In the sky, a giant broken green gourd covered in vines contained a Nine Nether Dragon Court. Within the shattered Dragon Court struggled a reincarnated true dragon. The old Taoist, now clad in a purple robe, used his right sword-finger to open the celestial gate and his left hand to drag the gourd's vines, forcefully lifting a reincarnated true dragon into the heavens in broad daylight!
Between heaven and earth, wisps of celestial phenomena materialized, a breathtaking sight.
Lin Zhao stood atop a mountain peak, gazing at the magnificent spectacle of the old Taoist ascending with the reincarnated dragon. His heart swelled with a profound righteousness. All human cultivators in the mortal realm should aspire to such a grand feat as Old Man Wang's!
At that moment, a chime suddenly rang in his ear. This fleeting SSS-class mission had concluded in just a few hours, but the rewards were exceptionally generous.
"Ding!"
System Announcement: Congratulations to everyone. Through everyone's efforts, the reincarnated true dragon possessed by Qi Liandao has finally been subdued and sent to the upper realm. The server-wide main quest [Dragon Slaying] (SSS-class) has come to a perfect end! Among you, player [Bai Yi] ranks first in quest contribution, receiving rewards: Level +3, Charm +5, Reputation +30,000, Gold Mullet Coins +60, and an additional reward: [Shadow Mirror Cloak] (Ghost Divine Artifact). Player [Leng Yan] ranks second, receiving rewards: Level +2, Charm +3, Reputation +20,000, Gold Mullet Coins +30, and an additional reward: [Blazing Armguards] (Heavenly Artifact). Player [Bu Jian Xing Kong] ranks third, receiving rewards: Level +2, Charm +2, Reputation +15,000, Gold Mullet Coins +20, and an additional reward: [Deep Space Robe] (Heavenly Artifact). The remaining players in the top ten are: Zheng Du, Guo Ke Wu Ming, Yi Shi Cang Liang, Shu Mei Jian Qing Feng, Feng Bing Cao Jia, Xian Bai, and Xue Qian Cheng. All players who participated in the event will receive corresponding rewards. Congratulations to everyone!
...
It was over.
Lin Zhao took a deep breath. He hadn't done much, really, just used an invincible skill to land a few hits on Qi Liandao's reincarnated true dragon. Yet, these few hits had propelled him to the top of the contribution list. It truly lived up to the saying: fortune favors the bold, and the timid starve. The rules of the game were no different.
He opened his inventory. A shimmering golden cloak lay within. He reached out and unfurled it, an immortal aura emanating from it. Its attributes appeared as he moved, befitting an item signed by the True Dragon's Shadow.
[Shadow Mirror Cloak] (Ghost Divine Artifact)
Defense: 2750
Strength: +189
Stamina: +185
Agility: +183
Effect: Damage Reduction +10%
Effect: Spell Dodge +25%
Effect: Sword Heart, Sword Damage +40%
Effect: Resilience, increases user's HP cap by 25,000
Effect: Determination, reduces magic damage taken by 15% from all elements
Additional: Increases user's Attack Power by 65%
Additional: Increases user's Defense by 63%
Legend: The Shadow Mirror Cloak. Ten thousand years ago, the True Dragon's Shadow commanded heroes across the Sea of Heavens, wielding a True Dragon Sword and almost dominating the Sea of Heavens for a thousand years. The cloak worn by the Shadow was infused with True Dragon energy and regal dominance, gradually taking on celestial phenomena, thus creating this Shadow Mirror Cloak. After the Shadow's demise, the cloak vanished without a trace.
Requires Strength: 3500
Requires Level: 145
...
There was nothing more to say. The stats were off the charts, far superior to his current Flowing Gold Artifact, the Azure Scale Cloak. The difference in attributes was staggering; the Azure Scale Cloak offered only 400 defense, while the Shadow Mirror Cloak boasted 2750. After this gear change, Lin Zhao's armor would reach new heights. With Phantom Beast Armor and the Guardian Spirit Sword's Hao Ran Ming Xing protection, his actual defense would become even more terrifying, akin to a turtle's shell.
More importantly, after the previous Stone of Destiny update, the reward system for top-tier quests seemed to have changed. Previously, rewards were in tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of gold coins. Now, they were directly rewarded as unbound Gold Mullet Coins. "Tian Xia's" game company was truly wealthy. Each Gold Mullet Coin was equivalent to 1,000,000 universal currency. This one instance had awarded Lin Zhao 60 Gold Mullet Coins, already equivalent to 60,000,000 universal currency. In this era, 60,000,000 universal currency was enough to support 6,000 households for a year!
Lin Zhao stood up, atop the peak, surveying the Ghost Realm. The matter wasn't entirely resolved. The old Taoist had ascended with Qi Liandao, shattering the scheme of the reincarnated true dragon. But what of the Ghost Realm? The powerful Tan Xin had disappeared during the recent battle. It was highly likely she had regained her senses and escaped amidst the chaos. Although she had lost a soul and a spirit, Tan Xin was still a Level Twelve Coffin Bearer. Combined with a Level Twelve Wandering Corpse and a Level Twelve Vengeful Ghost, Tan Xin remained a Ghost Emperor. Once she activated secret arts like the Green Soul Convergence Technique and possessed the Wandering Corpse, her combat power would still rival that of a Level Fourteen expert. Leaving her alive was always a threat.
He frowned. "Forget it. This isn't something I can change alone."
Just then, a green lotus bloomed beneath his feet. Lin Zhao and all the national server players present in the Ghost Realm were teleported away. The great battle was over, and this map was about to refresh.
...
Amidst the mountains.
Ding Chunqiu, riding a Cloud River warhorse, galloped swiftly. He used vines to bind Tan Xin's body tightly behind him. Looking up at the figures emerging on the distant mountains, these were the top-tier experts of the three races, patrolling the Ghost Realm, seeking to eliminate Tan Xin.
Therefore, Ding Chunqiu, despite being a Golden Core Sword Cultivator, dared not fly into the sky with Tan Xin. He could only race through the forests at the foot of the mountains.
"Chunqiu..."
Tan Xin's voice was extremely weak. She coughed, spitting a mouthful of blood onto Ding Chunqiu's neck. She smiled bitterly and said, "Do you think... your master is particularly foolish, willingly letting herself be used?"
"This disciple does not think so."
Ding Chunqiu frowned. "This disciple only feels that Master is someone who dares to love and dares to hate."
"Lies."
Tan Xin smiled sadly. "Do you think I didn't know Qi Liandao's intentions and plans? I knew everything, but I could only pretend to know nothing. When Qi Liandao arrived, I was merely an eleventh-level ghost cultivator, while Qi Liandao was at the peak of the twelfth level. If he didn't use me, he would have killed me. As for the matchmaking by the old matchmaker, do you think I wouldn't see some clues? It's true that Qi Liandao used me, and it's true that I fell deeply in love with him. But beyond that, Master seized the opportunity, used Qi Liandao's methods to overcome her life and death tribulation, and achieve her current twelfth-level strength—isn't that also true?"
Ding Chunqiu was shocked. He thought he had seen through everything, but in the end, he understood nothing. Those truly in the midst of the game understood better than anyone. Qi Liandao used Tan Xin to seize the remnants of the True Dragon's Shadow, while Tan Xin also used Qi Liandao to overcome her life and death tribulation. They each took what they needed. If not for Old Man Wang's shrewd maneuvering, Qi Liandao might have truly obtained the complete remnants of the True Dragon and become the closest existence to the fifteenth level in the mortal realm. At that time... Tan Xin would have ascended with him. Qi Liandao needed a general like Tan Xin under his command, and they would still be taking what they needed.
"Chunqiu..."
Tan Xin sighed. "If Master can escape this calamity, you will be the first to be credited. Master will not forget your merits."
"Master, now is not the time to talk about this," Ding Chunqiu frowned. "The most important thing now is to get you to a safe place to recuperate."
"Mm."
Just then, Ding Chunqiu's body trembled. While on his warhorse, his hands slowly turned to golden dust, being teleported and displaced back to the human realm. After all, he was a human player.
"Ah?!"
Ding Chunqiu was startled. He turned to look at Tan Xin. "Master, you must take care of yourself..."
Tan Xin smiled and nodded.
...
In the evening, the server underwent maintenance.
Although it was only a brief two hours, everyone logged off. They went to eat dinner. In the kitchen, Wang Ju, Luo Man, and Mo Chenxue were busy. Chen Xue was watering flowers in the garden, accompanied by Shen Xingchen. In the activity room, Ding Chi and Zhang Jun picked up their rackets and engaged in another match. Lin Zhao, bored, went to the garden and sat on a white bench with Shen Xingchen, watching Chen Xue water the flowers.
"There's new version content after the update."
Shen Xingchen moved her phone in front of Lin Zhao. Lin Zhao glanced at it. Indeed, after this update, the national server would add a "Create Your Own Skill" feature. The officials explicitly stated that after level 150, there would be no basic skills set for major classes. All players' learned skills would be completely open and could be self-created.
"I wonder who will be the first to take the plunge~~~"
Shen Xingchen leaned back lazily on the bench and smiled. "What about you? Do you have confidence in creating your own skills?"
"Yes."
Lin Zhao smiled brightly and said, "I've returned to martial arts now, haven't I? Although I'm only a second-level martial artist, I've completed the fist techniques and principles of the Farmer's Three Punches. The Farmer's Three Punches now has nine forms. If my predictions are correct, once the self-created skill feature is released, my nine forms of fist techniques will all be self-created and unique."
...
Shen Xingchen pursed her red lips, filled with envy!
"Xingchen."
Lin Zhao frowned. "Why don't you have a sect or anything yet? Logically, it shouldn't be difficult for you to find a master..."
"None are suitable. We'll see."
Shen Xingchen smiled. "I can't be like Su Xinghe, Li Canghai, or Ding Chunqiu and go to whoever is at a higher realm to be their disciple. Finding a master is a matter of destiny."
"That's true."
Lin Zhao nodded. "It's fine. When I reach a higher realm in the future, you can be my disciple, and I'll teach you how to punch!"
"Punching?"
Shen Xingchen couldn't help but chuckle lightly. But I'm not interested.
...
After dinner, everyone logged back in.
"Swish!"
Lin Zhao's character appeared in front of the Tian Ran Ju. Before he could steady himself, a figure as white as snow descended from the sky. It was Lin Wanhua.
"Miss Lin!"
His smile was radiant. "It's wonderful to see you returned safely."
"Yes."
Lin Wanhua's lips curved slightly. "But I've come this time entrusted by someone to give you two farewell gifts."