Left hand, Dark Skeleton King.
Right hand, Apocalyptic Black Dragon.
No matter where he went, Zhang Yue’s two pets, unmatched in both appearance and aura, always drew countless stares from passersby, with a 200% head-turn rate!
“Holy crap! That guy actually has a pet dragon! How did he get it?”
“I thought Beast Tamers usually just had cats and dogs?”
“That Black Dragon is so cool, it feels so safe! More reliable than my boyfriend!”
“Just these two pets alone are worth over tens of millions. I wonder which top guild’s big shot he is!”
Zhang Yue returned to the Dark Hall and logged off.
Just then, a message popped up in the F4 group chat.
Lin Tian: “Strange, I haven’t seen anyone from the Infinity Guild all day. Did they retreat?”
Liu Yao: “Haha, those cowards are scared of my big brother! They tucked their tails and ran back to Tianlang!”
Su Jinyan: “@Zhang Yue, the Guild Leader of Infinity Guild, Infinity Phantom, is said to be the direct grandson of Infinity Overlord, the strongest in Zhening Province, and an Epic Grade professional. He won’t let this slide easily. Be careful!”
Zhang Yue: “Got it.”
Too bad, the ATM is gone now~
Two days left until the Global Professionals Tournament.
In these two days, new and old professionals from all over the world were frantically preparing for the competition!
Equipment shops and pharmacies in major provinces and cities were experiencing their annual sales peak.
Support professionals like Blacksmiths, Alchemists, Enchanters, and Chefs were working day and night to craft equipment, brew potions, and make special foods, yet the demand still exceeded supply!
Dragon City, the capital of Dragon Kingdom.
National Headquarters for top-tier professionals.
Tier 0 professionals like Seraph, Moonmark, and Ice Emperor were reviewing the list of this year’s national competitors on a large screen, feeling emotional.
“This year, the total number of new professionals participating is 1.28 million, 100,000 more than last year. I wonder if they can win a gold medal for our Dragon Kingdom in this year’s tournament!”
“Not likely. According to Awakening Day statistics, the highest grade among our new professionals this year is Epic Grade. Quantity doesn’t equal quality.”
“Miracles are unpredictable. Let’s wait and see! Also, old fellows, we need to prepare for the tournament too! Xiu Luo God sacrificed himself a hundred years ago to fend off a Tier 9 Beast Tide, giving us today’s Dragon Kingdom. We can’t disgrace his name!”
Meanwhile.
Zhang Yue spent two days helping Wu Haotian and Ning Tiantian complete a world mission.
Just in time for the evening before the tournament, the three of them teamed up to activate the World Boss challenge.
“Ding~ Welcome to the Fourth World: Dragon’s Valley World Boss Challenge! Please kill the World Boss: Dark Dragon!”
Roar—
Amidst endless dragon roars, a super Dark Dragon, as majestic as the Divine Dragons of the Light Tribe, flew over the boundless dark valley.
Though Zhang Yue was part of the Dark Tribe, he had to turn against his own to clear the Fourth World.
Looking up at the Level 35, 4-star Boss Dark Dragon flying overhead, Wu Haotian hesitated, “We’ve never tried to take down a World Boss with just three people!”
Zhang Yue said, “You two step back, I’ll handle the Boss.”
With that, Zhang Yue summoned both the Dark Skeleton King and the Apocalyptic Black Dragon.
Roar!
The Apocalyptic Black Dragon roared and charged at the Dark Dragon.
Boom boom!
The Apocalyptic Black Dragon’s Apocalyptic Dragon Explosion and Explosive Piercing struck the Dark Dragon, but only dealt 1500-2000 damage per hit!
As a Level 35, 4-star Boss, the Dark Dragon had over 900 physical resistance.
The Apocalyptic Black Dragon couldn’t do much damage.
After attracting the Dark Dragon’s aggro, the Apocalyptic Black Dragon quickly flew back.
Behind it, the Dark Dragon chased with overwhelming force!
Once within attack range, the Dark Skeleton King used Infinite Taunt to stabilize the Dark Dragon’s aggro, then bound it with Shadow Sword Array.
Zhang Yue seized the opportunity to attack.
Heavenly Fire Burns the Plains!
Frozen World!
Thunderous Might!
Divine Fire Catastrophe!
Boom boom boom boom!
A barrage of S-rank skills exploded on the Dark Dragon, dealing four to five thousand damage per hit!
Even with 120,000 HP, the Dark Dragon couldn’t withstand Zhang Yue’s magical bombardment.
The Apocalyptic Black Dragon circled the Dark Dragon, using Apocalyptic Dragon Flame and Apocalyptic Dragon Breath to assist, the master and pet working together to rapidly deplete the Dark Dragon’s HP!
The Dark Dragon’s damage was high.
Initially, with Infinite Taunt’s 40% damage reduction and Shadow Supreme’s 20%, totaling 60% damage reduction, the Skeleton King could barely hold on.
Once Infinite Taunt’s 10-second duration ended, the Skeleton King’s HP started to plummet!
Seeing the Skeleton King’s HP nearing zero, Zhang Yue cast an S-rank Divine Demon Protection on it.
Goodness, a 6000+ shield completely covered the Skeleton King’s HP bar, effectively giving it a second life!
At this point, Ning Tiantian used various healing skills to restore the Skeleton King.
Once the shield broke, the Skeleton King’s HP was fully restored.
When its HP ran out again, Zhang Yue’s Divine Demon Protection was off cooldown, and he cast another shield.
Using this infinite layering tactic, Zhang Yue defeated the Dark Dragon in just over a minute!
“One minute to solo a 4-star Boss…” Wu Haotian was in disbelief.
“Ding~ Congratulations on killing the Level 35, 4-star Boss [Dark Dragon], Experience Points +, Psionic Energy +35 million!”
[Area Announcement]: “Ding~ Congratulations to professional [Zero] for killing the World Boss [Dark Dragon] and clearing the Fourth World!”
[Area Announcement]: “Ding~ Congratulations to professional [White Rabbit Creamy Candy] for killing the World Boss [Dark Dragon] and clearing the Fourth World!”
[Area Announcement]: “Ding…”
“Zero again…”
“First clear of all four worlds, that’s insane!” New professionals in Coastal City were already numb to it.
But Cute and Adorable, Gentle and Kind, and Ning Tiantian’s other plastic besties, who were struggling to kill a dragon in a wild map, were shocked to hear about Ning Tiantian clearing the Fourth World.
“Ning Tiantian was the most useless among us, and now she’s doing so well?”
“It’s mainly because that Beast Tamer Zero is too powerful. Anyone with him can be carried to victory!”
“Mengmeng, maybe we shouldn’t have treated Ning Tiantian that way? Do you think she’d help us now if we asked?”
“Sigh, forget it. Let’s not humiliate ourselves.”
Meanwhile.
In the F4 group chat, Liu Yao lamented, “Brother Yue, you’ve changed. You don’t even take me to fight World Bosses anymore! No love left!”
Zhang Yue: “Join my guild, and I’ll take you.”
Lin Tian: “He’s obsessed. He wants to recruit everyone he sees into his guild…”
After clearing the Fourth World, Zhang Yue and his team didn’t rush to the Fifth World.
Because the Global Professionals Tournament would start at 10 AM the next day.
The most important thing now was to rest and prepare for the competition.
So, after picking up the two 3-star items dropped by the World Boss, they each returned to the Dark Hall and Light Hall and logged off.
Planning not to log back in that night, Zhang Yue decided to take Ning Tiantian out for a good meal.
After all, as the Guild Leader, he had to show some appreciation.
Zhang Yue also messaged Wu Haotian in the guild chat: “How far are you from the Academician’s Residence? Check the navigation.”
“Not far, a twenty-minute drive,” Wu Haotian replied. “What’s up?”
“Come, I’ll treat you to dinner.”
“No way, really?” Wu Haotian was clearly excited. “Will you cover the travel expenses?”
Zhang Yue: “Why are you so stingy?”
Wu Haotian: “Sigh, a tiger fallen to a flatland is bullied by dogs! When I regain my strength one day…”
Zhang Yue thought Wu Haotian would say something ambitious, but he continued, “I’ll pay you back for the travel expenses!”
After agreeing to meet at the north gate of the Academician’s Residence, Zhang Yue went to take a shower.
Just after finishing his shower, Zhang Yue saw Ning Tiantian sitting on the sofa, crying while on the phone.
“What happened?” Zhang Yue asked after Ning Tiantian hung up.
Ning Tiantian, with tears streaming down her face, said, “My dad got into an accident while biking home from the construction site. The other person is hospitalized and needs a lot of money…”
Zhang Yue understood, “How much?”
“They’re asking for five thousand. My parents gave me all their savings last month because they knew professionals spend a lot,” Ning Tiantian said, hugging her legs and burying her face in them, crying, “But now that they need help, I can’t do anything. I’m so useless…”
Zhang Yue transferred ten thousand to Ning Tiantian: “Use this first, consider it an advance on your salary for the month.”
Just as he finished speaking, Ning Tiantian, still in shock, heard her stomach growl. She lowered her head in embarrassment.
Zhang Yue asked, “Can you eat spicy food?”
Ning Tiantian hesitated, then nodded, “Yes!”
“Then keep crying. When you’re done, meet me at the second Sichuan restaurant on the right of the north gate.”
With that, Zhang Yue left.
Ning Tiantian wiped her tears and quickly followed.
At the Old Place Sichuan Restaurant.
Zhang Yue had just finished ordering when Wu Haotian arrived.
“Guild Leader, you’re so generous! Are you going to treat us every day from now on?” Wu Haotian sat across from Zhang Yue, rolling up his sleeves, ready to dig in.
Zhang Yue said, “Depends on your performance. If we do well, there’ll be more to eat.”
Soon, the waiter started serving the dishes.
The three of them picked up their chopsticks.
The more Ning Tiantian had cried earlier, the more joyfully she ate now.
At one point, Zhang Yue even suspected, “Were you faking it just now?”
“No!” Ning Tiantian said, her mouth full of fried chicken strips, blinking her clear eyes at Zhang Yue. “Isn’t eating a happy thing?”
Zhang Yue: “Fine… eat up.”
Ning Tiantian smiled, “Thank you, Guild Leader, for the advance salary and for treating me to dinner!”
With that, she buried her head in her food again.
Other diners at nearby tables couldn’t help but comment:
“That girl is kind of cute.”
“Yeah, petite and full of protective charm. I like her!”
“Forget it, look at the guy across from her. Definitely her boyfriend!”
At a glance, Zhang Yue realized that despite being a bit silly, Ning Tiantian was actually quite adorable.
Meanwhile, Wu Haotian asked, “Advance salary? What benefits! Why don’t I get that?”
“How much do you need? I can advance your salary too.”
Wu Haotian held up one finger, “A thousand! I’m so broke I can barely afford a motel!”
Treating everyone equally, Zhang Yue advanced Wu Haotian a salary of ten thousand on the spot.
Wu Haotian, moved to tears, said, “You’re way more generous than my previous Guild Leader! With your boldness, I’ll follow you from now on!”
Feeling something was missing, Wu Haotian called out, “Boss, bring a case of beer!”
“I thought you didn’t drink.”
Wu Haotian grinned, “How can a man not drink?”
With that, Wu Haotian downed a bottle on the spot!
He handed another bottle to Ning Tiantian, who was still focused on her food, “Tiantian, want one?”
Ning Tiantian shook her head but then nodded, not wanting to spoil the fun.
The three ate and drank, then went home.
Ning Tiantian, unable to hold her liquor, got drunk after half a bottle and went straight to bed.
This reminded Zhang Yue of the first time he saw Ning Tiantian, when she was also drunk and had stumbled into his room to sleep…
Back in his room, Zhang Yue lay on his bed, browsing news about the Global Professionals Tournament, then put down his phone and fell asleep.
Later that night.
Zhang Yue vaguely sensed someone climbing into his bed…
Leave a Reply