Chapter 595
Dao Ma hesitated for a moment. He didn't want to participate in the battle between epic-level players, but the person in front of him had already given him a reward, and he had to repay it.
"Besides hunting and having fun, some invading factions do so because their skills are unique and they need players as fodder, while others simply do it to avoid trouble."
"The Outpost doesn't charge points and has unlimited space, that's a good idea." Yuki, holding his bowl, had learned some new techniques. "So, is there any way to find them while preventing them from escaping?"
He ate the delicious food while speaking menacing words. It was as if the corners of his knife were twitching, but I didn't sense any fighting spirit; it was more like the interest of hunting.
"Making a big fuss will attract the Judge."
"They don't have time, so it doesn't matter if they attract attention." Yuki had already planned to use this as a stage and was eager for the Judge to arrive. "I don't have much time, the sooner the better, the more the better."
Going to each one individually is too troublesome. If you kill one, the others will get the message and run away. But this time it's completely different from the time of the Aether Particles; Yuki is in a hurry.
The relocation will be completed within two days, and the mouthpieces scattered throughout the Borderlands will release the same message. If the stage is warmed up beforehand, the effect will be even better.
No one answered, only the sound of Yuuki's bowl and chopsticks, the refreshing cucumber swallowed into his mouth, and another sip of warm tea. The escort kept thinking, and Yuuki had no intention of urging him.
"My faction talent has reached LV4, so I can issue invitations to heroes." Dao Ma raised his head, as if he had made up his mind. "You already know that the talent of 'Forgotten Hidden Jianghu' is called 'Reputation,' and the more martial arts heroes acknowledge it, the greater the bonus."
Yuki nodded. This talent was somewhat similar to 'Hero Kingdom'. Unlike Noble Phantasms Aether Affinity, which were more intuitive, leveling up only increased the bonus multiplier and special abilities. For example, at LV4 and above, it could notify all players in the faction.
You can either call upon your friends or dominate the martial arts world.
It requires the worship of players in one's own faction, much like a "martial arts alliance leader." Don't let the abstract nature fool you; if you can truly make a faction submit, the bonus is incredibly powerful.
"Faction talents are active skills and cannot be activated by a puppet, so the decision is yours."
Yuki went through all that trouble, but it all came down to the fact that Dao Ma was of use to him. After all that he had said, Dao Ma knew he had no other choice.
This person is going to cause a huge uproar; anyone who tries to stop him will die, and the message has already been made public.
He raised his head, his gaze solemn. "'Taiyi' Lord, if I do it, will I be able to get a ticket?"
"Yes, but most likely not here. Whether you can catch it depends on your luck." Yuki nodded again, making his point very clear.
The attempt to Forgotten Hidden Jianghu is unlikely to succeed, but as long as one survives, the Valhalla, the Mechanical Believers, or the Savior can all send someone to pick them up.
"I have no right to question or nitpick, as long as we can escape hell." Dao Ma's strength lay in his quick wit; he immediately seized the opportunity, "You should know about the rules of the Forgotten Hidden Jianghu, right?"
"I know, because of the special faction talents, becoming an epic-level player isn't too difficult, but to ensure this place remains a cesspool, any player who tries to gain 'fame' will perish."
The intelligence clearly states that the players here are scattered into small settlements, and anyone who wants to become the leader of the martial arts alliance is doomed. There's no way around it; this place is more leaky than a sieve, and there's simply no chance for them to grow stronger.
Being a hero or a chivalrous knight-errant is difficult, but being a traitor or an inside agent is certainly easy.
"But I'm not strong enough. I don't need epic-level players to wipe me out, and I can't make much of a fuss." Dao Ma came to his senses at this moment. He had some prestige and was considered one of the strongest local players, but he was not qualified to gather heroes.
"Simple, you cause a commotion, I'll do the killing."
"But you are not at all..." Touma was stunned mid-sentence. Yuuki put down the bowl, took out the Fool's Mask, and looked at himself carefully. When he put on the mask, he turned into a hard-core escort.
Disguise props?
Aside from the fact that the levels are so high that it's almost impossible to tell the difference, it's not uncommon. But which player would recognize someone by their face? That's common sense.
Etc.
He took out the detection tool he had previously used, and after just one glance, he was completely bewildered.
The Forgotten Hidden Jianghu, the genuine Forgotten Hidden Jianghu, in other words, he is me?
The story of the fox replacing the prince is absurd; it should be called the tiger replacing the prince.
There were too many inexplicable things today, but he knew that this would solve the biggest problem. With Taiyi's strength, it would be strange if those foolish players who rushed over didn't get slaughtered.
"The martial arts world is always accompanied by adventures. If someone falls off a cliff, he or she will acquire unparalleled martial arts skills, or simply gain decades of inner strength." Yuki smiled, and took out a fool's mask, and put it on the face of the dull bodyguard, who suddenly turned into a black-haired young man.
"Your fortuitous encounter is a bit outrageous, though. You instantly gained the power of 'Taiyi.' You call for help, I'll kill for you, and all the fame will be yours. How about this kind of extraordinary encounter?"
That's more than outrageous!
Dao Ma only regretted not reading more books when he was in the Xiaoqi Guard. He couldn't find a suitable adjective for the moment, but he understood that 'Taiyi' could perfectly disguise himself and could not use the talents of his own faction.
Therefore, he was tasked with gathering the heroes, while Taiyi became the one who killed people in front of him, and it was unclear whether the faction talent would be effective.
'Reputation' lies in recognition. If an ancient monster disguises himself as himself, who is he actually recognizing?
Yuki waited for him to think, then leaned forward and drew the sword from his waist.
The sword is three feet long, a straight sword with a ring pommel, and a level five item, just right for others to use. The mirror-like blade reflects a face that looks extremely hardcore.
The knife is nice, and the outfit is nice too.
"Post a hero post to inform all the players who have forgotten about the world: 'The Daredevil' Dao Ma has been promoted to epic, and invites all the heroes to come and join the alliance to discuss the future of the camp."
Yuki took a few steps forward, pushed open the door, and the wind and rain were raging. Xiao Qi at the door didn't even notice that Dao Ma had been switched until Yuki smiled slightly at her, at which point she was stunned.
Outside the ravine, figures were flickering, clearly drawn by the nuclear explosion of the mechs. Knowing there was a player settlement here, they came to question them.
Dao Ma was somewhat famous, and these players recognized him, but out of caution, they used a detection item to test him first before shouting loudly:
"Stop! We'll just ask you questions and you answer them!"
Yuuki ignored them, resting his hand on his sword as he walked through the rainy night. The people in the Yuki Forgotten Hidden Jianghu were all dressed in ancient costumes; some wore heavy armor, some wore tight-fitting leather suits, and some had bull heads—their styles were all different.
"Stop! Do you want to be wiped out by the 'Giant World'?"
"We are players of the 'Manual of Hundred Demons'. Anyone who gets any closer will be killed on sight!"
A mecha over ten meters tall appeared out of thin air, its technologically advanced floating cannons deploying. The minotaur took out a giant hammer. They weren't fools; the local players of 'Forgotten Hidden Jianghu' mainly relied on close-quarters combat and skill, so how could they let him get close?
The newcomer showed no signs of killing intent and walked towards them as if he were deaf and mute, without any hesitation. The players reacted immediately.
"Court death!"
With a roar, a molten ray pierced through the rainy night, followed by a giant hammer that had expanded hundreds of times to the size of a mountain. But in that instant, Yuki disappeared from the detection array and from Minotaur's perception.
Like a whirlwind, the raindrops vanished in an instant, leaving only a clear, dragon-like 'clang' as Yuki stood before the player.
The longsword, as smooth as a mirror, reflected the dazed mechs and monsters. They stared wide-eyed as the longsword blossomed brilliantly in Yuki's hand before he sheathed it with a backhand motion.
"Don't utter the word 'death' in front of me."
Yuki glanced at them, then turned around and looked at the desolate mountain valley. More than a hundred players had run out, carrying tattered equipment, staring in disbelief at this scene. At the largest shed, 'Yuki Sorajima' stood there in astonishment, tightly gripping the hand of the girl next to him.
All was silent, for just as the blade was sheathed and emitted a crisp 'ding' sound.
The mech shattered into pieces, the bull's head and giant hammer were split in two, then there were the mountain peaks a kilometer away, and even the distant sky.
The mountains bowed before the swordsman, and the sky cleared a path for him. Against the backdrop of Earth Collapse and splitting earth, Yuki returned, sword in hand, and a thunderous roar echoed through the valley, accompanied by deafening cheers.
They couldn't comprehend this power; epic-level players were no ordinary commodity, and most people couldn't even dream of watching them.
A bamboo hat, black clothes, a long knife, and a shaved face with a unshaven beard. This is the "darling" sword and horse, and it must be the "darling" sword and horse. When the camp is reduced to a sewer, they need a nuclear weapon that can protect themselves, so that they no longer have to struggle to survive inside and outside the dungeon.
Everything was calculated.
Yuki walked through the crowd filled with admiration. There were plenty of intelligent people among them who could see the suspicious points, but they needed a hero to create the situation, even if it only brought them temporary peace. Yuki needed them to set up a scheme and help him find some prey in these final moments.
Everyone gets what they need; that's fair.
"Well, did you get the feedback on the faction talent?" Yuki returned to the front of the house in a few seconds. A light rain was falling, soaking his black clothes.
Dao Ma nodded blankly, his head still spinning. Could this be the legendary adventure?
The characteristic of 'nothingness' is practically a bug; in places like the Forgotten Hidden Jianghu and the Hero Kingdom, it can even mass-produce powerful individuals?
Yuki didn't know, and there was no need to experiment, so he patted the man on the shoulder.
"This mask has a time limit, so don't show yourself easily. Gather your teammates and deal with the traitor. I don't want to alert the enemy," Yuki instructed, then asked, "Has that invitation been sent out yet?"
"It's been sent. All players of 'Forgotten Hidden Jianghu' will receive the message simultaneously and will notify the person behind it immediately." Forgotten Hidden Jianghu is full of small leaders like him, but no one is foolish enough to be the first to stick their neck out.
"I'd like to ask, what if someone really comes to the alliance, hoping to change the status quo?"
"You decide for yourself. I don't have the energy to deal with the affairs of the Forgotten Hidden Jianghu. I only have one request: don't scare away my prey." Yuki turned and left. He didn't care about the story of this faction, and he knew that the prey wouldn't be scared away.
If a lowly faction dares to rebel against the Heavenly Gang, the big shots will definitely have to come and see. And once they've come, they won't need to leave.
"Please wait." Dao Ma called out to Yuki for the first time, taking a deep breath. "You've put so much effort into hunting?"
"No, I'm just idling around anyway, might as well get some exercise. You focus on your work, and I'll let you know when the world really Earth Collapse."
The Earth Collapse?!
Dao Ma's face twitched. Only the Grand Judge could make 'Taiyi' say that the Earth Collapse. It turned out that Forgotten Hidden Jianghu had been chosen as the battlefield.
This is a true stroke of luck. A battle of that level would destroy all the players at this Outpost, but receiving a warning allows you to take your closest loved ones to safety first.
"What is he saying? What's going on? And who is he?"
His companions quickly gathered around him. Dao Ma glanced at them but said nothing, knowing that anyone else who knew would die. The questions stopped, and his eyes told them everything.
"Let's gather everyone together. An epic player who wants to change Destiny shouldn't be stuck in this dilapidated mountain valley."
The Borderlands is currently too chaotic, with massacres, hunting, and rebellions happening everywhere. Due to the existence of authority, powerful factions dare not start battles at the other side's Outpost, but they still find 'neutral' areas to fight.
Countless players perish every second. The pure sandbox world offers so many choices that even the Judge struggle to find cannon fodder.
Before the Reincarnation Game issues its kill order, only a fool would act at this time. It's better to take advantage of the Judge's distraction and cause some trouble. Events like 'Forgotten Hidden Jianghu' will naturally be buried among countless mountains of corpses.
An epic-level local player wanting to upgrade to hero status is just a joke for most people, except for a few factions. The Judge doesn't even bother to verify the message because it's pointless.
Various incidents of people impersonating 'Taiyi' are emerging one after another. They simply don't have the energy to distinguish them one by one, while Aizen has already put forward the core point:
Ignore those fancy fake targets and focus your efforts on killing 'Taiyi' himself. There are countless players in this Borderlands; who knows where a powerful figure might suddenly appear?
These hidden dangers need time to develop into a disaster, and neither side can wait until then.
148 hours until the 'Night Parade of One Hundred Demons' battle.
A week is negligible in the context of Reincarnation Game; without new stimuli, it would probably take several months for the game to have any effect.
Yuki sat upright in the wooden chair, gently flipping through the intelligence sent by the Thorny Rose.
Preparations were underway at breakneck speed, and more and more players entered the Outpost, all hiding inside his room.
That infinitely large private space finally came in handy; it could hold a hundred million people. The entire process was kept strictly confidential, and none of the participating players knew where they were going.
"There are definitely clues, but you don't have time to investigate." Yuki propped his head up. The entire Outpost had been sealed off, and it would take the Judge a lot of effort to investigate. However, it wouldn't take long; they could probably reach the core within half a month.
"But the problem is, it hasn't even been half a month."
With fingers lightly tapping on her thigh, everything was poised to launch, with new energy being injected every minute, keeping the senior students and others extremely busy. Meanwhile, the Thorny Rose was also preparing for battle, a scene of utter chaos.
Like the calm before a storm, both sides waited for the starting gun to fire, ready to engage in a desperate battle with no way out. Fortunately, the starting pistol was in Yuki's hands, and he could pull the trigger whenever he wanted.
"The combat strength at the mid-to-low level is now roughly equal."
After glancing at the final data, Yuki pondered quietly. He didn't have the time or the courage to expand the number of allies without restraint. Leaking the information prematurely would be counterproductive. The real problem now was the high-level combat power.
Shiki Ryougi, Elysia, Geralt, and himself—a total of four Epic IV-rank players—were less than half the number of their opponents. While there were slightly more Epic III-rank players like Mari Illustrious Makinami, Arkad, and Demon Child, Yuki estimated that it would take the three of them working together to defeat a single Grand Inquisitor.
We still need to find a solution from the top-level combat capabilities; we can't add to them, we can only subtract from them.
Yuki looked at the magnificent hall. This Chinese-style palace was something he had snatched from the so-called 'Hidden Sword Villa'. While accumulating strength and preparing for the final battle, his progress had also taken a big step forward.
The reputation of the "darter" Toma is getting louder and louder. The camp's talents are concentrated on the real escort, which makes his strength improve very quickly. Now some minor problems no longer require Yuki's intervention.
Local players began to be convinced, and players from other factions started to take notice. The entire Borderlands also began to pay attention to Forgotten Hidden Jianghu, wondering what kind of magic Dao Ma had taken to suddenly become an unparalleled master, with all challengers never to return.
"Miss Ryougi Shiki, prepare to send your mouthpiece into action. I've already arranged for an extradition agent."
Yuki quickly wrote a few lines; of course, he wouldn't help for nothing, as he valued the talent and local customs of this faction.
The title of "Martial Arts Alliance Leader" might sound a bit childish, but it carries immense weight among local players. After discovering that Dao Ma possessed genuine skills, more and more players flocked to the alliance. Furthermore, due to the highly decentralized nature of authority, there were many times more "guides" here than in other factions.
With just a little authorization, an invitation can be sent to players from other factions. The guides here are not only numerous but also highly professional, and their actions are swift and efficient.
Currently, most skilled players are staying in the Borderlands, which is the core of the return world. News spreads fastest there, and the commotion I've caused will attract their attention.
The game "Forgotten Hidden Jianghu" will be the next "Night Parade of One Hundred Demons". A week has passed and the news of the latter has spread completely. Almost all players are now certain that they have escaped the nightmare of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons. Many people are so angry that they are pounding their chests and stamping their feet.
They didn't have the guts to accompany 'Taiyi' on experiments, but when it came to hitching a ride, they not only had the guts, but they were incredibly bold.
The final and greatest purpose of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons was to serve as a demonstration, proving that the path of 'Taiyi' was feasible, and urging those who wanted to run away to hurry up and follow. However, Yuki was thinking about a final battle with the Judge, so naturally he wouldn't be a pushover.
So these players who wanted to escape couldn't find a way, and Yuki didn't dare to take them in. Saying that half of the ten people were spies of the Judge might be an exaggeration, but if you pick three people to behead, there must be some among them.
There was a market, but no connections, which quickly spawned a large number of swindlers taking advantage of the situation.
[I am Taiyi. I awakened after 30,000 years, regained my power after 3,000 years, and liberated the Borderlands after 3 years.]
Want to know my goals? Want to become my partner? Want to know my love-hate relationship with the Reincarnation Game?
[V me for 50, and I'll help you escape.]