94: I don't like big ones

An inferior divine stone?

Xu Le's thoughts shifted as he looked over, realizing the two were worlds apart.

The entire piece was about the size of a fist, with a delicate and lustrous surface; if not for the wrong color, it would have looked somewhat like ox gallstone.

Qin Siyuan laughed loudly: "Wherever poisonous snakes lurk, the antidote is surely within a hundred paces;"

"With Devilish Qi raging, I had long suspected there was something that could resolve it. I've attempted countless deductions without success, but to think it was actually inside the bodies of the monsters, hahaha..."

Xing Manshan was moved. He took the black stone and examined it closely, stroking it gently as if cherishing a beauty's delicate skin.

Divine Eye!

[Item] demon subduing stone

[Quality] Legendary

[Item Details] A special item naturally condensed within the bodies of monsters to resist Demonic Qi Contamination; it has a certain effect on resisting Devilish Qi.

"So that's how it is."

"It only has a certain effect. It seems relying on this kind of stone to completely eliminate Devilish Qi will still be quite difficult."

Xu Le had previously wondered how a mere Legendary-tier item could eliminate Devilish Qi, which seemed extremely unrealistic. After seeing the item details, he understood it only had a certain effect.

Since the Devilish Qi hadn't been resolved even three hundred years later, a mere stone certainly wouldn't be enough.

However, he didn't point it out. Speaking up now without a solution would only cause others displeasure; he shouldn't do such thankless things.

Xing Manshan returned the demon subduing stone to Qin Siyuan and asked, "Are there many of these stones? How many are needed to completely dispel the Devilish Qi?"

Qin Siyuan shook his head: "Not many. Only Lord-level monsters can gestate this kind of stone."

"To completely eliminate the Devilish Qi outside, we would probably need a hundred thousand or even more."

"However, if we only protect Yongan City, utilizing these stones and Old Yang's Formation, holding out for three months shouldn't be a problem."

"No!" Xing Manshan flatly refused. "The people of Yongan City are people, and the people of other cities are also people."

"With the Great Calamity upon us, we cannot just seek safety in one corner. Otherwise, how could we be worthy of these clothes we wear, and how could we be worthy of such generous treatment?"

Saying so, his gaze turned to Xu Le: "Household Head Xu, are you willing to follow me to battle across the world, wipe out the monsters, and eliminate the Devilish Qi?"

It had to be said that although Xing Manshan was from a magic-based class, his heroic spirit was not inferior to any warrior class.

That heroic and broad mind was even more rare in the world.

Xu Le watched the Night Demon Bats receding into the darkness and knew that the 'game' had entered its third phase.

Is this the upcoming plot?

He nodded and agreed: "Alright!"

Everyone hurried back to the city. Some low-Rank personal guards were already frowning deeply; they clearly couldn't hold on much longer.

Xing Manshan sent Priests to cleanse the contamination from the pedestrians. However, over a dozen people were severely injured, and their degree of Demonic Qi Contamination was too high to be saved.

Along the way.

Lü Yixiu was dejected.

He looked like a different person compared to his high spirits before they left.

Originally, he thought that because he had an SSS-rank class and the highest Rank, he was the most dazzling guy.

He never expected that although Xu Le's Rank clearly wasn't as high as his, and he was even an F-Rank class Contractor, his combat power was hardly different from the god in his heart.

Could it be that the Contractor class has evolved into an SSSS-Rank one?

After returning to the city, his only friend ran over. Upon hearing about Lü Yixiu's experience, his eyes were full of sympathy.

"It's fine."

"Really, it's fine. Do you think I can still surpass him?" Lü Yixiu asked, as if grasping at a straw.

"This... I don't want to lie to you. I think you'll just get used to it in the future." His friend hesitated for a moment but decided not to feed him an impossible dream.

The low-Rank Xu Le was already showing such terrifying strength now; it wasn't as if his strength would get weaker as his Rank got higher, right?

There's no class that levels up like that!

"Sigh~"

Lü Yixiu knew his friend was right. He leaned against the city tower and gazed at the distant night, looking melancholy.

Paper cannot wrap up fire.

Besides, Xu Le wasn't even being wrapped in paper.

Gossip is human nature; even resolute and brave soldiers are no exception.

News of Xu Le's strength spread throughout Yongan City overnight.

Some Contestants assigned under Xu Le completely forgot their previous resentment and bragged to everyone they knew.

"Let me tell you, not only is Xu Le awesome, but the contracted beasts under him are also incredibly fierce. Even a dog can split into hundreds of Clones. The key point is, damn it, I couldn't beat a single one of them..."

"His bird is even more powerful. After it appeared, the rain of fire on the city walls never stopped. If anyone tried to walk through there, tsk tsk tsk..."

"The monkey is the most badass. You guys didn't see it—with one thrust of its staff, over a hundred Demon Bats fell. It didn't even need to use skills; wherever it went, a whole patch died."

"What does that count for? Back then, I had a life-and-death duel with him and held out for a full five seconds, blocking three of his punches..."

Everyone was boasting animatedly. It started off normal, but later it began to sound like a myth.

Things like opening mountains with one punch, severing rivers with one kick, or destroying heaven and earth with a single glance.

They all took pride in knowing Xu Le. It seemed that having even a slight connection to him made them his close friend after rounding up, and after some further calculation, it was practically the same as being him.

In fact, by the end, both the storytellers and the listeners knew the bragging had gone sky-high—leaving no beef skewers to be found for miles around—yet they still spoke and listened with great relish.

After all, bragging isn't taxed, and there were no other forms of entertainment here.

Zhu Yuyao was extremely conflicted. She looked at Xu Le's face, thought of his recent achievements, and finally overcame her fear of him.

"I've decided to give you a chance."

"What chance?"

"To give you a chance to pursue me."

"Huh?" Xu Le looked bewildered.

"Stop acting! Has no one told you that your acting is terrible?"

A flush of crimson appeared on Zhu Yuyao's face. Her eyes were like stars, bright as if they could illuminate another's heart.

Xu Le's heart couldn't help but throb. If he were ten years younger as in his previous life, he would have definitely been reckless.

Zhu Yuyao was too beautiful!

"If not encountered atop Qunyu Mountain, then met beneath the moon at Yaotai."

This kind of beauty didn't seem to belong to the mortal world, but rather from above the Nine Heavens; perhaps only the legendary Chang'e could possess such looks.

Beautiful enough to be a violation, beautiful enough to be a cheat.

Wait. Cheat!

Xu Le activated his Divine Eye.

Only then did he discover that the other party's class was an SS-Rank Elf Shadow Assassin, and she even possessed the 'National Beauty and Heavenly Fragrance' talent.

[National Beauty and Heavenly Fragrance] A national beauty drunk on morning wine, a heavenly fragrance staining evening clothes. Her beauty crowns the world, her elegance is unsurpassed.

'Wait, with such a youthful face, she's actually 32 years old!'

'No, her talent is actually this usele... er, it seems quite impressive too.'

'It's just that this class is a bit off. If it were replaced with something like Enchanting Seductress, even if it were only S-Rank, it would definitely be more powerful than an assassin.'

Xu Le looked at Zhu Yuyao in shock, thinking that she truly lived up to being a Professional with 'National Beauty and Heavenly Fragrance.' If one were to ask a hundred people outside, probably a hundred and one would say she was eighteen.

"What are you daydreaming about? I'm just giving you a chance to pursue me," Zhu Yuyao hummed softly.

Xu Le sucked in a cold breath: "Sorry, I don't like big ones."

"Huh?" Zhu Yuyao looked down.

Xu Le hurriedly explained: "I only like eighteen-year-olds. Besides, I want to focus on my career. Romance? Even a dog wouldn't touch it."

"You~ Pervert!" Zhu Yuyao was shamed and annoyed. She stomped her foot hard and turned to leave.

Xu Le shook his head. He had some guesses about her annoyance but didn't explain. She was just a little fairy who relied on her beauty and thought the world revolved around her.

Suddenly, a startling thought appeared in his mind.

Those monsters are clearly of different species, so why can they unite and coordinate to besiege the city?