Chapter One Hundred and One: The Idea

Finina was practicing various skills not far away. When Zhao Nan encountered trouble, how could she not rush over? However, by the time she arrived, she quietly received Zhao Nan’s instruction to observe the situation, so she remained hidden. With her abilities, amidst this group of level 20 monsters, she could move as if no one was there with ease.

Huang Huaming had already prepared for the worst, but the situation suddenly reversed. Before he could react, he was already out of danger, feeling as if he had stepped into another world.

“Is this a new skill?” Zhao Nan didn’t even look at the person on the ground but pulled Finina onto the dragon’s back.

“Moonfall Strike. It appears after Starfall Strike reaches max level. Its destructive power is doubled, and it adds a sweeping effect.”

The single-target attack of Starfall Strike was already terrifying; doubling its power with an added sweeping effect made the Sky Sword Saint’s skills truly formidable. Naturally, the stronger their side became, the happier Zhao Nan was.

At this moment, due to Finina’s impact, Huang Kun’s team was scattered. The sweeping effect not only pushed them apart but also caused a brief stun. Players who were knocked back and fell into the monster group saw stars and, before they could react, were overwhelmed and knocked to the ground by the surrounding monsters.

Screams echoed everywhere.

Once their formation broke, Zhao Nan didn’t even have to make a move; the monsters on the street naturally dealt with them. Orisis hovered in mid-air, and only after several minutes did Huang Kun’s forces begin to regroup.

Zhao Nan narrowed his eyes and tapped his staff. Two fiery dragon heads slammed down simultaneously, weakening the enemy’s defenses significantly. At that moment, Finina leapt off the dragon’s back, gripping her sword hilt with both hands, and charged downward once more.

Another Moonfall Strike shattered the barely reassembled formation again. Then she nonchalantly leapt back onto the dragon’s back.

Huang Kun’s teeth clenched with rage. One mage was already unnervingly powerful, but now there was a swordsman just as terrifying. This time, he had only brought a little over two hundred men for the hunt—less than three hundred—and if they continued to be harassed like this, it was only a matter of time before the street monsters wore them down to death.

He regretted his choices... Huang Kun suddenly felt some remorse, but quickly wiped it away. Rather than regret, it was better to think about how to break the crisis. Yet, watching his formation repeatedly scattered, he realized he couldn’t think of any solution.

“Zhao Nan, we’re all human... Can you really be so heartless, sacrificing so many lives?” Huang Kun shouted angrily. “If we all die, it won’t benefit you! Even if you can restore Dongyuan City, with so few people, how can you withstand the next monster siege?!”

This was no exaggeration. Huang Kun’s words were true. No matter how powerful Zhao Nan became, there were still limits. Facing an endless siege of monsters, resistance would eventually fail.

“Let’s reconcile,” Huang Kun said in a deep voice. “This time, it’s my fault. How about compensation? I have some valuable secret treasures! And I promise never to trouble you again!”

“I don’t trust these so-called promises... especially yours,” Zhao Nan shook his head.

“Then what do you want?!” Huang Kun urged.

“You come out alone, and I’ll talk with you.”

Zhao Nan moved forward; Orisis let out a thunderous roar and descended to the ground. The monsters temporarily ceased their movement.

Huang Kun hesitated. Zhao Nan sneered, “If I wanted to kill you, would I need to play these little tricks? You’re just cowardly!”

“All right!”

It was a matter of pride... Huang Kun had no other choice. Indeed, as the other said, as long as they kept harassing him, his manpower would eventually be exhausted.

...

“Speak—what do you want?”

Huang Kun did not intend to miss an opportunity to strike during the talk. But his opponent was not stupid. The female swordsman now held her sword at his throat and had grabbed his wrist behind his back. He could only sigh inwardly; this time, he was truly trapped.

“First, hand over the people in your safe zone who can buy food from the outer city.”

“Impossible!” Huang Kun refused without a second thought.

At that moment, the sword’s tip pressed slightly against the throbbing blood vessel at his neck, causing him to panic. “Can we negotiate another condition? You’re forcing us to death!”

Zhao Nan shook his head. “Hand them over, then have your forces join my formation to assist in attacking the plaza.”

“That’s your goal!” Huang Kun frowned. “That’s a dead end!”

“If you don’t agree, you can go to the netherworld right now.” The coldest words sounded in his ear.

Finina’s words were like a cold wind, making Huang Kun’s heart race.

He fell silent, then sighed, “Fine, give me some time to prepare.”

“Of course,” Zhao Nan smiled and stepped close, placing a hand on Huang Kun’s chest.

“What are you doing?”

Huang Kun felt a piercing pain as something from Zhao Nan’s palm burrowed into his body. The pain was so intense that sweat poured from him. He tried to struggle but was held firmly by Finina.

After a moment, Zhao Nan withdrew his hand and said calmly, “Some early harvests. Actually, a kind of secret treasure—Heart-Eating Worm Eggs. They have no attack power but can hide inside a player’s body and be controlled by my will. Their only purpose is to devour the heart.”

“You...” Huang Kun was nearly speechless with rage.

Suddenly, Zhao Nan snapped his fingers, and a tearing pain instantly shot through Huang Kun’s nerves, causing him to writhe in agony as his health plummeted.

“Stop... please...”

“Enough. Your life is now in my hands,” Zhao Nan said expressionlessly. “Tell me, how much time do you need to prepare? Preferably no more than three days.”

“Three days,” Huang Kun gasped, his face still full of terror.

Zhao Nan nodded. “Also, if the Heart-Eating Worm doesn’t sense my presence within two days, it will lose control. Of course, if you can remove it within two days, you can disregard this.”

Huang Kun’s expression changed. He clenched his teeth and said nothing. Zhao Nan and Finina stepped aside, letting him pass. Huang Kun said nothing and hurriedly ran back to his men, shouting orders. A group charged out toward the long street.

“Do you really have such things?” Finina asked curiously.

Zhao Nan smiled softly. “Heart-Eating Worm Eggs do exist, but they’re incredibly rare and low-level treasures. There’s no way I’d have them.”

“Then what was that just now...?”

“A level 25 Dark Magic skill—Mind Devour.”

Finina was stunned, then suddenly realized, “No wonder you let him leave and even gave him time to break free... When did you become so cunning?”

Since it was only a skill effect, Huang Kun’s body naturally did not host any Heart-Eating Worms. No matter what he did, he couldn’t find something that didn’t exist. The so-called control was unbreakable by any means.

“He has a guilty conscience and is naturally afraid,” Zhao Nan shook his head. “I don’t control him. It’s his fear of death... Wait, I just thought of a good idea.”

“Hmm?”

“Haha.” Zhao Nan laughed heartily. “This is a happy accident. I just came up with this scare tactic on the spot, exploiting the level gap. They don’t know the reason for this skill yet... Since they don’t know, why not keep using it?”

“You mean...?”

“Yes. For now, let’s put aside practicing skills.”