Monsters Are Coming

With each step forward, the surrounding mist became denser, wrapping around the body as if it had Life, seeping bone-chilling cold into the marrow.

Finally, the Gangster's Shadow Leaping Body passed through the final dense mist barrier.

As his feet firmly landed on the black rocks of Mist Conceal Island, the entire Warband's voice channel instantly exploded.

"Damn, we really got in. Hurry up and send the video; I need to contact the Gold Coin Chamber of Commerce's director. We've hit it big."

"Hahaha, awesome! I've seen several Shadow Jumper squads on the forums, but we are the first to succeed. This feels great."

"I'm contacting the Gold Coin Chamber of Commerce's director, preparing to receive the Rule Fragment."

"Fifteen thousand sacrificial power, guys, we are making a killing with this wave. Tonight, let's have the most expensive Spirit Meal, and I want to feast to my heart's content."

Before long, the Gangster, still advancing with the squad, received the Rule Fragment traded by teammates.

With the challenge clearly completed, the Gangster decided to drop the act entirely.

His tense emotions transformed into wild joy, as he placed his hands on his hips and laughed at the sky in front of the astonished eyes of other Mingwu Clan warriors.

...

Inside the main hall in the center of Mingwu Island.

Ye Ming's slender bone fingers gently tapped the armrest of the throne, producing a crisp sound with each touch of Metal, while the soul fire within his skull slowly danced.

It's been two days since the agreed time.

In reality, the Gold Coin Chamber of Commerce did not deliver the promised Rule Fragment to Mingwu Island.

"It seems I have overestimated the Gold Coin Chamber of Commerce."

The low voice echoed within the hall, tinged with a bit of disappointment.

From previous contacts, he had some concerns about the Gold Coin Chamber of Commerce but mostly anticipation.

He believed that with the Gold Coin Chamber of Commerce's ability, it might elevate the Mingwu Clan's development.

But the Gold Coin Chamber of Commerce didn't seem as mighty as it described itself.

At that moment, a Mingwu Clan elder flew in from outside the hall, kneeling on one knee before Ye Ming:

"General, members of the Gold Coin Chamber of Commerce disguised themselves as our Clan warriors. They broke through layers of defenses and entered the island, bringing this item."

As he spoke, the Mingwu Clan elder held up a dark golden metal box with both hands.

Ye Ming's gaze flickered as he raised his hand to seize the item remotely.

The metal box landed steadily into his palm, producing a soft "click" sound, and the lid automatically opened, revealing the black fragment inside.

This was the Rule Fragment from the wager with the Gold Coin Chamber of Commerce.

Ye Ming's five fingers abruptly tightened, and the Rule Fragment exploded with blinding light in his palm.

His sharp gaze swept across the generals in the hall, his voice like the clash of cold iron:

"The Space Interference Array, triple mist barrier, three hundred seventy-two watchtowers, three hundred sixty mist-eye monitors, plus the patrol sea mist guards, patrolling day and night. How was such a net silently breached into the island?"

The elder who brought the Rule Fragment was a bit flustered facing the questioning:

"Great General, we've carefully examined the Gold Coin Chamber of Commerce's infiltrating member, and regardless of body structure or ability traits, they're indistinguishable from our Clan, even the mist-eye can't detect any flaws."

"Where is he now?"

"After handing over the Rule Fragment to me, his body disintegrated and disappeared."

After listening to the elder's explanation, Ye Ming remained silent.

It seems the Gold Coin Chamber of Commerce possesses a powerful disguise technology.

Yet this method of success was too cunning.

But a loss is a loss...

As Ye Ming was contemplating, the space in the hall's center suddenly twisted, his expression tensing.

Clearly, the entire Mist Conceal Island had already activated the Space Interference Array, and theoretically, not even a single mist fly should be able to teleport in.

As the white light dissipated, the arriving figure was none other than the Gold Coin Chamber of Commerce's director: Shou Jili.

"General Ye Ming, it's been a while."

Seeing the smile on Ah Lan's face, Ye Ming suddenly realized one thing.

The series of infiltration actions over the past two days were actually meaningless, just a game with a predetermined ending in the eyes of the Gold Coin Chamber of Commerce.

They could have freely broken through the space interference and come and gone from Mingwu Island at will, but they chose to come now.

They even chose to play with it using disguises for infiltration.

But the anger only flashed briefly in his mind, and Ye Ming spoke in a deep voice:

"Gold Coin Chamber of Commerce, a good tactic."

"First using disguise methods to present the Rule Fragment, then using Space Technology to prove core capability."

He stared directly at Ah Lan, yet his eyes bore no defeat:

"You've proven the ability of the Gold Coin Chamber of Commerce, and in this wager, my Mingwu Clan has lost."

"Since the Gold Coin Chamber of Commerce can easily break through the Mingwu Clan's space blockade, surely the previous infiltration actions were merely testing our Clan's defense abilities?"

Ah Lan smiled slightly:

"General Ye Ming, testing is mutual. The Mingwu Clan wants to know the capabilities of the Gold Coin Chamber of Commerce, just as the Gold Coin Chamber of Commerce wants to understand those of the Mingwu Clan."

"And the result? It's quite disappointing that my Mingwu Clan allowed you to complete this delivery task so effortlessly." Ye Ming's soul fire danced as he stared at Ah Lan.

"The Mingwu Clan's main warriors can annihilate an entire player Warband within three minutes, such power commands my admiration."

Upon hearing this response, Ye Ming suddenly burst into laughter:

"Good, very good, Gold Coin Chamber of Commerce."

"Lord Shou Jili, there's no need to save face for this General. A loss is a loss. My Mingwu Clan has traversed the Bright Star Sea Area for so long, we have survived raging storms and even faced extermination crises, yet we won't shrink from losing a single wager. This time, this General admits defeat wholeheartedly, and you have proven the ability of the Gold Coin Chamber of Commerce. From now on, this General will no longer probe, sincerely opening collaboration with the Gold Coin Chamber of Commerce."

Having achieved his goal, Ah Lan nodded with a smile:

"Your demeanor is admirable, General."

With these words, his figure suddenly became Phantom, disappearing into the air like mist blown away by the wind, without warning.

No Space Transmission, no Energy ripple, not even a slight breeze disturbed, as if he'd never been here.

Ye Ming's pupils suddenly contracted.

His perception couldn't even capture the trace of the other's departure.

This was clearly not Space Transmission or Phantom dispersion, but rather as if erased by some higher-dimensional existence.

"A good Gold Coin Chamber of Commerce..."

Ye Ming slowly tightened his grip on the throne's armrest, realizing that the ability the other party had demonstrated was likely just the tip of the iceberg.