Chapter 248: Pioneer, the Emperor

There's nothing much to say about what follows.

After the Emperor appeared, all attention at the scene focused on him, and the authority to issue orders automatically and unhesitatingly shifted to his hands.

Already reluctant to have too much interaction with these lower‑tier forces, the Emperor, upon entering, didn't even sip tea, and immediately ordered everyone to use Yinxiang Incense to teleport to the previously marked location.

With Dong Can smiling beside him, handing out the Yinxiang Incense obtained from Chen Shicheng one by one, the Proud Sun Guild was soon shrouded in black mist, like the underworld in the living world.

When the stars shifted and these people reappeared, their nostrils were already filled with the salty scent of the sea.

Dong Can glanced left and right, only to find that something seemed off about the scene.

He had already seen the three targets in reality, so he recognized them instantly, but the masked person beside them was a first.

But barring any mishap, this person should be the legendary Zi Shu.

He didn't expect the person to arrive so quickly; it seemed they also coveted the Token Fragment on the targets.

But the Pioneer's Emperor has already arrived; even the Heavenly King himself would be useless!

He wondered what was up with his own troops—why were they sitting obediently on the side like frost‑beaten eggplants? And what species was that golden gorilla standing before them, looking so imposing? He calmly walked to the Emperor's side and, with a flattering smile, said, "My men have already secured the situation; would you like to summon them for questioning?"

Upon hearing that, members of the other guilds all stared at Dong Can in surprise.

No wonder he's the strongest among all present forces; that sheer nerve makes everyone willingly concede.

"What the hell, he says he's controlled the situation? Isn't he the one being controlled!" The Emperor's mouth twitched a few times, suppressing the urge to scoff, and shifted his gaze to the masked individual.

When they teleported over, the three's bodies were noticeably stiff, their breaths erratic, whereas the masked one remained completely relaxed, glancing once before looking away.

Clearly, either he's supremely confident in his strength, or his audacity has turned him into a simpleton.

He solemnly sensed the opponent's aura and discovered that the True Essence fluctuation on the target was only at the Golden Core Stage, and in intensity it didn't even reach the peak of that stage—roughly around level 20.

"So this is the so‑called Zi Shu? Nonsense." The Emperor sneered, his tone dripping with contempt.

The others present, each proficient in appraisal Skill, also used their Skill on the legendary tide‑turning Zi Shu, and one by one they, like the Emperor, wore looks of disdain.

It isn't arrogance; as mid‑tier guild members, their strength isn't top‑tier worldwide or even in Huaxia, but at least they're all above level 20, a few even reaching the level‑25 peak of the Golden Core Stage, awaiting Attribute fulfillment to ascend directly to the Zifu Realm.

Thus, seeing Zi Shu at only about level 20, everyone thought the hype was unfounded and that the reports had exaggerated him.

Perhaps the nation merely wants to set an example, encouraging the three‑player team to make more contributions.

The Emperor, uninterested in further entanglement with a player whose reputation doesn't match their ability, led his retinue to Shuigu Tang and said, "Since you're all here, it's perfect. I am the Pioneer Huaxia Director, the Emperor. Hand over the items. As compensation, I can let you join a Pioneer subsidiary guild."

"I really envy you; a mere Token Fragment lets you join the Pioneer's subsidiary guild." "Isn't that right? President Dong has toiled for over half a year to finally see that sliver of hope."

"Don't be ungrateful; you should know that—."

The others, hearing that, burst into a cacophony of laughing chatter.

But as Dong Can swept his gaze around, the chatter quickly fell silent for the most part.

The Proud Sun Guild has already registered with the Pioneer, showing faint signs of rise; with just a speck of the Pioneer's leaked influence they can feast, and it's said they now hope to attract second‑tier force capital.

They still don't know what kind of bad luck they've drawn, yet the Emperor showed up in person, essentially catching the big boss's eye, and their future development will accelerate dramatically.

Under these conditions, Dong Can's deterrence will be far stronger than the previous indecisive state; within two years the Proud Sun Guild might even ascend to first‑tier status and step onto the world stage.

"Hah, a beggar still needs some skill to earn money; you think you'll get a payoff just by reaching out?"

Shuigu Tang, taking a reckless stance, thought since Chen Shicheng was stirring trouble, they'd join in; after all they're all grasshoppers on the same rope. "What's up, you're a streamer? I'm not your family; go back and fool around, damn it!"

The Emperor's face hardened, his gaze instantly turned cold, and murderous intent began to spread.

It was unclear whether the Emperor's cultivation method was flawed or his Skill was unique, but as murderous intent surged, the air temperature dropped immediately.

Just as Chen Shicheng wielded the Taiyin Cold Ice Curse, the ground became covered in Frost, shards of ice crystals fell from the sky, enveloping Shuigu Tang and the other two, along with Chen Shicheng, in a sheath of sharp sword‑qi.

A kill‑move strike! Shuigu Tang's body stiffened as she tried to resist, but before she knew it, her True Essence was also frozen, the murky flow in her meridians delayed the Skill's activation by a heartbeat.

In that brief gap, the ice‑crystal sword‑qi brushed her body, causing her to shiver involuntarily.

Just as she thought she was about to die, the others, feeling they were using a butcher's knife on a pig, suddenly sensed something was off.

When the ice‑crystal sword‑qi descended to a certain height above their heads, it burst into specks of shattered ice, the embedded sword‑qi mysteriously dissipated, and after landing on Shuigu Tang it melted into fine droplets.

The cold sensation made Shuigu Tang's eyes brighten; she turned to look at Chen Shicheng, who had remained silent all along.

Sure enough, the man wearing the Evil Ghost Mask rose gently, his demeanor growing ever calmer as he stepped past her and stopped a short distance in front of the Emperor.

The Emperor glanced sideways, his complexion growing even colder; a ordinary player of about level 20 was obstinately blocking his way, as if thinking that having brushed off his casual attack gave him the right to be so brazen?

Chen Shicheng stood firm before the self‑proclaimed Pioneer Huaxia Director, the Emperor.

He quietly stared at the player who showed no hint of murderous intent, yet seemed to be questioning everyone present, his tone utterly flat.

"Was what she said just now wrong?" (End of chapter)