https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-452-A-Second-Confrontation-with-Zhao-Ying-Wang/13548264/
Chapter 451: Beyond the Blockade
Chapter 451: Beyond the Blockade
Inside the mall, all broadcast screens were already airing combat footage. The dramatic narration in a pili style, complete with subtitles, was far more gripping than the commentary from those two clowns, Pan and Fenghua Xiong. The system-generated commentary synchronized perfectly with the action, vivid and thrilling.
Among all broadcast zones, [Mad Bu Jue]'s dedicated stream was the hottest. While his personal fanbase wasn’t massive, he attracted many neutral players who lacked specific favorites to support. Moreover, Xu Huai Shang’s fanbase had also gathered en masse to watch Feng Bu Jue’s match.
A lyric from a song captured the essence well: "Laughter and tears stand back to back. Love and hatred meet with a single glance."
After Xu Huai Shang’s elimination, where else could her fans turn in the final? With their beloved idol out of the picture, they shifted to watching the hated "demonic villain" instead—to see how he met his end.
Thus, Feng Bu Jue’s broadcast zone became a bizarre spectacle: a small group holding high banners declaring "The Fiercest" clustered together; another group of players, scowling with disdain, standing far apart; and a large crowd of curious onlookers bridging the gap between them.
Meanwhile, many players watched Feng Bu Jue’s progress in conference rooms. Groups like Hong Ying and Blade Guild’s studio members were glued to the Hell Front broadcasts…
…
Back in the scenario.
With mutated monsters and undead swarming the city, ambushes between players were highly probable.
Within five or six minutes of the finals’ start, combat erupted across the city. Yet, not a single player-versus-player clash had occurred yet. This, too, was orchestrated by the system. To heighten the spectacle and reduce randomness, contestants’ starting coordinates were deliberately scattered.
Naturally, contestants’ performances against monsters were critical. The more combat, the greater the stamina consumption. In the finals, vitality supplements remained unavailable, testing contestants’ strategies. To minimize blood loss, one typically spent more stamina or resolved battles with skills. To conserve stamina and keep certain skills’ cooldowns fresh, players might instead drain vitality.
In short, there were countless considerations—unless…
…
“Maintaining movement, I encounter one or two monsters every five minutes…” Shiva muttered as he controlled [Celestial Dance Hourglass], shattering a nearby monster with his Stone Disc.
For a player of his caliber, slaying such low-level creatures was easier than breathing (though breathing brought the added misery of their stench). There was no notable consumption involved.
Currently, Shiva was level 40, ranking third in the level leaderboard. His psionic weapon’s eight special abilities had already unlocked "Earth, Water, Fire, Void, Sun, and Moon." Only the "Wind" and "Annihilation" Stone Discs remained sealed.
Moreover, five days prior in the [Butterfly Arena], he had finally grasped the [Soul Intent] ability. After that update, he reclaimed the second spot on the combat power leaderboard.
Compared to the Mantle Scramble Battle, Shiva’s capabilities had undeniably ascended to a new height.
Yet, this only made him feel uneasy—because he was still second.
“Otherworld traveler…” A muffled voice suddenly rumbled from behind Shiva. “I advise you to halt here.”
Shiva hadn’t sensed the speaker’s approach at all, a shock—but no narration intervened, indicating no combat status. Thus, the voice’s owner posed no immediate hostility.
Shiva spun around. Before his eyes stood a towering humanoid creature. Over two meters tall, its inverted-triangle torso was armored in yellow-and-black chitinous plating. Its limbs were far bulkier than an average human’s. Most bizarre was its head—a massive hornet’s face.
“Who are you…?” Shiva cautiously inquired. Since the entity addressed him, it was likely an Npc.
“My name is Xie Harte.” Xie Harte replied. “I am one of the Twelve Time Officials, a servant of the Time Lord.”
Shiva was no stranger to the Four Pillars Deity setting. He quickly pressed, “Why do you urge me to stop?”
“Because the area ahead is sealed.” Xie Harte stated.
“By whom?” Shiva asked. “You?”
“I, and three other Time Officials.” Xie Harte replied. “You may detour, but do not enter…” As he spoke, his multi-jointed arm extended, his clawed fingertip slicing the air.
Instantly, several streets ahead of Shiva were shrouded in a hazy, orange-red mist.
“…Do not enter this zone.” Xie Harte warned.
“What lies within?” Shiva pressed.
Xie Harte paused for two seconds before solemnly replying, “Only danger, nothing else.”
Hearing this, Shiva pondered briefly before saying, “Fine, I’ll detour.” He had no reason to refuse. After all, he’d been wandering aimlessly. Besides, Time Lords were deities of the lawful faction. Their subordinates were likely reliable. At least, this hornet hadn’t attacked him like a monster would.
“You’d best leave quickly,” Xie Harte added, turning his back to the orange mist and facing the foul-smelling street ahead. “Troublesome things have already arrived…”
Before Shiva could process those words, a white pulse beam as thick as a teacup erupted from the far distance, slamming into Xie Harte’s body. The latter reacted with lightning speed, thrusting both long arms forward and twisting them together like a braid. Then, his palms burst open, unleashing a radiant lotus bloom.
Xie Harte used the lotus as a shield, blocking the pulse. A second later, the beam struck the energy petals. Xie Harte stood firm, not budging an inch. The pulse split into seven or eight thinner beams, scattering in all directions and blasting the surrounding buildings. The street’s walls exploded like cannon targets, oozing viscous, fetid yellow liquid from their corrupted interiors…
Shiva inhaled sharply, awestruck. His own [Celestial Dance Hourglass] relied on beam attacks, but compared to this display, his skills were laughable.
“Can creatures this powerful exist in this scenario…?” Shiva’s Terror Value silently climbed, a fierce urge to flee rising. “This place is no longer safe… Whoever launched that attack, their target isn’t me. I shouldn’t get entangled in their Npc conflicts.” With that thought, he turned to leave.
But then…
“Oh… Impressive.” A youth with tousled red hair and a grinning face had somehow appeared at the side street beside Shiva.
He wore a white suit overcoat, its guild emblem bearing a white balance scale on a cerulean background. On the back of his coat, the word “Order” was inscribed.
“Tian Tian Gui Xiao…” Shiva’s Terror Value spiked to 70% the moment he recognized the name.
“When did he arrive…? Why hasn’t he attacked me yet? Is he wary of my abilities?” Shiva’s mind raced with questions, though he outwardly remained composed. Calmly addressing Gui Xiao, he said, “Didn’t expect the first player I’d meet in the finals to be you.” He paused. “Well… Since a clash was inevitable, why not…”
“Can we talk later?” Gui Xiao rudely interrupted, his gaze fixed elsewhere. “A super-strong opponent is approaching…”
Shiva bristled at being ignored. Yet, the ongoing battle beside him was hard to ignore…
Looking ahead, the beam’s origin slowly revealed a figure.
Data recognition:
—Firewall Breach
—Data Download
—Countermeasure Activation
Biometric database initializing… Downloading… Recompiling…
[Name: Xie Harte]
[Faction: Time Lord]
[Race: Hexapod Alien]
[Level: ???]
[Height: 203 cm]
[Weight: 500 kg]
[Combat Method: Energy Manipulation, ???]
[Skills: Light Lotus Shield, ???]
[Danger Level: Moderate]
Voice recognition: Established.
Location: Y-090.
Tracking: Unavailable.
Control Status: Unstable.
Tactical Options: Calculating…
“Troublesome…” The approaching derivative being was a nearly two-meter-tall male, his entire body seemingly encased in glowing armor. His voice carried a bell-like resonance. “Are there truly twelve of this caliber…?”
As he drew closer, Shiva realized the being wasn’t emitting light but wearing light-blocking armor. Each inch of his skin radiated brilliance—a true “light-being.”
“A derivative being?” Tian Tian Gui Xiao stared, murmuring. “Seems like Tier Two… but there’s something odd.”
“Oh? You know quite a bit.” The light-being heard Gui Xiao’s remark, turning his head. “For just a player…”
“I don’t know much,” Gui Xiao sneered. “I just… saw it.”
“Hmph…” The light-being glanced at Gui Xiao again but said nothing more. He was pressed for time. His gaze refocused on Xie Harte. “I suppose… unless I kill you, you won’t let me pass, will you?”
“My master’s decree forbids it…”
Chi—
Xie Harte’s sentence was cut short as another pulse beam erupted abruptly.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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