In the southern part of Mechanical City, within a level 58 map called [Flame Woodland], the figures of the Empire Guild’s professionals appeared.
Zhang Yue felt a bit suspicious.
Didn’t Xu Bei send a message ten minutes ago saying he was leading people to Flower and Fruit Mountain? Why would he be here now?
Could it be that he’s finally starting to plot against Zhang Yue?
Thinking of this, Zhang Yue felt inexplicably excited…
But in the next moment, he realized he had misunderstood.
In the Flame Woodland, besides the Empire Guild members, there were two other groups of professionals.
By the time Zhang Yue arrived, one of the groups had already been slain by the Empire Guild.
As a result, several members of the Empire Guild were marked with red names.
The remaining group was a five-person rogue team.
Zhang Yue’s first reaction was to think that Xu Bei and his group were bullying others, but then he thought, how could the honorable Empire Guild do such a thing?
Sure enough, the next second, those seemingly weak rogue professionals repeatedly thanked Xu Bei:
“Thank you! Thank you all! Thank you for your help!”
The white-armored warrior Xu Bei, with a prominent red name, sheathed his sword and said to them, “It was nothing.”
“If they bully you again, just mention the Empire Guild and say you’re under the protection of Xu Bei.”
The rogues, long oppressed by those villains, were so moved they almost knelt down in gratitude.
It was then that Zhang Yue understood: the Empire Guild had saved these bullied rogues from a group of villains!
After dealing with the villains, Xu Bei led his people away from Flame Woodland, heading to the agreed meeting point at Flower and Fruit Mountain.
Zhang Yue did not reveal himself but quietly watched the Empire Guild members leave.
Just then, Ouyang Ling’er sent a Feixin message: “Who would’ve thought this Xu Bei is actually a decent guy!”
The scene before him was somewhat unexpected for Zhang Yue.
This Xu Bei, who was supposedly a traitor allied with Japan, approaching Zhang Yue to find an opportunity against him.
Yet, with such character, why would he save these distressed rogues?
Reflecting on the past few days of interaction, through casual conversations, Zhang Yue could tell that Xu Bei was a patriotic person with a sense of justice.
When mentioning the recent World Finals where Ice Emperor and Moonmark were defeated by the Frozen Land, Xu Bei would clench his fists and passionately declare, “In the next match, I will give it my all to bring glory to the Dragon Kingdom and reclaim what we lost!”
Perhaps a single sentence doesn’t mean much.
But when Xu Bei said it, his eyes and emotions couldn’t be faked!
Could it be that Zhang Yue had misunderstood?
Was Xu Bei really just here to protect him as a contestant?
At this moment, Ouyang Ling’er also felt a bit doubtful: “We can only be sure that there are traitors in the Empire Guild, but we don’t know who they are. I feel… we might be looking in the wrong direction.”
“This Xu Bei seems like a good person!”
“Let’s keep watching.”
Zhang Yue closed Feixin and then headed to Flower and Fruit Mountain.
He intentionally arrived a few minutes late at the destination.
When Zhang Yue reached Flower and Fruit Mountain, the Empire Guild members were already inside hunting the Great Strength Magic Apes.
They had accepted the same mission, so, ostensibly, they were there to protect Zhang Yue, but in reality, they were also completing their own tasks.
Zhang Yue entered Flower and Fruit Mountain and joined in the hunt for the Great Strength Magic Apes.
Usually, Xu Bei would initiate conversations with Zhang Yue.
This time, Zhang Yue intentionally asked Xu Bei, “How did you learn about me and decide to come protect me?”
“It was my godfather who told me!” Xu Bei blurted out, “My godfather is a patriot. When he heard that our Dragon Kingdom contestants were being assassinated by assassins, he couldn’t sleep and sent many guild members to protect those contestants with weaker family backgrounds.”
“And he instructed me to personally protect you because my godfather said your strength is the greatest hope among all the new contestants from our Dragon Kingdom this year!”
At this, Xu Bei felt a bit ashamed, “But in the end, it seems you don’t really need our protection. With your strength, those assassins probably can’t harm you at all…”
Zhang Yue replied, “No, your protection has proven necessary.”
“Haven’t you noticed that those assassins haven’t come to attack me these past two days?”
At this point, Xu Bei looked earnestly at Zhang Yue and passionately said, “Brother, this year’s new professionals’ finals mainly depend on you!”
“Of course, I will also give it my all. Together, we’ll create glory for the Dragon Kingdom and prove to the world the strength of our Dragon Kingdom!”
Zhang Yue patted Xu Bei’s shoulder and said, “Keep it up, you’re the fattest.”
“No, brother, you’re the fattest!”
“You’re being modest, brother, you’re fatter than me.”
“No, no, brother, you’re even fatter!”
The Great Strength Magic Apes in Flower and Fruit Mountain were level 59 A-grade monsters.
Their suppression effect was as high as 70%.
However, even without the Eternal Set, Zhang Yue could handle these A-grade Great Strength Magic Apes with ease!
This made Xu Bei unable to imagine what Zhang Yue’s damage output would be like if he had an A-grade Eternal Set like him, negating the powerful suppression effect!
And Zhang Yue would soon be able to shake off this annoying suppression!
For the past two days, being suppressed and unable to unleash his full damage was truly frustrating!
In one night, Zhang Yue collected the remaining 30% of the illustrations, gathering a total of 1,200 Great Strength Magic Ape illustrations.
Then, he returned to Mechanical City ahead of time, found the monster merchant, and submitted the task.
“Ding~ Congratulations on completing the task [Great Strength Magic Ape]. The final task rating is A-grade. Rewards: Experience Points +8 million, Gold Coins +120, Psionic Energy +40 billion, and [Eternal Set Equipment Selection Box] (Level 55, 7-star A-grade) +1!”
Wow!
Golden light showered down from above Zhang Yue’s head.
Zhang Yue reached level 58.
The first thing he did was open his storage space and take out the seven Eternal Set selection boxes from previous task rewards.
He selected seven different parts according to the Beast Tamer profession.
Then, using one-thousandth of the 40 billion Psionic Energy rewarded from the task: 40 million Psionic Energy, he performed a one-click refinement to make the Eternal Set all gold.
It must be said, the strength of the A-grade Eternal Set is indeed high!
The attribute bonuses of the entire equipment are about 30% higher than ordinary level 55, 7-star equipment!
Moreover, its set effects are quite impressive.
Single-piece effect: Skill Damage +70%!
Two-piece set: Attack Speed +70%!
Three-piece set: Movement Speed +60%!
Four-piece set: Spell Penetration +50%!
Five-piece set: Magic Attack Power +70%!
Six-piece set: Mana +70%!
Seven-piece set: All Attributes of Deployed Pets +70%!
Set Skill: A-grade Counter (Passive, reduces suppression effect from Ninth World monsters by 70% for the wearer)!
The 45-level 7-star Void Set currently equipped, although its skill Void Shield is strong, its overall attribute bonuses are far inferior to this 55-level 7-star A-grade Eternal Set.
Moreover, in the Ninth World, the Eternal Set is the true king!
Zhang Yue decisively replaced the Void Set with the Eternal Set.
Overall stats saw a significant boost:
Magic Attack Power: →!
Physical Defense: 4605→5580!
Magic Defense: 4473→5415!
Health Points: →!
Mana: →!
Admiring the Eternal Set on his body, Zhang Yue murmured, “I can go kill that SSS-grade Flying Centipede now.”
Just as Zhang Yue was planning to return to find the level 60, 9-star, SSS-grade boss Flying Centipede to rescue the monster merchants in the nest.
Suddenly, a system notification descended from the sky:
[Announcement] (Ninth World): “Ding~ Congratulations to the professional [Changshan Papermaker] for unlocking the hidden dungeon [Monster Nest]. This dungeon will last for 24 hours. All professionals are welcome to participate!”
Before long, Xu Bei suddenly sent Zhang Yue a Feixin message: “Brother, want to run the dungeon together?”
Looking at the message, Zhang Yue sighed softly, “I thought I misjudged you, but in the end, you’re still going to make your move, huh?”
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