Chapter 80
Chapter 80
Knowing Tingfeng Xiyu must be trying to warn him about something, Zhou Ming opened the forum directly from inside the game. The first post he saw was closely related to him.
[Myth Guild Officially Announces Full Participation in the Juyan City Siege!]
“Another player faction is coming?” Zhou Ming narrowed his eyes.
The Gaibang Guild was well known in gaming circles, but it was still nowhere near being one of the top three guilds. Zhou Ming had only crossed paths with it so often because both sides had been assigned to Qingshui City.
The Eastern Region contained countless tertiary towns like Qingshui City. Even secondary cities numbered twelve, followed by four primary cities and one super main city.
That alone showed how enormous the player population was.
Now that everyone was gradually learning the systems of Destiny, teleportation arrays were being used far more often. Experts from all across the nation would finally begin encountering one another in earnest.
“The Myth Guild ranks among the very best in the entire Eastern Region, and it’s packed with experts,” Tingfeng Xiyu warned. “If they’re joining the Juyan City battle, they definitely want your head too. Be careful!”
In terms of fame, Zhouyou Shijie led the field by an absurd margin. Nearly every Destiny player discussed him in their spare time, and the value of killing him had long since surpassed the bounty alone.
The first player to defeat Zhouyou Shijie would go down in gaming history and be talked about for years.
For anyone hoping to build a personal following, the temptation was enormous.
“Understood. Thanks for the warning!” Zhou Ming replied.
More players joining the siege was certainly no bad thing for him.
The Sin of Wrath demanded a staggering one hundred thousand Infamy!
At eleven that night, Zhou Ming cut down another Demonized Ape. Golden light scattered around him as he reached Level 58, leaving every other player far behind.
Level Rankings:
1. Zhouyou Shijie, Class: Flame Demon Lord, Level 58
2. Rule by Inaction, Class: Eternal Imperial Guard, Level 42
3. Submit and Perish, Class: Dragon Soul Mage, Level 41
A sixteen-level lead!
Zhou Ming suspected that level suppression alone might make him deal bonus damage to other players.
“Tomorrow’s battle is certain to last a long time,” Qianying said at the right moment. “You should rest early tonight. Don’t exhaust yourself.”
“All right!”
Zhou Ming nodded, thoroughly agreeing.
Come to think of it, he had been consumed by the game lately, and staying up late had become routine. Yet his physical condition had not deteriorated at all. If anything, he seemed to have more energy each day. It was strange.
He did not dwell on it and logged out.
The next day, at around nine in the morning, tens of thousands of soldiers stood outside Qingshui City in neat formations, awaiting orders. Huge crowds of players lingered nearby, filling the area with a sea of heads.
“Why haven’t we set out yet?”
“Where’s the commander? Why hasn’t anyone come out? We should already be marching to Juyan City!”
Many players were growing impatient and calling for the army to move.
Large-scale events offered the richest rewards. With both the Gaibang Guild and Myth Guild gathered here, the place could hardly remain quiet.
“Zhouyou Shijie is here!”
Someone suddenly shouted, and everyone turned toward the city. A young man walked through the gates, his expression cold and his bearing upright. He wore a Flying Cloud Robe, and the quality of his equipment was far beyond anything an ordinary player could match.
[Flame Venerable · Zhouyou Shijie] (Flame Demon Lord)
Under countless gazes filled with all kinds of intentions, Zhou Ming showed no fear. He walked to the very front of the army and commanded, “Move out!”
The whole field fell silent.
Wait. Zhouyou Shijie was the commander?
Could a player really become the leader of an attacking army?
Reality quickly supplied an answer. Not a single soldier moved. The entire army ignored Zhou Ming’s order.
Clop, clop.
A few seconds later, a middle-aged commander carrying a spear and wearing an officer’s uniform rode up beside Zhou Ming. After casting him a contemptuous glance, the newcomer issued an order.
“Move out!”
Only then did the army begin marching toward Juyan City.
“Zhouyou Shijie almost fooled us!”
“I knew it. Why would the locals ever obey a player?”
The surrounding players jeered and mocked him.
“Interesting.”
Zhou Ming did not grow angry. Instead, he turned toward the commander beside him.
[General of Qingshui · Lu Pingyong] (Radiant Boss)
“Please don’t blame them, General. These soldiers have followed me for years, so some resistance to a new commander is inevitable.” Lu Pingyong’s words sounded apologetic, but the expression remained perfectly calm.
Zhou Ming smiled and shook his head. “No harm done. None at all!”
“Chirp, chirp, chirp…”
Beside him, Xuanniao looked at the Light Faction soldiers with pity.
How could they dare?
Its master had two god-tier powerhouses supporting him!
“By the way, Zhouyou Shijie, a commander should set an example,” Lu Pingyong said with feigned confusion, deliberately making trouble. “Why aren’t you even riding a mount?”
Clang!
The moment the words left Lu Pingyong’s mouth, a sword dropped from the sky like a streak of light. Before anyone could react, it appeared at Zhou Ming’s feet.
Zhou Ming naturally knew who was helping him out of this predicament. He stepped onto the flat of the blade and felt an invisible force steadying him, allowing him to balance with ease.
The sword rose into the air and carried him forward.
Players and residents alike stared in shock.
He was flying on a sword!
“Is that good enough?” Zhou Ming asked, standing with his hands clasped behind his back as he looked down at Lu Pingyong.
Lu Pingyong gave an awkward smile. “A mighty display, General!”
The army advanced in orderly formation and arrived at its destination around nine forty, arraying itself beneath the city walls.
Countless undead archers crowded the top of Juyan City’s towering walls.
“Ding!”
[Attention! The siege has not yet reached its scheduled start time. You may not lead the army within 100 meters of Juyan City!]
“Halt!” Zhou Ming raised a hand.
The army continued moving forward.
Seeing this, Lu Pingyong lifted a hand with a mocking look. “Halt…”
“Shut your mouth!”
Zhou Ming cut in first, his gaze icy.
Boom!
Qianying released an invisible pressure that swept across the area like a tidal wave. Lu Pingyong seemed to fall into a frozen abyss and did not dare utter another word.
“I’ll say this one last time. Halt!”
Zhou Ming activated Command. His voice reached every corner of the army, carrying chilling killing intent. “Anyone who disobeys will be executed!”
Under the crushing pressure, most of the soldiers stopped. A portion of them, however, seemed to have received instructions from Lu Pingyong in advance and continued defying their superior.
Zhou Ming leaped from the sword and landed in front of one advancing soldier. “Why didn’t you stop?”
“Because I don’t know you!” the soldier replied stubbornly.
Dawnbringer!
Zhou Ming guided the blazing sun sword down, killing the soldier on the spot.
-100,000! (Critical Damage)
“Ding!”
[You have killed a Light Faction soldier. Infamy +10!]
Zhou Ming looked deeply regretful. “Then you won’t get the chance to know me in this lifetime.”
The other soldiers hurriedly stopped. Even those who had received Lu Pingyong’s assurances no longer dared act recklessly.
“Anyone else?” Zhou Ming asked without expression. “Step forward!”
No one answered.
Even the players were stunned. None had expected Zhou Ming’s first target to be someone on his own side.
“General, they were only resisting discipline for a moment. Why take things this far?” Lu Pingyong struggled to speak under the pressure. “Executing our own people before the battle will damage morale!”
Zhou Ming said coldly, “A soldier who disobeys orders on the battlefield is gambling with the lives of the entire army. If you want to die, I can send you on your way right now!”
The soldiers did not dare make a sound.
Lu Pingyong seethed but said nothing.
“Now return to your formations!” Zhou Ming ordered.
The previously disobedient soldiers hurried back into place.
“Everyone, two steps back!” Zhou Ming commanded.
Every soldier obeyed immediately.
Zhou Ming nodded in satisfaction, glanced at Lu Pingyong, and smiled. “See? As long as you speak to them properly and win them over with virtue, they’re perfectly willing to listen.”
Lu Pingyong fell silent.
“Nicely done!”
A large group of adventurers approached. Their leader was a heroic-looking man with thick brows and large eyes, followed by an impressive entourage of expert players. “A few words were enough to bring every soldier under control. There’s a reason Zhouyou Shijie has become famous throughout Destiny!”
[Fearless Spear · Bawang] (Dragon Warrior)
Here it came!
Everyone understood at once. The Myth Guild’s president was certain to challenge Zhouyou Shijie. This courtesy was merely the calm before the clash.
Zhou Ming swept Bawang with a glance and replied calmly, “This general is reviewing the troops. Adventurer, please withdraw for now. When the time is right, I’ll gladly entertain you to the end.”
Bawang frowned and answered without yielding an inch. “Zhouyou Shijie, don’t wave borrowed authority around like it’s your own!”
Bawang was the president of a major guild with several thousand members under his command.
If Zhouyou Shijie told him to withdraw in front of everyone and he obeyed, how much face would he have left?
“Insolence!”
Zhou Ming threw up an arm and shouted, “This man has challenged your commander! Soldiers, what should be done with him?”
“Kill! Kill! Kill!”
The battle cries of more than ten thousand soldiers shook the sky.
Bawang fell silent.
So did everyone else.
…