Chapter 96
Chapter 96
A god-tier expert’s inventory was enormous, allowing them to transport vast quantities of construction resources in a single trip. Renee was especially remarkable. Though her movement was slow, her carrying capacity was extraordinary.
After the group stored the materials in a suitable location and returned, Juyan City looked brand-new. Its former grandeur from before the siege had already been restored.
No matter how many materials they secretly removed, Juyan City’s advancement into a Tier-One Main City was now a certainty.
Night fell.
The moon shone brightly overhead.
Zhou Ming entered the City Lord’s Manor and sat in its courtyard, his brow furrowed as he considered his options.
His leveling was being obstructed!
The city was advancing!
The Dark Faction’s interference on every front had indeed created enormous trouble for him. Claiming he could resolve it easily would be a lie.
But as the faction’s leader, appearing deeply worried would only put more pressure on everyone else.
After a moment’s thought, Zhou Ming opened his skill panel.
[Trial of the Seven Sins] (???)
Description: Only by enduring the ultimate extremes of the cardinal sins may one become a true Demon Lord.
Sin of Pride: [Demonic Flame Armor]
Sin of Envy: [Flame Soul Art]
Sin of Wrath: [Return to Ruin]
Sin of Sloth: Locked (Automatically activates in 30 days.)
Sin of Greed: ???
Sin of Gluttony: ???
Sin of Lust: ???
…
He had already passed three stages of the Trial of the Seven Sins!
What kind of ordeal would the Sin of Sloth bring?
“The previous trials activated automatically within three days. Why is this one giving me thirty?” Zhou Ming wondered uneasily.
Was the Sin of Sloth far more difficult than the first three, prompting the system to give him a longer reprieve?
Or perhaps…
Rustle, rustle.
Footsteps approached.
Zhou Ming looked up to see a silver-haired girl entering his sight.
“Am I disturbing you?” Qianying asked.
“Of course not!”
Zhou Ming shook his head with an amused smile. “I was only thinking about our current situation.”
“Have you thought of anything?” Qianying walked closer and sat on the stone stool opposite him.
“It’s a mess!”
Zhou Ming rubbed his temples and spoke frankly. “I don’t know when the enemy will arrive in my homeland, or how I should deal with them.”
That was the most urgent problem before him!
He had killed far too many players in the game.
Countless people hated him.
If his real identity was exposed, there was no telling what might happen. Even in the best-case scenario, he would need extensive dealings with government personnel.
“Have you ever tried activating a skill after returning home?” Qianying suggested, then added, “I mean putting everything you have into it. Don’t treat it as a joke or make the attempt halfheartedly.”
“All right. I’ll try it later!”
Zhou Ming fell into thought.
He had tried to activate Dawnbringer in reality before. Although it had failed, he had not made a serious attempt, just as Qianying said.
“Come to think of it, is this thing really so valuable?” Zhou Ming took out the God-Demon Orb and displayed it openly before Qianying. “I admit it has brought me tremendous benefits, but why are god-tier experts so desperate to seize it?”
“I don’t know what it truly represents or what meaning it holds.” Qianying gently shook her head. “Perhaps the answer will only be revealed once you have genuinely passed every trial.”
“I see…”
Zhou Ming studied the God-Demon Orb in his hand.
After he became its new owner, the entire orb had turned red and begun radiating warmth.
Breaking the dimensional wall required power beyond god-tier!
After Gaibang Laoda’s warning corroborated that point, Zhou Ming firmly believed it.
But how could he bring the beyond-god-tier God-Demon Orb into reality and use it to gain part of his in-game power?
He had no clue at all. Zhou Ming put the God-Demon Orb away, then remembered something.
“Ying’er!”
“Hmm?”
“Do you remember our wager?” Zhou Ming prompted tentatively.
“You mean…”
Qianying frowned. “The massage?”
“Exactly!”
Zhou Ming beamed. “You wouldn’t want to become a god-tier expert who goes back on her word, would you?”
“I’m only rubbing your shoulders?” Qianying confirmed repeatedly.
“That’s exactly right!”
Zhou Ming nodded again and again. “If you don’t know how, I can teach you… Of course, if you’re genuinely unwilling, I would never force you!”
“I’ll try.”
Qianying pursed her lips, rose, and walked behind Zhou Ming.
They had made the terms of their wager perfectly clear. No quest compelled her to follow through, but her pride would never allow her to break a promise.
“A massage is simple.”
Zhou Ming shifted into a position that made it easier for her and began patiently instructing her. “First, grip this area with your hands. Move up and down, sometimes lightly and sometimes firmly. Just don’t go too fast, or it won’t feel good…”
“Like this?” Qianying followed his instructions.
“Yes, yes, right there. Oh… A little harder…”
When she found the perfect spot, Zhou Ming could not keep a groan from escaping.
After gaming all day, every day, his shoulders truly were aching.
“Could you stop making strange noises?” Qianying complained, embarrassed.
“It felt so good that I couldn’t help it!” Zhou Ming apologized. “Keep going. I’ll try to stay quiet!”
Qianying: “…”
She massaged him for about ten minutes.
During that time, Zhou Ming secretly turned his head to admire the snowy-white hands resting on either shoulder.
Qianying’s fingers were pale and slender, like impeccably sculpted works of art.
Unfortunately, having the owner of those hands massage his shoulders was already the limit for now.
“What are you two doing out here in the middle of the night?” Renee poked her head into the courtyard.
Zhou Ming explained, “Nothing much. Ying’er is using her hands to help my body and mind relax.”
“Huh?”
Renee visibly misunderstood and jumped in surprise. “You two are getting that adventurous?”
“Don’t overthink it!”
Qianying withdrew her hands and snapped irritably, “I was only rubbing his shoulders!”
With a third wheel now present, Zhou Ming could hardly ask Qianying to continue. He immediately changed the subject. “The legguards dropped by the Snow Ape King today were pretty good. Ying’er, help me enhance them.”
“All right!”
Qianying immediately used her special power, causing the legguards to soar by two tiers.
[Icebound Legguards] (King)
Defense: 800-850
HP: 15,000
Bonus: Ice Resistance +5%
Trait: Defense +30%, HP +50%
Effect: Built Tough, Damage Taken -100
Effect: Practiced Hand, Required Level -15
Required Level: 85
Required Fame: 1,000
Description: Legguards made from the Snow Ape King’s fur, offering excellent protection from the cold.
…
“Tsk!”
Renee could not resist pouting.
The instant she arrived, the two of them suddenly started acting proper.
Ring… Ring…
At that moment, a phone began ringing.
“It’s getting late. Good night!”
“Good night!”
…
Zhou Ming removed his gaming helmet and checked the caller ID on his phone.
His mother was calling.
Zhou Ming answered, puzzled. “Mom, why are you calling so late? Is something wrong?”
“…”
No one answered from the other end.
“Hello?”
Zhou Ming raised his voice. “Mom, can you hear me?”
“Zhouyou Shijie?”
After a long pause, a strange, hoarse voice came through the phone.
…