20: Xuefeng's speculation and astonishing belief

Blackwater Canyon, Secluded Pool.

Snow Phoenix waited for a moment, but Night Shadow did not respond.

A hint of unease grew in her heart.

Although Night Shadow was just a newcomer, with the strength he displayed when he just killed the boss, her Level 90 archer was no match for him.

If she truly had that ability, she wouldn't have been stuck on the Third Advancement quest for so long.

So, she could only repeatedly seek cooperation, and for this, she even deliberately brought up the Bai family.

The purpose was naturally to use the Bai family's name to make Ye Xiao apprehensive.

As for whether there was an implied threat in her words, only Snow Phoenix herself knew.

However, she had never expected that Ye Xiao and the Bai family already had a relationship.

Just as Snow Phoenix was waiting for Night Shadow's response, the subordinates behind her finally realized that the expert who killed the boss was none other than Night Shadow Xiao, who had achieved an SSS-rank rating in the Novice Realm not long ago and had conquered the Miasma Hidden Forest Secret Realm, an Unowned Secret Realm that no one had been able to clear for decades.

Everyone was utterly astonished.

At the same time, many quick-witted individuals suddenly recalled that Snow Phoenix had personally stated Night Shadow's level just now.

And it was quite obvious that the reason Night Shadow came to Black Sand City was definitely to complete his First Advancement quest.

This meant that when the first boss was killed, this Night Shadow was already Level 30?

And how long had it been since the new players entered the Eternal World until the boss was killed?

The time Night Shadow spent traveling to Black Sand City also needed to be deducted.

Level 30 in less than a day?

Everyone who realized this was incredibly shocked.

Only one thought remained in everyone's mind: How did this Night Shadow do it?

One must know that in the nearly hundred-year history of the Eternal World, the fastest First Advancement was broken by that person from the Zhao family the year before last.

However, that person from the Zhao family took nearly a day and a half to complete the First Advancement.

And that was the Zhao family, a top-tier family belonging to one of the Alliance Eight Great Families.

And Night Shadow?

For a moment, everyone was numb with shock at this terrifying news.

However, if they knew that Ye Xiao only took a few hours to reach Level 30, what would they think?

Snow Phoenix did not notice the mood of her subordinates.

At this moment, she had not received a response from the other party for a long time, and her heart gradually sank to the bottom.

She gritted her teeth.

She knew that this matter might not be something she and her Golden Phoenix Legion could resolve.

She was about to contact the forces behind her.

Suddenly, a low voice came from the high ground.

“You want to contract the boss for tomorrow because of the Bai family?”

Hearing this voice, Snow Phoenix's heart inexplicably stirred, and she hastily said, “That's right, tomorrow, Bai Xiaoxiao, who awakened an SSS-rank Talent, should reach Level 30, and at that time, she will definitely need an Advancement Token.”

“If you are willing to cooperate, I can pay you an additional reward, and I will also introduce you to the Bai family.”

After a pause, seemingly feeling it wasn't secure enough, Snow Phoenix continued, “I heard that Bai Xiaoxiao is also a rare beauty, and even before entering the Eternal World, she was already the campus belle of her school.”

“With the strength you have displayed, if you are willing to help, I believe the Bai family would also be happy to see you befriend that proud daughter of heaven.”

Snow Phoenix finished speaking in one breath, and a newfound confidence swelled in her heart.

In her eyes, Night Shadow's strength was indeed absurdly strong.

But he was still young, after all.

A proud daughter of heaven like Bai Xiaoxiao, with outstanding looks, a prominent background, and extremely high Talent.

She didn't believe Night Shadow wouldn't be tempted after hearing these descriptions.

However, to Snow Phoenix's surprise, Ye Xiao, upon hearing her continuous introduction, a slight curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.

“I heard that Miss Bai family was merely a collateral relative before awakening her Talent, and for the past three years, she was quite close to a certain boy.”

“It was only after awakening an SSS-rank Talent that she was valued by the Bai family, and then she quickly distanced herself from that boy.”

“You want to introduce such an opportunistic woman to me?”

Snow Phoenix was stunned; she indeed did not know about the things Ye Xiao mentioned.

However, being able to command a female legion of over a thousand people, Snow Phoenix's capabilities were not to be underestimated.

She pondered for a moment, then spoke, “I don't know where you heard this news, but the current Bai Xiaoxiao is already a true proud daughter of heaven; this is beyond doubt.”

“Even if the news you heard is true, you should know what an SSS-rank Talent represents. From the moment she awakened it, there was an insurmountable chasm between Bai Xiaoxiao and that boy.”

“Setting aside ordinary morality, she did this for the boy's own good.”

“Hahaha!”

Ye Xiao couldn't help but laugh at her words.

“Indeed, what you said makes a lot of sense.”

“How about this, if you agree to one condition of mine, I might consider cooperating with you.”

Snow Phoenix's eyes lit up, and she asked impatiently, “What condition?”

“It's very simple. Since you've already cast aside morality, how about this: I see that you are no less beautiful than Bai Xiaoxiao. Why don't you accompany me for a few days? As long as you satisfy me, I can agree to your request.”

Snow Phoenix's expression suddenly changed, and an uncontrollable cold aura emanated from her body, her voice no longer as gentle as before.

“Are you insulting me!?”

At the same time, the expressions of the more than 100 Golden Phoenix Legion members she brought with her also turned cold simultaneously.

Clearly, Ye Xiao's words not only touched Snow Phoenix's sore spot but also theirs.

For a moment, everyone completely suppressed their fear of Ye Xiao and stood ready.

Their stance suggested that they would willingly die if Snow Phoenix gave the order.

“Heh! You are insulting me.”

Facing Snow Phoenix's sudden change, Ye Xiao ignored her and sneered, “You really take me for an inexperienced country bumpkin, spouting a bunch of things while you want to get benefits for free without paying anything. How can there be such a cheap thing in this world?”

The insulted Snow Phoenix's expression was incredibly cold.

“I admit you are very strong, but you are only Level 33. Even if you can kill a Calamity Herald with 100,000 HP, I assume the move you just used has extremely harsh restrictions, and you probably can't use it a second time in a short period.”

“If I were to mobilize everyone now to find your location, do you think you are confident you can retreat calmly?”

After a moment, seeing that Ye Xiao did not respond, a hint of disdain flashed in Snow Phoenix's eyes, believing that Ye Xiao had been exposed by her words and was fearful.

“It seems I hit the mark.”

In fact, her words just now were not baseless nonsense.

There were indeed some extremely powerful skills in the Eternal World.

However, these skills also had various restrictions, the most common being extremely long cooldown times, or huge mana consumption, and other fatal flaws that prevented them from sustaining a complete battle.

More severely, some even caused permanent attribute reduction or even the loss of life.

Once such a skill was used, it was either you die or I die.

Clearly, Ye Xiao must possess such a heaven-defying skill with numerous restrictions.

In this way, it made sense that he could achieve an SSS-rank rating in the Novice Realm and conquer the Miasma Hidden Forest, an Unowned Secret Realm.

At this moment, Snow Phoenix felt somewhat smug about her keen observation.

However, the next moment, dozens of Fireball spells appeared without warning, just like before.

Snow Phoenix's Talent, besides being able to discern the target's level, was also very sensitive to energy fluctuations.

Almost at the instant this scorching aura rose, her expression suddenly changed.

Without time to think, she rapidly retreated, relying on the agile movements of an archer.

Even as she passed by her subordinates behind her, she unhesitatingly pushed two women beside her forward.

And she used this force to directly retreat more than 10 meters away.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

The Fireball spells instantly smashed onto the two women.

The scorching flames mercilessly devoured them completely.

The remaining Fireball spells that were not intercepted directly hit the ground, creating a blast of air.

Some Golden Phoenix Legion members nearby who couldn't react in time were affected, suffering varying degrees of damage.

“Too bad, wrong answer.”

The voice carried a hint of mockery.

However, Ye Xiao also discovered a problem at this moment.

His Fireball and Venomous Assault could easily instantly kill bosses with over 100,000 HP.

However, when facing Professionals, although he could still instantly kill Professionals much higher than his level, the power was not as terrifying as it had been before.

Ultimately, his Venomous Assault could not exert its strongest effect.

And while the continuous Fireball spells had high damage, the damage of a single Fireball had an upper limit.

Therefore, it might be able to instantly kill a person, but facing an encirclement, it was still a bit troublesome.

It seemed he would have to find a way to improve his area-of-effect abilities later.

Ye Xiao thought so.

Meanwhile, Snow Phoenix below was unaware of Ye Xiao's thoughts.

Listening to Ye Xiao's tone, which was like treating ants, a sense of fear inevitably arose in her heart.

He could actually use it a second time?

This was simply impossible!

There was absolutely no such skill in this world.

At this moment, Ye Xiao, who had finished analyzing his abilities, spoke again.

“I didn't expect that for the sake of survival, you would not hesitate to sacrifice your innocent subordinates. Truly a hero among women.”

Listening to Ye Xiao's sarcastic tone, although fearful, Snow Phoenix's expression remained cold.

“We of the Golden Phoenix Legion are one. Everyone is willing to die for each other. This is our oath.”

“Oh? Then why couldn't it be you who died?”

Ye Xiao originally thought these words would provoke the other party. However, to his utter surprise, Snow Phoenix seemed to show no shame; instead, she righteously said, “That's because my ability is stronger than my sisters. With great power comes great responsibility. This pain of losing loved ones will be borne by me alone.”

“Likewise, to not disappoint my sisters' sacrifice, I must live on well with their hopes.”

Ye Xiao was suddenly silenced by these words.

Such twisted reasoning being spoken so grandiosely truly opened his eyes.

Moreover, he saw it clearly. Snow Phoenix's subordinates did not find anything wrong with her words; instead, their faces were solemn.

He somewhat didn't understand what kind of people were in the Golden Phoenix Legion.

At the same time, after Snow Phoenix finished speaking, she suddenly became alert.

Was the other party trying to stall for time?

Sometimes, people are strange creatures.

The more fearful they are, the more convinced they become of their own ideas.

Snow Phoenix was no exception; she absolutely did not believe Ye Xiao could use it a third time.

That's right, he wanted to stall for time, it must be so.

With this conviction, Snow Phoenix immediately waved her hand.

“Everyone, listen up! He has no more tricks left and is just trying to stall for time. Immediately disperse and search for him to avenge our fallen sisters!!”

“Revenge!”

“Revenge!”

“Revenge!”

The entire Golden Phoenix Legion shouted in unison, and then, except for twenty people who remained in front of Snow Phoenix to protect her, the rest instantly scattered and rushed towards Ye Xiao's direction.

Ye Xiao's two previous attacks had already allowed Snow Phoenix to pinpoint his general location.

Seeing this, Ye Xiao cast another Fireball at Snow Phoenix in the distance.

However, the result was that the other party found two more scapegoats, while she retreated safely beyond the maximum attack range of the Fireball.

However, although no substantial damage was dealt to Snow Phoenix, his three consecutive attacks had already terrified her.

Her initial certainty completely shattered at this moment.

She was unwilling to believe it, but she had to admit it.

Ye Xiao's skill damage did not have the various restrictions she had imagined.

Their group was no match for the opponent at all.

At this moment, a gleam of hatred flashed in Snow Phoenix's eyes.

But it was quickly and well hidden by her.

Now she only hoped that her subordinates would find Ye Xiao's location as soon as possible.

In her opinion, since the other party truly possessed such high-damage skills, but was only a First Advancement mage, with such high-damage skills, his HP and defense must have been compressed to an extremely low level.

As long as they found his location, they would certainly be able to kill him, even if it meant paying a small price.

However, to her utter surprise, while she was thinking about how to find Ye Xiao, Ye Xiao suddenly leaped down from the high ground, then rapidly flew towards her location.

He's crazy?

As a squishy mage, he chose not to hide his tracks, but instead appeared so brazenly in front of her?

Despite being astonished by Ye Xiao's actions, the battle-hardened Snow Phoenix did not hesitate. How could she let go of such a great opportunity when the opponent made such a foolish mistake?

She immediately drew her bow and fired a volley of arrows at Ye Xiao.

Seeing that Ye Xiao showed no sign of dodging, Snow Phoenix's lips couldn't help but curl into a slight smile.

He's looking for death!

The other members around her also looked excited.

They had a blind adoration for Snow Phoenix.

Moreover, they were very clear that Snow Phoenix, as an archer, rarely made a move against anyone since forming the Golden Phoenix Legion.

But every time she acted, she would certainly take a life.

It was precisely by relying on this undefeated record that the Golden Phoenix Legion was able to gain a foothold in Black Sand City, and even once suppressed the two major legions, Black Tiger and Silver Dragon.

In their eyes, Snow Phoenix was an idol, a belief, and the most solid backing.

Since Snow Phoenix had made a move, there would be no mistakes.

And the facts were indeed as they thought.

Snow Phoenix fired 18 arrows in one breath, and the speed of the arrows was so fast that one couldn't even catch their shadows.

Night Shadow seemed not to have reacted.

18 purple-gold demon-breaking arrows, crafted from purple-gold, all hit Night Shadow without missing.

The powerful energy stirred up rolling dust.

In an instant, the entire canyon erupted in a thunderous cheer.

“Commander is mighty!”

“Commander is amazing!”

“Commander truly doesn't disappoint everyone. Lingling and Xiaoqing can rest in peace.”

...Listening to the overwhelming cheers around her, Snow Phoenix was in high spirits.

Destroying a talented seed with infinite possibilities with her own hands actually gave her a twisted sense of pleasure.

It turned out that even a genius was not invincible.

At this moment, Snow Phoenix's long-sealed self-confidence suddenly swelled.

However, this swelling lasted for less than a few seconds.

Amidst the dust, a scorching red light flashed once again.

This sudden change caused Snow Phoenix's expression to instantly change.

She had actually missed!!