Chapter 124
Chapter 124
Shhk!
As if confirming Xiaoyou’s warning, a crack suddenly opened in midair. It looked as though space itself had been torn apart. Ripples spread around the opening as black matter leaked out.
In the next instant, the pressure of a god-tier expert crashed down from every direction.
“Are you prepared, young friend?” Yun Wuyou asked, facing the threat as if it were his greatest enemy.
“Naturally!”
Zhou Ming took a deep breath and focused every shred of his attention. He removed a skill book and a Sealing Stone he had prepared long ago from his inventory.
Ding!
[System Notification: You have successfully learned [Riding] (A Rank)!]
Ding!
[System Notification: You have used [Sealing Stone] and obtained the mount [Zhaoye Jade Lion] (War Soul Tier)!]
Whoosh!
A six-pointed star array appeared beside Zhou Ming, followed by a magnificent snow-white horse.
He had not forgotten that mounts became available at Level 80.
The improvements brought by those two levels were far greater than anyone might imagine.
Seeing this, Sword Saint · Ye Zhibei spoke. “A mount may become an inconvenience when fighting god-tier experts. Allow me to lend you a hand!”
He stepped in front of Zhou Ming and pressed a finger to the center of his brow.
Ding!
[System Notification: You have received a gift from Sword Saint · Ye Zhibei and obtained the one-use temporary skill [Rider and Mount as One]!]
[Rider and Mount as One] (One-Use Temporary Skill)
Description: No matter how extraordinary the art of riding may be, it cannot eliminate the mount’s inherent weaknesses.
Effect: Merge with your mount and gain its riding bonuses.
Additional Effect: While [Rider and Mount as One] is active, Movement Speed +50%.
Duration: 2 hours
Price: Level -5 after use
…
“A divine skill!”
A sharp light flashed in Zhou Ming’s eyes.
He finally understood why god-tier experts were almost never seen riding mounts.
It was not because they owned none. Once battle began, they chose Rider and Mount as One, allowing them to wield their strength to its fullest!
Without hesitation, Zhou Ming activated Rider and Mount as One. The Zhaoye Jade Lion dissolved into white light and surged into his chest, forming a unique power that enhanced his body.
His strength immediately soared, leaving every other player far behind.
[Flame Venerable · Zhouyou Shijie] (Flame Demon Lord)
Level: 80
HP: 1,314,600
Attack: 98,646-106,531
Defense: 16,965-17,690
Fame: 9,340
Luck: 20
Skills: [Warlord] [Command] [Rending Slash] [Demonic Flame Armor] [Holy Flame Purification] [Flame Dragon Roar] [Baptism by Fire] [Flame Soul Art] [Shadowless Step] [Astral God Art] [Return to Ruin] [Blood Sacrifice] [Heavenrend] [Bedrock Shield]
Description: He grew beneath the watchful eyes of the gods and advanced amid a dance of demons. What he desires waits above the clouds.
…
With the Longquan Sword’s enhancement, Zhou Ming’s maximum Attack broke past one hundred thousand!
Of course, the Growth Stars he had just gained from his class advancement had also played a substantial role.
But he had no time to inspect anything further. A giant wreathed in raging flames stepped out of the void, bringing such scorching heat that the surrounding snow and ice rapidly melted.
“Zhouyou Shijie!”
Flame Giant King · Rod’s voice boomed like thunder. Greatsword in hand, the giant resembled an impassable mountain. “No matter how you hide, you will never escape my grasp!”
“Hide? I’ve hidden long enough!”
Zhou Ming’s breathing quickened slightly as he stared at the imperious eighth-ranked Demon God. He roared, “Everyone, lend… me… your strength!!”
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
After Ye Zhibei, the three god-tier experts Renee, the Divine Ember Queen Qianying, and Yun Wuyou gathered around Zhou Ming in unspoken agreement, pushing him toward an even higher limit with everything they had.
Ding!
[System Notification: You have received a gift from Divine Ember Queen · Qianying and obtained the one-use temporary skill [Divine Ember Power]!]
Ding!
[System Notification: You have received a gift from Bedrock Sovereign · Renee and obtained the one-use temporary skill [Imperishable]!]
Ding!
[System Notification: You have received a gift from Vanishing Swift Shadow · Yun Wuyou and obtained the one-use temporary skill [Vanishing Windshadow]!]
…
One-use temporary skills!
This was the gods’ favorite trick when sending adventurers to deal with Zhou Ming.
Today, he would repay every last one!
Ding!
[System Notification: You have used [Divine Ember Power]. Base HP +1,000,000, Base Attack +100,000, Base Defense +100,000, and All Attributes +100% until the battle ends. After use, Level -50 and the user enters a Weakened state for 7 days!]
Ding!
[System Notification: You have used [Flame Soul Art]. All Attributes +80% until the battle ends. As the price, once the skill enters cooldown, Level -5 and the user enters a Weakened state for 5 hours!]
Ding!
[System Notification: You have used…]
…
Baptism by Fire, Imperishable, Vanishing Windshadow, Demonic Flame Armor…
Every fucking skill he had, he fucking used!
Zhou Ming’s overall power swelled at a terrifying pace, his strength climbing without pause.
Then…
The God-Gifted Scroll, Windrider Stone, and every other strength-enhancing item Qianying and Ye Zhibei had found for him during this period were all activated. More than a few greatly increased Zhou Ming’s Base Attributes!
As for the price, he ignored it all!
If his death was already approaching, then no price mattered more than his life!
Ding!
[System Notification: You have used [God-Gifted Scroll] (SS Rank). All Attributes +120% for 2 hours!]
Ding!
[System Notification: You have used the Rare SS-Rank item [Windrider Stone]. Damage Reduction +30%, Movement Speed +80%, and Attack Speed +80% for 5 minutes!]
Ding!
[System Notification: You have used…]
…
Boom!!
Before he had even launched an attack, the fiery-haired Zhou Ming felt boundless power surging through every muscle. The ground beneath him could not bear it and collapsed into a crater.
“Ridiculous!”
Flame Giant King · Rod clearly sensed Zhouyou Shijie’s power skyrocketing, yet contempt remained on the giant’s face. Rod abruptly swung the greatsword down. “You aren’t qualified to risk your life against mine!”
Shhk…
The greatsword descended with crushing weight, as if the heavens themselves were collapsing.
“It’s still not enough!” Yun Wuyou’s expression turned grim. “Even though you perfectly counter the Flame Giant King, your chance of winning one-on-one is no more than ten percent!”
Even after risking his life and consuming a mountain of precious items, the current Zhouyou Shijie remained far behind a god-tier expert.
Against the Flame Giant King, his only chance came from his immunity to fire-elemental damage!
“Is that so?”
Zhou Ming soared defiantly into the air and activated the Skyflight special skill on his ring, flames seeming to burn within his eyes. “Soul Plunder!”
Ding!
[System Notification: You have used [Soul Plunder] on Flame Giant King · Rod and obtained 10% of Rod’s Panel Attributes for 5 minutes!]
…
Boom!!
In an instant, Zhou Ming’s strength surged to an unimaginable level.
Most of the skills and items he had just used provided percentage-based bonuses. No matter how much effort he invested, they still could not bridge the gulf between their Base Attributes. Soul Plunder, however, directly granted Zhou Ming one-tenth of a god-tier expert’s base values!
“Block!”
Zhou Ming raised the Longquan Sword. His slender body forcefully stopped the mountain-sized greatsword.
This moment was the result of spending every resource he had ever accumulated and holding absolutely nothing back.
“You!”
Shock appeared on Flame Giant King · Rod’s face.
The giant’s attack had actually been blocked!
“Today!”
Zhou Ming knocked the greatsword aside. His hair flew wildly in his fury, and his expression turned savage. There was no longer any path of retreat. “Only one of us will leave alive!”
“Then fight!”
Qianying had prepared long ago. Spatial power erupted from her palm and formed a barrier spanning tens of thousands of meters. “This time, you don’t need to act. I’ll seal the space and prevent anyone from entering or leaving!”
Clang!
Fire elements burned around Zhou Ming’s left hand as he clenched it into a fist, his gaze icy.
He understood perfectly well that even with a mountain of bonuses stacked upon him, killing a normal god-tier expert would still be impossible.
But!
The Flame Giant King was an exception!
As a Demon God specializing in the fire element, most of Rod’s skills, no matter how powerful, would be nullified by Zhou Ming. The giant could only rely on basic attacks. And even if Rod possessed physical skills with tremendous damage, they would first have to get past…
Shhk!
High above, a thousand-meter greatsword plunged like an exploding meteor. Surging sword intent split the clouds apart and unleashed rolling shock waves as the blade descended with unstoppable force.
Heavenrend!
…