Chapter 0: The Demon Realm (1)
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After charging through four massive dungeons in a row, Lin Nan found herself listening to the system narrating the truth behind “The Way of Inquiry.” She couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed, as if a gigantic boulder was weighing down her heart.
But at least the system had pointed out a potential solution, a meager glimmer of hope in the dead of night.
The Sky Tower wasn’t a wasted trip after all.
Typically stingy with words, the system had cleared up most of her confusion after she achieved perfect clearance records four times in a row.
If there hadn’t been a limit on the number of questions, she would have bombarded the system with queries until it found the answer to all of life’s mysteries.
But that was obviously a dream too far.
The system was born from the Gods but had developed its own consciousness. If that wasn’t the case, how could she possibly have possessed Frost North Snow and embarked on this absurd journey ahead?
……
Back on the surface after leaving the Sky Tower, the Tiger Demon and Seven Feathers from Cold Wind City, along with their comrades, were busy fortifying the city walls to ensure no one else could intrude and disturb the Great King’s plans.
Following them out were Morris and his NPC buddies, who had dabbled in the martial arts world but woke up feeling like they had just emerged from a bizarre dream, eyes wide with confusion.
However, upon recalling the Harpist’s performance in that dream, they quickly realized they might’ve been participants in a small world, but this time as pressure-free spectators.
Though they didn’t know the final outcome, they were convinced that Lord Lin wouldn’t go down easily. Perhaps she was already off to the next world.
Instead of lingering about, they gathered with the demon kin to return to solid ground, sharing the same goal as the folks of Cold Wind City: to defend Black Stone City and the Sky Tower, protecting Lord Lin.
In the blink of an eye, the night transformed into morning, then back into dusk.
People’s concern deepened as they feared something had gone wrong with Lin Nan.
Finally, as the last rays of the sun flickered across the mottled city walls, a tall, cold figure appeared atop the Sky Tower.
Her presence instantly commanded everyone’s attention.
After a brief moment of silence—perhaps one or two seconds—the city erupted with deafening cheers.
She was the true queen!
The one whom countless people admired and pledged their loyalty to!
Even Morris, Trissa, and others from the Demon Race couldn’t help but bow in this atmosphere, a gesture reserved for honoring the Emperor, second only to that.
【Ding! Your future Cold Value will transform into Godhood Value.】
【For instance, if you earn 10,000 Cold Value today, your Godhood Value will also receive 10,000 points.
Cold Value will temporarily exit the stage, but who knows, it might make a comeback once you’ve ascended to godhood.】
Standing atop the Sky Tower as soldiers cheered, Lin Nan suddenly got a system notification.
Godhood Value?
“How much do I need to hit to meet the requirements for godhood?”
【This is the path to godhood crafted especially for you. All you need is to collect enough Godhood Value to successfully promote to a lesser god.
To visually illustrate your progress, every time you earn a certain amount of Godhood Value, the system will display the percentage of your distance to the ultimate goal.
Of course, Godhood Value and percentage don’t correspond directly; like experience points in a game, the later you get, the more Godhood Value you need to increase by one percentage point.】
【Ding! You’ve earned 10,000 Godhood Value; your journey to godhood has completed 1%.】
Lin Nan, “……”
This darn system must be addicted to games or something.
However, the system’s sudden twist was actually a subtle way of telling her how she could achieve godhood.
It seemed that, like Cold Value, it mainly depended on the emotional responses of passersby towards her—be it admiration, awe, fear, or surprise—to increase her Godhood Value.
“System, do I still have a chance to return to the Sky Tower small world to stock up on Godhood Value?”
【The low-difficulty worlds are already highly completed; returning wouldn’t be beneficial.
However, the medium and higher difficulty worlds are still open to you. I suggest unifying the entire Asking Dao Continent before you go dungeon diving again.】
“I get it. Thanks for the tip.”
【No need to thank me; I just find the Gods way too boring, which is why I pay closer attention to you.
If you d*e, I’ll be heartbroken, and then I’d have to expend effort finding a new, entertaining target.】
Lin Nan, “…Alright, I’ll do my best.”
At this moment, Black Stone City was unmistakably under the control of Cold Wind City’s forces.
After the d*ath of Prince Eric, the demon army, having Eric as the successor, certainly wouldn’t oppose Lin Nan.
As the cheers from the soldiers began to fade, Lin Nan jumped down from the Sky Tower, her white gown fluttering in the air.
“Tap, tap…”
Lin Nan landed as lightly as a feather, her high heels making a crisp sound as they met the ground.
“Great King!”
“Lord Lin!”
The warriors from Cold Wind City and the Demon Race rushed forward to salute Lin Nan.
“Cold Wind City warriors, listen up!”
“Your subordinate is here!” Tiger Demon, Seven Feathers, the Hedgehog Monster, and Bat Monster immediately rushed to respond.
“Guard Black Stone City well, especially the Sky Tower. If any outsiders dare intrude, you’ll bring their heads to me,” Lin Nan said frostily.
“Yes, Great King!”
The demon warriors kept silent. Inside the Sky Tower small world, they already knew of Lin Nan’s identity as the Monster Race’s queen.
But out of habit, they still referred to her as “Lord Lin.”
“Count Morris,” Lin Nan called out.
“Your subordinate is here.”
Morris had already sworn loyalty to her before entering the Sky Tower, recognizing her as the God of Harmony’s favored one.
So it was no surprise that he referred to himself as her subordinate.
“From today on, we head to the Demon Territory. Time waits for no one, and I must meet your Emperor as soon as possible.”
“Understood. Shall we fly straight to the Imperial Capital?”
Lin Nan nodded, “Of course. We depart tomorrow morning.”
“I’ll make the arrangements right away.”
Most of the griffins of the Demon Army were tied outside the Sky Tower with guards watching over them, ready to take off with just a bit more feed.
“However, I want to introduce myself as the Harpist at first. This way, we can have a buffer time.”
Trissa quickly chimed in, “I think everyone in the Imperial Capital will go completely wild at the arrival of a Harpist with superb skills.”
Adeline seemed troubled and kept silent, her mind elsewhere.
Why hadn’t Xi, who had originally been with Lord Lin, returned yet?
And she was set to leave Black Stone City with the group tomorrow, not knowing when they might meet again in the future.
Feeling dejected, she had no one to confide her worries to.
……
Ps: If you think the previous two dungeons were a decent warm-up, keep an eye out for the upcoming brand-new dungeons.
