Chapter 88
Chapter 88
Because Zhouyou Shijie had personally disrupted the balance, Long Kun finally found his opportunity to strike.
Slash!
He swung his sword. Golden sword aura tore through the air with unstoppable force and blasted toward Zhou Ming at point-blank range.
“Ding!”
[Emperor of the East · Long Kun has used Forbidden · Sacred Sword Aura. The first target within a 100 × 2,000 area ahead takes 1,500% damage. Damage to each subsequent target decreases by 100%, to a minimum of 500%. The attack also has an extremely high chance to inflict Knockback and Launch!]
Every other god-tier powerhouse held their breath. So did the players watching from afar. Some were overjoyed, while others burned with anxiety.
Zhou Ming’s expression did not change. He watched the sword aura grow larger and larger within his pupils.
He truly could not withstand the attack of a god-tier powerhouse.
But…
Being unable to withstand it did not mean he would die!
“What a shame!” Bawang’s spirit sighed. “So this is how it ends?”
It was far too unjust for Zhouyou Shijie to die to a powerhouse no player should be encountering yet.
Six god-tier powerhouses had descended solely to kill one player. The game scenario itself was unreasonable.
“For a moment, I thought the Eastern Region would produce an unrivaled expert,” Gaibang Laoda muttered.
Thanks to his family’s connections, he knew far more about Destiny than ordinary players did.
This was not merely a game.
That was precisely why so-called balance meant nothing, and one person could stand above tens of millions.
Clang!
Before everyone’s eyes, Zhou Ming faced the incomparably sharp sword aura. His body was not cut in half. Instead, the tremendous impact made his organs feel as though they had shifted inside him and sent him tumbling thousands of meters away.
Dust billowed and stones flew.
The destructive force blasted a huge crater outside Juyan City.
-164,584!
The crimson damage number rose from Zhou Ming. His HP fell to the absolute bottom, but he did not die. One point remained.
“Ding!”
[You have suffered fatal damage, triggering the Flame Demon Lord’s exclusive ability Heaven’s Envy. You immediately counterattack with power equal to the attack that dealt the fatal damage!]
“H-how is that possible?!”
Long Kun’s pupils contracted. He could not believe a supposedly certain kill had been survived.
“There’s nothing impossible about it!”
Zhou Ming quickly activated Holy Flame Purification to heal himself and escape the most dangerous moment. Then he raised the sword clenched in his hand and began gathering power toward Long Kun. “Practice more if you suck!”
With the plan ruined, Long Kun flew toward him again, trying to land the finishing blow.
Slash!
Yet the instant Long Kun drew close, Zhou Ming swept his sword through empty air in that direction. An equally powerful sword aura erupted across an enormous range.
Long Kun was shocked and furious. The attack was already too close to evade, leaving him no choice but to take it head-on. The impact hurled him backward.
-1,236,644,489!
The 1.2-billion damage number left everyone staring in disbelief.
“Outrageous!”
Long Kun’s eyes blazed with rage. He had come within ten meters of killing Zhouyou Shijie, only to have the distance torn open again.
“Ding!”
[You have used Shadowless Step for an explosive dash. Movement Speed +300% for 10 seconds!]
With that done, Zhou Ming turned and ran, using Shadowless Step’s second mode to open the distance immediately.
Boom!
At the same moment, Gu Yuchen and Lei Qianjue could no longer withstand the Sword Saint’s full power. Their projections were cut apart and dispersed.
“Your abilities are extraordinary, Brother Zhou. This Ye is impressed!”
The Sword Saint praised him, then immediately attacked Long Kun and prevented the emperor from pursuing Zhou Ming.
Long Kun might have been stronger than either subordinate, but facing the Sword Saint alone was too much. Driven steadily backward, he had no choice but to withdraw his projection.
Zhou Ming’s risky intervention had completely overturned the balance of the battle.
“Come help me!” Renee’s face was bright red and sweat covered her brow. “I can only last another twenty minutes!”
Even in that state, she could still last another twenty minutes?
Ye Zhibei marveled inwardly and called back, “I’m coming!”
Then he charged toward the third Demon God.
Renee fell silent.
The battle had become almost entirely one-sided.
No matter how strong Eric was, he could not fight two supreme experts of his own tier head-on.
“Fuck!”
Bawang, who had almost felt sorry to see Zhouyou Shijie die to a resident, stared dumbly. “Seriously? He can turn this around too?”
“That move Zhouyou Shijie just used was completely broken!” Gaibang Laoer exclaimed in admiration.
A counterattack triggered by fatal damage!
Such techniques were not unheard of. Plenty of games had similar skills. The problem was that Zhou Ming had reflected the damage of a god-tier powerhouse.
The upper limit was absurd!
“You were lucky this time, Zhouyou Shijie!”
Facing both the Divine Ember Queen and the Sword Saint, Eric was overwhelmed. The cloak around him had been torn to pieces, revealing a bone-white skull with eerie purple soul fire burning within. “Now that you’ve lost the Light Faction’s natural protection, let’s see how long you survive!”
He threw down a token, relinquished control of the city, and rapidly withdrew.
The battle was already lost!
If he remained any longer, even his life would be in danger.
Seeing Eric retreat, the other two Demon Gods lost all desire to continue fighting and left in frustration.
“Is he really that hard to kill?” Amy asked, utterly miserable.
“This wasn’t our fault!” Balen consoled her. “That Eastern Region emperor is useless. He handed the Sword Saint, an incredibly powerful ally, straight to Zhou Ming. Then, when he finally had a chance, Zhou Ming turned his own attack against him. Everything that fool does is a steaming pile of garbage!”
“…You’re right!”
Amy was convinced. Grinding her teeth, she spat, “If Long Kun counts as human, I’ll eat dirt!”
Inside Juyan City, undead bones covered the ground and the air was thick with death.
After watching the three Demon Gods disappear beyond the horizon, Zhou Ming finally relaxed completely. Flame Soul Art’s enhancement faded, and his level fell to 56.
“Take it!”
Qianying handed the City Lord Token to Zhou Ming. The instant he accepted it, a system chime rang in his ears.
“Ding!”
[Congratulations! You have successfully captured Juyan City. Choose how you wish to take the city!]
Two options appeared before Zhou Ming.
[Occupy] / [Destroy]
“Which do you think is better, occupying it or destroying it?” Zhou Ming asked the others.
“Occupy it!” Ye Zhibei answered firmly. “Destroying the city would certainly grant a substantial one-time reward, but an occupied city cannot be attacked again for one month.”
“I see!”
Zhou Ming understood immediately.
Choosing occupation would buy him a month to catch his breath.
He did not make the choice at once. Instead, he took a pale golden card from his inventory and summoned Xiaoyou, whose resurrection cooldown had ended.
He had been looking forward to this moment for a very long time.
“Ding!”
[Under the effect of your Celestial Spirit Beast · Xiaoyou’s Super Lucky Star, your item Double Reward Card (Rare S Rank) has advanced into Super Double Reward Card (Rare SS Rank)!]
[Super Double Reward Card] (Rare SS Rank)
Description: If you have a strong hand, merely doubling down would be far too conservative.
Item Effect: The value of your next reward is quadrupled.
Zhou Ming swallowed hard, his heart hammering.
The system had explicitly stated that his Exclusive S-Rank Quest would award something of at least SS Rank. Now that Super Double Reward Card would quadruple its value, shouldn’t he receive rewards worth at least four SS-Rank items?
Well?
Answer him!!
“Occupy!”
Zhou Ming made his choice.
“Ding!”
[Congratulations to adventurer Flame Venerable · Zhouyou Shijie for successfully occupying Juyan City!]
“Ding!”
[Congratulations! You have completed the Exclusive Quest Lead the Army (Difficulty: S). Rewards: …]
…