The golden light around Master Huixin flickered faintly, as if trying to reignite...
Qi Xu cleared his throat lightly and said, “But regarding this treasure hunt in the dense forest, I do have a few words to say. For those willing to listen, please give me the courtesy to wait a moment. For those who aren’t, feel free to leave now.”
HandsomeBoyMe188 wanted to leave—he wanted nothing more to do with this group of people. He first glanced at Master Huixin and saw that he hadn’t moved.
Then he turned to look at the most arrogant one earlier, Instant Noodle Hair Flower Fairy. Well, she was now standing up straight, like a well-behaved student waiting for the head teacher’s lecture.
What was there to hesitate about? He spoke up immediately, “Cyclone Boss! We’ll listen to you! Facts have proven that everything you say is the absolute truth.”
Qi Xu raised an eyebrow slightly—was this person changing too fast? Could death really change someone that much? Wasn’t it always said that a leopard can’t change its spots? Even if it was all an act, it proved he was putting serious effort into pretending.
Seeing no one leave, Qi Xu continued, “What the monk said about splitting into zones isn’t necessary, but I do agree that we shouldn’t harm each other.
Currently, large-zone competition has already begun. The ‘Masters’ Gathering’ between different servers is also underway. So, everyone, guess what will happen next in this survival game as it develops?
Clan wars, national wars, even battles between all us earthlings and beings from higher dimensions. Why did Qiuqiu specifically point out in the rules that we could wait directly at the task redemption point? This method of blatantly stirring up conflict among us—does it truly mean to make us fight?
I think this is a warning to us. Everyone here today is the strongest force from their respective large zones. If we can preserve all our strength, compete healthily, and maintain our power, I believe that when the national war begins, the Huaguo server will be the first to reach the top. What are the costs of infighting? History books have taught us all about it. So I believe there is a wiser path.
Qiuqiu also mentioned that fluctuations from the energy core will attract monsters to gather. In that case, if we choose to band together, fight monsters as a team, and split the rewards equally, we might not earn less than if we fought alone. Of course, this is just my suggestion. Whether to listen or not is entirely up to you.
If anyone wants to ‘wait for the rabbit at the stump’ and go straight to the redemption point to ambush me, I look forward to it. I don’t want to kill, but that doesn’t mean I won’t. Let’s just say I’m not as kind as the monk.”
After Qi Xu finished speaking, everyone’s expressions grew heavy.
Not just the other eleven players present, but also all the Huaguo server players watching from the live broadcast panel...
If they thought about it carefully, from the beginning: zone infighting, looting cards, positioning cards, zone versus zone battles, cross-zone arena challenges, joint zone dungeon challenges, and now the merging of all zones—there were no more separate zones, only regions unified into large zones.
It was clearly heading closer and closer toward team-based gameplay. This game from start to now had long since become something that couldn’t be advanced by fighting solo.
The corners of Qi Xu’s mouth lifted slightly as he looked up at the scrolling comments on the screen.
The moment his words ended, the barrage of comments thinned out instantly by more than half. Earlier, threads had argued about “going to the redemption point to ambush” and “fighting alone is more efficient,” but now the comment section was flooded with “He’s right—infighting is stupid” and “The Huaguo server can’t fall into chaos first.”
Maybe not everyone had deeply thought it through—some just followed the crowd. The arguments and fights would no doubt happen again later. But still, building a house starts from the foundation.
This opportunity was perfect to plant the idea in everyone’s minds that a national war would come.
Allow internal quarrels, allow internal conflicts—but if an external enemy appeared, they would have to unite immediately for a common resistance. That was Qi Xu’s real goal.
Qi Xu felt his aim was growing larger and larger...
Because once national war began, this game would become far more brutal. Losing zones would become prisoners of the winning zones... and one could fully imagine what that would mean.
As he watched “Form a team to hit the core” flood the bullet comments, Qi Xu knew his showmanship had paid off.
“Cyclone Boss, no matter what anyone else chooses, I will steadily follow you,” said Cheese Milk Cap with 80% Sugar without any doubt in wanting to always follow her.
Qi Xu smiled, not wanting to waste more time. “Everyone understands the principles—the key is to act. Those willing to come, hurry and follow. Those who aren’t, I wish you all good fortune in getting what you want.”
The moment Qi Xu turned around, Cheese Milk Cap with 80% Sugar, Ember Kiss Starlight Moon, Xie Shaoning, and Wang Buyu followed without hesitation.
Shadowkill and Endless Longevity were a step behind.
Wolf Warrior 005 looked at the rest still hesitating, smiled, and said, “Take the chance to follow her while you still can negotiate as equals. Later, when you want to cooperate, the terms won’t be so forgiving.”
After advising them, Wolf Warrior 005 turned and left quickly, taking a few extra steps to catch up with Qi Xu.
The remaining few no longer hesitated. Teaming up it was—they just hadn't reacted in time earlier, lost in their own thoughts. Invincible Black Whirlwind was right; the benefits from cooperation might not be any less than solo farming.
Energy cores were easy enough to find. The energy fluctuations they emitted were readily detected by mental strength. Naturally, the stronger one's mental awareness, the more pronounced the sensation.
Qi Xu's first target lay on a nearby slope. Everything seemed normal before they ascended.
But the moment everyone stepped onto the hillside, the grass rustled as countless green tendrils surged out like venomous snakes, coiling toward their ankles.
Qi Xu warned quickly: "Those are Rotheart Vines! They suck blood—don't let them touch you. Aim for the roots at the base of the grass, don't waste time fighting the tendrils!"
"Got it."
Although most of them were cooperating for the first time, their combat experience was rich, and they had already prepared to encounter monsters. So despite the creature's tenacity, they made the most effective response immediately.
Qi Xu lowered his stance and swept his dual blades in a wide arc, cutting down a large swath. But the Rotheart Vines grew too fast; the cleared space soon was covered with new ones.
"HandsomeBoyMe188, come over and be ready to grab the energy core. Don't worry about defense—everyone else clear the path."
HandsomeBoyMe188 steeled himself and obeyed, not daring to argue. Getting drained by Rotheart Vines was still better than being cleaved by Invincible Black Whirlwind's blade; at this moment, there was no choice!
Still, he remained terrified, unable to truly believe that the group around him would protect him.
The closer they got to the energy core, the denser and more aggressive the vines became. Around the core itself, they tangled thickly, utterly impenetrable with no place to stand...
..........
