Chapter 117: The Clash of the Arrow Towers

(Ding) “Subscription requested.”

“Ding, the Demon Heart absorbs 30 million experience points; all players’ attributes have increased by 200%.”

As the alert sounded, fifteen beams of black light burst forth from the Demon Heart, each landing upon Ye Chen and the others. Instantly, the dark glow swirled around them, doubling all their attributes.

Ye Chen glanced at his current status panel: his health had soared to 1,650, mana exploded to 3,700 points, and his attack power reached a terrifying 1,500. These stats rivaled those of a level 50 player, if not surpassing them. Killing level 30 monsters felt like slicing through fruit.

“I—I’m at 8,000 HP now! Incredible! With stats like this, I can’t be stopped. Dark gold boss, prepare to be slaughtered!” Chang Lian exclaimed excitedly upon seeing Ding Yuan Monk’s stats, his face alight with enthusiasm. He felt proud, thinking to himself, “A keen eye for heroes indeed. I poured in 3 million experience points. Once we clear the Demon Training Grounds, I should level up three or four times easily and climb the rankings in Lie Mountain City.”

Those who invested more experience beamed with joy, while those who contributed less wore sullen expressions. Some slower players hadn’t even gotten the chance to add experience and wished they could bang their heads against the wall out of frustration.

Ye Chen frowned slightly at the scene. Though he looked down on some of these people, he still needed their cooperation. He encouraged them, “Don’t be discouraged if you didn’t get to add experience. Our main target is over 9,000 monsters, including more than 1,000 elites. The gear they drop will have you picking up equipment non-stop. Once you gear up and train, you’ll catch up in levels.”

Hearing this, those few who missed out perked up, and the rest of the team grew even more excited. Over a thousand elite monsters! Clearing them would surely drop twenty or thirty bronze-grade items, not to mention rare gear—maybe even hundreds of pieces!

The prospect of loot stirred their blood as the battle drums seemed to beat louder in their ears.

A sly smile crept across Ye Chen’s lips. Hmph, I did plan to let you all strike it rich, but now... those items might as well be handed over to the girls at the studio. The extra loot can be converted into some cash...

With that thought, Ye Chen whispered covertly, “2058, the plan can commence.”

“Understood. I’ll make sure your teammates get a big surprise,” came the excited reply from 2058. This plan was its own design, and even it found such schemes delightfully mischievous.

“Ding, Demon Training Grounds successfully activated. The first wave of monsters will attack the fortress in three minutes. Players, prepare yourselves.”

“Ding, the monsters’ ultimate target is the Demon Heart. If the Demon Heart is shattered, the mission fails.”

“Ding, arrow towers are now operational. Six towers: Ice Tower, Flame Tower, Earth Tower, Assault Tower, Holy Light Tower, and Web Tower. Players must control the arrow towers. Activating a tower requires 500,000 experience points.”

The announcement that each tower required 500,000 experience points sparked an uproar among the players. Half a level’s worth of experience! Some players might not even earn that in a whole day. Who would willingly contribute such a hefty sum?

Ye Chen ignored their grumbling. The arrow towers were essential to clearing the Demon Training Grounds. He didn’t care if they were willing or not. Besides, he had already staked 15 million experience points into the Demon Heart. Failure meant dropping to level one.

He cast a cold glance at the few who had been least friendly moments ago and ordered, “Xian Yun, Ice Tower. Le Xian, Flame Tower...”

In the blink of an eye, Ye Chen selected five players. They exchanged glances but remained rooted to the spot. Xian Yun scoffed defiantly, “You want us to go? Why should we? Half a million experience points isn’t just blowing in the wind!”

Ye Chen sneered, “You want me to go? You expect to command the battle? You five have the lowest contributions in the team. You haven’t added a single point to the Demon Heart. Others have contributed, but you want to freeload? No way.”

The five were stunned speechless. Xian Yun snapped back, “Contributing to the Demon Heart counts as a contribution? That’s just taking advantage!”

That remark offended everyone who had invested experience into the Demon Heart. Without Ye Chen saying a word, they retorted, “Xian Yun, you accuse us of freeloading, yet you’re the ones who don’t trust the night team and refuse to add experience. Now you’re turning it around on us?”

“Exactly! When the last 5 million experience points were added, they were the least enthusiastic and tried to dodge their share!”

“No one realized they could be so shameless!”

“Adding experience to the Demon Heart is risky! If we fail, won’t our experience vanish too?”

When personal interests were involved, the other players turned hostile in an instant, unleashing a torrent of insults on Xian Yun and his group. Ding Yuan Monk and Chang Lian watched this unfold with sour expressions. The earlier performance at the Demon Heart had already dampened their spirits, but facing the threat of the dark gold boss was understandable. Now, fighting over 500,000 experience points was truly disheartening.

Ding Yuan Monk’s face flushed red, thinking bitterly how he had bragged to Ye Chen about their loyalty and unity—only to be slapped in the face.

“Enough!” Chang Lian couldn’t stand it any longer. He wished he could sink into the ground. He had promised to obey orders, but this was embarrassing—utterly embarrassing.

“Ye Chen, the Assault Tower is mine, right? No more talk, I’m going first!” Without waiting for a response, Chang Lian shot a glare at the silent Xian Yun and the others, then strode to the Assault Tower, paying 500,000 experience points. His own experience dropped from level 34 to 33, but he said nothing and climbed the tower.

“Ding, Assault Tower activated successfully. Player ‘Chang Lian’ gains double attack power and double range.”

Though the atmosphere was tense, the group collectively gasped softly. The Assault Tower was clearly designed with bosses in mind. Spending 500,000 experience was well worth it.

Ye Chen nodded inwardly. Among this group, only Ding Yuan Monk, Chang Lian, and Hu Zi were somewhat reliable; the rest were just high-level no-names. If the team disbanded, he might consider recruiting these three as his core.

“Chang Lian is up. What are you waiting for? Until the monsters kill you? Thirty seconds—if you don’t get on the towers, you’re out of the team!” Ye Chen glared coldly at Xian Yun and the others, confident they couldn’t resist the lure of loot from 1,000 elite monsters and 10 bosses.

“If Ye Chen kicks you out, don’t bother rejoining,” Ding Yuan Monk said lightly as he hefted his Dragon-Whirling Staff and headed toward the fortress gate.

The weight of Ding Yuan Monk’s words silenced Xian Yun’s group. They dared not hesitate any longer, rushing to the towers Ye Chen assigned, gritting their teeth as they paid 500,000 experience each and climbed up.

“Ding, Ice Tower activated successfully. Player ‘Xian Yun’ gains the Ice Freeze skill, with a 100x100 yard area of effect.”

“Ding, Flame Tower activated...”

“Ding, Earth Tower activated...”

“Ding, Web Tower activated...”

With a chorus of alerts, all six arrow towers were lit. Far off in the mist-shrouded canyon, fierce, bloodthirsty howls echoed, followed by the thunderous sound of a massive army charging forward. In moments, countless monsters poured through the fog into the players’ sight.

At least three to four thousand monsters were clearly visible, with even more hidden in the mist. Nearly ten thousand beasts now threatened the city walls, their overwhelming presence turning everyone’s faces grim.

Especially among the horde were massive, roaring brutes whose bellows resembled distant thunder. At the rear of the formation, shrouded in fog, lurked a titan the size of a small mountain. Its furious roar shook loose rocks, and its heavy footsteps caused the ground to tremble—a dark gold-tier super boss.

The vanguard of three to four thousand monsters included mighty mountain boars, wild minotaurs, bloodthirsty demon leopards, and other common foes above level 30. Monsters in the mist were harder to discern, but occasional glimpses revealed rare elite creatures. Ye Chen even spotted an Earth Drake, a top-tier draconic elite—an exceedingly rare and terrifying foe. Aside from slightly lower health, these drakes surpassed bronze-tier bosses in every other aspect.

Ding Yuan Monk stood beside Ye Chen, licking his lips with excitement. “Monk here has been playing God’s Arrival for three years, but this is the first time I’ve seen such a grand spectacle. We’re truly hitting the jackpot.”

Though Ye Chen shared the excitement, he recalled far grander scenes from his fragmented memories. Smiling, he said, “Monk, have you never participated in large-scale sieges or events back in the old server? Every district’s Battle for Central Plains had hundreds of cities at war—that was a grand spectacle.”

Ding Yuan Monk gave Ye Chen a strange look and teased, “Aren’t you a newbie? How could you have seen those scenes?”

Ye Chen blinked in surprise and retorted, “Does watching recordings not count?”

“Fine, it doesn’t!” Ding Yuan Monk chuckled, rubbing his bald head. Then he whispered, “Sorry about this. I didn’t expect my teammates to cause such trouble at a critical moment.”

Ye Chen waved it off. “It’s not your fault. I’m not easy to get along with either. Disputes over benefits happen in many teams. Don’t take it to heart.”

Ding Yuan Monk shook his head solemnly. “I don’t like this kind of thing. After this, I plan to discuss with Chang Lian and Hu Zi about possibly disbanding the team.”

Ye Chen smiled. “Perfect timing. I’m planning to form a new team soon. How about I recruit you three?”

“Recruit? How many members do you have?” Ding Yuan Monk feigned disdain.

“Just me. With you three, that makes four,” Ye Chen held up four fingers. “My team wants elites—real elites—not these so-called elites who run at the first sign of a strong enemy.”

“Ha! Fine. Then count us in,” Ding Yuan Monk laughed, about to say more when the monster horde suddenly stirred ahead. The three-minute countdown to attack had less than ten seconds remaining, and the vanguard of mighty mountain boars was already preparing to charge.

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