Chapter 122 - 117: Identity

Chapter 122: Chapter 117: Identity

"That guy... is quite interesting!"

Dark clouds churned, pressing down on the ground like ink poured into water. Darkness filled the eyes. In that darkness, pairs of blood-red eyes, as large as lanterns, gleamed with an eerie crimson glow.

ROAR!

A beast-like low growl carried a chilling, murderous intent that set everyone on edge. Monsters occasionally phased in and out of the black fog, like demons walking through hell, glaring at the alien creatures on the ground and ready to devour anyone at a moment’s notice.

It was a darkness devoid of light. The oppression tested one’s resolve, and the sheer unfamiliarity of it all was enough to make anyone tremble in fear. Endless withered bones littered the ground. They were not just human remains, but belonged to all kinds of creatures. That terrifying sea of white bones served as a stark warning to all who entered: this was no sanctuary.

This was the Marching Battlefield!

And this was exactly what it looked like. No one knew what might suddenly pop out from the path ahead. The black fog alone was enough to make one uneasy, but the presence of the Yin Demons made this place truly horrifying.

SWISH! SWISH!

Any squad that encountered the Yin Demon Army was essentially doomed; most would be slaughtered by the sheer numbers of the Yin Demons. The teams capable of destroying the Yin Demon Arrays were the ones with brains. They never clashed with the Yin Demons head-on. Instead, they relied on disguises or sneak attacks. Catching the enemy off guard and striking when least expected was the key to victory.

The Fu Jian Squad knew this exceptionally well.

They discovered that a dead Yin Demon wouldn’t disintegrate immediately. So, they used crude, improvised puppet-refining techniques to briefly control a Yin Demon’s corpse. The whole team would hide inside its hollowed-out belly to get close to the Array. Then, they would spring out, swiftly destroy the Array’s core, dive back into the puppet’s stomach, and activate a pre-inscribed Teleportation Array to make their getaway!

This was the Fu Jian Squad’s foolproof combat strategy. Because they had devised this method, the number of Yin Demon Arrays they destroyed put them far ahead of the competition.

The Liu Rushi Squad also delivered a stunning performance. Although their method differed from the Fu Jian Squad’s, they similarly relied on sneak attacks and sudden ambushes. Having fought the Yin Demons numerous times, they were highly experienced. Naturally, their combat insights were vastly superior to those of the rookies who had just entered the Marching Battlefield.

A direct assault was out of the question. Even if a team managed to win a fight or two, the price would be far too high. If a frontal attack didn’t work, underhanded tactics were the only way to go.

In contrast, there were players like Chen Huangbei and Xiao Ting. Arrogant about their high cultivation levels but lacking in experience, they believed the proper way to complete quests was to fight face-to-face, brawling like real men. Reality, however, delivered a harsh slap to their faces. They had underestimated the NPCs in the Marching Battlefield. The entire warzone was completely controlled by veteran players. Even players who had once ended up on the Top Ten Epic Fails leaderboard taught these newcomers a brutal lesson.

Only then did the rookies realize a sobering truth: the game wasn’t that simple. Large-scale wars like this were entirely different from the petty skirmishes of their beginner quests.

Just as everyone assumed that newcomers needed far more practice to develop the same tactical adaptability as veteran squads, a single person stepped forward.

That person was "One"!

He swept through the battlefield, coming from behind to claim the top ranks. The number of Arrays he destroyed had reached a terrifying thirteen, second only to the Fu Jian Squad. What was truly horrifying was that, as seen through the old man’s simulated projections, One didn’t use any schemes or tricks. Instead, he bulldozed right through the enemy’s front lines.

He pushed through all on his own.

Granted, the locations he toppled weren’t as heavily guarded by Yin Demons as the place Chen Huangbei and the others had accidentally stumbled into on their first try. Still, to bulldoze through like that... it was astonishing!

He was an absolute anomaly.

"What terrifying combat prowess!"

"One truly deserves the title of the strongest genius of this generation!"

"To think... he single-handedly flattened over a dozen Arrays. Just him alone... is he a monster?"

"He’s exactly like a terrifying Fierce Beast from ancient times!"

One’s performance left an indelible impression on everyone. Whether one was a genius, or possessed a Sacred Body or Dominator Body... they could only look up to him in awe.

"I wonder if Tanzi could pull off something like this."

"Tanzi who? There’s no way!"

"That guy was just a flash in the pan. How long has it been since he last showed up?"

People were eager to see how Tanzi would perform, but it seemed unlikely that he would show up at all. The battle had already been raging for a long time. Since there had been no sign of him for so long, he definitely wasn’t coming.

"If Tanzi and One joined forces, could they break the Fu Jian Squad’s monopoly on the rankings?"

"One doesn’t even need Tanzi to do that. He just needs a little time to adapt to the Marching Battlefield. In the next round... the Fu Jian Squad will be eating his dust, unable to even catch a glimpse of his back."

No one doubted this.

Of course, with the battle so tense, the players didn’t have much time to indulge in idle gossip. Instead of chatting, they were better off slacking around the edges to rack up some assist damage. After all, merely participating in a major event like this guaranteed generous rewards. If they accidentally made it onto the Top Ten Epic Fails leaderboard, they’d strike it rich. Wasn’t that exactly how players like Wang Dazhi rose to prominence last time? When their futures were on the line, no one wanted to waste time gossiping.

Fallen God Canyon.

Rolling black fog blanketed the surroundings, obscuring the path ahead. Within the canyon, uncontainable flashes of light occasionally pierced through, so bright that even the black fog couldn’t hide them.

An Array was located inside. It was a Guiding Array that the Yin Demons were on the verge of successfully deploying.

"One" wore robes as white as snow. Flying in the sky, he hovered high above the valley’s entrance, holding a slender, lightweight sword.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

With just a few strikes of his sword, he effortlessly dispatched the Yin Demon guards, carving through them as if marching through an empty land. He wore a mask. Combined with a Holy Technique that concealed his aura, no one could figure out his true identity. Like a True Immortal, his every movement carried the bearing of a grandmaster. Having consecutively destroyed over a dozen Arrays and slain countless Yin Demons, his pristine white robes remained completely free of bloodstains.

How had he done it? It was simply unbelievable.

"Who’s there?" Dressed in snow-white robes, his gaze suddenly sharpened, locking onto a specific spot in the dark clouds. He sensed an unusual aura of danger.

SWISH...

Like a clear stream flowing over stones, his slender sword sliced through the black fog, pointing directly at that spot. Everything felt ethereal... and dangerous!

His sword was holy, yet bloody. Peaceful, yet murderous.

"Don’t panic, Chu’Er," a familiar voice called out from the darkness.

Hearing this, One’s body trembled. Beneath the mask, the concealed expression immediately shifted. To think... someone had recognized her the moment they spoke?

SWISH!

After a moment of confusion, One took a single step, soaring forward with her sword in hand as the space around her blurred in retreat. She soon saw the person in the darkness who had called out her name.

That face...

Chu’Er instantly sheathed her sword. Her expression shifted from shock to pleasant surprise, and finally, sheer overjoyed excitement!

"Mr... Mr. Su... Why are you here?" Yun Chu rejoiced, all of her previous razor-sharp edge vanishing.

She took off her mask, looking just like the sweet girl next door. "How did you know it was me?"