Online Game: Evil Dragon Against The Heaven - 185

A tall tree attracts the wind, but when a tree grows sturdy enough, even hurricanes can be disregarded. The strength of the Du Gu family was enough to make the highest authorities in Huaxia wary. Their level of threat even surpassed the three great taboo families. Yet, the Zuo family had never shown any intent to eliminate the Du Gu family’s forces. Because once they acted, the balance of power would be broken.

That balance was maintained between two underground kings. One end of the scale was the Du Gu family, and the other, the northern underground king—the Yun family.

Each dominated their respective regions in the north and south of Huaxia, engaging in years of open and covert struggles without a clear victor. Neither could truly extend their influence into the other’s territory. Yet both kings understood that even if they could, they should not. Once the delicate balance between the north and south was broken, it would be the Zuo family’s turn to act, a scenario that would harm them more than benefit them. While they were uncrowned kings of the north and south, the true rulers were still the Zuo family, whose authority had remained unshaken for centuries.

This balance had thus endured for nearly three generations, with neither side willing to disrupt it.

With such vast networks of influence in reality, building a massive alliance in the virtual gaming world was naturally effortless. As a result, two major powers emerged in Huaxia’s virtual gaming sphere—Divine Domain Alliance and Wings That Obstruct the Heavens. These organizations were not led by the black path overlords themselves but by their eldest sons. Evidently, judging by the development of Divine Domain Alliance and Wings That Obstruct the Heavens, the Yun family patriarch, Yun Ba Fang and the Du Gu family patriarch, Du Gu Xiong, not only didn’t oppose their heirs’ chosen paths but strongly supported them. Their immense familial foundations allowed Divine Domain Alliance and Wings That Obstruct the Heavens to rise to prominence in the virtual gaming world, bringing significant benefits to both families over the years.

This time, Divine Domain Alliance happened to be present in this quest map and crossed paths with Ye Tian Xie. As the leader of Divine Domain Alliance faced him, the surrounding players waited eagerly to see how Xie Tian would respond.

After hearing Ye Tian Xie’s words, Zang Shen clapped once more. Amid the sound of applause, he praised loudly, “Well said! Wonderfully said. Brother Xie Tian, you truly are an extraordinary man. Although we couldn’t secure this trial opportunity today, I know that even if we had entered, there was a high chance we’d suffer a crushing defeat. However, meeting you has made these two hours entirely worthwhile. Once the 《Battle God’s Skeleton》 mission is completed, the guild system will open. At that time, I hope Brother Xie Tian will visit our Divine Domain Alliance. If you’re willing to join us, I, Zang Shen, would be infinitely honored. If one day you face something difficult, feel free to seek me out. I, Zang Shen, would very much like to call you a friend.”

Without waiting for Ye Tian Xie’s reply, Zang Shen gave a faint smile, turned, and said, “Let’s go.”

With a flash of white light, Zang Shen and the eleven members of Divine Domain Alliance teleported back to the city.

Although Ye Tian Xie had seen Zang Shen before, this was their first conversation. This man… made Ye Tian Xie furrow his brows slightly.

As expected, he was no simple character.

The departure of Divine Domain Alliance left a completely different impression compared to Battle Soul Hall’s retreat. Battle Soul Hall had fled in fear and disgrace, whereas Divine Domain Alliance exuded a genuine friendliness and the magnanimity of a major guild. When facing Ye Tian Xie, Zang Shen openly admired him without restraint or concealment, expressing an intent to ally while maintaining a demeanor of impressive poise and faint, inoffensive pride. Their departure didn’t diminish their image but instead showcased the distinct aura of a great guild.

Would Divine Domain Alliance fear Xie Tian? No one thought so. Zang Shen’s actions were clearly a gesture of respect to Xie Tian.

“Since that’s the case, let’s leave too. Zang Shen was right. At our current level, this quest isn’t suitable for us. Even Wings That Obstruct the Heavens has failed twice. Staying here any longer would be a waste of time.”

The speaker was the leader of a small squad near Ye Tian Xie. Walking to his side, he added, “The opening of the guild system involves many interests, including ours. On a larger scale, it concerns the honor of Huaxia. Frankly, we’ve been dreaming of the guild alliance system being launched sooner. But it seems that a level 20 team is the bare minimum to complete this quest. That means the guild system’s activation is at least half a month away. If you truly manage to complete this quest and unlock the system, we’d be sincerely grateful. When the time comes, we welcome you to visit All Under Heaven Alliance .”

The speaker, named “Jing Tian Yi Dao” (惊天一刀, Heaven-Shocking Slash), was a senior member of All Under Heaven Alliance. He nodded politely and left with his group.

Following Divine Domain Alliance’s lead, more and more players began leaving this map reeking of rotting corpses. Nearly all the players present came from various alliances, each with a leader. After weighing the situation, most chose to leave. The temptation of the mission was immense, but if even Divine Domain Alliance admitted they couldn’t complete it, why stay and face Xie Tian, the calamity incarnate? Moreover, if Xie Tian succeeded in completing the quest, it would be exactly what they desired. Only with the guild system activated could they truly form alliances, rather than remaining in their current scattered state.

In a short time, more than half of the original crowd of thousands had dispersed. Those who remained all moved away from the magic seal, watching silently from a distance. This development was undoubtedly influenced by Divine Domain Alliance’s decisive departure.

However, if things didn’t go as he wished today, Ye Tian Xie wouldn’t hesitate to slaughter everyone. Even if it meant offending every player present and the forces they represented, he didn’t care. He only pursued the process and results he desired; the consequences meant nothing to him. After all, at his current level and with his resources, few people or forces could even make him take a second glance.

The Magic Seal in front had already become empty and deserted. Ye Tian Xie walked straight ahead. As if prearranged, the moment he arrived at the seal, the massive magic seal flickered briefly, dimmed, and disappeared.

Ye Tian Xie didn’t pause his steps and walked right in. The instant his foot crossed the threshold, the vanished magic barrier re-formed behind him.

The Wreckage of Ten Thousand Bones. The moment he stepped inside, the stench of decayed corpses, now several times stronger, made him nearly retch. He clenched his teeth and forced himself to endure it, holding his breath as he walked forward. After a long while, he finally began to adapt to the stench. Entering the Heavenly Soul Cemetery required overcoming darkness, but the Wreckage of Ten Thousand Bones first greeted its visitors with a nauseating odor that could drive people to despair.

Ye Tian Xie suddenly wondered: what would happen if Guo Guo, that super-cleanliness-loving, sweet-obsessed girl, accidentally appeared here at this moment…

And just then, an unexpected voice rang in his ears: “Oh-la-la~ That was such a good nap…Hmm? AHHHH!!”

The lazy voice instantly turned into a high-pitched scream. The white figure that had been floating in mid-air suddenly plummeted downward with a whoosh.

Ye Tian Xie quickly reached out to catch her and sympathetically said, “Guo Guo, you’d better go back.”

“Ugh… ugh…” Guo Guo was nearly overcome by the overpowering stench. After a moment of disorientation, she suddenly burst into tears. “Waaah… You’re bullying me! You’re bullying me… Waaah…”

Then, with a flash of white light, she merged into the Destiny’s Hour hanging on Ye Tian Xie’s chest.

Ye Tian Xie stood speechless. How is this my fault?!

The area was an open wilderness, but it was eerily dim. Even the sky was covered with oppressive dark clouds, blocking out most of the light. The ground was an unsettling, murky shade, and the disordered heaps of gray and black debris made it a literal wasteland.

Amid the ruins were horrifying piles of pale bones.

The gloomy Wreckage of Ten Thousand Bones carried a biting chill in its winds. Scattered within the ruins were skeletal remains of varying sizes. Some skeletons still stood upright, while others had shattered into fragments. The environment, the stench, and the unsettling sights all posed a significant psychological challenge and test to anyone venturing here.

Ye Tian Xie walked forward, his steps often crunching over bones of various shapes. According to the quest description, these were all human remains—heroes who perished in a fierce defensive battle 80 years ago, and the invaders who were slain by those heroes. Even after 80 years, time had not reduced these bones to mere dust.

The sinister wind carried gritty, strange-smelling dust, constantly assaulting him. The sky seemed to grow darker, and for over half an hour, Ye Tian Xie pressed forward through this terrifying landscape. Yet, the scenery before him remained unchanged—an endless wasteland of white bones stretched as far as the eye could see.

Ye Tian Xie stopped and turned around, looking behind him. The small canyon entrance he had entered from was now out of sight. Rotating his perspective, he realized that in every direction, the view was identical—just an unbroken expanse of bone-strewn ruins. There was no distinguishing feature to mark his way.

When the surroundings are completely uniform, with nothing to serve as a reference, it’s easy for both humans and animals to lose their sense of direction. That single turn caused Ye Tian Xie to momentarily lose track of which way was forward.

For over half an hour, he hadn’t encountered a single monster, nor had the scenery changed. Combined with earlier doubts, he pondered how even ordinary player parties had managed to linger here for nearly two hours. Could this be an extremely challenging search quest?

The Battle God’s Skeleton was undoubtedly hidden somewhere in this vast bone wasteland. But with such an enormous area, if there were no clues or reference points… did he have to dig through the ruins inch by inch?

Even if he dug, how would he recognize the Battle God’s Skeleton among countless other bones?

This thought made Ye Tian Xie’s scalp tingle slightly. He stood in place, contemplating for a long time, rereading the quest description over and over again, yet he found no hidden hints. With no other option, he continued moving forward.