[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-monsters-are-coming":3,"chapter-the-monsters-are-coming-monsters-are-coming-chapter-315":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Monsters Are Coming",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2250164,4069,"Chapter 315: The Conditions of the Gold Coin Society","monsters-are-coming-chapter-315",315,"\u003Cp>Cang Star Sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The revived Mingwu Clan, like ferocious beasts ending hibernation, ravenously hungered to devour everything and replenish their own nourishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, thick, ink-like mist surged from the center of Wuyindao, resembling ten thousand giant serpents coiling toward the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wherever it passed, the cloud layer dissolved into gray-white fluff, drifting down in a drizzle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After several days of silence, the Mingwu Clan officially launched a probing raid across the entire Cang Star Sea, seeking to thoroughly understand the current power structure of the region.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For all life forms dwelling in the Cang Star Sea, this was undoubtedly a sudden catastrophe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cold winds howled between the islands, their voices like millions of tormented souls wailing in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the coasts of many islands, the Mingwu Clan’s vanguard forces were landing, slashing their killing blades at everything in sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A small coral reef near Wuyindao collapsed rapidly beneath the Mingwu mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The green vegetation covering the coral reefs withered and shriveled at visible speed; after the bark peeled away, gray-white bony textures were exposed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Killings were also unfolding beneath the sea surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Schools of fish, upon contact with the mist, were devoured by the killing legion emerging from within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sea Anemone Archipelago, thirty nautical miles away, bore the first blow and became the first island to be devoured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even before the mist arrived, the ocean currents around the archipelago had already turned chaotic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The once azure waters grew murky; beneath the surface, massive shadows could be faintly seen gliding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the Mingwu mist touched the outermost reefs, countless figures wielding sharp blades emerged from within the mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They wore semi-transparent scales, their hollow eye sockets flickering with You blue ghostly flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they had lost their former bodies, after centuries of silence, these Mingwu warriors now possessed stronger Corpse-Tongue bodies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The island’s seabirds shrieked in terror, flapping wildly to escape, but their feathers quickly became dusted with gray-white frost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From above, the entire island was losing its color, spreading outward from the point of Mingwu landing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Green plants, monsters, beasts… wherever gray spread, all things withered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the horizon where sea met sky, the mist had formed a colossal wall a kilometer high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The seawater it passed through turned lifeless; even the rise and fall of waves slowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mingwu Clan’s expansion advanced from sea, land, and air simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, on the Dream Island near Caowu Coast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Lan stood on the lookout tower, gazing at the distant No. 2 Dock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The once-bustling dock now seemed soulless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The berths, packed with merchant ships just seventy-two hours ago, now held only a few stranded vessels drifting helplessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most conspicuous was the Ling Dun Clan’s merchant ship, adorned with colorful flags; its gangplank still extended, as crew hurriedly loaded stored goods for emergency evacuation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mingwu Clan’s arrival had made enough noise to reach Dream Island these past days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Merchant caravans from all clans were choosing to flee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some clans opted to temporarily deposit their goods with the Gold Coin Society, betting on the society’s integrity to reclaim these resources in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To A Lan, this was both a crisis and an opportunity for the Gold Coin Society.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If handled well, the society’s reputation among all clans would skyrocket, opening greater avenues for future cooperation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the current problem was how to ensure the Gold Coin Society continued to exist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In just a few days, the Mingwu Clan’s main force would draw near; all facilities on Dream Island might be destroyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Players could respawn, but rebuilding facilities took time, and reassembling alien merchant caravans also took time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most dangerous situation now was not Dream Island itself, but the fact that the Gold Coin Society’s trading clients were being systematically slaughtered by the Mingwu Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feasting on the remains of alien clans was satisfying, but in the long run, it was draining the pond to catch fish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the Mingwu Clan fully controlled the Cang Star Sea, how many clients would remain was unknown—many might flee the Cang Star Sea entirely, seeking refuge in other, relatively safer seas to survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Gold Coin Society’s first crisis was far more severe than anticipated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had imagined his first crisis would come from other seas or airborne raiding forces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They would plunder, then leave when they found nothing valuable on Dream Island.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, the Mingwu Clan had taken root in the Cang Star Sea; future trade could not possibly bypass this dominant clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crushing the Mingwu Clan was utterly impossible with the current strength of the player faction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had inquired about guidance: the Mingwu Clan now had nine Half-God Realm experts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of them was even a Half-Step God Realm entity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Gold Coin Society had gained influence on the forum, but any single Mingwu Clan elder could easily crush the combined forces assembled by the players.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a player, any problem solvable by violence was not a real problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this crisis clearly could not be resolved by direct force—at least not now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To ensure the Gold Coin Society’s continued development, he decided to seek out the Mingwu Clan’s weaknesses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With an idea formed, A Lan chose to self-dissolve on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He returned to the Black Room in the fastest way possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One hour later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Lan’s figure appeared in the library.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using the search function, he located historical records related to the Cang Star Sea and began reviewing them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The library’s greatest advantage, besides its vast archives, was that many historical records were updated in real time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, A Lan found the historical data concerning the Mingwu Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This information was archived in the “Cang Star – Mist Sea Chronicle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the clans players had encountered, the Mingwu Clan was one of the most ancient in the Monster World.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This race rose to prominence roughly after the Ni Chao Army’s era, long after the Four Gods Civil War, the Cataclysm War, and the Age of the Old Gods’ Ascension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Years of war had forced the original dominant power of the Cang Star Sea—the Cang Star Clan—to exit history.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mingwu Clan descended during this chaotic period of warring factions; their enemies included not only a few fallen native powers of the Monster World, but also many other descent factions like themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had arrived at the perfect time; the Mingwu Clan, at their peak, rose swiftly and irresistibly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They soon became a dominant power over two seas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then they pushed toward the third sea—the current Ascension Sea—and clashed with the then-existing “Qing Xiu Clan” in a resource war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This battle marked the Mingwu Clan’s final moment of glory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After winning the war, the Mingwu Clan ascended to the status of Three-Sea Dominant Power, preparing to recover their war strength in seclusion before launching further raids into distant outer seas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was during this phase that the Corpse-Tongue Clan descended and dethroned the Mingwu Clan from their throne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Corpse-Tongue Clan, severely weakened, was then crushed by the Mingwu Clan’s Grand General “Ye Ming,” becoming a relic of history.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The outcome was mutual ruin; both sides withdrew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the Three Seas reentered the era of warring factions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One generation of old rulers gave way to the next; the title of sea dominion changed hands several times, but ultimately returned to chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until the Ascension Clan descended, establishing their territory in the southeast of the Cang Star Sea and driving numerous alien factions into the Cang Star Sea, they began showing signs of challenging for the new Three-Sea Dominance, gradually radiating their power across all three seas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the Ancient God Clan, their development model was essentially similar to that of the Ji Le Lord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They cared little for territorial conquest, focusing instead on using the Ancient God Arena to fuel their own development.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the Ji Le Clan, the Ancient God Clan’s model was more aggressive, requiring frequent clashes with nearby factions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They built arenas to draw strength from the countless powerful lifeforms of the Monster World.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Returning to the present, the sea’s power structure had changed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, each of the Three Seas had a powerful ruler: the Ancient God Clan in the Death Sea, the Ascension Clan and Shu Yan in the Ascension Sea, and the returning force—the Mingwu Clan—in the Cang Star Sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Comparing the historical records, the strongest of these three forces was clearly the Ancient God Clan; the Death Sea was merely one of the Ancient God Clan’s territories in the Monster World.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Death Arena was only one of the three arenas under the Ancient God’s command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The probability of the Mingwu Clan directly challenging the Ancient God Clan after securing the Cang Star Sea was extremely low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the Ancient God Clan had already made preliminary contact with the Mingwu Clan and demonstrated overwhelming strength; the Mingwu Clan’s decision not to pursue was itself a statement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mingwu Clan’s most likely next target would be the Ascension Clan and Shu Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In terms of strength, even combined, Shu Yan and the Ascension Clan might not match the Mingwu Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These two factions would make excellent targets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As A Lan flipped through the library’s books, he discovered that external forces players had encountered followed three primary development models.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first, represented by the Black Black Tide and the Insect Clan, was the devouring and raiding model, gaining nourishment through war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mingwu Clan could also be classified under the raiding development model, but not the first type.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The difference was that the Black Black Tide and Insect Black Tide had no absolute center and no ancestral homeland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like the Black Black Tide God and the Insect Clan’s Supreme Hive Mind, they held a handful of seeds and scattered them across various regions of the Monster World, expanding simultaneously from multiple fronts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Players currently followed this same model.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second model was the “Rule-Based Logic” development model, represented by the Ji Le Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the most distinctive group in the Monster World: they could be like A Le, opening entertainment cities everywhere; or the Fate Clan, seeking out lifeforms to play equivalent-bargain games; or the Ancient God Clan, building arenas; or the Youlu Society, capturing lifeforms to participate in rule-based games.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These factions required fewer resources but depended entirely on other clans of the Monster World.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the Monster World could provide the countless powerful lifeforms they needed to exploit through rule-based logic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The third model’s representative was the Ni Chao Army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They gained rule-energy nourishment through war logic while also rapidly expanding through war-driven resource and territory plundering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Hun Gui Clan was another representative of this model, extracting power through territorial nodes and using war to let their Soul Beasts devour enemy elites, continuously strengthening their own combat power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Cultivation Mode, compared to the first Cultivation Mode, has an absolute central region.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That is, the ancestral lands of each clan, where facing beings far superior, there is a possibility of being completely wiped out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mingwu Clan also follows this type of plunder-and-grow model.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Comparing different development models reveals that the Mingwu Clan’s chosen model has a significant weakness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it lacks strong power, it easily hits a bottleneck during expansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without external resource support, internal development slows dramatically, requiring a shift from external extraction to internal production increase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That is, making the internal cake bigger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like the Ni Chao Legion, which possesses a massive logistics support corps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Farming, cultivation, mining, animal husbandry… all are handled by the logistics corps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mingwu Clan, however, lacks a supporting logistics system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simply put, the Mingwu Clan follows a one-time harvest model.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Take the E Ba, who devours the “Demon Seed” minor worlds, as an example.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The E Ba has no intention of endlessly restarting cycles to continuously squeeze the minor worlds; it only wants to drain them dry at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Theoretically, a minor world itself is a resource capable of continuously yielding rule-derived energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the E Ba has no interest in cultivation, focusing instead on external plunder and expansion in the Monster World.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mingwu Clan is the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Historical records prove that the Mingwu Clan has always chosen the “drain the pond” model: stripping away the accumulated wealth of other clans over long ages, then seeking new targets for plunder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its advantage is rapid expansion like a furious tidal wave, yet it becomes a helpless whirlpool when facing the iron walls of powerful clans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before powerful clans, its momentum is abruptly halted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, A Lan thought this might be a breakthrough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps he could negotiate with the Mingwu Clan, leveraging his own players’ advantages to make the Mingwu Clan a key client of the Jinbi Shanghui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jinbi Shanghui could provide the Mingwu Clan with continuous resource output during periods of developmental setback.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for how to cooperate, A Lan already had a preliminary plan in mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Lan left the library and decided to head straight for Wuyindao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To speak with the Mingwu Emperor or the Mingwu Grand General.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But negotiations require equal power as a foundation; he feared this journey would not proceed smoothly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If successful, the Jinbi Shanghui would not only avoid collapse but might even gain the Mingwu Clan’s protection and expand even more rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before leaving Dizhongcun, A Lan purchased a batch of location-based teleport scrolls at the Qidi Shangcheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The journey from Caiwu Coast to Wuyindao, even with a transport vehicle, takes two days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With location-based teleportation, he could drastically reduce travel time in case of unexpected events.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mingwu Clan’s plunder and expansion continue; he must hurry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three days later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After multiple resurrections and restarts, A Lan finally arrived at Wuyindao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This journey cost him four resurrections to complete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the way, he saw vast, dark Mingwu Legions ravaging the Cangxing Sea region; many islands had already fallen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was merely a Shitanxing  attack by the Mingwu Clan, yet many small factions could not even withstand such Shitanxing  assaults, becoming mere nourishment before the vastly superior Mingwu Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During his journey, all four of his deaths were caused by Mingwu Legion ambushes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, the location-based teleportation spared him from repeating the journey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked up at the island shrouded in black mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The silhouette of Wuyindao flickered faintly through the churning black fog, like a crouching giant beast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the island’s waters, dense ranks of Mingwu Legion warriors formed an iron wall, blocking every passage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their bodies were condensed from thick mist, sometimes dissolving like smoke, sometimes coalescing into form, with hollow eye sockets flickering with pale blue soulfire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sea wind swept over the island, bringing a bone-chilling chill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Lan could hear low moans mixed in the wind, as if the souls of fallen warriors still cried out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the Mingwu Clan’s return, the black mist long lingering over the Death Sea dissipated, yet the Cangxing Sea transformed into a ghost-laden “Minghai.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Directly passing through the Mingwu Legion to reach Wuyindao and meet the Mingwu Emperor was clearly unrealistic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet there was no other way to bypass the stationed Mingwu warriors and enter the island’s interior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Lan’s plan was simple: go straight to their door; if one attempt fails, try again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As A Lan’s figure approached, the stationed Mingwu army stirred, sending out a squad of hundreds to swiftly close in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before A Lan could speak, he was surrounded layer upon layer by Mingwu warriors, their attacks falling like rain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, he was sent back to the Black Room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An hour later, when A Lan’s figure reappeared at the respawn point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately activated the location-based teleport, his form vanishing again in the glow of the scroll. This time, no surprises occurred—the Mingwu Clan still employed their direct-killing strategy toward the sudden appearance of A Lan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even when A Lan shouted that he wished to see the Mingwu Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Negotiations in the Monster World have always been based on equal power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the Mingwu Clan, they did not even care to know why he had come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a world where power reigns supreme, it is this simple and brutal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Resurrection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teleport.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When A Lan’s figure reappeared for the third time on the rocks outside Wuyindao, black mist churned beneath his feet, as if silently mocking the Mingwu Legion’s futile killings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, he did not move a single step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He merely stood still, calmly watching the Mingwu Legion surge toward him like a Black Tide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mist blades pierced through his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, reborn again, teleported.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Same rocks. Same black mist. Same outcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was like a ghost trapped in a temporal rift, endlessly repeating the cycle of death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifth time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tenth time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifteenth time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As A Lan kept appearing, the Mingwu Legion’s attacks grew slower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mist-formed dead soldiers, their hollow eye sockets flickering with soulfire, clearly could not comprehend this living being who kept resurrecting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eighteenth resurrection again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Lan still stood in place, even his posture unchanged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, as the mist blade was about to touch his throat, a low voice echoed from deep within the black fog:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Withdraw.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, the surging black mist halted before A Lan; the Mingwu warriors ceased their assault and instead encircled him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the mist parted like a wave on either side of A Lan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the distant Mingwu platform, the Mingwu Clan elder “Shi Gu” slowly raised his hand, his blood-red eyes fixed on A Lan’s reappearance, his expression unmistakably filled with confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need for mental communication; we can communicate directly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling his spiritual power seeping into his mind, A Lan immediately spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to the Challenge System’s automatic translation function, his words sounded in the Mingwu Clan’s native tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Shi Gu’s pupil flames flared violently:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From our homeland world?” Thoughts surged through Shi Gu’s mind; his killing intent surged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Lan, now understanding why Shi Gu harbored killing intent, immediately explained:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry—I am not from your homeland world, nor have I ever invaded it. Your homeland world is perfectly fine. You may understand this as me possessing a rule-based power that automatically translates all information.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The furious sea wind suddenly calmed; from deep within the fog, Shi Gu swiftly approached A Lan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The word “rule” held immense allure for it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During its exploration of the Monster World, countless opportunities and information remained unbreakable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Mingwu Clan could master this rule, their future path would hold no obscurity; all worldly mysteries could be deciphered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gazing at A Lan, whose eyes showed no fear, Shi Gu formed a plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its first thought was to extract the whereabouts of this rule through cruel mist torture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t even think about it. Since I dared to come, I fear none of your tortures.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You can resurrect—surely that’s also rule-enhanced.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Lan smiled and nodded:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You cannot kill me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recalling the repeated resurrections, Shi Gu circled A Lan in flight, scanning his body with both sight and perception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could not imagine that this frail body was imbued with two Rule Imprints.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shi Gu, thirty-eighth elder of the Mingwu Clan Elder Council. I seek your Mingwu Emperor… or even General Ye Ming will do. In short, I need to speak with your clan’s highest leadership.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the previously unseen A Lan announce his name and know his position within the Mingwu Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Gu’s heart surged with shock and fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is this about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Lan heard him, and smiled as he shook his head:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It would be useless to tell you. In the Mingwu Clan’s power structure, you’re fourth-tier—you have no authority to decide your clan’s future direction.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black mist around Shi Gu suddenly boiled; countless sharp mist spikes crystallized in the air, yet froze mid-explosion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soul-fire in his skull flared violently—he was enraged by A Lan’s blunt contempt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Arrogant!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Gu’s voice carried a hoarse roar:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How dare you, a mere ant, dare to petition His Majesty?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t throw threats around. I came here precisely to meet your Mingwu Emperor. Whether you report me or kill me, it’s your decision. But know this: your actions may shape the Mingwu Clan’s future. Don’t forget—my people also possess Rules. My weakness does not reflect my clan’s strength.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m here to talk because I’m giving your Mingwu Clan a chance,” A Lan said without mercy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a veteran player, he knew full well that in the Monster World, influence isn’t bought with compromise or submission—only strength commands initiative; weakness invites disdain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As A Lan suspected, Shi Gu hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sea surface fell into deathly silence; the black mist encircling the island froze, as if the entire ocean awaited Shi Gu’s decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long while, a voice echoed from within the island:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bring him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three words—and Shi Gu instantly knelt on one knee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Lan’s lips curled slightly. He knew—he had won the gamble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thick black mist surrounding the island suddenly receded like a Black Tide, splitting open a deep passage before A Lan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Gu rose in silence, his swirling murderous mist retracting. His expression held resentment, but he dared not defy further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Follow me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Lan followed without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along both sides of the passage, countless Mingwu soldiers materialized from the mist, kneeling on one knee. This was A Lan’s first clear look at their true forms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, they reached a passage woven from mist, where each step forward rippled with You blue waves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the passage’s end, a throne of black mist floated midair, circled by nine mist-formed monstrous beasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The figure seated upon it slowly lifted its head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>General Ye Ming’s frame was towering, exuding an oppressive aura as if capable of swallowing heaven and earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no physical form—his body was composed of mist and dark matter, clad in armor he had worn in life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their eyes met. A Lan wasted no words, cut straight to the point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He reached into his Spatial Sack and tossed a Life Recovery Potion toward General Ye Ming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Ming caught the vial, gently shook it, watching the clear liquid swirl inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After uncorking it and sniffing, a smile appeared on his Iron Face:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You do have the right to negotiate. Member of the Gold Coin Guild.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, A Lan was startled, then immediately understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In recent days, the Mingwu Clan had slaughtered many races of the Cangxing Sea, and clearly had interacted with other races trading with the Gold Coin Guild.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These races, before their deaths, had been vital sources of intelligence on the Cangxing Sea for the Mingwu Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the Recovery Potion was one of the Gold Coin Guild’s core export products.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He operated it on a scarcity-marketing model: limited, periodic supply to continuously inflate its price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So it was no surprise that Ye Ming, upon seeing the potion, immediately associated it with the Gold Coin Guild.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Ming likely already possessed Recovery Potions looted from other races.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Ming’s fingertip tapped the arm of his throne, his oppressive gaze fixed on A Lan:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I won’t ask how much you produce, or where these pure Life Potions come from. Just deliver the same volume as before—give them all to my clan. In exchange, the Mingwu Clan will permit the Gold Coin Guild to establish trade outposts within our territorial waters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you think I’d agree? Or do you truly believe the Gold Coin Guild fears the Mingwu Clan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You truly can’t kill me?” Ye Ming slowly rose, his killing intent surging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Try?” A Lan raised an eyebrow, his eyes showing no fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a player, the worst outcome was merely the temporary closure of the Gold Coin Guild. His core base remained impregnable—why fear Ye Ming’s threats?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Ye Ming suddenly laughed. All killing intent and oppression vanished like a receding Black Tide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need to test. It seems my clan cannot touch you. Then let’s talk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing Ye Ming had merely been pushing to the limit, A Lan smiled too. This was the true decision-maker of the Mingwu Clan—not some brute who relied only on force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Speak. What do you truly want?” Ye Ming asked with interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Make the Mingwu Clan a trading client of the Gold Coin Guild. Promise never to invade our outposts, personnel, or shipping routes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And what can you offer my clan in return?” Ye Ming’s voice held a hint of amusement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Regular supply of Recovery Potions—but not as gifts. As fair trade. You know this potion heals all wounds, and it will greatly aid your clan’s future development.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our clan also possesses the ability to revive the dead. Healing wounds isn’t as crucial as you imagine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“According to my knowledge, your clan’s Death Speakers require harsh conditions to revive the dead—and the stronger the soul, the longer the dormancy. The Monster World changes daily. Time is a precious resource.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Ye Ming’s pupils contracted sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He suddenly realized this man knew far more about the Mingwu Clan than he’d assumed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He likely possessed some form of analytical or even precognitive ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as this man said, the Mingwu Clan’s revival required time—and to accelerate it, they must consume Rule energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the Recovery Potion’s effect could indeed reduce casualties in future conquests, especially among elite combatants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Ming suddenly felt he was at a disadvantage in this negotiation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he could destroy the Gold Coin Guild, doing so would bring no benefit to the Mingwu Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they chose cooperation, the Gold Coin Guild would become a powerful ally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s not enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Lan understood Ye Ming was already tempted—“not enough” was just a pretext to demand more. Still, he decided to comply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When your Mingwu Clan revives, you’ll surely lack weapons and armor. I can provide those too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What quality of weapons and armor?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good and bad. Your Mingwu warriors’ bodies are made of mist, freely expandable or contractible—perfectly suited to my varied weapon sizes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Free?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Gold Coin Guild sells the same price to outsiders as to the Mingwu Clan. We won’t charge less. Your clan can trade any resource as currency with us. We can even store your resources for you. As long as your Mingwu Clan exists, our stock remains. Even if your clan perishes, any Mingwu members from your homeland who come seeking us can inherit your stored resources…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, A Lan raised his head, locking eyes with Ye Ming through the passage:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Gold Coin Guild guarantees: any resource stored with us is absolutely secure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Arrogant!” Shi Gu suddenly spoke from the side—but before he finished, Ye Ming raised a hand to silence him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re confident. But confidence must rest on strength. What is your confidence built upon? Your frail body?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing the question, A Lan turned to the Guidance Water Sphere beside him and requested to unlock a recorded video.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If not, he’d switch to another plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Guidance responded quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【This is an exception. Deduct 50,000 Sacrificial Power.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After receiving approval, A Lan released a Forum video projection. This time, even non-player Ye Ming could see it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You won’t believe anything I say. Seeing is believing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Ming, puzzled, looked at the screen. When he saw a familiar figure, his expression changed instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The video showed the final high-stakes gamble between Eat Dirt and the Fate Merchant’s Ming Hou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the end, the Fate Merchant withdrew, and scornful voices echoed through the storm:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Rule is broken. The contract is null… shameful!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After watching, Ye Ming suddenly understood what this Gold Coin Guild man meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was saying: even the Fate Clan couldn’t take what the Player Clan possessed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew the Fate Merchant well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his own past, his comeback had hinged on his dealings with the Fate Merchant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, this man knew even about Ye Ming’s past gambits with the Fate Merchant—his intelligence network was unfathomable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Monster World has countless abilities. I’ve encountered dozens of races capable of creating mental illusions. This proves nothing,” Ye Ming shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My terms are laid out. Whether you accept is your choice. So—will you become the Gold Coin Guild’s friend, or its enemy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Ming fell silent for a long while. The black mist swirling around him gradually stilled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The helmet on his head dissolved, revealing a pale Iron Face. After staring at A Lan for a long moment, he suddenly smiled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine. The Mingwu Clan accepts trade relations with the Gold Coin Guild.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Gu shot up, his blood-red eyes filled with disbelief. He had never imagined General Ye Ming would so readily accept an outsider’s terms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Lan’s lips curled slightly. He wasn’t surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew—men like Ye Ming understood the art of weighing costs and benefits best.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike other Mingwu Clan warriors, Ye Ming had once crossed the Cangxing Sea and embarked on a long exploration journey across the Pale Continent region.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During this time, Ye Ming witnessed countless tribes, each with distinct styles and unique abilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, he naturally understood what the Gold Coin Society as a resource conversion channel truly meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A wise choice. Since the trade relationship is already established, I have another request.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Lan had another idea in mind for this visit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That is, to protect the other trading clients of the Gold Coin Society. Relying solely on the Mingwu Clan as a future customer won’t do—other trading clients are the very foundation of the Gold Coin Society’s growth and an invisible force of promotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Speak,” Ye Ming nodded, signaling A Lan to continue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I hope the Mingwu Clan will cease plundering and killing in the Cangxing Sea.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t go too far. Without plunder, where do you get resources?” Before Ye Ming could speak, Shi Gu bone coldly interjected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",4942,"2026-06-19T09:20:37.851Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","148f6a8fa882d270fc1f404ac05dd6af71f91611a4faffbe8cb39ab5a1482c6b","monsters-are-coming-chapter-316","monsters-are-coming-chapter-314",393,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmonsters-are-coming-cover.jpg"]