The Boss

If he couldn't convince them, the team would collapse in the blink of an eye. Under the burning gazes of his companions, Zhang Yuanqing muttered inwardly. He understood the reservations held by Yun Meng, Brother Red Chicken, and Natsuki's Love. Everyone had family and friends, and no one wanted to die. There was no need to throw away one's life for someone else's quest. Besides, none of them were close. They were merely running an instance together. When they returned to reality, they might even complain: *What an idiot! He played so terribly. I hope I never get matched with teammates like that again.* Eagle of Freedom was using this exact mindset to sow discord and drive the team into a deadlock toward disbanding. While prizing one's own life and fearing death were human nature, a troublemaker who stirred up trouble like this would only ruin everything. "Let's analyze the difference in combat power first," Zhang Yuanqing said, looking at the black-gowned beauty. "Yin Ji is level six, and Xiahou Aotian is level five. The big boss they need to deal with wiped out an entire six-man team of level fours. Deacon Yin Ji, could you do that?" It had actually been a seven-man team, but he couldn't say that because in the official records, there was no seventh person. Yin Ji shook her head slightly. "That depends on the six people's classes, what items they had, as well as the terrain and environment. Perhaps I could, or perhaps I could not." Zhang Yuanqing nodded, shifted his gaze, and looked around at the others. "In other words, Deacon Yin Ji is definitely no match for that monster, while Xiahou Aotian is dead weight." "How am I dead weight?!" Xiahou Aotian protested, looking thoroughly unconvinced. Just as he was about to argue, he remembered that Yuanshi Tianzun was on his side, so he swallowed his indignation. "Fine, go on. Continue..." "Don't deny it. Your eighty-million-yuan trump card is already scattered across the sea, and you're an Alchemist who isn't skilled in combat. If you aren't dead weight, who is?" Zhang Yuanqing knocked the self-proclaimed protagonist down a peg, then swept his eyes over Brother Red Chicken and the other two. "The two of them can't possibly beat the monster on their own." "That's far too arbitrary," Eagle of Freedom scoffed. "Xiahou Aotian claimed he was out of trump cards, and you just believed him? Yin Ji is a senior deacon of the Taiyi Sect. Do you really think she has no cards left to play? Why are you so sure they can't defeat the boss? Analysis and comparisons without data are nothing more than subjective speculation. You expect to convince us with just that?" "It isn't subjective speculation," Zhang Yuanqing replied calmly, not flustered in the slightest. "We found the Jianghuai branch's Yin-Yang Dial, but what about the Xie family's item? Where do you think that is?" Eagle of Freedom froze, her expression shifting slightly. Natsuki's Love pondered for a moment. "Are you saying the component of that rule-based item is on the boss?" Zhang Yuanqing nodded. "Where else could it be?" "Doesn't that make it even more dangerous?" Brother Red Chicken stroked his chin. "We should back away all the more. We can't gamble our lives just to save those two. Though I always say that when wandering through instances, loyalty comes first, my chicken soup is still waiting for me at home." *By the time you get out of this instance, that chicken will have burned to ashes,* Zhang Yuanqing roasted inwardly. Putting on a serious face, he said, "It's precisely because Yin Ji and Xiahou Aotian can't handle it alone that we need to team up." At this point, he finally revealed his real point: "We entered the instance at midnight, and dawn has just broken. Only five or six hours have passed in total. Our main quest is to survive for thirty-six hours. If Yin Ji and Xiahou Aotian fall to the monster, how do you think the five of us level fours are going to survive the remaining thirty hours?" Brother Red Chicken opened his mouth, unable to find an answer. He realized Yuanshi Tianzun was right. If they followed Eagle of Freedom's lead, a total team wipe would be the only thing waiting for them. Though fighting the monster was perilous, at least there was a glimmer of hope. Zhang Yuanqing said, "Therefore, I suggest we head to Yashan Island together to take down the boss. Raise your hand if you agree." Natsuki's Love raised her hand. "I... I agree with fighting the boss together. At least that way, we have a chance to clear the instance." Yun Meng lifted her hand, expressing her stance. She had grown plants, weaving their stems and roots into a tube top and short skirt. She looked rather cute, like someone cosplaying a castaway. Brother Red Chicken raised his hand as well. Finally, everyone turned to look at Eagle of Freedom. The slightly plump woman wrestled with her thoughts for a long while before grumbling reluctantly, "I believe in freedom and democracy. Since you've all made up your minds, I will submit to the majority." Xiahou Aotian beamed. "Then let's set off!" *This Yuanshi Tianzun isn't bad at all. I should consider recruiting him back into the protagonist's party.* Yin Ji cast a grateful look at Yuanshi Tianzun, saying, "Now is not the right time for a decisive battle. Everyone, rest for a bit. We'll land on the island at noon." The battle on the seabed had left everyone utterly exhausted in mind and body. Natsuki's Love and Xiahou Aotian had nearly died, Yun Meng had lost a life, and Yin Ji had exerted an immense burst of lunar energy. Even Eagle of Freedom had expended a vast amount of spiritual energy. In contrast, Brother Red Chicken and Zhang Yuanqing were in relatively better shape. Zhang Yuanqing offered proactively, "Yin Ji and I will arrange yin corpses and spirit servants to keep watch." Yin Ji took the task upon herself. "I will handle it." Remembering that she commanded more than a dozen spirit servants, Zhang Yuanqing did not insist. The group sat down cross-legged on the battered deck and closed their eyes for a light rest. Leaning against the ship's gunwale, Xiahou Aotian did not fall asleep right away. He cleared his throat and spoke. "Yuanshi Tianzun, you're quite impressive! "Even though you have a grudge against the Xiahou family, I, the protagonist, admire you greatly. I am willing to defy my clan for a talent like you. How about this: acknowledge me as your boss, and I'll protect you from now on." "No problem! Thank you for the protagonist's appreciation." Zhang Yuanqing smiled warmly. "I've established a guild. I'll invite you once we're out!" *He knows his place!* Xiahou Aotian's smile broadened. "Very well. You're a smart man. You know that a fine bird chooses a fine tree to... Wait, that's not right! Why would I be joining your guild? Wouldn't that make you the boss and me the lackey?" "Do you have a Guild Token?" "No." "Then what the hell are you on about?" "..." Seeing that the haughty protagonist had been rendered speechless, Zhang Yuanqing ignored him. He summoned the Ghost Bride and had her stand guard on the gunwale alongside Blood Rose, then took out the Yin-Yang Dial. At last, he could inspect the item's details. The washbasin-sized Yin-Yang Dial was made of an unidentifiable material—neither metal, jade, nor stone, resembling high-grade composite plastic instead. Its red needle gleamed with a metallic sheen under the morning sunlight. He placed the dial on his knees. A few seconds later, the item prompt appeared: [Name: Yin-Yang Dial] [Type: Toy] [Functions: Return to the Void, Ban] [Description: Once upon a time, an outstanding craftsman unraveled the secrets of the five lawful professions—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. Using top-grade materials from these five professions as the foundation and the spirit of a Scholar as the core, he crafted a powerful and sagacious item, naming it the Yin-Yang Dial. On one occasion, while traveling abroad to collect materials, this brilliant craftsman accidentally wandered into a brothel operated by the Desire class. He became deeply infatuated with the courtesans inside. To pay for his indulgence, he gave away the Yin-Yang Dial. The brothel owner regarded it as a prized shop treasure, hanging it on the wall behind the front desk for many years...] [Note 1: Hehehe, I've heard countless dirty jokes. With my wisdom and erudition, I can derive countless more from a single premise. Are you ready to face my trial?] [Note 2: Only a rogue can counter a rogue.] *What the hell do you mean, 'only a rogue can counter a rogue'...* The corner of Zhang Yuanqing's mouth twitched. He finally understood why it was called the Rogue Dial, and why an item liked asking questions so much. It was originally meant to be an erudite Scholar, but after being trapped in a brothel, it had been corrupted by foul, indecent humor. On second thought, if the dial had asked questions about quantum mechanics, calculus, materials science, or pharmacology, the great Yuanshi Tianzun and his teammates would likely have been wiped out beneath the sea. Oh, wait—with Xiahou Aotian around, they wouldn't have been wiped out, but the item would most likely have become Xiahou Aotian's trophy instead. Dirty jokes had saved the day! Returning the dial to his inventory, Zhang Yuanqing found that his mind was still alert and he couldn't fall asleep right away. A thought struck him: while spiritual energy had dried up in the real world, the Spirit Realm still possessed it. Could he cultivate the Pure Yang Body Cleansing Record here in the instance? He would have to return the Demon-Subduing Pestle to the old crone soon, and his progress with the record had only just begun. It was facing the grim fate of stalling out. If he could cultivate within instances, he could practice for a few hours each month. A cultivation method that improved physical attributes and enhanced resistance to poison and demonic magic was both rare and immensely useful. With that in mind, Zhang Yuanqing turned to face the morning sun, regulated his breathing, and began drawing in sunlight. At first, nothing happened; he failed to draw in any divine power of the sun. But half an hour later, as the sunlight intensified, visible wisps of golden radiance converged and poured into his nostrils. The light on the deck brightened abruptly, as if noon had arrived, and the temperature steadily climbed, distorting the air. The dutiful spirit servants scattered in terror, some flying off the paddle-wheel ship and others rushing toward Yin Ji to seek their master's protection. The divine power of the sun was the bane of vengeful spirits and yin corpses. Yin Ji's eyes snapped open, sharp and piercing. Seeing that the anomaly originated from Yuanshi Tianzun, her expression softened, only to be replaced by shock in her clear, dark eyes. The aura radiating from him was righteous and overbearing. Though exceedingly faint, it was unmistakably the divine power of the sun. Yet how could a Stargazer refine the divine power of the sun? That was a power only Day Wanderers could wield. Feeling the temperature shift, Brother Red Chicken opened his eyes in a daze. "Is it noon already? I felt like I just fell asleep... Holy crap, what is Yuanshi Tianzun doing?" "He's cultivating. It's a method used by ancient practitioners—nothing to make a fuss about. Ancient cultivators progressed very slowly. A few years of training for Yuanshi Tianzun would probably only equal what we get from clearing a single instance." Eagle of Freedom had also been awakened by the disturbance. As an enforcement officer from the Heaven's Punishment organization, her reserve of knowledge ran deeper than Brother Red Chicken's. Heaven's Punishment had gathered a few of these methods for leveling up through absorbing environmental energy in instances. They were few, and nobody cared for them. First, the process was too slow; the rewards a Spirit Realm walker gained from completing a single instance exceeded years of ancient cultivation. Second, one couldn't absorb environmental energy in the real world. Once inside the Spirit Realm, everyone was preoccupied with clearing the instance; who had the leisure to cultivate for negligible gains? "This is a Dominator-level power. Though the immediate yield is small, the benefits are boundless," Yin Ji said. *A Dominator-level power?!* Eagle of Freedom raised an eyebrow, an expression of envy instantly surfacing. If it was a Dominator-level power, that was an entirely different story. Envy aside, their classes were different, so she could do nothing more than watch the spectacle. Brother Red Chicken turned over and went back to sleep. Yet Yin Ji could sleep no longer. She envied Yuanshi Tianzun's cultivation method, craved it, and longed to possess it. Back during the Saint-stage killing trial, if she had possessed this capability, perhaps she would have secured one of the three slots. If she could learn this method of drawing in the divine power of the sun, her chances in the year-end killing trial would be greatly bolstered. The gap between a Saint and a Dominator was like heaven and earth. Yin Ji sighed softly, recalled her spirit servants into her body, and closed her eyes to rest. *The divine power of the sun inside the instance is very 'gentle.' I can keep breathing it in without worrying about overburdening my body, though the purity and concentration are much lower. In the future, every time I enter an instance, I'll cultivate for a few hours and try to reach minor mastery of the Pure Yang Body Cleansing Record while still in the Saint stage...* Zhang Yuanqing felt the divine power of the sun settling and accumulating in his body, feeling deeply satisfied. After an unknown amount of time, he was awakened by Natsuki's Love. Opening his eyes, he saw the scorching sun overhead, the water surface glittering with ripples. The paddle-wheel ship had been pushed toward Yashan Island by the waves, less than twenty meters from the shore. Having rested for five or six hours, everyone was re-energized. Yet gazing upon the lush green island, their expressions were heavy with solemnity. "Let's land!" Zhang Yuanqing's body dissolved into a dreamy shower of starlight, reassembling upon the shore. The others used their respective methods to reach the bank. Led by Yin Ji, they plunged into the forest tangled with dense undergrowth and hanging vines. The sun blazed in the sky, casting dappled light and shadow through the canopy, while the damp air carried the scent of rotting leaves. The surroundings were deathly quiet. There were no animals, no chirping insects; it didn't feel like a vibrant island forest at all. Yet this was a hallmark of the Spirit Realm, and everyone had long grown accustomed to it. After trekking steadily through the dense woods for a dozen minutes, Brother Red Chicken remarked, "This island is huge." Seizing the chance to flaunt his knowledge, Xiahou Aotian chimed in, "The *Xinhui County Annals* state that Yashan rises over forty *zhang* high and stretches for about eighty *li*. How could it not be large?" "Alright, alright, that's part of my Soup Province. You think I don't know that? I even visited when I was a kid. But Yashan isn't an island at all," Brother Red Chicken said. Stepping on the soft soil, Xiahou Aotian chopped away at vines and shrubs with his blade. "It was an island back then. Yashan Island was suitable for both fishing and farming; internally it could support a military and civilian economy, while externally it could fend off formidable foes. The Yuan dynasty wasn't skilled in naval warfare, so this should have been a blessed land of feng shui. Those literati of the Southern Song did have some foresight. "Unfortunately, that dynasty was rotten to the core. The army's combat strength was pitifully weak, so their demise was an inevitable trend of history." Hearing a topic in his wheelhouse, Brother Red Chicken sighed with regret. "It's all Zhao Kuangyin's fault for elevating civil officials and suppressing the military. From the founding of the dynasty, their fate was sealed. That's why I say: if you want a stable empire, you must champion martial might!" Xiahou Aotian shook his head repeatedly. "Wrong, all wrong. First of all, there were historical reasons for Zhao Kuangyin to suppress the military. Secondly, ordinary people hold the fixed notion that an army exists to protect the country and its people. However, armies have been a cancer since ancient times, especially in eras of peace and prosperity. Let me explain it to you..." "I'm not listening, I'm not listening..." Amidst their incessant chatter, Yin Ji endured it for a while before finally speaking up. "Yuanshi Tianzun, what kind of technique were you practicing earlier?" "Call me Yuanshi," Zhang Yuanqing made a cheeky request. Yin Ji pursed her lips, looking at him in silence. *What a dull personality. She can't take a tease at all. Big Sis Guan Ya is way more fun...* Not pressing the matter, Zhang Yuanqing smiled. "The Pure Yang Body Cleansing Record." He gave a brief overview of the technique's effects. Upon hearing this, Yin Ji's deep, dark eyes lit up with brilliance. She made no attempt to conceal her desire. "I would like to purchase the Pure Yang Body Cleansing Record. What price do you consider appropriate?" *If this were the Demon Lord, he'd probably say, 'That depends on how well you serve me tonight.' But I am an honorable gentleman...* Zhang Yuanqing pondered before answering, "One Saint-stage item. It doesn't need to be top-tier, but it must have a special utility or function. Additionally, you must first find a Knight-class item of at least Dominator rank to sign a contract with me, promising not to impart the Pure Yang Body Cleansing Record to anyone else." Yin Ji breathed a small sigh of relief, visibly pleased. "Deal! Once we leave the instance, I'll contact you." *Yuanshi seems quite keen on teasing Yin Ji, but it doesn't look like he has feelings for her. It's more like some kind of mischievous streak born of a particular reason...* Natsuki's Love observed the exchange quietly. After advancing for roughly half an hour, they finally broke out of the dense forest. A small town emerged in their field of view. Its exact scale was hard to determine, but it consisted entirely of traditional structures with brick walls and wooden beams. Black tiles, white walls, and straight roof ridges. The town was completely devoid of human presence. The buildings were neatly arranged but dilapidated, with many holes in their tiled roofs. Cobblestone streets crisscrossed between them, scattered with withered grass and dust. Xiahou Aotian remarked with feeling, "The *Yashan Annals* record: 'Felling timber to build a temporary palace, they erected the main hall named Ciyuan to house Empress Dowager Yang. Beyond it, a bustling market was established, while civil and military officials constructed over three thousand military barracks, providing homes for tens of thousands of soldiers.' "'Providing homes' means they settled down permanently, which is why the houses aren't crude. I didn't believe it at first, because the Southern Song remnants arrived at Yashan in June 1278, and the Southern Song fell in early 1279. "In less than a year, how could they build permanent residences? I never expected it to be true." *Stop quoting the classics. Can't you see everyone is on edge?* Zhang Yuanqing coughed, cutting off Xiahou Aotian before he could continue his lecture. "The palace should be deep within the town. Let's go." After another dozen minutes of cautious progress, a temporary palace tucked amidst lush vegetation appeared ahead. It was not large and looked somewhat modest, yet its red walls and golden tiles set it apart from the surrounding town houses. This was likely the final trace of dignity clinging to the Southern Song remnants back then. "The boss is inside." Zhang Yuanqing and Yin Ji looked grave. In their perception, yin energy coiled thick above the palace, dense enough to send chills down their spines. The young emperor inside—no, the monster—was likely at the very peak of the Saint stage. Yin Ji pondered for a few seconds. "I'll send a spirit servant in to scout and confirm the monster's location first. Everyone, stay calm." At a time like this, the advantages of a Night Walker were on full display. Immediately, Yin Ji exhaled a breath of lunar energy, which transformed into a pale female ghost that drifted into the palace. Zhang Yuanqing lowered his voice. "Once Deacon Yin Ji confirms the monster's position, we act. But before that, we need a tactic. Brother Red Chicken, do you still have any of those bombs you used on the seabed?" Brother Red Chicken replied, "I have three satchel charges left. The other six won't refresh for another ten hours." "I see it. It's in Ciyuan Palace. It seems to be sleeping—this might be our chance," Yin Ji suddenly said. "Could it sleep during the day? Brother Red Chicken, hurry and plant them at the palace entrance. As soon as Deacon Yin Ji lures it out, detonate them immediately." Zhang Yuanqing gave Brother Red Chicken a shove on the shoulder, pushing him forward. Then he looked at the others. "Do any of you have trap-type items? If not, once Brother Red Chicken finishes planting the bombs, we'll enter the palace and launch a surprise attack while it sleeps." "If only my cannon hadn't been used up," Xiahou Aotian threw in a useless comment. Right then, Yin Ji said in a hurried tone, "Come back quickly! I can't see it anymore!"