Online Game: Evil Dragon Against The Heaven - 177

After defeating 《Wind Soul》, 《Thunder Soul》 and 《Earth Soul》 fell in quick succession under Ye Tian Xie’s 【Destiny’s Hour】. His gaze shifted, his blood-drenched silhouette carving a crimson afterimage in the darkness as he charged toward 《Bow Soul》. The Piercing Cloud Arrow and Flying Swallow Shot whistled past him, grazing his body but never hitting their mark. In mere moments, Ye Tian Xie had closed the distance, landing a devastating Dragon Fissure Slash that sent 《Bow Soul》flying—another one-shot kill.

Since the eruption of that blood-red radiance, only a brief moment had passed, but the brilliance of this battlefield had dimmed significantly. One after another, the Heavenly Soul Mercenary Group members, revived in silver brilliance, fell at a pace unbearable for any ordinary person to comprehend. Of the thirteen who originally stood, only two remained!

The mental strain began to creep in, a surge of anger welling up in Ye Tian Xie’s mind as a result of 《Soul of Immobility》’s Mental Taunt. Instantly alert, Ye Tian Xie concentrated his spirit to its peak, gradually dispelling the rage. He turned to face《Soul of Immobility》, who had been relentlessly pursuing him with a raised shield.

As the two approached, 《Soul of Immobility》 raised his shield and charged fiercely at Ye Tian Xie. However, Ye Tian Xie leapt into the air mid-charge, his body rising over a meter high. Splitting his legs apart, he dodged Immobility Soul’s Berserk Shield Strike. With both hands gripping 【Destiny’s Hour】, he swung down with a deafening roar, unleashing Dragon Fissure Slash.

Boom!!

From above, the strike was forceful as if splitting bamboo. The impact surpassed even the force of Immobility Soul’s Berserk Shield Strike, sending him tumbling backward like a rolling boulder. As Ye Tian Xie landed, he dashed forward, relentlessly delivering another Dragon Fissure Slash.

-8371, -8422, -8319!

Despite his high health and defense, Immobility Soul succumbed after enduring four of Ye Tian Xie’s attacks. Like his eleven companions before him, he fell lifeless to the ground.

The surroundings grew eerily silent. Apart from Ye Tian Xie’s heavy breathing, no other sounds could be heard—just as it had been when he first entered. Ye Tian Xie’s innate talents combined with the power of 【Destiny’s Hour】 had once again forged a battle that seemed almost mythical to ordinary players. These two elements were indispensable. Without Ye Tian Xie’s terrifying talents, using Blood Sacrifice of Destiny would have been a death sentence. Without Blood Sacrifice of Destiny, Ye Tian Xie might still have won, but at the cost of dozens or even hundreds of times more effort and time.

Twelve more had fallen under his blade, yet it was not over. One enemy remained—the King of the Mercenaries, who had resurrected these twelve members simultaneously!

Since all the Heavenly Soul Mercenary Group members were revived under the 【Badge of the Mercenary King’s Honor】, the King of the Mercenaries had stood motionless in the same position, never once attacking Ye Tian Xie. Yet, Ye Tian Xie had constantly felt those eyes following him, watching every movement he made.

The blood-like radiance still enveloped Ye Tian Xie, making him appear like a vengeful specter risen from a pool of blood. This final enemy did not make Ye Tian Xie lower his guard. He focused his mind, held 【Destiny’s Hour】 level, and stepped forward slowly. Each step produced a heavy, grating sound as his feet pressed against the ground.

Just then, the King of the Mercenaries, who should have been a lifeless corpse, suddenly spoke:

『Well done, brave young man.』

Ye Tian Xie abruptly stopped, his eyes fixed on the ash-gray face of the King of the Mercenaries. The voice had clearly come from him, yet Ye Tian Xie distinctly noticed that his lips had not moved at all.

“It is an honor to converse with you, heroic Mercenary King. I believe I have now earned the right to claim your legacy.” Ye Tian Xie spoke evenly, neither alarmed nor arrogant, his tone balanced with respect for a hero and the pride of a victor.

The Mercenary King seemed unmoved by his words and continued speaking on his own:

“『A hundred years ago, I died…My final will has guarded the last pride of my Heavenly Soul Mercenary Group. Only a warrior like you is worthy of carrying the dignity and honor of my group… Will you accept the soul inheritance of my Heavenly Soul Mercenary Group, continue its legend, and help me, a dead man, annihilate the Rakshasa Ghost King who once trampled upon my Heavenly Soul?』

The Mercenary King’s voice was slow and deep, each word as solid as iron. The real Mercenary King had long since perished, but the pride of a hero would not allow him to accept the extinction of the Heavenly Soul Mercenary Group. Thus, before his death, he sealed his final consciousness within himself, guarding the last soul of the Heavenly Soul Mercenary Group, waiting for someone who could continue its legacy.

【Ding… The deceased leader of the Heavenly Soul Mercenary Group, Ren Zhan Qing, requests that you rebuild the Heavenly Soul Mercenary Group and eliminate the Rakshasa Ghost King who destroyed it. Upon accepting this quest, you must use the 『Badge of Honor of the Mercenary King』 bestowed upon you to establish a new 『Heavenly Soul Mercenary Group』 within one month, and within three years, you must defeat the Rakshasa Ghost King. If you fail to establish the mercenary group within a month or defeat the Rakshasa Ghost King within three years, the 『Badge of Honor of the Mercenary King』 will automatically disappear. Do you accept it?】

“Yes!”

After a brief moment of silence, a single word escaped from Ye Tian Xie’s lips.

【Ding… You have accepted the quest 『Honor of the Heavenly Soul Mercenary Group』. Quest Type: Unique. Quest Details: You must establish a new 『Heavenly Soul Mercenary Group』 within one month using the 『Badge of Honor of the Mercenary King』and defeat the Rakshasa Ghost King within three years. Quest Reward: 『Badge of Honor of the Mercenary King』. Quest Penalty: If the mercenary group is not established within a month or the Rakshasa Ghost King is not defeated within three years, the 『Badge of Honor of the Mercenary King』 will automatically disappear.】

“Thank you, brave and powerful young man…”

These were the Mercenary King’s final words. As his voice faded, the golden circular badge hanging on his chest drifted from his body, floating slowly toward Ye Tian Xie. Reaching out, Ye Tian Xie caught the golden badge.

This badge was incredibly precious—a piece of equipment in the badge category, which could be equipped infinitely. After acquiring the Hero’s Badge through countless life-and-death struggles in the beginner’s village, yet another badge appeared before him.

The moment his hand touched the golden badge, a loud system notification echoed throughout the entire Destiny world:

【Ding…World Announcement! Attention all players worldwide: The player 『Xie Tian』 from the Huaxia Region has successfully completed the mercenary system quest 『Relic of the Mercenary King』. The mercenary system is now unlocked in the Huaxia Region. Players in the Huaxia Region may now apply to establish mercenary groups at mercenary guilds in major cities. The Huaxia Region has become the first region worldwide to unlock the mercenary system, earning 100 honor points for the region. The player 『Xie Tian』 has also become the first to complete a mercenary system quest, gaining 100×10 prestige points and an additional reward: 『Badge of Honor of the Mercenary King』 .】

The notification repeated multiple times:

【Ding… World Announcement! Attention all players worldwide: The player 『Xie Tian』 from the Huaxia Region has successfully completed the mercenary system quest 『Relic of the Mercenary King』. The Huaxia Region has unlocked the mercenary system, earning 100 honor points. The player 『Xie Tian』 has also gained 100×10 prestige points and an additional reward:『Badge of Honor of the Mercenary King』.】

【Ding… World Announcement!…】

【Ding… World Announcement!…】

The notification echoed throughout the entire Destiny world, resounding across all regional battle zones five times in total. Players worldwide were first stunned, and then the world erupted in an uproar, boiling over with disbelief.

At this moment, it had only been… half an hour since the notification about the activation of the three major system quests in the early stages of Destiny had sounded!

Just half an hour.

It had been a mere half an hour, yet someone had already completed one of these system quests!

Wait… the notification mentioned the person who completed the quest…

Xie Tian.

And not only Xie Tian… just Xie Tian.

Only one player!!

One person had managed to complete this system quest, renowned for its extreme difficulty!

System quests were designed as challenges for an entire region’s players to work together to complete, and they could only be completed once. The difficulty of such a quest was beyond imagination. Yet in just thirty minutes, a single person from the Huaxia Region, a player named Xie Tian, had completed it all on his own.

How was that possible?!

Could it be that the system quest for the Huaxia Region was too simple? No… impossible! The earlier system notifications had specifically emphasized that all regions’ system quests were perfectly balanced in terms of difficulty.

The ones most shocked, however, were undoubtedly the players from other regions who had been among the first to enter the trial maps and had returned defeated in no time.

Having experienced the trials firsthand, they knew how terrifying the system quests were at the current average player level. No, 《terrifying》 was an understatement. These tasks were impossible to complete. Even if every player reached Level 20, there was still little hope of success.

None of them could have imagined that a single nation would complete the quest so quickly, and even less so… that it was accomplished by a single player.

Xie Tian.

A name well-known to everyone in the Huaxia Region and familiar even to players from other regions. He was the top-ranked player in the Huaxia Region’s leaderboard, the one who had completed the Abyss Trial during the beginner phase with godlike skill, defeating it single-handedly.

And now, with the announcement that the Huaxia Region’s mercenary system quest had been completed, the entire Huaxia Region was both shocked and ecstatic. Meanwhile, players across the world were left in disbelief and forever etched the name Xie Tian into their minds.

From this day onward, there would no longer be anyone in the world who didn’t know the name Xie Tian.