Chapter 111
Chapter 111
“However…” Zhou Ming said calmly, “right now, it’s still not enough!”
The ancient spirit summoned through Summon God was certainly powerful, but there was no chance it could pose a threat to Zhou Ming.
Besides, the skill had one glaring weakness: once the summoner died, the ancient spirit would naturally dissipate with him.
“Even this isn’t enough?” Eighteen This Year’s expression grew solemn as he gripped his greatsword, ready to strike.
If anyone else had said that, he would have dismissed it as empty bravado. But the man before him possessed inhuman combat power and could not be judged by common sense.
“Arrogant insect. Die!”
Dark Lord · Chris swung his sword and launched a wave of sword qi at Zhou Ming. Zhou Ming activated Shadowless Step, and his Movement Speed surged.
MISS!
The explosive 300% boost to his Movement Speed was more than Dark Lord · Chris could react to. The sword qi had no hope of hitting him.
“!!”
Eighteen This Year’s heart lurched. He hurriedly retreated while pointing his left hand at the phantom. Black energy streamed from his fingertips, linking the two of them and forging a bond between him and the ancient spirit.
Ding!
[System Notification: Demon’s Shadow · Eighteen This Year has used [Demonic Guardian], causing him and his ancient spirit to share 30% of their HP for 2 minutes!]
Whoosh!
The next second, Eighteen This Year’s HP climbed to a staggering total of over 500,000.
“Zhouyou Shijie, if you think I’m an easy target, you’re sorely mistaken!” The sight of his terrifying HP pool filled Eighteen This Year with confidence.
So what if this came down to a straight fight? He had nothing to fear…
Bang!
Zhou Ming appeared before him, looming overhead. Dazzling flames erupted from the Gloomlight Sword in his hand. As power poured into the weapon, the entire sword abruptly expanded several times over, wreathed in raging fire and coursing with terrifying might.
Icy sword intent and scorching heat crashed toward Eighteen This Year.
Zhou Ming raised the Gloomlight Sword and brought it down in a casual, crushing blow. The immense pressure locked firmly onto Eighteen This Year, making escape nearly impossible.
Ding!
[System Notification: You have used [Astral God Art]. Your next attack deals +800% damage, gains +50% Crit Rate and +80% Crit Damage, and has a very high chance of inflicting Knockback or Launch. Duration: 5 seconds!]
Shhk!
The massive sword came crashing down with brutal force, cleaving his opponent’s body in two.
-521,263!
A damage number exceeding half a million burst into view.
Thud!
Eighteen This Year’s body collapsed to the ground. He wore a blank expression, dying before he even understood what had happened.
Who am I?
Where am I?
With its summoner dead, the ancient spirit’s phantom disappeared.
Ding!
[System Notification: Congratulations! Flame Venerable · Zhouyou Shijie has won the match and received 100 points!]
After winning, Zhou Ming calmly returned to the contestants’ area, where countless incredulous faces awaited him.
“His damage just keeps getting more ridiculous!”
“Dawnbringer plus Astral God Art… That has to be the highest damage Zhouyou Shijie can possibly deal!”
“Even if that’s his limit, it’s still way too terrifying!”
…
Throughout the stands, countless players stared in disbelief, seriously wondering whether they and Zhouyou Shijie were even playing the same game.
“We’re not even in the finals yet, and you’ve already used your ultimate trump card?” Submit and Perish sneered. “Five hundred thousand damage isn’t completely beyond me either!”
He admitted that the damage was intimidating.
But if that was Zhouyou Shijie’s limit, then it still made sense.
His limit?
Zhou Ming gave him a meaningful look but did not argue.
Although Dawnbringer had evolved into Heavenrend, that did not mean he could no longer use its weakened form.
The attack just now had merely been Dawnbringer empowered by Astral God Art. It was nowhere near his limit.
Afterward, the round of thirty-two proceeded without incident.
Zhou Ming easily claimed 300 points across three consecutive matches, advancing to the top sixteen with a perfect record.
Meanwhile, Bawang and Gaibang Laoda scored heavily in their later matches against other players. They came from behind and narrowly advanced to the fifth round in the bottom spots.
Ding!
[System Notification: Attention! The finals will officially begin tomorrow at 10:00!]
Ding!
[System Notification: Attention! The finals will officially begin tomorrow at 10:00!]
…
“The fifth round is the finals!” Tingfeng Xiyu clenched his fists, his blood surging with excitement.
From this point on, a single additional victory would place him among the Eastern Region’s top ten. That meant not only generous rewards, but also tremendous honor.
After all, Destiny was a global sensation backed heavily by governments around the world. Nothing in the history of gaming had ever approached its scale.
“Time to give it everything we’ve got!”
“Even if it costs me everything, I’m forcing my way into the top ten!”
“I wonder what the top three rewards will be. And what kind of stats will the National Artifact have…?”
…
The contestants’ area buzzed with excitement. The sixteen remaining players brimmed with fighting spirit. None of them spoke to one another, each silently measuring the gap between themselves and the competition.
“What a shame!” Submit and Perish said regretfully. “It seems our battle will have to wait until tomorrow!”
Zhou Ming frowned and ignored him. He left the special space and returned to the lord’s estate in Juyan City.
Night had fallen without him noticing.
Above the Destiny Continent, moonlight flowed like water through a sky strewn with stars.
“Brother Ye!”
Zhou Ming went to find Ye Zhibei. “Could I borrow the Heavenly Secrets Compass?”
Pinnacle Showdown was not the only challenge awaiting him. In truth, the pressure the players could bring was nothing compared to the threat of the gods and demons.
In other words, his real trouble would only begin once the tournament ended.
Even Ning Wushen had declared that his death was certain. How could Zhou Ming possibly dismiss that warning?
The absurd Exclusive SSS-Rank quest still sitting in his quest log was not something even he believed he could complete with certainty.
He therefore had to take an enormous risk, accepting the possibility of death and searching for a path to survival from within a hopeless situation.
“The Heavenly Secrets Compass?”
Ye Zhibei was somewhat surprised by his request. He took the compass from his inventory and readily handed it to Zhou Ming. “If there’s something you need to locate by force, it can indeed be tremendously useful. It doesn’t mean much for me to keep it, so you can have it!”
Ding!
[You have received the quest [Survival] (Difficulty: SSS)!]
Ding!
[You have received the quest reward [Heavenly Secrets Compass] (Rare SS Rank)!]
…
[Survival] (Difficulty: SSS)
Description: Of the Great Dao’s fifty, heaven derives forty-nine, leaving one chance of escape.
Quest Requirement: Defend [Juyan City] (Primary Capital)
Quest Reward: [Heavenly Secrets Compass] (Rare SS Rank) (Note: Received in advance)
Quest Penalty: Level -10
…
“Thank you!”
Zhou Ming accepted the Heavenly Secrets Compass. After a moment’s hesitation, he said gravely, “But I may not be able to complete the task you’ve entrusted to me.”
“Hm?”
Ye Zhibei looked surprised. “What do you mean?”
“Juyan City can’t be defended, and I don’t want to defend it!” Zhou Ming decided to state his position bluntly.
A single leaf could blind a man to Mount Tai.
Right now, everyone on the Destiny Continent believed he had to defend Juyan City to turn the tables. He would do the exact opposite!
By refusing to defend Juyan City, he would break free from the fatal trap they had laid for him!
Ye Zhibei vaguely grasped the crucial point. “You mean…”
…