Published: February 10, 2025
CHAPTER TEXT:
"There should be another chapter in the late night."
Perhaps they were tired, or researching some strategy, or maybe they were arguing. In any case, for whatever reason, the group of people standing or sitting at the entrance all turned to look at Ye Zhongming and the two others, their faces filled with disdain that even a three-year-old could recognize.
"Didn't come earlier, now you want to snatch business?"
"What you’re doing is really unscrupulous."
"Damn it, do you want to go back to free competition?"
"It’s best to watch from the back, or don’t blame us for going out and using underhanded tactics."
These people clearly thought that the trio had come to compete for profits, threatening them, and they didn't believe that those who had just killed the puppets outside were stronger than all of them combined.
Even if they were stronger, so what? They couldn't fight here.
Ye Zhongming didn't even look at them but focused his gaze on the front, on a passage about three meters wide.
Inside, many puppets stood still, and on the ground lay numerous shattered puppet remains along with human corpses.
Ye Zhongming counted and confirmed that all the dead people were indeed here.
Looking forward, he saw a stone platform at the end of the passage, on which sat a box with a copper lock hanging from it.
No wonder these people were unwilling to leave; the reward was just too eye-catching.
"Get lost!"
Ye Zhongming said nothing, but that didn’t stop Gao Yi and Zhao Xiangxue from reacting to the fact that someone claimed their boss was indifferent. Gao Yi shouted angrily and pushed the crowd away.
Although they couldn't fight, they could still shove.
Speaking of strength, who besides Ye Zhongming could possibly match Gao Yi? The crowd was immediately pushed to the sides.
"Something's off," Ye Zhongming thought, feeling puzzled. There were many puppets here, but the number didn't seem sufficient according to the completion standard.
Could there be other puppets behind this passage?
"Can anyone tell me what happened here? This could be considered a reward." Ye Zhongming took out a few pieces of equipment he had just obtained, trying to extract information from these people.
However, the unknown temptation here evidently made the group resist Ye Zhongming's 'bribing', and after a moment of hesitation, they refused.
With a slight sigh, Ye Zhongming decided to take matters into his own hands. Since he couldn't get information, he would just push through.
"You two, go in."
At Ye Zhongming's command, Gao Yi and Zhao Xiangxue stepped into the passage. The puppets that had previously been motionless suddenly sprang into action.
The seemingly chaotic puppets didn’t attack immediately but instead formed some peculiar formations.
"A formation?" Ye Zhongming was taken aback, not expecting that these hundreds of puppets would do this. He had to remind Gao Yi to be cautious and not rush in.
Gao Yi drew his enormous sword, which looked like a door panel, focusing intently on the attacking puppets. Zhao Xiangxue stood not far behind him, raising her short staff.
"Ah!"
Gao Yi shouted in fury, taking a slight step back before suddenly charging forward, his shoulder leading as he crashed into the nearest puppet.
The gothic armor he wore flashed faintly, and some subtle patterns appeared on it, not very distinct, but upon closer inspection, one could see many beautiful designs.
With a loud bang, the first puppet was directly knocked backward. Before it even hit the ground, its chest shattered, causing a statue to tumble down.
At the same time, several puppet fists struck Gao Yi's body, producing loud thuds.
Under this force, Gao Yi staggered back several steps, exiting the puppet's attack range. He looked down at his armor and then smiled.
This was perhaps one of the few times he had smiled in the past two years.
His armor was undamaged.
This equipment was a war achievement weapon, differing from Zhao Xiangxue's spirit item; this armor had cost Ye Zhongming much more war effort and had more functions.