Chapter 139
Chapter 139
Late at night.
Insects rustled beneath the bright moonlight, and the atmosphere was tranquil and peaceful.
After launching such a fierce verbal offensive, one sentence from Zhou Ming plunged the entire scene into silence.
“You!”
Cangxuan’s pupils trembled violently. He stared at Zhou Ming as though he were looking at a demon.
He recorded it…
Cangxuan understood perfectly well what that meant!
“Brother Cangxuan, you wouldn’t want the Demon Gods of the Dark Faction to see what just happened, would you?” Zhou Ming asked with a beaming smile.
“…”
Cangxuan felt as though something were lodged in his throat. He could not speak.
The people nearby exchanged looks, all of them sensing just how terrifying this move was.
If Cangxuan had rejected him with righteous conviction, showing the recording to the other Demon Gods might have meant little. But the moment he hesitated, everything changed.
It proved that Cangxuan was genuinely tempted and had entered the stage of considering Zhou Ming’s offer. His loyalty to the Dark Faction was already far from ideal.
Under those circumstances, the other Demon Gods’ attitude toward Cangxuan would inevitably change.
“There’s nothing left to consider!”
Zhou Ming extended a hand to him and said in a deep voice, “Join me. If we overthrow the two great factions in the future, I will carry out reforms. If you ever believe the Hope Faction has lost its way, you may leave or stay as you please. I will never stop you!”
Cangxuan stared at the invitation with a complicated expression.
You cut off every escape route I had, then forced me to make a choice. What choice do I have left?
“Everything I’ve done was to bring you into our ranks. You should be able to feel my sincerity!” Zhou Ming said solemnly. “Brother, are you in or not?”
“…I’m in!”
Cangxuan gritted his teeth and clasped Zhou Ming’s outstretched hand. “But let me make this clear first. If your actions cannot be called those of a righteous army, then even if I have nowhere else to go, I will retire from the world!”
“Good! That’s exactly what I wanted to hear!”
The weight hanging over Zhou Ming’s heart finally fell away. He promised with complete conviction, “As an adventurer, I have no desire to persecute the natives. If I leave someday, power will pass to veteran members like you. However…”
“However what?”
“This road will undoubtedly be paved with countless corpses. When different sides clash, I’m afraid there may be no simple division between good and evil.”
“I understand.” Cangxuan understood his meaning. “By a righteous army, I mean one that commits no needless slaughter, and once the war ends, allows the people to prosper and recover…”
“Rest assured. I will never slaughter the innocent!” Zhou Ming gave the promise with absolute seriousness.
Looking at the young man before him, Cangxuan fell into a daze.
Only two months ago, Zhouyou Shijie had been alone and unable to protect even himself. Now he had somehow assembled such a powerful core force. That ability fully lived up to the name of his command skill, Warlord.
“Cangxuan greets my lord!”
Cangxuan started to kneel, but Zhou Ming immediately helped him back up and corrected him. “We’re brothers. Calling me your lord makes us sound like strangers!”
“Ding!”
[System Notification: Abyssal Sword Demon · Cangxuan has joined the [Hope Faction]!]
The Hope Faction now had seven members. Its expansion had not been fast, but every member was an elite.
Tingfeng Xiyu was also working hard to improve. His presence was not as strong as that of the god-tier powerhouses purely because adventurers had not yet had enough time to temper themselves.
Over a longer timeline, Tingfeng Xiyu, who had placed fourth in the Eastern Region’s Pinnacle Showdown, was certain to become a fierce general.
“If you can talk a few more people into joining us, we’ll be invincible!” Renee had watched the entire spectacle with great interest.
Back then, Zhouyou Shijie had also sweet-talked her into joining with only a few words. Looking back, she had always thought the decision was far too hasty. But now…
So this happened to everyone?
“It’s not that easy.” Zhou Ming did not know whether to laugh or cry. “Everything simply came together when the time was right. Besides, letting useless riffraff into the Hope Faction would only ruin the atmosphere.”
Cangxuan asked, “What do we plan to do next?”
“Enter the Dragon Domain. Forge a divine weapon. Build a city. Conquer the world!”
Zhou Ming kept it short and direct.
“!!”
Everyone’s spirits surged.
Those few words were unexpectedly stirring.
“Everyone, rest and make your preparations. Tomorrow, we leave for the Dragon Domain!” Zhou Ming said with a smile.
“All right!”
…
Afterward, everyone dispersed to handle their own affairs. Renee transformed into a small golden pebble and hung from Zhou Ming’s waist like an ornament, sleeping peacefully, while Zhou Ming summoned his pet.
“Chirp! Chirp!”
Xiaoyou flew out of the pet space and spread its dimly glowing wings. The rainbow-colored plumes on its tail were especially eye-catching.
Having been cooped up for too long, Xiaoyou circled several times in midair before landing on Zhou Ming’s shoulder.
“The Pet Enhancement Stone must have benefited Xiaoyou tremendously!” Zhou Ming stroked its soft feathers, then opened the pet panel with anticipation.
[Celestial Sacred Beast · Xiaoyou] (Zhouyou Shijie’s Pet)
Grade: God Tier
Level: 1
HP: 1
Defense: 1
Skills: [Undying], [Good Fortune Divination], [Misfortune Divination], [Super Lucky Star]
Description: A miraculous bird born in answer to the will of heaven and earth. Its abilities are extraordinarily rare, and its bloodline stands above all other avian creatures.
—
Exclusive Trait: [Celestial Sacred Beast]: The owner of this trait cannot gain any EXP. As compensation, it can ignore all requirements when learning buff or debuff skills and increases their grade by 1.
…
“Hiss!”
Zhou Ming was delighted when he saw Celestial Sacred Beast’s effect.
Ignore all requirements when learning buff or debuff skills and increase their grade by 1!
Xiaoyou’s support capabilities had clearly become even more outrageous!
Its skills also seemed to have undergone new changes.
[Undying] (Passive) (Exclusive SSSS Rank): After Xuanniao dies, it randomly revives in an absolutely safe area after 20 minutes. Its killer’s Luck decreases by 99, Panel Attributes decrease by 10%, and all Elemental Resistances decrease by 30% for 7 days! (Note: This effect cannot be dispelled.)
[Super Lucky Star] (Passive) (Exclusive SSSS Rank): Increases the grade of any item it touches by 1! (Note: For items above God Tier, increases their effects by 20%-50%. Can only be used once per day.)
[Misfortune Divination] (Exclusive SSSS Rank): Curses the target, reducing Luck by 30 and all Attributes by 40%-80%, while inflicting one random negative effect that cannot be dispelled.
[Good Fortune Divination] (Exclusive SSSS Rank): Blesses the target, increasing Luck by 30 and all Attributes by 40%-80%, while granting one random positive effect that cannot be dispelled.
[Holy Light’s Blessing] (SSS Rank)
Effect: Restores HP equal to 20,000 + 5% of the target’s maximum HP per second.
Additional Effect: If a unit under Holy Light’s Blessing dies while the skill is active, it revives on the spot and recovers 30% HP.
Duration: 10 seconds
Revival Cooldown: 1 day
Cooldown: 60 seconds
[Forbidden · Celestial Sacred Beast] (Exclusive SSSS Rank): Grants the target the Sacred Beast’s blessing, providing unimaginably powerful buffs and increasing all Attributes by 1,000% for 30 seconds. Cooldown: 24 hours.
…
Zhou Ming: “…”
Terrifying!
Every skill had been massively strengthened!
The two that shocked Zhou Ming most were Super Lucky Star and Forbidden · Celestial Sacred Beast!
One could enhance even God-Tier items, a unique ability found nowhere else on Destiny Continent. The other granted its target thirty seconds of pure god mode!
Flame Giant King had been incredibly generous, dropping a treasure like an SSS-Rank Pet Enhancement Stone!
“From now on, Xiaoyou will be my key to turning the tables whenever I’m in danger!” Zhou Ming marveled.
A pet like this would have been terrifying in an enemy’s hands.
“Chirp! Chirp!”
Xiaoyou proudly patted its chest with a wing.
Its decision to stay back then had been the right one!
Remaining by its master’s side meant risking its life from time to time, but the things it had witnessed and the benefits it had received were both undeniably worthwhile.
After a long while, Zhou Ming calmed himself. He took a junk S-Rank item purchased from the Auction House out of his inventory and had Xiaoyou enhance it, then used it to activate the Heavenly Secrets Compass!
“Ding!”
[System Notification: Would you like to consume the item [Advanced Hair Dye Stone] (SS Rank) to locate the item [Perfect Disguise] (Rare SS Rank)?]
“Yes!”
“Ding!”
[System Notification: This item is currently held by [Mysterious Merchant No. 2]. Coordinates: Godreach Cliff (2,565, 4,485, 4,899)!]
…