Chapter 177
Chapter 177
It should also be able to create a projection right here!
With that thought after Xiaoyou finished learning the skill, Zhou Ming opened the pet skill list and examined its details.
[Shadow of Heaven’s Way] (Rare SSS-Rank)
Description: The affairs of the world are unpredictable. Even peerless powerhouses sometimes cannot be in two places at once, so an ancient master created this method to cast their gaze upon a place when needed.
Skill Effect: Causes a projection of the selected target to descend at a marked location. The projection possesses 50% of the target’s panel attributes.
Duration: 30 minutes
Cooldown: 3 days
Cost: If the projection is killed, your Level decreases by 10.
…
Shadow of Heaven’s Way had clearly changed after being enhanced.
First, the projection’s attributes no longer varied depending on the selected target. Second, the penalty for its destruction had been greatly reduced. The permanent 10% decrease to all Attributes had even been removed, leaving only a loss of 10 levels, which was well within an acceptable range.
“Xiaoyou, cast Good Fortune Divination and Shadow of Heaven’s Way on me!” Zhou Ming ordered.
“Chirp, chirp!”
Xuanniao immediately spread its wings and activated its skills. Strange energy flowed from its rainbow tail feathers and descended upon Zhou Ming, granting him an enormous enhancement.
Ding!
[System Notification: Celestial Sacred Beast · Xiaoyou has used [Good Fortune Divination], increasing your Luck by 30 and all Attributes by 70%. You have also received the undispellable random buff: AoE Skill Range +30%. Duration: 3 days!]
Ding!
[System Notification: Celestial Sacred Beast · Xiaoyou has used [Shadow of Heaven’s Way], causing a projection of the selected target, [Flame Venerable · Zhouyou Shijie], to descend near [Undying Mountain]!]
…
Whoosh!
Zhou Ming’s strength surged, and a fiery crimson phantom appeared beside him. The phantom could be controlled and possessed his body’s skills.
With a thought, Zhou Ming shifted his vision to the projection.
“Invincible!”
Zhou Ming’s heart surged. His theory had been correct.
Shadow of Heaven’s Way created both a projection and a duplicate. Controlling the main body and phantom in two simultaneous battles would certainly be difficult, but it was not impossible.
Without hesitation, Zhou Ming immediately controlled the projection and attacked a species of python covered in vivid crimson patterns halfway up Undying Mountain.
[Crimsonfire Python] (Elite Monster ★★★★★)
Level: 130
HP: 2,000,000
Attack: 21,700-23,200
Defense: 14,100-15,300
Skills: [Ambush], [Venomous Bite], [Death Coil]
Description: A powerful python found near Undying Mountain, possessing extraordinarily potent venom.
…
As five-star elite monsters, the Crimsonfire Pythons had impressive attributes. Mainstream players had no way to handle them at present, which was also why few players ever came near Undying Mountain.
Unfortunately, they had encountered Zhou Ming, a player whose maximum Attack exceeded 220,000 even in his normal state.
The Crimsonfire Pythons’ Attack was no more than a fraction of his own.
Heavenbinder!
Zhou Ming controlled the projection to condense a Blazing Core. It periodically spread a sea of fire across a 65 x 65-meter area, engulfing the Crimsonfire Pythons and causing all their HP bars to drop in unison.
Heavenbinder did not deal high direct damage. Its true strength was the percentage-based HP loss across a group, though there were exceptions to every rule.
Demonic Flame Armor increased the damage of every form of attack by 100%!
-171,568!
-184,570!
-179,856!
…
Even though the projection had only 50% of Zhou Ming’s panel attributes, every wave of fire released by the Blazing Core caused the Crimsonfire Pythons’ HP to visibly plummet. The damage output was astonishingly efficient.
“Hiss, hiss!”
The Crimsonfire Pythons hissed and rushed toward the projection. Most were burned into dried snake meat halfway there, while the few that drew close had almost no HP remaining.
Ten-Direction Shadowkill!
Zhou Ming immediately used them to test his new move in actual combat.
In an instant, icy sword intent formed afterimages on every side of the enemy. They flashed through its body in rapid succession, striking ten consecutive times and emptying its HP outright.
Ding!
[System Notification: Congratulations! You have successfully killed [Crimsonfire Python] (Elite Monster ★★★★★). Current Level EXP +3.48%!]
Ding!
[System Notification: Congratulations! You have successfully killed [Crimsonfire Python] (Elite Monster ★★★★★). Current Level EXP +3.47%!]
…
As wild monsters fell one after another and became corpses, Zhou Ming’s EXP bar jumped violently, rising with extraordinary speed.
Once he grew accustomed to controlling the projection, Zhou Ming divided his attention and took his main body to another area to level, further increasing his efficiency.
However, the projection and main body shared skill cooldowns and side effects, so Zhou Ming could not casually use forbidden-spell-level techniques.
“What a shame these are only Level 130 wild creatures and can’t provide truly abundant EXP!” Cangxuan marveled. “If they were Level 180 monsters, your leveling speed would probably be unimaginable!”
At present, Zhouyou Shijie likely felt no pressure whatsoever.
Ultimately, the wild creatures he was fighting were simply too weak.
“I’ve been too busy with other matters these past few days to spare the time.” Zhou Ming’s sword rose and fell as he moved effortlessly through the monsters. “Once Qianying finishes visiting her family, I plan to enter seclusion and level for several days!”
He was not being arrogant.
The enormous gains from one battle after another had already given him a profound foundation. All he lacked was the time to raise his level.
“By then, you may be able to contend with a god-tier powerhouse on your own,” Qianying said frankly.
With every enhancement active, alongside Soul Plunder, his Sacred Weapon, and his Sacred Dragon, Zhouyou Shijie might truly avoid being crushed by raw stats when facing a god-tier powerhouse for a short time.
“I’m looking forward to it too.”
Zhou Ming spoke from the heart. “There are certain people I truly want to kill with my own hands!”
Whoosh!
As he spoke with the others, a golden light rose around Zhou Ming, returning him to Level 90.
Afterward, he continued grinding monsters step by step. Since each level also increased the Sacred Weapon’s strength slightly, his efficiency improved yet again.
By sunset, as evening drew near, Zhou Ming had reached Level 96.
Just as everyone had predicted, his leveling speed would remain extremely fast until his level caught up with his personal combat power. Even now, the true extent of that speed had yet to reveal itself.
Rumble…
At that moment, the magma inside the volcano began roaring violently as its boiling intensified.
Zhou Ming hurried back to the summit. The small life inside the Crimsonflame Sacred Dragon Egg was slamming violently against its shell, devouring fire-element energy with near-mad frenzy.
Clearly, Undying Mountain could not withstand such plunder either and was beginning to “lose its temper.”
“The volcano is about to erupt!” Renee warned after waking from her sleep.
“There are villagers at the foot of the mountain. We can’t let them get hurt!”
Kindhearted Zhou Ming suggested, “Let’s guide the magma toward Amaterasu City. There’s no one over there.”
“…All right!”
Everyone understood at once.
Undying Mountain’s eruption could not be allowed to harm innocent people. Meanwhile, the gods of the Sakura Region were gathered in Amaterasu City. Redirecting the lava would cause them trouble without burdening anyone’s conscience.
Boom!!
At a certain moment, Undying Mountain could no longer restrain itself and erupted with all its essence.
Scalding and viscous!
Under everyone’s control, the lava flowed toward Amaterasu City like a raging river. Ash filled the sky and blotted out the sun in a display of overwhelming force.
Thump! Thump! Thump!…
The Crimsonflame Sacred Dragon Egg continued devouring fire-element essence, its heartbeat growing stronger and stronger.
Tiny cracks appeared across its surface, allowing brilliant light to spill through.
Zhou Ming could faintly hear the soft, childish cry of a dragon. Unable to contain his excitement, he rubbed his hands together.
Finally!
He was about to “change classes” into a Dragon Knight too!
…