146: New Tactics: Isolation

"What to do? What to do?"

A hint of human-like tension appeared in the System's mechanical voice.

As the Incense Value continuously flowed in, the System's intelligence grew stronger.

It had evolved from a completely mechanical state, only capable of "dinging and clanging," to having simple emotions now.

For instance, the spread of the Black Mist from Yan Province to Xu Province and even Cang Province—if this had happened when he first Transmigrated, the System wouldn't have reacted at all.

This was truly a welcome change.

***

At this moment, the System felt no joy.

He stared blankly at the rapidly spreading Black Mist on the map, feeling as if he had caused a major disaster.

How could he have not thought of such a serious matter before!

The sky had fallen.

Should he wake the Host after all?

He had a feeling the Host would become terrifying once he knew about this.

"Host! Host?"

The System's voice appeared in Lin Chuping's mind, carrying a trembling hint of guilt.

"Tong Ge, did you switch voice Systems?"

And it was a male 'squeaky' voice.

Lin Chuping opened his eyes, in quite a good mood. This seclusion wasn't without its rewards; he was about to Breakthrough.

"Host, there's one big piece of good news and one small piece of bad news. Which would you like to hear first?"

The System's squeaky voice came through, making Lin Chuping's entire body tingle, almost making him need to pee.

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Lin Chuping rubbed his arms vigorously. "Are you, goddammit, infected with a virus? Speak properly!"

"I want to hear the bad news first."

No matter the topic, such an opening always made one's heart sink.

Lin Chuping cautiously chose a method that generally increased happiness, hoping the System's good news would be good enough.

Otherwise, he would choose to beat the System to death.

At Lin Chuping's words, the mechanical voice returned to normal.

"The bad news is that the Yan Province Black Mist has spread to Xu Province and is approaching Cang Province at a speed of 200 li per day."

The System's opening was a critical hit.

The smile on Lin Chuping's face gradually disappeared.

"You call that a small piece of bad news? Why is the spread so fast?"

Speaking of which, not only was the System guilty, but Lin Chuping also felt a little guilty.

How could he have not thought of the Black Mist spreading before?

Well, even if he had thought of it, there was nothing he could do.

He had already used all his trump cards.

"Sigh..."

Why was saving the common people so difficult?

Lin Chuping struck a melancholic pose, only lacking two cigarettes in hand at this moment.

"Host, as you know, Great Yan also has a monsoon climate, and it's early spring now, so a little wind is inevitable."

Divine TM early spring.

"Then what about your big piece of good news?"

"Host, three days ago, Li Shun led over a thousand soldiers and civilians to Qing Province, bringing a large amount of Incense Value to the Host."

A real-time image popped up on the System's light screen, showing the Emperor personally leading soldiers and civilians in worship.

"How much?"

"How much did you say?"

Lin Chuping found it hard to believe. Li Shun was an Emperor, after all. Was an Emperor's rallying power only worth 1,000 people?

He now understood why Li Shun would believe in such an obscure deity like him.

This was clearly a choice born of desperation!

He remembered descriptions in history books, where armies of hundreds of thousands, even millions, were dispatched at the drop of a hat.

Why was it so pathetic when it came to him?

What a joke!

"Host, to be precise, it's 1,024 people, plus 37 livestock."

The System thoughtfully added, "However, their faith purity is very high; they provide three times the Incense Value of ordinary believers."

Lin Chuping felt a toothache.

His eyes were also a little moist. Poor me.

Staring at Li Shun, who was devoutly kneeling on the light screen, the down-and-out Emperor wore a dark Dragon Robe, followed by emaciated soldiers and civilians, and even the offerings were just a few blackened steamed buns.

"This is..."

***

"System, I want to resolve the issue of Yan Province's ley lines in one go."

Although Lin Chuping wasn't a sentimental person, seeing the small green dots on the map disappearing in large swaths, he still found his conscience.

Tens of thousands of lives were vanishing in minutes. He was terrified.

"Host, with your current strength, you can defeat the small boss, but the strength of the big boss near the volcano is unknown."

"I know, I know. Strength unknown, right? The stronger the opponent, the stronger I become."

Lin Chuping waved his hand indifferently.

Take down one if he could. One step at a time.

"Let's go."

***

When Lin Chuping stepped into Yan Province, he was almost knocked over by the overwhelming stench of decay.

"This smell..."

He pinched his nose and kicked aside a bone blocking his way.

"Indeed, I'm not the only one getting stronger."

The Ghoul small boss's recovery ability is too Heaven-Defying; it's best to kill it with one blow.

Or isolate the Ghoul small boss from the Black Mist.

Wait!

Isolate?

When he first entered Yan Province, he had put a shield on himself at the System's suggestion to avoid Black Mist contamination.

In that case, couldn't he just put a shield on the Ghoul small boss too?

Since the shield was made of his Divine Power, it wouldn't affect his magical attacks.

Once the idea clicked, Lin Chuping suddenly felt confident.

***

Half an hour later, in the depths of the Black Mist, a hunched figure slowly turned around.

It was an old man in tattered official robes, his skin shriveled like tree bark, and eerie green flames flickered in his eye sockets.

It seemed to sense Lin Chuping's arrival, emitting a "cackle" of strange laughter from its throat.

"Now!"

Lin Chuping clasped his hands together fiercely, and a golden light descended from the sky, enveloping the Ghoul.

Runes flowed on the cylindrical barrier formed by the golden light, completely isolating the Black Mist outside.

The Ghoul small boss let out a piercing shriek, its withered claws frantically scratching at the barrier, but only managing to stir ripples in the golden light.

"Three, two, one..."

Lin Chuping counted down, his right hand forming a sword-finger, and an extremely condensed beam of light burst from his fingertip, instantly piercing the Ghoul's glabella.

The Ghoul small boss's movements ceased abruptly, and the green flames in its eyes gradually extinguished.

With a crisp "crack," its body shattered like weathered rock, turning into a pile of black ash.

The new tactic was indeed effective.