Chapter 67
Chapter 67
[Congratulations! You have completed the Flame Demon Lord class advancement. The fire-element power within your body has been further released, permanently granting HP +2,000, Attack +150, and Defense +100!]
[As the first adventurer to complete a class advancement, you receive the additional rewards: Fame +1,000, Free Attribute Points +30, and Rare command skill Command!]
[Will you make the legend you have created on Destiny Continent public? Note: If publicized, it will be visible to all players on the server.]
…
More permanent stat increases!
Zhou Ming was delighted.
He was almost certain this was a special advantage of the Flame Demon Lord. No ordinary class could possibly grant such absurd numerical rewards.
His growth ratings had also changed with the advancement.
[Flame Demon Lord] (SSS-Rank Exclusive Hidden Class)
Description: Flame rises from the end of all things. Only one who burns every living being to ash may become the Demon Lord.
HP Growth: 10 Stars
Attack Growth: 16 Stars
Defense Growth: 10 Stars
Speed Growth: 10 Stars
…
“Does the second class advancement double the existing growth ratings?” Zhou Ming asked.
Qianying nodded. “Barring unusual circumstances, that is true for most classes!”
“That’s a little too…” The corner of Zhou Ming’s mouth curled. “Perfectly reasonable!”
This design further strengthened a class’s specialty, such as an Assassin’s speed or a Knight’s durability. After the growth doubled, the difference became far more apparent.
The Flame Demon Lord, however, was unusual.
Every category had already reached the maximum number of stars, while Attack had broken convention to reach eight. Now that all of them had doubled, not even another class’s greatest advantage could claim the slightest edge over him. Instead, Zhou Ming would pull farther ahead.
He opened his inventory and inspected the skill rewarded by the system.
[Command] (Command Skill) (Rare S Rank)
Description: Those who obey my command shall sweep aside all opposition and win in a single battle.
Skill Effect: When issuing orders to allied forces, every allied unit that obeys gains All Attributes +10%. The exact value is determined by the difference in combat power between both sides.
Additional Effect: Your All Attributes increase based on the number of allied units obeying your command, up to a maximum increase of 100%.
Cooldown: None
…
A command skill would be exceptionally powerful in large-scale warfare. It could even grant 10% All Attributes to every allied unit.
And that was merely the minimum bonus.
If Zhou Ming became strong enough, a single command might change the entire course of a battle.
He wasn’t in a hurry to learn it, though.
This was a skill book, which meant Xuanniao’s Super Lucky Star could turn it into an SS-Rank skill!
In fact, he still had an unlearned B-Rank Blazing Sword Art in his inventory. He had simply acquired too many valuable items recently and never found an opportunity to use it.
“Now I should be able to visit other secondary cities.” Zhou Ming rubbed his hands together eagerly.
He hadn’t forgotten the task Cangxuan had given him.
Find the Sword Saint!
His accessible territory had expanded severalfold. With Qianying’s help, he now had a real chance of completing the quest and obtaining the rare equipment slot of a cloak.
Zhou Ming returned to Qingshui City. The moment he stepped into the teleportation array, an unexpected system chime rang in his ears.
[Server Announcement: Congratulations to Flame Venerable · Zhouyou Shijie for becoming the first player to complete a class advancement!]
[Server Announcement: Congratulations to Flame Venerable · Zhouyou Shijie for becoming the first player to complete a class advancement!]
…
“Already?!”
“Fuck, he’s fourteen levels ahead of second place on the rankings!”
“Sigh. It’s that monster again!”
“I just hope Zhouyou Shijie lives up to the hype. Don’t let him be invincible in domestic fights and useless against other regions!”
…
The players reacted in every possible way.
In the end, Zhouyou Shijie had proven his strength during the siege. Even the haters sounded weak and dispirited now.
“I never chose to publicize it. Why did the system agree for me?” Zhou Ming wondered.
As he puzzled over the question, the answer immediately followed.
[Server Announcement: Due to the enormous number of adventurers descending upon Destiny Continent, the remaining secondary cities cannot accommodate them all. The Light Faction has decided to sound the horn of counterattack against the Dark Faction! All adventurers will be assigned a target city based on their current affiliated power.]
[Destiny main quest Seize the City is now open!]
[Seize the City] (SS Difficulty)
Description: Retake a city of equal rank occupied by the Dark Faction and sound the horn of counterattack.
Quest Requirement: Retake Juyan City, a secondary city, at 10:00 a.m. in 3 days.
Quest Reward: Rewards are granted based on siege points.
Failure Penalty: Level -3.
…
“The gods have begun moving!” Qianying had received the system notification too.
“Yeah!”
Zhou Ming frowned. Something was clearly wrong.
For other adventurers, retaking a tertiary town wouldn’t be particularly difficult. Attacking a secondary city, however, would be far more dangerous than defending Qingshui City had been.
First, the defenders would be levels beyond what current players could handle.
Second, attacking a city was much harder than defending one.
Most importantly, the enemy knew Xuanniao was protecting him now. They would undoubtedly account for it.
Last time, the Dark Faction had believed victory was certain, but none of the Demon Gods they sent ranked particularly high!
If one of the top three arrived, taking the city might become nearly impossible.
Thud, thud, thud…
At that moment, numerous Qingshui City guards rushed over with spears in hand and surrounded Zhou Ming without leaving a gap.
Clang!
Zhou Ming drew the Flamecloud Sword, his gaze icy. “This is a safe zone, and I haven’t violated any rules. Do you… truly insist on dying?”
“Hahaha, a misunderstanding! Just a misunderstanding!”
The guards parted. A greasy, heavily powdered, potbellied middle-aged man walked out from their ranks.
[Lord of Qingshui City · Liu Qingyang] (Radiant Boss)
He was clearly Qingshui City’s true lord. The old farmer who had appeared earlier had been nothing but a sacrificial pawn, used to weaken the city’s own defenses.
“Lord Liu, what is the meaning of this?” Zhou Ming asked directly.
“Adventurer Zhouyou Shijie, you defended Qingshui City alone. Your actions were truly admirable!” Liu Qingyang praised him with every ounce of enthusiasm he could muster.
Zhou Ming’s face remained expressionless. “You flatter me. If you have business with me, speak plainly.”
“Heh…”
Liu Qingyang smiled without warmth. “Since Brother Zhou is so direct, this lord won’t hide anything.”
He paused, then came straight to the point. “To tell the truth, I have no talented officers available for the assault on Juyan City. I would like to ask Brother Zhou to command the whole army and lend me his strength!”
[Congratulations! You have activated the hidden main quest Lead the Army (Difficulty: S). Accept?]
[Lead the Army] (Difficulty: S)
Description: Commanding troops and issuing orders is no easy matter.
Quest Requirement: Lead Qingshui City’s defenders and capture Juyan City.
Quest Reward: ???
Failure Penalty: Level -10, All Attributes -500.
…
Zhou Ming glanced over the quest details and sneered. “This Zhou’s abilities are limited. I’m afraid I’m not qualified for the task!”
The quest was a trap!
Anyone with eyes could see that Qingshui City’s defenders would never truly accept his command. The city’s players were also unlikely to participate obediently in the siege.
If all three sides worked together, Zhou Ming would be forced into the same situation he had faced during the defense.
But this time, they would come prepared. If one of the top three Demon Gods appeared, Qianying might be unable to contend with them. The defending monsters would probably be too powerful for Zhou Ming to defeat even with King’s Way.
Then he would truly have nowhere in heaven or earth to seek help!
…