"Yu Zhun isn’t someone who gets discouraged that easily," Ji Ruoxu said with a smile. "He’s already figured it out."
Hearing this, Asoka’s eyes lit up.
"I say, you asshole," Tang Yulong couldn’t help but roll his eyes. "If you want to know so badly, why don’t you just contact him directly?"
"It’s not time yet." Asoka crossed his arms, returning to his unfathomable demeanor. "The time isn’t ripe."
All the Strongest couldn’t help but roll their eyes. If he had social anxiety, he should just admit it instead of blabbering about timing.
"Is there any activity from the Boss and Sorn in there?" Ji Ruoxu asked slowly, his gaze turning toward the Teleportation Gate.
"They haven’t been in there for long, so there shouldn’t be any movement this quickly," Lillian said slowly. "The fastest clear record for the Divine Prohibition Ruins was set by the Boss ten years ago. It took him three hours then.
"Right now, it’s been less than an hour."
"Now that you mention it, I actually think they’re about to finish." Ji Ruoxu smiled, a hint of profound meaning in his expression. "Although the Boss’s level hasn’t changed over the years, his strength is completely different from what it used to be."
Everyone couldn’t help but look at Ji Ruoxu. The number two figure in the Divine Revelation Hall clearly knew something.
Before they could ask, the Teleportation Gate suddenly stirred. In an instant, all the Strongest present cast their gazes over. Under their watchful eyes, two figures soon emerged from within. It was none other than Zhu Xiuming and Sorn.
Seeing that the two were completely unharmed, the Strongest breathed a collective sigh of relief.
"I’m leaving." Catching sight of the people he had once fought alongside, a trace of awkwardness flashed through Sorn’s eyes. In a flash, he vanished from his spot.
Meeting everyone’s inquiring gazes, Zhu Xiuming spoke calmly. "We didn’t leave a single one alive."
Hearing this, the group couldn’t help but exchange glances. A familiar feeling that they hadn’t experienced in ten years was finally back.
"We’ve made our move. Now it’s time to see how that old bastard Augustine responds," Ji Ruoxu said with a smile.
Blood Rainbow, who hadn’t entered a Dungeon in ten years, had slaughtered his way through the entire Dungeon the moment he stepped foot inside, leaving no survivors. Such a decisive action should be enough to intimidate the old folks hiding in the shadows. Blue Star was no pushover.
"Mhm." Zhu Xiuming nodded slightly, but in the next second, his expression changed. "Augustine’s response is here."
With that, his figure vanished from the spot. He had logged off.
Blue Star.
Inside the Divine Revelation Hall, Zhu Xiuming woke up and stepped into the main hall. He narrowed his eyes slightly, staring at a figure that had appeared out of nowhere. It was a man with black hair and Black Armor, shrouded in flames. The moment He appeared, the temperature in the entire hall began to spike unnaturally, growing as scorching as the inside of a volcano’s crater.
"What a rare guest," Zhu Xiuming enunciated word by word. "Lorclas."
The Flame God, Lorclas, was Blue Star’s Sanctuary God.
"What are you saying?" Lorclas let out a cold laugh. "Didn’t you just hand over the protection fees for the upcoming year a few days ago?"
Zhu Xiuming’s fists, hidden within his sleeves, clenched tightly. His eagle-like, sharp eyes locked onto Lorclas. "Since we’ve already paid the fees for the next year, you should know the duties you are supposed to fulfill.
"Why have you come to Blue Star this time?"
"To pass on a message for someone and act as a middleman," Lorclas said, crossing His arms. "That kid named Yu Zhun killed two of their SSS-rank talent players. Hand him over, and we’ll let this matter slide.
"Otherwise, if this keeps dragging on, it won’t be good for anyone.
"I know you’re all feeling indignant, but Augustine is about to become a God. Offending a God for the sake of a kid who hasn’t even matured yet isn’t a wise decision.
"Blue Star still doesn’t have a single player above Level 80. If you offend Augustine, I’m afraid you never will."
"Heh... Hahaha." Zhu Xiuming laughed out of extreme anger. "So this is Blue Star’s Sanctuary God?
"Lorclas, I never expected that ten thousand Divine Demon Medals a year would truly tie you to Blue Star, but the least you could do is not show up at a time like this and say such things to me!
"Do you really think I don’t know?
"You were the one who killed Goddess Lilan, Ashahiya, who used to be the Guardian of Blue Star!"
Lorclas’s initially calm expression gradually darkened. "I offer you kind advice, yet you fail to appreciate my good intentions...
"Zhu Xiuming, a mere Level 79 ant, dares to roar at me?"
A terrifying aura instantly enveloped the entire hall, and the Purgatory-like high temperatures threatened to melt everything inside. Unmoved, Zhu Xiuming simply stared coldly at the other party.
"Are you going to break the contract?"
"How could I?" The oppressive aura vanished into thin air as Lorclas suddenly grinned. "Everyone knows how much I respect my oaths. Since you’ve already paid, I will naturally provide Sanctuary for Blue Star and keep it from being turned into a Dungeon for the next year.
"However..." Lorclas paused. "Next year’s Sanctuary fee will be changed to 50,000 Divine Demon Medals.
"Consider it a small punishment for your disrespect toward me."
Zhu Xiuming remained calm and nodded slightly. "Just as I thought. Augustine promised you benefits to come and make things difficult for Blue Star.
"You knew from the very beginning that we would never yield."
Because of the First Turn World Slaughter Order, the number of Divine Demon Medals Blue Star could obtain over the next year would inevitably be less than before. Under these circumstances, the Sanctuary God arbitrarily hiking up the price was tantamount to the final straw that would break Blue Star’s back. After Blue Star played the Second-Turn World Slaughter Order card, Augustine played another card of his own, aiming straight for Blue Star’s lifeline. He was a cunning and ruthless man who, the moment he played his hand, aimed to drive his opponent straight to their death.
"Don’t make it sound so awful. Augustine and I simply hit it off immediately," Lorclas chuckled. "Among the many Gods, I still have quite a bit of face.
"If you want to find another God to replace me in providing Sanctuary for Blue Star, I can help introduce you."
"Hmph—" Zhu Xiuming let out a cold snort.
The Flame God, Lorclas, was notorious among the Gods. Even if Blue Star wanted to turn around and seek Sanctuary from other Gods, they would be rejected simply because the others wouldn’t want to offend Lorclas. It wasn’t as if the Divine Revelation Hall hadn’t tried before, only to have doors repeatedly slammed in their faces. By deliberately offering to make an introduction now, He was clearly just trying to disgust them. He was very confident that no other God would help Blue Star.
If it were before, that would indeed be the case. However... now, that wasn’t necessarily true.
"Lorclas, do you really think you have us completely dead to rights?" Zhu Xiuming said in a deep voice. "A year from now, you will regret your actions today."
Lorclas faltered for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Good, very good..." He took a deep look at Zhu Xiuming. "A year from now, I will be waiting for you all to kneel down and beg me."
-----------------
"The final Enhancement!"
The Nether Refining Bracelet was being Enhanced from +24 to +25. Even with the blessing of over six thousand points in luck, the success rate was merely a measly 6.15%. But the new Profession skill he had just awakened after his Profession level reached Level 40 gave him enough confidence.
[Profession Skill 5 (Lucky Crit): Luck-based operations have a 10% chance to trigger this skill, increasing the success rate of the current operation by 900%.]
Taking a deep breath, Yu Zhun selected [Begin Enhancement].
[Lucky Crit Triggered]
[Enhancement Success]
Looking at the Golden text popping up in front of him, Yu Zhun laughed heartily. The originally abysmal Enhancement success rate had shot straight up to 61.5%, resulting in a success on his very first try. With this, the Enhancement process was complete.
Aside from his two weapons which remained at +24, all of his other Equipment Enhancement levels had been raised to +25. His stats had skyrocketed once again compared to before. After equipping his gear, Yu Zhun couldn’t help but admire his brand new status panel: 1.39 million health, 600,000 Physical Attack, and 250,000 Physical Defense and Magic Defense!
However, Yu Zhun also knew that the Ascension Stage brought about by high-quality Equipment had ended as the Enhancement levels of his gear consecutively reached their caps. It would be very difficult to achieve such rapid leaps in growth from now on.
"Time to head home and take a look," Yu Zhun muttered softly, logging off.
It was the middle of the night on Blue Star. Returning to reality, Yu Zhun walked to Yu Zhu’s room and looked at the little girl sleeping soundly under the moonlight. Since he couldn’t return while clearing Dungeons, Yu Zhun had mentioned to Yu Zhu that he might not be back for half a month, but in reality, it had taken much less time than expected. Furthermore, he had prepared a surprise for Yu Zhu.
Yu Zhun took out the Divine Revelation Qualification Privilege Activation Card and gently pressed it against Yu Zhu’s forehead, watching as it transformed into a stream of light and assimilated into her body.