was more efficient to let them gather. He cast another thick, earth shield, on himself. Then, he sent a brief message and a coordinate to Ming Yao. Honey Apple, once I go in, you all start charging. At this moment, the members of Ting Lan Pavilion were still completely unaware of what was happening on the other side of the forest. Under Ming Yao’s lead, they were cautiously advancing along the forest’s edge. Each person’s heart was in their throat. The joy and confidence from defeating Mad Thursday had vanished in the face of the name Blood Red Dusk. They didn’t even dare to breathe loudly. The forest was very quiet, only the faint rustling of dry branches and fallen leaves under their feet could be heard. The dim environment amplified their inner fears. President, is it really okay for Apple to be alone? Xingxing tightly gripped her staff and asked in a low voice. Her twin ponytails hung limply, losing their usual vitality due to her anxiety. Mingyao did not respond. She just stared intently at her team panel. The avatar belonging to Honey Apple remained lit and unharmed. The health bar was full. Just then, a message popped up. Mingyao’s body paused for a moment. After entering, before she could think it through, she immediately issued orders to her sisters behind her. Everyone, prepare for battle. Stay close to me, we’re moving forward. Although she didn’t know what was happening, this was Yenzhou’s command. It was the only hope of Tinglan Pavilion, the one that had created countless miracles. She had to execute it unconditionally. More than 60 girls gathered a bit of courage and quickened their pace. They passed through a dense thicket of ferns. It was a clearing in the forest. Then, they witnessed a scene that would be etched in their memories for a lifetime. In the center of the clearing, two well -equipped teams from Blood Red Dusk had just converged. Over 120 players, a sea of black filled the entire clearing. Their gear shimmered with a fine luster, and the weapons in their hands exuded a chilling bloodthirst. On the outermost edge were a uniform line of shield warriors and protective knights. They did not stand scattered but formed a standard circular defense line, their massive tower shields almost seamlessly connecting to create a despair-inducing steel barrier. The glow of the enchanted shields intertwined, and the paladin’s auras radiated outward, transforming the entire clearing into a sacred fortress. within the formation mages and priests were layered with protection at the core everyone get your spirits up the voice of blood red thunder was hoarse and irritable echoing through the crowd rangers keep an eye on the treetops rogues activate your stealth and maintain a 50 meter perimeter report any disturbances immediately his commands were clear and effective but could not mask a hint of tremor in his voice the oppressive feeling built from their numbers and equipment nearly suffocated the girls of tinglon pavilion A ranger’s voice rang out, Ting Lan Pavilion forces spotted 30 degrees northwest, about a hundred yards away. Blood Red Thunder had just stepped onto a rock, intending to survey the surroundings. Suddenly, a sprinkle of. Starlight appeared in the space behind him. A slender figure in a flowing dress appeared without warning. She materialized right in the center of 120 enemies. Like a dandelion that had accidentally drifted into a wolf pack. That. That’s. Shin Shin Sweet covered her mouth to stifle a scream. Blood Red Thunder also sensed something unusual behind him and turned sharply. He saw the girl, the one in the dress, with the ID Honey Apple. His pupils instantly, shrank to the size of pinpricks. It was her. Kill her. He barely managed to shout two words. Yenjo’s movements were faster than his voice. He opened his mouth. Dragon Breath Technique. Then, Yenjo’s body began to spin at high. Speed like a top. Crimson flames formed a terrifying fire ring with him at the center, creating a 360 degree no dead angle inferno. The fire ring suddenly expanded outward. In an instant, it transformed into a fire tornado. Connecting heaven and earth. Boom. The apocalyptic flames devoured everything. The 120 elite players of Blood Red Dusk who had just converged didn’t even have time to cast a decent skill. Their bodies were swept into. The fiery storm. Their health bars plummeted like a waterfall. Dash 48890-39120-22540. Damage numbers so densely packed they were indistinguishable filled the entire screen like a crimson downpour. The screams and wails were completely drowned. Out by the roar of the flames, the girls of Tinglon Pavilion stood dazed at the edge of the clearing. They watched the petite figure at the center of the enemy ranks, unleashing a storm of death. They saw over a hundred arrogant foes, fall like cut wheat, turning into patches of white light. The entire world seemed to lose its sound. Only the swirling, all -destroying crimson tornado remained. A few seconds later, the flames dissipated. Yen Jio lightly landed on the ground, his gauzy skirt not even dusted with a speck of dirt. In the center of the clearing appeared a vast, charred circular area. Out of the team of 120, only 40 or 50 remained, still in shock, untouched by the skills wave. Their faces bore the extreme fear and bewilderment of having seen a ghost. The battlefield was deathly silent. Now, Mingyao’s voice was the first to break the silence. There was a tremor in her voice that she herself was unaware of. She suddenly raised her sword. Light of Dawn. Sanctuary. Golden beams and shields lit up simultaneously, enveloping all the Tinglan Pavilion members still in a daze. For Tinglan Pavilion. Charge. She was the first to. Rush out. The girls awakened by the holy light instinctively followed their president, letting out high-pitched cries as they charged towards the surviving, already disheartened enemies. The ensuing battle could no longer be called a battle. It was a one-sided massacre. Three minutes later, the massive word victory slowly appeared in the air above the battlefield. The girls of Tinglan Pavilion stood on that charred ground. They watched the dissipating white light around. Them and them looked at the gauzy skirted girl standing alone in the distance carrying a black blade. Until the system prompt for their advancement to the next round of the competition popped up, their minds remained blank. We won? Just. Like that, we won? As the white light faded, everyone returned to the preparation square for the guild battle. The enormous word victory still hovered in the air, slowly dissipating. The girls of Tinglon Pavilion remained standing. In place. They exchanged glances, each face still bearing the lingering shock that refused to fade. We won. The opponent was the infamous blood-red dust, known for relishing the slaughter of ordinary players. They had even prepared themselves, mentally for a loss in the match. Yet, from the start to the end of the battle, it had only taken a few minutes. The silence of the square was shattered by a piercing scream. Ah! Apple big shot! Xingqing was the first to react. Her twin ponytails, which had drooped from tension, now almost flying with excitement. She shot like a small cannonball towards the gauzy-skirted girl standing at the edge of the crowd. Big shot, you’re amazing. My god. What skill was? That fiery tornado just now? So cool. Big shot, do you need any accessories? The kind that warms the bed. With the first, there came a second, then a third. The silence was completely drowned out. Over sixty girls, chirping like swallows, instantly surrounded Yenjio, leaving no room to breathe. The chattering praises and questions poured over him like a sudden storm, completely engulfing him. Big shot, where did you buy that dress? I want one too. Sister Apple, do you take disciples? The curvaceous Luangue squeezed in, a hint of blush on her face. Thank you for earlier. Yen Jio felt his scalp tingle from the noise. Countless gazes mixed with admiration, curiosity, and fervor sent shivers. Down his spine. This was more uncomfortable than facing a hundred enemies. He glanced over the crowded Mingyao, the only one still maintaining her composure, and nodded simply as a greeting. In the next moment he hesitated no more. Astral walk. I’m leaving first. Before the words left his mouth, his body transformed into sparkling starlight, instantly vanishing from the spot, only a group of girls looked at each other in confusion, surrounded by an empty circle. Maple Leaf City, a deserted alley. The starlight condensed, and Yen Jo’s figure reappeared. He let out a long breath, finally free from that terrifying encirclement. Without a moment’s delay, he took out the bronze balance token from his backpack. The token trembled slightly, and a red light shot out again, pointing to a coordinate within the city. He walked in that direction. The Slaughter. was about to continue. For the next three hours, a peculiar scene unfolded in Maple Leaf City. A mysterious girl in a flowing gauze dress and a veil became the focus of pursuit for all the players. In the city, she was neither a star nor a quest NPC. She was the Grim Reaper. A Grim Reaper who only harvested red-named players. At the entrance of the auction house, a thief who had just killed someone in the wild for their newly acquired gear was happily preparing to list the items. The next second, a star fell from the sky, obliterating him and the surrounding floor into nothingness. The players nearby hadn’t even had time to gasp when a gust of fresh wind rose beneath the gauze-dressed girl, her skirt fluttering as she vanished around the corner. Quick, quick, quick. Did. You record it? I got it. Gauze-dressed Grim Reaper with her seventh kill today. High definition. Damn, that damage, I can’t even comprehend it. In the tavern, two players who had started fighting over an uneven share of loot were engaged in a brawl. Before they could land a second blow, a flash of blades swept between them. Two beams of white light rose simultaneously. The gauze-dressed. Girl sheathed her sword and, under the numb yet excited gazes of those around her, turned to leave. The market is open. Who will be the next unlucky one? I bet on that one hammer 80. That guy. Has killed players more than once or twice. The guards stood at the street corner, turning a blind eye to it all. They even watched the players with interest, recording every move the girl made. The entire Maple Leaf City not only did not fall into panic but instead formed a strange tacit understanding. Ordinary players spread the word, actively providing clues about red-named players to. The gauze-dressed Grim Reaper. Meanwhile, those red-named players who usually acted tyrannically became like rats crossing the street, everyone shouting to beat them. Whenever the gauze-dressed girl appeared, the surrounding players would automatically clear a space, leaving her enough stage, and then eagerly began to watch, take photos, and record videos. Yengio paid no attention to any of this. His eyes were only on the constantly fluctuating numbers on the task panel and the unceasing red guidance on the balance token. Two hours later, when he had sent back to the revival. Point all the knights who had just logged in and were trying to extort tools at the tavern entrance. A crisp system notification finally rang in his ears. Ding. Task. Judgment of the balance 1. Completed. Current progress. 100 out of 100. Yanjio sheathed his long knife and looked at his task list. Finally, it was enough. He turned and walked back down the secluded alley he had come from. The residence of the hand of balance was still as dilapidated and desolate as ever. Yanjio pushed open the heavy wooden door. The elderly. Officer was still slumped over the table, napping as if he hadn’t changed his position in these few hours. Yen Jio walked to the table and gently tapped the surface. Knock, knock. The old officer reluctantly raised his head, rubbing his sleepy eyes, about to complain. When he saw that it was Yen Jio, he jolted awake, his entire body trembling. Milord Count. He instinctively stood up, his movements a bit stiff. You? Your back? He glanced at Yen Jio’s system status and his expression shifted from surprise to horror. The task completed. His voice had changed pitch. How long had it been? Hunting down over 80 vicious red-named criminals? This was no longer a matter of efficiency. This was a cleansing, Yenjio said nothing, merely placing the bronze token on the table. The old officer trembled as he took the token. After confirming the task. Status, he looked at Yenjio with a face full of reverence. He solemnly retrieved another badge from the deepest part of the drawer and presented it with both. Hands. It was a silver badge shaped like a scale, with swirling patterns of swift winds carved on the scales tray. your achievements are enough to prove your determination and strength according to the law of the scales your token will be promoted ding you have submitted the task judgment of the scales one congratulations your scale token has been upgraded to windguard swift badge windguard swift badge can detect the coordinates of the highest red named players in maple leaf city and surrounding areas after use it can teleport to a designated location within 100 yards of the target cooldown time one hour killing A red-named player will reset the cooldown. Ding. You have accepted the task judgment of the scales too. Task objective. Hunt red-named players to gain 1,000. Points of scale hand reputation. Current progress. 100 out of 1,000. Task reward. Token upgrade. Wind guard set selection. Asterisk 1. Yenjo took the brand new badge. His. Fingers gently brushed over the cold patterns on it. Teleport. It can also reset the cooldown. He whistled. Now, efficiency could be greatly improved. Without a. Moments pause, he nodded to the old officer and turned to leave. As soon as he stepped out of the base’s gate, he eagerly raised the swift badge in his hand. Ding. Detected red-named player one night seven times, red name value, three, coordinates, south gate of Maple Leaf City, 311,489, would you like to teleport? Yes. Yengio focused his thoughts. The surroundings instantly blurred and twisted. The next second, he found himself at the south gate of Maple Leaf City. Not far away. A player who had just killed someone outside the city and was smugly preparing to enter had a bright red ID above his head. He didn’t even have time to assess the situation around him. A flash of blade light, gone in an instant. Minus 7011. A white light shone. System, you have killed the red-named player one night seven. Times, royal guard, scale hand reputation plus one dot. System, wind guard’s swift badge cooldown has been reset dot. Yanjio performed a flourish with his blade and. Sheathed it. He raised the badge again. Ding. Detected red-named player, another hour passed. The red-named players in Maple Leaf City and the surrounding leveling areas experienced an unprecedented catastrophe. They were pinpointed in a completely incomprehensible manner and then taken down by the Reaper in a flowing dress who teleported in, without even a moment to react. Finally, Yanzhou stood on a hillside, raising the swift badge in his hand once more. The badge showed no response. The red light representing Sin above it had completely extinguished. System, no red-named players detected in the nearby area .The entire Maple Leaf City had been wiped clean by him. Yen Jio looked at the now dull badge in his hand inside. Is that it? Just like that? Yen Jio was about to change back into his original outfit planning to head to the Maple Leaf Tavern to spend the last bit of game time. Tinglan Pavilion Guild Channel Ching Ching, ah, Xiao Yeh, was killed outside the south gate. Ching Ching, it’s the blood twilight people. They kill us as soon as they see us from Tinglan Pavilion. Luanga, I just respond. and got killed too there are so many of them it seems like they are specifically waiting for us i was outside with a few others from different guilds hunting elites but as soon as the blood twilight guild saw my guild they just killed us all what should we do president they are too arrogant the guild channel erupted in chaos messages filled with anger and panic flooded the screen the members of the blood red guild who had just been released from prison had clearly received the news Instead, they unleashed their vengeful fury on all members of the Ting Lan Pavilion. Mingyao, everyone, do not leave the city for now. Do not go alone. Mingyao, gather inside the city and, wait for my orders. Mingyao’s voice carried a hint of urgency as she struggled to maintain order. Yet, sporadic death announcements continued to light up the guild’s information list. Clearly, not everyone had seen the news, or perhaps they simply didn’t have time to react. Yanjio looked at the chaotic guild channel and, abandoned the idea of returning to his original appearance. He intended to go out in this identity. He wanted the people of Blood Red Twilight to know that they had chosen the wrong target for their revenge. Or rather, they had chosen correctly. Yen Jiu stepped forward, heading towards the south gate of Maple Leaf City. Just after leaving the city gate, a sharp sense of danger suddenly struck from his side and rear. A poison arrow shot straight for his back. Following closely were a flurry of ice spikes and fireballs, sealing off all his escape routes. This was a long-plan ambush. Yanjou’s body did not move, just as the arrow was about to touch the skirt. His figure transformed into specks of starlight, vanishing from the spot. Starwalk. The arrows and spells all missed, exploding on the ground into bursts of energy mixed, with dark green and crimson. In the next second, Yanjou’s figure appeared under a tree several dozen yards away. He raised his hand, and a thick layer of earthy yellow light instantly enveloped him. Earth’s shield. Over there. She’s not dead. A berserker’s roar echoed through the woods. A dozen players with the blood-red prefix emerged from behind trees and rocks quickly surrounding Yenjiyo. Damn it, it’s that filthy woman. Made me spend a whole day in prison. Brothers, let’s kill her. If we take down the three absolutes, we’ll be famous. Let her know the consequences of offending blood-red twilight. The leading berserker, with the ID blood-red carnage, wore a face full of brutal delight. Yenjiyo finally turned around. He ignored the foul language, simply drawing the long knife at his waist. Clang. The blade cut through the sunlight in the Forrest, tracing a cold arc. A barely perceptible smile curved at the corner of his mouth. He had come out looking for a fight. If all else failed, he could still switch back to. Yen Jio and continue leveling up safely. Yen Jio felt he was too clever. Archers, suppress her. Mages, prepare to control. Don’t let her teleport again. Blood red carnage. Shouted loudly, clearly having done his homework. Several archers simultaneously drew their longbows, a rain of arrows covering Yen Jio’s position. At the same time, several. Ice rings and vine spell indicators appeared on the ground. They wanted to trap him here completely. Yenjo moved. Wind step. His body transformed into a blurred. After image, not retreating but charging towards the enemy’s backline amidst the rain of arrows. Thud, thud, thud. Countless arrows struck the earth spirit shield, creating. Ripples, yet failed to harm him in the slightest. His speed was too fast. So fast that the mage’s control spells couldn’t even lock onto him. Block her. Blood red carnage. Roared, initiating a charge, his whole body like a frenzied bull, crashing towards Yen Jio. Charge. Yen Jio didn’t even look at him. His target was only those fragile cloth-armored. Classes. The blade glimmered among the crowd. Minus 6,988. A mage from the Blood Red Guild, terror just beginning to show on his face, was swallowed by the silver light and vanished into white light. Damn. Blood Red Carnage’s charge missed, and he angrily turned, delivering a heavy chop towards Yen Jio’s back. Yen Jio seemed to have eyes on the back of his head. He stepped aside, evading this deadly strike at an extremely bizarre angle.At the same time, he swung his knife backhandedly, precisely slicing through the throat of another mage nearby who was chanting a fireball. Minus 7103. Another flash of white light rose. What the hell is this damage? I can’t control it. I can’t lock onto the target at all. The formation of the blood red guild instantly fell into chaos. Yenjio moved like a swimming fish, weaving through their disordered attacks. With every strike, he inevitably took down a member from the backline. There were no flashy moves, only the simplest and deadliest slashes and thrusts. Everyone scatter. Use area skills. Blood red mad butcher’s eyes turned red. He gave up the chase and slammed his giant axe into the ground. Earth splitter. Cracks spread out, accompanied by flying dirt. And stones, radiating in all directions. The remaining mages reacted, no longer attempting single target spells but instead unleashing area spells like blizzard and rain of. Fire all at once towards the area where yenjo might be. Boom. Boom. Boom. In an instant, the entire forest was engulfed by the raging energy of spells. Smoke and light. Effects obscured everyone’s vision. Is he dead? A rogue asked cautiously. With this kind of bombardment, even a max-level boss would lose some skin, right? He must be. Dead. How tough can a mage in a silk dress be? Blood-red mad butcher panted heavily, staring intently at the center of the smoke. The smoke slowly dissipated. The ground. Was littered with charred craters and remnants of frost. That slender figure in the silk dress had long since vanished. Where is he? A strong sense of unease suddenly surged. In Blood Red, Mad Butcher’s heart. Above your head. A cold voice came from above him. He looked up sharply. There, the girl in the silk dress had appeared on a branch. Above him, he didn’t know when. She looked down at them, as if observing a group of corpses. In the next second, she leaped down from the tree, the flash of her knife leaving. Only the last words of Mad Butcher. Run. Blood Red, Mad Butcher let out a desperate roar, the last of his life. Boom. Yenzhou weaved through the flashes of blades, each. Strike taking down a member of the Blood Red Guild. He danced through the light of death and flying skills, like an artist performing on the edge of a blade. The world became. Tranquil. Yen Jio lightly landed on the scarred ground. He shook off the specks of light from the players he had just killed on his blade and swept the scattered equipment. And coins into his backpack. Not far away, at the city gate, countless players stared in shock at the scene, forgetting to breathe. Yen Jio ignored the horrified gazes directed. At him. He pulled out a bright red honey apple from his backpack. Crunch. The crisp sound of chewing echoed clearly in the dead silence of the forest. That crisp sound became. The only noise in the stillness. The players gathered at the city gate stood frozen, as if under a spell. They watched the girl in the silk dress eating the apple, as if. Observing an ancient beast that had just finished its meal. At that moment, several figures slowly emerged from the heavy city gate of Maple Leaf City. The leading person had. The ID Oracle, Tianchuan. Behind him were Dragon Rising, Tianya, Luo God, Xingkong, and Wind Whisperer, Xinhua. Several active guild leaders from the top 10 guilds, the heads of the Maple Leaf City branch, had all appeared together. Aside from Tian Kuan, who was the president, the others were all high-ranking members of the branch. The crowd automatically parted to create a path filled with awe and curiosity. The appearance of any one of these individuals on a normal day would be enough to cause quite a stir. Now, they seem to have agreed to come out together. Yen Jiu recognized Tian Kuan, who had previously invited him to join the guild back at the bandit den. However, Tian Kuan definitely did not know a player named Honey Apple. The faces of the few were adorned with friendly, almost perfect commercial smiles as they walked straight towards. Yen Ji-oh. Tian Kuan, wearing a self-assured greasy smile, was the first to speak his tone gentle. Nice to meet you, Miss Honey Apple. The name of the three absolutes. Seeing it today, truly lives up to its reputation. Longting Tianai was a robust warrior, echoing the sentiment. Not just living up to its reputation, it’s simply. Breathtaking. That pack of mad dogs from Blood Red Dusk should be dealt with like this. Luoshin, Shinkong was a female mage, her words more tactful. We’ve all heard about. The guild war before, it’s truly enviable for Tinglon Pavilion to have a master like you in charge. A few of them exchanged compliments, each one more flattering than the. Last, they lowered their postures, as if they were merely ordinary players coming to admire a peerless master. Yenjio swallowed the last bite of the apple, tossing the core. Aside, he did not respond to the praise. Those words held no meaning for him. He simply looked at them and calmly asked, hmm. A single word caused the elaborate speech. Tian Kuan had prepared to get stuck in his throat. The atmosphere froze for a moment. Tian Kuan was the quickest to react, his smile unwavering. Well, you see, our guilds have discussed this. The way Blood Red Dusk operates in Maple Leaf City is indeed too overbearing. We’ve long been unable to tolerate it. We’ve decided to unite and impose comprehensive suppression and sanctions against them. From now on, as long as their people dare to leave the city, we guarantee to make it difficult for them to move in. Inch. He paused, shifting his tone to finally reveal their true intention. We just have a small request. We hope, Miss Apple, that when you execute justice in this city, in the future, you could perhaps show a little mercy. After all, in our guild, there are occasionally one or two young ones who don’t know better, accidentally causing friction and ending up with red names. They don’t mean to do evil, they’re just young and reckless. Now there are already grievances within the guild, and I’m afraid we won’t be able to stop them then. The words both gave Yanjio face and carried a hint of subtle pressure. Truly, as heads of major guilds, they spoke with precision. Yen. Jio tilted his head. He seemed to understand their meaning a bit. He thought about his task progress bar. No. For the first time, the smile on Tinshuan’s face froze. What? Phone Yujie Qinghua couldn’t help but speak up. Miss Apple, we are very sincere. We are willing to help Tinglan Pavilion deal with the Blood Red Guild and collaborate on. Dungeon Clearing. Yen Jio interrupted her. He looked at the several guild leaders with astonished expressions and said seriously, I accepted the task. I need to kill 3.000 red names. He had learned to be clever. The task only required 1 ,000, but he directly said 3,000. Yanzhou secretly nodded in his heart, thinking. He was quite cunning. 3,000? Are there even that many red-named players in the entire Maple Leaf City server combined? Is he planning to slaughter all the red names? In the main cities? Tianquan, Tiannai, Xingkong, Xinhua, the four of them stood there awkwardly. Their expressions were a spectacle. They had considered countless possible responses from the other side. Perhaps they would demand money and equipment. Or take this opportunity to request the major guilds to acknowledge Ting Lan Pavilion’s status as one of the top 10 guilds. They might even propose some more outrageous demands. They were all prepared with corresponding countermeasures and negotiation plans. But they never expected to receive such a response. Doing a task? Killing 3 ,000? The conversation had hit a dead end. What else could they say? Convince a three absolutes? To give up her task? Who would dare? Yanjio looked at their expressions, reminiscent of constipation, and thought of another matter. That, guard’s gale emblem, was now. Useless. He had already wiped out the entire Maple Leaf City. He took out another apple from his backpack, bit into it with a crunch, and mumbled, however. Those simple. Two words instantly gave hope to Tian Quan and the others. Tian Quan reacted extremely quickly. However, what? Miss Honey Apple, feel free to say anything. As long as we can. Do it, we will do our utmost to satisfy you. Yenjo chewed a couple more times before slowly saying, if you can provide me with teleportation scrolls to other main cities, or similar items, I’ll give you this face. Killing in other cities is not out of the question. The scene fell into a dead silence once again. The onlooking players were. Completely dumbfounded. This death god in a gauzy dress had already wiped out all the red names in Maple Leaf City and now she wanted to go to other cities to kill? Is she. Even human? The Tianquan 4 were struck as if by a bolt of lightning. They exchanged glances, seeing extreme shock and ecstasy in each other’s expressions. There was a. Solution to the problem. Although this solution sounded utterly ridiculous. Get rid of this killing god. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Longting Tianye was the first to shout, fearing. That Yanjio would change her mind. Our guild has news about teleportation scrolls. Someone has discovered quests related to teleportation in the surrounding villages, and. We will gather people to tackle them right away. Tianquan immediately expressed their stance as well. all of our major guilds will do our utmost to find ways to other main cities in the next couple of days miss honey apple we beg you please do not take action in these two days give us a little time and we will definitely gather the items and deliver them to tinglon pavilion a killing god like this there was no way to fight back just look at how she slaughtered that team from blood red massacre it was like chopping vegetables trying to win her over she wouldn’t buy that at all her thought process was as strange as an alien’s most importantly this honey apple not only had terrifying personal strength but also stood behind the entire player community’s public opinion the prestige of the gauzy dress death god had reached an absurd level this was the most competitive phase among the major guilds aside from the likes of blood red dust which had already fallen to the depths of infamy who would choose to offend a triple threat at this time that would be courting death or rather asking for a quicker demise yenjiu looked at their eager expressions and nodded all right he finished the apple sheathed his sword and walked towards the city gates Since there was no fight to be had for now he might as well level up. He didn’t spare. Another glance at the guild leaders. Only the few relieved officials remained standing in place, watching Yen Jiu leave. He looked down at his friend list. Sister Su had not. Added him. Perhaps she was still busy. He closed the panel, randomly chose a direction, and began to wander aimlessly. With no one around he could finally change back to his. Original appearance, and soon his gauzy dress transformed into a suit. The wind rustled through the forest and the leaves whispered. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in. The branches casting mottled spots of light on the ground. Everything felt a bit too quiet. Accustomed to slaughter and battle, this piece made him somewhat uncomfortable. He raised his hand and looked at the guard’s gale emblem. The silver emblem lay quietly in his palm. The sinful red light on it completely extinguished. He tried to activate. Its. System. No red name players detected in the nearby area. The emblem showed no response. Tsk. Yanjio pouted and put the emblem back in his backpack. After cleaning. Up. He felt a bit empty. He kicked a stone at his feet, and it flew through the air in a parabolic arc, landing in the distant grass and startling a few birds. Thus, he wandered aimlessly for over half an hour. Occasionally using the token, he actually found a few red names in the wild. After teleporting a few times, Yanjio had already lost track of his direction, so he decided to just wander around since he had a return scroll. He passed through a sparse birch forest and suddenly found himself in a wide open space. It was a basin surrounded by low hills. In the center of the basin, a sinister purple glow was slowly swirling. Yanzhou’s footsteps came to a halt. He saw a few players. Peeking around the edge of the basin. Boss, what exactly is this thing? A rogue with the ID asked quietly. It looks like a wild boss but the aura is just too strange. The one referred to as the boss, a warrior named, frowned. I’ve never seen it before, and there’s no record of this coordinate in the game database. Look at. That purple light, when I got a bit closer, my health bar dropped rapidly, like I activated a high power water pump, a mage added, still shaken. How about, we just leave? The priest in the group, a girl with the ID, said nervously. This place is eerie, it feels like something bad is lurking. Clearly felt reluctant. Fortune. Favors the bold. The more unfamiliar something is, the higher the drop rate. Maybe it’s a hidden quest or the first kill of a world boss. He grew more excited as he spoke. Chasing wind, sneak over and see what it really is. The rogue name turned pale. boss no way i just tried as soon as i entered the range of that purple light while sneaking i was instantly revealed and lost half my health that thing has radiation useless cursed his face filled with struggle he truly didn’t want to back down just as they were arguing a figure slowly emerged from the forest behind them who immediately turned alert raising his spear when they saw the figure stepping out of the woods all sounds ceased it was a tall man in a perfectly tailored suit strikingly handsome to the point of being hard to look away from The seemingly ordinary suit subtly shimmered with an imperceptible glow, clearly not an ordinary item. Hoo. Turned alert again, his spear held horizontally across his chest, its tip. Aimed at the newcomer. His teammates also tightened their grips on their weapons, taking up combat stances. Yanzhou paid no attention to their tense demeanor. His full attention. Was drawn to the strange purple halo in the center of the basin. It was not just light. It was a tangible energy, a whale born from the fall of stars. The astral power. Within Yen Jiu resonated at that moment, producing an extremely faint, peculiar vibration. It felt as if a kindred essence, lost in wandering, was silently calling out. This sensation was something he had never encountered since becoming an astral traveler. He finally pulled his gaze away from the purple light and turned to the warrior beside. Him, who was holding the spear and looking wary. What is that? His tone was flat, as if asking the name of a wildflower by the roadside. Was momentarily taken aback by. The question. He scrutinized Yenjio, the sheen of his equipment was unmistakable, this was definitely a top-tier expert. Most importantly, this expert showed no hostility. A thought flashed rapidly through his mind. The weariness on his face instantly faded, replaced by a friendly smile. Big brother, hello, hello, we don’t know what this thing is either, it looks like a meteorite, but it’s really strange. As he spoke, he lowered his spear and took a couple of steps toward Yenjio, appearing quite warm. Are you leveling up alone too? This place is desolate, running into you is fate. How about this, since we discovered this thing first, we can team up to investigate it. If something good drops, you take the big share, and we just get a taste of the soup, how does that sound? S mind was racing with calculations. After all, they had no way to deal with this thing and were preparing to leave. Now, with a top expert appearing out of nowhere, it was perfect for him to scout ahead. Even if they ended up with nothing, they would incur no losses. If a treasure did drop, even just a taste of the soup would be better than returning empty -handed.A few people behind him exchanged glances. each recognizing the thoughts of the other. Yanjio blanced at the overlord spear. No need to team up. He waved his hand, indicating they could just follow him. After all, his level was here, and teaming up would instantly expose him as one of the three absolutes. Before the overlord spear could think of what to say next, Yanjio had already taken a step forward, heading towards the purple death zone on his own. Hey, big brother. Dash 200 dash 200 dash 200 a series of bright red damage numbers floated above Yanjio’s head. The. Members of the Overlord’s spear team were all dumbfounded. Did this person just walk in? Yanzhou took a few steps within the range of the purple light confirming the damage. Value. This continuous damage seemed unrelated to the distance from the center of the meteorite. It was a fixed 200 points per second. He calculated briefly in his. Mind and calmly retreated. Yanzhou returned to the safe zone, ignoring the gazes directed at him. He pulled out a golden, juicy chicken leg from his backpack and squatted. Down, eating it as if no one was around. Yanjio quickly finished the chicken leg and his health bar recovered significantly. He stood up and raised his hand. Earth. Shield. A thick, solid layer of yellow light instantly enveloped his entire body. The texture of the light is dense as a real city wall. He glanced at his status. Health. 1870. Shield value, 608. A total of 2478 points. With a loss of 200 health per second, he could last for 12 seconds. Yanjio looked again at the distance to the center of. The basin. That was enough. The next second, he moved. His entire being transformed into an arrow released from a bow, shooting straight towards the purple meteorite core. In four seconds, Yan Zhou’s figure had reached the center of the basin, landing steadily beside the ominous purple-blowing meteorite. Without a moment’s hesitation, he drew. The black knife in his hand, slicing through the air in a simple yet deadly arc, striking fiercely at the meteorite. Minus 4,210. A massive damage number popped up. The meteorite. Trembled, but no health bar or attribute information appeared. Yanjio swiftly executed another skill. Meteor strike. A miniature meteor, burning with the fire of the stars, fell from the sky, precisely hitting the same spot on the meteorite. Minus 13107. Minus 9129. Double moon, an even more terrifying number exploded. Immediately after, another slash. Minus 4130 the entire attack process flowed like water, so fast that only afterimages remain, taking no more than 2 seconds. After doing all this, Yanjio showed no signs of. Lingering in battle. He leaped back sharply, his body still in mid-air, and the wind began to swirl beneath his feet. Wind step. Astral walk. His body transformed into. Countless brilliant stars within the purple light, vanishing in an instant. The next moment he reappeared in the safe zone at the edge of the basin. The members of the Overlord. Spear team were wide-eyed. They looked at the roughly 1,000 health points remaining above Yan Zhou’s head, then at the still-blowing meteorite in the distance. Yan. Zhou hadn’t pushed the timing to the limit. After all, there were other players around, and in case of a sneak attack, he had to leave some margin for error. The Overlord. Spear’s throat moved. He wanted to say something, but not a word came out. Those few seconds of rapid action felt like a heavy hammer, striking hard at his understanding. The. Rogue beside him, Windchaser, stammered, Boss, just now, what was that damage? 13,000? I can’t be mistaken, right? The mage named Chasing the Sun stuttered. In agreement. So, you just rushed in and slashed twice? And there was a skill that fell from the sky. Is this damage something a person can deal? Their five-man team, equipped decently among ordinary players, could take half a day to grind down an elite monster, and their total damage might not even reach 10,000. This man, just, by going in once, dealt the total output of their entire team over several minutes. No. It was several times that. While their brains were crashing, Yanjio turned around, his gaze landing on the female priest, the girl called shrank back in fear when he looked at her. Yanjio thought for a moment and still felt that relying on himself. to eat and recover health was too slow he shouted at the priest heal me a couple of times ha was completely stunned the overlord spear jolted back to his senses in an instant it was as if he had grasped a lifeline and he hurriedly said hurry up heal the big brother use your strongest healing spell as he spoke he quickly stepped forward a familiar roguish smile returning to his face big brother just wait a moment our team’s healer has a decent healing output only then did react, jogging forward and somewhat awkwardly raising her staff towards Yanjio. A soft green light enveloped Yanjio. His health bar jumped up significantly. Cast 2. More small healing spells in quick succession. Yanjio looked at his nearly full health bar. He casually pulled out a slice of perfectly toasted bread from his backpack and started munching on it. He had bought 7 or 8 types of food for health recovery at the auction house. The damage this meteorite took was unusual, it wasn’t due to level. suppression, and the only explanation was that its defense was extremely high. Soon, his health was fully restored. All skills were off cooldown. Yanjio stood up. This. Time, he didn’t rush out immediately. Under the curious gazes of the overlord spear and others, he extended his left hand and gently brushed it against the black blade. Whoosh. A cluster of crimson flames instantly ignited along the narrow blade, burning fiercely and casting a red glow on his handsome profile. The air temperature seemed to rise. A few degrees. What, what skill is this? The voice of Windchaser carried a hint of desperate tremor. Weapon blessing? No, isn’t that a priest’s skill? The Overlord. Spear stared intently at the burning long knife, secretly starting a screen recording. The secrets on this man were more than that purple meteorite. Yen Jio ignored their. Astonishment. He just confirmed his status once more. Then, he moved. Earth’s shield. A heavy, solid yellow light enveloped him again. Without any pause, he leaned forward. Astral walk. Wind step. His figure transformed into specks of starlight and instantly vanished, reappearing on the trajectory of the windstep, almost skimming the ground, like a burning arrow shooting towards the center of the basin where the meteorite lay. His speed was even faster than before. Before the earth’s shield could shatter, he had already dashed to the side of the meteorite. He raised the burning black long knife high, with one slash, minus 4,170. The crimson flame blade damage followed, exploding into a massive spark on the purple meteorite. Minus 10 ,317. Meteor strike. He didn’t even look at the sky. The miniature meteor, burning with starlight, had already been summoned, trailing along. Tail as it crashed down with a thunderous roar. Minus 13,760. Minus 9 ,632. Double moon. Just then, the earth’s shield on him finally couldn’t withstand the erosion of the purple light. And exploded. A wave of yellow shockwave radiated from him, crashing violently into the meteorite. Minus 7,310. He twisted his wrist, drawing a smooth arc in the air, and delivered. A second slash with a backhand. Minus 4173. The flame blades burning erupted again, greedily devouring the meteorite’s energy. Minus 10113. Stellar impact. He pressed with his. Left hand, a dazzling burst of starlight energy coalescing into a beam, crashing into the same spot on the meteorite. Minus 7140. Minus 4998. Double moon, the third slash flowed like. Clouds and water, without hesitation. Minus 4173. The flame blade’s damage leaped out one last time, as if declaring an end. Minus 10137. The entire attack process was so fast that, only after images remained. From start to finish, it took no more than 3 seconds. Yen Jiu immediately withdrew, preparing to leave the battlefield. However, just then, a change occurred. Crack.A crisp shattering sound echoed in the dead silence of the basin. On the meteorite radiating an ominous purple light, spiderweb-like cracks suddenly appeared. Immediately after, the heart-stopping purple halo flickered like a lightbulb that had just been unplugged, then completely extinguished. The deathly radiation that enveloped the entire basin vanished. Boom! Before Yenzhou could react, the meteorite exploded completely. Contrary to expectations, there were no shards flying everywhere. Countless fragments transformed into pure purple energy points, instantly devoured by a newly appeared black singularity. in place a door was slowly taking shape the door had no physical form no frame only a deep expanse of starry sky that seemed to contain the entire universe countless brilliant stars flowed within exuding a tranquil and ancient aura a system prompt popped up before yenjo ding congratulations you have successfully opened a one-time dungeon starry courtyard one-time dungeon starry courtyard these words were visible only to yenjo The members of the Overlord Gun team stared blankly at the door composed of stars, slowly rotating. Is this, a dungeon? The mage chasing Wind’s voice became sharp, filled with uncontrollable excitement and greed. Oh my god, hidden plot. First kill. If we can clear this, how rich will the rewards be? The breath of Overlord Gun became heavy in an instant. Yen Jo’s attention was not on them at all. He simply gazed at the door. The aura behind the door stirred. An unprecedented tremor within his star realm power. It was a longing, a return. A. Call of kin. He lifted his foot and walked straight toward the starry door. Hey. Big. Brother. Overlord Gunn panicked and instinctively ran forward. But before he could take two steps, that figure had already vanished into the dazzling starlight. The door. Continued to rotate slowly in place, but it seemed to have an additional layer of invisible barrier. Damn it. Overlord Gunn slammed his fist into the air. He went in alone. Boss, what do we do now? Chasing wind approached. Overlord Gunn gritted his teeth, staring intently at the door. Mark down the coordinates here, and let’s ask those big, jills what price we can sell it for. One step forward, and the world transformed. Yen Jio felt as if he were walking in the depths of an infinite universe. Up, down, left, right, front, back, inside, outside, all were slowly flowing rivers of stars, dazzling to the point of intoxication. Beneath his feet was not solid ground, but a vast courtyard floating above the sea of stars. The ground was paved with white marble, intricately carved with ancient star patterns. In the courtyard, there were exotic flowers. and strange grasses, pavilions and towers, everything was tranquil and sacred. However, on this sacred canvas, countless thick, spreading black inks had been splashed. The blackness, like a living poison, eroded the surrounding brilliant stars, dimming their light filled with ominousness and deathly silence. The air was thick with a strange scent, a mix of decay and star power. Yen Jiu’s brows furrowed slightly. His footsteps had just touched the white marble ground of the courtyard. Deep in the garden, several figures trimming flower branches suddenly paused. They slowly turned their heads in an extremely uncoordinated manner. They were several figures dressed in exquisite made. Outfits, but their faces had no features. No eyes, no nose, no mouth. Only a bottomless darkness that seemed to swallow all light. Garden made, elite, stained by the void. Race, void entity, level, LV20, health, 26,300, attack, 629, defense, 455, skills, massacre, condense void. The system information popped up before Yen Jio. Just as Yen. Jio was checking the information, the faceless maids moved, their figures transformed into several streaks of black lightning, silently rushing towards Yen Jio from different directions. The speed was astonishing. Yen Jio gripped the hilt of his blade with one hand. The fingers of his other hand gently brushed along the narrow black blade. Woosh. Crimson flames ignited fiercely once more on the blade. One maid had already charged close, her palm transformed into a writhing claw made of pure void energy, accompanied by a sharp tearing sound as it lunged for Yen Jio’s heart. Massacre. Yanjou’s body merely shifted imperceptibly to the left. The claw grazed his suit, the gust of wind it. Created fluttering his clothing. The flame blade in his hand, however, had already been thrust out. A flash of the blade. Minus 5017. Level suppression, minus 20731. The faceless maid’s. Body stiffened for a moment. She let out no scream, only a thick, otherworldly black substance gushed from the massive wound opened by the flame blade on her chest. But she did. Not fall. A sliver of life remained. Almost simultaneously, the movements of the other four faceless maids changed. Two of them, mirroring the first perfectly, transformed into two streaks of black shadows flanking him from the left and right. Their palms twisted into void claws as well. Massacre. The fourth maid, however, remained stationary. Her faceless visage was aimed at Yen Jiu. A deep, dark energy, as if it would absorb all light, rapidly coalesced before her. Within that energy sphere, broken stars could be faintly seen sinking. Condense Void. Yanjio’s movements showed no sign of hesitation. He didn’t even glance at the two claws closing in from the sides. His body suddenly jerked back, the flame blade sweeping upward, accurately striking the first maid at her neck. Minus 5,104. Minus 20,599. This time, the maid’s body could no longer hold up. Her pitch black head shot into the air, while her body disintegrated into specks of black light dissipating into the air. After completing this, Yanjio lightly tapped his toes on the white jade floor. He floated back several meters like a weightless feather. Windstep narrowly evaded the deadly combined strike of the two claws. The two void. Claws crossed in the air producing a piercing friction sound. At that moment the condensed void energy sphere was released. Its speed was not fast. But the trajectory it. Flew along seemed to subtly distort the space around it. Yen Jiu immediately deduced that this was not a simple damage skill. It was control. He chose not to endure or block. Windstep. His body lunged forward in an instant, transforming into a gust of wind, but not charging at any maid. Instead, he followed a bizarre tangent, skimming the edge. Of the void energy sphere, shooting out. The wind howled. He instantly created distance from the three maids while also maneuvering to the side of the maid who had released. Condense void. The maid seemed to sense something, her body stiffening as she attempted to turn. It was too late. The black long knife, ablaze with flames, descended with. An unmatched momentum, striking down from above. Minus 5088. Minus 20 ,911. Taking advantage of the moment the maid was hit, Yen Jiu pointed with his left hand. Starfall technique. Minus 28,731. The second maid had no chance to trigger the dual stars before she transformed into a myriad of dissipating black light points. System, you have killed the void drenched. Garden maid, experience plus 450. In the courtyard, only three remained. They had lost their long range support, and their action patterns instantly became singular. Screeching, they charged towards Yanjio from three directions once more. This time, Yanjio did not retreat. He faced the maid charging directly at him, gently sidestepping. Then, with a flick of his wrist, the long knife slid along the edge of her claw, the tip striking like a venomous snake towards her chest. Ft-5055. Minus 20,677. The third maid. Her body pierced through, came to an abrupt halt. At that moment, the attacks from the two maids on either side struck. Two pitch black claws lunged towards his back and side. Yanjio did not turn around. Pivoting on his left foot, his body spun sharply. The long knife in his hand was drawn out, transforming into a burning whirlwind of death. Bang! Bang! The claws of the two maids missed Yanjio’s body, stumbling as they fell. Yanjio’s rotation did not cease. The flame blade in his hand traced two deadly arcs in. The air precisely slicing through the necks of the last two maids. Minus 5,110. Minus 20 ,703. Minus 5,097. Minus 20 ,842. Two massive damage numbers exploded almost simultaneously. The light of the blade and the shadows of the flames danced wildly as Yen Jio quickly dispatched the three severely wounded maids. The flames on the blade gradually extinguished. Yen Jio sheathed. His knife. The entire courtyard returned to a deathly silence once more. Only the blackness tainted by the void continued to stubbornly erode the surrounding stars. Yen Jio. Nodded in satisfaction. Only such monsters could be considered a warm-up. Directly annihilating them with star spells would be far too dull. Dingling. Dingling. A few crisp. Sounds of falling echoed. In the places where the five maids had vanished, one or two gleaming items were left behind. Yanjio stepped forward and picked them up one by one. As materials. Void residue asterisk 10 distorted star fragments asterisk 3 Yanjio tossed everything into his backpack. His movements came to a halt. A new system prompt popped up before him. You have cleared the void minions outside the courtyard and the path to the main hall of the courtyard has been opened. As the prompt appeared, deep within the courtyard, the grand door that had been shrouded in black mist slowly opened a crack, silently. A wave of decay and death, ten times more intense than before, leaked through the gap. Yen Jio pushed open the door. Behind it was an even grander hall. The dome soared high, depicting a shattered star map, with the brilliance of countless stars devoured. By vast expanses of darkness, leaving only a few flickering lights struggling to survive. A wave of decay, ten times more potent than that in the courtyard, rushed towards. Him. In the center of the hall stood a tall figure, motionless, with his back to the entrance. He wore a perfectly pressed tailcoat, donned white gloves, and stood with a. Posture so standard it resembled a textbook. Like a butler who had been waiting here for a thousand years. Butler Laziel, Embracer of the Void, Silver Boss, Race, Void. Entity Level, LV20 Health, 55,000 Attack, A29 Defense, 655 Skills, Madness, Massacre, Condense Void, Void Sludge. A Silver Level Boss. Yengio raised an eyebrow. The. moment the system information popped up the butler moved he slowly turned around where his face should have been was a deep light devouring black just like the previous maids in the next second his figure vanished from sight a black afterimage carrying a deadly intent appeared before yinjo in an instant massacre the butler’s right hand clad in a white glove had transformed into a sharp bone blade made purely a void energy thrusting straight for yinjo’s throat the speed was several levels faster than the maids outside Yenzhou’s body leaned back slightly, his center of gravity sinking instantly. The bone blade grazed past the tip of his nose. He did not retreat. He thrust the blade in his hand forward, drawing a simple arc aimed at Butler Laziel’s waist. Minus 5,977. Level suppression, with a successful strike, Yenzhou showed no greed for. Another hit. He tapped the ground with his toes, his body floating backward like a feather. However, Laziel’s attacks were relentless. His other hand transformed into a similar. Void Boneblade, crossing the two blades like a pair of black scissors, aimed at Yanjio’s neck.Windstep. Yanjio’s figure left a residual shadow in place, instantly. Appearing several meters away, narrowly avoiding the deadly strike. Laser did not pursue. His faceless visage was directed at Yanjio. He plunged his hands into the pristine, white marble tiles beneath him. Buzz. The ground within a 5 meter radius of Yanjio instantly transformed into a black swamp bubbling with energy. Void Sludge. Yanjio. Felt a sudden heaviness beneath his feet, his movement speed plummeting, and a bright red damage number floated above his head. Minus 730 damage, Yanjou’s health dropped by just a small fraction. But that feeling of sluggishness was enough to be fatal. Laser’s figure once again morphed into a blurred black line, charging towards Yanjou, who was trapped. In the sludge. Earthshield astral walk. Yanjou’s body transformed into specks of starlight, vanishing in an instant. The next moment he appeared at the edge of the hall, outside the swamp’s range. Laser strike missed, halting at the other end of the sludge, his faceless visage turning back towards Yanjio. In front of him, a deep sphere. A void energy began to rapidly condense. Condense void. Yanjio transformed into a sharp arrow, drawing a straight black line on the ground as he charged towards laser. Wind step. The butler quickly abandoned ranged attacks, raising the bone blades in his hands once more, launching a more frenzied assault against the oncoming Yanjio. The clash of blades and shadows intertwined in an instant. Yanjio pushed his combat skills to the limit. He no longer sought a single fatal blow but instead utilized his. Faster reactions and more exquisite movements to continuously fine openings amidst laser storm-like attacks. Each sidestep, each deft deflection of the bone blades, was. Calculated to perfection. The blade in his hand always found the most cunning angle to leave a wound on his opponent. Minus 5988. Minus 5010. Damage numbers kept popping up. Laser’s health. Steadily decreased. Roar. A sound not resembling a human’s erupted from the depths of his pitch black face. His body suddenly expanded, his tailcoat tearing apart, enveloped, in a visible black aura. Madness. At that moment, laser speed and strength surged dramatically. He completely abandoned defense, the two void boneblades transforming, into two uncatchable black lightning strikes, slashing down at Yenjio with an utterly unreasonable ferocity. Yenjio’s pupils constricted sharply, too fast, the previous calm, and rhythm were instantly shattered. The black bone blades no longer followed any pattern, leaving only pure destruction and madness. Yen Jio could only position the flame. Blade horizontally in front of him, the blade slightly tilted. Clang! The first bone blade struck down, but there was no thunderous clash of hard against hard. Yen Jio’s wrist, twisted at an unimaginable angle, the blade of the flame precisely aligning with the side of the bone blade, redirecting that violent force aside with a deft maneuver. The bone blade grazed his shoulder, crashing into the ground beside him. Boom! The marble tile exploded into a deep pit. However, the second bone blade was already upon him. It came. From an extremely bizarre low angle, targeting Yanjio’s thigh. Yanjio’s left foot stomped back sharply, his body spinning like a top, pivoting on his right foot, rapidly. Completing half a turn. The rotation propelled the blade in his hand. A black arc, arriving late but striking first, accurately deflected the deadly swipe. The friction. Between metal and void energy produced a piercing shriek. The entire hall was filled with the dense sounds of blades clashing and lasers frenzied roars. Yanjio remained. Silent. Each of his blocks and dodges was precise to the millimeter. Every movement of his body was infused with the rhythm of martial arts. There was not a single superfluous action, not a bit of wasted effort. Laser’s attacks grew increasingly frenzied, the black aura nearly engulfing him completely, the wind pressure generated by the bone. Blades shattered the surrounding air into fragments. Yanjio was like a solitary boat in the eye of a storm, yet he never capsized. His blade, within the impenetrable web of attacks, moved like a swimming fish, always finding the tiniest gaps. He no longer initiated attacks, the speed of this boss had far surpassed his frail mage body. Yen Jio poured all his focus into this ultimate defense and counterattack. As the bone blade struck, he gently deflected it, causing it to veer off course. When the bone blade lunged at him, he lightly bumped the handle, altering its attack direction. Occasionally, in the brief moments between two attacks, his flame blade would strike out like a venomous snake, leaving a shallow wound on laser. Minus 5023. Minus 5115. The damage was halved. In the state of madness, Laser’s defense had also increased. But that didn’t matter. What mattered was that Yanjio’s rhythm remained unbroken. He was like the most precise instrument, calmly dismantling each of the opponent’s frenzied attacks. Laser’s health steadily decreased at an extremely slow yet unwavering pace. Finally, Laser’s movements began to show a barely perceptible stagnation. The state of madness came at a cost. Each extreme outburst consumed its fundamental energy. Yanjio was somewhat bored. He had completely seen through this boss’s attacks. now was the moment as laser delivered the final blow of another three hit combo exhausted and gasping for breath yin joe moved for the first time he stepped forward from his defensive stance this step shattered the tiles beneath his feet and disrupted the balance of the battle starfall technique he did not use his blade with his left hand pressed down a dazzlingly brilliant star energy gathered in his palm it was within arm’s reach boom the star energy burst solidly against laser’s chest minus 37 890 Minus 25,123. Double stars, the starlight exploded. On the butler’s torn tailcoat like a blooming flower of death. Laser recovered from his rigidity and let out a piercing howl. The black aura swirling around him dissipated. Rapidly like smoke blown away by the wind. Crack. The bone blades on his body shattered inch by inch. His body transformed into countless dark specks of light, completely. Purified by the remaining starlight in the great hall. Everything fell into silence. Yenjiyo landed and sheathed his blade. He hummed a little tune, satisfied, this battle. Was the most exhilarating he had experienced since arriving in the illusion, aside from the demons summoned by Angmar. An item shimmering with silver light and a skill book. Dropped at the spot where laser had vanished. Yanjio walked over and picked them up one by one. Ring of pure void quality, silver equipment requirement, clear the starry. Courtyard equipment type, ring attributes, intelligence plus 60, spirit plus 60, your spells have a 10% chance to embrace the void, reducing your skill cooldown by 20 % set. Ira’s lament, 1 half, not tradable touch of pure void, summon 2 void stalkers to attack your enemies, duration 3 minutes, cooldown 10 minutes, mana cost, 300. Points. Casting time, 5 seconds dot. Learning requirement, clear the starry courtyard, yinjo toyed with the cool to the touch ring. The attributes were decent. As for that. Equipment requirement, he just needed to clear this dungeon. He carefully placed the ring and skill book back into his backpack. He had to clear this dungeon. He would take the. Time to study these chaotic skills and see if he could come up with something new. As Yanjio pondered, he walked deeper into the great hall. At the end of the hall, with the butler’s disappearance, a new passage appeared. No longer a grand stone door, but a long corridor leading to the back. Yanjio stepped forward.on the walls on both sides. Of the long corridor, there were no longer broken star maps, but rather a series of murals. The content of the murals told the story of a strong man’s fall. From establishing. A courtyard in the sea of stars to being eroded by an indescribable black substance in his mind. In the end, unable to resist the whispers of the void, he began to embrace. It’s, ultimately, the entire courtyard fell into silence. This instance likely had a significant connection to his profession. Yen Jio recalled what Astrolos had said back then. That the Star Council had once produced a traitor. Could it be the master of this courtyard? He pondered as he walked. At the end of the corridor was a soft light. Yen Jio. Stepped outside. He found himself in a completely different garden. The ground here seemed paved with crushed stars, soft and silent underfoot. In the garden, there were no pavilions or towers. Only countless blooming flowers. Those flowers were pure black. Each petal seemed to be condensed from the deepest night, yet the edges sparkled with starlight, like solidified stardust. There was no scent of decay here. Only a kind of almost sorrowful tranquility. Yenjo’s footsteps came to a halt. In the center of the garden, a giant beast was sleeping. Its size was far larger than any monster he had encountered before, curled up there like a small black mountain. Its body was covered in obsidian-like scales with dark purple light slowly flowing between the gaps, like magma from the earth. Each breath it took sent subtle ripples across the stardust ground. Around it, Yenjo slowly approached. A piece of information popped up before him. Lamerish, silver level boss, race, void entity level, LV20 health, 45 ,000 attack. 929 Defense, 455 Skills, Madness, Dark Roar, Collapse of the Void, Beast’s Body, Passive. The giant beast named Lamerish was awakened by Yanjou’s footsteps and opened its eyes. No, those were not eyes. Instead, they were two swirling black vortices that devoured all light. Roar. An invisible roar did not travel through the air but directly. Impacted Yanjou’s mind. Dark Roar. The starlight in the entire garden dimmed. Yanjou’s body paused slightly. A debuff appeared in his status bar, Dark Roar, Attack minus 50%. Defense minus 50%, attack speed minus 30%, movement speed dash 30%. Lamerish stood up from the ground. Its massive body exuded an overwhelming sense of power. It gave Yen Jio no time to prepare. With a sudden burst of strength in its four legs, its enormous body transformed into a black cannonball, charging towards Yen Jio. The ground cracked under its tread. Yen Jio did not retreat, he simply brushed his hand lightly across the black blade. Flames instantly engulfed the blade. Facing the oncoming black mountain, his body slid. sideways a step boom the giant beast nearly graced his body as it charged past the gust of wind causing his clothes to flutter the impact of the dark roar was greater than he had imagined the flame blade in his hand swept across the giant beast’s obsidian-like scales sizzle a shower of sparks erupted and a tremendous recoil shot through his wrist minus 1788 level suppression minus 8731 the damage numbers were lower than expected Lamerish missed its strike, its massive body stopping not far away as it violently shook its head. Its long tail, covered in scales, whipped through the air like a black steel whip, slicing through the air with a piercing shriek, sweeping towards him. The attack range was immense. Astral walk. His body transformed into specks of starlight and vanished in place. The next moment he appeared at the other end of the garden, creating a distance of several dozen meters from the giant beast. Lamerish’s charge came to a halt. It seemed somewhat confused, turning in circles as it searched for the trace of its prey. Yanjio did not move. He simply stood quietly, adjusting his breath, trying to adapt to this now sluggish body.No longer could he use the previous tactics against the steward. The reduced speed meant he could no longer execute that fluid defensive counterattack. Each block could fail due to a delay of mere milliseconds. However, Yanjio was no ordinary person. After simply swinging the black blade a few times, he gradually adapted to the body affected by the dark roar. Lamey Warishi quickly spotted him. Again, letting out a low growl, its forehoof scraping against the stardust ground as it charged once more. This time, Yanzhou did not wait for it to come close. He took the initiative to meet it head-on. As the giant beast charged halfway, a gust of wind surged beneath his feet. Wind step. His figure accelerated in an instant, but instead of rushing towards the beast, he cut through the air along an arc, heading for the side of the giant creature. The beast seemed unprepared for its prey to approach, its massive body momentarily unable to turn. Yenjo’s figure glided like a ghost skimming the ground, circling around to Lemurishi’s flank. The flame blade in his hand sliced. Upward, drawing a cunning arc, precisely striking the relatively soft joint of the beast’s heim leg. Minus 1801. Minus 8130. With a successful hit, he did not linger. Using the momentum. From his swing, he leaped back sharply. Lemurishi, in pain, let out an angry roar, its massive body spinning in place, the deadly tail sweeping towards him once more. Yen. Joe landed just outside the range of that tail attack. Not a hair’s breath off. He did not attack again. He merely created distance, silently observing the enraged giant. Beast. He was testing. Testing the attack patterns of this giant beast. Testing his own reaction time in this weakened state. The flame blade in his hand left charge scars on. Laini Warishi’s legs again and again. The beast’s fury was accumulating. Roar. Another roar erupted. Laini Warishi abandoned its monotonous charge. It suddenly reared up on its. Hind legs, its massive front claws enveloped in dark purple void energy crashing down towards the ground. Boom. The entire stardust ground shook violently around it, countless. Black cracks spreading like a spider’s web. Collapse of the void. The ground beneath Yanjio’s feet collapsed in an instant. He barely had time to react before he fell. No, it wasn’t a fall. It was a sensation of weightlessness, as if being pulled by space. In the next moment his figure abruptly appeared directly above Lanyu Arishi’s head. This was forced displacement. Lemurishi opened its abyss-like maw, waiting for its prey to drop. In midair, Yanjio’s body could not leverage any support. Astral walk. In. The moment of his fall, his body transformed into starlight and vanished once more. He reappeared in the distance. The giant beast, missing its strike, became even more frenzied. Its body swelling slightly. Madness had no longer executed any regular attacks, instead rampaging wildly, using charges, tail sweeps, and stomps to destroy everything. Around it. The entire garden was in ruins. Yen Jiu was like a small boat amidst a raging storm. He poured all his focus into this life and death evasion. He no longer thought. Of attacking. In his eyes, there was only the movement of the giant beast, every muscle tensing, every flow of energy. He pushed this body to its limits. Countless times. The black claws brushed past the corners of his clothes. Countless times, heavy iron hooves smashed into the ground where he had just stood, creating deep craters. He danced. Like the finest dancer, performing a death dance uniquely his own on the edge of destruction. Time seemed to lose its meaning at that moment. It was unclear how long had. Passed. The beast’s movements finally showed a hint of stagnation. It was the initiation of collapse of the void. It reared up once more. Now was the moment. As the giant. Beast’s front claws reached their highest point. Yan Zhou moved. Wind step. He did not retreat. Instead, he shot forward like an arrow released from a bow. Straight towards. The giant beast’s gaping chest and abdomen. He appeared in the embrace of the giant beast. The position with the weakest defense, yet the most lethal. He raised the flame blade, high in his hand. Starfall technique minus 15,890. Minus 10,130. Double Moon far exceeded the previous damage numbers, exploding from the abdomen of Lamerish. The massive body of the beast crashed forward. With a thunderous sound, its body transformed into a myriad of purple light points dissipating into the air. Where the giant beast had vanished, two items were left behind. Yanjio picked them up with great interest. Tooth of Lamerish consumable usage count 3 thirds after use, summons Lamerish to assist the user. In combat for 30 seconds. Not tradable he weighed the beast’s tooth in his hand, feeling its warmth. Unfortunately, time was too short. However, the attributes of this. Giant beast, even if only for 30 seconds, could be considered a decent trump card. He then looked at the second drop. Void eye of Lamerish quality, silver equipment. Requirement, clear the starry courtyard equipment type, accessory, necklace attributes, intelligence plus 60, spirit plus 60, when casting spells, there is a 10% chance to cast. Dark roar. Not tradable Yenjo stored both items in his backpack. He flexed his wrist and continued deeper into the garden. With the death of Lainrich, at the end of the garden filled with black flowers, a space began to twist, slowly opening a new passage. Beyond the passage was the core area of the courtyard. Here, there were no more flowers. or plants, only a vast pure white square that made one feel insignificant. The ground was paved with some unknown jade, smooth as a mirror, reflecting the shattered starry sky above. In the center of the square stood a solitary stargazing platform. As soon as Yen Jiu stepped onto the square, he noticed a sneaky figure beneath the platform. The person was dressed in an ill-fitting scholar’s robe, crouching on the ground, struggling to pry up a tile from the base of the stargazing platform with a small silver dagger. He was sweating profusely, muttering to himself, completely unaware of Yen Jiu’s arrival. Yanjyo did not act immediately. He simply stood quietly, observing the strange fellow. Finally, the man seemed to loosen the tile, excitedly rubbing his hands together, carefully reaching inside. Moments later, he suddenly pulled his hand back, his face filled with disappointment and anger. Nothing? How could there be nothing? The notes must be right here. He muttered nervously to himself, starting to pace around the stargazing platform like an ant unable to find its nest. Just then, he suddenly looked up and finally noticed Yanjyo standing not far away. His movements froze. A glimmer of greed and caution replaced the anxiety on his face. He did not attack immediately, instead, he squinted, carefully sizing up Yenjo. A few seconds later, as if he had discovered a new continent, a fervent expression appeared on his face. Starwalker. Pure star power, so, delicious. He inhaled deeply, as if savoring some exquisite. Vintage. Did you come here drawn by the great power of the void? He looked at Yenjo with great interest. Fellow traveler, we are fellow travelers. Quick, help me find. The notes left by Era that thing would be immensely beneficial for both of us. His speech grew faster, filled with temptation. That is the key to the void. As long as we find it, we can embrace true greatness, instead of being trapped in this pathetic cage. Yanjio tilted his head. He felt no aura of the stars from the other person, only a nauseating chaos and corruption. He scratched his head, interrupting the other’s incessant speech. Are you still going to fight? Those words made the air in the square. Freeze instantly. The eccentric figure’s fervent smile froze on his face as he slowly straightened up, bit by bit, his face beginning to contort, his body trembling. The gentle and fervent demeanor of the scholar vanished without a trace, replaced by a bone-deep madness and brutality. A tiny star fragment. How dare you interrupt my thoughts? What? Do you think you are? Do you think that by killing two watchdogs, you have the right to act recklessly before me? His body began to undergo a terrifying transformation. White Scholar’s robe was torn apart, and beneath the skin, countless twisted flesh buds surged wildly, breaking through the surface. Tentacles, as black as ink and covered. In barbs and suckers grew savagely from his back, ribs, and shoulders. It was not the void. Nor was it a star. It was a more pure, more primal, twisted evil from the abyss. A. Demon. His face also began to melt, reshaping into a featureless visage, a massive mouth that opened and closed continuously, losing a viscous liquid. Commander Zal, Silver. Level boss, race, demon level, LV 23 health, 60,000 attack, 1029 defense, 755 skills, madness, despair shard, dark envelopment. I will tear you to pieces. Then, I will use your soul to light my path to greatness. The monster roared. Countless tentacles, like dancing venomous snakes, instantly covered all the space between the two. The black tentacles ripped through the air. They surged from all directions like living pythons, sealing off all possible escape routes for Yenjo. At the end of each tentacle. Barbs and suckers writhed, eminning and nauseating stench. Yen Jiu’s movements were faster than them. He gripped the hilt of his sword with one hand. His body transformed. Into a gust of wind, not retreating but charging into the forest of writhing tentacles. Swoosh. Wind step. The black blade traced a precise arc in the air. A tentacle. Coming straight at him was severed with a resounding cut. Dark green, foul-smelling liquid splattered out. Minus 6111. A pitifully low damage number floated above Commander Zal’s. Head. Yanjou’s brow furrowed slightly. The level suppression was more severe than before. Ha ha ha ha. The monster’s face, with its enormous mouth, erupted in a deafening, maniacal laugh. Is that all the strength you have? Not even worthy of scratching me, star fragment. More tentacles, like sharks sensing blood, rushed in from both sides. Ready to strangle him. Yanjou’s toes tapped on the smooth jade floor. His body twisted at an incredible angle, the blade carving two crescent-shaped black arcs at his side. Deflecting two tentacle strikes. He did not take the hits head on. Instead, he used the side of the blade to redirect the immense force aside. Even so, a tingling shockwave traveled through his grip. Dodge? How long can you dodge? Commander Zhao’s body twisted wildly in place, driving dozens of tentacles to form an impenetrable cage of death. The entire pure white square was stirred by this frenzied monster. Yanjou’s figure, amidst the storm of tentacles, kept flashing and shifting. Each of his movements was calculated with precision. He always found the only path to survival in the gaps between the tentacle attacks. The flame blade in his hand also found opportunities to leave. Charred scars on the slippery surface of the tentacles. Minus 6907 to 6130 damage was not high but stable. Zal’s health was visibly decreasing at a rapid pace. This feeling of. Powerlessness thoroughly enraged the demon from the abyss. Enough. Die for me. Zal stopped the chaotic attacks. All of its tentacles suddenly pointed to the sky, then slammed. Heavily down to the ground buzz a visible wave of darkness spread from its center, engulfing the entire square. Darkness descends. The light of the shattered starry river. Was instantly devoured. It was so dark that one could not see their own hand. No, wait. Yenjio realized he could still see his body, the flame blade in his hand. But apart. From that, the entire world had plunged into pure darkness. The figure of the commander, Nazar, also vanished into this darkness. Yenjio stopped in his tracks. He stood. quietly, knowing that the real attack was about to come. Whoosh! A sharp sound of something slicing through the air came from his left rear. Without turning his head, Yanjio slid a step to the right. A pitch-black tentacle, almost brushing against his nose, struck heavily at the empty space. Yanjio closed his eyes. Vision had become a burden. In such an environment, he immersed all his senses in the flow of the surrounding air. The sound of the wind. The subtle pressure created as the tentacle tore through the air. the energy fluctuations caused by nazar’s every breath these were the only real things in this darkness stop playing tricks nazar’s patience was wearing thin i don’t believe you can dodge this shatter into pieces in my despair despair shards in the darkness countless sharp whistling sounds erupted from all directions they had no fixed trajectory it was as if they had been given life shooting towards yenjo from the most cunning angles yenjo’s body moved he did not choose a fixed direction to break through Instead, he began a bizarre sequence of movements in place. Half a step forward. One foot to the left. A slight crouch. Leaning back. Each of his movements. Was minimally yet perfectly timed. Countless shards, composed of pure despair energy, brushed past his body, the hem of his clothes, the tips of his hair. Each shard left. A brief trail of black light in the air. For a moment, the entire dark space seemed to be showered with a meteor rain made of death. And Yen Jio was the dancer in that rain. Impossible. How could you possibly dodge all of them? Nazar’s roar carried an incredulous emotion for the first time. Yanjio still did not respond. He didn’t even. Swing his blade. He simply focused, evading with utmost precision. He was adapting. Adapting to this battle deprived of sight. At the same time, he was searching. Searching. For Nazar’s true form. This skill could not be without cost. With such a wide-ranging attack, Nazar’s true form must be at the center of this barrage. The rain of shards. Gradually thinned. Nazar’s attack paused momentarily. Now was the time. Yanjou’s eyes suddenly opened wide. They were clear, without a hint of confusion. He charged straight. In one direction. Found you. Nazar’s massive mouth let out a sinister laugh as dozens of tentacles, already poised to strike, formed an impenetrable wall from that direction and slammed down hard. It was a trap. A deliberate flaw exposed. However, Yanjou’s charging figure abruptly transformed into specks of starlight midway. Starwalk. He vanished. The next moment, he appeared behind the tentacle wall. The true location of Nazar’s body. less than three meters away. What? Nazar reacted swiftly, and, immediately, over a dozen tentacles on his twisted body countered, stabbing towards the close Yenjio. But Yenjio was faster. He ignored the stabbing tentacles. He poured all his strength into the long knife in his hand. The flames on the blade, at that moment, were no longer crimson. Instead, they transformed into a brilliant, pure white with a starry aura. Starfall technique. He chose not to release this spell from his poem. Instead, he guided the dazzling starlight energy entirely to the tip of the flame blade. Boom, a thick beam of pure white light burst forth from the tip of the blade, striking solidly against the massive maw of the Commander Nazar. Minus 12,410. Minus 8 ,187. Double moon, the. Damage numbers far exceeded those before, exploding into a brilliant display. A shrill wail, so inhuman it seemed, echo throughout the entire square. Nazars. Frenzied movements were finally interrupted, the first time it had been forced into a moment of stillness. Darkness began to recede. The dome of the square, that shattered. River of stars, once again sprinkled with faint light. The enormous, twisted body of Commander Nazar was exposed to the radiance. In the center of its gaping maw, a charred hole had been blasted open, countless flesh buds writhing in madness. Yen Jiu gave it no chance to breathe. He surged forward. Yen Jiu’s movements showed no sign of hesitation. Seizing the opportunity, he aimed to take its life. The black blade in his hand transformed into the most lethal of death warrants, striking precisely at the wound. Opened by the, meteoric strike. Minus 6102. Dark green liquid gushed forth like a fountain, splattering onto the pure white jade floor, corroding it into sizzling pits. Roar. Nazar’s body trembled violently, no longer a roar but a pure, soul-deep scream of agony. All its tentacles drooped down, as if drained of moisture, powerless. However, just as Yen Jio prepared to deliver the final blow, a more violent and filthier aura erupted explosively from within Nazar. Madness. Not enough. This level of pain is still far from enough. The monster’s massive maw emitted a stuttering yet morbidly pleasurable roar. Its body suddenly swelled again. The scholar’s robe, already torn, was completely reduced to ashes, and beneath its skin, more twisted flesh buds burst forth, transforming into new, thicker black tentacles. In an instant, the number of tentacles doubled. Each tentacle was entwined with visible, tangible black malevolence. Nazar completely abandoned its human form, morphing into a massive, writhing mass of tentacles and malice. Its attacks lost all semblance of order. No more probing, no more technique, and certainly no traps. Only pure, reckless destruction remained. Dozens of tentacles, like uncontrollable battering rams, rained down on Yenjio from all directions. Boom. Boom. Boom. Yenjio’s figure vanished from the spot, appearing several meters away. The smooth jade floor where he had just stood was pounded into bottomless pits, debris flying everywhere. Die. Die. Die. Nazar’s roar reverberated throughout the square. It no longer even tried to locate Yanjou, merely swinging all its tentacles wildly, destroying everything in sight. Yet, there was not a trace of panic on Yanjou’s face. Faster, stronger, but, also more foolish. A beast that had lost its reason was far easier to deal with than a cunning hunter. Wind step. He chose not to create. Distance but instead charged into the range of the deadly tentacles. The blade in his hand traced an upward arc in the air. Swoosh. He did not aim to sever those tentacles. Instead, he precisely pierced the small gap between two of them with the tip of his blade. Using the force of the blade’s insertion, his body clung upward like a nimble monkey. Boom. The wall of tentacles crashed heavily onto the ground where he had just stood. Yet Yenjo’s figure had already appeared above the wall of tentacles, stepping onto one. Of the slick appendages, racing towards Nazar’s true form. You. Nazar clearly did not anticipate this response. Its reaction was half a beat too slow. That half beat. Was enough. Yanzhou’s figure descended like a cannonball onto Nazar’s massive body, composed of countless flesh chunks and entwined tentacles. The black blade in his hand plunged. Down without hesitation, dash 3345. Get lost. Nazar cried out in pain, its closest tentacles recoiling like venomous snakes, striking towards Yanzhou’s back. Yanzhou seized. The opportunity, his toes pushing off the monster’s slick surface, propelling his body high into the air. Several tentacles narrowly brushed against the soles of his feet. And two of them collided violently, splattering a dark green liquid. At that moment, the rhythm of the battle completely reversed. Yen Jio was no longer passively dodging. He transformed into the deadliest of assassins. With each windstep, each astral walk, he appeared like a specter in positions Nazar never anticipated. In the gaps between. The flailing tentacles. In the instant the monster turned. At the moment its attack fell short and exhausted itself. He always found that fleeting opening. The black blade. In his hand consistently left a new wound on the monster’s body. Minus 3510. Minus 3433. Nazar’s health bar began to plummet at an unprecedented speed. The angrier it became, the more. Frenzied its attacks. The more frenzied it was, the more openings it exposed. The entire pure white square had completely transformed into Yenzhou’s stage. He moved like. A masterful matador, elegantly toying with a bull that had completely lost its mind. Each swing of his blade was accompanied by the monster’s anguished howls. Each dodge. Provoked even more futile attacks from the opponent. Finally, Nazar’s massive body began to move sluggishly. The eruption of the madness state was frantically draining its. Vitality. Nazar’s movements were completely frozen. The immense burden brought on by the madness state finally crushed its twisted body. Its wildly flailing tentacles drooped. Helplessly, twitching on the smooth jade floor. Yen Jiu was also growing weary. His figure clung to Nazar’s body like a festering sore. He raised the flame blade high, above his head. The crimson flames on the blade, mixed with specks of starlight, heralded the arrival of the end. However, just as Yanjou’s long knife was about to fall, an indescribable will descended from above, crashing down. It was neither power nor pressure, but a pure existence that transcended the rules of this world. The air in the entire square seemed to turn into a viscous ink at that moment. Yanjou’s knife-swinging motion was forcibly interrupted by an external force, halting in mid-air. He looked up in astonishment. He saw the nearly dead Commander Nazar, its massive body suddenly stiffening. All its tentacles, all its flesh buds, ceased their writhing. In the next. Second, that enormous monster, composed of flesh and malice, began to collapse inward under an invisible force. There was no explosion. No wailing. Only a spine-chilling, silent. Obliteration. Nazar’s body, along with its filthy dark energy, was compressed into a pitch-black point, then completely vanished. As if it had never existed. 99999. A. Bloodred, exaggerated damage number slowly floated up from where it had disappeared. Instant kill. The silver grade boss was instantaneously killed. Ding. Several items dropped. At the spot where Nazar had vanished, producing a crisp sound. But now, no one would pay attention to those. Yenjo landed, his body still in a defensive posture. He. Looked up at the sky. The shattered starry river of the square’s dome had completely disappeared. In its place was a profound, heart-stopping, pure darkness. In the center. Of that darkness, a crack slowly opened. It was not an eye, but a slowly rotating void vortex that devoured all light and perception. A thought, without warning, appeared. Directly in Yen Jiu’s mind. Boring. The voice was neither male nor female, devoid of any emotion, like the whisper of the universe itself. Yen Jiu even understood that it was. Evaluating the Commander Nazar that had just been erased. Immediately after, the void vortex turned towards Yen Jiu. The feeling of being watched made every muscle in Yen. Jiu’s body tense up. It was a sense of being completely seen through, a nakedness that dissected and analyzed him from soul to particle. Interesting. The same thought echoed. Again, this time tinged with a clear excitement, as if discovering a new toy. In that expansive void, a pitch black energy, like a venomous snake, slowly extended towards. Yen Jio. It was not fast, but it carried an unavoidable, irresistible sense of locking on, like fate. Yen Jio’s body set off the highest level of alarm. Astral walk. He. Did not hesitate for a moment, his figure transforming into specks of starlight disappearing from the spot. The next moment he appeared at the other end of the square. But that pitch black energy, like a shadow, had already changed direction and was once again spreading towards him. Just then, another completely different will descended from. A higher place. You shall not. This thought was grand and solemn, like a cord struck by billions of stars simultaneously. Above the void vortex, a point of light appeared. That light rapidly expanded, transforming into another eye. An eye composed of countless stars and brilliant nebulae, a vast and boundless star vortex. A torrent of energy. Made purely of starlight shot out from the eye of the stars, precisely striking that pitch black energy. Z, there was no earth-shattering explosion. Only light and dark. Existence and nothingness, mutually cancelling and annihilating each other on the most fundamental level. The entire pure white square was filled with two completely different. Forces. On one side was the dead silence that devoured everything. On the other was the brilliance that created everything. The Eye of the Void and the Eye of the Stars silently confronted each other in the sky. The level of this confrontation made it impossible for Yenzhou to even move a finger. He felt like an ant beneath the feet of two giant dragons, passively enduring the insignificant residual waves that emanated from them. After a moment, the Eye of the Void seemed to lose patience, slowly closing and merging into the profound darkness. The Eye of the Stars also deeply looked at Yenzhou that thought seemingly carrying a hint of approval, a hint of warning, before it too, transformed into a sky full of starlight and vanished. The darkness receded. Above the dome, the shattered river of stars reappeared. The square returned to its previous. Silence, as if everything that had just happened was merely an illusion. Yengio slowly exhaled. He raised his hand, scratched his head, and wore a somewhat strange expression. On his face. So, this is, a fight between immortals? One camp of the void, one camp of the stars. He recalled the murals in the corridor, the master of that courtyard. Had fallen from the stars to the void. That pitch black eye seems to belong to the high ranking members of the star council who have allied with the void. The shiny one. Behind should be one of our own. He briefly analyzed the situation. The conclusion was that this matter had far exceeded his current understanding. Forget it. He shook his. Head. Thinking about this was pointless. When the sky falls, someone tall will hold it up. Yenjo only hoped that one day he could spar with them. Ding. Congratulations. Your level has increased to LV16. Ding. talent war god effect enhanced melee damage amplification increased to 250 times dot ding congratulations strength plus one agility plus one intelligence plus one spirit plus one constitution plus one ding congratulations you have gained five free attribute points current free attribute points 120 he walked towards the place where nasal had been erased there lay three items quietly on the pure white jade floor emitting a faint glow he bent down and picked them up one by one just as he Touched the items, a cold system prompt sounded in his ear. Ding! Congratulations, you have cleared the one-time dungeon, Starry Courtyard Yenjo’s movements did not pause. He first looked at a thick tome, its cover made of some unknown black leather. In the center of the tome, a slowly rotating purple crystal was embedded, as if it contained a tiny starry sky within. Void Codex, Silver, Quality, Silver Equipment Requirement, Clear the Starry Courtyard Equipment Type, Offhand Weapon Attributes, Intelligence. plus 80 spirit plus 40 your spells have a chance to summon a fragment of despair dealing 100 plus 30 intelligence damage to enemies not tradable next was a ring that resembled the one dropped by the butler but with tiny stars swirling within it ring of chaotic stars silver quality silver equipment requirement clear the starry courtyard equipment type ring attributes intelligence minus 20 spirit plus 100 your spells have a 10 chance to bury you in stars increasing your spell critical strike by 10 set Ira’s lament, 1 half, not tradable commander’s badge The commander’s badge, in the eyes of demons, only signifies rank, not appearance such a special introduction. Made it even more intriguing. This item seemed useless for now, so Yanjio casually tossed it into his backpack. He then opened the equipment panel to begin swapping items. After all, the starry courtyard had already shown that it was cleared. He opened his attribute panel. Brand new data appeared before him. Name, Yanjio level, 16 class. Astral Walker Talent, Martial God, SSS Rank, Unique, Attributes, Strength 19, Agility 19, Constitution 224, plus 205 Skill Bonus, Intelligence 319, plus 300 Equipment Bonus, Spirit 429, plus 410 Equipment Bonus, Health, 2250 Mana, 2750 Critical Rate, 10% Melee Damage, 39, Strength 100%, plus Weapon Attack, Weapon plus 20, Spell Damage, 339, Intelligence. plus spell power equipment plus 40 physical defense 274 equipment plus 50 spell defense 274 equipment plus 50 equipment panel title hero of maple leaf city attack speed plus 30 movement speed plus 30 when casting skills there is a 10 chance to summon three elite guards from maple leaf city to fight for you lasting one minute dot one -handed sword main hand, blade of annihilation, silver physical attack plus 20, spell attack plus 40, attack speed plus 30%, ignores 30% defense when attacking, codex offhand, void codex, silver, intelligence plus 80, spirit plus 40 hat, banshee’s veil, bronze intelligence minus 20, spirit plus 60 shoes, lady mayors dress high heels, bronze intelligence plus 20, spirit plus 20, defense. plus 10, spell damage plus 20, cloak, shadow erosion cloak, bronze intelligence plus 30, spirit plus 20, defense plus 10, critical strike plus 1% when casting spells can stack up to 10 times, restores after leaving combat, belt, lady mayor’s dress waist wrap, bronze intelligence plus 30, spirit plus 20, defense plus 10, casting speed plus 10%, wrist slash gloves, lady mayor’s dress gloves. Bronze Attributes, Intelligence plus 20, Spirit plus 30, Defense plus 10, Critical Rate plus 10%, Clothes, Lady Mayor’s Tool Skirt, Bronze Intelligence plus 40, Spirit plus 20, Constitution, plus 10, Defense plus 10, Movement Speed plus 10%, Accessory Necklace, Lamerish’s Eye of the Void, Silver Intelligence plus 60, Spirit plus 60. Accessory Ring 1, Ring of Pure Void, Silver. Intelligence plus 60, Spirit plus 60, your spells have a 10% chance to embrace the void, reducing your skill cooldown by 20%, accessory ring 2, ring of chaotic stars, silver. Intelligence minus 20, Spirit plus 100, your spells have a 10% chance to perish among the stars, increasing your spell critical strike by 10% ding. Set effect Ella’s lament, 2 halves, has been activated. Ella’s lament, passive the powers of stars and void flow within you, increasing your void creation damage by 30%, and reducing your star spell mana. consumption by 30% a strange sense of balance quietly formed within him. On one side was the deathly silence that devoured everything and on the other, the brilliance that nurtured all things. Two completely opposing forces, instead of clashing, swam like two chasing fish constructing a subtle cycle within him. Yen Jio couldn’t help but marvel at how real this game was. Yen Jio was not in a hurry to leave. He turned around and looked again at the lonely stargazing platform. The teleportation portal was right behind him, emitting a soft glow that urged him to leave. With one step out, the gains from this dungeon would already be settled. But the image of that demon, mad and persistent. Before its death, lingered in his mind. A notebook. A notebook that a silver -level overseer demon had infiltrated this place to painstakingly search for. Yenjio felt a bit. Of interest in that item. He took a step forward, walking towards the center of the square. The pure white jade floor was cold and hard, and each of his steps echoed in the. Emptiness, resonating far in this silent courtyard. He reached the base of the stargazing platform. The demon disguised as a scholar had pried up the tiles right here. Yen Jio. Crouched down and saw the tile that had been pried open and carelessly covered again. He reached out and easily moved the tile aside. Below was a small groove, empty end. Covered with a thin layer of dust. As expected, nothing. That demon had searched here for so long, almost turning the base of the stargazing platform upside down. If the. Item was really hidden so simply, it would have been found long ago. Yen Jio stood up and brushed off the dust from his hands. He did not continue searching below but instead, walked step by step up the stairs of the stargazing platform. The higher he went, the more intense the faint starry aura in the air became. He stood at the highest point of the stargazing platform. Here was a circular platform facing the broken starry river of the dome. It felt as if he could reach out and touch those shattered stars. He recalled. The vast starry whirlpool made up of billions of stars. He also remembered that terrifying presence that descended from the void, erasing the overseer nasal. Stars. Void. Everything here was related to these two powers. That demon, exuding a fallen demonic aura, could not find the item. What if he changed his approach? What if the key was? The power of stars or the power of the void? Yen Jio stood in the center of the platform, the starlight from the dome falling upon him, giving him a faint silver edge. He closed his eyes. He felt the power of stars within him connect weakly with the residual starry aura in this broken courtyard. At first, nothing happened. The entire square remained silent. Yen Jio did not give up. He simply stood there quietly, like a statue, allowing that faint connection to deepen little by little, becoming clearer. Finally. Above the dome, among the broken starry river, the dimmest star flickered. Then came the second. The third. A tiny glimmer of light floated down leisurely from the dome, like a snowflake in winter. It did not land on the ground but spiraled down into Yanjio’s palm. The touch was cool. Yanjio opened his eyes. He looked at the tiny glow in his. Palm, resembling a firefly, and said nothing more and more points of light broke away from the galaxy, like migratory birds guided by an unseen force fluttering towards Yen. Geo. The entire dim square was illuminated as bright as day by this sudden rain of light. The points of light gathered in his palm, swirling and condensing. Finally, they. Transformed into an irregular crystal fragment the size of a palm. You have obtained a star fragment, quest item, the fragment was completely transparent, and within it. Seemed to be a small, slowly swirling nebula imprisoned. Yanjio weighed the fragment in his hand. This thing must be the notebook that the demon yearned for. Or rather, it was the key to finding the notebook. This should be an exclusive quest item for the Star Element Council faction. He stored the fragment in his backpack. The grand rain of light gradually ceased as the fragment took shape. The starry sky above seemed even more broken and dim than before. Yanjio took one last look at the empty courtyard. He turned and walked back the way he came. Behind him, the towering stargazing platform stood like a silent tombstone, quietly rising in the center of the pure white square. Yen. Joe did not look back again. He stepped into the softly glowing portal. His figure vanished into the light. As the light faded, Yen Joe’s feet once again touched the soft. Earth. The sound of the wind blowing through the birch forest echoed in his ears. The dormate of starlight behind him continued to swirl slowly in place, emitting a gentle. Glow. Not far away, several figures immediately stood up straight. It was the team of the Overlord Spear. They hadn’t left but had been waiting at the entrance of the dungeon. For him. When Overlord Spear saw Yen Jo emerge alone, a trace of barely concealed disdain crossed his face. So fast? He went in alone and came out in less than an hour. He must have been killed by the first boss several times and was driven out in disgrace. He thought this to himself but his expression instantly switched to one filled with. Warm smiles as he quickly approached. Big brother, you’re out? How was it? Were the monsters inside particularly fierce? He wore an expression of I knew it all along. casually patting yanzhou on the shoulder but was met with an invisible shield that separated them leaving his hand hovering awkwardly in the air it’s normal not to be able to handle it alone this kind of hidden dungeon isn’t that simple he retracted his hand and rubbed it together but don’t worry big brother i just called some friends from the temple guild over they’re ranked in the top 20 among the major guilds with plenty of experts when they arrive we’ll go in together with your contribution in scouting you’ll definitely get the best equipment He spoke animatedly, as if that best equipment was already tucked away in his pocket. Yen Jio looked at him. Although he spoke bluntly, it didn’t mean he was a fool. This warrior named Overlord Spear had shrewdness and calculation written all over his face. He didn’t like such people. But he wasn’t a madman like those from the Blood Colored Guild who would kill at the slightest disagreement. That female priest earlier had indeed healed him a few times. This favor had to be repaid. He opened his backpack and took a glance. Inside lay dozens of pieces of equipment dropped by red-named players, all with decent attributes. He, casually took out two pieces. Here you go. Yenjiyo threw the two pieces of equipment directly over. Overlord Spear instinctively caught them, completely stunned. This, I said I’d let you have some soup. After saying that, he ignored the group and turned to leave. The members of Overlord Spear’s team were immediately drawn. In by the attributes of the equipment. Wow. Black iron level barbarian leggings. The thief named Windchaser’s eyes widened. defense plus 30 points, and an additional 5% movement speed. These attributes are even better than the equipment I’m wearing. The mage also came over, staring at the one-handed axe. The bronze level bone crusher has such high attack power and it even comes with an armor breaking effect. Boss, this, this person is too extravagant, right? The priest spoke softly, surprised that the captain’s few words had resulted in a piece of black iron equipment and a top-notch bronze weapon. These were good items that only dropped from dungeons above the ordinary level. Bawang Chang held the leg guards in his hands, feeling extremely conflicted. He had thought the other party was just putting on a show, but unexpectedly, they casually tossed out two pieces of equipment. The value of these two items was enough to fetch a good price at the auction house. Could it be he had misjudged? Just as they were all marveling at the equipment, no one noticed. The portal behind Yenjio, made up of countless stars, was rapidly dimming, like a candle flickering in the wind. The outline of the door began to blur. Starlight that formed it disintegrating one by one, dissipating into the air as dazzling specks of light. Finally, it completely vanished, as if it had never existed. System notification, the one-time dungeon starlit courtyard has been permanently closed. Boss, the door, the door is gone. The thief phone. Zhong chased the wind was the first to react, suddenly looking up and pointing at the spot where Yenzhou had just emerged, his voice trembling. Upon hearing this, Bawang Chang immediately looked up. The place where the portal had been was now completely empty, with only a few white birch leaves blown by the wind. Remaining. How could this be? The color drained from his face in an instant. The people he had called for were almost there. With the dungeon gone, how was? He supposed to explain to the temple guild? That there had just been a dungeon entrance here and then it just ran away on its own? Who would believe that? Wasn’t that just treating people like fools? It didn’t matter if he offended a lone wolf big shot. But offending a top 20 guild he could forget about. making a living in this area in the future. Just as he was sweating profusely and his mind went blank, hurried footsteps echoed from the nearby forest. Ba Wong. Chang. A rough voice called out. What about that meteorite glowing purple? Where’s the dungeon? A dozen well-equipped players emerged from the woods. At the forefront was a berserker carrying a giant axe, ID Templion cut, with a hint of excitement on his face. We rushed over after pushing aside our current activities, you better not be messing with us. Ba Wong Chang’s body stiffened like a stone. He opened his mouth but couldn’t utter a word. Yen Jio had already walked far away. He had no interest in the argument behind him. After walking for a while and seeing no wild monsters around, he sat down on a rock and opened his backpack interface. Inside his backpack, it was crammed full of various equipment, radiating a sheen of black iron and bronze intertwined. These were all dropped from those red-named players. He hadn’t looked closely before, but when he was sorting through the equipment for Bawang Chang and the others, he realized there were so many. Now that he looked, there were actually four or five dozen pieces. Sell them? The thought flashed through his mind, but he quickly dismissed it. Hanging them up one by one at the auction house, setting prices, and waiting for transactions was too troublesome. He scrolled through his friend list, his finger stopping on a familiar avatar. Yen Jio, need any equipment? He couldn’t be bothered to type another word, so he directly took a screenshot of his backpack and sent it over. Ming Yao’s reply came almost instantly. Ming Yao, give them all to me. Mingyao, since you seem too lazy to sell, just mail me any extra equipment in the future and I’ll buy it all at 20% above market price. Mingyao, we’ll digest it internally in our guild and I’ll help you sell the excess. Yanjio looked at the screen, not yet having the chance to reply. Mingyao’s next message popped up again. Mingyao, by the way, the money for those previous pieces of equipment has already been transferred to your card. Mingyao, also, I forgot to tell you last time. Mingyao, don’t casually give your salary card to others. Yanjio was taken aback for a moment. He hadn’t thought much about it before. Mingyao. The world is different now, many people will do anything for things in the game. Mingyao, with a bank card, someone with ill intentions can easily find your real-life information. Mingyao, especially you. Mingyao, you are still one of the three greats. Mingyao’s words made his heart sink slightly. He didn’t care for himself, but he thought of Sujinjin. If his negligence brought her any trouble in reality, it would be the first time he felt a hint of caution towards this seemingly illusory game world. yenjio scratched his head feeling a bit tricky yenjio okay yenjio thank you he replied with two words and closed the chat interface he didn’t linger any longer he pulled out a yellowed scroll from his backpack and tore it open return city scroll a complex magic circle lit up beneath his feet and the space began to twist in the next second he appeared at the teleportation point of his own manor crossing the lawn he walked straight to the quaint wooden mailbox at the entrance of the manor he dragged all the equipment from his backpack except for potions and food, into the mailing slot. Recipient, Mingyao. Ding. Your package has been successfully sent. Due to the excess items, a postage fee of 10 silver coins will be charged. Done. Yenjio clapped his hands, feeling his backpack lighten considerably. He stretched and walked towards the lake. The fishing chair he had been thinking about was quietly placed under the willow tree by the lake. He walked over and sat down heavily, taking out the ordinary. wooden fishing rod from his backpack, he skillfully attached the bait and cast it with a strong flick. The fishing line drew a graceful arc in the air, with the small float landing on the calm surface of the lake. Ripples spread out slowly. The surrounding noise seemed to fade away at that moment. Only the sound of the wind rustling through the willow branches and the gentle waves of the lake remained. He leaned back in the chair, not thinking of anything, just staring at the small float on the water’s surface. The float remained still. Yen Jio didn’t mind. As the game time reached 6 hours, his figure slowly transformed into countless specks of light dissipating in the gentle breeze of the manor. Yenjio opened his eyes. He didn’t move. One side of his body was pressed against. A warm and soft figure. It was Sujinjin. She curled up like a cat, half of her face buried in his arm, breathing evenly. The chaotic and heated scenes from Yesterday surged uncontrollably into his mind. Yenjio’s body began to heat up slightly again. He turned his head to look at her sleeping face, so close. Her long eyelashes cast small shadows under her eyelids, remnants of last night’s swelling. Yanjio leaned in gently and lightly touched her forehead. Then, he carefully withdrew his arm from under her neck. After that, he quietly lifted the blanket and got out of bed. He walked into the living room with his upper body bare. The night air carried a hint of coolness. He stood in the center of the living room, took a stance, and began to punch the air, one punch after another. The wind from his punches howled. The muscles on his body bulged and contracted with each movement, filled with a beautiful sense of power. Sweat dripped. Down the smooth lines of his back, splashing dark droplets on the wooden floor. After finishing a set of punches, he slowly relaxed and let out a long breath. Of stale air. He turned around. Soojinjin had woken up at some point. She was wrapped in a thin sheet, leaning casually against the bedroom doorframe. Horror. Long black hair was messily draped over her shoulders, covering most of her spring beauty, yet making her look even more enchanting. She was smiling. That. Smile no longer held the usual teasing and charm, only a lazy satisfaction, like a cat that had eaten its fill of fish. Yenjio’s face inexplicably turned. Red. He felt his heart skip a beat. To mask this unfamiliar emotion, he strode over. Before Soo Jinjin could react, he swept her up in his arms. Ah! Soo! Jinjin exclaimed, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck. Yenjio held her and walked straight into the bathroom. Warm water cascaded down from the shower head. In the cramped space, a layer of mist quickly enveloped them. His movements were gentle and slow. He used warm water, washing her body bit by bit. Sujinjin leaned obediently against him, allowing him to take charge. Neither of them spoke a word. The sound of water splashed around them. The atmosphere was no longer the tense desire of yesterday but rather infused with an indescribable warmth. After the shower, Yanjio wrapped her in a towel and carried her back to bed. He pulled the blanket over her, tucking her in. He then sat down at the edge of the bed. The room was very quiet. They both remained silent. Only the sound of their breathing intermingling in the air. Sister Su. Hmm. Sujinjin’s voice came from under the blanket thick with nasal tones, sounding. A bit muffled. In the game. Yenjio paused, as if organizing his thoughts. Why didn’t you add me as a friend? From under the blanket, Sujinjin. Let out a long, somewhat helpless sigh. The system says you can’t add friends from opposing factions. It’s strange, how can there be factions among players? Her voice was soft. Yenjio was taken aback, opposing factions. It was the system’s rule that had placed them on opposite sides from the very beginning. The relationship between the Kingdom of Flame and the Kingdom of Forest has always been tense, Yanzhou said softly, as if explaining or perhaps talking to himself. It is said that a long time ago, due to the territorial dispute over a map called Dragon Bone Wilderness, the two countries fought a war that lasted over a decade. Many people died. Although a ceasefire was reached later, the hatred still lingers. There are small-scale conflicts along the border every day. He recounted the background he had heard from Reinhardt about the two countries, piece by piece. He spoke slowly and earnestly. Sujinjin remained. Silent, quietly listening. Once Yenjio finished sharing everything he knew, the room fell silent again. He lowered his head and realized that the person in. His arms had fallen asleep at some point. Her breathing was steady and long, her cheeks still flushed from the bath. Yenjio looked at her peaceful sleeping. Face, and the words he wanted to say were lost on his lips. He pulled her body closer into his embrace. Holding Sujinjin, he listened to her even breathing and slowly closed his eyes. The dawn light began to brighten. Yenjio slowly opened his eyes. He didn’t move. The sensation under his arm was warm and delicate, carrying a reassuring weight. Sujinjin curled up in his embrace, like a cat that had found the warmest nest, sleeping soundly. Yenjio’s Adam’s apple involuntarily bobbed. He carefully began to withdraw his arm from beneath her neck, moving as slowly as possible. He was afraid of waking her. Lifting a corner. Of the blanket, he quietly stepped onto the floor, bare-chested. He didn’t look back at the curve of her body. He walked straight out of the bedroom and changed. Into a clean set of casual clothes. He planned to buy some breakfast. Hot soy milk and freshly steamed dumplings. He gently closed the door, treading lightly. As he went downstairs, the breakfast shop at the entrance of the community was already shrouded in steaming white mist. Boss, three servings of soy milk. Four baskets of dumplings, and two pancakes to go. Okay, just a moment. Yenjiyo found a seat by the window. The morning street was sparsely populated, imbued with a unique tranquility. He casually took out his phone. The moment the screen lit up, a series of missed call notifications instantly filled the entire notification bar. All from Lu Xia. Below were several unread text messages, his phone was habitually set to silent all night. Yanjio opened the first text. Message. Lu Xia, are you sleeping? Or playing games? Lu Xia, a violent injury incident occurred on West Street. Jingzhou. Lu Xia, preliminary assessment. Indicates the perpetrator is a high-level player. Based on on-site surveillance analysis, the speed and strength characteristics match those of a level. 13. Rogue. Lu Xia, attributes have begun to affect reality. Conventional law enforcement equipment cannot inflict effective damage on him, and the target has already escaped. Lu Xia, but the surveillance is still continuously tracking his location. The last message was very brief. Lu Xia, old Chen’s meaning is for you to handle it. Lu Xia, this is his exact wording, one is to show some people his strength and the other is to prevent him from getting bored. Yen Jio looked at the phone screen, scratching his head. He called the internal affairs of the police station, succinctly requesting a day off. He couldn’t. Go to the office today to hear the gossip from the games. It was a bit of a pity. Young man, your breakfast is ready. The boss’s loud voice interrupted his. Thoughts. Thank you. Yen Jio stood up and took the steaming breakfast. He carried the breakfast back to his rental apartment at a leisurely pace. He unlocked the door with his key. The room was very quiet. He gently placed the breakfast on the dining table, the warmth of the soy milk seeping through the plastic bag to the tabletop. He turned around and glanced at the tightly closed bedroom door. Then, he walked out of the room again, gently closing the door behind him. Standing in the corridor, he dialed Lu Xia’s number. The call was almost instantly answered. You finally called back. Lu Xia’s voice sounded a bit tired, with a mix of noisy voices and electrical sounds in the background. Just saw it. Yanjio’s reply was straightforward. Send me the location. It’s. Already sent to your phone, it’s a real-time tracking link. Lu Xia paused for a moment, several civilians and three police officers have been injured. Be. Careful yourself. Em. Yanjio acknowledged, indicating he understood. After saying that, Yanjio directly hung up the phone. He clicked on the tracking. Link. A red dot was moving in an old urban area near West Street, Jingzhou. West Street, Jingzhou, a shanty town. This was a forgotten corner of the city. Narrow, damp alleys crisscrossed like a spider’s web. A thin man was hiding in an uninhabited room. He believed he had shaken off the police, just like in the urban games he used to play. His name was Lee San. Game ID, Ghost Shadow Sangu. A level 13 rogue player, also a top 100 expert on the leaderboard. His face bore a sickly excitement and flush. He spread his palm, looking at his pale hands that had become so from staying indoors for too long. Then, he. Suddenly clenched his fist. An unprecedented sense of power surged from his limbs. He could feel the sound of the wind flowing by his ears. He could hear the faint sound of a wild cat stepping on tiles a hundred meters away. This world, which he had once despised and scorned, revealed such a wonderful side to him for. The first time. Those who usually looked down on him. Those who had bullied him in the past. Now, before him, they were as fragile as ants. He had beaten up. A social big brother who looked at him unfavorably and poured beer on his head in a restaurant, unexpectedly breaking the big brother’s leg. The police who. came afterward couldn’t stop him, allowing Lisanne to successfully escape from that street. This feeling was more addictive than anything else. He thought he might be some ancient divine bloodline just awakened to save this world that was about to be invaded by otherworldly demons. Soon, a mysterious and beautiful woman would come to invite him to join an organization to save the world. Lisanne couldn’t help but think in his mind. He licked his cracked lips. He was hungry. A plain voice, without warning, sounded behind him. Are you Lisanne? Lisanne’s body hair stood on end in an instant. He turned around sharply. It wasn’t a beautiful woman, but a handsome young man dressed in ordinary casual clothes who had somehow appeared less than three meters behind him. There was no wind in the room. He hadn’t even heard a single footstep. This person seemed to have materialized out of thin air. Who are you? Lisanne shouted, his voice fierce, but trembling, his body instinctively tensing up, ready to flee at any moment. Yen Jio did not answer his question. He simply stared at Lisanne. I was ordered. To capture you, Yen Jio stated calmly. Capture me? Lisanne laughed loudly, as if he had heard the biggest joke. Just you? Do you know who I am? I. Knocked out the boss lawn from Gumiyeji with one punch last night. Even the police can’t do anything to me. A waist like you, I could crush with a single. Finger. His laughter echoed in the narrow alley, sounding particularly harsh. The next second, Lisanne’s laughter abruptly stopped. He moved, his body turning. Into a blur, like an arrow released from a bow, leaping through the window and dashing toward the other end of the alley. Despite his bluster, he turned and. Ran. His speed was at its peak. However, after landing, he had only taken two steps when a hand, light as a feather, pressed down on his shoulder. Lee Sands. Pupils constricted. He felt as if a mountain had fallen on his shoulder, rendering him immobile. The weight from that hand was heavy and irresistible. Fear. Washed over him like a cold tide, instantly drowning his heart. How is this possible? How could he be faster than me? Didn’t I awaken superpowers? You, Lee. Sands struggled to turn his head, his voice filled with horror. Yanjio simply looked at him, his face expressionless. Li San’s entire arm went numb. The speed he prided himself on became a joke in front of that hand. The strength he relied on felt as insignificant as dust before that mountain. I, Li San wanted to say something more. But Yanjio had already lost his patience. He gripped Li San’s shoulder and applied a bit of force. Crack. A crisp sound of bones. Dislocating echoed. Li San let out a scream that was not human, his whole body going limp. A sharp pain radiated from his shoulder, instantly engulfing him. Cold. Sweat soaked through his back. He finally realized that the beautiful woman he had fantasized about had not come. Instead, a true monster had arrived. Yen Jio. Didn’t spare him another glance, dragging his dislocated arm like a dead dog as he walked out of the alley. Li San was pulled along, his legs weak, stumbling. Behind, unable to even think of resisting. At the entrance of the Jingzhou City Police Station, a dozen people sat quietly. At the forefront was a man lying. On a mobile hospital bed, his head wrapped in thick bandages, one leg in a cast elevated high. It was Long, the boss of Gumi Eiji. Surrounding him were. A group of younger brothers wearing black vests, their tattoos visible. They held a white banner with several crooked red characters written on it. Severely. Punished the murderer Lee San. Give my brother justice. Dammit, where’s that bastard Lee San? Has the police caught him? Long said in a low voice from. His bed. Having Long been involved in the underworld he naturally understood what could disgust the police. He was merely expressing legal protest, hadn’t even. Entered the door, and hadn’t obstructed traffic, so he hadn’t done anything extreme. Dare to touch my brother Long, I’ll make sure he doesn’t leave Jingzhou. The younger brothers immediately chimed in. Yeah, kill him. Let him know how powerful brother Long is. Just then, from around the corner, a figure slowly. Approached. It was Yenjio, dragging Lisanne. Lisanne hung his head, his face pale, his shoulder twisted at an odd angle. Long’s younger brothers were the. First to spot him. Boss. That kid is here. All eyes instantly focused on Yenjiyo and Lisan. Brother Long struggled to sit up from his hospital bed, pointing at Lisan with a face full of resentment. It’s him. Surround them. A dozen little brothers rushed in, encircling Yenjiyo and Lisan. Kid, you finally. Fallen into our hands. A yellow-haired thug sneered, raising his fist to smash into Lisan’s face. Lisan, terrified, shut his eyes. The anticipated pain. Never came. He cautiously opened a slit. That fist was suspended in mid-air. Yenjo had simply extended a hand, effortlessly blocking it. The yellow-haired, thug’s face turned beet-red, exerting all his strength, yet his fist couldn’t advance an inch. The scene fell silent in an instant. Everyone was stunned by this. Turn of events. Yenjo retracted his hand, his tone calm, obstructing official duties. Step aside immediately. Brother Long, lying in the hospital bed, turned green with anger. When had he ever been humiliated like this? Who the hell are you? Dare to meddle in my business? Let me tell you, no one is. taking this kid away today. He pointed his finger at Yenjo’s nose, starting to threaten. Kid, I’ll remember you. You better hope I don’t find out where you live. Your family won’t have it easy either. As those words left his mouth, Yenjo, who had been ready to move forward, stopped. He turned around, just looking at Brother Long in the hospital bed. He said nothing. There were no unnecessary movements. Brother Long’s previously arrogant demeanor was suddenly doused like a bucket of ice water, extinguished in an instant. He felt as if he were being targeted by a prehistoric beast. The shouts of his little brothers. The sounds of traffic on the street all faded away. In his world, only those calm yet seemingly filled with a sea of blood and corpses’ pupils remained. A. Chilling sensation shot from his tailbone straight to the crown of his head. Cold sweat instantly soaked the bandages on his back. The shadow of death had never. Loomed so clearly over him. He opened his mouth but his throat felt as if it were stuffed with cotton, unable to utter a word. Go, go. Brother Long. Squeezed out two words with all his might through gritted teeth. The little brothers beside him were stunned. Big brother, we. I told you to go. Didn’t you. Hear me. Brother Long roared hysterically. A few little brothers dared not ask further, currently pushing the hospital bed, almost fleeing in panic. A farce. Came to an end. Yenjiyo could have handcuffed brother Long for threatening an officer and taught him a lesson. But that wasn’t enough. Yenjiyo then withdrew. His gaze picked up the already frightened Li-san and walked into the police station. In the reception hall, Yanjio pushed Li San forward. Li San’s legs went weak, and he collapsed onto the ground. He was utterly terrified. He sat there dazed, his eyes hollow, as if his soul had been sucked away. The subsequent interrogation went exceptionally smoothly. Whatever the police asked, he answered honestly. There was no concealment, nor any resistance. Yanjio did not participate in the interrogation. He simply completed his task and turned to walk out of the police station. Team Yan, a young officer taking notes instinctively. called out where are you going yen joe did not stop his steps he did not answer he walked straight out of the police station’s door turned and walked leisurely in the direction where brother long’s group had left at the alley’s entrance several men in black vests pushed a mobile hospital bed running faster than rabbits big brother are we still running a yellow -haired thug gasped brother long on the hospital bed looked paler than the wall he did not answer he just kept trembling the image of that person kept replaying in his mind That was not a human. That was a beast wearing human skin, just crawled. Out of a sea of blood. In his youth, he had followed the boss on the streets, seen desperate men. Those people had only made his back chill, but that young. Man just now. He was standing there, nearly losing the courage to breathe. All he wanted was to run. As far away as possible. Big brother, what’s wrong? The. Little brother beside him finally noticed something was off. On the hospital bed where Longa lay, a dark stain was slowly expanding. A foul smell began. to permeate the air. The little brothers exchanged glances, none daring to speak. Long Gi’s face turned from pale to a pig liver color. He had never felt so. Humiliated in his life. What are you looking at? Get out of here quickly. He shouted with all his might. Yen Jiu walked out of the police station’s door. The morning sun just hit his face and he raised his hand to shield it. That sentence still echoed in his ears. You better not let me find out where you live. Your family won’t have it easy either. Yanzhou’s footsteps didn’t falter as he leisurely followed the direction where Longji’s group had disappeared. His pace was slow, like taking a stroll after a meal. But with each step he took, the distance between him and the group ahead steadily shortened. The old. District of Jingzhou City had narrow streets. Longji’s little brothers pushed the hospital bed through the crowd, unable to pick up speed. Dammit, what I. Stroke of bad luck today. Who the hell is that kid? I don’t know, but the police called him Teen Yen. A figure passed by them, following the crowd. In. The instant he brushed past the hospital bed, his right index finger tapped the Baihui point on Longji’s head. It was so quick that no one saw it. Longgu. Didn’t even feel anything. He just felt like he had forgotten what he was about to say. Yanjou’s footsteps didn’t pause at all as he walked straight past them. Turned the corner ahead and disappeared from sight. The whole process took less than three seconds. One little brother slowly spoke up. Big brother, where? Are we going now? Go, where? Longgu mumbled to himself. he felt like his brain was a mess of stirred up paste many things became unclear who am i what is my name why am i lying here who am i he looked blankly at the few little brothers around him wearing black vests his mind had completely turned into chaos slowly forgetting even what he wanted to do only knowing to stare blankly ahead big brother what’s wrong the little brothers noticed something was off with him long goo opened his mouth he wanted to speak but found he couldn’t even form a complete word he could only emit some monosyllabic sounds Like ah, oh. Then, the last trace of consciousness gradually faded away. From then on, what happened to Longo had nothing to do with Yanjio. Since, he had said those two sentences, let him never have the ability to investigate anyone or threaten anyone for the rest of his life. Still, that saying holds. True, Yanjio was quite kind to people. But some things, in his eyes, did not count as people. He sent a message to Lu Xia. The matter is resolved. After, thinking for a moment he added a few more sentences. I’ll be at work in the morning, in the game in the afternoon, if there’s an urgent matter, you can find. Me in the game, putting away his phone, Yanjio walked towards home. The work at the police station could wait until tomorrow, when there were no attendance. Tasks, life was relatively leisurely. When he returned home, it was just past 9 in the morning. Sujinjin seemed to have just finished breakfast, changed. Into sportswear, and was preparing to go out. They bumped into each other at the entrance. She saw Yanjio, and her body visibly stiffened. The previous flirtatious. Energy that always wanted to cling to him had completely vanished. She instinctively avoided his gaze, her cheeks flushing with an unnatural red. Yen Jio. Scratched his head. Are you going out? Mm, going for a run. Sujinjin’s reply was very soft, almost inaudible. Let’s go together, Yen Jio said. The two of them walked out of the house one after the other, starting to jog around the surrounding garden. This level of exercise was no different from walking. For Yen Jio. He deliberately slowed his pace, keeping parallel with Sujinjin. The air was filled only with their faint breaths and the soft sound of shoe saws rubbing against the plastic track. After a few laps, they reached a bench in the park and sat down to rest. Silence spread between them. Yen Ji-o racked his brain, trying to find a suitable topic. They had lived under the same roof for so long, yet there was so little they could actually talk about. Eventually, his thoughts landed on that place that connected reality and illusion. The illusion. What level is your illusion? he asked. Soo Jin-jin seemed to breathe. A sigh of relief upon hearing the question, a faint smile appearing on her face. Level 13, isn’t that impressive? There was a hint of pride in her tone. Level 13 was indeed high, on par with Mingyao’s level. Yanjou inexplicably recalled that night at the Su family home. The old man sitting in a rocking chair, tapping the ground with his cane, spoke coldly. Guild territory token, it’s in your hands, right? At that point in time, possessing a guild. Territory token meant that the guild Sujinjin belonged to was very likely the first in the entire game to obtain such a token. He asked nonchalantly. Which guild are you in? The smile on Sujinjin’s face froze a bit. Her hands, resting on her knees, unconsciously tightened, her fingertips digging into the fabric of her sweatpants. In the park, elderly people were practicing Tai Chi, their movements slow and elongated. The wind rustled through the treetops, the leaves making a delicate sound. She remained silent for a long time. Yenjio did not urge her, just quietly waited. He could sense her inner struggle. After a Long while, it seemed she had made up her mind, she turned her head and looked seriously at Yanzhou. You must keep this a secret from others. I will only. Tell you. Yanzhou nodded. Suzhengen leaned closer, lowering her voice to almost a whisper in his ear. My guild is called Joutian, and the guild strictly. Prohibits leaking information. But you are an exception, I don’t want to hide anything from you. Suzhengen gently bit Yanzhou’s ear as she spoke. Yanzhou’s expression remained unchanged, just as he thought. He was not unfamiliar with that name. Seeing his calm demeanor, Soojinjin was somewhat surprised. Aren’t you surprised at all? She sat up straight, a hint of disbelief in her voice. That’s the guild that ranks third on the leaderboard. Yenjio scratched. His head. Oh. He thought for a moment and added, that’s pretty impressive. Soojinjin was completely exasperated. Yenjio pinched Soojinjin’s delicate. Face. Don’t you know what kind of person I am? Soojinjin burst into a laugh at his expression. Her whole body relaxed and she leaned into Yenjio’s. Embrace. Giggling. Right. I almost forgot what a silly goose you are. Her breath, warm from exercise, lightly brushed against Yen Jio’s neck. Yen Jio’s body. Stiffened a bit. Sujinjin seemed quite pleased with his reaction, adjusting her position to lean more comfortably against him. What about you? Which guild are you in? Yen Jio did not lie and answered directly. Currently in Tinglan Pavilion. Tinglan Pavilion? Sujinjin paused for a moment. She had. Certainly heard that name before. She lifted her head from Yen Jio’s embrace, her face showing obvious confusion. Isn’t that the fifth guild that has recently, risen to prominence? I heard it’s a guild made up entirely of girls? How could you? He looked at Suzhengen’s puzzled face and answered naturally. Their guild leader invited me, so I went. This answer was too simple, even a bit perfunctory. However, Suzhengen did not press further, she simply changed. The subject. Tinglon Pavilion has been quite the sensation lately. Have you seen the videos of the guild battles? Her face was lit with a hint of excitement. Like a little girl who had found a kindred spirit. That satin skirt reaper, one of the three greats, is just too cool. One person nearly wiped out the entire elite team of 300 from the blood red guild. The scene, with flames lighting up the sky and that flowing satin skirt, was simply the pinnacle of violent aesthetics. She described it, her hands gesturing in the air, trying to recreate that shocking moment. Yen Ji-oh listened to her description, scratching his head. After thinking for a moment, he decided to tell the truth. I am that satin skirt reaper. The air froze for an instant. Su Jin-jins. Excited expression froze. She blinked, as if confirming she hadn’t misheard. The next second, she could no longer hold back and burst into laughter. She laughed so hard that she nearly fell into Yenjo’s arms, her shoulders shaking. After a while, she finally managed to stop laughing, lifted her head, and looked at him with her glistening eyes. Why didn’t you say you were actually a god of the game? She reached out her finger and gently poked Yenjo’s chest. That’s the satin skirt reaper. A beautiful girl. How could it possibly be you, you silly goose? She laughed, wrapping her arms around Yenjo’s neck, her whole body hanging on him. This intimate posture felt completely natural. Yenjo’s body stiffened a bit. He felt that familiar sense of helplessness. Every time he spoke the truth in the game, he was treated as if he were bragging or joking. He looked at her smiling face and decided to explain again. His tone was serious without a hint of jest. That was a skill. To avoid trouble, I disguised myself and joined the Ting Lan Pavilion. They had helped me before. and promised that apart from the token, the rest of the rewards would be mine, so I helped them. So it looked like a woman. His explanation was clear and logical. Soojinjin’s smile slowly faded. She held onto his neck, looking at him closely. The sounds of morning exercise in the park and the rustling of leaves in the wind seemed to drift away from them. She could read a rare sense of grievance in his expression, one that came from being misunderstood, and a kind of stubborn seriousness. After a long time, she suddenly released her grip and sat up straight. She adjusted her collar, which had become a bit disheveled. From laughing. Then, she turned her head, facing the morning sun, and looked at Yanjio. Okay. She said. I believe you. These four words were light, yet. Carried an undeniable weight. Yanjio was taken aback. The pile of follow-up explanations he had prepared all got stuck in his throat. He looked at Sujinjin. Her expression was calm, devoid of the teasing from before. It was a pure, serene acceptance of belief. Then you. Sujinjin leaned in curiously. What. Is your talent? She asked cautiously, as if probing a huge secret. Yenjiyo still did not lie. SSS level talent, war god. His tone was calm, as if he were. Simply commenting on the nice weather. This time, Sujinjin did not show any signs of shock. She did not laugh. She just quietly looked at Yenjiyo. The morning sunlight filtered through the interlacing branches casting mottled shadows on her face. The shadow swayed gently with the breeze, making her outline. Seems somewhat unreal. She smiled like that. I believe you. She said it again. Sujinjin did not speak further. She just leaned her head back again, finding a more comfortable position, and closed her eyes. The two sat quietly like that. Not far away, pedestrians slowly walked over. The sound of conversation broke the tranquility around them. Someone’s coming. Sujinjin said softly. Let’s go back. Neither of them had the habit of showing affection in front of others. Yenjio nodded and stood up. Sujinjin followed suit, naturally extending her arm to link with his. The two walked towards the rental house. They Didn’t say a word. But a silent emotion slowly flowed between them. Back home. Yenjio blanced at the clock on the wall. I want to go online early today. He. Thought for a moment and added, if we finish early tonight I can take you out for something good to eat. Sujinjin, linking her arm with his, paused at. His words. She looked up, a playful smile on her face. Is this a date invitation, lord martial god? Yes. Yenjio’s answer was as simple and direct as ever. Sujinjin’s smile deepened. Alright. I accept your invitation. She stood on her tiptoes and quickly kissed his cheek. Then, she released his arm and turned towards the bedroom. I rat a lot and am all sweaty. I’ll go take a shower first. Yanjio watched her back, instinctively touching the spot where she had kissed him. There was still a lingering warmth there. He followed her. Just as Sujujin reached the bathroom door, she felt someone behind her. She turned around. Yanjio was standing right behind her. The bathroom is big, Yanjio said. We can wash together. The blush on Sujujin’s face instantly spread to her ears. She didn’t answer, just turned around and pushed open the bathroom door. Warm water poured down from the showerhead. The mist quickly blurred. The glass door. This time, there was no previous chaos. The movements were gentle, filled with a careful tenderness. The sound of water rushed, as if washing. Away the last bit of distance between them. After showering, the two wrapped in towels walked out of the bathroom. Yen Jiu lay on the bed, watching Su. Jinjin sit in front of the vanity, drying her long, dark hair with a hairdryer. The buzzing filled the entire room. Yenjio suddenly felt that this scene was very comforting. Soo Jinjin turned off the hairdryer and the room fell silent. She looked at Yenjio lying on the bed through the mirror. Are you ready? She asked. Emem. Soo Jinjin stood up and walked to the edge of the bed. She lifted a corner of the blanket and lay down. Her body pressed closely against his. So, she turned around to face Yenjio, their noses almost touching. See you tonight, Mr. Enemy. Yenjio looked at her. See you tonight. Soo. Jinjin smiled. They both closed their eyes at the same time. The world around them began to dissolve into countless streams of light, slowly fading away. Welcome back to the illusion.Wishing you a pleasant game. The cold system notification sounded in his ear. Yanjio opened his eyes. He was back by the lake. In his manner, the fishing chair was still quietly placed under the willow tree. He stood up and brushed off the dust from his clothes. As soon as he logged in, the notification sound for friend messages rang out. Mingyao, awake? Yanjio blanced at the time the message was sent. It was just 10 seconds after. He logged in. He seriously suspected that this woman hadn’t logged out of the game at all. Yanzhou, mm. Mingyao, the rules for the guild war have. Been updated, let me tell you about it. Mingyao, because there are too many participating guilds, the preliminary round has been extended. It’s still a. Best of 3 match system, and we have to keep playing until the final 100 guilds are selected to enter the next round of the official ranking match. Yanzhou looked at the screen. Yanzhou, aren’t we a bit unlucky? He recalled the iron blood lion and blood dawn they had encountered before. Ming Yao. Not just a bit unlucky, it’s practically a hellish start. With so many guilds, we ended up drawing two fully staffed ones, both ranked in the top 20. It’s like we’re the children of divine retribution. Ming Yao. But now it’s. Different. Ming Yao. Thanks to your powerful reputation as the death god in a skirt, the number of people applying to join our Tinglan pavilion is about to overflow my friend list. Ming Yao. They’re all players from other main cities. Who came specifically to apply after seeing your video? I originally planned to develop well in Maple Leaf City, but it seems that the plan needs to be moved up. Yanjio was somewhat curious about this. Yanjio, how many people can a guild accommodate? Mingyao, the limit is 3,000. But those truly large guilds will set up several branches, adding up to tens of thousands. During guild wars, they temporarily invite the elites from the branches to the main guild for ranking. Yanjio thought for a moment. Yanjio, when are we fighting today? Mingyao, it’s up to you, we can start whenever you’re free. Yanjio, whenever. Mingyao, then, how about an hour later? I need some time to organize the new sisters. Yanjio, okay. After ending the conversation, Yanjio did not set off immediately. He wandered aimlessly in Maple Leaf City. Passing by an alley, he habitually took out the guard’s gale. Emblem. The cold touch of the token came to him. He thought for a moment and then put the token away. If he promised someone something, he had to follow through. He wouldn’t kill any red names today. He opened the illusion system and switched his ID and appearance back to Honey Apple. After doing all this, he headed towards the guild’s gathering place. By the time Yen Jiu arrived, the place had already turned into a sea of chatter. The sound of lively conversations. Almost threatened to lift the dome of the square. Where’s the president? Why hasn’t the president arrived yet? Today, the tailor shop has produced blue dye. Really? That’s great. I’ve always wanted to make a blue robe to match my staff. Big Brother Apple. Ching Ching was the first to spot him and immediately ran over happily. Behind her were several old members, XINXIN and Tian Tian. Big brother, you’re here. Which guild are we fighting today, big brother? The girl’s enthusiasm left Yanzhou feeling a bit at a loss. Soon, Ming Yao, dressed in silver armor, emerged from the crowd. Sisters, quiet down. Her appearance immediately quieted the noisy square. The match is about to begin. Ming. Yao opened the guild war matching panel. Matching started. Matching successful. Guild, Windflower Snowmoon Number of people 42 The map was a shattered city and they still stood in the square but the surroundings were ruined. Buildings. Upon seeing the opponent’s information, the team from Ting Lan Pavilion burst into laughter. Only a little over 40 people, not enough to fill our gaps. President, for this match, let the scythe of the skirt take action. Let us broaden our horizons, a new female knight shouted loudly. This suggestion was immediately echoed by the vast majority of the new members. Yeah, yeah, we want to see the scythe of the skirt. Take them out. Take them out. The screens and cheers blended into one. The new girls’ faces were filled with fervent admiration. They joined this guild just to witness the miracle with their own eyes. Yanzhou stood in the crowd, feeling like a monkey in a zoo. Before we start, I want to say a few words. Mingyao looked around, observing the excited and curious girls from various main cities. I know many of you came for one name. Her words made everyone hold their breath. Scythe of the skirt. When these four words were spoken, a wave of suppressed gasps and commotion erupted in the crowd. But I hope you remember. We, Ting Lan Pavilion, are a whole. We welcome the strong to join but we need teammates who can fight alongside us. Even more. Alright, without further ado. At that moment, a shimmer of starlight appeared beside Mingyao. Honey apple instantly appeared next to Mingyao. Boom. The entire square erupted. It’s the scythe of the skirt. He is the scythe of the skirt. Oh my god. I can’t believe I’m so close to him. Over a hundred new female players instantly went wild. They screamed, rushing towards Yanjio like a tidal wave. The originally orderly. line was instantly thrown into disarray don’t push me let me touch him just once lord of death look at me i’m super sweet the players from tinglon pavilion were jostled around by this frenzy their faces filled with a mix of laughter and helplessness they had no idea that just moments ago they were just like them the battle is about to begin the cold system prompt could not extinguish the enthusiasm of these girls everyone stand straight horror reprimand was not harsh but carried an irresistible authority that instantly silenced all the screams The crowd receded. Those girls who had just been shoving each other now stood awkwardly, their faces still flushed with excitement. Mingyao’s face, hidden beneath her silver helmet, revealed no expression. She did not utter another word of reprimand. She simply turned around, the crisp sound of armor clashing echoing as she faced the entire guild. From today on, Tinglan Pavilion will be fully staffed with 200 people. I will reorganize the team into 10 squads, each with 20 members. Squad 1, led by Qingqing. Members, Xingxin, Tian Tian, Hualuo. Squad 2, led by Luanga. She read out the names one by one, clearly having already planned the combat arrangements for different team sizes. The newcomers, who had been a disorganized bunch, began to quickly gather under their captain’s calls, forming independent formations. The chaotic square restored its orderly appearance in a very short time. Yenjio observed all of this, feeling no inner turmoil. He was like a coordinate origin, allowing these strange geometric shapes to arrange and combine around him. Once the ten squads were basically formed, Mingyao’s next words splashed into the air like a drop of oil in boiling water. In this battle, the Great Apple will not take action. A wave of disappointed sighs immediately rose among the new members. However, Mingyao paused, this transitional word successfully capturing everyone’s attention. After the battle, the squad with the highest performance will fight alongside Lord of the Skirt. A silence of one second enveloped the square. Then, it exploded completely. Ah, first, our squad must get first place. Sisters, let’s go all out. For the chance to team up with Lord of Death. Squad 7, listen up. If anyone slacks. Off, don’t blame me for kicking her out. Take down the enemy. Let’s grab all 40 of their heads. The earlier fervent admiration did not dissipate. It was cleverly transformed by Ming Yao into another form, one filled with aggressive, competitive desire. Every girl’s face burned with fierce fighting spirit. Qing Qing immediately ran towards her newly formed squad, her twin ponytails bouncing with energy. Squad 1 sisters, follow me. The girls quickly formed a. Charging formation, shields in front, mages and archers behind. The disorganized crowd instantly turned into ten poised arrows ready to launch. Their fighting spirit almost became tangible. Countdown, 5, 4, 3. The system’s countdown. Echoed. For Ting Lan Pavilion. Ming Yao raised her longsword. Charge. 200 female players let out various high-pitched shouts, like a torrent, bursting out of the broken square. Their footsteps converged into a thunderous roar. Yanjio stood shoulder to shoulder with Mingyao, unmoving. He watched the torrent recede. The 10 squads maintained an efficient advancing formation on the wide, ruin avenue. They turned a corner, ready to face the enemy’s first wave of attack. But what they saw was the enemy charging towards them as well. The guild of just over 40 members, Fengawa Shueyua, was also sprinting at full speed. But something felt off. Their weapons were not raised in an attacking stance, some people were even holding up signs. They weren’t shouting battle cries. What they shouted were excited screams. The president of Windflower Snowmoon, a berserker, charged to the front. He saw the troops of Tinglon Pavilion, arranged in several small formations. Then, his gaze crossed the crowd and landed on a solitary figure in a gauzy dress in the distance. The expression on his face was instantly overtaken by a profound ecstasy. He casually tossed the giant axe in his hand to the ground. He raised his hands high. Goddess of the gauzy dress. His voice was amplified by some skill, echoing across the battlefield. We are your fans. The more than 40 members behind him also stopped. Not to fight, but to wildly wave the signs in their hands. The signs were painted with glowing dye, depicting crooked hearts and the words Honey Apple, in large letters. Chop me. Chop me. Goddess of death, please end me with your own. Hands. I really want to see the sauls of Apple Lord’s feet. The berserker president shouted hoarsely, his tone filled with fervent pleading. Yeah, yeah. I can’t believe we actually encountered her. To be stepped on by the goddess. Of the gauzy dress, it would be worth dying for in this lifetime. Honey Apple Lord, I am your dog. The charge of the 200 members of Ting Lan Pavilion came to an abrupt halt. The girls were stunned, weapons raised in the air, staring at the absurd scene before them. The fierce fighting spirit on their faces was quickly replaced by confusion. The battlefield fell into a strange silence. The girls from Ting Lan Pavilion at the front had their fighting spirit frozen. What the hell is going on? a female warrior asked in bewilderment. Her companion beside her couldn’t answer. In the distance, Yen Jiu stood shoulder to shoulder with Ming Yao. He looked at the berserker who had dropped his giant axe, then glanced at the male players behind him waving their signs. At that moment, Qing Qing from Ting Lan Pavilion was the first to react. Her cute face flushed bright red, not from shyness, but from anger. We can’t let them through. Her voice was sharp, even tinged with a hint of crying. This group of perverts wants to take advantage of Apple Lord. Protect the goddess of the gauzy dress. One sentence awakened all the girls who were still in confusion. Sisters, open fire. We can’t let any pervert get close to Apple Lord. Kill them. Leave none alive. The recently extinguished fighting spirit ignited again, this time in a more ferocious manner. It was not a desire for victory in battle. It was a sense of territory that could not be violated, a protective instinct for a treasure. Frost rained. Fireball. Rain of arrows. Almost simultaneously, the firepower of the 200 female players poured towards those more than 40 people. The ice-blue magic circle blossomed on the ground. The crimson fireballs tore through the sky. Dense arrows formed a cloud of death. The entire battlefield was instantly covered in a dazzling and deadly magical. Light. Ah. Cries of agony immediately rang out from the Windflower snow moon camp. But strangely, they did not retreat. Hold the line. The president, Windflower Rhapsody, activated his talent skill. A massive blood red shield. Appeared in front of him. Blood Crusader. Guardians Wind. The paladins and warriors behind him also raised their defenses simultaneously. They braced themselves against the concentrated fire from the 200. Their health bars. were visibly depleting at a rapid pace, but their steps showed no sign of stopping. They continued to push towards Yenjio, struggling forward. With each step, a few people turned into white light and vanished. For the goddess of death, Rhapsody roared amidst the cannon fire. Charge. His face bore a fervor akin to that of a pilgrim. The girls from Tinglon Pavilion were completely enraged. They’re still moving. Firepower. We need more firepower. Mage team. Use your skills at maximum power. Don’t worry about the mana consumption. Qingqing’s staff shone blindingly. Kill that guild leader. He’s the root of all evil. The attacks intensified, crashing down on the rapidly dwindling team like a tsunami. This was an absurd battle of offense and defense. The defenders were the overwhelmingly numerous Tinglan Pavilion. The attackers were unarmed, only seeking to push forward. The Fenghua Shueyue. Yanjio watched quietly. He observed the man called Rhapsody stepping forward through the baptism of ice and fire. The blood-red light shield around him was shattering. Around his body, teammates were continuously turning to light. The team of over 40 quickly. Dwindled to just a dozen. Then 5. 3. Rhapsody’s health bar was nearly empty. The last protective knight beside him blocked a deadly ice arrow, turning into white light. He was left all alone. He finally found the tiny gap that. The Tinglan Pavilion girls had unconsciously left open. Dragging his broken body, he staggered to Yanjio’s side. There was no pain on his face, only an extreme satisfaction and joy as if a dream had come true. They looked at the man in. front of the gauzy skirt, then glanced at the unscathed Yanjio. Each face was filled with humiliation and anger. They had failed. Two hundred of them had not been able to stop a madman. He had gotten close to their goddess. Yanjio. Looked at the man beneath her feet. The hand rose. The knife fell. Minus 8999 a huge damage number floated above Rhapsody’s head. That body, with a satisfied smile, turned into specks of starlight. Almost simultaneously, the massive word. Victory slowly appeared in the air above the battlefield. They had won. Yet, not a single girl from Ting Lan Pavilion cheered. They just stared intently at the empty space as if they wanted to burn away every trace left by that man with. Their gaze. Damn it. XINXIN Tian Tian stomped her foot in anger. How could he succeed? Is our defense made of paper? 200 people couldn’t stop one. It’s all my fault if that fireball had been a bit more off-target. Voices. Of regret and self-blame spread through the team channel. This victory brought them not joy, but a profound humiliation. Yenjio sheathed her knife. Mingyao walked over. She didn’t try to comfort the sisters whose emotions were out of control. She simply rubbed her brow, her movements revealing a deep sense of helplessness. She glanced at Yenzhou, then at the group of new and old members still immersed in anger. This anger could not be released. If it was, morale would scatter. She decisively opened the guild war matching panel again. Prepare for the next match. Matching you with an opponent, the cold system notification interrupted all complaints. The girls raised their heads to look at Mingyao. The anger still lingered on their faces. But that pent-up fury instantly found a new outlet. The next unfortunate soul. They would return all the humiliation they had just suffered, doubled, to the next opponent. Match. Successful enemy guild. War God Hall Number of players, 108 When the words War God Hall, along with the glaring number of 108, appeared on the panel, the air in the entire square froze. War God Hall. A colossal entity. That consistently ranks second on the server’s guild leaderboard. The anger that had just boiled over from humiliation felt like a bucket of ice water poured over them, leaving only a chilling coldness. The crowd was teleported to the center of a massive lumberyard, but no one paid attention. The anger on the girls’ faces faded, replaced by a near-desperate pallor. How could this be? It’s war god hall. How could we possibly defeat them? The feeling of despair spread faster and more lethally than the anger they had faced against Fenghua Shueiue. Everyone, pull yourselves together. Mingyao’s voice thundered like lightning in everyone’s ears, she retracted the matching panel, the silver armor reflecting a cold light under the dim sky of the lumberyard. Ranked 8, known for PK, the crimson dusk, wasn’t it also beaten to a pulp by us? What are you afraid of? Now, Mingyao turned around, pointing to the graceful figure in a gauzy dress among the crowd. Yen Jiu was just about to sneak a honey apple into her backpack when her hand pulled back. What we face is a true enemy. And we will fight alongside a true god. We will fight alongside. One of the three absolutes. The gauzy dress reaper. This statement struck like lightning, splitting the gloom in everyone’s hearts. Fear and despair were instantly ignited, transforming into a more fervent, more frenzied worship and fighting spirit. Yes, we have the gauzy dress reaper. We have the three absolutes. What are we afraid of? That suppressed anger, mixed with newfound fervor, caused the morale of the 200 female players to soar, even subtly overshadowing the more than 100 elite opponents. Mingyao did not give them much time to let their emotions ferment, quickly issuing commands. Everyone, follow my lead. Reform the formation. Teams 3 and 4, your levels and equipment are relatively weak. Focus on ranged fire suppression, forming the first line of defense at the edge of the square. Rangers and thieves, break off to form the second echelon. Your task is to support. Mingyao’s gaze fell on. Yen Jio, support the gauzy dress reaper’s actions. The rest will be led by me. Prepare for a frontal charge. We will show the war god hall that our Tinglon pavilion is not just one person. Yes, the synchronized response echoed. throughout the shattered square. The chaotic formation was restructured into three distinct combat clusters in a very short time. A chilling atmosphere spread. Just at this tense moment, a figure leisurely walked out from the depths of the forest. It was a young man dressed in a hodgepodge of gear. His fiery red hair stood out starkly in the dim environment. He casually slung a rusty two-handed sword over his shoulder. He strolled to the center of the battlefield as if taking a walk in his backyard. The girls of Tinglon Pavilion were stunned. What was happening? The red-haired youth completely ignored the ironclad defense formed by the 200 people on Ting Lan Pavilion’s side. He scanned the area, seemingly searching for something. Hey. He spoke up. Where’s your three absolutes? Come out. I heard you’re quite strong. Come fight me. The entire battlefield fell silent. Everyone exchanged glances. The red-haired youth seemed unconcerned with others’ reactions, walking over to a wooden stump in the lumberyard and plopping down. He pulled out a juicy pair from his backpack. Crunch. The crisp sound of chewing was clearly audible in the dead silence of the battlefield. He leisurely munched on the pair, propping his leg up, the rusty sword casually leaning against his side. Mingyao’s pupils slightly constricted. This feeling. This nonchalance, treating thousands of troops as if they were nothing. She had only seen it in one person before. That was Yen Jiu. This was not arrogance. It was a confidence in one strength that came from the marrow. The red-haired youth took another bite of the pair and mumbled, I can represent the entire war god hall. If I lose. Then this match counts as a loss for our war god hall. Boom. This statement sent Ting Lan Pavilion’s camp into an uproar. Who does he think he is? He thinks he can challenge our gauzy. Dress Reaper alone? So arrogant. The girl’s anger was reignited. But Ming Yao did not move. She turned her head to look at Yen Jiu at the back of the team, silently asking for his opinion. Yen Jiu stepped out from the ranks.He wore a flowing gauze skirt and carried a slender black knife, stepping forward to the front lines. The entire world seemed to fall silent. Everyone’s attention was focused on the two figures about to confront each other. One was the long famous, Reaper in a gauze skirt who had stirred countless bloody storms. The other was a mysterious young man who had appeared suddenly, arrogant to the point of being insufferable. The red-haired youth looked at Yenjiyo, his eyes brightening. As he whistled, Yenjiyo stopped in his tracks. He gazed at the red-haired youth sitting on a stone stump, munching on a pear. Then he spoke. Where did you buy that pear? This abrupt question plunged the entire lumberyard into an, even stranger silence than before. The 200 girls from Ting Lan Pavilion were completely stunned. Even the warriors from the War God Hall, who had rushed out of the forest, halted in their tracks, looking bewildered. The tense. Atmosphere was punctured by this question, and all the killing intent leaked out through the hole it created. The red-haired youth paused his parading, staring blankly at Yen Jio. A few seconds later, he suddenly jumped up from the stump, his face bursting with a joy akin to finding a kindred spirit. Big sister. You understand. He tossed aside the half-eaten pear and rushed a few steps to Yenjo, excitedly grabbing her hand. You have no idea how hard my life has been. The red-haired youth began to lament as if no one else was around. I was born in the desert of the mountain kingdom, and in our main city, all you can see is cacti, nothing but cacti. Can you eat that stuff? It has no flavor at all. I nearly ran my legs off just to find an oasis that grows normal things. And guess what? That broken oasis is a dungeon. His voice was filled with blood and tears. every time i want to eat some fruit i have to go in and grind for it the monsters inside are the only ones who drop it what sand apples cactus fruits they taste dry and astringent and this pear the final boss of the glen of sweet dew the thousand year tree demon has only a 20 chance to drop one if it weren’t for grinding for this food i would be stuck in that dungeon every day how could i ever become one of the six peaks the more he spoke the more aggrieved he became and by the end He actually squeezed out two drops of tears, pulling another pear from his backpack and taking a big bite as if chewing on his tragic fate. The expressions of the Tinglan Pavilion crowd had shifted from confusion to petrification. 6. Peaks? This seemingly disheveled man, acting like a madman, was one of the six peaks? Mingyao’s body tensed. She immediately thought of the only six peak belonging to the War God Hall on the Guild leaderboard. The first place in the Holy. Night Ranking. The Sunwalker, War God Hallion. Unlike Ming Yao, who wore immaculate silver armor, radiating a pure glow, his armor was a mismatched collection of parts. Although each piece shimmered with a bronze hue, clearly of considerable value, they were covered in dried blood and mud, looking hardly better than the rags picked up from the roadside. The rusted two-handed sword showed no signs of a master’s finesse either. The gap between the two holy knights was simply too vast. Yen Jio looked at the emotional man before her who was crying and sniffling. She could understand him very well. She understood the feeling of fighting desperately for food. Silently, Yanzhou opened her backpack and took out a bright red honey apple, exuding a sweet fragrance. She also pulled out a wooden wine bottle filled with amber honey brew. Try this, a specialty of Maple Leaf City. She handed the items over. The red-haired youth, known as Yen, was taken aback. He stared blankly at the apple, then at the bottle of wine. Cautiously, he took a bite of the apple. Crunch. The crisp sound rang out. In the next second, Yanzhou’s eyes widened in shock. An indescribable ultimate. sweetness exploded on his taste buds the it was unlike any dry desert fruit he had ever tasted in his mouth it was pure sweetness capable of making one’s soul tremble he quickly twisted open the wine bottle and took a large gulp of the honey brew the rich floral liquid slid down his throat thud yen sat down abruptly clutching the apple and the wine bottle he cried out loud in front of more than 300 people wah what kind of pig and dog life have i been living before this is what food is meant to be His cries were filled with heart-wrenching sorrow, causing listeners to feel grief and tears to flow. The girls from Ting Lan Pavilion were completely stunned. Yen Jiu quietly watched him. Once Yen had cried enough, he wiped his face and carefully stowed the remaining apple and honey brew into his backpack. He stood up and his entire demeanor suddenly changed. The previous madcap glutton had vanished. In his place stood a warrior with a gaze as sharp as a knife. He hoisted the rusted greatsword again and looked at Yen Jiu. Thanks, big sister. I’ll remember this meal. But we still have to fight. Yen grinned, revealing a set of white teeth. I won’t take advantage of the fact that you’re a girl. Here’s the deal. We won’t use any talents or skills. We’ll just stand here and go for a strike. You take a swing, I’ll definitely die. I take a swing, and you probably won’t withstand it either. Let’s see who can hit whom. What do you say? His proposal made the people from Tinglon Pavilion who had just regained their composure feel their hearts leap into their throats. This was the purest form of duel. A hint of interest appeared on Yen Jo’s face. no fancy tricks needed just a contest of the most primal reactions speed and timing this was intriguing all right he nodded the two stood facing each other in the center of the lumberyard taking their stances across that line the more than a hundred members of the war god hall also began to gather and instead of feeling tense they erupted into thunderous cheers go boss yen big sister take him down i’m your fan the hearty good-natured laughter contrasted sharply with the suffocating tension on tinglon pavilion side Yenjo tightened her grip on the black blade in her hand. She listened to the loud, powerful, shouts around her and looked at the red-haired man across from her, whose gaze was intensely focused. For a moment, she felt a sense of disorientation. This scene seemed to transport her back many years, to those various martial arts. Halls filled with sweat and cheers. The center of the lumberyard fell into absolute silence. The wind stopped. The breaths of the more than 300 people around seemed to vanish. The entire world was left with just two opposing figures. The red-haired man with the rusted greatsword. The girl in a flowing skirt holding the slender black blade. The members of the war god hall were not tense at all, instead, they all wore excited expressions as if they were watching a show. The boss is getting serious. How long has it been since we’ve seen the boss this focused? That girl is in trouble. Hard to say, I bet Miss Honey wins. I’m her fan. They unabashedly placed their bets loudly, as if this were not a duel that would determine the outcome of the guild war, but rather a casual sparring match. The girls from Ting Lan Pavilion had their hearts in their throats. Each of them gripped their weapons tightly, not daring to breathe. Yen moved. His actions were not fast. He simply took the rusted greatsword down from his shoulder, gripping it with both hands, the sword tip angled toward the ground. A very simple, straightforward starting stance. But it was this. Movement that suddenly changed his entire aura. The madness and unruliness vanished without a trace. In its place was a sense of weighty, mountain-like steadiness and pressure. Yen Jio also adjusted her stance. The black blade in her. Hand was held horizontally in front of her. Her body sank slightly, knees bending, his movements were light, like a falling feather, stirring not a whisper of wind. Time, at that moment, stretched infinitely. One second. Two seconds. Ten. Seconds. Neither of them moved, simply gazing at each other, searching for that fleeting flaw. It was Yen who first broke the silence. He grinned. In the next instant, the ground beneath him suddenly exploded. His entire being transformed. Into a red afterimage, lunging straight at Yen Jiu. The rusted greatsword, lacking any flashy moves, simply rose from below, creating a howling sound that tore through the air, slashing diagonally towards Yanzhou’s body. Fast. Both. Power and speed far exceeded that of an ordinary person. Yanzhou’s body reacted faster than his consciousness. Instead of retreating, he advanced, stepping forward with his left foot. His body twisted at an incredible angle. The black. Knife in his hand did not attempt to block the overwhelming sword edge. The blade tilted slightly, like a drifting leaf, gliding along the broad spine of the greatsword. Ding. A sound so faint and crisp. Yanzhou used the force of the upward strike to spin his body, the black knife sliding down the sword’s spine, aiming directly at Yan’s hands gripping the sword. For the first time, surprise appeared on Yan’s face. He had never anticipated that the opponent would resolve it in such a manner. This was no longer a combat technique from a game. This was pure, honed martial arts. He flipped his wrist forcing the greatsword to change its move from an upward slash to a horizontal sweep. The violent gust. of wind forced yin jio to abandon his pursuit and retreat quickly the first round of confrontation ended in an instant like a rabbit springing and a hawk swooping the two once again created distance between them interesting yen said shaking his somewhat numb wrist excitement growing on his face your skills are like those of a practiced fighter little sister yin jio did not respond he simply readied his stance again every muscle in his body entering a state of utmost focus the opponent’s power and speed were far beyond his own A direct confrontation would mean certain death. The only chance lay in technique. Come again! Yen shouted, charging forward once more. This time, his assault became even more ferocious. The great sword in his hand transformed into an impenetrable storm of steel. Cha, slash, sweep, stab. Each movement was simple and direct, yet contained terrifying power capable of splitting mountains and shattering stones. The ground of the lumberyard was plowed into deep furrows by the sword’s wind. Wood chips and dust flew everywhere. Yen Jiu was like a small boat in a raging storm. Dressed in a flowing skirt, he twisted and turned. Amidst the sword light. His figure was so fast it was almost indistinguishable. Each dodge was perilously close. Each block was executed with the black knife at the most ingenious angle, dissipating the irresistible force. Clang! Clang! Clang! The dense sound of metal clashing melded into one. The girls from Ting Lan Pavilion were already stunned. Their minds were blank. A reaper dancing on the tip of a blade. The laughter from the war god hall had long ceased. Everyone. Held their breath, staring intently at the two figures entangled in combat. They knew better than anyone how heavy their boss’s sword was. Yet this mage in a skirt was actually exchanging blows with their boss. No, it wasn’t even. An exchange. She was being suppressed the entire time. But she would not fall. No matter how violent Yan’s attacks were, she always managed to find a glimmer of hope in dire straits in the most unfathomable ways. Bang. Yanjio was. Pushed back a step by the sword’s wind, barely stabilizing his form. His stamina was rapidly depleting. Meanwhile, Yen on the opposite side seemed tireless, his fighting spirit rising higher and higher. It’s over. Yen seized the moment. Of Yen Jo’s stiffness. He leaped high, gripping the greatsword with both hands, twisting his body in mid-air. He came down like a battleaxe carrying the force of thunder, striking down. This was his strongest blow. There was no way. To evade. This sword locked Yen Jo’s every escape route. The massive shadow of the sword loomed over Yenjo’s petite frame. The shadow of death loomed large just when everyone thought that the figure in the gauzy skirt was about to be. Split in two, Yenjo made a move that left everyone bewildered. He did not retreat. He didn’t even attempt to block. He stepped forward, directly into the path of the descending giant sword, taking a step into the core of the attack. That absolute realm of death. Seeking death? No. He found it. In that frenzied sword momentum, he found the only point. a fleeting moment where the force and momentum had yet to reach their peak where the old force had exhausted and the new force had not yet been born his body in a seemingly bizarre posture pressed against the howling sword edge squeezing into yan’s inner circle the black knife in his hand did not swing the hilt struck first crashing hard into yan’s chest point inch force cough yen was suspended in mid-air the breath in his chest interrupted that gathered power was instantly disrupted the great sword in his hand lost control grazing yen joe’s shoulder and heavily cleaving into the ground behind him. Boom. The entire lumberyard trembled. As the smoke and dust settled, Yen knelt on the ground, supporting himself with the great sword. Meanwhile, the slender black knife was quietly pressed against his throat. The outcome was clear. The arena fell silent. A thunderous cheer erupted from the Ting Lan Pavilion camp. The girls were so excited they cried and laughed, embracing each other, releasing their ecstasy that soared from hell to heaven. Yen lifted his head, grinning and rubbing his chest. He looked at Yen Jio, who was so close, with no trace of defeat on his face, but rather a sense of exhilarating relief. I lost. He grinned and burst into laughter. I lost convincingly, I’ve never understood this point striking thing, but today I finally met an expert. Yen Jio sheathed the black knife back into its scabbard. Yen stood up, casually shouldering the rusted grate. Sword. Alright, brothers. He waved to the more than a hundred members of his guild. We lost. Retreat. His tone was as relaxed as if he were saying, work’s done, let’s go eat. The members of the War God Hall showed no signs of. Dissatisfaction or frustration. Instead, they erupted into even more enthusiastic cheers than before. That was exhilarating. Let’s go home and watch the replay. In the next moment. Player War God Hallion has exited the match player. War God Halliaphone has exited the match player War God Haltibai has exited the match A series of system prompts cascaded down like a waterfall. 107 members of the War God Hall simultaneously pressed the surrender. Button. Their figures transformed into specks of white light, vanishing cleanly from the spot. The massive word victory appeared above the heads of the Ting Lan Pavilion crowd for the second time. This time, it was a true victory. A victory over the second guild in the entire server, one worthy of being recorded in history. We won. We defeated the War God Hall. The thunderous screams finally broke free from everyone’s throats. Xingqing was the first to rush forward, giving Yenjio a bear hug. The girls swarmed in, surrounding Yenjio and Layers. Mingyao stood at the edge of the crowd, unmoving. She looked at the figure in the center, surrounded, and then glanced. At the red-haired man across who also hadn’t left. Apple boss. What was that move you just did? So cool. Yeah, yeah. It was just like in a martial arts movie. Honey apple lord. I wanna have your babies. Yenjio felt a bit dizzy. From the noise. He looked at the excited faces around him, feeling the waves of soreness in his body. The battle ended, and as the todwell relaxed, fatigue surged in like a tide. He had won. but he knew very well how lucky that victory was. It was not a duel at all. It was a dance between an ant and an elephant.He relied solely on martial arts skills that far exceeded the understanding of this world, finding a gap to survive the moment the elephant lifted its foot. Yet, Yen Jio felt a special sensation, this victory, achieved under someone else’s oppression, was even sweeter. Yen overlooked one thing, and even Yen Jio unconsciously forgot about it. Or rather, Yen Jio subconsciously did not want to think about it. With his attributes, boosted by his talents, equipment, and hidden class passive skills, Yan’s strength reached an astonishing 417 points and his agility was also 325 points. This was a terrifying stat for a paladin class at the current level. In Yan’s view, the opponent was one of the three absolute powers and their attacks were primarily melee, so their attributes should not be too different. Because no one would believe it. The legendary three absolute powers, the harbingers of countless bloody storms, the veil of death. His strength and agility were only 19 points each. If Yanzhou’s attributes were the same as his, no. Even if Yanzhou’s strength or agility, whichever one, could reach 50 points, Yen would have no chance of winning that duel. He would be completely crushed. The cheers around him continued. Those adulations and praises crashed against him like waves. Yet, Yanzhou was still savoring that. Long lost sense of crisis. The guild battle has ended. Teleporting away from the scene, the cold system notification sounded. The surrounding scene began to twist and shatter. After two consecutive victories he had automatically advanced, no need for a third match. This time, Yanzhou had learned his lesson, the moment he teleported out he used astral walk to leave the square. The girls’ chattering voices gradually faded away. As the teleportation’s white light dissipated, Yanzhou’s figure appeared in the resurrection square of Maple Leaf City. The surrounding clamor nearly drowned him. Tinglan Pavilion won. They really defeated the War God Hall. My god, I just watched the live stream, that. Honey Apple is simply inhuman. What was that last move? It directly interrupted Yan’s attack. Is this the power of the three absolute powers? It’s terrifying. Screens and discussions surged like waves, one after another. He did not linger for a moment and activated Astral Walk. His figure instantly vanished from the spot, leaving behind a trail of brilliant stardust. When he reappeared, he was already on another street in the city. His arrival drew another round of gasps, photos, and cheers from the surrounding players, encircling Yanjio, who moved slowly within the circle. Yanjio sighed. Choosing to hide his ID back then was indeed one of the best decisions he had ever made in his life. He planned. To return to the manor first and change out of this cumbersome veil. Maple Leaf City was now several times more bustling than before, with players coming and going everywhere, it was hard to find a quiet place. Just as he stepped out. Of the interface, a figure hurriedly blocked his path. Honey Apple, big shot. The newcomer was clad in fine chainmail, with a guild emblem of a coiled golden dragon on his chest. A member of the Dragon Rising Guild. Yenjo stopped. In his tracks. The player saw Yen Jio halt and a hint of shyness colored his face, making his speech quicken. Big shot, I am lunting Woosher from the Dragon Rising guild. The matter our guild promised you has made some progress. Yen. Jio raised an eyebrow. That item about teleporting to other main cities. Woosher hurriedly explained. We found relevant quest clues before and now we have advanced to the final step. We need to hunt a void beast. As long as we. Kill it, we can obtain the item to open the teleportation portal. He paused here, his expression becoming somewhat troubled. However, that beast is a bronze level boss. And it has a skill that is extremely slippery. Once its health. Drops below 50%, it will immediately teleport away, and the quest will fail. Yen Jio listened quietly. Hoesher continued, that void beast has a health pool of 8000 points. The most troublesome part is that this. Task has system restrictions. Firestone’s face showed a bitter expression. Once the number of players entering the task area exceeds 10, the system will prompt, the void beast senses danger and has left early. This means that 4. This task, we are limited to a maximum of 10 people. Our guild organized the 7 highest damage dealers plus 1 main tank and 2 healers. All of us combined can only deal about 3000 damage at most in an instant. There’s no way we can take it down before it reaches half health. We tried 3 times, and all failed. So, we came to ask for your help. As long as you can make a move, with your damage, you can definitely take it down before. It escapes. After Firestone finished speaking, he looked at Yanjou anxiously, fearing he would refuse. However, Yanjio happened to have nothing to do. Moreover, he indeed needed that teleportation item. He nodded. Sure. Firestones. Anxiety was instantly replaced by overwhelming joy. Great. Boss. We’ll organize the team and wait for you at the teleportation array in the east of the city. Yanjio responded and watched Firestone run off excitedly before heading towards the east of the city himself. Just right, he could stretch his muscles. The teleportation array in the east of the city was far busier than other areas. Every time the light shone, it signified the arrival or departure of a batch of players. When Yen Jio appeared at the agreed location, it immediately caused a small stir. Nine people were waiting there. Their equipment stood out in the crowd. The bronze glow intertwined with the heavy black iron, each piece, polished meticulously, radiating a faint energy fluctuation. Leading them was the earlier mentioned Dragon Rising, Firestone. Upon seeing Yen Jio, he immediately approached with an uncontrollable excitement on his face. Boss, you’re here. The eight people behind him all turned to look. Various emotions intertwined on their faces, curiosity, scrutiny, but more than anything, a near-reverent awe. Is this the honey apple boss? Even better looking than in the forum. Photos. A female priest whispered. Of course. This is the real deal. Alive. A nearby berserker lowered his voice but couldn’t hide the excitement in his tone. Just then, a figure like a ghost silently circled to Yanjo’s side. It was. A rogue, ID dragon rising black step. He used the system’s built-in photo function at the fastest speed of his life, quickly snapping a picture of Yanzhou’s back. Screenshot successful after doing all this, a satisfied blush appeared. On his face, Yanzhou naturally noticed his little action but chose to ignore it. Boss, everyone is here, we’re setting off now. Firestone respectfully gestured for him to lead the way. The group of ten passed through the crowd, heading towards the city outskirts. Along the way, a few members of the Dragon Rising guild could no longer contain their excitement and open their mouths. Apple boss, I watched that guild battle yesterday at least 10 times. The rogue. Who took the photo leaned in, his face full of admiration. You single -handedly wiped out that team from blood red carnage, it was so clean and neat. A shield warrior holding a giant shield said in a deep voice. Those scum from blood. Red dusk deserved to be killed like that, the more the better. Where did you get that silver weapon in your hand? If it’s inconvenient to say, that’s fine. I haven’t seen silver equipment in the current dungeon, it must be from a hidden quest, right? Various compliments and inquiries surged from all directions. Yen Jio just walked quietly. Soon, the group arrived at an area called Purple Dream Valley. At the entrance of the valley, an NPC dressed in a scholars. Robin wearing monocles was anxiously pacing back and forth that he saw Hoesher in the others and immediately walked over briskly, impatience written all over his face. Why did it take you so long to arrive? I barely have a few bottles. Of the face spice left to attract the void beasts. If you fail a few more times, you’ll have to figure it out on your own. The NPC’s tone was very harsh and the members of the Longting guild looked somewhat embarrassed. Just as Huo Shur was about to explain, the NPC’s gaze passed over them and landed on Yanjio at the back. The NPC froze for a moment. He adjusted his monocle and scrutinized Yanjio closely. The impatience and arrogance suddenly receded. Significantly. You, are you from the Star Origin Council? This question left Huo Shur, who was preparing to apologize, momentarily stunned. Star Origin Council? What is that? Yenjiyo looked at the NPC, feeling a flicker of interest. He nodded. Upon receiving a positive response, the NPC’s attitude underwent a complete transformation. He straightened his robe, and his previously anxious expression turned solemn and proud. He slightly bowed to Yenjiyo. Salutations, compatriot of the Star Origin Council. I am a junior scholar of the Star Origin Council, Al, the star painter. Yenjiyo nodded in return, responding simply. My profession is Starwalker. I just joined not long ago. Starwalker. Scholar. AL’s emotions visibly heightened. To measure the starry river with your steps, to foresee the future with your wisdom. This is an incredibly great profession, tasked with the mission of mending the world’s fractures. You will gradually. Understand that every step you take will bring new vitality to this broken world. This speech left the nine members of the Longting Guild in a fog. They exchanged glances, seeing confusion reflected in each other’s expressions. What is the Star Origin Council? What are world fractures? It sounds like something out of an epic movie. Yen Jiu was not concerned with these grand narratives. He only cared about his own matters. Can the portal be repaired? Scholar Al. Immediately replied. Of course. Esteemed Walker. As long as I obtain the spatial crystal from that void beast, I can activate this coordinate immediately and break the void node. The members of the Longtang guild finally reacted. From their shock, Huashir was the first to seize on a term in the conversation. Wait, Lord Al. Are you saying, to break the void node? Isn’t that a bit different from the task we received earlier? Didn’t the task mention a portal? Upon hearing this, Scholar Owl turned to look at him. A sly smile, reminiscent of a fox, suddenly appeared on his scholarly face. Yes. It is indeed a portal. I never said where it leads to. Whosher’s mind went blank in an instant. The other eight members of the Longting Guild stood frozen in place. They had exerted tremendous effort, mobilizing countless resources and manpower. In the end, they had been scammed by an NPC. Scholar Owl’s words felt like a Bucket of ice water poured over the heads of the nine members of the Longting Guild. The expression on Hoesher’s face froze. He opened his mouth but couldn’t utter a single word. The eight companions behind him wore expressions that were. Nothing short of spectacular. Shock, confusion, and then disbelief. They had painstakingly mobilized the guild’s top resources and connections, staying up several nights. And the result was just to help an NPC complete his own research. Project? And that so-called portal wasn’t even what they wanted? Ow. Lord. Hoosher’s voice was dry, tinged with a hint of final struggle. What do you mean by that? Al adjusted his monocle, the lens reflecting the strange light of the purple dream valley. He looked at Hoosher as if he were a child still struggling to figure out what 1 plus 1 equals. The literal meaning. I need to open this void node and collect some data. And you all need to complete the task. To receive your rewards. We each get what we need, it’s fair. But, but, the thief called Ghost Shadow couldn’t help but speak up. The task clearly states it’s a teleportation portal. It’s an item that can take us to other main. Cities. Al snorted dismissively. Foolish. Cross -city teleportation portals can be learned directly by mages above level 20. Instead of wailing here, you should focus on leveling up. One of the mages couldn’t help but say, but. I asked the mage trainer, and there’s no teleportation spell. Al curled his lip in disdain. The highest level mage you can access, that so-called trainer, is only level 17. He hasn’t even finished reading a complete magic. Pattern Analysis. Al’s tone was filled with the contempt of a highly educated person for the illiterate. Do you expect him to give you a task to open a teleportation portal? Is he even worthy? This series of questions left the nine. Members of the Dragon Rising Guild utterly speechless. Their faces flushed red and then pale. Shame, anger, and a sense of being toyed with churned in their chests. They had been completely deceived by an NPC from start to finish. If this got out, the Dragon Rising Guild would lose all face. Firestone clenched and then relaxed his fists. He wanted to explode, to point at this NPC’s nose and curse him out. But he didn’t dare. Not just because the other was a key NPC. For the task. More so because that girl in the gauzy dress was still standing beside them. Throughout it all, Yanjio had remained silent. He just listened quietly. He looked at the NPC named Al and then at the nine Dragon Rising players, whose faces resembled a color palette. He felt no turmoil inside. Being deceived by an NPC wasn’t unusual, was it? He was more concerned about another matter. This void node. Yanjio spoke up, his voice not loud, but it instantly made. The atmosphere in the room tense. Where can it take us once opened? Scholar Al immediately turned to face Yanjio. The disdain on his face towards the dragon rising members vanished in an instant, replaced by a collegial enthusiasm. Esteemed traveler. Behind the void node lies an unstable subspace. It connects to many fragments of worlds, and each time it opens, the landing point is unpredictable. It could be an uncharted wasteland or the ruins of a lost, ancient city. Al grew more excited as he spoke. Of course, there’s a greater chance that you will be teleported to the lair of a high-level monster. Isn’t that the thrill of exploration? The nine members of the Dragon Rising guild broke out in cold sweat. Random teleportation? And possibly landing right in front of a high-level monster? This was no teleportation portal, it was essentially a one-way ticket to hell. Firestone’s expression had turned extremely grim. He looked at Yanjio, his lips moving as he tried to persuade this big shot to abandon this ridiculous task. But Yanjio nodded. Alright, let’s begin. those three simple words directly pronounced the end of the dragon rising guild’s last hope firestone the dragon rising members what more could they say this big shots thought process was indeed different from that of a normal person scholar owl displayed a satisfied expression as expected of a star walker now please follow me he turned and walked towards a narrow crack deep in the valley the nine members of the dragon rising guild followed behind like defeated roosters their heads hanging low they were now in a situation where they couldn’t back out They had already brought the person here, and the task was at its final step. Abandoning it now would not only waste all their previous efforts but also offend this killing god. They could only grit their teeth and finish the task first. The group sidled through the narrow stone crack that barely allowed one person to pass, the light dimmed instantly. A dam, faintly sulfurous scent filled the air. After walking for about several dozen meters, the path ahead opened up. It was a vast underground cavern. Countless stalactites, emitting a purple glow hung from the ceiling, illuminating the entire space in a dreamlike manner. In the very center of the cavern, a strange creature curled up, sleeping deeply. Its body resembled that of a cheetah, but it was completely hairless, covered with a dark purple shell that looked like crystal. Between the gaps in the shell, tiny starlights flowed, as if a small universe was imprisoned within it. Its breathing was steady, and with each rise and fall, the surrounding space produced visible ripples. void spirit beast bronze level boss race beast level lv 14 health 8000 slash 8000 attack 229 defense 205 skills bite tail whip void walk void arrow the moment they saw the boss the members of the dragon rising guild immediately put away their frustration and entered a combat state after all the mission had to continue main tank prepare husher lowered his voice and quickly laid out the tactics two healers keep an eye on the main tank self all damage dealers listen to my command wait until i stabilize the aggro before attacking Wait for my signal, we’ll first bring the boss’s health down to around 60, then let the big shot take action. After finishing his instructions, he cautiously looked at Yanjio. Big shot, what do you think? Yanjio assessed the. Sleeping void beast. 8000 health points. This meant that at the moment its health dropped to 4000, they needed to deal over 4000 damage. For the 9 members of the dragon rising guild, this was an almost. Impossible task. But for Yanjio, it only required 1 strike. Let me handle it. Yanjio spoke calmly. A few of them let out excited low growls, and the system cameras quickly turned on one by one. They had been waiting for Yenjo to say. This. Yenjo’s steps showed no sign of hesitation. He walked as if he were strolling in his own backyard, leisurely and composed. The flowing gauzy dress he wore traced a graceful arc under the purple glow. Standing beside him, scholar. Al adjusted his monocle. He looked at Yenjo’s back, then glanced at the nine members of Dragon Rising. A bunch of fools, he muttered softly. The void spirit beast was startled awake by the sound of footsteps. It suddenly opened its eyes, which were devoid of pupils, purely made of starlight. It saw the human in a dress approaching it. Hiss. A sharp hiss echoed through the cavern. In the next second, the void spirit beast’s body arched, its limbs tensed, transforming into a purple lightning bolt as it lunged at Yen Jiu. It opened its massive maw, sharp fangs glinting coldly in the glow. It’s over. Huishu’s heart sank to the bottom. At this distance and speed, the main tank wouldn’t have time to assist. He could already foresee the tragic scene of this top-tier player being one-shot by the boss. However, just as that enormous mouth was about to touch Yenjo, he moved. He didn’t even look at the beast lunging at him. He simply raised his right hand casually. He drew his sword. A black light flashed through the air so fast it was almost impossible to catch. Time seemed to freeze at that moment. The void spirit beast, mid-lunge, froze in place. In its starlet eyes, a new emotion called confusion appeared for the first time. Then, a bright red, enormous number slowly floated above its head. Minus 8910. In an instant, the void spirit beast’s health bar was emptied. It didn’t even have time. To let out a mournful cry. Its massive body transformed into countless purple light points in mid-air, quietly dissipating. Ding-da -ling-dang. A few pieces of equipment, along with a purple crystal shimmering with a strange light, fell to. The ground. The entire cave was plunged into a deathly silence. The nine members of the Dragon Rising guild were petrified in place. They held their poses as if taking a photo, mouths agape, their expressions frozen in excitement and shock. Although they had already seen Yen Jiu’s damage in the video, experiencing it firsthand was even more shocking. Yen Jiu ignored the nine living statues behind him. He bent down and picked up the loot from the ground, one by one, casually stowing them in his backpack. Then he picked up a dark purple stone. After doing all this, he turned around and looked at the scholar Al, do you have any other requests? None. None. He excitedly clapped his hands and quickly, walked up to Yen Jiu. respected traveler with this spatial crystal it is completely enough al carefully took the purple crystal from yenjo’s hand as if cradling a priceless treasure he admired it while letting out a satisfied exclamation then as if remembering something he turned to look at the nine members of the dragon rising guild who had yet to recover from their shock the excitement on his face instantly switched back to that familiar disdain of a highbrow intellectual towards the illiterate he casually pulled out a few thin books from his backpack and tossed them over as if they were trash here These things aren’t worth anything anyway, if you really want them, take them. Hoisher instinctively caught the flying items. He looked down. Skill book, town portal effect, chant a spell to open a portal, transporting you and your party members to any main city you have explored or randomly to a nearby town. Chanting. Time, 5 minutes, cooldown time, 6 hours. Learning requirements, level LV20, class, Majid was indeed a portal skill book. Moreover, it could specify cities and transport the entire party. Ecstasy instantly overwhelmed all thoughts. In Hoisher’s mind. The few mage players behind him also saw the attributes of the skill book, their breathing becoming heavy. With this, their dragon rising guild would possess unparalleled strategic mobility. However, this ecstasy lasted. Less than 3 seconds before Al’s next words completely extinguished it. Don’t get too excited. Al fiddled with the spatial crystal in his hand without looking up, his tone dismissive. This is just the most basic teleportation. Spell. When you encounter real spatial magic in the future, you’ll understand how rudimentary this thing is. Of course, with your intelligence, it’s highly likely you won’t get to that point. They seemed to understand a bit. In the eyes of these NPCs who held the core knowledge of the world, they, the so-called top players, and their proud guild were perhaps no different from ants on the roadside. Al no longer paid them any attention. He had completely immersed himself in his research, sitting down on the spot, taking out various strange tools from his backpack and began tinkering with the spatial crystal. He muttered to himself, perfect spatial structure, energy stability. I can try. to directly construct a one-way transition channel. In the Silent Cave, only his busy voice remained. Along with the nine elite members of the Dragon Rising Guild, who held the portal skill book but didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, and Yenjo, who had just pulled out a honey apple and was crunching into it. Crunch! The crisp sound in the Silent Cave was particularly jarring. Yenjo took a bite of the apple, juice bursting forth. The nine members of the Dragon Rising Guild behind him still maintained their rigid poses. Their minds were still replaying that black blade of light from earlier. Hwasher was the first to snap out of that out-of-body state.He glanced at the several skill books in his hand, then looked at the scholar NPC nearby who was completely immersed in his own world and finally cast a complicated gaze toward the figure in a flowing dress leisurely eating an apple. He had been deceived, but it also felt like he hadn’t been completely fooled. This town portal had a strategic value far greater than any task reward they had initially anticipated, yet the process was filled with a frustrating sense of being tricked. Brother Hwasher, we. The rogue phantom beside him moved his stiff neck, wanting to say something. Shut up. Huesher quietly stopped him. He organized his emotions and took a step. Toward Yen Jio. Big shot, thank you this time. His tone was incredibly sincere. Regardless of the process, the outcome was good. More importantly, they. Had witnessed the power of the three absolutes firsthand and had made a connection with this big shot. This deal was not a loss. Yen Jio responded with a. Hmm and took another bite of his apple. Just then, the scholar Al, who had been squatting on the ground fiddling with a purple crystal, suddenly stood. Up. The spatial crystal in his hand had changed its appearance. The originally radiant purple had turned deep and restrained, as if it contained a small. Piece of the true night sky condensed within. It’s done. Al let out a satisfied sigh, his face bearing the unique fervor of a creator. He ignored the. Dragon rising guild members beside him and walked straight to the open space in the center of the cave. Then, he made a move that left everyone breathless. He extended his right hand and gently swiped at the empty air in front of him. No sound. No light. The space, like a black canvas sliced by a sharp blade, silently split open. Behind the crack was not the cave’s rock wall but a chaotic distortion of bizarre colors. It was an indescribable sight, as if the chaos and disorder from the birth of the universe had been forcibly torn open to create a small observation window. The members of the Dragon Rising Guild collectively took a step back. The aura leaking from that crack made them feel as if their souls were trembling. It was a fear rooted in the instinct of life, a fear of the unknown and chaos. Esteemed traveler, our exploration can begin. Al turned back and made an inviting gesture toward Yenjo, his face, displaying a warmth only found among kindred spirits. Then, he was the first to step into the rift in space. His figure was instantly swallowed by the chaotic colors and disappeared. Yenjo casually tossed the remaining apple core into his backpack, without a hint of hesitation, and followed him in. The flowing dress vanished at the edge of the crack. The rift that tore through space did not close with their entry. It remained suspended in mid-air, like a scar. Leading to madness. Inside the cave, only the nine members of the Dragon Rising guild were left, staring at each other in confusion. Brother Huesher, this. The voice of the female priest trembled. Are we, going in? What the hell is this place? It feels like going in will mean death. The berserker rubbed his arms vigorously, trying to dispel the chill. Huesher’s face was a mix of shadows and light. Danger? Of. Course, it was dangerous. but opportunities often hide in the most perilous places a three absolutes had entered without hesitation what could possibly be inside he absolutely refused to give up we can’t all go in husher quickly made a decision the risk is too high main tank old ghost and shaoya you three come with me the four of us have a tank damage output and control our survival ability is the strongest the rest of you stay here to support If we don’t come out within half an hour, you’ll immediately return to the city and report everything that happened today to the president. Brother. Hoesher. The shield warrior, along with the rogue old ghost and ranger Xiaoya, who had been called out, all showed expressions of excitement and nervousness intertwined, none of them flinched. Go. With a. Wave of his hand, Hoesher encouraged the four to muster their courage and quickly dashed into the spatial rift. The sensation of passing through the rift was peculiar. There was no weightlessness, nor any. Dizziness. It felt as if they had passed through a warm curtain of water. In the next moment, the scene before them became clear. There was no sky, nor any ground. Up, down, left, right, in every direction. There was an expanse of boundless, profound darkness. In this darkness floated countless large and small holes emitting a faint glow. Inside those holes, light and shadow swirled, presenting various scenes. Some resembled burning nebulae, others looked like lush green forests, and some were distorted silhouettes of cities. They drifted like soap bubbles in slow motion, meandering through this void. The scholar owl floated at the center of this strange spectacle. A.L.’s face bore a clear expression of disappointment. Tis, it’s actually a spatial node. He frowned. This luck is really not great. Spatial. Node? Yengio asked. Al sighed and began to explain, his tone carrying a hint of patience as he educated his new colleague. Yes, traveler. This can be understood as a crossroads of the universe, but all. The signposts have been torn down. Every hole you see, we call a singularity, or more colloquially, a wormhole. Each wormhole leads to a completely random location. It could be an unknown world, or it could be a forgotten moment in time. It might even be the backyard of some powerful being having afternoon tea. Here, space and even time are chaotic. Just then, Washer and the other three passed through the rift and appeared in this space. They were equally stunned into silence by the sight before them. Al glanced at them and continued speaking to Yenjo. The most troublesome part is that spatial nodes have a fundamental rule. To maintain their stability, any wormhole can only endure a one -time crossing. In other words, once someone enters, that wormhole will immediately collapse and disappear. This means we cannot head to the same destination. The four of Hoisher happened to catch the last part of this statement. Their faces fell instantly. They had taken a huge risk to follow along, only to find out. They could only go their separate ways? How could they cling to the big shot then? Al seemed to have accepted this reality. He turned to Yenjo, his face regaining that solemn pride. It seems our brief journey together is about to end here. Esteemed traveler, though it is regrettable, this is also part of exploration. He slightly bowed to Yenjio. May the stars guide your path, star realm traveler. With that, Al turned and without hesitation plunged into the nearest wormhole, which emitted a greenish glow. His figure vanished in an instant. Yenjio did not look at Huishu and the others. He casually swept his gaze over the myriad possibilities suspended in this starry sky. Then, he chose the most ordinary-looking wormhole, which emitted a dim white light, and stepped inside. The sensation of passing through the light membrane was peculiar. There was no resistance, nor any discomfort. It felt as if he had walked into a warm body of water. In the next moment, the chaotic colors faded away and a brand new world unfolded before him. The first thing he did was to dispel the illusionary form he had been wearing. The flowing yet cumbersome gauzy skirt finally transformed into specks of stardust, dissipating into the air. Yenjiyo moved his shoulders feeling as if the entire world had become refreshing. He began to survey his surroundings. A heavy scent, mingled with rust and dried blood, aggressively occupied his sense of smell. The wind blew from afar, carrying a desolate and cold wilderness. Beneath his feet was a dark brown, cracked earth, as hard as stone not a. As far as the eye could see, there lay an endless desolate battlefield. Broken spears and battle axes were skewed into the earth, resembling a graveyard of steel. Shattered armor and shields were scattered about, silently narrating the brutality of what once was. Several battle flags, long eroded by time to the point of obscurity, leaned crookedly on the ground, their fabric turning to ash in the wind. The sky was an eternal leaden gray. Thick clouds hung low, as if they might collapse at any moment, burying this land completely. There was not a hint of life here. Only deathly silence. Yen Jio turned around. Behind him stood a bastion. It was not an ordinary castle. Rather, it was a massive city wall that spanned the heavens and the earth like a mountain range. The wall, built of black rock, towered into the clouds, its top unseen. The surface of the wall was covered in scratches of varying depths as if it had been clawed by countless monstrous beasts. It also appeared to have been battered by numerous siege weapons. On top of the wall, the outlines of countless flags could be faintly seen, standing still beneath the leaden sky like a frozen forest. Yen Jio walked toward the massive bastion. The closer he got, the more he felt the overwhelming sense of pressure. He reached the city gate. Two enormous doors, forged from some unknown metal, were tightly shut. The doors were adorned with intricate and grotesque reliefs, most of which had become blurred in the fires of war. Yanjio looked up. The wall was too high. Standing here, he felt like an ant. Beneath a giant’s foot. Is anyone there? He called out, trying his voice. The sound was immediately swallowed by the empty wind, stirring no echo. Yanjio abandoned the idea of entering through the main gate. He planned to walk around the wall. To see if there were other ways in. Or at least to figure out what this place really was. He began to move slowly along the massive base of the wall. The ground beneath his feet gradually revealed more bones. Some were human, while others belonged. To various bizarre, gigantic creatures. They were intertwined and piled together, forming a gruesome tableau. Just then, an extremely faint tremor emanated from deep within the earth beneath him. Yanjio stopped. He listened intently. The tremor was not an illusion. It persisted and quickly grew clearer and more intense. Thud. Thud. Thud. It was as if a gigantic heart was awakening beneath this ancient land, beginning to beat heavily and powerfully. The ground started to shake. The broken weapon stuck in the soil emitted a strained buzzing sound. Yenjiyo raised his head and looked toward another direction extending from the castle. There, a horizon was still the leaden sky meeting the dark brown earth. But soon, a black line appeared at the junction of sky and land. That line rapidly thickened and widened. It was not a line. It was a wave. A wave of black, composed of countless running, twisted figures. They surged from the edge of the horizon, moving with astonishing speed. As the distance closed, Yanjio finally saw what those things looked like. They varied in form, yet all exuded an aura of chaos and evil. Some were humanoid, their bodies seemingly forcefully stitched together, limbs of uneven lengths, dragging a scorpion-like bony tail behind them. Others resembled hunting dogs, their bodies covered in black scales, green saliva dripping from their mouths. And some were simply a writhing mass, covered in eyeballs and tentacles, rolling across the ground as they advanced. The sounds of shrieks and roars mixed together, forming a cacophony that could drive an ordinary person to madness. This black wave had a clear target. It was the massive bastion behind him. As he. Watched the monstrous army sweeping toward him, Yanjou’s face bore no extra expression. He simply watched calmly. He recognized these things. Or rather, he was very familiar with them.It’s an old rival. The demons. The wave of demons arrives in. An instant. That torrent composed of twisted flesh and pure malice, carrying a shriek powerful enough to tear the earth apart, rushes toward the silent barrier. They trample over the bones of their kind, emitting deafening roars that completely. Awaken this desolate battlefield. Yanzhou stands between the wave and the barrier, like a forgotten pebble. As the distance closes, he can even see the twisted features of the demons at the forefront, contorted by extreme madness. Rows of pale. Blue data clearly appear before his eyes. Low-level demons without intelligence race, demon level, 16 health, 5800 attack, 200 defense, 170 all the monsters are exactly the same level as him now. This doesn’t feel right. Yanzhou scratched. His head. This place is filled with oddities. However, he had no intention of delving deeper. He would just fight. In this place, there are no members of the Dragon Rising guild, no other players. He no longer needs to disguise himself as that. Honey apple, in a skirt. Nor does he need to hide and control his damage. A completely different aura began to rise from within Yanjio. He raised his hand. The magical energy in the air began to gather at an insane speed toward his palm. Spell surge falling stars a massive energy, too great to describe, began to converge around him. The leaden grey sky was torn open. Brilliant stars flowed within, as if unchanged since time immemorial. Then, they began to fall. Two seconds of chanting time was but a blink for the charging demon army. The demon horde was already within reach. The foremost scorpion-tailed demon leaped high, its sharp claws aimed at Yanjou’s head. It had already caught the scent of life emanating. From Yanjou, drool dripping from its mouth onto the cracked earth, making a hissing sound of corrosion. The next moment. Destruction descended. Countless condensed starlights, like swords of divine punishment, accurately and densely struck into. The demon formation. There was no violent explosion. Only pure light. After the brilliance, a series of bright red numbers, like crimson rain, densely floated up from above that area. Minus 5186. Minus 3632, double moon. Minus 5186. Minus 3632, double moon. The once crowded black wave, stretching to the horizon, was forcibly gouged out, leaving a huge, fan-shaped blank area that appeared abruptly. Thousands of demons, in that instant, evaporated into the most basic particles before they could even let out a wail. The entire battlefield fell into a momentary silence. Only the whimpering of the wind and the distant roars of demons remained. At that moment. Woo! A long and desolate horn sounded from the top of the mountain-like barrier, piercing through the clouds and resonating across the entire wasteland. A warrior clad in heavy black armor appeared at the battlements. He had come to sound the alarm against the enemy, but he saw below the wall. That shocking blank area. He also saw the solitary figure standing in front of that blank space. The warrior’s action of blowing the horn. Froze. He opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to shout something. The remaining demons felt no fear. The instant annihilation of their. Companions only stirred their deeper brutality. Roar. They roared, bypassing that area of death, flanking Yanjio from both sides. Yanjio. Didn’t even glance at the black armored warrior on the wall. He simply calmly raised his hand again. No longer with the double boost of. Spell surge. But still deadly. Falling Stars Another wave of starlight fell from the gap in the sky. Minus 2,593. Minus 1816, double moon. Another. Fan-shaped area of demons turned to nothingness, the black tide was once again cut down by a large chunk. Yen Jiu’s expression remained unchanged. Not even pausing. He raised his hand for the third time. Falling Stars The third starry light descended. The overwhelming demon army. Became sparse at this moment. Only a few dozen remained, having survived by sheer luck due to their scattered positions. They stood therein. Confusion, seemingly unable to comprehend why their companions ahead had vanished. On the city wall, the black armored warrior appeared frozen. The horn in his hand silently slipped away, falling onto the hard city bricks with a crisp clang. Yet he remained oblivious. Yen Jio did. Not cast any more spells. There was no need to deal with these few stragglers. His figure vanished from the spot. Wind step in the next. Second, he appeared behind a scorpion-tailed demon. He drew his blade. The black blade flashed by. The demon’s body was neatly split in half. Yenjo’s steps did not falter. His figure transformed into an elusive black shadow among the remaining demons. Each time the blade glimmered. A demon fell. Clean. Swift. Not a single unnecessary movement. After a dozen seconds, the last hound-shaped demon was beheaded in one stroke. The vast battlefield fell completely silent. Only Yenjo remained, standing in the center of countless scattered spoils of war. The heavy creak broke the silence. The mountain-like barrier, that metal giant door which had been closed for who knows how many years, was slowly opening inward. Yanjio stood still, watching the widening gap. The gap grew larger, light seeping through from within. It was not the glow of magic, but the warm yet flickering light of torches. Countless warriors clad in heavy black armor surged out from behind the door. Their movements were uniform, not a single unnecessary sound was made, quickly forming a stern square formation in front of the city gate. The cold iron armor, the silent ranks, and the aura of those who had survived countless battles made this army appear as if it were part of the city wall itself. A particularly burly warrior stepped out from the ranks. His armor was distinctly different from the others, heavier, with a lion’s emblem carved on the shoulder plates. Most striking was the weathered face revealed when he removed his helmet, along with a mark on his forehead radiating a gentle holy light. The mark was not blinding, but it exuded a calming power. He walked straight up to Yen. Gio and stopped. He scrutinized this stranger who had single-handedly annihilated a demon vanguard in an instant. His expression was serious, but devoid of hostility, only a lingering shock and deep solemnity remained. I am the commander of this fortress, Grand Knight Aglarama. He performed a standard knightly salute to Yenjo. Mysterious strong one, on behalf of all the paladins of the Eternal Knight Bastion, I thank you for your bravery. His words, muffled by the helmet, were filled with strength. These scum will soon return, and next time it will be on a larger scale. This place is not safe, please come inside the city to discuss. Aglarama. This name was like a key, instantly. Unlocking a door deep within Yen Jiu’s memory. He remembered. In Maple Leaf City, when he exposed the succubus’s conspiracy, Rainer had mentioned. His name at the city gate. Heroic spirit. That was a title for the deceased. But the Aglarama before him, with the gentle yet powerful holy. Mark on his forehead, exuded a life force as steady as a mountain. He was very much alive. A phrase from scholar Al flashed through Yen. Joe’s mind, this space, even time, is chaotic. It was highly likely that he had been transported to the past. To the era when Grand Knight. Aglarama was still alive. What’s wrong, friend? Aglarama asked when Yenjio remained silent for too long. Your complexion doesn’t look good. Was the battle just now too exhausting? No. Yenjio came back to his senses. He looked at Aggramar and asked a question that left all the Black Armored Warriors present feeling perplexed. What year is it now? Aggramar was taken aback. The holy light mark on his forehead. Seemed to flicker slightly due to its master’s astonishment. The warriors behind him also stirred slightly. This question was too strange. A. Powerful being who could joke and laugh amidst the demon tide wouldn’t know what year it was? But Aggramar still answered. He showed no signs. Of indifference, his tone remained solemn. It is the third millennium after the holy fall, which we call the year of embers. Year of. Embers 203. The year of embers. Yen Jio nodded. A name that fit the atmosphere of this world well. He then thought of a more important. Question. It seemed he had never cared about what the real time in the game was. He was used to fighting monsters, leveling up, and. Completing quests. He had never paid attention to the history and chronology of this world. He instinctively wanted to open his friend list to. See if he could contact Ming Yao and the others. However, the next second, a line of cold system prompts appeared right before his eyes. You are in a special space-time, and the communication function has been temporarily disabled. As expected. Completely cut off. Friend? Agramar’s voice rang out again, tinged with concern. Are you alright? Yen Jio looked up at the legendary Grand Knight. He also glanced at the silent yet resolute warriors behind him. Each of their faces was etched with exhaustion and a near numb determination. Years of fighting against demons had long since forged them into Cold War machines. Yet just now, when Agramar was speaking to him, Yen Jio still caught a hint of an emotional fluctuation called hope from the ranks of those warriors. He had single-handedly cleared a wave of demon siege vanguards. Perhaps it was the first time they had seen such a thing in their long vigil. I’m fine. Yen Jio spoke. He took a step forward, heading towards the massive open city gate. Agramar stepped aside to clear the way for him. All the black armored warriors also parted to the sides, creating a path leading into the city. Yen Jio walked among them. He could feel countless mixed gazes of awe, curiosity, and scrutiny resting upon him. He ignored them. He simply walked through the heavy gate that felt as solid as a cliff. A brand new yet equally oppressive. scene unfolded before him. The world inside the city gate was not as prosperous as he had imagined, it didn’t even qualify as a town. It’s resembled a vast military fortress instead. The wide main road was paved with black stone slabs flanked by tall and simple stone buildings, devoid of any unnecessary decorations. The only adornments were the massive beast skulls hanging on the walls and under the eaves. They were grotesque in shape and varied in kind. Some skulls still bore remnants of dried blood and flesh, their hollow eye sockets silently gazing at the leaden gray sky. Others showed signs of being charred by holy light. There were no residences, no shops, and not a hint of smoke or warmth. As far as the eye could see, there were only rows of uniform black tents and wide roads paved with massive stones, wide enough for giant beasts to run. The air was thick with a strange mixture of rust, sweat, and a faint hint of holy light. Oppressive. Grim. This was the first impression the Evernight Bastion gave. Yenjio followed behind Aggramar, his footsteps echoing slightly on the hard stone slabs. He curiously surveyed his surroundings. They continued forward, passing through an open area used for training, where several enormous wooden stumps lay, hacked to pieces. A waft of food aroma drifted over Da It was a very strange scent, rich with the aroma of meat, mingled with an indescribable hint of something like charred wood. Yen Jo’s footsteps paused for a moment. Aglarama also stopped, turning slightly to nod, towards a nearby open area. There, several enormous iron cauldrons were set up. Beneath them, fierce flames blazed, and dark red, thick broth, bubbled within. Many soldiers, clad in the same armor as those outside the city, were lined up, receiving steaming bowls of food from a cook. They sat down on the ground, removed their helmets, revealing weary yet resolute faces, and began to gulp down the contents of their bowls. It was a black substance, unrecognizable in its original form. The warriors need to replenish a significant amount of energy, Aglarama stated calmly, presenting a fact. After we kill those demons, we will purify the deepest evil within them with holy light, and then, he, did not continue, but the implication was clear. They were consuming the blood and flesh of demons. Yen Jio nodded. Since they were here, they. Might as well deal with the trouble at hand. It didn’t matter if it was real or fake, as long as there was a fight, that was enough. Where. Is the demons lair? Yen Jio asked. His question caused the black armored soldiers around them to freeze in their movements. Even Aglarama. Paused, taken aback by the directness of his words. He turned to face Yen Jio. Hero, your courage is commendable. However, demons are. Endless. They come from the abyss pouring into this world through a demonic gate we cannot comprehend. All we can do is defend. We must hold them here before they destroy everything behind us. Each of Aglarama’s words carried a weight as if reality had worn down all their edges. Only by closing that demonic gate can we completely halt their advance. Yet, we do not know how to close it. We have tried every method. Holy light, arcane magic, even charging in with our flesh and blood. None of it worked. Each of Aglarama’s words bore the same heavy weight as if reality had worn down all their edges only by closing that demonic gate can we completely halt their advance yet we do not know how to close it as his words fell a more oppressive silence enveloped the surroundings the soldiers who had been swallowing the black chunks of meat slowed their movements they chewed as if they were gnawing on despair itself aglarama seemed to realize the atmosphere was too heavy he sighed as if about to share a long buried unrealistic joke of course there is not entirely no hope he paused The former Archbishop of the Holy Light Cathedral once communicated with the Holy Light at the cost of his life, leaving behind a prophecy. He said the key to closing the demonic gate lies within the gate itself. This statement did not stir any ripples among the surrounding soldiers. Instead, a few soldiers set down their bowls and put their helmets back on, obscuring their faces. A hint of bitterness appeared on Aglarama’s face. Our warriors have charged at that gate multiple times. Even the most powerful paladins and the bravest warriors. Once they entered, have vanished without a trace. Completely disappeared. Moreover, the demons near that gate are endless, we cannot. Linger there for long. Each charge must retreat before the power of holy light is exhausted. Otherwise, we will be forever assimilated by. The aura there. He looked at Yen Jio, as if stating an irrefutable conclusion. A conclusion built upon countless lives and failures. Yen Jio. Nodded. As long as there is a method, that’s good. The air seemed to freeze. Aglarama’s sturdy frame visibly stiffened for a moment.He. doubted whether he had heard wrong the black armored warriors around him all turned their heads in unison looking at this unfamiliar powerhouse even the large pots bubbling with meat soup seemed to quiet down what did you say a young warrior couldn’t help but stand up his armor bore many fresh scratches clearly a sign of having just endured a brutal battle he ripped off his helmet revealing a face flushed with anger as long as there’s a method he repeated yen joe’s words each syllable seeming to be squeezed out from between clenched teeth Do you know how many brothers that prophecy has killed? My captain, Thunderhand Barton, believed that damned prophecy and led the charge. Once he went in, not even a fragment of armor came back out. You outsider, what do you understand? The young warrior was agitated. Spitting as he spoke, Aggramar reached out and pressed down on the young warrior’s shoulder. Calm down, Luo. This friend just doesn’t understand the situation. Doesn’t understand? The warrior named Luo shook off Aggramar’s hand. He stared fiercely at Yenjo, like an enraged young lion i don’t care how strong he is what right does he have to speak of things we can’t even trade our lives for in such a flippant tone that door is a trap a bottomless pit that devours lives there is no key at all his roar echoed in the empty fortress filled with unwillingness with grief and anger and with a complete despair confirmed by countless failures yen jiou looked at him then he asked a question that nearly left luo breathless you failed why not let me try luo’s eyes widened instantly he opened his mouth but Couldn’t utter a single word. It wasn’t a matter of trying or not. It was a death sentence. Knowing full well that a cliff lay ahead, yet still. Jumping down with eyes closed. What kind of mind did this person have? Yen Jio ignored the petrified young warrior. He turned to Aggramar. Take me to see that door. His tone was calm, as if he were saying, let’s go for a walk. Aggramar fell silent. He looked at Yen Jio. This stranger had been shattering his perceptions since he appeared. Easily slaughtering the demon army. Completely ignorant of the common. sense of this world. Now, he was using an almost naive logic to say he wanted to challenge the despairing door, which had stood for thousands of years and devoured countless heroes. The paladins behind Agramar also stirred restlessly. Grand Knight Commander, we can’t take him. That’s suicide. We can’t let him go to his death for nothing. In these voices, there was no mockery, only a genuine plea. They had witnessed Yen Jiu’s power. A power capable of changing the tide of battle. A new hope they had never seen on this land of despair. They could. Not bare to watch this light extinguish in the darkest place. Luo finally snapped back to reality. The anger on his face had somehow faded. Replaced by a complex mix of absurdity and urgency. Hey. You, can’t you understand human words? I told you, it’s a dead end in there. Yen. Jio finally glanced at him again. Your path is a dead end. Doesn’t mean mine is too. This statement ignited everyone’s emotions completely. So arrogant. Who does he think he is? A god? no matter how strong he can’t possibly fight against the abyss itself the murmurs of the crowd grew noisy agramar raised his hand with just a simple gesture all sounds vanished in an instant the entire fortress returned to that iron-like discipline the authority of this grand knight commander was unquestionable agramar looked deeply at yenjio.he saw on the young man’s face no arrogance no hubris not even confidence only a pure calmness it was as if challenging the gate of demons was for Him, merely a matter of course, something that needed to be done. He recalled the ancient prophecy. He remembered the countless impacts. Of failure. He thought of the vibrant faces that had vanished behind the gate. Despair had long been etched into the cracks of every stone end. The eternal night bastion. But today, he saw a person, beneath the city walls, evaporating the waves of demons with an unfathomable power. Now, this person, with an equally unfathomable logic, was about to challenge what they deemed an absolute taboo. Perhaps, perhaps it was. precisely because he did not belong here did not bear the history and despair of this place that he might be able to carve out a brand new path a thought flickered in aglarama’s mind like a spark buried deep in the ashes quietly reigniting good aglarama spoke his voice hoarse yet remarkably clear i’ll take you the single word good from aglarama was like a boulder thrown into a boiling pot of oil instantly extinguishing all flames the entire fortress fell into a silence even more profound than before those black armored warriors who had just been filled with righteous indignation and fury, now stood frozen in place. They seemed to have been collectively petrified. Even their breathing had stilled. The young warrior named Luo saw the color drain from his face in an instant, leaving only pallor. Grand. Night commander. He stepped forward, seemingly wanting to say something more. Returned to formation. Aglarama did not turn around, nor did he raise his voice. Those two words, however, were like an invisible shackle, instantly locking Luo’s every movement. He opened his mouth, eh? Haha sound escaping his throat but he could no longer utter a complete word. A deeper despair seized him. It was not the despair faced. In front of demons, but the powerlessness of watching hope willingly walked towards destruction. The surrounding warriors slowly, stiffly, lowered their heads. The command had become an instinct etched into their bones. Even if this command, in their eyes, was akin to murder. Aglarama no longer looked at them. He turned to Yenjiyo. Follow me. I’ll take you to get ready first. Yenjiyo nodded and stepped forward. The two of them walked through the silent crowd, one in front of the other. Just as he took a step, a line of system prompts, visible only. To him, quietly appeared before his eyes. Ding! You have accepted the quest, ancient, destroyed the gate of demons, quest type, unique, quest. Reward, wormhole node asterisk one, wormhole node? Yenjo’s footsteps paused for a moment. Aglarama led him, not towards the tents, nor towards any. Building that looked like a command center. He guided Yenjo to a nondescript square fortress made entirely of black stones. There were no. windows here only a heavy door also forged from metal aglarama reached out and knocked five times on the cold door following a specific rhythm the sound of heavy mechanisms echoed from behind the door the great door slowly opened inward revealing a deep passage inside this is the armory of the bastion aglarama explained as he walked in it stores some special equipment the interior of the armory was more spacious than imagined yet equally empty some oddly shaped weapons hung on the walls most of them surrounded by a faint magical glow, but also riddled with cracks and gaps. Clearly, their former owners had endured fierce battles. Aglarama did not linger before these. Weapons. He walked straight to the deepest part of the armory. There, stood a solitary stone platform. On the platform lay a bracelet, quietly. Resting, the bracelet was entirely made of gold, with a simple and ancient design, lacking any carvings, just a smooth circular band. In. This world dominated by black and gray, its pure golden hue stood out starkly, almost unreal. Put it on. Aglarama picked up the bracelet. and handed it to yen joe it is made from the holy bones left behind by a paladin after his death mixed with the gold of dawn it will allow you to endure a little longer in that land eroded by abyssal energy yen joe took it the bracelet felt strangely warm in his hand not cold at all he didn’t ask further questions and directly slipped the bracelet onto his wrist it fit perfectly neither too big nor too small aglarama watched his actions and from his sturdy frame a barely perceptible sigh seemed to escape i know i can’t dissuade you His tone carried a hint of personal emotion for the first time. It was a complex mix of admiration, helplessness, and a touch of compassion. But I cannot sacrifice the lives of other soldiers for your decision. I won’t send anyone with you. They are the last line of defense for the Evernight Bastion, the final wall between the mortal world and the abyss. I cannot risk their lives to escort you. Aglarama’s words were calm yet cruel. It was as if he was stating a cold, irrefutable fact. He raised his hand and gently tapped the air in front of Yen Jiu. A translucent map made of holy light unfolded between them. The map marked the Evernight Bastion and the vast wasteland beyond it. At the farthest point on the map, a scarlet flickering dot stood out glaringly. Here is the location of the demon gate. Aglarama’s finger pointed. At the red dot. Along the way, you will encounter countless demon roaming troops, their numbers and strength no less than the wave you faced before at the city gates. He withdrew his hand and the map of light dissipated. However, the coordinates were already etched clearly. In Yen Jio’s mind. Just then, the golden bracelet on his wrist suddenly emitted a soft glow. Another line of system prompts appeared. Key. Of holy light, quest item, quality, legendary, damaged, effect, when equipped, it can slightly resist the erosion of high concentrations of. Abyssal breath. Description, it was once a symbol of hope, now merely a token leading to a land of despair. Aglarama was unaware of the. Changes happening before Yen Jio. He merely took one last look at the unfamiliar young man. This is all I can do for you. Warrior. After saying this, he turned away, no longer looking at Yen Jio, and strode towards the armory’s entrance. His back remained as upright as a mountain, yet it carried an indescribable heaviness. It was as if what he had sent off was not merely equipment, but the finality of a life. Yen Jio said nothing. He simply lowered his head and moved his wrist adorned with the golden bracelet. When Yen Jio stepped out of the armory, Aglarama had already vanished. At the entrance stood rows of silent black armored warriors. They did not obstruct him, nor did they speak. only watching him with an extremely complex gaze. That gaze was a mix of admiration, confusion, and an unmistakable sorrow, as if they were. Watching a hero about to step onto the guillotine. The young warrior Luo was among the crowd. His face was pale, his lips moved, but ultimately, no sound came out. Only the anger and unwillingness that once filled his eyes had now transformed into an overwhelming sorrow. Yen Jio. Paid no heed to this. He walked straight through the crowd towards the massive city gate. The heavy creaking sound echoed again as the gate. Opened a crack just for him. He stepped out. Boom. The massive metal door behind him closed with a sense of finality, completely isolating. The two worlds. Yen Jio stood on the desolate plain. The wind blew in from afar, carrying the scent of bones and dust. He recalled the map. In his mind, composed of holy light, identified the direction, and set off. His target was the crimson light point at the farthest end of. The map. After walking for a while, the ground trembled slightly again. On the horizon, another small wave of black was surging in another. Direction. It was still those distorted demons. Their numbers were much fewer than during the siege, probably only around a hundred, but. The chaotic and evil aura was no different. They spotted Yenjo, the only living being, and charged forward with a roar. Yenjo stopped. Falling stars above the sky, the eternal stars once again tore through the lead gray clouds. A brilliant beam of light precisely covered that. Small group of demons. There were no screams, no struggles. When the light faded, only a charred mark remained on the ground, along with the. Scattered blimmers of loot. These demons were still level 16. Still dazed, they only knew how to charge forward instinctively as cannon. Fodder. Yenjio placed the loot into his backpack, he was just a little short of leveling up. He then continued toward his predetermined direction. The dark brown cracked earth disappeared. In its place was an unimaginably vast abyss. It was as if a giant axe of creation had cleaved the entire world here. The edges of the crack were jagged black rocks, sharp as knives. Below the abyss was an unfathomable darkness, where even light would be swallowed. Only the wailing winds surged from the unfathomable depths, emitting a ghostly howl. The crimson light. Point on the map was at the very bottom of this massive crack. This was the location of the demon gate. Yen Jio approached the edge of the. Crack and looked down. He could see nothing but endless darkness. He did not hesitate. He found a protruding rock, stepped on it, and then. Jumped to another outcropping below. His body traced an arc in the air, landing steadily on the target. He began to climb down in this most. Primitive way. The rocks beneath his feet were not stable. Just as he steadied himself on one, it cracked under the wake with a snap. Crumbling and falling into the darkness quickly swallowed without a sound. Yenzhou’s body lost its support in the air. Wind step his figure. Forcibly surged forward a short distance in mid-air, his toes pushing against the vertical rock wall, using the force to leap toward another. Platform further away. Thus, he continuously searched for footholds on the rock walls of the abyss. Sometimes climbing, sometimes jumping. His movements were so light that he seemed less like a living being and more like a weightless feather. But the crack was simply too deep. Soon, he encountered a distance that could not be crossed by jumping. Below was a steep rock wall, smooth as a mirror, over a hundred meters. High. Yen Jio did not hesitate. He leaped from the stone platform he was on, plunging into the darkness below. After falling for several dozen meters, his figure vanished from the air without warning. In its place was a fleeting brilliance of stardust. Astral walked the next second. His figure appeared on a narrow ridge ten meters below. The entire process was silent. climbing, jumping, advancing, teleporting. He had pushed his displacement skills to the limit. Time flowed slowly in this monotonous and dangerous descent. Over an hour later, Yenjo finally landed on solid ground. Beneath his feet was a hard but uneven surface, littered with rubble and fragments of unknown creature’s bones. The surroundings were pitch black, only the golden bracelet on his wrist, named Key of Holy Light, emitted a faint and warm blow, barely illuminating a small area in front of him. The air was thick with a strong scent of sulfur, mixed with a nauseating stench of decay. Just then, a sound of stones rolling came from the darkness ahead. Yenjio’s movements froze instantly. He swiftly ducked behind a massive, jagged rock, suppressing all his presence. Soon, two flickering flames appeared in the darkness, slowly approaching. By the light of the flames, Yenjio could see the figures of the newcomers. They were two humanoid creatures, but their bodies resembled nightmarish constructs haphazardly, stitched together, with an extremely unbalanced proportion of torso to limbs. Their faces lacked features, only a massive mouth split to the roots of their ears, filled with sharp fangs. Each held a crude torch, walking and conversing in an extremely strange tone, like someone. Choking, mumbling incomprehensibly. It was a language Yanjou could not understand at all. But it was clear they possessed intelligence. A line of data appeared before Yanjou’s eyes. Demon guard, elite, race, demon level, 16 health, 9000 attack, 273 defense, 208 skills. Entangle, twist, charge dot. Elite monster. Yanjio drew the long knife from his waist. He chose not to use magic. Here, any significant energy. Fluctuation could attract unnecessary trouble. He waited. Waiting for the two demon guards to approach the rock where he was hiding. Now. Windstep Yanjio’s figure transformed into a shadow close to the ground, instantly appearing behind the left demon guard. The black blade. Flashed by. Minus 8900. A huge red number floated above the demon guard’s head. Its health bar of 9000 instantly hit zero. The other demon. Guard reacted. It suddenly turned around, opened its terrifying mouth, letting out a piercing roar, raising the torch in its hand to smash. Down on Yen Jio. However, Yen Jio’s movements were faster. At the moment the first strike fell, he had already used the momentum to turn, his. Long knife carving a perfect arc, slashing towards the first demon guard’s neck. The second strike. The elite monster’s health was completely. Depleted. Its massive body crashed to the ground. Yen Jio’s steps did not pause at all. He faced the roar of the second demon guard, his. Figured disappearing once more. The next second, he appeared at the sight of that demon guard. Another clean two strikes. Minus 8730. Minus 8936 the. Last demon guard’s roar abruptly stopped. Its body also fell heavily to the ground. Two corpses, two torches that had fallen to the ground. Still burning. The bottom of the chasm returned to silence. Only the crackling sound of flames echoed in the great rift. Yanjio picked up a. Burning torch from the ground. The firelight dispelled some of the darkness but cast even more twisted and grotesque shadows from the jagged rocks around him. He collected the loot dropped by the two demon guards into his backpack, not lingering, and continued deeper into the abyss. The path here was more rugged than he had imagined. Not far along, a rustling sound came from ahead again. Another group of demon patrols. Their numbers had doubled from before, now totaling four. They spotted the firelight and immediately let out threatening hisses, but, this time, they did not rush forward. They stopped at the edge illuminated by the firelight, pacing anxiously, seemingly confirming something. This slight hesitation made Yanzhou stop as well. Strange. These monsters seemed to have less intense hostility towards him than before. What went wrong? Yanzhou’s mind raced through his equipment and status. Key of holy light, the aura of that thing should only make the demons more disgusted. Suddenly, he thought of something. With a flick of his mind, he took out an unused item from his backpack. It was a badge. Forged from black iron, engraved with a fierce beast’s head. commander’s badge in the eyes of demons but commander’s badge only signifies rank not appearance it was a special item that had dropped from that demon commander back in the star courtyard yenge opened the badge to his chest he no longer concealed his form but instead held the torch high and swaggered forward the roars of the four demon sentinels abruptly ceased their massive mouths split to the roots of their ears slightly open seemingly caught in a state of confusion they saw the black beast head badge on yenge’s chest The badge exuded a pure abyssal aura belonging to a superior being. One of the demon sentinels. Hesitantly lowered its weapon. It awkwardly thumped its chest with its disproportionate claws. It was a rough military salute. The other. Three sentinels, seeing this, followed suit. They retracted their hostility and made way for this unfamiliar kind adorned with the commander’s badge. Yenjo’s steps did not falter. He walked through the path they had opened for him. Just as he brushed past them, windstep, his figure transformed into a blurred afterimage. The cold glint of a blade flashed in the firelight, then extinguished in an instant. Minus 8850. Minus 9100. Minus 8970. Minus 9050. Four bright red numbers floated up almost simultaneously from above the heads of the four demon sentinels. Then, he. Followed up with a star impact, freezing several demons in the act of saluting forever. Their massive bodies crashed to the ground one after. Another. Yanjio nodded in satisfaction. The badge was useful. but the monsters still had to be killed. He collected all the spoils and continued forward. With the disguise of the commander’s badge, the journey ahead became much smoother. He no longer needed to sneak around, but walked boldly at the bottom of the abyss. All the demon patrols he encountered along the way, without exception, would actively retreat and salute upon seeing the badge on his chest. And Yanjio, after they saluted, would quickly send them to meet the real demon commander. Unfortunately, there was a language barrier. He looked at those demon sentinels who lacked even facial features, completely unable to glean any clues about the demon gate from them. He also wondered how Aggramar and the others had accurately found the location of that door in the intricately woven depths of the abyss. Yenjo wandered for a long time at the bottom of this vast canyon, twisting and turning. Ahead, the terrain suddenly opened up. A massive barracks, constructed from black rocks and the bones of unknown giant beasts, appeared before him. Countless demons of various shapes moved about, training. Some demons resembled a mass of rotting flesh, covered in eyeballs. Others had insect-like limbs and shells, wielding sight-like forelimbs. Still others were closer to human form, but their skin exhibited a strange dark red hue, with broken bat wings sprouting from their backs. Yenjio observed for a while and quickly summarized a pattern. The higher the rank of the demon, the closer its form resembled that of a human. Those wandering around the outskirts of the barracks were mostly bizarre low-level cannon fodder. Meanwhile, those around the deeper buildings of the barracks were primarily humanoid demon soldiers. The entire barracks was shrouded in an evil and twisted aura. The air was thick with a nauseating mix of sulfur, char, and a strong metallic scent of blood. The ground was covered with a thick layer of dark red viscous substance, resembling a mixture of dried plasma and soil. In some massive iron cages, certain creatures that Yanjio had never seen before were imprisoned, emitting desperate wails from within. Yanjio held the torch high. and walked straight toward the entrance of the barracks. The two demon guards at the entrance were taller than any soldiers he had encountered. Before, they wore rough black armor and wielded massive bone battle axes. Upon seeing Yanjyo, they initially emitted a low, threatening, growl. But when the firelight illuminated the commander’s badge on Yanjyo’s chest, their roars instantly transformed into respectful, low growls. They bowed their heavy heads and cleared a path for Yanjyo to enter the barracks. Yanjyo stepped inside. The scene within the barracks was even more chaotic and sinister. He could clearly see that the surrounding demon soldiers were expressing their awe towards him. In their own ways, some lowered their heads. Some crawled on the ground. Others kept their distance, not daring to meet his gaze. Yen Jio could only rely on the names displayed above the monster’s heads to identify them. Demon laborer, inferior demon, demon infantry. He moved inward without obstruction. However, just as he was about to pass through a large training ground, an unexpected event occurred. A particularly burly demon blocked his path. Demon Centurion, elite, its size was larger than the surrounding demon infantry, and its armor was. Of finer quality, even engraved with twisted runes. Unlike the other demons, it did not lower its head. Its crimson eyes fixed intently on. Yenjio, or more precisely, on the badge on Yenjio’s chest. Roar. A low growl filled with doubt and anger erupted from its tooth-filled. Mouth. The demon soldiers who had been training around them froze in their movements. They slowly closed in, forming a massive encirclement that. Trapped Yenjio and the Centurion in the center. The atmosphere instantly became tense. To be honest, Yen Jiu sometimes felt that communicating with humans was far more exhausting than with demons. Human speech often concealed various deep meanings. One moment it was a veiled insult. The next it was an implication. That kind of ambiguousness was something he often struggled to understand. In contrast, the demons. Straightforward manner made him feel at ease. Although he couldn’t understand what it was roaring about, he could grasp the provocative stance, the unabashed hostility, and the desire to replace him. Yenjo instantly understood its intent. A challenge. The demon centurion’s. Crimson eyes were fixed on the badge on Yenjo’s chest. That badge belonged to a commander. And it was merely a centurion. According to the. Laws of the Abyss, a lower ranked being could challenge a higher ranked one, of course, with the price of failure being one’s life. This. Commander was too unfamiliar. And too weak. It could not sense any terrifying pressure from this unfamiliar commander. Roar. A growl. Filled with doubt erupted from the centurion’s throat. All the demons around them froze in their actions. They slowly closed in, forming an airtight encirclement. There was no hostility, only a primal scrutiny of power. Yenjio blanced at the burly demon before him. A line of data clearly appeared before his eyes. Demon Centurion, Elite, Race, Demon, Level, 16, Health, 11,000, Attack, 297, Defense, 238, Skills, Demon Roar, Charge, Whirlwind Slash, Health and Attack Defense, Health and Attack Defense all exceeded those of the previous cannon fodder. Soldiers, Yanjio drew the long knife from his waist. He beckoned the demon centurion with his hand. The centurion’s crimson eyes sparkled. With a bloodthirsty light, it immediately understood. A deafening roar erupted from its throat. Its massive body surged forward, carrying a foul wind straight at Yanjio. Yanjio’s body deftly flipped. He dodged the centurion’s powerful charge. The blade flashed. Minus 8950. A huge, red number floated above the centurion’s head. Yanjio did not continue the pursuit. He simply stood quietly in place, spells could expose. One self. He didn’t know whether demons were sensitive to magic. The centurion suddenly stopped in his tracks. A flicker of confusion seemed. To pass over its faceless visage. It awkwardly scratched its head. Then, it roared again and charged forward. Yanjio let out a soft sigh. He had intended to spare the centurion’s life. If it sought death on its own, there was nothing he could do. The blade glimmered once more. Minus 9100. The centurion’s roar abruptly ceased, and its towering body crashed to the ground. Yanjio collected the fallen items into his backpack, and discovered yet another token had dropped. Centurion’s badge the surrounding demon soldiers emitted low growls, their heads bowed. Even deeper. It was a primal awe, an absolute submission to power. Yanjio sheathed his sword and continued to wander through the barracks, seemingly oblivious to his surroundings. He walked while pondering. Since these demons could challenge him, could he not challenge them as? Well. This thought was like a small stone thrown into the calm center of his lake, creating a ripple. He could challenge those stronger demons. Perhaps even the commanders. That way, he might find the demon gate more quickly. He glanced again at the demons that regarded him with. Fear. Those lesser demons still crawled on the ground. The humanoid demon soldiers kept their distance from him. Yenjo’s steps showed no. Hesitation. He walked straight toward the depths of the barracks. There, several taller buildings loomed. Larger demons roamed around those. structures, exuding a more intense aura of the abyss. Yanjio soon encountered a demon that was even larger than the centurion. It had wings, sprouting from its back, and its skin was dark red. It bore no weapons, only a pair of enormous hands, bristling with claws. Demon captain. Elite, race, demon level, 16 health, 11700 attack, 350 defense, 280 skills, tear, stomp dot. This demon commander also noticed Yanjio. Its crimson eyes fixated on the commander badge on Yanjio’s chest. It did not roar but merely bowed slightly. The gesture carried a hint of reluctance, yet it ultimately submitted. The demon captain only bent slightly. Its posture conveyed a suppressed, unwilling obedience. Yen Jio halted his steps. He looked at this demon, taller than the centurion. Not going to fight? He tilted his head, seemingly puzzled. He extended a finger and tapped the commander badge on his chest. Then, he pointed at the bowing demon captain. Finally, he gestured to himself, making a beckoning motion. Come over. Let’s have a fight. The demon captain’s crimson pupils constricted. Its massive body seemed to stiffen for a moment. It did not grasp the full intent of this unfamiliar commander, but it understood the provocative gesture. Yet it did not dare. Challenging a superior required risking one’s life. This behemoth clearly lacked the courage of the centurion. The demon captain slowly straightened up. It did not initiate an attack but instead pointed with its enormous clawed hand toward the deepest part of the barracks. There stood a fortress entirely made of black boulders and pale bones. The fortress resembled a gigantic, menacing beast lying on the ground. The entrance to the fortress was the beast’s gaping maw. The demon captain let out a low growl and awkwardly made a gesture of please. It’s assumed this unfamiliar commander was there to challenge the true master of the barracks. Yen Jio looked in the direction it pointed. He understood. The higher ranking one was inside. He no longer paid attention to the demon captain and stepped forward, heading straight toward the bone fortress. The closer he got, the more pungent the stench of sulfur and blood became. The dark red viscous substance on the ground also grew more slippery.At the entrance of the fortress, there were no guards. Only two statues, built from countless twisted corpses, silently, told the horror of this place. Yen Jio walked in without changing his expression. Inside the fortress was a vast, excessively empty hall. The dome of the hall was extremely high, with the desiccated bodies of unknown creatures hanging from above. Dim firelight seeped from the braziers embedded in the walls, casting a shadowy glow over the entire hall. At the deepest part of the hall, on a massive throne, sat a figure. It was a being larger than any demon Yen Jio had ever seen and it was closer to human form. It had bronze-colored skin, covered in dark red magical patterns. On its head were a pair of curved, ram-like horns. In its hands, it held no weapons, nearly resting casually on the armrests of the throne. The moment Yen Jio stepped into the hall, its eyes, burning with hellfire, snapped open. Commander Vero, Black. Iron level boss, race, demon level, LV 16 health, 15,000 attack for 29 defense, 355 skills, demonic body, tear, chaos stomp. Commander. Vero’s gaze passed over Yenjo’s face and landed directly on the badge on his chest. A cruel smile spread across its face, revealing a mouth. Full of interlocking fangs. Roar. A roar that shook the entire hall erupted from its throat. The roar was filled with unabashed killing. Intent and greed. Another commander. In the laws of the abyss there are no colleagues. Only prey and hunters. Commander Vero’s massive. Body rose from the throne. With each step it took, the stone hull trembled slightly. Demonic body. A layer of dark red light enveloped its. Entire body. Its bronze skin deepened further and the magical pattern swirling on it seemed to come alive. Its size expanded once more. Yen. Joe drew his long knife. He watched the boss approaching him, calmly waiting. Commander Vero did not give him much time to wait. It suddenly. Lifted one foot and stomped heavily onto the ground. Chaos stomp. A visible dark red shockwave radiated from the point of impact, instantly. Spreading outwards. The ground cracked, and debris flew. Just before the shockwave reached him, Yanjou’s body had already vanished from. The spot. Wind step. He glided close to the ground, transforming into an afterimage, and instantly circled around to Commander Vero’s back. The long knife in his hand sliced through the air with a sharp sound, striking at the boss’s massive ankle. Minus 8755. A bright red number. Popped up above Commander Vero’s head. Its health bar, originally at 15,000, was instantly reduced by more than half. Ah. The. Intense pain made Commander Vero let out a pained howl. It spun around violently, its giant hand, burning with flames, swiped towards Yanjio. With a tearing rush of air. Tear. The claws were surrounded by chaotic energy capable of shredding steel. Yanjio did not take it head on. His figure blurred again the moment the claws descended. A dazzling burst of stardust exploded in place. Astral walk. The next second, he. appeared on the other side of Commander Vero. The long knife in his hand traced another precise and lethal arc minus 9021. Another massive damage. Number floated up. Commander Vero’s health bar was completely emptied. Its enormous body froze in place. Those eyes, burning with hellfire, looked incredulously at this tiny human. It hadn’t even managed to truly touch him once. Boom. The massive body crashed heavily to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. A pile of loot, shimmering with various colors, burst forth beside its corpse, among them, a larger and, more ferocious beast head badge than the one on Yen Jio’s chest stood out prominently. Yen Jio stepped forward and collected all the spoils. Into his backpack, he took out the new commander badge and waited in his hand. One in his left hand, one in his right. Now, his rank, should be the highest here. He turned around and strode out of the skeletal fortress. At the entrance, the demon captain who had brought him, here was still waiting in place. It saw Yen Jio walking out of the fortress. It also saw the two commander badges in Yanjio’s hands, each, radiating a different aura. One of them belonged to Lord Vero. The demon captain’s body trembled violently. Its disproportionately large claws, pounded heavily on its chest. Then, its massive body crawled to the ground. Its head was buried deep in the dust. It was a submission more, thorough and soul deep than any before. Yanjio ignored it. He walked back to the vast training ground. On the training ground, all the demons, stopped their movements. They looked at Yanjio. They looked at the two badges in his hands that represented absolute power. Silence. The. Entire demon camp fell into an eerie silence. Yanzhou stood in the center of the training ground. He did not utter any strange syllables. Like those demons. He simply raised his hand slowly, displaying the two badges high for all the demons to see. Then, with his empty hand, he pointed towards the camp’s main gate. That direction was the way out of here. It led to beyond the abyss to the eternal night bastion. His. Movements showed no hesitation. His stance showed no wavering. An indescribable aura radiated from him. It was neither the pressure of the strong nor the dominance of the king. It was the purest essence of martial arts, stemming from the war god. The intelligence of demons is low, but their instincts are incredibly sharp. They could not understand Yenzhou’s expression, nor comprehend human language, but they could feel that power, that primal resonance with the concept of strength unrelated to language or race. Follow me. All the demons understood this message. At the edge of the training ground, the lowest-ranking demon was the first to drop its weapon. It let out a sharp howl and stepped in the direction Yanjio pointed. Its action was like a signal. The second, the third, more and more demons began to respond. Demon. Guards, demon infantry, monsters with insect-like limbs and rotting flesh crawling with countless eyes. They converged into a torrent. A chaotic, evil, yet unified torrent. Yanjio put away the badges and sheathed his sword. He turned around and walked at the forefront of this hastily assembled demon army. The grand procession began to move towards the camp’s exit. Their steps made the very bottom of the abyss. Tremble. The bottom of the abyss was no longer silent. Millions of sharp claws scraped the ground, countless deformed hooves trampled on bones, merging into a rumble that shook the entire canyon. Yen Jiu walked at the front of this army. He did not look back, nor did he need to. The massive, chaotic, evil yet utterly obedient aura behind him was the clearest response. He had become the sole will of this abyssal legion. The path through the canyon narrowed here, resembling the throat of a giant beast. Not far ahead, another camp appeared. It was larger than. Lord Veros, with even more formidable demon guards. Two demon sentinels wielding massive black bone shields blocked the way. They sensed. The approach of this vast army and let out a warning roar. Roar. However, their voices were instantly drowned out. In the torrent behind. Yenjio, hundreds and thousands of demons responded to the two guards with even more ferocious and brutal howls, the two tall demon sentinels. Their massive bodies visibly stiffened for a moment. They saw Yanjio, who was walking at the forefront. They also noticed the two badges, belonging to the commander in his hand. One of them was familiar to them, belonging to their neighbor, Vero. The other, emanating an even older and more powerful aura. The two demon sentinels exchanged a glance, silently lowered their bone shields, and knelt heavily on one knee, bowing their heads. Yanjio walked past them. The demon army behind him surged into the new barracks like a tide. The demons inside the barracks. instantly erupted in chaos. They stared in astonishment at this uninvited massive army and at the tiny human walking at the forefront. When they recognized the badges in Yanzhou’s hand, all the commotion turned into awful submission. Yanzhou’s steps did not falter. He walked straight toward the tallest fortress in the barracks, resembling a black mountain. This time, he did not wait for the master inside to come out. He directly kicked open the door made from the skulls of giant beasts. Boom! Inside the fortress, a demon even more robust. Then Vero, with four arms sprouting from its back, was slowly rising from its throne. A hint of disturbed anger crossed its face. Commander. Kaz, Black Iron level boss, Yanjio did not give it any chance to roar. He gently tossed the two badges in his hand toward the throne. The. Badges traced two arcs in the air, landing at Commander Kaz’s feet with a crisp sound. Kaz looked down and glanced at the badges on the. Ground. It recognized Vero’s aura. It also recognized the badge belonging to an even stronger being. When it raised its head again, the anger. in its molten lava -like eyes had transformed into unabashed greed and battle intent. In the abyss, this was the most direct challenge. The victor would possess everything. Roar. The earth-shattering roar made the entire fortress tremble. Kaza’s four arms simultaneously reached. For Yen-Gyo, the flash of blades ignited. Then extinguished. Minus 8 ,990. Minus 9,210. Kaza’s roar abruptly stopped. Its massive body crashed heavily. To the ground. Yanjio stepped forward, picked up the three commander badges from the ground and stored the loot dropped by the boss into his backpack. He exited the fortress. Outside, all the demons belonging to Kaz were already prostrated on the ground. Yanjio raised the three badges in his hand. Then, he pointed forward again. No demon raised any objections. The second legion merged into the torrent. Just like that, the same method was applied. The third barracks. The fourth barracks. Challenges, battles, annexations, Yanjio completed his domination. Using the demon’s rules. The demon army behind him swelled like a rolling snowball, reaching an unimaginable scale. Squirming rotten flesh. Giant insects covered in shells. Demon infantry wielding weapons. Flying demons with wings. Countless monsters converged into a black. Wave that could make any world tremble. The entire bottom of the abyss groaned in pain under the movement of this wave. Finally, the terrain. A head opened up. An unimaginably large circular basin appeared before this demon army. In the very center of the basin stood something. It was not a door. it was a living entity a massive rift pulsating and formed from countless twisted flesh pale bones and indescribable dark matter as large as a mountain countless thick suction cup covered tentacles spiraled madly at the edge of the rift whipping the air and emitting sharp howls inside the rift was an unfathomable chaos gate of demons at every moment new demons were being spat out from that chaos they had no consciousness no form only the most primal instinct to kill as soon as they appeared they would immediately begin To tear each other apart and devour one another, only the ultimate victor will drag their broken body, growing indistinct limbs and features, slowly crawling towards the door. It is as if a never-ending, brutally extreme birth ritual is taking place. Outside the door, a similarly, vast number of newly born demons have gathered. Two massive waves of demons face each other across the basin, locked in a distant standoff. The air seems to have solidified. The demon legion behind Yenjo hesitates for the first time. They instinctively sense the pressure. from the mother, a fear rooted in their bloodline. Some lower -tiered demons even begin to retreat uneasily. Yenjiyo pays no attention to the commotion behind him. He simply draws the long knife from his waist. The blade reflects a cold light in the dim abyss. He points the blade towards the twisted demon door from which his kind continuously pours forth. This action is simple and direct, yet it contains an undeniable will. Obey. Or die. Roar. The demon captain closest to Yenjiyo is the first to respond to his will. It pounds its chest and lets out. A roar of submission, charging towards its kinda head. One leads to many. A multitude follows, driven by an instinctive awe of the martial. God’s talent, ultimately overcoming the fear-born of bloodline. A woo! Hiss! The earth-shattering roars resonate throughout the. Abyss. The black tide behind Yanjio moves. They surge forward like a flood breaking its dam, violently colliding with the other black wave. In the center of the basin. Boom! The two worlds collide fiercely in the center of the basin. There are no tactics, no formations. Only. The most primal biting, clawing, and crashing. Blood and flesh soar into the air at the moment of impact. The entire basin transforms into an. Enormous neat grinder. Yen Jo stands still, quietly observing it all. This war between demons, orchestrated by him, creates a perfect gap. For him. All the chaos, all the slaughter, concentrates at the front line of the two armies clashing. And before that demon door, a brief. Unheated vacuum appears. Now is the time. Yenjo’s figure vanishes from the spot without warning. In its place is a fleeting brilliance of. Stardust. Star Realm Walk in the next moment, his figure has crossed the entire battlefield, appearing before the twisted, pulsating giant. Leviathan. He hesitates not at all, diving headfirst into the all-consuming chaos. The chaos devours him. The brilliant stardust of Star. Realm Walk vanishes behind him. He steps into a lightless void. The thick air is laden with a putrid stench, and he treads on the slippery. Ground, feeling the pulsing of flesh beneath his feet. This is not an ordinary space, it is the innards of a living being. Countless thick. Blood vessels, like coiling giant pythons, wind up the walls, ultimately disappearing into the darkness above. Thick liquid seeps slowly down. The pulsating flesh walls. This is the source of the demons. Yen Jio makes no sound. He simply stands quietly in place. He feels a primal. Bombless hunger surging from all directions. This hunger is not directed at him, but at everything here. The demons born here have been. Devouring each other from the very beginning. They are governed by the most primitive laws. He takes a step forward. The fleshy ground beneath. His feet immediately convulses violently. The surrounding blood vessels, like awakened giant pythons, begin to twitch. His presence disrupts. The balance here. He is a foreign entity. The will of the abyss begins to reject him. He draws the long knife from his waist. The blade. Reflects a faint sheen in the darkness. A head, a mass of writhing flesh slowly peels away from the flesh wall. It has no fixed form, countless. Vague, emerging eyes continuously opened and closed on the surface of the flesh mass. A primal, chaotic killing intent emanated from the mass. This was the embryo within the demon’s gate, not yet fully formed. They had no ranks, no skills. Only the purest instinct for slaughter. The flesh mass suddenly swelled. Countless tiny, tentacle-like flesh buds extended from it. With sharp whistling, they lashed out towards. Yen Jio. Yen Jio’s body transformed into a shadow skimming the ground. Wind step. He instantly appeared at the sight of the flesh mass. The long knife traced a perfect arc. No blood or flesh splattered. Only silent cutting. The flesh mass was neatly divided in half. Its writhing abruptly ceased. The cut surface quickly shriveled, turning into a pool of black powder. Yen Jio did not linger, continuing forward. There was no direction here, only an increasingly strong wave of energy pulling him. That was the core of this door. Along the way, he slaughtered dozens of such flesh masses, some of which even began to grow in distinct limbs. They waved clumsily but could not touch Yenjo. He moved. Like a ghost, weaving effortlessly through this twisted, living space. The deeper he went, the more the flesh walls began to constrict. And the blood vessels above hung down like giant pythons. Yenjo’s body had to bend slightly. He felt a tremendous pressure squeezing in from. All sides. Earth’s shield here was the heart of the demon’s gate. Ahead of him, a massive fleshy cavity appeared before his eyes. In the. Center of the cavity, a gigantic, still beating heart emitted a dull roar. It connected to countless thick blood vessels, casting the entire space in a bizarre dark red hue. Before that heart, a line of cold data materialized before him. Heart of the demon gate, silver level. Boss, race, demon level, 16 health, 48600 attack, 425 defense, 860 skills, 0 touch body, passive, summon demon, evil gaze, inspire dot. Nearly 900 points of defense. Yanjio tightened his grip on the long knife. He did not hesitate, his figure transforming into A. sharp arrow darting straight for the pulsating giant in the center of the cavity the blade flashed minus 152 zero touch body a number that was completely inconsistent with his previous output slowly floated up troublesome yen jiou murmured to himself the defense brought by this passive skill was absurdly high before he could launch another attack the massive heart suddenly contracted inspire boom a sound so dull it was extreme exploded not through the air but directly in his mind A wave of dark red energy rippled outward from the heart, sweeping across the entire cavity. The flesh walls trembled violently and thick liquid splattered everywhere. Yenjo’s body was violently, pushed back, his back crashing heavily against the slick flesh wall. Blood surged in his chest. He steadied himself, about to move forward. Again. The countless blood vessels on the surface of the heart began to writhe frantically, like pythons in labor. Tumors the size of fists, were squeezed out from the ends of the blood vessels falling to the ground. Summon demon. The tumors rapidly expanded, transforming into the amorphous demon embryos Yen Jio had encountered in the passage. In the blink of an eye, dozens of such monsters surrounded him. They emitted silent roars, a chaotic killing intent completely engulfing Yen Jio. Yen Jio ignored these minions. His target was only that core. He stumbled slightly, preparing to bypass these embryos in charge again. However, at that moment, he felt a strong sensation of being watched. That feeling did not come from any one direction, but from the entire space. Evil gaze. An invisible curse descended upon him, you. Have been affected by evil gaze, your attack power decreased by 10%, effect lasts for 30 seconds. Yanjou’s movements paused slightly. Another one of these tricks. He no longer hesitated, swinging his long knife, ready to clear away these troublesome embryos first. Minus 8141, he. Shattered a demon embryo that lunged at him, while another’s flesh bud had already latched onto his leg. Although it didn’t cause any real. Damage, it was exceptionally annoying. Endless. He frowned. clearing these things would waste a lot of time and that heart clearly wouldn’t stop sure enough boom another thrum energy ripples swept across the entire space once more his body which had just steadied was jolted back again and the heart once again produced a batch of new demon embryos the old ones hadn’t left and the new ones had arrived at the same time another evil gaze fell upon him you have been affected by evil gaze your attack power decreased by 10 effect has stacked to two layers this wouldn’t do yenjo instantly assessed the situation he would be worn down here by these endless minions and negative states he looked at the heart pulsating peacefully under heavy protection are you just going to hide behind he spoke his voice was not loud but it echoed clearly in this enclosed space as if asking that boss the attacks from the demon embryos became more frenzied seemingly enraged by his words yenjo ignored them he let those flesh buds strike against him stirring a layer of earth shield glimmer His attention was fully focused on something else. Those blood vessels, thick as giant pythons, connecting to the heart. They. Were the source. So that’s it. He found the key to breaking the deadlock. In the next second, his figure vanished from the spot. In its. Place was a fleeting brilliance of stardust. Astral walk. He ignored all the demon embryo’s obstructions, instantly appearing at the top. Of the cavity. There, the thickest blood vessel was continuously supplying energy to the heart. Yenjo’s figure flipped in mid-air. The long. knife in his hand carrying the afterglow of the stars struck down fiercely put minus 7103 the blood vessel snapped in response a foul viscous black liquid akin to oil gushed forth ah a scream of pain not belonging to any creature resonated from the depths of the soul echoing throughout the space the massive heart convulsed violently its rhythm of pulsation instantly thrown into chaos the heart of the demon gate has suffered severe damage summoning ability interrupted The heart of the demon gate has entered a brief state of weakness. Defense decreased. Effective. Yen Jiu’s body leveraged the air, stepping on the slick flesh wall, charging towards another thick blood. Vessel. On the ground, those demon embryos, like puppets that had lost control, moved slowly and chaotically. They no longer attacked Yen. Jiu but began to devour each other. Yen Jiu didn’t spare them another glance. The blade glimmered again. The second blood vessel snapped. The heart’s convulsions grew more intense. Its color began to shift from dark red to ashen. Yanjyo’s offensive showed no signs of stopping. The third. The fourth. He was like the most efficient butcher, precisely severing the lifelines that the heart depended on to survive. When. The last main blood vessel was cut, the entire space let out a mournful cry of being overwhelmed. The heart completely stopped beating. Its. Surface flesh began to wither rapidly, contracting. Yanjyo descended from the sky, landing directly in front of the heart. He raised the. Long knife in his hand. Minus 8 ,210. minus 8980 minus 7750 a series of massive damage numbers floated up from the boss that had lost all its power its health bar was instantly emptied boom the enormous heart completely losing its support turned into a pile of black dust scattering on the ground .a pile of shimmering loot emerged from the dust you have killed the heart of the demon gate ding congratulations your level has increased to lv 17 ding The effect of the talent war god has increased, melee damage amplification raced to 260 times. Ding. Congratulations, strength plus 1, agility plus 1, intelligence plus 1, spirit plus 1, constitution plus 1 ding. Congratulations, you have gained 5 free attribute. Points, current free attribute points 125. However, Yen Jio had no time to check the loot. Because, with the death of the heart, the entire space began to collapse violently. The flesh wall above him dripped like a melting candle. The ground beneath his feet cracked open, with bottomless fissures. This living otherworld belonging to demons was heading towards destruction. Yenjio collected the fallen items on, the ground. He turned around and quickly left in the direction he had come from. The path he had taken was being devoured. Behind him was the, collapse of the flesh space. The massive flesh wall dripped thick, fall smelling liquid like a melting candle. The ground beneath him split, open with deep, bottomless cracks. The will of the abyss echoing, wanting to bury this foreign object completely. Yanjio did not look back. He sprinted towards the direction of the entrance in his memory. Light was ahead. The crack he had entered was shrinking at a visible speed, like a dying giant eye about to close. The distance was shortening, but the speed of the crack closing was faster. Yanjio’s body turned into a shadow in the collapsing space. The fleshy ground beneath him continued to collapse and he could only use the blood vessels on the wall that had not yet fully liquefied to push himself forward. There was no time left. He looked at the exit that had only one last gap. remaining. Astral walk. His figure exploded in place, transforming into a final brilliant stardust about to be consumed by darkness. The. Next second, he appeared outside the crack. Behind him, the demon gate let out a final unwilling wail, completely turning into a sky full of. Rubble and dust. Yengio landed on a protruding rock. He looked down at the basin below. The war was still ongoing. The demon army he had. Created with one hand was still crazily fighting. Without the suppression of the demon gate and the replenishment of new forces, those demons. that had just been born were clearly at a disadvantage. The mixed army he had brought was devouring their kind in the most primitive way. Victory was just a matter of time. He no longer cared about the chaotic war below. There were too many of them. Even if he was at full mana, it would be unlikely to clean them up completely. He turned and looked at the bottomless, steep cliff. That was the way he had come down. It’s, was also the way he would return. Going up was always harder than going down. He sheathed his long knife and gripped the cold rock with both hands. Climbing began. Ten minutes passed. He had moved less than a hundred meters upward. The cliff was slippery, with almost no stable. Foot holds. Every step upward consumed tremendous stamina. Sweat seeped from his forehead quickly dried by the cold wind of the abyss. A. Bottle of blue mana potion was also downed. His mana was slowly recovering. He needed to use windstep and astral walk to cross distances. That could not be climbed by hand. He also needed to use earth shield to block the falling debris from above. An hour passed. The roar of. The war at the bottom of the abyss had weakened. He hung in midair like a tiny gecko. Another bottle of mana potion went down. The cool. Sensation from the potion slightly lifted his exhausted spirit. This was more tiring than fighting a boss. He looked up. The massive crack. That split the sky was still distant. He did not stop, continuing to climb. He did not know how long it had been. Finally, he saw the edge. Of the crack, the familiar sky shrouded in eternal night. He had no idea how many bottles of mana potion he had consumed, the expensive honey. Bruin the backpack had been consumed more than half. He used the last bit of his strength, his arm muscles bulging, pulling his body up onto the flat ground. He lay there in a large letter T-shape on the cold ground, his chest heaving violently, the muscles in his arms and thighs trembled slightly, uncontrollably. This was a sign of physical exhaustion. He lay there for a long time, until the deep-seated fatigue began to ease a little. Only then did he slowly sit up. He walked to the edge of the massive crack and looked down, the bottom of the abyss. was eerily silent, only endless darkness. He took out the last bottle of honey brew from his backpack. He twisted off the cap, tilted his head back, and drank the sweet liquid in one go. A warm current rose from his stomach, dispelling the lingering chill and fatigue in his body. Yenjo stood up, brushed off the dust from his clothes, and turned to head towards the Eternal Night Bastion. The journey back on foot was far longer than he had imagined. In the direction of the Eternal Night Bastion, there was only a vague outline hanging at the horizon’s end. Surrounding him was an eternal, lead-gray wasteland. I’m so exhausted, Yanjio muttered to himself as he walked unsteadily, pulling out a honey apple from his backpack and taking a big bite. The crisp crunch echoed starkly in the silence of the land. When will I get a mount? He continued to talk to himself while opening his loot list. The heart he had obtained had yet to be examined closely. Demon heart. Shell quality, silver level requirement, 16 equipment type, shield attributes, strength plus 40, constitution plus 100 demons heart when attacked. There is a 10 % chance that a piece of demon embryo will fall off the shell to assist you in battle.class requirement, warrior, paladin. The shape of the shield resembled an irregular black shell, with dark red veins still visible on the surface, looking somewhat disgusting. The attributes were quite good, especially that special effect. Yenjo casually tossed it into the corner of his backpack. Skillbook, demon gate demon gate, summons a demon gate that lasts for 5 minutes, hatching a demon embryo every 10 seconds to indiscriminately attack surrounding creatures. Cooldown time, 120 minutes, mana cost 500 points. Casting time, 30 seconds. Yenjiyo raised an eyebrow. This skill was interesting. Summoning a mobile barracks, although the summon creatures would attack. Indiscriminally, it should be effective for creating chaos or soloing certain specific scenarios. The casting time was just too long. 30 seconds was enough for him to be killed several times. He clicked to learn it. The last item was a fist-sized stone, entirely black but constantly twisting its internal space. Space stone, quest item, this should be the key to the quest. Yanjio put away all. His items and quickened his pace. The sky seemed to grow darker. In the wind, a familiar scent of rust mixed with holy light began to. Emerge. The fortress, resembling a mountain, was finally near. The massive city gates remained tightly shut. On the city walls, scattered. Torches burned, and a few black armored warriors stood like statues behind the battlements. Yanjio stopped. He glanced at the towering. Walls and then at himself. It would be too exhausting for him to shout for someone. He extended his hand. A ball of orange-red. Fire quickly condensed in his palm, swelling. He waved it casually at the heavy metal gate. Boom. The fireball exploded against the. Door, producing a dull thud. Shattered sparks flew in all directions. The statue-like warriors on the wall instantly moved. They leaned. Out, looking down. Soon, a hurried sound of metal-scraping footsteps echoed from the wall. Yenjio crossed his arms and patiently waited. In place. After a long time, Kreek, the massive door he had just passed through not long ago slowly opened inward once again. The tall figure of Agramar appeared behind it. Following him was a squad of fully armed paladins. Among them was the young warrior, Luo. They formed a defensive formation as they stepped out of the city gate. Each face bore an expression of extreme vigilance and seriousness. When they saw that only Yen Jio was outside, everyone froze. Agramar halted his steps. He looked at the returning stranger, covered. in dust, appearing somewhat fatigued, yet showing no signs of injury. He didn’t even see any signs of abyssal corruption. Yu, Aggramar began, unsure of what to ask. Should he ask why he returned? Ask if he was alright? Or ask if he had seen the terror of that door? Luo stepped forward, staring intently at Yen. Jio, his young face a complex mix of emotions. There was anger, relief, and a hint of absurdity he hadn’t even realized, stemming from the fact that the other had returned alive. Yu, escaped back? Yen Jio glanced at him. He didn’t waste words with the young man. He pulled out the black shield from his backpack, along with the constantly twisting space stone. He. Tossed them forward casually. Clang. The shield landed on the stone ground in front of everyone, producing a crisp sound. The space stone was accurately thrown into Agramar’s arms. Agramar instinctively caught it. The strange rhythm emanating from the stone, belonging to space itself, made his sturdy body tremble violently. It’s resolved. Yanjio brushed the. Dust off his hands, his tone is flat as if he were asking about the weather. Is there any wine? The air froze. The cold wind from the wasteland swept over each person’s cold armor, yet could not penetrate their already stalled minds. Resolved? Is there any wine? They understood every word of those two sentences, but combined, they transformed into an incomprehensible tale from another world. Luo opened his mouth. He looked at the shield on the ground. The pure and evil aura emanating from it was unmistakable. He then glanced at the twisted stone in Aggramar’s hand. What was that? He didn’t know. but he saw the expression on the Grand Knight’s face. It was something he had never seen before, a mix of extreme shock, confusion, and disbelief. Aggramar’s hand trembled slightly. He lowered his head, repeatedly rubbing the space stone, the holy light mark on his forehead flickering at an unprecedented frequency. He could feel it. The despairing door that had troubled them for years, devouring countless compatriots, its connection to this world was severed, completely, from the root. It was cut off. The surrounding black armored warriors fell into a strange silence. They looked at the shield on the ground, then at the Grand Knight, and finally, they all turned to. Yen Ji-oh. This man simply stood there calmly. His face even bore a hint of impatience. As if what he had just accomplished was not a feat capable of overturning the entire history of the. World, but merely completing a troublesome task, now wanting to quickly receive his reward. No cheers. No shouts. Not even a hint of joyful emotion. This fortress that had stood in. Despair for a thousand years, these warriors who had fought a lifetime in despair had long forgotten how to welcome victory. The word victory was too distant, too unfamiliar to them. So much so that when it truly arrived, everyone’s first reaction was confusion. A huge, unreal feeling. As if this were a cruel joke. A delusion more brutal than despair itself. I. Luo’s throat emitted a dry syllable. He took a step forward, his movement stiff as if he were a rusty puppet.He bent down and picked up the shield from the ground. The moment his fingers touched the shield, a. shilling power spread up his arm. It was real. All of it was real. He raised his head and looked at Yen Jio. His lips moved for a long time, but he couldn’t utter a single word. Finally, it was as if he had found. What he needed to do after a thousand-year nightmare. He turned around to face his still-dazed companions behind him. I? I’ll go get some wine. His voice was hoarse, dry, with a tremor that even he hadn’t. Noticed. Luo’s hoarse voice echoed in front of the empty city gate. In front of Yenzhou, rows of cold system prompts completely flooded the screen. Ding. You have completed the task, ancient, destroy the demon. Gate, reward, wormhole node asterisk one ding. Since this time-space node event has been completed, you will be teleported back to the starting point. At that moment, Yanjio’s body began to become somewhat transparent. Lines of text that only he could see refreshed wildly before his eyes. Congratulations player Yanjio successfully obtained the wormhole node, opening the teleportation era. As the first player to obtain the wormhole node, you are rewarded with 10 free attribute points and a hidden skill book. Would you like to announce your name, letting your fame resonate throughout the world of illusion? Yes slash no Yanjio looked at. that option he remembered the words he had just blurted out is there any wine a mischievous thought suddenly emerged he reached out and manipulated the virtual panel directly using a disguise item to change his temporary id then he clicked yes and put the shield on the ground into his backpack and throughout the entire world of illusion the seven kingdoms countless main cities and all online players heard a solomon grand system announcement world announcement congratulations player i love drinking successfully obtained the wormhole node opening the teleportation era World announcement, congratulations. Player, I love drinking, successfully obtained the wormhole node, opening the teleportation era. World announcement, congratulations player, I love drinking, successfully obtained the wormhole node, opening the teleportation era. It repeated three times. The entire game fell into an absolute silence for three seconds. After three seconds, the world channel exploded. Did I just hear that wrong? I love drinking? Whose ID is that? What the hell is the teleportation era? What is a wormhole node? Can someone explain? After a brief moment of confusion, the system’s second announcement answered everyone’s questions. World announcement. The teleportation era has begun. Players can register for the teleportation era contest at the NPC time-space manager in their respective main cities. After the event starts, players will be teleported to random fragments of the ancient continent for combat. Each main city will have 180 competition slots. At the end of the event, the permissions level of the teleportation portal for that main. City will be unlocked based on its overall ranking in the battlefield. Level 1, can teleport to nearby main cities within the kingdom. Level 2, top 1000 in the event ranking can specify teleportation to any main city within the kingdom. Level 3, top 100 in the event ranking can specify teleportation to any main city and the capital within the kingdom. Level 4, top 10 in the event ranking can specify teleportation to any main city, the capital, and some main cities of other countries. this announcement detonated like a nuclear bomb in the minds of all players the world channel was instantly flooded the speed of information scrolling so fast that the content was barely discernible world chasing the wind am i blind what was that just now world one slash one kid teleportation era wormhole node this game update didn’t even have a preview world i am your father the key point is that name okay i love drinking who is this god i’ve never even heard of them world overlord damn hidden skill book plus 10 free attributes this reward is just too insane world cute bunny i love drinking big brother so handsome which great gods alt is this please take me along world duo duo horn high price for all information related to wormhole nodes informants private message me price is negotiable world wrath of thunder storm the first to open the new era in the entire server isn’t one of the three absolutes world only drink ad calcium milk is it possible that this i love drinking is one of the three absolutes world iron blood and loyal heart teleporting to other countries my god this is going to start a national war world song of two rc nation’s specialty can be sold to the mountain nation we’re going to get rich world flame dragon roar only 180 slots in each main city how is that enough to distribute world passerby a we’re doomed how do we set up a level one teleportation portal in our small city world ding ding loves you this isn’t fair with 180 people we casual players don’t even have a chance to participate world 1 fair you’re talking about fairness in a game if you have the ability go create a wormhole node too stop whining here major guilds have already started recruiting in the world channel and promoting their fame meanwhile more ordinary players are discussing that mysterious i love drinking world cuckoo this i love drinking is definitely a top expert such a world-class task is not something an ordinary person can accomplish world formula ling agreed the three absolutes and six peaks have hidden so many people maybe he is one of them just as the entire world of illusion was thrown into chaos because of his casual action yenjo’s teleportation was also nearing its end his body was almost completely transparent agramar finally lifted his head he looked at the vanishing yenjo opened his mouth and for the first time a pleading expression appeared on his weathered face hero your name before he could finish his sentence yenjo’s figure transformed into countless Starlights, completely disappearing from this ancient land that had just welcomed dawn. Only a group of warriors, who had just broken free from despair, found themselves plunged into even greater confusion. And. That young warrior, Luo, who had just run back with a barrel of wine, stood dazed at the city gate. A flash of white light passed before his eyes. Yenjio found himself back in that cold, rocky valley. The abyssal. Cold winds seemed to linger in his bones. He was too lazy to measure this land with his feet again. It was too exhausting. He pulled out a glowing scroll from his backpack and crushed it directly. Space twisted. The next second, a deafening uproar hit him like a wall. In the central square of Maple Leaf City, the crowd was bustling. Countless players were crammed here, like sardines thrown into boiling water. Everyone was. Shouting, discussing the world announcement that could overturn the entire game landscape. In the very center of the square, a space had been cleared. The major guilds, Divine Oracle, Dragon Rising, and Luoxin. which had the most power in Maple Leaf City, had joined forces to form a human wall. They wore their guild’s finest armor and held weapons, surrounding the newly appeared NPC time and space manager, tightly. The tight protection felt more like a brutal occupation. Several guild leaders were holding loudspeakers, repeatedly spamming in the regional channel and the crowd. Brothers and sisters of Maple Leaf City, please remain calm. This teleportation era contest concerns the future of our entire Maple Leaf City. only the strongest 180 people can enter only then can we secure the best rankings on the battlefield and unlock the highest level of teleportation privileges therefore our guilds have discussed and decided to set a registration threshold levels must be above 13 and you must pass our equipment inspection this is for maple leaf city for the benefit of all of us please understand although some discontented complaints and curses arose from the crowd they quickly subsided most players knew they were right letting A group of low-level players in was purely to serve as cannon fodder, ultimately dragging down the entire main city and preventing everyone from using the high-level teleportation gates. Yen Jio stood on the outskirts of the crowd. He needed the highest level of teleportation gate. Only then would he have the chance to cross the kingdom and reach the city where Sujinjin was. He decided to return to the manor first. Using illusion, he would change his identity and come back. He walked through the noisy crowd towards the commercial district of Maple Leaf City. Along the way, discussions about I love drinking were everywhere. Damn. Who is this I love drinking? They are too awesome. They directly opened an era. This face is bigger than the three absolutes. Who cares who they are, anyway, for this event, we casual players have. No chance, the spots will definitely be taken by the big guilds. Damn, this is really frustrating, why do they get to decide? If you’re frustrated, go create a wormhole node? If you don’t have that ability, then. Stop complaining. Yen Jio listened expressionlessly. He entered the familiar tavern, Breath of Maple. Boss. Honey brew, give me 20 bottles. The tavern owner saw Yenjiyo and put on a warm smile. Alright, please wait a moment. Soon, 20 bottles of clear yellow liquid were neatly arranged on the counter. Yenjiyo paid and swept them all into his backpack. He then went to the auction house and bought a large, pile of apples and food. He only stopped when his backpack was stuffed to the brim. After doing all this he walked to the mailbox in the corner of the square. He took out the black, somewhat disgusting looking, shield from his backpack. Demon heart shell. and a scattered pile of equipment. He packed all these items and filled in the recipient’s name as Ming Yao, asking her to help sell them. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city center, the surroundings gradually quieted down. He walked up to his manor. The courtyard was empty. The heavy carved wooden door slowly closed behind him, completely isolating everything outside. The world instantly fell silent. Yen Jiu stood at the entrance feeling a moment of discomfort. He was too lazy to move again. He didn’t want to think about anything else. He crossed the hall and sank into the Sofa. A wave of fatigue surged through his arms and thighs. That was the aftereffect of physical exhaustion from climbing the abyssal cliffs. He raised his hand and swiped through the air. A light blue system. Panel lit up in front of him. He glanced at the game time in the upper right corner. 6 hours and 37 minutes. He opened the friend list and found that familiar name. Ming Yao. He extended his finger and. Typed a few words on the virtual keyboard. Event. Save me a spot. The message was sent out. Almost instantly, a reply came back. A huge, sarcastic question mark filled the entire chat box. Question mark. Then, Mingyao’s. Next message popped up. Do you still need me to save you a spot? As one of the three absolutes, the honey apple god, all you have to do is walk out of your manor and the Tianquan of the Oracle Guild will kneel. Down on the spot, begging you to join their team. Do you have some misunderstanding about your influence? Yanjio looked at those lines of text. He did not reply. He just typed another line. What’s the situation now? There was silence on the other end for a few seconds. The first batch of people has already entered. Inside is a brand new map, very large. Each town has been assigned a fortress. Our scouts reported that teams have already encountered wild monsters, resulting in small-scale battles. We still don’t know the specific ranking method, but it’s likely related to kill counts, exploration levels, or some special resources. The total duration of the event is three days, and the countdown has already begun. Mingyao sent a long string of messages in one breath. Finally, she asked, when are you coming over? Yen. Joe’s fingers hovered over the virtual keyboard. He thought about his current state, he still had a date with Sujinjin tonight, and that deep-seated fatigue made him reluctant to move. Tomorrow, he pressed the send button. On the other end of the chat, there was a long silence. It took a full half minute. Mingyao’s messages erupted like a volcano, one after another. Tomorrow? Then you should rest well. I still want to remind you that this event is quite important. How about I add your contact information? That way, I can report to you anytime. You might need to step in at some point. Mingya blushed, staring at the screen in front of her, motionless. Yenjiu leaned back in his chair, reading through all the messages she sent. He could understand her caution, but he was just too tired. The process of climbing up from the depths of the abyss consumed more mental energy than any boss he had fought. He reached out again, typing slowly, whom, just save me a spot. He then sent his contact information to Mingya. After sending those messages, he directly closed the chat window. He opened the system main menu and found the option glowing softly with white light. Exit game. He clicked on it. The exquisite and luxurious interior of the manor around him began to turn transparent and distorted. It was like an oil painting soaked in water. Eventually, it transformed into countless drifting specks of light, completely disappearing. The moment his consciousness returned, a heavy sense of fatigue surged up from his limbs. Deep within the muscles of his arms and thighs lingered the lingering soreness from exhausting himself while climbing the abyssal cliffs. He opened. His eyes. What met his gaze was the familiar ceiling. In his arms was a soft body, peacefully resting against his chest. Soo Jin Jin was already awake. She lay on her side, her head resting on his arm, holding. Her phone, the screen’s soft glow illuminating her delicate profile. As if sensing his movement, she put down her phone. You’re awake, Lord Martial God? Her tone carried a hint of sleepiness and an undeniable. Smile. Yen Jio let out a vague mumble from his throat as a response. He shifted his body, propping himself up on the mattress and naturally lifted Sujinjin along with him. First, a shower. His voice was a bit hoarse from just waking up. Then I’ll take you out for something delicious. Before he finished speaking, he bent down, his arm slipping under her knees and around her back, lifting her effortlessly. This motion was incredibly smooth as if the person in his arms weighed nothing. Ah! Sujinjin let out a short gasp, instinctively tightening her grip around his neck. Immediately, her silver bell-like laughter echoed. In the bedroom. She hung onto Yenjo, her long, fair legs swinging in the air, drawing playful arcs. Warm water poured down from the showerhead. The bathroom quickly filled with a hazy mist, their laughter blending. With the sound of rushing water, the two got dressed and prepared to head out. Yenjo changed into a simple casual outfit while Sujinjin shows a well-tailored dark sheep out. Standing at the entrance, Yenjo looked at her. Today, I’ll take you out for a good stroll. He wanted to make up for the time he had missed before. Sujinjin paused in the act of putting on her high heels. She looked up, a bright smile blooming. On her face. Okay. She straightened her body and took a step closer to him, a sly smile appearing on her face. Then come with me to buy a few pairs of stockings. She paused, lowering her voice slightly, a hint of barely noticeable embarrassment creeping in. The pair I loved the most was torn apart by some rough guy. After saying that, the color in her cheeks seemed to deepen a bit. Yen Ji-ho scratched his head. The wild images from that night surged uncontrollably into his mind. He sat in the passenger seat of Su Jin-jin’s red sports car. The engine of the sports car let out a low roar as it smoothly drove out of the community, a top luxury lingerie store in the commercial district. The decor inside was elegantly done in black, white, and gold tones, with the air filled with the scent of high-end perfume. A well-dressed female. Shop owners saw Soojinjin and immediately greeted her enthusiastically. Jinjin, you finally made it. Sisterly, I’ve been a bit busy lately, Soojinjin replied with a smile. The shop owner led her deeper. Into the store, introducing her to the latest arrivals. lace, chiffon, and those with exquisite embroidery. Yen Jiu was completely uninterested in any of it. He sat down on a velvet sofa that looked quite expensive and took out his phone out of boredom. The screen lit up. A WeChat notification appeared at the top. Yao requests to add you as a friend. He clicked to agree. The other person’s avatar appeared in his contact list. He opened the avatar. It was a half-body shot. The woman in the photo had her hair neatly styled, wearing a standard OL uniform, with a bright floor-to-ceiling window and the city skyline in the background. She wasn’t smiling, exuding an air of sharp competence. Sir, would you like some water? A staff member brought over a glass of lemonade. Thank you. Yenjiyo put away his phone. Not long after, Sujinjin came over carrying several exquisite shopping bags. She sat down next to Yenjiyo, leaning her weight against him. She leaned close to his ear, her warm breath brushing against his neck. I’ve picked them out. Horror. Voice was soft, laced with an enticing quality. She added in a whisper that only the two of them could hear, I bought several pairs this time. You can tear them however you want. Yanjio’s heart skipped a. beat, then began to race uncontrollably. A warmth spread from the base of his neck to his cheeks. Sujujin looked at his flushed ears and finally couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. She took his hand. Let’s. Go, silly. Come with me to buy something else. For the next few hours, Yanjio completely became a bag carrying tool. Suzhengen seemed determined to make up for all the shopping she hadn’t done during this time, dragging him through various boutiques. Clothes, shoes, bags, and all sorts of cosmetics he couldn’t name. His hands quickly filled with shopping bags of all sizes. Night fell. The two found a refined Chinese restaurant nearby. After dinner, Suzhengen drove, the car filled with spoils, heading home. Outside the car window, the city’s neon lights stretched into vibrant lines of color. Yanjio looked outside, then glanced at Suzhengen, who was focused on driving. The fatigue from climbing the abyss seemed to have been diluted a lot in the chaos and companionship of the day. The sports car slowly entered the underground parking lot of the community. The two moved their hall back home. The sensor light at the entrance automatically turned on, casting a warm orange glow. The door clicked shut behind them, completely isolating the silence of the corridor. The shopping bags were carelessly piled on the floor, resembling small mountains. Yenjo’s thoughts lingered partly in the brand new battlefield of the game. Did you participate in this? Game event, he asked. Sujinjin was bending down to change her shoes when she paused at his words. She took off the high heels that had made her stand for so long, her bare, pale feet touching the cold floor. Of course I participated. She stood up straight, walked in front of him, and tiptoed to straighten his slightly crooked collar. Otherwise, how would we have the chance to run into our lofty martial god inside? There was a hint of mischievousness in her words. Yenjio nodded. He hadn’t thought about that. The two of them slumped on the sofa in the living room, with no one turning on the lights. The city lights outside. filtered through the gaps in the uncurtained windows, casting mottled shadows in the darkroom. Sujinjin curled up in his arms like a boneless cat. Her head rested on his solid chest, her fingers unconsciously, drawing circles on his shirt. She shifted into a more comfortable position like a lazy cat, letting out a satisfied sigh. Yenjo’s body stiffened for a moment, then relaxed. He simply looked down at the delicate, face resting on his lap. They lay quietly on the sofa like that, neither of them speaking. Time seemed to stretch at that moment, becoming slow and gentle. After a long while, Yen Jio propped himself up on the sofa. I can’t fall behind on my evening homework. Sujinjin didn’t stop him. She leaned back on the sofa, her legs crossed, watching him with keen interest. Yen Jio stood still on the empty carpet in the center of the living room. He closed his eyes and adjusted his breathing. The next second, he moved. There was no earth-shattering momentum, nor any dazzling light and shadow effects. His movements were simple and direct, yet contained an indescribable explosive power. Punches, kicks. Each movement stirred a subtle sound, tearing through the air. Every muscle in his body was like a precisely tuned machine, unleashing the purest strength in the most efficient way. Sujinjin watched quietly. She watched the fine beads of sweat emerge on his forehead. She watched the sweat slide down his sharply defined jawline, dripping onto the carpet, and leaving a small dark stain. She watched his chest rise and fall more violently. She watched the thin t-shirt he wore become completely soaked with sweat, clinging tightly to him, outlining the contours of his rock-hard muscles. The air began to fill with the scent of his strong masculine sweat. Soojinjin licked her slightly dry lips. Yenjio stopped his movements. He exhaled a long breath, the white mist particularly. Clear in the cool air. I’m going to wash up. He then turned and walked towards the bathroom. Soon, the sound of running water echoed from the bathroom. Soojinjin stood up from the sofa. Barefoot, she quietly. Walked to the bathroom door, step by step. The frosted glass door blurred the figure inside. Soojinjin stood at the door, having already shed her well-tailored sheep out. She was wrapped only in a white bath towel. Her. Damp long hair casually draped over her shoulders. The steam obscured her face but made her body’s curves appear even more hazy and alluring. Yanjio stopped rubbing his hair. The phone slid down with the water. Stinging his eyes slightly. He didn’t move. Soojinjin walked in and closed the bathroom door behind her. The small space instantly became crowded and hot with the intrusion of another person. She stepped into the. Misty steam. One step at a time. She walked up to him and stretched out her arms. I seem to. Her cheek pressed against his chest, her voice somewhat muffled by the sound of the water. I think I’ve rested. Enough. Yen Jiu’s breath caught for a moment. Her voice was soft, slightly blurred by the water sounds, yet it clearly penetrated Yen Jiu’s ears. Yen Jiu grabbed her mischievous hands. His Adam’s apple bobbed up. And down. The next second, he lifted her by the waist and pressed her heavily against the cold-tiled wall. The bath towel fell to the floor. Sujinjin let out a startled cry, which was quickly muffled water. Cascaded down from above, soaking both of them completely. In the bathroom, only the sound of water remained, along with the suppressed noises. This battle, erupting in the steam, was fiercer than any before. Soo Jinjin felt like a small boat tossed in a storm, ready to be overturned by a giant wave and sink to the bottom of the sea. She clung to his shoulders, enduring that overwhelming force. Wave after wave receded, leaving behind fragments of shells on the beach, like her shattered yet brilliant breaths. In the end, she couldn’t take it anymore. Soo Jinjin felt her consciousness beginning to fade. Yanjio stepped back. Soo Jinjin’s legs went weak and she slid down the wall to the floor. She gasped for air, her chest heaving violently. This time she didn’t give up. She knelt on the ground, raised her hand, and gathered her soaked hair, which clung to her cheeks, behind her head, twisting it up. Then she lowered her head. Warm water continued to pour down from the showerhead. Yanjou’s back pressed tightly against the cold porcelain wall. Water droplets rolling down his well-defined muscles. He looked down at Sujinjin, who knelt before him. She gathered her wet hair behind her head, revealing her smooth full forehead and the slender neck that, appeared particularly fragile as she tilted her head back. Her movements showed no hesitation. An unprecedented sensation surged from the tips of her body like an uncontrollable current shooting straight to the crown of her head. Yanjou’s body tensed suddenly. The hand he had braced against the wall unconsciously clenched, almost crushing the hard tiles. He had never experienced such a feeling. The misty steam in the bathroom seemed to turn into scalding lava. Every breath he inhaled burned his sanity. Time lost its meaning. He didn’t know how long had passed. Finally, he exhaled a long, hot breath. The sound of water continued. To rush. A clear swallowing sound abruptly pierced his ears. Sujinjin lifted her head. Her cheeks were flushed abnormally and the corners of her eyes glistened with what could have been water droplets or tears. She cast a resentful glance at Yenjo who still appeared vigorous and sighed softly. I need to work out more. Her voice was hoarse from the intense exertion tinged with a hint of grievance. Otherwise, it just won’t do. Yenjo’s heart felt as if it were gripped tightly by an invisible hand. He looked at her, slumped on the ground, nearly lacking the strength to rise, and a strange emotion surged in his chest. He reached out, awkwardly scratching the back of his head. It’s fine if you don’t. His response was as simple and direct as ever. Sujinjin merely shook her head. She didn’t say anything more, just extended her arms, pushing against the ground, trying to stand up. After a try, her legs felt too weak to obey. Yenjio bent down and turned off the shower that was still spraying warm water. The surroundings instantly fell. silent, leaving only the sound of their intertwined breaths. He grabbed a large bath towel hanging nearby and wrapped her still dripping body completely. Then, he lifted her off the cold floor in a single motion. Soojinjin obediently leaned into his embrace, burying her face in his solid chest, like a weary little boat that had found its harbor. The two of them rinsed off the sweat from their bodies again. Yen Ji-ho carried her out of the steamy bathroom. The bedroom was unlit, with only the city’s neon lights outside casting a few faint beams through the curtain’s gaps. He walked to the bedside and gently placed her on the Soft mattress. The bed sank into a comfortable curve. Sujinjin pulled the blanket over herself, curling up into a ball, leaving only a pair of still moist eyes peering at him, unblinking. Yenjiyo didn’t leave. Immediately. He stood by the bed, looking at the small bundle under the blanket. You. He wanted to say something. He wanted to apologize to say she didn’t have to work so hard, but the words stuck in his throat, and he didn’t know how to organize them. Sujinjin looked at his helpless expression and suddenly smiled. She stretched out a fair arm from under the blanket and waved at him. Come here. Yenjiyo complied and sat down on the edge of the bed. She shifted her body closer, resting her head on his arm. I just want to make you happy. Her voice was soft but firm. Only when you’re happy will I be happy. Yenjiyo’s body stiffened. He looked down at Sujinjin, who was resting on his lap. Her eyes closed, long eyelashes still glistening with droplets. He reached out, hesitating slightly, and stroked her hair. Her strands were soft, carrying the fresh scent of shampoo mixed with her unique warmth. This feeling was more fulfilling than reaching the peak in a game or defeating any opponent in reality. Sleep, he finally said, just those two. Words. Sujinjin didn’t respond, only letting out even and prolonged breaths. It seemed that beside him, she could sleep especially soundly. Yenjo slowly closed his eyes as well. This sleep was particularly. Peaceful. The first ray of morning light pierced through the gap in the curtains. Yenjo opened his eyes, the breathing beside him even and prolonged. He turned his head, Sujinjin was curled up, sleeping like a. Child, her long eyelashes casting a small quiet shadow in the morning light. He leaned down and left a gentle kiss on her forehead. He didn’t wake her. Yenjio quietly got up and dressed. The lingering atmosphere of last night’s intimacy still hung in the room. He opened the window and the cool morning air rushed in, dispersing the lingering warmth. He walked to the open space, assumed a stance, and threw punches and kicks, generating a strong wind. Sweat quickly soaked his tank top and every muscle in his body was thoroughly awakened. After finishing his workout he took a shower, changed into clean clothes and grabbed a thermos before stepping out the door. Exiting the apartment building he turned into the familiar breakfast shop. Boss, for servings of soup dumplings, two bowls of porridge, one bon and one bowl of porridge. To go. He sat in his usual spot, slowly finishing his meal. Then he picked up the breakfast he bought for Sujinjin and returned to the apartment. He placed the breakfast on the dining table before turning to leave. After doing all this, he put on his crisp police uniform and swayed back to the police station. The door of the criminal investigation team 3 was wide open, and it was noisier inside than ever. Good. Warning, Team Yen. Captain. A few officers saw him, quickly greeted him, and immediately turned back to stare intently at their computers, not knowing what they were looking at. Yen Jio paid no mind. He walked, straight to his original workstation, pulled out a chair, and sat down, listening to the discussions around him. The atmosphere was off. It was no longer the excitement and curiosity about the game from yesterday. Instead, it was a fervor mixed with anxiety and restlessness. Damn it, this event has gone completely crazy. The voice of the chubby Shinda was a bit hoarse, his bloodshot eyes showing signs of fatigue from staying up all night. In just one night, the entire event map has turned into a meat grinder. Each main city has been randomly assigned to a base, like a small fortress. Another officer, Shelly, chimed in, his face a bit pale. But that continent is too vast, it’s basically a no man’s land, with endless demons around the borders, and inland players can’t earn any points. Killing demons can earn points, that’s the only. Rule. No, not the only one. A young officer who had been buried in his phone forum looked up, his voice dry. Someone discovered that killing high -level demons can drop something called badge. The highest. Level revealed on the forum so far is the centurion badge. Wearing that thing, those mindless low-level monsters won’t be affected, but elite demons will bow and salute you first. Shinde slammed his fist on. the table that thing is too rare in one night hardly any appeared in the entire event area and then then someone discovered that attacking the strongholds of other main cities could also earn points even killing other players could the young officer’s voice grew quieter moreover if you get killed in the event map you can’t respond so everything spiraled out of control those cities located inland had no demons around so they couldn’t earn points they were forced into a corner and began attacking other towns now the entire continent is in chaos The outer cities not only have to withstand the title. Wave of demon attacks but also constantly guard against players from other cities sneaking up behind them to stab them in the back. Shende painfully ran his fingers through his hair. Our squad encountered this. Yesterday, dammit, we had just repelled a wave of demons when we got ambushed from behind by people from Blackstone City. If we hadn’t run fast, we would have all been done for. On the young officer’s phone. Screen, the latest battle report refreshed. He read it aloud, his voice tinged with undeniable shock. As of 6 o’clock this morning. The event has been open for less than 12 hours. Over a hundred main. Cities have been breached. And most of them were not breached by demons, but by players. Over a hundred. This number felt like a block of ice, crashing into everyone’s hearts. Yen Jiu’s hand, holding the thermos, froze in mid-air. He frowned. It seemed he had been a bit overconfident. Just yesterday, he had told Mingya to wait until tomorrow. But now, it appeared that the intensity of the battlefield far exceeded everyone’s expectations. He suddenly found it somewhat ridiculous. If Maple Leaf City was breached before he logged in, then as someone who had ushered in the era of teleportation, he wouldn’t even be able to participate. In the event, that would be quite the joke. He stood up. Captain Yen? Shende and the others looked over in confusion. Yen Jiu waved his hand and walked straight toward his own independent office. You all. Continue your discussion. The office door closed, completely isolating the noisy discussions outside. He walked to his desk, without a moment’s hesitation. He directly opened a rift in the void, bringing up that. Familiar interface glowing with a faint blue light. Entering the illusion, wishing you a pleasant game. The light and shadow swirled and Yanjou’s consciousness sank into a familiar deep blue. Entering the illusion, wishing you a pleasant game. Without a moment’s delay, he willed it and the noble attire on him instantly transformed into specks of starlight, vanishing without a trace. In its place was a flowing, yet cold white gauze dress. A hazy veil covered his now soft and cold features. Honey apple. One of the three wonders, the gauze dress reaper, was online again. He walked toward the city center square. That was the registration point for the teleportation era contest. The closer he got, the heavier the atmosphere in the air became. Players from various guilds had surrounded the entire square, forming impenetrable walls of people. Their equipment was top-notch, and their ranks were orderly, clearly elite players who were well-trained. Everyone, get your spirits up. The last spot absolutely cannot have any mishaps. No matter who it is, without the president’s orders, not even a fly can get through. The shouts of the guild managers echoed through the crowd. Ordinary players were kept at the periphery, only able to tiptoe and stretch their necks, trying to see what was happening inside. What’s going on? Such a big commotion. What else could it be? Guarding the last spot. Now Maple Leaf City only has this last spot left, so it must be tightly guarded. Sigh, this spot is too important. I heard our Maple Leaf City’s ranking is almost at the bottom. Isn’t that right? The front line is about to collapse. If no strong players go in, our city will be eliminated. The discussions were filled with pessimism and helplessness. Just then die in the crowd, someone let out an incredulous gasp. Everyone’s gaze was involuntarily drawn towards it. A white figure was, slowly walking from the end of the street. She wore a thin gauzy dress, her posture solitary and proud. She walked slowly, seemingly ignoring the thrones of people, each step resonating in the gaps of their heartbeats. The surrounding noise of chatter faded as if the mute button had been pressed, quickly silencing into a deathly stillness. Then, someone shouted first, it’s her. It’s the honey apple. The gauzy dress. Grim Reaper. Boom. The entire crowd erupted like a bomb had been dropped, instantly boiling over. She’s here. She’s finally here. Our maple leaf city is saved. Gauzy dress Grim Reaper. Go. Show those bastards. From Huangjin City what’s what? Whoa whoa, I finally see her alive. Shares and shouts merged into a massive wave of sound, nearly lifting the dome of the entire square. Those once impenetrable guild walls fiercely, guarding their positions, now parted like Moses parting the Red Sea. They needed no orders. All players instinctively stepped aside, creating a white passage. That passage led straight to the center of the square. To the glowing teleportation NPC, Yanjio walked down that path paved with awe and hope. He didn’t look at the frenzied faces around him. His steps did not falter. In just a few strides, he arrived in front of the NPC named Time and Space Manager. He reached out and directly clicked on the option to participate in the event. Transmitting for you, the scene before him began to twist and spin. The next second. Deafening shouts of battle and the explosive sounds of magic filled his ears. The acrid smell of sulfur and blood surged into his nostrils. Yanzhou found himself standing atop the walls of a massive fortress. The style of this fortress was familiar to him. It was almost identical to the ancient battlefield node he had entered before. However, this place was no longer silent. Instead, it was a living, brutal meat grinder. Below the walls, waves of black demons crashed against the defenses, one after another, frantically assaulting the line. Countless demons climbed the walls, engaging in a fierce battle with the defending players. Blades flashed, and blood and flesh flew. On the other side of the battlefield, on the distant horizon, several teams of players with varying equipment were gathering. Their target was also this fortress. Surrounded. On all sides. Shield warriors, hold the line. Don’t retreat. Not a single step back. Mage team. Three o ‘clock. Focus fire on that demon overseer. Priests. Watch the front line’s health. A loud end. Penetrating voice echoed over the chaotic battlefield. Yen Jiu looked in the direction of the voice. Not far away, a priest clad in a magnificent golden robe stood on a command platform, continuously issuing precise. Orders. Tian Quan. The president of the Oracle Guild. He was indeed commanding well, coordinating effectively, maintaining a semblance of order in the face of the dual onslaught of demons and hostile players. Stabilizing this precarious defense line. Truly worthy of being the president of one of the top ten guilds. Yen Jiu’s gaze swept across the entire battlefield. The players of Maple Leaf City were compressed onto this small section of the wall, struggling to hold on. The demons were endless. The distant hostile players were watching closely, ready to deliver a fatal blow at any moment. The situation was worse than he had imagined. Yen Jio scratched his head. It seemed Maple Leaf City was not very lucky, randomly assigned to the front line position. This defense was too passive. He looked at the dense mass of demons below. Then he glanced at the other main city players waiting to pick up the scraps in the distance. He stepped forward towards the edge of the wall. He cast a defensive spell on himself. Earth shield a trivial layer of yellow. Light appeared on his surface. Then, under the astonished gaze of the surrounding players.He stepped forward, directly falling from the dozens of meters high city wall into the dense tide of demons below. That white. Figure vanished at the edge of the wall, like a snowflake blown away by the wind. On the wall, all the players froze in their actions. A newly arrived mage, with his fireball spell half-formed, extinguished it. Instantly. He gaped, watching the falling figure. What, what is she doing? There are thousands of demons down there. Shock spread among the defending players like a plague. Even Tian Quan, standing on the command platform, had his hand, which was about to issue orders, frozen in mid-air. The wind from the fall made Yen Jiu’s white gauze skirt flutter. Below was an impenetrable black tide. Countless ferocious demons. Sents the blood food descending from the sky, raising their heads and letting out greedy roars, extending their claws, waiting for that body to splatter into meat paste. Just as she was about to hit the ground, Yen. Zhou’s body was gently lifted by a faint azure airflow. Wind step. That suicidal determination instantly transformed into the lightness of an antelope’s leap. His feet silently landed on the heads of two demons. The surrounding demons didn’t even react. The next moment, Yin Zhou’s body began to spin. His movements carried a peculiar rhythm, the white gauze skirt blooming around him like a lotus of death. A pure torrent of destruction, composed of flames, surged outward from him in all directions. Dragon breath technique. Minus 81 ,370. Minus 61,730. Minus 31,201. Wherever it passed, the demon’s bodies melted away silently under the scorching sun, disintegrating into the most primitive black dust. In the span of a breath, a vast circular area centered on Yenjio was forcibly cleared. In the middle of the clearing, only that white figure stood quietly. On the city wall, there was a dead silence. Everyone forgot to breathe. Is? Is this also a spell? A mage player murmured, feeling his professional faith collapse at that moment. Yanjio ignored the commotion on. The wall. He raised one hand, palm facing the direction of the city gate. Stellar impact. A brilliant torrent of starlight burst forth from his palm, clearing several demons blocking the way ahead. Minus 20,130. Minus 6,847. Minus 6,419. He stepped forward. Raised his hand again. Stellar impact. Wave after wave of torrents. A straight path paved with the ashes of demons extended from beneath his feet all the way to the tightly closed. Fortress gate. Tianquan suddenly came to his senses. His chest heaved violently, not from fear but from an extreme excitement. Everyone. His roar drowned out all the noise on the battlefield. Open the city gate. Shield warriors in front. Mages follow. Charge out. Cover the gauze-skirted reaper. Hurry. The heavy city gate groaned under the strain, slowly rising. The players from Maple Leaf City, who could know. Longer hold back, surged out like a long repressed torrent, shouting as they rushed forward. They fought alongside the remaining demons along the safe path opened by Yanjou. On the other end of the battlefield, those other main city players who had been waiting to pick up scraps received videos and messages from thieves observing the situation on the other side. Retreat. Damn it, it’s one of the three absolutes, the honey apple. This is maple leaf city, no wonder it’s so hard to chew. What the hell are we even fighting for? Let’s go, go find the next target. Those once predatory teams turned around without hesitation, quickly disappearing over the horizon. The battle ended swiftly. When the last demon turned to ashes, the entire battlefield fell into an eerie silence once more, the players of Maple Leaf City stood breathless in. Place, their faces filled with awe and fervor as they watched the solitary white figure slowly walking back. Yanjio made his way through the crowd, heading straight for Tian Quan. Tian Quan adjusted his robe, trying to appear less disheveled. My lord honey apple, although we have met before, allow me to introduce myself again. I am Tian Quan, the president of the Oracle Guild. Thank you very much for your assistance. He tried to keep his tone calm and noble. Yanjio, however, seemed not to hear him. Her face behind the veil showed no expression. Is there a canyon nearby? Or perhaps a large fissure? Ah, the pile of polite remarks Tianquan had prepared instantly lodged in his throat. He still couldn’t keep up with this woman’s train of thought. A canyon? Yes. Yanjio nodded. Tianquan sighed, a hint of bitterness crossing his face. We just arrived yesterday and had no time to explore the surrounding terrain. You may not know, but we were randomly assigned to the front line. Just as we got our footing, the demons began their siege. Fortunately, the demon levels here are dynamically generated based on our average level. After all, we are the elite of Maple Leaf City, so handling a few waves of attacks shouldn’t be a problem. He paused here. A complex frustration flashing across his face. But since 4 o’clock this morning, players from the surrounding main cities have started to harass us. They don’t dare to launch a full-scale attack, so they. Just watch from the periphery, occasionally casting a few spells to draw our attention, forcing us to split our defenses, waiting for the demons to breach the city walls. Once the demons have climbed the walls, they immediately begin their assault. If it weren’t for Ming Yao and In Hu, leading people to fight back against several waves of ambushes, we might have already. Tian Quan didn’t continue. He had had quite a few conflicts with Ming Yao, but now he had to admit that it was that woman who preserved the last dignity of Maple Leaf City. Yen Jiu listened to his account, deep in thought. Being stuck here in passive. Defense to grind points was indeed possible, but it was too slow and not secure enough. Since she was already here, she needed to find the fastest way to claim the top spot. Even if the city was ultimately breached, she was confident she could single -handedly push her points to the top. She casually swiped open the activity leaderboard. Teleportation Era Competition Leaderboard 1ST Place, Tianfong City 290H Place, Haishi City 30TH Place, Tielu City 390H Place, Maple Leaf City 390H Place, Eye of the Storm. The rankings were decent, not too bad. Yen Jio closed the leaderboard. From which direction did those demons come? She asked. Tian Kuan was taken aback for a moment, instinctively raising his hand to point to the left rear of the fortress. Over there, demons have been trickling in, then gathering at the city gate to begin. Their siege. Yen Jio looked in the direction he pointed. She didn’t say another word, turned around, and stepped forward, heading straight in that direction, leaving behind a cold white silhouette and a city, full of astonished players. On the desolate plain, the wind was the only sound. Yanjio took out several commander badges from her backpack. One, two, three, a total of five. She didn’t wear them, just tossed them casually in her hand, the black iron badges clinking softly in the dim light. Not far ahead, a small wave of demons surged once again on the black horizon. They spotted the solitary white figure and immediately let out excited howls, charging forward. Yanjio stopped. She didn’t even draw her sword. She simply raised her hand towards the black tide and gently clenched it. Spell surge falling stars. A brilliant. Torrent instantly engulfed everything. She continued forward. Along the way, he cleared several waves of similar demon tides and noticed that the density of monsters began to increase at an abnormal rate. The ground was no longer hard rock and parched soil. A dark red, fungus-like substance started to spread. The smell of sulfur in the air was thick and pungent. After walking for a while, when he climbed over a low ridge, the sight before him made him stop in his tracks. At the end of the plane, there was no longer a horizon. The sky was torn apart. Five enormous and twisted black rifts hung in the air, like five horrific scars that could not heal. Inside each rift, chaotic energy surged. An endless stream of demons fell from them like dumplings. They varied in shape, densely packed. And right beneath those five rifts, nine barracks built, from bones and black rocks lined up, forming a terrifying defensive line that spanned the entire plane. The scale was more than ten times more spectacular than what he had seen at the bottom of the abyss. Combless. Demons moved within, gathering and roaring. It was a true army. Yanjio silently calculated. If this number surged towards the fortress of Maple Leaf City, that little stone wall would probably not hold for three minutes. He hefted his long knife, pinned the commander’s badge to his chest and swaggered towards the nearest barak. The two demon sentinels at the entrance noticed him and were about to roar. Yanjio impatiently tapped his badge with his finger. The sentinels’ roars caught in their throats. They saw the badge and instinctively wanted to submit. Yanjio didn’t give them time to react. He pointed towards the depths. of the barak, then pointed at himself. Finally, he made a throat-cutting gesture. A challenge. Boss. This set of skilled body language was simple, crude, and transcended species. The two demon sentinels massive. Bodies visibly trembled. One of the sentinels timidly raised its claw and pointed to a huge building behind the barak, resembling a small hill. Yanjio nodded and walked straight over. At the entrance of the hill-like building sat a commander even larger than Vero. Rift Commander Zilic, Black Iron Level Boss, Race, Demon Level, LV17 Health, 16500 Attack, 450 Defense, 380 Skills, Magic Flame Slash, Rift Summon, Heavy Pressure Dot. The attributes were slightly higher than the previous one. Just a little. Commander Kez had clearly noticed him, or rather, noticed the badge on his chest that belonged to Akali. It opened. Its massive mouth and let out a roar filled with provocation and greed. Yen Jiu sighed. Here we go again. He drew his long knife. The blade flashed. Minus 9880. Commander Zillik’s roar turned into a painful howl. Its. Enormous body had just stood up, not yet able to unleash any skills. The second blade light had already struck down. Minus 10150. The health bar emptied. The massive body crashed to the ground. The entire process took. No more than three seconds. The demon soldiers, who had been restless, instantly fell into dead silence. They watched the white figure pick up the badge and loot dropped by the boss. Then, they all instinctively. knelt on the ground. Yenjiyo sheathed his knife. He turned around and pointed to the second barak next door at the group of demons that had just submitted. Go. Change the venue. Just like that, he led the little brothers from the first barak, marching grandly towards the second barak. The same method. Challenge, instant kill, recruit. When he walked out of the second barak, the tide of demons behind him had doubled in size. Things were going so smoothly it was almost boring. However, just as he stepped into the 3rd Barak with this temporarily assembled demon army, the situation changed. The commander of the 3rd. Barak seemed to be a bit smarter. It did not immediately let out a challenging roar, its crimson compound eyes fixed intently on the demons of the two troops behind Yenjo. It sensed the aura of death belonging to its fallen comrades emanating from the two new badges. Roar. A sharp, warning cry erupted from its throat, starkly different from before. As soon as Yenjo’s first strike landed, minus 9810, the commander. seemed to realize its impending doom. Its body did not charge at Yenzhou. Instead, it exploded violently. The commander’s massive form shattered into eight pieces of flesh, ablaze with demonic flames, in an instant. Those eight pieces transformed into eight streams of black light, shooting off in all directions at an astonishing speed. Seven of them darted towards the nearby barracks that had yet to be visited. The last. One shot towards the demonic rift in the sky. It was going to send a warning. Yenzhou’s movements were faster than its thoughts. In the moment the opponent’s body exploded, wind step. His figure became a ground-hugging. After image, instantly catching up to two of the streams of light. The blade glimmered, then extinguished. Minus 9537. Minus 9300. Two pieces of flesh were sliced apart in mid-air. He did not pause, forcibly twisting. His body in the air, pointing at the remaining pieces of flesh, thought for a moment, then retracted his hand. It was better not to use spells in the demon barracks, who knew how sensitive they were to magic. Moreover. Winning the battle through pure hand-to-hand combat would further establish his prestige. The remaining pieces of flesh successfully rushed into the adjacent barracks. They emitted piercing, victorious shrieks. In mid-air. Then, they completely vanished into the depths of the barracks. Those few escaping pieces of flesh ignited the entire demon camp like sparks thrown into boiling oil. Roar. Grr. From deep within. The neighboring barracks’ furious roars erupted almost simultaneously. Following that, the third, the fourth, Massive, twisted figures burst forth from their respective lairs, their crimson pupils collectively, gazing towards the source of the chaos. The air was thick with a will of violence and disorder. The two recently recruited demon troops behind Yanjio began to stir restlessly. They sensed the wrath of other commanders, a suppression rooted in bloodlines that instinctively filled these lower demons with fear. Yanjio paid no mind to the unrest of his subordinates behind him. He simply sheathed his blade and pinned the commander badge to his chest. Then, he turned and walked towards the fourth barracks. His steps remained unhurried, as if the roars echoing across the plane were merely inconsequential background noise. His calm, demeanor gradually quieted the agitated demons behind him. Their instincts told them to obey the stronger one, and the small figure before them had just killed a commander in a way they could not comprehend. In the center of the plane, on a patch of ground made of black rock, seven massive figures had gathered together. They were all the remaining demon commanders in the area. Each one varied in form, but the evil aura radiating from each was enough to make the earth tremble. Roar. One commander, covered in bony plates, was the first. To issue a questioning roar, pounding its chest and pointing towards the direction of the chaos. Its meaning was clear, why provoke that monster? Screech. Another. Commander, with insect-like compound eyes, emitted a sharp hiss. Its meaning was unmistakable, the invader had killed their comrade and stolen the badge, a provocation. To all commanders. He must be killed. Gore, a particularly corpulent commander, resembling a lump of rotten flesh, let out a dull whimper. Greed. It sensed the power. from those badges that could make it stronger. It wanted those badges. Roar. Hiss. The brief exchange was filled with primal violence and desire. They quickly. Reached a consensus. Kill that invader. Split his badge. As for who gets to divide it, it depends on whose fist is bigger. The seven commanders turned simultaneously. Behind them, seven armies of demons, gathered from their respective barracks, began to surge forward like a black tide, slowly pressing in the same direction. Yen Jil was already standing at the entrance of the fourth barack. Five commander badges hung from his chest, clinking together. Behind him was a massive army hastily. Assembled from three barracks of demons. Chaotic, disordered, but astonishing in number. Opposite him, the commander of the 7th Barak did not stay in its lair. It stood. Ready with all the demons under its command. Moreover, in the distance on the horizon, a black wave was sweeping in. That was the army of the other six commanders. They formed. A half encirclement, completely blocking Yenjiyo and the rebels behind him. The air seemed to freeze. The smell of sulfur and blood was thick enough to suffocate. 2. Black oceans of demons faced each other on this desolate plain. On one side was the coalition personally led by the seven commanders, their formation relatively orderly and filled with killing intent. On the other side were six remnants of soldiers who had lost their leader, huddled confusedly behind a white figure, chaotic and at a loss. The only one standing was Yenjo. He looked at the seven bosses, larger and more grotesque than elite monsters, and calmly drew his long knife. He didn’t even glance at the dark. Massive subordinates behind him. The real battle had always been his alone. The seven commanders opposite him clearly had no such thoughts. In their perception, this was. War. Roar. Seven roars merged into a destructive sound wave that swept across the field. The signal for a full-scale attack. The seven rift commanders, massive bodies like. Moving hills, charged forward first. Each step they took made the ground emit a dull moan. Behind them was a deathly tide formed by tens of thousands of demon soldiers. The rebels behind Yen Jio let out terrified shrieks in the face of this terrifying might, some crawling on the ground, trembling. Others turned to flee, wanting to escape this deadly battlefield. However, Yen Jio did not move. He simply stood quietly in place, watching the seven massive figures charging toward him. His figures seemed as insignificant as dust compared to the apocalyptic demon army. Just as the armored commander’s enormous claw was about to strike down upon him, the white figure vanished. Powerful blow of the armored commander crashed into the ground, sending debris flying and leaving a massive pit. But it hit nothing. Its simple mind hadn’t even had time to register confusion. A cold flash of a blade appeared at its side. Minus 9,980. A huge damage number floated up from its head. The intense pain made it let out a pained roar. It spun around violently, trying to find the ambusher. But what greeted it was the second flash of the blade. Minus 10,350. Its health bar was instantly emptied. The massive body of the armored commander crashed to the ground. The momentum of the charge came to an abrupt halt. The entire process was incredibly fast. So much so that the other six commanders nearby didn’t even react. When they saw their companion fall, Yan Zhou’s figure had already appeared in front of another compoundite commander. That commander didn’t even have time to let out a screech. The blade flashed. Minus 9850. Minus 10110. Another massive corpse fell in the path of the charge. This time, the remaining five commanders finally, sensed something was wrong. This kindred, no, this invader, was stronger than they could comprehend. This was not a challenge. It was a massacre. The most corpulent, flabby. Commander was the first to stop in its tracks, its body, losing with pus, began to writhe backward. It wanted to run. But Yanjou’s speed was faster. The white afterimage, like, a blade cutting through a black curtain, precisely pierced the center of the remaining five overseers’ formation. The flash of the blade was like a blooming death lotus. minus 8,120, minus 9,790. The third overseer fell to the ground in response. The charge of the remaining four overseers came to a complete halt. In their crimson pupils, for the first time, an emotion called fear appeared. Greed, anger, brutality, all the innate instincts of abyssal creatures were utterly crushed at that moment by that white figure with the purest violence. They watched as the tiny human approached them step by step. He said nothing, and the overseer badge in front of him exuded a powerful sense of oppression. The long knife in his hand was not raised again, but that invisible pressure was heavier than mountains and more terrifying than the abyss. Thud. One bat winged. Overseer was the first to drop its giant axe. Its sturdy legs went weak. The massive body knelt heavily on the ground. Its head hung low. Its action was like a contagious. Signal. The second. The third. The fourth. The remaining four rift overseers all knelt before Yanjio. They laid down their weapons, retracted their claws, and expressed their complete submission in a demonic manner. The torrent of demons that had swept in also came to a halt. All the demons stared blankly at the unbelievable scene in the center of the battlefield. Their king had knelt. Yen Jio walked up to the kneeling overseers and extended his hand. The overseers hesitated for a moment then obediently removed the badges from their chests and respectfully handed them to Yen Jio. Yen Jio took the last warm badge from the trembling demon claw. A pile of overseer badges. He pinned them all. To his chest, layer upon layer, like a child who had just received all the little red flower rewards from kindergarten and was eager to show off to the world. The badges. Clashed against each other, producing a dull yet crisp metallic sound. This sound became the only melody in the dead silence of the plane. He raised his head. The five massive. Rifts suspended in the sky continued to churn tirelessly, spitting out one new demon after another. They were the root of the problem. If they weren’t resolved, the demons. On this plane would never be finished. Too high. With, windstep, and, astral walk, he still couldn’t reach that height. It was a barrier that loomed before all players. Insurmountable. To just leave the demon army he had painstakingly fought for here would be too wasteful. A crazy thought sprouted in his mind. Since he was going to do it, he might as well do it thoroughly. He opened his backpack interface and began rummaging through it. A pile of miscellaneous materials and equipment all picked up during his. Previous cleanup of the demon tide. Soon, he found a black robe. Overseer robe, quality, bronze, level requirement, 17, equipment type, cloth chest armor, attributes, intelligence plus 30, spirit plus 20, casting speed plus 10%, class requirement, mage, priest, the attributes were quite average. But the style was good. Yen Jio nodded in satisfaction. If he was going to do something bad, he couldn’t do it while wearing his own disguise. He didn’t want to go out and get hit with rotten eggs. He skillfully brought up the illusion, interface. A cold and gentle female face began to reshape. The jawline became rugged. The bridge of the nose became higher and straighter. He thought for a moment. And casually added a fierce scar that ran through the left eye. An image of a man who looked weathered and wild appeared in place. As for the name, Yanjio couldn’t be. Bothered to think any further. He directly typed those four familiar characters in the input box. I love drinking. Good. Everything was ready, fortunately, before coming to the military camp. He had cleared several waves of demon tides, which had worn down quite a bit of his gear. He took off his entire set of equipment piece by piece and changed. Into the tattered rags he had stripped from the demon’s. Severely worn fabric trousers long boots stained with dried blood. Finally, he donned the commander’s robe. Now. He looked like a pure newbie who had just entered the game, scavenging whatever he could find to wear in his hunger. The only thing that could prove his identity was perhaps. The few jingling commander badges on his chest. After doing all this, Yanzhou walked up to the bat-winged commander that had knelt before him first. The massive demon. remained in a kneeling position, its body trembling violently from fear. Yanjio took a step forward and then leaped into the air. He landed lightly on the broad back of the bat -winged commander. This action was clearly more effective than any complex body language. The bat -winged commander’s body suddenly stiffened. It felt the irresistible will emanating from the small creature on its back. Yanjio casually rummaged through his backpack and pulled out a plain wooden staff dropped by some minor monster. He pointed the staff forward. Let’s go. The commander turned around, looking at the dark mass behind it, a terrifying tide formed by several barracks of demons. Roar. A d, yet. Commanding roar erupted from its throat. That was the signal to gather. The demons, who had been confused, chaotic, and at a loss, seemed to find their backbone upon hearing. This roar. They began to move. The black ocean started to surge slowly in the same direction. The ground groaned under the burden of tens of thousands of demon footsteps. Yen Jiu sat on the commander’s back, feeling the vibrations beneath him. He was very satisfied. This was what war should look like. He opened the activity leaderboard. Teleportation Era Conquest Battle Leaderboard 1st Place, Tianfong City 4th Place, Maple Leaf City 280th Place, Ironforge City 290th Place, Blackrock City 30th Place, I. Of the storm to his surprise, Maple Leaf City was not even in first place after Yanjio had killed so many commanders. But it didn’t matter. Soon, everything would change. He. Would lead this unprecedented, hastily assembled demon army to sweep across the battlefield. He wanted all the players on this continent to feel what true despair was. He would. Make Maple Leaf City reach the top in a way that no one could imagine. As for how much scorn he would face in the process, that was beyond his consideration. After all. His current alias was I love drinking. Yen Jio nodded proudly, he was quite sinister. The fortress of Maple Leaf City finally welcomed a moment of peace. The air was filled. With the smell of sulfur mixed with ozone, the lingering scent of burnt demon corpses and residual magic. The surviving players slumped against the city walls, gasping for breath their relief at surviving the ordeal temporarily making them forget their fatigue. Tian Quan adjusted his dusty golden robe counting the losses and gains from the battle. Just then, a familiar figure appeared not far from him, Ming Yao. She was still in her silver form-fitting plate armor, outlining her tight curves, her face wearing, an air of cold indifference that warned others to keep their distance. Tian Quan steadied himself and walked over. You’re here. Thanks to you bringing people to hold off. Those ambushing teams last night. He tried to make his opening line sound calm and appropriate, like a qualified leader. Ming Yao didn’t even look at him. Her gaze passed. Over the city wall, directed at the area that had been cleared by the honey apple. There were still scorch marks from the spells left behind. Tian Quan’s words hung in the air. Members of the Oracle Guild and elites from other guilds noticed the commotion over here. Tian Quan felt his cheeks flush slightly. He didn’t like the feeling of being ignored, especially under the gaze of so many. Ming Yao. His tone grew heavier. I know you have issues with me, but this is a group activity and I hope we can set aside our personal grievances for now. I admit, in other games before, I acted rather immaturely, using many unrefined methods to pursue you. He paused, as if he had made a significant decision. I apologize to you. Since the launch of the illusion realm, I have grown a lot. If you really can’t accept me, then say it clearly in front of everyone. I swear, I will never bother you again. He spoke these words with conviction. It felt like a confession, yet also like a final ultimatum. Many players cast curious. Glances their way. Mingya finally turned her head to look at him. On her beautiful face, there was no sign of emotion, only a pure, unmasked annoyance. She even took a small. Step back, not wanting to share the same heiress him. Mingya showed a proud and aloof expression to everyone except for Yen Jio and the sisters in the guild. Her rank of. 36 on the level leaderboard, along with being 4th among paladins, indeed gave her that strength. Tian Quan’s carefully prepared words crumbled in an instant. He felt like a clown stripped of his clothes in public. Ming Yao ignored the changing colors on his face. In her mind, for no reason, another face suddenly appeared. That handsome face. Always carrying a hint of mischief. She suddenly wanted to know what Yen Jiu would say if he were here facing this situation. Just as the atmosphere on the city wall reached, an awkward peak, a low, rhythmic vibration came from afar. Thud. Thud. Thud. The sound was like a massive heart beating beneath the plains. What’s going on? Is there an earthquake? A shield warrior resting against the wall was the first to sense something was off. He pushed himself up against the wall and looked toward the source of the tremor. In the next second, his pupils dilated in shock. What, what is that? His scream pierced the silence of the fortress. Everyone was startled and rushed to the edge of the city wall. Tian Quan, forgetting his humiliation, hurried up to the highest command platform in a few quick steps. When he saw the scene on the horizon, he froze. Black. An endless wave of black. This was not the scattered troops of thousands of demons from before. This was a real army. Countless demons of various forms were organized. Into formations, marching in perfect unison, slowly advancing toward the fortress. At the forefront of the army were several massive boss-level commanders, towering like. Small mountains. The terrifying pressure they exuded made it hard to breathe even from a distance. Despair. A deeper despair than when they were previously besieged gripped. Everyone’s hearts. It’s over. A mage collapsed to the ground, murmuring. This time it’s really over. So many monsters, how can we defend? Where’s Lord Sive? In her gauzy skirt? Panic and suspicion spread like a virus. Tian Kuan’s face turned ashen. These monsters were all at least elite level. He knew that this gap could not be bridged by tactics and will alone. This city could not be defended. The grandiose words he had spoken yesterday while investing in the Oracle Guild were about to come to an end before they even began. Just as everyone fell into chaos and despair, only Ming Yao furrowed her brows tightly. Ming Yao keenly sensed something was off. This demon. Army, though imposing, seemed not to be targeting the fortress. Their marching route slightly veered to the right, as if they intended to bypass the fortress. No. Ming. Yao suddenly spoke up. Her voice was not loud, but at that moment on the chaotic city wall, it sounded exceptionally clear. Look. She pointed with her finger towards the forefront of that black ocean. At the front of that army, Tian Quan suddenly snapped back to reality, raising the monocular telescope in his trembling hands, aiming it in. that direction. The view zoomed in. He saw clearly. In front of those terrifying rift commanders, there was an even larger batwing commander. And on the broad back of that commander sat a figure. A player. He was dressed in tattered cloth armor, looking like a rookie just out of the beginner village. On his face, there was a gruesome scar that ran through his left eye. Hanging on his chest was a pile of jingling badges, so many that they almost covered his entire torso. The man simply sat there quietly. The demon. Army beneath him was like the most docile lambs. A torrent of death composed of tens of thousands of demons slowly came to a halt about a kilometer from the Maple Leaf City. Fortress. They did not roar. They did not charge. They simply lined up quietly, waiting for the next command from that man. The entire battlefield fell into a strange silence. On the city walls, all the players of Maple Leaf City forgot to breathe. Above the walls, there was a deathly stillness. The wind was frozen. The breaths of tens of thousands of players seemed to be frozen as well. Everyone’s movements were suspended in the moment of raising their weapons or preparing to cast spells, like statues petrified. By fear. They looked down at the black ocean. They gazed at the solitary player figure sitting on the back of the commander. Time stretched infinitely at that moment. Every. Second felt like torture in hell. In this almost maddening silence, that figure moved. He seemed a bit impatient, lifting his foot and gently kicking the back of the batwing. Commander’s neck. Then, he extended a finger, pointing to the right side of the fortress. A simple action. No roar. No command. The massive body of the batwing commander suddenly trembled. It seemed to have understood some supreme oracle. Roar. A low growl, completely different from before, rolled out from deep within its throat, suppressing excitement and awe. It turned around. The enormous wings flared open, stirring up a foul wind. It began to move. The dozen or so equally large commanders following it also turned around. Immediately after, the vast black ocean composed of tens of thousands of demons began to slowly change direction. uniform and orderly they followed orders without question they did not charge towards the maple leaf city fortress instead they majestically circled around the fortress in the direction the man pointed thud thud thud the tremors of the earth returned this time however it was no longer the death knell but rather an absurd farewell song the players on the walls watched as the army capable of grinding them to dust brushed past them that feeling was like an ant watching a giant dragon pass by its nest the dragon not even glancing down at it It was unclear who was the first to exhale a long breath. This breath felt like a signal. The nerves stretched to their limits instantly relaxed. They left. They. They really left. My god. I thought I was done for. The ecstatic relief of surviving mixed with an incomprehensible sense of absurdity erupted among the crowd. Who? Is that person? Who is he? How can he control the demon army? Is he an ally? Or, is he going to attack another city? Did anyone see his ID? The noisy discussions. Instantly drowned out the entire city wall. Tian Kuan slowly lowered the monocular telescope in his hands. His arms trembled uncontrollably. Just now, he desperately tried to see that man’s name. But the distance was too far to he could only see the blurry scarred face and the dazzling shine on the chest. The ID was too small, blurred into a mass. President? A member of the Oracle Guild beside him cautiously spoke up. Should we send someone to make contact? Tian Kuan did not answer. He felt his throat dry. Unable to utter a word. Contact? What could he use to make contact? He suddenly recalled how he felt when he first entered the game. How full of vigor he was. How confident. He was. He prided himself on being the future leader of the illusion realm, a future gaming giant. Yet reality, time and again, rubbed his pride into the ground. First, there, were a few anonymous players stirring up trouble in the novice village. Then there was that woman named Honey Apple who forced him to lower his proud head all by herself. Now, another mysterious man who could command an army of demons had emerged. He opened his leaderboard. Level leaderboard rank 98. Tianchuan this number felt like a red hot. Branding iron, searing his heart. His former goal was to be at the top. To be one of the three absolutes. Now, he was barely hanging on to a spot in the top 100. He instinctively glanced at Mingyao not far away. That woman had been watching calmly from the beginning. She slowly sheathed her knight’s sword, as if the apocalyptic scene. Below was just an inconsequential slideshow. Her calmness made Tianquan feel more embarrassed than any mockery could. He felt like a clown. a self-important protagonist, who wasn’t even worthy of being a supporting character. The massive demon army had already moved far away. On the horizon, only a slowly moving black cloud of dust remained. The ominous clouds hanging over everyone had dispersed. The walls of the city had finally returned to their bustling and vibrant state. Only Tian Quan remained, standing, motionless on the command platform. He felt as if all his strength had been drained. An unprecedented sense of powerlessness swept over him. He once thought that with his. intellect, financial resources, and the elite of the Oracle Guild he could carve out a place for himself in this chaotic world. It was only today that he realized how absurdly wrong he had been in front of those true monsters at the top of the pyramid. All his efforts and calculations seemed so pale, so laughable. Ha! A light laugh escaped. His lips filled with endless bitterness and self-mockery. He slowly turned around, turning his back on the noisy crowd in the departing demon army. He looked at the fortress, where his own side’s positions were now in disarray from the recent shock. After a long while he let out a long sigh. Heroes in the world are as numerous as fish. Crossing a river. The massive demon army had completely vanished beyond the horizon. The clamor above the fortress of Maple Leaf City gradually subsided. The players who. Had survived the ordeal dispersed, repairing structures and replenishing potions. Only Mingyao remained standing in place. She gazed in the direction where the army had. Disappeared, her brow slightly furrowed. That man, the scarred face riding on the commander’s back. She always felt an inexplicable familiarity with his nonchalant demeanor. 50 kilometers away from the fortress of Maple Leaf City. Huangjin City. Teleportation era competition leader board rank 63. Huangjin City The scale of this fortress was similar to that of Maple Leaf City. But the players on the walls appeared much sparser. A burly man with the ID Iron Blood battle. Maniac stood with his hands on his hips patrolling the walls. He was the president of the Iron Blood Alliance and the highest commander of Huangjin City. Everyone, get your spirits up. We just tried to raid Maple Leaf City and we didn’t even get a sip of soup. We can’t let ourselves get raided. That scythe-wielding reaper is really insane. One spin took out more than half of us. A scout player rushed up to the walls, panting heavily. President. It’s bad. It seems, something really big has happened over at Maple Leaf City. Ironblood Battle Maniac opened the regional communication.in. The chat bar, a blurry yet shocking video was playing. It showed the thieves he had left outside various fortresses. A black ocean of demons. those hill-like commanders and that man sitting atop the demon with a scarred face the eyes of the iron blood berserker suddenly narrowed what the hell what the hell is that players can control the demon army what kind of international joke is this before he could finish his sentence the ground began to shake thud thud thud the iron blood berserker turned sharply looking into the distance that black wave devouring the heavens and the earth was heading straight for his iron furnace city enemy attack all personnel On alert. The piercing alarm shattered the tranquility of Iron Furnace City. The players on the city walls instantly fell into panic. What is that? It’s the army from the video. Why are they charging at us? President, what do we do? The iron blood berserker’s face turned pale. He stared intently at the front of that army. The man sitting on the commander’s back slowly raised a staff. He pointed towards Iron Furnace City. Roar. Tens of thousands of demons roared in unison. The next second, the black ocean boiled. Countless demons surged forward like a flood unleashed, charging at the small fortress. Open fire. Mage team. Indiscriminate coverage. Archers. Free fire. The iron blood berserker roared with all his might. The reign of arrows soared. Magic. Sparkled. Countless attacks fell into that black wave. Minus 321. Minus 249. Minus 185. The floating damage numbers were dense yet laughable. For that army of tens of thousands of demons, this amount of damage was hardly worth mentioning. The tide of demons showed no signs of stopping. They didn’t even employ any tactics. It was the purest, most primitive form of crushing through sheer numbers. Boom. The first low-level demon crashed into the shield of the city wall. Then came the second, the third, the hundredth. The transparent magical shield rippled violently, its color fading at a visible speed. Crack. A crisp sound. The shield shattered. The players on the city wall showed despair on their faces. Demons surged onto the battlements like a tide. Claws. Fangs. Roars. Blood. Stained the black rocks. A shield warrior from the Iron Blood Alliance had just knocked a small demon away with his shield. The. Next second, a massive demon guard cleaved him and his shield in half with its giant axe. A mage had just finished casting a fireball spell. A gargoyle descending from the sky pierced through his chest with its claws. This was not war. This was one-sided. Slaughter. The Iron Blood Berserker swung his battle axe, knocking down three low-level demons that charged at him. He looked up. Towards the city below. That scarred face man still sat quietly on the commander’s back. He looked like a cold spectator, enjoying the tragedy he had orchestrated. Who the hell are you? The iron blood berserker shouted in unwilling anger. The answer came in. The form of a massive rock thrown casually by a commander. Boom. The iron blood berserker’s body was sent flying like a broken sandbag. When he struggled to stand up, the city gate had already been breached. Huangjin fortress had fallen. From the moment the Demon army charged to the city walls collapse, the entire process took no more than two minutes. Yen Jio sat on the commander’s back, expressionless as he watched it all unfold. He didn’t even need to intervene personally. Too weak. These so-called elite players were utterly fragile in front of his hastily assembled army. He opened the activity leaderboard. Teleportation era. Competition leaderboard, 1st place, Tianfeng City, 4th place, Maple Leaf City, 29th place, Heishi City, 30th place, Eye of the. Storm, Maple Leaf City’s ranking remained 4th.No change. Yanjio frowned. He understood. Players killed by demons, or fortresses. Destroyed, would not add any points to Maple Leaf City. This event only counted the points obtained from players personally killing. Demons. At least he needed to clear the surrounding cities to prevent them from raiding while he was offline. He raised the. Wooden staff in his hand and pointed to the next nearest light spot. Go. Turn this place upside down. The Batwing commander let out a low growl. The massive demon army began to turn. They trampled over the ruins of Huangjin City, stepping over the still unvanished corpses of players and continued forward towards the next target. The world channel exploded at that moment. World, iron. Blood battle maniac damn. Huangjin City is gone. Brothers, run. A freak is leading a demon army to slaughter the city. The. Ideas, damn, I didn’t see it clearly. World, chasing the wind, what? Is this for real? The iron blood alliance has so many. People, and they can’t hold on for 5 minutes? World, a bystander, it’s true. I just ran out of Huangjin City. That’s not. An army, that’s a natural disaster. It’s a sea of black, there’s no way to fight. World, I want to make the leaderboard, video. There’s a video. Damn. The number of demons. This scale. Is this cheating? World, cute little rabbit, that scar-faced. Guy is so scary. World, I am Miss Lu’s dog, I saw it clearly, the idea is I love drinking. World, three days to heaven, I love. Drinking? Isn’t he the one who started this event? World, Oracle, Tian Quan. Panic spread throughout the entire server. And the instigator of all this was leisurely sitting on the commander’s back planning the next fireworks show. He glanced at. His new alias. I love drinking. Then, he looked again at the jingling badges on his chest. Yanjio nodded in satisfaction. This. Feeling of being the villain seemed, not bad at all. Above the ruins of Huangjin City, black smoke curled up. The demon army did. Not stop for a moment. They trampled over the scorched earth and the still unrefreshed corpses of players, like an unstoppable. Black Iron Tide, continuing towards the next coordinate point. The entire Eastern Warzone of Illusion was completely engulfed in panic. World Channel, Iron Blood Battle Maniac, damn. The next target is Rock Fortress. Brothers at Rock Fortress, run. That madman has taken the boss team over there. World Channel, chasing the wind, I just wanna know, who the hell is I love? Drinking? Is he one of the three absolutes? World Channel, professional drain cleaner, absolutely. Who else has this ability? Besides the three absolutes? Dammit, while others are playing the game, he’s playing in GM mode. World channel, cute little rabbit, what does he want to do? Kill everyone. The clamor in the world channel could no longer influence the course of events. Panic was spreading. Despair was also spreading. And in the back of this unknown continent, where all players could not reach, stood a city so magnificent it seemed otherworldly. At the very center of the city was an ancient and majestic palace. Inside the throne hall, the light was dim. Above the massive dome, stained glass depicted the ancient epics of the heavenly kingdom. A withered old man, wearing a crooked crown, was weakly sunk into the enormous throne. In front of him stood two people. One was an extraordinarily burly man. He carried a wildly designed giant axe on his shoulder and the dark golden fierce armor he wore. Seemed to have been stripped from an abyssal demon, every inch flowing with heart-pounding power. The other was a beautiful girl dressed in a blue robe. Her holy aura formed a stark contrast with the warrior beside her who looked like a demon god descended to the world. The Year of Embers 310. The girl’s melodious voice echoed in the hall, as if singing a verse of a fate long, predetermined. The last king of the Celestial Kingdom, faced with an unstoppable demon, chose to build thousands of fortresses, isolating the land and his people within one desperate stronghold after another. The old man on the throne, the last monarch of the Celestial Kingdom, heart, slightly moved his eyelids. There was no spark in his murky eyes. The Year of Embers 317. The warrior, wielding a massive axe, spoke with a voice like metal scraping against metal. The capital has fallen. His words were. Simple and brutal, like a heavy hammer shattering the last remnants of warmth in history. The girl ignored the warrior’s interruption. And continued, 38 years later, your bloodline will unite with the other nations of the seven kingdoms, driving the. Abyss away from the scorched earth. They will tread upon your corpse, establishing a brand new, more glorious celestial kingdom. Atop the ruins of the old capital. This is the future I see. You should also understand, this is your future. The warrior. Stepped forward. Thud. The heavy boots made the entire hall tremble. He raised his massive axe, pointing it at Hart on the throne. Make your decision. The last monarch of the celestial kingdom, Hart. Will you be remembered as a hero or as a coward? Nailed to the pillar of shame and history by your own bloodline? Hart slowly lifted his head. He looked at the two people before him. One, prophesying the future. The other, judging the present. He let out a long sigh, as if exhausting all his vitality. At the same time, thousands of miles away. In a deathly place known as, General’s Tomb. This is the end of ancient wars, where countless fallen knights and generals are buried. The moonlight was cold, like mercury. Spilled on the ground. At the top of the tallest tombstone sat a slender figure with bare feet. The tight black leather armor outlined breathtaking curves. Two long, fair legs swayed gently in the sunlight. Those bare, tender feet seemed to be the only purity in this land. At her fingertips, a ghostly blue dagger spun skillfully. The cold gleam of the dagger reflected on her flawless face. She leaped lightly from. The tombstone, her bare feet touching the cold earth without stirring a speck of dust. She raised the ghostly blue dagger in her hand. The dagger emitted an eerie glow under the moonlight. Countless black, invisible threads of soul rose from the surrounding graves, merging into the dagger. In the name of the souls. Her voice was soft, yet it clearly resonated throughout the graveyard. Arise, my warriors. Boom. The entire ground trembled violently. Souls awakened from one grave after another. Golden, transparent arms stretched out from the earth. Following that, armored knights, wielding long spears, crawled out. From underground. Their forms were ethereal, their bodies composed of soul fire. In their hollow eye sockets burned a desire for battle. Hundreds. Thousands. Tens of thousands. A dense mass of heroic knights. Awakened from their slumber. They made no sound, only turning in unison to face the woman standing before countless tombstones. Then, they knelt on one knee. Each movement was perfectly synchronized, as if carrying. A loyalty and fervor that spanned millennia. A silent thought converged into a torrent flooding into the woman’s mind. To fight for you, my lady. Meanwhile, Yanjio sat bored on the back of a batwing. Demon pulling out a honey apple and crunching into it. Tens of thousands of demons roared as they charged against the walls before them. The gates of the rock fortress had turned into a pile of smoking rubble. Yanjio did not look back for a second glanced, he kicked the batwinged overseer beneath him with his heel, feeling a bit bored. The wooden staff that had fallen from the demon was casually slung over his shoulder. The next target. He opened the map, searching for the next glowing point that represented a player gathering place. One after another. He aimed to draw a massive safe zone for Maple Leaf City across this. Vast plain. A zone of absolute safety, constructed from fear and ruins. Just then, the world channel began to flash wildly. World, Iron Blood War Madman, Huangjin Fortress is gone too. Damn it. One minute. Just one damn minute. World, Iron Blood War Madman, that ID called I love drinking, is a complete lunatic. He’s not even after points. He’s just slaughtering. World, wind chasing wind, the speed of this. Advance, it’s terrifying. World, twin fire, my god, I just escaped from rock fortress, the whole fortress has been flattened, not a single hair left. World, I want to climb the rankings, the eastern. Part of the map has completely collapsed, all the fortresses built by small and medium guilds have been pushed down by that demon army. World, cute bunny, woo woo, our windmill town has been destroyed too. World, professional drain cleaner, wait, don’t just focus on the east. The southern front. There’s big trouble in the southern warzone too. this message hit like a stone thrown into boiling oil world i want to climb the rankings the south what happened in the south world scolded broken video world scolded broken you guys see for yourselves i don’t even know what words to use to describe it anymore a video was shared to the world channel the footage was shaking violently the cameraman clearly fleeing for his life the background of the video was a gloomy graveyard under the moonlight an endless army was slowly emerging from the depths of the graveyard they were not demons Instead, it was an army composed of souls. Countless armored night spirits rode on translucent warhorses, wielding long spears that flickered with ghostly light. In their eye sockets burned golden flames of soul fire. They moved. Silently. The only sound accompanying the march of the entire army was the dull thud of hooves on the ground, devoid of any other noise. The silence was more suffocating than the roars of. Demons. At the forefront of this undead army, a barefoot woman walked slowly in the void. Her black tight leather armor accentuated her perfect figure. She did not look back, nor did she issue. Any commands. The tens of thousands of night spirits seem to be an extension of her body, following her footsteps, advancing steadily in one direction. World, happy wine man, damn. World, I want to climb the rankings, this, is this the undead disaster? World, I am Miss Lou’s dog, that barefoot lady is so beautiful, I want to eat her. World, one from the south and one from the north, one demon legion, one undead legion. Is this event even playable anymore? World, professional drain cleaner. No, not just two. World, Luotian Galaxy, look at the center of the continent. In the direction of the capital of Tianfong City, another army is coming. Out. World, Luotian Galaxy, they’re wearing, the standard armor of the NPCs from the Kingdom of Heaven, but the one leading them is definitely a player. World, Luotian Galaxy, video. Another video was released. In the footage, a well-equipped, orderly army was departing from a magnificent capital city. At the. Forefront was a burly man wielding a giant axe. Each of his steps made the earth tremble. The target of this army was the abyssal mouths at the border, as well as the player fortresses that had fallen into infighting over points along the way, they swept away all the internal strife among the player factions with the ruthlessness of autumn winds scattering leaves. Cold. Efficient. Without a trace of emotion, the world channel fell into a prolonged silence. Panic, like a plague, spread through. Words, infecting every player paying attention to the matter. A demon lord. A lady of the undead. A bloodthirsty warlord. Three enormous armies, so vast they. Seemed hopeless, simultaneously began their purge across the continent from three different directions. World, Oracle Tenchuan. Tianquan said nothing. He. Merely watched the messages in the channel, feeling his heart slowly sinking into an icy abyss. World, who will the flowers fall to? Three, three invincible. Armies. World, Iron Blood war frenzy, the Iron Blood alliance I painstakingly built can’t even withstand a single charge from them. World, Dragon Rising luwashing. I get it now. World, Iron Blood Lionheart, this is too arrogant. Our Iron Blood guild has decided to form a player alliance to jointly hunt down these monsters. World, Dragon Rising Luoyeon, 3 absolutes. This is fucking 3 absolutes. As soon as this term was mentioned, the entire world channel exploded. World, I wanna climb the rankings, damn. Right. Those 3 mysterious anonymous on the level leaderboard. They finally stopped pretending and flipped. The table. World, Oracle Hua Hua, wait, what about that skirted Grim Reaper? Isn’t Honey Apple one of the 3 absolutes? World, Luo God Morningstar, so. All our hard work and monster hunting and city building is just child’s play in their eyes? World, Luogod Morningstar, Luogod is willing to join the player. Alliance. World, Dragon Rising Wuhue, we are players, are they GMs? World, Dragon Rising Wuhue, Dragon Rising is willing to join the player alliance. World, I am Miss Lu’s dog, I’m fucking losing it. How are we supposed to fight? Are we going to throw ourselves at the boss army? Despair reached its peak. At that. Moment. World, Blood Color Domination, you’re right. World, blood color domination, I don’t believe in this evil. World, blood color domination, they are. Players, and so are we. They have two arms and two legs, and so do we. Why can they be gods while we have to be cannon fodder? His words struck like thunder, awakening many who were immersed in despair. World, blood color domination, all who don’t want to be cannon fodder. All who still want a piece of the pie in. This event. Listen up. World, blood color domination, we can’t defeat any of their armies. But we have numbers. World, blood color domination, they’re three. Armies are all headed for the center of the continent. We will constantly harass them along their path. We will keep causing them trouble. World, blood, color domination, even if it costs lives, we will stir this water. I refuse to believe they have no weaknesses. They don’t need supplies. They won’t get tired. Blood, color domination, was muted for 30 minutes due to frequent speaking in the world channel. World, chasing wind, the blood color guild isn’t any good either. World, I. Want to climb the rankings? If you want to fight, go do it yourself. World, Wind Spirit, the Wind Whisperer Guild is willing to join the player alliance. Panic and despair began to transform into a desperate anger. A spark began to ignite across the world channel. Maple Leaf City Fortress. Tian Quan silently closed. The chat interface. The members of the Oracle Guild around him looked ashen. President. What, should we do? Tian Quan did not answer. He looked up towards. The distance, in the direction the demon army had departed.it turned out that was only a third of the despair. His once grand ambitions seemed incredibly pale and laughable at this moment. He felt like a fool standing before a tsunami, trying to build a dam out of sand. What player alliance? Even if they achieved victory, what difference would it make? With limited resources, the three factions could create a massive army right where they stood, while he only knew how to operate within. The rules, step by step. How could he possibly succeed? Tianxuan’s eyes stared blankly in the direction where the honey apple had disappeared, lost in thought. Yanzhou sat atop the commander’s back, watching the discussions in the world channel with great interest. A player alliance? Quite. Intriguing. He had originally thought he would be the only villain in this grand performance. Unexpectedly, there were two other actors. Of the same caliber on stage. One was a necromancer. The other, a commander. He sliced through the enormous activity map. From the. visible icons of disappearing fortresses he could deduce that three armies were slowly and steadily moving towards the same place from the south north and east of the continent they were like three sharp swords ready to cleave the land apart the scar on yen joe’s face twisted more grotesquely as the corners of his mouth lifted this game seemed to be more interesting than he had imagined he tapped his staff on the commander’s head move faster the world channel had turned into a boiling pot of porridge the so-called Player Alliance, after the rallying cry of Blood Red Tyrant, had actually begun to take shape. Longting, Lu Ocean, Wind Whisperer. One by one, the well-known guilds in Illusion responded. They held different purposes but temporarily united against a common enemy. Those. Scattered soldiers, homeless after being crushed by the three factions, began to gather in another direction of the continent. Like. A swarm of enraged bees. Yanjio merely glanced at them before closing the chat interface. An alliance? Just a rabble. He sat bored atop. The bat-winged commander, watching his demon army flatten yet another small to medium guild’s fortress. Flames. Thick smoke. And the. Player’s unwilling wails before their deaths. None of this stirred a ripple in his heart. He casually opened the leaderboard. Teleportation. Era Conquest Leaderboard 1st. Tianfeng City 2nd. Liu Guang City 3rd. Maple Leaf City Maple Leaf City’s ranking had quietly risen. From 4th to 3rd. The fortress that had originally been in 3rd place was now grayed out. Yanzhou couldn’t even remember its name. It must have been wiped out by one of the other two armies. He stretched lazily, feeling a bit bored. This one-sided crushing, after a while, became just that. Just as he was about to command his army to the next coordinate point, a new fortress appeared on the horizon. A head. The walls of that fortress were taller and sturdier than any he had encountered before. Yet, there was not a soul on the walls. Only. A tattered flag, bearing the words God of War, fluttered in the wind. And beneath that flag stood a man. A man wielding a rusty iron. Sword. His stance was casual, yet exuded a calmness as deep as the mountains. Yanzhou’s movements halted. He squinted, looking at the familiar figure. God of Warhol Yen. An old acquaintance. God of Warhol, a super guild formed by descendants of ancient martial arts. Families in reality. Their initial core members came from generations of martial arts families, branching out and recruiting in different. Main cities across the Seven Kingdoms continent. And the Yen before him, whose real name was Yi Yen, was the pride of the Yi family, the. Most powerful family in the ancient martial arts world today. Previously, the ancient martial arts world had been firmly suppressed by a family with the surname Xiao for 40 years. The head of the Xiao family, known as the first of ancient martial arts, was suddenly gravely injured at the peak of the Xiao family’s power. From that moment on, his heart turned to ashes and he withdrew from the martial world. The Xiao family subsequently declined and the reason remains a mystery to this day. Meanwhile, the Yi family rapidly rose to prominence. After that, I love drinking. yian’s voice came from the city wall not loud but it clearly pierced through the low roars of the demon army he took down the rusty iron sword from his shoulder the sword tip pointing far towards yanzhou one of the three absolutes just right a fervent battle intense surfaced on yian’s face come on let’s have a good fight before his words fell he raised the iron sword high above his head ss level talent solar flare passive all your light attribute skills become fire attribute your Fire attribute damage plus 300% active, summon a ray of sunlight, striking within a 30-yard radius, dealing damage of level asterisk 5 plus strength. 100% plus agility 100% to all units per second, and doubling your talent bonus for 3 minutes, cooldown 30 minutes. The sky seemed to be torn. Open. A blinding golden beam of light descended from above, precisely enveloping the area in front of the fortress gate. Boom. The earth. Was instantly melted. The hard rock turned into boiling magma in just a second. The air was scorched and twisted, emitting a sizzling. Explosion. A demon formation at the forefront, unable to dodge, plunged headlong into this realm of death. Roar. The shrill screams. Even drowned out the previous roars. Minus 3600. Minus 3600. Minus 3600. Dense damage numbers erupted wildly from the heads of those demons. Their bodies. Quickly charred and carbonized in the light beam, ultimately turning to ashes. In just a few breaths, a formation composed of thousands. Of lesser demons in Demon Guards lost more than half of its numbers. Although this loss was not significant against the tens of thousands. Of demons in Yanzhou’s army, it was the first time he had faced such effective resistance since launching this city massacre. The 30 -yard range posed a significant limitation for this talent. Of course, it was meant for PvP duels, its dominance in dungeons and monster farming was self-evident. But at this moment, it felt like an insurmountable chasm firmly blocking the city gate. Yiyan stood at the center of that light beam. His body was enveloped in raging flames. One man, one sword. He defended a city. Yen Jio waved his hand, signaling the remaining nine formations to halt outside the range of the flare. He looked at the figure bathed in flames, and the scar on. His face twitched slightly. The previous sense of boredom vanished. He slowly stood up from the back of the bat-winged commander. The flame. Beam pierced through heaven and earth turning everything in front of the city gate into a hell of lava. For the first time, the roars. of the demon army were suppressed by a different, more mournful wail. Yen laughed loudly in the flare, come on, let’s have a good fight. The three absolutes. Yen Jiu looked at the man bathed in flames, Yi Yen. He also looked at the ordinary wooden staff in his hand. He was somewhat dazed, realizing that he couldn’t have a good fight with him. A strong sense of unwillingness surged from the deepest, part of his heart. He possessed a talent called Martial God. It was a talent born for close combat. It was the terrifying power of a, hundredfold amplification. Yet he was a mage. A star walker who could only hide behind and bombard others with dazzling magic. He still. Remembered the last battle at the Oracle Guild. He had won against Yi Yan. But that victory relied on cunning and strategy, it was merely a. Narrow win. In his dictionary, a narrow win meant defeat. Now, Yi Yan stood before him once again, directly challenging him in the most. Straightforward way. A battle where both sides would reveal their trump cards, skills, and talents and fight to their hearts content. Let’s. Have a good fight. That sentence pierced through Yanzhou’s heart like a needle. He wanted to. He wanted to throw away this ridiculous. Wooden staff. Pick up a real weapon. And charge into that sea of flames. To respond to that fighting spirit with fists. With swords. With the purest strength. Instead of just commanding his demon cannon fodder to wear down the opponent’s skill cooldowns. Or using his. Ranged spells to slowly grind the opponent down. That was too boring. And too suffocating. Why should it be like this? This unwillingness. This obsession. crashed wildly in his chest, almost bursting out. The air around him seemed to thicken because of his intense emotions. The dark elements drifting between heaven and earth began to stir, began to gather. They surged towards Yanjio like sharks sensing blood. Ding! A crisp system notification echoed in his mind. Your intense unwillingness has infected the surrounding dark elements, you have. Learn the skill, Shadow Cloak Shadow Cloak, summons a shadow cloak to envelop yourself, reducing magic damage by 99%, immune to. Abnormal states, lasts for 10 seconds, cooldown time 3 minutes, mana cost, 150. Yen Jio was stunned. Again, it was like this. Every time. He fell into some extreme emotion, this phenomenon called elemental resonance would occur. Each time, it would grant him a skill that. Perfectly resolved his current predicament. Coincidental, just like, a script. He had no time to delve into the reasons behind it. Because. A brand new possibility had already unfolded before him. Magic damage reduced by 99%. lasts for 10 seconds. That was enough. The scar. On his face twisted into a silent smile. The previous feeling of boredom vanished completely. In its place was a fiery fighting spirit. Identical to that of the man on the city wall. All troops, stand by. He issued a simple command to the demon legion beneath him with. A gesture. Then, he leaped down from the dozens of meters high back of the batwing commander. He hoisted the wooden staff. This time, he felt that the staff was no longer a tool for casting spells. but a pillar that could smash everything. Come on! Yen Jio shouted, excitedly at Yi Yan in the flames. Yi Yan heard him. He crossed the burning iron sword in front of his chest, taking a stance to face the challenge. Yen Jio moved. Shadow cloak. No light effects. No sound. Just the light around him was instantly devoured. A cloak made of pure darkness appeared out of thin air, completely enveloping him. Immediately after, earth’s shield, a thick rock shield coalesced on his body’s surface. After doing all this he hoisted the wooden staff and took a step forward. One step. He stepped into the sun’s fiery glare. That could melt gold and iron. Zzzz. The terrifying heat instantly wrapped around him. The lava beneath his feet rose above his ankles. Minus 36. Minus 36. Minus 36. A series of damage numbers floated above his head. Compared to the thousands of damage numbers from the demons before. This number seemed trivial. The shadow cloak had taken effect. Yi Yan’s pupils suddenly contracted. He saw it. He saw that scarred-faced. Man casually walking into his killzone, carrying a piece of wood as if strolling in a garden. The black cloak on him seemed to devour. All light and heat. That was not a skill a player should have. Yen Jio ignored the shock of the opponent. He was just silently counting. Down in his heart. Ten. Nine. Eight. His steps were not fast but exceptionally steady. Each step left a deep footprint on the lava. He. Crossed the scorched earth paved with demon corpses. Getting closer and closer to Yi Yen beneath the city wall. 50 meters, 30 meters, 10 meters. Yien finally snapped out of his shock. He let out a roar, gripping the sword hilt tightly. He poured all his strength into the iron sword in his hand. The flames on the blade surged several meters, transforming into a sweeping flame slash that struck down towards Yen Jiu’s head. The fiery slash, carrying the momentum to burn everything, fell directly. The scorching air was torn apart, emitting a sharp whistle. Yen Jiu did not retreat. He didn’t even raise the wooden staff to block. The images from the last battle flashed. through his mind frame by frame. Yi Yan’s sword was powerful and heavy, opening and closing with great force. The flaws were equally. Obvious. Wind step. Just as the several meter long flame sword light was about to touch the top of his head, Yanjou’s figure transformed. Into a blurred afterimage. He surged forward. Not retreating, not dodging, but charging straight towards the sword’s edge. Sizzle. A. Strand of black hair was singed off by the residual heat of the sword light turning to ash. Yanjou’s body, however, was already pressed. against the burning iron sword, closing in on Yi Yan. In the first second, Yi Yan’s attack missed, and the immense force caused a brief stiffness in his body. He didn’t expect the opponent to dare to respond in such a desperate manner. Looking for death, Yi Yan roared. He abandoned retrieving the iron sword, his left fist clenched tightly, enveloped in a lava-like fist wind, and slammed straight towards, Yanzhou’s chest. This punch, crimson flame fist, was enough to smash steel into iron discs. Yet Yanzhou’s body was like a weightless falling. Leaf. He pivoted on his left foot, his body twisting strangely. That potentially lethal heavy punch grazed the edge of his clothing. Whistling past. In the second second, with Yi Yan’s punch missing, the iron sword in his other hand swept horizontally. The flames on the blade formed a deadly wall of fire, sealing off all of Yanjou’s possible escape routes. At least, that’s how it appeared to Yi Yan. Star Realm Walk. Yanjou’s figure exploded in place, transforming into countless brilliant stars. The next moment, he appeared behind Yi. Yan. The sweeping wall of fire lost its target and struck heavily into empty space. In the third second, two consecutive missed attacks. Sent Yi Yan’s fury soaring to its peak. He suddenly turned around, the iron sword slicing upward in a tricky arc, aimed at Yanjio behind. Him. His reaction was quick. His sword was quick too. But Yanjio was quicker. It seemed he had anticipated this strike long ago. The wooden staff in his hand finally moved. Not to smash. Not to chop. But to gently poke. The tip of the staff precisely tapped the spine. Of the upward sweeping sword. Ding! A light sound echoed. The upward strike’s trajectory involuntarily deviated by an inch. Just that. Inch made all the difference between life and death. In the fourth second, Yan Jiu sidestepped, avoiding the sharp blade. At the same time, he stepped forward. The distance between them was now less than half a meter. He could even feel the searing heat radiating from Yi. Yan’s armor. He could smell the mingled scent of sulfur and charred wood in the air. Yian’s combat rhythm was completely thrown off. He abandoned all techniques, relying solely on instinct, wildly swinging the iron sword in his hand. Flame slash. Cross slash. Whirlwind. Slash. One dazzling and deadly skill after another exploded in the confined space. The entire top of the city wall was thrown into chaos by the raging fiery energy, and Yen Jiu was at the center of this chaos. He no longer used any displacement skills. He simply twisted his. Body with minimal movement, sidestepping and lowering his head. Each time, he narrowly avoided those lethal attacks. He was like a masterful. Dancer, performing a death tango on the edge of a blade. The wooden staff in his hand continuously tapped out. Each time it landed on. The critical points of Yi Yan’s power buildup. Interrupting his charge. Disrupting his balance. In the last battle, Yi Yan’s frenzied. Fighting style had caused him great suffering. But this time, the same style, in his eyes, was filled with flaws everywhere. It was easy. Too easy. In the fifth second, Yi Yan’s breathing began to grow heavy. The flames on his body flickered erratically due to his chaotic emotions. He couldn’t understand why. Why did all his attacks feel like they were hitting a pile of cotton? Why did every step the opponent took scene to see through his thoughts? This scar-faced man was clearly a mage. Why was his close combat ability more terrifying than that of himself, a warrior specialized in this field? What exactly? He wanted to ask. Yanjio, however, did not give him the chance to speak. The duration of the shadow cloak was about to end. It was time to end it. Yen Jiu’s footsteps came to a halt. He no longer. Dodged. He looked at Yi Yen whose defenses were wide open from the continuous fierce attacks. He gripped the seemingly ordinary wooden. Staff with both hands. Then, he raised it high. This time, he did not use any techniques. He simply poured all his strength into it. The. Hundredfold amplification of the war god talent erupted without reservation at that moment. The sixth second. The staff came crashing. Down. There was no sound of wind, no light effects, plain and unadorned. Yet it was as fast as lightning. Bang! A familiar dull thud. Echoed. The staff struck solidly against Yi Yan’s chest. Minus 4120. Without using the sole extinguishing blade, the damage was significantly lower. Yi Yan’s movements came to an abrupt halt. He looked down, incredulously staring at the staff in front of his chest. Then he looked. Up at the scar-faced man before him. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but all he saw was white light. The solar flare. Enveloping the city gate flickered twice like a phantom and then completely vanished as his consciousness dissipated. Yanjio slowly retracted. The staff. He rested it on his shoulder. Yanjio glanced back nervously, unsure if it was the influence of the solar flare or some other reason, but the demon showed no reaction to the magic he had just used. Satisfied, Yanjio whistled. The battle was extremely short. Yet exhilarating. Unfortunately, he had completely seen through all of Yan’s movements. The next battle might not be so interesting. He. hoisted the staff and leaped back onto the broad head of the bat-winged commander. Continue forward. The cold command was issued. The black torrent formed by tens of thousands of demons began to surge again, advancing toward the center of the continent. Along the way, there was not a lack of resistance. Some small groups of players from the player alliance attempted to use the terrain for guerrilla tactics. They set traps in the valleys. They laid ambushes in the forests. But all of this seemed insignificant in the face of the demons. Overwhelming numbers. Flames and roars completely engulfed every spark of resistance. Yen Jiu was even too lazy to take action himself. He simply sat high above, watching his army turn one light spot after another on the map into the grey that represented ruins. He swiped. Across the massive active map. Based on the speed of the grey fortress, it could be inferred that three armies were slowly and steadily. Converging from three directions toward the same coordinate point. The center of the map. A city stood quietly there. Tian Lin City. On the walls of Tianlin City, over a hundred players huddled together, their bodies trembling uncontrollably. They were the last survivors of this area. When the vanguard of the three armies appeared almost simultaneously on the horizon from three directions, they completely gave up resistance. Escape? Where could they escape to? Below the city walls, three directions reveal three distinctly different hellish scenes. To the north. An endless horde. Of demons. The roars of lesser demons and the howls of hellhounds mixed into a maddening cacophony. At the forefront, a massive bat-winged demon. carried a scar -faced man with a staff on its back to the south a silent undead army tens of thousands of spirit knights clad in golden illusory armor with soul flames burning in their eye sockets they moved in perfect unison silent and still at the forefront of this army stood a black clad woman with bare feet poised gracefully in the void to the east a well -disciplined human army they wore the exquisite armor of the heavenly kingdom Each step resonating with the sound of metal striking stone, leading the group was a burly man, so muscular it seemed almost unreal, shouldering. A wild giant axe. Three armies, several miles away from Tianlin City, came to a halt simultaneously. They faced each other from a distance, forming a solid triangle. The players on the city walls held their breath. In the suffocating silence, the leaders of the three armies moved at the same time. They stepped out from their respective formations and walked towards the open space in the center. The man with the giant axe, I.D. Shinting, was. accompanied by a beautiful girl in a blue robe. That girl was Frost Moon, one of the Six Peaks. The woman with bare feet, i .D. Moody Ro, moved. Gracefully, her black leather armor accentuating her breathtaking curves. Yanjio also jumped down from the back of the Batwing commander. He carried a wooden staff and walked leisurely towards the other two, the three Supremes, their first official meeting. Moody Ro stopped her enchanting eyes. Sweeping over Yanjio’s scarred face, a flicker of bluish flame flashed deep within her pupils. There are no other players around, her voice carried. A natural allure. You can drop that skill now. She suddenly laughed lightly, her full chest gently quivering. For our first meeting is the three. Supremes, let’s not use disguises anymore. Yanjio scratched his head, it indeed felt inappropriate to use a disguise for such a renowned meeting. He then dispelled, illusion. The gruesome scar vanished, revealing his originally handsome face. A barely perceptible blush appeared on Moody Rose. Cheeks. What a handsome young man. Yanjio didn’t know what to say. He took out three bottles of honey brew from his backpack. Do you want some? Shinting sniffed disdainfully. I’m not used to drinking such sweet stuff. He sat down heavily on the ground, pulled out a huge wine pouch from behind, and took a big swig of strong liquor. The spicy aroma of the alcohol instantly filled the air. He casually tossed one of the honey brew bottles that. Yanjio handed him to Frost Moon. You drink it. Frost Moon quietly raised her head and glanced at Yanjio. She lowered her head and said in a voice, as soft as a whisper, thank you. Moody Roe, however, took the other bottle without hesitation. She uncorked it and elegantly took a small sip from the mouth of the bottle. They exchanged no more words, simply raising their bottles and clinking them from a distance. The crisp sound of glass. Clinking stood out starkly in the dead silence of the battlefield. To the south were the demons, to the north the undead, and to the east the human. Army, three torrents silently confronting each other. The air was thick with the spiciness of strong liquor, the sweetness of honey brew, and a faint hint of blood. Moody Ro tossed the empty honey brew bottle to the ground. Barefoot, she gently paced on the scorched earth, her stunning curve swaying. Beneath her black leather armor with each movement, she stopped in front of Yenjo, a slender finger lightly tracing her full red lips. So, what? Do you say, she giggled? Shall we have a match to decide who is the best? The last survivors in this area, perched on the walls of Tianlin City, didn’t dare to breathe. They couldn’t see the specific appearances or IDs of the three from such a distance. Yenjo hadn’t had the chance to respond. Yet. The sitting Shinting let out a low grunt. He suddenly stood up. His burly figure loomed like a small mountain, casting a huge shadow. I’m not. Here to fight. His words were as simple and direct as the giant axe in his hand, carrying an undeniable weight. He ignored Moody Rose provocative. Stanson looked around, finally fixing his gaze on the distant boundary. This should be a spatial node. The era we are in is the year of embers. 316, it’s 180 years earlier than our normal timeline. Shinting slowly revealed this astonishing fact. here, is near the capital of the heavenly kingdom. The charm on Moody Ro’s face retracted slightly, she clearly knew this long buried history. The heavenly kingdom, 179 years ago, failed to resist the invasion of demons and the capital turned into ruins. She raised an eyebrow. Are you saying you convinced the king here with something? From the future? To make him give up holding the city and hand over the remaining guards to you to fight the demons? Her deduction was astonishingly quick. Shinting nodded, acknowledging it. That’s right. He added a crucial piece of information. In the chaotic timeline, there is one very. Important point. All the monsters here are at the same level as their own level. In other words, the final boss can be at most the same level as me. Only level 18. After he finished speaking, he and Mudiro simultaneously looked at Yenjo, the man who had seen somewhat out of place from the. Beginning. He and the massive demon army behind him. Mudiro smiled again, her steps light as she moved closer to Yenjo. Her delicate feet intentionally. Brushed against Yenjo’s thigh. Brother Yen Jiu, how did your demon army come about? What is your purpose for coming here? Yen Jiu scratched his head. I’m about to get off work. He answered honestly. So, I plan to clear all the towns around our main city fortress, to prevent anyone, from launching a surprise attack. The air once again froze. Shinting’s rugged face rarely showed a hint of daze. Beside him, Shuang Yue, whose eyes, had been lowered, couldn’t help but raise them, secretly observing Yen Jiu. This reason sounded absurd to the extreme. But upon closer thought, it was. Overly reasonable. For someone with overwhelming power, cleaning up the area before logging off seemed like the most normal operation. They were. Strategizing here, analyzing history, trying to tackle a hidden epic quest. Meanwhile, the other side was just doing routine clearing. Shinting let out. A heavy breath, as if trying to expel all the absurdity from his chest. He glanced at Yanjio, then at the endless tide of demons behind him. In. That case, he said in a deep voice, why don’t we set a time to help the heavenly kingdom escape its fate of destruction? That way, there should be. Rich rewards. This seemed to be the optimal solution at the moment. The three strongest armies joining forces, this so-called, chaotic timeline, would have no suspense. Yanjio, however, sighed. What rich rewards are there? His tone carried a sense of someone who had been through it all. Shinting’s brows furrowed. The smile on Moody Ro’s face also vanished. Yanjio seemed oblivious to the change in atmosphere and continued speaking to. Himself. Just a piece of silver equipment, a wormhole note of unknown use, and a space stone. That space stone was eventually taken away by an NPC. After he finished, the scene fell into a third, and the most thorough silence. They suddenly turned their heads, staring intently at Yanjio. Moody. Rose alluring eyes showed a hint of shock. You before. Did this type of quest? Yanjio looked at her. He thought seriously for a moment, then. Nodded. I have. This answer caused Moody Rose captivating eyes to momentarily freeze. In the eternal night barrier of the forest kingdom. Yanjio. Added. The commander there is called Ugrung. They resisted the demons for a long time, wanting to close the door but couldn’t. Then I helped them. Close the door. He recounted this event, which was enough to be recorded in the Epic of Heroes, in a tone as mundane as discussing what he had for. Lunch. Shinting’s breathing noticeably became heavier. Evernight Bastion. He whispered the name, as if chewing on a long buried history. Indeed. The annals of the Forest Kingdom record a war of Evernight. Grand Knight Egramar led the last Bastion Legion, successfully repelling the Abyssal. invasion, and with his own life permanently sealed the demon gate. However, the historical texts are vague about the process of how the demon gate was closed. Now, everyone’s gaze fell upon Yinzhou. Shinting’s robust figure loomed like an immovable mountain, exuding an oppressive aura. The records of history are ultimately written by the victors. Since you have experienced it firsthand, I would like to hear your version. His words were direct, without any circumlocution. What exactly is the situation at the border? Where did those demons come from? After Shinting finished. Asking, the gentle-eyed role moved closer. The faint scent of her presence, mingled with a hint of blood, wafted into Yen Jiu’s nostrils. Yes, handsome. You seem to know more about demons than we do. Her fingers casually traced her black leather armor, the gesture laden with suggestion. Yen Jiu. Scratched his head. These two were playing off each other. Did they think that because he looked honest they could easily extract information from him? A subtle discomfort stirred within him. But then he thought, this chaotic time land indeed exuded an air of strangeness. Among these three armies, perhaps only he could be considered professionally qualified regarding demons. It wouldn’t hurt to tell them. After all, resolving the troubles here. Sooner would allow him to get off work and go home earlier. Making people think he was an honest man was, in itself, a form of cunning. In the sky. At the border, Yen Jio raised his finger to point into the distance. There are five enormous demon gates continuously spewing out demons. The air. Fell silent in an instant. Shinting’s rugged face showed clear signs of emotion. Five. This number exceeded their expectations. No wonder. Roe murmured, her flirtatious demeanor completely vanished, replaced by a grave expression. No wonder the regular army of the heavenly kingdom would be utterly powerless. Shinting said nothing. He simply took the massive battle axe from his shoulder and slammed it heavily onto the ground. Boom. The earth trembled in response. I have the means to hover in the air and can go eliminate the demon gates, he said in a deep voice. Roe nodded in. Agreement. So do I. After saying this, the two of them turned their gazes back to Yanjio in unison. A star walker. A mage. In their understanding. These should be the profession’s most adept at flying. Yanjio scratched his head and sighed, I can’t fly, otherwise, I would have gone up myself. Shinting and Ro were momentarily taken aback, but they said nothing. Frost Moon can cast, holy word, ascend, on you. Although the duration is. Short, it’s enough for you to hover briefly. In that case, the three of us might be able to attempt to clear those five demon gates. To prevent this. History from repeating itself. Yen Jio looked at him and nodded seriously. He gently rotated the wooden staff he carried on his shoulder. Sure. He answered succinctly. Shinting’s rugged face softened slightly. Frost Moon, standing behind him, also visibly relaxed. However, Yen Jio’s next words instantly froze the atmosphere that had just eased. Since we’re all here. He looked around. Glanced at the mountain-like Shinting. Then at the alluring row. Aren’t we going to have a fight? The air solidified. The more than a hundred survivors trembling on the walls of Tianlin City, though, unable to hear what they were saying, could feel it. In that open space three terrifying auras suddenly clashed together. Two of them were filled. With violent battle intent.A soft smile appeared in her eyes. She smiled so charmingly that her delicate figure trembled the breathtaking fullness of her chest rising and falling with it. This man. His thought process was indeed different from that of normal people. Shinting remained silent. He did not laugh. But the hand gripping the giant axe tightened inch by inch. A surge of intense battle intent erupted from the depths of his eyes, bursting forth without warning. True strong individuals always appreciate each other. He had been looking forward to this for a long time. A battle. Without any reservations, without any calculations, just a pure clash of strength and skill. A fight that belonged to the three absolutes. Boom! A visible wave of energy exploded outward from him. The scorched earth beneath his feet cracked inch by inch, spreading outward. Brother! Xuan Yue! exclaimed in surprise. She used all her strength to avoid being blown away by that wave of energy. She clutched Xin Ting’s clothing tightly, pulling back with all her might. Xin Ting swayed slightly from her pull. The battle intent that was almost about to break through the sky also showed a momentary pause. He came back to his senses. Looking at his sister beside him, he let out a heavy breath. That breath, carrying the scent of sulfur and strong liquor, distorted the air in front of him. With a hint of regret, he coughed twice. After all, the mission was more important. Cough, cough. Just at this tense moment, the naturally charming voice of Mu Di Ro rang out perfectly. She lightly stepped forward, placing herself between the two. Oh, don’t be in such a hurry. She first threw a flirtatious glance at Shinting, then turned around, her delicate body almost pressing against. Yen Jio. Both of you are exceptional men, fighting like this will only hurt feelings. I would be heartbroken. She extended a slender finger, gently, tapping on Yen Jio’s solid chest. How about this? Her tone rose slightly, carrying a hint of cunning. Let’s team up first and deal with those. troublesome ones in the sky. After that, we can have a good fight. In the simplest way, decide who is truly the first in this event. What do you think? Shinting’s tense body gradually relaxed. He hoisted the massive battle axe back onto his shoulder, letting out a muffled him. It was an acknowledgement. Yanjio scratched his head. He thought this proposal was quite good. Fighting now or later made no difference to him. After all, they would have to fight sooner or later. All right. He agreed straightforwardly. Seeing that the three big shots had finally reached a consensus, Quan Yue felt completely relieved. The standoff among the three dissipated with a single alright. Xin Ting hoisted the heavy giant axe back onto his shoulder, producing a dull metallic clank. His robust body was no longer tense. In that case, we set off immediately. Those five demon gates must be destroyed as soon as possible. His plan was simple and direct, just like his character. Mu Di Rou also put away her naturally alluring posture. Black leather armor outlining a fierce curve on the scorched earth. My heroic night order can hold them off from the front. You take the left. Flank, he takes the right flank, we. Her words were abruptly interrupted by a sudden voice. Um. Yen Jio scratched his head, looking a bit troubled. Mu Di Ro’s planning came to an abrupt halt. She turned around, her eyes that had just been filled with calculation now carried a hint of natural. Charm. What’s wrong, handsome? Do you perhaps have a better plan? Shin Ting also shifted his attention, his mountain-like figure bringing a strong. sense of pressure. Yen Jio did not look at them. He swiped open a virtual screen that only he could see. In the corner of the screen, a string of red numbers was flashing. 1058, I’m about to get off work. He answered honestly. Mu Di Rho’s soul-stirring eyes were now filled with confusion, even. Xuanyue, who had been hiding behind Shinting and trying to minimize her presence, couldn’t help but peek out, regarding Yen Jio with a look of disbelief, as if he were a monster. Off work? What does that even mean? In this chaotic time and space that concerns the life and death of an ancient kingdom, at the epic moment when the three strongest armies are about to launch a full-scale attack, this man says he wants to go off work. So, Yanjio looked at their dazed expressions and added, I’ll log back in this afternoon. Moody Rose supported her forehead with her hand. She felt that. Her proud intellect was somewhat insufficient. This man’s thinking was completely beyond the realm of mortals. Yanjio ignored them further. He. Turned around facing the endless black tide behind him. The tens of thousands of demons, each with different forms, sensed his will and began to emit. Low growls, restlessly scraping their claws. The smell of blood and sulfur became intense once more. Yen Jio said nothing. He simply raised his hand. And made a simple gesture, signaling to go back. Roar. A wave of reluctant howls erupted from the demon legion. But that restlessness was quickly. Suppressed by a deeper fear. The front row of lesser demons turned around first, followed by hellhounds, batwing demons, and the entire massive. Demon army. They transformed into a black tide, orderly retreating back in the direction they had come from. The entire process was silent yet filled with a strange sense of oppression. Shinting and Moody Ro watched. They watched as this terrifying army, capable of flattening the entire kingdom of heaven, gave up an easily attainable victory and chose to retreat because of a simple gesture. Their understanding of the man named Yen Jiu was refreshed once again. Well, I’m off then, Yen Jiu waved at them, his attitude casual as if he were just stepping out to buy groceries. The four of. them mad at each other as friends. Then, he shouldered the wooden staff and turned to walk towards a remote ruin, he needed to find as sufficiently, concealed place to prevent being ambushed when he logged in again in the afternoon. Watching him disappear behind the crumbling walls, Shinting remained, silent for a long time. He turned to Moody Ro beside him and asked, what do we do now? Moody Ro sighed softly, returning to her lazy posture, but, her tone carried a hint of powerlessness that even she herself didn’t notice. Let’s first scout the situation, then, wait for him to log in. A flash of white light. Yen Jio opened his eyes to the familiar ceiling. He sat up straight. The time displayed in the bottom right corner of the computer screen. Read 1122. On the desk, there was still a stack of unfinished case files. He rubbed his temples, picked up the top document, and opened it. His expression became. Focused and calm. He typed on the keyboard, stamped documents, and organized files. His movements were not fast, but they were exceptionally efficient. It was as. If the unparalleled powerhouse who had just strolled through the army and defeated strong enemies with a single strike was merely an illusion. Time passed second. By second. When he finished the last document, the wall clock’s hour hand pointed to 11.50. Just 10 minutes left. Yenjo blanced at the neatly stacked files. He. Fought for a moment. 10 minutes didn’t matter. He stood up, took off his uniform, and changed into casual clothes. After greeting the officers outside, he quickly. Left the police station. The midday sun was somewhat blinding. The flow of traffic and crowds on the street brought a clamor that was entirely different from the game world. Yen Jio did not linger. He almost jogged towards home. He opened the door. A familiar, warm aroma of food rushed over him. Soo Jin Jin, wearing an apron, was bringing out the last bowl of soup from the kitchen. Seeing him return, a gentle smile blossomed on her face. You’re back. MMM. Yen Jio responded. Softly and walked over, gently wrapping his arms around her from behind. He buried his face in the crook of her neck. The tip of his nose caught the faint scent. Of her shampoo, mingled with the warmth of the kitchen. This aroma made him feel incredibly at ease. Go wash your hands, it’s time to eat, Sujinjin patted his. Hand. Yenjio released her and walked to the dining table. The table was set with simple home-cooked dishes, a plate of scrambled eggs with tomatoes, a plate. Of stir-fried seasonal vegetables, a plate of green peppers stir-fried with meat, and a bowl of steaming pork rib soup. There were no fancy cooking techniques, just. Some straightforward home-style dishes. Yet, it was this unpretentious warmth that made him feel like he had finally clocked out from that world of slaughter. And conspiracy. Sujinjin knew Yanjio had a big appetite, so each dish was heaped onto a large plate. He sat down at the table. Sujinjin also took off her apron, revealing her alluring figure, and sat beside him, serving him a bowl of rice. Was work tiring today? Not too bad, Yanjio replied, picking up his chopsticks and grabbing a piece of tomato. The sweet and sour flavor melted on his taste buds. Suddenly, he felt that this was more healing than any elixir in the game. Sujinjin filled his second bowl of rice. The aroma of the rice mixed with the steam from the dishes, enveloping the small dining room. Yanjyo took a couple of bites of rice and suddenly remembered something. By the way, he looked up. Did you get eliminated in this event? Sujinjin shook her head. Her dark hair swayed gently with the movement, forming a soft arc. I didn’t participate. Ha! Yanjyo’s chopsticks paused in mid-air. Why not? But Sujinjin just smiled. She reached out with her chopsticks, picked up a slice of meat, and placed it in Yanzhou’s mouth. My talent isn’t really suited for combat, so I think this event is better left for those who are more suitable. Buzz, his phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated. Yanzhou set down his bowl and chopsticks and took out his phone. On the screen was a bank notification. He opened it. A long string of numbers appeared before his eyes. Transfer amount, 13,500,000. Account balance, 32 ,874,120. It should be from the shield and a bunch of miscellaneous equipment that Ming Yao sold for him. Plus, the pile of equipment he had previously sent to Ming. Yao was worth about 10 million. Now, there was over 30 million in his account. Yenjio stared at that number, feeling a sense of unreality. He didn’t even know. How to spend it. He couldn’t possibly spend it all. He turned off the phone screen and casually tossed it aside. Sujinjin had been quietly watching him, not saying a word. Until he set down his phone, she gently asked, what’s wrong? Nothing, Yanjio picked up his chopsticks again. I sold some stuff from the game. Sujinjin responded with an O, not probing further into the specific amount. To her, it was just a string of meaningless numbers. Yanjio thought for a moment and added, it should be soon. Once the teleportation portal between the main cities is successfully established, we can meet in the game. The smile on. Sujinjin’s face grew even brighter. She leaned closer, extending her slender fingers to gently wipe away a grain of rice from the corner of Yanjio’s mouth. Her movements were light and soft. The warmth of her fingertips transmitted through his skin. I’ll follow your lead, her voice dropped lower, carrying a hint of intimacy that only the two of them could understand. Lord Marshal God Yenjio’s cheeks flushed slightly. He lowered his head and quickened his eating pace. The two finished their meal. Soojinjin cleared the dishes while Yenjio slumped on the sofa like a salted fish that had lost its dreams. The sound of running water came from the kitchen. A war drama was playing on the television. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting warm patches of light on the floor. Everything felt so cozy, so peaceful. Yenjiyo closed his eyes, savoring this tranquility. That was so different from the game world. Soon, the sound of water stopped .Suzhenjin wiped her hands and walked out of the kitchen. The two of them did nothing, just lazily nestled on the sofa. The television was on, and the male lead inside was running for his life. Yenjiyo leaned back on the sofa, while Suzhenjin curled up like a docile little cat in his arms. Her head rested on his thigh, holding the remote control, aimlessly switching channels. Yenjio’s hand gently rested on her shoulder, absentmindedly stroking her soft long hair. Time seemed to stand still at that moment. No. Demons roar. No players scheming. Just the sunlight filtering through the curtain seams, casting mottled shadows on the floor, and the steady breathing of the person beside her. It was unclear how. Long had passed. Sujinjin turned off the television. She sat up from his embrace, stretching lazily, her beautiful curves fully revealed. What time are we going online in the afternoon? Now, Yen. Jio replied. The matters over there haven’t been dealt with yet. Then let’s go. Sujinjin stood up and reached out her hand to him. Yenjio took her hand and stood up with her help. They didn’t. Say much more. They walked into the bedroom together. The curtains were drawn, and the room instantly darkened. They lay side by side on the soft bed. Then, they closed their eyes together. The white. Light once again engulfed their consciousness. Welcome back to illusion detected that you are in a special map. The land of chaotic time wish you a pleasant game. Yenjio opened his eyes. No. longer was it the familiar ceiling above. Instead, it was broken walls and charred earth. The air was still filled with the acrid smell of sulfur mixed with blood. He stood up from the corner of the ruins, brushing off the dust from his clothes. The unremarkable wooden staff lay quietly at his feet. He bent down to pick it up and wait it in his hand. After a moment’s thought, he decided to switch back to his original gear. As soon as he logged in, a friend message popped up. It was from Shinting. We have gone ahead to investigate the situation at the demon gate. I left you a team of guards and a horse, waiting for you at the fortress. Yen Jio closed the message box. He looked around, the presence of those two had long since vanished. On the empty ruins, only a team of knights, in the standard armor of the kingdom of heaven stood quietly. Beside them was a magnificent black warhorse. The captain of the knights saw Yen Jio and immediately stepped forward briskly. His movements were standard and powerful, filled with the aura of a soldier. Respected warrior, the general has instructed us to wait for you here. Yanjio nodded and walked up to the warhorse. The horse was. Entirely black, without a single stray hair, its muscles smooth and full of explosive power. It snorted, exhaling two puffs of white vapor. Yanjio reached out, somewhat awkwardly patting its neck. This. Was the first time in all his time playing the game that he was properly riding a mount. He grasped the reins and clumsily swung himself onto the horse. His body swayed slightly on the horse’s back. Before he managed to sit steady. You can go back now, he said to the team of knights. The captain of the night stood up, saluted him with a standard military salute and then led his men back towards Tian Lin’s city. Yanjio gently squeezed the horse’s belly with his legs. The black warhorse let out a neigh and galloped away towards the distance. The wind howled past his ears. The charred earth rapidly receded from his view. This feeling of galloping stirred a long-lost thrill in his chest. Just then, several figures suddenly flashed in the mountain hollow ahead. Upon seeing Yanjio alone, greedy expressions appeared on their faces, all alone. Look at that horse, it must be a good one. Take him down, the points will definitely be substantial. Several beams of magical light, mixed. With poison arrows, whistle from both sides of the mountain hollow, sealing off all his routes of advance. Yen Jio didn’t even blink. He simply recited a phrase in his heart, the earth shield, a. Thick layer of earthy yellow light, instantly enveloped him and his warhorse. Clang. Clang. All the attacks landed on the shield, like pebbles thrown into the sea, only stirring up a few insignificant. Ripples. Even the warhorse that had been commanded to sit could not slow down by even a fraction. The expressions on the faces of the few players in the valley froze in an instant. They hadn’t even had. Time to react before a black shadow flashed past them. Yen Jio didn’t even look back. He simply waved the black dagger in his hand casually. Bang! The rogue charging at the front was struck as if by. A battering ram, instantly turning into a white light and vanishing. Minus 8 ,939. The remaining few hadn’t recovered from the shock of their companion being killed in an instant. Midas 38,921-11 ,631-11,631 a flash of starlight passed before their eyes and they found themselves in the main city. The black warhorse had already carried its master, disappearing at the horizon’s edge. Similar ambushes occurred. Several times along the way, some self-important player teams attempted to use various traps and ambushes to stop the seemingly easy target of a lone traveler, but the result was always the same. No. Matter what means they employed, they could not break through that seemingly unremarkable earthy yellow shield. And the man on the horse didn’t even bother to slow down. He merely waved his staff, casually as he passed by them. One hit each, occasionally following up with a spell or two. Precise, efficient, filled with an unabashed aesthetic of violence. Soon, the outline of a magnificent fortress appeared on the horizon. Maple Leaf City Fortress. When Yanjio rode his horse, leisurely appearing at the fortress gate, the silver fox on the city wall widened its eyes in disbelief. It rubbed. Its eyes vigorously, daring to confirm it wasn’t mistaken. Damn, Yanjio, it waved its hand vigorously towards the city below. Yanjio dismounted, casually tossing the reins to the guard at the gate, and walked straight up the city wall. The silver fox immediately approached, its face filled with gossip and curiosity. You finally made it. I didn’t see your name on the registration list. It’s, pulled Yanjio closer, lowering its voice, a barrage of questions firing off like a machine gun. What’s going on outside? Where did that one called Shinting and that woman without shoes come from? Their aura is so intimidating. Also, according to Mingyao, who was that scar-faced guy before? He didn’t look like a good person in the video. The silver fox paused, asking the question it was. Most concerned about. Aren’t you one of the three absolutes? With the current situation, why does it feel like three absolutes are as common as cabbages? Yanjio was taken aback by the question. He scratched his head. It’s just as you see it, I’m not too clear either. He gave a response that could be deemed perfunctory. The silver fox was momentarily stumped, its face showing a constipated. Expression. Yanzhou ignored its dilemma and asked, what about Mingyao and the others? They all went out to grind for points. The silver fox replied weakly. Xinyu and Longtang also took their guild members out. Now I’m the only one left to guard the place, it’s so boring. Yanzhou nodded and asked again, what about those two armies? Where did they go? Mentioning this, the silver fox finally perked up. They left a long time ago. Xinting took his human army and the one with the gentle gaze took the undead legion, heading straight ahead. They said they were going to. Scout the situation at those demon gates first. Yen Jio didn’t respond. Got it. After he finished speaking, he turned to lead the steed. The silver fox was still saying something on the city wall. Yen Jio didn’t pay it any more mind. He took the reins of the black warhorse, mounted up his movements much more practiced than before. He didn’t look back, the black warhorse transformed into an arrow. Released from a bow, racing deep into the plains. The scorched earth flew rapidly beneath. The sound of the wind was the only accompaniment. After an unknown amount of time, a clear dividing line appeared at the horizon’s end. On one side was a neatly arranged military formation. The golden armor reflected a cold light under the dim sky. That was the knightly order of the heavenly kingdom. Each soldier like a silent statue exuding the iron-blooded aura of one who has survived countless battles. Beside them was another force with a completely different style. Heroic spirits formed in infantry phalanx, their ethereal banners fluttering in the wind, countless golden flames of souls dancing in their eye sockets. These two armies stood quietly on the wasteland like the two edges of a sharp blade. Opposite them was a chaotic, frenzied, black sea filled with primal brutality. Tens of thousands of demons crowded together, roaring, shoving, even tearing at each other. They had lost the figure that had suppressed them with absolute violence and their wild and chaotic instincts were reclaiming their minds. The appearance of Yen Jiu broke this moment of standoff. He rode a black horse, leisurely making his way to the open space in front of the two armies. His towering figure, like an iron tower, stood at the forefront of the knightly order. He bore the giant axe that flickered with lightning, without even wearing a helmet, his rugged face devoid of any superfluous expression. You’re here, he said, simple and direct. These things are starting to disobey. Yen Jio pointed with. His chin at the demon tied across from him, which had already fallen into a semi -chaotic state. Think of a way to make them clear the path. Before Yen Jio could speak, a sultry teasing voice came. From the direction of the undead legion. Oh dear, have your little pets forgotten their master after just a short while away? With soft, pale feet, she lightly stepped on the scorched earth yet remained untainted. She walked gracefully, her long, fair legs partially visible beneath the black leather armor. Yen Jio tugged at the corner of his mouth. These two really were not holding back at all. He dismounted, casually tossing the reins aside. He did not approach Shunting or the sultry voice. Alone, he walked towards the chaotic sea of demons. The several stacked commander badges on his chest jingled with his steps. This sound seemed to carry a strange kind of magic. The moment he stepped into the edge of the demon horde, the lowly demons at the outermost edge seemed to be grasped by. An invisible giant hand around their throats, their roars abruptly cut off. They sensed that familiar suppression. Instinctively, they recoiled, parting to create a path for him. Yen Jio walked straight. Down this path. The source of the turmoil lay at the center of the military formation. The few gap commanders he had tamed were maintaining a fragile order with roars and claws. But it was clear. That troublemakers had appeared. Two equally large gap commanders were issuing provocative roars at the previously submissive bat-winged commander. They were newly born commanders that had emerged later, from the rift, having not witnessed the massacre firsthand. They could not understand why their powerful kind would submit to such a small species despite this species bearing several commander tokens. They saw Yanjio walking in. One of the spiked gap commanders, with its crimson compound eyes, locked onto Yanjio. It let out an even more furious roar, its massive body suddenly stepping. forward, seemingly trying to prove its courage in this way. Yanjio struck down with his blade, two simple cuts. Minus 10,039. Minus 10 ,580. The familiar damage echoed again, rising from its remaining body. The enormous headless corpse swayed and then crashed to the ground. Another restless newborn commander froze completely. Its simple mind could not process the unbelievable scene before it. Yanjio did not. Give it time to think slowly walking towards the commander, the flash of a blade flickered and vanished. Minus 10,550. Minus 10,980. Another massive corpse fell into the pool of blood. The entire process was quiet. And efficient. The smell of blood began to permeate the air once more. The previously restless sea of demons instantly fell into absolute silence. All the demons, including the few commanders who had. Surrendered first, lay prostrate on the ground, their enormous bodies trembling violently with fear. Yen Jiu sheathed his sword. He turned around and pointed forward at the dark, completely submissive. Demon army. Go! Roar! This time, the response was a synchronized, reverent growl. The black ocean began to surge again. This time, it was no longer chaotic and frenzy, but rather like the most. A obedient tide, slowly advancing in the direction Yen Jiu pointed. Seeing this, Xin Ting raised his giant axe and made a forward gesture to the knights behind him. The three massive armies formed a strange formation. The demon army led the way, like a giant black shield crushing the scorched earth. The coalition of humans and undead followed closely behind, like blades on either side, maintaining. a safe distance they move forward their target the five grotesque scars in the sky the demon gate the army quickly advanced to right beneath those five enormous fissures the smell of sulfur here was so thick it was almost tangible the ground was covered with countless newly born demons of various shapes that had just fallen from the fissures they fought and devoured each other completing the survival of the fittest in the most primitive way when the terrifying army led by yenjio arrived at the city gates the five fissures in the sky seemed to sense an unprecedented threat there swirling speeds suddenly increased the central fissure began to shrink violently in an abnormal manner collapsing the surrounding space twisted because of it as if the entire fissure was compressing all its energy and life into a single point boom a dull thunderous sound echoed that fissure completely vanished in its place was a massive writhing indescribable mass of flesh that crashed down heavily from mid-air the surface of the flesh ball was covered with countless mouths that open and closed along with countless eyes that spun wildly It resembled a grotesque creation of flesh, forcibly stitched together from the nightmares of countless beings. Before the army below could react, the remaining four demon fissures in the sky suddenly shot out four thick black energy beams. Simultaneously, the four beings accurately struck the massive fleshball. Gurgle. Roar. The fleshball began to swell and twist uncontrollably. Countless thick, suction cup-covered tentacles tore. Out from the flesh. A grotesque, goat-like massive head squeezed out from the top of the fleshball. A brand new, terrifying creature radiating an aura far surpassing that of all previous commanders, was born. Grand Commander Calco, Silver Level Boss, Race, Demon Level, LV 18 Health, 55,000 Attack, 673 Defense, 508 Skills, Ethereal Touch, Passive, Twisted Tentacles, Despair Charge, Frenzied. Roar. Roar. The deafening roar swept across the entire plane. The creature named Calco surveyed the three tiny armies beneath it with its goat-like head, the wildly spinning eyes on its body, eventually all focused on one spot. Yen Jio. Or rather, the jingling commander badges on Yen Jio’s chest. A mix of anger and greed emanated from Kalko. Roar. It roared again, the wind generated by. Its voice causing the front row of the demon legion to stir slightly. Shinting drove the blade of his giant axe into the scorched earth to steady himself his rugged face revealed an excitement akin. To a match between equals. Good guy. This is how a boss should look. He twisted his neck, the joints cracking in a series of pops. Lightning began to dance across his burly frame. I’m going to. Meet it. Shinting was about to draw his giant axe. Wait. Yen Jio’s voice was not loud but it clearly pierced through the chaos of the battlefield. He stepped back to stand beside Shinting and Moody. Ro. Moody Ro’s bare snow white feet gently pressed against the scorched earth as she curiously examined the massive monster. What’s wrong, little handsome? Afraid we’ll steal your thunder? Yen Jio. Ignored her teasing. He pointed at the boss that was gathering power. That, spirit touch body, I’ve seen it before. Shinting’s charge came to a halt. Moody Ro’s flirtatious demeanor also faded. Slightly. Oh, tell me, what is that thing? A type of passive damage reduction, Yanjio replied succinctly. As long as you don’t destroy its energy source, hitting it won’t cause much damage. Shinting immediately grasped the key point from his words. He looked at the four black energy pillars descending straight from the sky, infusing into Karko. The energy source is those gates in the sky? Yes. Yanjio nodded. So, let’s go close the demon gates first. He gazed up at the four gaping cracks that resembled the mouths of abyssal giants continuously spewing chaotic energy. Shunting. Showed no hesitation. That makes sense. He pulled the giant axe from the ground and hoisted it back onto his shoulder. Before he could finish speaking, a thunderous boom. A fake purple lightning. Bolt tore through the dim sky, striking him directly. Shunting’s body not only suffered no harm but was instead enveloped by the violent power of the lightning. Blinding electric arcs surged wildly. Across his surface. He transformed into a streak of purple lightning, shooting skyward. The target was the first demon gate on the left. Moody Rowe watched the receding lightning, letting out a soft, ethereal laugh. In the next moment, a circle of ghostly blue spiritual energy rippled out from her snow-white feet. She gently lifted her foot, stepping onto the empty air. That air, however, seemed to form an invisible staircase. The ghostly blue energy gathered and dissipated beneath her feet. She ascended step by step, as if climbing an unseen heavenly ladder, gracefully moving toward the menacing. Crack on the right. In the blink of an eye, only Yen Jiu and Shuang Yue remained on the battlefield. Along with Karko, the grand commander, who had shifted all his malice onto Yen Jiu after losing two targets. Yen Jiu glanced at the sky. One had transformed into thunder. The other walked on air. He scratched his head. Then, he turned to look at Shuang Yue, who stood not far away, her expression. Weary. Shuang Yue felt a bit uncomfortable under his gaze. This man, though he often appeared dazed, had just shown a casualness that made her wary of underestimating him. Why, why are you looking at? Me? Her tone carried a hint of youthful shyness. Your brother said you could help me fly. Yanjio replied honestly. Xuan Yue was taken aback, her cheeks flushing slightly. What nonsense, flying? Yanjio looked at her, seriously pondering. Oh. So, can you fly? Xuan Yue was completely stumped by his nonsensical question. I? I’m a priest, of course I can cast, ascend, on myself. Xuan Yue. Opened her mouth but ultimately swallowed her complaints. She raised her staff. A golden, warm, and sacred light began to gather at the tip of the staff. Holy word, ascend. A gentle golden. Beam descended from the sky, enveloping Yenjio. Yenjio felt his body instantly become much lighter, as if he had broken free from some kind of restraint. He tried to jump, his body leaped up into the air, floating lightly for over 10 meters before slowly descending. Thank you, he said to Shuang Yue. Then, he turned around, facing the remaining two demon gates in the sky. His legs bent slightly. The next second. Boom. His body shot forward like a cannonball, accompanied by a whistling sound as he flew straight toward one of the gaping mouths. He plunged into the twisted darkness. The lightness. Brought by holy word, ascension vanished the moment he passed through the rift. In its place was a bone-chilling cold. There was also a buzzing sensation, like countless needles stabbing into his brain. This was no longer the previous space filled with flesh and the stench of blood. Beneath his feet lay a translucent membrane, akin to a stratum corneum, through which he could see countless, faint electric sparks flickering below. The walls were no longer writhing masses of flesh. Instead, they were tangled, massive nerve bundles resembling tree roots. Occasionally, bluish electric arcs flashed across the surface of these nerve bundles, illuminating the entire space in a flickering manner. He moved forward. The membrane beneath his feet emitted a series of slight, rhythmic tremors. This was not the pulse of a living being. It felt more like the resonance produced by some colossal thought and operation. He soon reached the end of this space. A vast cavity appeared before him. The center of the cavity there was no beating heart. Instead, there was an enormous head suspended in mid-air. It had no facial features, no hair, and its surface was as smooth as a polished piece of pale jade. Cowbless thick flickering nerve bundles extended from the walls connecting to the back of this head. A continuous flow of energy surged through these nerve bundles, infusing it. A line of cold data materialized before his eyes. demon head of the dimension silver level boss race demon level lv 17 health 47 000 attack 807 defense 908 skills spirit touch body passive abyss whisper evil gaze agitation dot as expected this troublesome passive again yenjiyo wasted no time he bent his legs slightly and the membrane beneath him sank down wind step his figure instantly vanished from the spot reappearing beside the enormous head the next second Although he was aware of the passive effect, he still couldn’t find the connection point, so he decided to strike. A couple of times to test it. The long knife drew a cold arc in the air and struck down hard. Minus 198. Spirit touch body. A damage number so low it was laughable floated up slowly. Just as he prepared. To withdraw and seek a way to break the deadlock, an indescribable torrent of chaotic information surged into his brain without warning. Abyss whisper. Give up, they have already abandoned. You, your power is meaningless, countless twisted, overlapping, chaotic words echoed wildly in his mind. These words did not enter through his ears. They seemed to sprout directly from the depths of his memory, attempting to poison his will. Yanjio felt as if 10,000 voices were whispering to him in his head. You have been affected by abyss whisper, temporarily reducing your mental strength by 20%, entering a slowed state and decreasing your movement speed by 10%. Effect lasts for 15 seconds. Yanjio’s movements momentarily froze. In that instant, the enormous. Head shook violently. Agitation. Buzz. It was not a loud sound, but a hum that made his very soul tremble, sweeping across the entire cavity centered around the head. A wave of bluish energy rippled. Outward. Yanjou’s body was forcefully pushed back, crashing into a thick nerve bundle behind him. The nerve bundle twitched violently, exploding into a dazzling spark of electricity. Minus 1015. Un. Extremely terrifying amount of damage. But the annoying part was not here. Evil gaze, another invisible curse took effect on him. You are affected by evil gaze, attack power decreased by 10%, effect. Lasts for 30 seconds dot. Yenjio shook his head, trying to shake off the annoying noise in his mind. So noisy, he muttered softly. Shadow cloak earth shield flame blade wind step Yenjio felt. His mind clear a bit, and with the force of the wind, he leaped above the massive head. His attention had shifted away from that enormous head. He looked at the nerve bundles connecting to the head. Resembling giant pythons. These were the key. However, this time the situation was different from when he faced the heart. Surrounding those nerve bundles floated fist-sized, slowly rotating orbs of light, like nebulas. They seemed like loyal sentinels, guarding the energy passage. Yen Jio did not attempt a direct assault again. He misstepped, his body pressed against the slick wall, rushing towards the nearest nerve bundle. Just as he got close, the floating orbs activated like sentinels. Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh. Dozens of thin energy rays shot out from the orbs, weaving into an impenetrable. electric net that enveloped him. Yanjou’s body twisted in mid-air, narrowly avoiding most of the rays. A few rays grazed his body, igniting a faint glow from earth’s shield. Although it did not cause damage, it successfully hindered his speed. But at this moment, the effect of the shadow cloak had already worn off. Meanwhile, the abyss whisper in his mind continued to exert its influence. Look at them. Lightning, sky. They are the destined ones. What are you? Yanjou frowned, these whispers interfered with his auditory judgment. These were far more troublesome than the previous mindless charging demon embryos. He stopped in his tracks, standing still. He no longer looked at the nerve bundles or paid attention to the annoying orbs. He simply gazed at the massive head suspended in the center. He raised the long knife in his hand. Then, once again, he launched an attack. At that head. Minus 201, zero touch body. Minus 189, zero touch body. Each attack only dealt negligible damage. Each strike would provoke a counter from stir and evil gaze. You are affected by evil gaze, attack. Power decreased by 10%, effect has stacked to 2 layers. You are affected by evil gaze, attack. Power decreased by 10%, effect has stacked to 3 layers. It felt as if he had fallen into an unsolvable death. Liu, however, there was no sign of impatience on Yanjou’s face. He was merely repeating this seemingly meaningless scraping action. He was waiting. Waiting for an opportunity. Finally, when the negative state of evil gaze on him stacked to the 5th layer, his attack power had been reduced by half. The abyss whisper in his mind became increasingly piercing. Buzz. Another stir. But this time, the circle of eerie. Blue energy ripples was more violent than any previous instance. The entire space trembled violently due to this shockwave. The orbs guarding the nerve bundles momentarily froze because of the intense energy fluctuation. Now’s the time. Yenjo’s body vanished amidst a shower of brilliant stardust. Astral walk. He appeared directly at the very top of the cavity. There, a thickest nerve bundle flickered with an eerie glow. Yenzhou’s figure materialized in mid-air. The long knife in his hand, carrying the afterglow of shattered stars, struck down fiercely. Sizzle. Minus 8840. The nerve bundle snapped in response. The raging energy. Surged forth like a flood from a breached dam. Eee. A piercing shriek, sharp to the extreme and directly affecting the soul, echoed throughout the space. That enormous head convulsed wildly. Its smooth surface. Even cracked open with fine fissures. The head of the dimensional demon has suffered a heavy blow, skill of this whisper, interrupted. The head of the dimensional demon is temporarily weakened, attack power decreased. Defense power decreased. Effective. The annoying noise in his mind vanished in an instant. Yanjio’s body pushed off the wall in midair and charged towards the second nerve bundle. The light orbs guarding. A round had already recovered from their stagnation. They shot out dense energy beams once again. But this time, Yanjio did not evade. He let those beams strike against his earth shield, which, after the decrease. in attack power, was just enough to withstand a round of attacks. The blade light flickered again. The second nerve bundle snapped. The convulsions of the head became even more intense. Its pale surface began to show large patches of gray. Yanjou’s offensive was like a precise and efficient storm. The third. The fourth. He was like the coldest surgeon, accurately excising the organ that this massive intellect relied on for survival. When the last main nerve bundle was severed, the entire space let out a mournful cry of being overwhelmed. That enormous head completely ceased its trembling. Its surface sheen quickly dimmed. Yen Jio. Descended from the sky, landing right in front of the head. He raised the long knife in his hand. Minus 9,150. Minus 9,320. Minus 8 ,980. A series of massive damage numbers erupted from the head of the now powerless boss. Its health. Bar was instantly emptied. Crack. The massive head emitted a crisp sound. Countless cracks spread across its surface. Finally, with a loud bang, it shattered completely into crystal-like fragments that flew everywhere. A pile of shimmering loot emerged among the debris. You have killed the head of the dimensional demon. Yenjio quickly moved forward, collecting all the dropped items from the ground. With the death of the head, this demon’s alternate space also began to head towards destruction. The membrane beneath his feet shattered inch by inch, revealing an unfathomable void below. The nerve bundles above his head turned to ash-like withered vines. Yanjio turned around and swiftly left in the direction he had come from. A flash of light. He reappeared above the charred, chaotic battlefield. Not far away, Shuang Yue was nervously, maintaining a massive golden shield, assisting the surrounding army and fending off the frenzied attacks of Grand Commander Karkur. She was stunned to see Yanjio suddenly appear. You, so fast? Yanjio did not. Answer. He glanced at the sky. One of the four energy pillars infused into Grand Commander Karkur had already extinguished. Karker’s roar thus carried a noticeable hint of weakness. But his madness only intensified. Cowbless twisted tentacles lashed out like uncontrolled whips, mercilessly striking everything around. The demon legion at the forefront, cowering, was indiscriminately smashed into a pulp. The golden blessing. Runes maintained by Shuang Yue rippled violently under the onslaught of the tentacles, their brilliance dimming slightly. Yanjio withdrew his gaze, landing back on Shuang Yue’s slightly agape mouth, surprised. One. More. He said. Ha. Shuang Yue was taken aback. Her mind went blank, completely unable to keep up with this man’s pace. What one more? Fly. Yanjio pointed to the remaining demon rift in the sky, the one closest. To him. Concise and to the point. Only then did Shuang Yue react. Got it, got it, will saying two more words kill me? She raised her staff, and although she continued to complain, her actions showed no hesitation. The golden holy light gathered once more. Holy word, ascend. A soft golden beam enveloped Yanjio. His body felt light once again. Thank you, Yanjio muttered. He turned, facing the grotesque scar in. The sky. His legs bent again and the scorched earth beneath him cracked and sank. Boom. His body transformed once more into a projectile, shooting skyward, plunging into the swirling darkness on the right. This time, there was no stench of blood and flesh, nor the buzzing of nerve bundles. He landed on a vast, smooth, obsidian-like black plain. The ground felt cold and hard beneath his feet. He looked up. There was. No sky here. Only a dark red, pulsating, flesh-like dome, with countless thick tendons intertwining within, forming bizarre patterns. In the center of this desolate plane stood a colossal entity. It was a foot. A. Gigantic, indescribable, beast-like black foot. It seemed carved from the purest obsidian, reflecting the dark red light cast by the fleshy dome above. Above the giant foot connected a disproportionately thick, muscular leg, extending upward, ultimately disappearing into the depths of the fleshy vault overhead. It stood there quietly, like a black monument symbolizing destruction and trampling. A line of cold data slowly. Appeared before him. Dimensional demons tread, silver level boss, race, demon level, LV 18 health, 50,000 attack, 750 defense, 1050 skills, ethereal touch, passive, destructive tread, rift eruption, crushing. Force dot. Over a thousand points of defense. Yen Jiu’s brow furrowed slightly. He looked around but found no energy supply organs resembling blood vessels or nerve bundles. It was completely empty. Just him and this. Foot. He hesitated no longer. Wind step. A black afterimage skimmed along the obsidian ground, instantly covering a long distance. He appeared at the side of the giant foot, his long knife slicing through the air with a cold arc, striking fiercely at the dark ankle. Clang. A piercing sound of metal clashing echoed. Where the blade met the giant foot, a shower of tiny sparks erupted. Minus 112, ethereal touch. A number so low, it was despairing floated up from above the giant foot. Yanjio’s body was thrown back by the immense recoil flipping in the air before landing steadily. A tingling sensation coursed through his palm. Indeed, a. Tough opponent. Just then, the giant foot that had remained still began to move. It slowly lifted in a manner that exuded an overwhelming sense of pressure. The massive shadow instantly enveloped a large area where. Yanjio stood. Destructive tread. There was no howling wind, only a suffocating, pure sense of power. The giant foot came crashing down toward his position. Yanjou’s body transformed into a shadow, instantly. Retreating a hundred meters. Boom. The entire plane trembled violently from the impact. Where the giant foot landed, the hard obsidian ground cracked like a spider web. Deep fissures spread out in all directions. The next second. His dark red energy, like lava, erupted violently from the crack seams, forming irregular energy fountains. Rift eruption. The entire space was illuminated by this eerie dark red light. A system prompt popped up perfectly in front of him. You have entered the Rift Eruption Zone, losing 100 health points per second. All your attacks against Demon’s Foot Treader will deal 100 % increased damage. So that’s how it is. Yen Jio looked at the erupting energy rifts, then glanced at his health bar showing over 2000. This was a trade. Using his life to earn the qualification to pierce through its defenses. He did not hesitate, the giant foot slowly lifted again, preparing to launch the next stomp. Yen Jio did not dodge. Instead, he moved toward the point where the giant foot would land. Boom. Another. Earth-shattering stomp. Just before the giant foot came crashing down, Yanjio precisely flashed to the edge of the attack range. He stepped into the newly formed, searing energy fissure. Minus 100. Minus 100. Minus 100. A series of. Damage numbers began to steadily pop up above his head. His health was dropping at a visibly alarming rate. Yanjio ignored it all. The long knife in his hand was enveloped in a thin layer of flame. Flame blade. Earth shield. His figure, like a ghost, clung to the edge of the giant foot, unleashing a torrential storm of attacks. Minus 220. Minus 1720. Minus 260. Minus 1870. Minus 258. Minus 1720 spell surge meteor strike. Yen Jio pressed his palm, completely against the boss, fully casting the god of war amplification spell. Minus 7930. The drastically different damage numbers jumped wildly. The massive health bar of the giant foot finally showed a noticeable drop. effective. However, Yanjou’s earth shield had already shattered, countless fragments exploding outward. Minus 2730. He could not be greedy anymore. A misstep and he instantly escaped the range of the fissure’s eruption. The burning sensation disappeared. The energy fissure, after erupting for several seconds, gradually calmed down, returning to the pitch black ground. He had to wait for the next destruction stomp. However, the boss clearly would not give him a moment’s respite. The giant foot did not lift again. Instead, it swept toward him along the ground carrying an unmatched momentum. Crushing force. The ground groaned under. Its weight. Yanjio could only keep retreating, using the mobility of windstep and astral walk to maintain distance from this devastating crush. He dodged while thinking. The efficiency was too low. Each stomp. Caused the fissure to last only a few seconds. The rate at which he was losing health was not proportional to his output efficiency. At this rate, even if he could wear down the opponent, it would take too long. Outside, Shinting and Mao Dero might have already finished their battle. He had to find a more efficient method. His gaze fell on the plains where the previously stomped fissures had disappeared. A bold idea. Formed in his mind. When the next destruction stomp came, Yanjio did not retreat to a safe zone. Instead, he charged toward the area that had been stomped last time. Boom. The giant foot came down, creating a new. Fissure beside him. He instantly stepped into it. At the same time, he lured the giant foot, making the next attack’s landing point intersect with this area. The giant foot seemed devoid of intelligence, mechanically. Executing the attack command. It lifted again and came crashing down. Boom. The second fissure area was generated. And the spot where Yenjo stood was precisely where the two fissure areas overlapped. Sizzle. A more violent energy than any previous eruption surged from beneath his feet. You are affected by dual fissure eruption, losing 300 health points per second. All your attacks deal 200% increased damage to. Demon’s foot stomper. Minus 200. Minus 200. Minus 200. His health bar plummeted like a floodgate opened. If it weren’t for the earth shield blocking a wave of damage earlier he wouldn’t have lasted 10 seconds in there. This. Was playing with fire. But there was no excess expression on Yanjou’s face. This was exactly what he wanted. Brilliant flames ignited on the edge of his blade. He poured all his strength into those brief seconds. Minus 500. Minus 3107. Minus 520. Minus 3403. A series of terrifying damage numbers exploded from the top of the giant foot. Crack. A crisp sound came from within the giant foot, its indestructible obsidian surface suddenly appeared. With a fine crack. Demon’s foot stomper defense core damaged, entering a brief shattered state. Defense power significantly decreased. Opportunity. Yenjio’s health had dropped below 500, but he did. Not retreat. With the shadow cloak, he faced the energy surge that was about to empty his health bar and struck out with his final blow. Minus 8910. Minus 53,618. The giant foot’s health bar was instantly drained, even. Leaving Yanjyo with a half tube of health ode. The massive obsidian foot trembled violently. Countless cracks spread across its surface. Finally, with a loud crash, it completely shattered into a cloud of black dust. A pile of shimmering loot emerged from the dust. Yanjyo quickly moved forward collecting all the dropped items. This alternate space began to collapse with the death of the boss. A flash of light. He reappeared. On the charred battlefield. He reappeared on the charred battlefield. Frostmoon was exerting all her strength to maintain a huge golden blessing rune, protecting the coalition formation behind her. She saw Yen, Jo’s figure appear and couldn’t help but say, you, you’re back again? Yen Jio did not answer her question. He glanced at the sky. The four energy pillars connecting to the demon gate had now extinguished. Too good. He looked again at his nearly depleted blue bar from the earlier extreme battle. He slowly took out a red recovery potion from his backpack. Before Yanjio could drink the potion, a brilliant, warm golden. Light descended from the sky, precisely landing on him. Holy healing. Plus 1750. A huge green number floated above his head. His health bar was instantly restored to a completely safe position. Yanjio looked at his. Overflowing health and then at the girl not far away. Thanks. He put the unopened potion back into his backpack. His full attention was now completely locked on the center of the battlefield. The Grand Commander. Karkar, who had become increasingly furious after losing two energy sources, was now fixated on Yenjio with its wildly rotating eyes filled with resentment. Based on Yenjio’s previous experience, the passive damage reduction of spirit touch body should have been halved. It was time to test it. With a thought, a thick layer of earthy yellow light instantly enveloped his body. Earth shield. The next second, his body sank slightly, the scorched earth beneath him caving in. Wind step. The black afterimage, close to the ground, shot forward like an arrow released from a ball, charging straight at the massive creature. Karker. Sensed the provocation from this tiny species. Roar. It let out an angry roar. Dozens of twisted tentacles covered in suckers, like a frenzy giant python, tore through the air with sharp whistling sounds, wildly. Striking towards Yenzhou’s position. Twisted tentacles. The tentacles blocked all his paths forward, forming an impenetrable net of death. However, Yenzhou’s figure showed no signs of stopping. He moved like a. Ghost dancing on the edge of a blade. With a light push of his left foot on the ground, his body slid away at an incredible angle, narrowly avoiding the direct strikes of three tentacles. Maintaining his forward momentum, he ducked under two sweeping tentacles. The wind rushed past his scalp. The entire process was fluid, without a single unnecessary movement. He maintained an extreme yet safe distance from the chaotic forest. Of tentacles. In just a few seconds, he successfully broke through the tentacle blockade and reached Carker’s feet. The long knife in his hand drew a cold arc in the air. The blade struck fiercely against the boss’s. Ankle, which was coiled like tree roots. Dash 5345, a damage number far beyond expectations floated up from Karker’s head. It was indeed effective. Roar. The intense pain caused Karker’s movements to freeze for. A moment. Yen Jio did not give it a chance to think. With a successful strike, he exerted force under his feet, pressing his body against the boss’s massive form, moving rapidly to the side in search of the next. Attack point. Just then, boom. In the sky, the third energy pillar connecting heaven and earth on the left suddenly collapsed without warning, transforming into a flurry of black light points. The divine thunder also dealt with its target. Woo! Karkar let out a painful wail. Its body shook violently as it lost the third energy source and its enormous form even momentarily lost balance. Opportunity. Yen Jiu’s body, like a leech, instantly closed in. The blade flashed. Minus 6510. Minus 6488. Two damage numbers jumped out in succession. Carker’s health bar dropped a little further. Before it could recover from its weakness, boom, the last energy pillar, located on the far right, shattered in response. The ghostly blue aura burst forth in the sky like fireworks. The soft gaze at the bottom of the eyes also completed. All four energy pillars extinguished. The Grand Commander Carker had completely lost its source of life. The overwhelming sense of oppression it exuded receded like a tide. Grand Commander Karker’s passive skill spirit touch body has been disabled. Roar. Despair and madness completely consumed the giant demon. It raised its goat-like head and let out the most mournful and frenzied roar since its birth. Mad roar. A visible dark red sound wave radiated. From it, sweeping across the entire battlefield. You are affected by mad roar, all attributes decreased by 15% and you are in a slowed state, effect lasts for 10 seconds to. Yen Jio’s movements momentarily. Stiffened. However, the next second, a dazzling stardust appeared around his body, only to vanish instantly. Astral walk. He directly ignored the control effect, his figure instantly appearing at the sight of. Carker’s massive head. In midair, the long knife in his hand ignited a thin yet incredibly intense flame. Flame blade. Minus 8931 minus 23210 The boss’s health dropped significantly. The boss’s health was nearly depleted. However, before Yinzhou could take the next action, a figure wrapped in a torrent of thunder descended from the sky. die for me it was the divine thunder his robust body traced a wild arc in the air the giant axe in his hand gathering the surging lightning resembling a falling thunder star boom the giant axe struck precisely on karker’s head minus 21 370 a shocking damage number slowly floated up from the boss’s head becoming the last straw that broke the camel’s back karker’s massive body trembled violently it completely lost all support crashing down like a collapsing mountain onto the scorched earth kicking up a cloud of dust The battlefield fell into a momentary silence. All the allied demons stopped their actions, staring blankly at the enormous corpse. Frostmoon maintained the blessing runes, watching her brother’s mighty figure with a hint of pride on her face. But the divine thunder showed no joy of victory. He stood beside Carker’s corpse with the giant axe, his brow tightly furrowed. Something was wrong. Just then, an unexpected change occurred. In the sky, the demon rift that had first collapsed to hatch the boss suddenly tore open again without warning. This rift was darker and deeper than any before. it resembled a monster’s mouth suddenly opening wide ugh a nauseating muffled sound echoed countless massive skeletal frames composed of pale white bones were expelled from that rift then as if it had exhausted all its strength it completely dissipated leaving no trace behind the air seemed to freeze what is that shuan yui murmured as she gazed at the few ominous bones radiating a sinister aura no one answered her the enormous skull with its hollow dark eye sockets suddenly ignited with a flicker of ghostly blue flame crack crack The skeleton moved. It slowly lifted itself from the ground, hovering in mid-air. The other four skeletal. Limbs also trembled as if summoned by some force, rising into the air. They began to assemble in a bizarre yet precise manner. Head, arms, legs, a complete, colossal, suffocating demon skeleton gradually took. Shape before everyone’s eyes. It floated silently, like a deity from ancient times, symbolizing death. In the next moment, the boss’s corpse slowly merged into the massive body of Karkur on the ground. Like an ice. Cube sinking into water. It made no sound. The pale bones began to merge with the dark red flesh in a way that defied logic. Carker’s corpse began to convulse violently, deforming. Bone spurs pierced through the skin, obsidian-like armor covered the soft tissue, and its body was standing up again at a visibly rapid pace. A more hideous, more terrifying monster was being born. Is this the second phase? Shinting set in. A deep voice as he watched the bizarre scene unfold. He tightened his grip on the giant axe in his hand, and sparks of electricity flickered around him once more. Just then, on the distant horizon, clouds of dust. Rolled in. A massive army, so large it seemed endless, was rapidly approaching in this direction. At the forefront were several powerful figures. Longtang guilds Luwashing, Loshen guilds Chinching and Inha Fenguers. Fongling, and Shuesher guilds Batian. Six Peaks, accompanied by many top players. They had organized those players who had been left homeless after the Three Absolutes army destroyed the fortress forming a grand. Player Alliance finally arriving at the battlefield. However, the moment they saw the scene before them, everyone stopped in their tracks. What, what the hell is that? Blood -colored Batty and stared at the. Monster that was undergoing its final fusion, its size already surpassing the terrifying Karkur, completely dazed. And them. Longting’s Lawashing’s attention was drawn to three figures in front of the monster. A. Burly man wielding a giant axe crackling with lightning. A woman, barefoot and floating, with an enchanting figure. And a man, holding a long knife, exuding a chilling aura. The three absolutes. They are indeed. here are they fighting that boss killing this boss will definitely yield a lot of points it’s a silver boss a piece of bronze gear can sell for tens of thousands silver must be astronomical look at that monster it seems to be transforming a violent commotion erupted among the ranks of the player alliance they had come to hunt the three absolutes but the scene before them completely exceeded their expectations these three legendary players seem to be tackling a terrifying boss President, what should we do? A member of the blood-colored guild leaned close to Batian, asking nervously. Yeah, President. Should we go in? Or? The players from Longtang also looked to Luwashing. The target they aimed to hunt was facing an even more terrifying enemy. And that enemy seemed to be the one they had provoked. Don’t move. Yet, Lashin’s chinching said calmly. Let’s observe the changes. On the battlefield, the newly fused boss finally completed its transformation. It slowly opened its eyes to IT was a pair of eye sockets, purely made of. Bones, Burning with a Ghostly Blue Flame. Dimensional Demons Remnant, Golden Level Boss, Race, Demon Level, LV18 Health, 98,000 Attack, 1373 Defense, 1308 Physical Resistance, 37% Magical Resistance, 48 % Skills, Desolate Gaze, Siphon, Passive, Dark Oppression, Twisted Tentacles, Despair Charge, Frenzied Roar. Details about Resistance will be explained in subsequent chapters. Currently, the plan is to implement. percentage damage reduction similar to league of legends appearing only on golden level and high level monsters with future equipment featuring physical and magical penetration a new line of data appeared before yen geo and the others roar a roar completely different from before filled with death and majesty echoed through the heavens and the earth the demon’s remnant raised its giant foot made of obsidian and stomped heavily towards the position of shinting the speed was several times faster than before Shinting’s expression changed, and his body transformed into a flash of lightning, retreating in an instant. Boom. The ground cracked. A pit more terrifying than the previous destruction stomp appeared where he had been standing. This is a bit troublesome, Shinting said, gritting his teeth. The new boss fused. With bones, slowly opened its eyes. The ghostly blue flames burned in its hollow eye sockets. Physical resistance, magical resistance? A lazy yet curious female voice broke the stagnant air. A pair of delicate. White, tender little feet floated in mid-air, observing the new line of data with great interest. Shen Ting ignored her curiosity. He hefted the giant axe crackling with lightning, his heavy body causing the scorched earth beneath him to sink slightly. Let’s not worry about that for now. His voice was like muffled thunder. That group of flies behind us is the real trouble right now. He referred to the vast player. Alliance on the distant horizon. A dark mass, like a locust plague about to devour everything. The heavenly kingdom Legion I brought his strict military regulations. We can only act against demons or players who violate national laws through infighting. Right now, those players are just watching. I can’t command the Legion to attack proactively. But if we go to fight the boss, they will definitely stab us in the back. Shinting’s words pointed out the current predicament simply and directly. They were caught in the middle. On one side was an unprecedented golden level boss. On the other side were tens of thousands of players. With ulterior motives, ready to turn into hungry wolves at any moment. Oh dear. The delicate voice chuckled softly. She extended her slender finger and gently traced it across her smooth chin. Then, leave it to. Me. She turned around and floated towards the massive player army in the distance. Her movements were light. Yet, they struck like a heavy hammer, hitting the hearts of everyone in the player alliance hard. What? What is she going to do? Blood-red Ba Tian roared, gripping his battle axe tightly. But his fierce exterior couldn’t hide the fear deep within his pupils. Everyone. Prepare for battle. No. Matter how strong she is, she’s just one person. President Ba Tian, watch out. The voice of Luosh and Morningstar timely stopped his impulsiveness. She is not alone. No sooner had the words left his mouth than the Golden Sea composed of countless heroic knights behind the delicate voice stirred. There were no war drums. No horns. Not even a single command. Tens of thousands of knights, burning with golden soul fire, simultaneously raised their heads. Their hollow eye sockets all turned towards the player alliance. Then, they began to march. In perfect unison. Only the sound of translucent hooves striking the scorched earth echoed, dull like a heartbeat. Thud. Thud. Thud. Each step felt like a stomp on the hearts of all the players. It was not a. Charge. It was a slow, absolutely oppressive advance, they advanced step by step, unwavering. Behind the gentle gaze of the girl, a line of death stretched across the entire plane. They showed. No signs of murderous intent. Yet their very existence was the most terrifying form of killing intent. This, the blood-red tyrant, who had just been shouting for battle, was rendered. Completely speechless, he watched the golden tide of death slowly approaching, feeling as if an invisible hand was tightly gripping his throat, making it hard to breathe. The player alliances. Line showed visible signs of unrest and retreat. The courage that had surged just a second ago due to their numbers was utterly crushed by that silent march. She doesn’t want to attack us. Fomling’s expression was more serious than ever. She is drawing a line. Countless level 18 elite guards, Fomling was confident she could break through the defense, but facing three masters. Alone, she had no assurance. With her undead army, Mu Di Ro had created an absolute vacuum between the golden boss and tens of thousands of players. With her single strength, she had divided the entire battlefield in half. Ha! Shinting looked at the slowly advancing undead line and let out a low laugh. This woman. He slammed the handle of his giant axe heavily on the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. Yanjio said nothing. He looked behind him. The sea of demons he had personally created was now receding like a tide, continuously curling back. Even the. Few powerful rift commanders were crawling on the ground, their massive bodies trembling violently with fear. They dared not advance. Under the golden level suppression of the, remains of, the dimensional demon, these lowly demons couldn’t even muster the will to resist. Their only instincts were to submit or flee. This is troublesome. Shinting furrowed his brow. It’s just. The two of us laughed. Yanjio withdrew his gaze from the demon army. He looked again at the terrifying monster that had completely transformed, standing on the earth like a skeletal king. Yenjio slowly drew the long knife from his waist. The blade reflected a cold, sharp light in the dim sky. What are you doing? Shinting noticed his movement. I’m going to give it a try. Yen. Jio’s answer was as simple as ever. Shinting’s words were not finished. Yenjio had already moved. His body transformed into an arrow released from a bow, shooting straight toward the massive remains of the demon. Roar. The remains of the dimensional demon noticed this tiny creature daring to provoke it. It opened its giant mouth made of countless bones and let out a roar that. shook the heavens and the earth. A visible wave of black energy spread out from it. Dark pressure. Yanjou’s forward momentum suddenly halted. A weighty pressure, as heavy as a mountain, descended upon him. His speed was forcibly reduced by 30%. A negative status icon appeared above his head. Dark pressure, damage minus 30%, movement speed minus 30%, attack speed minus 30%, casting, speed dash 30%, Yanjou ignored it. He braced against the terrifying pressure and continued forward. The demon’s remains raised its giant obsidian-like claw, slicing through the air with a whistle, and struck down toward Yenjo. Shadows instantly enveloped him. Just as the claw was about to fall, Yenjo’s figure suddenly became blurry. Wind stepped. He transformed into an afterimage, narrowly slipping through the gap of the giant claw. The foul wind brushed against his cheek as he successfully penetrated the boss’s inner side. The other giant arm of the demon’s remains, made of twisted tentacles, swept in from an awkward angle like a venomous snake. Its speed was so fast that it sealed off all of Yanzhou’s escape routes. Yanzhou’s gaze sharpened. The giant arm made of twisted tentacles swept in, blocking all retreat paths. The foul wind rushed toward him that he did not dodge backward. Instead, he twisted his body and directly avoided the wildly thrashing tentacles appearing beneath the ribs of the demon’s remains. The distance was pulled to the limit. The long knife in his hand drew a cold arc of light, precisely slicing into the connection between bone and flesh. Clang! The harsh sound of friction was accompanied by a shower of sparks. Minus 3127. A number far from what he had expected slowly floated above the. Boss’s head. Yanjou’s brows furrowed slightly. He glanced at the prominent entry in the boss’s status bar. Physical resistance, 37, so that’s it. The demon’s remains let out a roar of anger due. To the mist attack. Its massive foot, made of obsidian, suddenly lifted and stomped down heavily towards Yanjou’s position. Boom. The ground cracked. However, Yanzhou’s body had already transformed into an afterimage, sliding to the side. He pressed against the boss’s enormous body and circled to the other side. This time, he did not strike. Instead, he placed his empty left hand directly on the boss’s cold bones. Spell surge. Starfall. No incantation, no wind-up. Brilliant starlight erupted suddenly in his palm. Miniature stars, like the most violent. Drill bits, violently hammered into the demon’s remains. Minus 21,479. Minus 15,037, double moon. The starkly different terrifying damage exploded from above the boss’s head. That massive health bar was. Forcibly gnawed down by a large chunk. Roar. The unprecedented pain made the demon’s remains emit a piercing roar. Well done. A thunderous shout descended from the sky. The robust figure. Of Shinting, like a falling thunder star, crashed down with immense force. The giant axe in his hand was entwined with blinding lightning. Thunder strike. Boom. The giant axe accurately. Struck the back of the demon’s neck. Minus 4913. Another impressive damage number popped up. More importantly, countless blue electric snakes instantly spread from the giant axe to the demon’s. Entire body. Zzzz. The boss’s massive body suddenly stiffened. Its raised claws froze in mid-air, caught in a brief state of paralysis. Opportunity. Shinting landed, the scorched earth. Beneath him cracking inch by inch. He did not pause for a moment. The giant axe spun, creating a howling wind, and swept horizontally again. Yenzhou’s figure, like a ghost, once again drew. Close. The long knife in his hand struck out decisively once more. Minus 3098. The damage number was still not high. The paralysis state lasted only a brief two seconds. The demons remained suddenly. Broke free from the restraint and the two balls of eerie blue flames in its hollow eye sockets began to flicker violently. It locked onto Shinting, the closest to it. Roar. It opened. Its massive mouth composed of countless bones. A pitch black ray, exuding an aura of desolation, rapidly condensed in its mouth. Desolate gaze. I’m coming. Shinting shouted, and instead of retreating, he stepped forward. He positioned the giant axe in front of him, and the surrounding lightning instantly converged into a heavy lightning shield. Thunder god barrier. The next. Second, the pitch black energy beam shot out, accurately striking the lightning shield. Zzzz. The sound of energy dissipating, which made one’s teeth ache, echoed across the battlefield. The. Ground beneath Shinting’s feet sank several inches, with cracks spreading out for several meters. Minus 1,450. Minus 1,450. Minus 1,450. Huge damage numbers floated above his head. His health bar dropped. By more than half in an instant. Damn, that hurts. Shinting gritted his teeth, enduring the blow. Frost Moon’s healing followed closely. 1980, Yanzhou’s figure, however, had already used this gap to appear behind the boss. He saw a passive skill in the boss’s status bar. Siphon, passive. Just as Shinting braced against the attack.A green healing number slowly emerged. From the top of the demon’s decaying body. Plus 2900. Plus 2900. Plus 2900. Dammit, it’s regenerating health. Shinting also noticed this and couldn’t help but curse. Double damage recovery? This is. So annoying. Shinting felt a bit irritated. On one side, there’s absurdly high resistance and on the other, hitting it still heals it. How the hell are we supposed to kill this thing? Before Shinting could finish complaining, another furious roar swept across the battlefield. Frenzied roar. You are affected by frenzied roar, all attributes decreased by 15%, effect lasts. For 30 seconds, and you are stunned for 3 seconds. Yanzhou, Shinting, and Shuang Yue all froze, caught in the stun. The massive body of the demons remained suddenly turned. It abandoned. Shinting, its eye sockets burning with ghostly blue flames filled with endless resentment, fixated on Yanzhou. Its legs bent slightly. A sense of despair and destruction began to gather. wildly around it. Yanjio couldn’t move, he could only watch as the colossal creature, like a siege beast ready to charge, focused all its power on him. The stunned state had one second left. The massive creature had already gathered its destructive power, poised to charge forward. Despair charge. The ground howled beneath its feet, cracking. A whirlwind carrying the scent of death. Pressed down on Yanjio, almost tearing at his skin. Just as Shinting’s stun was lifted, he wanted to rush over, but found his body sluggish due to the negative effect of the attribute decrease. There was no time. In Yanzhou’s pupils, the increasingly close massive figure was reflected. The moment the remains touched Yanzhou, the stun time ended, leaving no time to activate wind, step or astral walk. However, just as the giant beast made of bones and obsidian was about to collide with Yanzhou, his body suddenly became transparent without warning. He seemed like an ink painting washed by water, his outline blurring, colors rapidly fading, ultimately transforming into an almost ethereal, translucent phantom. Phasing. The active skill of the siren. four-piece set was ruthlessly activated at the most critical moment. Boom! The massive body of the demons remains faced no obstruction. It charged directly through Yanjou’s phasing body with the force of a thunderbolt. The frenzied energy intertwined with that phantom. Yet, it did not create a single ripple. A perfect untargetable floated above Yanjou’s head. The demons. Remains charged forward several dozen meters before finally stopping. It turned around in confusion. Those eye sockets burning with ghostly blue flames locked onto the creature that should. have been reduced to mush. The phasing effect ended. Yanzhou’s figure solidified once more. He didn’t even turn to look at the boss. His left hand gently brushed the hilt of the knife at his. Waist. Sizzle. A thin, yet intensely hot flame instantly climbed up the entire blade. Flame blade. Immediately after, a thick layer of earthy yellow light enveloped his body. Earth shield. After doing all this, he slowly turned around. The blade of the long knife pointed towards the enraged demon’s remains, which had missed its attack. Siphon. He whispered two words. As. Long as you don’t touch me, it will be fine. His voice was so soft it was almost inaudible. But his movement was like a flash of lightning cutting through the darkness. Wind step. The. Black afterimage, close to the ground, once again charged towards the terrifying golden level existence. Roar. The demon’s remains were completely enraged. Dozens of twisted tentacles covered. In suckers, like a frenzy giant python, tore through the air with sharp whistling sounds, wildly striking towards Yanjou’s position. The net of death descended once more. However, this. Time, the figure of Yanjio was more elusive and harder to grasp than ever before. He had already figured out the attack patterns of this broken body. He moved like a ghost without substance. Darting through the gaps in the forest of tentacles at high speed. A flash of blade. Minus 3012. The flame imbued blade left a charred wound on the boss’s ankle. Minus 7098. The burning damage from. Flame blade followed closely behind. The excruciating pain caused the demon’s broken body to momentarily freeze. It abandoned its flashy tentacles, and with a roar that tore through the air, its massive claws came crashing down. Yet, just before the claws struck, Yanzhou suddenly transformed into a dazzling shower of stardust. Astral walk. He instantly appeared behind the boss. The long knife slashed out again. Minus 3012. Minus 7098. The same damage numbers popped up once more. The entire process flowed seamlessly, reaching an extreme speed. Each attack landed precisely. in the gap between the boss’s old strength waning and new strength not yet born each dodge perfectly evaded all lethal strikes this golden level boss endowed with the passive skill siphon should have been rampaging through the crowd but at this moment it couldn’t even touch the hem of yenjo’s clothing its once proud recovery ability had become a joke this guy shinting wielding a giant axe watched the afterimage darting around the boss and couldn’t help but grin what a monster he intended to step in to help but seeing yenjo’s extreme Dodges and attack rhythm. He abruptly halted. He knew very well that if he charged in now, he wouldn’t be able to help. Instead, his clumsy attacks would disrupt Yanjyo’s rhythm and might even. Cause the boss’s attacks to hit Yanjyo. That would trigger siphon. All efforts would be in vain. Roar. The demon’s health under Yanjyo’s scalpel-like precision had already dropped. Below 20%. It had completely descended into madness. It abandoned all unnecessary movements, its legs bending sharply. Mad roar. Desperate charge. The same skills activated. Once more. However, this boss had been completely seen through by Yen Jio. As it raised its head, Yen Jio was already on guard. The exceptional state resistance of Shadow Cloak was fully. Displayed at this moment, a large immunity appearing above Yen Jio’s head. Astral Walk Yen Jio’s figure left behind a trail of brilliant stardust. As the demon’s massive body crushed through. The stardust, Yen Jio had already appeared behind it. The long knife once again pierced precisely into the bony seam at the back of its neck. Minus 3012. Minus 7098. The boss’s health bar dropped. Significantly again. It resembled an enraged bull, chained and unable to break free. No matter how it charged or roared, it couldn’t touch the matador who was constantly inflicting wounds beside. Its. Time passed second by second. The demon’s health was nearing its end. The ghostly blue flames on its body began to dim. Its movements became increasingly sluggish and clumsy as its health. Decreased. Yet, the long knife in Yanjou’s hand remained steady. The massive creature had only a sliver of health left, flickering like a candle in the wind under the dim light of the sky. In the distance, the vast player alliance on the horizon had finally lost control completely. The first kill of a golden level boss. This temptation was enough to burn away all reason. No. More waiting. The rough roar of blood-colored overlord ignited the powder keg. Everyone, charge. Whoever gets the boss can pick any equipment from the guild warehouse. With such a heavy. Reward, discipline was thrown out the window. Tens of thousands of players formed a black torrent, charging with a deafening battle cry towards the Golden Line formed by the heroic knights, launching a desperate assault. The players in the front row were silently torn apart the moment they made contact with the Golden Line, the Spear of the Spirit Knight coldly and efficiently harvested lives. However, there were too many players charging forward. They surged like waves crashing against a dam, one after another, using their bodies to wear down the strength of that defense line. everyone clung to a glimmer of hope if they could rush past and successfully claim the golden boss it would be a leap to greatness at that moment a figure of deep azure moving with incredible speed burst forth from the ranks of the alliance it was the wind spirit around her body a visible whirlwind of violently swirling winds erupted ss level talent sigh of the wind king passive all range damage you receive is reduced by 50 range damage you deal is increased by 500 and for every 1 increase in your movement speed your range damage Increases by 1%. Active, transform into wind lord form, increasing movement speed by 500 % and agility by 500% for 10 seconds, during which you are immune to all ranged attacks, and passive. Effects are doubled. Her figure completely transformed into a blur of azure light. She did not charge at the indestructible spirit knights. Instead, she drew back the longbow in her hand, carved. Like jade. Buzz. The bowstring trembled. A rain of arrows made of howling winds surged forth, overwhelming the spirit line at a single point. minus 8417 to 8813 that seemingly impregnable defense line was like a painting splashed with concentrated acid instantly corroded to create a massive breach the wind spirits figure did not pause for a moment she became a tearing wind on the battlefield flashing through that gap she did not look back nor did she glance at any player her target had always been singular that dying golden level boss in midair the soft red of her eyes quietly observed the torn defense line Several spikes made of pure shadow energy shot from her fingertips, aimed at the back of the wind spirit. However, those spikes vanished. Into nothingness the moment they touched the layer of wind elements surrounding her body. Immune. Immune. Immune. Oh dear. A lazy sigh escaped from her lips. In that voice, there was no trace of anger but rather a hint of amusement. It can’t hold anymore. The torrent of players surged through the breach torn by the wind spirit, completely flooding into this isolated battlefield. The defense line crumbled in an instant. A faint smile blossomed on the cheeks of the enchanting Moody Ro. The next second, her figure vanished silently like ink dissolving in water. Damn it! A thunderous roar erupted from not far away. It was Shinting. Trying to steal something, he saw that unstoppable azure light. He also saw Moody Ro’s disappearance. He instantly understood the intentions of these two. This boss was taken down by Yin-Jou alone. You guys think you deserve it? Violent lightning exploded across his body. The scorched earth beneath him. suddenly collapsed and his robust figure shot forward like a cannonball fiercely intercepting the path of the wind spirit. The giant axe in his hand swept out with the force of a thousand thunders. However, he was still a step too late. The wind spirit’s speed had surpassed all reason. She was not running. She was the wind. Shinting’s giant axe only struck the afterimi she left behind. By the time he tried to lock onto his target again that azure light had already appeared a hundred meters away, about to reach the boss, the entire battlefield had turned into a boiling pot of porridge. Thousands of players charged madly, the brilliance of various skills illuminating the dim sky in flickering flashes. Everything converged towards the center of the storm, that remnant body of the dimensional demon. Yen Jiu stood in front of the boss. Behind him, the deafening cries of battle, the howling magic in the sky, the roars of his companions, and the greed of his enemies, all of it seemed to drift far away from him die in his world, only the monster before him, whose life was about to extinguish, and the cold long knife in his hand, remained, the last sliver of health. Just one more strike needed. He slowly raised his weapon. On the blade, the last flicker of fire from the flame blade danced gently. Now was the moment. However, just as the muscles in his arm tensed, ready to swing the knife, a sharp sound of slicing through the air came from his right. An arrow, wrapped in destructive wind elements, had crossed the distance, accurately shooting towards the boss’s hollow eye socket, burning with ghostly blue flames. Wind piercing shot. The wind spirit had arrived. Almost simultaneously, on the Other side of the boss, a blurred shadow emerged from the void without warning. It was a seductive and deadly figure. With soft eyes, she had appeared at the boss’s massive neck. A dagger. Entirely black as if carved from shadow crystals, silently pierced towards the gap in the bones. The first kill of a golden level boss. Supreme glory and rewards. Three attacks from different. Directions were about to hit that last sliver of health simultaneously. Three deadly strikes, locking onto that final sliver of health from three different angles. Time seemed to stretch. infinitely at that moment the wind spirit’s arrow wrapped in a tearing azure storm was the fastest it left a straight vacuum trail in the air aimed directly at the demon’s remaining eye socket the dagger of the soft-eyed girl appeared silently like a venomous fong emerging from the shadows already close to the boss’s neck the moment it appeared her attack was faster than the arrow the thunder god roared from a distance he was too far away to do anything but watch the charging players wore greedy and frenzied expressions as if they could see golden equipment beckoning to them However, Yen Jio did not look at the arrow. He paid no attention to the ghostly shadow. He simply swung the long knife in his hand. A seemingly unremarkable, simple, horizontal slash. His movement was even a beat slower than that of the wind spirit and the soft-eyed girl. But the position of his knife was not aimed at the boss’s body. Instead, it was aimed. At his space in front of the boss. The demon, now driven mad, with only its last instinct remaining, swung its massive claw made of obsidian. That was its last attack in life, and the most. Violent one. The target was none other than Yanjio who was within arm’s reach. The claw tore through the air. Yet it could not touch its enemy. Its outstretched arm precisely met the blade. That had long been waiting there, burning with the last flicker of flame. Clang. A crisp metallic clash echoed. It was not the knife that struck the arm, but the arm that actively collided. With the blade. Yanjio had already seen through all of the boss’s movements. Minus 3211. An insignificant damage number floated up from the demon’s remaining body. Yet it was the last straw that. Broke the camel’s back. The boss’s massive body suddenly stiffened. The ghostly blue flames burning in its eye sockets extinguished completely at that moment. At the same time, the wind. Spirit’s arrow and the soft-eyed girl’s dagger also hit their targets. Thud. Thud. The arrow pierced through the empty eye socket. The dagger stabbed into the lifeless bone seam. But it was. Nearly a futile act of beating a dead body. The ownership of the boss kill had already been determined the moment its arm collided with the blade. A series of dense system notifications flooded. yenjo’s vision like a waterfall ding congratulations your level has increased to lv 18 ding talent war god effect enhanced melee damage amplification increased to 270 times dot ding congratulations strength plus one agility plus one intelligence plus one spirit plus one constitution plus one ding congratulations you have gained five free attribute points current free attribute points 160 as you are the first player to kill a golden boss the system will grant you a special reward dot As the first player to kill a golden. Boss, you will receive 20 free attribute points, a choice of one piece from a golden equipment chest, and a random skill book. May I. Ask if you would like to announce your name, allowing your fame to resonate throughout the world of? Yes slash no no. Yen Jiu’s fingertips. Hadn’t even touched that option. The world before him had already been torn apart. To the right, a blue arrow wrapped in the winds. Of destruction. To the left, a pitch black dagger emerging from the void, condensed with pure shadows. Wind spirit. mellow in her gaze the attacks from both of them showed no hesitation the target was no longer the boss but him or rather the pile of loot that had just exploded beneath his feet shimmering with enticing light yenjo’s body reacted even faster than his thoughts no dodging no retreating star realm walk his body suddenly transformed into a dazzling stardust that could not be captured dissipating in place the blue arrow and the black dagger simultaneously pierced through the starlight striking at the empty space in the next moment Yenzhou’s figure had already appeared behind Mello in her gaze. The stardust seemed to cling to him, carrying a hint of cold cosmic dust. The long knife in his hand drew a cold arc, slashing towards the delicate nape of Mello in her gaze. At the same time, his empty, left hand pointed towards the blue streak of light a few meters away. Star impact. A miniature star shot out, carrying the momentum. To annihilate everything, crashing towards the wind spirit. All of this happened in the blink of an eye. Useless. The wind spirits. Figure flickered in the raging wind, her voice like a whisper of the wind, clearly reaching Yanjou’s ears. The star collided precisely. With her body. No explosion. No damage. A huge, bright red notification popped up above her head. Immune. All of this occurred in. Just a few breaths, the Wind King’s sighing active effect had not yet ended. The wind spirit didn’t even glance at the ineffective. Attack. Her body transformed again into a blue afterimage, adjusting direction, still targeting that pile of loot. On the other side. Yanjou’s knife was already close to Mello in her gaze’s skin. The dodge or block he had anticipated did not happen. Mello in her gaze did not turn around. She didn’t even activate any defensive skills. She simply allowed the cold blade to strike her. Her attack had been a feint from the very beginning. A feint that allowed her to appear in the most critical position at the fastest speed. Minus 8,988. A damage number floated up from above her head. Her health bar instantly emptied. However, at the moment the blade struck her, just. before her body was about to dissolve into light points her pale slender hand like the most precise predator ignored all the other gleaming equipment and directly reached into the center of that pile of loot her fingertips firmly grasped an item it was a dagger entirely black yet shimmering with an eerie golden light at the edges only then did she slowly turn her head on her face capable of captivating all beings there was no fear of death but rather a triumphant fox-like smile her body began to turn transparent she raised the golden dagger in her hand and gently waved it at yenjio it was as if she was showing off or perhaps bidding farewell in the next second her body completely transformed into a flurry of golden light points dissipating into the air she exchanged one death for a golden level weapon damn it shinting’s roar came late he looked at the dissipating light points furious as lightning coursed through his body that woman yenjio stood in place maintaining the posture of swinging his knife the long knife in his hand still held the stance of a slash The dissipating golden light points were the last traces left by Mello in her gaze on this. Battlefield, Fong Ling stopped. The blue stream of light slowly came to a halt a few meters away from the loot. The whirlwind swirling around her was visibly weakening. The duration of the Wind King’s sigh had ended. She looked at the golden glimmering ground and then at Yen Jio. That woman had traded to death for a priceless golden weapon. And she, Fong Ling, did not have such courage. Most importantly, she knew very well that even if she rushed over, it would already be too late. The moment she bet her life with a soft gaze and acted recklessly, she had already lost. Yenzhou’s movements showed no signs of hesitation. He didn’t even glance at Feng Ling’s complex expression. He ignored the furious roar of Shinting in the distance. His body slightly crouched. His long fingers swiftly swept over the pile of warm loot on the ground. The light faded away. Only a heap of useless materials remained. Two pieces of equipment. A. Skill book. All were stored in his backpack. After finishing all this, he slowly stood up straight. It was at this moment that a black. Torrent formed by thousands of players surged in like a flood that had burst its banks. Their faces were a mix of greed, fervor, and. A hint of fear. Leading them were the members of the Blood Color, Luo Shin, and Long Tang guilds. Blood Color Ba Tian’s rugged face. Was filled with ferocity and unwillingness. Where’s the loot? He gripped his bloodied battle axe, staring fiercely at Yanjio. Hand. Over what the golden boss dropped. The players behind him began to stir. Hand it over. That was our boss. You three want to hog it all? Dream on. Shinting’s robust figure stood in front of Yenjio. He slammed the giant axe, crackling with lightning, heavily. Onto the ground. Hog it all? He scoffed. Where were you when the boss went berserk? Where were you when my brothers fought for their lives? Now that the boss is dead, you come out wanting to split the loot? Shinting’s voice rolled like thunder, drowning out. Everyone shouts. I’m standing right here. Whoever disagrees, come and take it. The violet lightning danced wildly on his giant. Axe, emitting a crackling sound. The terrifying pressure made the players at the front halt abruptly. They dared not advance. Don’t. Be so arrogant. Blood-colored Batian shouted, his face pale with anger. Do you think we’re afraid of you? We have tens of thousands. Here. Is that so? Shinting grinned, revealing a set of white teeth. Then come at me together. Let’s see how many of you can walk. Out of here standing today. He took a step forward. The scorched earth cracked beneath his feet. The unreasonable sense of oppression. Belonging to the three absolutes seemed to lower the temperature of the entire battlefield. No one dared to move. They were intimidated. At this tense moment, a blue figure quietly retreated. It was foaming, this matter has nothing to do with me. She left behind. A cold remark. Then, her body transformed into a light breeze, and using some skill, she quickly disappeared into the crowd. She chose. To give up, rather than engage in such childish antics here, it was better to farm some points. Blood color bought Tian’s expression. Darkened further, Fongling’s retreat was undoubtedly a resounding slap to his face. Even Fongling, one of the six peaks, chose to withdraw, how could a mere top 100 challenge the authority of the three absolutes? However, if he just retreated like this, what? Face would he have left? How would the tens of thousands of players he brought see him? Blood-color Ba Tian found himself in a dilemma. At that moment, the previously silent Yen Jo finally moved. He ignored the thousands of players eyeing him like hawks. He did not. look at the furious shinting he leisurely opened his system panel in front of everyone that action was as casual as taking a stroll in his own backyard with so many people witnessing his id there was no need to hide it anymore yenjio clicked on the system prompt that had been hovering for a long time yes server announcement congratulations to player yenjio for successfully killing the first golden level boss in illusion the remains of the dimensional demon as the first player to kill a golden boss you are Rewarded with 20 free attribute points, a choice of 1 golden equipment chest, and a random skill book. Server Announcement, Congratulations! To player Yenjo for successfully killing the first golden level boss in Illusion, the remains of the Dimensional Demon. Server Announcement, Congratulations to player Yenjo for successfully killing the first golden level boss in Illusion, the remains of the Dimensional Demon. The server announcement echoed 3 times, like 3 thunderclaps striking the heads of tens of thousands of players. The entire battlefield fell into a strange silence. The wind stopped. The cries of battle ceased. Everyone’s movements froze in place. They stared intently. At the man standing beside the boss’s corpse, the man with the ID Yen Jio. Yen Jio. This name was unfamiliar to the vast majority of players. Yet at this moment, it was inextricably linked to the first kill of the golden-level boss in Illusion. Blood-colored Bateon’s chest heaved violently. His heavy breathing sounding particularly jarring in the silence. His face, flushed with blood, turned a shade of liver color. Unwillingness. Anger. and a hint of fear he was reluctant to admit. These emotions swirled chaotically in his mind, ultimately overwhelmed by greed. I don’t care who the hell you are. He roared like a beast, pointing his battle axe at Yanjio. Hand over the loot from the golden boss. Yeah, hand it over. His loyal subordinates echoed his demands. Yanjio finally lifted his head. His movements were calm, even somewhat indifferent. Killing. Me won’t do you any good, he said, his words clear in everyone’s ears. If I die in the event, I can just quit. He paused and added, after. I go out, I’ll put the items up for auction. That statement was like an invisible slap, striking blood-colored Bateon’s face hard. He felt an unprecedented humiliation. A nameless pawn dared to look down on him, to belittle the tens of thousands of troops behind him. You’re seeking. Death. Blood-colored Bateon completely lost his reason. Get him. Chop him up. We’ll split the loot. However, Yanjio’s actions were faster. Then his commands. The moment blood-colored Bateon’s words fell, Yanjio simply raised his left hand. No incantation. No wind up. Spell surge. Starfall technique. A brilliant star suddenly lit up in his palm, then shot out like a streak of light, crossing dozens of meters in an instant. That starlight accurately struck blood-colored Ba Tian’s forehead. Minus 1800. Minus 1330, double stars. Two damage numbers exploded above blood-colored Ba. Tian’s head. As a berserker, his health wasn’t low. 3000 health was enough to crush ordinary shield warriors and defensive paladins. But, under this. Strike, that long health bar was instantly emptied. The snarl on blood-colored Ba Tian’s face froze. He didn’t even have time to let out a scream. The whole person turned into a white light and vanished on the spot. Instant kill. A complete instant kill. That was the leader of the blood-colored. Guild. Just like that, gone? The dazzling white light was the last trace blood-colored Ba Tian left on this battlefield. Shinting, wielding. A giant axe, was also stunned. He opened his mouth. The prepared taunt stuck in his throat. After the golden level remnant was killed, the demons. Fell into a state of restless chaos. Yanjio had long since stowed the commander’s badge in his backpack. The shackles binding them had vanished. The bloodthirsty instincts within them were awakening. Just moments ago, the instant kill of the blood-red overlord with the starfall technique. That brilliant magical radiance, and the immense energy fluctuations felt like a command. A horn of charge. Roar. The demon at the front. Ro raised its spiked head and let out a thunderous roar. Immediately after, a second roar. A third. Thousands of roars merged into a wave of. Destruction. Sweeping across the land. The demons moved. Their crimson, ravenous gazes were no longer lost. They had found new targets. Those players. Gathered together, radiating vibrant life. Rumble, the ground began to tremble violently. The black tide of demons, driven by endless desire for. Slaughter, charged towards the player coalition. Damn. The demons, the demons are coming. A player closest to them let out a heart-wrenching. Scream. This scream finally shattered the eerie silence on the battlefield. Run. Don’t block the way. Where’s the healer? Heal me. Just moments. Ago, the player coalition had united in their enmity, clamoring to share the spoils, but they instantly crumbled. They turned to flee, their. Formation in disarray. The tens of thousands who had been flaunting their might just a second ago had now turned into a flock of sheep chased by. Wolves. Shinting watched the chaos unfold before him and couldn’t help but curse. A bunch of useless trash. He turned to Yanjio. Brother, we. Before he could finish, he saw Yanjio already turning away, stepping forward. Not towards the fleeing players. Not towards the. Charging demons. But sideways, into the dim, desolate wilderness that no one cared about. You’re leaving? Shinting asked. MMM. Yenjio’s response was a single word. He didn’t stop his steps. Shinting looked at his back, then at the battlefield that had. Completely descended into bloody slaughter. He understood. Staying here was meaningless. Points didn’t matter to him. Frost moon. Gather the troops. Prepare to retreat. He shouted to his sister not far away, then hoisted his giant axe and caught up with Yen. Jio. Brother, this time it’s all thanks to you. Shinting walked alongside him, his tone sincere. Otherwise, let alone a golden. Boss, we might have perished here. I still need to get to the capital to close the demon gate. The rewards for this quest won’t be. Small, thank you. Yanjio didn’t speak. The name Yanjio had already spread throughout the entire illusion realm via server. Announcements. This was different from what he had anticipated. He didn’t like being famous. Especially in this era where games and reality were gradually merging. The appearance in the game was exactly the same as in reality. Being too high profile would attract countless troubles. Being too famous would affect his daily life. He sighed. This time, it had gotten a bit out of control. If he had been under the alias Honey Apple or I Love Drinking, he wouldn’t have just killed one blood-red overlord. He would have charged into that army of tens of thousands and killed to his heart’s content. Anyone who dared to harbor greedy thoughts about him would have to die. Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible now. Brother? What are you thinking about? Shinting, seeing him, silent for a long time, couldn’t help but ask again, thinking that I should be famous now. Yanjio replied casually. Shinting. Paused, then grinned. It’s fine, with brother Yanjio’s skills, it’s only a matter of time. As they spoke, they had already left. The chaotic battlefield behind. The sounds of battle, screams, and the roars of demons gradually faded away. Frost moon, along with. The knights of the heavenly kingdom quickly followed, retreating in an orderly manner demons rushed up but were quickly eliminated. By them, what they feared was never the demons, but the endless horde of them. Brother, where are we going now? Shuang Yue walked up to Shinting, curiously eyeing Yanzhou beside him. First, let’s find a safe place to rest, Shinting said. Brother Yanzhou, what about you? Any plans? He looked at Yanzhou. Yanzhou stopped in his tracks. He glanced at the dim horizon in the distance. I’m going alone. Don’t, brother, Shinting urged. It’s better if we all stick together for support. With such a vast… Activity map, who knows what else we might encounter, Yanjio shook his head. No, thanks. He refused, decisively. After saying that, he didn’t wait for Shinting to persuade him again. Wind step. A black shadow instantly covered dozens of meters, racing deep. Into the wilderness. Hey, brother. Shinting reached out but only grasped at air. That figure flickered a few times and completely. Vanished into the dim night. Brother, he just left like that? Shuang Yue was a bit surprised. He left, Shinting lowered his. hand, looking in the direction where Yen Jio had disappeared, unable to help but smile wryly. What a strange person, he muttered. Yen Jio strolled alone in the wilderness. The black horse that had accompanied him throughout was nowhere to be found. Amidst the chaos, Yen Jio sighed, had he known he should have asked Shinting for another horse earlier. He opened the event panel and glanced at the rankings of Maple Leaf City. Thanks to his kill of the golden boss, Maple Leaf City’s score had surged ahead, firmly in first place. The promised duel had been completely disrupted by the sudden chaos. The wind in the wilderness carried a hint of blood rustling his clothes. Yanjou oriented himself and headed towards the location of the Maple Leaf City Fortress. When he returned to the fortress, it was just as he had left it. The tall city walls, the solemn arrow towers and with no demon invasion, it strangely exuded a sense of peace. It felt like two different worlds compared to the battlefield strewn with corpses before. Those player. Alliances must have gone to the main battlefield at the demon gate from another direction. Therefore, this outpost-like fortress seems somewhat. deserted at the moment. Mingyao was standing on the city wall, seemingly gazing into the distance. She heard footsteps and turned around. You’re back, her tone was calm, revealing no emotion. Mm, Yanjio nodded, scanning the area. Where are Silver Fox and the others? Silver. Fox took the team out to farm points, Mingyao replied. Tianquan stayed up all night yesterday and just logged off to rest. Yanjio. Acknowledged, and the atmosphere fell into a moment of silence. Suddenly, he remembered something. By the way, can we still fight the guild war? In the event map? This question made Mingyao pause slightly, she shook her head. We can’t. The Guild War system is locked during the event. But it’s fine, she quickly added. I had already arranged everything before entering the event. Now, the number of people from Tinglon Pavilion who can participate in the Guild War has reached 290. There are also a few newly recruited S-Class talent experts. Among them, I had Luangu command and selected 240 people to compete. Mingyao’s thoughts were clear, and everything was organized neatly. We plan to wait until tonight to fight. During that time, the probability of encountering those top tier guilds will be much lower. Yanjio nodded, feeling that this arrangement was very prudent. The wind on the city wall seemed to pick up a bit. It blew a few strands of hair from Mingyao’s forehead. She raised her hand to tuck the stray hair behind her ear, a very subtle movement. After the match, her voice was a bit lower than before. Are you going to withdraw from the guild? Yanjio was taken aback. He instinctively wanted to respond but felt something was off. He curiously opened his guild panel, behind the guild name, his ID was Gray. It couldn’t. Be selected or operated. Like a ghostly visitor that didn’t belong here. Strange, Yin Jiu scratched his head. My name is Gray. He showed. The panel to Ming Yao. It seems like only by becoming can I be considered part of your guild. What’s the principle behind this? He was seriously probing into this game mechanism issue. Ming Yao looked at his expression of pure curiosity, devoid of any other emotions. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but ultimately swallowed it back. The words she had prepared, the phrases meant to persuade, seemed pale and ridiculous in the face of his childlike curiosity. Mingya watched Yanjou’s serious face as he studied the guilt system. Sometimes he was very reliable, astonishingly smart, and at other times he was so dull that it was frustrating. She let out a gentle sigh. I. Don’t know. It might be a special judgment of the illusion skill she gave up on continuing that topic. I saw Maple Leaf City directly. Become number one, you must have killed quite a few demons, right? You must be tired, go rest for a bit. Yenjiyo closed the panel and didn’t. Delve deeper. Nodding, he turned and walked towards the resting area inside the fortress. Mingyao stood still, watching his back for a long, time without moving. She knew that once the guild war ended, the ID would completely disappear. And was destined not to belong to. The small. The first golden first kill in the entire server. This title had already pushed him to a height that everyone needed to look. Up to. She had thought that the three absolutes were just a little secret between him and herself. She just didn’t expect that this day would come so quickly, so quickly that she had no time to prepare at all. The resting area inside the fortress was empty. Yenjio casually found a stone step to sit on. The chaos of the slaughter battlefield behind him seemed to linger deep in his eardrums, but he didn’t reminisce. He simply opened his backpack. A virtual light screen unfolded before him, the soft glow illuminating a small patch of ground in front of him. A bountiful harvest. The battle with the wormhole and the Grand Commander had allowed him to consecutively kill three silver level bosses. In the end, he also collected the first kill reward for the golden level boss and all the other drops except for the dagger. His fingers glided. Across the light screen, and the attributes of each piece of equipment appeared. Roar of Fury, Silver Two-Handed Hammer, Relentless Annihilation. Crown, Silver Plate Helmet, Withered Flame Leather Armor, Silver Leather Chest Armor, these three were of no use to him. Yen Jiu’s gaze. Didn’t linger and directly move to the next item. Grand Commander’s token fierce gauntlets, silver cloth gauntlets, demon spirit cloak, silver cloth top, one token, two pieces of cloth armor. He glanced at the attributes and compared them with the equipment he was wearing. Overall, they were slightly better than the siren he had, but although the siren was bronze equipment, both set effects were very useful. He could keep these two pieces for now and decide later. He continued to look down. A skill book lay quietly in the corner of the backpack. Demon. roar warrior skill book yen joe thought for a moment and decided to mail the two-handed hammer and the skill book to shinting after the event ended as they had helped him quite a bit after doing all this he finally turned his attention to the main highlights of this harvest the two items shimmering with dark golden light apocalypse dimension necklace quality gold level requirement 18 equipment type accessory necklace attributes intelligence plus 130 spirit plus 90 spell penetration plus 10 your total spell damage increases by 20 the space spirit whispers in your ear this necklace was once the core used by dimensional demons to tear apart spatial dimensions now only a remnant of its power remains dot class requirement priest mage quite good attributes yenjo did not hesitate and directly replaced the void eye of le miris he was wearing a faint warmth flowed from his neck and soon merged into his body the last item skywind belt quality gold level requirement 18 equipment type leather armor belt attributes agility plus 150 spirit plus 120 your skills have a 10 chance to increase your agility by 20 dot class requirement ranger thief not much use might as well keep it to sell to mingyao after counting the spoils yen geo remembered the system rewards that four choice golden treasure chest and a random skill book he opened the treasure chest first a pair Of golden leather boots, a golden longbow, a golden offhand gem, and a golden plate armor chest. Dimensional gem quality, gold level. Requirement, 18 equipment type, offhand weapon attributes, intelligence plus 150, spirit plus 120. Your spells have a chance to summon a dimensional portal, which may contain all sorts of strange things. Space spirits dance around you, they really like this gem, hold it, and you might just hear whispers from another dimension. class requirement mage priest he equipped this pitch black gem which shimmered with starlight in his offhand slot then he noticed that there was also a hidden skill book given during the dimensional era event in his backpack and he opened both in one go the random skill book granted him mana missile launch five mana missiles at the enemy each dealing 100 plus 50 percent intelligence damage mana cost 100 cooldown none the hidden skill book this time did not grant the illusion skill touch of mana communicate With the surrounding magic, increasing your casting range by plus 40 yards, reducing mana consumption by 80%, lasting 30 seconds, mana cost, 100. Cooldown, 3 minutes. It looked quite impressive, but it was of no use to Yenjo. After learning both skills, he looked at his panel. Talent. Martial God, SSS rank, unique, attributes, strength 22, agility 22, constitution 303, plus 281, intelligence 462, plus 440, spirit 562, plus 540, health. 3040 mana, 5630 critical rate, 10% attack speed, plus 41%, title plus 30%, movement speed, plus 41%, title plus 30%, casting speed, 147%, equipment, plus 10%, melee damage, 42, strength 100%, plus weapon attack power, weapon plus 20, spell damage, 502, intelligence plus spell power, equipment plus 40, physical. Defense, 353 Equipment plus 50, Spell Defense, 353 Equipment plus 50, Equipment Slot, Title, Hero of Maple Leaf City, Attack Speed plus 30%, Movement Speed plus 30%, When releasing skills, there is a 10% chance to summon 3 Elite Guards from Maple Leaf City to fight for you, Lasting 1. Minute. One -handed Sword, Main Hand, Blade of Annihilation, Silver Physical Attack plus 20, Spell Attack plus 40, Attack Speed plus 30%, Ignores. 30% of defense when attacking, gem offhand, dimensional gem, gold intelligence plus 150, spirit plus 120, your spells have a chance to summon a dimensional portal, which may contain all sorts of strange things. Hat, which is veil, bronze intelligence minus 20, spirit plus 60, shoes, lady lords, down high heels, bronze intelligence plus 20, spirit plus 20, defense plus 10, spell damage plus 20, cloak, shadow erosion cloak, bronze intelligence plus 30. spirit plus 20, defense plus 10, critical hit plus 1% when casting spells can stack up to 10 times, recovers after leaving combat, belt, lady lords, down waist wrap, bronze intelligence plus 30, spirit plus 20, defense plus 10, casting speed plus 10%, wrist slash gloves, lady lords gown gloves, bronze, attributes, intelligence plus 20, spirit plus 30, defense plus 10, critical rate plus 10%, clothes, lady lords tool skirt, bronze intelligence plus 40, spirit. plus 20, constitution plus 10, defense plus 10, movement speed plus 10%, accessory, necklace, apocalypse dimension necklace, gold intelligence plus 130, spirit, plus 90, spell penetration plus 10, all your spell damage increases by 20%, accessory, ring 1, pure void ring, silver intelligence minus 20, spirit, plus 100, your spells have a 10% chance to embrace the void, reducing your skill cooldown by 20%, yenjo stood up and jumped, planning to go out and, find a monster to test his power. Suddenly, a grand system notification sound, without any warning, echoed throughout the event map. Ding! Due to players Shinting and Shuang Yu completing the main quest in the chaotic time and space, this event will end in 10 minutes. Please. Prepare, players. Ding! Due to players Shinting and Shuang Yu completing the main quest in the chaotic time and space, this event will end in 10 minutes. Please prepare, players. Ding! Due to players Shinting and Shuang Yu completing the main quest in the chaotic time and space, this event will end in 10 minutes. Please prepare, players. The announcement echoed three times in the sky. Yen Jiu’s movements halted. He raised his head and looked at the dim sky. Shinting was indeed quick. He glanced at the upper right corner of his field. Of vision. A bright red countdown, constantly jumping, appeared. 095809,57 The event was about to end. The countdown in the upper right corner of his vision ruthlessly ticked away. 000300,0200,01 The last second hit 0. The dim wilderness before Yenjio shattered like. Glass crushed by an invisible giant hand, instantly disintegrating into billions of shards of light. White light consumed everything. In the. Next moment, the noisy voices of people, mixed with the music of celebration, suddenly flooded into his ears. He returned to Maple Leaf City. In the central square, there was a sea of people. Cowbless players looked up, watching the golden scroll slowly unfurling in the sky, on. Which ancient characters congratulated Maple Leaf City for its ultimate victory? We won. We are number one. Ha ha ha. We can go to the main cities of other countries now. I heard the Sea Kingdom has NPC mermaids. I heard the forging technology of the Flame Kingdom is the strongest. We won’t be ripped off by that group of stonemason guild losers. Cheers and discussions merged into a boiling ocean. Yen Jio stood at the edge of the crowd that fervor seemed to separate him from another world. He turned around, walked through streets adorned with celebration, ribbons, and returned to his quiet manner. Compared to the clamor of the outside world, here there was only the rustling of leaves in the wind. Yanzhou opened his mailbox interface and found Shinting’s ID. He didn’t type any text, just dragged the silver quality two-handed hammer and the demon’s roar skill booked directly into the attachment bar. Clicked send. After doing all this, he closed the panel. He remembered the. Guild warring calculated that it hadn’t started yet, just in time for him to join the fun. After all, he was quite free and too lazy to level. Up Yanzhou’s heart stirred and the illusion skill activated. A layer of hazy light enveloped his body and when the radiance faded, he had transformed into the veiled figure clad in a gauzy skirt, the honey apple. His cool demeanor seemed to lower the temperature of the air. In the manner, he sent a message to Ming Yao. Has the guild war started? Ming Yao’s reply came almost instantly. Not yet, waiting for everyone to gather. We’re at the usual place. Yen Jio put away the communicator and glanced at the few pieces of equipment in his backpack that he couldn’t use. The golden quality Skywind belt, two pieces of silver cloth armor, and a pile of miscellaneous drops. Just right to. Take along. He stepped out of the manor. On the way to the cafe, players were everywhere, filled with excitement. They gathered in groups. Their faces glowing with the thrill of survival, more so with dreams of the future. God Yenjo is too fierce, he single-handedly took down a. Golden boss and even killed Blood Red Overlord in seconds. Yeah, if it weren’t for him, how could Maple Leaf City have taken first place? Who would dare to mess with us from Maple Leaf City now? We have the 3 absolutes backing us. By the way, how many are there in the 3 absolutes? Yen Jio, Honey Apple, God Thunder, I Love Drinking, and Mellow Eyes, that’s already 5. I don’t think Yen Jio counts. Didn’t you see the video? His damage to Blood Red Overlord was only over 1000, far less than the Scythe Reaper. Exactly, he must have just been a temporary teammate of God Thunder, nowhere near the 3 absolutes. It’s a pity there’s no recording of their battle with the Golden. Boss, I wonder how they fought. Yanzhou, or rather Honey Apple, eyed past the chattering players and walked through a secluded alley. She pushed open the familiar glass door adorned with wind chimes. Dingling, the crisp sound instantly silenced the cafe. Everyone’s movements froze. Dozens of core members of the Ting Lan Pavilion were gathered here, their expressions shifting from tense preparation to surprise and awe. Ming. Yao was holding a cup of coffee. Upon hearing the sound, she turned around. You’re here. Yanzhou sat down at the empty seat across from Ming Yao and ordered a cup of coffee. Just in time, I have a few things for you. Honey Apple ignored the gazes around her and directly initiated. A trade request with Ming Yao. Ming Yao paused for a moment then quickly clicked to agree. A trade window unfolded before them. Three. Pieces of equipment lay quietly in the trade bar. Two pieces of silver cloth armor. And one, a belt shimmering with dazzling golden light. Skywind belt quality. Gold Ming Yao’s hand holding the coffee cup trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly. A few drops of coffee splashed. Out, landing on the table and spreading a small dark stain. This. She wanted to say something but found her throat a bit dry. Golden equipment. This was the top tier gear in illusion at this stage. How many were there in the entire server? When does the guild war start? Honey. Apple seemed unwilling to linger on this question. She confirmed the trade directly. Mingya glanced at the guild channel. Luangu was reporting. The final personnel assembly status. President, 240 people are all in position, ready to match at any time. Good. Mingya replied with a single word. She raised her head to look at Honey Apple across the table. We’re about to start. MMM. Honey Apple. Nodded. Mingyao took a deep breath and pressed the start matching button in the guild system. Ding. Tinglon Pavilion Guild War Matching. Started. Ding. Matching successful. A line of blood red text appeared in the center of the panel. Guild. Sky blue smoke and rain number. Of people. 300 the air in the cafe froze because of that line of blood red text. Guild. Sky blue smoke and rain number of people. 300 only. The subtle and crisp sound of the coffee cup colliding with the table remained. Sky blue smoke and rain. Ming Yao spoke, breaking the dead. Silence. Guild leaderboard, 183rd place. Their main force has been developing in the Sea Kingdom. Her speech was not. Fast, each word clearly reaching everyone’s ears, carrying a force that forcibly combed their hearts. President Tianqing is a knight in the. Top 100 of the level rankings, adjudicator. Although not a hidden class, he is also known for his damage. Ming Yao set down her. Coffee cup and stood up. There’s nothing to be afraid of. She scanned the faces of her guild’s core members, noticing the tension and unease. On the girls’ faces. Then she looked at Yanjio and said, let us handle this again. We just reached this many people and still need to get. Familiar, it’s just right to use them for training. Yanjio scratched his head. I’ll join too, just casting spells from the back. Mingyao. Nodded. I’ll follow your lead. Then she turned to the chattering members and said, prepare to enter the battlefield. Scene transition. Countdown, 10, 9, 8. The familiar feeling of weightlessness came. The wooden tables and chairs of the cafe and the warm light shattered into countless fragments in her vision. The salty sea breeze suddenly filled her nostrils. Beneath her feet were rough, gravelly black rocks. The sound of waves crashing against the shore was a monotonous and continuous roar. The sky was gloomy, heavy clouds hanging low, as if a downpour could come at any moment. This was a lonely island. Sparse trees, bent and twisted by the sea wind, made up the only vegetation here. The 240 members of the Ting Lan Pavilion appeared on a stretch of beach on the southern side of the island. Everyone, listen to my command. Mingyao’s voice drowned out the wind and the waves. Lioli, Xia Xia, each of you take a rogue squad and a ranger squad, totaling 40 people. Conduct fan-shaped reconnaissance along the east and west coastlines. I need to know the enemy’s position. And the island’s terrain. Yes. Lioli and Xia Xia immediately responded, quickly pointing out players of the corresponding classes in the crowd, forming two. Reconnaissance teams that ghosted into the rocky shore, disappearing from sight. The rest, build a defensive formation on the spot. Mingyao’s orders. Continued. Shield warriors and knights in front, berserkers in the back, forming a three-layer defense line according to the previous drills. Team 2, find. Shooting positions in the rear. Team 3, provide support, if you encounter an engagement, listen to commands and cut in from the back. Hurry. The, previously somewhat scattered team, under her command, moved like a precise machine. Shields clashed against the ground with a dull thud. The tips of staffs lit. Up with various colors. The chaotic crowd transformed in a very short time into a well -structured, bloodthirsty battle fortress. After completing all this, Ming. Yao turned and looked at the only person who had not moved. Honey Apple. She stood at the back of the formation, her white gauzy dress gently swaying in the. Sea breeze, completely out of place with the tense and murderous atmosphere around. Just then, a message from Xia Xia came through the Guild Channel. Report. President. On the east coast, we’ve discovered the enemy’s main force. They are moving quickly towards us. There are many of them. Almost simultaneously. A message from the west side came from Luangu. A small group of enemies spotted on the west side, seems like bait. They are not hiding their tracks. Ming. Yao’s decision was as swift as lightning. Everyone. Advance steadily towards the east coastline. We need to set the battlefield in a place favorable to. Us. Team 2, set an ambush at the intersection, free fire, suppress the enemy’s advance speed. Mage team, prepare, follow my command for the first round. A very a bombardment. The massive army began to move slowly. The heavy footsteps converged into a sound that echoed over the island. Yenjiu followed at the back of the team, like a leisurely tourist.He looked at the nervous yet excited expressions on the girls’ faces, watching their hands tightly gripping their weapons. Ever since his tender moment with Sujinjin, he had slowly begun to understand this emotion. The two teams stood on the narrow coastline, gazing at each other from a distance. The black rocks and the damp sand formed a natural dividing line. The sea breeze whipped up the waves, crashing against the rocks and shattering into white foam. The air was thick with saltiness and a sense of foreboding. Amidst the array of blue skies and drizzling rain, a man clad in blue heavy armor, wielding a trident, stepped forward. His ID was tinching color. He slammed the heavy trident into the sand, producing a dull thud. Is that Tinglon Pavilion over there? His voice was loud and rugged. A bunch of girls coming to fight in a guild war? Laughter erupted from the 300 players. Behind him, the laughter mixed with the sound of the waves, making it particularly jarring. Unlike the refined name of the guild, this was a group of rough, unkempt men. Mingyao stood at the front, her iris flower shield at her side, silent. The girls behind her displayed various emotions, some showed anger, while others gripped their weapons tightly, veins bulging on the backs of their hands. Tianqing color seemed pleased with this effect. He grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth. We, Tianqing and you, don’t mess around when it comes to fighting. We won’t do any sneak attacks or water battles to bully you. He, pointed his trident at the formation of Tinglan Pavilion. Right here on this beach, let’s have a fair fight. And don’t cry if you lose. Another round of. Laughter followed. Mingyao finally lifted her head. She calmly gazed at the boastful man. What a wishful thought. Her cold voice pierced through the wind. And laughter, reaching the other side clearly. Tianqing color’s smile froze for a moment. He seemed taken aback by the reaction of the opposing guild leader. Alright, you’ve got guts. Brothers, charge. Let these girls see what real battle looks like. Charge. The roar of 300 voices merged into a wave. Of sound. The line of Tianqing Yinyu surged forward like a flood breaking through a dam, rushing towards the small embankment of Tinglan Pavilion. The heavy. Footsteps made the sand tremble slightly. Prepare for battle. Mingyao’s command rang out in her camp. The frontline shield warriors and paladins drove there. Shields firmly into the sand, forming an ironclad defense. The two tides of people collided with a thunderous crash. The sharp sounds of weapons clashing. The dull thuds of shields colliding and the booming explosions of skills intertwined in an instant. The numerical disadvantage of Ting Lan Pavilion became apparent the moment they made contact. Their defense line was forcibly pushed back a step. A female warrior’s shield was cleaved by a giant axe, and she vanished. In a flash of white light, a gap was about to appear. Light of Dawn. Mingyao’s voice was calm, devoid of any ripple. A brilliant golden beam of light shot up from her, centered around her. The warm holy light spread like ripples, enveloping every member of Tinglan Pavilion. Their blood bars, which had been steadily declining, were forcibly stabilized. Sanctuary. A translucent golden barrier rose from the ground, enveloping the entire Tinglan Pavilion. Sacred runes. Flowed slowly along the inner wall of the barrier. Now’s the time. Counterattack. Mingyao pointed her longsword forward. The members of Ting Lan Pavilion, bolstered by the holy light, felt their morale surge. They let out cries, regaining their footing and even starting to push the enemy back bit by bit. The arrogance on Tianqing Color’s face turned to shock. What the hell is that skill? Focus fire on that paladin. Take her out. Countless fireballs, arrows, and water bombs rained down on Ming Yao. But those attacks landed on the sanctuary barrier, only creating insignificant ripples. The battle situation fell into a strange stalemate. Yanjio stood at the back of the team, watching everything with boredom. He raised his hand. A mass of shadow energy gathered in his. Palm dot shadow arrow he waved his hand casually. That unremarkable shadow energy arced through the air, precisely hitting the back of a berserker who was. Fiercely attacking a Thailand pavilion shield warrior. Minus 637 the berserker’s movements clearly faltered for a moment. Yanjio changed his gesture again. A sharply. Pointed ice spike appeared out of thin air. Frost arrow the ice spike shot out, striking a mage who was chanting fireball in the face. Minus 734 the mage’s casting. Was interrupted and he was also afflicted with a slowing effect. Yen Jio found it somewhat amusing. He began to act like a child who had found a new toy. Continuously trying out the skills he had learned before. A sharp earth spike suddenly erupted from the sandy ground, jabbing into a rogue’s groin. Earth. Spike 799 the rogue let out a scream that was far from human, clutching his lower body and collapsing to the ground. A string of orange fireballs flew out like. Candied Hawthorns, ricocheting back and forth within a small team. Chain Fireball a flurry of damage numbers appeared above those few people’s heads. These, seemingly useless little skills, in Yanzhou’s eyes had now become the most elusive disturbances on the battlefield. The players of Tianqing Yanyu began to, grow restless. They were constantly interrupted at critical moments by spells that seemed to come from nowhere. Perhaps it was a shadow arrow that slowed their, weapon strikes by half a beat. Or maybe it was a frost arrow that delayed their dodging steps for a moment. The balance of the battlefield was gradually being disrupted by these subtle disturbances. The advantage of Thailand Pavilion was steadily expanding. Kill. Mingyao seized the fleeting opportunity. The small team that had already circled to the left flank of Tianqing Yinyu began their assault. The girls of Thailand Pavilion launched a full-scale attack. The line of Tianqing Yinyu finally collapsed. The battle turned into a one-sided chase and slaughter. In less than five minutes, the massive word victory appeared in the sky above the island. After a brief silence, thunderous cheers echoed across the entire beach. We won. We won. The girls embraced each other, screaming, laughing, and releasing the joy of victory. President, let’s go for another round. Ching Ching ran over, shouting excitedly. Strike while the iron is hot. I. Feel like I can take on Tan right now. Yes. Let’s do it again. We can win again. The girls’ spirits were ignited, each one rolling up their sleeves, filled with fighting spirit. Ming Yao looked at the glow on their faces, it was confidence. Confidence earned through their own efforts. She nodded. Alright. Mingyao no longer hesitated. She turned to face everyone, her voice clear. Everyone, prepare. We’re starting the second match. She directly pressed. The match button on the guild interface. The joy of victory was instantly replaced by a new wave of tension. Everyone’s gaze focused on the virtual panel in front. Of Mingyao. Ding. Thailand Pavilion Guild Battle Matching started. Ding. Matching successful. Another line of blood-red text appeared. Guild. Internet. Cafe 5 in a row number of people, 130 pft. It was unclear who couldn’t hold back first, but laughter erupted. This guild name was indeed a bit. Down to Earth. Scene switching, countdown, 10, 9, 8. The island and beach shattered before their eyes. This time, they appeared in a dense primeval forest. Towering ancient trees obscured the sky, with only mottled light filtering through the gaps in the leaves. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth mixed, with decaying leaves. Ming Yao quickly assessed the situation. Everyone, immediately look for advantageous terrain. Rogue team, go scout, stay hidden. Avoid contact. Everyone else, form teams, use the trees for cover, and create a crossfire net. The orders were swiftly executed. The members of Thailand Pavilion silently blended into the complex jungle. Their movements were much more proficient than in the previous match. The light in the forest was fragmented and shattered. The damp air carried the scent of earth and decaying leaves. Honeyapple trailed at the back of the group, watching the members of Tinglon Pavilion. like trained hunters, silently blending into the deep green jungle. Their movements were much more skilled than in the previous match. There was no unnecessary. Shatter, relying solely on gestures and tacit understanding, they quickly constructed a deadly net in this unfamiliar environment. In the guild channel, Lioli’s concise report came through. President, target spotted. 300 meters ahead, no formation, moving towards us. It’s noisy. The last two. Words summed it all up. Mingya’s voice rang out in the channel, still steady. All units, pay attention. Wait until they enter the ambush zone, open fire. Freely. Quick battle, quick resolution. Yes. The uniform response carried an uncontrollable excitement. Yanjio found a sturdy ancient tree, leaned against the trunk and adjusted his position to ensure a wide field of vision. He could hear faint sounds of commotion coming from afar. Hey, I say, this map is too convoluted, right? What happened to that team? They disappeared in an instant. Did they disconnect? Who cares, let’s finish this quickly, my wife is waiting for me to cook. Hey, oldly, how’s that car you bought yesterday? Not bad, the seats have massage functions. I took out a loan for five years just to buy it. Tinglon Pavilion is ranked fifth. I heard it’s all female players. If only I could join, I’d be surrounded by girls every day. With that, tigress of yours at home, do you dare? You think I wouldn’t dare? I’ll go flirt with them in a bit. The footsteps grew closer, crunching on the dry branches and leaves, creating a chaotic noise. A group of players, equipped in a hodgepodge of gear, appeared in the clearing of the forest. They had no idea they had stepped into a hunting ground. They looked like a bunch of old uncles, chatting about other things in the game. It seemed they could only make it to the third round thanks to luck and numbers. Attack. Mingyao’s command was the signal to commence the slaughter. Dozens of arrows, accompanied by the sound of slicing. Air, shot out from the shadows of the forest, accurately covering the clearing. Following that was a torrent of colorful spells. What the hell? It’s an ambush. The panicked shouts lasted less than two seconds before being completely swallowed by the explosions of skills. The few warriors at the front didn’t even have time to raise their shields before they turned into white light under the concentrated fire. The formation of Five and Annette Café instantly crumbled. Or rather, they had no formation at all. The girls from Tinglan Pavilion emerged from their hiding spots, surging forward like a tide. Their faces no longer bore the tension and unease from the last match. Instead, they were filled with a sense of exhilarating joy. A shield warrior girl accurately knocked a rogue. Attempting to counterattack away with her shield, while another berserker sister followed up with a heavy strike, their coordination seamless. From the very beginning, the battle displayed a one-sided trend. This group had average levels and equipment, making it to the third round seemed entirely reliant on their numbers. Yen Jio leaned against the tree, watching the inevitable slaughter unfold. He raised his hand, conjuring five energy balls radiating arcane light. In his palm, arcane missile he waved his hand casually. The five missiles flew in a loose formation, wobbling towards a mage who was wildly waving a staff. The mage dodged one, then another, but was hit by the remaining three. Dash 503-505-501 damage was quite average, Yanjou assessed in his mind. The trajectory was too slow and erratic, unsuitable for precise strikes. He switched to another spell. A sharp earthen spike suddenly erupted from beneath a priest’s feet. The priest, who was just about to heal himself, stiffened as the healing spell was interrupted, his health bar dropping to zero and disappearing in a flash of white light. He began to slowly calculate the feel of the spells he had launched, trying out each of the new spells he had learned one by one. The flight speed of the ice arrow was a fraction of a second faster than that of the shadow arrow, and the accompanying slow effect was very useful for chasing. The logic of the chain fireball s ricochet was quite strange, it seemed to prioritize attacking targets with lower health. He memorized the trajectories, flight, speeds, and casting delays of various spells. It was like practicing throwing darts with different flight speeds. Occasionally, he would trigger the effects. of titles and offhand gems, summoning knights and demons to assist him in the attack. When the last player from the Internet Cafe 5 in a row turned into white light under the assault of the girls from Thailand Pavilion, Yanjio had just finished trying out all the small skills he could use. The enormous word. Victory slowly appeared in the sky above the forest. The girls achieved victory with overwhelming force and Yanjio also became more proficient in using ranged spells. We won. That was too easy. The cheers were even more enthusiastic than last time. Filled with confidence. The scene shifted. They returned to the familiar cafe. Xingqin’s face was flushed with excitement. We’re so strong, it feels like making the top 10 is no problem at all. What are you talking about? With honey apple around, what’s the top 10? The girls chattered around Mingyao, their fighting spirit high. Mingyao glanced at the time. Let’s call it a day, she said with a smile. Everyone performed well, go home and rest well, and we’ll continue tomorrow. Although they felt a bit unsatisfied, the girls still followed the president’s arrangement. Honey Apple stood up. She didn’t say anything, just slightly nodded in Ming Yao’s direction. Goodbye, Apple sister. See you tomorrow. The surrounding girls naturally bid her farewell. They had grown accustomed to this powerful yet aloof teammate, no longer. Surrounding her and chattering like they did at first. Honey Apple’s figure disappeared at the cafe’s entrance. Yen Jiu turned into a deserted alley. Seeing no one around, he activated shadow cloak to hide his body for safety. Then he dispelled his illusion. He stretched lazily and reached for his backpack, which was nearly empty of food. Just right he could go check out the auction house. As he thought about it he walked towards the most bustling commercial area of. Maple Leaf City. Passing through the central square he saw the tall lord’s mansion. The black horse that had accompanied him throughout the chaos was nowhere. To be found. Yen Jiu sighed. Riding a horse was just too comfortable. He stopped and changed his mind. He could buy food later. He turned around and walked. Towards the lord’s mansion’s main gate. He needed to ask about his mount first. The Lord’s Mansion in Maple Leaf City was solemn and dignified. The guards at the entrance, clad in heavy plate armor, had their long halberds reflecting cold light in the sun. They saw the young man approaching and did not stop him. Two guards straightened their bodies almost simultaneously, striking the ground heavily with the ends of their halberds. Clang! It was a military salute. Yen! Jio passed through the gate and entered the spacious administrative hall. The hall was very quiet, with only the rustling of parchment and the mixed scent of ink and wood. A young man in the lord’s uniform was buried in a mountain of documents, his brow furrowed. He seemed to sense something and looked up. Upon seeing Yenjio, the fatigue on his face was instantly replaced by respect, and he immediately stood up. My lord. Lord Reinhardt quickly walked out from behind the huge desk. What can I do for you? Yenjio’s response was as direct as ever. My mount. Reinhardt paused for a moment. Your mount? He immediately showed a look of realization. Of course, in the stables of the lord’s mansion, there are the finest warhorses in the entire Maple Leaf City. If you need, you can choose one at any time. Yenjio shook his head. Is there one that can be stored in a backpack? He sighed. I lost my horse, which is quite a pity. Reinhardt’s smile froze on his face. Stored in, a backpack? He struggled to search his knowledge for the meaning of this term. An invisible barrier. Appeared between the lord and the count before him. He looked at Yenjio’s serious and handsome face, trying to find a trace of jest. There was none. Reinhardt. Felt a layer of fine sweat bead on his forehead. He raised his hand and gently wiped it with his sleeve. My lord, do you mean? He pondered his words. A magical creation that can be carried with you and summoned when needed? Ah, yes, yes, yes. Yen Jio nodded. With the affirmative response, Reinhardt felt even more troubled. This ability is usually a special spell that can only be mastered by summoning mages or necromancers who specialize in the path of summoning or paladins who have made contracts with holy beings. His implication was clear. With all due respect, my lord, you don’t seem to be a summoned mage. Yenjiyo did not explain. He raised his hand. A faint aura of death spread through the hall. On the ground, a pile of scattered bones appeared out of thin air, then trembled and pieced themselves together into a small skeleton. In its hollow eye sockets, two points of ghostly green soul fire flickered, looking around in confusion. Reinhardt instinctively took half a step back, his hand already resting on the sword at his waist. Yenjiyo glanced at the skeleton. The bone blade in its hand was even smaller than a dinner knife. This won’t do. He waved his hand, and the skeleton. Immediately crumbled into a pile of bones, disappearing from sight. Reinhardt’s nerves, which had just relaxed, tensed up again. Because Yenjiyo raised his hand once more. This. Time, a void ripple appeared in the air. Two creatures resembling hunting dogs, entirely composed of shadow energy, materialized in the center of the hall. They crouched low. Growling threateningly from their throats, drooling corrosive saliva. Yenjiyo assessed the two void hunters. Too small, even pulling a sled would be a struggle. The two void hunters then dissipated into the air. Reinhardt stood in place, watching the undead and void creatures that appeared and vanished like toys before this count. He saw Yen Jio lower his head again, seemingly flipping through something invisible, mumbling softly, forget the void gate. Reinhardt decided he must stop this bizarre behavior from continuing. In his office. Ahem. He cleared his throat. My lord. His address was now even more respectful. If you wish to explore the mysteries of magical mounts, perhaps, the Temple of the Mage Alliance will have the clues you need. He felt that only that group of equally abnormal mages could answer this count’s questions. Before that, Reinhardt. added, the warhorses of the lord’s mansion are still prepared for you, you can choose one first for transportation. Alright. Yen Jio replied decisively. He turned and walked. Towards the hall’s exit, heading straight for the stables. Watching his departing figure, Reinhardt let out a long breath, feeling as if he had just finished a grueling battle. He returned to his seat but could no longer focus on the documents. The stables of the Lord’s Mansion were clean and spacious. The air was filled with the fragrance of high-quality fodder and the unique scent of the horses. Each warhorse had a shiny coat, smooth muscle lines, and eyes full of spirit. Yanjio did not spend much time selecting his. Gaze was locked directly on the deepest part of the stable, on a tall warhorse that was entirely black without a single stray hair. The horse was a full head taller than the others around it. It stood there like a silent king. This one, a stable hand immediately stepped forward, skillfully preparing the saddle for the black horse. Yanjio walked. Up to the horse. The proud warhorse snorted but did not resist his approach. He grasped the reins and lightly tapped his toes on the stirrup. The entire motion was fluid and. Graceful. He settled firmly onto the broad back of the horse. This feeling was far more comfortable than walking. He gently squeezed the horse’s belly with his legs. The black. Warhorse began to stride forward, carrying him out of the stable through the front courtyard of the lord’s mansion, merging into the bustling traffic of the central avenue. He turned the horse’s head towards the towering mage tower, moving slowly in that direction. The black warhorse’s steps were steady, its hooves striking the bluestone road, producing a crisp clatter. Yen Jiu rode a top, feeling the wind as it swept through the streets. The imagined pursuit by the reaper in a gauzy skirt did not materialize, only an occasional curious glance from one or two players was cast his way. But it wasn’t enough. In a magical world, it would be best if companions could appear and disappear with just. A thought. Soon, the church, entirely built of white marble, reappeared in his view. The towering spire and the flowing runes, everything was just as it had been the last time. He visited, radiating holiness and majesty. Yenjio dismounted, casually tying the reins to a stone pillar at the entrance and walked straight inside. In the spacious hall, the old mage, Alistair, with his white hair and beard, was still there. He stood in the center of the hall, polishing an ancient-looking staff. He heard the footsteps and looked. Up. When he saw it was Yenjio, a flicker of surprise crossed his aged face. Then, that surprise transformed into heartfelt relief and joy. Young mage, you have returned. Alistair set down the staff in his hand and approached him. He looked at Yenjio with a kind smile, the kind a teacher has when seeing a lost student find their way back. I knew. Your absurd idea was just a fleeting whim. Very good, very well. The path you have chosen, the path of stars and space, is one of the rarest and most profound disciplines. In the realm of magic, it is not as violent as elemental magic, nor as pure as arcane, but it touches the fundamental rules of the world. Child, you possess unparalleled. Talent, do not waste it. Get back on track, delve into the ocean of knowledge, and the entire mage alliance will be your strongest support. The old mage’s tone was filled. With encouragement and expectation. He felt that his earlier reprimand had ultimately made an impact. This exceptionally gifted young man had finally given up the ridiculous. Notion of becoming a magic warrior. Yen Jio listened to his words and nodded. Then, he asked the purpose of his visit. Do you teach the spell to summon mounts? Alas stares. Impassioned speech came to an abrupt halt. He began to ponder seriously. This question exceeded his teaching scope but ignited his scholarly curiosity. Summoning mounts. He slowly began, his tone returning to that of a trainer’s professionalism. This is a spell exclusive to specific professions. A summoner, specialized in the path of summoning, can learn to summon an arcane warhorse made of pure arcane energy when they reach level 18. The books record that when they reach level 40, they can summon the magic wing. Raven, that soars through the skies. He paused, as if recalling something. There are also those who walk with death, the necromancers, who can summon a skeleton warhorse to serve them through a special ritual at level 20, Alistair said, looking at Yanjio and shrugging his shoulders. But, regarding the planewalker. I’m sorry, but my knowledge base does not contain any relevant records. This profession is too ancient and rare, much knowledge has long been lost in the river of history. Yanjio was not discouraged. Is there nothing I can learn right now? This question plunged Alistair into silence once more. He looked at the young man before him. This count of Maple Leaf City had. A reputation that even the city lord had to respect. Out of both emotion and reason, he could not dismiss him with a simple I don’t know. The old mage began to frantically. Search his memory for any possible clues. He racked his brain, his wrinkled face almost twisting into a knot. Suddenly, he thought of something. Perhaps. His tone carried a. Hint of uncertainty. There is a place you can try. Yen Jio looked at him. In the mountains to the east of the city, there is a place called Purple Lantern Mountain. An old friend of mine lives there. A complex expression appeared on Alistair’s face, a mix of admiration and a touch of helplessness. His name is Heratic, a peculiar person with an obsessive love for magic. He has an extraordinary depth of research and immersion in all sorts of strange and unusual magic. Perhaps he can provide you with some answers. Yen Jio nodded. All right. Ding. You have accepted the quest, the mysterious mage of Purple Lantern Mountain. He turned and left without any hesitation. Yen Jio muttered. To himself. The mysterious scholar of the astral realm was indeed not wrong. This old man was truly lacking in skill. Yen Jio exited the cathedral and mounted the black warhorse. He pulled the reins, turning the horse’s head towards the east of the city. Purple Lantern Mountain. A new place name appeared on his quest list. The black warhorse galloped, leaving the cobblestone roads of Maple Leaf City far behind. The hood struck the dirt path, kicking up a light cloud of dust. Yen Jio followed the direction of the quest marker, racing towards the rolling mountains to the east of the city. As the mountains appeared on the horizon, the surrounding vegetation began to take on a strange quality. The colors of the mountains were no longer the monotonous gray-brown and green. A peculiar light blue foliage covered the entire range. The trees here displayed a translucent light, blue hue. The trunks twisted and gnarled, with clusters of purple fruits emitting a faint glow, resembling frozen stars in the night sky. The entire forest was enveloped in a dreamlike halo. At the foot of the mountain, there were scattered players. Some were carefully picking the blue leaves, likely life players collecting dye. This blue dye recipe was definitely worth the purchase, a female player said, cautiously gathering blue leaves and placing them into her cloth bag. Hurry up, once we finish picking, let’s go. To the mountaintop to enjoy the view, I heard the sunset there is particularly beautiful. Others simply stood there, taking screenshots of the peculiar scenery with the system. Yenjio did not linger, riding straight up the only mountain path. At the end of the road, a solitary wooden cabin came into view. The cabin was small, awkwardly nestled. Against the mountainside, as if it could be blown down by a strong wind at any moment. Yenjo dismounted, tied the horse under a purple fruit tree, and pushed open the creaking. Wooden door. A rich aroma, a mix of burnt herbs and metallic rust, rushed towards him. The light inside the cabin was dim. The only window was covered by heavy black cloth. A gaunt figure was facing away from the door, hunched over an alchemical table piled high with bottles and jars. He seemed to be carefully stirring the boiling green liquid in a cauldron with a glass rod. Yanjio took a step closer. The floor let out a faint groan, the frail old man suddenly halted his movements. He turned around. It was a face marked. By deep creases and age spots, yet his eyes shone with a frightening brightness, radiating and neurotic light. Leave this place, outsider. His voice was like a worn-out bellows, dry and harsh. We do not welcome intruders here. Yanjio stopped in his tracks. Alistair sent me. Alistair? The old man repeated the name, a mix of disdain and mockery. Crossing his face. That stubborn old fool who thinks he has grasped the truth just because he clutches a few tattered books? What did he send you here for? To learn how to weave elements into prettier fireworks? He scrutinized Yenjo, his gaze lingering for a moment on his luxurious attire. I’ll say it again. Leave this place. I have no time to entertain a noble young master here to experience life. As the old man spoke, he turned to resume his experiments. But just as he turned, the expression on his face froze. He… Stared intently at Yenzhou, his nose twitching like a hound that had caught the scent of blood. The ferocity and disgust faded from his eyes, replaced by an almost mad greed. And curiosity. No, he muttered to himself. You have. He suddenly stepped forward, nearly pressing his face against Yenzhou’s. You possess the power of a demon. His voice. Shot up, filled with confusion and fervor. Pure, refined, brimming with the pressure of the superior. Tell me. How did you do it? Did you find the lost demon altar? Or have you, like me, sealed a demon within yourself? Yenjio frowned at the old man’s frenzied demeanor. It was that Grand Marshal’s badge. The aura it emitted was imperceptible. To ordinary people, but it couldn’t escape the notice of this eccentric old creature. Just as Yenjio pondered how to explain, the old man across from him suddenly began. To tremble violently. Ugh. A pained groan squeezed from deep within his throat. Tendrils of black smoke began to surge from his collar, his cuffs from every crevice of his. Body, rushing out in a frenzy. The black mist was filled with ominousness and chaos. Just looking at it made one feel a deep-seated irritation and chill. Damn it. The old man. Clutched his head, letting out a pained roar. It. It was stirred by the aura on you. He screamed at Yanjio with the last remnants of his sanity. Get out of here. Get. Lost. The black smoke gathered behind him, gradually forming a vague humanoid outline. That outline radiated waves of malevolence, causing the temperature in the small room to. Drop several degrees. Yanjio watched the swirling black mist. He had seen this scene before. In that underground cave, when Angmar summoned demons with his own body, the fluctuations were exactly the same. So, this old man harbored a demon within him? Or rather, was a part of him the demon? Since it was a demon. Yen Jio recalled his experiences rampaging through the demon legion. Those guys seemed to only recognize tokens, only acknowledging those of higher rank. He did not retreat. Instead, he stepped forward. He took out the pitch black badge, intricately carved with a grotesque demon head, from his backpack. Grand Marshal’s Badge. He raised the badge to his chest. Then, he skillfully mimicked the demeanor of those demons, his chest heaving, a deep and authoritative roar emanating from his throat. Roar. The black smoke continuously surging from the old man’s. Body shrank back as if scalded by a branding iron. The humanoid outline instantly collapsed. All the black mist fled from the old man’s body at a speed that suggested it had seen a ghost rushing into the mountains and disappearing without a trace. The oppressive atmosphere in the air was instantly swept away. The old man, Heredric, collapsed like. A puddle of mud, slumped on the ground. He gasped for breath, cold sweat soaking through his grey robe that he raised his head, looking at Yenjiu with an expression as if he were. Gazing at a monster, and at the badge in his hand that exuded a terrifying pressure. The entire wooden cabin fell into a deathly silence. Heredric collapsed to the ground, his. Chest heaving violently, like a fish thrown onto the shore. The stillness of the cabin was torn apart by his heavy gasps. He tilted his head back, cold sweat mingling with dust. Carving deep, disheveled grooves across his face, which was marked with age spots. He looked at Yen Jio. More precisely, he looked at the pitch black badge in Yen Jio’s hand. The grotesque demon carved on it seemed to come alive, silently mocking his predicament. W what is that? Heretic’s voice was hoarse, as if it had been sanded down. Just. A little trinket I picked up. Was that your pet that just ran away? Yen Jio asked curiously as he put away the grand marshal badge. The muscles on Heretic’s face twitched. Unsure if it was from anger or lingering fear. He struggled to get up from the ground, leaning against the alchemical table to steady himself. The bottles and jars clinked together. In an unpleasant cacophony. Pat? He let out a self-deprecating laugh filled with bitterness and weakness. That is the demon I sealed within myself. Fifty years ago, I severely injured it, then extracted its soul and sealed it inside my body. This way, I could draw on its magic at any time for my research. Heretic explained in a halting manner, as if each word drained the little strength he had left. Only then did Yanzhou take a moment to assess the old man before him. Heretic, level 19. His level wasn’t. Much different from his own. So the demon he had sealed away probably wasn’t that strong either. Heretic didn’t notice Yanzhou’s scrutiny, he was completely immersed in his. Memories and failures. I thought I had it under control. After the sealing, it was constantly thinking of escape, it could see everything I did, hear everything I said, all. My research, all my secrets were laid bare before it. He raised his hand, looking at his dry, thin fingers that trembled slightly. i even thought this kind of spying was a victor’s boast i never expected it was just waiting it waited for a full 50 years and that damned bastard still hasn’t given up on taking my body a deep weariness seeped into heretic’s voice i thought my seal was unbreakable now it seems i was so naive it had long since broken the seal just waiting for an opportunity a chance to completely take over me and escape to that place it has been lurking within me for 50 years i know better than anyone where it wants to go the old man suddenly raised his head, and a flicker of anxious fire ignited in his once cloudy eyes. The great mage’s altar. That is a treasure left by the ancient sages, possessing unimaginable power. I spent decades trying to break the magical barrier surrounding the altar, but all in vain. But it’s different for it. It’s a demon. It has plenty of ways to bypass those. Sacred protections. Come with me, stranger. Heretic staggered forward, grabbing Yenjo’s sleeve, his bony fingers cold yet forceful. Help me eliminate it. Destroy its. soul completely before it fully harnesses the power of the altar i will give you anything you want as long as i can do it ding you have completed the quest the mysterious mage of purple lantern mountain dot completion 200 reward heretics friendship judgment council reputation plus 100 ding your judgment council reputation has reached friendly ding you have accepted the hidden quest the escape demon soul a series of system prompts popped up before yinjio he looked at the quest panel deep and fought dot it Seems that the original way to complete this task was to directly eliminate the old man possessed by the demon. Instead, I took out the Grand Marshal’s badge, scaring the demon. Away. By a stroke of luck, I ended up exceeding the task and even triggered a hidden quest. Let’s go. Yen Jio uttered a single word. He followed Heradric out of the dim end. Oppressive little wooden house. The mountain breeze blew in, carrying the unique fragrance of the blue leaves, refreshing the spirit. Heradric said no more, quickly orienting himself before heading deeper into the mountains. Though Heradric stumbled, he moved swiftly. It was as if a restless energy had been injected into his frail body. The mountain. Path was rugged, filled with gnarled tree roots and slippery moss. Yenjiyo led the horse, following at a leisurely pace. The black warhorse was quite intelligent, navigating the complex terrain more steadily than Heradric. The old mage’s breathing grew heavier, like a worn-out bellows straining for air. His gray robe was torn in several places by branches caked with dirt and decaying leaves. They passed through the strange forest with blue leaves and arrived at a depression in the mountains. Ahead was a massive, smooth, rock wall blocking all paths. It felt like a natural dead end. This is it. Heradric leaned on his knee, gasping heavily. He raised his head, his wrinkled face filled with urgency. And hatred. He lifted the plain wooden staff in his hand. At the top of the staff, a dull gray stone began to emit a faint earthy glow. He struck the ground heavily with the. End of the staff. The room, a deep wave of magical energy radiated from him. The massive rock wall ahead began to tremble violently. Stones scraped against each other, producing a sound that made one’s teeth ache. Countless dense runes appeared on the surface of the rock wall, flickering briefly before quickly dimming. In the next moment, the enormous rock, like a chasm, vanished into thin air as if it had never existed. A dark, bottomless opening appeared before them. A foul stench, mingled with dust and sulfur, rushed out. From the entrance. Without a moment’s hesitation, Haradrit plunged into the darkness. Yen Jiu tied the horse to a tree at the entrance and followed him inside. The path inside. The cave sloped downward. The walls were damp, with water droplets occasionally falling, making a drip sound that echoed in the empty passage. After walking for about several dozen meters, the space opened up ahead. A massive underground cavern appeared before Yenjio. In the center of the cavern stood a circular altar made of some white stone. The surface of the altar was carved with intricate and ancient magical circles, now emitting a faint glow. At the very center of the altar, a writhing mass of black gas floated. Beside a beast, it was a robust ape. Its body was undergoing a terrifying transformation. Large patches of its originally brown fur had fallen out, revealing dark red skin. Beneath, as if burned. Its limbs were unnaturally twisted and elongated, with pale bone spurs piercing through flesh, exposed to the air. It knelt on the altar, its body convulsing. Violently, emitting a non-biological, painful wail from its throat. Damn it! It’s eroding the core of the altar. Heradric roared, rushing toward the altar without a second. Thought. But just as he took two steps, his body slammed into an invisible wall, bouncing back violently. Bang! He fell awkwardly to the ground. A translucent barrier, composed of countless golden runes, appeared between them and the altar, slowly swirling and exuding a sacred and inviolable aura. It’s an ancient protective array. Herodric crawled. Up from the ground, his face etched with despair. It hasn’t fully mastered the power of the altar yet, we still have a chance. He looked at Yen Jio, his bony finger pointing. At the shimmering barrier. Outsider. Hurry! We must work together to break this barrier. This is the only way. Yen Jo gazed at the light curtain made of runes. He. Glanced again at the old mage who was anxiously hopping on the ground. No need. He uttered two words flatly. No need? Heradric almost thought he misheard, his voice rising. In anger. Can’t you see the current situation? If we wait any longer, that demon will completely resurrect using the power of the altar. By then, the entire Maple Leaf City. Will. His words caught in his throat. because Yen Jo had already taken a step forward. Yen Jo’s body, under his gaze, suddenly disintegrated into countless tiny, twinkling, points of starlight. Those points of light resembled a handful of stirred stardust, brilliant yet serene. In the next moment, the stardust passed through the golden rune. Light curtain, reassembling in front of the altar, coalescing into Yen Jo’s form. The entire process was silent, as if passing through a door that did not exist. Heradric stared, intently at the figure now standing before the altar, his Adam’s apple bobbing. After a long while, he finally squeezed out a few dry words from deep in his throat. Astral. Walker. On the altar, the demon-possessed magic ape seemed to sense the intruder. It stopped its wailing and suddenly raised its grotesquely deformed head. A pair of crimson. Eyes locked onto Yanjio. A line of blood-red text appeared before Yanjio. Demon General Karen possessed magic ape, bronze level boss, level, 18 health, 13,000 attack, 310 defense, 450 skills, bone cage, frenzy, soul split roar. A roar mixed with beastly brutality and demonic malice exploded throughout the cave. The magic ape possessed. By demon general Karen let out a roar that did not belong to this world. The sound reverberated in the cave causing debris to tumble down from the rocky walls. Yen Jio did not. Where the grand general’s badge he watched the boss before him with great interest. Heradric shouted anxiously from outside the light curtain. Be careful. Its power has been. Amplified by the altar. The ape’s deformed limbs suddenly pushed against the ground. Its massive body charged forward like a cannonball. A foul wind rushed towards Yenjo. He did not retreat. He didn’t even raise his hand to prepare a spell. The ape’s giant claw, covered in bone spurs, came crashing down towards Yenjo’s head with a piercing shriek. That tore through the air. Heradric’s pupils suddenly constricted. It’s over. However, that blow, capable of shattering stone, struck empty air. At the moment the claw was about to touch him, Yenjo slid sideways at an odd angle. The entire movement was as light as a leaf blown by the wind. The magic ape, having exerted too much force, lost its balance. And stumbled forward a few steps. An opening appeared. Yenjo’s figure, like a ghost, slipped close to its side. He drew the black knife from his waist. The blade flashed. Minus 10,341 A huge red number erupted from above the ape’s head. A piercing scream, no longer just a beast’s roar. That voice was filled with the malice and unwillingness of. A demon. The massive body of the magic ape crashed heavily onto the stone steps of the altar. But it did not die. A denser mass of black mist suddenly erupted from the top of its head. The mist twisted and spiraled in mid-air, quickly coalescing into a blurry shadow that radiated pure malevolence. It was the soul of Demon General Karen. At the same time, the magic ape lying on the ground, its crimson eyes lit up once more to IT flipped over and climbed up, locking its gaze on Yenjo with hatred. The soul body split in two. The boss entered its second phase. The demon ape charged again. This time, its speed was faster than before, and its movements more frenzied. The demon’s soul in the sky let out a sharp shriek, transforming into a black streak of light, shooting towards Yenjio’s back from an unexpected angle. A perfect pincer attack. Yenjio raised his head and looked. At the black streak of light rushing towards him, he ignored the demon ape charging from behind. Just as the demon ape’s claws were about to touch his back, he activated. Starwalk. Yenjio’s figure turned into a cloud of stardust dissipating in place. The demon ape’s attack missed again. It stood there in confusion. The next second, in mid -air. Starlight began to gather out of nowhere in front of the flying demon soul. Yen Jio’s form rematerialized. He appeared directly in the path of the demon soul, less than 2 meters away. The demon soul clearly did not anticipate this turn of events, it tried to change direction, but it was already too late. Yen Jio extended his hand. A miniature star, burning with pale flames, appeared in his palm. Starfall technique. He released his hand. The star collided head on with the pitch black soul. There was no earth shattering. Explosion. Not even a sound. The pale flames instantly engulfed the dark mist. Minus 18,719, a massive damage value floated up from above the demon soul. The demon soul representing. Commander Karen let out no scream, evaporated completely in the pale flames, turning into nothingness. Not a trace of existence was left behind. Outside the light curtain, Heratix. Mouth fell open. He looked at the figure floating in mid-air, feeling as if his 50 years of understanding magic was being completely overturned. Yen Jiu’s body began to. Descend. He glanced at the demon ape below, which had become somewhat sluggish due to the loss of its soul control. He adjusted his posture, and the longsword in his hand traced. A cold arc as he fell. With a soft thud, the longsword accurately pierced the back of the demon ape’s neck. Minus 10 ,194, the last blood red number popped up. The demon ape’s body. Crashed to the ground. There was no more movement. The vast cave returned to a deathly silence. The massive corpse of the demon ape lay sprawled at the foot of the altar, its dark, red blood staining the ancient white stone. outside the light curtain heretic seemed to have all the bones in his body pulled out he slumped against the invisible barrier his whole body trembling slightly everything that had just happened had completely exceeded his understanding of magical combat over the past 50 years the demon commander amplified by the altar’s power along with the powerful beast’s body it temporarily occupied was like two bugs casually crushed to death heretic’s voice trembled as he slapped the shimmering barrier inscribed with golden runes find a way to open the barrier and let me in outsider Yenjio ignored him. He walked over to the demon ape’s corpse and kicked it. Several glimmering items emerged from beneath the body. A few pieces of bronze equipment. Yenjio collected everything into his backpack. His gaze turned to the massive circular altar. The magic circle in the center of the altar was still emitting a faint light, but that light flickered like a candle in the wind, unstable. Clearly, Commander Karen had not had time to fully activate the altar before being killed by his sword. Yenjio frowned and muttered softly, I should have waited for him to activate it. Before killing him, just as Yanzhou was wandering around, the altar in the center of the cave suddenly erupted with a strong pale blue light. The light was soft and not glaring, filled with an ancient and tranquil power. The light gathered. Above the altar, a translucent ghostly figure slowly took shape. He wore a complex ancient mage robe, with white hair and beard, and a dignified expression.He floated in mid-air, looking down at the shattered altar beneath him, at the corpse of the demonet and the bloodstains that had already congealed. A hint of melancholy and sadness flickered between his brows. Sigh, a long sigh echoed in the empty cavern. The ghost raised his head, gazing at the only living person in front of the altar. What year is it now? His voice was ethereal and distant. Yen Jio stood up straight upon hearing the question. Finally, finally, someone was asking this question again. This time, he was ready with an answer. He cleared his throat, a smug expression on his face as if he could finally redeem himself. Year 496. Of the Ashen Era. His answer was loud and confident. A clear look of confusion appeared on the ghost’s face. His translucent head tilted in puzzlement. Ashen era? What year? Was it before that? The smudness on Yanjou’s face froze instantly. He opened his mouth but couldn’t utter a single word. This he truly didn’t know. Watching Yanjou’s flustered expression, the ghost shook his head. He seemed to think that this question was no longer important. Forget it. His gaze returned to the chaotic altar. It’s too messy. Around here. Young mage, help me clean it up. Clean up? Yenjio glanced at the corpse of the demon ape, then at Haradric, who was still peering in eagerly from outside the barrier. Um, can we let him in first? He pointed outside. The ghost followed his gesture and finally noticed the old mage outside the barrier. He nodded. I have a name. You can call me Alidi. After saying this, Alidi waved his hand casually. The ancient protective array that had trapped Haradric, impervious even to demonic power, burst like a soap bubble. With a soft pop, all the golden runes dimmed instantly, vanishing into the air. The barrier was lifted. heradric was leaning most of his weight against it the sudden disappearance of the barrier caused him to stumble forward awkwardly he scrambled to steady himself and looked up then he saw it he saw the young man standing calmly in front of the altar he saw the gruesome corpse of the demon ape he saw the white altar exuding an ancient aura and above the altar a majestic ghost radiating a faint blue light was quietly floating heradric’s mind went blank he even forgot how he had managed to stand up everything before him felt like an absurd dream The young man stood, there calmly in front of the altar. Before him was the white altar he could never approach, even after dedicating half his life to it. And above the altar, an ancient mage ghost, majestic and glowing with a soft blue light, was silently hovering. Heredric felt as if he had been injected with some frenzied energy by the sight. He staggered over, completely, ignoring Alady floating in mid-air. He excitedly waved his arms, the wrinkles on his face twisting with exhilaration. So that’s how it is. So this barrier can only be crossed. By spatial magic. I should have thought of that. How could I be so foolish? He pounded his head, regret and ecstasy intertwining, making him appear even more deranged. If I had known spatial magic could so easily cross barriers, I would have insisted on revising my studies in spatial magic from the start. Yen Jiu paid no attention to his ramblings. He only wanted to know one thing. He looked at Heradric and asked the fundamental purpose of his visit. Now, can you teach me the summoning spell for mounts? His question abruptly halted Heradric’s fervor. Heradric froze. At that moment, the ghost, Aladi, who had been silent, let out a disdainful snort. Hoof! His voice echoed in the cavern, carrying an air of ancient arrogance. This altar was personally crafted by the great space mage, Alor. Except for those space mages who have inherited Alor’s path. No one else can enter. Aladi’s words were filled with an inherent sense of superiority. Yenjio curiously lifted his head to look at him. Then how did that demon get in just now? Aladi’s translucent body visibly stiffened. A hint of awkwardness appeared on his dignified face, as if he had been choked. He glared at Yenjiyo with an unfriendly expression. Alidi quickly shifted the topic, speaking in a tone that brooked no argument. Young mage, it’s time for you to fulfill your promise. Clean this place up. Yenjiyo shrugged. Helplessly. He glanced at the massive corpse of the demon ape on the ground, then looked at the still-dazed Helidic beside him. It seemed he had to do it himself. Together. He and Helidic struggled greatly to drag the heavy demon ape’s body to a corner of the cave. Dark red blood left an ugly drag mark on the white stone floor, while clearing away. The rubble and bloodstains, Yanjio looked at Helidic again. You promised before. To teach me this summoning spell for mounts. Helidic was wiping the bloodstains on the ground with a rag when he froze at this. He raised his head, his face covered in age spots filled with confusion. Summoning mounts, he retorted. You’re not a, summoner. Why learn that? Yanjio’s movements came to a halt. He stared at Helidic, his gaze turning somewhat dangerous. Not teaching? If you don’t teach me, I’ll cut you down. The rag in Helidic’s hand fell to the ground with a thud. He shivered all over, stepping back suddenly as if he were a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Fear gripped his heart in an instant. The calmness with which this young man spoke was even more chilling than the roar of that demon commander from earlier. He recalled that pale star. He remembered the demons solely evaporating in an instant. No. No. I’ll teach. I’ll teach. Helidic, terrified, scrambled to search through his backpack. He nearly emptied his entire belongings, handing skill books one by one to Yen Jio. Summon shadow goblin, summon fearhound, summon succubus, summon undead warrior, summon undead archer, he gave Yen. Jio all the summoning skill books he had, then trembled as he raised both hands, forcing a smile that was more painful than crying. Foreigner, warrior, all my summoning spells. Are here. His voice was tinged with a sob. But, but the summoning spells for mounts are exclusive skills for, summoners, I really can’t do it. Yen Jio looked at the pile. Of oddly themed skill books in his hands inside. It seemed there was truly no hope. He casually learned all those skill books. Just then, the ghostality, who had been. Floating above the altar, watching coldly, slowly drifted over. His body passed through the two of them and stopped in front of Yenjo. Do you want a powerful mount? His voice. Carried a hint of mysterious temptation. I have a way. Do you want a powerful mount? His voice carried a hint of mysterious temptation. I have a way. Yenjo’s movements halted. Helidic beside him also stopped wiping the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve. both of them looked up at the translucent ghost above the altar ality was very pleased with their reaction he enjoyed the feeling of being looked up to by mortals even though he was now just a wisp of a remnant soul he arrogantly turned around presenting his translucent back to yen joe i have a spell here it can summon the legendary elemental creature the four-eyed spirit leopard heledic gasped his body trembled slightly with excitement four-eyed spirit leopard a pure creature born from the elemental tide able to walk on the wind My god, that’s something that only appears in ancient texts. Alady looked down on Heretic’s outburst with disdain. His words were directed at the young starwalker. But, Alady elongated his tone, setting a threshold for his. Gift. The summoning ritual for this spell is extremely demanding. I need the assistance of elemental spirits from any four of the attributes, light, dark, fire, wind, earth, and water, to perform the summoning. He paused, speaking in an almost condescending tone. Come back to me when you have gained the recognition of four elemental spirits. Starwalker. With that, he floated quietly, waiting. He anticipated the young man’s expression of confusion, even despair. Then, he would relish the others please. Herodic was. On the verge of breaking down. Recognition from elemental spirits? What does that even mean? His spittle nearly sprayed onto Yen Jiu’s face. I’ve studied dark magic my whole. Life, and I’ve never even seen a single dark elemental spirit. Let alone four. This is an impossible task. Yen Jiu was a bit annoyed by his agitation. He pushed Herodic’s. Hand off his arm. Four elements? He scratched his head. He recalled the haphazard skills he had learned before, along with those strange notes and annotations. It seemed. There were a few that were somewhat relevant. He decided to give it a try. Yen Jio raised his hand. A cluster of orange-red flames ignited in his palm out of thin air. Flame. Blade the flames flickered, casting his handsome face in a dance of light and shadow. In the corner of the cave, a barely visible spark of fire jumped joyfully. Aladiz. Translucent body swayed slightly. This was not over. Yanjio took a step forward. His figure left a faint blue shadow in place. Wind step a gentle breeze swirled up in the cave. Ruffling heretic’s dry hair. A few mischievous, invisible blue whirlwinds playfully brushed against Yanjio’s ankles. Aladie’s body froze. Immediately, a cloak made of pure. Darkness materialized around Yanjio. The darkness was profound, as if it could swallow all light. Shadow cloak in the shadows, a few small figures made of dark energy peeked. Out, silently cheering for Yanjio. Finally, Yanjio stomped his foot. A heavy shield made of rock and soil rose from the ground, enveloping his body. Earth’s shield on the ground, a few inconspicuous small stones began to roll on their own, forming a clumsy smiling face at the edge of the earth’s shield. Yen Jio retracted all his spells. The cave. Returned to Kong. He couldn’t see it, but Aladi, floating in mid-air, could see it clearly. Just moments ago, when this young man cast those spells that seemed so basic to him, countless elemental spirits surged forth from the crevices of space. They cheered. They danced. They surrounded the young man, performing the oldest dance. That kind of closeness, and ecstasy, emanating from the depths of the soul could not be mimicked by any disguise. That was a privilege only the children of the elements deserved. It was only when. Yenjiyo finished casting that those spirits reluctantly faded back. Aliti stared blankly. His entire worldview was collapsing. Yenjiyo looked at the motionless ghost feeling a. Bit impatient. Is this good enough? You. Aliti’s lips moved slightly as if he wanted to say something. He wanted to ask, which elemental deity’s illegitimate child are? You? He wanted to ask, how did you do that? But in the end, he asked, nothing. Forget it. He closed his mouth. Continuing would only cost him his own face that he floated in front. Of Yenjo, re-examining the young man with an unprecedented serious expression, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. Passing this spell to you is not a waste of its creators. Renown. As the words fell, a soft blue light shot out from Aladie’s translucent fingertips, embedding itself in Yenjo’s forehead. Ding. Learning conditions detected, recognition, from the four elements. Conditions met. Ding! You have learned the spell, summon the four-eyed spirit leopard. Summon the four-eyed spirit leopard, channel the surrounding. Elements to summon the legendary creature, the four-eyed spirit leopard. Duration, until the skill is cancelled, cooldown time 30 minutes, mana cost, 1 point per second. Casting. Time, 10 seconds. Yen Jiu opened his skill bar, looking at the brand new icon, nodding in satisfaction. Finally, it wasn’t in vain. Beside him, Heratic had finally recovered. From his petrified state, he looked at Yen Jio, then at Alati. He felt like his brain was a mess of stirred up paste. This world seemed different from what he had known. Yen Jio. Ignored the two NPCs with complex expressions. He only wanted one thing now. He raised his hand, aiming at the empty ground in the center of the cave. He wanted to test his. New mount. Summon the four-eyed spirit leopard he raised his hand, aiming at the empty ground in the center of the cave. He wanted to test his new mount. summon the four-eyed spirit leopard the lengthy incantation began yen joe could even feel that his spell was not spoken aloud but resonated through his mind and magic directly communicating with the underlying rules of this world heretic watched him nervously not daring to breathe floating in midair ality’s ghostly eyes also showed a serious expression for the first time as the incantation progressed the elements in the cave began to stir with unprecedented activity a gentle breeze appeared out of nowhere softly wrapping around yen joe fluttering his clothing on the ground a few pebbles trembled slightly emitting a steady earthy glow in the shadows pure dark energy coalesced like curious little snakes quietly peeking out in the air fiery particles began to gather condensing into twinkling sparks of light swirling around him like fireflies on a summer night wind earth darkness fire the four distinctly different elemental energies intertwined harmoniously at this moment they did not repel each other instead they danced joyfully like long lost brothers under yin joe’s guidance Aliti could sense that these elements were not being forcibly twisted or enslaved, but were actively and joyfully responding to the young man’s call. They surrounded Yenjio, forming a slowly rotating vortex of energy. Floating in mid-air, Aliti’s translucent body solidified like never before. He watched. The scene before him, gazing at the young man enveloped in the brilliance of the four elements. This young man didn’t even use any staff or medium. He simply stood there. The elements bowed to him. The incantation reached its final syllable. Virum, the four -colored light suddenly contracted, converging into a single point. In the center of the magic circle, the space slightly twisted. A strong and graceful creature appeared in the open space before the altar. A lithe and elegant creature stepped slowly out from the distorted light and shadow. Its size was larger than an ordinary leopard, its form fluid and full of power. Its fur displayed a peculiar silver-gray color, resembling flowing moonlight, adorned with dark, swirling patterns. Most striking were its head and eyes. Above its blue and green eyes, there was another pair of slightly smaller black and red eyes. Its head was held high with pride, and the four eyes flowed with pure elemental energy, ancient, mysterious, and majestic.Fourite spirit leopard race, elemental health. 5120 mana, 5120 defense, 1024 skills, elemental dash, flame spirits gaze, breath of wind, rock shelter, shadowstep heraldic held his breath, murmuring to himself. Alive. A legendary creature, even the usually arrogant ality felt a ripple of excitement in his translucent form. Alor. He whispered a name. Your creation has finally appeared in this world once again. In the cave, the four-eyed spirit leopard held its head high with pride. It paced. Gracefully, looking around, examining this unfamiliar environment. Its four eyes held an innate majesty and aloofness, as if it were a king surveying its territory. Then, it saw Yenjo. It paused for a moment. The next second, the majesty and pride of the legendary creature crumbled in an instant. Niawa soft, squishy sound. That was completely at odds with its majestic appearance rang out. The four-eyed spirit leopard happily wagged its tail and dashed to Yanjou’s feet like a cannonball. It affectionately rubbed its noble head against Yanjou’s calf, purring contentedly. It rolled over, exposing its soft belly, its forepaws flailing aimlessly in the air. Heraldic was petrified. He stared blankly at the legendary creature rolling on the ground and acting cute. Then he looked at the young man, who wore a calm expression. While scratching the leopard’s chin, he felt his worldview being repeatedly crushed into dust. On the altar, Aladie’s ghostly form was so furious it seemed about to. dissipate his translucent fingers trembled as he pointed at the utterly undignified leopard shameless as a noble elemental creation how could it adopt such such a despicable posture you’ve tarnished alor’s name his roar echoed in the cave yet it had no effect on the four-eyed spirit leopard which was enjoying the affection it even comfortably squinted its four eyes yen joe paid no heed to ality’s anger he patted the leopard’s head with satisfaction and then mounted it The sensation of the mount was peculiar, warm and soft, as if it were supported by a gentle airflow beneath him. Go, he said softly. The four-eyed spirit leopard. Immediately understood and stood up. It carried Yanjio, trotting through the spacious cave. Its steps were incredibly light, making no sound as it ran, as if an invisible wind was lifting it. Fast. And steady. Yanjio was pleased as he circled. Around the cave, thoroughly familiarizing himself with his new mount’s capabilities, he jumped down from the leopard’s back. The task was complete, and the mount was secured. He stroked the leopard’s head. Then, he turned to Heraldic and Aliti, sincerely expressing his gratitude. Thank you. After saying that, he turned and walked towards the cave entrance. It was time to go back. Heraldic was still in a daze, unable to react. But Aliti exploded instantly. Stop. A furious roar, laced. With the ghost’s unique chill. You think you can just run off after taking the benefits? Yen Jio halted. He turned back, scratching his head, a hint of confusion on his face. He looked at the flustered ghost. What do you want then? Aladi was. Nearly speechless at his nonchalant question. His deep, ancient wisdom seemed utterly ineffective in the face of this young man. He floated in front of Yenjio, forcibly suppressing his anger. Aladi sighed. That sigh was filled with helplessness. And an almost pleading tone that even he himself was unaware of. I need you to do me a favor. He no longer maintained his lofty demeanor. I have a brother. His name is Alor. He is the creator of this altar, this spell. After my self -induced slumber, so many years have passed and I just want to know his whereabouts. Now, I don’t know how many years have gone by, the world has changed beyond recognition. I want to know, is he doing well? Alady’s ghostly eyes fixed on Yenjio. His words carried a hint of a plea that even he was unaware of. I want to know, is he doing well? The cave was enveloped in silence. Only the heavy breathing of Heratic could be heard. Yenjio looked at the translucent ancient mage before him. He scratched his head, still holding onto his original intention. Alright, but I need to go to the auction house to buy some food first. Alady’s imposing face froze once more. He felt as if the fire of his soul was flickering. What on earth was this? Young man thinking? His pride, belonging to the ancient mages, would not allow him to bow his head like this. Find my brother, and he will naturally reward you beyond your imagination. Aladie’s voice regained a touch of arrogance. Yen Jio curled. His lips. Another empty promise. Just then, a series of system notification sounds rang in his ears. Ding. You have completed the hidden quest, the escape demon soul. Reward, respect from heretic judgment council reputation plus 300. ding you have accepted the hidden quest find the whereabouts of allure he looked at ality and nodded all right i’ve accepted it ality visibly sighed in relief his translucent body relaxing considerably once the matter was settled yen joe turned around to look at heretic who was still standing there in a daze are you going back to the city he patted the imposing four-eyed spirit leopard beside him meow the spirit leopard affectionately rubbed its head against yen joe’s hand purring contentedly yen joe proudly patted its back i’ll take you Heratik jolted awake from his petrified state. He didn’t look at the legendary creature. He didn’t even acknowledge Yanjio’s invitation. His entire focus was on the ghost floating. Above the altar. No. I won’t leave. Heratik excitedly waved his arms, the wrinkles on his face twisting into a mess. How can I leave? I want to stay. I want to ask the great lordality about the true mysteries of ancient magic. His voice became. Sharp with fervor. It was the kind of madness a scholar experiences upon encountering the treasure they have pursued their entire life. Aladi let out a restrained cold snort, but the slightly raised, translucent chin revealed his current mood. Yen Jiu shrugged. Suit yourself. He no longer paid attention to the two NPCs who had fallen into academic fervor. He nimbly mounted the back of the four-eyed spirit leopard. The sensation beneath him was warm and solid, as if riding on a flowing beam of moonlight. He nodded at the two as a farewell. Then he gently patted the leopard’s head. The four-eyed spirit leopard understood. It took off with its four legs, transforming into a silver-gray blur, rushing towards the cave entrance. The entire process was silent, leaving only a gentle breeze that ruffled Heratic’s graying hair. Heratic Anality stood there, staring blankly as the figure disappeared into the darkness of the cave entrance. Yen Jio didn’t even use a return scroll. Just like that, he rode off on the legendary creature. Outside the cave, the sunlight was somewhat blinding. Yen Jio squinted, adjusting to the light outside. The four-eyed spirit leopard beneath him seemed to enjoy the outside world as well. excitedly wagging its tail. Yen Jiu opened the mount’s skill panel. Four-eyed spirit leopard, skills, elemental dash, flame spirit sight, breath of wind, rock shelter, shadow step, his finger tapped on the first skill. Elemental dash, in the next moment, the world around him changed completely in his senses. Boom. The four-eyed spirit leopard’s body was instantly enveloped by a violent surge of elemental energy. Four colors of flowing light illuminated its silver gray fur, the wind gathered beneath its feet, fire burned in its eyes, the earth made way for it, and shadow stretched out for it. it was no longer running. Instead, it transformed into a streak of light that tore through the air. The surrounding trees, rocks, and sky all became blurred, rapidly retreating color blocks. The intense wind pressure even forced Yanjio to slightly bend down, fast, a speed that transcended common sense. This speed was several times faster than when he used windstep. It was as if he was teleporting over a short distance. Yanjio’s mood, along with this lightning-fast speed, became exhilarating. He couldn’t help but let out a hearty laugh. The outline of Maple Leaf City was rapidly enlarging at the edge of his. Vision, visible to the naked eye. The howling wind roared in his ears. The surrounding scenery had completely turned into flowing color blocks. Yanjio lay on the back of the leopard, feeling the pure and surging elemental power beneath him. Boom. A dull sonic boom. The speed of the four-eyed spirit leopard suddenly decreased as it approached the city wall. The streak of light faded, revealing its silver -gray, agile body. Yanjio sat steadily on the leopard’s back, letting out a breath. At the city gate, several soldiers on guard nearly dropped their long spears. They had just seen a streak of light tearing through the air heading straight for the city gate. The alarm horn was already at their lips. In the next second, that streak of light stopped a hundred meters away, transforming into a man riding an extraordinary giant leopard. Players near the city gate also stopped in their tracks. What the hell was that just now? A life player recording a scenic video frantically pointed the camera at Yenjo, a four-eyed leopard. What new breed is this? Look at that rider, that ID looks a bit familiar. It’s Yen Jio, the one suspected of being the three absolutes. A small commotion erupted among the crowd. Previously, various players had ridden all sorts of bizarre mounts, bears, giant snakes, and even pigs. There were several popular videos on the forum, so although the players in the city were somewhat surprised, they didn’t gather to watch. At most, they recorded a video from the side. Yen Jio ignored the discussions around him. He dismounted from the leopard. Since he was already famous, there was no point in using a disguise, he could just muddle the waters regarding the three absolutes. Later. This way, no one would think he was one of the three absolutes, but rather just an ordinary expert. After all, he would frequently ride this mount, so it was better to just go with it. He patted the leopard’s neck, and the majestic legendary creature immediately followed him obediently, like a large cat. The man and the leopard walked into Maple Leaf City together. Players on the road cast curious glances, but no one dared to approach. Yenjo’s destination was clear. The auction. house. He needed to replenish his food supplies. At the entrance of the auction house, he stopped, turned back, and patted the leopard’s head. You can go back now. The four-eyed spirit leopard let out a reluctant meow, its body transforming into specks of blue light, dissipating into the air. The summoning time was unlimited, but he could choose to send it back. Yanjio pushed open the heavy wooden door of the auction house and walked inside. The noisy voices hit him like a wave. He walked straight to an empty corner and opened the auction system. A dazzling array of product icons instantly filled the entire virtual screen. He switched to the food category. The variety produced by life players was becoming increasingly rich. Yengio began to browse here and there. His purchasing criteria were simple. Lava roasted pig trotters had a powerful name. By 20. Frost sugar dried meat strips looked like they could last a long time. By 20 portions. Elf fruit. Fermented salad was flashy. By 20 portions to try. Giant roasted whole lamb sounded good. By 20. Deepsea Frenzy fish soup looked dark in the picture. By 20 portions, shadow mushroom pie would it cause poisoning if eaten by 20 of them. He didn’t bother to look at the specific attributes or the price. As long as the name or image piqued his interest even a little, he would buy a set right away. A series of purchase notifications flooded his system interface. After finishing his food purchases, he contentedly closed the auction interface. Next was the drinks. He turned and left the auction house, walking in the direction of his memory. The Maple Leaf Tavern. The tavern was as lively as ever. A bard was strumming. A lute in the corner while a few mercenary dressed players were loudly boasting around a table. Yen Jio’s entrance did not attract much attention. He navigated through the noisy crowd and walked straight to the bar. The owner was polishing. An oak wine cup. Yen Jio tapped the bar. Boss. The owner looked up and upon seeing Yen Jio’s face, his polishing paused for a moment. Honey brew. Yen Jio was succinct. 30 bottles. The owner quickly set down the cup and cloth, respectfully. retrieved a wooden box from under the bar. He carefully placed 30 bottles of amber-colored honey brew on the bar. Yanjio directly stored all the honey brew in his backpack and paid the bill. After speaking, he left the place under the curious. Gazes of the tavern patrons. Food and drink replenished. Next, it was time to get down to business. First, he needed to find the teleportation portal to leave this main city. Yanjio stood on the bustling street, feeling a bit lost. He rarely. used the teleportation function in the main city, and his knowledge of Maple Leaf City was limited to a few frequently visited places. Just then, a squad of city guards in standard armor walked past him. The leading guard captain paused when he saw Yen Jio. He instinctively straightened his posture, clenched his right fist, and raised it to his chest preparing to give a standard military salute. The guards of Maple Leaf City all recognized this face. Before he could salute, Yen Jio stepped forward and interrupted him. Where’s the teleportation portal? Yen Jio asked. It’s, at the end of the central square, the guard captain stammered, pointing with his other hand towards the east side of the street. Cross the square, and, you’ll see the teleportation hall. Thanks. Yen Jio released his hand. He walked in the direction indicated by the guard captain. He crossed a few relatively quiet cobblestone paths, and ahead, it opened up. The central square. It was even noisier than he had imagined. The term crowded was no longer sufficient to describe the scene before him. The entire square was packed with players, like a pot of boiling porridge. Everyone surged in the same direction. At the end of the square, a magnificent building rose up, with a huge, constantly spinning blue energy vortex floating at its entrance. The teleportation hall. Yanzhou frowned. The air was filled with various sounds. Random town sightseeing group. Two more needed. Just. Found a new map Black Forest. Anyone want to team up for some farming? Selling bread. Selling bread. Freshly baked white bread. How about grabbing a few before entering the portal? Adds to your constitution. Get out of the way. You stepped on. My foot. So what if I did? Do you want to fight? Yen Jio tried to squeeze through the edge of the crowd. But just as he took a step, a chubby merchant player squeezed past, ignoring Yen Jio’s ID, his face plastered with a businessman’s smile. Bro, I see you’re alone, want to form a team? There’s a small squad going to the Sunset Marsh to farm materials, the team price is the same as Solo, I already have three people, just charging you a third of the gold. It seemed not everyone was. Focused on the so-called major game events. Some were just in it for the money. Yen Jio ignored him and sidestepped. He didn’t like this noisy environment. He pushed past a player who was blocking the way and shouting loudly. The person turned. Around, ready to curse, but upon seeing the simple ID above Yen Jiu’s head, he swallowed his words back, players around finally noticed the man moving against the crowd. That ID, doesn’t it look a bit familiar? Yen Jiu? Damn. It really is Yen. Jiu. The one riding the four-eyed leopard. One voice ignited the powder keg. Swish, countless gazes instantly focused on Yen Jiu. The team leader who was organizing the group stopped calling for players. The merchant who was hawking his wares, closed his mouth. The noise of the entire square seemed to be paused at that moment. After a brief silence, a more thunderous uproar erupted. The crowd surged towards him like sharks sensing blood. Big shot. Is it really you? I saw the video of you at the city gate. That mount is so cool. Yenjo, big shot. Are you one of the three legends? The forum is going crazy. Big shot, please take me with you. I can do anything. I can warm your bed. A bold female player shouted, trying to squeeze. to the front, hoping to take advantage. Yen Jio was surrounded in the middle. He looked at the faces twisted with excitement and listened to the buzzing questions in his ears. He continued to push forward with a blank expression. Excuse me. His voice was not loud, but it was clear. The players surrounding him instinctively made a small path. Yen Jio walked along the path. He was getting closer to the blue energy vortex. The spatial fluctuations emitted by the portal caused the surrounding air to slightly distort. Just then, a series of system prompt sounds abruptly rang in his mind. Ding! Strong spatial energy source detected. Ding! Your wormhole node is affected by spatial fluctuations and has been activated. Yen Jio paused for a moment. Wormhole node? He remembered. It was the special reward given by the system for opening the teleportation era. Since it had been of no use he had long forgotten it in the corner of his backpack. He completely ignored the hot, mixed gazes of admiration and curiosity around him. Yen Jio opened his backpack interface. Among the dazzling array of items, an originally gray icon, resembling a small nebula, was now emitting a faint blue light. He extended his finger and tapped. It’s. The detailed information of the item appeared before his eyes. Wormhole node quality, legendary effect. You can choose a location in space to bind with your wormhole node. After binding, you can return to the bound location at any time through. This node. Cooldown, 20 minutes. Casting time, none. Casting time, none. This meant that it was an instant return spell. A spell that allowed him to define his own return location, instantly. He nodded in satisfaction. Finally, something useful had come along. He closed the backpack interface. The players around, seeing him stop to operate the interface, began to stir again. Quick, record it. Is the big shot about to use some special skill? This is exclusive footage. Yen Jio. Ignored the noise. He stepped forward again and walked to the entrance of the teleportation hall. The huge blue vortex slowly spun before him, emitting a heart-pounding energy. He looked up at a magical light board above the vortex. It listed the currently available teleportation locations. The Sea Kingdom, the Forest Kingdom, the Flame Kingdom. The dense list of locations made Yanzhou’s scalp tingle. He wanted to try teleporting to another country first then clicked on the Sky Kingdom. Ding! Cross-country teleportation requires level 20 then he clicked on the capital of the Forest Kingdom. Ding! Teleporting to the capital requires level 20 Yanzhou scratched his head, it seemed he could only teleport between other main. Cities in the Forest Kingdom for now. He turned around and left without a second thought. After winding his way out of the crowd, he headed towards his manor. Yanjio lay on a fishing chair and fished for a while, looking at the still lake surface. He sighed. The exquisite and luxurious interior of the manor began to turn transparent and distort. The IT was like an oil painting soaked in water. In the end, it transformed into countless drifting specks of light, completely vanishing. Yanjio opened his eyes. The room was dark, heavy curtains blocking all the light from outside. A warm, soft body was pressed tightly against him like an octopus. Sujinjin. Her even breathing gently brushed against his neck, bringing a slight itch. Yen. Jio did not move. He could clearly feel the changes in his body. The taste of blood. His blood began to uncontrollably gather in a certain place. The most primal instincts of his body were clamoring in his mind, demanding satisfaction. But another. Image uncontrollably surfaced in his mind. It was after the last time, when Sujinjin curled up in the blanket, too exhausted to even move a finger. and the lingering weariness etched between her brows that he could never shake off. A mix of. Heartache and pity overwhelmed the heat in his body. He slowly exhaled, forcibly suppressing the desire that surged in his mind. Sujinjin had actually long since withdrawn from the game. She could clearly feel the man’s body stiffening in an. Instant. And that unmistakable desire gradually rising. She instinctively tightened her arms, wanting to get a little closer to him. But the next second, she felt that desire quietly receding. Like a bucket of cold snow water poured over her head. The man’s body relaxed again, even taking on a hint of deliberately maintained distance. Soo Jinjin lay on his chest, able to hear his steady heartbeat as before. She could also feel a faint tearing pain deep within her body, still reminding her. Of something. A pervasive discomfort instantly seized her heart. She felt so useless. I’m sorry. Her voice, tinged with a hoarse nasal tone, abruptly broke the silence in the room. Yenjo’s body paused for a moment. What are you saying? Soo. Jinjin buried her face deeper, pressing it into his warm chest. I. She felt a wave of heat in her eyes, warm liquid sliding down uncontrollably, quickly soaking the area of Yanjyo’s t-shirt on his chest. I can’t even. She choked, unable. To finish her sentence. She truly felt sorry for Yanjyo. She couldn’t even do the simplest thing of satisfying her lover. Yanjyo fell silent. He reached out, gently stroking Sujinjin’s back, one stroke at a time. He saw her tear-streaked, pitiful, face. Yanjyo lowered his head and kissed away the tears at the corners of her eyes. It was a light, gentle kiss. It carried no desire, only pure comfort. It’s okay. His voice was deep, like the sound of a cello, carrying a soothing power. Soojinjin sobbed, as if she wanted to say something more. Yenjiyo held her tightly, unsure of what to say. As Soojinjin’s sobs gradually subsided, Yenjiyo looked at her and decided to change the subject. He lifted the blanket, stepping barefoot. Onto the cold floor, breaking the stagnant atmosphere in the room. Let’s go eat. I’m so hungry. Soojinjin was pulled back to reality by his words. She hastily wiped her face with the back of her hand, responding in a muffled voice, thick, with nasal tone. Okay. Yen Jio got out of bed, not turning on the light, just pulling aside a corner of the heavy curtain. The afternoon sunlight, carrying a bit of warmth, slanted in, casting a bright patch of light on the cold floor. He casually took out a black t-shirt and a pair of casual pants from the wardrobe. Sujinjin also sat up from the bed, the blanket sliding off her smooth shoulder. She did not immediately get out of bed, just quietly watching Yen Jio’s back as he got dressed. His movements were quick and neat, just like in the game. Sujinjin sniffed, also lifting the blanket, walking barefoot to her wardrobe. She opened the cabinet door, revealing rows of variously styled kippeos hanging inside her fingers. Brushed over one piece of clothing after another, finally resting on a pure white chipow. There were no unnecessary embellishments on it, only a few buds of orchids embroidered with silver thread at the collar and cuffs. She took down the chipow and then pulled out a brand new pair of flesh-colored stockings from the drawer. The room was very quiet. Only the subtle sound of fabric rubbing against itself could be heard as the two of them dressed. Soojinjin was fully dressed again, transformed. Back into the beautiful and charming landlord. Only her eyes were slightly red. Yenjio was already waiting at the door. He looked at her, neither urging nor asking too many questions. Soojinjin walked up to him and naturally linked her arm. With his. The two of them went downstairs and exited the apartment. The air outside was fresh and the sunlight was just right. There were not many pedestrians on the street, just a few groups enjoying this rare leisurely time. Neither of them spoke. Sujinjin gently rested her head on Yanjio’s shoulder, feeling the warmth radiating from his arm. That solid feeling slowly calmed her chaotic emotions. They arrived at the seafood tavern that Yanjio had visited a few days ago. They found a window seat. The owner saw them and greeted them warmly. What would you like to eat today? Sujinjin glanced at the menu and said softly, a bowl of seafood porridge and a serving of crab legs. The owner nodded and looked at Yanjio. Yen. Jio didn’t look at the menu. Two large portions of seafood fried rice, and a serving of garlic lobster, a serving of steamed grouper, a serving of salt and pepper shrimp, a serving of. He ordered a full table of dishes in one breath. The. Owner’s pen flew across the order board, and his smile grew even brighter. Sujinjin tugged at his shirt. Ordering so much, can you finish it? Yen Jio looked at her. I’m hungry. His response was natural, devoid of any emotion. Sujinjin couldn’t. Help but laugh. As she smiled, her eyes curved and the previous gloom seemed to dissipate significantly. Your appetite has grown again. The dishes were quickly served. The table was filled to the brim, almost overflowing. Yen Jiu was really. Hungry. He picked up his chopsticks and directly attacked the two large portions of seafood fried rice piled like small mountains. He ate quickly, hardly pausing. Sujin Jin didn’t touch her chopsticks. She rested her chin on her hand, watching. Him with a smile. Watching him stuff a big mouthful of fried rice into his mouth, his cheeks bulging as he chewed. Watching him effortlessly crack open the hard lobster shell and extract the whole piece of shrimp meat. That focused and engaged. Look had an indescribable charm. She poured him a cup of tea. Eat slowly, don’t choke. Yen Jio mumbled a response, lifted the teacup and drank it all in one go, then continued his battle with the food. Sujinjin watched him with a smile, not knowing what she was thinking. The meal ended in Yen Jio’s whirlwind of eating. The plates on the table were nearly empty. Yen Jio leaned back in his chair, contentedly rubbing his belly. Sujinjin took out a napkin and naturally wiped the grease from the corner of his mouth. Are you full? Mm. Then let’s go for a walk to digest. Okay. They settled the bill and walked out of the tavern. Sujinjin linked her arm with Yenjo’s again, pressing her whole body against him. Let’s go to the park. Mm. The nearby park was small but very quiet. The afternoon sun filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting model shadows on the stone path. There were elderly people playing chess and children chasing and laughing. Everything seemed so peaceful. Yanjio walked beside Sujinjin, feeling the soft touch of her arm and the faint floral scent in the air. Suddenly, he felt that such a simple life was quite nice. The evening breeze brushed by, carrying a hint of warmth left over from the day. Sujinjin linked her arm with Yanjio’s, gently resting her head on his shoulder, her footsteps making soft sounds on the stone path. I used to come here alone, her voice was very soft. Sat for an afternoon, watching the sky darken. Yanjio didn’t speak, just slowed his pace to match hers. The lights in the park lit up one by one, casting long shadows of the trees. I used to be very afraid of the dark, Sujinjin said again. And afraid of being. Alone. Yanjio turned his face, catching a glimpse of her softly illuminated profile. I’m not afraid anymore, Sujinjin tilted her head back and smiled at him. Because you’re here. Yanjio hummed in response, feeling as if something had gently. Brushed against a certain place in his heart. It didn’t hurt, but it was very ticklish. Sujinjin seemed to think of something. Did you get the golden first kill? I saw it in the game. Yanjio nodded. He then recounted the process in detail. His. Narration was simple, lacking much emotional embellishment. It wasn’t until he finished that Sujinjin let out a long sigh. She patted her chest. Thank goodness, I’m glad you got it. Yanjio looked at her. What about you, he suddenly asked. What’s your name in the game? Sujinjin was taken aback for a moment. Me? Yeah, your ID, and which main city? Yanjio asked this question naturally, even though friends couldn’t be added from opposing factions, at least he needed to know. Her ID and main city. A hint of embarrassment flushed Sujinjin’s face as if she found her ID a bit shameful. My ID is Xiaojin. Which main city? Yenjiu pressed. Sunset city. When the portal opened, there were too many people, and we didn’t have enough strength so we only got a third level portal. Her words carried a hint of disappointment and frustration. I can only wait for you to come find me, Sujinjin said softly. There was a slight dependency in her voice that she didn’t even notice. Yenjiu looked at her. He didn’t say okay, nor did he say no problem. He simply reached out and pulled her into his embrace. Mm. Just one word, yet it felt heavier than any promise. Sujinjin buried her face in his. Chest, feeling his strong heartbeat. All the previous unease and disappointment vanished in that moment. She knew he would come. Just like he said, he would accompany her for meals every day, walk with her. He would definitely come. The two of them. Didn’t speak again, just quietly held each other, enjoying this moment of tranquility. The evening breeze blew by, and the lights in the park stretched their shadows long, eventually intertwining together. They returned home. The sky had completely darkened. Yen Jiu took off his shirt and, as usual, began to practice in the empty space of the living room. Each punch and kick cut through the air with a whoosh. Sujin Jin didn’t disturb him. She quietly walked into the small room where Yen Jiu used to live and began to tidy up. Her movements were light and careful. She folded his clothes one by one and placed them in a storage box. She sorted out his various little trinkets, categorizing them neatly. Then, she hugged the box and moved everything into the master bedroom. She hung his clothes alongside her own. She placed his cup next to hers on the bedside table. The entire room began to fill with the scent that belonged to both of them. After finishing his practice, Yen-jio was drenched in sweat. He walked into the bedroom and saw Sujinjin organizing his things. Let me do it, he stepped forward, wanting to take the box from her hands. Sujinjin shook her head. No need, I can handle it. She placed the last book into the bookshelf. Then she clapped her hands, turned around, and looked at Yen-jio. All done. She smiled. From now on, this will be our home. Yenjio looked at the refreshed room and her satisfied smile. He walked over and gently hugged her from behind. And them. After their busy work, both of them were sweaty. They quickly rinsed off and changed into pajamas. They lay back down on the soft big bed. This time, the atmosphere in the room was no longer filled with any awkwardness or distance. Sujinjin curled up in Yenjio’s arms like a docile cat. She could clearly hear the strong and steady beat of his heart. Thump, thump. So stable, so reassuring. She closed her eyes and quickly drifted off to sleep. Yen Jio did not. Sleep. He looked down at the woman sleeping peacefully in his arms, admiring her serene face. He reached out and gently tucked a strand of hair from her forehead behind her ear. Then, he pulled the blanket over both of them. Good night. He silently. Whispered in his heart. The sky had not yet brightened, still shrouded in a hint of gray. Soo Jin Jin quietly opened her eyes. The man beside her was still sound asleep, his breathing steady and strong. She carefully moved Yen Jio’s arm, which was. Draped over her waist, away. Biting her lower lip, she quietly turned and got out of bed. In the wardrobe, she did not touch those beautiful kippeos. Instead, she pulled out a set of sportswear. The woman in the mirror had a rosy complexion, but. Not much muscle. Starting today, she would run every day for an extra hour. If she got tired, she would rest, and once she recovered, she would continue. She could not go on like before. She clenched her fist, motivating herself. She needed to. Become stronger to keep up with him. At the very least, she wanted him to get her in before she fell behind. A sudden, inexplicable soreness coursed through Soojinjin’s body, causing her movements to freeze, and her cheeks instantly flushed. When Yenjio woke up, the space beside him was empty. Only the faint scent of her lingered in the air. He sat up and saw a small note on the bedside table, written in elegant handwriting. I went for a run, breakfast is. On the table. On the dining table, there was warm milk, two boiled eggs, and a few slices of perfectly toasted bread. Simple, yet warm. Yanjio finished the milk and ate the bread and eggs. He dressed neatly, the crisp, police uniform making him look much more spirited. He pushed open the door and walked out, heading towards the police station. Criminal Investigation Team 3. Still that ever-open door. Still that familiar chaos, mixed with the smell of instant noodles and the essence of late-night work. As he entered the door of Criminal Investigation Team 3, a familiar chaos mingled with the scent of instant noodles and the atmosphere of. Sleepless nights, hit him. Yo, Team Yan. A young officer, who was engrossed in devouring a piece of bread, looked up, his eyes lighting up. Teen Yen, you finally made it. Another officer, sporting dark circles under. His eyes and furiously typing on the keyboard, also paused his work. Almost instantly, everyone’s attention in the office was focused on Yen Jio. It felt like a pack of wolves had spotted their prey. Teen Yen, that Yen. Jio. The young officer who spoke first leaned in, his face brimming with uncontainable gossip and excitement. Is it really you? This question was like a stone thrown into a compound. The entire office fell silent. For a moment, then erupted into even greater commotion. I told you it was Team Yen. That skill, that presence, who else could it be but Team Yen. Server-wide announcement. First kill of the golden boss. Team Yen. You’re amazing. Yen Jio was surrounded by everyone, looking at their eager eyes as if they were gazing at some rare treasure. This was the downside of having the same appearance in the game and reality, it must have been. The video of yesterday’s standoff with the player alliance that spread. He cleared his throat. Ahem. The office instantly fell silent, everyone perked up, waiting for an epic tale. Yenjo’s mind raced, ever since his. Tender moments with Sujinjin, his attitude towards people had changed a lot, at least he had the patience to lie to them. Actually, the story goes like this. When I first entered the game, I didn’t know anything. In the novice village, I met a girl named HoneyApple. She felt sorry for me and teamed up with me, taking me through two dungeons, hearing this, the surrounding officers showed expressions of sudden realization. So it was about being carried by a girl, not the other way around. Team leader Yan’s damn charm was the same everywhere. That golden boss was actually discovered by her, Yanjio continued to spin his tail. She took on. A hidden quest and just happened to trigger the boss. I was just there to tag along, just a bystander. In the end, I got lucky, and the final blow counted as mine. He shrugged, wearing an innocent and bewildered. Expression. As for the equipment, it was snatched away by Moody Ro, and I almost got killed by her. He let out a long sigh, his tone filled with the grievance and unwillingness of being bullied by the strong. After. He finished speaking, the entire office fell into a deathly silence. All the officers were stunned. They exchanged glances, their expressions shifting from initial excitement and admiration to sympathy and regret. So, was the truth really like this? Team leader Yen, in the game, was actually just a pitiful figure being used by top players and ruthlessly robbed of his hard-earned victory? That girl named Honey Apple. Must have thought team leader Yen was handsome and wanted to flirt with him, which was why she took him on the quest. In the end, after working hard all day, he was diverted at the last moment due to the quest leaving team leader yen to face monsters of that level alone they looked at yen jio with pity damn the three absolutes huh that’s just too much team leader yen don’t be sad next time we’ll team up and help you get your revenge exactly our criminal investigation team three isn’t to be trifled with either team leader yen is too miserable deceived in feelings and robbed of equipment watching his colleagues get worked up yen jio silently took a sip of tea This story had many loopholes, but after all, Yanjio was the leader, and the junior officers could only compliment him from the sidelines, no one dared to question anything. Yanjio then returned to his office and started working. He skillfully cleared the pile-up documents on his desk. There was another incident of injury yesterday, but it was taken by Team 2, so he ended up with some leisure time. After finishing his work, Yanjio stretched. He opened his computer, logged into the official forum of Illusion, and planned to see if there were any new updates. Yanzhou opened one of the discussion pages. What did I say? In this event, the ones who truly became legends are those three. The three absolutes. The three absolutes. Of illusion. Which three? Don’t spout nonsense. There are only two recognized. Shinting and Moody Ro. Bullshit. There’s one more. Did you forget the scythe of the veil, honey apple? Right. Even though she didn’t appear on the battlefield, her influence is greater than anyone else’s. The top posts have analyzed it to death. In terms of damage, Yanzhou’s side is just a drop in the bucket. compared to the scythe of the veil. it’s just that the black knife in his hand is the same model as the scythe of the veil, look at how much damage she deals with a single skill. yen joe’s skill only. does over 1800, and he had to hit twice to kill blood red overlord, the forum has analyzed the data, and that’s the peak damage for a mage with top tier equipment. honey apple is the real boss. yen. joe silently nodded, honey apple indeed couldn’t even trigger a double moon when killing, while in their eyes, yen joe triggering a double moon was just hitting twice. moreover, when he killed moody ro with. One blow, the players were still far away, and Fongling didn’t seem to say much. Exactly. So, the three absolutes are Shinting, Moody Ro, and Honey Apple. That’s the recognized ceiling of strength. Among us players, that Yanjio, didn’t he get the golden first kill? Put. Him. He’s nothing. Just a guy following behind Shinting to pick up scraps. If it weren’t for Shinting leading the charge, he wouldn’t even touch a hair of the boss. His most famous achievement is just killing that blood-red overlord, right? This damage doesn’t even reach the level of Lu Fong. it’s probably just luck he happened to hit that last sliver of health right it must be that way a character relying on luck just look at his weapon and skills the same as honey apples he’s probably some reality boyfriend or something yeah he must have gotten the hidden class transfer method and weapon blueprints from yenjo a loyal fan of honey apple said unwillingly in his heart a noble woman like honey apple wouldn’t have a boyfriend maybe yenjo is the young master of some big conglomerate bought at a high price That’s possible, after all, he’s just a nobody on the street and with so many top-tier resources, he only dealt that little damage. Then, what about I love drinking? Him? He’s just a joke. All bark and no bite. With such a grand army of demons, charging into the mainland. With great fanfare. And then nothing happened. He just disappeared and that demon army turned into a mess, running back on their own. At that time, Shinting and Mao Di Ro were both there. It’s probably that show-off wanting to challenge a real top expert only to be taken out in one move. Definitely. Just a bluff. The forum’s top list has already confirmed the three absolutes. It’s been. Updated. Shinting, Maudiro, HoneyApple. These are the strongest. They argued fiercely, analyzing. Using the hearsay they gathered and the battle reports they saw on the forum, they pieced together. A game world they thought was real. And the originator of all these stories, the man they labeled as Lucky, a minor character, a nobody, a show-off, was quietly sitting in a chair, watching. Them boast. He expressionlessly picked up his thermos and took another sip of warm tea. Indeed, the crowd’s ability to speculate is the most powerful weapon in this world. What they said was even more exciting and perfect than their own experiences. In a distant city, on the top floor of a skyscraper, the huge floor-to-ceiling windows cut the outline of the steel forest into a cold painting. Ming-Yah sat, behind a spacious desk, dressed in a well-tailored OL suit. Her beautiful figure was perfectly outlined. Beneath the black pencil skirt, a pair of long legs wrapped in black stockings were gently crossed. On her toes, a delicate high heel was hooked, swaying with her unconscious movements. The office door was gently knocked. Come in. A young girl with twin ponytails walked in. It was Qing Qing. She wore a secretary’s uniform, lacking the arrogance from the game but added a touch of workplace competence. Sister Yao. Qing Qing placed a document on the desk. Her movements were a bit hesitant, as if she had something to say. Ming Yao didn’t look at the document. Go ahead, what’s the new development on the forum? A hint of uncontainable excitement appeared on Qingqing’s face. Sister Yao, the tide has. Completely turned. It’s now recognized that the three absolutes have been confirmed. Ming Yao paused for a moment with her coffee cup in the air. She took a sip of coffee. The bitter liquid slid down. Her throat. So, what about Yanjio? She asked that name. Upon hearing this idea, Qingqing’s expression became a bit strange, mixed with regret. Him? He’s already been kicked out. Now the forum. says he’s just someone following behind the great god xin ting picking up scraps his most famous achievement is taking down blood-colored overlord but someone analyzed that the damage from that strike didn’t even reach lu feng’s level not even worth mentioning the first kill of the golden boss was purely luck xin ting brought the boss down to its last sliver of hell and he just happened to land the final blow a pure luck kid xin ching summarized the conclusions from those so-called in-depth analysis posts she saw on the forum some people even say he has a deep relationship with that skirt-wearing Grim Reaper, Honey Apple. Just look at their weapons and skills, they’re practically identical. He must be Honey Apple’s boyfriend in real life who gave him the items and blueprints for his hidden class. Otherwise, how could he possibly have gotten these things? The more Ching Ching spoke, the more animated she became. And yet, with such top-tier resources, he only dealt that little damage, it’s simply a waste. Ming Yao listened quietly. The tips of her fingers gripping the coffee cup turned slightly white. Qingqing, oblivious to her boss’s unusual demeanor, continued, so, the list of the three absolute masters in illusion has been updated. Shinting, with soft eyes, and, although he hasn’t appeared on the battlefield, his influence is unmatched, skirt -wearing Grim Reaper, Honey Apple. This is the new pinnacle. Mingiao slowly leaned back in her chair. Her tense shoulders relaxed completely at that moment. A long breath of frustration escaped her lips. It was a kind of relief, as, if a heavy burden had been lifted, Qingqing was taken aback. She blinked her big eyes, somewhat confused. Sister Yao? Don’t you think it’s a pity that God Yenzhou has been pulled down from his pedestal? Our Tinglan Pavilion was so close to them before. Ming Yao raised her head to meet Qingqing’s eyes, which were filled with confusion. She regained her composed demeanor as a strong woman. You can go now. Ming Yao waved her hand. Okay, Sister Yao. Qingqing turned and left the office. The door closed. The huge office returned to silence. Ming Yao slowly turned her chair to face the large floor to ceiling. Window. Outside, the traffic flowed, and the world was bustling. The man’s face appeared in her mind. The man who seriously praised her talent in the dungeon. The man who casually shouted he wanted to log. Off in front of the church. The man who eagerly played around with the guild system and the fortress. If he were to be elevated to a pedestal, becoming one of the three absolute masters that all players looked up to, Mingyao felt he was very far from her. Far like the stars at the edge of the sky, dazzling yet unreachable. That sense of distance made her feel suffocated. And now, the pedestal had collapsed. He had become someone others called a lucky find, lucky boy, a pretty boy relying on women. Those dazzling halos were covered by layers of stigma. He was no longer a star. It seemed he had returned. To being someone she could stand shoulder to shoulder with. Mingyao’s fingertips gently traced the cold glass window. Her reflection appeared on the window, showing her face at that moment. Although, this thought was very childish, even a bit dirty, a fake yet genuine smile blossomed on her usually calm and composed face. in this way did she still have a chance the home page of the forum was almost flooded with the term three absolute masters various analysis posts power ranking posts and fan disputes were emerging endlessly besides these there were also many posts related to portals yenjio clicked on a highly popular post titled ultimate summary of current leveling routes if you don’t want to die come take a look the poster had detailed the level distribution of wild monsters around all the main cities The conclusion was that the wild monsters around all the main cities were at most level 20. To challenge higher-level monsters, one could only venture into the treacherous areas on the maps. For example, the deep sea, the primeval forest, or various perilous places. The post listed a few examples. The large volcano near Lava City would cause a continuous loss of 50 health. Points per second one stepped into. If one continued deeper, the damage would increase to 200 points per second or even higher. It was completely not a place for players of this level to tread. Even those. Seemingly normal primeval forests were fraught with danger either a high-level beast suddenly appears, capable of killing a fully equipped team with a single slap, or there are carnivorous flowers or toxic. Miasma everywhere. At the end of the post, the author provided a summary. At this stage, if players want to level up safely and steadily, there is only one path to take. That is to quickly reach level. 20 and then use the portal to go to the capital of their respective countries. There, is the real grand stage. Yenjiyo closed this post and opened another one. Technical post from the portal opening. Looking at the future economic trends and power structure of illusion, the author’s ID was old horse knows the way. The post contained no gossip or drivel. The content was lengthy, analyzing everything. From macroeconomics to micro fluctuations in material prices. It was well organized and logically sound. However, the number of replies to the post was pitifully low. Occasionally, there were a few replies. All mocking. The poster is overthinking it. It’s just a game, as long as it’s fun, that’s all that matters. What’s the use of saying so much? Can you eat it? All this fluff, might as well just grind. A few more monsters. Yet, Yanjio found it quite interesting. He even thought that this player called Old Horse Knows the Way had a very reasonable analysis. He clicked on another post. Life coordinates. Lava City. Are there any sisters who want to open a clothing store together? I have a level 3 tailoring skill and plenty of blueprints. The next post seemed a bit less serious. Blind Date A. Line of Fate in Illusion. Cherish this connection. Single ladies and gentlemen, come take a look. This was a matchmaking post within the game. It was filled with various players’ photos. There were. Muscular men in heavy armor wielding greatswords, and girls in robes with charming smiles. Each person attached their game ID, main city, and partner requirements. ID, one child, level 14 berserker, earth. Rock city, looking for a girl who can heal and tank, to dungeon together and enjoy the scenery. ID, sweet shell, level 12 healing priest, tell in city, looking for a brother who provides a sense of security. gear doesn’t matter just be a good person preferably an assassin or archer he id you blade in the forest level 15 shooting ranger no demands just want someone to play with yenjiu shook his head as he read he closed the forum leaned back in his chair and stretched he glanced at the wall clock it was already past 10 in the morning since there was nothing urgent he simply got up preparing to leave early the current goal was clear to level up to 20 as soon as possible there were indeed no suitable places for him to level up around maple leaf city anymore It seemed it was time. To explore those so-called dangerous areas. Yenjiu left the police station, walking on the bustling street, the sun warming his body. As he pondered what to have for lunch, an elderly figure caught his. Attention by a street corner at an outdoor tea house. It was old Su. The once proud and fierce old man from the Su family estate. At this moment, he was dressed in plain grey clothes, quietly sitting there. Devoid of his former authority. He looked like an ordinary old man. Oldsu also saw him, a flicker of complex emotions passing through his murky pupils, and he waved at Yenjio. Would you mind joining me? For a cup of tea? Yenjio didn’t mind and walked straight over. A black sedan quickly stopped by the roadside. The driver got out and respectfully opened the car door for the two. The car drove through. The city and finally stopped in front of a very elegant tea house. Inside, it was antique and fragrant with sandalwood. Oldsu led him into a quiet private room and personally poured him a cup of tea. The tea was clear and fragrant. Old Su picked up the cup and took a slow sip, his movements somewhat sluggish. How is Shinjin doing, he asked, his voice carrying a barely noticeable hoarseness, Yenjo picked. Upped the teacup, imitating his manner, took a sip, and then answered directly. I’m doing quite well. She should be at home cooking for me, she said today we’re having braised ribs. Su Lao, who had just taken a sip of tea, paused. He was choked by Yenjo’s extremely plain words, his face alternating between shades of blue and white, and in the end, he forced the tea down. He slammed the teacup down. Heavily, the bottom of the cup colliding with the table, producing a muffled sound. You two, when are you getting married? Su Lao adjusted his emotions and spoke again. Yen Ji-ho scratched his head. Marriage? He hadn’t thought that far ahead. However, since he had already done such things with Su Jin-jin, a man should take responsibility. He looked at Su Lao and answered very seriously, I’ll go back and ask for her opinion. I can do it anytime. Su Lao was once again choked by his nonchalant tone. He stared at Yanjio for a long time, as if trying to find a trace of joking on his calm face. But there was. None. This young man really thought so. Su Lao gave up on continuing to entangle him in this topic. He took a deep breath, picked up the teacup, and said to himself, I’ve seen your power. It’s indeed. Extraordinary. However, I’ve also investigated the reason this power does not belong to you. The implications in his words revealed the strength of the Su family. The previous matter was indeed my fault. su lao’s tone suddenly shifted but there was no trace of apology on his face however i won’t apologize i stand by my view that token should have been handed over to me from the start if it had been given to me the first guild territory would have already taken shape do you know how much resources and benefits that would bring his emotions were somewhat agitated but they quickly calmed down however since it has already been settled i won’t say more the old man straightened his body looking at yenjo with an unprecedented seriousness i only hope to get your promise Su Jinjin will always be your legitimate wife. Yen Jio was somewhat puzzled. Isn’t that a given? What do you mean? A hint of disdain flashed in Su Lao’s murky pupils as if he was looking down on Yen Jio’s hypocrisy. You practitioners of ancient martial arts are inherently vigorous. Moreover, you are one of the best among them. Do I need to say more? How long can Jinjin’s delicate physique endure you? As he spoke, Su Lao’s voice carried an uncontainable anger. Yen Jio scratched his head. So practicing martial arts has this flaw too, no wonder. Su Lao was about to continue his outburst but was choked by Yen Jio’s pure exclamation. All the words he had prepared got stuck in his throat. He re-examined the young man across from him. That handsome face showed no signs of pretense, only a natural, pure confusion. Su Lao’s mood became extremely complicated. Having lived for so many years, it was the first time he had seen such a person. You, he paused, unconsciously softening his tone. You haven’t been with a woman before? Yen Jio nodded. No, there was nothing to hide. With this affirmative answer, the anger on Su Lao’s face completely dissipated. His expression towards Yen Jiu softened for the first time, even carrying a hint of appreciation from an elder to a junior. Good. Good lad. He repeated the word good twice, this time seemingly genuinely acknowledging Yen Jiu. Practitioners of ancient martial arts often have strong desires. To overcome that is indeed not easy. Su Lao picked up the teacup and gently blew on the floating tea leaves. But now that you know the taste, can you still endure? This question was like a sharp knife, piercing the heart. Yen Jio did not speak. He thought seriously for a moment, then nodded firmly. I can. Su Lao shook his head, put down the teacup, and made a soft sound. Do you know how many wives I have, old man? Yen Jio did not respond, nearly watching him quietly, waiting for him to continue. Seeing Yen Jio like this, old Su continued, In my youth, I practiced internal martial arts, my passion was strong, and I had a total of seven concubines. Although I am old now and have not practiced for a long time, I still need two or three women to serve me. After he finished speaking, he looked at Yanjio again. I don’t care what your future holds. I need your promise. Yanjio stared directly into old Su’s eyes, which were no longer murky but had become sharp. He did not think for long before answering old Su. Sujin is my only relative. I will formally propose and marry her. I will love her for a lifetime. His words were plain but resonated with conviction. Old Su when he locked eyes for a long time. Eventually, the old man’s tense body seemed to deflate like a punctured ball, slowly relaxing. He let out a long sigh and in that moment he appeared to age a decade. He no longer looked at Yenjo, simply standing up, turning his back to him and walking towards the door of the private room. I have already spoken to Jun. If you really can’t hold back, don’t make it too hard for her, she has been weak since childhood. After the old man finished speaking he opened the door and walked out without looking back. At the entrance of the tea house, the driver was already waiting respectfully by the car. Yanjio did not glance back, heading straight home. Old Su’s words did not stir much in his heart. Pushing open the door to his home, a rich aroma of meat wafted. Over. In the kitchen, Sujin was tying on an apron, humming a tuneless little song, stirring the soup in the pot. Yanjio walked over and gently wrapped his arms around her from behind. Sujin’s body. Stiffened slightly, then relaxed, leaning softly against him. Your back? MMM. Yanjio rested his chin on her shoulder, watching the ribs simmering in the pot, the broth milky white and fragrant. He. Wanted to fish out a piece, but Sujin gently swatted his hand away. Don’t rush, it’s not done yet, you little glutton. Yenjio took the opportunity to hold Sujin’s soft, fair hand, gently caressing. It’s, I saw your grandfather. He stated plainly. Sujin paused her stirring for a moment. He, didn’t make things difficult for you, did he? There was a hint of tension in her voice. No. Yenjio shook. His head. He just asked when we would get married. Sujin’s cheeks instantly flushed, even her ears turning red. The two embraced like this, savoring the moment for a while. The ribs were tender and, falling off the bone, the aroma completely filling the room. Sujin served two bowls of rice and brought a large platter of ribs to the dining table. Yanjio was truly hungry and picked up his chopsticks, devouring the food. Like a whirlwind, the dishes on the table quickly emptied. He wiped his mouth contentedly. I’ll reach level 20 in the next couple of days, then I can come find you, Yanjio said. Naturally, looking at Sujin across the table. Sujin smiled and nodded, her eyes sparkling like they were filled with starlight. Yenjiyo recalled the topic from the tea house and asked again, when are we getting married? Sujin’s face, which had just lost its blush, turned red once more. She poked at a grain of rice left in her bowl with her chopsticks, seemingly lost in thought. Let’s wait a bit longer. Her voice was as soft as a whisper. I’m not ready yet. Yenjiyo looked at her shy demeanor and nodded. I’ll listen to you. After finishing the meal, Sujin cleaned up the dishes. Instead of. Washing them, she, like a little cat, actively snuggled into Yanjio’s arms. On the sofa, the two quietly leaned against each other. Sujin buried her face in his chest, feeling his strong heartbeat. She seemed to want to say something, her lips moved, but in the end, she said nothing. Only that stubbornness made her nuzzle against him more forcefully, as if trying to melt herself into his body. The two, briefly lingered on the sofa before embracing and lying down on the bed, their consciousness sinking into the game world. Yanjio woke up in the fishing chair. Today’s goal was singular, to reach level. 20. Just as he was about to get up and head out to grind levels, Mingyao’s message came through. The top 64 has been decided. Today’s opponents are no weaklings. After three rounds, it will be the top. 8. Yanjio scratched his head, nearly forgetting this important matter. He replied, quick battle, quick resolution. With a thought, the illusion form skill activated. The hazy glow dissipated. And the figure of Honey Apple, wearing a veil and a white dress, reappeared. She skillfully navigated through the manor, heading towards the familiar cafe. The first battle was about to begin. Inside the Tinglan Pavilion Cafe, the atmosphere was much tenser than in the previous days. The aroma of coffee in the air was tinged with a stifling scent of tension. The girls no longer chattered about clothes and food but silently polished their weapons and checked their potions. No guild that made it this far relied on luck. The arrival of Honey Apple was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples. Everyone’s movements halted, and their gazes converged at the entrance. That cool figure seemed to be the stabilizing force, calming their restless hearts in an instant. She’s here. Mingyao’s voice. Broke the silence. Honeyapple sat down at the empty seat across from her, not ordering coffee, just quietly waiting. Mingyao immediately began the match. Match successful enemy guild, battle alliance number. Of members, 300 Mingyao looked at the tense faces of the guild members and spoke, battle alliance. Ranked 19th on the guild leader board. Their guild leader, Blood Battle Soul, has transitioned to a swordsman, and his fighting style is very aggressive, often leading the charge. The entire guild follows this style, fearless in battle. Xingqin tightened her grip on her staff and, quietly asked, Leader, how do we fight? Mingyao’s gaze fell on Honey Apple across the table. Honey Apple will engage first, and we will follow. They will likely charge straight at us, so we will fight. As we did against the Blood Colored Guild. Four teams, stepped forward. Mingyao’s voice shattered the brief silence. A few agile robes and lightly armored warriors stepped up, determination etched on their faces. Your task is to follow behind Apple. Be ready to support at any moment and scout the specific positions of the scattered battle alliance. Yes. The girls responded crisply. Ming Yao’s gaze. Swept over everyone in the cafe. The rest of the teams follow me. Our goal is to draw the main fire of the battle alliance and create the best output conditions for Apple. She paused, her tone growing. More serious. This battle will be tough. Be prepared. No one spoke again. The heavy atmosphere fermented in the aroma of coffee. Ming Yao pressed the ready button on the guild panel. Scene switching. Countdown, 10, 9, 8. The warm cafe dissolved from view. This time, they appeared in a vast Gobi desert. Countless oddly shaped rock pillars, eroded by wind and sand, stood on the cracked yellow earth. The hot winds stirred up dust, clouding the air. As far as the eye could. See, it was desolate. Almost simultaneously with their appearance, a cloud of dust rose on the distant horizon. A team of 300 was charging towards them at high speed. The momentum was like a cavalry charge, filled with reckless fervor. They’re coming. Mingyao’s voice rang out in the guild channel. Prepare for battle. Before her words fell, that white figure had already moved, Honey Apple, or rather, Yanzhou, without a moment’s hesitation, charged out alone into the cloud of dust. His speed was astonishing, the white gauze skirt trailing behind him in the yellow sand, leaving a lingering shadow. Keep up! Mingya shouted, leaving the main force of Ting Lan Pavilion closely behind. The charge of the battle alliance was indeed fierce, but they were not foolish. The president, Blood Battlesoul, had clearly studied the combat videos of Honey Apple. He understood well that the terror of the white gauze skirt mage lay in her elusive teleportation and her devastating area. Damage. Just as Honey Apple was about to make contact with them, the formation of the battle alliance suddenly shifted. The 300 players, who had originally gathered together, burst apart like fireworks, instantly dividing into 10 independent. Squads. Each squad consisted of 30 players, spaced several dozen meters apart, forming a vast, loose encirclement. They halted their charge, and the ranged classes raised their staves and longbows. This formation was specifically designed to counter Honey Apple. As long as she dared to teleport into any squad, she would be met with concentrated fire from the ranged players of the surrounding squads. Even a boss would fall under such a dense barrage. President, they’ve dispersed. The reconnaissance team’s report came back immediately. Mingyao’s pupils constricted slightly. She quickly understood the enemy’s intention, but a smile crept onto her lips. This tactic was indeed effective against Yenzhou, but they had overlooked the Formidable strength of Ting Lan Pavilion’s main force. Charge. Mingyao’s decision was as swift as lightning. Without a moment’s hesitation, she issued the order for a full assault. Target the squad in the center. Tear apart their formation. The main force of Ting Lan Pavilion changed direction, like a sharp dagger plunging fiercely into that squad of 30. Blood Battle’s soul was clearly too focused on countering Honey Apple, completely neglecting the impressive combat power of Ting Lan Pavilion. He wanted to call for support from the other squads, but it was already too late. Mingyao’s ironclad formation crashed into that squad of 30 like a heavy tank at full throttle. The paladins formed the strongest defensive line with their shields. The berserker’s giant axes stirred up a bloody storm. The squad of 30 crumbled under the charge of over 200 from Ting Lan Pavilion, as fragile as a piece of paper. In an instant, a massive gap was torn open. Meanwhile, Yanjio also moved. He looked at the dispersed formation of the battle alliance, and instead of retreating, he found it somewhat amusing. A good idea, but too slow. He cast a earth shield on himself. The yellow energy coalesced into a thick layer of rocky armor. On his body. Dragon Breath Yanjou’s figure spun and ascended into the air. He opened his mouth and a visible tornado made of pure flame erupted from it. The scorching tornado howled as it swept toward the nearest battle alliance squad. Damn it. Get out of the way. The terrified shouts were completely drowned out by the roar of the flames. The squad of 30 was instantly engulfed by the fire tornado. A flurry of damage numbers erupted wildly from the flames. Minus 32 ,845. Minus 23,021. Minus 12 ,998. As the fire tornado dissipated, only charred earth remained. A squad of 30 was thus eliminated in an instant. Yanjio did not linger, his figure blurred in midair. Astral walk in the next moment, he. Appeared directly in the center of another squad. The players in that squad still wore expressions of shock on their faces. They only saw a flash of white light and the reaper in the white gauze skirt was already. Standing among them. Open fire. Focus on her, someone shouted hoarsely. But it was too late, the surrounding formation had already been torn apart by Ting Lan Pavilion. Yen Jio didn’t even use any skills. He. Simply drew the black knife from his waist. With a single swing, it was plain and unadorned, dash 10754. The nearest warrior to him had an exaggerated damage number floating above his head and with a flash of white. Light, both man and shield vanished. One strike, one kill. No. This was no longer a battle. This was a massacre. The proud bravery of the alliance had become a joke in the face of absolute power. Their line crumbled simultaneously in two directions. On one side were the fierce girls of the Tinglon Pavilion, led by Ming-Yau, like wolves and tigers. On the other side was the blade-wielding figure in a white dress, as if a demon had descended. In less than three minutes, the massive word victory slowly appeared in the sky above the Gobi Desert. The wind and sand on the Gobi seemed not yet to have settled inside the cafe. However, it was a different scene. We won. We won. The tension that had been suppressed for so long erupted into a tsunami of celebration at the moment of victory. The girls embraced and screamed. There. Cheeks flushed with excitement, Ching Ching rushed in front of Ming Yao. Let’s go again. Strike while the iron is hot. Yes. Let’s do it again. I feel like I can take on ten right now. The girls, intoxicated by victory, rubbed their fists together, brimming with fighting spirit as if they could already see the champion’s trophy beckoning to them. Ming Yao looked at their excited faces, that confidence was something no words could provide. It was something they had forged themselves, strike by strike, skill by skill. She nodded. Alright. Mingyao’s voice was not loud but it instantly silenced all the noise. She turned. To face all the members of her guild, her voice clear and resolute. Everyone, prepare. We are starting the second match. Without a moment’s hesitation, she pressed the match button on the guild interface. The joy of victory was instantly replaced by a new wave of tension and anticipation. Everyone’s movements halted as they all turned to look at the virtual panel in front of Mingyao. Ding. Tinglan Pavilion Guild. Battle matching started, ding. Match successful. Another line of blood-red text appeared. Guild, Brotherhood number of members, 300 Brotherhood, ranked 32nd on the guild leaderboard, Ming. Yao said. Their guild leader, Li Lang, is a hidden class, a curse-breaking knight, known for defensive counterattacks. I’ve analyzed their battles, their leader’s talent provides extremely high magic defense, reaching over 90 in magic damage reduction when activated. The entire guild’s style is completely opposite to the alliance’s reckless approach, they excel in positional warfare and attrition. It’s said. That their guild is almost entirely made up of priests and paladins. This meant the opponent had an incredibly terrifying sustainability. Engaging them in positional warfare would be akin to seeking one’s own. Death. Then, how do we fight? A girl asked softly, her tone filled with uncertainty. Ming Yao’s gaze fell once more on the figure quietly sitting in the corner. Honey apple. She seemed completely unaffected. by the tense atmosphere, still maintaining her cool demeanor. Suddenly, a bold, even somewhat crazy thought sprang into Mingyao’s mind. She spoke, her voice carrying an undeniable resolve. For this match, we will change our strategy. Everyone, follow my lead. All melee fighters form a strike team. What? This decision left everyone stunned. Even the previously silent honey apple lifted her head. President, this is too risky. Liu Li was the first to voice her opposition. Without a healer, how can we possibly break through the enemy’s line of over 200? Yeah, president, the brotherhood excels at. Defense, they will surely tighten their formation into an iron barrel, and we won’t find any opportunities. Luangu hurriedly advised. Mingya shook her head. No. Her tone was calm but carried a powerful. Confidence. Because they excel at defense, all their tactics revolve around the four words, defense and counterattack. They will instinctively tighten their formation, waiting for us to attack. And we, will not. Give them that opportunity. Mingya looked at honey apple. Our goal is not to break through their defense. Our goal is their guild leader, Li Lang. As long as we take him down, their command system will instantly collapse, and without the guild leader’s talent support, Honey Apple can directly clear the field, causing their formation to fall apart without a fight. To catch the thief first catch the king. Honey Apple, or rather Yen Jio finally spoke. His voice was still cold, yet it made Ming Yao’s eyes light up. Yes, to catch the thief first catch the king. Ming Yao nodded heavily. We will use bow means to create an opportunity for Apple to approach Li Lang, even if it’s just for a second. She paused, glancing around the cafe at the girls whose faces were filled with worry and unease. As for you all, your task is even more important. Before I give the order, no one is allowed to approach actively. What you need to do is to stay at a distance, using your ranged skills to harass them as much as possible, drawing their attention and making them believe that our main force is right there. Create an opportunity for us to quietly flank their side. This was an extremely risky tactic. The outcome of the entire guild depended on this decapitation route. If the assault failed, Ting Lan Pavilion would face the risk of being completely annihilated by the enemy. The cafe fell into a dead silence. The girls exchanged glances, having never thought that a guild battle could be fought this way. I agree. Yen Jiu stood up, breaking the silence. Sounds good. He looked at Ming Yao, his eyes hidden beneath the veil seemingly carrying a hint of a smile. Ming Yao’s heart settled completely. She looked at the others. Any questions? No one spoke again. The tension had been replaced by a resolute determination to fight to the end. Scene Transition. Countdown, 10, 9, 8. The warmth of the cafe dissolved from view. In its place was a cold, damp underground cave. Huge stalactites hung down from the ceiling taking on various forms, resembling fierce monsters. The ground was slick with moss and the air was filled with a earthy smell. In the distance the sound of dripping water echoed in the vast cave, particularly clear. Everyone proceed as planned. Mingyao’s voice rang out in the guild channel. The main force of Tinglan Pavilion quickly spread out, using The stalactites is covered to establish a remote firepower position. Meanwhile, Ming Yao, Honey Apple, Lu Li, and Xia Xia quietly slipped away from the group, like four ghostly shadows merging into the darkness of the cave side. Almost simultaneously, at the other end of the cave, the Brotherhood appeared. They did not charge in like the alliance but instead quickly formed a defensive formation. Dozens of shield warriors lined up their massive tower shields, creating an impenetrable wall of steel. Behind the wall were numerous priests and paladins, their staffs, and holy contracts glowing with a soft healing light. A man plaid in dark silver heavy armor, holding a massive tower shield, stood at the center of the formation. He was the guild leader of the Brotherhood, Li Lang. Is that Ting Lan Pavilion over there? Li Lang’s voice, echoed in the cave, sounding deep and powerful. A group of girls making it to the top 64 is no small feat. A mage beside him chuckled, leader, be careful of. Their guild’s expert, Honey Apple. Expert? Li Lang snorted coldly. In the face of absolute defense, any flashy technique is a joke. He firmly believed that all the damage from the honey apple was due to magical enhancements. Dealing thousands of damage with a basic attack must have been achieved through some kind of magical enchantment. And after activating his talent, the magic damage reduction around him could exceed 90. As long as the honey apple dared to come in, not only would she fail to clear the field, but she would also leave her life here. Relay my orders, everyone hold your ground and advance slowly. I want to see how they break my ironclad. Formation. Just then, arrows and fireballs came shooting in from behind the distant stalactites, crashing into their shield wall. Clang, clang, the sound of cannon. Fire filled the air. But aside from a few sparks, not a trace was left behind. Oof. A hint of disdain appeared on Li Leng’s face. Is this the extent of their attack? Just a tickle? Advance. The players behind him burst into laughter. Their formation hardly included any rogues or rangers, which instead favored Ming Yao and the others’ infiltration. Due to the dense barrage, Li Leng did not notice. In the blind spot of his vision, in the shadows of the cave wall, countless figures were quickly and silently approaching them. The white gauzy dress, in the dim light, resembled a flickering ghostly flame. In the shadows of the cave wall, Ming Yao crouched down and gestured to the three beside her. Stop advancing. In the distance, the Brotherhood’s formation resembled a turtle retreating into its shell, the shield wall. Impenetrable, with holy light flickering within. Their defense had almost no flaws. Is this the extent of their attack? Just a tickle? Li Lang’s scornful laughter echoed. Through the cave structure, clearly reaching the ears of a few. Liu Li frowned. This guy is too arrogant. Their formation is too stable, we can’t find an opportunity. To break in at all. Ming Yao remained silent, looking at the only variable in the team. Honey Apple. Yen Jiu was also observing that Iron Wall. Directly teleporting. In was indeed an option. But he was unsure how much his damage would be reduced under the influence of the opponent’s peculiar talent. If he couldn’t clear the field. Instantly, what awaited him would be endless control and concentrated fire from hundreds of players. That was no different from seeking death. He had to create a sufficiently large chaos. Yenjo thought for a moment, and a long unused skill surfaced in his mind. Then, without hesitation, he quietly stepped back a few paces. Hiding behind a massive stalactite, he extended his hand, palm up. An obscure incantation was silently uttered from his lips. Demon’s Gate This was a skill book he obtained from the heart of the Demon’s Gate. Due to the long casting time and random effects, he had never found a suitable opportunity to use it. But now, the time was. Right. A mass of pitch black energy began to gather, twist, and swirl in his palm. The damp air in the cave seemed to grow even colder. Listening to the chaotic attacks. In the distance, the smug look only Lange’s face deepened. A bunch of girls still want to play tactics? In the face of absolute strength, it’s all in vain. A paladin. Beside him echoed. The president is right, once they run out of blue, it will be our time to counterattack. Just then, a sharp-eyed mage suddenly pointed at the sky above their formation. President, look at that. Everyone looked up. Above them, at a height of over 10 meters, a vortex made of pure dark energy, about a meter, in radius, was slowly taking shape. It made no sound and emitted no energy fluctuations, just quietly hovering there. What the hell is that? Li Lang frowned, a bad premonition rising in his heart. But he firmly believed in his talent. Whatever it is, mage and ranger troops prepare, as soon as something comes out, take it down. Immediately. Yes. 30 seconds of chanting passed in the blink of an eye. The energy in Yanjou’s palm had completely coalesced into form, the dark vortex hovering above. The brotherhood suddenly expanded to over a person’s height, forming a constantly twisting door that seemed to lead to the abyss. Demon gate, summon a demon gate that. Lasts for 5 minutes, hatching a demon embryo every 10 seconds, indiscriminately attacking surrounding creatures. Casting time, 30 seconds, cooldown, 120 minutes, mana. Cost 500 points. The moment the door formed, a fleshy, tumor-like demon embryo was squeezed out from within. Several arrows and spells struck the embryo, revealing an immunity status. The embryo fell to the ground and quickly hatched. A small imp appeared, roaring. Attack. Before Li Lang could give the order, the mages in the back. Ro had already thrown dozens of fireballs and ice arrows. Dash 154-201-188 The poor imp didn’t even take a step before it turned into white light. Laughter erupted from the Brotherhood’s ranks. Ha ha ha, is that it? i thought it was some big move and it turned out to be such a small thing li lang also breathed a sigh of relief disdain reappearing on his face just to show 10 seconds later another embryo dropped this time hatching two low-level monsters the result was no different they were still instantly focused and killed the third time the fourth time they were all inconsequential little monsters the players of the brotherhood had completely relaxed their vigilance even starting to treat the demon gate as a target practice game only li lang felt an increasing unease in his heart he always sensed that things were not this simple just as the fifth embryo fell from the gate that fleshy tumor-like embryo did not hatch as quickly as before but began to convulse violently on the ground its size visibly expanding a fierce violent aura far surpassing all previous monsters emanated from it something’s wrong li lang shouted be careful but it was too late the embryo suddenly exploded viscous liquid splattering everywhere A demon, over 3 meters tall, covered in thick black armor and, wielding a massive battle axe engulfed in hellfire, appeared right in the center of their formation. The commander. Roar, the commander let out a deafening roar, sweeping the battle axe. The nearest few priests didn’t even have time to cast healing spells on themselves before a series of damage numbers in the tens of thousands, floated above their heads, instantly turning into white light. The brotherhood’s formation was thrown into chaos. Damn. It’s a boss. Quick. Warriors, hold the. Line. We can’t hold. This thing’s damage is too high. The originally solid ironclad formation was torn open from within by the appearance of this unexpected guest. Everyone’s attention was drawn to the frenzied killing of the commander. Now’s the time. Mingyao’s voice exploded in the guild channel. All troops, attack. She no. Longer hid, directly activating her talents and skills. Her newly learned skills had healing effects, which was why she was confident in not bringing a healer. Light of. Dawn Sanctuary Light Guardian’s several brilliant beams of light shot into the sky, and golden armor appeared around Mingyao. The main force of the Ting Lan Pavilion, long prepared, surged out like a rampaging tiger from behind the stalactites, charging straight at the already chaotic formation of the Brotherhood. Meanwhile, on the other side, Yen Jio also moved. He did not rush into the fray immediately, he still needed to wait for an opportunity to kill Li Leng in one blow while ensuring his own escape. Everyone’s attention was on the commander. No one noticed a white figure, like a ghost, silently appearing at the edge of the battlefield. The opportunity came, as the commander’s charge caused the players guarding Li Lang’s right side, who were wary of the honey apple, to momentarily lose focus. Astral Walk Yen Jio’s figure transformed into specks of starlight at the spot. In the next moment, he appeared directly behind Li Lang. The cursed knight seemed to sense something and was about to turn around. Yen Jio did not give him that opportunity. He drew the black blade from his waist, with a single swing, simple and unadorned. Minus 9457. A massive. Critical damage number floated above the head of Li Lang. His proud spell defense was as fragile as a piece of paper in the face of absolute physical attack. Li Lang’s. Body froze. He didn’t even manage to see who had attacked him before turning into a white light and disappearing from the spot. The guild leader had fallen. The magical. Damage reduction aura provided by the guild leader’s talent instantly vanished from all members of the brotherhood. Yen Jio did not linger. He looked at the enemy. Players in disarray before him and opened his mouth. A perfect spin. Dragon breath a devastating tornado made of pure flames erupted from his mouth. The searing flames. Roared, sweeping across the entire brotherhood’s position. This time, nothing could stop it. Dense damage numbers cascaded like a waterfall. Minus 42 ,845. Minus 33,021. Minus 22 ,998. The roar of the flames drowned out all screams and gasps. As the tornado dissipated, only charred earth remained. Their tightly packed formation allowed Yanjio to wipe out the enemy with a single skill for the first time. The enormous word victory slowly appeared above the empty cave. The massive word victory above the cave gradually faded away. After a brief silence, there was a volcanic eruption of celebration. We won. We won again. Oh my god. We made it to the top 32. The girls screamed, embracing each other and throwing their weapons into the air. The joy of victory was like the richest wine, intoxicating everyone. After the scene changed, the entire cafe was engulfed in a happy uproar. Only two people were exceptions. Mingyao and Yanjio. Mingyao quickly walked up to Yanjio. She had a lot to say about tactics, gratitude, and the next match. But all her words got stuck in her throat when she saw that cold figure. She just stood there, nodding slightly at Yanjio. Thank you. Yanjio stood up. He did not look at Mingyao. I’ll be leaving first. After saying that, he turned and walked towards the cafe’s entrance, without a hint of reluctance. Mingyao stood still for a long time, not moving. She suddenly found it somewhat amusing. Perhaps, in his world, this victory didn’t mean anything at all. Yanjio walked out of the cafe. The warm sunlight spilled onto the streets of Maple Leaf City. Just as he was about to head to the teleportation array, the atmosphere around him became a bit off. Countless players stopped in their tracks, all looking at him in unison. The next second, the crowd erupted. It’s honey apple. Oh my god. The living honey apple goddess. I watched the match just now. One shot. Took out a guild. So strong. Goddess. Let’s be friends. The dense crowd surged towards Yanjio like a tide from all directions. Every. Face was filled with fervor and excitement. Yanjio frowned. He didn’t like this feeling of being watched. He had chosen anonymity just. Moments ago. The influence of honey apple was far greater than Yanjio’s. He just wanted to quietly level up. As the crowd was about to. Engulf him, he focused his thoughts. Astral walk his figure transformed into sparkling stardust, slowly dispersing in place. The few. Players at the front lunged forward but missed. They looked at the dissipating starlight, bewildered. Where did he go? Teleportation. It’s the signature movement skill of the Scarfed Reaper. That was too fast. The commotion in the crowd had no effect on Yanjio. In the. Next moment he had already appeared in front of the teleportation portal in the city center. The massive portal emitted a ghostly blue. Glow, with energy runes slowly flowing around the frame. He walked to the crystal control panel in front of the portal.Please select. Your destination A virtual map unfolded before him. The territory of the forest nation was clearly presented. He zoomed in on the map, scanning the area around Maple Leaf City. Soon, he found his target. Lin Bien City. A border city located on the edge of the primeval. Forest. That vast primeval forest was one of the absolute places of the forest nation. Destination selected, Lin Bien City teleportation. Cost, 8 gold coins Confirmed teleportation? Yanzhou frowned, it was quite expensive and he was almost out of gold coins in his pocket. He would have to get some more later. Confirm. A flash of white light. Yanzhou’s figure disappeared into the teleportation portal. The air in Linbian City was completely different from that in Maple Leaf City. There was no sense of leisure or prosperity. The air was filled with a rough scent of grass and earth. The players on the streets were mostly in a hurry, wearing, thick leather armor and chainmail, carrying huge battleaxes and longbows. Their equipment showed signs of wear and their faces bore the marks of wind and frost. This was a paradise for adventurers. Yenjo’s flowing white gauze dress was out of place in the surrounding environment. As soon as he appeared, he attracted everyone’s attention. Look, that’s a mage, dressed like a death goddess? Dressed like that in Linbian City? Aren’t you afraid of being torn apart by wild monsters? A berserker with a giant axe whistle. Hey, little girl, are you here in the primeval forest alone? Want me to take you? It seemed not everyone was focused on the so-called three wonders and forums. Yenjiyo ignored these. Boring pickup lines. He walked straight across the street towards the northern city gate. His goal was clear. Today, he had to reach level 20. Passing through the tall city gate, a primitive and wild aura rushed towards him. Huge trees. Blocked out the sun, and sunlight could only filter through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled spots of light. Damp fallen leaves had piled up thickly underfoot, soft and squishy to step on. The air was filled with the smell of decaying. Plants. Without a moment’s hesitation, Yanjio stepped into the primeval forest. He had barely walked a hundred meters when a low growl erupted from the nearby bushes. A wild boar, as large as a water buffalo and covered in black bristles, charged out suddenly. Its crimson ice fixed intently on Yanjio, and two sharp tusks glinted coldly in the dim light. Iron bristle wild boar, elite, level, 18 Yanjio did not stop his steps. He didn’t even glance at the wild boar’s attributes. Just as the boar was about to collide with him, he drew the black knife from his waist. With a casual swing, a flash of inconspicuous sword light flickered. Minus 9 ,884. A huge damage number floated above the iron bristle wild boar’s head. The aggressive elite boar’s charge came to an abrupt halt. Its massive body transformed into specks of white light, dissipating into the air. Only a few wild boar tusks lay lonely on the fallen leaves. Yenjio sheathed his knife, stowed the items in his backpack and continued deeper into the forest. Killing monsters above his level would yield more experience. Yenjio looked around, finally, no one was in sight, and then he dispelled his illusion. His figure quickly, vanished into the shadows of the forest. Deeper in the primeval forest, the light grew dimmer. The massive tree canopies intertwined, slicing the sky into countless fragmented pieces. The smell of decay in the air intensified, mingled with. A dangerous, predatory scent. Yenjio’s steps did not falter, he needed to find higher level monsters. The experience here was no longer sufficient to meet his rapid leveling needs. Riding the spirit leopard for about 10 minutes, the forest. A head opened up. The ground was no longer soft with decaying leaves but hard rock and sparse moss. A heavy sense of oppression emanated from the center of the clearing. Yenjo stopped, hiding behind a large rock. A colossal creature was. There, feasting on a dead giant python, its size was even larger than the iron-maned wild boar encountered before, covered in thick, dark blue scales, with sturdy hind legs supporting its hill-like body. With every breath, two streams of white vapor erupted from its nostrils. Mountain Tyrannosaurus, Elite, Race, Beast Level, 21 Health, 19,000 Attack, 373 Defense, 308 Skills, Charge, Roar, Sharp Bite. The Mountain Tyrannosaurus seemed to sense something. It stopped. Eating, its massive head suddenly turning, a pair of murky yellow vertical pupils locking onto Yanjio’s hiding spot. It opened its gaping maw and let out a deafening roar. The sound waves carried a tangible force, causing the debris on the ground to jump. Yanjio stepped out from behind the boulder. He did not evade. The mountain tyrannosaurus stomped heavily on the ground, instantly cracking the hard rocky surface. Its enormous body transformed into an uncontrollable battering. Ram, charging straight at Yanjo. The wind was torn apart. Just as that foul-smelling, saliva-covered giant mouth was about to snap shut, Yanjo moved. He merely sidestepped and drew his sword. The black blade flashed in the dim forest, disappearing in an instant. Minus 9500. The momentum of the charge came to an abrupt halt. The mountain Tyrannosaurus’s body froze in place, its enormous vertical pupils filled with disbelief. Yen Jio gave it no chance to react. With a twist. Of his wrist, he struck again. Minus 9510. This elite monster, which appeared as a nightmare to ordinary players, collapsed with a thunderous crash, turning into countless specks of light. Ding! You have killed the mountain Tyrannosaurus, elite, dot. Yen Jio sheathed his sword. He picked up a few scales that the Tyrannosaurus had dropped and continued deeper into the forest. Just then, the ground began to tremble rhythmically. At first, it was slight, but soon the vibrations grew, like a drumbeat, becoming denser and more intense. From the distant forest came the terrified roars and howls of countless beasts. The sounds converged, forming a chaotic torrent. Yen Jiu frowned. He leaped, landing lightly on the crown of a towering ancient tree. His gaze swept over the layers of trees. He witnessed a scene that surprised even him. A beast tied. Endless wild beasts were fleeing in panic from the depths of the forest. There were groups of iron-maned wild. boars, gigantic mountain tyrannosauruses, and various peculiar creatures whose names he could not recall. They jostled against each other, trampling one another. The frantic escape seemed as if some apocalyptic disaster was chasing them from behind. Yen Jio watched the herd of beasts rushing below. Their health points were around tens of thousands, and without triggering his talents, he couldn’t achieve a one-hit kill. An idea surfaced in his mind. A perfect opportunity to gain massive experience points. He stood on the branch and began to channel his mana. obscure energy waves spread out from him radiating in all directions spell surge a vast amount of magical power surged within him far exceeding normal levels his hands glowed with a brilliant starlight he began to cast then he leaped down from the dozens of meters high tree crown plummeting toward the center of the rushing beast herd thanks to the passive effect of casting while moving he could chant without interruption while performing various actions the wind howled past his ears just as he was about to land in the herd to be torn apart by countless hooves and fangs he spread his arms wide Falling stars. Time seemed to freeze at that moment. A concentrated, dazzling starry sky unfolded behind him. Countless stars converged into a column of destructive light, crashing down. Astral Walk Yenzhou’s figure transformed into specks of stardust. In mid-air, vanishing from sight. In the next instant, he reappeared on the crown of the ancient tree. Almost simultaneously with his appearance, the column of destructive starlight smashed into the rushing tide of beasts. There was no sound. Only a blinding white light engulfed everything in an instant. Immediately after, a series of damage numbers, so dense they were indistinguishable, erupted from the white light like a volcanic explosion. Minus 219,871. Minus 143 ,670. Minus 198,843. The terrifying bonus from the martial god talent combined with the stacking of spells. The damage from this strike had already surpassed the 200,000 mark. as the white light dissipated the torrent of the beast tide was violently torn apart creating a massive circular gap with a radius of over a hundred meters inside the gap the ground was charred black devoid of any life only countless pieces of equipment and materials emitted various colors of light ding you have killed ding you have killed a series of system notifications flooded the screen yen joe’s experience bar surged upward at a visible speed he looked down at his handiwork the power was immense However, this spell, which required close-range casting and prior skill preparation, had too many limitations and could only be used. After a long cooldown, its practicality was not very high. The torrent of beasts bypassed the area of death and continued to surge outward. Deep in the forest, the terrifying aura that sent all beasts fleeing seemed to be drawing closer. Yenjio did not go to collect the spoils on the ground. He gazed into the depths of the forest. At the area shrouded in even denser darkness. What could possibly frighten these elite monsters of level 20 and above so much? He leaped down from the tree. His figure once again blending into the shadows. This time, he moved against the direction of the beast tide, heading toward the source of danger. Moving against the beast tide, Yanjou’s figure traversed through the shadows. The ground beneath him trembled more violently. It was no longer just the sound of drums. It felt more like two moving mountains colliding with each other, each impact causing the entire forest to moan. The deafening roars tore through the air between the trees, carrying a primal and brutal pressure. The beast heard ahead became denser, with almost no space left to stand on the ground. Yen Jio leaped into the air. His body landed lightly. On a thick branch that jutted out, and with a gentle tap of his toes, he swiftly maneuvered through the interwoven treetops like a weightless ghost. The fleeing beasts surged beneath him. His skill cooldown had reset. This was a perfect opportunity. Yen Jio paused at the highest point of an ancient tree, overlooking the chaotic torrent below. As he lightly returned to the branch, the ground around him was once again cleared. Yenjio did not linger and continued toward the source of the tremors. Passing through a ravaged woodland, the scene ahead opened up dramatically. It was a vast basin that had been violently cleared. In the center of the basin, two colossal creatures were engaged in a cataclysmic battle. One was a giant magic ape over 50 meters tall, covered in a rock-like gray carapace, each punch accompanied by a whistle that tore through the air. The other was a Tyrannosaurus of equal size, its dark red scales glinting with a metallic sheen in the dim light, sparks, even flying from its gaping maw. Earthshaking Magic Ape, Sweet, Bronze Level Boss, Level, 22 Lava Tyrannosaurus, Haben, Bronze Level Boss, Level, 23 Too Bright. Red names hovered above their heads. Roar, the Earthshaking Magic Ape slammed its fist into the ground, causing the entire basin to shake violently, a visible shockwave spreading out and grinding the boulders on the ground into powder. The Lava Tyrannosaurus bit down on a nearby ancient tree that required several people to embrace, forcibly uprooting it and using it as a weapon to sweep toward the magic ape’s head. The collision between the tree and the rocky fist produced a thunderous sound. This was the source of the beast tide. Two lord-level monsters were fighting for territory. Yen Jio hid behind a broken rock, assessing the battle situation. Before him, he was preparing to find a high vantage point to get a clearer view.A crisp female voice suddenly pierced through the roar of the battlefield. Outsider. Come over here. Yen Jio paused his movements. He turned to look in the direction the voice had come from. At the edge of the basin, in a massive tree hollow that seemed. To connect heaven and earth stood a figure. It was an elf. Her brilliant golden hair flowed like liquid gold in the dim light. Her figure was slender yet possessed. Astonishing curves, clad in tight-fitting emerald green leather armor that accentuated her mature charm. Against the backdrop of two colossal beasts wreaking havoc, her presence felt out of place yet remarkably harmonious. Yenjio watched the two titanic creatures battling fiercely. Then he glanced at the elf standing quietly. In the tree hollow, he hesitated for only a moment. In the next instant he had appeared beneath the towering ancient tree, and with a few leaps, he entered the vast. Tree Hollow. Inside the hollow was a different world, the space was much larger than it appeared from the outside, even furnished with some simple wooden furniture. The air was filled with a faint scent of plants, starkly contrasting the violent and bloody atmosphere outside. Hello, outsider. The golden -haired elf nodded at. Him, her face still adorned with a calm smile. My name is Lina. A hunter. She looked Yen Jo up and down, seemingly curious about his presence but not probing. Further. Did they attract you here too? Lina extended her slender finger pointing to the two beasts outside that were locked in a frenzied battle. Pretty much. His. Goal was to level up and these two monsters were undoubtedly the highest source of experience in this forest. Lina’s smile deepened a bit. They are ancient relics. Of this area, having fought here for a long time. Every awakening triggers a beast tide. So, what do you say? She suddenly extended an invitation to Yen Jio. Are you interested in joining me to turn them into our spoils? The two of us? Yengio countered. The confidence on Lina’s face seemed ready to overflow. No. It’s up to me. You just need to help me a little at the critical moment. Ding. Do you accept the quest, Lina’s commission quest reward, hunter guild reputation? Plus 50, gold asterisk 5 Yengio glanced at the quest that popped up on the system panel. The rewards were quite average. 50 reputation points for the hunter guild and 5. Gold coins. It was less than if he went up himself and took down the two massive creatures fighting each other. He raised his head, looking disdainfully at the overly, alluring elf in front of him. I won’t. I can kill them myself, why should I help you? Unbeknownst to him, his demeanor seemed to have softened considerably. If, it had been before, he would likely have turned and rushed out without bothering to say a word to this elf. Perhaps it was because of Soojinjin, or maybe something. Else, the air in the tree hollow suddenly froze. The calm smile on Lina’s face stiffened for a moment. She clearly hadn’t expected such a straightforward response. What did you say? Her tone involuntarily rose a few notches. Do you look down on me? The golden-haired elf’s chest heaved with anger. I am a legendary silver-ranked hunter. There is no prey I cannot kill. Yenjiu remains silent. He simply scanned her up and down with a disdainful look. That silent judgment was more lethal than any harsh words. Lina was thoroughly enraged by his attitude. This outsider who had appeared from nowhere dared to belittle her like this. How about this? The elf stepped forward, the tight leather armor making a slight rustling sound. Let’s make a bet. Let’s wager on who can kill a prey first. She suddenly pulled out. A beautifully designed longbow from behind her and slammed it heavily on the ground. The bow was made of some unknown silver wood, intricately carved with flowing elven. Patterns. My bet is this longbow. As her words fell, Yanjou’s system panel refreshed once more. Ding. Your task has changed, Lina’s wager task description. Be the first to kill either the earth-shaking demon ape or the lava tyrant in their battle, proving your strength. Task reward, Hunter’s Guild reputation plus 200, elven. Pattern longbow, bronze, task failure penalty, gold minus 20, randomly lose one piece of equipment. Yen Jio looked at the new task rewards. 200 points of reputation and a bronze level weapon. The penalty for failure, no, he couldn’t possibly fail. He nodded with interest at the pouting elf. Alright, a single word, crisp and decisive. Lina snorted coldly, stowing her longbow. She no longer looked at Yen Jio, turning to walk towards the other exit of the tree hollow. Yen Jio did not. Linger either, choosing the opposite direction. The two left in silence, simultaneously departing from this brief haven and re-entering the basin shrouded in the pressure. Of the giant beasts. In the basin, the wind howled. Each collision of the two giants stirred up waves of mixed stones and dirt. Yen Jio and Lina ran towards two. Different directions of the basin, their figures quickly swallowed by the jagged boulders and broken tree trunks. Lina moved with an astonishing lightness, with a few. Jumps on the steep rock face, she found an excellent vantage point. She did not rush to draw her bow. Instead, she took out a palm-sized incense burner, intricately, carved, from the leather pouch at her waist. She used a flint to ignite a special incense within the burner. A wisp of pale purple smoke rose, not dispersing upwards, but rather, as if alive, it crept along the ground towards the direction of the earth-shaking demon ape. Yan Zhou paid no mind to what the elf was doing. His attention was fully focused on the center of the battlefield. If he was going to fight, he would fight the strongest one. The detailed data of the lava tyrant appeared before his panel. lava tyrant, haban, bronze level boss, level, 23 race, beast health, 33170 slash 40000 attack, 710 defense, 550 skills, sharp bite, awakening fury, tail whip, ancient bloodline, passive, it was 1 level higher than the 8, with superior attack and defense. good. yengio quickly reviewed his skill bar in his. mind. it was best to separate the 2 giants and take them down 1 by 1. mana touch, communicate with the surrounding magic, increasing your casting range by plus 40. Yards, mana consumption minus 80%, lasting 30 seconds, mana cost, 100, cooldown, 3 minutes. This was a hidden skill he had unlocked earlier. With this he could stand. At an absolutely safe distance and draw the attention of the tyrant. The plan was set. Time to act. Yenjo’s figure flashed behind a rock. Wind step he did not. Choose the same high point as Lina but instead dash towards a cliff on the outer edge of the basin. The ground trembled violently beneath him, yet he moved as if on. Solid ground. In just a few breaths, he stood at the edge of a cliff several hundred meters away. From this vantage point, the two battling giants were reduced to mere blurred outlines. This distance was absolutely safe. He extended his hand. Mana touch countless pale blue light points appeared out of thin air, like fireflies, converging into his palm. A strange sense of connection established itself between him and this space. Yen Jio raised his other hand, aiming at the massive dark red. Figure in the distance. Mana missile this skill had no cooldown time. The only drawback was its extremely high mana consumption, but under the 80% reduction effect of mana touch, this drawback was no longer relevant. It was almost equivalent to unlimited firepower.5 missiles composed of pure arcane energy formed at his fingertips. Whoosh, the missiles, trailing long blue streaks, sliced through the air and accurately struck the thick scales of the lava tyrant. Minus 69, level suppression. Minus 69 minus 69 minus 69 minus 69 a series of insignificant damage numbers floated up from the tyrant’s head. For its total health of 35,000, this amount of damage was hardly even a scratch. The lava tyrant didn’t even acknowledge it. It was busy biting down on the earth-shaking ape’s arm, its massive head threshing wildly, trying to tear off a chunk of flesh. Yen Jiu’s expression was impassive. He raised his hand and cast again. Another five missiles shot out with a howl. Minus 69 minus 69. The continuous missiles formed a blue light band that spanned the entire basin. One hit. Two hits. Ten hits. The lava tyrant finally sensed something was off. Although this barrage was painless, it buzzed like countless flies around its ears, driving it to irritation. Roar. It released the ape’s arm and suddenly turned its head, its burning, furious vertical pupils searching for that damned provocateur in the distance. But it was too far away. It saw nothing. And in that moment of distraction, the earth-shaking ape seized the opportunity, its rock-like giant fist smashing hard against the tyrant’s cheek. Boom. The lava tyrant staggered, nearly falling. This blow. completely enraged it. It abandoned the search for Yen Jiu and once again engaged in a frenzied battle with the ape. Meanwhile, a wisp of purple incense from Lina finally drifted to the feet of the earth-shaking ape. The agitated ape froze suddenly upon catching the scent. Its eyes turned blood-red in an instant. A more violent aura erupted from it than before. It abandoned its rival in front of it, turned sharply and let out a thunderous roar towards the cliff where Lina was. Immediately. After, it charged towards the cliff like a runaway truck. A smug smile appeared on Lina’s face. She stowed away the incense burner, her figure nimbly dodging against the cliff, easily avoiding the ape’s charge. Boom! The earth-shaking ape crashed into the hard rock wall, creating a massive dent. Debris fell like raindrops. Its attention was completely drawn to the agile elf. Lina’s plan had succeeded. The aggro of the two bosses had been successfully separated. Yen Jio watched the ape being lured. Away, then glanced at the lava tyrant, which was now somewhat bewildered by its rival’s sudden departure. Without a moment’s pause, he fired off his arcane missiles. at an even faster rate. Minus 69 minus 69 minus 69. Roar. The lava tyrant could no longer endure. It abandoned thought, its massive body suddenly turning and charging towards. Yanjio’s direction. The ground groaned beneath its steps. That hill-like body, engulfed in endless fury, trampled towards the tiny figure at the edge of the cliff. Yanjio stood at the cliff’s edge, his black clove billowing in the fierce wind. He did not retreat. Just as that massive maw, lined with lava patterns, was about. To swallow him whole, he moved. Astral Walk Yenzhou’s figure transformed into specks of stardust, vanishing in an instant. The lava tyrant’s enormous head, propelled. By destructive inertia, crashed violently against the cliff’s rock face. Boom, the entire cliff shook violently, countless stones crumbling and falling into the abyss below. In the next moment, Yenzhou’s figure appeared on the broad back of the lava tyrant. The scales beneath his feet radiated intense heat, as if he were stepping on a red -hot iron. Without a moment’s hesitation, he drew the black knife from his waist. Aiming for the gap in the scales beneath him, he thrust down. Minus 3,170. Level suppression, a red damage number floated up from the lava tyrant’s head. Yanjou’s movements paused for a moment. Too low. The defense of this bronze level boss. Far exceeded his expectations. Roar. The sharp pain in its back ignited the fury of the lava tyrannosaurus. Its massive body twisted wildly, trying to shake off. The little bug on its back. Yanjou exerted force with his legs, his body fixed firmly on the tyrannosaurus’s back like a nail. Seeing it couldn’t throw him off, the lava tyrannosaurus became even more frenzied. It suddenly turned and charged violently towards the nearest mountain wall. The wind howled. Yengio watched as the rapidly enlarging rock wall approached, leaping sideways. Windstep his figure left a shadow in mid-air, narrowly avoiding the deadly impact. Boom, the mountain wall was struck, creating a massive dent, with debris flying everywhere. Yengio landed lightly on a protruding rock, while the lava tyrannosaurus’s hatred was now completely locked onto him. It swung its thick tail like a steel whip, sweeping towards him. Yen Jio leaped again, dodging the sweep. He began to move quickly among the jagged rocks, evading the lava Tyrannosaurus’s frenzied attacks time and again. Charge. Bite. Tail swipe. He was like the most experienced matador, always managing to evade deadly attacks with minimal movement at the most dangerous moments. He was becoming familiar. Familiar with every movement of this giant beast, every gap between its attacks. Although the Lava Tyrannosaurus’s attacks were frenzied, its techniques were quite simple. After several exchanges, Yanjio had roughly figured out its attack. Pattern. The opportunity came. In the moment the Lava Tyrannosaurus missed a bite, Yanjio’s figure, like a ghost, closed in on its thick hind leg. He extended his left hand, gently brushing his palm across the black blade. A layer of crimson flame ignited instantly on the blade. Flame Blade Yanjio seized the opportunity. The long knife in his hand, now engulfed in scorching flames, struck fiercely at the ankle joint of the Lava Tyrannosaurus. Minus 3,170. Minus 10 ,411. Flame Blade, 2 damage. Numbers floated up from the boss’s head in succession. Roar. The intense pain in its ankle made the Lava Tyrannosaurus emit a pained roar. Its massive body stumbled. Nearly collapsing to the ground. Yen Jio pressed forward again. The flame blade in his hand transformed into a deadly flash of fire, leaving wounds at the lower. Body and joints of the Lava Tyrannosaurus. Minus 3 ,170. Minus 10,411. The terrifying damage caused the Lava Tyrannosaurus’s health to plummet rapidly. It fell into a complete. Frenzy. It abandoned its clumsy physical attacks and suddenly opened its massive jaws wide. A glaring dark red light shone from deep within its throat. A destructive. Energy was rapidly gathering. Awakening fury Yenjo’s heart skipped a beat. Without hesitation he turned and sprinted in another direction. Wind step in the. Next second, a torrent of dragon breath mixed with magma and flames erupted from the lava tyrannosaurus’s mouth. The scorching flow instantly engulfed the spot where Yen Jio had been standing. The rocks melted rapidly under the high temperature, turning into boiling magma. The entire area transformed into a fiery hell. Yen Jio stood at a safe distance, watching the scene of destruction. After the dragon breath, the lava tyrannosaurus’s body seemed to fall into a brief stiffness. Now’s the time. Yen Jio did not pause for a moment and charged again. He circled around the still burning area, like an arrow released from a bow, darting towards the boss’s. Side. He leaped high. The flame blade in his hand traced a perfect arc in the air. This time, his target was the lava tyrannosaurus’s neck. That was the weakest point. In its defense. The flaming long knife plunged deep into the lava tyrannosaurus’s neck. Minus 5845. Weakness critical hit. Minus 10411. Flame blade, a massive critical. Hit damage floated up from the boss’s head. Roar. The Lava Tyrannosaurus let out a reluctant wail. Its massive body trembled violently for a moment, then crashed to the ground. The massive body transformed into countless specks of light, slowly dissipating. Only a pile of equipment and materials radiating various colors remained. On the ground. Ding. You have killed the Lava Tyrant, Haben. Hunter’s Guild Reputation plus 400. Ding. You have killed the Lava Tyrant, Haben. Hunter’s Guild Reputation plus 400. Your reputation with the Hunter’s Guild has reached respect. Yanjio shoot his sword and bent down to pick up the scattered loot on the ground. In the distance, the roar of the earth-shaking ape and the tremors of the earth continued unabated. That sound seemed to be blocked by the mountain wall on the other side of the basin becoming somewhat distant. Lina had lured that boss far away. A level 22 bronze boss. That experience points could not be missed. Yanjio stood. Still, his hands pressed together. Obscure and complex incantations flowed softly from his lips. The air around him began to twist violently. darkness fire wind earth four distinctly different elemental energies as if drawn by an invisible force converged from the void intertwining swirling and merging before him a magic circle composed of pure energy slowly unfolded beneath his feet in the center of the magic circle light surged a live creature stepped gracefully out of the radiance four-eyed spirit leopard as soon as the spirit leopard appeared it affectionately rubbed its head against yenjo’s arm emitting a satisfied purr from its throat that proud aura vanished before yenjo He mounted the back of the spirit leopard. Go! The four-eyed spirit leopard let out a low growl, its four. Hooves pushing off the ground, transforming into a streak of black lightning, racing towards the direction of the tremors. The scenery around them rapidly receded. On the other side of the mountain wall, Lena’s figure nimbly leaped between broken tree trunks and protruding rocks. Each of her movements was precisely calculated for distance. She always managed to just avoid the powerful attacks of the giant ape behind her. Roar, the earth-shaking ape smashed down a fist, shattering a rock half the height of a person. Lena had already appeared on. Another branch several meters away. She steadied herself without a moment’s pause, turned, and drew her bow. The silver longbow was pulled into a full moon. An arrow imbued with a faint green blow. Shot through the air. Whoosh. The arrow accurately struck the earth-shaking ape’s eye. Minus 2017. A moderately sized damage number floated above the boss’s head. Roar. The intense pain made the. Ape even more frenzied, it abandoned its attack on the ground and grabbed a giant tree it had just broken, sweeping it towards Lena. Lena once again leaped away gracefully, firing another arrow. In a swift motion. Minus 2117. A hint of the unique focus and confidence of a hunter appeared on her face. Although this earth-shaking ape was powerful, its movements were clumsy. As long as she had enough patience in space, she was confident she could wear it down bit by bit. This was true hunting. Utilizing the environment, employing skills, exploiting the prey’s weaknesses. This was the charm that the outsider could not comprehend. Thinking of that outsider, a slight smirk appeared at the corner of Lena’s mouth. She wondered how he was faring. He was probably being chased all over the place by that lava tyrant. Just as her thoughts drifted, a black shadow suddenly burst forth from the nearby mountain wall without warning. The speed was beyond her comprehension. Lena’s pupils constricted sharply. She saw clearly. It was the outsider she had just looked down upon in her mind. He was riding a spirit leopard she had never seen before, one with four eyes. The aura emanating from the spirit leopard was strikingly similar to hers, as if it were a creation of elemental spirits. What are you doing here? Lina instinctively shouted. Yanjio ignored her. He watched the earth-shaking ape, which had momentarily paused its movements due to his appearance. Too slow. This spirit’s fighting style was too slow. By the time she wore down this boss, it would be nearly dark. The speed of the four-eyed spirit leopard showed no signs of slowing, like a streak of black lightning flying close to the ground, charging at the giant ape’s lower body. Yanjio leaned down with his left hand, he brushed against the black dagger at his waist. Crimson flames instantly enveloped the entire blade. The arc of the flame, flame blade, flashed past. The thick ankle of the earth-shaking demon ape. Minus 3055. Level suppression, minus 11411. Flame blade, two shocking damage numbers floated up from above the earth-shaking demon ape’s head. Lina’s bow drawing. Motion froze in place. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. What kind of damage was that? Over 10,001 strike? How could that be possible? The earth-shaking demon ape let. Out a painful roar, its massive body staggering from the intense pain in its ankle. It abandoned its attack on Lena and turned to swing its giant fist down at the tiny figure on the ground. Hatred. Shifted in an instant. However, the speed of the four-eyed spirit leopard far exceeded its imagination. Before the giant fist could land, the black lightning had already circled to its other. Side. Another flash of flame from the blade. Minus 3055. Minus 12611. The same damage numbers appeared again. Roar, the earth-shaking demon ape went completely mad. It dropped the giant tree in its hands. And began to pound the ground with its fists like a rainstorm. Boom. Boom. Boom. The entire valley shook violently. Debris and dust filled the battlefield. Lena stood on a branch, staring blankly. At the chaotic area below. In her line of sight, that black lightning continuously circled around the frenzied demon ape. Each time they crossed paths, a deadly flame was ignited. Each attack landed. precisely on the joints and vital points of the demon ape. Yet, the demon ape’s earth-shattering attacks couldn’t even grace the hem of its clothing. This was not a battle. It was a one-sided. Massacre. An elegant yet brutal execution. Lena felt her understanding shaken like never before. Her proud hunting skills seemed so ridiculous in the face of such absolute power. It was like. A child playing house. The health of the earth-shaking demon ape was plummeting at a visibly rapid pace. 60%. 20%. The demon ape’s movements began to slow. Each of its attacks appeared. Weak and feeble. Yen Jio seized an opportunity. The four-eyed spirit leopard suddenly accelerated, darting past the side of the demon ape. Yen Jio leaned to the side, the flame blade in his hand. Slicing upward in a fierce arc whoosh. The flaming long knife plunged deep into the head of the earth-shaking demon ape. Minus 9750. Weakness critical hit, minus 10411. Flame blade, a massive red critical. Hit number floated up. Roar. The earth-shaking demon ape let out a reluctant wail. Its enormous body crashed to the ground. Then, it transformed into countless specks of light, slowly. Dissipating. Ding. Congratulations, your level has increased to LV19. Ding. Talent war god effect enhanced, melee damage amplification increased to 280 times dot. Ding. Congratulations, strength. Plus one, agility plus one, intelligence plus one, spirit plus one, constitution plus one ding. Congratulations, you have gained 5 free attribute points, current free attribute points 185. A warm current spread throughout. His body, sweeping away the fatigue brought by the level up. The warm blow of the upgrade enveloped Yanjio’s body. He jumped down from the spirit leopard’s back, looking at the pile of loot. On the ground, richer than that of a lava tyrant. Then, he turned around to face the elf still frozen on the branch. Lina’s body trembled slightly. She looked at Yanjio, then at the four-eyed spirit leopard beside him, which radiated a terrifying aura. Finally, her gaze fell on the black dagger that Yen Jio had sheet. You. She opened her mouth but couldn’t utter a word. Yen. Jio took two steps toward her. The bet, he said calmly. My bow. Lina’s face shifted between shades of green and white. She suddenly pulled the silver longbow from her back and, without a second, fought through it at Yen Jio. Here. Her action carried a hint of anger and embarrassment. You monster. Yen Jio reached out and caught the longbow steadily. Ding. You have completed the task. Lina’s bet. Task reward has been issued. Hunter guild reputation plus 200, elven pattern longbow, bronze. He casually tossed the longbow into his backpack. Then he turned around and began to gather. The spoils scattered on the ground. He meticulously collected the equipment and materials dropped by the earth-shaking demon ape into his backpack. The warm blow of leveling up slowly faded. From him, Yanjio lifted his head and looked at the broken ancient tree. Lina was still perched on a branch, motionless. The tight-fitting emerald green leather armor of the elf accentuated her. dramatic curves she did not look at him but stared intently at the charred patch of ground left behind by the dissipated demon a as if trying to see through the void yenjio thought for a moment and walked over to her he stopped under the tree that bow his words broke the silence in the valley if you want it i’ll give it back to you lena on the branch trembled slightly she stiffly lowered her head to look at the man below the tree a complex mix of shock and embarrassment lingered on her beautiful face really yenjio nodded to him the value of this Ba was far less than having a guide familiar with this forest. Lina gracefully leaped down from the branch, landing silently. She approached Yanjio but kept a few steps of distance, her hands, covering her pert chest, her face filled with caution. What are your intentions? You don’t seem like the kind of person who would return loot for no reason, Yanjio stated his purpose directly. Take me to find other bosses nearby. Lina was taken aback. Was that the only condition? She looked at Yanjio, this foreigner, who seemed to have a pure, almost obsessive desire for slaughter. It’s self. What he wanted was not equipment, not her body, but simply to hunt stronger monsters. This thought felt familiar to Lina, it was the nature of a hunter. Moreover, this deal posed no harm to her. Sure. Her response came almost without hesitation. Of course. A smile returned to her face. I know the locations of several lords. They each occupy a large territory and usually do not infringe upon each other. Yenjio took the silver longbow from his backpack and tossed it over. Lina fumbled to catch it. The familiar texture of the bow reassured her. She looked. At Yenjiyo, her feelings complex. This man, though domineering, did not seem bad. Yenjiyo said nothing more, turning to the four-eyed spirit leopard and mounting it. He turned sideways and waved. To the still-dazed elf. Get on. Lina looked at the spirit leopard, which radiated an ancient elemental aura. As an elf, she could clearly sense the immense energy contained within this. Creature. The lightness of wind, the heaviness of earth, the heat of fire, the mystery of darkness. The four forces perfectly merged together. The four -eyed spirit leopard glanced at her with pride, letting out a low rumble from its throat, yet showed no signs of resistance. Perhaps it was due to their shared elven heritage. Lina hesitated for a moment but stepped forward, climbing onto the spirit leopard’s back, sitting behind Yen Jio. The leopard’s fur exuded a peculiar warmth. Go that way. Lina quickly adjusted her mindset, regaining the professionalism of a silver-ranked hunter, extending her slender finger to point in another direction in the valley. Through this rocky forest, there’s a swamp where a highly poisonous giant lizard lurks. Yen Jio did not. Respond. He gently patted the leopard’s neck. In the next moment, black lightning tore through the tranquility of the valley. Ah, Lina let out a short gasp, instinctively grabbing the hem of Yen. Jio’s clothes. The surrounding scenery blurred into chaotic patches of color, wildly retreating behind them. The fierce wind rushed into her mouth and nose, making it almost impossible for her. To breathe at this speed was faster than any mount she had ever seen. In just a moment, the four-eyed spirit leopard’s speed suddenly slowed. A patch of dark green swamp, exuding a foul stench, appeared before them. In the center of the swamp, a giant lizard over 20 meters long, covered in thick moss, lay lazily in the mud, flicking its forked tongue. Venomous swamp lizard, Halley. Bronze level boss, race, beast level, 20 health, 25,000 attack, 570 defense, 550 skills, venomous roll, rage of the swamp, tail whip that’s it. As Lina’s words fell, Yen Jio had already jumped off the leopard’s back. There was no level suppression. His figure left a straight afterimage on the muddy ground. Put. One strike. Minus 10 ,379 A terrifying damage number floated above the. Boss’s head. Roar. The intense pain instantly enraged the swamp lizard, which violently swung its thick tail, sweeping towards him with a foul wind. Wind step as Yinjio rolled to dodge. He. Swung out a second strike with the blade of black light, precisely severing the lizard’s neck. Thud. The massive head rolled into the mud, splattering filthy sludge everywhere. The boss is enormous. Body transformed into countless specks of light. Ding. You have killed venomous swamp lizard Hallie, gaining hunter guild reputation plus 200 Lina sat on the spirit leopard’s back, staring blankly. At everything. From their arrival to the boss’s death, the entire process took no more than 10 seconds. Three strikes. A bronze level lord was gone just like that. Her proud hunting skills felt. As fragile as a piece of paper in the face of such absolute violence. Yen Jio had already bent down to pick up the loot and returned to the spirit leopard’s back. Next. He spoke calmly. lena’s body turned mechanically her finger pointed in another direction to the east there’s an abandoned mine inside lives a rock giant worm the black lightning activated once more the abandoned mine boom a rock beetle was sliced through its core turning into a shower of debris you gained hunter guild reputation plus 200 the deep canyon hiss a giant venomous snake with wings fell from the sky pinned to the ground you gained hunter guild reputation plus 300 the ancient altar A forest tiger corrupted by evil forces howled as it dissipated in flames. You gained hunter guild reputation plus 300 Lena was completely numb. She felt like an emotionless navigation tool, mechanically guiding the man in front of her to the next prey. Each time was a crushing defeat. Each time was a massacre. She even began to feel a bit sorry for those bronze level bosses that once ruled their territories. They didn’t even have the chance to showcase their power, turning into experience and loot under that black blade light. She finally understood completely. Losing that bet was not unjust at all. She and this man were not even in the same dimension. She, looked at Yen Jio’s broad back. His black attire now felt more oppressive than any legendary armor in her eyes. After a flurry of activity, Yen Jio opened his attribute panel. Hunter guild reputation, 2600-3000, respect, only. 400 points left to reach worship. His level was also stuck at 19, with just a thin layer of experience remaining to reach level 20. He closed the panel, turned to look at the elf behind him. Next. Lena’s body stiffened. For a moment. She looked around, the forest, which they had turned upside down, was eerily quiet now. The once overwhelming presence of the lords had completely vanished. It’s gone. Her response carried a hint of confusion. That she herself hadn’t even noticed. All the notable overlords around here, are gone. The wind in the valley blew, stirring up the dust on the ground. Yen Jio remained silent. He simply sat quietly on the back of the. Spirit leopard. His silence more pressuring than any urging. Lena felt a tingling sensation on her scalp. This man was like an unceasing killing machine. Her gaze unconsciously shifted from Yenjiu to the four-eyed spirit. Leopard beneath him. She reached out, her fingertips cautiously brushing against the leopard’s shimmering fur. The four-eyed spirit leopard tossed its head proudly but did not shy away. It’s very special, Lina said, her tone, filled with the elven kinship and awe towards elemental creations. I can feel the four elements within it resonating perfectly. But it’s not enough. Yenjiu raised an eyebrow. Not enough? Mmm, not enough. Lina nodded. Affirmatively. This pure elemental creation is like a blank sheet of paper. Its growth potential is limitless. If we can find the right nourishment, it could become ten times stronger, even a hundred times. Yen Jiu paused. For a moment. Ten times stronger? He looked at the four-eyed spirit leopard beneath him. Its current speed was already absurd. What would it mean if it were ten times faster? What kind of nourishment? A mix of excitement. And longing appeared on Lina’s face. The heart of the earth. That’s the energy from deep within the earth, condensed into an essence after thousands of years of sedimentation. For any elemental creature, that’s the top tier. Supplement. She seemed to think of something and changed her tone. I know there’s one nearby. Yen Jio leaned slightly forward. But? Lina’s expression grew serious again. That place is shrouded in a toxic miasma. It’s not ordinary poison, but a deathly miasma mixed with decay and curses. My constitution can’t get close, the purifying power of the elves would be instantly eroded in that area. She looked up at Yen Jio. Even those tough -skinned beasts wouldn’t dare to step into that area. So the heart of the earth has been able to remain safe there all this time. After she finished speaking, she fell silent, leaving the choice to this man who defied. Common sense. Yenjiyo did not answer immediately. Deathly miasma? It seemed he had encountered poisonous miasma before, perhaps it was worth checking out, maybe there was a way. Lead the way. The two words were crisp and decisive. A flicker of relief crossed Lina’s eyes, as if to say, I knew it. She adjusted her sitting position and pointed in the direction, head west, over that ridge. The four-eyed spirit leopard let out a low growl and, transformed into a black flash, racing towards the new target. This time, Lina did not cry out in surprise. She simply held onto Yen Jo tightly, trying to adapt to this inhuman speed. As they delved deeper, the surrounding scenery began to change visibly. The vibrant green gradually faded away. In its place was a sickly gray pallor. The tree trunks twisted, and the leaves were speckled with dark gray spots. A faint stench of decay began to permeate. The air. The speed of the four-eyed spirit leopard also gradually slowed. It let out an uneasy low growl, seemingly filled with instinctive resistance to the area ahead. Finally, they stopped in front of a cliff. Below was a vast basin. The entire basin was shrouded in a thick, unyielding purple-black mist. The mist rolled as if it were alive. In the basin, no living creatures could be seen, only countless dead trees reaching skyward like ghostly claws. The ground displayed an ominous dark purple hue. This is it. Lina jumped down from the spirit leopard’s back, her face somewhat pale. The decaying basin. According to the hunter’s log, the heart of the earth is right. In the center of the basin. She just stood at the edge, feeling a bit of difficulty in breathing, the energy within her body becoming sluggish. Yenjiyo also jumped down. He patted the neck of the four-eyed spirit leopard, signaling it to step back. The leopard obediently retreated a dozen meters, its four eyes vigilantly watching the basin below. Yenjiyo walked to the edge of the cliff, looking down at the deadly miasma. You have entered the Rotting Basin Area, you are affected by Death Miasma. Death Miasma, lose 100 maximum health points per second and health point cap reduced by 100, all healing effects reduced by 99%, all attributes reduced by 20%, recover. After leaving the area. The negative status prompt on the panel kept refreshing. Yenjo’s health bar began to drop at a slow but steady pace. Lina looked at him, her face filled with worry. Are you really going down there? Even the strongest warrior can’t last long under this level of continuous damage. Yanjio ignored her. His body was enduring a loss of 100 health points per second. The speed of the health bar’s decline was not fast, but it was stable enough to be unsettling. It was a death sentence akin to boiling a frog in warm water. Yanjio’s movements showed no hesitation. He chose not to jump directly off the cliff but instead walked slowly along the edge of the basin, as if taking a stroll in his backyard, carefully examining every inch of the withered land beneath his feet. Those twisted tree roots. Those shattered, purplish-black rocks. Lina watched his strange actions. First confused, then a thought made her freeze. She quickly followed him, keeping a safe distance that wouldn’t be affected by the miasma. You’re not looking for detoxifying herbs, are you? Yen Jiu paused for a moment, nodded. From previous experience, toxic areas often had plants that countered their poison. Give it up. There’s nothing here. Lina pointed to the rolling purplish black fog below. This isn’t ordinary poison. This is the poison of death. It’s a curse that corrupts all life. In a place like this, no plants can possibly grow, let alone any antidotes. Anything alive that gets close will be drained of everything, becoming part of this basin. Yen Jio stopped. As far as his eyes could see, it was indeed an absolute silence, devoid of any green, devoid of any signs of life. Only decay and withering remained. Yen Jio gave up the search and walked back to the highest point of the cliff. He stood at the edge, the wild wind blowing his black cloak. Below, the purplish black mist seemed like a giant beast ready to devour, opening its silent maw. The mist at the center was the thickest, a vague, outline barely visible. Arcane Missile 5 blue arcane energy spheres formed at his fingertips. Whoosh, the missiles, trailing long tails, shot into the thick fog. They flew far, ultimately dissipating in mid-air due to energy depletion. They didn’t even reach halfway to the basin. Too far. Yen Jio silently calculated. From here to the center of the basin, the straight-line distance was at least over a thousand meters. The teleportation distance of astral walk was fixed. He would need to use it several times in succession, connecting with windstep s dash in between. 100 points per second assuming everything went smoothly how long would it take to reach the center of the basin he began to rapidly simulate in his mind even if he connected the skills at the fastest speed reaching the center of the basin would take at least over 10 seconds 10 seconds under the stacking damage of 100 per second would already overflow the damage completely and that was just one way after obtaining the heart of the earth vein he would still need to come back plus with the 20 reduction in all attributes from the death miasma his movements would become sluggish and the skill connections wouldn’t be as perfect as imagined the actual time taken would only be longer this was still the most ideal scenario what if there was something guarding the heart of the earth vein nearby what if it takes time to obtain the heart of the earth vein the most deadly aspect is the 99 reduction in healing effects this means that any potions and recovery skills become utterly ineffective it is a path of no return Lina watched his motionless figure for a long time and guessed the struggle within him. Let’s go back, there will always be another way, she said, her tone carrying. A hint of consolation for the first time. Yen Jio did not respond. He simply turned and walked away from the cliff. Lina sighed in relief, thinking he had finally given up on this crazy idea. That’s right. We can return. To the hunter’s guild first, check the information, there must be a way. However, Yen Jio did not head towards the safe area where she and the four-eyed spirit leopard were. He stopped in front of a massive rock formation. nearly a hundred meters high, that jutted out not far away. Then, he began to climb. He utilized every tiny protrusion on the rock face, along with windstep and astral walk quickly reaching the top of the giant rock. It was a relatively flat platform. He stood at the edge of the platform, overlooking the purple-black sea of death below. Then, he took a few steps back, adopting a running stance. Yenjio’s figure transformed into a blur on the platform. He leaped towards the basin. His body traced a parabolic arc in the air, crossing the edge of the cliff, plummeting into the deadly miasma. Windstep a surge of azure air exploded beneath his feet. It did not push him forward but instead created an upward thrust. Yenjo’s descent abruptly slowed, and his body, impossibly, changed direction in mid-air, beginning to glide forward. He resembled a plane freed from the pull of gravity, diving towards the center of the basin. Linus stood on the distant cliff, staring blankly at the scene. The poisonous miasma was confined to the basin. As long as he flew high enough, he would not be affected. This man had unraveled. This dead end in a way she had never imagined. On Yenzhou’s panel, the negative status of death miasma had not appeared, it seemed he had succeeded. The high altitude wind whipped his clothes wildly. He adjusted his body angle, controlling the direction of his glide. The center of the basin was getting closer. A silhouette, surrounded by thick fog and resembling an altar, was becoming clearer. The gliding momentum was weakening. His body began to accelerate downward again. The purple-black miasma surged up like a waking beast, pouncing from below. The prompt for death miasma appeared on his panel once more. Minus 100. His health bar began to drop. Just as he was about to crash into the ground at an extremely high speed, he moved. Astral Walk Yenjo’s figure transformed into specks of stardust in mid-air, vanishing instantly. In the next moment he silently appeared atop the decaying altar in the center of the basin. A perfect landing. Astral Walk successfully negated the fall damage. At the center of the altar, a heart-shaped crystal, the size of a fist and radiating a rich yellowish glow, was slowly pulsating. Heart of the earth vein around the crystal, several skeletons clad in tattered armor began to crawl up from the purple-black soil. Their eye sockets burned with a ghostly blue flame. Rotting guardian, elite, Yen Jiu glanced. At the status bar, he had no time to play with them slowly. He looked at the sluggish elite skeletons and opened his mouth. A dark red light ignited deep in his throat. Dragon breath a torrent of scorching heat instantly engulfed. The entire altar. Facing the slow-moving skeletons this time, Yen Jiu released his skill only after getting closer to the ground. –69841 -57891-49870 The elite skeletons didn’t even have time to let out a wail before they turned to ashes in the devastating heat. The area was cleared. Yen Jiu walked to the center of the altar, reached out, and grasped the still pulsating heart of the earth vein.ding. You have obtained the heart of the earth. The moment he picked up the heart of the earth, a rumble echoed, the entire rotting basin began to tremble violently. It was as if a giant beast, sleeping for a thousand years, was awakening from the depths of the earth. Yen Jio. Glanced at his status bar. Death miasma, lose 300 maximum health points per second and health points cap reduced by 300, all healing effects reduced by 99%, all attributes reduced by 20%, recover after leaving the area. The. Negative effect had already stacked to three layers. His health bar was plummeting at a visibly rapid pace. At this rate he wouldn’t last long. He looked back in the direction he came from, Lina’s figure had already become a distant dot. There was no way to return the same way. Without a moment’s hesitation, Yanjio took out a peculiar device emitting spatial fluctuations from his backpack. Wormhole node he immediately crushed the node in his hand. A powerful force of space enveloped his body. The scenery around him began to twist and fold. He took one last look at the trembling basin, his figure transforming into a streak of light disappearing from the spot. The light and shadow shifted. When Yanjio’s feet touched solid ground again, he found himself in a massive teleportation array. Surrounding him were bustling crowds and towering buildings of various styles. This was not Maple Leaf City. He opened the map. Forest Edge City so that’s it. Without a bound wormhole node, the default teleportation would take him to the nearest main city. Yanjio closed the map and stepped out of the teleportation array. The effect of death miasma on him also faded, and his health bar stopped decreasing. The glow of the teleportation array in Forest Edge City slowly dimmed behind him. The surrounding noise was unfamiliar, with players coming and going, the sounds of vendors and conversations mingling together. Yen Jio did not linger in place. He quickly walked out of the teleportation square and stopped in a secluded alley. After confirming that no one was around, he raised his hand. A swirl of distorted light and shadow gathered and took shape before him. The agile figure of the four-eyed spirit leopard silently appeared in the shadows of the alley. It proudly flicked its tail, its four eyes, each containing different elemental powers, curiously surveying this strange city. Yanzhou took out the heart of the earth from his backpack. The moment the crystal appeared, the air in the alley became heavy. A warm, earthy glow radiated from his fingertips. The four-eyed spirit leopard froze in its movements. Its four eyes locked onto the crystal in Yanzhou’s hand, emitting a low, deep growl filled with intense desire. The pride that had been so scarce before. Yanzhou now vanished in an instant. Yanzhou offered the heart of the earth. The spirit leopard extended its tongue and cautiously licked it. The heart of the earth was not swallowed. The moment it made. Contact with the leopard, it transformed into a stream of pure earthy energy, as if alive, flowing into the leopard’s body and merging beneath its fur. The leopard let out a satisfied low roar, its entire body lying flat on the ground. The silver-gray fur on it began to shimmer with a thick, earthy glow. The dark, swirling patterns seemed to come alive, slowly flowing, ultimately coalescing into new, rock-like runes on its limbs and back. A steady, heavy aura emanated from it. Ding! Your summoned four-eyed spirit leopard has successfully absorbed the heart of the earth. Ding! Your summon! four-eyed spirit leopard has successfully evolved ding your summon four-eyed spirit leopard has gained a new passive skill earthly power i ding your summon four-eyed spirit leopard passive skill rock shield has been upgraded yinjio immediately opened the leopard’s attribute panel earthly power i passive the four-eyed spirit leopard will gain an additional 10% all attribute bonus from the summoner dot rock shield 2 after activation gain a shield with 4000 health points and all damage taken is reduced by 40% until the shield breaks cooldown 3 minutes Mana cost. 100. Summoner 10%. Yen Jio looked at this number and then at his own attributes. The increase was indeed there. Moreover, based on his far superior attributes, this 10% boost was enough to elevate the combat power of the four-eyed spirit leopard by a small notch, but the enhancement was not significant. This was far from what Lina had described as 10 times stronger. Yen Jio scratched his head. Perhaps the suffix of earthvain power, I, indicated that there was still room for improvement. He didn’t dwell on it too much. In any case, this was a tangible enhancement. He recalled the four-eyed. Spirit leopard back into the summoning space and opened the map. The priority was still to level up to level 20. There were quite a few leveling areas around Linbian City suitable for his level. He had. Just selected a target point when the air beside him suddenly rippled. Tiny starlights unexpectedly seeped from the void, converging into a brilliant stream that spiraled down onto the cobblestone path. Of the alley. As the light faded, Astrilos, draped in a robe of stars, appeared before Yen Jiu. He still wore that cheerful expression, his eyes seemingly containing the entire universe, curiously. Examining Yanjio. Not bad, not bad. This summon is quite interesting, I didn’t expect you to gain affinity with elemental spirits, which is rare. Yanjio looked at the suddenly appearing old man. Somewhat surprised. I’m not even level 20 yet. Astrilos let out a hearty laugh. Ha ha ha. I’m here this time for something more important. Yanjio didn’t respond, just watching him, waiting for him. To continue. Astrilos cleared his throat. Come with me to the council. There’s an urgent task that needs your attention. Urgent task? Yenjiyo repeated. Yes, very urgent. Astrilos’s expression became serious. And this task can only be completed by you. Yenjiyo raised an eyebrow. Why can only I complete it? Astrilos paused and added, because the person needed must be strong enough, and their level cannot exceed 20. Your strength is evident. This task is yours alone. You are the only candidate. Yenjiyo fell into brief contemplation. What is the reward for the task? He directly asked. The most concerning question. Astrilo smiled, this time with a hint of mystery. The reward will definitely satisfy you. It may even be more valuable than the skills you learn upon reaching level. 20 Yen Jio no longer hesitated. Alright. He nodded. Astrilo’s waved his hand in satisfaction. The surrounding space began to distort, and brilliant starlight enveloped the two. Hold on tight. As soon as the words left his mouth, the scene in the alley instantly transformed into countless flowing colored light bands. A sensation of weightlessness washed over him. When Yenzhou’s feet touched solid ground again, he found himself in an endless starry sky. Below him was a transparent floor, like crystal, through which he could see the starry river flowing slowly beneath. In the distance, magnificent mage towers floated, their energy crystals at the tips emitting a soft glow, illuminating this eternal night sky. The Star Element Council. A mysterious space independent of the real world. Astrelos pointed to the tallest and most majestic mage tower in the center. Let’s go, the council leader is waiting for you. The two stepped into a tower made of stars. The ground beneath them was no longer void but a solid, cold, transparent crystal floor. Through the floor, they could see the magnificent galaxy flowing below at a visibly slow pace. This place was completely different from the starry sky where he had undergone his job change last time around them floated more magnificent mage towers, their energy crystals at the peaks emitting a soft glow, like stars that never extinguish. Illuminating this eternal night sky. This is the heart of the council, Astralos’s voice carried a hint of reverence. Only the council leader and the highest ranking members are qualified to enter. He pointed to the very center, the tallest and most majestic mage tower. Come on, the council leader is waiting for you. Yenzhou curiously surveyed the surroundings following Astralos into the highest tower. Inside the tower, there were no stairs, no rooms. It was a more vast, concentrated universe. Countless brilliant stars, like pieces moved by an invisible hand, followed mysterious trajectories orbiting around them. Yanjio reached out, curiously touching a fist-sized miniature star that floated past him. The star had no substance, his finger passed right through it, leaving a trail of dazzling light. Don’t move around, Astralos grabbed his wrist, a look of helplessness on his face. Just then, at the center of this miniature universe, a massive star, the brightest like the sun, suddenly burst forth with a soft halo. A grand and ancient voice, not transmitted through the air, but resonating directly in Yanjio’s mind, spoke. Starwalker, Yanjio. Yanjio looked up at the Enormous glowing body. We have observed a special area. That land is shrouded by an unknown rule, forming a natural barrier. Any life form above level 20 cannot enter. We old folks would be. Directly repelled by the rules there. The light of the star seemed to brighten even more. But you are different. You possess the potential to cross boundaries and the power we recognize. You once. Single-handedly defeated the shameful thief, General Zonor, your strength is sufficient to face the challenges there. Yen Jio nodded, digesting this information. Alright, where to go, who to kill? The entire star tower fell into a strange silence. Even the surrounding stars, slowly moving, seemed to pause for a moment. The massive star flickered intensely. After several seconds, the grand voice spoke. Again, though this time it seemed to lack some of the previous calmness and authority. Your main task is not slaughter. Various factions will send their own outsiders to participate in this competition. If any other factions people or filthy beings obstruct you, you can handle it yourself. As a reward for accepting this commission, the council can pay you a portion in advance. As soon as the words fell, a pure beam of starlight shot from the massive star, instantly merging into Yanzhou’s body. Ding! You have obtained a special item, Starlight Spirit. Starlight Spirit, you can choose one. Mastered Star System skill to receive a permanent enhancement upgrade. The voice of the star echoed again. Once you successfully bring back that item, the council will offer even greater rewards. Yanzhou paid no attention to the subsequent promises. His focus was entirely on the item called Starlight Spirit. Upgrade skills. Without hesitation, he opened his skill list. Star Impact, Starfall. Technique, Starfall, Starwalk, Twin Moons, Starbody, Star Dominion. Starfall had decent damage but the casting time was an issue. Star Dominion increased casting distance. Starbody. Was passive, enhancing survivability. And Starwalk was the skill he used most frequently, the core of his tactical system. Whether pursuing, fleeing, or evading damage, it was indispensable, without any. Hesitation. Level Up, Astral Walk. He silently recited in his mind. Ding. You have used, Spirit of Starlight, the skill Astral Walk has been enhanced. Yen Jio immediately looked at the skill. Description. Astral Walk, tear open a rift in space, teleporting 8 to 10 yards in any direction, cooldown time 10 seconds, mana cost 30 points. Casting time, instant dot. The original skill description began. To blur, then was replaced by a brand new entry. Astral Walk, enhanced tear open a rift in space, teleporting 8 to 15 yards in any direction, can be charged twice. Charging time 10 seconds, mana cost. 60 points. Casting time, instant dot. Yanzhou’s eyebrows shot up. A qualitative change. This was definitely a transformative upgrade. The maximum teleportation distance increased from 10 yards to 15. Yards, a 50% increase. More critically, the charging mechanism had appeared. Originally usable once every 10 seconds, it could now be used consecutively twice. This meant he could unleash unparalleled. Mobility in a very short time. Two consecutive astral walkess followed by a dash with windstep. His mobility had directly elevated to a new level. Whether pulling back or charging forward, it would become much more effortless. He raised his head, eagerly looking at the massive luminous body. When do we set off? His tone carried a hint of impatience he hadn’t even noticed. Astro Holos couldn’t help but laugh at his expression. The enormous star flickered with light again. It seems you are ready. The door to that unknown land is already open for you. As the voice fell, the space in front. of Yen Jio began to ripple like the surface of water. Points of starlight gathered from the void, twisting, and finally forming an irregular portal that shimmered with strange light. On the other side of the door was an unknown world. Yen Jio stepped forward without a moment’s hesitation, entering that dazzling starlight. The moment his vision restored, it was pure, pitch black. The sensation. Underfoot was no longer the solid, cold crystal floor of the starlight console. Instead, it was a shattered substance that emitted faint cracking sounds when stepped on. Yen Jio looked down. The ground. Beneath him resembled black glass shattered by immense force, each fragment glimmering with a lifeless, dull sheen. There was no wind. No sound. Even the air was thin enough to suffocate. The sky here. Had no stars, no clouds or moon, only a disquieting, eternal void. Yet the outlines of the buildings, the crumbling spires, the broken arches, gave Yenzhou a twisted sense of familiarity. This place. Was very much like the Starlight Council. A dead, thoroughly polluted Starlight Council. This was once the domain of the stars. Astro Hollows’ voice suddenly echoed in the dead silence, hollow and distant, coming from no particular direction. It was one of the holy places where the power of the stars first descended upon the mortal realm. Yenjo stopped, looking around. Besides the endless darkness and ruins, he saw no living beings and could not find the source of the voice. Now, it is merely a shell devoured clean by the void. The voice continued to explain. The foundation of the world is maintained by six supreme beings. Light, darkness, life, death, stars, elements. They are the embodiment of rules, the source of order. And the void is the chaos beyond order, a cancer that has been invading this world since who knows when. For the first time, Astrohalos’s voice carried a certain heavy weariness. It erodes everything, distorts everything, turning order into madness. Several former powerful beings have chosen to ally with the void, exchanging for another form of immortality. Our members of the Starlight Council have not been spared. Yenjo’s body did not move.He just listened quietly. Traitor. that word sounded particularly harsh in the dead silence of the ruins this area is one of the core territories strictly guarded by the void forces they are cunning using special methods to distort the rules here any life form above level 20 cannot enter this place even others will be instantly repelled only you the outsiders can gain the ability to enter here now it seems there has been unrest in one of their regions drawing away the void powerhouses that were entrenched here this window of opportunity is very brief once inside how to Decide and what you will encounter will depend solely on you. Be cautious of people from other factions, they are not all your allies. Starwalker, Yenjo, may the stars guide your path. The voice. Came to an end. That grand echo completely dissipated into the pitch black void. Ding. You have accepted the quest explore the seat of the void. Upon completion, rewards will be provided based on. Your exploration level. The world returned to that maddening absolute silence. Yenjo stood still, digesting the information he had just received. He raised his hand, feeling the faint, uncomfortable energy in this space. Then, he took his first step toward the tallest half-collapsed spire ahead. The black crystal beneath his feet emitted a crisp cracking sound. Just as his foot landed, a purple light curtain unfolded before him without warning. On the curtain, lines of twisted text slowly appeared. You have discovered the special area, Seat of the Void. Would you like to enter the special? Instance Seat of the Void? Instance level, 1 to 20. Number of participants, 10. This meant that the void had transformed this place into an instance using game mechanics, preventing other powerful factions from entering. But how would they enter? Each faction had sent their own outsiders. This sentence suddenly surfaced in his mind. It seemed that this competition had already begun the moment. He stepped in here. Yanjio scratched his head, not thinking too much. After all, they were all going to fight, so it was just right to see what the other nine selected individuals were like. His fingertip tapped on the yes option. The purple light curtain before him instantly erupted with blinding light. The surrounding dark ruins twisted and folded violently like a stone thrown into water, ultimately transforming into a pure purple vortex that completely swallowed his figure. A dizzying whirl. Yanjou’s body felt as if it had been thrown into a high-speed spinning washing machine, pulled, torn, and reassembled by countless purple light strands. When the nauseating dizziness faded, he found himself standing on a brand new land. Pure blackness. No light. No sound. The sensation underfoot. Was strange, neither soil nor rock. It felt more like a completely crushed black crystal, each step produced a subtle cracking sound. He looked up. The sky was a disquieting, eternal void. No stars, no. Moon, nothing at all. It was like a completely sealed box with all power turned off. Yanjio opened his skill panel. Rows of skill icons lay quietly there. He scrolled for a long time. Not a single. Decent illumination spell. Yanjio expressionlessly closed the skill panel. He selected a skill with the least mana consumption. Fireball, a ball of orange-red flame formed in his palm. He didn’t throw. It’s. Instead, he held it like a temporary lantern and took a step forward. The firelight could only illuminate a few meters ahead. Beyond that, it remained an unfathomable thick darkness. After that, charging time ended, he casually tossed it forward. After all, with mobile casting, it wouldn’t affect his journey, the orange glow movedly across the desolate black crystal ground. After walking for about several dozen meters, the patrolling firelight ahead illuminated a distorted humanoid silhouette. The creature was entirely covered in a purplish-black shell, lacking facial features, with only a gaping moth filled with sharp teeth that opened and closed incessantly. Its arms were a pair of sharp bone blades. Void Guardian, Elite, Race, Void Level, LV-22 Health, 4 -7-5-0-0 Attack, 7-73 Defense, 8-46 Skills, Void Slash, Void Touch. Yengio stopped in his tracks. An elite monster at level 22. This value, when converted, was already higher than that of the same level epic dungeon mobs. It’s Attack and defense felt like they were about to rival some wild silver-level bosses. The void guardian also noticed him. Its faceless visage turned towards the fireball, emitting a silent roar. In the next second, it moved. The black crystal ground beneath its feet shattered inch by inch. Two boneblades, accompanied by a shrill whistle that tore through the air, swung down towards Yen Jo’s head. Yen. Jo’s movements were faster than its. The fireball in his hand dissipated in an instant. Instead of retreating, he charged forward, meeting the two boneblades head on. Wind stepped the azure airflow. Exploded beneath his feet. His figure left behind an almost untraceable afterimage in mid-air, instantly closing in on the Void Guardian. The black blade had appeared in his hand without him noticing. The blade’s edge emitted no light, blending into the surrounding darkness. Minus 11,289. A massive red number erupted from above the Void Guardian’s head. Its health bar visibly lost a large chunk. The Void. Guardian’s attack missed, and it clumsily twisted its body, swinging the other bone blade towards him. Yanjio couldn’t even be bothered to block. He merely tilted his body slightly, allowing the deadly bone blade to graze past the tip of his nose. The blade glimmered again. Two more strikes. The massive body of the void guardian froze in place. Then, like a weathered sand sculpture, it disintegrated. Into a shower of purple light particles, vanishing into the darkness with a silent wail. The battle was over. The surroundings returned to the suffocating silence once more. Yanjio continued walking. Forward. This dead silence in the darkness seemed endless. The black crystal beneath his feet emitted faint, fragmented wails, the only sound in this place. He walked for an unknown amount of time. Ahead, a different commotion finally emerged. A faint firelight mingled with the sounds of battle. A figure, almost blending into the darkness, was entangled with a void guardian. The figure moved with incredible speed. Several identical shadowy clones followed closely behind him, made entirely of pure shadow. A rogue. Moreover, a specialization in shadow clones. Yenjio stopped, found irrelatively. intact black rock, and sat down. He watched the battle ahead with great interest. In the ancient martial world, intervening in someone else’s fight was considered impolite. He casually rummaged through. His backpack pulled out a huge leg bone still steaming and roasted to a golden brown, fragrant roasted earth dragon leg. Yenzhou didn’t care about the food’s attributes, he tore off a large chunk of meat and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing slowly. The taste was quite good, that was the only advantage of the backpack, the food pulled out was still steaming. The battle ahead had entered a heated phase. The assassin’s damage was quite considerable. His main body in each shadow, with every attack, could inflict over a thousand points of damage on the Void Guardian’s hard shell. Countless shadows flitted about like phantoms, the glint of daggers connecting in the darkness. The Void Guardian’s heavy body simply couldn’t keep up with this rhythm. It emitted a series of silent roars, wildly, swinging its two boneblades but could only strike at the dissipating shadows. Its health was plummeting rapidly. This was a textbook-style encirclement, utilizing mobility and clones to overwhelm the Enemies soon, the Void Guardian’s health bar was reduced to a sliver. The assassin’s form paused slightly, as if preparing for the final deadly strike. Just then, an unexpected change occurred. A petite figure glowing with green light appeared on the other side of the battlefield without warning. She was clad in a set of emerald knight’s plate armor, wielding a massive two-handed sword that was completely disproportionate to her size. Ha! A crisp, delicate shout rang out. The enormous knight’s sword was thrust forcefully into the black crystal ground beneath her. Buzz centered around the sword. A circle of green life energy instantly spread out. Cowbless thick vines and sharp thorns broke through the hard ground, growing wildly and quickly engulfing the severely wounded Void Guardian. Minus 1897. A green damage number erupted from the center of the vines. The last sliver of the Void Guardian’s health bar was emptied. Its massive body crashed to the ground, transforming into a shower of purple. Light shards. The petite knight chuckled pulling out her great sword. She waved at the shadowy assassin not far away. Thanks, little thief. The shadowy assassin said nothing. He simply stood still, retracting all his shadows. He leisurely wiped the non-existent blood off his dagger with a cloth. Then, he took a blue potion from his backpack and took a sip. After drinking the potion, a thick darkness reappeared on the ground around him. This time, the number of shadows was doubled compared to when they had attacked the void guardian. A dozen pitch black shadows surrounded the petite lowly night. Yenjiyo, feeling excited, pulled out a bottle of honey brew from his backpack. He twisted off the cap and gulped down two big swigs. Sweet, with a hint of floral fragrance. Delicious. The lowly. Knight seemed to sense something was off. Hey, what are you doing? This is too much, right? The assassin still did not respond. What answered her was a simultaneous, deadly ambush from the dozen. Shadows. Damn, the lowly knight cursed, immediately positioning her greatsword in front of her. Life barrier a wall of emerald light rose before her. Cling clang cling, countless daggers fell upon the. Light wall like raindrops, sparking a series of sparks. The light wall trembled violently, cracks spreading rapidly. You’re serious, huh? The lowly knight’s tone carried a hint of panic. She stomped her foot. Nature’s healing a circle of soft green light radiated from her, instantly restoring a significant portion of her health. At the same time, various peculiar plants began to grow wildly beneath her feet. There were man-eating flowers that could spray venom and vines that could bind enemies. It seemed she was a life-type knight with formidable recovery and summoning abilities. However, the assassin was stronger than her. His movements were extraordinarily elusive. The vines could not capture his form at all. Each of his attacks landed precisely in the gaps of the lowly knight’s defense. Minus 1042. Minus 1001. Damage numbers continuously popped up above the lowly knight’s head. Her health fluctuated like a roller coaster, rising and falling erratically. Her recovery ability was strong, but the. Assassin’s burst damage was even higher. The rhythm of the battle was completely controlled by the silent shadow. Maniac. You’re a madman. The lowly knight shouted loudly while clumsily blocking. Her health had already dropped below one-third, precariously hanging by a thread. She could barely hold on any longer. Suddenly, she glanced over at Yanjio, who was devouring meat and drinking heartily. Not far away. Hey, big brother over there. Can you help me out? This madman wants to kill me. Let’s take him down together and split the loot. Yanjio remained focused on gnawing on a roasted, dragon leg, ignoring the knight. He had no sympathy for someone who got themselves killed while trying to steal monsters from others, the movements of the lowly knight revealed a fatal flaw due to her. Distraction. The shadow assassin seized this opportunity. His body suddenly transformed into an uncatchable pure shadow, instantly passing through the lowly knight’s form. Shadow kill minus 3179. A massive, critical hit damage erupted from the top of the lowly knight’s head. Her health bar, which was already below half, was instantly emptied. The lowly knight’s body froze in place, and then, unwillingly, she transformed into a beam of white light and vanished. All that remained on the ground was a verdant green knight’s greatsword. The shadow assassin bent down and picked up the greatsword. The battle was over. Yenjio, expressionless, tore off another piece of roasted meat. The shadow assassin picked up the verdant green knight’s greatsword. He did not look at Yenjio. He leisurely stowed the weapon that did not belong to him into his backpack. Then, he walked to the side and sat down on a relatively flat black crystal. The assassin took out something wrapped in oil paper from his backpack. He carefully unwrapped it. Inside were several pieces of seemingly hard, unadorned biscuits. He picked one up and nibbled on it, appearing to be recovering energy. His movements were refined, contrasting sharply. With the ruthless killing he had just displayed. In this dead silence of darkness, an eerie quiet fell once more. Only two people remained, one to the east and one to the west, separated by dozens. Of meters. One was gnawing on a greasy roasted dragon leg while the other was munching on dry biscuits. Yanjio swallowed the last bite of meat and tossed the cleanly nod bone aside. He twisted open. The cap of the honey brew bottle and down the remaining drink in one go. Yanjio wiped his hands and stood up. Just as he rose, his head suddenly tilted sharply to the right without warning. Swoosh. A cold glint of sharpness grazed his neck. It was a dagger made of pure shadow stabbing out from the void behind him, silent and unseen. The attack missed. The shadow did not pause for a moment. Instantly dissipating. Immediately after, shadows began to writhe around Yanjio from all directions. One shadow. Two shadows. A full dozen shadows identical to the shadow assassin emerged from the darkness surrounding him. No roars. no intimidation. A dozen shadows launched their attacks simultaneously. The cold light of the daggers sealed off all his escape routes. In that moment, Yen Jiu’s body moved. He did not use any skills. He simply changed his footwork, twisting his body at an unimaginable angle, sidestepping, diving down, and leaning back. His movements flowed like water. Each dodge was perfectly timed, as if calculated a thousand times. The sharp daggers brushed against the corners of his clothes, graced his skin, yet never managed to touch him even slightly. This was a dance of Death occurring in absolute silence. Just as Yanjio dodged a shadow’s thrust head on, a true killing intent surged from behind him. It was the real body. The shadow assassin’s figure, like a ghost. Merging with the darkness, appeared behind Yanjio. The dagger in his hand did not transform into a shadow. Instead, it condensed with an overwhelming darkness energy, piercing straight for Yanjio’s heart. This strike was the true killing blow. Yanjio did not turn around, nor did he even glance back. He simply sent the black blade in his hand backward casually. Thud. The sound of the blade piercing. Flesh rang out sharply in the stillness. Minus 9831. A shocking red number erupted from above the shadow assassin’s head. His body froze in mid-air. The dagger that was about to pierce Yenzhou’s heart halted. Less than a centimeter from his back. The assassin’s figure suddenly transformed into a burst of dissipating black light. Almost simultaneously, a shadow in the distance solidified abruptly. That. Shadow transformed into the assassin’s true form. He stumbled slightly, nearly falling to the ground, clearly, the life-saving skill that resembled a golden cicada shedding its shell had placed quite a burden on him. He glanced in Yanjiyo’s direction. Without a moment’s hesitation, he limped and turned to run, wanting to merge into the darkness ahead. Yanjiyo looked at the direction he fled. The distance was about 40 meters. He did not pursue. Only the space beneath his feet rippled. Starwalk his figure instantly vanished from the spot, appearing several meters away. Immediately after, a stream of azure energy exploded beneath him. Winstep his body transformed into an arrow released from a bow, dashing forward with great force, before the momentum of the dash could completely dissipate. Specs of starlight enveloped him once more. Star walked the second teleportation. From start to finish, the entire process took less than a second. He had crossed nearly 40 meters. The fleeing assassin. Only felt a flash of starlight behind him. He didn’t even have time to turn around. A pitch black blade of light flashed past his neck. The assassin’s body froze in place. His running motion came. To an abrupt halt. Then, his body transformed into a white light and completely vanished. Ding! A crisp sound echoed. A peculiar, entirely black dagger fell onto the black crystal ground. Yanzhou stepped forward and bent down to pick up the dagger. Shadow’s tooth, silver, a silver-grade weapon. Indeed impressive. Yanzhou stowed the dagger in his backpack. It seemed that none of those selected to be here were weak. This murky water was deeper than he had imagined. This murky water was deeper than he had imagined. Yenjio toyed with the silver-grade dagger named Shadows 2 feeling the slight chill emanating from the blade. Ambush, steal monsters, stab from behind. The rules in this dungeon seemed to boil down to just one, there are no rules. He put the dagger away, but unfortunately, he couldn’t equip it, he still wanted to play with guns, staffs, swords, and halberds, not knowing if there would be a chance in the future. The people from the Star Element Council hadn’t given him any clear objectives. They only mentioned that this place was heavily guarded by the Void Forces, but the specific reasons were vague. Letting him in was likely to stir up trouble, to create chaos if possible. Yen Jio hefted the black blade. Since that was the case, it was simple. He would chop down everything that moved here, it couldn’t be wrong. He continued deeper into the darkness. Not far. Ahead, the patrolling void sentinels visibly increased in number. Groups of 3 to 5 wandered across the shattered black crystal ground. Killing them one by one was too slow. Yen Jio kept moving. Directly passing through a group of void sentinels. Those faceless monsters were immediately drawn to him. They let out silent roars, brandishing their bone blades, and chased after him from behind. Yen. Jio ignored them and pressed on. Soon, a massive pursuit force composed of a dozen void sentinels gathered behind him. The black crystal ground beneath his feet crackled ominously, like a symphony of. Death. The timing was right. Yen Jio focused his thoughts. Earth’s shield a thick, earthy yellow halo coalesced beside him, forming a sturdy rock-colored shield. He suddenly stopped, turned around, and, faced the wave of purple monsters rushing toward him. Instead of retreating, he charged into the densest part of the monsters with a windstep. Immediately after, he leaped high into the air. His body. Spun at an incredible angle, rapidly rotating in midair. A whirlwind of fiery death erupted from Yanjou’s mouth. Dragon breath with the earth shield in place, and since the opponents were not players. And he hadn’t used illusion, Yanjou could be even more reckless this time. The spot where he descended while spinning got closer to the ground. Minus 63,841. Minus 52 ,891. Minus 41,870. A series of shocking damage. Numbers cascaded down from above the monsters like a waterfall damage, an instant explosion. Just a moment. The entire world fell silent. Dozens of powerful elite monsters, unable to let out even a. Single whale, turned into a sky full of purple light shards. Yen Jio landed steadily. And at that moment, a golden beam of light descended from the sky, enveloping him. Ding. Congratulations, your level. Has increased to LV20. Ding. Talent war god effect enhanced, melee damage amplification increased to 290 times. Ding. Congratulations, strength plus 1, agility plus 1, intelligence plus 1, spirit plus 1, constitution. Plus 1. Ding. Congratulations, you have gained 5 free attribute points, current free attribute points 190. Finally, level 20. He let out a long sigh of relief. He could finally go find Sujinjin. And also take the opportunity to learn some new professional skills. But now was not the time. He had to resolve the matters here first. He brushed off the dust from his hands and prepared to move on. Yet, for some reason, Sujinjin’s face floated into his mind at an inopportune moment. He wondered how she was doing now. Once this mission was over, he would go find her. Yanjio’s steps unknowingly. Quickened. Speaking of which, he wondered if such things could be done in this game. In reality, there were some constraints and it was never quite satisfying. In the game, he should be able to let. Lose a bit, right? Thinking of this, Yanjio’s cheeks inexplicably flushed. His pace quickened even more. Just as he was lost in thought, the scene ahead changed. The eternal darkness seemed to be. Torn open by something. Light. Though faint, it was indeed light. The source of the light came from a massive structure resembling an altar. The ground around it was no longer the shattered black crystal. But a smoother stone slab, engraved with bizarre purple runes. A figure stood quietly at the center of the altar. He was tall. The outline of his body resembled that of a human. But his skin was a. Pure, abyss-like black. Cowbless white bandages wrapped around his body, layer upon layer, from head to toe. The stark contrast between the white bandages and his black body was incredibly eerie. It’s, was as if he was desperately trying to conceal something in this manner. Or perhaps, pretending to be something. Yen Jiu’s steps came to a halt. A line of blood-red text appeared before him. Promoter. Lazer, Silver Level Boss, Race, Void Level, LV25 Health, 77,000 Attack, 1073 Defense, 1046 Physical Resistance, 29% Magical Resistance, 28% Abnormal Status Resistance, 10 % Skills, Void Slash, Shadow Step, Madness, Void Tendril, Entangle. Note, he was once a follower of Darkness, but at the end of his life, chose to embrace the Void. The Void promised that as long as he guarded this place for 300 years, it would grant him true immortality. He wrapped himself in white bandages perhaps to deceive himself into thinking he was still human.A silver level boss. Yen Jio stepped forward. Slowly. This guy named Lazar was a pure humanoid monster. He had seen the skill madness in the starry courtyard. When health dropped below a certain level, attack power doubled and not only that. The damage taken would be halved, making him extremely difficult to deal with. Yen Jio’s steps did not pause for a moment. He didn’t even cast any shields on himself. The black blade was casually slung. Over his shoulder. He walked straight into the altar’s range. Lazar, standing at the center of the altar, slowly turned his bandage -wrapped head towards him. A purple sword light condensed out of thin air. Void slash Lazar’s movements were as fast as lightning. He stepped forward, and his figure instantly blurred. The next moment he had already appeared in front of Yenjio, the purple light sword, slashing down at his head. Yenjio’s body merely shifted half a step to the left. The sword’s edge, with a sharp whistle, grazed his cheek as it fell boom. The purple sword energy carved a deep chasm. into the stone slab behind him fragments of stone flew everywhere yenjo’s black blade had unsheathed at some point without him noticing the blade sweeping from bottom to top traced a cunning arc and precisely struck lazar at the waist minus 2987 a damage number that wasn’t particularly high emerged above the boss’s head level suppression combined with the boss’s own physical resistance had reduced his damage significantly outlander A hoarse, dry voice, as if it hadn’t spoken in centuries, came from beneath the layers of bandages. You should not tread here. Lazar swung his sword. Backhandedly. Yenjiyo did not block. He merely crouched slightly, allowing the blade to sweep over his head, severing a few strands of hair. As he crouched, the black blade in his hand thrust out. Again. Minus 2991. Another similar damage number. Lazar’s body suddenly transformed into a mass of pitch black shadow, drifting backward. Shadow step created a distance of several meters. This is, the. Temple of Immortality. It is the ladder for mortals, to ascend. As Lazar spoke, he pressed both hands against the ground. Buzz, the altar’s surface, those eerie purple runes, suddenly lit up. Dozens. Of thick, purple tendrils made of pure void energy burst through the stone slab, writhing toward Yanjou from all directions. Void tendrils Yanjou’s body began to move at high speed through the gaps. Between the tendrils. His steps had no extraneous movements. Each turn, each sidestep, precisely avoided those wildly thrashing tendrils. In this impenetrable assault he approached Lazar once more. With an air of leisure. The blade flashed and vanished. Minus 2976. Lazar’s body staggered from the force transmitted by the blade. What do you understand? His voice suddenly turned sharp. A mortal’s life. Is so brief, so fragile. Like a dying candle in the wind, it could extinguish at any moment. He swung the void light sword wildly, creating an impenetrable purple web of sword light. Yet Yen Zhou’s. Body moved like a slippery fish. He navigated through the sword net with ease. The black blade always found a way to strike Lazar’s body from the most unexpected angles. Minus 3003. Minus 2982. Minus 3011. The damage. Wasn’t high. But each attack caused a barely perceptible pause in Lazar’s movements. The rhythm of the battle was completely under Yanjou’s control. He was like a master beast tamer, playing with. A raging beast using the simplest of movements. The void has granted me rebirth. I will break free from the shackles of flesh. I will attain true eternity. Lazar’s roar was filled with a frenzied. Excitement. The bandages on his body began to tremble violently, as if something was trying to break free from that pure white binding. Yenjiyo still paid no heed. He simply dodged, attacked. Dodged. Attacked. For him, this process was less about fighting and more like an intriguing game. He was deciphering every movement of this boss. Every lift of the hand, every step forward, every skills. Wind up. At first, he needed to concentrate to calculate the opponent’s attack trajectory. Gradually, his movements became increasingly free-spirited. One could even say, somewhat lazy. Lazar’s void. Slash came slicing toward him. Yanzhou couldn’t even be bothered to dodge. He merely leaned slightly to the side and evaded it. The head wrapped in bandages seemed to look at Yanzhou in an incomprehensible way. Yu, Yanzhou yawned. He had seen through it all. The boss’s attack patterns, all skill combinations had formed a remarkably clear loop in his mind. Left stab, right slash, charge. Forward, retreat, after the void slash, there would be a shadow step. After the void tentacles, there would inevitably be a 1.5 second stun. It was getting boring. Yen Jio was somewhat tired of it. This warm-up exercise should come to an end. Who, exactly are you? Lazar’s voice carried fear for the first time. Yen Jio did not answer. He simply raised the black blade in his hand slowly. This time, a destructive orange-red flame ignited on the blade’s edge. The Flame Blade’s physical resistance was indeed troublesome, but he had just killed a golden boss and was wearing equipment with spell penetration. He swung down the blade. Minus 3 ,998 to 10,795 level suppression, Lazar felt the terrifying damage that could completely melt him. He let out a terrified scream and turned to escape with shadow step. It’s, was too late. Yen Jiu’s body had already transformed into a star, appearing at his side. Astral Walkspell Surge Meteor Strike minus 34 ,998. Level suppression, minus 23 ,714. Double moon, a massive damage. Number, almost instantly draining the boss’s health bar, erupted from above Lazar’s head. His body could not withstand even a second in the flames. The pure white bandages turned to ashes in an instant. Revealing a twisted and ugly body covered in countless purple eyeballs beneath. The body transformed into specks of light dissipating into the world. The world fell silent once more. Yen Jio expressionlessly. Sheathed the black blade. The boss fell, dropping two items that shimmered with a silver sheen. A heavy-looking knight’s longsword and a leather bracer. Yanjio bent down to pick them up. He glanced at the decent attributes, but unfortunately, they were of no use to him. He casually tossed the two silver-grade items into his backpack. His attention fell on the closed stone door behind. Lazar. The door was tall, engraved with bizarre purple runes similar to those on the altar floor, as if countless eyes were peering at everything from the darkness. This should be the true objective of this mission. Yanjio stepped forward, extended his hand, and pressed against the cold stone door. He pushed hard. Creak, the heavy stone door emitted a grating sound that made one’s teeth ache, slowly. Opening a gap inward. A more intense, more foul void aura leaked from the crack. Yanjio did not hesitate and squeezed inside. The world beyond the door was no longer that pure darkness. Although still. Dim, there was finally some light. Purple ghostly light emanated from the twisted crystals on the walls, casting a hazy glow over the area. This was a grand yet utterly corroded church. The towering dome had collapsed halfway, revealing the eternal void behind it. The stone sculptures flanking the path were no longer holy angels but rather twisted, indescribable flesh monsters, as if they were still alive, covered in slimy purple pus. Yen Jio felt somewhat nauseated. In comparison, he found the undead and demons much more pleasing to the eye than these things. A few monsters wandering in the corridor. Noticed him. They had no legs, only a writhing mass of flesh resembling slugs, while their upper bodies were a jumble of mismatched human arms flailing about. Yanjio had no interest in exchanging blows with them. His hand lightly brushed the blade of the Spirit Slayer. The Flame Blade’s orange-red flames instantly enveloped the entire blade. Minus 10,937. Minus 51 ,978. The searing blade cut through like a hot iron through butter. Those twisted monsters could not even mount a decent resistance, turning to ashes in the destructive flames. He cut through them effortlessly. None of the monsters blocking. His path could withstand a single strike from him. Soon, a path leading deeper into the church was cleared. Yenjio continued forward, passing through a long corridor, a wider hall appeared ahead. Something felt off here. It was too quiet. Unnaturally quiet. On the floor of the hall, there were still a few patches of purple light remnants that had not completely dissipated the marks left by the death of void creatures. However, the monsters were nowhere to be seen. Yenjio stopped in his tracks and looked around. The terrain here was similar to the corridor he had just traversed but the monsters had been completely cleared out. It was highly likely that other players had walked ahead of him. Yanjio scratched his head. He didn’t think too much about it and randomly chose a direction to continue. Deep ore. He wandered for nearly 20 more minutes. Something was wrong. This cursed place was like a maze, twisting and turning, with every passageway looking almost identical. He found himself back in. The earlier empty hall. It seemed he had lost his way. Yanjio’s patience was nearly exhausted. He irritably kicked a piece of rubble at his feet. The stone rolled far across the empty hall, producing. A hollow thud echo. Just then, from the other side of the hall, behind an archway, a faint energy fluctuation suddenly emerged. Following that were a few indistinct voices. Someone was there. Yen. Joe perked up, immediately suppressing his presence and stealthily moved toward the source of the sound. He rounded a broken stone pillar, grotesquely carved with monstrous figures, and peeked out. Three people came into his view. They seemed to have just finished a battle and were resting in place. The leading woman had an extremely voluptuous figure, with a mane of wine-red waves casually draped. over her shoulders she wore a set of priest robes that appeared to be player made the modifications were quite bold with a deep v-neck that unabashedly showcased her stunning fullness behind her sat two fully armed paladins one male and one female the female paladin had an ordinary appearance and a serious expression the male paladin on the other hand was casually munching on an apple nearby yen joe recognized him war god hall yen the one he had faced twice with the identities of honey apple and i want to drink winning once narrowly and crushing him the other time This time, facing him, Yanjio was confident he could win within three moves. At that moment, Yi Yan seemed to sense something. He suddenly turned his head, looking in the direction where Yanjio was hiding. There. Gazes met in the air. Yi Yan’s body tensed up instantly. Although he couldn’t see Yanjio’s level in ID, he had encountered that faint yet heart-pounding sense of pressure from several individuals. Before. Sister Bai, Yi Yan lowered his voice, addressing the red-haired priest in front of him. This person. The priest, referred to as Sister Bai, waved her hand dismissively. She turned around, her alluring peach blossom eyes curiously sizing up Yenjiyo as he stepped out from behind the stone pillar. Oh. Her voice carried an innate charm, as if it could penetrate to the bone. Isn’t this another lost little handsome guy? She licked her bright red lips and threw a flirtatious glance at Yenjiyo. Little brother, it’s dangerous to explore here alone, you know? How about coming with your sister? Sister will protect you well. Yenjiyo looked at her expressionlessly. He didn’t speak, merely adjusting the black blade resting on his shoulder into a more comfortable position. Yi Yin’s expression grew increasingly grave. He stared intently at Yen Jiu and the black blade in his hand. This person’s physique, along with that casually lazy yet deadly aura during battle, gave him a strong sense of deja vu too similar. Sister Bai, don’t be careless, Yi Yan reminded again. This person is very strong. The priest known as Sister Bai slightly furrowed her brows. She quickly relaxed. Then again, Sister Bai stretched lazily without a hint of emotion, arching her body backward, showcasing the already breathtaking curve even more vividly. Yanzhou’s expression remained unchanged. Do you know how to get out, he asked. I’ve been wandering around here for quite a while. His words directly interrupted the ambiguous atmosphere that Sister Bai had been cultivating. The flirtatious smile on her face froze for a moment. Yet, Yi Yan seized the opportunity, stepping forward to stand between Sister Bai and the silent female paladin. What is your purpose? He drew the knight’s great sword. From his back, the previously rusty iron sword was nowhere to be seen, and this new weapon was clearly extraordinary, with silver flames dancing along the blade. The nonchalant demeanor vanished, indicating that these two individuals were quite important to him. Yen Jio blanced at the three of them, two paladins and a priest. Their professions were clearly of the light attribute. Truly, the largest. Force in the world, the Church of Light. After all, each of the seven kingdoms has a Church of Light in its main city, with deep roots. Naturally, those sent to such places are elite. Let’s clear. This dungeon, Yen Jio replied matter-of-factly, to disrupt the void faction’s objectives. Upon hearing this response, Yian’s tense body relaxed slightly. The flames on the great sword in his hand also receded. It seems our goals align, he said in a deep voice. We just came through that door over there. The guarding boss is quite strong. He pointed with his chin to a passage behind him. Yen Jio nodded. It seemed that the gatekeeper boss in this dungeon was not just Lazar. So, how do we get out, he asked again, voicing his most pressing concern. Do you know? Yen frowned. But he. Still answered patiently. We just entered not long ago and are still exploring. We don’t know the exact exit. Yanjio sighed. He didn’t want to keep going in circles with this group. Let’s split. Up and search, he said, shouldering the black blade and turning to walk down another passage. His back was decisive and brisk. Sister Bai watched Yanjio disappear into the darkness, and the smile on. Her face completely vanished. Let’s go, our mission is important, and we shouldn’t waste time on characters like this. She turned and led the two knights in the opposite direction from Yanjio. Yenjo wandered alone in the maze-like church for nearly 20 more minutes. Something was off. This cursed place seemed to be under some spatial spell. Every passage, every corner, looked almost identical. Those stone pillars carved with twisted monsters felt like he had passed them at least 10 times. When he saw that empty hall again, he finally confirmed it. He had returned to the starting point. It seemed he was lost. Yenjo’s patience was nearly exhausted. However, he calmed himself to listen to his surroundings. The footsteps of the three had already vanished. They had left this place. The entire hall was quiet, leaving only the sound of his own heartbeat. A dark line flickered in Yanjou’s mind. He had been played. Those few people definitely knew something but hadn’t told him. If he had known, he would have just killed two of them. The remaining one would likely have confessed. He was still too kind-hearted. He stood still, surveying his surroundings. This time, he looked more carefully. On the ground, besides dust and rubble, there seemed to be something else, right where the three had rested. A few glimmering fragments, reflecting a faint light under the purple glow of the walls. Like. Shards of glass. Yen Jio walked over, crouched down, and picked up a piece with his fingers. It seemed they had not just been resting here. Yen Jio stood up and turned to look around. His gaze slowly swept across every inch of the hall. Finally, it stopped at the high dome above. There, there should have been a complete glass ceiling. At this moment, however, it had been broken open with an irregular large hole.A faint ray of light, not belonging to this space, spilled from. The cave entrance. So that’s it. The exit is above. Yanjio looked up to estimate the height. It was about 30 meters. Not a difficult task for him. Astral Walk Yanjio’s figure instantly appeared 15 meters in the air. Wind step. A blue airflow exploded beneath his feet, propelling his body upward with great force. Immediately after, Astral Walk, his figure vanished in mid-air, reappearing at a position several meters higher. Finally, he reached out, the tip of the black blade precisely piercing into the stone crevice of the dome. Using this momentum, he swung his body and easily flipped over the cave entrance. A brand new world unfolded before him. This was no longer the oppressive church. Instead, it was a vast expanse covered in purple crystals. In the sky, there was neither sun nor moon. Only a massive, shattered sphere emitting an ominous purple light quietly floated. In the distance, a few towering, uniquely shaped spires could be vaguely seen. The figures of those three had already disappeared at the edge of the wasteland. Yenjio blanced back at the broken hole he had just climbed through. The church. This was the true entrance to this instance. When he. Entered, he encountered that assassin and the lowly knight. One dark, one life, plus himself, a star. It could be considered a makeshift team. And Yi Yan’s three people, two paladins, and a priest. All of them were of the light faction. That. Said, there should be a third, or even more entrances. The seven major factions. The death and elemental folks probably came in from somewhere else. The first team to enter should have cleared the boss and the church and obtained some information. Before leaving. Yanjio pulled back his thoughts. Being toyed with for 20 minutes left him somewhat displeased. He decided that when they met, he would first kill two of them, then properly ask the remaining one why they had played. Him. His gaze turned towards the distant wasteland. Those towering, bizarre purple spires were the true objective here. Since that was the case, there was no need to waste any more time. Yanjio selected the spire that looked the most appealing to him. He extended his hand and began to chant softly. Obscure incantations flowed from his mouth. Specs of starlight gathered in the space before him, intertwining to form a complex magic array. The light surged. A strong and graceful creature stepped out of the array. The spirit leopard affectionately nudged Yen Jio’s hand with its head. Yen Jio swiftly mounted the leopard’s back, his movements crisp and decisive. He patted the spirit leopard’s neck. Go. Just. One word. The four pupils of the four-eyed spirit leopard suddenly widened. Blue air currents swirled beneath its feet. Elemental charge in the next moment, the spirit leopard’s body, along with Yanjio on its back, transformed into a streak of blue light. The light tore through the dim air, shooting straight towards the designated spire in the distance. The purple crystal ground along the way was whipped up by the extreme speed, leaving clear traces. The surrounding scenery rapidly receded, turning into a blur of colors. In just a few minutes, the spire that had been far on the horizon was now right before him. The light suddenly halted. Yanjio and the four-eyed spirit leopard’s figures solidified in. Front of the spire’s massive door. He dismissed his mount. The spirit leopard transformed into specks of starlight, dissipating into the air. It was very quiet here. There were no signs of battle, nor any monster corpses. It seemed he was the first to arrive here. Yen Jio looked up, surveying the building before him. The spire was entirely made of that purple crystal, its surface smooth as a mirror, emitting an ominous glow. The door was tightly shut. There was no keyhole or handle on the door, as if it were a complete giant stone, seamlessly embedded into the tower. Yanjio hafted the black blade on his shoulder.He didn’t waste any time testing it. Facing the seemingly indestructible door he casually swung his. Knife. Clang. A dull thud echoed. The blade collided with the stone door, sending a shower of tiny sparks flying. Minus 7893. A red damage number slowly emerged from the door. As long as there was damage, it was fine. Yanjio nodded. At least. It proved that this door could be destroyed, although there would be some resistance reduction. However, chopping at it with a knife was too slow. He sheathed the black knife. Then, he slowly raised his right hand, pressing his palm firmly. Against the massive stone door. Brilliant starlight began to gather in his palm. It grew brighter. Hotter. The elements of the entire space started to surge towards him wildly. Starfall technique boom, a minuscule star, condensed to. Perfection in trailing a long fiery tail, shot out from his palm. It slammed hard against the immovable stone door. Minus 80,931. Minus 56 ,370. Double moon. two exaggeratedly large damage numbers popped up in succession. This close-range talent bonus, tightly adhered at zero distance, was hard to achieve with spells, except for melee and flame blades. Under the 290 times enhancement of the warrior god talent, the destructive power of this strike had exceeded the bounds of reason. The sturdy stone door, which had stood here for who knows how many years, didn’t hold for even a second. It crumbled like a cookie struck by a hammer. Accompanied by a deafening explosion, the entire door, along with the surrounding. walls, was instantly blown into a sky full of purple debris. A dark, bottomless opening appeared before Yenjo. A violent airflow rolled out from the opening, causing his clothes to flutter. Yenjo, expressionless, walked into the spire. The scene inside was somewhat unexpected. It was empty. No boss. No minions. Not even a decent ornament. The vast circular hall had floors and walls made of monotonous purple crystal. Only in the center of the hall stood a mirror. A huge Over three meters tall, ornate floor mirror, its frame carved with countless twisted runes. The mirror’s surface was as smooth as water. There was no reflection of Yenjo, nor the monotonous purple crystal walls of the tower. Only a pure darkness, as if it could swallow all light. Yenjo, carrying the black knife, walked over slowly. He reached out his hand towards the mirror’s surface. What his fingertips touched was not cold, hard glass, but a sensation akin to the surface. Of water, with a hint of coolness. Ripple spread from the point of contact, extending into the depths of the darkness. He hesitated not a moment. With one step, he stepped into the mirror. Everything went black. When he opened his eyes. Again, the surroundings had completely changed. He was no longer inside the spire. Here was an endless void, with deep darkness above, below, left, and right. But this darkness did not feel oppressive. It was more like a massive, pure black. Curtain. And in the center of the curtain, a gigantic map, indescribable in words, floated quietly, emitting a soft glow. It was a three-dimensional, living map. Seven distinctly outlined continents floated in the void, representing the seven great kingdoms of the illusionary world. Countless main cities twinkled like stars on the continental plates, each shining with its own light. Between the cities, fine lines of light intertwined like a spider’s web. He could even see. Clouds representing different weather systems slowly drifting above the continents. Mountains rose and fell, rivers rushed into the sea. This was a sandbox encompassing the entire game world from a divine perspective. Yanzhou’s gaze was drawn to several particularly bright markers on the map. The colors of those light points did not represent any of the seven kingdoms. Instead, they were an ominous purple, originating from this void space. With a thought, his view zoomed in. Instantly, one of the purple light points rapidly enlarged .A line of small text appeared next to the light point. The actions of Yanzhou paused for a moment. This name, he had some impression of it. That small town where the undead plague erupted, allowing him to witness the power of the lord of the undead for the first time. The place that sealed the right arm of the Lord of the Undead. The Void Forces had even marked that location. He committed this information to memory. And then shifted his gaze to the other purple light points. Mingzhou Town Moi Harbor Lava Ruins Jingboa Town Jinsha City Teeling Fortress Ranshou Town Yenjio etched these seven names into his mind one by one. These places were. Likely intertwined with the schemes of the Void Forces and the Undead Plague in countless ways. Such important intelligence, relying solely on memory, might lead to omissions. He frowned. Then, he swiped open a virtual screen in front of. Him, the game’s built-in system interface. He rarely used it, except for organizing his backpack and private chats. He almost never opened it. He fumbled around on it awkwardly. Live streaming function online forum scouts I this one. Sounded familiar, Mingyao had made him use it once in front of the box during the Barbarian Bear dungeon. He almost forgot this was also a useful tool. Then he directed the scouts I towards the massive star map. Well, it seemed not very useful. He flipped through a few more pages. Friend List Guild System Achievement Hall Life Profession Shop System Finally, on the second page, he found what he was looking for. Photo Function One-Click Beautification. Yengio clicked on the photo function. A frame similar to a camera viewfinder appeared before him. Without hesitation, he framed the entire massive three-dimensional map within it. Click. A light sound. Ding. Data has been saved. Yengio sighed in relief. He closed the system interface and took another look at the magnificent floating map. The purpose of this trip had been achieved. It was time to leave. He turned around and walked back the way he came. There, still lay. A rippling exit leading to the spire. However, just as he was about to step out of this space, a scorching sensation suddenly surged from his backpack. Yen Jiu’s footsteps came to an abrupt halt. Something was off. He quickly opened the virtual interface of his backpack. Among the mountain of miscellaneous items, a stack of inconspicuous dark red metals was now emitting an incredibly blinding light. The light pulsed bright and dim, beating like a heart. Demon metals. They. only reacted so strongly to one thing, high level demons. Yenjio slowly turned around. His gaze fell back into the dark void, which was empty except for a massive map. There were demons here. His sight pierced through the darkness, as if, he could see through all illusions. The demon medals in his backpack were astonishingly hot. That was not an illusion. Hidden in this seemingly empty space was a demon of considerable rank. Yenjio did not act immediately. He simply stood. quietly in place, taking the stack of scorching metals out of his backpack and cradling them in his palm. The dark red light pulsed violently in his hand like an ominous heart. Bright. Dim. Each pulse pointed in a specific direction. He took. The first step in that direction. The light of the metals brightened. He changed direction, and the light dimmed accordingly. A very understandable rule. Yen Jio no longer hesitated, walking slowly towards the direction of the brightest. Light. This void was much larger than he had imagined. There was no solid ground beneath his feet, each step felt like treading on solidified darkness, silent and echoless. Apart from the massive, slowly rotating star map, the entire world was terrifyingly silent. Only the dark red light in his palm was the sole variable in this stillness. He circled around the edge of the star map ahead lay in even purer darkness, a corner so shrouded that even starlight could not penetrate. It’s, the pulsation of the metal had reached its peak. The light was blinding. The heat was searing. The target was right there. Yen Jiu’s footsteps came to a halt. He saw a curl shadow. It was large, wrapping its body tightly with a pair. Of broken, bat-like massive wings. It was trembling. Very slightly, but it was indeed trembling. Like a poor soul trying to warm itself with thin clothing in the cold wind. This was quite different from the grand entrance Yanjio had. Imagined for a high-level demon. He did not draw his sword. He simply carried the black blade and moved a little closer. The shadow trembled even more violently. Come out, Yanjio spoke. His words sounded particularly jarring in this utterly. silent space the shadow did not move it even wrapped itself tighter yenjio frowned feeling a bit troubled i see you he added the shadow quivered sharply moments later the edge of a wing cautiously opened a small gap a head with twisted goat horns peeked out from the crevice on that face scarred by burns a pair of crimson eyes were filled with terror and unease it was looking at yenjio no more accurately it was looking at what yenjio held there the Medal of the Grand Commander, representing the highest honor of the Demon Legion, was emitting a faint, yet palpable, aura of abyssal pressure. The demon’s pupils instantly shrank to pinpricks. G Grand Commander. A hoarse, dry voice, filled with disbelief, squeezed out from its throat. It was as if it had seen the most terrifying thing in the world, its entire body froze. Yen Jiu paid no mind to its address. He simply looked at the top of this creature’s head. A line of blood-red text clearly emerged. Grand Commander Lamu, Embracer of the Void, Silver Level Boss, Race, Void Level, LV25 Health, 80,000 Attack, 1173 Defense, 1076 Physical Resistance, 29% Magical Resistance, 28% Status Resistance, 10 Skills, Void Slash, Madness, Void Tentacle, Demon Roar, Wing Strike, Predator. Note, he was once a renowned Demon Commander, but was publicly stripped of the metal symbolizing honor for defying the will of the Grand Commander. In endless pursuit, he chose to embrace the Void, thinking it would grant him the power of revenge. But he did not know that he had merely jumped from one cage into a deeper abyss. So that was it. Yenjiyo finally understood. No wonder this tower. Was so empty. It turned out that the boss here had sensed the aura of the Grand Commander’s metal on him in advance and had been scared enough to flee, hiding in this corner and trembling. This demon commander named Lamu was clearly. Traumatized by a previous superior. I. I didn’t do anything. Lamu’s voice was laced with a whimper. Its massive body fully revealed from beneath its wings, it scrambled backward on all fours. I was just passing by. I’ll leave right away. Right away. It said, flailing in a panic as it tried to stand up. However, due to its excessive anxiety, it slipped and fell heavily back to the ground. The scene was quite awkward. Yenjiyo watched this enormous demon, towering over him by two heads floundering on the ground like a child who had done something wrong. He couldn’t even muster the interest to take action. Are you the guardian of this tower? Yenjiyo asked. No, no, no. I’m not. Lama shook its head like a rattle. I’m just a lost, yes, a lost traveler. I’ll leave right now, I won’t disturb you. It said with utmost sincerity. Yen Jiu sighed. Communicating with this kind of creature felt like it would lower his IQ. Even if demons were born. With intelligence, most of them were still insane.He decided to ask something practical. What exactly is this place for? Lamu’s movements came to a halt. Fear filled its crimson eyes. Yen Jiu pointed to the rippling mirror behind him. Is there anything else besides that mirror? Lamu lowered its head even further, almost touching the ground. And no. There’s nothing else. Its voice trembled uncontrollably. Sir, you should leave quickly, really, you should go. They? They will be back soon. They will be back soon. That weapon isn’t finished yet, it won’t be of any use to you. It urged, as if something terrifying was closing in. Yanjio did not move. He simply took the black knife off his shoulder. The tip gently gliding over the void ground. Speak clearly, or I will kill you. His tone was flat, as if discussing something trivial. Lamu’s body shook violently. Fear seemed to have reached its peak. In that instant, its head, which had been buried, shot up. All the previous terror and unease vanished in an instant, replaced by bone-deep madness and resentment. Its right claw had, at some point, coalesced into a purplish -black void blade. The blade tore through the darkness, aiming straight for Yen Jo’s throat. The ambush came swift and fierce, with almost no warning. But Yen Jo’s figure seemed to have foreseen everything. He merely took half a step back, slightly tilting his body. The deadly blade. Grazed his neck skin, narrowly slicing past. Thud. The blade pierced the void. Yanjio didn’t even turn around. He swung the knife back, slashing behind him. The black blade accurately struck Lama’s arm that held the weapon. Minus 907. A not so high. Damage number popped up above Lama’s head. Missing the strike, Lama let out an angry roar. Its tattered flesh wings suddenly spread wide, retreating rapidly with its massive body, creating distance. Damn abyss hound. The void is our true. Home, it roared, no longer exhibiting its previous humility. Yanjio turned around, flexing his wrist. He looked at the demon entering a combat stance, his face still expressionless. This performance was quite good. Unfortunately, he. Had never believed it from the start. Lama pushed off the ground with its feet, its massive body transforming into a shadow, charging again. The void blade in its hand traced sharp arcs, blocking all of Yen Jio’s possible escape routes. Yen. Jio did not dodge. He simply swung the black knife in his hand, deflecting each attack one by one. Clang. Clang. Clang. The crisp sound of metal clashing echoed in the dead silence of the void. With each collision, Yanjou’s body was jolted. Back a step. But his movements remained calm and unhurried. Lamu’s attacks grew faster and more frenzied. Void slash. A purple sword energy cleaved toward him. Just before the sword energy reached him, Yanjou’s figure transformed into. Specks of starlight, vanishing from the spot. Stellar walk in the next second, he appeared at Lamu’s side. The black knife thrusts straight in. Minus 3024. Lama winced in pain, retaliating with a double wing strike. Its massive flesh wings. Swept in with a howling wind. Yanjou did not retreat but advanced, lowering his body and sliding past beneath the wings. The entire battle unfolded as smoothly as if rehearsed a thousand times. He was like an experienced hunter toying with. A beast that had already fallen into a trap. Lama’s attacks always fell just short. It was that slight margin that rendered all its efforts futile. It began to grow impatient. Roar. A deafening demon roar erupted from its throat. The invisible sound waves spread in all directions. The moment Yanjou saw its throat convulsing he had already reacted. A faint shadow enveloped him. Shadowcloak-69 The negative effect of the roaring immune abnormal state was. Completely negated. Lam’s movements froze momentarily due to this roar. Yanjio seized the opportunity. He no longer held back. His hand gently brushed against the blade of the spirit extinguishing blade. Buzz, the black blade was instantly. Enveloped in a layer of orange-red flames. Flame blade it’s over. Yanjio’s figure lunged forward once more. Lam recovered from the freeze, and as he looked at the devastating flames rushing towards him, fear finally returned to his eyes. He wanted to dodge. It was too late. The burning blade had already struck his chest. Minus 3037. Minus 9873. Flame blade. One strike after another, the demon’s health plummeted drastically. The intense pain drove Lam into madness. The void energy. Within him began to run rampant uncontrollably. This was a precursor to the madness skill. Yen Jio did not give him that chance. Spell surge brilliant starlight gathered in his palm. Starfall technique boom. A minuscule star, condensed. To perfection, shot out. The star did not fly into the sky but instead, in an almost zero distance manner, slammed hard against Lamb’s chest. Minus 34 ,881. Minus 23,112. Double moon. A terrifying damage number that was enough to empty his entire. Health bar suddenly appeared. Lamb’s massive body, under the brilliance of the star, couldn’t even let out a scream. Just like the bandaged monster before. His body shattered inch by inch under the destructive force, turning into tiny purple. Light fragments that dissipated into the eternal darkness. The world fell silent once more. Yen Jio flicked away the non-existent blood on the blade and sheathed the black sword. On the ground, the last trace of the demon’s light also. Completely vanished. Yen Jio stood in place, sorting through the chaotic information in his mind. There was still too little information. The demon named Lam mentioned weapons at the last moment. And they would be back soon. Who are they? The main force of the void faction? Or are they players from other factions? Yenjo felt a headache coming on. After finally catching a live one, it turned out to be a terrified lunatic. Other than knowing someone was forging something, it was basically a complete loss. He turned around, passed through the rippling mirror, and returned to the tower. Outside the tower was a silent purple wasteland. Two identical towers stood quietly in the distance, like three silent giants. In the center of the three towers, there was a vaguely lower circular building. It looked like an altar. The place for forging weapons surely wouldn’t be in such an empty tower. Yanjio’s gaze fell on that altar. He opened the skill. Interface and checked the cooldown time of his mount. It was ready. He extended his hand and snapped his fingers. The crisp sound in the empty wasteland stirred not a hint of echo. Tiny starlights gathered before him. The agile and graceful. Four-eyed spirit leopard stepped out of the magic circle once more. It affectionately rubbed against Yanjio’s leg. Yanjio mounted the leopard’s back. Let’s go. Elemental charge. The azure light once again tore through the dim space. The flowing light shot straight towards the circular altar like an arrow released from a bow. The surrounding purple crystal ground was carved with a deep mark by the raging wind. In the blink of an eye, the altar was already in front of. Him. It looked even more dilapidated up close. The massive stones were covered in incomprehensible twisted patterns, exuding an ominous aura. At the very center of the altar was a bottomless gaping hole. Dense void energy thick enough to. almost become tangible, was slowly seeping out from the opening forming visible purple mist. This was the true entrance. Yen Jio hesitated not for a moment. He dismissed his mount and the spirit leopard transformed into starlight and dissipated. Then he stepped into the profound darkness. His body plummeted rapidly the howling wind swept past his ears. Darkness swallowed all light. Just as he was about to touch the ground he activated astral walk. His figure vanished. In mid-air, and when he reappeared he was already standing firmly on the ground, not making a sound. beneath him was a cold metal floor the surrounding space opened up suddenly it was an unimaginably vast underground forge countless giant grotesque forging facilities stood silently in the darkness like silent steel behemoths huge chains hung down from an invisible dome with iron hooks at their ends large enough to lift mountains the air was thick with the scorching scent of sulfur mixed with metal there were still remnants of purple light belonging to void creatures that had not completely dissipated scattered on the ground were several bizarre monster corpses they’re cut smooth The signs of battle were fresh. It seemed he had arrived a step too late again. Yen Jiu’s brows furrowed slightly. Since entering this instance he had been chasing after others’ footsteps. This feeling made him quite uncomfortable. He walked down a wide passage toward the depths of the forge. The entire space was terrifyingly quiet, with only the sound of his own footsteps echoing. The ones who had cleared this place had moved decisively. After about five minutes, a crisp metallic clash echoed from around the corner ahead. There was still fighting. Yanjio immediately restrained his breath, lightened his steps, and crept toward the source of the sound. He maneuvered around a massive, extinguished furnace. The scene ahead came into view. A figure was fiercely battling a void creature wielding a giant hammer. It was the back of a woman. She was slender, dressed in flexible leather armor that accentuated her tight lines. Her delicate feet danced lightly on. Blue flames. Yet her movements were as swift as lightning, each dodge perfectly timed. The fine sword in her hand emitted a brilliant glow with every swing, tracing a deadly arc in the darkness. Her opponent was a monster over three meters. Tall, composed of black iron in purple flesh. The monster swung a massive iron hammer that matched its size, each strike leaving a deep dent in the metal floor. However, that heavy and frenzied attack couldn’t even graze the woman’s hem. Yen. Joe’s footsteps halted. He recognized that silhouette. Ro in his eyes. He hadn’t forgotten this woman. The enormous iron hammer came crashing down with a whistle that tore through the air. Boom. The metal floor was smashed into a twisted. Pit, sparks flying. Yet, the figure of Ro seemed like a weightless feather, gracefully drifting away in the intervals of the violent attacks. She danced atop a circle of ghostly blue flames, leaving fleeting traces of fire on the cold, metal floor with each leap. Her opponent, the void creature known as the Forging Blacksmith, was low on health, but its assault remained frenzied. Ro didn’t seem in a hurry to end the battle, she appeared to be enjoying the process, each dodge and counterattack executed with textbook precision. The fine sword and dark golden dagger in her hands traced deadly arcs in the darkness. Minus 1 ,284. Minus 1,302. Stable damage numbers continuously popped up above the monster’s head. Yen Jio did. Not intervene. He simply leaned against the cold furnace wall, watching quietly. Ro’s fighting style was somewhat similar to his own. It leaned towards technique, using speed and agility to toy with the massive enemy. Finally, after dodging. Another sweep of the hammer, she found a perfect opening. The blue flames beneath her surged high. She transformed into a blue phantom, instantly closing in on the blacksmith’s chest. Spirit fires stabbed the tip of the fine sword erupted. With blinding light precisely piercing the purple energy core in the monster’s chest. Minus 15,890. A massive critical hit damage popped up, the massive body of the blacksmith suddenly stiffened. It let out a reluctant roar and then crashed. To the ground, transforming into a shower of purple-like shards. Ding! A few pieces of equipment fell to the ground. Muriro bent down and picked up those pieces of equipment, stowing them in her backpack without even looking. She flicked. The non-existent blood off her slender sword and dagger, her movements graceful. Then, she turned around. The moment she saw Yenjio, the relaxed and content expression on her face froze for an instant. A hint of surprise flashed across her. Features. Soon, that surprise turned into a knowing smile. I guessed I would run into you here. She said cheerfully, walking towards Yenjio. With each step, the blue flames beneath her flickered, casting her delicate figure in an almost. surreal light. Yen Jio said nothing. He simply took the black knife off his shoulder and held it in his hand. Moody Ro’s steps did not falter. What’s this? After such a long time, you don’t even know how to greet me? Little brother. Yen Jio. Her tone carried a hint of teasing. Yen Jio’s response was simple and direct. He stepped forward and the black knife in his hand transformed into a streak of black lightning, slicing directly at Moody Ro’s head. No probing. No. Holding back. This strike was swift and fierce, sealing off all her escape routes. Yet facing this lethal blow, the smile on Moody Rose’s face showed no sign of change. It seemed she had anticipated Yen Jio’s reaction long ago. Just as the blade was about to touch her hair, her body, with a soft poof, transformed into a leaping, azure spirit flame. The black knife struck nothing but air. The spirit flame drifted back a few meters, reassembling into Moody Rose’s figure in the distance. Oh dear, still so unromantic. She patted her chest, feigning a look of lingering fear. I almost got chopped to death by you again. Yen Jio did not pursue. He simply stood in place, starlight beginning to gather in his palm. Moody Ro noticed his movement. Don’t rush to attack. She spoke rapidly. Your starry camp should have received rewards before setting out, right? Yenjo’s actions did not stop. The starlight in his palm grew brighter. Guess what my reward is? Seeing that he had no intention of engaging in conversation, as if he was fully focused on accumulating a powerful spell, she dared not keep him in suspense and spoke faster. I specifically went to ask the Lord of All Spirits for a skill. Although it’s a bit useless, it has a special effect against you. As soon as her words fell, she quickly shot out a skill link. Body of resentment, passive 50 % of all damage taken is reflected back to the attacker.Yen Jiu’s brows furrowed slightly. The starlight in his palm, which had gathered to its peak, slowly extinguished. Seeing this, Moody Ro finally breathed a sigh of relief. She smiled again, fluttering over to Yen Jiu like a butterfly, stopping. Three steps away from him. This was a safe distance. How about it? She raised her chin proudly. Didn’t I just save your life? If that starry spell had hit, you wouldn’t have survived either, right? And I guess you didn’t have a recovery. Skill ready. Yenjiyo sheathed the black knife and hoisted it back onto his shoulder. He did not look at her. So, let’s just consider our previous matters settled, shall we? Moody Ro’s tone carried a hint of temptation. If that doesn’t work, you can stay here and do something else with me. With that, her delicate, pale feet slowly moved towards Yenjiyo’s face. Yenjiyo still did not respond. He simply turned and walked deeper into the forge, his back straight and decisive. Although he was currently enjoying the thrill, he was not a fool blinded by desire. Moody Ro watched his retreating figure, her smile slowly fading. She followed him. The two walked one after the other in the silent metallic corridor. Only the sound of their footsteps echoed in the empty space. Hey, say something. Moody Ro was getting a bit impatient. If you don’t speak up, I’ll take it as your agreement. Yen Jo’s footsteps came to a halt. He turned around. What do? You know? Where are your teammates? He finally spoke. Of course, they’re on a mission, Moody Ro replied as if it were obvious. The information I received is that the Void Forces are forging a troublesome weapon here, and we need to get it before it takes shape. The few people with me were interested in my sister’s beauty and wanted to bully her, but she sent them back. Moody Ro immediately suggested. Why don’t we cooperate? I’m a bit slow at clearing small monsters alone, but your damage is high. If we work together, our efficiency will be much better. I don’t need to. Yen Jio rejected her outright. Don’t be like that. Moody Ro moved closer again. Look, this godforsaken place is so big. It’s dangerous to act separately. What if we encounter a boss we can’t defeat? We are two of the three absolutes, if we join forces, there’s nothing in this dungeon we can’t handle. Yen Jio remained silent. His killing intent had never wavered because of a single word from the other party. That passive skill called, body of resentment, was like a thorn, piercing into his mind. This wasn’t the first time he had encountered something like this. The boss named Man Xiong. had used a similar trick to make him suffer a great loss. The damage he could easily crush everything with had, at that moment, turned into a double -edged sword stabbing back at him. He didn’t want to experience that feeling a second time. He had to think of a way, to deal with this woman, since she had backstabbed him once, she would do it again. Relying solely on ranged spells was clearly unrealistic. Moody Ro was also one of the three absolutes, her speed and reaction, were far from that of a stationary target. Without the melee enhancement of a martial gods talent, relying only on basic spell damage to kill her while she dodged was nearly impossible. But once she chose to engage up close, he would be restricted by his own talent. He couldn’t dare to attack actively and could only passively create distance. It was absurd. What about summons? His strongest summon, the four-eyed spirit leopard, was still on cooldown. The gray skill icon on. His panel seemed to mock his predicament. The other summons were just useless trash. They might be somewhat useful against ordinary experts, but in front of the three absolutes, they weren’t even cannon fodder. The current situation seemed to have fallen into a deadlock. No. There was still one way. Yenjio’s thoughts raced. Wait. Wait for the cooldown of his mount to end. There was still half an hour left. As long as he could stall until then, summon the four-eyed spirit. Leopard. And use its powerful attributes to restrain Mudiro. He still had the horn dropped in the starry courtyard in his backpack. The summon boss would be enough to give her a run for her money. Then, he could use, astral walk, to, instantly create a safe distance. After that, he would unleash his most powerful spell to completely obliterate her. He should be able to withstand the counter damage with, earth shield, and, shadow cloak. The plan took shape in his mind. Yen Jio raised his head and looked at the woman with the charming smile not far away, quickly changing the subject. Where is the thing forged by the void, he asked. Moody Ro shrugged and spread her hands. How would I know? I just, followed the mission’s guidance and cleared my way here. Let’s go look around together, maybe we’ll find it. She floated a few steps closer, the blue flames under her feet leaving faint scorch marks on the cold metal floor. Yen Jio didn’t say anything. He simply hoisted the black knife he had been holding back onto his shoulder. But Moody Ro didn’t notice that his grip had tightened a bit more. Then, he turned around and walked deeper into the forge, using his actions to provide his answer. Moody Ro watched his decisive back, her smile growing even wider, she followed lightly, like a blue butterfly that had found its direction. The two of them walked one after the other in the silent metal corridor. No one spoke again. Only two distinctly different footsteps echoed in the empty space. One was steady. The other was light. Soon, new enemies emerged from the darkness ahead. They were several larger void constructs, their arms like searing forged. Iron pincers covered in flowing purple patterns. The battle erupted in an instant. No verbal communication was needed at all. Yanjou stepped forward, his black knife carving a simple arc that intercepted one construct’s charge. Clang! The immense force made him stagger back half a step. Almost simultaneously, a blue shadow slipped past him. The soft figure in her eyes appeared like a ghost behind another construct. The slender sword and dark golden dagger in her hands. Unleashed two deadly flashes, precisely piercing the energy nodes on the construct’s back. Minus 1345. Minus 1411. The construct’s movements froze for a moment. Yen Jio seized the opportunity, shifting his body to evade the monster’s attack in front of. Him. The black knife swept upward, striking the knee joint of a third construct. Minus 9871. A massive damage dealt, yet it successfully caused the construct to lose its balance, its enormous body tipping to one side. The entire process flowed. Seamlessly. They were like teammates who had coordinated thousands of times. One responsible for frontal control and destruction. The other for maneuvering and assassination. Those elite monsters, which seemed like nightmares to ordinary players, appeared as fragilis paper toys before the two of them. Blue flames and the pitch black blade light intertwined in the darkness. The metallic wails and the explosions of energy cores rose and fell. The clearing was proceeding at an exaggerated speed. The attacks from the soft figure always appeared in the most tricky and lethal positions. And with each swing of Yen Jiu’s blade, he perfectly created the best output environment for her. They were like two precise, cold killing machines. Soon, the end of the corridor appeared before them. On the ground, only fragments of dissipating purple light remained. At the end of the corridor was a vast, open cavity. A wave of heat rushed toward them. This was. The true core of the underground forge. A gigantic forge, too grand to be described in words, stood in the center of the entire space. It resembled a slumbering steel behemoth, its dark red metallic shell covered in menacing pipes and. Intricate patterns. Countless pitch black chains, thicker than a person, hung down from an invisible dome, wrapping around the forge like a spider’s web, ultimately converging at the heart of the furnace. There, a massive, yet to be fully, formed metal block floated. It presented a blurred sword-like outline, with purple void energy flowing slowly across its surface, emitting a heart-pounding pulse. Looks like we’ve found the big guy, the soft voice of the figure echoed in. The vast space, tinged with excitement. Yen Jio ignored her. He hefted the black knife and stepped closer to the enormous forge. The closer he got, the more intense the heat in the air became, mixed with the acrid smell of sulfur and molten metal. This was the weapon that Lamook spoke of. Just looking at it, one could feel the terrifying power contained within. It had to be destroyed or taken before it fully formed. Yanjio stopped in his tracks. He raised his hand, and. Brilliant starlight began to gather in his palm. A miniature star rapidly condensed in his hand. Starfall technique. Without a moment’s hesitation, he aimed this powerful star at one of the chains entwined around the forge and hurled it. Forward with force. Boom. The deafening explosion echoed throughout the underground space. The star’s brilliance instantly engulfed that area. However, when the light faded, the pitch black chain still hung there, perfectly intact, without. Even a scratch. Ah, what a waste of effort. Muriro floated over, the blue flames beneath her feet casting a dazzling blow on her fair skin. She circled the forge, as if admiring a piece of art. These chains seemed to be integrated with. The entire forge. Relying on brute force probably won’t work, Yanjio frowned. He aimed again at the massive sword-shaped iron block in the heart of the forge. This time, he did not use any spells. He stepped forward, his body slightly. Sinking, gripping the blade of annihilation tightly with both hands. Wind step. His figure transformed into an arrow released from a bow, instantly crossing dozens of meters to appear in front of the forge. He leaped into the air, his body. Tracing a sharp arc. The black blade, carrying all his strength, struck fiercely against the sword-shaped iron block. Clang. A metallic roar loud enough to shatter eardrums echoed. An unimaginable recoil force surged from the blade. Yen. Joe’s body was violently thrown back, rolling several times in the air before he managed to stab the tip of his blade into the ground to stabilize himself. A long, blinding spark was drawn across the metallic floor. Yet, the sword-shaped iron block remains suspended in place, its surface of purple energy not even rippling. I told you, it’s useless, Moody Ro’s voice carried a hint of amusement as she watched the spectacle. Yen Jio said nothing. He sheathed the black blade and began to walk slowly around the massive forge. His gaze swept over the thick chains, the intricate patterns on the furnace walls, and the cryptic runes on the ground. He was searching for a way to break the deadlock. Time passed. Second by second. The cooldown for his mount was still 20 minutes. He had to maintain this fragile peace during that time. You need to hurry up. Otherwise, when they come back, you won’t have a chance. Yen Jio paused for a moment. Who are they? How would I know? Moody Ro shrugged innocently. Maybe it’s the Void’s main force, or perhaps players from other factions, who can say for sure. Yen Jio stopped pressing for answers. He continued to observe. Soon, he noticed something amiss. The chains hanging from the dome were not randomly entwined. Their ends were precisely connected to a circle of special runes surrounding the base of the forge. These runes were distinctly different from the other patterns on the ground. They seemed to be drawing in some kind of energy, sustaining the operation of the entire forge. Following the direction of the runes, Yanjio continued his search. Finally, in the southern direction of the forge, he discovered a more peculiar groove. It was shaped like a palm. Hey, I found something over here too. Just then, Moody Rose voice came from the other side of the forge. Yanjio looked up. She was standing to the north of the forge, pointing at the ground. There, too, was a palm-shaped groove. The two of them gazed at each other across the massive forge. The answer was already clear. Looks like we need to do this together to turn it off, Moody Ro said with a grin. She lightly tapped the ground with her toes, and her whole body floated up, the blue flames beneath her tracing a graceful arc in the darkness as she landed beside the groove. So, what do you think, little brother Yen Jio? Yen Jio ignored her. And, without hesitation, pressed his left hand into the cold groove. Almost simultaneously, Moody Ro also pressed her hand into hers. Hum. A deep rumble emanated from within the forge. The entire underground space began to tremble violently. The runes beneath their hands suddenly blazed with blinding light.A massive surge of energy rushed into the forge through their arms, wildly flooding the furnace. The countless chains wrapped around the furnace began to groan under the unbearable strain, one by one. They slowly started to retract upwards. The enormous sword-shaped iron block at the heart of the furnace shone brightly. At that moment, six originally dim chains were simultaneously illuminated. Light, darkness. Life, death, stars, elements. Six distinctly different primal energies transformed into a visible torrent, cascading down the chains from the void above, frantically pouring into the central sword blank. The entire underground space, wailed. The metallic floor cracked inch by inch, unable to withstand the immense energy, shooting out scorching sparks. Yenjo’s hand pressed into the groove, clearly feeling the destructive force coursing through him. His body, however, remained motionless. Opposite him, Moody Roseye softened, the blue flames beneath her feet flickering more violently, clearly under immense pressure as well. This thing is even more exaggerated than I imagined, she spoke, her voice. Tinged with an uncontrollable excitement, Yen Jio did not respond. His attention was entirely focused on the sword blank undergoing a dramatic transformation. The purple void energy was being frantically compressed, purified, and reshaped. By the six primal energies, the outline of the sword blank became increasingly clear. Just then, a cold, emotionless system prompt echoed throughout the space. Ding! The Genesis forge has been activated. Please select the forging type. Accompanied by the prompt, a massive virtual light screen unfolded above the sword blank. Weapon slash equipment accessory title pet slash mount Almost at the same moment the light screen appeared, Yanjio and Moody Ro simultaneously released their hands from the groove. Both rushed towards the light screen in unison. The blue flames beneath Moody Ro exploded, transforming her into a streak of light that flew swiftly along the ground. But someone was faster than her. Yanjio’s body, transformed into specks of starlight at the spot. Starwalk in the next second, he appeared 15 meters in the air, just below the side of the light screen. As he fell, he suddenly stepped out in mid-air. Wind stepped the strong airflow. Abruptly halted his descent and adjusted his direction. Immediately after, Starwalk his figure vanished again, reappearing as he steadily hovered before the massive light screen. The entire process was fluid and incredibly fast. Below, Moody. Ro had only just reached halfway. She watched Yenjio, who had already arrived at the destination, and her movements suddenly froze. Yenjio wasted no time. His hand reached decisively for the leftmost option on the light screen. Weapon. Just as his fingertips were about to touch the weapon option, a sharp whoosh pierced the air from below. An arrow, entirely black and swirling with a vengeful aura, tore through the air. The Phantom Arrow. Yen Jiu’s body had no leverage in. Mid-air. He could only watch helplessly as the arrow accurately struck his right shoulder. Thud. Minus 1744. A sharp pain surged through him. A chilling energy invaded his body through the wound, causing a brief paralysis. His arm uncontrollably. Jerked. His outstretched fingers grazed the edge of weapon and heavily landed on another option. Pet ding. Forging type selected, pet, selected person, Yenjo. Beginning forging. The cold system voice sounded like a final verdict. The light screen vanished in an instant. The metal block, now taking on a sword shape, melted into a ball of scorching fluid in a moment. The infusion of six-colored energy became even more frenzied. Yenjo’s body fell from mid-air. He used. His black blade to prop himself against the ground, stabilizing his form.A harsh scraping sound echoed on the metallic floor. The cold system notification reverberated in the vast underground space. Yen Jio did not look at the pet that was taking shape. He suddenly jumped back. A ghostly blue shadow brushed past, almost grazing his nose. Little brother, your hands are quite quick, but once you’re dead, this thing should belong to me, she said lightly, her slender sword and dagger showing no signs of pause, transforming into two streams of deadly light that once again sealed off all of Yen Jio’s escape routes. yenjo shook his still numb right arm his summoning spell was still a bit off cooldown or he would have gone to kill her this morning astral walk his figure transformed into specks of starlight vanishing from the spot the next second he appeared 15 meters away he did not hesitate for a moment and cast earth shield on himself a thick layer of earthy yellow light enveloped his entire body he then pulled out a bottle of crimson potion from his backpack and downed it in one go all of this happened in the blink of an eye the ghostly blue figure had already closed in again Her speed was astonishing, the blue flames at her feet leaving trails on the metallic floor. However, just as she was about to catch up to Yenjio, the figure in front of her flickered again. A deadly chill crept up from the back of her neck. Unbeknownst to her, Yenjio had already appeared behind her. The black blade, silent and unseen, was brought to her neck. A gentle swipe. Minus 10,917. A terrifying damage number erupted from the top of her head. Almost simultaneously, a massive recoil force surged back from the blade. Minus 4,366. A damage number also popped up for Yenjo. The earthy yellow shield on him flickered violently, dimming in an instant. The shield successfully absorbed over. A thousand points of damage. The remaining 3,000 points hit him squarely. Just before the shield was about to shatter, Yenjo’s figure transformed into starlight again, teleporting to a distance. Boom. The earthy yellow shield. Exploded at the spot where he had been standing, the shattered energy shockwave creating a shallow pit in the metallic floor. He successfully avoided the secondary damage that could have affected the ghostly blue figure when the shield broke. The ghostly blue figure did not fall as he had expected. No blood flowed from the cut on her neck. Her entire body, with a poof, transformed into countless jumping, ghostly blue flames. Those flames spiraled in the air and then reformed. Into her slender figure not far away. She turned to face Yanjio. The playful smile on her face had vanished without a trace, replaced by a cold scrutiny. Yanjio was not in good shape either. He was left with only a sliver of health. Without. Hesitation, he pulled something out of his backpack. It was a menacing, twisted canine tooth. Tooth of Lamerish after use, summons the void giant dog Lamerish to assist the user in battle for 30 seconds. This was something he had. Obtained from the starry courtyard and had never used before. He crushed the canine tooth. Roar. A roar unlike anything from the mortal realm echoed throughout the underground space. A twisted, massive summoning circle unfolded on the ground. Before him, a void giant dog the size of a truck burst forth from the circle. Its body was pitch black, devoid of fur, with only bulging muscles and veins pulsing with purple energy. Three pairs of blood-red eyes locked onto the ghostly. Blue figure not far away. Go, Yanjio issued a simple command. The void giant dog roared, its limbs pushing off the metallic floor, its massive body transforming into a streak of black lightning as it charged toward the ghostly blue figure. A level 20 silver grade boss. Enough for her to drink a pot of it. Yanjio did not look at the battle situation over there, taking advantage of this rare moment to catch his breath, he opened his backpack again. He glanced at the. Cooldown time for the recovery potion and the earth shield spell. Then, from a pile of food, he picked out the most appealing one. It was a huge lobster leg, roasted to a golden sheen, exuding a rich garlic aroma. Garlic roasted lobster. Leg consumable quality, bronze effect, restores 5% of maximum health per second for 20 seconds. Cannot move or perform other actions during this time. He sat down on the ground, keeping a watchful eye on his surroundings while devouring. It’s. On the other side, Moody Ro clearly did not expect Yanjio to have such a trump card. Each pounce of the void giant hound was accompanied by a howling wind and a nauseating stench. She had just used a life-saving skill, seemingly at a great cost, and her movements were far from the light and agile manner they had been before. Faced with the frenzied attacks of the silver-level boss, she could only rely on her exquisite skills to dodge awkwardly. Several times, the claws, capable of tearing through steel grazed the edges of her clothing. Yenjiu quietly ate the lobster leg. The delicious shrimp meat, combined with the rich garlic flavor, burst in his mouth. the health bar above his head was slowly and steadily recovering at a visibly noticeable rate the aroma of garlic mixed with the burnt smell of molten metal wafted through the vast underground space moody rose figure transformed into a flickering blue ghost fire between the claws and breath of the void giant hound lame you were each dodge was precise and deadly but the pressure she was under was something only she truly understood this summon creature was far more troublesome than those void constructs outside part of her focus was not entirely on the beast A portion of her mind remained locked onto the man sitting cross-legged in the distance. And the green bar above his head was slowly but surely rising. He could not be allowed to continue recovering. The void giant hound lunged at her once more, the foul wind nearly lifting her off her feet. Using this force, she floated sideways and backward, feigning a move to counterattack from behind. In the next moment, the blue flames at her. Feet erupted violently. Her entire being transformed into a blue arrow, slicing through the air. The target was not the giant hound. It was Yen Jiu. Yanjio lifted his head from the golden, glistening lobster leg. A blue streak of light. Was rapidly enlarging in his field of vision. He glanced at his health bar. 40%. The recovery potion’s cooldown had 3 seconds left. That was enough. He did not stand up. He didn’t even drop the lobster in his hand. He simply. Raised his empty left hand, palm up. A brilliant, extremely compressed star gathered and took shape in his palm. Starfall technique. He flicked his wrist. The miniature star transformed into a white light heading straight for the oncoming. Blue flames. Minus 807. A small, pitiful damage number popped up above Moody Ro’s head. Immediately after, another even smaller number appeared. Minus 639, double moon. This amount of damage was insignificant to her. But that was not the point. Almost simultaneously, bright red numbers exploded above Yanjou’s own head. Minus 403. Minus 314. He had just recovered to 40% health, only to lose a significant chunk again, returning to a precarious state. A thought flashed through his. Mind. The type of reflection damage was magical. Physical attacks reflected physical damage. Magical attacks reflected magical damage. This woman’s reflection damage had rules. And rules meant they could be exploited. At the moment they crossed. Paths, the neglected void giant hound found its opportunity. It suddenly stood upright. Its massive chest heaved unnaturally. Three pairs of blood red eyes flickered with a destructive light. Yanjou’s body instinctively tensed. He had. seen this initiation move in the starry courtyard collapse of the void force displacement pulled to his lips then he bit down he suddenly leaped up from the ground the metallic floor beneath him began to twist like the surface of water astral walk his body transformed into specks of starlight disappearing from the spot just a second before the space collapsed completely yen dairo’s eyes were soft but lacked this foresight her high-speed charge was slightly hindered by yen joe’s spell her target vanished into thin air right before her eyes She stopped right at the edge of the entire skill range. An irresistible, immense pulling force instantly seized her body. The scenery around her rapidly. Retreated. In the next second, she abruptly appeared in mid-air facing the gaping, abyss-like maw of the void giant dog. A foul, rancid wind mixed with nauseating saliva rushed towards her. Yen Jiu’s figure reformed in the shadow beneath. The forging furnace 15 meters away. He saw Yen Dairo trapped in a desperate situation. He also saw the massive jaws, about to close, capable of crushing steel. Then, he sat back down. He picked up a lobster leg that had fallen to. The ground, blowing off the non-existent dust on it. He took a big bite. It was delicious. He took two more bites. The blood bar above his head began to rise again with a tenacious vigor. Just as the giant dog’s sharp teeth were about to. Snap shot. Boom. A blinding blue flame erupted from that massive mouth. Yendairo’s figure was blasted out like a cannonball, tumbling awkwardly in the air a few times before barely stabilizing herself. She landed on the ground, kneeling on. one knee, gasping heavily. The exquisite leather armor she wore had several charred tears. The playful, seemingly all-controlling smile had vanished from her face without a trace. In its place was a cold silence. She slowly raised her head. Looking past the giant dog that was still roaring with flames in its mouth, towards Yenjo, she gazed at the man who was still leisurely munching on a lobster. In terms of mobility, she would be toyed with by his teleportation. In terms. Of consumption, the displacement of the astral walker was too abnormal, she couldn’t even touch him, and her long cooldowns for ranged and displacement skills would only lead to her being dragged to death. From the very beginning of this battle, she had been at a disadvantage. If this continued, she would undoubtedly lose. Something had to change. Yen Jio. She stood up and softly called out this name. Gone was the previous mockery, and the teasing, little brother, title. Her beautiful eyes fixed on Yen Jio as he unleashed the starfall spell again, watching the trailing, swaying tale of light, without saying a word. Then she gave up resistance, struck by a beam of starlight, and completely vanished. Only. A belt radiating silver light remained on the ground. The moment the starfall spell was cast, Yen Jo activated the shadow cloak. Yen Jo’s expression remained unchanged as he continued sitting on the ground, pulling out a new lobster and starting to gnaw on it. The void giant dog lost its target, anxiously turning in place for two circles, letting out a threatening low growl. The air was frozen. That faint chill did not dissipate with Yen Dairou’s disappearance. Yen Jo. Finished the last bit of lobster meat. The delicious flavor, mixed with rich garlic aroma, exploded on his taste buds. The blood bar above his head had recovered to over 90%. An absolutely safe value. He discarded the lobster shell in his hand and slowly stood up. The black knife was once again gripped in his hand. He scanned the area. The empty forging yard was terrifyingly silent. Only the massive Genesis furnace in the center continued to operate tirelessly. Hot fluid in the furnace core was slowly coalescing into a vague outline under the infusion of six colored energy. Yen Dairo was indeed gone. As if she had never existed. Yen Jio did not let his guard down. That woman was a hundred times more. Dangerous than this void giant dog. Roar, having lost its target, the lemurish anxiously scraped at the metallic ground, letting out a confused low growl. It had only a few seconds left for its summoning time. Yen Jio ignored it. As long. As he waited for this pet to finish forging and took it away from here, the task should be considered complete. Just then, the not-so-bright Voight Hound seemed to finally make a judgment. Its three pairs of blood-red eyes suddenly turned. Towards Yen Jio. In its assessment, the only living being on sight was the enemy. Roar. A deafening roar erupted. The massive body of Lemurish transformed into a black afterimage, charging fiercely towards Yen Jio. A foul wind rushed towards. Him. At first, this monster obeyed his commands, but it seemed to be gradually becoming more frenzied as time passed. Yanjio’s body sank slightly, preparing to dodge to the side. He was even too lazy to use a displacement skill. However, just when the giant hound was less than 10 meters away from him, an indescribable sense of terrifying pressure descended from above. Boom! The entire underground space suddenly sank. The air, in that instant, became as thick as mercury. The charging lemurish was forcefully pressed to the ground by this power, letting out a painful whine. Yanjio was also staggered by the sudden heavy pressure. The tip of his black blade scraped against the hard metallic ground, creating a dazzling shower of sparks. He suddenly raised his head. Through the invisible dome made of rock and metal he felt a will. A will so immense it was unimaginable filled with brutality and rage. That presence was watching this place. It’s, was the original master of this weapon, or rather, of this forging furnace. Rumbling, the entire instance space began to tremble violently. Above the dome fragments of rock and metal parts fell incessantly. It was as if an invisible giant. Hand was madly attacking this fragile cage from the outside. It wanted to come in. warning, detected a supreme sequence beyond permissions, attempting to forcibly interfere with the instance process. System rules forcibly locking in. Lock successful. The cold system prompt echoed in Yanjio’s ears. The violent tremors abruptly ceased. Yanjio understood. The void forces had set up a furnace here. To forge a powerful weapon. To avoid detection by stronger beings from other forces, they had hidden the furnace in this low-level instance, only able to send low-level creatures to guard it. This also meant that their own strong beings could not enter freely. It was a form of balance. An absolute fairness enforced by the game rules. That immense will outside violently impacted for a moment. After realizing it could not shake the rules of the instance, it stopped. The entire world fell into a strange. Silence. Only the painful whimpers of Lee Marish and the rumbling of the Genesis furnace echoed in the vast space. It was contemplating. Yen Jiu’s heart tightened. He did. Not know what the other side would do. But without a doubt, it was not going to be anything good. A few seconds later, that overwhelming will that enveloped the entire. Space suddenly changed. It was as if it had been cleaved in half by an invisible knife. The vast majority remained outside the instance, distant and powerful. However, a. Small part, though still terrifying, had fallen into a comprehensible realm. It had weakened. Or rather, it had actively weakened itself to enter here. The weakened will. Showed no hesitation. It pierced through the instance’s barrier like a black meteor falling straight down from the invisible dome. The target was not Yenjo. Nor was. It the Voidhound trembling on the ground in fear. It was the roaring and operating Genesis furnace. Boom. A dull thud. That will heavily struck the metallic ground far. From the furnace, suppressed and unable to move, Lame Ruzi didn’t even have time to let out a mournful cry before his massive body was transformed into a flurry of purple. Light shards in the aftermath of the impact. The summoning time also happened to end at that moment. Yanjou’s pupils suddenly constricted. He saw a shadow. A pure. Shadow, as if it could devour all light, was slowly coalescing at the point of impact, moving towards the direction of the furnace. Just then, the stone door on the other side of this underground space was violently pushed open from the outside. Damn, there’s a whole new world in here. Yi Yan’s loud voice shattered the silence. He charged in with large strides. Following closely behind were the voluptuous priestess sister Bai and another serious-looking female paladin. The three of them had evidently found the right path. Then, they saw it. They saw the magnificent Genesis furnace. They saw Yenjo standing not far from the furnace. They also saw the shadow moving. towards the furnace, exuding an ominous aura. What the hell is that? Yien frowned. The shadow revealed no level information. Only this rare suffix indicated its extraordinary nature. The aura of brutality, chaos, and a desire for destruction was unmistakable. Be careful. Sister Bai called out as a warning. But it was too late. The shadow seemed to be enraged by their intrusion. It halted its advance towards the furnace and slowly turned around. It had no facial features, no limbs. Just a writhing. Twisted mass of darkness. In the next second, that shadow transformed into a bolt of lightning, charging towards the three of them at breakneck speed. Looking for death. Yi Yan shouted. He showed no sign of retreat, raising his knight’s greatsword high. Solar flare. A scorching beam, seemingly from the core of the sun, descended from. Above, enveloping the ground beneath him and his sword. He stepped forward, sinking his body, muscles tensed, ready to shatter this oblivious shadow along with the space. Behind it in the most forceful manner. No. Sister Bai behind him suddenly let out a sharp, terrified cry. However, the black shadow had already collided with the edge of Yi Yan’s sword. There was no earth-shattering explosion. No energy clash as imagined. The golden flames surrounding Yi Yan, capable of melting steel, extinguished with a poof as if they had met water. The heavy knight’s greatsword shattered inch by inch. The shadow showed no signs of stopping, passing through his body. Next was the female paladin, who hadn’t had time to react. Finally, it was Sister Bai. three beams of white light shot up into the sky almost simultaneously all that remained in place were a few scattered pieces of equipment still warm with residual heat instant kill not even a moment of resistance was possible after dispatching the three flies the shadow had no interest in taking another look it turned back towards the genesis furnace it stopped before the furnace the pure darkness began to slowly dissipate revealing its true form it was a creature that could not be described in words Its body was composed of countless twisted, indescribable flesh and limbs. Its. Appeared chaotic and grotesque, yet within that extreme distortion, it exuded a dissonant, chilling nobility and sanctity. As if it were a fusion of deity and devil. A. Line of blood-red text slowly emerged above its head. Avatar of the most high and hashtag percent? High-level boss, level, 25 most high? Yanzhou’s mind went blank for a moment. He. Had played this game for a long time and had seen a lot. He had once read a highly clicked science post on a forum. It was written by a player with the diving without breathing talent after delving into the endless sea. He had encountered countless massive, non-aggressive large fish.He also witnessed a diamond-level deep-sea behemoth, radiating a faint glow, swallow a platinum-level octopus hole as if it were a mere snack. That post systematically categorized the boss levels for all players for the first time, black iron, bronze, silver, gold, platinum, diamond. Later, some players, while undertaking faction missions, caught sight of a mythic-level dragon that obscured the entire sky, soaring above the clouds. Others read in ancient texts at the library about legendary NPCs and heroic poems detailing the slaying of epic level bosses. Thus, in the current understanding of all players, the pinnacle of combat power in this game is represented by the tiers of epic, legendary, and mythic, three unattainable levels. However, the term supreme was something he had never encountered. It transcended the comprehension of all players. The boss before him was a completely new and unknown entity. That supreme seemed entirely uninterested in Yanzhou, this insignificant being. Its attention was wholly focused on the Genesis Forge, sensing the growing power within its core. The dark aura surrounding its indescribable form became more violent and angrier. It slowly extended a hand formed from countless, pale arms, pointing at Yanzhou. That hand, made up of numerous entwined arms, pointed at Yanzhou. There was no energy gathering, nor any sign of an impending skill. In Yanzhou’s perception, that supreme existence merely made a simple pointing gesture. Then, it appeared right in front of Yanzhou. Space and time seemed to lose all meaning. In that moment, a fist composed of pure darkness carrying an aura capable of annihilating everything filled his entire field of vision. It was too fast. Although his brain could clearly track the trajectory of the fist, his body felt as if it were filled with lead, too heavy to move. Every neuron screamed to evade, but the muscle response was delayed by a whole century. This body had an agility of only 24, far too low. Just as the fist’s wind brushed against his nose, Yanzhou’s body finally transformed into a myriad of stars, narrowly disappearing from his original spot. Boom. The metal floor where he had stood was blasted into a bottomless pit, along with the rock layers beneath. The violent shockwave tore everything around him to shreds. Fortunately, after the upgrade of Starwalk, the casting time had nearly vanished. Yen. Joe’s figure reformed several meters away. The wall behind him was etched with a web-like pattern of cracks from the dissipated energy. A drop of cold sweat slid down his. Temple. Not enough. The speed was far from sufficient. At that moment, a cold thought, belonging to no human, echoed directly in his mind. Interesting. The voice was. Devoid of gender and emotion, yet carried an absolute arrogance stemming from a higher level of existence. Yanzhou’s body tensed instantly. That supreme moved again. This. Time, Yanzhou couldn’t even see its action. He only felt a deadly threat approaching from his left side. There was no time to think. He activated the displacement again. Starwalk his figure had just vanished when a pitch-black claw mark tore through the afterimage he left behind, leaving five deep claw prints on the hard metal wall. The edges of the claw marks distorted the space slightly, collapsing. Escape? The cold thought carried a hint of mockery. Just as Yen Jiu reappeared, he summoned a virtual light screen in front of him at the fastest speed. Strength, 24 agility, 24 constitution, 304 intelligence, 464 spirit, 564 remaining attribute points, 190 his. Fingers left a trail on the light screen. He frantically clicked on the plus sign in the agility section. Plus 1. Plus 30. Plus 90. He didn’t even have time to feel the changes in. His body. Just as he allocated his last attribute point, a pitch black blade appeared before his eyes. Windstep Yanjio’s body suddenly lunged forward. He transformed. Into a blurred shadow, brushing past the edge of that blade. For the first time, the supreme being’s consciousness showed a hint of surprise. Yanjio quickly adapted to. This body that had become several times lighter. The world, in his perception, slowed down, but it wasn’t enough, the supreme being’s attack seemed to transcend time, and, Yen Jio narrowly dodged it. Is this what it feels like to face an opponent who completely overwhelms you? A sinister smile crept onto Yen Jio’s lips. Not enough, far. From enough, Yen Jio frantically allocated points to his attributes again. Agility plus 90. Remaining attribute points, 10. Although it was still far from his physical form. In reality, it was more than sufficient. The movements of that high-level boss, while still absurdly fast, were no longer incomprehensible. He could keep up. The boss’s next attack came as expected. This time, it was a sweeping strike. A black blade of light, capable of cleaving the entire forge in half, swept toward him. Yen Jiu’s body sank slightly. He didn’t use any displacement skills. He lightly tapped his toes on the ground, and his hole being floated backward like a weightless feather. The blade of light grazed the soles of his feet. The hard metal floor was sliced open like tofu, creating a smooth, bottomless crack. Yen Jio landed steadily. He faced the Supreme from a distance. An unequal contest, revolving around speed, officially began. The boss’s attacks grew increasingly frenzied. Fists, palms, claws, blades. Each attack carried the power to devastate the world. The entire underground forge had already become a scene of devastation under its onslaught. Huge metal supports were easily twisted apart. Thick rock walls were blasted into massive craters. Yanjio was like a small boat in a raging storm. He still dared not take any attack head-on. He could only rely on his surging speed to dance with those lethal strikes, narrowly avoiding them. Sidestep. Lean back. Roll. Jump. Each of his evasions felt like walking on. The edge of a knife thrilling to the extreme. Just then, the boss unleashed another punch. The moment Yanjio sidestepped he keenly caught a glimpse of an opening. Now’s the time. His hand lightly brushed against the blade of the Annihilation Blade. Flame Blade The orange-red flames instantly enveloped the entire blade. Without a. Moment’s hesitation, he lunged forward, the black knife in his hand transforming into a streak of orange-red light, striking fiercely at the boss’s body, composed of. Countless limbs. Thud. The blade sank into flesh. Minus 137. Minus 816. Flame Blade. A small, pitiful number slowly floated up from the boss’s head. It could break through defenses. But the damage was almost negligible. He could see nothing but the boss’s name. But a silver-level boss had tens of thousands of health points. The supreme boss was unimaginable. That supreme existence seemed to be enraged by his insignificant attack. Its chaotic, twisted body ceased its assault. It slowly turned its indescribable head to. Look at the center of the forge. It gazed at the still rumbling and operating Genesis furnace. The fiery fluid in the furnace had already condensed into a clear outline. A new, pure energy, yet tinged with a sense of destruction, was seeping out from the furnace’s core. Despicable. For the first time, the supreme being’s consciousness carried genuine emotion, fury. The supreme body suddenly stiffened in a fit of rage. The terrifying pressure enveloping the entire space momentarily became chaotic.it was like a string stretched to its limit, suddenly plucked by an external force. Yenjiokili sensed this slight change. Outside the instance that immense will, unimaginable in its magnitude, seemed to have encountered something, a being of equal rank had descended. It shouldn’t. A fragmented, incoherent thought echoed in. Yanjio’s mind. No longer the lofty judgment from before, but a self-talk mixed with suspicion and irritation. Fly. Yanjio instantly understood. The void forces. Forcibly intervening in the instance that ultimately attracted the strong from other factions. Since the opposing side had torn off the mask and sent forth a supreme, there. Would naturally be a corresponding presence to counterbalance it. That supreme will seem to be making some difficult choice. Its original plan was likely to control. This avatar and then cancel the forging process. but now, its main body was restrained. It had no time to care for this place. The cold thought carried a resolute determination akin to a warrior severing his own wrist. Yanzhou felt that the connection between the inside and outside of the instance, like a deity overlooking everything, was forcibly severed. The entire world seemed to lighten, and the twisted mass of flesh before him underwent a tremendous transformation. That last trace, belonging to the supreme and incongruous yet sacred aura, was completely stripped away from its indescribable form, like a torn scroll. Put. Pure, chaotic darkness erupted from within. Its. Its body began to collapse violently. Then, in the next moment, it expanded outward in a more frenzied manner, growing. Like a balloon blown to its limit, the internal. Structure was madly reorganizing. Cut. A brand new, grotesque arm, composed purely of void energy, suddenly shot out from its back. Following that, a second one. The body, originally entangled with countless limbs, was quickly replaced by these four thick and powerful arms. Its form finally transformed from indescribable chaos into. A comprehensible, concrete monster. A four-armed monster. Roar. No longer a roar of the mental realm, but a purely physical, deafening howl erupted from its chest. The. Violent sound waves made the remaining metal supports around it buzz. A line of new, blood-red text slowly appeared above its head. Remnant body of the supreme, immortal. Level boss, level, 25 health, 5-0-0-0-0-0 -0-0 slash 5-0-0-0-0-0 attack, 8-1-80-7 defense, 7-8-70 physical resistance, 70% magical resistance, 73% yenjo looked at the clearly, visible data, immortal level, another brand new suffix, but none of that mattered, what mattered was that he saw that long health bar, which was somewhat despairing at, undeniably real, 5 million, this number was enough to suffocate any team of players in their 20s. but it was ultimately just a number. A number that could be reduced, that could be emptied. Just as Yen Jio was analyzing this information, the four-armed monster that had just completed its transformation moved. It no longer possessed the strange speed that transcended time and space. Instead, it exhibited a pure, savage, and powerful explosiveness. Boom! The metal ground beneath it suddenly caved in. Its massive body transformed into a black cannonball hurtling straight towards Yen Jio. The air was torn apart, emitting a sharp whistle. Yanjyo’s body sank. Slightly. He didn’t even use a displacement skill. Just as the monster was about to collide with him, he lightly tapped his toes on the ground and his whole body floated. Several meters to the side and back. The movement was so light, like a feather with no weight. Boom. The monster crashed heavily against the rock wall behind Yanjyo. The entire underground space shook violently the hard rock wall was violently struck creating a massive web-like dent. Fragments of stone flew about like a torrential. Downpour. The attack missed. The monster suddenly turned around. Four thick arms reached out simultaneously towards Yanzhou’s position. Sharp claws sliced through the air, leaving behind four dark afterimages. Yanzhou retreated once more. He maintained a delicate distance from those four deadly claw winds. Not too close, not too far. Just outside the range of the opponent’s attack. He resembled an experienced matador, toying with a raging bull. Is that all you’ve got? Yanzhou said softly. His voice was not loud, yet it clearly echoed throughout the vast forging ground. The monster seemed to understand the provocation. Its faceless visage let out an even more furious roar. It abandoned this futile attack. Its forearms slammed down onto the ground. A buzzing sound and observable black energy shockwave radiated outward from it, spreading. Wildly in all directions. The ground cracked inch by inch. Yanjou’s body leaped lightly upward. The shockwave brushed against the soles of his feet as it swept past. He landed steadily on the ground. The black blade was gripped in his hand, its tip angled toward the ground. He watched the monster, which was roaring in anger. He took a. Step forward. Come on, let’s have a proper fight. The black blade was slowly raised pointing far at the immortal level monster. The battle was only just beginning. The black blade pointed far at the immortal level monster. The battle was only just beginning. Roar. The four-armed monster responded to Yanjou’s provocation with a. Thunderous roar. It no longer held back any tentative moves. Four thick arms, composed purely of void energy, swung down like massive siege hammers, whistling as they tore. through the air, aimed directly at Yanjio. They sealed off all his escape routes. Yanjio did not retreat. In the moment the four shadows were about to descend, his body transformed into an elusive afterimage. Wind step. He did not move backward, instead, he surged forward. He slipped through the tiny gaps between the intersecting attacks of the four arms like a ghost. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Four muffled thuds resonated behind him. A hard metal floor was smashed into four deep pits, countless cracks spreading like a spider’s web. Yanjou’s figure appeared behind the monster. The black blade in his hand did not pause for a moment, slicing through the air with a pitch-black gleam. Swoosh. The blade accurately struck the monster’s thick ankle. Minus 954. A not particularly large damage number floated up from the monster’s head. The monster, in pain, let out an angry roar and abruptly turned around. But Yanjou’s attack was far from over. After landing a hit, his body slid sideways for several meters, creating distance once more. The entire process was fluid and seamless, without a hint of hesitation. Too slow, Yen Jiu whispered. The monster’s movements, in his perception, felt like a slow-motion film. Full of power, yet riddled with flaws. The monster seemed completely enraged by his nonchalant assessment. It abandoned its clumsy, attack style. Its body suddenly sank. The next second, it spun like a top at high speed. The four thick arms, under the influence of centrifugal force, transformed. Into four devastating black whirlwinds, sweeping indiscriminately in all directions. Yenjio did not take the hit head-on. He tapped his toes on the ground, his body, floating backward like a weightless feather. The destructive black whirlwinds maintained an absolutely safe distance from him. He danced like an elegant performer, executing. A deadly tango on the edge of the storm of destruction. The monster’s spinning speed increased. The entire forging ground was thrown into chaos. The remaining metal. Supports were easily twisted into fragments.On the wall, deep scratches were carved, visible down to the bone. However, no matter how frantically it attacked, that black. Figure always lingered just outside its range, unscathed. Finally, the monster came to a halt. It seemed to realize that this kind of attack could not touch the slippery enemy before it. It stood still, its chest heaving violently. Its faceless visage fixed intently on Yanjio. It did not understand. Why? Why did its speed seem so powerless? In front of this tiny human? Although it was a broken body, unable to use skills, it was still a part of the supreme being, possessing the most elite physique. It could not possibly lose. I need stronger power. A thought took shape in its chaotic mind. Crack. Crack. Crack. A series of bone -crunching sounds echoed. Its force sturdy. Arms suddenly expanded outward. The coiled muscles, like a lurking python, brimmed with explosive power. Once again, it charged fiercely at Yanjou. This time, its speed seemed unchanged. But the wind pressure generated by its swinging arms was several times stronger than before. Yanjou’s expression showed no sign of change. He remained. As calm as ever. He sidestepped to evade a straight punch. He leaned back to dodge a sweeping blow. He even had the leisure to leave a new wound on the monster’s arm. With the black knife in his hand during the intervals of dodging, minus 988, the damage was still negligible. But the wounds continued to accumulate. Its health bar was steadily, decreasing at a slow yet determined pace. The monster became more frenzied. It did not understand why it had grown stronger yet still could not touch its opponent. I need faster speed. Another thought emerged in its consciousness. The muscles in its legs began to change. They became longer, stronger, and filled with a streamlined beauty. In the next second, its figure vanished from its original spot. A black afterimage appeared before Yen Jiu in an instant. This time, it was faster than before. The entire underground space became their stage. The black afterimage flickered and leaped continuously. Each intersection was accompanied by the harsh sound of metal. Scraping in the sparks flying, the monster seemed to see a glimmer of hope for victory. Its attacks became increasingly cunning and vicious. Yet it was still getting hurt. Yen Jio was like a top-tier assassin. While dodging, he always found opportunities to leave wound after wound on its body with the black knife in his hand. Although, each instance of damage was minimal, the constantly popping damage numbers and the growing number of wounds on its body reminded it of a cruel fact. It still could not. Win. I need stronger defense. I need stronger endurance. Its chaotic consciousness drove its body to evolve once more. Its skin began to harden and thicken. A layer of. Dark purple, shell-like substance emerged on the surface. Its breathing became long and balanced. It no longer attacked recklessly as before. Each of its attacks became more cautious and deadly. Power, speed, defense. It had squeezed the potential of its broken body to the limit. It was certain. The current self was enough to crush any existence of the same level. However, no matter how it evolved, no matter how frenzied, swift, or cunning its attacks became, it still could not touch that man. That man was like a ghost without a physical form, strolling leisurely amidst its storm of fury. the battle fell into a strange stalemate the monster stopped attacking it stood in the midst of the wreckage panting it looked down at its evolved nearly perfect battle form it was covered in a dense array of wounds varying in depth then it lifted its head and looked at the man not far away that man not even a corner of his clothing had been touched he didn’t even show a hint of disarray in his breathing the remnant body was lost in confusion it had become stronger it had become faster it had become harder why why couldn’t it still win stronger what what exactly did it need to do to defeat this man before it who was even more monstrous than itself this body had reached the limit of what it could conceive if its power increased even a little more its bones would shatter first if its speed increased even for a moment its muscles would tear apart from its own explosive force it had optimized this remnant body of the supreme being to the utmost as it charged forward it saw the man gently sigh that sigh was very light yet it felt like an invisible Heavy hammer, striking hard at its chaotic core of consciousness. It was not fear. Not gravity. Nor was it the relief of surviving a disaster. Instead, it was. Disappointment. A subtle weariness that a chess player feels when realizing their opponent can no longer continue. Roar. An indescribable rage erupted into a pure storm. Of consciousness, exploding from within it. Dignity. That last bit of ridiculous dignity, once a part of the supreme being, was completely crushed at this moment. It’s. Abandoned thought. It abandoned the combat logic that had proven useless. It even abandoned this perfect combat form that it had finally stabilized. Crack! The sound of. Bones fracturing, sharp enough to make one’s teeth ache, echoed from within it. Those four strong arms drooped down like melted candles, powerless, then retracted back. Into its body. Those long, explosive legs began to twist and deform. Its body, like a punctured balloon, rapidly deflated. Yet in the next second, in an even more bizarre and life-defying manner, it crazily expanded outward. Put. putt. Tentacles of varying thickness and length burst forth from that writhing mass of flesh. These tentacles were chaotic and unstructured. Some had sharp bone spikes at their tips. Some ended in constantly opening and closing, tooth-filled mouths. Others were adorned with swirling, murky eyeballs of different sizes. In just a few seconds, the four-armed monster, which could still be somewhat understood, completely vanished. In its place was a massive, indescribable mass purely composed of flesh, tentacles, and eyeballs. It floated in mid-air. Countless tentacles, like a twisted jungle, danced wildly around. Its body. It had abandoned its form as a living being. Abandoned its remaining consciousness. All to exchange for a more primitive, more chaotic, and more powerful. Force. Yenjo quietly watched the scene. He looked at the mass that had completely degenerated into a void pollutant. The boss. He shook his head. Don’t you realize? Yenjo’s voice was neither loud nor soft, yet it clearly pierced through the chaotic roars. You are becoming weaker and weaker. The massive fleshball suddenly froze. The hundreds of eyeballs of varying sizes on it all turned towards Yanjio at the same time. In response to Yanjio, hundreds of tentacles simultaneously emitted a shrill scream that tore through the air. They were like a hundred frenzied venomous snakes, sealing off all of Yanjio’s escape routes, striking towards him fiercely. This time, the attack had no technique to speak of. It was pure, a violent destruction achieved through sheer quantity. However, Yanjio didn’t even use a displacement skill. His body nearly made a simple motion, leaning back. He bent backward at an incredible angle, as if he had no bones. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, countless tentacles brushed past. His nose, his chest, his knees, whistling by. The wind they stirred lifted the corners of his clothing. Yet not a single one managed to truly touch his body, Yanjio. Straightened his body again. He looked at the mass of flesh that had fallen into a more frenzied state after missing its strike. As he dodged, Yanjio muttered to himself. Look, your strength has increased. But they are no longer under your control. As he spoke, he took a step forward. He did not retreat. Instead, he moved forward. Step by step toward the chaotic storm made of tentacles. A tentacle lunged at him from the left side, aiming for a tricky strike. Yenzhou merely tilted his head slightly. To the right. The tentacle, tipped with bone spurs, grazed his cheek in mist. Another tentacle with a maw suddenly bit from below. He simply leaped lightly upward. The large mouth filled with sharp teeth bit down hard on the solid metal ground, sending sparks flying. You have given up your wisdom, given up your control. You. exchange them for this meaningless, primal desire for destruction. You could have been stronger. Yenjio’s figure strolled leisurely through the chaotic storm of tentacles. He resembled the most experienced beast tamer, toying with a beast that had just been released from its cage, knowing only to destroy by instinct. The monsters. Attacks grew increasingly frenzied. Yenjio’s voice rang out again. He had reached the mass of flesh. Countless tentacles danced wildly in front of and behind him. Yet it was as if an invisible barrier separated them, never able to touch him even slightly. A duel has never been like this. Cooked. A flash of orange-red light flickered and. Vanished in the chaotic darkness. The black knife in Yenjo’s hand had somehow become entwined with blazing flames. He felt a bit bored. He didn’t even make a large. Swinging motion. Just as he dodged a tentacle he flicked his wrist lightly. The blade precisely severed another tentacle that had attacked from an unexpected angle. Minus 983. Minus 4877. Flame Blade, a damage number several times higher than before slowly floated up from the top of the mass of flesh. The mass trembled violently. With each strike. Of Yenjio’s blade he moved as fast as lightning. Each time, he accurately struck at the weakest points of the freshly formed flesh connections. Damage numbers erupted. One after another from the head of the boss which had completely fallen into chaos. It finally felt fear. A fear rooted in the instinct for survival. It wanted to retreat. But it no longer had legs. The black knife, burning with flames, hung above its head like the sword of Damocles, ready to fall at any moment. The battle had turned. Into a one-sided, elegant yet bloody slaughter. Just as he dodged another bone spur, his right hand wielding the knife experienced a barely noticeable pause. Meanwhile, his left hand emitted a trail of starlight at his side. The agile increase in his movements allowed him the leisure to cast a spell in the brief moment between strikes. Starfall technique a fist-sized miniature star, composed of pure starlight, coalesced in Nienjo’s hand. It trailed a brilliant tail, making no sound, and shot toward. The mass of flesh beside him. Boom. The miniature star struck precisely at the core of the mass of flesh. There was no earth -shattering explosion. Only a pure, purifying. White light burst forth. The body made of twisted flesh let out a painful hissing sound in the white light, like ice and snow under the blazing sun. Minus 7170, level. Suppression, minus 4631, double moon, roar. It let out the most mournful and desperate roar it had ever produced. All the tentacles lost any semblance of order, like a flood. Breaking its dam, sweeping toward Yanzhou’s position in a covering wave. It abandoned defense, abandoned everything, just to unleash the self-destructive strike. At the moment before the attack arrived, Yanzhou’s body transformed into a sky full of stars. Astral walked the next second, his figure appeared behind the meatball. That huge, ugly monster, after delivering its final blow, had completely lost control of its massive body. Its health bar had only a sliver of life left. Yanjio no longer used any flashy techniques. He simply raised the black knife in his hand, pushed it forward gently. Cooked. The tip of the blade, entwined with orange flames, pierced unimpeded. Into the core of the meatball. Minus 1014, level suppression, minus 5002. Flame blade, the last sliver of health was completely drained. The enormous meatball suddenly stiffened. All the frantically writhing tentacles froze at that moment. Then, like a plant deprived of water, it rapidly withered and shriveled. Its hundreds of murky eyeballs lost. All their luster, yet still stared intently in the direction of the forge at the center. Watching the still rumbling and operating Genesis furnace. As if feeling deep. Regret and unwillingness for not completing its task. With a thunderous sound, the massive meatball turned entirely into a pool of pitch black ashes, scattered on the. Ground. Two pieces of equipment shimmering with special light, along with a thick skill book, lay quietly among the ashes. The entire underground space finally returned. To silence. Yenjio stood in place, slowly exhaling a breath. Immediately after, a series of dense system notification sounds rang out frantically in his ears. Ding. Congratulations, your level has risen to LV21. Ding. Talent war god effect enhanced, melee damage increase raised to 300 times. Ding. Congratulations, strength plus 1. Agility plus 1, intelligence plus 1, spirit plus 1, constitution plus 1. Ding. Congratulations, you have gained 5 free attribute points, current free attribute points 15. A golden light. Flashed past him. But it wasn’t over yet. ding congratulations your level has risen to lv 22 ding talent war god effect enhanced melee damage increase raised to 310 times ding congratulations strength plus one agility plus one intelligence plus one spirit plus one constitution plus one ding congratulations you have gained five free attribute points current free attribute points 20 another golden light flashed by leveling up twice in a row the experience from an immortal level boss was unimaginably rich however The real rewards were just beginning. Congratulations player Yenjo for successfully killing the first immortal level boss in Illusion, The Remains of the Supreme Being. As you are the first player to kill an immortal level boss, the system will grant a special reward. As the first player to kill an immortal level boss, you will receive 50 free attribute points, 1 choice of an immortal equipment chest and 2 out of 4 hidden skill books. Would you like to announce your name, letting your fame resonate throughout the world of Illusion? yes slash no a huge confirmation window with a golden border appeared before yenjo the anonymous name on the leaderboard had already been identified as honey apple so he might as well add fuel to the fire and solidify that name in the forum he then used illusion to change his id to honey apple he clicked yes directly the confirmation window quietly disappeared server announcement congratulations player honey apple for successfully killing the first immortal level boss in illusion the remains of the supreme being As the first player to kill an immortal boss, you will receive 50 free attribute points, 1. Choice of an immortal equipment chest and 2 out of 4 hidden skill books. The rewards for the first kill of an immortal level boss were indeed astonishing. Just those, 50 free attribute points were enough to drive any player crazy. But Yen Jio felt little excitement in his heart. He knew very well that luck played a significant role. In this victory, this so-called remains of the supreme being was merely a creature forcibly spawned. it had powerful panel attributes but lacked any skills to match.if this boss had even one or two large area skills especially physical ones with his current build he might not be able to withstand a single hit he is merely a lucky one dancing on the edge of a blade relying on high agility yenjo did not pay attention to the frenzied messages flooding the world channel this time he walked towards the pile of ashes left behind after the boss’s death he picked up the few pieces of equipment and skill books one by one transmutation of the supreme quality Immortal level requirement, 25 equipment type, chest armor attributes, defense plus 100, choose 2 basic attributes plus 50%, can be changed at any time. Transmutation power. This equipment can adapt to any body, all creatures and classes can wear it. Promised power, after receiving damage, automatically generates a corresponding attribute. Shield based on the type of damage, shield value is 80 % of the damage received, lasts for 2 seconds. Class requirement, none eye of the unwilling remnant quality. Immortal level requirement, 25 equipment type, accessory, ring attributes, recovers 30% of the damage taken, increases damage dealt to targets of unwilling. Gaze by 30 % unwilling gaze, active choose a player or creature to gaze at, you can ignore all stealth skills of this ID and constantly monitor its movements and location, duration, infinite, cooldown, until the target is killed. Frenzig rage, passive when attacking, deals 50% damage to 3 random surrounding targets. Class. requirement none skill book separate remnant separate remnant separate a remnant from within reducing your own attributes by 10 the remnant possesses 10 of your original attributes cannot use skills but can trigger passive talents and equipment passive attributes cooldown time 120 minutes mana cost 2000 points casting time 30 seconds dot so powerful truly worthy of being immortal equipment the attributes of these two pieces are incredible it seems that higher level equipment tends to provide percentage bonuses to attributes He learned the skill book, this skill significantly enhances his capabilities, after all, most of his damage comes from passives. He then turned around and looked at the magnificent furnace that had been rumbling in the background since the battle began. The fight was over. However, the air around. Him did not become lighter. A heavier, more grandiose pressure seeped down from an unreachable, distant height. The entire underground space structure groaned under. The weight of this force. Yenjio raised his head, as if he could penetrate the thick rock layers and see the void ignited by the flames of war. The void forces. just a separated remnant was so troublesome how terrifying must the main body currently battling several equally strong opponents be this pressure lasted for several seconds before abruptly and completely vanishing as if it had never existed did it leave because it sensed the remnant’s breath fading yenjio pulled back his thoughts he stood still silently waiting by the genesis furnace buzz the massive furnace which had been operating steadily suddenly emitted a high-pitched hum ding a crisp Sound, like the clash of metal, resonated from the core of the furnace. The enormous black sword mold, suspended in the center of the furnace, developed a fine crack on its surface. Crack. The crack spread rapidly like a spider web. The next second, it shattered with a loud bang. Countless black fragments dissipated in the searing energy. A colorful light orb flew out from the shattered sword mold. It traced a brilliant arc in the air, like a curious child, slowly drifting around Yenjio, finally affectionately, stopping in front of him. As the light faded, it revealed a long sword, taller than a person flowing with vibrant colors. Immediately, the familiar system prompt appeared again. Congratulations to player HoneyApple for obtaining the pet unnamed. As the first character to acquire a pet, you are rewarded with 10 free attribute points and a random pet skill book. Would you like to announce your name, allowing your fame to resonate throughout the world of illusion? Yes slash no another first. Kill. Or rather, the first one. Yanjio glanced at the ID above his head. HoneyApple. He hadn’t had the chance to change it back. He simply clicked yes. The next second, the entire world of Illusion was once again flooded with the same name. Server announcement, congratulations to player HoneyApple for successfully obtaining the first pet in Illusion, unnamed. As the first player to acquire a pet, you are rewarded with 10 free attribute points and a random pet skill book. The pet system has been activated. Players can go to their national capital and use a special NPC to teleport into wilds of beasts to obtain their own pet and pet equipment. yen joe ignored the world channel that was bound to boil over again he extended his hand the colorful little sword joyfully circled around him twice gently rubbing its hilt against his palm he opened this little guy’s attribute panel unnamed quality immortal race spirit race level one health one thousand attack 100 defense 100 skills life drain death entanglement light blade dark body star chain elemental burst dot immortal quality right from birth it possessed six skills significantly stronger than The four -eyed spirit leopard. Yengio looked at the little sword that floated affectionately around him, excitedly spinning in circles, and felt reassured. The rewards. For this task were far more generous than he had imagined. Two pieces of immortal level equipment. A skill book with four options to choose two. And an immortal level. Pat. He recalled that ring. Eye of the reluctant remains. It required level 25 to equip. He was still three levels short. What a pity. Otherwise, he could try out that. skill called reluctant gaze to see if it could find the trace of that gentle gaze her final disappearance was too strange it didn’t seem like stealth it was more like a special means of spatial detachment yenjio took out a pitch black sphere from his backpack wormhole node then without hesitation he used it to leave this place at the moment his figure vanished the space did not immediately return to calm the dark node like a stone thrown into water created ripples of invisible waves in the center of the ripples a graceful figure slowly emerged from the void gentle gaze. She stood still, watching the direction Yanjio had disappeared. Her expression one of indescribable complexity. With the blessing of the death supreme, although she would still lose levels upon death, she could resurrect once at the same spot. After a moment, she reigned in her emotions. From her backpack, she took out a palm-sized, heart-like purple crystal core that pulsed slowly. The surface of. The crystal core was covered with profound and twisted runes, emanating pure death energy that was out of place in this space. Her task had never been to destroy the furnace. Even less to disrupt the plans of the void, she stepped forward, cradling the pulsating core, walking step by step towards the still rumbling Genesis Forge. The teleportation process for Yen Jiu was supposed to be instantaneous. But this time, an unexpected event occurred. The space channel torn open by the wormhole. Node, was no longer stable, a direct line from point to point. The surrounding lights and shadows that zipped past suddenly froze. An irresistible, boundless, force seeped in from outside the channel. It felt like an invisible giant hand made of billions of stars had forcibly grasped the space he occupied. Then, it. Squeezed hard. The channel shattered. In the next second, that giant hand flung him out towards a completely unknown direction. The sensation of spinning was more. Intense than any previous teleportation. When Yen Jio felt solid ground beneath his feet again he had returned to a familiar place. The Star Origin Council. Below. Him was a transparent crystal floor with a magnificent galaxy flowing slowly beneath. But this time, the atmosphere here was entirely different. The surrounding. Stars, representing the council members, no longer floated quietly. They converged towards Yanzhou’s position like sharks sensing blood from all directions. Stars circled around him, flickering with curious and probing light. Yanzhou scratched his head. He could sense that these stars meant no harm. They were just. Watching him. With a thought, the colorful long sword appeared beside him. As soon as the little sword appeared, it joyfully circled Yanzhou twice, affectionately rubbing its hilt against his chi, seemingly happy to be out. For some air. The stars that had gathered around him flickered even more intensely. At that moment, the massive star at the center, as huge as the sun, radiated a soft halo. A grand and ancient voice resonated directly in his. Mind. Starwalker, Yanzhou. It seems you have succeeded. Yanzhou nodded, briefly summarizing the situation in the instance. There’s a map suspected to be the outbreak of a necromantic plague and a forge. It seems the void forces want to use it to create a weapon. You are correct. The massive star’s light fluctuated slightly. That Genesis forge was built using the creation technology stolen from the ancient titans fused with their own twisted power as a war weapon. Their plan is to gather the powers of the six world origins, light, darkness, life, death, stars, and elements to forcibly forge a weapon capable of threatening the supreme. This little guy you brought back is the prototype of that weapon, its spirit. A hint of relief tinged the star’s voice. Though it is currently only at the immortal level, its potential is far beyond that. It has devoured all. The unformed powers within the forge, thus breaking free from the Void’s control. You did well, Starwalker, Yen Jio. Not only did you thwart the Void’s conspiracy, but you also brought this future supreme artifact back. To the Order faction. As soon as the words fell, a series of system prompts popped up in front of Yen Jio like a screen. Ding! You have completed the special mission exploring the Void Seat. Task settlement in progress. task completion rate 172 you have received an excess task reward task reward star origin council reputation plus 1000 choose two rewards starlight spirit asterisk one your reputation in the star origin council has reached respectful buzz the space in front of him slightly distorted item shimmering with brilliant light appeared out of thin air quietly floating before him equipment skill books and some never before seen special items each one radiated a heart pounding energy Fluctuation, the voice of the enormous star resonated once more. As a reward for completing your commission, and as a commendation for thwarting the void’s conspiracy, you may freely select two items from here. This is the honor bestowed upon you. By the council. Before him floated the council’s treasury. Staves shimmering with colors, chest plates engraved with ancient runes, and blades sharp beyond compare. From gold to diamonds, everything one could imagine was present. The level. Requirement for these items was at least level 25. Yanjou’s gaze lingered on these items for just a moment. Upon seeing no melee weapon suitable for a mage, he moved on. He was on the elite path of slaying bosses and conquering dungeons. Equipment would never be what he lacked the most. His attention was completely captivated by those skill books and a few uniquely designed special items. He extended his hand, his fingertips gently gliding through the void. The detailed information of each item began to materialize in his mind. He examined them meticulously, analyzing the description of each item word by word. After a long while, his fingers paused before two items. One was an ancient scroll made of unknown beast skin, yellowed with age. The other was a semi-transparent scroll radiating soft starlight. Scroll of limitation erasure can erase the class restriction of an item or skill book from another class, allowing direct learning. Scroll of hidden skill. Upgrade can upgrade a hidden skill. These were the ones. Yen Jio made his decision. He raised his hand and gently pointed at the two scrolls. All other rewards, like fleeting dreams, quietly dissipated. Only those two scrolls slowly floated. Before him, landing in his hands. The ancient beast skin scroll felt rough and warm to the touch. The starlight scroll, on the other hand, carried a hint of cool, pure energy. Yenjiyo contentedly stored them in his backpack. Then, he lifted his head to gaze at the enormous star, akin to the sun. He encountered a new question. Where do I go to learn skills? His tone remained as calm as ever, as if he were merely inquiring about a trivial matter. But this question caused the stars. surrounding him, representing the council members, to flicker in unison. The massive central star softened its glow. It seemed to appreciate Yanzhou’s straightforward nature. The grand and ancient voice echoed in Yanzhou’s mind once more. This time, there was a barely perceptible hint of amusement in the voice. The next moment, a beam of starlight more brilliant than any before shot from the core of the giant star, instantly merging with Yanzhou’s brow. A torrent of immense information exploded in his mind. Ding! You have learned the skill Star Realmgate. Star Realm Gate, tear open a star portal to teleport back to the star element council. Cooldown, 30 minutes, mana cost 500, casting time, 5 seconds. Yen Jio was momentarily stunned. The grand voice then resounded, clarifying his confusion. This is our trust in you, Yen Jio. From now on, you can return to the council through this door at any time. This place will always be open to you, whether to learn new skills or to consult ancient texts. The voice paused. Of course, the skill you just received is merely a token and does not count towards your rewards. This time, the enormous star’s brilliance suddenly intensified, casting a golden hue. Across the entire starry sky, an unprecedented, vast, and overwhelming pressure slowly descended. Let me personally impart it to you. Dang, you have learned the skills New Moon, Astral Fury, Moondust, and Star Tier. New Moon, deals 150. plus 200% intelligence plus 200% spirit single target astral damage casting time 2 seconds cooldown none mana cost 150 astral fury your total damage plus 30% all attributes plus 30% duration 10 seconds casting time none cooldown 10 minutes mana cost 300 moon dust passive your astral damage will slow enemies by 20% for 10 seconds dot star tear summons a star blade tearing apart the current space teleporting to a designated location within 100 yards casting time none cooldown, 1 minute, mana cost, 100 a series of system prompts cascaded like a waterfall. Yenzhou’s expression, however, froze completely upon seeing the last skill description. Star tear, summons a star blade, tearing apart the current space. Teleporting to a designated location within 100 yards, casting time, none, cooldown, 1 minute, mana cost, 100 the massive central star still radiated a soft halo, waiting for the gratitude and joy of this young traveler. The other stars, representing the council members, quietly hovered, witnessing this glorious inheritance. However, the anticipated excitement did not materialize. Yenjo slowly raised his head. He did not look at those flashy damage skills, nor did he pay attention to that powerful buff explosion. His focus was entirely on the skill named Star Tear. His face darkened as he drew the black knife from his waist. The blade glimmered with a cold, ghostly light under the starlight. Where’s that old man? Astralos? He clearly said that Star Tear is a melee skill. It was this skill that had tricked him into the star element council. Now, he was being told that it was merely a long-distance teleportation skill. Ha ha ha ha. A grand and ancient voice, filled with unabashed laughter, exploded in his mind. The massive star flickered violently, like a giant shaking with laughter. When Astrolos recommended you to the council, he described your situation to me in detail. Your reaction is almost exactly what I expected. The laughter in that voice grew even thicker. As for him, the moment he sent you in, he had already hidden away. He asked me to tell you that he is going to a distant star domain for an important academic research project and may not return for a long time. Yen Jiu tightened his grip on the black knife. He just wanted to find the disrespectful old man and research some academic issues with him in his own way. But rest assured, the laughter of the massive star gradually receded. The light became solemn and dignified once more. Your needs were discussed in depth a long time ago by Astrolos and several scholars in the council who have the most research in the fields of energy, shaping and enchanting. This is their compensation to you. Before the words fell, another concentrated starlight shot from the core of the giant star, precisely embedding itself in Yanzhou’s forehead. Ding. You have learned the skill Starry. Blade. The new skill information unfolded before him. Starry Blade. Summons a Starry Blade in your left hand, causing your normal attacks to deal 100 plus 80% spirit attribute astral damage. Casting time, instant, mana cost 5 mana per second. Duration, infinite, cooldown, 30 seconds dot. The dark lines on Yenzhou’s face finally dissipated a bit. Without any hesitation, he immediately recited in his heart, Use starry blade. Buzz, a pure astral energy gathered on the back of his left. Hand deep and primordial, like the colors of the universe, it quickly coalesced into form. A uniquely shaped blade appeared out of thin air. It had no physical substance. The blade was entirely composed of flowing nebulae, wrapped in countless, flickering, uncertain points of light within a deep purple energy body. The edge of the blade exuded a cold and sharp aura. That starry blade perfectly adhered to his arm with his movements, resembling a uniquely shaped arm blade. He swung his. Arm, slicing through the air twice. Swoosh. Swoosh. The air was silently cut, leaving behind two brilliant trails of stardust. Aside from feeling a bit weightless and lacking any real tactile sensation, everything was nothing short of perfect. He. Nodded in satisfaction. Now that’s more like it. This remark softened the glow of the massive star slightly. Meaning the special needs of this unique member, the council’s investment truly came to fruition. Yanjio stored the reward scrolls from his backpack along with the spirit of starlight. He raised his head to look at the massive star and asked the next question. How do I leave here? The massive star seemed to have anticipated his question. From the moment you officially became a core member of the council, we granted you the permission to return at any time. Use the stargate you just learned. That door will take you back to the location where you entered this starry sky. I have already set the initial coordinates to your estate in Maple Leaf City. The grand voice carried a hint of warmth. Go, Starwalker. More challenges await you. Yanjio nodded. He didn’t say anything more, but activated the skill named Stargate in his mind. The five-second guidance time began to count down. The space in front of him started to ripple like the surface of water. Points of starlight gathered from the void, twisting, and ultimately forming an irregular portal that flickered with strange light. On the other side of the door was no longer the vast starry sky, but a familiar room filled with warm light. Without a moment’s hesitation, Yanjio stepped forward and entered that dazzling starlight. The moment he passed through the star gate, the surrounding scenery abruptly changed. The grand and cold starry sky was replaced by warm sunlight, and the air was filled with the faint scent of grass and lake water. Yenjo returned to his estate in Maple Leaf City. The first thing he did was open his personal panel. The name hovering above his head, which made him feel uncomfortable, almost made him forget to change it. Honey Apple. Without hesitation, he changed his ID back to Yenjo. After doing all this, he let out a long sigh, feeling completely relaxed. He walked to the lakeside of the estate, lay down on that familiar fishing chair, and began to tally his gains. In his backpack he pulled out a pile of equipment shimmering with silver light. The boss in the dungeon had contributed a large amount of silver equipment. The gatekeeper Lazar dropped a two-handed greatsword and a piece of leather armor bracers. Another demon he had easily dealt with contributed a pair of plate armor boots, and a cloth armor headpiece. The cloth armor headpiece had decent attributes, so he decided to keep it for now. The rest he planned to sell to Ming Yao. His attention quickly shifted to the two pieces of immortal great equipment. Transmutation. Body of the Supreme. Eye of the Reluctant Remains. Unfortunately, the equipment level requirement was 25. He was only level 22, still 3 levels short. Once he reached level 25, the first thing he would do is take that woman named Moody. Row back to the novice village. He stored the equipment and focused on the other items from this quest and the first kill rewards. An immortal equipment selection chest. A hidden skill book that allowed for a choice of 4 out of 2. hidden skill upgrade scroll and the quest reward the spirit of starlight.he thought for a moment and decided to open the hidden skill book first a semi-transparent selection interface unfolded before him the phantoms of four skill books hovered quietly emitting a faint golden blow flame eruption summons a flame spirit to surround you when you cast fire spells it will cast an equivalent spell at 50 power duration 30 seconds cooldown 3 minutes mana cost 300 casting time 2 seconds desolate gaze petrifies all creatures within a cone of eight yards in front of you for three seconds cooldown five minutes mana cost 270 casting time instant dot overflowing energy passive increases your spell critical strike chance by 10 and each attack will increase your skill critical strike chance by three percent up to a maximum of 10 times resetting after combat ends dot common collected makes your next channeled spell instant cast cooldown one minute mana cost zero casting time instant dot Yenjo’s fingertips lightly traced the air as he checked the detailed descriptions of the 4 skills one by one. He skipped the first skill, Flame Eruption, immediately. The fire spells he knew were few, and the ones he used most often were only Dragon Breath and Flame Blade. This skill was a complete waste for him. The second skill, Desolate Gaze. An instant, small area crowd control skill. Petrification for 3 seconds. This effect was quite good, very practical for interrupting spellcasting or creating output opportunities. He was currently lacking such hard control methods. The third skill, Overflowing Energy. A passive skill that enhances spell critical strikes. Each attack could also. Stack critical strike chance, up to a maximum of 30%. With the base 10%, that would be a 40% skill critical strike rate. For any conventional mage, this was a game-changing skill. But for Yanjio, the increase wasn’t that significant. His main. Damage came from the terrifying melee multiplier increase of the war god talent. Spell served more to supplement damage and functionality. The benefits of critical strikes were far less tangible than a stable control skill. His fingertips. Landed on the last skill, calm and collected. It made the next spell that required chanting instant cast. Several skill lanes immediately flashed in Yanjou’s mind. New moon. Falling stars. Both of these skills had decent damage, but they. Shared a fatal flaw, they required casting time. Although he could cast while moving, in the rapidly changing chaos of battle, a second or two could determine life or death. But with calm and collected, everything was different. He could easily. Activate this skill the moment he got close to his opponent, then slam a new moon right into their face. The damage was significantly higher than that of falling stars. This skill perfectly matched his melee mage combat style. Without much hesitation, Yanjio made his choice. He raised his hand and pointed to desolate gaze and calm and collected. The phantoms of the other two skills transformed into light points and dissipated. The two selected skill books turned into two. Streams of golden light and merged into his body. Ding. You have learned the skill, desolate gaze. Ding. You have learned the skill, calm and collected. Yanzhou sat up straight from his fishing chair. The two skills he had just learned were. Now quietly resting in his skill bar. One was an instant, small area petrification control. The other was a tactical skill that allowed channeled spells to be cast instantly. Very good. These two skills perfectly compensated for his current. Lack of control and burst initiation capabilities. His fingers slid across the virtual interface of his backpack, focusing on the remaining key items. A yellowed scroll, exuding an ancient aura. Hidden skill upgrade scroll, there was also a. Crystal clear sphere, as if a galaxy flowed within it. Spirit of starlight. He first took out the scroll. Ding. Please select a hidden skill you wish to upgrade. A brand new selection list unfolded before him. Spell surge illusory form. A series of hidden skills he possessed were displayed. Upgrading a combat skill would undoubtedly enhance his output capability directly. In. This perilous game world, strength was certainly important. But an identity that could not be locked onto was his greatest trump card. What he needed to upgrade was not just temporary combat power, but an absolute freedom that would allow him to remain hidden in the shadows forever. Yen Jio extended his hand and decisively clicked on the option for illusory form. Ding! Will you consume the hidden skill upgrade scroll? To upgrade the skill illusory form? Yes. He confirmed softly. The scroll in his hand transformed into a gentle golden light, slowly dissipating. Immediately after, a brand new skill information appeared in his mind. Illusory form. You can modify your own, your pets, and your. Summons ID and Appearance, Duration 1 hour, Cooldown Time 10 minutes, Mana Cost, 100 points, Casting Time, Instant. Yen Jiu looked at the upgraded skill description, confirming it several times. He could modify the appearance and ID of pets and summons. Most importantly, the original negative attribute of skill effect invalidated when taking damage had disappeared and the cooldown was significantly reduced. This meant that his disguise would no longer be easily pierced during combat. He could take on any identity and do anything. for example, making the name Honey Apple more memorable, or creating an entirely new identity to approach certain specific targets. Yen Jio opened the Spirit of Starlight and tried to upgrade Astral Walk again. Ding! This skill can no longer be upgraded using this Spirit of Starlight, please select another item for the upgrade. It seemed that it could still be upgraded later, but he currently lacked the corresponding item. Yen Jio nodded, then looked at other star-related skills. He temporarily disregarded damage type skills, with his god of war talent, even ordinary bosses. Couldn’t withstand a few hits without level suppression. His gaze swept through the skill bar. Astral domination, passive your spell range. Increases by 10+, spirit plus intelligence, slash 100, yards. Learning cost, 20 silver coins astral body, passive your body, having been. Baptized by the power of the stars, becomes more resilient, gaining a 50% constitution attribute bonus from spirit dot. Moondust, passive, star. Blade Twin Moons, passive, ultimately he focused on astral domination and astral body, as range and durability were relatively his weak. Points at the moment. After some contemplation, he decided to upgrade astral body, this way he would at least have some leeway against. Damage reflecting skills, as he had been too flustered when facing the soft gaze before. Upgrade, astral body. He silently recited in his heart. Ding. You have used the spirit of starlight, the skill astral body has been enhanced. Yen Jio immediately looked at the skill description. The original skill description began to blur, then was replaced by a brand new entry. Astral body, enhanced your body, having been. Baptized by the power of the stars, becomes even more resilient and unyielding, gaining a 70% constitution attribute bonus from spirit. When. Your health drops to zero, you will not die, restoring health equal to asterisk 100% of spirit, and can resurrect at any chosen location within 10 yards. Cooldown time, 10 hours dot. This felt good, it was as powerful as the upgraded astral walk, directly granting him an extra life, and the health. bonus increased by 20%, making him completely unafraid of damage reflection now, when the opportunity arises later, I can find a vampiric skill, from another profession and wash it away with a scroll, and then I won’t have to fear retaliation at all. Then, Yen Jio turned his gaze to the, immortal equipment treasure chest and began browsing the gear inside. For some reason, the lowest level equipment inside was all level 50, raising Yen Jio’s eyebrows. It seems that unless the supreme personally intervenes, players must be at least level 50 to encounter immortal level, bosses. However, this reward is not without its uses. Yanzhou had previously seen a one-time item in the Star Element Council’s rewards. That could erase level restrictions, but he hadn’t chosen it at the time. He stood up from the fishing chair. The leisurely mood of the breeze by the lake was replaced by a more urgent goal. Yanzhou no longer lingered, first binding the spatial wormhole to his manor, then turning and stepping forward. The solid leather boots made no sound as they stepped on the soft lawn of the manor. He crossed the empty hall, pushed open the heavy wooden door, and walked into the bustling streets of Maple Leaf City. The sun was just right and the streets were filled with people coming and going. The shouts of players selling their wares and the clanging of iron from the shops mixed into a lively atmosphere. But none of this could slow Yen Jiu’s pace. He walked straight through the crowd towards the city center to the towering teleportation square. There was the starting point to the entire world. It was also the beginning of his next journey. The teleportation hall of Maple Leaf City was bustling with noise. Players hurried by, loudly selling freshly made equipment or forming teams to head to other main city dungeons. Yen Zhou’s appearance did not attract anyone’s attention. His ID was no longer the name that had stirred up several waves in the world channel. The name Yen. Zhou had gradually been overshadowed by new hot topics amidst the flood of information. At this moment, everyone’s conversation revolved around. Another name. A name that was sweeter and more mysterious. You just logged in, right? Honey Apple has made several big news. A warrior waiting. At the entrance was excitedly gesturing to a companion who had just come out of the city. The first pet in the whole server. And the first. Kill of an immortal level boss. The system announcement is flooding the screen. His companion’s face was filled with envy. Immortal level. My. God, we can’t even defeat the bronze bosses we encounter and they are already playing with immortals. By the way, what level is immortal? What exactly is this honey apple? First soloing an immortal boss, now the first pet. Could they be the game company’s favorite? Who knows? but the pet system opening is a good thing. The announcement said to go to the main city to find an NPC to enter the wilderness of beasts. As soon as I hit level 20, I’m going to catch one. Exactly, I want to go too. Catch a majestic wolf or a leopard. It would be great to have a tank like a bear or a giant turtle. Now the tanks are all so arrogant. Forming a team still depends on their mood. The surrounding. Players chattered excitedly, their words filled with admiration for that mysterious ID and longing for the new system. Yen Jio walked through. The noisy crowd, ignoring these discussions. He reached the core of the teleportation array and skillfully found the country he had never set. Foot in on the floating interface. The land of flames. His finger gently tapped on the glowing rune. Target area, land of flames teleport. City, sunset city confirmed the light flickered. Yenzhou’s figure disappeared from the teleportation hall of Maple Leaf City. The next second. A wave of hot, dry air hit him. The teleportation platform beneath his feet was much smaller than that of Maple Leaf City, made of rough dark red. Rock, with some charred marks from melting at the edges. There were no exquisite magical lights like in Maple Leaf City. Instead, a massive, seemingly never-setting yellow sun hung in the sky above the city. The sunlight bathed the entire city in a doomsday-like orange hue. The distant buildings stood out sharply, their rugged style resembling something hewn directly from the mountains filled with the scent of iron and fire. The air was thick with the smell of sulfur and metallic ore. This was Sunset City. Yen Jio had just steadied himself, not yet having. The chance to carefully examine this unfamiliar city when a series of cold system notifications suddenly popped up before him. Ding! Do! To your title of Count in the Forest Nation, Maple Leaf City, the Flame Nation will issue a bounty on you. Please leave the towns of the Flame Nation immediately. Almost simultaneously, a resounding horn echoed throughout Sunset City. Following that, a Scarlet System announcement appeared in the view of all players in Sunset City. Regional announcement, Sunset City is under invasion by Count Yen Jiu of the Forest Nation. Flame Nation players, please participate in the defense immediately. Kill the Invader reward, Baron title, one piece of silver equipment. Of your choice from the Sunset City treasury. Around the teleportation platform, the previously bustling players froze in their tracks. They. All turned their gazes toward the lone figure on the platform. A man with the ID of Yenjio. A deathly silence lasted for less than a. Second. What the hell, a berserker player was the first to react, his voice trembling with excitement. It’s that invader. The one who got the. Golden first kill, Yen Jio. He’s right on the teleportation array. This shout was like a drop of water in a boiling pot of oil. The entire teleportation square erupted in chaos. Where is he? Where is that spy from the forest nation? Look, it’s that flashy guy. Baron title. And silver equipment. Brothers, a chance to get rich has come. This guy has gotten a golden first kill and is a rich second generation. He must have a lot of good gear on him. Brothers, let’s take him down. Charge. Don’t let him escape. Let’s kill him back to the newbie village. Brothers, don’t be afraid. He’s all alone. We’ll overwhelm him with numbers. Countless players surged in from all directions, their eyes gleaning with greed and excitement. The weapons in their hands reflected the dim sunlight, forming a blinding torrent of metal. The soldiers of the flame nation within the city quickly reacted as well. Teams of NPC soldiers clad in crimson heavy armor marched in unison from every corner of the street, their long spears aimed squarely at Yanjio in the center of the square, forming an impenetrable encirclement. Kill the. Invader. For the glory of the flame nation. A fire mage had already begun to chant, a searing fireball rapidly coalescing in his palm. The. Archers had also knocked their arrows, the sharp tips glinting coldly. Yanzhou stood at the eye of the storm, his face devoid of any unnecessary. Expression. It turned out that having a title from a hostile nation came with such treatment. He even had the leisure to think that this. Bounty notice saved him the trouble of inquiring about Sujengen’s whereabouts. As long as he made enough noise here, she would eventually. come looking for him. However, now was not the time. Watching the tide of people surging toward him and the attacks that had already locked. Onto him, Yenjo calmly raised his hand. He did not draw his sword. Nor did he chant any spells. Just as the first fireball was released and. The first arrow flew through the air. He used the skill he had just learned. Star tiered the space before him was torn open by an invisible. Force. Brilliant starlight poured out from the rift, engulfing him entirely. The next moment, just before countless attacks descended, Yenjo’s. Figure vanished without a trace. Boom. The fireball and arrow struck the empty teleportation platform, exploding into a dazzling display of fireworks against the hard rock. All the players were stunned. Where is he? Did he run away? How is that possible? I didn’t see him use a return scroll. It must be some kind of teleportation skill, right? A sharp-eyed player pointed at a towering arrow tower in the distance and screamed, he’s up there. Everyone followed his direction and indeed saw a black figure, like a ghost, silently appearing at the top of. The distant tower. He stood at the edge of the tower, looking down at the chaotic crowd below. Then, he turned around facing away from the entire square, and leaped into the shadows of the city. He fell from the shadow of the tower, landing on the rough gravel alley without making a sound. The entire city was under a manhunt. This treatment was somewhat unexpected for him. Yen Jio scratched his head. There were too many players in the city, and NPC guards were coming in waves. His shadow cloak, immunity to control time was far from enough. It was unrealistic for him to try to kill his way through the entire city alone. To find Suzhenjin safely, he had to change his identity first. Fortunately, his equipment hadn’t been mailed to Mingyao yet. He opened his backpack interface and rummaged through it for a while. Finally, he pulled out a plain robe he had casually picked up in a dungeon from a minor monster drop. He quickly put on this unremarkable gear. Illusion, the aura, and appearance around him began to change subtly. His originally delicate face became more defined, exuding a ruggedness that spoke of hardship. His stature also grew a few inches, making him appear particularly strong. Please enter a new ID. Yen Jio thought for a moment and casually. Typed a few words on the virtual keyboard. Shaw County Snacks. He stowed the black knife from his back into his backpack, completely transforming. Into an inconspicuous, burly passerby. After doing all this, he swaggered out of the dark alley. As soon as he stepped onto the main. Road, a wave of heat hit him. Countless players were running around the streets like headless flies, shouting hoarsely. Yen Jio ran west. Nonsense. I clearly saw him on the eastern tower just now. Shut up. The Flame King guild has blocked several main exits. He can’t escape. A spy from the forest nation daring to cause trouble in our flame nation, let’s kill him. Yen Jio walked against the boiling crowd, unhurriedly. He opened the map and began searching for the location of the tavern in the city. Sister Su had once said that she didn’t want to fight monsters when she logged in so she would hide in the tavern. Just as he was about to set off, a familiar figure suddenly entered his line of sight. Even wrapped in a loose priest’s robe, it was hard to hide her alluring curves. That beautiful face, which haunted his dreams and carried a hint of anxiety, made Yen Jo’s footsteps come to an abrupt halt. Su Jin Jin. Beside her was another equally graceful woman. She was a warrior, tall and slender, with a delicate sword at her waist, wearing an expression of impatience. I told you, Xiao Jin, don’t worry, the female warrior complained. Your old flame is definitely fine. The whole city is under a manhunt, what a big deal. If he were in trouble, there would have been a system alert long ago. Sujinjin bit her lip, her face filled with worry. But, but what? The female warrior interrupted her, her tone laced with frustration. I’ve seen that video of him killing the blood-red overlord, his timing is top-notch, definitely. Not as weak as those people on the forum say. He’s a master, do you understand what a master is? People like him have plenty of ways to save their lives, it’s not that easy to die. Soojin still felt uneasy and quickened her pace, wanting to squeeze towards the teleportation. Hall. I still want to go take a look. The female warrior grabbed her. What are you looking at? The teleportation hall is about to burst. With all the crazies trying to claim the bounty, if we go over there, won’t we just be waiting to get trampled? If your old flame really has. The ability, he would have slipped away by himself. If he doesn’t, it would be pointless for us to go. Trust me, you might as well wait. In the tavern, he will come looking for you himself. Sujinjin anxiously paced in place, her gaze scanning the chaotic crowd, trying to find the figure that occupied her thoughts. Then, her movements halted. Her eyes, cutting through the throngs of excited, rushing players, landed. Precisely on the burly man moving against the tide, looking out of place. The man with the ID Sha Xian snack. The female warrior followed her. Gaze but only saw an unremarkable passerby player. What are you looking at? Sujinjin didn’t answer. She had known Yanjio for nearly 10 years. Every one of his habits, every subtle movement, was etched deep within her. Even if he changed his appearance, changed his ID. But, that feeling, it couldn’t be wrong. It was him. The female warrior beside her kept chattering. Sujinjin ignored her companion’s complaints. She took a deep breath and walked straight towards the burly man. Among countless players frantically pursuing Yenjio, her target was just an ordinary mage. Yenjio, seeing Sujinjin approaching, also stopped in his tracks. He hadn’t expected that his disguise would be so. successful, yet he was recognized at a glance. Xiaojin, where are you going, the female warrior behind exclaimed in confusion. Sujinjin. Didn’t look back. She reached Yenjio, tilted her head up, and looked at this completely unfamiliar, rugged face. She said nothing. She simply. Reached out and grabbed Sha Xian’s snack’s sturdy arm. Then, without further ado, she pulled him towards a secluded alley nearby, walking. Briskly. Yenjio didn’t resist, allowing her to lead him away, leaving the female warrior standing there, dumbfounded. Hey. Xiaojin. Who? Is that? In the quiet alley, the rough walls cast large shadows, isolating them from the noise and heat of the street. Sujinjin held onto Yenjio’s arm, her fingertips pressing hard enough to turn white. Are you okay? That was too scary just now. The whole city is after you. Everyone in Sunset City wants to kill you for the bounty. She rattled on like a machine gun, like a protective female leopard, turning all her worries into something tangible. Yenjio watched her anxious expression, remaining silent. He could feel the warmth of Sujinjin’s palm. seeping through the coarse robe, continuously penetrating his skin. A long-lost warmth slowly spread in his chest. He let her pull him through the winding alley, heading in one direction. The light at the alley’s entrance grew brighter, and the noisy voices became clear again. You can’t do this next time, it’s too risky, Sujinjin said, her tone laced with lingering fear. Em-em. Yenjio replied softly. Just then, a somewhat impatient female voice came from behind them. Hey, Xiaojin. The tall female warrior caught up, looking at them with a puzzled expression. Why are you dragging this guy along? She scrutinized Yanzhou, whose ID was Sha Xian’s snack, her eyes filled with wariness and confusion. Su. Jinjin didn’t explain, just pulled Yanzhou into a tavern at the alley’s entrance. The tavern was bustling with noise. The air was mixed. With the aroma of wheat beer, the charred smell of grilled meat, and the boisterous laughter of players. A few players clearly from the kingdom. A flame were gathered around a table, boasting animatedly about how they had cornered the invader from the kingdom of forest. Su Jinjin. Led Yenjio straight to a corner by the window and sat down. The female warrior followed, plopping down beside Sujinjin, but her gaze never. Left Yenjio. She frowned, seemingly trying to discern something. Suddenly, her movements froze. She looked at Sujinjin, then at the rugged. Man in front of her, her face revealing a look of realization. Oh, she elongated her voice, pointing at Yenjio. So you are the one. Ngum. Before she could utter the words Yenjio, Sujinjin swiftly covered her mouth. Don’t say anything reckless. Sujinjin lowered. Her voice, nervously warning. The female warrior forcefully pried her hand away, then retaliated by tickling Sujinjin. This made Sujinjin tremble, and the female warrior complained with dissatisfaction, what are you doing? I won’t shout out. She leaned closer, curiously examining. Yenjio again, clicking her tongue in amazement. Look at you, so bold, still daring to sneak into the tavern while being wanted all over. The city. Yenjio watched the two playfully bickering in front of him, feeling much more relaxed. It seemed that with Sujinjin around. She was doing quite well and not alone. His attention shifted to the female warrior. She was wearing a well-fitted suit of armor, with a breastplate, and shoulder guards gleaming with a subtle silver sheen, while her wrist guards and boots were made of high-quality bronze. The interplay of silver and bronze indicated the considerable value of this equipment. This was a skilled fighter. Yen Jio made a judgment in his heart. Sister Su, who is this, he asked, his voice modified by, illusion, becoming deep and hoarse. Su Jin Jin shot a glance at the female. warrior beside her before introducing, her name is Yunxiao, a friend from a guild. Yunxiao, this is, my friend, Yan, um, Shao County. Snacks. She almost slipped up again and quickly corrected herself. Put. Yunxiao laughed without reservation. Shao County snacks? Your ID is. Quite lively. She winked at Yanjiao. Don’t listen to Xiaozhen, she’s just worrying for nothing. I’m called Yunxiao, Yun as in meteor. Xiao as in sky. Hello. Yanjiao nodded. Suzhenjian looked at Yunxiao’s familiar demeanor with a hint of helplessness. Don’t be fooled by. Her, she’s actually a really good person, she whispered to Yanjio. However, Yunxiao seemed to have heard her puffing out her chest with pride. Of course, if it weren’t for me looking out for her, your little Jin would have been bothered to death by those stinky men from the Flame. Nation. She paused, her tone shifting to seriousness. I’ve seen the video of you killing blood red overlord, very impressive. Your timing. Was spot on. Those on the forum saying you rely on equipment to crush others are just a bunch of fools who can only stand there and shoot. By you bu bu. She gave an extremely high evaluation. Yen Jio was somewhat surprised. He didn’t expect this seemingly carefree female warrior to have such sharp insight. Hearing others praise Yen Jio, Sujinjin also wore a proud smile. She added, Yunxiao is also very strong. She’s the top warrior in Six Peaks. Six Peaks. The two words made Yen Jio pause slightly. This female warrior in front of him was actually one of them. Yen Jio then remembered that Sujinjin had mentioned it before. She had joined a guild, one that was even more mysterious than Mingfa Qiancun Pavilion, on the top 10 guild rankings. Jiu Tian. Jiu Tian. Six Peaks. These two terms swirled in Yanzhou’s mind. He didn’t. Expect that with just a casual teleport, he would stumble upon the two most elite circles in, Illusion. A guild more mysterious than, Mingfa. Qiancun Pavilion. A woman representing the pinnacle of the warrior profession. And both circles had connections to Suzhengen. The atmosphere. In the tavern became somewhat subtle due to Yunxiao’s few words. With an outsider present, Yen Ji-o felt it inappropriate to act too close. With Soo Jin-jin, he scratched his head and proactively brought up a topic. Sister Soo, didn’t you say there was a hidden quest? Have you done it yet? Upon hearing him bring up serious matters, the smile on Soo Jin-jin’s face softened considerably. She shook her head. Not yet. This quest needs a knowledgeable magic scholar to help with the next step. Yun-chao and I searched through Sunset City, but all the mage NPCs in the city said it wouldn’t work. Yunxiao added casually from the side, in our Joutian guild, counting Xiaojun, there are only seven of. Us. She spread her hands, looking helpless. I don’t have any trustworthy mages on my friend list, I mostly solo dungeons. So this quest has. Been stuck here. Yanjiao nodded. The learned magic scholar. In his mind, the image of those old scholars in the star council, dressed in. Starry robes and studying the mysteries of the universe, instantly appeared. Take me to see it. I know quite a few scholars. Yunxiao looked. at him skeptically, like he was some Sha Sien snack. Are you up for it? That quest NPC has a strange temper. Yen Jio didn’t elaborate. Much. With his current respected reputation in the council, asking a scholar NPC for a small favor shouldn’t be too difficult. Su Jun Jun had. Unconditional trust in him. Let’s go. She stood up and tugged at Yun Zhao’s sleeve. The three of them got up and left the noisy tavern. As. Soon as they stepped onto the street, the sounds of shouting and fighting filled their ears again. Yen Jio must have left the city. The city. Gate is blocked. Impossible. Someone saw a shadow by the west wall. What are you looking at? Dammit, you stepped on my foot, are you looking for death? Sunset City was still in a state of frenzied turmoil. People were piking everywhere, with magic and blades flying. Su Xinjin. And Yunxiao had long since gotten used to this scene. Seeing Yanjio still looking around, Su Xinjin quietly explained, the people of Sunset City are particularly fierce. I don’t know if it’s because of the lord, but here, as long as you don’t kill someone during PK, uh. Guards can’t be bothered with you. I saw on the forum that in other cities, players can only engage in barehanded combat, if they use any weapons or skills, the guards come rushing in immediately. There was a hint of fear in her tone. If it weren’t for Yun Xiao always helping me, I don’t know how many times I would have died. After hearing this, Yen Jo seriously nodded at Yun Xiao beside him. Thank you. He paused. And added, if you need help in the future, feel free to ask me. After saying that, he thought for a moment and rummaged through his backpack. He took out the two-handed greatsword that had dropped from the ascendant razzle in the void throne. The silver glow looked particularly dazzling under the dim sunlight. Void ripper blade quality, silver attributes, strength plus 120, physical penetration plus 10, critical rate plus 20% void. Blade, when attacking, there is a 5% chance to enter frenzy. Frenzy, damage is doubled, damage taken is halved, lasts for 3 seconds. He directly initiated a trade. This is for you. Yun Xiao was about to say no need to be polite, but then she saw the attributes of the. greatsword in the trade window. Her movements froze. What the hell? She carefully examined the astonishing physical attack power and the accompanying premium effect, unable to help but curse. Not bad. She clicked confirm without hesitation and stored the greatsword in her backpack. Then, she patted Yanjio on the shoulder and grinned. From today on, you’re my friend. Ding. Player Yanxiao requests to add you as a friend. Yanxiao clicked agree. Ding. Player Xiaojian requests to add you as a friend. He also clicked agree. Whether it was because the distance had closed or due to the effect of illusionist disguise, the friend requests that had previously failed were easily accepted this time. Looking at the familiar ID named Xiaojin in his friend list, Yanjio felt inexplicably happier. The three of them navigated through the chaotic streets. Yunxiao led the way, her exquisite armor of silver and blue, along with the fine sword at her waist that clearly wasn’t ordinary, made the fighting players unconsciously part to let her through. They quickly left the noisy city center and headed towards the outskirts. The surrounding buildings gradually became sparse, the smell of sulfur and metal in the air was replaced by the scent of earth and plants. Eventually, they arrived at an abandoned mill, standing solitary in the wilderness. The wooden door of the mill was tightly shut, and the walls were covered in moss and cracks. Strangely, from within the mill, a dull explosion echoed repeatedly. Boom! Boom! Each explosion caused a slight tremor in the ground beneath their feet. Yunxiao walked in front, kicking the rickety wooden door with his toes. Boom! Another loud sound. came from inside the door, accompanied by a rush of hot air that burst forth from the crack. Yunxiao stepped back two paces, fanning the air with his hand. Sujinjin wore a worried expression. We should go in and take a look. Yenjio said nothing. He circled around Yunxiao and placed his hand on the weathered wooden door. The residual warmth on the door panel seeped through his palm. He gently pushed. Creak amidst. The harsh sound of friction. The wooden door slowly opened inward. A stronger, more intense smell, mixed with burnt, sulfur, and some unknown. crystalline powder rushed at them the interior of the mill was completely different from the abandoned scene filled with cobwebs he had imagined it resembled a mad alchemist’s laboratory the walls were charred black and the floor was littered with burn marks various nameless metal parts shattered glassware and glowing mineral dust were haphazardly piled in the corners in the center of the mill a figure with his back to them was hunched over a massive stone table tinkering with a metal contraption that was billowing thick smoke it was an elf but His physique bore no resemblance to the delicate and graceful elves people typically imagined. He was extremely burly, his coarse mage robe, stretched tight over his muscular frame, and the veins on his exposed arms twisted like coiling dragons. Hualier, elemental storm. This I.D. floated above his head. No, no. The robust elf was irritably tugging at his fiery red hair, muttering to himself. The output of the flame. Energy is still too violent, it can’t stabilize. Damn it, the capacity of the ice rune has reached its limit, it can’t be suppressed at all. The energy circuit is overloaded by 30%. No, at this rate, the entire core will melt down. As he spoke, he frantically grabbed a handful of blue powder, intending to sprinkle it into the metal contraption, but stopped halfway. No, adding crystal dust will affect the purity of the arcane flow. Damn it. What should I do? He paced back and forth like a beast trapped in a cage, his muttering filled with agitation. Sujinjin seized the moment he paused and cautiously stepped forward. Hello, Mr. Hualier. I have a teammate who might know. Something about the erudite mage scholar. Hualier suddenly turned around, his crimson eyes filled with impatience. Here we go again? How many times have I said it? Not every street performer can be called erudite. His gaze sliced through Suzhengen like a knife. The last guy you brought couldn’t even tell the difference between pure fire element and a burnt wild chicken. Get lost. Yunxiao immediately became displeased. Gripping the hilt of his sword. Hey, how are you talking? Yenjio was even more direct. Without saying a word, he charged forward and. kicked Hualier away. Hualier was sent flying far, getting up awkwardly, ready to explode in anger but his gaze landed precisely beside Yen. Gio’s foot. In that instant, all the anger and agitation on the robust elf’s face froze. His crimson eyes widened in shock, disbelief, and finally. Transformed into an almost reverent fervor. Clang. The tool in his hand fell to the ground with a crisp sound the next second. The burly. Elf, as strong as a bear, made a move that took everyone by surprise. He charged forward using both hands and feet, ignoring the stun Su. Jinjin and Yunxiao, and rushed straight to Yenjio. Then, with a thud, he knelt on both knees. His entire body bowed down, pressing his forehead against the dusty ground beside Yenjio’s muddy boots and began to chant something rapidly in an ancient and convoluted language. The language was filled with peculiar retroflex sounds and plosives, belonging to none that Yenjio knew. The entire mill fell into a dead silence. Only the elf’s fervent and low prayer remained. Sujinjin and Yunxiao exchanged glances, seeing confusion and bewilderment on each other’s faces. Yanjio was also taken aback. He instinctively took a step back. What was going on with this NPC? Hualier’s prayer came to an end. He slowly raised his head and then stood up. The previously frantic madman had vanished, replaced by a solemn and dignified aura. He began to circle around Yanjio, slowly turning, his crimson eyes seeming to see through Yanjio entirely. Finally, he stopped, truly facing Yanjio for the first time. Outlander. His voice became deep and magnetic. You carry the steadiness of the earth, the lightness of the wind, the heat. of the flames, and the tranquility of shadows. Since you have gained the support of the four elemental forces, why do you still seek the cold embrace of the stars? Yenjo’s heart skipped a beat. This NPC could actually see through all his power systems, whether it was the four elemental affinities he had accepted or his profession as a starwalker. This was beyond the realm of ordinary NPCs, Hualier did not wait for his response but placed his right hand on his chest and performed an ancient gesture towards Yenjo. I am Hualier Elemental Storm, a second tier. priest of the elemental temple fire spirit temple by the blessing of the elemental supreme i possess the divine power to communicate with fire elementals he raised his head and in his crimson eyes burned a flame you meet my requirements outlander the fire element surrounding you is singing your name to me the choice of the elements cannot be wrong ding accept hidden quest whale of the elements quest objective assist the fire spirit temple priest while your elemental storm in calming the raging fire elements beneath the tianxin mountains dot Yanzhou stared at the system panel that popped up in front of him, remaining motionless for a long time. The direction of events had completely exceeded his expectations. The air in the mill seemed to have solidified. Hualier’s words still echoed in Yanzhou’s ears. Outlander, I will wait for you at the Tianjin Mountains tomorrow, I need to prepare some things. As his voice fell, the burly elf priest performed an ancient and sullen gesture towards Yanzhou. Then his figure transformed into a flickering flame and vanished into thin air, leaving behind a mess and three people staring at each other. Yunxiao was stunned for several seconds before finally regaining her voice. She walked over. To Yenjio and nudged him with her elbow. Dude, what just happened? I thought we were going to have a serious fight with him. Yenjio. Shrugged and remained silent. Soozhenjin walked to his other side and quietly asked, so, what about my quest? Yenjio thought for a moment. We should do it together. Once we calm that raging fire elemental, your quest should be completed too. Yunxiao listened on the side, her. Arms crossed, looking thoughtful. The three of them left the eerie abandoned mill and walked back into the city. The bustling sunset city was still as lively as ever. The streets were filled with players chasing and fighting, even more than when they had left. The name Yanjio remained the hottest keyword in the entire city. Yanjio, with his rugged face, blended into the crowd, going unnoticed by anyone. He glanced. At the time in the upper right corner of the system interface, the game’s dusk was slowly descending. In the real world, it was almost dinner. Time. Since Hualier’s task would have to wait until tomorrow, there was nothing else to do today. He turned to Soojinjin. Shall we log? Off? Soojinjin nodded gently. A faint blush was visible on her face. She waved at Yunxiao beside her. Yunxiao, we’ll contact you again. Tomorrow. Yunxiao waved back with a bright smile. Alright, you two lovebirds go ahead. If you need anything for tomorrow’s task just call. Me anytime. After saying that, she winked at Yenjio. Soojinjin’s face turned even redder. She took Yanzhou’s hand, lowered her head, and, quickly selected to log off on the interface. Yanzhou also chose to exit the game. The surrounding world faded away like a receding tide. Consciousness returned to his body. Yanzhou opened his eyes to see the familiar ceiling. The air still carried the faint fragrance of Su. Jinjin. The apocalyptic orange-red city from the game felt like a distant dream. He turned his head. Sujinjin lay beside him, her lone eyelashes fluttering slightly, clearly just waking up. This feeling was wonderful. Just a second ago, they had been holding hands in a world. Filled with sulfur and flames. The next second, they were back in this quiet and cozy bedroom. The two worlds were tightly connected. Because of each other’s existence. Gurgle. An untimely sound broke the silence in the room. Yen Jio scratched his head. I’m a bit hungry. Sushin Jin laughed at him, stretching her body, her delicate curves outlined under the thin blanket, creating an enchanting arc I. Suddenly want to eat hot pot today. Her voice was laced with the laziness of just waking up, soft and sweet. Yenjiyo immediately nodded. Okay. The two got up and began to get dressed. Yenjiyo quickly put on his clothes and leaned against the door, waiting for Sujinjin. Su. Jinjin sat on the edge of the bed. She took out an unopened pack of stockings from the bedside table. After tearing open the packaging, she. Gently shook out the thin, black fabric. Then, she lifted one leg, her snow-white foot straightening perfectly. She slipped the edge of. The stockings over her toes and, with her slender fingers, slowly pulled the black layer up inch by inch. The stockings clung to her calves. crossing over her rounded knees finally wrapping around the soft lines of her thighs the entire motion was slow and graceful the black silk against her fair skin made yen joe feel a dryness in his throat an inexplicable heat rose from his lower abdomen quickly spreading throughout his limbs the wicked fire within him seemed to be growing stronger he turned away unable to look any longer i i’ll wait for you outside the door his voice carried a hint of unnatural hoarseness after saying that he almost fled quickly walking out of the bedroom and pacing back and forth in the living room. After a while, the bedroom door finally opened. Soo Jin Jin stepped out. She had changed into a modified ink-washed cheapo, perfectly outlining her graceful figure, and at the slit, one could vaguely see her long legs wrapped in black stockings. She looked at Yen Ji-ho, who was fidgeting, with a hint of melancholy in her eyes. Yen Ji-ho awkwardly touched his nose. The two stepped out. Night had fallen, and the city’s neon lights painted the sky in a myriad of colors. They walked towards a famous hot pot restaurant nearby. The evening breeze was cool, dispersing the last trace of heat in Yen Jiu’s heart. The hot pot restaurant was. Bustling with noise, the rolling white steam mixed with the aroma of beef fat and spices, hitting them in the face. Yen Jiu handed the illustrated. Menu to Su Jin Jin. You order first. After all, it was her suggestion to come here. Su Jin Jin took the menu, her slender fingers. Lightly tracing over several dishes. A portion of yellow throat, a portion of brain flour, a portion of spinach, and another portion of. Shrimp paste. After she finished ordering, she lightly handed the menu back to Yen Jio. Yen Jio took the menu without even glancing at the prices. He was no longer the poor police officer who had to count every penny. Waiter. He waved to a busy figure not far away. 6. Portions of lamb. 4 portions of premium fatty beef. 4 portions of inner Mongolia lamb cut. 4 portions of tripe. 4 portions of yellow throat. 2 portions of shrimp paste. 5 portions of tofu skin. 4 portions of duck intestines. 1 portion of napa cabbage. two portions of handmade beef balls, and four portions of oil tofu skin, three portions of noodles, and two large bottles of sour plum. Su. The waiter paused for a moment, confirming the order again. Sir, there are only two of you. Don’t worry, we can finish it. Yen. Gio nodded in confirmation. Sujinjin likes spicy food, but he felt that an overwhelming spiciness would mask the freshness of the ingredients, a mild spice was enough. Let’s get a nine-grid pot base. He made the decision for the two of them. Soon, the brass nine-grid pot. was brought to the table, with red oil bubbling in the compartments and chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns floating in the broth. The dishes arrived in a steady stream quickly filling the racks around their table. Yanjio slid a whole plate of fatty beef into the hottest center compartment. The meat changed color rapidly in the red oil, curling up. He fished it out, rolled it in the sesame oil and garlic sauce, and then sent it to his mouth. The tenderness of the meat and the fragrant spiciness of the broth exploded on his taste buds, the way he Eight carried a primitive, unabashed satisfaction, devouring the food without appearing rude. Soojinjin watched him, her lips curving up. Unconsciously. She picked up a slice of yellow throat, swished it in her compartment for seven or eight seconds, and then took small bites. Watching Yenjio devour his food, she seemed to be infected by his vigorous appetite. Her usually small appetite today showed a rare tendency to expand. Waiter, add another portion of beef. She called softly. The meal was thoroughly enjoyable. Yenjio leaned back in his. chair, letting out a satisfied sigh. After they had eaten their fill, he stood up to leave with Sujinjin. However, just as they reached the entrance of the hot pot restaurant, they bumped into a familiar person, little cream. She was wearing a tight high neck thin sweater and dark leggings, accentuating her already curvy figure even more. A few stylishly dressed girls were with her, clearly her classmates. When the girls saw Yenjo, they instinctively stopped in their tracks. Their gazes lingered on Yenjo’s handsome face for a few seconds, revealing a hint of excitement. Then it fell on Sujinjin, who was beside him, wearing an ink-washed chipow, stunningly beautiful. A feeling of inferiority made them silently retract their gazes and none dared to approach. Yenjio was somewhat surprised to see Little Cream. What a coincidence, he greeted. Ah, Master Yenjio. Little Cream recognized Yenjio at a glance, like a startled little rabbit. She quickly lowered her head and bowed to him. In the game, she could call him Master casually and joke with him. But in reality, this was their first meeting. The atmosphere became a bit awkward. Sujinjin noticed the embarrassment, she took a small step forward and naturally, linked her arm with Yenjio’s, wearing a gracious and appropriate smile. Since you’re a friend of our old Yen, this table is on us. Horror. Voice was gentle and pleasant but carried an undeniable tone of declaration. Order whatever you like, don’t be polite. The girls around. Little cream immediately let out suppressed cheers. They no longer held back, two of the bolder ones even circled around Yenjio, as if they, were admiring a rare animal. Then, they shyly ran off, one on each side of Little Cream, whose cheeks were flushed, chattering as they entered the restaurant. Thank you, sister. Thank you, master. Suzhengen walked towards the front desk, giving a few instructions to. The waiter, Yanjio, scratched his head and followed behind her. The two of them walked out of the hot pot restaurant and strolled along the surrounding streets to digest their meal. The night had completely enveloped the city, and the neon lights cast colorful reflections on the faces of passers -by. I leveled her up a few times in the game before, Yanjou explained proactively, the anonymous reward for the first. Kill in the dungeon was something I got together with her. He then carefully recounted the events between him and Little Cream. Sujinjin. Listened quietly. She nodded but didn’t say anything. Slightly turning her head, she looked at the hot pot restaurant, lost in thought. I tried to make a picture of Little Cream. The spicy aroma of the hot pot seemed to linger in the air. Back at the rental apartment. Sujinjin took off her high heels and stepped barefoot on the floor, the slit of her chi-pau revealing a section of her fair calf wrapped. In stockings. I’ll go take a shower first, she said, grabbing a change of clothes and walking into the bathroom. Soon, the sound of running water echoed from inside. Yenjo sat on the sofa, listening to the water, and stood up, almost unconsciously, taking steps toward the closed bathroom door. The door wasn’t locked. He gently pushed it, and it opened. Warm steam mixed with the fragrance of shower gel. Rushed toward him. Behind the frosted glass partition, a graceful silhouette appeared faintly. Sujinjin heard the door open and paused. For a moment. Yenjio took off his clothes and pulled open the glass door, stepping inside. Hot water gushed from the shower head, washing. Over both of them. Sujinjin faced away from him, her body tense and straight, afraid to move. Water droplets slid down her smooth back, outlining a perfect curve. Yenjio’s breath faltered for a moment. He reached out, but not to embrace her. He took the shower gel from the sighed, squeezed it into his palm, lathered it into rich foam, and then gently applied it to her back. His movements were soft, imbued with a clumsy seriousness. Sujinjin’s tense body gradually relaxed. She turned around. Let me help you. She took the shower puff from his hand, stood on her tiptoes and began to scrub his broad back. The bathroom was very quiet. Only the sound of water flowed, along with their occasional breaths intertwining. There were no extra words, nor any further actions. A warm and pure intimacy quietly flowed in the steamy. space. After showering, the two lay down on the bed. Sujinjin curled up in Yanjou’s arms like a little cat. That girl named Little. Cream is quite cute, she said softly. Yeah, she’s pretty innocent, Yanjou replied. Then you should take care of her more in the game from now on. Okay. After a few simple exchanges, Yanjou’s breathing became even and long. He fell asleep. Sujinjin kept her eyes open. Looking at his sleeping profile illuminated by the moonlight coming through the window, she reached out her finger, gently tracing his outline. Then, she closed her eyes as well, a hint of a serene smile on her lips. The next morning, when Yen Jio woke up, he found the space, beside him empty again. He sat up, and as usual, there was a prepared breakfast on the table. He finished it in a few bites and patted his, still somewhat empty stomach. Next time, he should ask Sujie to make a bit more. He thought to himself, humming a tune-off key, as Yen. Jio wobbled his way to the police station. On the way, several police cars with sirens blaring whizzed past him, checking the license plates. They weren’t from their third team. yenjio felt relaxed and continued at his leisurely pace the door of the criminal investigation team 3 was still wide open the commotion inside was even more fervent than yesterday damn an immortal level first kill honey apple my god the chubby shinde slapped his thigh his excitement making the fat on his face tremble did you guys see that announcement 50 free attribute points as a reward plus an immortal equipment treasure chest 50 points that’s a direct liftoff xiao li’s bloodshot eyes widen This game is too crazy, what does it even mean to have an immortal level boss? The forum is in an uproar. Some. People analyzed the boss’s name, the remains of the supreme and said that it might be the resurrected corpse of some mythical creature. A. Corpse can be that powerful? Isn’t it? Someone heard from an NPC that the supreme seems to be similar to a creator god. Then how did. The honey apple god defeat it, a god slayer? Who knows. That’s the gap between deities and mortals. Yenjiyo pulled out his chair and. Sat down, brewing himself a cup of tea, listening leisurely. Hey, do you think in the future bosses could be captured by S players? A. Young officer suddenly proposed a bold idea. A pet system? Shin’s eyes instantly lit up. Wow. That makes sense. Just think about. It, if we each had a Remains of the Supreme, we could swagger around wherever we go. Dream on. Shaoli ruthlessly shot him down. Something of that level, even if it could be a pet, is not something we can touch. Not necessarily, what if there’s some kind of lucky? Quest? right right right i think the pet system has great potential maybe it will turn into a pokemon battle royale in the future the discussion in the office quickly shifted from the admiration of the honey apple to the concept of a future pet system some said they could catch monsters others said they could hatch eggs and some suggested there might be a new profession called beast tamer they discussed passionately as if they were the game’s designers yenjiu listened quietly letting those wild ideas drift past his ears he picked up His thermos, blowing on the floating tea leaves. Shinda’s chair creaked as it moved next to him. Captain Yen. Shinda’s voice was low, carrying a hint of mystery. The office fell silent for a moment, everyone perked up their ears. Um, the honey apple god. Shinda’s face. Was plastered with a flattering smile, his eyes sparkling with gossip. Aren’t you quite familiar with her? What’s the deal with this? Immortal level boss? Any insider information? This question acted like a magnet, drawing everyone’s attention. Yen Jiu set down his teacup. The bottom making a soft sound as it touched the table. He was too lazy to fabricate any convoluted stories. Telling too many lies can be. Exhausting. He leaned back in his chair, revealing a somewhat desolate expression, and sighed softly. I’m just a little follower. His. Voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone’s ears. In a situation like this, how could they possibly bring me along? He paused. As if recalling some unwillingly mentioned past. Recently, she’s been very busy. I heard she’s been having intense battles with top experts. like Shinting and M.O.D. Roe. Indeed, she had been fighting fiercely with M .O.D. Roe, in another sense. Shinda’s gossiping enthusiasm was instantly doused with cold water. He looked at Yanzhou’s expression of being abandoned by the organization and felt an overwhelming sympathy. So that’s how it is. The honey apple god had ascended to a higher stage and no longer valued Captain Yen, her former little partner. Truly, people move on, and the world is cold. That’s true, that’s true. Shindi awkwardly smiled and quickly comforted him. Those. Kinds of big shots, we really can’t get involved. He patted Yanzhou’s shoulder heavily. But Captain Yen, being able to show our faces. With the golden first kill announcement is enough to brag about for a while. It’s worth it. Yeah, Captain Yen. Shaoli chimed in from the. Side. That’s a server-wide announcement. So many people want to get in but can’t. Being brought along by a big shot is a strength in. Itself. Their words were filled with genuine sympathy and clumsy comfort. Shindy noticed Yanzhou’s lack of interest in the topic end. quickly and cleverly shifted the direction. Speaking of which, that remains of the supreme being sounds quite extraordinary. How fierce. Do you think the drop rate for this thing is? An immortal weapon, dealing tens of thousands of damage with just one hit, right? How? Much can it sell for? A sky-high price, I bet? At least over 200,000. Over 200,000 my foot, it won’t drop for less than a few million. The discussion in the office was reignited once again. The topic veered from sympathy for yinjio to wild fantasies. About the game content. Yenjio listened quietly for a while. When they started discussing whether using the boss’s eyeball to make a necklace would have a curse effect, he held his teacup and stood up. Turning towards his independent office, the noise behind him was cut off. By a door. Yenjio quickly finished processing the scattered documents piled on his desk. He stretched lazily, and the bones in his body. Made a satisfying crack. Out of boredom, he opened the official forum for illusion. The homepage was still drenched in the words honey. Apple. Various worship posts, analysis posts, and love confession posts emerged endlessly. In death analysis. Honey apple god solo kills. An immortal level boss, does this mean hidden classes completely crush ordinary classes? One battle to become a deity. From now on, I. Only recognize one mage god, and that is honey apple. Willing to pay a high price for the original flavor of honey apple god. May the. Scammers die with their whole family. Yen Jio scrolled through the posts with an expressionless face. The fervent praise gave him a sense. of absurdity he casually clicked on a post with a more interesting title a blessing for the research faction piecing together the true worldview of illusion from ancient texts and npc dialogues the poster was clearly a research fanatic who had invested a lot of time in the post he pieced together a grand history of the world’s birth based on numerous ancient texts from the library and snippets from various npcs at the dawn of the world there was endless chaos the first to appear were the two oldest energies light and darkness they intertwined and collided, ultimately giving birth to the first two supreme beings. Then, the forces of life and death came into being. As life gazed up at the sky and found nothing above, stars were born from life’s imagination and longing. And the elements are even older and more mysterious. They had already been active in this world even before light and darkness appeared. The Post’s argument was well-reasoned, citing a large number of in-game texts as evidence. When Yen Jiu reached this point, his finger paused on the mouse. Light, darkness, life, death, stars, elements. The Six Fundamental Forces. The post continued its analysis. According to my reasoning, the so-called supreme beings are the strongest among these six fundamental forces, not unique, and after death, new strongest beings will rise to take the title of supreme. Thus, I have a bold hypothesis. The immortal level boss that was killed by honey apple god not long ago, the remains of the supreme being is very likely the corpse of a fallen supreme being, which, under certain special circumstances, has reawakened consciousness. Replies below the post quickly built up. wow the poster is amazing this analysis is well founded so as long as we level up enough will we players have a chance to become supreme beings in the future you’re thinking too much we can’t even defeat the corpse of a supreme being soon someone raised a new doubt wait a minute i found a key point look the server-wide announcement of honey apple god obtaining that mysterious pet and the announcement of her killing the remains of the supreme being are very close in time right hiss now that you mention it it does seem true Could it be that the pet dropped from the remains of the supreme being? It’s possible. The drops from an immortal level boss must include more than just equipment and skill books. Maybe that pet egg is the. Prostate of the supreme being. Are you crazy? Can you at least guess something plausible? A heart would be more believable. Damn, using. The supreme being’s heart as a pet is just too much. The discussion was spiraling further away from a rigorous exploration of the world. View into wild flights of fancy. Yenjiu watched as they became increasingly absurd and quietly closed the thread. the imagination of these players was indeed rich. However, their information was ultimately one-sided. Neither the NPC’s accounts nor the ancient texts in the library had mentioned the existence of the Void Forces, not to mention the demons in the Abyssal Purgatory and the more taboo powers like the Undead Plague. The truth of this game world was far more complex than they imagined. Yanjio casually flipped through other threads, most of which were just meaningless arguments. He randomly opened the pinned leaderboard on the forum, Hall of Fame, Three Absolutes and six peaks a list composed of gilded letters occupied the entire page at the very top of the list were three parallel most dazzling names three absolutes one id honey apple class astral walker level 22 2 id thunderbolt class lord of thunder level 21 3 id soft eyes class soul devourer level 20 below the names was a line of small print at the request of many players this list displays the names of some anonymous players The rankings are based on recorded battle videos and player information. The official in-game leaderboard remains anonymous. Yanjio looked at the first place honey apple with a somewhat complicated mood. He had personally pushed a fictional character onto a pedestal. Soft eyes, level 20. She must have dropped a level after being killed by him, going from level 21 to level 20. Just in time to be overtaken by Thunderbolt, she was now in third place. Yanjio felt inexplicably better. He continued to look down the list. 6peaks mage class leader id anonymous class mist shadow sorcerer level 20 ranger class leader id wind spirit class windwalker level 20 warrior class leader id anonymous class weapon master level 19 paladin class leader id war god hall yen class sunwalker level 20 rogue class leader id anonymous class kingslayer level 19 priest class leader id frost moon class holy word priest level 20 he contentedly closed the forum Glancing at the time in the bottom right corner of his computer, it was almost 11 o’clock. He stood up, picked up the thermos cup on the table, and walked out of the office. It was time to go home. He walked out of the door of the criminal investigation team 3, leaving the noise behind him. The traffic on the street formed long lines, and the city was always so hurried at noon. Yenzhou’s pace was slow, blending into the crowd of the city like a drop of water merging into the sea. His phone in his pocket vibrated. He took it out, and the screen lit up with Mingyao’s avatar. A message popped up. Mingyao, the guild. Battle list is out, starting at 3 in the afternoon. Yanjio swiped the screen, his steps unbroken. Mingyao, you probably don’t. Want to see the rest, I’m just sending you the guild information we need to battle today. Yanjio looked at the message, almost able to. Imagine Mingyao’s capable and decisive demeanor. Soon after, a second message arrived. Mingyao, the first match is against Pinewind. House. He had some impression of this name. Once one of the top 10 guilds, they had been pushed down by them later. Ming Yao, their. Guild composition is quite special, with a majority of casual and entertainment players, but they have a very large number, and there are. Some real experts hidden among them. Ming Yao, I watched their previous battle recordings, they found a very shameless way to play, Yen. Zhou’s footsteps slowed a bit as he curiously looked at the screen. Ming Yao, they have gathered a group of players with the same D level. Talent. Ming Yao, the talent is called, Grey Land. Ming Yao, the effect is that after use, it causes a 5% slow in casting slow. on the ground within a 10-yard radius, lasting for 3 minutes, with a cooldown of 5 minutes. A D-level talent. It sounded ridiculously weak. Mingyao, this talent itself is quite trash, but someone discovered that its effects can stack. Mingyao, when two people use it together, the range can expand to 18 yards, and the slowing effect will also increase. Mingyao, they gathered 300 players. With this talent. 300. This number made Yanjio stop in his tracks. He stood by the roadside, leaning against a street tree. Mingyao, when 300 people activate Greyland simultaneously, the effect is terrifying. Mingyao, the slowing effect can increase to over 80%. Mingyao, the effective range radius exceeds 450 meters, a massive mud pit with a diameter close to a kilometer. Any enemy stepping into it would find their movements as slow as a snail. Mingyao, their tactic is very simple, they cover the entire battlefield with this field right from the start. Mingyao, then, taking advantage of their team’s composition. they resolve the battle within three minutes. Mingyao, they are all mages, rangers, and priests, without a single melee class. In Yenzhou’s mind, a picture instantly formed. Cowbless warriors and knights, trapped in the grey mire. Their charges became like slow motion. Replays. And the overwhelming rain of arrows and magic poured down from a safe distance. Even if there were mages and priests exchanging fire, they were clearly outnumbered and their casting speed was slow, being worn down to death. This was indeed a rogue strategy. Using. Numbers and an inconspicuous talent, they created an absolute hell for melee classes. Mingyao, previously, a guild tried to counter. This, but they all failed. Mingyao, their ranged firepower is too fierce, and there are plenty of priests maintaining healing, making. It impossible to get close. Yanjou’s fingers gently slid across the screen. And 80% slow. For any class that relies on movement. Speed, this is devastating. But, a glimmer of brilliant starlight appeared in his mind. Astral Walk. This tactic, for him, was non-existent. No matter how large the slowing field, it couldn’t restrict someone who could ignore spatial distance. He was the only breakthrough. Point capable of tearing through this grey web. The phone vibrated again. Ming Yao, the second match is an old rival. Ming Yao. Crimson Dusk. Ming Yao. Although they lost the first game to us last time, since it’s a best-of-three format, they still advanced. Smoothly with victories in the latter two matches. Yen Jio still remembered them. They were quite strong, but in terms of tactics, they were. Far less threatening than the peculiar composition of Song Feng Shi. Mingyao, there’s no need to say much about their intelligence. Mingyao, their playstyle is still the same old routine. There hasn’t been much change in the footage. Yanjio put away his phone. He looked up and realized he had unconsciously walked to the bottom of the apartment building where he lived. Crimson dusk was not a concern. The real trouble was the 300 mobile turrets from Songfeng Shi. A slight curve appeared at the corner of Yanjio’s mouth. Interesting. He walked into the hallway and slowly ascended the stairs. He pushed open the door. The room was very quiet, lacking the aroma of. food he had expected. Sujinjin was curled up on the sofa, covered with a thin blanket, revealing only a slightly tired little face. She heard the sound of the door opening and turned her head. I ordered two servings of grilled fish, they should be delivered soon. Her voice was a bit lazy. I ran a bit too much this morning, feeling a bit drained. Yenjio changed his shoes and walked to the side of the sofa.He didn’t say a word, just bent down, his arms slipping through her knees and around her back, lifting her and the blanket in one swift motion. Sujinjin gasped, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck. Yenjo held her and sat down on the sofa, letting her rest. Comfortably in his embrace. His warm palm rested on her calf, kneading it gently yet firmly. Next time, don’t run away for so long. His movements were serious, even a bit clumsy. Sujinjin buried her face in his chest, feeling his steady heartbeat, letting out a satisfied purr like a little kitten. She giggled. It tickles. The atmosphere in the room became soft and sticky. They didn’t speak again, simply. enjoying this piece that belonged solely to them. Before long, the doorbell rang. The grilled fish had arrived. Sujinjin, still in her pajamas, slipped into the inner room while Yenjo went to open the door. A young man in work clothes quickly set up two simple metal grills, placing two grilled fish wrapped in foil on top, igniting the alcohol blocks underneath. He also pulled out various side dishes and a bucket of rice from his box. Sir, enjoy your meal. The young man skillfully packed up his toolbox and turned to leave. The rich, spicy aroma. Mixed with the charred scent of the grilled fish instantly filled the entire living room. The red oil in the foil box sizzled, topped with. Vibrant green cilantro and white sesame seeds. Yanjio had long digested the little breakfast he had that morning. He picked up his chopsticks. Grabbed a large piece of fish soaked in broth and without blowing on it, popped it into his mouth. The tender fish meat and the spicy. Broth exploded in his mouth. Sujunjun couldn’t help but laugh at his eating style. She also picked up her chopsticks, taking small. Bites, but most of the time, she watched Yanjio devour the food. One whole grilled fish was quickly finished off by Yenjiyo. He then turned. His gaze to the other one. Sujinjin pushed her portion towards him. You eat it, I’m full. Yenjiyo didn’t hold back. Finishing the. Second fish cleanly, along with the side dishes, potato slices, lotus root slices, and enoki mushrooms, all gone in a flash. He let out a. Satisfied burp and comfortably leaned back on the sofa. Sujinjin looked at his lazy demeanor and shook her head affectionately. She stood. Up, silently tidying up the mess on the table, packing the disposable utensils. After cleaning up, she wiped the table with a wet wipe. Yen. Jio lay on the sofa, watching her busy figure filled with a warm emotion. He reached out and grabbed her wrist. Sujinjin turned her. Head. With a slight pull, he brought her to sit in his lap. They lay on the sofa, turning on the TV. An old comedy film played on the screen. With exaggerated performances and canned laughter serving as the background noise in the room, neither of them was really watching, just enjoying the warmth of each other’s presence. After a while, Yen Jio kissed her forehead. Let’s go into the game. Sujinjin softly replied with an mm. They both entered the bedroom, lying on the soft big bed. Yenjio turned off the bedside lamp and the room was instantly plunged into darkness. He held Sujinjin tightly in his arms, feeling her softness and the faint fragrance. See you in the game, he whispered in her ear. Then, they both simultaneously selected to log into the game on the interface. The familiar world around them, dissolved like ink and water, quickly fading and becoming blurry. Their consciousness sank into the world called illusion. Welcome back to Illusion. The cold system prompt sound completely severed the warmth of the real world. Yanjio opened his eyes. He and Sujengen were. Standing on the bustling streets of Sunset City. Surrounding them were the noisy crowds and the apocalyptic city under the orange-red sky. Just as they steadied themselves, a private message notification flickered in the upper right corner of Yanjio’s vision. It was Mingyao. He clicked to open it. It’s starting in half an hour. Yanjio’s fingertips tapped on the virtual keyboard. I’m not in Maple Leaf City. just report the name honey apple when the match starts mingyao’s reply came almost instantly mm a single word crisp and decisive clearly indicating she was nervously arranging the battle deployment on her end yenjio closed the chat box and turned to sujinjin beside him i’m about to go fight in the guild war he had mentioned honey apple in the guild war to her before and sujinjin nodded gently she didn’t ask further only softly said then i’ll wait for you at the tavern yenjio responded with a mm watching her turn and the hem of her priest robe gracefully carve a beautiful arc through the crowd before quickly disappearing from sight. He also turned. Around, heading in the opposite direction of Sujinjin. He needed to find a place where no one was around. After crossing several noisy. Streets, Yanjio turned into a secluded alley. It was cluttered with discarded items, exuding a faint musty smell. He first used the shadow. Cloaked to conceal his figure. Then he confirmed that no one was around. With a thought, illusory form a hazy halo enveloped him, his shape. and attire rapidly changing in the glow. When the halo dissipated, a cool figure in a veiled mask and white dress reappeared. Time ticked. Away second by second. Ding! You have registered for the Ting Lan Pavilion Guild’s top 8 competition. The guild war is about to begin. Please prepare countdown, 10, 9, 8. The cold system notification echoed in his ears. In the guild channel, Mingyao’s calm voice was heard. We are clear on the tactics of Song Feng Shi. In this match, we will change our formation. All priests and paladins at the front others spread out immediately to the sides before the gray area is established ambush on both sides before song phone she arrives their gray area talent can slow us down and weaken our casting speed but it cannot affect instant cast skills everyone pay attention to my commands wait for apple to break the formation in the channel the girls responses carried an unmistakable tension understood president but can we really withstand an 80 slow ming yao did not explain further scene switching the alley before him dissolved from view In its place was a dim, damp forest. Huge trees blocked out the sun, allowing light to filter through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled spots of light. The ground was soft, with humus that sank slightly underfoot. The moment the countdown ended, without any warning, the entire world seemed to be splashed with a bucket of grey paint. The ground beneath him instantly changed from deep, brown to a nauseating grey. A thick, sluggish sensation spread from his feet throughout his body. You have entered the grey area. Domain movement speed reduced by 80% Attack speed reduced by 80% Casting speed reduced by 80% A series of negative status alerts popped up, frantically on everyone’s panels. I, can’t move. My legs feel like they’re filled with lead. One girl tried to lift her foot, but her. Movements were as slow as a slow motion scene in a movie. Another mage attempted to conjure a fireball, taking a long time to produce a. Wobbly fireball. Panic quickly spread through the team. This was the power of 300 D level talents stacked together. An absolute. domain capable of changing the course of battle. In the distance, the forest was already lit with twinkling magical lights. The sound of arrow slicing through the air followed as players from Songfoam Pavilion rapidly approached. Seeing the scene was a forest, Mingyao made. Her decision in the next second. Climb the trees. Get off the ground. This command left everyone momentarily stunned. Climb the trees? Most of them were used to a life of comfort. How could they do something like that? A few girls slowly moved to the tree, awkwardly reaching. for the low branches, but they kept slipping down. The long robes they wore became the biggest burden. Amidst this chaos, Yen Jiu moved. The terrifying deceleration effect seemed non-existent to him. He simply leaped lightly. The white figure of wind’s step floated down like a weightless feather, silently landing on the sturdy branch of a nearby giant tree. From his elevated position, he looked down at the girls below, who were in a disarray. Then, he made eye contact with Ming Yao, who was also trying to direct everyone to climb the tree. Yen Jiu nodded slightly at her. in the next moment he jumped again the white gauzy skirt left a fleeting shadow in the dim forest he stepped on the branches as if walking on flat ground rapidly darting towards the direction where the magical blow was most concentrated that figure was the only splash of color in this gray despairing realm the formation of song foam she advanced like a bloated gray beast there movement speed was not affected by the gray land they carefully maintained an absolutely tight remote firepower net keeping watch over their surroundings a uniform line of mages and rangers On the outermost edge, a circle of rangers armed with longbows had their arrows. Knocked, ready to shoot but holding back. Their steps were synchronized and every ten meters they advanced they would cautiously scan every inch of the treetops and shadows around them. At the center of the formation were densely packed mages. Frost, flames, and arcane light. Gathered in their palms forming a brilliant yet deadly energy field. In an inconspicuous corner on the far left of the entire team, a man. Dressed in an ordinary mage robe, looking utterly unremarkable, was calmly issuing commands through the battlefield channel. He was the overall. Commander of Song Fong Shi’s Tactics, ID 1 foot of grey. Battlefield Channel 1 foot of grey, frontline rangers, report enemy detection. Status. Soon, a cheerful voice echoed in the channel. Battlefield Channel Scout A, report, President, the main force of Tinglon. Pavilion has been located at coordinates XXX, XXX. Battlefield Channel Scout A, they are trying to climb the tree, moving very slowly, how cute. A suppressed chuckle came through the channel. Battlefield channel one foot of gray, stay quiet. The laughter abruptly stopped. Battlefield channel one foot of gray, our target is not those ordinary members. Battlefield channel one foot of gray, everyone, prepare. Your control skills. His voice was devoid of any emotion. Battlefield channel one foot of gray, all instant control, keep it in hand. Battlefield channel one foot of gray, no one is allowed to use it until we see that white figure. He paused, seemingly waiting for everyone. To digest the command. Battlefield channel 1 foot of grey, our grey land lasts only 3 minutes. Battlefield channel 1 foot. Of grey, we must push to the Ting Lan pavilion’s position within these 3 minutes, eliminate the others, and prevent the invasion of. Honey apples. Battlefield channel 1 foot of grey, the task is daunting. Everyone, stay alert. Understood. A synchronized response. Erupted in the channel. A hint of resilience appeared on 1 foot of grey’s face. 3 absolutes? Honey apples? He intended to drag this. Nith standing on the clouds down into the mud with a group of the most unremarkable D-class talents. He wanted everyone on the server to see. D-class talents are not weak. Battlefield Channel 1 Foot of Grey, let the Honey Apples, this three absolutes, see that our D-class talents are not useless. Battlefield Channel 1 Foot of Grey, all units advance, target the main force of Tinglan Pavilion. The massive formation slowly began to move again. They kept watch over their surroundings while steadily pressing towards the direction reported by the scout. They believed that in the face of absolute domain suppression, any individual heroism was merely a joke. And at this. Moment, the figure they regarded as the greatest threat stood quietly atop a giant tree. Yen Jio looked down at the moving grey mass below. He. Could clearly see that among the mage camp, there were several players in specific positions, their wands topped with a magical aura that. Was distinctly different from others. It was a sign that a skill was about to be released but had been forcibly interrupted. Just as the. Casting was about to complete, it was cut off, and then they resumed casting. Yenjo had seen this technique on the forum, it consumed no mana and could shorten the casting time of spells as much as possible. They were waiting for him. Yenjo’s body sank slightly. With a thought, he activated earth shield shadow cloak phasing astral walk and his figure instantly vanished from the treetop. Only a dazzling array of stardust remained, like a spilled galaxy, slowly drifting down. The pupil of the grey figure suddenly constricted. Less than two meters to his left front, the air twisted without warning. A brilliant stardust appeared out of thin air, like spilled diamond dust. Shimmering with deadly light in the dim forest. A white figure coalesced from the stardust. A veil, a white dress. A honeyed apple. She had. Directly teleported to the very core of the formation. Now’s the time, the grey figure almost screamed. There was no time to speak in the. Battlefield channel. All instant control. Attack her. He didn’t need to remind them a second time. All members of the Pine Wind Society. Tensed their nerves, waiting for this moment. Almost simultaneously, hundreds of different colored magical beams lit up from all directions of the formation. Stun shots vibrating arrows. Deep blue chains of ice prison. Purple ripples of mind scream. And spikes with paralysis. Effects. A net woven from instant control skills descended upon the newly appeared figure. This was a tactic they had practiced countless times. With absolute numbers, they formed a seamless chain of control, instantly pinning any enemy that charged in place, turning them into a living target. A cruel smile appeared on the grey figure’s face. It was over. No matter what three absolutes or what immortal single kill. In the face of absolute tactics, personal bravery was insignificant. However, in the next second, his expression froze. All the magical beams, all the control arrows, upon touching that layer of white skirt, collided with an invisible wall. No effect. No binding. No transformation. dash 12 dash 19 dash 7 immunity cannot target all skills after contact turned into the purest magical particles dissipating into the air battlefield channel gray figure what’s going on his voice was filled with shock and disbelief he hadn’t even broken the targets shield battlefield channel swift skull my binding arrow can’t target her battlefield channel mage roar freezing skill failed system prompt target immune immune this word hit the gray figure’s heart like a heavy hammer how could this be in this game how could There be a skill that completely immunizes control? He had never seen it in the game or on the forum. At most, there were skills that could only be immune once or a few times. The white figure moved. She ignored all the astonished expressions around her and the players who were still futilely throwing skills at her. Yenjo’s body sank slightly, like a bow drawn tight. He opened his mouth. What spewed forth was not human language. It was the breath of a dragon. Dragon breath crimson flames surged from his mouth. But the flames did not shoot in a. straight line instead under his rapid rotation they formed a terrifying fire tornado connecting heaven and earth the scorching winds swept through the center of the pine wind society’s formation countless players didn’t even have time to scream before being torn to shreds in this devastating firestorm their health bars were instantly empty dot a series of crimson damage numbers danced wildly like a waterfall within the range of the fire tornado minus 31 841 minus 22 891 Minus 11,870. The roar of flames mixed with the player’s wails as they faced death, creating a symphony of despair. Ichigui stood dazed in place. The edge of the fire tornado brushed against his mage robe. The scorching wave of heat nearly ignited his hair. He looked around at his companions who turned into patches of white light disappearing one by one. His mind was blank. A few seconds later, the fire tornado slowly dissipated. All that remained was a patch of charred earth. The once impenetrable. Formation had been violently torn open, leaving a massive gap. Out of a team of 300, two-thirds had fallen in that single blow. The white figure stood quietly in the center of the scorched earth. The shadow cloak she wore had only a few seconds of effect left. Yen. Joe did not waste any time. He moved. In a flash, like a ghost, he appeared behind a surviving mage. He wielded his staff as a primitive weapon and struck down hard. The mage didn’t even have time to turn around before turning into white light. He didn’t stop, weaving through. The crowd. Each flicker was accompanied by a player’s death. This was a one-sided massacre. The surviving players from Songfongxi were utterly broken. Ichigui instinctively wanted to flee, but a white shadow had already blocked his path. The light of Yanjio’s shadow cloak completely faded at that moment. Ding. Shadow cloak effect has ended. A glimmer of hope reignited on Ichigui’s face. Control. Her. Her immunity is gone, he shouted while retreating. The few remaining mages around him instinctively raised their staffs. But they. Soon despaired as they realized it was useless. With a large number of players possessing the gray land talent falling, the gray domain that enveloped the entire battlefield had significantly weakened. The original slowdown effect of 80% was now less than 10%. Almost negligible. At that moment, the guild channel of Tinglan Pavilion erupted. I, I can move. The slowdown effect is fading. Fast. Oh my god. Apple succeeded. Mingyao’s voice rang out in time filled with uncontrollable excitement. The Songfoam Shi formation. has been broken everyone charge with me for tinglon pavilion a girl shouted excitedly charge the girls who had been holding back for so long erupted with a response like a tidal wave they rushed out from the trees and the bushes where they had been hiding the paladins activated their charge and the priests chanted their buffing battle songs the scales of victory had completely tilted ichi gui watched as members of tinglon pavilion surged in from all directions then glanced at the figure before him resembling a demon god he had calculated the advance ability of honey apple he had calculated her terrifying burst damage but he had never accounted for the fact that she possessed a skill that could immunize her from all control effects he had thought that being able to withstand one or two skills would be the limit he had underestimated the power of the three absolutes this was not a battle of the same dimension he let out a bitter laugh and gave up resisting yen joe’s black blade lightly tapped his forehead white light shone congratulations to the tinglon pavilion guild for winning this match The cold system notification slowly faded from his ears. The spider pit before him, like a painting. Washed away by water, quickly faded and crumbled. Yenzhou returned to that secluded alley in Sunset City. Guild Channel Mingyao, we. Won. Guild Channel Mingyao, everyone, rest for half an hour in place, prepare for the next battle against Bloody Twilight. Guild. Channel Mingyao, Apple, you worked hard. The channel was already a boiling sea of excitement. Ah, we won. We made it to the top. 4. Apple is so strong. I was left dumbfounded. Whoa whoa, my legs went weak just now, I thought I was going to lose. Is this the power? Of the three absolutes? I love it. The girls’ cheers nearly broke through the virtual chat box. Yenjiyo felt nothing from this fervent praise. There was still half an hour left. He scratched his head, looking at the empty alley, momentarily unsure of what to do. He summoned his. Mount, the four-eyed spirit leopard. This agile leopard appeared silently, its dark fur flowing with faint shadows. He mounted it, and the. Spirit Leopard sprang into action, transforming into a blur as it raced towards the outskirts of the city. Let’s find something to do. In the wilderness outside Sunset City, monsters were sparse. Yen Jio rode the Spirit Leopard for a few minutes until a sinister depression came into view. A foul stench of decay filled the air. A massive spider nest loomed in the center of the depression, with countless holes. Of varying sizes resembling sores on the ground. He leaped off the leopard’s back and recalled his mount. With a thought, a small sword. entirely black and exuding a complex aura appeared beside him floating quietly the level 17 venomous spiders around him didn’t even warrant a glance for experience points but for the level one small sword they were the best nourishment without a moment’s hesitation he charged into the swarm of spiders the black blade sliced through the air a spider attempting to pounce was cleanly severed into green liquid splattered everywhere he didn’t even look at the result his body had already turned to the next target it was a massacre focused On efficiency, Yanjou’s figure darted among the spiders, and with each swing of the black blade, a life was inevitably taken. He cleared the monsters around the nest as if chopping vegetables. The black small sword closely followed behind him, and with each spider that died, a trace of imperceptible black mist would rise from the corpse, merging into the sword’s body. Your pet unnamed has leveled up to LV2. Your pet unnamed has leveled up to LV3. A series of system notifications continuously popped up in Yanjou’s view, after a dozen. Minutes, the spiders in this area had been completely wiped out. He stopped in his tracks. The black small sword also came to a halt. The black missed on its blade much denser than before. He opened the pet’s attribute panel. Unnamed, quality, immortal, race, spirit race level. 6 health, 6,000 attack, 600 defense, 600 skills, life drain, death entanglement, radiant blade, dark body, star chain, elemental, eruption dot. Each level up grants 1,000 health points and 100 points in attack and defense. Simple and brutal. The growth potential of an immortal quality pet was indeed terrifying. Yen Jio extended his hand. The black small sword obediently dropped its hilt into his palm, the hilt giving off a cool touch, but not bone chilling. He swung it a couple of times, the sound of slicing through the air was light, yet the blade carried a heavy sense of power. The feel was quite good. Just then, the cold system notification sound rang out again. Ding! The second round of the guild battle is about to begin, please prepare. Switching scenes, the spider nest and decayed land before. Him instantly transformed into a dazzling stream of data, collapsing in his view. The next second, a chilling coldness penetrated to the marrow. Yenjo found himself standing on a tilted gravestone. Surrounding him was an endless graveyard. Crumbling stone tablets, dead twisted trees, and a massive tomb shrouded in mist in the distance formed a desolate and silent picture. In the air, he could even smell the faint stench of mixed earth and decayed bones. The guild members of Blood Red Dusk were already lined up neatly at the other end of the graveyard. Their leader, Blood Red Overlord, stood at the front of the line. This man was not as frenzied as last time, he was exceptionally calm. Listen carefully.He issued the final orders through the guild channel. We just fought fiercely with the Luo Shen guild for an hour. And I know everyone is tired. So, let’s give up on direct combat. One vice president couldn’t help but speak up. President, when have we ever been afraid of direct fighting? When have we ever backed down, except for that time against the War God Hall? Blood Colored. Overlord ignored his doubts. He had gone through many military books and strategies just to find a way to defeat Honey Apple. The military. Texts explained how to arrange troops and how to win with fewer against more. But not a single military book taught him how to defeat a superhuman. Form groups of three, one melee, one ranged, and one priest or paladin. Spread out immediately. Remember, your task is not to kill but to harass and distract. Do not engage with the main force of the Tinglan Pavilion, if they charge, you run. Blood-colored. Overlord felt his cheeks burning. He, the president of Blood-Colored Dust, a top guild leader in the Kingdom of Gold, was actually forced to use such underhanded guerrilla tactics. It was a tremendous humiliation. But he had no choice. We have only one goal. Honey Apple. Once she appears, the three closest groups will immediately encircle her. Even if it costs lives, we must keep her pinned down. The orders were given. The nearly 300 members of Blood-Colored Dust quickly broke into smaller units. Each group of three, like. well-trained hunters, blended into the vast graveyard, using tombstones and dead trees as cover, maintaining a safe distance from one another. A web designed to ensnare Honey Apple was thus laid out. Blood-colored Overlord watched his subordinates execute the plan perfectly, feeling a bit more at ease. He didn’t know how Ting Lan Pavilion had won the last match. The grueling battle with the Luo Shin Guild had left them no time to review the footage, but he believed that as long as they could contain that insurmountable point of advance, Ting Lan Pavilion would be a flock of lambs ready for slaughter. Battle begins. The system countdown ended. In the Tinglan Pavilion Guild Channel, Ming, Yao’s voice rang out. They’ve spread out. It’s guerrilla tactics, they want to wear us down. Everyone, group up in advance, do not chase. After scattered enemies, she paused and finally said, Apple, it’s up to you. Yen Jio did not respond. He stood atop a tall tombstone, his white gauzy dress fluttering gently in the cold wind. He looked down below. Those groups of three, who thought they were well hidden, were clearly visible to him. like a poorly woven fishing net. Yanzhou’s body sank slightly. He did not, as blood-colored overlord had. Imagined, directly use astral walk to infiltrate the center of a group. That would be foolish. With a thought, the black dagger that had. Reached level 6 silently appeared beside him. A faint black mist swirled around the blade. Yanzhou extended a finger and gently tapped it. Go. Just one word. The black dagger transformed into a blur almost impossible to catch with the naked eye tearing through the air. shooting towards a group of three hiding behind a massive gargoyle statue. Its target was the priest, who was holding a staff invigilantly. Watching the front. At the same time, Yanjou’s figure vanished from the tombstone. Astral walked brilliant stardust, like a handful of. Shattered diamonds, slowly drifted down in place. The priest of that group suddenly felt a pang of dread. He hadn’t even had time to react. A. Black light had already pierced through his chest. Death’s embrace a chain of black energy exploded from his body, locking him firmly in. Place, unable to move. Minus 600. A damage number popped up above his head. Enemy attack. There’s something foul, he shouted in terror. The warrior and ranger in the group turned around immediately upon hearing him. However, what they saw was an even more desperate scene. A dazzling starlight coalesced behind the ranger beside them. The white figure appeared silently, like a reaper stepping out of the void. Yen Jiu’s silhouette transformed into a blurred shadow, instantly closing in on the still-dazed ranger. The black knife in his hand glided gently. Minus 10,755. Instant kill. The ranger didn’t even have time to unleash a skill before he turned into a beam of white light. From the moment. Yen Jo issued the command to the completion of the kill. The entire process took less than a second. The only remaining warrior in the group. Felt his mind go blank. His teammates, one pinned down by an unknown black sword. The other killed instantly by a honey apple. What was. He supposed to do? Attack that triple threat? Or go save his priest? He fell into a moment of hesitation that lasted mere seconds. And that. Hesitation was fatal. Yanzhou’s figure flickered again, appearing in front of the controlled priest delivering a swift blow. Then he. Turned around, quietly watching the lone warrior. The small black sword completed its task, transforming into a streak of light, flying. Back to Yanzhou’s side, like a loyal guardian, hovering silently. In the warrior’s pupils, a white figure and a floating black sword were. Reflected. Fear gripped his heart. He raised his shield, but not to block. It was a desperate instinctive reaction. Yanzhou didn’t give him. more time to think leaning forward he took a step and was already in front of him the black knife swept up silently slicing through the warrior’s throat white light flared the first trio group was completely wiped out battle channel blood red overlord what’s going on why hasn’t group seven responded almost simultaneously another urgent shout exploded in the channel battle channel black injury grew seven is gone three beams of white light right behind the gargoyle statue Battle channel blood red overlord, groups 1 to 8, immediately. Converge on the gargoyle’s position. She must have used that displacement skill, it must be on cooldown now. The command echoed in the channel. From several directions, dozens of players began to cautiously encircle Yanjio’s position. They gripped their control skills tightly. However, Yanjio did not stay in place. He didn’t even use astral walk again. With a light tap of his toes on a tombstone, he charged. Deeper into the graveyard. Target spotted. She’s on the move. A ranger detected his trail and immediately drew his bow. Whoosh. An arrow. With a stunning effect tore through the air. Yanjou’s body merely tilted slightly in mid-air and the arrow graced past his flowing skirt, embedding itself in the muddy ground far away. Following that, the brilliance of arcane missiles and waves of fire surged from different angles. He moved like a ghost walking in a downpour. His body twisted, dodged, and surged forward continuously. All the projectile spells exploded futilely behind him, kicking up patches of dirt mixed with dry bones. The players from Blood Red Twilight were utterly stunned. What kind of movement was this? Is this really something a player can do? Battle Channel Law of Heaven, can’t hit. My Arcane Missiles. All missed. Battle Channel Swordmaster, my god, is he dancing? Panic spread faster than Yanjyo’s footsteps in the Blood Red Twilight Channel. Under their astonished gazes, Yanjyo had already charged in front of another trio group. Charge, the warrior of that group. Roared, activating his skill. His body transformed into a phantom, crashing fiercely towards Yanjyo. yenjo did not dodge just as the warrior was about to collide with him he executed an unbelievable little jump stepping onto the warrior’s shield using the momentum he leaped again his body traced a graceful arc in the air soaring over the astonished warrior landing directly in front of the priest at the back of the group yenjo’s black knife then fell minus 10978 instant kill damn the warrior who had just charged past cursed angrily turning around to come to the rescue but all he could see was the scene of his teammates dissipating into white light and the white figure that had already turned to face him standing silently despair instantly engulfed this warrior reinforcements the nearby squads were simply too late to arrive by the time they got there all they would find would be three corpses no there wouldn’t even be corpses only three cold beams of white light this was a completely unequal hunt yen jio was the most efficient hunter harvesting one life after another with the simplest of movements The slaughter continued. In the graveyard, the white figure moved like a ghost. He even began to enjoy the feeling of dancing on the edge of a knife. The ranger’s dizzying arrow always arrived late, just after he had made an evasive move. The warrior’s charge could only collide with a mass of air. Only the priest’s area control skill, Mind Scream, posed a slight threat to him. It was an invisible shockwave that spread outward from the caster, impossible to dodge. After suffering once, Yin-Jio used his shadow, cloaked to block it and immediately found a way to counter it. He charged towards another trio. He saw the white figure rushing over and immediately began to prepare his spell. However, Yanzhou’s movements were faster. Just as the priest’s throat rolled imperceptibly from the incantation, Yanzhou’s figure, like teleportation, suddenly accelerated. A cold blade was already pressed against his neck. The priest’s face still bore the determination of about to release a skill. The next second, his world turned black and white. Battle Channel Blood Red. Overlord, report the situation. everyone report the situation battle channel blood red overlord when the squad is attacked the surrounding squads must provide immediate support can’t you understand human language battle channel annoyed can’t keep up completely can’t keep up by the time we got there there were only a few beams of white light his voice trembled slightly the only response to him was a cacophony of chaotic voices can’t hold on he’s coming ah help my control is useless help help president what do we do So terrifying, so terrifying. President. She’s coming. Requesting support. Blood Red Overlord looked at the rapidly graying IDs. In the guild list, feeling his blood run cold. His proud guerrilla tactics, his meticulously laid traps felt as fragile as a piece of. Paper in front of that white figure. No, even less than paper. It was a one-sided massacre. In that moment, Blood Red Overlord seemed to age. Ten years. All his strength was drained, and he awkwardly sat down in front of the cold gravestone. It was too despairing. He racked his. Brain, searched through all the military books and strategies, but couldn’t think of how to combat such a monster. Personal strength was. Just a joke in front of a well -trained team. He had once believed this statement without a doubt. But now, the woman named Honey Apple had. Shown him through a bloody massacre that when personal strength reached a certain level, the so-called tactics and domains were the rail. Jokes. He trembled as he raised his hand. It was as if he was surrendering, or perhaps grasping at the last straw of hope. I give up. The. Three words spread across the entire battlefield through the public channel. The rampaging Yanjio stopped in his tracks. He stood atop a massive tomb, his white gauzy dress billowing in the wind. Beside him was the small black sword exuding an ominous aura. The entire graveyard fell into a dead silence. Congratulations to the Tinglan Pavilion Guild for winning this match. The cold system notification slowly faded from his ears. The channel was already a boiling sea. Ah ah ah ah we won. We made it to the top four. Apple god is so strong. I was dumbfounded. Is this the power of the three absolutes? Love it, love it. Applesama, I want to bury your children. The girls’ cheers nearly burst through the virtual chat box. Yenjo felt nothing towards these fervent praises. He symbolically waved his hand at the chattering girls. The next second, he teleported away from the spot. The scenery around him changed rapidly and he returned to the eerie spider pit outside Sunset City. The air was still thick with the stench of decay. He stood still and the data stream of his body began to Change. The eye-catching white gauze dress, along with the thin veil that concealed his face, transformed into specks of light and dissipated. In its place was the most ordinary of cloth garments and his appearance became unremarkable, the kind that would be lost in a crowd. I.D. Shasian snacks. He took out the many return scrolls he had bought earlier from his backpack. Return scroll can teleport to the nearest. Main city upon use. He tore open a scroll. A flash of light, and he appeared on the bustling streets of Sunset City. The noisy voices. and the clanging sounds from the blacksmith shop replaced the battlefield’s grim atmosphere. Yenjiyo did not linger, heading straight towards the liveliest tavern in the city center. Pushing open the creaking wooden door, a mix of beer and roasted meat aromas rushed at him. Inside the tavern, a figure in a priest’s robe immediately stood up. Sujinjin quickly walked up to him, a hint of worry on her face. You’re back. The nearby Yusyo also stood up and nodded at Yenjiyo. Let’s go. Yenjiyo said succinctly. The three did not stay long and the tavern, passing through the noisy crowd as they headed outside the city. Their destination was the distant Tianxin mountain range. The outline of the mountains loomed faintly on the horizon, like a giant beast lying in wait. The closer they got, the hotter the air became. When they reached the foot of the mountain, the ground had turned blackened, with small cracks appearing, emitting faint wisps of steam. A tall figure stood with his back to them on a massive volcanic rock. The elf was no longer in coarse cloth but had changed into a crimson. robe, adorned with flowing flame patterns, as if magma surged within. Hualier’s gaze passed over Sujinjin and Yuxiao, landing directly. On Yanjio. He stepped forward, walking straight towards Yanjio. You have come, stranger. Hualier spoke his voice deep and powerful. The fire elements here have become violent for some unknown reason. Yanjio remains silent, simply listening. Elements are the most. Primitive creations, Hualier continued, recounting an ancient tale. Their birth predates even light and darkness. Elemental spirits should. Wander this continent carefree. But now, the fire elements here have suddenly gone mad, and the surrounding elemental spirits are lamenting. As if mourning for their kin. The raging fire elements have enslaved a group of half-dragons and dwarves, crafting war puppets. Here. He pointed a head to the valley shrouded in thick red smoke. This was once the dwarves’ territory, but it has now turned into a puppet. Factory. These puppets can be activated simply by infusing them with fire element energy, making them extremely powerful. I have studied. for a long time and have not found a way to break the puppets. After finishing, he turned and led the way. The others followed him, quietly. Sneaking to the edge of the valley, a wave of heat rushed towards them. Inside the valley was a massive open-air factory. Combless. Dwarves and half-dragons were busy between the furnace and the anvil. In their eyes burned an abnormal purplish-red flame, their movements. Stiff and mechanical. The dwarves swung massive hammers, striking the glowing metal, sparks flying. The half-dragons dragged heavy parts. assembling the enormous metal components into menacing war puppets. Throughout the valley, many completed puppets were already patrolling. They stood over five meters tall, their bodies forged from black metal, with magma-like purplish-red light flowing at their joints. With each step, the ground trembled slightly. A patrolling puppet mechanically turned its upper body and scanned the direction where they were hiding. Hualier immediately made a downward gesture. The three quickly crouched down, hiding behind a jagged rock. The head of the war. Puppet shot out two beams of red light, sweeping over the spot where they had just stood, pausing for a few seconds before slowly moving away. The cold intent to kill brushed past them. Sujin’s heart skipped a beat. Yenjio, however, showed no change in expression. He peeked. Out, looking at the massive, operational war factory below. Elementally enslaved Elrond, elite, race, Elrond level, 20 health, 12,000 attack, 373 defense, 308 skills, fiery dragon breath, charge dot. War Colossus, black iron level boss, race, construct level. 20 health, 21,000 attack, 573 defense, 508 skills, active flame, steel explosion, pneumatic heavy punch, firepower gaze. The strength of these monsters was still considerably less than that of the void seats guards. They should belong to the level of the difficult. Dungeon. Yanjio did not charge in like before. He turned to the elf beside him. Hualier, what do you think? Can we just kill them all? The nearby Yunxiao nodded emphatically. Yeah, just kill them all, no need to dawdle. As she spoke, she had already placed her hand on. The hilt of her sword at her waist, looking eager to try. Hualier’s face darkened at a visible speed. He looked at the two peculiar foreigners. In front of him, feeling his temples throb. Brute. He squeezed out two words through clenched teeth. Do you think this is just any? Place? A demon camp? You can chop anyone you want? Hualier pointed a finger toward the deepest part of the valley, a massive furnace. Pulsating like a heart, connected by countless pipes. See that? That’s the power core of this armory, the storm furnace dot. All the enslaved. Dwarves and Elrons, their life force is connected to the furnace through those purple flames. His expression became exceptionally serious. If they die in large numbers in a short time, the loss of life force will cause the furnace’s energy to go out of control. At that time, the entire valley will be blown to the sky. Don’t even talk about finding the mastermind, the four of us won’t even leave behind. Ashes. Hualier’s explanation froze the relaxed expression on Yunxiao’s face. Yenjio had no special reaction, he just peaked again. What do we do then? Hualier took a deep breath. We need to lure out the overseer here. His name is Foreman Gru, a dwarf corrupted by elements. And the watchdog of this place. Only he has the authority to stabilize the furnace. And only he might know the clues leading to the mastermind’s lair. Hualier’s plan was simple. So, our task is not slaughter. It’s to create a moderate chaos. Without triggering the furnace’s alert line, we need to lure that dog out of his doghouse. He looked around. Who among you will create a bit of disturbance? Ha! She suddenly laughed, breaking the tense atmosphere. Isn’t it just making some noise? This kind of small matter, just leave it to. Me. Before her words fell, she drew the slender sword from her waist. The blade reflected a cold glint in the scorching air. Hey. You. Hualier’s attempt to stop her was not even out before Yunxiao had already shot out like an arrow from the rock. Charging forward, she did not. Choose the seemingly weaker draconians. Instead, she charged straight towards a squad of war titans that were patrolling. Yenjio watched the figure rushing out with great interest. Yun Zhao’s silhouette was like a flash of white lightning, instantly cutting into the patrol team made. Of steel and flames. Clang. The slender sword in her hand precisely struck the knee joint of one war titan, erupting a dazzling shower of. Sparks. Minus 2097 The titan’s movements froze for a second. It was in this moment of pause that Yun Zhao flipped her wrist, and the light sword. Vanished from her pong. In its place was a two-handed greatsword that starkly contrasted with her delicate frame. Her petite body spun sharply. The heavy blade carving a chilling arc through the air. Ha! A clear shout. The sword’s edge, carrying unmatched force, struck fiercely at another war titan’s waist. Minus 5079 The piercing sound of metal scraping was almost enough to tear through eardrums. The war titan staggered. Back from the tremendous force, leaving a deep gash on its black metal shell, visible to the bone. The surrounding draconians, startled, roared and closed in, spewing forth scorching dragon breath. Yun Xiao showed no signs of wanting to fight. She pushed off the wreckage of the titan with her toes and leaped high into the air. In midair, the greatsword vanished once more. A long spear, glimmering with a cold light, appeared in her hand. The spear shot out like a dragon. While she was in the air, the spear tip transformed into dozens of afterimages, enveloping the several draconians that lunged at her. Putt. Putt. Putt. Blood splattered. Minus 4571 to 7537. Weakness critical hit, those elite. Draconians didn’t even get close to her before being pierced in the shoulder, then accurately through the throat, collapsing with a wail. Yen Jiu. Watched the scene, feeling a twinge of envy in his heart. So convenient. She could use whatever weapon she wanted. Looking at himself, as a. Mage, he didn’t know how much effort he had wasted just to find a suitable close combat weapon. Yun Zhao’s battle continued. She was like. The conductor of the finest orchestra, and those cold weapons were the instruments in her hands. The agility of the slender sword, the dominance. Of the great sword, the swiftness of the spear. In her hands, the transitions flowed seamlessly, without a hint of stagnation. Those elite. Monsters, which were nightmares to ordinary players, the Black Iron War Titans, appeared before her like a group of clumsy puppets. The entire valley fell into chaos because of her presence alone. Alarms blared, one after another. More and more puppets and enslaved beings surged. From every corner of the factory, like a tide rushing towards Yunxiao, she skillfully dismantled a war titan’s leg joint with a pair of daggers, now standing on the titan’s shoulder, looking down at the increasingly gathered enemies below. Her face flushed with excitement. Now, this is what I call a riot. Just then, a dull roar echoed from the deepest part of the valley. The entire ground trembled. All the monsters surrounding Yan Shao paused in unison. It was as if they received some kind of command, slowly retreating to the sides, clearing a path. A short and stocky figure stepped out from the shadow of the massive furnace that pulsed like a heart. He stood less than one and a half meters tall, yet wore an exaggeratedly heavy suit of black iron armor. His beard was braided into dozens of small braids, each ending wrapped with scorching metal rings. In his hand, he dragged a warhammer that was even larger than his entire body. The top of the hammer was a small. Furnace, with purplish-red flames swirling inside, Supervisor Grew, Bronze -level Boss, Race, Dwarf, Level, 20, Health, 27,000, Attack, 670, Defense, 650, Skills, Control Furnace, Flame Gaze, Wrath of Flames, Furnace Strike, Note, Grew was originally the Captain of the Storm. Tribes Guard. When defending against the elementally corrupted Alon people, he was the first to charge into battle, the first to be gravely. injured, and the first to become a loyal hound of the raging elements. It’s him. Wallier’s expression turned extremely serious. Kill him. We absolutely cannot let him get close to the storm furnace. Yunxiao also sensed the danger. She leaped down from the giant’s shoulder, her hands now wielding a kite shield and a short hammer, taking a defensive stance. Supervisor grew ignored Yunxiao. His eyes, burning with purple-red flames, swept across the battlefield, finally landing precisely on Yenjio and his companions hiding behind the rocks. Or rather, it. Landed on Yen Jio. In the next second, Supervisor Gru’s figure vanished. Yen Jio’s pupils constricted slightly. He pushed Sujinjin aside. Boom! The massive furnace warhammer, carrying immense force, slammed down where Yen Jio had just stood. The rocks shattered, debris flying. A. Pit half a meter deep appeared in its place. Supervisor Gru’s figure slowly emerged from the pit. He completely ignored the chaos caused by Yunxiao and charged straight at Yen Jio. Be careful! Sujinjin exclaimed. Yen Jio did not respond. His figure had already appeared beside. Grew like a ghost just before the Supervisor launched his attack. The black blade in his hand sliced through silently. Minus 10 ,379. A terrifying. Damage number erupted from above Supervisor Grew’s head. Roar. Supervisor Grew howled in pain, letting out an angry roar. He abruptly turned. The Furnace Warhammer in his hand creating a scorching whirlwind as it swept toward him. Furnace strike, Yen Jio didn’t even retreat. His body. sank slightly, moving at an angle incomprehensible to an ordinary person, skimming the ground and brushing against the massive warhammer. Closing in once more. The black blade swung again. Minus 10 ,711. The consecutive heavy hits completely enraged the dwarf boss. For the king of. Purple flames, he let out an incomprehensible roar, and violent purple-red flames erupted from the gaps in his armor. Wrath of flames, a. Layer of visible fiery armor enveloped him. He abandoned his attack on Yanzhou and turned to charge toward the massive storm furnace in the center of the valley. Yanzhou struck again from behind, landing a blow on the boss’s back. Minus 2019. The damage was reduced by more than four-fifths. As expected, this high damage reduction from Wrath of Flames was meant to allow him to safely reach the furnace. Yanzhou naturally could not let him have his way. Just as Supervisor Gru took his second step, Yanzhou’s figure vanished from the spot. Astral Walk, brilliant. Stardust slowly fell in place. In the next second, his figure appeared between Supervisor Gru and the Storm Furnace, perfectly blocking the boss’s path. Common collected, spell surge, two buff skills instantly activated. Yenjiyo raised the black blade in his hand. He did not swing. It but instead pointed the blade tip at the dwarf boss before him. A cold crescent moon, formed of starlight, slowly rose at the tip of his blade. In this scorching valley filled with flames and steel, the appearance of this crescent moon seemed so out of place, yet it carried. A deadly, chilling beauty. New moon, go. The crescent moon silently floated toward Supervisor Gru. Minus 70 ,179. A number that made both Wallier and Yunxiao feel their scalps tingle exploded from above the boss’s head. Supervisor Gru’s heavy body froze in place. He was less than 10. Meters away from the storm furnace.He slowly lowered his head, looking at the huge, starry void in his chest that was constantly emitting. Starlight. In his eyes, burning with a purplish-red flame, all the fury and anger transformed into disbelief. Ultimately, it returned to a. Dead silence. He crashed to the ground. The entire valley fell into an eerie stillness. All the enslaved dwarves and half-dragons stopped. Their movements, the purplish-red flames in their eyes slowly fading away. Yenjo retracted the black blade, standing quietly in place. The moment the overseer grew fell, the purplish-red flame armor on him dimmed rapidly, like extinguished charcoal. Clang! The massive furnace wore. Hammer slipped from his loosened grip, crashing to the ground with a heavy thud. It then transformed into specks of light, disappearing in. The valley. All the enslaved dwarves and half-dragons halted their actions. The purplish-red flames in their eyes were gradually fading, replaced by a lingering confusion and bewilderment. Yun Xiao maintained a defensive stance, holding the kite shield, standing at a distance. Her whole body frozen. Just a moment ago, she was still troubled about how to combat the boss that had activated damage reduction skills. Yet, in the next second, the boss was gone. Hualier also wore a face of disbelief, opening his mouth to say something, but no words came out. That damage number. Minus 70,179. This was no longer a realm accessible to ordinary people at this stage. This was damage that only high-level priests could achieve. Yanjio paid no mind to his companion’s shock as he walked over to the corpse of Overseer Gru. Two items lay quietly on the ground, emitting a faint glow. A rugged one-handed hammer. A ring engraved with flame patterns. Yanjio picked them up, glanced at the attributes, tossed the ring into his backpack and threw the hammer to Yun Xiao. Both were strength-enhancing equipment of no use to him. With the death of overseer grew, those enslaved beings regained their clarity. Dozens of half-dragons let out terrified shrieks, glancing at the surrounding furnaces and puppets, then fearfully darting a glance at Yanjio before fleeing in all directions, quickly disappearing beyond the valley. However, the dwarves did not leave. They looked around, gazing at their homeland transformed into a war factory, their faces showing confusion and sorrow. Hey! Yunxiao finally snapped out of her shock, she sheathed her weapon and strode over. You just took him down. Like that? I was just warming up, she said with a hint of complaint, but more so with pure curiosity. What was that last skill of yours? It was so cool. Yanjio hadn’t had the chance to respond. Suddenly, the dwarves began to move. They all surged towards Yanjio in unison. Hualier immediately became alert, crossing his staff over his chest. Be careful. They might not have completely broken free from control. However, the dwarves showed no signs of hostility. They bypassed Hualier, ignored Yunxiao, and walked straight up to Yanjio. The leading. Old Dwarf, his beard already graying and braided into a thick plate that hung to his chest, bowed deeply to Yanjio, respected warrior. His voice was like two rough stones rubbing together, carrying the weight of time. We are aware of your enthusiastic deeds in the Masons’ Guild. Masons’ Guild? Yunxiao and Suxinjin were momentarily taken aback. Yanjio was also somewhat surprised he hadn’t expected his reputation to have spread to such a remote place. The Old Dwarf’s face bore a sincere hope. This is our home, the homeland of the Storm Tribe. But later, it was occupied by an evil elemental force. We were powerless to resist, enslaved, forced to forge weapons for the enemy. He raised his head, his murky eyes filled with pleading. Could you please help us, these homeless dwarves, with a small favor? Completely drive out those raging elements that are entrenched deep in this land. Almost as soon as the old dwarf finished speaking, a crisp system notification. Sound rang in Yen Jo’s ear. Ding. Do you accept the hidden quest? Exorcise the elements? Quest objective, enter the source of. the storm forge and expel the raging elemental core. Quest reward, storm tribe reputation plus 3000, storm forge usage permission. So that’s how. It is. Yanjio instantly understood. The trigger conditions for this quest are probably quite harsh. First, he must kill the overseer Gru. Before he returns to the storm forge, preventing the forge from going berserk. Secondly, he needs to have a sufficiently high reputation among. The dwarf community. Both conditions are essential. Looking at the hopeful faces of the dwarves in front of him, Yanzhou suddenly felt that this feeling wasn’t so bad. It was a completely different experience from the pure thrill of challenging a strong enemy. It was a sense of being needed, of being entrusted with a task. Leave it to me. Yanzhou nodded, responding decisively. Upon receiving a positive answer, the old dwarf trembled with excitement. Thank you, kind warrior. He bowed deeply again. All the dwarves behind him followed suit, giving Yanzhou the highest honor of their kind. The storm tribe will never forget your kindness. This scene left Yusio and Sujinjin beside. Them in stunned silence. Hualier walked over with a serious expression. Outlander, your decision aligns with our quest objective. The elements must return to purity and balance. He looked towards the deepest part of the valley. The massive storm forge, having lost the control. A overseer grew, had already stopped pulsating. Below the forge, there was a bottomless giant opening, with scorching air continuously surging. Out, distorting the air into a blur. That was the source of the raging elements. Yenjio said nothing more and took the lead towards the opening. Sujinjin closely followed behind him. Yuxiao shrugged and followed as well, muttering under his breath. I don’t get it, really don’t. Get it. It’s just fighting a monster, how did it trigger a hidden quest? Why didn’t I have such good luck before? Hualier walked last, glancing at Yenjio’s back and then at the grateful dwarves. This outlander was full of mysteries. He was clearly a follower of the stars, yet. He had the affinity of the four elements. He was obviously a noble astral walker, yet he wielded a blade, engaging in the most primal close. Combat. Hualier shook his head, no longer pondering these complex questions. The urgent task was to quell the wailing of the elements. The. Four of them stepped one after the other into the lava cave that resembled the mouth of a giant beast. The hot wind blowing from the cave. Entrance carried a strong sulfurous scent, hitting them in the face. Suzhengen instinctively took half a step back, a faint golden shield. Automatically appearing around her. Yen Jiu walked at the front, his steps unwavering. The scorching air seemed non-existent to him. The further they went in, the more spacious it became. The rocks beneath their feet changed from charred black to dark red, covered in cracked patterns, with magma-like light seeping through the crevices. A low rumble echoed in the air. It sounded like the heartbeat of a giant, or distant, thunder. After walking about a hundred meters, the scene before them suddenly opened up. They were no longer in a narrow passage. A vast, underground plaza, unimaginably large, appeared before them. The plaza was paved with a single massive slab of obsidian, the smooth mirror-like. Surface reflecting the flowing rivers of lava above the dome, illuminating the entire space with clarity, dozens of sturdy stone pillars supported. This vast space, with ancient dwarf runes carved into them. Clearly, this had once been the grand residence of the Storm Dwarf tribe. Now, however, it had been transformed into something entirely different. In the square, several ten-meter-tall steel puppets stood erect. There. Appearance was even more menacing and intricate than the war colossus seen earlier in the valley. thick armor was engraved with crimson, energy circuits, and at the ends of their massive metal arms were high-speed rotating drills and sharp cutting saws, they wandered slowly around, the square-like loyal sentinels, each step causing the ground to emit a dull thud, and in the very center of the square, a small figure stood, before a massive anvil, vigorously swinging a warhammer, clang, the crisp sound of striking echoed endlessly in the open square, he seemed, completely immersed in his own world, oblivious to the arrival of Yen Jio and the others. Chief Blacksmith Dak, Bronze Level Boss, Race. Dwarf Level, 20 Health, 28,000 Attack, 690 Defense, 610 Skills, Molten Hammer, Puppet Summon, Solar Forging, Passive, Overload. Command Note, he was the most outstanding blacksmith of the Storm Tribe, who voluntarily dedicated himself to the raging elements in pursuit of ultimate craftsmanship, becoming a pawn in the creation of killing machines. Another one of these big guys, Yunxiao Whistled, her hand already resting on the hilt of her sword. But she didn’t charge out like before. Something feels off. Hualier’s expression was even more serious than when facing the overseer grew. That dwarf is not right. He pointed to the massive puppets wandering in the square. There’s an elemental energy link between them and that dwarf. If we attack any target, whether it’s Dak or those puppets, all the enemies in the square will immediately enter combat mode. Yun Xiao frowned. Is it that troublesome? So, we have to deal with a boss and several elite monsters at the same time? No, Hualier shook his head. Those aren’t elite monsters. Each of them, once linked, is a bronze boss of the same level as that dwarf. This statement wiped the ease off Yun Zhao’s face completely. Su Xinjin nervously clutched Yun Zhao’s sleeve. Facing several bronze level bosses at once was no longer within the realm of a difficult dungeon. This was essentially a death sentence. What? Do we do then? Yun Zhao rarely felt stumped. This square is too open, there’s no terrain we can use. Hualier fell into thought as well. We must find a way to sever the connection between him and the puppets. or, control him before he activates all the puppets. But how? Before he could finish his sentence, Yanjio moved. He didn’t participate in any discussion, just quietly watched the dwarf boss in the distance. Then, he raised his right hand. Without warning, a starry sword blade appeared on his right arm, and with a gentle swipe through the air ahead, swooshed space seemed to tear open like a fragile canvas, ripped apart by an invisible force. It wasn’t a portal. It was a pure rift composed of shattered space and brilliant starlight. On the other side of the rift stood the dwarf boss, Dax, who was engrossed in his forging. Star Tyrion Jo stepped forward, calmly entering the shimmering rift of starlight. In the next second, his figure. Vanished from sight. In the center of the square, Chief Blacksmith Dax seemed to sense something. He stopped swinging his warhammer and suddenly turned around. A figure had silently appeared before him. A flicker of astonishment. Crossed Dax’s eyes, which burned with purple flames. Far away, at the entrance a hundred meters away, Yunxiao and Sujengen had yet to react.Hualier’s pupils suddenly constricted. The perfect fusion of space and stellar power. This is a miracle comparable to the descent of elements. Yanjiao paid no attention to the commotion in the distance. His right hand gripped the hilt of the black knife at his waist tightly. His left hand, however, slowly rose. Buzz, pure stellar energy gathered on the back of his left hand. Deep and profound, like the primordial colors of the universe, it quickly coalesced into form. An arm blade made entirely of flowing nebulae appeared out of thin air. Within the deep purple energy body, countless tiny flickering points of light were wrapped. Starlet blade, left-hand star blade, right-hand black knife. In that moment, Yen Jio resembled a judge descending from the star. Realm. Intruder. Dak finally snapped out of his shock, letting out an angry roar. Without a moment’s hesitation, his sturdy legs stomped down, and his entire small frame charged at Yen Jio like a cannonball. At the same time, he raised the massive forging hammer high above his head. Magma Heavy Hammer, a hammerhead blazed with purple-red flames, scorching the surrounding air into distortion. Almost simultaneously, the steel puppet standing like mountains around the square all came to a halt. Crack, crack, crack, their enormous heads turned in unison towards the center of the square. Purple-red energy circuits began to light up on their heavy armor, emitting an ominous hum. The battle was about to erupt. Facing Dax’s powerful strike, Yanzhou’s body tilted slightly. Windstep, his figure left a faint afterimage in place. Boom. The massive magma-heavy hammer smashed down onto the obsidian ground. The hard surface was dented into a huge pit, spiderweb-like cracks spreading outwards. The scorching shockwave, mixed with shattered stones, fanned out. Yet Yenjo’s figure had already appeared beside Dak. His evasive movement was executed without a hint of excess, as if he had long predicted the trajectory and range of the hammer’s descent. The black knife flashed and vanished. Swoosh! The black knife precisely sliced through the gap between Dak’s thick, leather armor and muscle. Minus 10,789 a bright red damage number floated above the boss’s head. Dak winced in pain, letting out a roar of fury as he forcibly twisted his body, reaching out with his other hand towards Yanjio. But he. Was fast. Yanjio was faster. Before Dak’s arm could swing out, Yanjio’s left hand with the starlet blade had already drawn a brilliant purple arc from below. That arc resembled a meteor tearing through the night sky. Minus 71 ,708. An even more terrifying damage number, accompanied by a starlight effect, exploded suddenly. The starlight blade’s damage carried 80% mental damage, far exceeding that of a normal attack. Roar. Dak’s massive body staggered from. The force, his health instantly depleted, yet he did not fall. Only a distant steel puppet had its fiery eyes extinguished. Soul of Forging, the purple flames in his eyes burned even more violently. Just then. Thud. Thud. Thud. Heavy footsteps echoed from all directions. The activated steel puppets had begun to march heavily towards the center of the square. Yuxiao and the others, seeing this, also started to rush over. Once those puppets joined the battle and formed a coordinated attack, even a deity would have no escape. Dak clearly understood this principle as well. He no longer attempted to attack Yenjio but let out a sharp hiss. The nearest several steel puppets had there. Purple lights suddenly blazed, their energy circuits lighting up to the maximum. Dak took a step back, a cruel grin spreading across his face. He seemed to envision the scene of this arrogant intruder being torn to shreds by his. Masterpiece. The steel puppets charging from all directions were now less than 50 meters away. The net was tightening. Yet at that moment, Yanjo made a move that no one expected.He did not pursue, nor did he dodge. He simply. Slowly crossed the black dagger in his right hand with the starry blade on his left arm in front of his chest. Hualier’s footsteps suddenly came to a halt at that moment. He seemed to be frozen in place by an invisible force. His expression shifting from grave to utter astonishment and confusion. A cluster of purplish-red flames erupted without warning from the intersection of the black dagger and the starry blade on Yinjo’s chest. The color of. That flame was identical to the violent elements flowing through Dark’s body and the energy circuits of those puppets. Yet, the feeling it evoked was entirely different. It lacked the frenzied heat and instead carried a warmth and. Joy. The flames danced like a living serpent, swiftly climbing and spreading along the dark blade and the starry sword. In an instant, the black dagger and the starry blade were completely enveloped by this ominous purplish-red. Flame. The flickering firelight illuminated Yen Jio’s handsome yet expressionless face. He seemed to merge with the raging elements in this space. No, it’s impossible. Hualier’s lips trembled as he muttered to himself, his voice filled with incredulous shock. He actually, resonated with the violent elements here. Yen Jio did not look at the steel constructs drawing closer to him. His entire focus was locked onto the dwarf boss, dark, not far away. He slowly spoke. His calm words carried an undeniable authority, clearly reaching the ears of every creature in the square. Guess what? How many seconds can you last under my blade? Dark’s roar was a furious clash of. Metal. Arrogant insect. He stomped heavily, causing the entire obsidian ground to crack beneath his foot. His stout body transformed into an uncontrollable cannonball, charging straight ahead. The molten hammer was not swung, but instead slammed down like a battering ram, aimed directly at Yanjio’s chest, intending to crush him into a pile of flesh. Yanjio did not retreat. He did not even dodge. His body merely swayed slightly, almost imperceptibly. The giant hammer wrapped in purplish-red flame struck down on the afterimage where he had just stood. Boom. A deafening explosion erupted in the square. Black rock fragments flew out like shrapnel. The scorching shockwave. Rolled outward. But Yen Jio had already appeared at Dark’s side. The black dagger in his right hand, like a silent shadow, precisely sliced into the seam of the dwarf’s heavy armor. Minus 10,789 to 50,511 flame blade, a clean line of blood. Shot out. Dark let out a roar, devoid of pain, only filled with the frustration of a missed attack. He forcibly twisted his body, his other muscular arm lunging violently toward Yenjio. That hand was quick, but the starry blade was quicker. Yenjio’s left arm, the blade formed from flowing nebulae, swept upward, drawing a brilliantly vivid purple arc in the scorching air. It was not a slash. It was more like space itself being torn apart. Minus 70138. Starry. Blade, minus 50 ,549, Flame Blade, a terrifying number exploded above Dark’s head, the light of the stars briefly overshadowing the furnace’s flames. The dwarf’s massive body staggered under this immense force. Meanwhile, a steel puppet charging from a distance suddenly shook, the purple light burning in its head flickering once before extinguishing completely. That 10-meter tall body instantly lost all power, crashing to the ground and turning into a pile of rail scrap metal. Roar! Dark roared again, his voice filled with madness. He completely ignored the severe injuries he had sustained and the disabled puppet. His only thought was to crush this invader who brought him. Such humiliation, the giant hammer in his hand unleashed a devastating storm of flames, sweeping towards him. Yanjou’s steps, however, seemed to have anticipated all of this. He only took a step back and the hammer’s destructive. Wind brushed past the tip of his nose. As the force of the hammer passed, he stepped forward again. With one step, he entered the gap in the boss’s attack. The black long knife. The arm blade of the stars. An unequal slaughter. officially began. Every step Yenzhou took was a perfect evasion, and after each evasion, two merciless slashes followed. The black knife, precise and deadly, always appeared in the weakest point of defense. Minus 10 ,789 to 50,713, Flame. Blade, Starblade, domineering and brilliant, each strike seemed to tear the soul apart. Minus 71 ,708. Starry Skyblade, minus 50,549, Flame Blade, a series of dense damage numbers refreshed above Dak’s head like a waterfall, the intertwining. Crimson and dark purple light effects enough to make any tank player collapse on the spot. With every swing of the dual blades, there was bound to be a steel puppet in some corner of the square that came to a halt. Clang, another. Puppet froze in place, its drill raised high, now drooping helplessly. Thud. The energy circuit of the third puppet quickly dimmed, finally extinguishing completely. Dak was trapped in a flurry of blades and shadows. He roared. Madly, wildly swinging his war hammer, stomping the ground, unleashing wave after wave of fiery shockwaves. But he couldn’t touch him. He couldn’t even reach the hem of Yanjou’s clothes. He was like a clumsy giant bear, futilely, attacking a phantom that didn’t even exist. Yanjou’s movements could no longer be described as fast. He flowed like water amidst the boss’s storm of attacks, the dual blades in his hands, one as black as Eternal Night, the other, as brilliant as the galaxy, both burning with ominous purple flames, leaving countless deadly afterimages in the air. The puppets in the square were extinguishing at an astonishing speed, one after another. Ten. Eight. Five. The once rapidly shrinking steel encirclement had now turned into a silent steel graveyard. Only three puppets remained, still charging forward tenaciously. They were less than five meters from the center of the battlefield. The heavy footsteps were the only sound in this vast square, aside from the slicing sound of blades cutting through the air. Dax seemed to sense his impending doom. His attacks became increasingly hysterical. Overload command, the. Furnaces inside the last three puppets erupted with blinding light, their metal shells glowing red hot, their speed suddenly doubling. They launched their final charge. A wall of death and steel closed in. Watch out! Yu Xiao! Instinctively shouted, having rushed to Yanjio’s side, drawing her shield sword and charging at one of the puppets. But Yanjio seemed to be oblivious. His entire focus was locked onto the dwarf in front of him. The black knife. Swung out again. Minus 10,955 to 58,991 flame blade, the star blade followed closely. Minus 72,041. Starry Skyblade. Minus 59,123. Flameblade. A puppet 10 meters to the left came to a halt. Its massive cutting saw stopped less than 5 meters. From Yen Jio. Only two remained. They were now within arm’s reach. The scorching airwaves hit him, and the ground trembled. Yen Jio took his final step forward. This step made him completely disregard evasion, as he directly faced. The dwarf boss’s last frenzy. His arms crossed in front of his chest. The pitch black long knife and the arm blade formed by the nebula drew the final cross. Minus 10,941 to 58,817 flame blade, minus 72,041. Starry sky blade, minus 59,864 flame. Blade, the two steel puppets, raising their massive claws poised to strike frozen mid-air at the same moment silence enveloped everything. The entire square fell into a deathly stillness. Chief blacksmith Dax stood frozen. In place, the purplish red flames burning in his head flickering wildly. His life force, connected to all the puppets, had finally reached zero. He let out a long sigh. In that sound, there was no longer any fury or anger. The heavy armor on his body began to crumble, turning to ash. The massive molten hammer also dissipated into the air, transforming into specks of light. The dwarf, once corrupted, became somewhat transparent, and finally, amidst a gentle white light, vanished completely. The battle was over. Yenjio stood alone in the center of a silent puppet graveyard. He flicked his wrist, and the black blade quietly returned to its sheath. With a thought, the starlet blade on his left arm also transformed into countless twinkling star fragments, slowly drifting away. He bent down and picked up the spoils that had fallen to the ground. A book, a warhammer. They lay quietly in the place where. Chief blacksmith Dak had disappeared, emitting a faint bronze glow. Yen Jio bent down to pick them up. Dak’s forging notes, after use, it can increase one’s forging skill by 100 points and learn Dak’s special forging recipe. puppet dax purple radiance gold hammer quality bronze level requirement non-equipment type forging hammer attributes forging skill plus 50 dax persistence when forging there is a chance for the forged item to have special attributes dot class requirement life profession must be blacksmith yen joe casually stored the two items in his backpack he himself had never learned a life profession and was unsure how many one could master at once he would try it out later yen joe sujinjin’s urgent call came she was the last to arrive her movement speed lagging behind Before she even got close, a gentle golden light had already shot out, enveloping Yenjio. Healing spell the light flickered once and then quickly dissipated. Sujinjin ran to his side, panting, but found that Yenjio’s life force remained unchanged, still full. A hint of embarrassment flushed her fair cheeks. Yu, Yunxiao strode over from the other side, having already sheathed her shield and sword. Her arms crossed as she looked Yenjio up and down, as if examining a monster. Hualier looked at Yenjio and asked the most critical question. Outlander, the flame you used last. Why could you control the raging elements here? Yanzhou scratched his head, realizing that the color of the flame blade had indeed changed a bit. I’m not sure, just used a normal skill. Yanzhou did. Not elaborate further. He turned and walked toward the center of the square, behind the massive anvil. There, stood a huge stone door, tightly closed. The door was carved with intricate dwarf runes, consistent with the style of the valley outside. This should be the passage to deeper areas. Yunxiao and the others exchanged complex expressions and followed him. Sujinjin closely trailed Yanjio, her small hand unconsciously gripping the hem of his clothes. Hualier was still deep in thought, his brow furrowed. Yunxiao had completely given up on thinking, she just wanted to see what outrageous. Things lay at the end of this dungeon. The four arrived before the stone door. Yanjio reached out and pushed hard. Boom, the heavy stone door emitted a teeth-grinding friction sound as it slowly opened. Inward. The scene behind the door made everyone stop in their tracks. It was not a passage. Instead, it was a more magnificent circular hall. The hall’s dome was extremely high, embedded with some glowing crystals that illuminated the entire space as bright as day. The floor was smooth obsidian, and the walls were adorned with even older and more complex murals, depicting the former glory of the dwarf tribe. And in the very center of the hall stood a construct, larger than any puppet they had seen before, quietly towering there. It resembled a small mountain forged from steel and runes, its body. Nearly touched the dome of the hall, the heavy armor displaying a dull metallic sheen, with faint energy conduits flowing across its surface. It stood there, motionless, like a statue that had been silent, for a thousand years. Yet its massive form completely blocked the way to another large door on the opposite side. What is this? Yunxiao whistled, her tone already tinged with numbness. The final. Boss? No, Hualier shook his head. It looks like an, inactive guardian. Soojinjin asked softly, then how do we get past? It’s blocking the door. The group walked around the enormous puppet, finding, no space to maneuver. It seemed there was only one way to get through, to make this giant move. What do we do? Yunxiao looked around. The hall was empty, apart from this massive puppet, there was. Nothing else. She tilted her head. How about I take a swing at it? Don’t be impulsive. Hualier immediately stopped her. We know nothing about it, activating it recklessly is too dangerous. Then. What? Yunxiao retorted. We can’t just wait here, can we? There must be other mechanisms or clues, Hualier began to carefully examine the murals on the walls, trying to find some hints. But Yunxiao. Had already lost her patience. She hated these puzzle-like segments. This is so annoying, she muttered, the longsword already appearing in her palm. Whatever it is, let’s just hit it and find out. Before her words had even settled, she had already transformed into a blur, charging towards the massive puppet. Hey! Hualier wanted to stop her, but it was too late. Clang! The crisp sound of metal. Clashing echoed through the hall. Yunxiao’s longsword struck fiercely against the puppet’s lower leg armor, sparking a flurry of tiny flames. Minus one. A symbolic damage number floated up from the puppet’s head. The next second, the entire hall shook violently. Detecting external intrusion, Guardian Kex has been activated. A cold, emotionless electronic synthetic voice rang out throughout the hall. The giant puppet, standing like a mountain, slowly lowered its head. The two massive circular crystals in its eye sockets suddenly blazed with blinding crimson light. Crack, crack, an excruciating metallic distortion sound came from every joint of its body. Its enormous form, accompanied by intense vibrations, gradually stood upright from its slumber. A terrifying sense of oppression instantly enveloped the entire hall. Kax, Bronze Level Boss, Race, Construct Level, 22 Health, 35,000 Attack, 633 Defense, 508 Skills, Core Barrier, Passive, Energy Siphon, Resonance Pulse, Guardian Protocol I told. Yu, Yunsha was not nervous at all, instead, she wore an excited smile. A single hit solves it. Just as she finished speaking, four different colored lights suddenly illuminated the inner walls. Of the hall’s four corners, four massive energy crystals, displaying red, blue, green, and yellow, slowly rose from the walls. Buzz and energy shield visible to the naked eye instantly enveloped the puppet kex. The translucent energy shield completely wrapped around the giant puppet kex. The energy crystals in the corners continuously supplied it with energy, emitting a low hum. What the hell? Yunxiao cursed, still at the puppet’s feet, defiantly swinging her long sword again. Clang! Minus one a bright red number ruthlessly popped up. The giant head of the puppet kex slowly turned, its crimson crystal. Eyes locking onto the tiny figure beneath it. It lifted its steel foot and stomped down heavily. Boom! The ground shook violently, and Yunxiao rolled to narrowly evade the strike, shattered stones, grazing her cheek as they flew past. Yanjou’s figure flickered. With a swift step, he appeared on the other side of the puppet, his black blade carving a dark arc as it struck the puppet’s ankle armor. Minus one the same number, the same result. I knew it. Yunxiao shouted while dodging the puppet’s massive arm that followed closely behind, retreating as she yelled, This is a mechanism boss. Its shield. Must be related to those four crystals. She pointed to the glowing crystals in the corner of the hall. You distract it. You’re faster. I’ll look around for any traps. Yunxiao, being one of the six peaks, instantly deduced the optimal solution. Yanzhou nodded. He was also curious to test the quality of this boss. To him, the movements of this hulking figure were hardly fast. With an agility attribute. Of 200, every heavy attack from the puppet seemed to him like a slow motion replay. The puppet, Kex, abandoned its pursuit of Yunxiao and locked onto Yanzhou instead. A massive metallic hand, accompanied by a whistling wind, came crashing down. Yanjio merely sidestepped to the left. Boom. The giant hand missed, smashing a shallow pit into the obsidian floor. In the midst of dodging, Yanjio had time to observe his surroundings. Yunxiao had already dashed towards the nearest red crystal. Sujunjun followed, seemingly wanting to help. Normal attacks were ineffective. What about skills? Yanjio focused his thoughts. While evading the attacks, he raised his right hand. A dazzling starlight gathered in his palm. Starfall technique a meteor-like orb shot forth, tracing a graceful arc as it. accurately struck the puppet Kex’s chest. There was no explosion. No damage numbers. The starlight seemed to merge into the sea, silently absorbed by the layer of energy shield. The next second, a green number slowly floated up from above the puppet Kex’s head. 37146 plus 24018, double moon, the puppet’s health suddenly surged upward. It turned out to be a type that absorbed magical damage. He completely abandoned the thought of attacking, focusing instead on leading this steel behemoth in circles around the vast square. After a moment of entanglement, bang, a crisp explosion echoed from the corner of the hall. The red energy crystal finally couldn’t bear the burden under Yunxiao’s attack and shattered into countless fragments. The energy shield on puppet kex flickered noticeably, its glow dimming slightly. It worked. Yunxiao jumped down from the crystal’s base, glanced at the boss still being kiked by Yenzhou, and then at its nearly full health bar, shouting loudly, Jinjin and I will hold it. You go. Break the crystal. Your damage is higher. Just as she finished speaking, her gaze fell back on the boss’s health bar, and she froze. What the hell? Why has its health increased so much? Yen. Joe pretended not to hear, feeling guilty. He raised his arm towards another blue crystal. The next second, his figure vanished from the spot, leaving behind a trail of shimmering stardust. Starwalk in an instant, he appeared before the blue crystal. Without any hesitation. Starfall technique The brilliant starlight crashed down onto the massive blue crystal. minus 73 140 an astonishing damage number erupted from above the crystal double moon the talent triggered another star fell minus 51 396 crack the enormous blue crystal couldn’t withstand even a second covered in spider web-like cracks before it exploded with a thunderous roar yengio did not linger star tear space was torn open by an invisible force and his figure passed through the rift directly appearing beside the third yellow crystal Again, the same skill, the third crystal of the starfall technique, minus 73,140 to 51,396, double moon, shattered in response. When Yanjou’s figure appeared before the last green crystal, the distant Yuxiao had just engaged the boss. This guy. Yuxiao was at a loss for words. Boom. The last green crystal also turned to dust amidst the brilliant starlight. With all four energy crystals destroyed, the layer of energy shield enveloping the puppet Kex let out a sound akin to shattering glass, completely dissipating. Guardian Kex’s core barrier has failed. The cold, electronic synthetic voice echoed. Through the hall once more. The massive puppet abruptly halted its pursuit, turning around, its crimson eyes locking onto Yanjio, who had just destroyed the last crystal. Guardian Kex has entered. Berserk mode, activating final Guardian protocol. The cold, electronic synthetic voice was more piercing than ever before. The enormous puppet began to undergo violent changes. The originally dull metallic. Shell blowed with a deep red light from within, intricate energy circuits illuminating across its armor, resembling searing brands. It was no longer cold steel but more like a volcano on the verge of eruption. Hualier, he did not look at the raging puppet. All his attention was drawn to the ancient murals on the hall’s walls that had suddenly lit up. Yen Jio raised his left hand slowly. Buzz and arm blade made entirely of flowing nebula materialized out of thin air, a deep purple energy body enveloping countless flickering light points. Starry blade, left hand star blade, right hand black. Knife. Yanzhou’s figure left a faint afterimage in place. Windstep, he chose not to take a detour but transformed into a straight line, charging directly towards the raging steel mountain. Intruder. Eliminate. Kex’s crimson crystallized locked onto Yanzhou’s figure. Its massive metal arm ceased any slapping or sweeping motions. Instead, the armor layers at the front of its arm opened up, revealing a bottomless cannon mouth. Scorching energy rapidly gathered within the cannon. Resonance pulse, a thick crimson energy beam tore through the air, carrying the aura of destruction, instantly engulfing. Yen Jyo’s path of charge. Boom! The deafening explosion shook the entire hall. The obsidian floor was gouged with a deep charm arc, and the searing shockwave spread outward. However, just before, the devastating beam erupted, a barely perceptible spatial rift quietly opened at the sight of the beam. Yen Jyo stepped out calmly, perfectly avoiding this lethal strike. Star tear, he had already appeared. At the side and rear of the puppet kex, the huge dead angle exposed due to the energy cannons firing. Star tier was more flexible than astral walk-in that it could autonomously control its position and cover a great distance. The black blade light flashed and vanished. Whoosh. Minus 11 ,089 the star-formed arm blade followed closely behind. Minus 72 ,918. Two massive damage numbers floated up from above the puppet kex. Roar. A crisp shattering sound came from kex’s chest. The enormous crystal at its core, amidst the frantic flickering of red and green light, finally could not bear the burden and developed. A crack. Immediately after, crack. Crack. The crack spread rapidly across the entire crystal like a spider web. Warning. Guardian core overload, energy siphon protocol, interrupted. Self-destruct. Program, activated. The cold electronic synthetic voice sounded intermittently filled with chaotic electrical noise. The massive body of puppet kex suddenly stiffened. The energy circuits. Lighting up all over it began to flicker wildly, alternating between brightness and darkness. After the last strike fell, Yenzhou’s figure vanished, retreating to a safe distance. Astral walk boom. An unprecedented violent explosion erupted in the center of the hall. The steel construct, resembling a small mountain, was completely torn apart from within by the frenzied energy, exploding. Into a sky full of metal fragments. The scorching shockwave, mixed with shattered parts, swept across the entire hall. Yunxiao hurriedly pulled Suxun Jin to hide behind a stone pillar. Hualier, on the. other hand, raised an elemental shield in front of himself. After a long while, the energy storm raging in the hall gradually calmed down. Everything returned to silence. The murals on the walls dimmed. Again, regaining their ancient appearance. In the center of the hall, only a huge charred pit and debris remained. The battle was over. Sujinjin quickly ran to Yanjou’s side, anxiously checking if he was injured. Yanjou bent down and picked up a few blowing items from the ground littered with fragments. Among the chaotic metal wreckage, two items shone particularly brightly. yen geo picked them up one was a heavy plate armor and the other was an ancient skill book kex’s guardian chest plate quality bronze equipment type plate armor attributes strength plus 80 constitution plus 85 defense plus 200 guardian power when attacked there is a chance to summon an energy crystal around you increasing your defense by 20 class requirement warrior knight skill book energy Siphon Energy Siphon, when activated, absorbs all spell damage in the vicinity and converts 30% into your own health, with overflow healing converted into temporary health disappearing after the battle. Ends. Duration, 3 seconds, cooldown, 3 minutes, mana cost, none. Class requirement, none this skill is good. He chose to learn it directly. A faint light flew out from the book and merged into his. Palm. With Energy Siphon combined with the Shadow Cloak, his margin for error against spells would be much higher in the future. He casually tossed the plate armor to Yun Xiao. Yours. Yunxiao instinctively caught it, feeling its heavy texture. She glanced at the equipment attributes, then at Yanjio’s nonchalant expression, and pouted. Yunxiao naturally understood the value of that skill book, but, in the end, she said nothing more. After all, since entering the dungeon, whether it was the first boss, deck, or the steel behemoth catch just now, it was almost entirely Yanjio who dealt with them. She, hadn’t even dealt any significant damage. Yunxiao muttered to herself, planning to show off her skills later, and then stored the chestplate in her backpack. Sujinjin walked to Yanjou’s side, extending her small hand to gently brush off the non-existent dust from his shoulder. Hualier remained silent. He didn’t care about the distribution of the loot but stared intently at the murals on the hall’s walls that had completely dimmed, his brow furrowed as if deep in thought. The massive stone door, previously blocked by the puppet kex, was now wide open. The group stepped over the debris and approached the door. Yanjou reached out and pushed it open. Boom a wave of heat, completely different from the previous coldness of the hall, rushed towards them. It was a scorching gust mixed with the smell of sulfur and metal. Behind the door was a bottomless corridor, the wall showing a dark red hue as if scorched by high temperatures, the air slightly distorted by the heat. At that moment, a system prompt appeared before Yen Jio, visible only to him. The fire element beside you is angrily stomping its feet. Someone has corrupted their kin. Yen Jio paused for a moment. He curiously sensed the lively, yet hostile energy in the surrounding air. What was the source of his inexplicable elemental affinity and that color change of flame blade? I think I understand what happened here. Hualier’s voice. Came from behind. He pointed at the walls of the hall they had passed through. When the puppet was activated just now, those murals lit up as well, and I saw more information. Yun Xiao was immediately. Drawn in. Quick, quick, what new discoveries did you find? Hualier’s expression grew serious. The mural says that this tribe called the Storm Dwarves possesses extraordinary forging skills because. They have been worshipping two powerful elemental groups for generations. Fire element and wind element. Their chieftain, through an ancient secret method, could even temporarily gain the power to communicate with the elements, allowing him to create those incredible artifacts. Suzhengen asked softly, what happened next? Hualier sighed. Later, for some unknown reason, the wind element clan suddenly fled the Tianxin mountain range. Forging cannot be separated from the harmony of wind and fire. Without the wind element, the dwarf skills are in jeopardy. The dwarf chieftain pleaded with the fire elements to stay. Perhaps out of sympathy, or perhaps out of old feelings, the fire elements eventually agreed. The tragedy was just beginning. Not long after the wind elements left, the once pure flames began to mutate. Just like the kind we saw before, the frenzied purple. The dwarves tried to suppress these corrupted fire elements, but in the end, a small portion of the corrupted elements escaped from this forging hall and dissipated into the outside world. As soon as he finished speaking, Yunxiao clapped her hands. I understand. Wasn’t the mission saying that? The sub-dragons in the Tianjin mountain range were infected by the frenzied elements? It must have been those escaped purple fire elements. And then the infected sub-dragons turned around and attacked. The dwarves’ homeland. The more she spoke, the more she felt her reasoning was flawless. So, these dwarves brought it upon themselves. Yenjio, after listening, offered a different perspective. It’s still unclear who was good and who was bad. Sujinjin softly agreed. Well, after all, the murals are just the dwarves’ side of the story, and they only recorded what they saw. Hualier nodded in. agreement. That’s right, to know the truth, we probably have to go deeper. In the depths of the passage, red light flickered, as if something was breathing. So what are we waiting for? Yunxiao was, already a bit impatient. She was the first to step forward, walking into the scorching passage. Yenjio did not hesitate and followed. Sujunjun closely trailed beside him. Hualier took one last look, at the silent puppet graveyard behind them and stepped into the darkness. The passage was not long. The scorching air became denser the moment they exited the tunnel, bringing a suffocating sense of pressure. Before them, it opened up. It was a circular space more magnificent than any hall they had seen before. This was the deepest part of the mountain, the heart of the entire forging workshop. In the center of the space stood not an anvil or a furnace, but a massive throne carved from obsidian. Sitting upon the throne was a figure. A dwarf. He was tall and robust, clad in intricate dark golden armor, wearing a fierce horned helmet. He lacked the bulk and signs of corruption seen in the previous puppets. He looked like a true king. The only anomaly was the flames swirling around his body. Those flames were pure, deep purple, quietly burning without any explosive sounds yet radiating a terrifying heat capable of distorting light. They licked at the dwarf’s armor but left no burning marks. Yun Xiao. Whistled. Wow, the chieftain’s display is indeed different. Chieftain Wilru, Bronze Level Boss, Race, Dwarf, Level, LV-22, Health, 45 ,000, Attack, 773, Defense, 808, Skills, Purple Flame. Sovereignty, Power of the Molten Mountain, Elemental Incarnation, Storm Command, Remarks, Originally a suppressor of the raging elements, he has now succumbed to the power of corruption, becoming a lackey. Of the raging elements. The Dwarf on the throne slowly raised his head. The eyes hidden in the shadow of his helmet glowed with a purple light, the same color as the surrounding flames. His movements. carried an undeniable authority. Outlander. His words echoed in the vast hall, clearly reaching everyone’s ears. There was no madness in his tone, instead, it held an ancient steadiness. You should not have come here. Yunxiao crossed his arms and scoffed, making a mess outside, with both the sub-dragons and puppets, and here you are, quite leisurely. Wilru ignored Yunxiao’s mockery. His attention fell on Hualier, the priest of the elemental temple. I can sense the aura of kin from you. You understand, don’t you? The feeling of being abandoned. Hualier’s body stiffened. Wilru slowly stood. Up his tall figure casting a huge shadow against the pure purple flames. The wind has betrayed us. It left without warning, abandoning the covenant we have held for generations. And our flames. Have become frantic. Our forging skills are on the verge of being lost. Our kin wail in despair. His words carried a painful infectiousness. It was that great one who answered our prayers. Wilru. Extended his hand and a cluster of pure purple flames surged in his palm. That Great One granted us new power, making the flames even stronger. We no longer need the wind’s harmony, we ourselves are the storm. This is not corruption, this is evolution. Sacrifice is the necessary price of evolution. Those who cannot bear the new power, whether dwarves or creatures from the outside, will become the foundation of the new era. And we will become the gods of the new era. Yenjo remains silent, carefully studying the skill information on the boss panel. Purple Flame Sovereignty, Power of the Molten Mountain, Storm Command. The reflect damage or absorption Yanjio encountered before were all passive skills. This meant that this boss had no reflect damage, no shields. Nor did it have. Those flashy damage reduction mechanisms, at least not before the skills were activated. It was a boss that could be confronted head on. Priest, what are you hesitating for? Will return to Walior, his. Tone laced with temptation. Abandon your decayed faith. The ancient elements have long waned, they cannot offer you any future. Join us, and feel this supreme power. Yanjio slowly drew the black. Knife from his waist, the blade reflecting a cold light in the purple fire’s glow. Are you done talking? He raised his head to look at the dwarf chieftain before the throne. Wilru’s movement paused. Seemingly surprised that this previously silent young man would suddenly speak. Let me have a spar with him. The moment the words fell, a burst of purplish-red flame suddenly erupted from the black. Knife in Yanjou’s hand. Flame blade, the color of the flame was starkly different from the pure purple beside Wilru. It carried an indomitable, leaping fury, as if it were launching the most primal. provocation against the king of this realm you for the first time wilruz showed a look of astonishment he could sense that the flames on the opponent’s blade the weak shared the same origin as his own yet carried a completely opposite will interesting the astonishment on wilruz face quickly transformed into the excitement of a hunter spotting its prey let me see which of your flames or my sovereignty is truly the future of this world he stomped heavily boom the entire hall shook with the impact His stout figure transformed into a purple cannonball, charging straight towards. Yen Jio. In his hand, he had somehow acquired a massive warhammer that was utterly disproportionate to his size. The warhammer was engulfed in pure purple flames, identical to those surrounding his body. Before the melted mountain powerhammer even reached him, a wave of destructive heat rushed towards Yen Jio. He did not retreat. His figure left a faint afterimage in place. Windstep he transformed. Into a streak of black light, rushing towards the moving volcano. The purple giant hammer grazed the tip of his nose as it fell, creating a thunderous sound as it smashed into the obsidian ground, leaving a deep pit. Meanwhile, Yen Jo’s black blade had silently sliced across the face of the dwarf chieftain. Minus 10,891 to 2099, flame blade, Yen Jo raised an eyebrow, it seemed this boss had a high resistance to fire elements. Willow let out a roar, no longer the composed king but a furious beast. The muscles in his arms bulged and a more violent power emanated from the warhammer, aiming to crush Yen. Jo completely. but Yenjio’s left hand had already been raised without him noticing. Buzz and arm blade made entirely a flowing nebula materialized out of thin air. Starlet blade the brilliant star. Blade, with the momentum to tear through space, sliced upwards, accurately targeting Willu’s wrist that held the hammer. Minus 73,551. Starlet blade, minus 2 ,339. Flame blade, sizzle. Willu’s seemingly indestructible. Armor was forcibly torn open under the brilliance of the stars. The massive body of the dwarf chieftain crashed heavily to the ground. Clang! His horned helmet rolled aside. Immediately after, crack! Crack! The crisp sound of shattering echoed from his entire suit of armor. The dark golden heavy armor, symbolizing kingship, crumbled like weathered. Rock disintegrating into a cloud of metallic ash. Willu’s body was completely exposed to the air. In the next second, his kneeling form suddenly ignited. This was no ordinary fire. Deep purple flames erupted from every pore of his body, turning his flesh, his bones, everything, about him into fuel. Elemental incarnation he did not emit any screens of agony. Instead, a low and fervent laughter replaced it. Ha ha ha, did you see that? This is, true power. This is, evolution. Amidst the frenzied consumption of the purple flames, his original form completely vanished. A massive body made of pure, raging purple flames slowly rose from the ground. It bore the outline of a dwarf but was several times larger. then before, resembling a burning giant. The temperature in the entire hall suddenly soared to a terrifying level at that moment. The body of the flame giant obscured the faint light cast from the cave ceiling. A new information panel appeared before Yen Jio, Chieftain Willu, Silver Level Boss, Race, Elemental Level, LV25 Health, 67,000 Attack, 803 Defense, 808 Physical Resistance, 32% Fire Element Resistance, 95% Other Element Resistance, 34% Skills, Purple Flame. Domain, flame reshape, frenzied flamestorm, flame demon body, passive, dot. The giant made of pure flames slowly raised its colossal arm, comparable to a stone pillar. It slammed down heavily towards the ground. Boom. The entire hall shook. Violently, the obsidian floor cracked in response, and spiderweb-like fissures spread outwards. In the next second, thick, deep purple flames erupted from the cracks in the ground, instantly turning the entire floor of the hall into a surging sea of magma. Purple flame domain the scorching airwaves, carrying the acrid scent of sulfur, rushed towards him. minus 319 to 319 dammit. The ground is burning hot. Yunxiao cursed under her breath, her metallic battle boots already starting to glow red. She grabbed Suzhenjin beside her. Hold on tight. With a sudden burst of strength in her legs, Junxiao embraced Suzhenjin and leaped towards a protruding rocky platform to the side. The two landed steadily on the high platform, temporarily escaping the deadly sea of fire. Suzhenjin looked worriedly towards the center of the fire. Yenjio. Hualier did not move. He stood in place, allowing the purple flames to lick at the hem of his robe. He raised his hands. High, tilting his head towards the sky. Great fire element. His voice echoed in the vast hall, carrying an ancient reverence. Please protect your faithful. A soft golden halo spread from Hualier’s body, forming a translucent barrier that enveloped him and Yenjo, isolating them from the surrounding purple flames. A system prompt popped up in front of Yenjo. Ding! You have received the blessing of the fire priest Hualier, reducing fire damage by 50%. The prompt had just. appeared when another new prompt followed closely. Ding! The fire element favors you particularly, your blessing has received an additional upgrade, reducing fire damage by 70%. Yanzhou felt the warm power surrounding him, the burning sensation of the purple flame domain had become negligible. Did you see that? Priest! The fire giant villa let out a thunderous roar, the sound no longer in the language of dwarves, but a pure elemental resonance. This is the true form of fire. Abandon your pitiful faith and embrace this ultimate evolution with me. Hualier’s body trembled slightly, gritting his teeth. This is not evolution. This is corruption. It is a desecration of the elemental will. Yen Jio did not participate. In this debate, he moved forward. Star blade in his left hand, black blade in his right. Once again, the purple-red flames surged from the black blade. Flame blade, he transformed into a blur, charging into the sea of purple flames. Sizzle. The black blade precisely cut into the fire giant’s ankle. minus 4045 level suppression minus 27 flame blade a pitifully low damage number floated up from the giant’s head the fire damage from the flame blade was merely a symbolic two-digit number the starry sky blade on his left arm traced a brilliant trajectory following closely behind buzz the arm blade made if stars struck the same spot minus 5995 minus 38 the damage from the starry sky blade was still considerable roar the fire giant let out a painful roar Its massive body staggered from the intense pain. It turned around, a gigantic hand made of flames came crashing down towards the tiny insect that was Yenzhou. Yenzhou’s figure vanished from the spot. Astral. Walk. He instantly appeared behind the fire giant. The black blade and star blade fell again. Minus 2002 minus 5034. Two damage numbers popped up in succession. Useless struggle. Vilu’s roar shook the entire space. Its massive body suddenly halted. Countless purple fireballs began to coalesce around its body, like satellites orbiting a planet. Raging flamestorm in the next moment, a torrential downpour of fireballs bombarded the spot where Yanjio stood. Each fireball carried a devastating high temperature. On the high platform. Be careful. Suzhengen couldn’t help but exclaim. Yunxiao also frowned. Her talent was completely useless against this type of boss. Protecting Suzhengen was the only thing she could do. Yanjio did not dodge. He raised his right hand. Energy siphon, a miniature black vortex appeared in his palm. Boom boom boom. The dense fireballs were all swallowed by that small vortex. No explosions. No shockwaves. All the raging energy. Was silently absorbed. Green healing numbers floated up from Yanjou’s head. 2104-2104-2104 Health. 9372 -4270 His health instantly surged, allowing him to last a bit longer in the land of flames. The flame giant’s eyes, made of pure energy, flickered. Yanjou did not give it a chance to think further. His figure transformed into a streak of light again, closing in on the flame giant’s body. The glint of the blade and the starlight wove together into a net of death. Minus 2 ,388 to 5,871. Minus 2 ,411 to 5,119. The giant’s health was plummeting at a visibly frantic pace. Unforgivable. Wei Lu was utterly enraged. It abandoned its flashy skills, and its massive flaming fists, with enough power to shatter mountains, slammed down onto the ground again and again. Boom. Rumble. The entire hall shook violently, debris flying everywhere. Yet Yenjo’s figure was like a leaf caught in a storm. He always managed to dodge with a hair’s breadth to spare just before those heavy attacks. Landed. Each of his evasions was accompanied by a precise counterattack. The black blade sliced through the flames. The star blade tore at the core. On the high platform, Yun-sha was becoming somewhat numb to the sight. She crossed her arms. And muttered, Is this guy really a mage? His movements are more warrior-like than mine. Sujinjin clenched her small hands tightly. Although still tense, she finally felt a bit relieved seeing Yenjo handle things with ease. The battle. was clearly leaning in their favor. Just as the flame giant’s health dropped below 40%, its massive body suddenly ceased all attacks. Flame rebirth a deeper purple halo erupted from within it. The flames on its body began to condense. At an incredible speed, becoming more solid. A huge green number slowly floated above its head. 50100 its health surged dramatically. Useless. Wei Lu’s maniacal laughter echoed again. In this realm, I am immortal. Useless. Wei Lu’s mad. Laughter reverberated throughout the lava hall. In this realm, I am immortal. On the high platform, Yun Zhao’s fists creaked as she clenched them tightly. Damn. It’s full again. She stared at the flame giant’s health bar, now restored to its peak, feeling a wave of helplessness. How are we supposed to fight this? Yen Zhao ignored the arrogant roar. He charged forward again. The black blade and star blade traced two distinctly different paths through the purple sea of flames. One was pitch black and deep, the other sparkling with starlight. The flame giant Wei Lu swung its burning fists, each attack causing the hull to tremble and the ground to crack, but its attacks repeatedly missed. Yan Zhou’s figure moved, like a specter attached to the giant, weaving through the gaps between attacks, leaving behind cold damage numbers. Minus 2,391 to 5 ,912. Minus 2,405 to 5,888. The giant’s health steadily slid down again. Yun Zhao’s heart raced. She fixed her gaze on that health. Bar. 60%. 50%. Almost there. 45%. 41%. Just as the health bar touched the 40% threshold, buzz and even more intense purple halo erupted from the flame giant’s body faster than before. The healing green light almost instantly enveloped. Its entire form. 60135 an even more exaggerated healing number floated above its head. Its health was now even higher than when it was at full health forming a brief additional green health bar. Hahaha. Weilu’s laughter grew more. Arrogant. I told you, this is futile. Yenjo’s figure finally came to a stop. He stepped back a few paces, exiting the combat range, and stood quietly within Hualier’s protective halo. He looked at the flame giant, which had become solid. Again, even larger than before.A 40% health threshold. The total health is 67,000. This means that at the moment the skill is activated, he needs to deal over 26,800 points of damage. He estimated his output. With all burst skills activated. He could deal around 20,000 damage with the dual moon, and adding a strike from the starry blade would still leave him a bit short. Even if his hand speed was faster, he wouldn’t have time to unleash a second skill or another strike within. That extremely short recovery window. Yenjio’s brows furrowed slightly. This was the first time since he entered the game that he had thought so meticulously about the details of combat. If he called down Yunxiao for help, it might be possible. But she had to protect Suzhenjin, and her damage might not be enough to fill the gap in that instant. Or, he thought of the void horn in his backpack. There was also the four-eyed spirit leopard and the little sword that he hadn’t summoned yet. If he summoned them all before the boss’s health dropped to 40% and everyone focused their attacks, there might be a chance. First, he could release all the summons he had learned, then coordinate with them to deal damage around 40 health, which might also work. Or at 41 health, he could first release a new moon from a distance, then use astral walk during its trajectory, unleashing a burst skill beside the boss before the new moon arrived. These were all feasible. Plans. Just as he was calmly analyzing the battlefield and weighing various possibilities, a slight disturbance seemed to appear in the hot elements of the surrounding air. A cool breath, coming from nowhere, gently brushed against his cheek. Ding! Your calm wisdom has been appreciated by the water elementals, they also disapprove of this arrogant giant. A crisp system prompt sounded in his mind without warning. Yen Jiu was momentarily stunned. Immediately after, ding! You! have learned the skill ice summon ice summon use different spells based on your distance to the target use ice pearl at five yards away and blizzard within five yards dot ice pearl summons an ice pearl that fires ice arrows dealing 100 plus 50 intelligence plus 50 spirit damage to all enemies within 10 yards every two seconds for 30 seconds mana cost 300 cooldown three minutes dot blizzard summons a blizzard around you dealing 100 plus 70 intelligence plus 70 spirit damage to all enemies within 5 yards every second, and generating a shield that absorbs 20% of the damage for 30 seconds, mana cost 300, cooldown 3 minutes.Yanjou’s movements froze for a moment. He looked at the brand new icon in his skill bar, radiating an ice blue blow. Right. Ice. Using ice to counter fire. Such a simple principle, yet he only just thought of it now. He instinctively glanced at his skill list. Besides the newly learned ice summon, there were also the previously seldom used. Ice arrow and frost aura. Although not many, they would suffice. The flame giant Vilu, seeing him remain still for so long, let out a deep, mocking voice. Have you finally realized your insignificance in the face of divine power? Come, let me embrace you in that great one’s arms. Yen Jio raised his head. He did not respond. He simply walked slowly towards the colossal figure. One step. Two steps. He re-entered the purple sea of flames. This time, in addition to the golden halo bestowed by Hualier, there was also a faint chill surrounding him. Are you still going to struggle in vain? Villo raised his burning giant fist. Yen Jio also lifted his right hand. He was now less than five yards away from the flame giant. The ice summon skill activated. In an instant, the temperature in the entire hall plummeted. The heat that could distort the air seemed to crash into an invisible ice wall, being forcefully repelled. Centered around Yen Jio, a fierce blizzard appeared out of nowhere. Cowbless sharp ice crystals, mixed with snowflakes as light as goose feathers, formed a swirling white vortex. Blizzard frost or Azela, the purple magma surging on the ground emitted a piercing sound. The moment it came into contact with the blizzard, large swathes of purple flames were extinguished and covered by ice and snow, solidifying into black crystals. A pure white domain was forcibly carved out amidst the sea of purple flames. Minus 4809, blizzard, minus 1417, frost aura, minus 4809 minus 1417 one by one, sky blue damage numbers began to densely emerge from the top of the flame giant’s head. The damage was not high, but an ice crystal shaped slow effect icon appeared in the boss’s status. Bar. Roar. Ah whoa. Willow let out a roar that was completely different from before. It was no longer anger and arrogance but pain, a suffering that stemmed from its very soul. Its body, composed of pure flames, began to flicker violently. Under the onslaught of the blizzard, the surface’s purple flames dimming, even showing signs of solidification. At the same time, a layer of translucent frost shield began to coalesce on Yanjio’s surface. Hualier’s body also trembled slightly. He felt the pure and cold elemental power, his face displaying an expression of disbelief. This is, this is the response of the water element. The flame giant Willow frantically swung its arms, trying to smash the tiny creature that was creating the cold before it into pieces. But its movements became slow and stiff under the influence of the blizzard. Yen Jio didn’t even need to use windstep anymore. He simply walked leisurely through the snowstorm, easily dodging all attacks. It’s not over yet. His figure once again approached the flame giant’s ankle. The black blade, along with the brilliant star blade, drew a deadly cold light against the backdrop of the snowstorm. The frequency of damage numbers popping up showed no signs of slowing down. Within the domain of the blizzard, every attack from Yenjio sounded like the death knell for the giant. Willu’s massive body became increasingly clumsy under the erosion of ice and snow. Every time it raised an arm, it seemed to exhaust all its strength, with its joints emitting a metallic cry as if frozen and twisted. The purple flames on its body had dimmed to the point of being like a candle flickering in the wind. Large portions of its body were covered in frost, solidifying into ugly black crystal blocks that fell off in clumps. This burning giant was being devoured inch by inch by the winter. Its movements grew slower and the pain caused by Yanjou’s attacks became more intense. Finally, the flame giant’s health bar dropped once again to that dangerous threshold. 40%. Roar. Willow let out a reluctant roar. A circle of purple light once again spread from its body. Flame rebirth it wanted to use the same. Trick again. However, this time, the massive healing light it had anticipated did not appear. A faint green blow flickered above Willow’s head. 10890 just over 10,000 in healing was nearly a drop in the bucket for its massive health bar. It’s couldn’t even offset the damage caused by the blizzard in the same second. For the first time, Willu’s flame-formed face showed a dazed expression. Yen Jio would not give it time to think. His figure left a residual shadow in place. The black blade, with a resolve to tear everything apart, accurately slashed upward toward the giant’s chest. Minus 4034 following closely was the brilliant star arm blade. Buzz, starlight flashed. Minus 7981. Willu’s massive body suddenly stiffened. It looked. Down at its chest pierced by starlight where the core of flames was rapidly dimming. Crack. A crisp shattering sound came from its entire body. The frost covering its surface spread out countless spiderweb like cracks. The next second. It collapsed with a thunderous crash at the once mighty flame giant emitted no sound as it transformed into a sky full of black ash gently falling like snow. The blizzard that had persisted for so long finally ceased. Ding. Congratulations. Your level has risen to LV 23. Ding. Talent war god effect enhanced, melee damage increase raised to 320 times. Ding. Congratulations, strength plus 1, agility plus 1, intelligence plus 1, spirit plus 1, constitution plus 1. Ding. Congratulations, you have. Gained 5 free attribute points, current free attribute points 95. The entire hall returned to a deathly silence. Hualier retracted the protective spell, and the circle of golden light slowly dissipated. He did not look at the loot on the. Ground but step forward to the center of the hall, in front of the pile of still warm ashes. He crouched down and picked up a handful of black ash. Something’s not right. His brow furrowed tightly. Yunxiao pulled Su Xinjin down from the high platform, landing steadily on the ground. What’s not right? Yunxiao brushed the ash off his hands, curiously leaning closer. Hualier stood up, his expression extremely grave. The elements here may have calmed down, but it’s too quiet. Suspiciously so. He opened his palm, letting the black ash slip through his fingers. Why did the fire elements collectively revolt? And why did the wind elements flee in panic? Also, who exactly was that lord the chieftain Weilu mentioned? Before he died? Hualier scanned the empty, silent hall as if searching for some invisible clue. Yen Jiu ignored his muttering. He walked straight to the pile of ashes and bent down to pick up two glowing items. Crown of the storm. Chieftain quality, silver level requirement, 23 equipment type, cloth armor head attributes, defense plus 20, intelligence plus 100, spirit plus 90, spell penetration plus 5%, all your fire and wind attributes spell damage increased by 20% the fire and wind. Spirits fought at your feet, competing for who would wear this crown next. Class requirement, priest, mage not bad. He casually tossed the crown into his backpack. The second item was an irregular shard, dark red all over, exuding a scorching. Aura. Magma Fragment Level Requirement, 23 Equipment Type, Accessory, Necklace Attributes, Constitution Plus 200, Fire Resistance Plus 30% Magic Fire Gate, 1 Half Key Fragment to Open the Realm of Magic Fire Class Requirement, None Yen Jio. Glanced at the description and stored it in his backpack as well. Once he gathered enough equipment, he could finally replace the set of banshee armor he was wearing. Sujinjin walked up to him and quietly asked, Is it all over? Yen Jio. Nodded. Meanwhile, Hualier walked around the pile of ashes toward the deepest part of the hall, the Obsidian Throne. He seemed to be performing some ancient ritual, carefully inspecting every corner of the throne. Finally, he discovered a chest on a high platform, inside which lay a scroll made of unknown beast skin. Hualier cautiously took out the scroll and slowly unfurled it. He glanced at it and the color drained from his face instantly. He abruptly looked up at Yen Jio, his tone more urgent than ever. Respected foreigner. This matter is far more complicated than we imagined. I must return to the fire spirit hall immediately and personally deliver this matter, along with this scroll, to the high priest. Ding. You have completed the quest whale of the elements. Quest reward fire spirit hall, reputation plus 300 fire skill upgrade book. Hualier’s urgency clashed with the deathly silence of the hall, which had just calmed from the raging elements. Yanjio nodded, not asking further. Some things were indeed beyond his current level to intervene and Hualier gave him a solemn fire spirit salute, then turned and transformed into a streak of light, disappearing at the cave entrance. As he left, the system’s task completion notification chimed in Sujinjin’s ears. She widened her eyes in surprise. I completed my task too. Yanjio looked at the fire element skill upgrade book quietly lying in his backpack, knowing its value better than anyone else. Without any hesitation, he chose to use it. A virtual light screen unfolded before him, displaying his few fire element skills. His finger tapped on the icon for flame blade. Ding. Do you wish to consume? The fire element skill upgrade book to upgrade the skill flame blade? Yes. Flame blade enchants your or a teammate’s weapon, causing it to deal 10 plus intelligence 100% damage when attacking. A golden light flashed, and the skill’s description underwent a tremendous change. Flame Blade, enchants your or any target’s weapon, increasing its attack range by 1 yard, dealing 10 plus intelligence 100% damage, and restoring 30% of the damage dealt to yourself. Duration 15. Seconds. Cooldown 30 seconds. Mana cost 100 points. A powerful upgrade. Yenjo’s fingertips instinctively rubbed lightly. The increase in attack range meant a safer output environment, although it would weaken the talent’s bonus, it could. be very useful in special moments. And that 30% damage return completely compensated for his biggest shortcoming. Now, the only thing he lacked in recovery ability was also addressed. Ha, Yunxiao let out a breath, stretching her shoulders. With a crisp crack of bones. Finally level 20. She wore an expression of relieved excitement. We can go to the capital now. Yenjio shifted his attention from the skill bar to Sujengen’s level. Level 14. Her class was still the initial. Priest, without any job change. Sujinjin noticed his gaze and smiled lightly. Why don’t you two go to the capital first? I can wait for you at the tavern in Sunset City. Her tone was casual, as if she were merely discussing a. Trivial matter. Do you have any other acquaintances in Sunset City? Yanjio asked. Sujinjin shook her head, her hair brushing against her fair neck. Not particularly familiar with anyone. Just have a better relationship with Yunxiao. Yanjio nodded. Then come back to the manor with me. The honey brew at the tavern in Maple Leaf City is really good. And it’s safer than here. sujinjin’s smile instantly froze then turned into a charming blush okay her voice was as soft as a whisper i’ll follow your lead yenjo thought briefly he was likely being hunted due to his count status if he had no normal player identity he shouldn’t be wanted moreover even if he was wanted it didn’t matter could he not protect his count identity if he couldn’t protect it then he would just cut it all off yenjo thought as he walked the group no longer lingered turning to leave the massive furnace hall and returning to the valley entrance Dwarves were still gathered there, as if waiting for the hero’s triumphant return. The elder dwarf at the front saw Yenjio and immediately approached, his face filled with gratitude and respect. Yenjio stepped forward, signaling that the. Task was complete. Ding. You have completed the hidden task exile the element. Task reward, storm tribe reputation plus 3000, storm furnace usage rights dot. Ding. Your reputation with the storm tribe has reached revered dot. What are the storm, furnace usage rights for? Yenjio asked curiously. A hint of pride appeared on the elder dwarf’s wrinkled face. Esteemed warrior, this storm furnace is the greatest creation of our tribe. It absorbs the power of storms and flames, using it to forge equipment which not only greatly increases the chances of success but also allows the blacksmith’s skills to improve rapidly. From today on, you can use it any time. Yenjio nodded thoughtfully. Perhaps he could learn blacksmithing. When he returned, maybe he could forge a suitable weapon for himself. After bidding farewell to the enthusiastic dwarves, Yanjio and the others headed back the way they came. Outside the valley, the teleportation array of Sunset City was emitting a soft white light. Yunxiao stretched lazily and waved at the two. I’ll head out first. See you in the capital. Without any hesitation, she stepped directly into the teleportation array, her figure instantly disappearing in the light. Only Yanjio and Sujunjun remained in front of the teleportation array. Yanjio opened the teleportation cursor. For a moment, the two stared at each other in silence. The teleportation array of Maple Leaf City was the highest level, in the entire illusion realm, theoretically capable of reaching any main city. However, the teleportation network between the Forest Kingdom and the Flame Kingdom had been in a state of blockade due to the war. Only the highest level. Teleportation arrays could ignore this rule and perform unilateral teleportation. And Sunset City was clearly not among them. This is going to be a problem, Yanzhou scratched his head. He only had one, wormhole node, which was bound to Lakeside. Manor, but it could only be used by one person. After thinking for a moment, he took out the node that emitted spatial fluctuations from his backpack and handed it to Sujinjin. You take it. Fortunately, this item was not bound. Then, how will you get back? Sujinjin did not take it, looking a bit worried. I have my ways. Yenjio did not explain much, simply stuffing the node into her hand. He briefly mentioned a few precautions for teleporting back to Maple Leaf City. Then opened the system interface he had studied for a long time. Home system. He entered Sujinjin’s game ID. Ding. Do you invite player Xiaojin to become a shared member of your home? Yes. Ding. Player Xiaojin has accepted. Your invitation. Sujinjin waved at Yanjio and used the wormhole to leave. The friend system was still functioning smoothly, and hearing that Sujinjin was safe and not wanted, Yanjio finally breathed a sigh of relief. He looked up and gazed into the distance. Since he couldn’t go to the Forest Kingdom for now, he might as well check out the capital of the Flame Kingdom. The power center of the Flame Kingdom. Burning Sky City. The teleportation array of Sunset City glowed. Softly, Yenjo’s figure stood firm in the light. He raised his hand, tracing a trajectory in the void pointing to the coordinates he had never set foot on before. Burning Sky City. Buzz space twisted violently and the white light instantly engulfed his vision. Unlike any previous teleportation, the dizziness this time was particularly intense as if his entire being was being crushed and then reassembled. When the solid sensation returned beneath his feet, the white light slowly faded away. A hot air mixed with sulfur and metal filled his nostrils. What came into view was a magnificent giant city that could not be described in words. The ground beneath his feet was paved with enormous black volcanic rocks, polished, smooth as a mirror, reflecting the eerie dark red sky. The distant buildings were no longer the elegance of Maple Leaf City nor the ruggedness of Sunset City. They were pure, flamboyant, and filled with a sense of power, massive creations. Sharp towers pierced the dark red sky, and the wide streets could accommodate hundreds of people walking side by side, with walls engraved with complex ruins that shimmered like flowing lava. This place did not resemble a city. It felt more like a war fortress prepared for giants. Two guards clad in dark red full-body armor stood like sculptures on either side of the teleportation array. The flames danced along the patterns on their armor and the long spears they held tightly. Burned with an unquenchable fire.Burning Sky City Guard, Elite, Level, LV-30 Even the Gate Guards have reached Level 30. Yen Jio stepped down from the teleportation platform and the helmets of the two guards turned towards him, an invisible sense of oppression washing over him with their movements. He paid it no mind. His gaze passed over the guards and fell upon the excessively wide Central Avenue. The massive city, at this moment, exuded a peculiar chill. On the streets, there were hurried NPC merchants and patrolling squads of guards, but few players could be seen. Yanjio opened his friend list. The avatar of Yunxiao was lit up, showing his location in a corner of Burning Sky City. He glanced at the level. Leaderboard again. Among the six peaks of Illusion’s pinnacle, there were still a few who had yet to break through the level 20 barrier. Not to mention the ordinary players. This capital city, prepared for millions of players, now, felt empty and lonely. Yanjio brought up his information panel and looked at his ID. Sha County snacked this way, even if the official forces of the Flame Nation wanted to hunt down him, a count from the Forest Nation, they wouldn’t find their target anytime soon. A thought crossed his mind. A sleek, pitch-black leopard appeared beside him out of thin air. It was the four-eyed spirit leopard. The appearance of the spirit leopard drew the attention of several nearby NPCs, but soon, they returned to their business. Yenjiyo mounted the leopard’s back and slowly moved forward on the wide street. He planned to take a stroll around the city to familiarize himself with the environment. Soon, in the center of the city, a colossal tower that seemed to pierce the sky captured all his attention. The tower was entirely black, with a complex structure, countless glowing runes swirling around it like stars, spiraling upward into the clouds. An ancient and powerful aura emanated from the tower, making the entire burning sky city seem to worship it. Let’s go check it out. Yenjiyo patted the spirit leopard’s neck. The fourite spirit leopard let out a low growl, its hooves kicking up wind, transforming into a streak of black lightning as it raced down the central avenue towards the giant tower. The wind howled past his ears. The magnificent buildings on either side of the street rapidly receded behind him. In just a few minutes, the towering giant was right before him. In front of the tower was an even larger circular plaza. At the entrance of the plaza, guards were stationed, their presence more imposing than those by the teleportation array. On one side of the entrance stood a massive black stone tablet. Golden text flowed across the tablet, forming a leaderboard. Tower of Trials 1st place, Anonymous, Level 29, 2nd place, War God Hall, Yen, Level 25, 3rd place, Anonymous, Level 19, 5th place. Yengio paused for a moment. War God Hall, Yen? As for those two anonymous entries, two other IDs that were equally famous as his floated in his mind. He examined the leaderboard with great interest, then dismounted and walked towards a guard. What is this place for? The guard’s helmet remained still, as if he hadn’t heard his question. Yanjio asked again. The response was still a deathly silence. He was not annoyed by the cold shoulder. He took two steps back and focused his mind into the system. Eye of reconnaissance and invisible. Data stream swept over the giant tower. The next second, a clear system panel appeared before him. Tower of Trials, a testing ground prepared for the heroes of the seven nations by the supreme being. The stronger the challengers. Strength the more generous the rewards. Reward Preview, Equipment Selection Box, Black Iron Legendary, Experience Point Chest, Title Conqueror of the Tower of Trials, Free Attribute Point Chest, Talent Upgrade Voucher. The words Talent Upgrade Voucher made Yanjou’s heart skip a beat. His talent, War God, increased melee amplification by 10% with each level gained. This was the core of his combat power.If he could obtain an upgrade voucher here, his strength would undergo a qualitative leap. He no longer hesitated. He stepped forward, heading straight for the trial tower that radiated endless temptation. The moment he stepped through the tower’s door, the entire world turned upside down. The solid obsidian. Ground beneath his feet transformed into flowing light and shadow. The magnificent city of burning skies before him was torn into countless fragments falling into the endless void. When everything stabilized again, he found himself standing in his space. That defied common sense. Beneath him was a smooth, mirror-like black floor that extended to the edge of his vision. Above him, there was no sky, only a slowly rotating, magnificent nebula composed of gold and purple, silently flowing as if it were the universe’s first breath a cold neutral emotionless mechanical voice echoed directly in his mind ding welcome to the trial tower dot this trial will assess your overall abilities dot during the trial all equipment and usable items will be disabled dot the moment the voice fell yenjo felt a lightness wash over him that powerful succubus set the black dagger in his hand all the items in his backpack instantly lost their connection to him turning into invisible void he looked down at himself he was Wearing a coarse grey-white robe, rough in texture, the kind of standard outfit most common in beginner villages. At that moment, his equipment and items were stripped away completely. Beneath the vast nebula, he was left all alone. Click. A light sound. In front of him, a simple wooden weapon rack appeared out of thin air. A few weapons were sparsely placed on it. Yenjio frowned. He stepped forward, his gaze landing on a wooden staff. He was a mage, and this ridiculous wooden stick seemed to be his. Only option. He sighed. Fighting with this thing was truly uninspiring. Just as he was about to reach out, a thought flashed through. His mind like lightning. His movement halted. No, that’s not right. He shifted his gaze from the staff to the slender wooden spear beside it. His hand bypassed the staff and grasped the spear’s shaft directly. A rough, wood-textured sensation transmitted from his palm. Do you choose the rough wooden spear as your initial weapon? The system’s prompt sounded at the right. Moment. A smile that was hard to suppress appeared on Jinjo’s face. Who said that as a mage, he could only use a staff? There were. No ridiculous class restrictions on equipment here. He could use whatever he wanted. He burst into laughter, the sound echoing. Oddly in the dead silence of the space. Deep within him, he had always harbored a different yearning for those blades and spears. He never expected that this trial tower would fulfill the small wish of his in such a peculiar way. His gaze swept over. The weapon rack again. Since he could use them, there was no need to be polite. The system only said to choose one initial weapon but it didn’t say he couldn’t take the others. He could only equip one in the equipment slot. But how many he could hold in? His hands was none of the system’s business. He slung the wooden spear over his shoulder then bent down to pick up the wooden shield. Next was the wooden dagger that looked like a fruit peeler. There was also a wooden longsword that barely resembled a sword. A wooden greatsword that required two hands to wield. Finally, he even grabbed the seemingly useless wooden staff just in case it could serve as a firewood stick. Soon, he was cradling a full pile of junk. He nodded in satisfaction, like a. Woodcutter who had gathered a pile of firewood to prepare for winter. Initial weapon has been selected. Transferring to the first. Level, the scene before him changed once more. The nebula above and the black mirror beneath disappeared simultaneously.In. Its place was a circular arena paved with grey stone bricks. In the center of the arena five jelly-like blue creatures were. Bouncing aimlessly. Beginner Slime, Level 1, Hell 50, the most basic and weakest monster in the illusion. Yanjio tossed a pile of wooden weapons from his arms onto the ground with a clatter. He picked out the spear that looked the most appealing from the pile of firewood. He weighed it in his hands. It was very light and the center of gravity was slightly off. But that didn’t matter. What mattered was that it was a spear. Yanjio equipped the weapon and looked at his attributes. Name, Yanjio. level 23 attributes strength 27 agility 207 constitution 40 27 plus 13 intelligence 27 spirit 27 health 410 mana 270 melee damage 30 weapon plus 3 spell damage 27 he flicked his wrist creating a beautiful flourish with the wooden spear in front of him whoosh the spear tip sliced through the air producing a faint whistling sound he took a stance his body slightly sinking the spear tip pointing straight ahead a brilliant smile blossomed on his face In the next second, he shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, charging at the nearest slime. Put. A soft sound, like a bubble bursting. The. Tip of the wooden spear pierced effortlessly into the blue jelly-like body. The slime didn’t even have time to bounce, its entire body trembled violently and then transformed into a puddle of blue liquid, dissipating into the air. A bright red damage. Number slowly floated up from where it had vanished. Minus 7640. This place was simply tailor-made for him. He no longer hesitated, his figure becoming a blurred shadow as he moved through the arena. With each thrust of the spear, a slime was obliterated. In less than 10 seconds, the entire arena was empty again. First layer cleared. Transferring to the second layer, the scene changed once more. This time, it was a swamp filled with a foul stench. Five green little dwarfs wielding wooden sticks were. Chattering noisily. Goblin, level, LV2, health, 100, Yanjio returned to his pile of firewood and dropped the spear. He picked. up the wooden greatsword, resembling a child swapping out their new toys. He slung the greatsword over his shoulder, feeling its heavy weight. He liked this feeling. He strode towards the group of goblins. One goblin spotted him, waving its wooden stick and screaming as it charged forward. Yenjiyo did not dodge. He gripped the sword hill tightly, sank his body down, and used his waist to generate power, causing his entire body to spin. Whoosh, the wooden greatsword traced a powerful arc in his hands. Bang! The leading goblin was struck as if by an invisible giant hammer, its body exploding into a cloud of green mist. Minus 8821. Yen Jio’s movements did not stop. He was like an unyielding meat grinder, swinging widely, each slash bringing forth a bloody storm. The goblin’s fragile bodies could not withstand such pure power. Soon, the swamp fell silent. Next to a goblin’s corpse, a faint white light flickered. Yen Jio stepped forward and picked it up. Goblin dagger, quality, normal, equipment type, dagger, attributes, damage plus 5, strength plus 3, class requirement, none, he tried to equip the dagger in his offhand. Surprisingly, it worked. Transferring to the third layer, this time, he stood in a dark alley. Four staggering figures appeared at the end of the alley. Zombie, level, LV4, health, 200, Yanjio picked up the wooden longsword from the ground. One hand held the, longsword, the other the dagger. Dual wielding was indeed possible. He charged towards the four rotting zombies, the light of swords, and the shadows of blades intertwined in the narrow alley. His movements were more agile than before. The dagger in his left hand was responsible for blocking and delivering lethal strikes while the longsword in his right hand was used for wide, sweeping cuts. For zombies didn’t even manage to touch the hem of his clothes before they were reduced to a pile of fragments. Transmitting to the 10th level. The scene before him finally stabilized. It was a spacious stone throne hall. At the end of the hall, a figure several times larger than an ordinary goblin, wearing a crude crown, sat upon its throne. Yen Jio was already clad in a haphazard set of gear. The upper body was encased in tight black leather armor, while his feet were clad in comically heavy, metal plate boots that clanked loudly with each step. These were all spoils from his path of slaughter. His backpack also contained a few bottles of red and blue potions. He looked at the familiar figure on the throne. Goblin King, Black Iron level boss, level, LV 10 health, 10,000 attack, 89 defense, 37 skills, charge, aid, Fury and Joe glanced. At his mana, 270 points. He hadn’t regained any since entering. His intelligence and spirit were both base values, relying entirely on equipment to hold up a bit. Now, with this, little mana, using a skill felt extravagant. Better to conserve it. He resolved not to use any skills, simply tightening his grip on his weapon. The Goblin King noticed him. It let out an angry roar, leaping down from the throne, raising its giant axe, and charging at Yenjio. Yenjio did not retreat but advanced. At the moment the Goblin King reached him, he slid half a step to the left, narrowly dodging the whistling giant axe. At the same time, his wooden longsword thrust forward. Minus 8150. A massive damage number. Erupted from above the Goblin King’s head. Its health bar instantly dropped significantly. Even though he had reached level 10, he could not escape the fate of being pushed into. The second phase by Yen Jio’s strike. Roar. The goblin king let out a pain howl, its body glowing with an ominous red light. Fury. Its health bar was instantly locked. Immediately after, it raised its giant axe high and slammed it down to the ground. Two elite goblin guards, wielding tower shields and spears, charged out from the shadows. Behind the throne, flanking Yen Jio from both sides. Their charge was incredibly fast, and in an instant, they were almost upon him. Yen Jio did not look at the two guards. His. Movements were faster than their charge. Just as the goblin king’s fury state ended and its health bar unlocked, his left hand’s goblin dagger transformed into a cold light. With a thrust, the dagger precisely pierced the goblin king’s heart. Minus 9980. The goblin king’s massive body crashed to the ground. The two charging goblin guards halted their movements the moment the king fell, then transformed into two beams of white light and vanished. The entire hall fell silent once more. The goblin king’s enormous body lay on the ground. The light it transformed into was even dimmer than that of the elite guards. Ding. You have cleared the 10th level of the Trial Tower.Calculating Clearance Rewards. Please choose one of the following 3 rewards. 1. Black Iron Chest. Equipment. 2. Experience Chest. Small. 3. Attribute Point Chest. 5 Free Attribute Points. Yanzhou did not hesitate at all. And directly chose the 3rd option. Equipment was only temporary. Ding! Congratulations, you have received 5 Free Attribute Points. Current Free Attribute Points. 100. Transmitting to the 11th level. The scene twisted once more. This time, he stood on a narrow volcanic rock path. The ground beneath him was scorching hot, and the air was filled with a pungent smell of sulfur. On both sides of the path were bottomless rivers of lava, bubbling with deadly bubbles.I in front of him, a dark mass surged with lava goblins wielding various crude weapons. Their numbers were, at least double that of before. They screamed as they rushed in from the other end of the rocky path, like a tide. Yanjio frowned. The terrain was too narrow. With this many monsters, once surrounded, even he would be instantly overwhelmed. He glanced at his pitifully low mana. He had to conserve it. He discarded the wooden longsword, which had already developed. Cracks, and picked up the equally tattered wooden shield from the ground. With a goblin dagger in one hand and the wooden shield in the other he assumed a defensive stance. The first. Lava goblin charged at him, its stone axe slicing down with a scorching wind. Clang. A dull thud echoed. The surface of the wooden shield was marked with a charred imprint. Minus 35. Yen. Joe’s body remained unmoved. At the same time, the dagger in his left hand shot out like lightning through the gap in the shield. Thud. Minus 9890. The goblin didn’t even have time to scream. Before it turned to a cloud of ash. But this was just the beginning. More goblins surged forward recklessly. The clanging sounds of impact filled the air. Yanjou’s figure became an insurmountable rock in the narrow rocky path. He no longer took the initiative to attack. Each strike was made in the brief moments between blocks, using minimal movement to inflict the most lethal damage. Each thrust of the dagger precisely hit vital points. Damage numbers floated around him continuously. After a fierce battle, the entire rocky path finally fell silent. Ashes covered the ground beneath him. The wooden shield was completely ruined, with only half of it still hanging from his arm. Transmitting to the twelfth level, this time, it was. A cold, gloomy graveyard. Cowblest skeletons crawled out of their graves, their eye sockets burning with ghostly blue flames. Transmitting to the thirteenth level, a swaying. Bridge howled with the wind. Groups of harpies screeched piercingly as they dove down from the sky. The number of monsters increased and their types became more troublesome. On the 14th level, when he faced a dire situation composed of toxic swamps and countless slime monsters, he stopped in his tracks. He looked at his still dim skill bar, then at the swamp. Before him, which had almost no solid ground, he decided to use windstep once to clear the monsters. Fortunately, windstep only consumed 15 mana. However, here, after killing monsters, He would immediately be teleported to the next level, leaving him no time to slowly recover his mana, which was quite troublesome. Level 14 cleared. Transmitting to the 15th level, the scene before him finally was no longer those crowded in chaotic sights. It was an open square platform paved with white stone. Surrounding the platform was an endless starry sky. Soft starlight spilled onto the platform, creating a tranquil yet deadly atmosphere. In the center of the platform, a man dressed in a faded blue samurai outfit. Holding a wooden sword, sat cross-legged with his eyes closed. His figure was thin, and his face was gaunt as if he had been sitting here for a thousand years. Swordsman, Cohen. Bronze level boss, level, LV 15 health, 20,000 attack, 150 defense, 80 skills, wind slash, mine’s eye, no thought Cohen slowly opened his eyes. His pupils were a dead gray. He stood up. The wooden sword in his hand pointing distantly at Yen Jio. Another challenger. His voice was hoarse and dry, like two rusty iron plates scraping against each other. You possess a. Power that I find distasteful. But also a persistence that I admire. Yen Jio looked at this boss with great interest. This was the first talking monster he had encountered since. Entering the trial tower. He threw the nearly charred wooden shield to the ground then from that pile of firewood he picked out a long sword that was also made of wood. He equipped the long sword and replaced the goblin dagger freeing up his offhand position. Imitating his opponent he held the sword in one hand and performed a swordsman’s salute towards Koen. Come on. Koen’s face showed no expression. He merely sank his body slightly, adopting a draw stance. Very well. Use your sword to prove your worth. Cohen’s words echoed invisibly. Across the empty platform, he did not say another word. However, his entire aura changed in an instant. The previously emaciated figure seemed to be infused with a sharp, unmatched sword. Intent, and that ordinary wooden sword began to exude a dangerous aura. Yenjo’s grip on the wooden sword was as steady as a rock. He could feel that his opponent’s fighting spirit had locked onto him. The wind stopped. The starlight seemed to freeze. In the next moment, Cohen moved. His figure left a faint afterimage in place, almost instantly crossing a distance of several meters to appear in front of Yanjio. There were no unnecessary movements. It was the simplest, most direct slash. The wooden sword sliced through the air, producing a sharp, whistling sound, and a blue crescent-shaped sword energy detached from the blade, whistling towards Yanjio’s face. Wind slash. The speed was astonishing. However, Yanjio’s body was even faster than that sword energy. He did not retreat, instead, he stepped forward to the left. His body tilted at an angle that was incomprehensible to an ordinary person. The blue sword energy graced the corner of his clothing and flew past, slashing into the distant void without leaving any trace. Meanwhile, Yanjio had already closed in on Cohen’s side. The wooden sword in his hand drew a tricky arc from bottom to top. Cohen’s reaction was equally swift. He twisted his wrist, the wooden sword countering, accurately blocking Yanjio’s attack. Clang. The two wooden weapons clashed producing a crisp sound akin to metal striking metal. Cohen’s figure was uncontrollably pushed back half a step. It was this half step. That allowed Yanjio’s attack to follow like an unending tide. He gave his opponent no chance to breathe. Just as Cohen finally found an opportunity to thrust forward, Yanjio turned his. Head to evade and his right hand extended the wooden long sword forward. Thud. The tip of the wooden sword precisely pierced Cohen’s chest. A blood red damage number slowly floated. Up from above Cohen’s head. Minus 9540. Cohen’s health bar instantly dropped by nearly half. For the first time, a ripple appeared in his gray pupils. He leaped back sharply, creating distance. Between himself and Yanjio. He looked down at the wound on his chest. Although no blood flowed out, the significant drop in health was undeniable. He once again assumed the draw. Stance, but this time, his entire aura became more restrained and more dangerous. His eyes slowly closed. Mine’s eye. Yanjio watched with interest as his opponent changed. This boss. was much more interesting than those previous monsters that only knew how to charge. Still, it was a simple and direct thrust. The long sword transformed into a straight black line, aimed directly at Kohen’s throat. Just as it was about to hit, Kohen moved. It was as if he had foreseen Yanjou’s attack trajectory. His body shifted slightly to the right, and the wooden sword in his hand struck towards Yanjou’s wrist at an incredible angle, like a venomous snake emerging from its hole. This strike was both fast and fierce. If it hit, Yanjou’s weapon would likely be knocked away. A smile appeared on Yenjo’s face. His offensive momentum came to a sudden halt in mid-air. The thrusting long sword suddenly dropped down. The attack. Aimed at the throat instantly transformed into a horizontal slash towards Koen’s calf. This change in tactics seemed to completely defy the principles of force application. Koen’s. Mind’s eye clearly did not anticipate this shift. The wooden sword aimed at Yenjo’s wrist missed his own calf had nowhere to escape. Putt. Minus 8880. Another huge damage number popped. Up. cohen’s health bar was nearly empty he staggered back two steps disbelief etched on his face he opened his eyes wide you he could only manage to utter a single word yen joe’s figure had already appeared before him like a ghost he was tired of it cohen’s every move had been completely seen through the third sword no frills at all just a simple thrust forward the tip of the wooden sword gently tapped cohen’s forehead minus 10 120 cohen’s body froze in place the wooden knife in his hand drooped weakly A hint of relief even. Appeared on his withered face. So, that’s how it is. His body transformed into countless golden specks of light, slowly dissipating beneath the starry sky. The entire platform. Fell silent once more. Yen Jiu retracted the wooden sword, twirled it, and the boss dropped a bronze longsword, which Yen Jiu equipped without even looking. Ding! You have cleared the. 15th level of the trial tower.Calculating clearance rewards, please choose one of the following three rewards. 1. Bronze treasure chest, equipment. 2. Experience treasure. Chest, medium, 3, attribute point treasure chest, 10 points, he chose the third option without hesitation. Ding. Congratulations, you have received 10 free attribute points. Current free attribute points 110. Transferring to the 16th level, the scene twisted again, and another transfer brought him to the 16th level. This was an ancient ruin. Covered in vines and moss. Among the broken walls, lizardmen wielding stone spears were flicking their forked tongues, hissing threats. Yanjio charged straight at the lizardmen. In the. Next moment, he appeared in front of one Lizardman, lifting the bronze longsword with one hand, then letting it fall lightly. The Lizardman hadn’t even reacted when he heard a puff. Blood mist exploded. Minus 11 ,086. The damage from the level 15 pure melee enhanced bronze sword was already comparable to that of the spirit vanquishing blade. His figure vanished again, appearing behind the next target. The entire process was fluid, without a single unnecessary movement. The Lizardmen in the ruins couldn’t even organize a decent attack before turning into a pile of corpses. Transferring to the 17th level, a sinister cave, countless giant spiders hanging from the ceiling. Yen Jio used fireball twice for illumination. Transferring to the 18th level, this time, it was a heavily guarded fortress. On the tall arrow towers stood rows of archers. Behind the city walls, several robed monsters were. Raising their staffs, chanting spells. Arrows and magic rained down like a storm. Yen Jio’s brows furrowed for the first time. He glanced at his mana. 243 to 270 points, his mental recovery. Speed was too slow, recovering only ten points in a minute. Using one meant less of it. He hesitated no longer. Wind step. His figure transformed into a breeze, instantly crossing the entire battlefield, appearing behind those frail mages. The long sword swung. Amid the terrified screams of the mages, he slaughtered them all. Then, like a nimble cat, he swiftly climbed. Along the edge of the city wall. The archers on the arrow tower couldn’t lock onto his position at all. In less than a minute, the entire fortress fell silent once more. Nineteen. Level, cleared dot. Transferring to the 20th level, when the light of the transfer faded, Yanjio found himself standing in a massive circular arena. The ground of the arena. Was half scorched earth ablaze with roaring flames, while the other half was covered with a layer of crystal clear ice. The boundary between ice and fire was distinct, rising with waves. Of white mist dot on the scorched earth, a stout dwarf with braided beard, clad in rune-etched heavy armor, was hefting a massive flame staff. Flame chanting sorcerer Sorin, bronze level. Boss, level, LV20 health, 40,000 skills, Fireball, Lava Shield, Wrath of the Fire God at the Icy Inn, a tall, handsome elf in a luxurious blue robe was elegantly holding a Crystal Ice. Staff. Ice Whisper Era, Bronze level boss, level, LV20 health, 35,000 skills, Frost Nova, Ice Burst, Embrace of Winter 2 bosses, 1 Ice Mage, 1 Fire Mage. Yengio scrutinized. These two opponents with completely different styles, casually clearing out his backpack. 4 potions of 100 mana. 3 potions of 100 health. and two scrolls he had previously looted blessing of courage scroll summon goblin scroll he had also swapped out a few pieces of equipment with attributes much better than the initial wooden gear you damned long-eared one your ice is about to spread into my territory the dwarf soaring bellowed his voice echoing in the arena shut your sulfur spewing mouth fool the elf era replied her tone cold and haughty if it weren’t for your flames the temperature here would be much more pleasant ha coward only daring to hide behind your ice shell you softy Better. Then you, a dwarf whose only thought is to spit fire and has magma for brains. The two bosses hadn’t even started fighting and were already bickering. Yen Jio listened with great. Interest. He didn’t rush to attack but instead pulled out the goblin dagger from his bag and equipped the long sword. Dual wielding. He strolled leisurely toward the center of the arena. His appearance finally interrupted the quarrel between the two bosses. A challenger? Soren slammed his flamestaff heavily onto the ground, a wave of fire radiating out from him. Watch me turn into ashes. Don’t let his filthy blood stain my ice surface, Ara raised her crystal ice staff, and the temperature in the air suddenly dropped. The next second, a massive fireball, trailing a long tail of flame, hurtled toward Yanjio. Fireball. Almost simultaneously, a blue ice ring exploded violently at Yanjio’s landing point. Frost Nova. The two bosses had chosen to attack simultaneously. Yanjio’s face showed no signs of disturbance. Just as the fireball was about to hit and the ice ring was about to expand, his figure had already vanished. windstep the enormous fireball grazed past him crashing heavily into the ground behind him and the deadly ice ring exploded precisely where he had just moved from failing to touch him at all fool your spell missed soren roared it was your stupid fireball that interfered with my prediction era coldly retorted in the midst of their renewed argument yen joe’s figure had transformed into a blur charging toward the closer dwarf soren come on soren shouted a shield of lava materializing around him lava shield He abandoned casting and seemed ready to withstand Yanjio’s attack with the shield. Yanjio ignored the shield. His longsword traced a simple trajectory, aimed directly at Soren’s neck. Minus 11250. A terrifying damage number erupted from the dwarf’s head. The seemingly indestructible lava shield shattered like paper in an instant. Soren’s health bar plummeted. Dramatically. What? The dwarf’s roar turned into a shocked scream. He could not comprehend how this ragged challenger could deal such terrifying damage. Waste. Ara scoffed. Disdainfully from a distance but her movements were not slow. A sharp ice spear condensed out of thin air, silently shooting towards Yanzhou’s back. Yanzhou did not look back. He stepped. On the boss’s head, using the force to dodge the ice spear. Turning around, a sword and a dagger were already presented before Salon. Minus 11,079 to 8,713 no. Salon let out a desperate roar. The runes on his heavy armor shining brightly. Wrath of the Fire God. A violent flame erupted from within him, attempting to push everything that approached him away. However, Yen Jio’s sword was faster than his fury. Astral Walk left only a few twinkling stars in place as Yen Jio appeared behind him. Pft, minus 12,880. Salon’s massive body froze in place. The flames on him slowly extinguished. He looked down in disbelief at his empty health bar, then collapsed to the ground, turning into a cloud of light. The entire arena fell silent in an instant. Only the distant elf, Ella, stood there in a daze. For the first time, her face lost its arrogance, replaced by unmistakable shock and fear. From the start of the battle to the moment, her companion fell, the entire process took less than 10 seconds. Yen Jiu turned around, looking at the only survivor. He rested his longsword on his shoulder and walked step by step, towards the icy area. Don’t, don’t come over. Ella’s voice trembled slightly. She finally realized what kind of monster she was facing. She raised her ice crystal staff high. Embrace of winter. The temperature in the entire arena dropped to freezing point. Copless frost spread from the ground, attempting to freeze Yenzhou’s steps. A thick ice wall rose. Up before her. Ice burst. She completely enveloped herself in a massive block of ice. She turned herself into an ice sculpture. A huge, thick ice sculpture radiating absolute zero. Cold. Her screams became more frantic. I will kill you. I will tear you to pieces. Crack. A faint cracking sound came from the massive ice block. Immediately after. Crack, crack. Crack, countless spiderweb-like cracks spread across the ice surface at a visible speed. A destructive, violent frost energy seeped out from the cracks. The temperature in the entire arena plummeted again. The frost that had formed on the ground even began to climb upwards, freezing the air. A layer of white frost hung on Yinzhu’s eyebrows. Feel despair. Turn to. Dust in the endless winter. Ella’s voice was like a curse. Boom. A deafening explosion. The massive iceberg enveloping her instantly shattered. Countless sharp ice shards, mixed with. Pure frost energy, shot out indiscriminately in all directions. It was a deathstorm that covered the entire arena, with no blind spots. Ice burst. Yenjo’s pupils slightly contracted. There was no way to dodge. At this distance, this range, this density. Even with windstep, he couldn’t completely escape the coverage of this skill. Take it head on? He glanced. At his health. 510 points. This was the amount he had after putting on a hodgepodge of gear. But facing the ultimate skill of a level 20 bronze boss, this amount of health was no different. From a piece of paper, the ice shard sliced through the air, emitting sharp whistles. The breath of death rushed towards him, just as the icy blue deathstorm was about to engulf him. He raised his left hand, a skill he had never used since entering the trial tower quietly lit up in his palm. Energy siphon. A dark red, nearly invisible stream of energy appeared. From his palm, all the ice shards shooting towards Yenjo were absorbed into his palm and a huge green healing number suddenly jumped out from above Yenjo’s head. Plus 3149, his. health bar not only did not decrease but at the end of it there was an additional long segment of temporary health almost five or six times that of his original health when the last ice spike dissipated into the air the entire arena fell silent once more ella staggered out from the center of the explosion yen joe’s figure moved the moment he saw her he did not use any skills relying purely on the explosive speed granted by his agility attribute one step two steps the distance between him and ella was instantly closed no ella turned Back in despair, trying to gather the last bit of magic power, but the terrifying demon before her had already charged right in front of her. Fear drained her of all strength. He. Raised the bronze longsword in his right hand. Without any hesitation, he swung down. Minus 12,050. The goblin dagger in his left hand followed suit, accurately piercing her heart. Minus 9,880. Ella raised her staff, wanting to cast a skill in retaliation. But Yen Jio did not give her that chance. Two more attacks. Minus 11,987. minus 8741, the tall and graceful elven body collapsed, weakly to the ground, the last glimmer in her beautiful blue eyes quickly faded away, ultimately, it transformed into countless specks of light, just like that dwarf, ding, you have, cleared the 20th level of the trial tower dot, calculating clearance rewards, please choose one of the following 3 rewards dot, 1, bronze chest, double, 2, experience chest, large, 3, attribute point chest, 20 points, 3. Yanjio made his choice without hesitation. Ding. Congratulations, you have received 20 free attribute points, current free. Attribute points 130. Yanjio looked at his nearly depleted mana. He had saved these attribute points for so long, wasn’t it for this moment? Yanjio no longer hesitated. He would. Make up for what he lacked. He left 40 points for emergencies. The remaining 90 points were all allocated to the spirit attribute. A cool and powerful energy instantly filled his limbs. And bones. In the corner of his vision, the blue bar representing mana surged at an exaggerated speed. The originally shallow layer of blue instantly transformed into a deep ocean. He. Opened his attribute panel. Health. 1070-1070 mana. 1100-1180 mana jumped from 270 to 1180. The passive effect of the astral body significantly increased his constitution as well. More importantly, the spirit attribute directly affected mana recovery speed. Although it was still slow, compared to the nearly negligible recovery speed before, it was a world of difference. Yen Jio let out a long breath. It felt good. Facing those annoying ranged monsters, facing those disgusting large area skills, he could confidently use his displacement skills to respond. Teleporting to the 21st level, the familiar sensation of weightlessness came. The starry sky before him twisted, shattered and reformed once again. He found himself standing in a straight, endless corridor. The walls, floor, and even the ceiling of the corridor were made of a translucent blue crystal that emitted a faint glow. It felt like a grand crystal maze abandoned for a thousand years. In the air, there was a low, resonant hum, as if some gigantic machinery was operating. At the end of the corridor, a three-meter, tall humanoid guardian made entirely of crystal was quietly floating in mid-air. Its body was structured like a multifaceted prism, with a bright white light sphere pulsating slowly at its core. Crystal Sentinel level, LV-22 health, 6500 between Yen Jio and the Sentinel. The long corridor floor was covered with dense, square crystal tiles inscribed with complex runes. Some of them were flashing with dangerous red light. They were traps. If it were the olden, he would have been cautious, testing the waters step by step, searching for a safe path. He would have crossed this area in the most economical way possible. But now, he no longer needed to do that. In the next moment, his figure transformed into a fleeting breeze at the spot. Wind step. He moved like a bolt of blue lightning, sweeping past the trap-laden tiles glowing with red light. The traps were triggered, and several energy beams, as thick as. Arms shot out from the walls but only struck the afterimage he left behind. With just one dash, he had covered nearly half the distance. He did not stop. The negligible consumption from the mana pool gave him unprecedented confidence. Astral walk. His figure vanished, reappearing directly behind the crystal sentinel. The entire process was fluid and seamless. Core light sphere of the sentinel suddenly brightened, as if it had just realized what was happening. Its massive body clumsily turned, trying to lock onto this intruder with energy. Raise. But it had no chance left. Yenjo’s right hand gripped the sword hilt. The bronze longsword was drawn, producing a clear ringing sound. Thud. The longsword met no resistance. Piercing straight through the core of the crystal sentinel. Minus 11150. A massive damage number floated above the sentinel’s head. The light sphere at its core dimmed instantly. The entire. Crystal body was covered in spiderweb-like cracks and then with a crash, it shattered into a pile of blue crystal debris. The 22nd level was the roaring minotaur maze. The 23rd level was the giant lizard lurking in the swamp. The 24th level was guarded by flying serpents in the sky temple, like chopping vegetables, supported by ample mana. Yen Jio was even too lazy to think about conserving it. Windstep and astral walk were used in alternation. His figure became an elusive specter, weaving through groups of monsters. Each swing of the bronze longsword inevitably took away a high damage number. The battle turned into a one-sided massacre. Ding! You have cleared the 24th level of the trial. Tower. Transferring to the 25th level, the light faded. This time, he stood before a massive throne engulfed in hellfire. Lava flowed slowly across the ground, and the air was. Thick with a pungent sulfur smell. On the throne sat a massive demon clad in heavy black iron armor, wielding a fearsome battleaxe, slowly opening its crimson eyes. Abyss Commander. Silver level boss, level, LV25 health, 80,000, commander demon? Yen Jiu’s movements paused for the first time, he looked at the familiar silhouette, recalling the vast demon army. Under his command, he took out a badge emitting a dark purple blow from his backpack. The grand commander badge. This was a symbol of his identity, enough to command the vast majority of high-ranking demons in the abyss. He held the badge in his palm. The abyss commander on the throne showed no reaction. It simply let out a deafening roar, its massive body rising. From the throne, charging at Yen Jio with its battle axe raised. The heavy footsteps made the entire hall tremble slightly. Yen Jio put away the badge. There was no surprise on his. Face. As expected. He stood still, quietly watching the demon charge towards him. The battle axe whipped up a scorching wind, cleaving downwards. Just before the axe blade fell, Yen. Jio’s figure vanished. Astral walk. He appeared behind the commander, his right hand’s longsword and left hand’s dagger thrusting out simultaneously. Minus 13,450. Minus 10,220. The commander’s movement faltered, and it suddenly turned, sweeping the battle axe. Yanzhou’s body, however, was like a weightless feather, lightly leaping back to evade this powerful strike. He didn’t even use any skills. Landing. Dashing again. Two more flashes of cold light. Minus 13,510. Minus 10,360. For attacks, Yanzhou’s figure darted beside the demon, weaving through several flashes of blades. The massive body of the Abyss Commander crashed to the ground with a thud. It didn’t even manage to brush against the hem of Yenjio’s clothes. Yenjio gazed at the body that dissipated into specks of light, lost in thought. The creatures here were not real at all. They were mere phantoms composed of data, superficial illusions. Otherwise, no demon would dare to disregard the majesty of the Grand Commander’s badge. Ding! You have cleared the 25th floor of the Trial Tower. Reward, 10 self-selected recovery items from within the tower. You may stay here. not receiving any attribute points left yenjo somewhat disappointed it seemed this floor was merely a transition layer it provided yenjo with a chance to rest he sat on the ground organized his backpack and equipped the relatively powerful gear transmitting to the 26th floor a place that can halt the flame city he had witnessed the talent of the god of war hall flame solar flare that devastating area damage still left a deep impression on him it was a talent that defied reason without a skill like Shadow Cloak specifically designed to counter such explosive attacks, even he wouldn’t dare to step lightly into that lava flare. The light of the transmission finally dissipated before. His eyes. What greeted him was an eerily vast pure white space. No walls, no sky, no ground. Just an endless expanse of white. In this pure white, ten translucent humanoids radiating. A ghostly blue light were quietly floating in all directions. They held longbows, devoid of any signs of life. Soul Archer Level, LV26 The moment Yen Jiu stood still, the ten soul. Archers simultaneously raised their longbows. A humming sound of vibrating bowstrings resonated as one. The next second, countless arrows trailing blue flames sealed off all his escape. Routes from every direction. A rain of arrows. A truly fitting description. Yen Jo’s pupils suddenly constricted. His agility attribute had already exceeded 200 points. His body’s reaction speed far surpassed ordinary imagination. He did not retreat. At the moment the arrow rain descended upon him, he moved. His body weaved through the impenetrable downpour of arrows. Every part of his body, every muscle exertion, was executed with pinpoint precision. Countless arrows grazed the hem of his clothes, the tips of his hair, and his cheeks as they flew by. The gusts of wind they created even made his skin sting. In just a few seconds, he had crossed several dozen meters and appeared next to the nearest soul archer. Without a moment’s hesitation, he swung his sword. The sharp blade was about to cleave the translucent body in two. However, just as his sword was about to make contact, the archer vanished without a trace. Yanzhou’s attack landed in empty space. Immediately after, the vanished archer reformed in another corner, a hundred meters away. It raised its longbow once more. Yanzhou’s brows finally furrowed. This was undoubtedly a nightmare for melee classes. An enemy that couldn’t be attacked, with endless ranged harassment. No wonder Flame fell here. Although his solar flare was immensely powerful, it was utterly ineffective against an enemy that could teleport at will. While dodging the new wave of arrows, Yanzhou’s mind raced. No, since it was called the Trial Tower, there definitely wouldn’t be a level designed to completely annihilate a certain class. There had to be a way. He stopped dodging, allowing the dense arrows to shoot toward him. A heavy rock shield instantly coalesced around his body. Earth shield. Minus 150. Minus 150. The earth shield shattered instantly. A barrage of damage numbers continuously popped up above his head. His health bar plummeted rapidly. But at the end of the health bar, the long temporary health derived from energy siphon remained robust.It seems that the mechanism of this trial tower defaults to players being in a constant state of combat. Even if they were just in a resting area, the buff still exists. Yanjio braved the reign of. Arrows, not attempting to attack again. Dash 150-150 -249-150 Yanjio’s eyes instantly turned towards the archer that dealt 249 damage, and he found it. Found it. The archer that caused 249. Points of damage. The rain of arrows showed no signs of stopping. Cobbliss ethereal blue arrows, with sharp whistling sounds, densely shot in from all directions. Yet Yen Jio seemed. Oblivious. He even retracted the earth shield from his body. He let those arrows pierce through him, each bringing up a minus 150 damage number. His health bar was decreasing. But the. Temporary health brought by energy siphon remained reassuringly thick. All his attention was focused on that distant corner. That soul archer, indistinguishable from the other nine. Phantoms. It was it. the only entity. In the next moment, Yanzhou’s figure vanished from the spot. The space in front of him seemed to be violently torn open by an invisible hand, a pitch black rift appearing, with specks of starlight spilling out. His body slipped into the rift, disappearing in an instant. When he reappeared he was already behind that real soul. Archer. The archer’s semi-transparent body hadn’t yet reacted to how the target had vanished. In that moment, Yanzhou’s right hand swung the bronze longsword, slicing through the air. With a sharp whistle. Putt. Minus 11,890. A massive damage number floated up from above the archer’s head. Its semi-transparent body was nearly cleaved in two by the sword. Immediately after, Yenjo’s left hand thrust the goblin dagger backward, accurately stabbing into its core. Minus 11,250. The tip of the long sword simultaneously emitted a starlight glow. Starfall technique. Minus 5 ,170 to 3,240. Double moon. The soul archer didn’t even have time to let out a whale. Its body transformed into swirling blue light fragments, completely dissipating. With its death. In. The pure white space, the other nine shooting archer phantoms also vanished like smoke blown away by the wind, instantly disappearing. The entire world finally returned to silence. Ding. You have cleared the 26th level of the trial tower dot. In the place where the archer had vanished, two items quietly floated. A longbow made entirely of moon white bone. And. A quiver filled with arrows. Soul draining longbow, silver level, mithril arrows, 2,000 pieces, Yanjio reached out to take the two items. He sheathed the longsword and dagger, gripping the longbow in his hand. The bow’s body felt warm to the touch. He drew a mithril arrow from the quiver and knocked it on the bowstring. A wonderful sensation spread from the bow to his entire body. It was as if this bow had become an extension of his arm. Not bad. Transporting to the 27th level, the light twisted. He arrived in a dilapidated underground tomb. The air was thick with the scent of decay and faint magical energy. Several skeletal necromancers, dressed in tattered robes, were scattered throughout the tomb. Green. Soul flames burned in their hollow eye sockets. Upon seeing Yen Jio, they all raised their bone staffs in unison. Dark shadow energy began to coalesce at the tips of their staffs. If it were before, Yen Jio would have charged in directly with windstep and cut them all down. But now, he had a new toy. He didn’t rush forward, instead, he took two steps back, hiding his body behind a broken stone pillar. He once again drew the soul-draining longbow. The bowstring was pulled back to a full moon. He aimed at the farthest necromancer. Letting go. Buzz, the bowstring emitted a clear, resonant sound. The mithril arrow transformed into a silver streak of light flying out of the bowstring, tracing a straight trajectory in the dim. 2. Put. The necromancer, in the midst of chanting a spell, paused momentarily, its skull was precisely pierced by the arrow. A damage number popped up from the top of its head. Minus 161. Level Suppression. The damage wasn’t high, the monster’s level should be the same as the floor, which was now level 26. But it was enough. The remaining necromancers immediately reacted. Several shadow arrows whistled towards the stone pillar where Yanjio was hiding. Boom. Boom. The pillar exploded, sending debris flying. However, Yanjio’s figure had already appeared in another corner. He drew his bow again and shot. Minus 261, weak point critical hit. This battle had turned into an interesting shooting game. After a flurry of activity, Yanjio successfully shot them all dead. The remaining levels were filled with regular monsters, like blood goblins and giant stone beetles. Yanjio joyfully played with various explosive weapons, switching between a giant axe and a spear. Soon, the monsters from levels 27 to 29 were cleared out by him in various ways, transferring to the 30th floor. When the light of the transfer faded again, he found himself in a pure darkness. There was no up or down, no left or right. Only endless void. A dark silhouette, almost merging with the darkness, slowly emerged. It had no facial features, no physical form. It seemed like just a mass of shadow given life, flowing and shifting. Void shadow, silver level boss, level. LV30 health, 120-000 The moment it appeared, Yanjou’s pupils slightly constricted. So fast. The shadow gave him no time to react, transforming into a black line that was difficult to catch with the naked eye, rushing right in front of him. This speed, while far inferior to the remains of the immortal, was still the fastest enemy he had encountered since entering the Trial Tower. Yen Jiu observed its claw strikes, they didn’t seem very strong. He discarded the giant axe he had just used and re-equipped the bronze longsword along with a silver. Dagger just dropped by a lizard. He crossed his arms in front of him for protection. Clang! A sharp sound rang out. The shadow’s attack was precisely blocked by him. A tremendous force pushed him back several meters, indeed, he could withstand it. He glanced down. A shallow scratch was left on the bronze longsword. He gripped the hilt, holding the dagger in his left hand, and assumed a combat stance. The shadow gave him no chance to catch his breath. It lunged again. Yanjou’s figure vanished from the spot. Astral walk. He appeared behind. The shadow, slashing down with both the longsword and the dagger. Whoosh. Minus 4150. Minus 4480. Two damage numbers, not particularly high, emerged from the shadow. Level suppression. Plus. This guy had extremely high physical resistance. The shadow’s movements showed no sign of stopping, its body twisted at a strange angle and lunged at Yanjio once more. There were no flashy skills, just pure speed and strength. Yanjio engaged in a fierce battle with it. In the dark void, only two shadows collided, separated, and collided again. The glint of blades and the black claws intertwined, forming a web of death. This was a long war of attrition. The shadow’s health bar slowly but steadily decreased under Yanjio’s repeated attacks. Finally, in a moment of crossing paths, Yanjio seized an opening. He didn’t use any skills this time, just the simplest direct stab. The tip of the longsword precisely struck the shadow’s core. Minus 8750, weak point critical hit. A critical damage number popped up above the shadow’s head. The shadow’s massive body froze in place. Its flowing form began to collapse and dissipate. Ultimately, it turned into a wisp of blue smoke, completely merging into the endless darkness. Ding. You have cleared the 30th floor of the trial tower .Calculating. Completion rewards. 1. Silver chest asterisk 2. Selectable. 2. Experience chest asterisk 5. Large. 3. Attribute point chest. 30 points. 4. 1. Random pet egg. Yengio did not hesitate. And directly chose 3. His free attribute points reached 70. Yengio did not linger. Transporting to the 31st floor. The light faded. A scorching wave of heat rushed towards. Him. He found himself in a massive lava cave, with scalding black rocks beneath his feet, and golden-red magma flowing through the crevices of the rocks. The air was filled with a… pungent smell of sulfur. Dozens of elemental creatures made entirely of flames wandered in the cave. The moment they saw Yenjo, they let out silent roars, and balls of searing fire. Whistled towards him. Yenjo’s figure left a residual shadow in place. He appeared behind a fire elemental, his bronze longsword slicing down cleanly. Minus 2950. A damage number that was. completely unexpected slowly floated up. Yanjou’s movements paused slightly. Level suppression. He did not hesitate any longer, weaving through the gaps between the fireballs, his long sword and dagger leaving trails of cold light. Minus 2980. Minus 2920. Minus 3010. Although the damage was not high, clearing these elemental creatures was still not difficult. Transporting to the 32nd floor, this was a dark swamp. Lurking here were gigantic poisonous lizards. Minus 2,450. The damage was even lower. Transporting to the 33rd floor, a high mountain. Ravaged by wind and snow. Armored snow mountain giants wielded massive ice spikes. Minus 2070. Transporting to the 34th floor. Transporting to the 35th floor, this time, he stood in a magnificent, labyrinth-like stone hall. At the end of the hall, a massive minotaur, over 10 meters tall, leaned against the wall, snoring heavily. Its body was covered. In black fur, muscles coiling like granite, and it held a black battle axe that was larger than Yanjio himself. Raging Minotaur, Gold Level Boss, Level, LV35 Health 400-000 The moment Yanjio stepped into the hall, the Minotaur suddenly opened its blood-red eyes, resembling copper bells. Roar! The deafening roar stirred up a gust of wind, causing Yanjio’s clothes to flutter. It leaped from the ground, shaking the entire hall. Without any hesitation, it charged towards Yanjio, wielding its massive axe. With each step, the ground was deeply dented. The sense of oppression was like a landslide. Yenjo chose not to take it head-on. He sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the minotaur’s powerful charge. Boom. The minotaur. Crashed into the stone wall behind him, the hard wall instantly covered in spiderweb-like cracks. It quickly turned around, the giant axe slicing through the air with a sharp whistle. Sweeping towards him, Yenjo leaped back. The axe blade grazed past the tip of his nose. He could clearly feel the fierce wind. Landing. He did not counterattack. He was observing. The. Minotaur’s movements were grand and powerful, but after each attack, there was a brief moment of stiffness. That was his opportunity. The Minotaur raised its battle axe once more. Bringing it down. Yenjo’s figure transformed into a breeze. Windstep Flame Blade. He instantly appeared at the Minotaur’s side, his Flame Blade accurately striking its weak knee. Joint. Minus 1535. Minus 70, Flame Blade. Without any intelligence bonus, the initial damage of the Flame Blade was a pitiful 30 points, though it had the enhancement of the Martial God talent. However, considering various damage reductions, the damage had already dropped below double digits. Fortunately, the various equipment he had previously obtained was still somewhat useful. Barely able to break through its defenses, the Minotaur let out a roar of pain and swung an elbow back at Yanjio. Yanjio didn’t get greedy, he immediately retreated. This was a long. Battle, testing patience, and skill. He was like the top bullfighter, dancing on the edge of death, dodging repeatedly. Each evasion was precise to the millimeter. Each attack was measured. And restrained. The Minotaur’s massive body became its greatest burden. It had the power to destroy the world, yet it couldn’t even touch the hem of Yanjou’s clothes. Meanwhile, its health bar slowly but steadily decreased under Yanjou’s tireless assaults. Ten minutes later, when the last sliver of the Minotaur’s health was finally depleted by Yanjou’s flame, blade, its enormous body could no longer hold up and crash to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. Yanjou stood before the Minotaur’s corpse and let out a long breath. This battle had drained a lot of his energy, but he didn’t feel tired. Instead, he felt a long-lost, exhilarating thrill. A smile of excitement hung at the corner of Yenjio’s mouth. It had been a long time since he had fought so freely. Ding! You have cleared the 35th level of the trial tower.Calculating clearance rewards, 1, gold chest asterisk 1, selectable, 2, experience chest, super large, 3, attribute point chest, 35 points, 4, random pet attribute enhancement stone asterisk 1 3. Yenjio briefly contemplated between the pet attributes and Attribute points, ultimately choosing the attribute points. His attribute points had reached 105, and he added 25 points to spirit and 30 points to intelligence. Taking advantage of the moment of settlement, Yanjio equipped the gear with the highest attributes and picked up the giant axe that had just dropped. Minotaur giant axe, gold level, attributes, melee attack, plus 150, strength plus 270, constitution plus 200, physical penetration plus 35%. When attacking, there is a 5% chance to use the Minotaur’s Stomp, causing surrounding enemies to become vulnerable. Increasing your damage to them by 50 % although he was still under level suppression, at least he could break through the defenses of the extremely high defense boss. Transporting to the 36th level, transporting to the 40th level, the light of the transport was more brilliant than ever before. When the light faded, a thick, inescapable smell of sulfur and blood filled his nostrils. He found himself standing on a dark red scorched earth. The sky was an eerie dark purple, with jagged cracks resembling scars across the heavens. And directly in front of him, a massive gate, constructed from countless twisted bones and flesh, stood silently on the ground. The surface of the gate was covered with numerous eyes of varying sizes, slowly opening and closing. Below the gate were three enormous structures resembling military camps. Countless demons, all at level 40, hovered and patrolled. Inside and outside the camps, wielding various weapons. Demon gate, it was this thing again. He even felt a hint of nostalgia. He knew the method to break it better than anyone else. He ignored the massive demon army below, they were still quite far from him. Now, the monster’s defenses were generally in the thousands, but fortunately, the dropped equipment attributes were extremely high, and with the war god talent, breaking through defenses was not a problem. Behind him, a brilliant starry sky slowly unfolded. Star tear. His figure merged. Into that pitch black crack and vanished in an instant. The demon legion below seemed to have just reacted, letting out a collective roar of anger. But it was too late. Thick, rotten. and foul. Yen Jio found himself back in a familiar place. The innards of a living creature. He didn’t pause for a moment and charged straight toward the core of the energy. Along. The way, those still-forming demon embryos couldn’t pose any obstacle to him. Soon, the enormous, still-beating fleshy core appeared before his eyes.Dimensional demon’s eye, golden. Boss, race, demon level, 40 health, 500, 000 attack, 9, 125 defense, 7, 8, 60 physical resistance, 68% magical resistance, 73% skills, 0 touch body, passive, summon demon, evil. Gaze, insight. Yen Jio looked at the massive eyeball, along with the 6 thick blood vessels connecting to it, resembling nerves. Same old routine. His figure vanished from the spot. The. Next second, he appeared beside the first blood vessel. The giant axe in his hand glinted coldly. The damage was similar to before, level suppression had increased, but the massive bonus from the tower and giant axe offset this. Minus 2019, level suppression, while dodging the tentacle attacks, Yanjio struck the same spot repeatedly with the giant axe. Splirt. Finally. The blood vessel snapped. A thick, black liquid gushed out. A soul-wrenching scream of pain echoed throughout the space. Yanjio did not pause. The second. The third. The fourth. When the sixth blood vessel was severed, the enormous eyeball completely lost all its power and drooped helplessly. Yenzhou’s figure descended from the sky, splitting the Huashan-2740, weakness critical hit. The flowing flesh and blood transformed into countless specks of light, dissipating in this viscous, decaying space. Ding! You have cleared the 40th level of the trial tower.Calculating clearance rewards, 1, golden chest asterisk 2, selectable, 2, experience chest asterisk 5, super large, 3. Attribute point chest, 40 points, 4, golden pet egg asterisk 1 3. His choice was as decisive as ever. Ding. Congratulations, you have gained 40 free attribute points, current free attribute points, 90. A long lost, almost boiling fighting spirit. Burned in his chest. This feeling was too familiar. It was as if he had returned to his teenage years, tirelessly seeking powerful opponents, squeezing every bit of his potential in one extreme sparring session after another. He hadn’t felt. This way in a long time. Transporting to the 41st level, a flash of light. A sinister tomb, a death knight wielding a giant scythe. Down. Transporting to the 42nd level, a twisted dimensional space, a constantly splitting corrosive slime. Monster. Cleared. Transporting to the 43rd level, an ancient temple covered in vines, a stone golem guarding treasures. Shattered. Transporting to the 44th level, a dim deep sea ruin, a gigantic sea monster waving its tentacles. Severed. He was like an unyielding killing machine, officially clearing layer after layer of obstacles. level suppression became increasingly severe the monster’s defense and health grew exponentially the damage he dealt which had been in the four digits after acquiring the axe slowly turned into three digits and occasionally even awkward two-digit numbers but his steps never faltered transporting to the 45th level this time the light of the transport was particularly prolonged when his vision cleared he found himself standing in a grand and ancient dragon bone hall huge dragon skulls were used as decorations embedded in the mottled walls The ground was laid with heavy obsidian tiles, inscribed with ancient and complex, draconic runes. At the deepest part of the hall, a strong humanoid creature over 5 meters tall, covered in dark golden dragon scales and sporting two horns, slowly opened its lava-like vertical eyes. Its aura was stronger and more solid than any boss he had encountered before. Dragon Blood Guardian, Platinum Boss, Level, LV45 Health, 1-250-000 Roar. A roar that could not be produced by a human transformed into a visible shockwave, sweeping across the entire hall of the dragon. Blood Guardian rose from the throne, casually drawing a massive dragon bone sword engulfed in flames from the side. It did not charge forward. Instead, it simply raised the giant sword high. The temperature in the entire hall suddenly soared. The air became scorching and distorted. A crescent-shaped blade of fire shot from the giant sword howling towards Yanjio. Wherever the blade passed, the hard obsidian floor melted inch by inch, leaving a scarlet gash. Just before the blade reached him, Yanjio transformed into a gentle breeze. Wind step. The fiery blade grazed his afterimage and slammed heavily into the wall behind him. Boom. The entire hall trembled violently. Yanjio appeared at the sight of the dragon blood. Guardian, his bullheaded giant axe descending without hesitation. Clang. Sparks flew. The giant axe struck the dark golden dragon scales, leaving only a shallow white mark. Minus 312. A shockingly low damage number floated above the dragon blood. Guardian’s head. Nice scales, Yanjio said, not at all discouraged, but rather complimenting it. The dragon blood guardian clearly could not understand his words, but it could feel the disdain. Its massive body suddenly turned, the burning dragon. Bonesword sweeping towards Yanjio with immense force. Yanjio did not take it head on, instead, he rolled away. He appeared behind the dragon blood guardian, and the giant axe struck down again. Minus 305. The dragon blood guardian reacted extremely. Quickly, elbowing back with a fierce wind. Yanjio leaped back just in time to evade the blow. too slow he said softly as if talking to himself or perhaps commenting on this colossal opponent the battle turned into an ultimate game of offense and defense every attack from the dragon blood guardian was enough to split mountains and shatter stones leaving the entire hall in ruins yet yenjo’s figure flitted like a butterfly through a storm always finding the safest gap at the most dangerous moments each of his attacks though not causing high damage landed precisely on the same spot of the dragon blood guardian minus 315 minus 309 minus 421 critical hit damage numbers kept popping up the dragon blood guardian’s health bar dropped at a visibly slow pace its roars grew increasingly furious when the dragon blood guardian’s health fell below 30 it suddenly plunged the giant sword into the ground boom centered around the giant sword the dragon language runes etched into the ground lit up one after another a crimson light instantly spread throughout the great hall scorching dragon breath erupted from the cracks in the floor tiles turning the entire ground into a sea of fire There was nowhere to hide. Finally, something new, Yanjou stood in the sea of fire, advancing rather than retreating. He gave up dodging. He activated energy siphon. The surging flames seemed to find an outlet, wildly converging towards his body. Those flames, capable of melting steel, transformed into pure energy the moment they touched him, all being absorbed. 98179817 his health bar, instead of decreasing, now had an additional long segment glowing with a crimson light. Roar. The dragon blood. Guardian let out a reluctant roar. It withdrew the giant sword and charged towards Yanjio once more. Its attacks became more frenzied and reckless. But for Yanjio, this only created more openings. Half an hour later, the dragon blood guardians. Health was down to the last 1%. It stopped all movements, crouched slightly and quickly soared into the sky, its chest inflating dramatically. Blinding red light shone through the gaps in its dark golden scales. It opened its mouth. A destructive. Energy was gathering in its throat. Dragon’s breath the flames instantly engulfed the entire ground. Yanjio activated energy siphon again and countless flames surged into his palm. However, this time the dragon breath lasted a long time. And even when the energy siphon ended, the dragon breath continued to spew forth. Yanjio did not hesitate. His body was enveloped by a layer of flowing darkness. Shadow Cloak. The power of the flame pillar was mostly offset by the shadow. Cloak. When the light faded, the dragon blood guardian exhausted its last strength and collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. It had no cards left to play. Yanjio emerged from the dust and scathed. He walked up to the dragon blood guardian, raising the bull-headed giant axe in his hand. It’s over. Thud. The giant axe fell. The massive head of the dragon blood guardian soared into the sky. Its enormous body crashed to the ground, transforming into a flurry of golden light points. Ding. You have cleared the 45th floor of the trial tower. Calculating clearance rewards 1. Platinum chest asterisk 1. Selectable 2. Experience chest asterisk 5. Huge 3. Attribute point chest 45 points 4. Talent upgrade voucher asterisk 1. Yenjo stared intently at the fourth option, a ripple of emotion stirring within him. The talent upgrade voucher. His talent was war god. This was the foundation of all his power. Any equipment, any attribute points paled in comparison to this thin voucher. He hesitated for almost no time at all. 4. Ding You have selected the reward, talent upgrade voucher asterisk 1 a voucher shimmering with dark golden light appeared out of thin air before Yenjo. It floated quietly as if it had a life of its own. Yenjo reached out and caught it. The texture of the voucher was peculiar, neither metal nor paper, and it radiated a warm, gentle heat upon touch. This was the item that could evolve his talent. His talent, war god, was the foundation of. All his combat power. What kind of qualitative change would occur if it could be upgraded one more level? Yenjo’s heart skipped a beat at the thought. He clicked to use it, but the system displayed that related items could not be used within the. Trial Tower. Helpless, he could only carefully stow the precious voucher into his backpack. He wanted to see just how far he could go in this tower. Transferring to the 46th floor, the light faded. He stood above a rotting swamp, the air. Thick with a nauseating stench and humidity. Large, stitched monsters, oozing green venom, roared as they crawled out of the mire. Stitched giant, elite, level, LV-46 Yen Jo hafted the bull-headed giant axe and charged forward. minus 198 minus 201 the golden giant axe struck the monster only managing to deal three digit damage the effects of level suppression were becoming increasingly evident he spent more time clearing this floor than before whether it was luck or something else he hadn’t dropped a weapon in a long time transferring to the 47th floor the frozen snowfield was blindingly white the cold wind howled whipping up ice crystals that cut against his face like knives a frost giant over five meters long loomed In the center of the snowfield, letting out a thunderous roar at him. Minus 135. Minus 231, critical hit. Damage was barely breaking 200 now. The monster’s hide was incredibly tough, the bull-headed giant axe only left a shallow white mark on its surface, splattering a few ice shards. Every battle had turned into a long, drawn-out scraping. It took him nearly half an hour to finally wear down the thick-skinned giant. Transferring to the 48th floor, this time, he arrived at a fortress. Entirely made of obsidian. In the center of the fortress stood a 10-meter tall black iron golem. It had no facial features, its surface flowing with a metallic sheen, exuding a heavy and oppressive aura. Obsidian Guardian, Elite, Level. LV48 Yenjio did not hesitate, he activated windstep, his figure instantly appearing behind the golem. He gripped the handle of the bull-headed giant axe tightly, channeling all his strength into it, and struck down fiercely. Bang! A deafening. Sound echoed throughout the empty fortress, Yanzhou only felt a violent tremor in his tiger’s mouth, his entire arm went numb, and the giant axe nearly slipped from his grasp. A bright red number slowly floated up from the top of the black iron. Golem’s head. Minus 13. Yanzhou’s movements halted. He stared at the glaring number, then glanced at the golden grey giant axe in his hand. He refused to accept defeat, adjusted his stance, and raised the axe again, striking at the same spot. Minus 16. Minus 17. Minus 21. Critical hit. The damage from several consecutive attacks was almost negligible. This was not a battle, it was merely scratching the opponent’s itch. The black iron golem slowly turned around, its massive metal fist whistling through. The air as it swung down at him. Yanjou sidestepped just in time to avoid it. Boom. The fist smashed into the ground where he had just stood, the hard obsidian tiles instantly shattering, shaking the entire fortress. He did not attack again. He. Simply stood quietly at a distance, watching the enormous and clumsy black iron golem. This was the end. Beyond this point, skill could no longer compensate. It was pure attribute crushing, devoid of any reasoning. Yen Jio scratched his head. Forget it, he murmured. Then, he chose to leave the trial tower. The obsidian fortress before him twisted and melted away like a wax figure, rapidly dissipating. The powerful gear he wore, including the bullheaded giant axe in his hand, transformed into specks of light and vanished. The familiar sensation returned to him. He looked down at himself. After experiencing the baptism of those golden grade and even platinum grade gears inside the tower, the gear he once thought was decent, now appeared for the first time, so shabby. A strong sense of disparity surged in his heart. However, he quickly adjusted his mindset. He opened his backpack and took out the, talent upgrade voucher. This was the greatest harvest from this trial. Tower. Without hesitation, he chose to use it. Ding. Detected that your talent war god has reached SSS level, the highest level currently available for upgrade. This talent upgrade voucher level is insufficient and cannot upgrade your. Talent, please seek a more powerful upgrade method. Yanjio was stunned. SSS level? Then this voucher was wasted. Just as he felt a wave of shock and regret, another system prompt sounded in his ear. Ding! Detected that you possess a strong. Elemental affinity within you. Qualifying for the awakening of the talent elemental affinity. Would you like to consume talent upgrade voucher asterisk 1 to awaken your second talent? Available talent elemental affinity S level? A second talent? Can a player have two talents? Although Yanjio was puzzled, he didn’t think too much about it, more is better. Yes. His answer came without hesitation. Ding. You have learned the talent, elemental affinity, S level, elemental affinity, S. Level you are naturally favored by the elements, and your understanding and mastery of elemental spells far exceed that of ordinary people. Passive, you are more likely to gain the favor and resonance of the elements. Active, when activated. Your elemental spells gain a boost, increasing elemental damage by 100% and different effects based on the element type, lasting 30 seconds, cooldown time 3 minutes. Fire element, this spell’s critical hit rate increases by 30% critical damage. Increases by 30%. Base critical damage is 200%. Water element, this spell has a 50% chance to freeze the opponent. Earth element, during spell casting, gain 30% damage reduction, shield duration continues to reduce damage, that. Wind element, win. Casting Spells, casting speed increases by 30%, movement speed increases by 30%. Light Element, this spell’s healing amount increases by 50%, damage to demons increases by 100%. Dark Element, when casting spells gain a 0.5 second untargetable. State. As the text on the system panel slowly faded away.I in front of Yinjio, the world seemed to have undergone a subtle change. In the air, it felt as if something extra had appeared. Some colorful, dust -like tiny specks of light materialized. Out of nowhere, joyfully dancing and swirling before him. There were fiery reds, cool blues, heavy yellows, lively greens, and steady blacks. He instinctively reached out his hand, wanting to touch the nearest red speck of light. The red speck. Slowly landed on his fingertip, gently bouncing. Yen Jio blinked. In an instant, all the specks of light vanished without a trace. He rubbed his eyes and looked again. Before him was only the empty teleportation square, with NPCs coming and going, no longer any of those peculiar light specks. Was it an illusion? Yanjio scratched his head, not delving deeper. He turned around and looked at the massive stone tablet in the center of the square. The trial tower leaderboard. The top. Line was inscribed in gilded letters, displaying the new records. First place, Sha County Snacks, Layer 48, Second place, Anonymous, Layer 29, Third place, God of Warhol, Yan, Layer 26, Fourth place, Anonymous, Layer 19, Fifth place. He withdrew his gaze and turned to leave. After a while, at the trial site, a flash of light appeared. The figure of Yun Xiao appeared somewhat. disheveled at the original spot. As soon as she steadied herself, she eagerly looked up at the massive leaderboard stone tablet. The next. Second, her mouth slowly opened, widening more and more, almost big enough to fit a fist inside. I, damn. A thunderous curse echoed throughout. The entire square. Yunxiao completely disregarded her image, darting to the base of the stone tablet, trembling as she pointed at the top. Line of text. 40, 48 layers. Is this even human? Yanjiao walked along the road. He recalled the information. He had seen earlier on the Forum and World Channel. Among the seven great nations, the country of Yen was the best at forging and refining. Coincidentally, he had not yet dealt with the blacksmith hammer and the master craftsman’s diary he had previously obtained. He quickened his pace, leaving the bustling square and heading towards the commercial district of the main city. The architectural style around him was filled with a rugged and fiery atmosphere. A unique scent gradually permeated the air. It was the charred aroma of burning coal, mixed with the metallic tang of iron being scorched. A rhythmic, heavy, and powerful clanging sound came from afar. Clang! Clang! Clang! The sound grew clearer. Yenjiyo followed the sound. A colossal building appeared at the end of his line of sight. The building was entirely made of black volcanic rock. And black iron, shaped like a gigantic furnace, with dozens of thick chimneys spewing thick smoke mixed with sparks into the sky. A wave of scorching heat rushed towards him. Above the entrance of the building hung a massive sign made of lava, inscribed with flamboyant characters. Heart of Molten Fire This should be the top forging workshop in the entire country of Yen. Yen Jio did not hesitate and stepped inside. As soon as he entered, a wave of heat even fiercer than outside engulfed him. Countless sparks danced in the air, like fireflies on a summer night. The enormous furnace roared deep within the workshop, each breath exhaling crimson flames, illuminating the entire space in a flickering glow. Bare-chested strong men and stocky dwarves swung heavy hammers, rhythmically striking the glowing red metal on the anvil. Clang. Clang. Clang. Each impact burst forth a shower of brilliant sparks. He navigated through the sweating craftsman, his gaze searching the surroundings. Soon, in a relatively quiet corner, he spotted an NPC’s prefix, the Forging Trainer, a dwarf with a beard braided into a long twist that hung, down to his waist, was leaning back in a chair, idly tapping a shapeless piece of armor with a small hammer. Yen Jio walked over. Excuse. Me, how do I learn forging? he asked directly. The dwarf didn’t even lift his head, his tone full of impatience. Two silver coins, basic. Forging, learn if you want. After saying that, he lowered his head again, continuing to tap on the armor as if it were some interesting instrument. Yanjio didn’t move. The dwarf seemed to sense something and raised his head again, this time carefully sizing up Yanjio. The impatience on his face slowly faded, replaced by a hint of barely noticeable softness. He then gave a simple nod to Yanjio. Yanjio guessed that. Perhaps the high reputation he had from the Storm Tribe and the Mason Guild was at play. He had no interest in building a rapport with this. Dwarf. He took out two silver coins from his backpack and tossed them onto the table in front of the dwarf. Clink. The crisp sound was hardly noticeable in the noisy workshop. The dwarf pocketed the coins and reluctantly extended a thick finger to tap Yen Jio on the forehead. Ding. You have learned the skill. Basic forging. Yen Jio immediately opened his system panel. A few lines of new text appeared at the bottom of the skill list. Forge iron sword. Forge iron dagger. Forge iron staff. He clicked on the recipe for. Forge iron dagger. Required materials. iron ore asterisk 2 furnace rock carbon asterisk 1 solvent asterisk 1 solvent he turned his head and saw an npc with a sign reading forging merchant next to the forging trainer the solvent and furnace rock carbon could be bought there however iron ore was not for sale by the merchant yen jiou closed the panel and turned to leave the heart of fire he stopped a patrolling guard at the door and asked for directions to the auction house the auction house was bustling with noise countless virtual screens floated in the air displaying a dazzling array of product information Yen Jio. Found a corner, sat down, and opened the auction house interface. He directly searched the equipment category. Bronze level equipment was no longer the rare commodity it once was. The screens were filled with various bronze equipment, with prices generally fluctuating between 20 to 100 gold. Coins. He changed the filter to silver level. The products on the screen instantly became sparse. Only a solitary priest’s staff remained. Buy out. Price 1300 gold, Yen Jio refreshed the page. The staff disappeared immediately. It seemed that silver equipment was still the most sought after item. At this stage, he opened his backpack. The few pieces of silver equipment and a pile of bronze equipment that had dropped from the void seat and the soft gaze were still quietly lying inside, waiting to be handed over to Mingyao. He took out a piece of leather bracers. Bracers of the unrepentant. Ascendant, silver level, he didn’t set it to auction mode, that would waste too much time. He directly chose the buyout price. As for the price, he entered 1000 gold. Click to list it. Almost the moment he confirmed, a crisp notification sound rang in his ear. Ding! Your listed bracers of the unrepentant ascendant has been. Sold, and after a 5% fee, 950 gold has been sent to your mailbox. Goodness! Yanzhou quickly listed the remaining pieces of silver equipment and a bunch of equipment that had dropped. From the storm dwarves. The sounds of successful transactions rang out incessantly. Yanzhou walked to the mailbox next to the auction house to collect his gold. 6837 gold. Then, he. Directly searched for iron ore in the auction house. There were indeed sellers, and the price was not expensive. One iron ore only cost 20 copper coins. He bought 500. Returning to the heart of fire once more, Yanzhou found an empty forging station and took out the blacksmith’s hammer he had previously obtained from his backpack.He placed the iron ore insolvent on the forging table, took a deep breath, and raised the hammer. Clang! Ding! You have failed to craft, materials have been destroyed.Ding! You have successfully crafted iron dagger forging experience plus one ding. You have successfully crafted iron dagger forging experience plus one ding. You have failed to craft. Materials have been destroyed. Ding. You have successfully crafted iron dagger forging experience plus one ding. You have failed to craft. Materials have been destroyed. The monotonous sound of hammering intertwined with the system prompts. Yen Jio was completely immersed in it. He didn’t know how long it had been. He used up the last of the materials. In his backpack. Over a hundred brand new iron daggers lay quietly in his backpack. Yenjio sold these daggers all at once to the nearby shop NPC. Just as he was about to clear out his backpack, his movements froze. He noticed that among the identical daggers, a few were emitting a faint, distinct white glow different from the others. Curiously, he took one of them out. Iron dagger, common, attributes, strength plus 2, agility plus 2 forging power, 5% chance to increase your strength by plus 2 for 30 seconds when attacking. It actually had additional attributes. Although it was just common, the attribute boost was minimal, but it was undoubtedly a pleasant surprise. He picked up a few more glowing daggers. Some had additional penetration attributes. Others had a weak bleeding effect. When he picked up the last glowing dagger, his pupils slightly constricted. The attributes of that dagger were no different from the others. But at. The very bottom, the entry for forging power was completely different. Forging power, this equipment has no class restrictions. Good stuff. For Yenjio, the value of this dagger far. Exceeded its inherent attributes by a thousand fold. and forging, a life skill he originally intended to dabble in, was given a completely different meaning at that moment. He wanted to create a set of equipment that belonged solely to him, unrestricted by class. He was determined to turn this crazy idea into reality, even if it meant running out of gold. If he ran out, he could just grind more, the dungeon bosses were still waiting for him to pay them a visit. Yen Jio opened his skill panel. Novice forging, level 1, 173-200, just a little more to go. Without any hesitation, he turned and left. He sold the pile of freshly forged daggers to the shop NPC, leaving only the one with the special attribute. Then, he hurriedly rushed back to the auction house. Iron or asterisk 1000, purchase. When he returned to the Heart of Fire, back at the deserted forging table, his backpack was already stuffed with materials. Clang, clang, clang. The monotonous sound of hammering rang out again. But this time, Yen Jiu’s mindset was completely different. Each swing of the hammer felt like adding a brick, a tile to that crazy plan. Ding. You have successfully crafted iron dagger forging experience plus 1 ding. You have successfully crafted iron dagger forging experience plus 1 the experience bar steadily rose. Finally, the crisp system prompt sounded in his ear. Ding. Your novice forging experience is full. Please find a forging trainer to upgrade your skill level. Yenjiu dropped the hammer and. Strode towards the corner. The dwarf with braided beard was still there, casually hammering his plate armor. Upgrade. Yenjiu’s voice was concise and clear. The dwarf glanced at the. expressionless yanzhou he mumbled something then extended his finger and tapped yanzhou’s forehead again ding you have learned the skill intermediate forging level 2 dot you have learned a new recipe blackstone chestplate common you have learned a new recipe blackstone bracers you have learned a new recipe blackstone lungs were yanzhou immediately opened the new recipe blackstone chestplate required materials blackstone or asterisk 10 furnace rock carbon asterisk 5 tough leather asterisk 3 strong solvent asterisk 1 blackstone or tough leather Yanjio closed. The panel in turn to leave. Walking with his feet was too slow. Yanjio walked to a relatively open street corner and raised his hand. A deep shadow gathered in his palm, swirling. The next second, a sleek, pitch-black leopard appeared out of thin air beside him. Four-eyed spirit leopard. He leaped onto the back of the spirit leopard. To the auction house. He gently. Patted the leopard’s neck. Roar, the spirit leopard let out a low growl, transforming into a streak of black lightning, leaving a long afterimage on the cobblestone street as it raced. towards the commercial district. Inside the auction house, Yanjio directly searched for Blackstone Oregon. The rarity of this or far exceeded that of iron ore and the price was significantly higher. A single Blackstone or sold for as much as one silver coin. Yanjio didn’t even furrow his brow. The gold coins he had now were just a string of numbers. He directly entered 8,000 in the purchase quantity column. Confirm. 80 gold coins instantly evaporated. His backpack now held a full 40 sets of heavy black ore. Every two hundred oars occupied one slot. His backpack space was still quite ample. He also bought all the other required materials. Back at the heart of fire, Yanjio dismounted the leopard and stored the flashy mount back in his space. Forging would take a while. Once again, he stepped into that world filled with flames and the scent of steel. He found the forge he had used before. The black ore was neatly stacked beside it. He took out the dark’s purple radiance gold hammer from his backpack. This time, he was not forging a small dagger but real armor that could be worn. He took a deep breath and threw. 10 pieces of blackstone or 5 pieces of furnace raw carbon and the strong solvent into the furnace beside the forge. The raging flames instantly engulfed the ore. He raised the gold hammer in his hand. A purple blow flowed over the surface of the hammerhead. Clang. The first strike fell. Ding. You have failed to create. Materials have been destroyed. Yen Jio. Remained expressionless as he took out the second set of materials from his backpack and repeated the previous action. Clang. Ding. You have successfully created blackstone chestplate. Forging experience plus one a plain black chestplate appeared on the forge. He didn’t even glance at it and directly tossed it into a corner of his backpack. Third set. Fourth set. Fifth set. The monotonous sound of hammering echoed tirelessly in this corner of the heart of fire. Failure. Failure. Success. A small mountain of metal made up of. Failures and ordinary products had already piled up on the forge beside him. But he didn’t care. His goal from the very beginning was not these common. Items. What he wanted was that 1% chance, that miracle capable of reversing the rules. After dozens of hammer strikes, when he pulled a freshly, cooled chestplate from the quenching tank, his movements halted. The chestplate was entirely pitch black, identical in shape to the ones he had forged before. But under the system panel’s appraisal, it was emitting a unique, faint white glow. Blackstone chestplate, common, attributes, defense plus 3. Constitution plus 3. Strength plus 3. Forging power. This equipment does not restrict the use of professions. It was done. A subtle curve appeared at the corner of. Yen Jiu’s mouth. He carefully stored this chest plate in another slot of his backpack. Then, he turned his gaze to the new recipe. Clang. Clang. Clang. The. Sound of hammering became dense again. His forging experience bar was steadily rising.Beginner forging.Tier 2 .175-400 Beginner forging.Tier 2.180-400 It was unclear how much time had passed. When he forged the third piece of equipment with the attribute forging power, his experience bar. just happened to stop at 200 points blackstone helmet common attributes constitution plus eight spirit plus five forging power this equipment has no class restrictions dot blackstone boots common attributes agility plus eight constitution plus five forging power this equipment has no class restrictions dot three pieces done just as he was about to continue and forge the remaining bracers and leggings a system notification suddenly rang out ding your forging level is too high Forging Blackstone series equipment will no longer provide you with experience points. Yenjio’s movements paused. He glanced at the experience bar. Beginner forging, tier 2, 200-400, sure enough, it was stuck. Without a moment’s hesitation, he dropped the hammer and turned to walk towards the dwarf. Trainer in the corner. Level up. His words were as concise as ever. The dwarf, with braided beard, lifted his head from a feigned slumber. Yenjio tossed. A few silver coins onto the table in front of him. You have learned a new recipe, copper chestplate You have learned a new recipe, copper bracers. Yen Jio blanced at the new recipes, copper ore. He turned and left without a moment’s pause. The four-eyed spirit leopard transformed again into a black flash, darting through the streets of the land. Of flames. Auction house. The price of copper ore was slightly higher than that of blackstone ore, at ten silver coins each. He calculated, gathering the excess assorted ores and crafting materials.
[SSS-RANK 100x MELEE DAMAGE]: They Laughed at The Mage Who Can’t Cast Spells… Until I One-Shot a Boss With My STAFF! #animerecap #manhwaedit #anime #animerecommendations #animerecommendations #manhwareccomendation #manhwaedit #manga #animerecap #mangacollection #webtoon #manhwarecap #audiobook #sleep #lightnovel If You Need Subtitles, Please Turn on the CC Subtitles in the Lower Right Corner, Enjoy 🙂
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Under 1 minute gang🔥🔥🔥