Chapter 356: An Invitation is Issued
Yuliya was done with everything that unfolded afterward.
Whatever, just let it be!
Now, as a pure NPC, the oh-so-pure Princess of Radiant Sun from the Jade Emperor Kingdom, she lounged around in the royal palace, attending to her own affairs.
As for the players? Let the guilds handle their own mess; if it gets too crazy, there’s always “Wind” to help them out.
Let them figure it out!
A month rolled by.
During this time, the player group shrank by nearly a third, but it was mostly the low-level players who took a hit.
The high-level players weren’t about to give up that easily.
In the Desert Realm, near the ruins of Golden City, players formed a vast makeshift market to serve as their collective hangout spot.
Since the defense war of Golden City, the monsters in the Desert Realm had lost a chunk of their attributes and powers, making them a piece of cake for the players to grind. This place was simply the best leveling ground—absolutely not up for abandonment.
To add to the appeal, it acted as a transit hub for various servers, attracting special materials, weapons, and equipment like moths to a flame. A prime trade location, you could say!
Without NPCs propping them up, they had to fend for themselves.
Players made the rules, learned crafting skills, and maintained order.
All in all, they managed to make things look rather organized.
During this period, Yuliya got the hang of most of what was happening in the Jade Emperor Kingdom.
Noticing the perfect moment, she formally approached Elia about being more accommodating to the Outsiders.
To make her case stronger, she even roped in Edward.
Elia knew Yuliya had been concerned about the issues between the Outsiders and the local folk, but there was still some distance to cover before full acceptance could happen.
As the emperor, decisions had to be made with caution; whims could lead to catastrophe.
Especially when it concerned matters that affected the populace at large.
How much impact would fully accepting the Outsiders have on the local residents? How would it shake the existing social structure? What chaos might ensue?
“But, sister, isn’t there a way to resolve all this? The simplest solution is to just suppress them with power.”
If there’s a problem, just smash it down with some muscle!
“It’s true, but that would just drain our energy for no good reason; we can afford to take our time.”
Elia preferred a slow and steady approach—slow and steady wins the race, after all.
But to Yuliya, this was not the time for a slow trot.
“Sister, I think we should push forward now while we still have full control over the situation. The longer we delay, the more likely things could spiral out of our grasp.”
“I specifically brought the teacher here to explain this. The teacher knows exactly how much potential those Outsiders harbor. If we delay too long, that potential won’t serve us; it could instead become a curse.”
“Besides, the teacher witnessed that city defense battle in the Desert Realm firsthand; he must have some valuable insights about the Outsiders.”
Yuliya passed the baton to Edward.
Edward looked at Elia, nodded seriously, “We used to think Outsiders lack organization and discipline, that they’re just a chaotic bunch. But that’s likely just a facade.
“I saw their unity during critical moments. They might be even more dedicated than we are.”
“I believe Yuliya’s concerns should be addressed sooner rather than later.”
Edward’s words had quite the impact on Elia.
She trusted the judgment forged from all of her uncle’s experiences.
Yet, making a decision on such a monumental matter couldn’t be done on a whim.
So Yuliya propped her chin up, casually suggesting, “If sister can’t decide just yet, how about seeing for yourself? I can show you the Outsiders’ true other side.”
Elia chuckled, “Are you saying you want to take me out for a stroll?”
“Yes! But not just any stroll. The Outsiders have a deeper, unseen side that even the teacher hasn’t seen yet.”
Hearing this, both Edward and Elia frowned in unison, “What do you mean?”
Yuliya suddenly sprang to her feet, striking a dramatic pose before them, and said, “Actually, I have a big secret. Something different from what the teacher and sister thought before.”
“You know I’ve always been interested in the Outsiders and understand them pretty well; what do you think the reason is?”
Elia and Edward exchanged glances, with Elia asking, “What reason?”
“Because, in a sense, I’m half an Outsider myself.”
“What!” Edward exclaimed incredulously, “How could you be an Outsider?!”
“Teacher, you know I’ve reincarnated, and not just once,” Yuliya said, spreading her arms and tilting her head playfully, “What if in my last life, I ended up in the Outsiders’ homeland?”
Elia and Edward’s eyes widened simultaneously.
It really was a possibility!
But they had been so limited in thought before, never considering this angle.
Now, with the truth laid bare, all their previous confusions made sense!
“Just like you and the teacher thought, I actually have a way to reach the Outsiders. And right now, I can take sister to see for herself.”
“So, sister, are you willing to check out a world that is completely different from our Jade Emperor Kingdom?”
Both Elia and Edward fell silent.
But Edward soon stepped aside, letting Elia confront this decision alone.
She was the emperor after all; the call was hers to make.
The atmosphere in the room thickened with anticipation.
After pondering for a long while, Elia finally raised her head and looked at Yuliya, “What is this place you’re talking about like?”
“I can’t describe it in detail since I’ve never seen it myself. But I can assure you, it must be a peaceful, beautiful, vibrant, and colorful place.”
“Are there any restrictions or dangers we need to watch out for?”
“The limitation is that sister’s strength might be somewhat suppressed there. As for danger…” Yuliya straightened up, puffed out her chest, and declared, “As long as I’m there, there’s no danger whatsoever.”
“Ha ha.” Elia covered her mouth with a smile, “With you saying that, I find it somewhat reassuring.”
She stood up, taking a step forward to grab Yuliya’s hand, “Since it’s your first invitation for a trip, sister obviously won’t refuse. Let’s take that walk!”
She was genuinely curious; what kind of place could it be?
“Just you wait! Think of it as a relaxing trip—the ultimate getaway! You won’t be disappointed!”
“Time works a bit differently there, so let’s head out before dawn tomorrow. We’ll need to do some prep today.”
“Okay, I’ll be ready.”
