121: Chapter 121 The Battle of the Gods, Pointing Directly at Black Wind!

The setting sun was like blood, staining the snowy plains a crimson red.

The longbow in Qin Ji's hand still pointed steadily at the center of Luolin Muye's brow, the bowstring pulled taut and emitting an extremely faint hum, as if it would snap in the next second and release fangs that would devour life.

"What conditions?"

Qin Ji's voice was steady without the slightest ripple; he did not expect Luolin Muye, who represented the King's will, to agree to him lightly. If the other party truly retreated without any bottom line, the knife hidden behind it would likely be sharper than the wanted poster displayed openly.

Luolin Muye extended two slender fingers and shook them gently in the cold wind.

"First, after the city falls, you cannot touch the 'heart of the lord' of Black Wind City. It is the core node of the Formation maintaining the Kingdom's territory. If it is lost, the border will face collapse. This is the King's bottom line."

"Second, after entering the city, it is strictly forbidden to burn, kill, or loot civilians. What we want is to teach those disobedient lords a lesson, not to create a massacre that brings shame to the Kingdom."

Qin Ji raised his eyebrows, and the originally taut bowstring relaxed slightly by half, but the arrow tip remained locked onto the other party's vitals.

These two conditions sounded reasonable.

The heart of the lord belongs to the core hub of a main city level. If he really took it, it would likely be more than just a simple wanted status; King Abra would definitely lead a personal expedition, and might even summon the guardian gods of that level to descend. Currently, with his wings not yet fully grown, the risk of completely breaking ties with the entire Kingdom indeed exceeded the expected returns.

As for not killing civilians? He was not a bloodthirsty Devil Head to begin with; his targets had always been those high-and-mighty vested interests and BOSSes that could drop top-tier equipment.

The corners of Qin Ji's mouth curled up, revealing a faint smile, and a merchant's shrewdness flickered in his purple-gold pupils.

"Mr. Luolin, if I take nothing after breaking Black Wind City and come out empty-handed, wouldn't this act look too fake? Adventurers across the server are watching."

Although he was already prepared to agree in his heart, at the negotiation table, whoever showed their hand first lost. Since the other party had a request for him, if he didn't strike the bamboo pole until it rang loudly, he would be doing a disservice to his title as 'Snow Emperor'.

"Snow Emperor, you really are insatiably greedy."

Luolin Muye snorted coldly, the elegance in his eyes instantly replaced by a sharp Aura. "No wonder several princesses cannot fully trust you; your appetite is like a Taotie in the Abyss."

Qin Ji shrugged indifferently, the arrow in his hand swaying slightly with the movement, reflecting a bone-chilling light.

"Those who know me know that I am a very honest person. If several princesses feel I am not honest, it only shows that their vision is not sharp enough, or rather... the price they offered was not enough to make me honest."

"Heh, honest?"

Luolin Muye sneered, as if he had heard the world's biggest joke. "Do you really think no one knows what you did in the Newbie Village? Village Chief Wang has arrived in the Star Kingdom, and the files regarding you have long been placed on the intelligence table in the Royal Capital."

Qin Ji's eyelids twitched slightly, but his facial muscles were controlled perfectly, showing not the slightest surprise.

Village Chief Wang.

That fellow who had been scammed by him in the Newbie Village until not even his underwear was left actually hadn't died completely? But on second thought, Village Chief Wang's data essence was already a monster template; it was not strange for him to be refreshed and reshaped after being killed. He just hadn't expected this guy could leap out of the Newbie Village's rules and climb to the center of power in the Star Kingdom.

"Oh? You would actually employ such a small character."

Luolin Muye gave a mysterious smile, one that carried deep meaning. "One should be viewed in a new light after a three-day absence, Snow Emperor. It's better not to look down on people too much. When you see Village Chief Wang next time, you will naturally understand how to write the word 'surprise'."

"Still keeping secrets, I see."

Qin Ji shook his head somewhat disinterestedly, not wanting to waste time on this topic. "Stop changing the subject. Since you want me not to touch the heart of the lord and forbid me from making war profits, someone must compensate for my losses. I want an 'equipment evolution scroll'."

The air instantly fell silent.

Even the wind and snow seemed to freeze at this moment.

An equipment evolution scroll!

The value of this thing at the current stage was simply a priceless treasure. It could allow a piece of equipment's quality to jump up a level, possibly even allowing Legendary-grade equipment to touch the threshold of a Divine Artifact.

Qin Ji had originally considered demanding special equipment with percentage lifesteal, as that would be a qualitative leap for sustained combat capability. But after weighing it repeatedly, he chose to give it up.

Because the priority of that 'purification jade pendant' in his backpack was the highest in his eyes. Once the evolution was successful, the benefits it would bring would be immeasurable.

"This won't do."

Luolin Muye shook his head decisively, his tone firm. "The equipment evolution scroll is a strategic material in the national treasury; even I do not have the right to deploy it directly. I can take charge and give you a Gold-grade piece of equipment; that is the limit."

"Gold-grade equipment?"

Qin Ji countered, his tone filled with undisguised mockery. "Mr. Luolin, do you think I lack that stuff? If I exhaust all my efforts to conquer a main city and finally get dismissed with a piece of gold equipment like a beggar, how will I, the Snow Emperor, continue to save face if word gets out?"

"This is the greatest concession I can make!"

Luolin Muye took a step forward, and a terrifying magic fluctuation suddenly erupted around him, instantly vaporizing the surrounding snow into white mist. "If you still don't agree, then I will have to leave you here first and then apologize to the King!"

Boom—!

An invisible pressure crushed down toward Qin Ji like a mountain.

Qin Ji, however, was like a rock in a gale, remaining motionless. His eyelids lifted slightly, his gaze holding a hint of playfulness and madness.

"Sure. But I was thinking, if I kill you, the situation in the Star Kingdom will definitely become very lively. The Grand Marshal's younger brother dying at the hands of an Adventurer... tsk tsk, this news would definitely make the headlines."

"Kill me? Do you think you have the ability?" Luolin Muye sneered, a ball of destructive lightning already condensing in his palm.

"How about... we try?"

The corners of Qin Ji's mouth curled up, revealing a row of ivory-white teeth.

The next second.

His figure suddenly became illusory, and a terrifying Aura like that of an ancient Vicious Beast revived within his body. That was the Evil Qi remaining after killing the Son of the Demon King, Grelorlinssen, and even more so, the divine pressure brought by the Blessing of the Goddess of Ice and Snow!

Luolin Muye's gaze snapped into focus.

He could not see through Qin Ji's trump cards.

But he clearly remembered the contents of the intelligence: this madman not only killed the Son of the Demon King but also made Princess and King Abra lose health continuously while being helpless to stop it. More importantly, that flickering Divine Power of ice and snow...

If he made a move here, regardless of victory or defeat, once the gaze of the Goddess of Ice and Snow was drawn, the entire Luolin Family might suffer a catastrophe.

The lightning in Luolin Muye's hand flickered unsteadily and finally dissipated slowly.

"Fine."

Luolin Muye gritted his teeth and squeezed a word out from between them, "An equipment evolution scroll it is! But remember, this is the last time!"

He flipped his wrist, and a parchment scroll emitting an ancient runic Aura was tossed over.

Qin Ji raised his hand to catch it, and the System notification sound was sweet to the ears.

"Pleasure doing business with you." The Killing Intent on Qin Ji's face vanished instantly, and he smiled like a boy next door.

Luolin Muye gave Qin Ji a deep look, as if he wanted to carve this greedy Adventurer into his very bones. "Snow Emperor, I hope you don't play any tricks. Otherwise, even the Goddess of Ice and Snow won't be able to save you."

"Don't worry, my greatest virtue is being trustworthy." Qin Ji waved his hand.

Watching Luolin Muye's figure disappear into the distance of the wind and snow, the smile on Qin Ji's lips gradually widened, finally turning into a soft chuckle.

This wave was a huge profit.

First, the prerequisite task for the Blessing of the Gods from Princess's side was secured.

Secondly, the negotiation with Luolin Muye just now not only netted him a priceless equipment evolution scroll but also triggered a second Blessing of the Gods task chain.

Finally, there was the absolute order issued by the mysterious Black Robe Leader—to conquer Black Wind City. The reward for that task also included an equipment evolution scroll and the Blessing of the Gods!

"One fish, three ways to eat it; this is the huge profit brought by information asymmetry."

Qin Ji carefully placed the scroll into his backpack and turned his gaze to the south. There, a towering black giant city was crouching on the plains like a sleeping behemoth.

"Next, it's time to harvest the easiest reward."

...

Black Wind City, City Lord's Manor.

Under the luxurious crystal chandelier, City Lord was slumped in a velvet-covered soft chair, holding a glass of crimson wine, looking toward the direction of Ice Snow City to the north through the window.

When he saw Qin Ji leave after causing a scene over there, the heart that had been hanging in his chest finally mostly settled down.

"It seems this move of diverting the trouble was quite effective. Although I gave away many good things to lead that star of calamity away, as long as the city is saved, even if it gives those big shots above a headache, it's better than me losing my post."

Behind him, a Gray-Robed Elder bowed and smiled. "The City Lord is wise. Although that Snow Emperor is fierce, he is ultimately a profit-seeking Adventurer. There is more oil to be had in Ice Snow City, so he naturally wouldn't look at our impoverished place."

"That is natural."

City Lord shook his wine glass complacently. "This is called political wisdom..."

However.

Before his words could finish, the heavy oak door was suddenly slammed open with force.

A Messenger rushed in, crawling and rolling, his helmet even knocked askew, his face filled with terror.

"This is bad! Something terrible has happened!!"

City Lord frowned and slammed the wine glass heavily onto the table, wine splashing all over his hand. "So flustered, where is your decorum! What terrible thing has happened? If the sky falls, there are tall people to hold it up. Am I not living well right now?"

"City Lord... Snow Emperor... Snow Emperor is here!!"

The Messenger's voice carried a sob. "He's come back again! And this time he's heading straight for our Black Wind City's main gate!!"

"What did you say?!!"

City Lord jumped up as if there were springs under his buttocks, and his pampered face instantly turned pale. "Snow Emperor is here again? I have no grievance with him. Why doesn't he go to other main cities to fleece them, but comes to mess with my Black Wind City again! Did any of you provoke him?!"

City Lord felt a bitterness in his heart that was harder to swallow than yellow lotus.

Why did this star of calamity keep targeting him?

"Quick! Quickly activate the City Protection Array!!"

City Lord roared hysterically, "Fill it with all the energy reserves! Make that turtle shell as hard as possible for me!!"

According to previous intelligence, although Qin Ji's attack power was terrifying, he was still helpless against a main city-level City Protection Array. Previously in Ice Snow City, as long as the array was open, the Snow Emperor could only stare blankly.

Therefore, City Lord firmly believed that as long as he stayed inside his shell and didn't go out, the Snow Emperor could do nothing to him.

Not just him, many nobles and wealthy merchants in the city thought the same.

Current players, even those with Divine-Grade talents, wanting to rely on brute force to break a main city array that could withstand Forbidden Spell bombardments was simply a pipe dream.

But.

They had miscalculated one point.

Any Formation has an array eye. As long as you find the core node that supports the energy flow and destroy it, even the sturdiest fortress will collapse like a sandpile.

And the location of Black Wind City's City Protection Array eye was as clear to Qin Ji, who possessed memories of his past life, as where the keys to his own backyard were kept.

Outside the city.

Qin Ji stood on a high slope eight hundred meters from the city gate.

The wind whistled, blowing his black robes.

Before him, a pale green semi-transparent light screen was slowly rising, enveloping the entire Black Wind City. Complex runes flowed on the surface of the light screen, emitting a desperate defensive Aura.

"Their reaction is quite fast."

Qin Ji sneered, not in a hurry to attack the city gate.

His gaze crossed the high city walls and accurately locked onto an inconspicuous Clock Tower in the northwest corner of the city.

In the eyes of ordinary people, that was just an old building used for telling time.

But in Qin Ji's vision, the spire of that Clock Tower was continuously channeling a massive flow of magic into the sky; it was the 'heart' of the entire City Protection Array.

"As long as that place is shattered..."

Qin Ji took a deep breath, and the jiu he long bow was instantly drawn to its limit.

This time, he did not use ordinary arrows.

A Special Feathered Arrow, entirely pitch-black and covered with explosive runes, appeared on the string. This was the 'Array-Breaking Gift' he had specially prepared for this moment.

Twang—!

The sound of the bowstring vibrating was like a clap of thunder.

A black stream of light pierced the sky, carrying a piercing shriek, unexpectedly ignoring the frontal defensive light screen and descending toward that Clock Tower at an extremely bizarre parabolic angle, directly over the city wall!

This arrow condensed all of Qin Ji's current Peak spirit and energy.

Rumble—!!!

In less than three seconds.

A dazzling burst of fire erupted in the northwest corner of the city.

Immediately following, the originally indestructible pale green light screen suddenly trembled violently. Those flowing runes were like gears that had lost their power, beginning to lag and reverse frantically.

Crack... Crack...

The crisp sound of shattering echoed through the clouds.

Under the horrified gaze of countless defenders, the barrier above their heads that had protected Black Wind City for a hundred years was instantly covered in dense cracks, like glass struck by a heavy hammer.

"Break."

Qin Ji softly uttered a single word.

Boom!!!

Energy fragments filled the sky like a meteor shower, smashing deep pits into the snow on the ground.

Inside the City Lord's Manor.

Another person rushed in hurriedly, crawling and rolling, even knocking over a vase at the door.

City Lord's eyes were bloodshot as he stared fixedly at the newcomer, his voice trembling: "How is it? Did the Snow Emperor retreat in the face of difficulty?"

The newcomer fell to his knees with a thud, his whole body shaking like a sieve, crying out in despair:

"City Lord... it's over! It's all over!"

"The City Protection Array... was destroyed by one arrow from the Snow Emperor!!"

"He is now charging toward the City Lord's Manor with unstoppable momentum! And for some reason, most of the City Guard in the city have disappeared, and several Commanders have collectively vanished; there is simply no one organizing a resistance!!"

"What?!!"

City Lord cried out in shock, feeling his world spinning, and slumped onto the ground. "The generals have collectively vanished? What do they want to do? Rebel?!"

At this moment, on the Main Road of Black Wind City.

Dust billowed, and rubble was everywhere.

The originally neat street had been plowed out with a deep furrow by violent force, and the shop signs on both sides were teetering.

At the end of this ruin and chaos, Qin Ji held the longbow, which was still slightly hot, in one hand, his foot stepping on a huge Plaque that had fallen from the city gate. The words "Black Wind" on it had been crushed underfoot. He slowly raised his head, his gaze passing through the billowing dust to lock accurately onto the direction of the City Lord's Manor, the corner of his mouth hooked into a cold arc, looking like an Asura who had just crushed the gates of Hell and descended upon the mortal world, preparing to enjoy his feast.