Chapter 373: Chapter 316: Holding Someone Accountable
Li Zheng stood in front of the door where the roaming monster had left, pausing to check the information, which indicated this was an empty room.
However, he had probed this place last night, and it should have housed a Diamond Level creature. He had planned to take it down first thing today.
Clearly, the roaming monster that passed by last night had doomed the Diamond creature. It either died or fled.
"What a pity. Whether it’s still alive or not, passing through here would waste an exploration opportunity. It’s not quite worth it..." Li Zheng looked up, seeing an alternative route above, with a Gold Level creature, which might be one of the ingredients for potions.
"The value of the other rooms isn’t high, so I’ll have to go upwards." Activating the flying device, Li Zheng reached the door and was about to swipe his card when a system announcement caught his attention.
[Congratulations to Player "Ma Long" for leading the team to successfully kill the mutant with activity number 35, gaining +2 points.]
"Oh? Someone’s starting to crack the event this early?" Li Zheng raised an eyebrow. He had planned to save five exploration opportunities to participate in the event.
It seems the plan needs some adjustments now.
Private messaging yesterday’s team members, he learned that they hadn’t started exploring yet. Li Zheng began to organize today’s event strategy.
"From the last few kills yesterday, it’s clear that the smaller the number of the mutant, the stronger its power." Li Zheng said in the temporary group chat: "So we need to seize this opportunity to score more points to secure an absolute advantage today!"
"There are four mutants left within number thirty, and based on yesterday’s situation, from number twenty-nine onward, the points will rise." Yan Guang mentioned in the group chat.
Zhan Zhouzhou added something unrelated in the group chat: "If I’m not mistaken, the team mentioned in the announcement with Ma Long should include two experts, one named Zhang Ke and the other Xu Rijin."
"Do you know them?" Li Zheng asked.
Zhan Zhouzhou quickly replied: "Their sect has been my family’s rival since my grandfather’s generation, always at odds. The situation has only slightly improved in our generation."
"Does ’slightly improved’ mean you can beat them?" Phoenix Mountain asked.
No one in channel 879 truly knew Zhan Zhouzhou’s real strength.
Even Li Zheng, who was the most familiar with her, couldn’t gauge her depth.
On the other hand, his own strengths and weaknesses were thoroughly understood by the other side.
If Ma Long and the others had such strength, then this event might as well be handed over to them.
"None of them is my match!" Zhan Zhouzhou replied proudly.
Lin Fengjiao asked: "What about if they team up?"
"..." Zhan Zhouzhou paused, seemingly thinking seriously about this question, and finally replied: "Li Zheng and I together can tie with those three."
"So, by your estimation, are we unable to compete with them for the four remaining weaker mutants?" Li Zheng was surprised that every day in the Matrix, a few experts pop up who could rival him.
Some individuals he had never even heard of before, nor seen their names on the world channel.
Even Zhan Zhouzhou usually kept a low profile, not showing off much.
Who could have thought that the unassuming Miss Zhan, ranked slightly below Li Zheng in terms of battle power, might have hidden strength possibly surpassing his?
"I’ve got it figured out." Phoenix Mountain summarized in the group chat: "Those who can fight like locusts don’t jump, and the dogs that can bite don’t bark. The stronger one is, the more low-key they become."
Just like the nameless old geezers at various parks, seemingly ordinary, but when they pick up a racket, they can make a world champion cry.
Li Zheng puzzled: "I feel like you’re implying me, but I have no evidence."
"Be more confident." Yan Guang stirred the pot: "He’s definitely implying you, saying you’re too high-profile."
Phoenix Mountain, standing next to her, was so startled by this line that he jumped up: "Crazy woman, are you intent on getting me killed? That’s Li Zheng we’re talking about!"
Yan Guang flashed a smile: "Why are you yelling at me? Explain in the group chat if you have time for that."
"Explaining now is useless!" Phoenix Mountain exclaimed in frustration.
In the group chat, Li Zheng tagged Phoenix Mountain and coldly typed the words "hehe," which gave Phoenix Mountain the creeps.
Taking out a pocket watch, Phoenix Mountain hurriedly walked towards a metal door.
Yan Guang held him back, asking: "Where are you going?"
"What else can I do?" Phoenix Mountain shook the pocket watch: "I’m going to find a prime location to bury myself! So you won’t keep causing trouble for me every day."
"Look at yourself, Li Zheng won’t mind such trivial matters, why are you scared?" Yan Guang said irritably.
Phoenix Mountain replied angrily: "Am I scared of Li Zheng? I’m scared of you! You crazy woman, doing nothing important and always plotting against me!"
Yan Guang rolled her eyes: "Haven’t I been after you for so long but haven’t gotten you yet? Why not let yourself go tonight, and in the future, no matter what happens, I’ll unconditionally back you up and won’t cause you any trouble!"
Phoenix Mountain felt tempted: "Really?"
Yan Guang affirmed: "Really!"
"I don’t believe your nonsense!" Phoenix Mountain didn’t fall for it.
In the group chat, Li Zheng indeed didn’t have the time to argue with Phoenix Mountain over such trivial matters as he was discussing with Zhan Zhouzhou on which mutant to target.
"Ma Long and the others just finished off number 35, so they’re definitely going after number 34! I’d suggest we directly go for number 33 and overtake them on the inside!"
Zhan Zhouzhou had a different opinion on this: "You made quite a splash yesterday. Won’t Ma Long and the others be on guard against you? Maybe they are thinking the same as you and are currently fighting the number 33 mutant?"
"Then let’s see who’s faster!" Li Zheng decisively took out the event ticket, selected all team members, chose to challenge the number 33 mutant, and confirmed the challenge.
...
In a certain room within the Matrix, Yu Xiaoyu yawned as she walked out of her dwelling, spotting her cousin sitting outside, staring intently at the fire.
She stretched lazily, her snug-fitting top lifting slightly, revealing a hint of her soft southern hemisphere.
Once her sleepiness waned a bit, Yu Xiaoyu sat beside Liu Qi, asking discontentedly: "What are you doing in my room so early in the morning?"
Liu Qi’s seemingly dazed eyes focused: "Did you provide Phoenix Mountain and his team with information yesterday?"
"Information?" Yu Xiaoyu paused, asking: "What information?"
Liu Qi had come to question her early in the morning, leaving Yu Xiaoyu bewildered, not understanding what he was talking about.
"Don’t play dumb." Liu Qi sat up straight and spoke seriously: "Yesterday, Kunlun paid a huge price to discover that in this event, every experimental subject could have its strength reduced through repeated challenges.
Yet, even before we started reaping the rewards, Li Zheng’s team took down three mutants. Are you saying you didn’t provide them with the information?
If not, how did they time it so precisely, stopping their activity raid just as Kunlun’s warriors exhausted the experimental subjects?"