Chapter 549: I Lost, You All Benefited

High above the grand temple, the silver-armor-clad man still leisurely savored the fine wine within his goblet, rising with exquisite gentlemanly grace as he raised his glass to invite the lady to sit.

Like an elegant aristocrat, he possessed an indescribable dignity and composure.

At this moment, he was listening to his subordinate's report: "How are those natives doing now? Are they... already in a state of chaotic panic, scurrying about like frightened ants?"

The man in the white robe, bowing with a respectful demeanor, spoke up: "It is indeed as My Lord anticipated. These people live in constant dread day and night, and many are even desperate to flee to sparsely populated areas. Their so-called major cities are now completely desolate, and the largest powerful families and clans here are currently racking their brains for counter-strategies, making futile struggles."

A burst of wanton laughter suddenly echoed through the room.

...

"Boss..."

"Boss!" The little loli Jiang Xiaoyuan had finally waited until school let out, and was just preparing to call upon a few good friends to drag Boss Fang along to play in the Dungeon. Who would have thought that at this time, she would actually find Boss Fang sprawled on the table, fast asleep and snoring away.

"Bo—ss—!" She was practically furious. Outside, rumors were circulating in secret that a great tribulation was about to descend upon Lingzhou, and the people in the shop were growing fewer by the day. Yet this damnable boss wasn't anxious at all, and was actually sleeping here?!

"Ah...?" Boss Fang opened his bleary eyes from the table. On his screen, various livestream videos and highlight moments were currently listed. It seemed he had been tinkering there by himself before, but unfortunately fell asleep, giving off a distinct impression of neglecting his proper duties.

"Yawn—! What is it..." Boss Fang glanced at the screen and hurriedly sat up straight, "Almost forgot about the main business."

"Boss... why have you been collecting these people's livestream videos lately?" Jiang Xiaoyuan tilted her little head, staring at Boss Fang's computer screen which was filled with all sorts of peculiar, bird-like foreign text, her eyes full of utter bewilderment.

"This you wouldn't understand." Boss Fang spoke, "This is called a promotional CG! Something that is absolutely mandatory for esports tournaments."

"However..." Seeing Jiang Xiaoyuan along with Li Lanruo, Yue Bai, and the others behind her looking over, Boss Fang hastily closed it, "It's not time for you all to see it yet."

In truth, although Boss Fang hadn't played games every single day before his transmigration—in his era, people like that would be sent for electroshock therapy—he had still learned a bit of professional knowledge.

Of course, he only intended to create a rough prototype. For the parts he truly couldn't manage well, he could only apply for the system to perfect them.

"So mysterious!" Jiang Xiaoyuan snorted coldly, saying unhappily, "Why don't you look at your shop? The number of people has decreased by so much!"

"If this goes on, just wait for the shop to close down!" Jiang Xiaoyuan gave a light huff, pushed aside a computer chair, and sat down angrily to play games, ignoring Boss Fang.

"Fewer people?" Only then did Boss Fang carefully scan the shop. Indeed, the shop had originally been approaching the point where queuing was required, but now, even during peak hours, the shop was still not fully occupied.

The Penguin Communication icon was already flashing with the avatars of quite a few people.

Su Tianji: "(Furious) Boss! Can the F1 World Championship even be held anymore?!"

Liang Shi: "Boss, rumors say the pressure on the Lingzhou side is immense. Is it true? Will the World's Number One Martial Arts Tournament be unable to take place?"

"The Lingzhou cultivation world is on the verge of ruin, so why bother going to some internet lounge...?" Many groups were posting such pessimistic remarks.

Meanwhile, Gu Tingyun and the other high-ranking figures of the Lingzhou cultivation world were gathered together, discussing countermeasures. They hadn't made a public appearance for some time, and their lack of a definitive statement left the entire cultivation world in even greater panic.

If not for the elders of the various major clans holding things down, the entire cultivation world would probably be in utter chaos.

The disciples of the prominent families mostly stayed indoors during this time, and some faint-hearted rogue cultivators had even begun packing up their belongings, preparing to flee.

"What do you mean unable to be held?" Boss Fang looked completely baffled and replied, "This World's Number One Martial Arts Tournament will proceed as scheduled!"

"What?!"

"It's still being held under such circumstances?!"

"The boss must be crazy..." Xu Zhu happened to be an authentic Lingzhou rogue cultivator. For rogue cultivators, most lived without a fixed abode, seeking benefits while avoiding harm; this was a survival strategy that had long seeped into their very marrow.

To survive on this continent as a rogue cultivator, every single one could be said to be a veteran of many battles. Knowing when and how to put oneself in a safer position was one of the arts that someone of his status had to deeply engrave into his mind.

He was not like those rogue cultivators in biographical novels who found secret treasures, explored ancient ruins, and ultimately possessed more methods than the major sects and great forces.

He was just an ordinary, common cultivator like all other rogue cultivators.

Having experienced the ways of the world for so long, he naturally knew what places and what times were dangerous.

At this moment, he was packing his luggage inside the Fulai Inn within Yuanyang City, intending to leave Yuanyang City this very day.

No matter the outcome of this war, staying here would only bring disaster upon him without yielding the slightest benefit.

As for the games and that little shop, if it truly managed to survive the flames of war, at worst he could just visit it again in the future.

Most importantly, everyone was currently busy with their own affairs, so not many people were going to the shop. Resuming later wouldn't cause him to fall too far behind others, hence there was no need to worry.

After packing his luggage, he cast a final glance at his empty room, then happened to glance at the communication jade in his hand.

This communication jade was a new model he had bought back then at a considerable cost, capable of downloading the shop's mobile Penguin software.

"Ding-dong, you have a new message." On the Penguin Communication app, a strange message suddenly popped up.

Subconsciously, he tapped to open it.

Welcoming the Championship, rewards for warriors?

Log in to receive grand gifts?!

He glanced at the gifts inside, and his eyes nearly popped out of his head: "Resurrection Coins, Black Diamond Membership?!"

"Claim a protective gear pocket pot corresponding to your level daily?!"

"And a plus ten equipment reinforcement ticket?! For a maximum purchase of three spirit crystals?!"

"My goodness!" He clutched his head and cried out, "Crazy! Doing this, isn't this boss going to lose a fortune?!"

"A plus ten reinforcement ticket! One single ticket can be exchanged for a top-tier dharma artifact, or even secure a position as an honored guest of those major clans! Yet now it can be purchased in-game for merely five spirit crystals?!"

"No way! I have to go back and log online to check..." Just as this thought occurred to him, he hesitated again, "Is it too dangerous to still stay here right now...?"

"I..." He felt his mind jam up a bit. At the thought that there were actually plus ten reinforcement tickets available for purchase, wealth is found within danger, "At worst, I'll just claim the reinforcement ticket in the shop and leave!"

Gritting his teeth, he hurriedly rushed to the shop and logged into the game.

Sure enough, he saw that a claim option had been added to the game interface.

He hurriedly selected to claim it.

"Obtained Black Diamond Membership for one day."

"Hahaha! There really is a Black Diamond Membership to claim!" Xu Zhu burst into wild laughter, while casting glances left and right, deeply afraid of someone snatching it away. Then he looked at the screen again, thankful he had arrived early. If he were late, perhaps this shop would have long limited the number of claimants, and he wouldn't have been able to get it!

After completing the claim, just as he was preparing to log off and leave, he soon noticed that there was an option on the interface for grand gifts based on game online duration.

"After ten minutes, I can claim three more protective gear pocket pots?!" He hesitated for a moment, "Then I'll play for another ten minutes..."

"Right... let me see how to purchase the plus ten reinforcement ticket..."

"Daily mysterious grand gift pack...? Do I need to buy this...?" He frowned slightly, looking at the description of this mysterious grand gift pack. It seemed to say there were fourteen types of rewards inside in total; buying it once a day would not yield duplicates, so even with the worst luck, one would still be able to buy a plus ten reinforcement ticket after fourteen days.

And if one's luck was good, on the very first day, it could be bought with a single spirit crystal!

"Fourteen days... even added together, it's only about twenty-odd spirit crystals!" Originally, he still found it somewhat unbelievable that the shop could be so generous as to offer a plus ten reinforcement ticket for just a few spirit crystals, but now, he felt it was far more credible!

A few dozen spirit crystals was also within an acceptable range.

How about... I play for a few more days...?!

He thought to himself, leaving as soon as he bought the reinforcement ticket!

...

At the same time.

"The Vanguard Commander truly possesses fine leisure!" Inside the grand hall, a lazy voice drifted in from outside the doors.

Entering from outside the doors was a foreign beauty dressed in tight-fitting black leather armor, with wavy blonde hair draping over her shoulders, and two golden markings likewise between her brows.

As she walked, she resembled a lazy cat, incomparably elegant yet utterly silent and without a trace; if she hadn't spoken herself, no one would have even known she had walked in from outside the doors.

A touch of smugness tinged his tone.

"Hehehe hahaha!" A burst of laughter echoed through the room. "Watching these ants struggle in their death throes is rather amusing, but don't they know that whatever they do now is utterly futile?"

"It is precisely this display of futility, paired with a stubborn refusal to surrender, that makes it all the more delightful, does it not?" the woman remarked with a soft chuckle.

"Well then..." With a wave of his hand, the image of a massive city materialized before them. "Let us see exactly how these ants scramble!"

By now, the vision before them had shifted into a sprawling, ancient metropolis of immense prosperity.

It was none other than Yuanyang City.

He offered a perfectly gentlemanly bow: "Please, enjoy my masterpiece."

Within the scene, a vast multitude of cultivators and warriors marched in throngs: "Go, go, go! Hurry to the shop! Free gifts for logging in! There are black diamonds and plus ten enhancement tickets!"

"What a steal! We've struck it rich this time! The shopkeeper is actually giving away enhancement tickets at a loss, let's go grab them!"

"Hahaha! Move it! Don't let anyone get ahead of us!" Amidst the crowd, two figures shrouded in black robes muttered in hushed tones.

Inside the grand hall, the crowd witnessing this spectacle fell into stunned silence: "...!!??"

What on earth was going on!?

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