Chapter 70
Chapter 70
Lei Qianjue’s expression turned grim. “The Sword Saint is going to hold me accountable for the three robbed towns after all!”
The Sword Saint was the emperor’s right-hand man and specialized in secretly handling certain affairs. Among people of their level, this was no secret!
Now that he had been summoned, the matter was clearly connected to the recent treasury thefts.
Lei Qianjue put away the message, weighed down by worry.
…
“If he actually knows the Sword Saint’s location, he should lead us there on his own,” Zhou Ming said calmly elsewhere. “When the time comes, Qianying, follow him and help me find the Sword Saint!”
“So that works too!” Qianying marveled.
Xuanniao looked equally astonished beside her.
[Your pet Celestial Spirit Beast · Xiaoyou’s loyalty has increased by 5. Current Loyalty: 68!]
This could raise Xuanniao’s loyalty too?
Zhou Ming was rather surprised.
Come to think of it, Xuanniao really was mischievous and loved causing trouble. When they had first met, it had deliberately provoked him after casting Misfortune Divination.
At the thought, he quietly glanced at Qianying’s affinity.
Without him noticing, it had already risen to 75. The system hadn’t announced anything, so it had probably increased little by little as they spent every day together.
“Ying’er, keep watching him for now!” Zhou Ming said. “I’m going to get dinner!”
“All right!”
…
After logging off, Zhou Ming ordered pork-rib rice cakes and lean pork meatballs, then browsed the official site for useful information.
“Huh, did they publish the later equipment grades?”
Zhou Ming spotted a popular official post and immediately opened it.
Destiny Official Announcement:
Some players have already become capable of obtaining equipment above Radiant grade. We have therefore decided to publish additional equipment grades to improve the player experience.
From lowest to highest, the equipment grades are: Common, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Radiant, War Soul, King, Celestial Spirit, Monarch, Demigod, and God.
The comments below the post had already erupted into abuse.
“‘Some players’? Just name Zhouyou Shijie and be done with it!”
“Can you tell us what percentage of the player base ‘some players’ represents?”
“It might not be Zhouyou Shijie alone. Players from other regions aren’t pushovers.”
“The gap between two people is bigger than the gap between a person and a dog…”
…
There were five grades above War Soul!
Zhou Ming kept reading until his food arrived right on time.
He finished the battle in ten minutes. Full and satisfied, he was about to enter the game when he suddenly remembered Qianying saying that power gained in the game could be brought into the real world. The only reason it couldn’t happen yet was that he wasn’t strong enough.
Bringing game power into reality…
“Dawnbringer!”
Zhou Ming involuntarily called out and raised one hand toward the wall.
“…”
Peace reigned. Nothing happened.
“It really was just some line the writers made up. I can’t believe I fell for it!” Zhou Ming laughed helplessly and put the gaming helmet back on.
Pop!
Yet the instant he returned to the game, unnoticed by him, a wisp of flame suddenly sparked in the air before rapidly fading.
…
Whoosh!
Brilliant white light gathered, and Zhou Ming reappeared in Baiyun City.
The sun was already setting. It was getting late.
“How did it go?” Zhou Ming asked.
“Chirp, chirp!”
Xuanniao answered.
[Your pet Celestial Spirit Beast · Xiaoyou states that the Divine Ember Queen secretly followed Lei Qianjue. Lei Qianjue has already left Baiyun City!]
“I understand.” Zhou Ming wasn’t surprised.
Lei Qianjue had no reason to remain in Baiyun City. If Zhou Ming stayed near Qianying, it would only increase the chance that they were discovered.
At around seven, night fell beneath a sky filled with stars.
Qianying returned through the teleportation array, her expression solemn. “I’ve found the Sword Saint’s location!”
“Good!”
All laziness vanished from Zhou Ming. Even he couldn’t predict what would happen next.
“Let’s go meet the Sword Saint of our Eastern Region!”
…
The night was deep and silent.
Lei Qianjue traveled alone to an abandoned fourth-tier village and waited outside for a long time.
The Sword Saint kept his movements secret. A city had too much traffic and would only increase the risk of discovery.
Who would ever imagine that the illustrious Sword Saint was hiding inside a fourth-tier village?
Even adventurers rarely visited such a place.
At exactly eight, Lei Qianjue entered the village and approached a large compound. After identifying himself to the Sword Saint’s subordinates, he walked directly to a room inside.
Knock, knock!
He tapped gently on the door.
“Come in!”
A deep, magnetic voice answered.
Lei Qianjue pushed open the door. Lamps formed from elemental energy illuminated numerous people in uniform reading and processing documents. Trained pigeons rested along the windowsill.
At the center of the room, a richly dressed man sat at ease.
His face was ordinary and held no striking features, but his posture was straight and his gaze sharp enough that no one dared meet it.
[Sword Saint · Ye Zhibei] (Ordinary NPC)
“Lord Sword Saint!” Lei Qianjue cupped his hands in greeting.
They might both be god-tier experts, but a gap remained between them in both combat power and status.
Ye Zhibei asked directly, “Why are you here?”
“Didn’t you summon me?” Lei Qianjue stared blankly, completely confused.
I summoned you?
Ye Zhibei paused. His expression immediately darkened. “You’ve fallen into a trap!”
“Sword Saint, Zhouyou Shijie requests an audience!” Zhou Ming’s voice came from outside the compound.
Zhouyou Shijie!
Lei Qianjue froze, then understood that he had unknowingly become a guide. His face flushed red with humiliation and rage.
Whoosh!
Like a thunderbolt, he instantly charged outside. A massive axe appeared in his hands and hacked down at Zhou Ming. “Shameless brat, die!”
Clang!
Qianying stood before Zhou Ming and blocked the blow. Their weapons collided, sending out rolling shockwaves and throwing dust thousands of feet into the air.
Zhou Ming remained perfectly calm and unaffected.
“Haven’t you embarrassed yourself enough?” Ye Zhibei barked. “Stand down!”
“…Yes!”
The difference in status forced Lei Qianjue to swallow his rage.
Under countless hostile gazes, Zhou Ming openly walked into the compound and entered the room. He cupped his hands. “The Sword Saint’s movements are difficult to trace. I had no choice but to resort to this trick. Please forgive me!”
Every native resident in the room had stopped working and now glared at Zhou Ming like a tiger watching prey.
If the Sword Saint gave the word, they would swarm him at once.
“Adventurers with your courage are truly rare!” Ye Zhibei studied the young man, his emotions hidden. “Do you understand that you’re now in my territory, and killing you would not be difficult?”
The Divine Ember Queen was strong, but Ye Zhibei could keep her occupied.
For everyone else, taking Zhouyou Shijie’s head would be as easy as reaching into a bag.
“But you haven’t attacked,” Zhou Ming said.
Ye Zhibei corrected him. “I haven’t attacked yet.”
Shing! Shing! Shing!
More than ten people around him drew their swords. Their killing intent locked firmly onto Zhou Ming.
He had delivered himself to their door. He was dead!
Lei Qianjue grinned viciously from outside the room as he blocked the escape route, already seeing the outcome.
“If my guess is correct, you and Lei Qianjue had met only once,” Ye Zhibei said plainly. “Yet from that single encounter, you recognized his recklessness and high status, then exploited both to find me. Your methods are impressive!”
“You flatter me!” Zhou Ming said. “It was only luck!”
“Why did you come looking for me?”
“Two things!”
“Which two?” Ye Zhibei was intrigued.
Unafraid of the man’s strength, Zhou Ming stepped closer until only one table separated them.
Their gazes met, neither side giving an inch.
What exactly did he want?
The surrounding experts radiated murderous intent. The room had grown so silent that a dropped needle would be deafening.
Under everyone’s eyes, Zhou Ming slowly began to speak. Even Qianying and Xuanniao, who thought they understood his plan, had never imagined he would dare say such a thing to the current Sword Saint.
It was simply… earth-shattering!
“The first thing I want is…”
…