Chapter 158
Chapter 158
Ding!~
[System Notification: Congratulations! You have completed the first stage of the main quest [Peerless Divine Weapon] (Difficulty: SS) and received the reward [Unnamed] (Sacred Grade)!]
Ding!~
[System Notification: [Unnamed] (Sacred Grade) has successfully recognized its master. This equipment cannot be dropped, discarded, or damaged. Unless Flame Venerable · Zhouyou Shijie dies, no one else may use it without permission!]
Ding!~
[System Notification: Congratulations! You are the first adventurer in Destiny to obtain Sacred-grade equipment. You have received the additional reward: Luck +5!]
…
“!!”
Zhou Ming’s heart raced, and the corner of his mouth rose uncontrollably.
Things were finally looking up!
Before he could inspect the divine weapon’s attributes, however, another system notification rang out. It announced the price he would soon have to pay.
Ding!~
[System Notification: Prosperity has reached the required threshold. [Snowflake Town] has advanced into a Tier 2 City!]
Ding!~
[System Notification: Your main quest has entered its second stage, [Defend Snowflake City] (Difficulty: SS)!]
…
The SSS-Rank Heavenly Decree Inkwork Blueprint’s effects were astonishing.
Previously, the god-tier powerhouses on Zhou Ming’s side had maintained a delicate balance by destroying construction as quickly as the enemy built it. Later, when the difficult fusion of the God-Demon Orb and divine weapon forced them to stop and lend their full assistance, the gods finally got their way.
In the blink of an eye, a city rose from the ground.
“We can’t worry about anything else now. Building a Level 1 Main City in such a short time is absolutely impossible!” Wu Xing’s killing intent surged. His voice deepened. “Begin the siege!”
“Kill!”
The natives and adventurers who had waited outside the city for so long charged forward.
“Follow me and destroy Zhouyou Shijie! We’ll keep the Peerless divine sword here in the Tsar Region!” Heiwang led the charge, unable to wait another moment.
Ding!~
[System Notification: Your main quest [Defend Snowflake City] has activated!]
Ding!~
[System Notification: Attention! The Heavy Shield Legion led by [Shield of the Mountain · Alexander] will launch the first wave of attacks!]
…
Successfully forging the divine weapon was not the end after all.
Fortunately, because adventurers were participating, the siege had to advance in stages. The god-tier powerhouses could not all rush in from the very beginning.
“A Tier 2 City can accommodate at most three god-tier powerhouses. There may also be summoned projections, and the enemy has come prepared, so that number could rise considerably!” Zhou Ming narrowed his eyes and leaped onto the city wall. Looking outside, he saw armored soldiers bearing heavy shields charging with murderous momentum.
[Heavy Shield Guard] (Elite Monster ★★★★)
Level: 100
HP: 1,500,000
Attack: 13,700-14,200
Defense: 13,100-14,300
Skills: [Combo] [Heavy Strike] [Charge]
Description: Elite soldiers of the Tsar Region, normally found only in Level 1 Main Cities.
…
The very first wave of the siege was already Level 100!
This was likely the highest level the native army could reach based on the average level of the current “defending players.”
Ding!~
[System Notification: Attention! Because the defending side has six god-tier powerhouses, the attacking side’s limit has also increased to six god-tier powerhouses!]
“Huh?”
Rob, chieftain of the Dwarves, smiled bitterly. “I count too?”
Forging a Sacred-grade weapon had improved both his craft and his strength. But after more than ten consecutive days of hammering, his arms were already on the verge of cramping. If he had to fight a major battle now, he could not display his full strength and would only become the defenders’ weak point.
“Hold off one enemy god-tier powerhouse and focus on protecting yourself!” Zhou Ming reassured him. “I’ll end the battle as quickly as possible!”
“End the battle as quickly as possible? What confidence!”
Wu Xing descended and stopped several meters from the top of the wall, facing Zhou Ming. He sneered, “Do you truly think this will be six against six? Or do you believe you can win simply because it is six against six?”
Zhouyou Shijie had spent ten days forging his divine weapon. His enemies had spent those same ten days watching from outside and preparing.
How could all those preparations have been wasted effort?
Zhou Ming’s voice was indifferent. “No need to worry about me. When you go back, remember to wash your neck clean. I’ll be taking your head someday!”
“Ignorant fool!”
Wu Xing’s face was icy. “If not for Ning Wushen, you would already be dead!”
“Ning Wushen is not my guard. What he needs is someone capable of walking beside him,” Zhou Ming shot back. “Do you know why he didn’t choose a powerhouse like you, someone already beyond the half-step god tier? Because with your narrow vision, you will never approach his level in your entire life!”
“You!”
Wu Xing flew into a rage.
“Enough clever words!”
Blood Elf · Amy, who had become the Seventh Demon God, raised her greatbow and shouted, “Today, you will repay everything you have done, and we will eliminate the traitor to the Dark Faction!”
Traitor!
At that word, Wu Xing turned toward the muscular man in black standing a short distance behind Zhouyou Shijie.
By now, the grudges and conflicts between the Dark Faction and Zhouyou Shijie were beyond counting.
“Cangxuan, why did you betray me? I never treated you unfairly!” Wu Xing demanded, complicated emotions in his voice.
Cangxuan shook his head and answered casually, “We no longer walk the same path. The person you are now has changed!”
“Changed?”
“A Dark Faction willing to cooperate with the Light Faction is fucking garbage!” Cangxuan sighed in bitter disappointment. “Once interests complicate the distinction between friend and foe, the line between them can no longer remain clear. Peaceful influence will follow, and in the end, the two sides will become partners in corruption. Don’t you understand that?”
“…”
Wu Xing fell silent, unable to refute him.
Cangxuan’s argument was simply too sharp.
“We are only cooperating to destroy the Hope Faction and eliminate Zhouyou Shijie first!” Wu Xing explained. “He has a blood feud with the Dark Faction!”
“Just because you want the God-Demon Orb?”
Cangxuan grew more agitated with every word, each one striking at the heart of the matter. “Then if another treasure appears in the future, will you cooperate again? Will you first join forces to divide the treasure and then resume fighting each other?”
“…So be it. Perhaps this is for the best!”
Seeing that he could not persuade Cangxuan to change his mind, Wu Xing gave up completely and sighed. “It seems neither of us can turn back now!”
“…”
Zhou Ming said nothing.
He could tell that Wu Xing and Cangxuan, as the First and Second Demon Gods, definitely shared some history.
But he had no interest in digging deeper.
At this moment, the enemy had reached the city walls. Under the fierce assault, the Durability bar of the previously intact walls plummeted. They would not hold much longer.
Wielding his still-unnamed Sacred-grade weapon, Zhou Ming activated Heavenrend.
A phantom greatsword of fire several hundred meters long descended, its power surpassing every previous use.
“This is bad!”
Heiwang’s expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly retreated.
BOOM!!
The sword fell.
Snowflakes dissolved across the sky. Sword intent formed a domain covering a 500 x 500-meter area, sending the Heavy Shield Guards of the first wave sprawling and inflicting devastating losses.
A vast crater appeared outside Snowflake City, black smoke rising from its depths.
The damage numbers that appeared in unison were exceptionally shocking.
Zhou Ming knew Heavenrend’s attack range increased with his strength. The sword in his hands had now raised his power to an entirely new level.
“Leave them all to me!” Zhou Ming leaped down from the city wall and entered the battlefield.
Ding!~
[System Notification: Attention! An unknown cause has triggered a hidden storyline. [Flame Venerable · Zhouyou Shijie] (Flame Demon Emperor) will participate in the defense of the city!]
“He’s coming down!”
“How arrogant! Is he defending the city alone?”
Greedy attackers surged toward him.
As the black mass of enemies rushed forward, Zhou Ming showed no hint of panic. He ran a hand along the Sacred-grade weapon and took the opportunity to review its general details.
…