Mo Yang looked at the young man with golden-brown hair and green pupils, momentarily unsure how to respond. He remembered advising himself not to get involved and to stay quiet. He sighed and chose a more moderate approach, “I’m sorry, you’ve got the wrong person. I’m not Emperor Qin.” Emperor Qin got taken down by me, but I won’t tell you that.
Mo Yang thought that after saying this, the young man, who seemed like a moving equipment rack, would leave. However, this young man didn’t pay any heed to his words. “Then bring Emperor Qin out! Isn’t he the most powerful person on the leaderboard? Ha, I’ve been searching for a chance to fight him. Just an Easterner, why should they qualify for the top spot on the ranking? That should be Brooklyn Eis’s place!!”
As he spoke, the group following behind him laughed uproariously, some specifically mocking Mo Yang, Safiro, and Abraham with rude gestures, clearly skilled troublemakers. Some in Mo Yang’s group, with less patience and significant gaming skills, displayed clear dissatisfaction, squinting and preparing to intervene.
Mo Yang looked at Brooklyn Eis, attempting one last rational approach, “I don’t know where Emperor Qin is. You could try elsewhere, asking other people. We’re currently at the plaza of the Tree People Clan. It’s better not to be so noisy and wait quietly. What do you think?”
However, if Brooklyn were someone who could be persuaded or considerate of others, he wouldn’t have blatantly come forward to provoke Mo Yang. Hearing Mo Yang’s words, he laughed as if hearing the greatest joke, “Hahaha! Did I just hear that? Guys! He just said this is the Tree People Clan’s plaza! Asking me to consider their feelings!! Heavens, I’ve heard the funniest joke! Consider their feelings?’ His similarly green eyes glared at Mo Yang, his voice turning menacing, ‘Is your brain not working?! It’s just a game! Even if they look alike, they’re still just NPCs!! You’re suggesting we consider NPCs’ feelings. You’re a fool who shouldn’t live in this world!!”
As he uttered the last sentence, his sword, gleaming with golden light, swung towards Mo Yang without warning. The people behind Brooklyn seemed to anticipate this, applauding loudly. However, before all their laughter erupted, a scream cut through. The people behind Brooklyn fell silent, staring at Mo Yang as if seeing a ghost.
Mo Yang didn’t even use his maxims; he merely shifted his body as Brooklyn swung the sword. Then, with his left hand adorned with the Phoenix, he pressed it against Brooklyn’s forehead, launching a terrifying mental attack empowered by the Phoenix Ring and the Heart of the Treefolk, piercing Brooklyn’s mind.
Despite Brooklyn having secretly formed a mental barrier around himself, his psychic defenses, not even reaching level four, were fragile before Mo Yang.
With just one hand, Mo Yang pinned Brooklyn to the ground. While Brooklyn frantically clutched his head and screamed, Mo Yang, kneeling, looked towards the now silent group. As their eyes met, they instinctively stepped back.
Then, they saw the handsome yet wicked smile on this black-haired youth, “I said I don’t know where Emperor Qin is and not to create a ruckus here. Do you understand?”
Everyone, including the most fearsome troublemakers, nodded repeatedly. These rowdy individuals suddenly behaved unusually well.
Brooklyn felt like his brain was about to explode. At that moment, as Mo Yang released his tight grip on his head, Brooklyn leaped away. He even considered attacking Mo Yang but his combat instinct warned him that he might die instantly.
He glared at Mo Yang as if staring at something terrifying. However, at this moment, Brooklyn who seemed brainless suddenly regained sense. He tucked away all his arrogance and provocations, seriously observing Mo Yang for a while before tentatively turning to leave with his group.
But as they turned, they faced Xis’s exquisitely beautiful yet ice-cold face and the hundred-strong guard behind him.
Xis aimed his fiercely imposing bow directly at Brooklyn’s nose, his guards raising their bows too.
“Warning. The temple’s plaza does not permit loud disturbances or any disrespect towards the Queen and deities. Please proceed to the designated area. Refusal leads to expulsion from the life barrier, resistance results in death.”
Brooklyn and his group stiffened momentarily. Eventually, a female player from Brooklyn’s group stepped forward, repeatedly apologizing, and led Brooklyn and the others to the designated area.
This location seemed a bit more peripheral compared to where Safiro and Abraham were.
At this moment, the numerous players who could barely be considered Mo Yang’s underlings or companions breathed a sigh of relief. However, after relaxing, each of them looked at Mo Yang with a hint of awe and admiration. Even though they were just a temporarily gathered group, who wouldn’t want their group leader to be an incredibly powerful individual?! Previously, most players obeyed Mo Yang mainly due to the Queen’s invitation and approval and also because of the intimidation exerted by Song Kefeng and their 109-strong group. But there were still some self-important players who felt unconvinced.
But now, no one could claim to be more formidable than Mo Yang.
After all, Brooklyn Eis ranked second on the level leaderboard! They said he was a battle maniac, itching for a fight with anyone!
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Yet, this person was smacked down by a single slap from someone called Yang Heigou! Oh! It was super exciting!
“I knew it! Yang Heigou is a big shot! I played ‘Foreboding Sense’ with him in the game once. My goodness, we teamed up to defeat the Night Demon!”
“Yes, yes! I’ve seen them in Smiling Town. They seemed to survive until the end!”
“Heh, not to mention, I know there’s a fierce one on the weapons leaderboard who occupies two spots. Isn’t that Yang Heigou? King’s Scepter and Phoenix Ring! Impressive.”
Everyone was discussing Mo Yang.
Safiro and Abraham, who sat quietly without much movement, looked over this way. Their eyes held deeper meaning. Mo Yang silently locked eyes with them, the three of them exchanging wordless glances for a long while, finally all averting their gaze simultaneously.
No one noticed the recent exchange among the three. Only Wan Mei’s lips curved slightly, seemingly noticing Mo Yang’s subtle actions. He looked at Mo Yang, “How are they?”
Mo Yang pondered, “Their mental strengths are formidable, probably at level five.”
The mental interaction just now between the three of them allowed Mo Yang to sense some ‘mental emotions’ from the other two. He felt their resistance and skepticism towards the Dream World. Even with Abraham, who maximized the Dream World for escaping the Abyss and striking a deal with demons, their perception of the Dream World might resemble trading for survival.
Because of this thought, Mo Yang felt that maybe, after leaving the game, he could communicate with Safiro and Abraham. This way, in the final battle a month later, his leverage would be even stronger.
It’s not that Mo Yang didn’t believe in the Treefolk Queen and the remnants of planetary consciousness. It’s just that the existence of the Dream World was too powerful. So powerful that he would never believe such an entity could be easily eradicated. Hence, he intended to use all means and methods to destroy it. If one method didn’t work, he’d try another.
No holds barred. That was Mo Yang’s decision.
Wan Mei nodded, then earnestly supported his chin with his hand, continuously scanning Safiro and Abraham in the distance. When his dark eyes fixated on someone, it usually exerted immense pressure. Or rather, it was the look of someone deeply fond of their target.
Mo Yang twitched his mouth.
Safiro and Abraham sensed Wan Mei’s gaze and felt something amiss all over. They glared at Wan Mei with a warning and displeasure, yet the Great Demon King remained unaffected. He continued to stare.
Safiro, Abraham: “…” This feeling was just awful.
With the quiet demonstration from the four people in the largest group, including the newly arrived players and the indigenous inhabitants of the square, everyone sat quietly on the massive plaza. When the last player and the Tree People Clan’s tribal members arrived, the ‘Life Barrier’ that had enveloped the entire central area of the Emerald Forest finally began to shrink.
It contracted rapidly, and people instinctively looked up at the sky, witnessing the once somewhat pale Life Barrier gradually restoring its emerald hue with each reduction. Eventually, this Life Barrier accurately enclosed the entire temple and its surrounding plaza. All other structures within the Emerald Forest were left isolated, including Her Majesty the Queen’s palace.
When a massive meteorite, resembling a truck, crashed down from the sky, piercing through the splendid and vibrant life-filled palace, the Tree People Clan people who were crouching by the life barrier couldn’t help but cry out in sorrow.
“Wuwuwu! Her Majesty’s palace!!” Xiya clung tightly to the barrier, her little face expressing deep sadness, tears streaming down alongside her runny nose.
Then, a gentle female clan member beside her picked Xiya up, wiping away her tears and mucus. Though her own eyes were also reddened, she smiled at Xiya. “It’s okay. To Her Majesty, we are more important than her palace. So, if we are safe and protected, Her Majesty will be happy. As for her palace, after we overcome this disaster together, shall we work unitedly to build an even more beautiful palace for Her Majesty?”
Xiya and the other weeping children nodded firmly. “Yes! We will definitely build the most beautiful palace!”
Afterward, the celestial fire continued to impact the life barrier for a whole day and night.
On the final evening, Mo Yang once again looked up at the life barrier, accompanied by numerous players and members of the Tree People Clan.
Compared to before, when the life barrier started to turn white due to the loss of energy, after the relentless, most intense, and terrifying meteorite bombardment on this last day, fine cracks resembling spider webs appeared on the life barrier.
Everyone’s expression was incredibly tense. Even the youngest children understood that the life barrier was now barely holding on. It was unclear when it might shatter, leaving these incredibly weak beings before nature—subject to the raging fires and parched land—to perish rapidly.
Suddenly, Xis rushed over with an anxious look. Mo Yang stood up instantly. “What’s wrong?”
Xis looked at Mo Yang, tears suddenly streaming down his clear eyes. Mo Yang’s heart shook; he touched the Treefolk Heart within him, which inexplicably felt hot, and gritted his teeth as he rushed towards the temple.
As he left, Mo Yang glanced back at Wan Mei. “If anyone tries to take advantage of the situation or cause trouble now, let them become your dissection subject!”
Wan Mei smirked and suddenly reached out to touch Mo Yang’s face. “To change the course of events, it’s easier for a group than for one or two individuals.”
Mo Yang was momentarily taken aback, then looked at all the players and members of the Tree People Clan on the plaza. Suddenly, as if understanding something, he nodded.
“Wait for me!”
He dashed towards the temple.
Watching him leave, Brooklyn, who had quieted down after being reprimanded, lowered his head and slowly revealed a sinister smile.
When Mo Yang rushed into the temple, indeed, the Treefolk Queen was already standing amidst the three withered life trees. Around her stood the frost-faced Captain of the Guard and the tearful-eyed attendants.
“Your Majesty, let us take over! Each of us can hold on for some time! You’ve sustained the life barrier for so long. If you continue exhausting your strength like this, you’ll truly perish!! Not slumber, but die!!” The Queen’s personal maid cried, repeatedly attempting to rush into the life trees in place of her beloved.
However, the Queen continued to smile gently at them as usual, her regal and captivating beauty undiminished. Only the color drained from her face gradually, turning pale.
Mo Yang gritted his teeth.
He knew all too well that this was just a game.
All the people in the temple were just remnants, even directly fabricated energy data.
But even so, at this moment, he still deeply felt the kind of unbearable pain, sorrow, and a stunning sense of sacrifice.
“Tsk! Even if they are just NPCs, they shouldn’t just die!” Mo Yang took a deep breath, suppressed all other emotions, placed his right hand in front of his chest, and then, to the shock of everyone in the temple, he forcibly pulled out the thriving Treefolk Heart!
Mo Yang rushed to the Queen with the Treefolk Heart in hand. In the Queen’s astonished gaze, he directly tossed this precious treasure of the Tree People Clan into her hands. After the Queen hurriedly caught the Treefolk Heart, he turned and ran outside. “You have more important things to do. It’s just a powerless barrier! It’s just a lack of energy! Don’t rush to die! We have energy too!”
The Treefolk Queen and everyone in the temple were stunned, but soon the Captain of the Guard and Xis reacted. The two exchanged a glance, Xis nodded earnestly, hope shining in his eyes, and followed Mo Yang outside.
When Mo Yang returned to the plaza outside the temple, it had descended into chaos in just over ten minutes—
Surprisingly, it seemed like the four largest groups were entangled in a brawl!
However, after careful observation, Mo Yang confirmed it wasn’t a melee but rather a three-versus-one situation.
Song Kefeng, Abraham, and Saphiro led their players, unilaterally besieging the thousands following Brooklyn. Amidst the crowd, Wan Mei, always overlooked but always visible to Mo Yang, was happily dissecting someone in a corner, identified by Mo Yang’s sight as the mobile equipment rack, Brooklyn.
Mo Yang stood there without expression, not intervening. He just watched as the barrier above grew increasingly fragile. He asked Xis, who had followed him.
“Is there any way to directly inject energy into the barrier?”
Xis’s eyes sparkled with excitement. He looked at Mo Yang and said eagerly, “Prayer!!”
Mo Yang: “…What?” Are you kidding me?
But Xis nodded firmly. “Touch the barrier with both hands and, with the most devout prayer, transmit strength to the barrier!”
Mo Yang twitched his mouth. Ten minutes later, nearly all of Brooklyn’s people had been taken offline. As the remaining three groups seemed poised to continue fighting, Mo Yang, standing on the temple steps, grabbed the motto hanging from his neck.
He cleared his throat.
The next moment, a sacred, epic, stirring melody suddenly resounded within the barrier. Everyone shuddered, turning to look at the man shrouded in a glow of three shades of green.
“Everyone, time is of the essence. Let’s have a transnational and interracial self-rescue!”
Author’s Note –
Mo Yang: “Ummm… the color of this light isn’t quite right. Why is it three shades of green?!”
Mo Yang in the eyes of the Tree People Clan: “Holy Light Envelops!”
Mo Yang in the eyes of the players: “This is a green light canopy!”
Wan Mei: “…” Not my problem.
Wan Mei in the corner: slice slice
Everyone else: “What’s a corner? Never heard of it”
i love how Wan Mei is so unbothered . just focusing on research
let’s not get hung up on the color now dear Heigou ~ hahahahahhaha