"Ding!"
System prompt: Congratulations, you have triggered the main quest [Defend the Camp] (S-rank)!
Quest content: Repel the demon race, hold onto the hard-won camp. Quest condition one: The blacksmith, traveling merchant, and doctor must survive. Quest condition two: You must survive. Quest condition three: Xiang Ji must survive. After completing the quest, you will receive extremely generous rewards.
…
The sudden quest left Lin Zhao both surprised and delighted. He was surprised that an S-rank main quest would actually be triggered, and delighted that the two quests overlapped. Killing these monsters would also count towards the demon-slaying quest quota. This was quite awesome, undertaking two S-rank main quests simultaneously, something other players could only dream of.
He looked towards the female demon in front of him. She was too far away to see her information, so he pointed his blade and said with a distant laugh, "What's your name? It'll be good to know who my sword's ghost is when I kill you later!"
Instantly, the woman’s face contorted in anger: "You insolent brat! I am Hua Lu, a mid-stage fifth realm cat demon under Lord Bai Ye. Who do you think you are, daring to ask for my name?"
"Oh."
Lin Zhao nodded, lowering his sword, and chuckled, "If you want to die, then come and attack."
"As you wish!"
The cat demon named Hua Lu bared a pair of small fangs and laughed, "Come on, attack me! Tear Xiang Ji and this ignorant little thing to shreds!"
Immediately, countless cat demons came with the sound of tearing wind in the dark night. They were incredibly fast, all first and second realm demon soldiers. This time, they were different. They were level 80, starting at Flowing Gold, and couldn't be any lower!
Lin Zhao saw clearly. Before the group of cat demons could charge into the camp, he unleashed a sword strike. Instantly, a cage of sword energy exploded on the snowy ground in front of him, like a circular barrier, trapping the group of originally swift cat demons. They became slow, constantly subjected to dense sword energy attacks, their health dropping rapidly!
"Hmm?"
The cat demon Hua Lu frowned slightly and said, "To wield the sword dao to such an extent… could he be a mid-stage fifth realm sword cultivator? Little ones, be careful! Overwhelm him with absolute numbers! After killing this kid, preserve his head. I want to study the mysteries of the sword dao from his Sword Lake."
"Yes, my Lady!"
A group of small demons nodded in unison.
Lin Zhao had already drawn his sword and was locked in combat with the group of cat demons. Various AoE and splash damage effects erupted. The lightning strike effect of the Thunderclap Sword appeared quite frequently, with chase damage exploding. Once a chase hit, it triggered another splash effect. For a time, those demons fell like wheat being harvested, while Lin Zhao's experience bar continued to soar.
"Xiang Ji, fight independently!"
Lin Zhao shouted.
"This is excellent!"
Xiang Ji directly threw away his long sword and attacked with his fists. His ninth realm martial cultivator cultivation spoke for itself; it was extraordinary. The sound of fist imprints breaking through the wind was sharp, making Lin Zhao envious. In his previous life, he had been an eighth realm martial cultivator. His farmer's three punches were no joke, making countless young prodigies unable to lift their heads!
"Damn it!"
Not far away, the eighth realm cat demon Hua Lu watched the scene of Lin Zhao and Xiang Ji fighting. She hadn't expected these two to be so strong. However, Hua Lu dared not engage personally. At her cultivation level, she could handle the young sword cultivator, but against the ninth realm martial cultivator Xiang Ji, she was completely outmatched. If Xiang Ji had the intent to kill, he could likely crush an eighth realm demon cultivator within ten punches. Moreover, Hua Lu was a cat demon, inherently skilled in agility. Facing a martial cultivator who fought with brute force was a natural disadvantage.
"Attack!"
She waved her long sleeve and said, "Second Camp Battalion, attack Xiang Ji! This scoundrel has killed countless brothers and sisters of our kin in Lingbei. This debt must be settled with him."
"Yes, my Lady!"
Countless cat demons surged forward, willing to be cannon fodder. They charged at Xiang Ji from all directions, either turning into bloody mist under his punch, depleting a wisp of his martial cultivator's true qi, or leaving claw marks on his protective fist aura. In short, as long as they could deplete some of Xiang Ji's strength, their deaths would be meaningful.
"Human wave tactics…"
Lin Zhao continued to kill monsters with his sword, while observing the situation at Xiang Ji's end. Xiang Ji had two status bars above his head: a health bar and a true qi bar. Currently, his true qi was being severely depleted. In such a short time, nearly 10% of his true qi bar was gone, all consumed by his punches and the formation of his protective fist aura. At this rate, if Xiang Ji couldn't sustain his true qi, the cat demon Hua Lu might strike. An eighth realm demon cultivator who was well-rested could defeat a ninth realm martial cultivator whose true qi was exhausted; martial cultivators' bodies were strong, but their strength was built on abundant true qi.
He needed to kill faster, otherwise Xiang Ji would be in danger!
…
Three-thirty in the afternoon, Baima City.
Mo Chenxue, Xiao Xia, and the other two were leveling outside the city. As expected, today they openly left the city, and even when they saw players from the Cold Night Long guild, they no longer made a move.
"Yuan Qi, where is he?"
Xiao Xia's boyfriend frowned. "Why isn't he joining us for leveling today? Is he really that petty? Last time, Xiao Xia, what you said was reasonable. If he had any social sense, he wouldn't be so stingy."
"He's online."
Xiao Xia said, "He just isn't joining us for leveling. Xiao Xue, do you know what's going on?"
Mo Chenxue's delicate brows furrowed slightly. "He's been acting mysterious today and hasn't said a word. I don't know what's happening. He said he's doing something big, and it seems like he hasn't logged off since last night. I don't know what he's up to."
"Sigh…"
Xiao Xia smiled gently and said, "Actually, Yuan Qi is a person… if you feel he's suitable, I think you two could really be together. He's the kind of man who would be devoted to you."
"Indeed."
Xiao Xia's boyfriend also smiled slightly. "If you were with him, he would definitely protect you with all his heart."
"You don't need to persuade me…"
Mo Chenxue chuckled faintly. "I have no feelings for him, nor do I like him. I've never accepted his gifts or red envelopes. And I don't agree with what you're saying. Are we living this life just to find someone who is wholeheartedly good to us? Even if we don't like them? I don't want to settle for less in this life. If I don't like him, it doesn't matter how good he is to me."
Xiao Xia pursed her lips, not knowing what to say.
In fact, Mo Chenxue was clear-headed. What did most women pursue in this life? Someone who was genuinely good to them? Or someone who could provide them with wealth and status? Choosing one of the two would suffice. But if that were the case, Ghost King could provide her with wealth and status. Since she had no feelings for either, why could she refuse Ghost King but not Yuan Qi Manman?
This man is so good to you, why don't you choose him?
This in itself was a form of emotional blackmail. Dislike is dislike, no matter how good they are. She, Mo Chenxue, was young and beautiful, and she only wanted to be with someone she liked. Was that too much to ask? But the person she liked…
She sighed and looked into the distance.
That place… is a bit far away~~~~
…
A short while later, Xiao Xia received a message from Yuan Qi Manman: "Xiao Xia, can you come back to the city? I have something I hope you can pass to Xiao Xue?"
"Ah?"
Xiao Xia was stunned. "I'm leveling outside. Is it that important? Do you really need me to return to the city right now?"
"Yes, it's extremely important."
Yuan Qi Manman's expression was weary. "Hurry over."
"Got it."
A few seconds later, Xiao Xia returned to the city and headed straight for the Great Cathedral. Yuan Qi Manman was sitting on a stone stool by the entrance of the Great Cathedral. He stood up and walked over, initiated a trade, and handed Xiao Xia a golden scroll.
"What is this?"
Xiao Xia took out the scroll and her eyes flickered. Instantly, she couldn't look away—
[Shepherd God] (Celestial Grade): Hidden Profession Advancement Proof. Upon use, you can obtain the advancement quest for the powerful hidden profession "Shepherd God." After completing the quest, you will become the "Shepherd God" standing proudly between heaven and earth!
"Xiao Xia."
Yuan Qi Manman frowned. "This Shepherd God is the advanced hidden profession of the Nomad. When I chose my profession, I picked Nomad. You give it to Xiao Xue, and then you help her complete the advancement. The Shepherd God not only has powerful recovery abilities but also many hidden control and output skills. Once she becomes a Shepherd God, perhaps no one will dare to bully Xiao Xue…"
"Yuan Qi."
Xiao Xia's delicate brows furrowed. "You know what I said yesterday might have been a bit harsh. I apologize to you, but… do you know the value of this advancement proof? If you take it to the auction house, it might sell for over a hundred million universal coins. It could completely change your life, and you wouldn't have to worry about petty matters anymore, nor endure the cold stares of your landlord. Do you understand?"
"I know."
Yuan Qi Manman's expression was tired. "But I don't want that. I just want to give it to Xiao Xue. As long as she's happy, I'd rather give up that hundred million."
"Why don't you give it to her yourself?"
Xiao Xia said, "Such an important item. If you give it to her yourself, Xiao Xue will be able to truly feel your kindness towards her. That way… your chances of getting together will be higher."
"Don't you know Xiao Xue?"
Yuan Qi Manman said with a distressed expression, "Actually, I know too. Xiao Xue has always looked down on me. It's because I'm too ugly, I'm a failure, I can't compare to Bai Yi, the leader of the Scarlet Moon Knights. Who is Bai Yi? He's on par with Shen Xingchen, Chen Xue, and Leng Yan. What am I compared to them? Xiao Xue looks down on me, and she's stubborn. She even refused a gold-grade necklace I sent her before. She doesn't want my things; she's afraid of owing me psychologically. So…"
He glanced at Xiao Xia. "Give it to her. Just say you saw it as a mysterious scroll while browsing stalls in Baima City, bought it, and got it appraised. Tell her to advance quickly and then help everyone soar together!"
"Alright then."
Xiao Xia nodded. "Don't worry, I'll find an opportunity to tell her about this later. I definitely won't let Yuan Qi Manman be the sucker."
"Xiao Xia…"
Yuan Qi Manman hesitated before speaking. "Thank you…"
"You're welcome."
Xiao Xia turned and left, calling Mo Chenxue to return to the city, while also frowning.
In this world, love is the most hurtful. Those who are devoted and righteous are often hurt the deepest. Of course, those who fall head over heels and give their all are also the most pathetic.