Chapter 219
Chapter 219
Everything happening before him was completely unexpected!
Long Kun had never imagined that Zhou Ming would build his territory right outside Zijin City’s gates, practically dropping his ultimate in the man’s face.
“This also means Zhouyou Shijie has nowhere left to hide!” Lei Qianjue joined him atop the city walls. Though uneasy, he did his best to look on the bright side.
“I’d like to see who gave him the courage to attack Zijin City!” Long Kun suppressed his rage and remained calm.
It was obvious that before Zhouyou Shijie settled accounts with the gods, he intended to make Long Kun his first target.
But Long Kun had no need to worry too much.
After all, Zijin City was a Super Main City. If it came under attack, Zhouyou Shijie would face more than the god-tier powerhouses of the Eastern Region. He would also face the entire Alliance of Gods.
Meanwhile…
Zhou Ming noticed Long Kun’s gaze and turned to look over. Despite the several hundred meters between them, he cupped his fists and called out warmly, “We’ll be neighbors from now on. I hope we can live together in harmony!”
At this point, his plan had succeeded.
The countryside had surrounded the city!
Next, he would make the first battle the decisive battle!
“Heh!”
Long Kun sneered. “I hope you won’t die too miserably three months from now!”
“No need to trouble Your Majesty with concern.”
Zhou Ming shot back without yielding an inch. “Whether I die is a matter for later, but you will definitely die before I do.”
“…”
Long Kun’s face turned cold. Without responding, he turned and returned to the city.
“What, did he chicken out?” Yun Wuyou mocked.
“How could he not be afraid?”
Ye Zhibei knew the Eastern Region emperor he had once served inside out. He exposed the truth. “If things truly reach the point of mutual destruction, and he provokes us too far, he really won’t meet a good end!”
In his view, Long Kun truly was afraid that Zhouyou Shijie would “act on impulse” and drag him down in mutual destruction.
Under those circumstances, no one could save him.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…
From then on, more and more god-tier powerhouses arrived to investigate.
Zhouyou Shijie had reappeared before the public after vanishing for some time. How could the gods and demons possibly ignore him?
“Wu Xing, should we…?”
Walter hesitated, trying to ask about their next move. Before he could finish, Wu Xing cut him off. “Remember, don’t follow Zhouyou Shijie’s tempo. That will only make it easy for him to turn our actions against us!”
He knew exactly what Walter was thinking.
As long as they used the [Heavenly Decree Inkwork Blueprint] to upgrade Hope Village into the City of Hope, everyone could swarm it at once!
Wu Xing had considered that idea, but Zhouyou Shijie could not possibly be unprepared for a trick they had already used. For all they knew, this might be precisely what the man wanted them to do.
Walter lowered his head in shame. “You’re right!”
“What we need to do now is wait patiently. For the next three months, we absolutely cannot give him an opening!” Wu Xing said.
Back at Star-Moon Lake, the gods had already laid out their plan very clearly.
Zhouyou Shijie was in a much greater hurry than they were!
If he could not kill large numbers of god-tier powerhouses within three months, he would be unable to gain strength comparable to the Saint tier. When he faced Gu Ming without Ning Wushen’s help, death would be his only outcome.
With that in mind, Wu Xing forcibly suppressed his killing intent and left with the Demon Gods of the Dark Faction.
“I refuse to believe one man can keep laughing all the way to the end!” Eric stared coldly down at Zhou Ming. He wholeheartedly approved of Wu Xing’s approach.
The hot war was already a thing of the past!
Since they had failed to suppress Zhouyou Shijie and he had fully risen to power, a cold war was no less valid a choice!
At a time like this, strategic patience was crucial.
“They held back?”
Watching Wu Xing leave, Zhou Ming raised an eyebrow.
“They’re most likely planning to turtle up and wait us out!” Qianying revealed the truth.
“…Sooner or later, someone will lose patience!”
Zhou Ming narrowed his eyes. “Three months isn’t especially long, but it isn’t short either!”
“Is there an opening?” Cangxuan asked.
“Yes!”
Zhou Ming nodded and answered frankly.
“Where?”
“That’s confidential for now!”
…
It was not that Zhou Ming distrusted the others. He simply feared that the walls might have ears.
They were currently standing right outside the gates of Zijin City, after all. Loudly plotting here would be a little too brazen.
“Ding!~”
[System Notification: Your [Round Two] match in the [Solo Competition] of [Pinnacle Showdown] is about to begin. Would you like to proceed immediately? (Note: Failure to enter the arena within 3 minutes will be treated as a forfeit.)]
Before long, Round Two of Pinnacle Showdown began, and it was Zhou Ming’s turn.
“Yes!”
Zhou Ming confirmed, and an invisible power of law immediately transported him into the arena.
It was not much different from the first round.
At the end of the day, the Solo Competition was simply a matter of fighting player after player, advancing through the rounds, and eventually claiming the championship.
“Zhouyou Shijie is in this arena!”
No one knew who shouted it, but the already-boisterous tournament grounds became even more packed as a huge crowd surged over to watch Zhouyou Shijie’s match.
“I wonder which poor bastard drew him!”
A nearby player stood on tiptoe to look, only to find the arena completely empty. The only thing left was a scorched-black patch at the center.
“Where are they?”
“You got here too late!” one of the spectators who had arrived first explained. “The match is already over!”
Everyone: “???”
“There he is!”
Before long, Zhou Ming’s second match of Round Two once again drew a massive audience.
The players who arrived quickly enough saw that Zhouyou Shijie’s opponent was a handsome white man with a narrow nose and thin lips. He rode a heavily armored warhorse clad in black barding, cutting a striking figure.
[Blade of Destruction · Heiwang] (Dark Knight)
Level: 95
VS
[Flame Venerable · Zhouyou Shijie] (Flame Demon Emperor / Sword Demon Emperor)
Level: 152
…
Heiwang was an old acquaintance of Zhou Ming’s.
Back when Zhou Ming had forged his Sacred Armament, the Tsar Region’s top expert had challenged him in full view of the crowd.
“FUCK!”
The instant Heiwang saw his opponent, his face turned ashen and he could not stop himself from cursing.
This opponent was too damn tough. He already wanted to surrender!
But given his status, that was obviously not an option.
“Zhouyou Shijie, I’ve already experienced how destructive your skills are!” An idea occurred to Heiwang, and he said, “Would you let me see your physical damage this time?”
Zhou Ming gave him an odd look. “Are you serious?”
“That’s right!”
Heiwang nodded, deliberately trying to provoke him. “Or is your second class, Sword Demon Emperor, nothing but an empty title?”
He had his reasons for saying this.
If Zhouyou Shijie used a skill, Heiwang would die too quickly. If they limited themselves to basic attacks, however, they could trade blows. He might not win, but he could at least hold out for a while.
“All right!”
Zhou Ming had no desire to embarrass him too badly. He said frankly, “How long you last will depend on your luck!”
Heiwang: “…”
Luck?
What was that supposed to mean?
“Please enlighten me!”
After their brief exchange, Heiwang urged his heavily armored warhorse into a charge.
Zhou Ming did not summon a mount. He simply swung Ask the Heavens at the oncoming Heiwang.
Tremendous power surged through his body and traveled down his arm into Ask the Heavens.
Eight times damage!
Slash!
The sword struck the warhorse, and Zhou Ming sent it flying with raw physical force alone. It transformed into white light and dispersed in midair.
-3,200,445!
More than three million damage floated into the air.
“Ding!~”
[System Notification: Your mount has died!]
“What kind of damage is that?!”
Looking rather battered, Heiwang steadied himself, gritted his teeth, and charged again with his spear.
This time, Zhou Ming deliberately held back. He blocked the attack with the back of his blade and retreated two steps, then lowered the force behind his attacks and began sparring with Heiwang.
[Destiny] was a fully immersive simulation game. At Zhou Ming’s level of ability, reducing an Attack ceiling of over 400,000 to a force of only 40,000 was not difficult.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
For a time, the two traded blows, spear and sword repeatedly crossing. Although Zhou Ming held the upper hand, he did not end the fight instantly.
“Even in defeat, he’ll be honored!”
“Without an absolute numerical advantage crushing him, Heiwang can still put up a fight!”
…
The players below the arena cheered enthusiastically.
Two minutes later, Heiwang’s HP bottomed out.
“No offense.” Zhou Ming remained perfectly composed.
As long as the other party did not provoke him, he would not deliberately humiliate them.
If a player truly possessed skill, Zhou Ming was always willing to give them a chance to show it.
“Zhouyou Shijie, your strength and character have earned my admiration!” Imitating an Eastern Region custom, Heiwang cupped his fists toward Zhou Ming and said sincerely, “If you ever have time to visit the Tsar Region in the real world, the trip will be on me!”
“If I get the chance, I’ll come take a look.” Zhou Ming nodded in acknowledgment.
Heiwang gave Zhouyou Shijie one long look, then voluntarily withdrew from the arena.
Although their first meeting had been unpleasant, people shaped by different pasts approached life very differently.
But one thing was universal.
No matter where you came from, everyone respected the strong!
…