Chapter 1668: Xia Bai fights
"Cloud Peak, please strike the Soaring Crystal."
As chanical Genius's forces annihilated the lifeforms on their Bright Star, mist enveloped the star's surface, blocking outside observation while the system prompt sounded.
Ye Zhongming stepped forward instinctively, only for Xiao Min to grab his arm.
"Boss, you shouldn't go for the first round."
"I'll do it."
The first statent ca from Xiao Min, the second from Xia Bai.
Xiao Min's action reflected the collective will of the Female Guard.
Their duty was to protect Ye Zhongming, though the vast power disparity often rendered their protection... unconventional.
This reality frustrated many female warriors, yet they remained powerless to change it.
However, given any opportunity, they would fulfill their duty, keeping Ye Zhongming out of danger.
In this scenario, the Female Guard saw no need for Ye Zhongming to act. They could handle it.
Wasn't this just using wealth to lower challenge difficulty? They had money—they were among Cloud Peak's wealthiest. Their equipnt, potions, and scrolls were all provided by the faction. Their protective role ant they couldn't hunt as frequently as combat teams.
Similarly, after battles, the minor loot Ye Zhongming overlooked beca their spoils. During breaks, they sotis hunted or trained together, keeping their gains.
Moreover, on missions with Ye Zhongming, the Cloud Peak King treated these life-risking warriors exceptionally well. As a top-tier craftsman, his gifts were invaluable—many Female Guard mbers had so much spare gear they couldn't carry it all.
Here, all that ant currency. With these resources, the Female Guard felt confident in alleviating Ye Zhongming's burden.
Even if Ye Zhongming could clear the trial, who could guarantee he'd erge unscathed? Or avoid exhausting critical skills and trump cards? Better to conserve whenever possible!
This mindset emboldened Xiao Min to stop Ye Zhongming.
Xia Bai's statent was even more direct.
If any Female Guard mber could reassure Ye Zhongming, it was undoubtedly Xia Bai.
As if fearing refusal, the Female Guard imdiately handed their magic crystals, spare gear, and other items to Xia Bai, clearly appointing her as Ye Zhongming's substitute.
"By the rules here, Nine Treasures should be transported with
if I enter," Xia Bai argued, speaking more than usual to justify her participation.
Ye Zhongming shook his head. "Nine Treasures never entered this space. It likely won't appear."
"Then these will suffice." Xia Bai shook the spatial rings on her fingers and body—ten in total, packed with the Female Guard's contributions.
Seeing Ye Zhongming hesitate, the Youth Army also "generously" donated their ager possessions to Xia Bai—though compared to the Female Guard's "little rich won," their offerings were paltry, albeit earnest.
Ye Zhongming sighed, then relented—but instructed that if the Soaring Crystal landed beyond the fifth star, she should spend heavily to reduce difficulty.
Xia Bai stepped out of the energy do toward the stone platform.
Now, only Cloud Peak and the initially failed Great Arica remained in the arena. Observing Cloud Peak's actions—and piecing together snippets of conversation—Great Arica quickly grasped their strategy and attempted to emulate it.
But their wealth-gathering efforts paled in comparison. In this apocalyptic era, "every man for himself" wasn't just a saying—it was survival.
Most mbers resisted contributing. Governor Spade couldn't force compliance here, resorting to persuasion, veiled threats, and promises to scrounge together ager resources—nowhere near Cloud Peak's stockpile.
Xia Bai tested the stone hamr's weight before striking the Soaring Crystal. The projectile flew through the seventh entrance, passing multiple stars before settling on the seventh Bright Star.
Her dissatisfied expression was unmistakable.
The system prompted her choice: Challenge or Purchase?
Xia Bai first selected Purchase, thodically submitting items while ntally tracking the difficulty reduction.
She didn't recklessly challenge at high difficulty. Only after calculating a roughly 50% reduction did she stop, triggering the system's judgnt:
"Purchase failed."
Xia Bai was instantly transported onto the Bright Star.
Cloud Peak's atmosphere grew tense.
No one knew what awaited her—this uncertainty bred unease.
"Equivalent paynt provided: 48.6% of purchase price. Twinborn Voidbeast's strength reduced by 48.6%."
The announcent echoed universally. Many Cloud Peak mbers looked to Ye Zhongming, but even he didn't recognize the "Twinborn Voidbeast."
"Look! Nine Treasures! And... what's that?!"
Before the Youth Army mber finished shouting, everyone saw it—Nine Treasures' massive form materialized beside Xia Bai. But sothing was off.
The giant earthworm was lying atop another mutated earthworm, both bewildered by the sudden environnt change. Recognizing Xia Bai, Nine Treasures slithered over eagerly, nuzzling her affectionately.
The other earthworm—a pristine white, level-eight variant—instinctively adopted a defensive stance until Nine Treasures' tail smacked it dismissively. With a few chirps, the 10-ter-long creature ekly approached Xia Bai, bowing like a bride eting in-laws.
The scene stunned onlookers.
Had Nine Treasures been... mating freely before getting summoned?!
"Who told
Nine Treasures was female?" A Female Guard warrior whispered sideways.
"Aren't earthworms supposed to be hermaphrodites?!" A Youth Army mber blurted after several stunned seconds.
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