Lord of Prayer - Chapter 337 - 225: I’m a Sucker for Good Looks, and You’re Handsome (Part 2)

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Somewhere in a snow-covered land, the pure white snow trembled a few times before a head poked out furtively.

Zhou Chen carefully surveyed his surroundings. Only after confirming it was safe did he climb out of the tunnel, drenched and steaming in the cold air.

A Cyan Flame ignited, rapidly evaporating the moisture from his body.

He looked at the number of survivors on his System Panel. After he detonated the Alchemy Bomb he’d left behind, the count had immediately dropped by five.

’To think I only got five…’ Zhou Chen was a little dissatisfied. After all, he estimated that the number of people hunting him was in the triple digits. Taking out just five was a mere drop in the bucket.

Of course, out of those hundred or so people, only thirty or forty players were genuinely determined to hunt him to the end. The rest were basically just along for the ride, and he figured it wouldn’t be long before they abandoned the Slaying Alliance.

But for now, this crowd was undoubtedly a powerful asset to his pursuers. He’d nearly been cut off several times because of them.

If not for their interference, he figured he would’ve escaped long ago.

Now, having lost his teammates and supplies, Zhou Chen was all alone. Taking on the Slaying Alliance head-on for revenge was clearly not a wise move. But he couldn’t just swallow his anger and hide like a coward, either.

The organizers of the Sword Forging Competition had even said that the competition’s motto was “Friendship Third.” The hidden meaning was clear: they encouraged grudges and revenge, wanting more explosive conflict and bloodshed.

So, revenge was a must—just not right now.

’If I want to take out the Slaying Alliance, I’ll have to wait for those hangers-on to get bored and leave. I need to gear up fast. Who knows when the zone will shrink again. If I run into the Slaying Alliance then, I’m screwed…’ Zhou Chen quickly left the area, putting as much distance as possible between himself and the Slaying Alliance.

He walked until late into the night, and only after he was certain he was outside the Slaying Alliance’s operational range did he find a cave to rest in.

After the blizzard hit, the temperature across the entire Restricted Area plummeted. It grew colder and colder, and each breath of air felt like it could freeze his lungs solid.

As night fell, the blizzard raged and the temperature plunged. Even with the thermal bracelet from Jiang Che, Zhou Chen could feel the bone-chilling cold seeping in. It was no longer safe to travel at night; most people would choose to find a warm place to rest.

Zhou Chen sat by the fire, entering a calm Meditation. Over the past several days, his Alchemy and Forging techniques had improved significantly. Crafting so much equipment had allowed his Hammer of Forging to absorb a great deal of Secret Power, which in turn strengthened his Skills and unlocked more of its sealed Forging knowledge.

These included profound techniques like Living Body Forging, Limb Reconstruction, Destruction of All Things – Fragile Transformation, and Extraordinary Item Essence Transformation.

Beyond that, what made Zhou Chen ecstatic was the huge influx of Wish Points he received after escaping from the Slaying Alliance.

In fact, his Wish Points income had been steady since the competition started, and it had skyrocketed whenever he plundered other players.

He didn’t need to think twice to know they were coming from the audience watching the Sword Forging Competition.

’Maybe my outstanding performance has already earned me a million fans…’

As for the Wish Points he’d collected, Zhou Chen planned to use them to upgrade the Round Table Hall and enhance its functions. If he had enough left over, he would repair the Hammer of Forging and unlock new Skills. And if the opportunity arose, he’d copy some more powerful Martial Arts.

For instance, he had already completely mastered Li Chengtian’s “Shadowless Spear.”

As for new recruits, he was considering bringing his three teammates into the fold. However, recruiting all of them at once could arouse suspicion, which left him conflicted. They were all promising candidates, and not bringing them in felt like a terrible waste…

’Maybe I could create a smurf account and pretend to be someone else? That way, if I bring in four people, it would be easier to come up with an excuse…’

Suddenly, Zhou Chen’s eyes snapped open. He stared at the figure that had appeared silently at the entrance to the cave.

He hadn’t sensed their approach at all, only becoming aware of them at such a close distance.

Gripping his Thunder Strike, Zhou Chen warily sized up the newcomer—a figure in a loose, snow-white, hooded robe. He could vaguely make out long, fiery red hair, suggesting it was a woman. On her back, she carried a striking Jet Sword.

The ID above her head read: [My Great Hammer is Already Thirsty].

Zhou Chen’s heart skipped a beat. This was the second-place contestant from the preliminaries, the disciple of the current Fire God Vulcan—Renie!

“Don’t be nervous. I’m not here to hunt you.”

Renie pulled back her hood, revealing a handsome face. A cascade of fiery red hair fell around her shoulders as she gave him a small smile. “I’m just passing by. Mind if I stay for the night? It’s a bit cold out there.”

Zhou Chen looked stunned for a moment. After a brief pause, he offered a polite smile. “Please, come in.”

Renie entered the cave, casually leaned her Jet Sword against the wall, and held out her hands to the campfire.

She remarked casually, “There are nearly a hundred people hunting you right now. You’ve got some real talent to throw the whole competition into such chaos. As long as you make it to the final battle, I’m sure you’ll go down as one of this Sword Forging Competition’s most memorable contestants.”

“The final battle?”

Zhou Chen thought for a moment before asking, “This is my first time. What’s the final battle like?”

“Ever played a battle royale?”

“I have. I’ve climbed the ladder, too.”

“The ladder?” Renie’s eyes instantly lit up. “We should add each other as friends and team up when we get out of here! By the way, do you play Monster Torture…”

“I do.” Zhou Chen glanced at her Jet Sword, finally understanding its inspiration.

The campfire flickered. Renie’s fiery red pupils grew even brighter, her face alight with the joy of finding a kindred spirit. “Go-Die Souls, Spartan War God, Bio-Crisis, Holy Light Ring, Cyberpunk, Gwent Card Simulator…”

She rattled off the titles like a waitress listing daily specials, naming over a dozen popular games in one breath, and it seemed there were even more she couldn’t recall at the moment.

Zhou Chen’s mouth fell open. ’Lady, this is the Sword Forging Competition, not a gaming expo,’ he thought.

“…So, do you play them?” Renie asked, her eyes shining with hope.

“Of course I play them all! I’m an OG player,” Zhou Chen replied emphatically. Instantly, five or six small stars appeared in his Wish Bottle. ’Is this the joy of finding a kindred spirit? Its power is terrifying…’

“Yes! Yes!” Renie pumped her fist in excitement. “I’ve decided to help you!”

“Huh?” Zhou Chen blinked, stunned.

“You probably don’t know this, but I’m surrounded by a bunch of shut-ins who do nothing but smith and forge all day. No, they don’t even qualify as shut-ins! What kind of normal shut-in doesn’t play games or watch anime? They’re just a bunch of crazed fanatics, just like that Magnetic Field Lunatic. They’re so obsessed with Forging that it’s all they do besides eat and sleep…”

“Since I’m my master’s disciple, I rarely get to go out. You have no idea how hard it is to find someone in the real world who shares my interests and speaks my language.” Renie was trembling with excitement.

“Uh, you’re going to help me just because of that?”

“Oh, and one more thing.”

Renie stared straight at him and said bluntly, “I’m a sucker for a pretty face. And you’re handsome.”

’Handsome…’ Zhou Chen subconsciously touched his face. ’Hmm… that certainly is an advantage.’

Especially since he had been blessed by the King of Music, which gave his charisma a major boost.

“Ahem, but let’s get back on topic. The final battle is, in other words, the grand finals. In previous years, it always began when only ten contestants remained. That’s when the competition enters its most exciting phase. Statistically, over forty percent of the audience starts tuning in at that point, so it’s the best time to make a name for yourself.”

“This competition is a wilderness survival-slash-battle royale, so the final battle will probably be just like in the games. Even teammates will have to become enemies, until only one person is left standing to get that chicken dinner,” Renie said.

“No, no, no, no, no…”

In the broadcast room, Colonel Guan chuckled mysteriously. “A friendly reminder, everyone: this year’s final battle… isn’t going to be for a chicken dinner.”