The third-floor Boss offered three choices, but Bai Ye's target was already set.
The owner of the Demon Tower, the great demon from the Hundred Demons Night Parade—Hi no Shizuku!
The reason?
What more reason is needed?
Hi no Shizuku, anyone with half a brain would know it's a fire-attribute Boss. Bai Ye facing Hi no Shizuku wouldn't even need to activate his domain to trigger the Phoenix's Rebirth.
While the Rumble-Rumble Fruit's ability was Bai Ye's main combat power, the Phoenix ability, after reaching golden quality, was actually stronger than the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
The reason was simple: the Rumble-Rumble Fruit's mastery was only half-complete.
Therefore, when he could trigger Phoenix's Rebirth, Bai Ye was actually more formidable.
Unsurprisingly, Hi no Shizuku was no match for Bai Ye.
It was a tragedy for a fire-attribute Boss to face Bai Ye. Bai Ye could ignore all flame damage and, at the same time, strengthen himself with the opponent's flames.
What could be done?
Nothing but accept it!
Gao Ming, however, felt a surge of anticipation. If the third-floor Boss was dealt with so easily, what about the fourth floor?
Bai Ye glanced at Gao Ming and said, "The fourth-floor Boss, I can indeed kill it, but the fourth floor has a chance to drop golden-quality items. Pay attention to the word 'chance'."
Bai Ye could help, but he wouldn't do charity work.
Did Bai Ye have to collect items too?
Then what was the point of Bai Ye bringing over a dozen hangers-on?
Secondly, 'items' was also a keyword. If the sole purpose was golden-quality items, the fourth floor was the most lackluster. As for items, those who understand, understand. Whether they are useful or not is debatable, but most are consumables, and their value isn't that great.
When should one go to the fourth floor?
It should be when collecting items. For example, Bai Ye might go for the Two-Yin Wheel, but the fourth floor has a chance to produce golden-quality items.
Wasn't Bai Ye's gacha machine giving him a golden item once a day, which was much more appealing?
Bai Ye said, "Furthermore, do you think the Hidden Dragon Association would abandon this restricted zone? I can't protect you forever, can I?"
Gao Ming sighed, "Alright!"
Bai Ye was very glad he hadn't impulsively joined the Evil Spirit Group, otherwise, wouldn't he have become an overworked employee?
Gao Ming said, "You pick, what do you want."
Bai Ye said, "Hi no Shizuku."
The Hi no Shizuku Bai Ye mentioned wasn't the Boss, but an item.
Hi no Shizuku (Item) (Red): Increases the effect of fire-attribute abilities by 10%, increases the speed of condensing flames when a fire-attribute attack gathers flames by 10%, and increases the trigger probability of the burn effect by 10%.
This wasn't a consumable but a passive item. Bai Ye didn't need to do anything; he just needed to keep it in his inventory for it to take effect.
The effect itself was average, a mid-to-low tier enhancement for a red-quality item, but it was nice not having to manage it. He decisively took it.
Gao Ming nodded, handed the item to Bai Ye, then distributed the remaining items and chose to leave the virtual game restricted zone.
As he took off the game helmet, Gao Ming couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion.
The problem that had troubled him for two to three days was solved by Bai Ye in one day, and it hadn't even been twenty-four hours in total.
This stirred a ripple in Gao Ming's heart.
Reform was necessary!
The Evil Spirit Group's development was indeed rapid, but everything was too ethereal, a fleeting moment.
The current Evil Spirit Group seemed crazy, but having a large number of people was useless. It was like a pyramid; you couldn't expect everyone to stand at the top.
The foundation at the bottom was essential, but what was the point of just a foundation without a cap? xxs壹贰
A pyramid without a peak?
Isn't that like instant noodles without the seasoning packet?
It lacked any soul.
Even worse, if it only had the seasoning packet? That would be utterly useless.
Bai Ye was unaware of Gao Ming's extensive internal monologue, but this was good news. While the Evil Spirit Group appeared glorious, compared to the Hidden Dragon Association, it had little competitiveness.
"By the way," Bai Ye said, "are you still keeping an eye on Liu Shiyue?"
Gao Ming replied, "Yes, he's gone out to sea."
Bai Ye asked, "The specific sea area?"
Gao Ming said, "That's a bit difficult. It's the vast ocean, how can we track him? We don't have any moles near Liu Shiyue."
Bai Ye mused, "So there are moles within the Hidden Dragon Association?"
Gao Ming chuckled. As close as they were, this was not something to be spoken of carelessly.
Bai Ye said, "If you don't know, then you don't know. Can you give me a map of that sea area? And can I borrow the Nine Revolutions Qiankun Wheel?"
"Sure." Gao Ming handed the items to Bai Ye and asked, "Are you going now?"
Bai Ye replied, "I need to figure out how to prepare for going out to sea. A ship or a summoned beast, I haven't decided yet."
Gao Ming said, "Why do you need a ship for yourself? It's also troublesome to operate. The Nine Revolutions Qiankun Wheel has a coordinate for a summoned beast area. You can go there first. Liu Shiyue caught his summoned beast there to go out to sea."
Bai Ye nodded and asked, "Do you have any recommended summoned beasts? Does your Evil Spirit Group have people there?"
Gao Ming said, "Wailord, Gyarados. The Hidden Dragon Association mainly catches these two, but they use them to pull ships. Actually, if you're alone, you can get a Dragonite, Charizard, or Aerodactyl. These three summoned beasts can fly."
Bai Ye paused, "Aerodactyl can be ridden for flight?"
Gao Ming asked, "Yes, why?"
"It's nothing!"
Bai Ye gritted his teeth. Should he just let go of Jin Sha's grudge?
That damned woman hadn't told him that Aerodactyl could be ridden for flight back then. Such summoned beasts were very valuable, allowing for faster regional transfers. Less time wasted on travel could accumulate an advantage.
Time was the most precious resource.
Of course, Jin Sha might not have known its value either. After all, for Jin Sha, at that time, in the early stages of the world war, everything needed to be explored.
Moreover, the person was already dead, so why dwell on it?
What a pity. Bai Ye could only say about Aerodactyl now: The beauty of having you once, I didn't cherish it.
Gao Ming continued, "However, I think it's still too early for you to go now."
Bai Ye asked, "Why?"
Gao Ming replied, "Didn't I tell you about the Summit War?"
Bai Ye nodded, "Yes."
Gao Ming said, "The location of the Summit War is called Marineford. Currently, Liu Shiyue is wandering aimlessly at sea, but it's certain that he doesn't intend to go to Marineford for now. I think he hasn't completed his prerequisite quests."
Bai Ye thought for a moment, then nodded, "No rush, I still need to go to Fanghu, which you mentioned."
Gao Ming nodded, "I'll have someone draw you a sea chart of that place as well. That riding turtle person I mentioned, you can attack him, but if you can't beat him, just run. That guy doesn't chase, otherwise, my people would have turned into bone dust long ago."
"Okay! I got it." Bai Ye said, "I'll be going ahead."
As Bai Ye spoke, he spun the Nine Revolutions Qiankun Wheel. Soon, with the rotation of the wheel, a large area of light appeared, enveloping Bai Ye, and then Bai Ye's figure gradually dissipated.
...