An Changyan turned to Chen Beixun and asked, "May I ask your name?"
Chen Beixun was silent for a few seconds before replying, "Chen Beixun, a member of the Virtual Universe Company."
"Heh." An Changyan chuckled. "So you're with the Virtual Universe Company. We're on the same side."
The two exchanged a few pleasantries.
"Kid." Pavadode clutched his stomach and slowly flew up to Chen Beixun, a small white bottle in his hand.
Chen Beixun opened his helmet, revealing a smile. "Sorry about that."
"I have some medicine here that should help with your injuries."
A triangular box appeared in Chen Beixun's hand. He promptly handed it to Pavadode.
Seeing Chen Beixun remove his helmet and reveal his true face, Pavadode relaxed a little. Of course, Chen Beixun had disguised himself as well.
"Haha." Pavadode laughed heartily. "Don't worry about it."
Suddenly, Pavadode changed the subject. "That Demon Island Vine is Domain Lord Level 3." (The Demon Island Vine had naturally grown to Domain Lord Level 3. It had originally been Domain Lord Level 2.)
"How did you bring it in, young brother?"
"Well..." Chen Beixun kept smiling.
An Changyan cleared his throat a few times, then said, "Isn't it obvious?"
"He deliberately stopped it from breaking through, then let the Demon Island Vine advance in the World Lord World and used some treasures to force its level up."
Chen Beixun wasn't stupid. He could tell An Changyan was trying to recruit him. Perhaps the two of them were putting on a little show.
What a double act, Chen Beixun thought. He smiled and said, "Your Highness is right."
"How about we team up?" An Changyan asked with a smile.
Chen Beixun pursed his lips and put on a troubled expression.
"Young brother, is something the matter? Do you have some difficulty?" Pavadode asked, though inwardly he thought, What an act!
Pavadode had lived for tens of thousands of years. He could tell at a glance.
This guy has no intention of teaming up.
Your Highness, try recruiting him with money, Pavadode sent to An Changyan telepathically.
An Changyan opened his helmet, revealing an exceptionally beautiful face, and said, "You're a mercenary, right? Five trillion Universe Coins. What do you think?"
An Changyan held up five fingers toward Chen Beixun and watched him with a smile.
"Well..." Chen Beixun thought for a few seconds before replying, "I belong to the Lotte Family."
"It wouldn't be very convenient."
"If Your Highness is willing, you could form an alliance with the Lotte Family."
An Changyan's eyes darkened. Interesting.
Seeing the two fall silent, Chen Beixun smiled and said, "Your Highness, I have something else to take care of."
"Please excuse me."
"Here's my email number."
Chen Beixun raised his right arm and sent An Changyan the number.
An Changyan nodded slightly and sent Chen Beixun his number as well.
"Contact me if you change your mind," An Changyan said coolly.
Chen Beixun nodded, then mounted the Gold Cloud Shuttle and flew off at high speed.
With the Black Soul Tower's third echelon arriving in time, the Kesmier and Lotte Family forces suffered a crushing defeat. The three parties had no choice but to hold peace talks.
To secure bargaining chips, the three parties had not yet ceased hostilities, but the fighting was limited to small-scale local conflicts.
At the Lotte Family's base, Base No. 8
A huge projection screen hung beneath Base No. 8's black dome. Black-and-white text scrolled across it, displaying the following:
Every enemy force member killed earns a corresponding amount of Xuyu Coins.
Universe Level 1: 500,000 Xuyu Coins
Universe Level 2: 1 million Xuyu Coins
Universe Level 3: 2 million Xuyu Coins
Universe Level 8: 64 million Xuyu Coins
Universe Level 9: 128 million Xuyu Coins
[1 Universe Coin is approximately equal to 1,200 Xuyu Coins]
"It only says that killing an enemy force member earns Xuyu Coins. So does that mean you can kill any unaffiliated adventurer?!" Chen Beixun stared at the huge projection screen hanging in the air.
"The definition is vague. They could just claim that an unaffiliated adventurer has ties to an enemy force, then pin the blame on them..."
"Heh."
Chen Beixun chuckled a few times, immediately understanding.
"They're forcing those adventurers to join a faction."
"And what if they join? No faction, no backing—they're nothing but cannon fodder."
All three sides had established a kill-reward system. It was no different from slaughtering unaffiliated adventurers.
Join a faction, give up, or die.
This was bound to be a game played by major powers. It had nothing to do with these unknown adventurers.
For the sake of clarity, the battlefield had been divided into neutral and conflict zones.
In a certain conflict zone...
The ground was riddled with craters, large and small, and lay in ruins.
Chen Beixun had fought twelve battles here, killing a total of nineteen Universe-level fighters. Five had been Universe Level 9, and three had been Universe Level 8.
"Combat really is the best way to build wealth." Chen Beixun sat on the Gold Cloud Shuttle, counting his spoils.
The value of these spoils meant little to him, but even a tiny bit was still worth something.
"The total value is 202.173 billion Universe Coins," Qishan said.
202.173 billion Universe Coins was comparable to the entire fortune of a relatively wealthy Domain Lord, yet it was only the earnings from twelve battles.
"That's about enough." Chen Beixun stood up, then rode the Gold Cloud Shuttle deeper into the area.
Chen Beixun had not brought any guards with him for this battle. He relied entirely on the Demon Island Vine for protection.
Even so, he remained quite cautious.
Whoosh!
A figure streaked past at high speed. His telepathic perception was fully extended as he searched for enemies without pause.
"No one?" Chen Beixun frowned. "I've been flying for five Tianchen Hours."
One Tianchen Hour was equivalent to 1.7 hours, making that 8.5 hours.
Boom!
The sound shook the heavens like thunder.
Chen Beixun frowned and looked toward the noise.
There seemed to be some powerful life-form over there.
"Southwest?" Chen Beixun immediately grew interested, changed direction, and sped off...
At the same time...
"A Spiral Flame Flower?"
"You have a Spiral Flame Flower!" A Universe-level fighter stared at the blooming, strange purple flower.
Horrified, he turned and tried to run.
A long vine extended from the bud of the strange purple flower, its tip bearing a gaping maw like that of a man-eating plant.
Whoosh!
The Universe-level fighter's pupils contracted to pinpoints.
All that could be heard was the sound of swallowing.
Beneath the maw, a blurry human-shaped silhouette appeared and slowly slid downward. It was still moving, clearly alive and conscious.
The Spiral Flame Flower was highly sought after as an auxiliary plant life-form, but it was expensive. Its quality was ranked as follows:
Five petals were the lowest grade.
Thirty-five petals were the very best.
"A Spiral Flame Flower?" Chen Beixun watched from afar, unable to hide his surprise.
"And it's Domain Lord Level 1."
In terms of combat power, the Demon Island Vine could overpower a Spiral Flame Flower of the same level!
But in a drawn-out battle, the Demon Island Vine wouldn't stand a chance.
"That looks like a twenty-two-petal Spiral Flame Flower!" Qishan said, startled, then added gravely,
"Your teacher once fought an Immortal who owned an Immortal Level Spiral Flame Flower."
"The Spiral Flame Flower is famous for its endurance and defense!"
"With the Spiral Flame Flower's help, that Immortal even managed to injure your teacher!"
Chen Beixun nodded, then said, "Use a Soul Attack."
"The man who owns the Spiral Flame Flower seems to be only Universe Level 9."
A strong consciousness and will could multiply the power of one's soul by several times, even tenfold or a hundredfold!
"Hm?" The man stroking the Spiral Flame Flower—Zhen Jin—sensed someone watching him from behind. He turned and met Chen Beixun's gaze from afar.
Chen Beixun narrowed his eyes and launched a Soul Attack.
Eleven crystals, arranged in a formation of five above, three in the middle, and three below, silently invaded the depths of Zhen Jin's sea of consciousness.
Zhen Jin's pupils contracted. "Get out!"
"Damn it!" Chen Beixun's eyes hardened as he unleashed his full strength.
"Spiral Flame Flower, take that guy out!" Zhen Jin clenched his fists and glared at Chen Beixun.
"This guy's consciousness is incredibly strong! The Soul Attack isn't working!" Chen Beixun stared at the incoming Spiral Flame Flower, eyes flashing with murderous intent. "Demon Island Vine!"
A mass of crimson, coiled plant matter shot from Chen Beixun's palm.
Almost instantly, the Demon Island Vine, which had been only a few dozen centimeters long, expanded to thousands of kilometers. It grew wildly, its vines bursting in every direction.
Thud!
The Demon Island Vine collided with the Spiral Flame Flower.
"Domain Lord Level 3?!" Zhen Jin's eyes widened in shock.
The Demon Island Vine suppressed the Spiral Flame Flower almost instantly. But the Spiral Flame Flower truly lived up to its reputation for endurance and defense, clinging tightly to the Demon Island Vine.
Though it had the upper hand, the Demon Island Vine couldn't free itself to attack Zhen Jin.
Zhen Jin had gone mad. He called for backup frantically.
"I've found a Domain Lord Level 3 plant life-form! Requesting support!"
The news spread rapidly, passing from the Black Soul Tower to the various major factions.
"Domain Lord Level 3? He must be asking for trouble!"
"It was Zhen Jin who sent the message. He has a Spiral Flame Flower! Bring a D-grade weapon and we might have a chance!"
On a hill where the top of a mountain had been leveled.
"Demon Island Vine versus Spiral Flame Flower?" An Changyan murmured. "We should go take a look."
Pavadode sat cross-legged on the ground. He had almost fully recovered by now. Hearing his master say this, he replied, "Your Highness, that might be dangerous."
"Ugh." An Changyan squatted down in frustration. "I'm so bored."
He picked up a stone from the ground and threw it.
With a ping, the stone seemed to strike an invisible wall.
"Hm?!" An Changyan sprang to his feet. "Something's wrong!"
Pavadode rushed forward and shielded An Changyan...
Meanwhile, the battle between the Demon Island Vine and the Spiral Flame Flower continued.
As time passed, the Demon Island Vine gained complete control of the fight.
"Spiral Flame Flower!" Zhen Jin was frantic, but he was still waiting for reinforcements.
Chen Beixun was much the same. He, too, was waiting for backup.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Three Universe Level 8 fighters appeared behind Chen Beixun. The moment they saw him, they charged without a word!
"Black Soul Tower." Chen Beixun glanced back at them, murderous intent on his face, and instantly launched a Soul Attack!
The three Universe Level 8 fighters were killed in an instant. Their bodies fell to the ground.
They hit the ground with a dull thud.
"Heh." Chen Beixun chuckled, disdainful.
A powerful body didn't mean a strong consciousness and will. There were ways to strengthen the body, but improving one's consciousness and will depended on the heart.
"What?" Zhen Jin's body jerked violently. He stumbled backward a few steps. "Three Universe Level 8 fighters died in a single move?!"
Shing! Shing! Shing... Shing!
Several figures rushed over and stopped in midair, calmly observing the battle. Some were from the Black Soul Tower, while others belonged to the Lotte Family.
"Is that the Demon Island Vine and the Spiral Flame Flower?!" a Universe Level member of the Lotte Family exclaimed.
"The Demon Island Vine is known as the Gold-Swallowing Beast! You need serious money to raise one!"
"I—"
Everyone began talking at once, but the standoff remained tense.
I've got a D-grade weapon. You might have one too.
Neither side dared to make the first move.
"Everyone, I can't hold out much longer!" Zhen Jin shouted.
The Demon Island Vine had already begun slowly devouring the Spiral Flame Flower. Seeing this, Zhen Jin grew frantic!
"The Spiral Flame Flower can't hold on any longer! Attack!" shouted a black-armored man from the Black Soul Tower. He carried a D-grade weapon shaped like a long tube and hoisted it onto his shoulder.
"Charging... 100%"
Less than 0.2 seconds later!
Whoosh!
A pinpoint of light shot out, heading straight for Chen Beixun.
A look of terror flashed in Chen Beixun's eyes. Suddenly, a cloud of black mist enveloped him.
"What is this?" Chen Beixun exclaimed in shock.
"Brother, the commander-in-chief thinks highly of you, so he's letting you reveal one of our trump cards!" A voice transmission slipped into his mind.
"Thinks highly of me?" Chen Beixun furrowed his brow, then his eyes turned fierce. "Demon Island Vine, hurry up!"