Chapter 365: Please Enter the Jar, Pay Your Taxes! (Begging for Monthly Passes)

Outside the Artifact Clan's territory, beyond the Artifact Valley.

The setting sun dyed Mirror Moon Lake into a pool of golden amber; Yang Xiu sat on a green stone by the lakeshore, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the water's surface, the ripples shattering the sunset glow on the lake.

You Ying hovered beside him, the blue-purple sword light softened by the twilight, listening patiently to Yang Xiu's tale.

At this moment, Yang Xiu had already immersed himself in the character story he had woven.

His voice in the telling was hoarse, his gaze fixed on the swaying moon reflection in the lake center, as if seeing his own "tragic" past through the lake mirror.

"So you come from a clan named the Moon Shadow Clan?"

Hearing this, a trace of nostalgia surfaced in Yang Xiu's eyes, as if awakened by past beauty:

"We lived in treehouses in the Misty Hidden Forest; every morning we could hear the elders playing the wooden leaf flute, children chasing the glowing butterflies in the woods, the clan hunters never took too much, and every time they returned from the hunt, they would give the fattest meat to the old and weak..."

Speaking here, he suddenly clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white, his voice beginning to tremble:

"Until three months ago, an evil force descended."

"A pitch-black Gao Ta rose from our territory, the sky shrouded by a blood-red waning moon, countless evil creatures falling like raindrops amidst the surging black mist."

"Things born in the black mist rushed into the forest like madmen; the crackling sound of treehouses being knocked down, the crying of children everywhere, the elder detonated himself to protect us, covering our retreat... I still cannot forget it."

He lowered his head, his shoulders shaking violently:

"The clan leader had us young ones split into twelve groups, taking the children and leaving first, saying we would gather in the Di Zhong Mountain Range region to the east; we ran and ran, ran into a miasma forest, and when we looked back... fewer and fewer people were beside us, until only I remained; I failed to protect them."

The lake wind carried Yang Xiu's sobbing, causing the blue-purple halo on You Ying's sword body to fluctuate slightly.

Yang Xiu raised his head, his eyes red, yet containing no tears, only a vast, dried-up despair:

"I once told the children we would rebuild our home, promised to roast the most fragrant beast meat for them, but now... they are all gone."

Having spoken, his voice suddenly choked.

As if strangled by an invisible hand, he suddenly wiped his face with the back of his hand, yet not a single tear was wiped out.

But this dried-up despair made You Ying feel more pleased than a crying fit with tears streaming down.

Perhaps he had long since cried his tears dry.

Yang Xiu also slowly curled his body up at this time, his back pressing against the cold green stone, as if that could ward off those bone-devouring memories:

"I even dare not go to the Di Zhong Mountain Range... I fear seeing the empty valleys, and even more, I fear how I would explain myself when I meet them."

The lake wind lifted Yang Xiu's tattered robes and the black cloth clothes beneath, revealing abrasions deliberately rubbed onto his arms, glowing a vicious red in the setting sun.

He kept his head down like that, shoulders shaking, as if even his breath carried a broken tremor, as if he would be completely torn apart by memories in the next second.

Seeing this scene, You Ying was immensely satisfied with this new host's reaction.

It had even thought of a good plan.

At this moment, though the creature before it felt despair, it was like a stagnant pool, lacking the waves that could be repeatedly stirred.

If it wanted him to completely become fodder for producing negative emotions, it must first throw a stone of "hope" into this stagnant pool.

It might as well follow what he said and make a trip to the so-called Di Zhong Mountain Range.

If no clan members came to meet him, proving the clan's destruction, it would inevitably intensify his disappointment and despair.

But it hoped even more that Yang Xiu would reunite with his clan members at the agreed location.

When Yang Xiu was immersed in the joy of regaining what was lost, it would then quietly make its move.

Using the "Heart-Bewitching Curse" of the Evil Sword lineage to corrupt the minds of the clan members reuniting with Yang Xiu, making them blame and scold Yang Xiu.

Telling Yang Xiu that if he had not panicked and chosen the wrong path, how could the children have fallen into the miasma forest.

Accusing Yang Xiu of being a coward.

This way, it would see Yang Xiu fall from the joy of reunion, pierced all over by the resentment of his former clan members.

The warmth of reunion would also, at this stage, be gnawed into cold regret by guilt, bit by bit.

Just doing this, however, is not enough.

It must make those bewitched clan members press relentlessly, poking his deepest scars with the most vicious words, and when he is forced into a corner with no retreat, then quietly trigger the suppressed despair within him, turning it into out-of-control murderous rage.

Then, seizing this opportunity, manipulate him into using itself to personally slaughter the clan members accusing him.

During this period, it would lend Yang Xiu power sufficient to slaughter the entire clan.

Before the last person fell and the final sword strike landed, it would release the "Heart-Bewitching Curse."

Letting him see the instant the last surviving clan member died miserably, blood splashing onto his face, letting him witness with his own eyes the terrified and despairing gaze of the last clan member.

Preferably, let them cry out and beg for mercy to him.

This sword strike it would absolutely not let him hold back; it must fall fiercely amidst despair.

At that time, Yang Xiu would surely completely collapse.

You Ying imagined the scene of Yang Xiu kneeling in a pool of blood, weeping bitterly, its excited sword body trembling slightly.

But the woven plot was not yet finished here.

It would, when Yang Xiu thought there was no way to salvage the situation, gently tell him there was still a chance to start over.

The Mi Fa it mastered could resurrect the people he had just killed.

Once he ignited the last shred of hope and tried his utmost to follow this method, this stage would allow it to make him continuously cultivate the Evil Sword Secret Manual, nurturing negative emotions amidst extreme pain.

Until squeezing out the last shred of value, only then would it tell him the truth.

When hope shattered again, the final pain would be enough to plunge him into endless darkness.

Thus repeatedly pulling and tugging, making Yang Xiu bounce back and forth between hope and despair, letting him personally destroy everything he cherished until it was completely gone.

The negative emotions drawn out at that time would be sufficiently mellow and sweet.

At this stage, this new host would inevitably have his will shattered, completely losing the value of continuing the game.

You Ying's sword body trembled slightly, emitting a barely audible hum, feeling very satisfied with the perfect plan it had imagined.

The blue-purple sword light gently fell on Yang Xiu's head at this moment, carrying a hint of deliberately released warmth:

"Do not blame yourself."

"In the face of a clan-destroying calamity, individual power is inherently insignificant; that you survived is already remarkable."

"Rather than trapping yourself in painful memories, it is better to confront the fear in your heart."

You Ying's voice was so gentle it seemed capable of wrapping around the sharpest despair:

"Even if the outcome is as you fear, at least it will offer solace to those departed clansmen and bring closure to yourself... If you trust me, come with me to the agreed location. Perhaps... fate will give you an answer, perhaps there is still a chance for reunion."

"Really... is it possible?" Yang Xiu suddenly raised his head, a faint yet burning light bursting in his eyes, like a dying ember ignited by the wind, but that light soon dimmed again.

"But I am such a waste, unable to even protect the children; how can I face them?"

He lowered his head, the self-loathing in his voice almost overflowing, etching the image of "a glimmer of hope hidden within despair" into You Ying's perception.

You Ying sneered inwardly, yet outwardly displayed even more compassion:

"All lost souls can be redeemed; moreover, the situation at that time was beyond your power to reverse. If you truly meet your clansmen, they will forgive you."

Yang Xiu said nothing; the evening wind blew his disheveled hair, and his gaze grew increasingly lost, as if plunged into deep thought.

Subsequently, color gradually returned to his eyes, and his gaze slowly found focus.

At this moment, Yang Xiu's livestream room had already exploded.

"This gave me goosebumps; the shift in his expression was absolutely incredible, from rapidly dimming to rekindling from ashes, every step perfectly timed. This is award-winning actor-level detail."

"Bro, you are wasting your talent on the Pet Flow; I hope a Painful Painful Minghun that gains rule energy through acting is released in the future; that is your true destiny."

"I recorded it; the tone in the self-loathing segment was perfectly handled. That feeling of wanting to grasp hope while feeling unworthy made me want to applaud. This scene must be recorded in the history of glory; I suggest applying directly to the Star Web for the Best Performance Award in the gaming industry."

"From body language to micro-expressions, it is all acting. With this acting skill, not only You Ying, but even the leader of the Evil Sword Sect could take the bait on the spot. Too impressive; no wonder the brothers nominated you to pave the way. You are truly awesome."

At this moment, Yang Xiu suppressed the joy in his heart.

The big fat fish has now deeply taken the bait.

All the groundwork laid in the early stages was to tell You Ying one thing: he still has his clansmen.

Before coming, he had checked a lot of information about the Artifact Clan.

He discovered that the Artifact Clan loves to do one thing: give the host hope, then let the host destroy that hope with their own hands.

Therefore, the fact that the clansmen are still alive is a very good hook.

From the "twelve refugee groups" to "meeting at the agreed location," every detail seemed casually revealed, yet each precisely targeted the hunting preferences of the Evil Sword Clan.

He even calculated that You Ying would proactively suggest traveling together.

Directly asking You Ying to follow him to meet his clansmen would be the most inappropriate approach, and might even arouse You Ying's suspicion.

As a hunter, the best hunting method is: cast the bait.

Then let You Ying take the bait proactively.

Now, the plan has succeeded.

You Ying clearly, just like the Overlord Sword back then, wants to follow this plot of repeatedly pulling between despair and hope.

Next, having You Ying follow him to the Di Zhong Mountain Range would be a natural progression.

This was an idea You Ying proposed himself; he didn't ask for anything.

Thinking of this, he slowly raised his head.

"You... are you really willing to accompany me?"

Yang Xiu's voice still carried hesitation, the faint light in his eyes brightened a bit more, yet it remained wrapped in thick cowardice:

"But the Di Zhong Mountain Range is very far from here..."

These words seemed to worry about the road ahead, but were actually offering You Ying an even smoother stepping stone.

Although there is a spatial teleportation array nearby.

But it is best not to expose that thing; frankly speaking, going via a teleportation array would be too fake.

The Artifact Clan already possesses the ability to tear space; it is better to let them proactively carry him there.

At this moment, the more hesitant he appears, the more fear of the unknown he shows, the more excited You Ying will become.

He just wanted to give You Ying the illusion of controlling everything.

Sure enough, You Ying's affirmative answer rang in his mind:

"With me here, what is there to fear on the road ahead?"

It deliberately emphasized its tone, carrying a degree of unquestionable certainty:

"Even if it is a mountain of blades and a sea of fire, I can cleave a path for you."

Upon finishing, blue-purple sword light suddenly surged, drawing a brilliant arc of light in the night sky gradually enveloping the earth, vibrating the air with a humming sound.

Yang Xiu looked up at the blue-purple halo, slowly lowered his head, and said, "Thank you."

Strands of hair fell, covering his eyebrows and eyes.

The prey has already jumped into the trap; next is the time to draw the net, but he will leave this timing to You Ying.

Just as he predicted, You Ying proactively asked:

"Do you remember the spatial coordinates of the agreed location, or the path on how to get there?"

Yang Xiu's eyes narrowed, as if trying hard to recall.

Only after a moment did he raise his head and speak the specific coordinates of the teleportation point in the Di Zhong Mountain Range.

Just as Yang Xiu finished speaking, the brothers in the livestream room began to rub their fists in anticipation.

Near the teleportation point in the Di Zhong Mountain Range, Pet Flow players continuously summoned various types of monsters; meanwhile, teammates of Pet Flow players held potions, ready to apply buffs at any moment to welcome the fierce battle.

During this time, some players posted the recorded livestream content on the forum, attracting more non-Pet Flow players to join the fun.

Everything was ready; a net of heaven and earth had been set up near the newly constructed teleportation point in the Di Zhong Mountain Range.

Even to prevent You Ying from tearing through the sky and leaving after arriving, Yang Xiu's friends and family group even purchased three special crystals capable of stabilizing space.

The goal was to completely cut off You Ying's retreat.

Time passed in waiting; the livestream footage showed Yang Xiu following You Ying to tear open a spatial rift.

Seeing the spatial leap ability that You Ying had mastered, the players in the livestream chat were instantly overcome with envy.

In fact, the combat power of top-tier players today was entirely capable of tearing through space and executing a leap.

But the problem was that this required spending a tremendous amount of time and effort to learn.

The threshold was terrifyingly high.

First, one had to thoroughly master the foundational theory of space.

Just as a carpenter had to first understand the grain of the wood, before tearing space one had to precisely sense the spatial density, node distribution, and even the influence of air currents on spatial stability of the current region.

This single step alone required years of dedicated study and exploration, committing every spatial parameter to memory.

One also had to repeatedly verify it in practice; the slightest deviation and what tore open might not be a passage but a spatial turbulence capable of devouring everything.

Next came the control over the release of spatial power.

The combat power of top-tier players might be enough to rip open space, but the hard part was doing it with just the right measure.

Just like using a knife to slit paper — too light and it won't cut through, too heavy and it tears into shreds.

Spatial leaps demanded that the torn rift's force be controlled with precision; otherwise, if the gap torn was too large and lacked the protection of a spatial barrier, one could easily be sucked away into the void.

This, too, required years of training.

There were still many other areas of knowledge that needed to be understood.

The vast majority of players simply couldn't settle their minds enough to spend years studying and researching.

Though one could accelerate the pace of learning through "Brain Overclocking."

The problem was that if all evolution points were allocated to Brain Overclocking, one's own strength would be insufficient to tear space; furthermore, learning assisted by Brain Overclocking still required a considerable amount of time and effort.

Yet the Artifact race, and other races, traveled long distances in Monster World.

Spatial knowledge was a hard necessity.

Not long after they were born, they would study the relevant spatial theory, and only after their strength was sufficient to master it would they enter practical testing.

It could be said that throughout their growth, their spatial arts were constantly being refined.

The oldest batch of players had only been in the game a little over two years, and in terms of pure spatial technique, they were simply not on the same level as the other factions.

And in the players' eyes, there was one super shortcut to solving this problem.

They were waiting for the day when the Qidie would be contained, and all problems would be solved at once.

Even without the Qidie, there might still be other Meng Yuan Chu who mastered spatial abilities, allowing players to directly wield the power of spatial leaps.

While waiting, the sky suddenly rippled like water, spreading at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Then, a twisted, wavering black line rapidly snaked through the air.

Blue-purple sword light was the first to pierce through space, and You Ying's figure, wrapped together with Yang Xiu, emerged from the distorted spatial rift.

But upon seeing the scene before her, the sapphire on You Ying's sword guard suddenly erupted with ghostly light.

She suddenly sensed that something was wrong.