Running at the speed of Moonshadow Step, Chen Xiaoyan was simply no match.
“Xiaoyan, don’t run!”
She hadn’t run far before she saw Chongchong rapidly catching up behind her.
Chen Xiaoyan raised her brows slightly, quite surprised.
Since when did this girl get so fast?
Hmph, I absolutely refuse to believe it. I’m an eighteen-level expert, and I can’t be outrun by a thirteen-level noob.
A few minutes later…
Looking at the thirteen-level newbie clinging onto her waist, no matter how much she tried to shake her off.
Chen Xiaoyan sighed toward the sky, tears welling but unable to fall.
People’s physiques really can’t be generalized.
Heaven is fair—when it opens a window for you, it inevitably closes another.
Clearly, her physique was inferior to this girl’s.
“All right, all right, I admit defeat. Can you let go now?”
Chongchong shook her head.
“Nope, you have to sincerely admit your mistake, or I won’t let go.”
Chen Xiaoyan sighed helplessly.
“Chongchong, I’m sorry. I won’t flick your forehead anymore.”
“Really won’t?”
“I promise.”
Hearing this, Chongchong was very satisfied and finally loosened her grip, then smiled cheekily while holding Chen Xiaoyan’s arm.
“By the way, Xiaoyan, there’s something I forgot to tell you. When I logged in this morning, Mu Qingxue added me as a friend and asked if I wanted to join Xueyan Pavilion. She also said you’re in Xueyan Pavilion.”
“Do you want to join?”
“Of course! If Xiaoyan is there, then so am I.”
“So you’re basically my shadow, huh?”
If anyone else heard that, they might feel a bit annoyed, but what kind of person is Chongchong?
A complete shadow, one hundred percent pure.
However, precisely because she’s a shadow, she has her current strength.
Without Xiaoyan, she might still be struggling to clear Monster Village.
What’s wrong with being a shadow?
I, Zhou Xiaopet, am happy with it.
“I’m happy,” Chongchong lifted her head proudly.
Hmph, others want to be shadows who win without effort, but don’t have the means.
Seeing Chongchong’s proud look, Chen Xiaoyan laughed and shook her head, lightly pinching her cheek.
“You little brat, you’re so cheerful being a shadow, no ambition at all.”
“Ambition? Can ambition be eaten?”
Chongchong scoffed.
Can ambition help me level up?
Clear dungeons?
Become an expert?
No.
Then what use is ambition?
“All right, all right, I’ll tell Mu Qingxue that our adorable Chongchong has joined.”
Chen Xiaoyan smiled, patting her little head.
“Let’s go. We’ll grind Monster Village and level up to twenty as soon as possible.”
“Chongchong received!”
Chongchong saluted Chen Xiaoyan in imitation.
Chen Xiaoyan couldn’t help but laugh at her goofy antics, then shook her head and opened the map to teleport to Ping’an Town.
At that moment, a familiar voice suddenly rang in her ear.
“Tianxiang disciples, assemble at the square”
The announcement was repeated three times.
And Chen Xiaoyan knew the voice very well—it was Shen Qingqing.
“What’s going on? Xiaoyan, did you hear the Vice Sect Leader NPC’s voice?”
“Yes.”
“Wow, amazing! Could this be the legendary Thousand Mile Voice Transmission?”
“Forget that for now, let’s hurry to the square. Something’s definitely happened.”
Usually, a sect wouldn’t call an emergency assembly unless something serious occurred.
Square
Two hundred Tianxiang disciples had gathered in the center of the square.
On the high platform stood Yue Qifang, Shen Qingqing, and Liu Fufeng, their faces cold as they looked at the assembled disciples.
Next to them were several unfamiliar middle-aged men wearing uniforms from other sects.
Chen Xiaoyan and Chongchong quickly slipped into the players’ ranks.
Why the players’ ranks?
Because the NPC disciples were also here.
Chen Xiaoyan furrowed her brows.
It seemed the situation was far more serious than she had imagined.
Shen Qingqing glanced at the players’ group, which was obviously short of people, and sneered silently.
But now wasn’t the time to show displeasure; she had to hold it in.
“Jinyang County in Jiuyang Prefecture has an Endless Demon Domain teleportation point. Within a radius of tens of miles, demonic energy has spread, tens of thousands of civilians have mutated, and countless demonic beasts roam. Hundreds of thousands of civilians in Jinyang County are in grave danger.”
“Commissioned by the Celestial Alliance, Tianxiang Sect will dispatch one hundred disciples to assist.”
An Endless Demon Domain teleportation point?
This was mentioned in the Monster Village lore.
Once it appears, nothing grows within several miles.
But this time it was worse—the area expanded to tens of miles.
“This game is so interesting.”
“A sudden plot twist, I’m all in!”
“What do we do when we get there? Heal people?”
“What else can we do besides healing?”
The Tianxiang players murmured quietly.
“Silence!!!” Yue Qifang’s cold shout made the chatting female players’ heads ring.
The familiar Lion Roar technique was unleashed again.
Chen Xiaoyan grimaced and covered her ears.
The sect leader’s voice was truly something else.
In the eyes of Yue Qifang, Shen Qingqing, and others, these Tianxiang players were a disorderly rabble.
They wondered how they had even passed the Tianxin Mountain trials.
Looking at the NPC lineup, their formation was neat and silent throughout.
The difference—that’s the difference.
Perhaps their nature was fundamentally different from players.
Because they knew what it meant when an Endless Demon Domain teleportation point appeared, their faces were all serious.
Unlike the players, chatting and laughing without any sense of danger or tension.
Shen Qingqing took a deep breath and looked at Chen Xiaoyan among the players.
“Chen Xiaoyan.”
“Present.”
Chen Xiaoyan blinked and quickly stepped to the front of the formation, hands behind her back, chest out, expression serious—like a soldier about to be inspected by a commander.
“Big Sis is so cool.”
“Definitely, that stance shows military training.”
“An expert is still an expert, truly impressive.”
“Tch, why stand so stiff? This isn’t a military camp.”
Chen Xiaoyan ignored the whispers beside her and kept her gaze fixed on Shen Qingqing on the platform.
Though Shen Qingqing couldn’t understand the meaning behind her posture, it showed more spirit than other players.
She smiled slightly, clearly pleased.
The middle-aged men also looked at Chen Xiaoyan.
“This Tianxiang disciple under the Moon Sect Leader is interesting. Clearly a woman, yet exudes a masculine aura.”
“Quite intriguing.”
Hearing this, Yue Qifang turned and laughed, “This disciple is dear to Qingqing Junior Sister’s heart. If you keep saying that, she’ll get anxious.”
“Oh?”
“So it’s Vice Sect Leader Shen’s favorite. My apologies.”
Shen Qingqing ignored the sect elders from the Alliance sent to protect Tianxiang Sect, showing them no courtesy.
Not long ago, if not for their negligence, Xue Daozi wouldn’t have broken through the defenses and captured Xiaoyan, causing injury.
“Chen Xiaoyan, you will lead one hundred new disciples to assist in Jinyang County.”
“Huh? Me lead?” Chen Xiaoyan was stunned.
【Mission Accepted】
【Demonic Chaos: Hundreds of thousands of civilians in Jinyang County are in grave danger. As Tianxiang disciples, you must save the dying and heal the injured. For every civilian saved, gain one point of Reputation.】
The mission had triggered.
No other rewards, only this Reputation.
But what use was Reputation?