Chapter 86
Chapter 86
Every violent swing of Zhou Ming’s HP held countless hearts captive.
That included not only the combatants but also the viewers watching the livestream.
This was a siege led by Destiny’s most famous player. How could no one pay attention?
At that moment, tens of thousands of comments flooded across the livestream.
“A clutch level-up!”
“Zhouyou Shijie really did have another card in reserve!”
“Well, well. Now they have to grind his HP down all over again!”
“All over again? The Radiant Bosses might not last that long!”
Corpses covered the battlefield.
The barrage of powerful attacks had taken a full 23% of Zhou Ming’s HP, yet he still had 77% remaining!
At the same time, Holy Flame Purification came off cooldown. Zhou Ming used it again, restoring his HP to 97%, almost completely full.
He did not dare waste the time he had fought so hard to gain. He charged Lin Tao again, whose HP was already nearly exhausted.
Truthfully, even after Lin Tao advanced into a Radiant Boss, Zhou Ming would not have lost in a one-on-one fight with Flame Soul Art active. The surrounding enemies had piled on pressure without pause, creating the desperate situation he had barely survived.
40%!
20%!
Soon it was Lin Tao whose HP plunged toward the bottom.
“He’s low! He’s low!”
Zhou Ming shouted in delight as though he could already see victory.
Unlike Zhou Ming, who had been attacked by countless sources of damage, Lin Tao had been brought down by Zhou Ming’s sword stroke by sword stroke. No one could possibly steal this first kill of a Radiant Boss.
“Dear heavens, give me Lin Tao’s kill!” Zhou Ming cried joyfully. “If I claim the first Radiant Boss kill, I can live easy for the rest of my life!”
Everyone fell silent.
Many players’ expressions darkened.
They had never met anyone as aggravating as Zhouyou Shijie.
Nearby, Bawang, Gaibang Laoda, and the others sensed danger and tried to retreat. Zhou Ming activated Demonic Flame Armor for the second time and personally sent them on their way.
“Ding!”
[You have killed Bawang. Infamy +1!]
“Ding!”
[You have killed Gaibang Laoda. Infamy +1!]
With the Myth and Gaibang Guilds leaderless and Zhou Ming repeatedly reversing the situation, their morale collapsed.
At the final moment before death, Lin Tao coughed blood and red light erupted from his pupils.
“Ding!”
[Corrupted-Bone Blade · Lin Tao has used Eyes of Depravity, trapping you in an illusion!]
When Zhou Ming met his gaze, pain stabbed through his mind. His expression went blank and his thoughts cut off.
Then light flashed in his eyes, and he broke free in an instant. “A petty parlor trick dares show itself before an expert?”
This degree of mental interference was insignificant compared to the impact of holding the God-Demon Orb.
“Die!”
Zhou Ming slashed down into Lin Tao’s shoulder, forcing him onto both knees. The last trace of HP vanished.
“Cough… cough…”
At the edge of death, Lin Tao seemed to regain his reason. He stared at the young man before him, who radiated murderous power, and gave a miserable smile. “Master, was I nothing more than a sacrifice in your eyes? I, Lin Tao… never betrayed you…”
He had obeyed every order from his master, Shui Zhanqiu. Never had he imagined his loyalty would lead to an end like this.
Thud!
Filled with hatred and unwillingness, Lin Tao collapsed face-first onto the ground. His eyes remained wide open as their focus faded. He died without finding peace.
“Ding!”
[Congratulations! You have killed Corrupted-Bone Blade · Lin Tao (Radiant Boss). Rewards: Current Level EXP +152.7%, Fame +300, Gold Coins +20!]
“Ding!”
[Congratulations! You have killed the Radiant Boss Corrupted-Bone Blade · Lin Tao. As the first player in the game to defeat a Radiant Boss, you receive the additional rewards: Free Attribute Points +80, Fame +1,000, Astral God Art (Rare S Rank)!]
“Ding!”
[Do you wish to publicize the legend you have created on Destiny Continent?]
[Note: If publicized, it will be visible to every player on the server.]
Killing a Radiant Boss sixteen levels above him granted Zhou Ming such enormous EXP that he leveled again, reaching Level 60.
“This is fucking unplayable!”
The nearby players sank even deeper into despair.
How were they supposed to fight someone who returned to full HP at every turn?
Ignoring the attacks raining down on him, Zhou Ming quickly gathered the dropped equipment. Then he turned toward Lu Pingyong with an icy expression. “You enjoyed hitting me just now, didn’t you?”
“You!”
Lu Pingyong’s courage failed.
Lin Tao had been far stronger, yet still met this fate. How could Lu Pingyong possibly defeat Zhouyou Shijie?
With that thought, Lu Pingyong rapidly withdrew and issued an order. “All soldiers, stop him!”
There was only one possible path to victory now.
Exhaust Zhouyou Shijie until he could no longer move!
Then even at full HP, Zhou Ming would lack the strength to raise a weapon and resist.
“Ding!”
[You have used Shadowless Step. Movement Speed +100% for 1 minute!]
Shadowless Step!
This was the powerful skill given to Zhou Ming by the God-Demon Orb’s previous successor. Its Movement Speed increase was astonishing. Combined with Flame Soul Art, which lasted until the battle ended, and his many other bonuses, Zhou Ming’s total Movement Speed increase exceeded 200%!
Wind seemed to gather beneath Zhou Ming’s feet. He moved too fast for Qingshui City’s soldiers to intercept. With a thought, he invested every Free Attribute Point into Attack, then closed the distance with sword in hand and launched an all-out assault on Lu Pingyong, never allowing a chance to escape.
-5,460!
-5,242!
-103,685! (Critical Damage)
As Zhou Ming’s strength climbed again and again, even a Radiant Boss lost a visibly large chunk of HP whenever Dawnbringer landed.
“Damn it! Damn it!”
Lu Pingyong was frantic, eyes bloodshot with rage, yet there was nowhere to run.
Never could Lu have imagined that such a favorable situation would still be overturned by Zhou Ming.
Xuanniao finally relaxed in midair.
The danger had been enormous, but its master had survived the crisis after all…
Slash!
Just as the scales of victory seemed ready to tip toward Zhou Ming, a brilliant golden sword aura tore through the air from afar, moving as fast as light.
Zhou Ming’s heart jolted. Before he could react, the sword aura was already upon him.
Clang!
A razor-sharp sword suddenly appeared in front of Zhou Ming and blocked the attack for him.
[Zhibei Sword] (God Tier): The exclusive sword of Sword Saint · Ye Zhibei.
The deeply sentient sword completed its task, then streaked into the distance. Every soldier along its path gained a bloody line across the throat and died in an instant.
-???
-???
A stream of unreadable damage numbers appeared.
The players fell silent.
There was another expert?
At the edge of the battlefield, the sword finally returned to Ye Zhibei’s hand. He entered the battlefield and appeared before Zhou Ming in the blink of an eye, then cupped his hands. “Brother Zhou, this Ye arrived late to protect my lord!”
“Protect your lord?”
Not far away, the dragon-robed man whose attack had nearly succeeded radiated natural authority. His gaze was as cold as ice, too severe to meet directly. “What fine words. I fear he lacks the stature to bear them!”
Those words should have been reserved for the emperor.
The Sword Saint’s declaration was nothing less than an open challenge!
“Ding!”
[Star Sentinel · Gaibang Laoda has used the SS-Rank item Summon the Gods. By paying the price of All Attributes -100 and Level -10, he has successfully summoned projections of Emperor of the East · Long Kun, Dragon Guardian · Gu Yuchen, and Thunder Venerable · Lei Qianjue to assist in battle!]
“Ding!”
[Due to changes in the battlefield situation, the Hidden Story Boss Sword Saint · Ye Zhibei will participate in the defense!]
The Juyan City siege changed once again.
Several supreme god-tier powerhouses entered the field.
“Insolent Ye Zhibei! Betraying the Light Faction is a crime worthy of death!” Lei Qianjue and Gu Yuchen glared furiously as they guarded Long Kun on either side.
They might only be projections, but through the Summon the Gods scroll His Majesty had painstakingly prepared, they could unleash their full strength for a short time.
“Leave them to me!”
Faced with three god-tier projections, Ye Zhibei showed no fear. Dozens of phantom swords appeared behind him, and he soared away on his own blade, robes snapping in the wind with effortless style.
Zhou Ming turned his attention back to his original target. “I only have one question. Are you going to drop any good equipment for me?”
With all hope of escape gone, Lu Pingyong gritted out, “I’ll fight you to the death!”
“Ding!”
[Congratulations! You have killed General of Qingshui · Lu Pingyong (Radiant Boss). Rewards: Current Level EXP +152.7%, Fame +300, Gold Coins +25!]
With two Radiant Bosses dead in succession, the portion of the battle in which Zhou Ming could directly participate began drawing to a close.
“Whew!”
Relieved to have eliminated the troublesome enemy, Zhou Ming made no rush to capture the city. Instead, he worked on accumulating Infamy from the remaining players.
“Damn, Zhouyou Shijie survived again!”
“Maybe not. The god-tier powerhouses helping him don’t have the upper hand. That girl fighting two Demon Gods has been taking hits nonstop. She’ll collapse eventually!”
“Then it would just be the developers forcing him down. We wouldn’t get anything from it!”
The players’ morale had been completely drained.
Unable to see any hope of victory, they began thinking of retreat.
Their numbers no longer mattered. Even if they exhausted Zhouyou Shijie until he could barely crawl, hours of damage could not match a single one of his heals.
“Don’t leave!”
Zhou Ming glanced at the trial requirement and warmly urged them to stay. “I’m only a little short on Infamy!”
Infamy: 99,999!
First he had killed the Dark Faction’s defenders. Then he had left the faction and slaughtered Qingshui City’s soldiers and players. His Infamy had risen with astonishing efficiency.
The price, however, was immense.
He could no longer rely on his adventurer status to move freely through Light Faction cities.
But without taking this path, he could never have accumulated one hundred thousand Infamy from players alone before time ran out.
Slash!
Dawnbringer descended and casually annihilated a group of lucky souls who had failed to escape in time. At last, Zhou Ming fulfilled the trial requirement.
“Ding!”
[Congratulations! Your Infamy has reached the required threshold, further releasing the power of Flame Demon Lord. You receive the following rewards: …]
…