Chapter 29
Chapter 29
“Ding!”
[System: Congratulations! Your Infamy has reached the required threshold, further releasing the power of [Flame Demon Lord]. Rewards: permanent HP +500, permanent Attack +50, permanent Defense +50, Free Attribute Points +20, and comprehension of the command skill [Warlord] (Rare S Rank)!]
Good heavens!
Zhou Ming felt as if joy had fallen straight out of the sky. He could not stop grinning.
Reaching an Infamy threshold had actually granted permanent base stats and Free Attribute Points, plus a skill on top of that. The reward was almost too generous!
-1!
-1!
MISS!
…
As the flames streaked with black matter gradually faded, even Zhou Ming’s mind seemed cleansed. He felt extraordinarily refreshed.
The surrounding players’ attacks could no longer break through his Defense. Some were even nullified completely because the gap in strength had grown too large.
“What the hell?!”
Gaibang Laosan jumped with rage. “He got stronger again!”
Zhou Ming swept away the last few small fry with one slash, then appeared before him wrapped in an intense killing aura.
“Do you know why I got stronger?”
“W-why?”
Gaibang Laosan knew this was only a game, yet Zhou Ming’s overwhelming presence still intimidated him. His legs weakened as he retreated instinctively.
Slash!
A cold gleam crossed Gaibang Laosan’s throat.
“All thanks to you people!” Zhou Ming said cheerfully.
They gave him money and delivered kills right to his doorstep.
The Gaibang Guild’s management truly possessed impeccable character. Somehow, their malicious schemes always turned into good deeds!
“This game is unplayable!”
“If I keep fighting, even my low blood pressure will be cured!”
“I’m seriously starting to suspect the Gaibang Guild was hired by Zhouyou Shijie to put on a circus act!”
…
Once the nearby players realized they dealt less damage than Zhou Ming recovered, they cursed and fled.
Zhou Ming made no attempt to chase them. Instead, he turned toward Gaibang Laoer.
“Come on!”
Gaibang Laoer’s face was ashen. He had given up resisting.
“What are you doing?” Zhou Ming asked in confusion.
“Stop pretending!” Gaibang Laoer ground his teeth. “If you’re going to kill me, then do it and make it quick!”
Seeing that, Zhou Ming slowly raised his left hand.
Is he going to finish me with Blazing Heaven Sword?
Gaibang Laoer seemed to understand his intention.
Thump!
To everyone’s surprise, Zhou Ming did not use a skill. He simply clenched his fist, extended it toward Gaibang Laoer, and smiled warmly.
“A pleasure doing business with you!”
Whoosh…
A breeze passed through the field.
The entire area fell silent.
Gaibang Laoer froze. Then something occurred to him, and he turned toward the distance. Countless players were glaring at him in fury.
To an outside observer, the scene admitted far too many interpretations. Gaibang Laoer had just done everything possible to send players to their deaths, while Zhouyou Shijie had grown stronger by killing them. Now Zhou Ming was thanking him for the cooperation.
Gaibang Laosan’s spirit was still hovering beside his corpse. The sight left him completely dumbfounded.
“Second Brother, you…”
“I’ve been framed! Don’t let him fool you!”
Gaibang Laoer’s face turned livid, and his nose nearly bent from rage.
After what Zhouyou Shijie had just done, how was he supposed to show his face in public again?
“That’s right. It isn’t convenient for you to be seen talking to me now!” Zhou Ming exclaimed as if the realization had only just struck him. He turned and moved away. “Sorry. That was careless of me.”
“Don’t go too far!”
Gaibang Laoer snapped and swung his great axe at Zhou Ming.
If he did not die on Fallen Leaf Plains now, he would never be able to clear his name.
MISS!
Zhou Ming hurriedly dodged, then appeared to understand.
“You’re right. I really have made things difficult for you!”
He turned toward the players watching from a safe distance and raised his voice.
“I need to clarify something here. Gaibang Laoer and I have absolutely no secret contact whatsoever. Please don’t jump to conclusions!”
The crowd fell silent.
Not even a ghost would believe that!
“I… you…”
Gaibang Laoer’s vision went dark. He pleaded, “Bro, please just kill me!”
“Ding!”
[System: Your linked account has received a transfer of 2,000 yuan!]
“Sigh. Fine!”
With tears in his eyes, Zhou Ming executed Gaibang Laoer.
Paying someone to kill you!
Never in his life had he heard such an absurd request!
After clearing out every remaining Gaibang Guild player, Zhou Ming composed himself and looked toward the nearby Giant Rock Monster. It had killed quite a few players, and no one dared approach it now.
“Everything is finally ready!”
Zhou Ming did not let down his guard.
The boost from Infamy had been crucial, but the boss before him still far exceeded his level. At this early stage of the game, the difficulty remained enormous.
Rather than provoke the Giant Rock Monster immediately, Zhou Ming invested all his Free Attribute Points into Attack, then opened his character panel.
[Zhouyou Shijie]
[Level: 28]
[HP: 5,468]
[Attack: 929-957]
[Defense: 617-643]
[Fame: 3,240]
[Luck: 2]
[Skills: Blazing Heaven Sword, Rending Slash, Greater Fireball, Warlord]
[Talent: Awaiting Activation]
[Elemental Resistance: Metal 0% / Wood 0% / Water 0% / Fire 100% / Earth 0% / Wind 0% / Lightning 0% / Light 0% / Dark 0%]
…
Every part of the panel was explosive.
If nothing else, the permanent personal attributes and Free Attribute Points from his first-kill rewards had already opened an enormous gap between him and other players.
Curious, Zhou Ming opened his skill list to inspect the ability he had comprehended after his Infamy passed one thousand.
[Warlord] (Command Skill) (Rare S Rank)
[Description: Only in an age of chaos and upon the battlefield can one defy fate. The victor becomes king; the loser becomes an outlaw.]
[Skill Effect: While the user is on a battlefield, all enemy units suffer a reduction of at least 10% to all attributes. Exact reduction depends on the difference in combat power between both sides.]
[Additional Effect: The larger the battlefield, the greater the increase to the user’s strength, up to a maximum increase of 100% to all attributes.]
[Cooldown: None]
[Note: May be activated or deactivated at any time.]
…
“Damn!”
Zhou Ming sucked in a sharp breath.
The advantages granted by Flame Demon Lord’s traits were absurdly powerful.
Better yet, this was an exceptionally rare command skill. Much like a passive ability, its effects would remain as long as he lived and could not be interrupted by any skill.
After reading Warlord’s effects, Zhou Ming felt even more confident about completing the Trial of the Seven Sins. He immediately advanced on the Giant Rock Monster that no one else dared approach.
With Qianying’s assistance, he could fully inspect its attribute panel.
[Giant Rock Monster] (Silver Boss)
[Level: 60]
[HP: 100,000]
[Attack: 1,480-1,550]
[Defense: 1,050-1,100]
[Skills: Rock Fist, Mountainfall, Rubble Bomb]
[Description: Leader of the rock monsters on Fallen Leaf Plains. Its body and Defense are equally immense. It delights in toying with smaller creatures, so take care not to be stomped into paste.]
…
Its attributes were high, but not high enough to kill Zhou Ming in one blow.
Moreover…
Warlord!
Zhou Ming’s body trembled. An invisible, domineering aura spread in every direction and enveloped the Giant Rock Monster, reducing all its attributes by 10%. Its Defense fell to 945-990.
“Ding!”
[System: Based on the current battlefield scale, all your attributes have increased by 4.63%!]
The living players had already scattered and no longer dared approach. Only a heap of corpses awaiting revival had yet to disappear.
If Warlord could still strengthen him under these circumstances, its power spoke for itself.
After confirming that his status had fully recovered, Zhou Ming rushed forward and swung his sword.
Rending Slash!
…