465: Chapter 465 Everyone Wants to Get In On

The violent curtain of rain ceased abruptly.

The thick, heavy clouds shrouding the sky above Cangxing Bay were torn apart from the center by an invisible force.

The setting sun in the west hung askew on the horizon, dyeing the evening glow across the sky a shocking blood red.

About a kilometer out from Cangxing Bay, a massive silhouette was slowly rising from the center of a whirlpool.

It was a terrifying phantom standing hundreds of meters tall.

Its deep blue skin shimmered with a metallic luster, and the enormous golden crown on its head pierced the heavens.

Coarse white bandages wrapped around its waist in layers, extending from its thick arms into the void.

The ends of the hundred-meter-long bandages snapped in the sea breeze, like two wild dragons churning the wind and clouds.

An epic sense of oppression rushed toward them.

In 24 hours, when this phantom fully solidified, the Star Sea King would truly descend upon the world.

Chen You stood in mid-air, stepping on the yuhuang sword, his gaze locked tightly on the two countdowns in the corner of his vision.

[Star Sea King Arrival Countdown: 23 hours 59 minutes 05 seconds]

[newbie protection period remaining time: 23 hours 58 minutes 25 seconds.]

"Trying to cut me short by a minute, huh?"

Chen You once again felt like he was being targeted.

This was truly too coincidental, so coincidental that he never expected it to turn out this way.

Tomorrow, the World Boss would descend, and players from the entire server would gather at Cangxing Bay.

Once his newbie protection period ended, he would undoubtedly be a living target for tens of thousands of people to focus fire on.

Even with his current set of +16 mythological-grade equipment, he couldn't withstand tens of thousands of high-tier skills slamming into his face simultaneously.

"If I can't afford to provoke them, can't I just hide?"

Chen You didn't hesitate; he reached into his backpack and pulled out a recall talisman.

With a flash of white light, his figure instantly vanished from the sky above the gulf.

Cangxing City, Central Plaza.

The white light of the teleportation array formed a dazzling aurora, with hardly a second of respite.

"Hurry, hurry, hurry! Group One and Group Two, assemble!"

"Buying underwater breathing potions at a high price! I'll take as many as you have! Scalpers get lost!"

"Coordinates at the Gulf reef area, Assassin squads go scout and take all the good spots!"

Countless players surged out of the teleportation array like they'd been injected with adrenaline; the entire plaza was overcrowded.

The allure of a World Boss was enough to drive any normal person into a frenzy.

Chen You didn't linger and teleported back to White Jade Capital.

...

White Jade Capital, Guild Management Hall.

"That's the situation." Chen You slumped into a chair. "The system is clearly trying to use others to kill me."

Data Analysis Team Leader Sun Feng pushed up his glasses, his fingers typing rapidly on the keyboard.

"As it stands now, the Three Great Guilds' primary target will definitely shift from the Star Sea King to you."

Sun Feng projected a data chart. "According to the damage output share from the last World Boss, you alone accounted for ninety percent."

"Your damage figures are too exaggerated; with you there, they can't take first place."

Chen You turned to look at the head seat. "Director Li, this job is impossible to take."

Director Li Guoan clasped his hands on the table, his tone steady. "We won't take this risk."

"Our core bottom line is to ensure your safety! Once the newbie protection period ends, your true body must absolutely not be exposed on an uncontrollable battlefield."

"So we're just giving up on the World Boss?" Chen You felt a bit of heartache.

That was a mythological-grade Boss; it would drop a god core, and might even yield some out-of-print items.

"Let the clone do the work." Director Li Guoan made the final decision. "The true body stays in the safe zone."

"If the clone manages to snatch it, we make a huge profit; if the clone gets focused and killed, there's no death penalty."

"Your primary task right now is to smoothly pass the window period after the newbie protection period ends; your true body must survive until the Golden Core stage."

Sun Feng looked up and smiled at Chen You. "Actually, you have at least a thirty percent chance of snatching the Boss. Don't forget, you still have the arrow towers."

Chen You's eyes lit up.

Zhang Yunhai added, "What I want to say is, you've spent too much time on the hidden siege quest; it's unnecessary."

"Keep pushing the main storyline if you can. With one day left, the next main city might have unexpected gains."

"Understood." Chen You nodded. "I'll head out now."

...

Cangxing City, Central Avenue.

In front of the shops on both sides of the street, red-faced players were packed together.

The prices of high-tier recovery potions and underwater breathing potions had increased fivefold in just half an hour.

Long lines formed in front of the equipment repair stands, sparks flying everywhere.

"Buying anti-explosion talismans at a high price! Spending all my savings to prepare for the Star Sea King!"

"Group Three needs a main tank, HP must be over 50,000, join the party quickly if you have one!"

The noisy shouting flooded into his ears.

Chen You watched these frenzied Adventurers, his pace not slowing in the slightest.

He walked all the way through the plaza, heading straight for the City Lord's residence.

The gates of the City Lord's residence were wide open.

Two guards saw Chen You and immediately straightened their backs to salute.

Chen You stepped over the high threshold and walked into the spacious main hall.

In the center of the main hall, the magical lights were deliberately dimmed, and a figure was moving rapidly amidst the interlacing light and shadow.

Sander was wearing her signature overalls, her hair combed into a meticulous center part.

She slightly bent her legs and thrust her shoulder forward violently.

Sensing footsteps, Sander stopped her movements.

She turned around, her eyes lighting up instantly, and strode forward to greet him.

"Mentor!" Sander's voice was filled with irrepressible excitement.

Chen You nodded slightly and walked over to a high-backed chair nearby to sit down.

Sander stepped closer, pressed her hands on the table, and lowered her voice. "Mentor, I felt it."

"An extremely massive energy fluctuation came from Cangxing Bay! That power tore the sky apart, and even the seawater is backflowing."

Sander became more and more excited as she spoke, waving her hands vigorously in the air. "Is that the brand-new stage you prepared for me?"

"A concert for ten thousand people, even bigger and more magnificent than the last talent show? I've already choreographed a brand-new setlist! This time I've added water-element magic; it will definitely blow the audience away!"

Chen You picked up the teacup on the table, shielding his twitching mouth.

You're a level 50 story NPC, why are you trying to join in on the World Boss excitement?

If the Star Sea King drops a single heavy bass cannon attack, not even a loose thread of your overalls will be left.

Chen You set down the teacup, his expression darkening.

"Sander." Chen You's voice was very low. "The water at Cangxing Bay is too deep; you can't handle it."

Sander froze in place.

The fanaticism in her eyes faded slightly, and she frowned. "Mentor, I am not afraid of difficulties."

"My Iron Mountain Lean is already perfected; even the most demanding audience, I can conquer them with rhythm."

Chen You stood up, hands behind his back, and walked to the entrance of the main hall.

He looked at the streak of blood-red evening glow on the horizon.

"What is about to descend there is not an audience, but a group of mindless thugs." Chen You turned his head, his gaze sharp.

"Hundreds of millions of Adventurers across the server are flooding toward that place; they only know slaughter and plunder."

"In their eyes, your art is merely a stumbling block hindering them from snatching loot."

Sander opened her mouth but made no sound.

Chen You walked back to the table. "True art requires those who understand it to appreciate it."

"The current Gulf is filled with bloodshed and schemes; magic and blades will flatten the entire Gulf."

"If you go, you aren't going to perform; you're going to be cannon fodder."