Chapter 657: Meeting

Rod raised an eyebrow.

The superstar Lyla Starwhisper?

How did she get in? And she even saw through my Disguise Domain.

Rod looked at the panel.

【Domain Collision Judgment Triggered!】

【Disguise Domain · Basic (Rod): 59】

【?? Domain · Eye of the Sky (Kraft Starwhisper): 91】

【Result: Failure!】

"Oh."

As a superstar, Lyla Starwhisper attracted much attention, and privacy breaches were not uncommon.

Among them, it was exposed that she was the daughter of the veteran ninth-rank powerhouse, the Lord of Yunzhi City.

Kraft Starwhisper.

That was the name of the Lord of Yunzhi City.

One could only say, as expected of a veteran ninth-ranker, the intensity directly blew up Rod's Disguise Domain.

The 【Treasure Preference】 on the panel had successfully activated; seven or eight threads representing treasure-level items extended from various parts of the superstar's body.

The four of them collided almost in an instant.

Before Rod could even see clearly which treasures they were.

Medlin's face suddenly turned deathly pale with panic, and she quickly pointed her staff at Rod.

"Haley, run!"

The 【Magic Seal Orb】, consuming a mana web spell slot, was cast instantly; blue mana crashed before Rod and exploded, expanding into a spherical field that directly trapped him.

"?"

The blue spherical field released arcs of electricity inward toward Rod; crackling and popping, they illuminated his face pale.

"Medlin! What are you doing? Something's wrong with the maze!" Haley shouted angrily.

"Nonsense! Of course I know something's wrong with the maze! Can't you see I'm saving you?!"

Lyla Starwhisper hesitated for a moment, then patted the Star Spirit Mage beside her: "Sister Medlin, that's true."

Medlin froze for a second, looked over with her remaining right eye, and squinted to focus.

One or two seconds later, she angrily slapped her own head hard and immediately canceled the spell.

"Sorry, we encountered something extraordinary, and thus mistook you."

Saying this.

Only then did she notice the ground around them littered with black moon-shadowed severed limbs and broken bodies.

Half-skeletons stuck upright in the soil, great cleavers split into trees, and tattered, exposed internal organs scattered on the ground like scrap.

The pungent smell of scorched and rotting shadow miasma mixed together; a cold wind swept past, swirling up ash and shards of ice, shrouded in mist before the pale moon could even shine on them, appearing and disappearing faintly.

Shock flashed through Medlin's eyes, but she quickly rationalized it.

"Oh, you encountered them too, but your shadow's strength is obviously inferior to the original, unlike what we encountered."

She looked with a grim face at the human man brushing black ash from his shoulder.

That fellow looked helplessly at Lyla Starwhisper; the superstar guiltily raised her eyes and smiled ingratiatingly, like a little girl who had made a mistake.

Haley was terrified: "You encountered his clone, and you still survived?"

"You encountered them too? But unlike these fake versions you dealt with, that guy's clone was probably selected by the maze rules to become a gathering place for power, his strength far exceeding normal people... if not for Lord Motas stopping him."

Saying this, Medlin also looked terrified.

But Haley was confused: "What are you talking about? The ones here are all solid, comparable to the original in strength; if not for Rod..."

"Alright, alright, now is not the time for Yao Gong or putting on airs; we should think about how to save ourselves."

Seeing this old opponent wave her hand.

Haley finally understood.

— She had seen Rod's clone but mistakenly believed that his excessively powerful strength was due to the maze rules' favor.

"..."

Rod still couldn't help but tug on Lyla Starwhisper's elf ears, his face showing some impatience.

"I told you to behave."

Lyla cried out in pain with a delicate voice, stepped back, and revealed a flattering smile: "I was just strolling and accidentally wandered in."

"What nonsense? Your agent has now reported to Coral Bay; they are secretly looking for you, you know? Do you know how much manpower and resources it costs?"

"Ah, I, I will compensate you then..."

Rod's face immediately softened: "You said it."

Money is scarce when needed.

Everything is hard at the beginning; the reconstruction of Coral Bay has barely lasted two months; profit is impossible to achieve so quickly; long-term projects must be sustained.

This concert actually somewhat alleviated our financial situation.

The superstar froze for a moment and glared at him, puffed up with anger.

But Rod ignored her.

He notified the Arachne Elf Watching Yuna on the 【Chain of Far Speech】 about the location of the Cloud Elves.

Watching Yuna's voice in the call sighed with relief, but obviously hesitated to speak about the two's location and relationship, and withdrew from the contact with a bitter tone.

"Lyla Starwhisper?!"

Haley on the side exclaimed, "Rod, you brought her in?"

"How is that possible? This guy came in on his own. Heaven knows what treasure she used."

Layla · Star-Tongue's eyes sparkled with starlight as she excitedly jumped in front of Hayli:

"Miss Hayli? Are you the target of Lord Wang Zuo's conquest this time? Eee~~~ You each have your own Nu Yi Ke Yin on you! How romantic—"

Inspiration surged within his mind once more.

The frantic whispers of the Wang Zuo of Silence were instantly drowned out by the mental images of Wang Zuo and Hayli, like a neglected concubine who had lost the favor competition, letting out a mournful wail before gradually fading away.

Hayli stiffened slightly: "What do you mean I'm his conquest target? We have a cooperative relationship!"

"Eee~~ What a cute expression, all shy and bashful~~"

"You—"

"Then Miss Hayli, what is it about Wang Zuo that moved you?"

"He didn't move me at all."

"So you mean to say Wang Zuo is completely useless and has absolutely no way of moving a girl?"

"I never said that."

Hayli shot Wang Zuo a glance in the air, signaling him to take the cloud sprite in front of him away.

Wang Zuo smiled and ignored it, watching with great interest.

The Star Spirit Young Lady immediately flared up, glaring at him viciously.

"Wang Zuo is at least a decent man. Isn't there a single thing about him that you find appealing?"

"His body is warm, alright? Anyone's body is warm."

Hayli didn't want to say too many good things about Wang Zuo, lest she make it seem like she had feelings for him.

So she casually mentioned one.

However, Layla · Star-Tongue was unreasonably sharp.

She scanned the surrounding brutal battlefield, and a scene of two people fighting back-to-back to the death, finally embracing each other for warmth when exhausted, flashed through her mind.

She excitedly shouted: "He hugged you?"

"Wh-what are you—mmph—"

Medlin also looked over, frowning as she sized up Wang Zuo and Hayli.

". Can we talk about something serious? We're still trapped here."

"Exactly, exactly."

Hayli hurriedly agreed, coming to Medlin's side.

Layla · Star-Tongue, meanwhile, was grabbed by the collar by Wang Zuo and pulled away lightly, like a little kitten.

After the brief interlude of reuniting.

Both sides exchanged their respective information.

The Hall of Moon-Gazing, the Wang Zuo of Silence, and the most dangerous Moon Shadow Replica.

Medlin held the Memory Transfer Stone, thinking the Returning Prophet would come seeking reinforcements, and suggested they all hole up to avoid being killed by the labyrinth monster in Wang Zuo's form.

As for Wang Zuo, he would definitely save himself, as he had told Hayli before.

Hayli had infinite confidence in Wang Zuo and expressed her support.

Layla · Star-Tongue had no objections; wherever Wang Zuo went, she went.

After a brief discussion, Medlin had to frown and admit the importance of acting as a group.

The self-rescue plan passed by a vote of three to one.

(End of this chapter)