Chapter 67: The Passing of Time

“You’ve already died over a hundred times.”

Ye Lian looked down at Bai Xue from above, speaking in a flat, indifferent tone.

“It’s because Bai Xue is useless,” Bai Xue said quietly, her hand tightening around her sword, her expression filled with dejection.

Over this period, she had experienced a relentless sense of failure.

Thankfully, this was a private training session rather than an official spar.

Otherwise, she might have completely lost hope.

There’s a difference between knowing something and actually experiencing it.

She had always known Ye Lian was unbeatable—but experiencing that overwhelming power firsthand was another story.

The crushing gap in strength and the despair that followed could break anyone’s spirit.

Fortunately, Bai Xue had already come to understand her position, and she recovered quickly.

“It’s getting late. Let’s stop here for today. While you’re resting, think back on what you did wrong earlier and correct it. That way, your strength will definitely improve.”

Ye Lian sat down on the ground, pulling out her long spear as she spoke to Bai Xue.

“Yes, Master,” Bai Xue nodded firmly and obediently sat not far away, silently reflecting on her mistakes.

Ye Lian was quite satisfied with this.

‘Even if it’s just cramming before an exam, Bai Xue’s talent is definitely worth cultivating. Now it was time to improve her own strength.’

Ye Lian looked at the Wind King Spear in her hands, and a serious expression spread across her delicate face behind the armor.

Then, she channeled power into the spear.

Instantly, wild winds surged forth.

Bai Xue noticed the commotion and was briefly stunned, but soon focused her attention inward again.

Ye Lian felt the surging wind energy—it not only increased her resistance, but also helped her comprehend its deeper essence.

Minute by minute, the wind power radiating from the Wind King Spear grew more terrifying.

It was already affecting Bai Xue directly.

She had to keep backing away, awe and admiration showing on her face.

‘What terrifying wind energy… Master is truly unfathomable!’

At this moment, Ye Lian had completely immersed herself in her own world, continuously strengthening herself.

And unbelievably, the process was completely unhindered.

Becoming stronger was as easy as drinking water!

***

Elsewhere, after a failed negotiation, Michael found a group of players gathered in the plaza.

This time, the negotiations went surprisingly well.

It turned out that these players had the same idea.

In this lawless nightmare space, only strength spoke.

“The Chinese saying goes: ‘A man without sin is still guilty if he possesses treasure.’ If you don’t have the strength to protect the benefits you’ve acquired, then you have no right to complain when they’re taken. After all, weakness is a crime in itself.”

The player representing this group was named Sitou Jiange.

He had some basic knowledge of Chinese culture.

His ancestors had immigrated overseas during the Wild Boar Skin Era, making him a Chinese descendant by blood, though separated by countless generations.

Read as Chinese, written as foreigner.

Among the players in the plaza, some were Chinese, some were Japanese, and others came from smaller Eastern countries.

It was a bizarre combination.

“Well said. Brother Sitou, you’ve spoken my exact thoughts!” Michael said cheerfully.

This really was how he saw things.

“Virtue not matching position brings disaster,” Sitou Jiange said coldly, brushing back his black bangs.

He wasn’t exactly handsome—pointy head, narrow forehead, and a skinny frame.

He gave off a rather unpleasant vibe.

The kind of person you’d instinctively distrust.

“I like that saying!” Michael laughed.

He knew far more about Chinese culture than Sitou Jiange ever would.

Although he wasn’t exactly an expert on Huaxia, he knew enough to understand the basics.

“But still, they’re Chinese, just like you. Don’t you think doing this is a bit… wrong?”

He suddenly shifted the tone of the conversation, and the smile on his face vanished like a magic trick.

“Chinese? Spare me. I’m Canadian. I have nothing to do with Huaxia, not even the slightest bit. Don’t lump us together. It’s disgusting.”

Sitou Jiange said coldly, clearly annoyed.

Behind him, the expressions of the Chinese players also turned sour.

Because of the label “Chinese,” they were often subjected to discrimination and oppression abroad.

Many of them had grown to loathe their own skin color and ethnic identity.

Their ancestors had once renounced their citizenship and joined foreign nations.

As their descendants, they were now natives of other countries.

The education they received, the culture they were raised in—it was all different.

Naturally, they didn’t feel any sense of identity with Huaxia.

In fact, being associated with Huaxia often made them angry.

Sitou Jiange, in particular, was furious.

In Canada, he had to work several times harder just to achieve the same success as others—just because he was ethnically Chinese.

‘Was that fair?’

Obviously not.

So, he hated it.

Some of the other Chinese players’ resentment came from Huaxia’s rise.

They were second-generation immigrants.

The better Huaxia did, the worse it made their parents’ decisions look.

Only by constantly slandering and hating Huaxia could they maintain their psychological balance.

Now that the world was under continuous invasion by the Dream Realm, with nations collapsing and homes destroyed…

Yet Huaxia still held together, still maintained a basic sense of order.

This only made those living in chaos and fear feel even worse.

And hate even more.

So it was only natural that this group of players would choose to work with Michael to target the Silver Alchemy Workshop.

They didn’t even need any terms to be agreed upon.

***

At that moment, Ye Lian still didn’t know someone outside was forming a team to hunt her down.

Even if she did, she’d probably just chuckle coldly and not care in the slightest.

To her, surviving the final stage of the beta test was the top priority.

‘Why waste time worrying about ants and their little schemes?’

“Done!” A surge of wind energy faded away, and Ye Lian clapped her hands with excitement.

Her wind resistance had now reached an extremely high level.

Her mastery of the wind attribute had also grown to a terrifying degree.

Upon hearing this, Bai Xue looked over but said nothing.

That was because she saw her master slowly extend her right hand, a faint and flickering aura quickly forming in her palm.

Eventually, the aura condensed into a small orb, and within it, one could vaguely see chaotic winds swirling.

‘Is Master improving the Air Cannon?’

She stared at the marble-sized translucent orb and thought to herself.

There was no doubt that the Air Cannon was powerful—

But it had a limited range.

The farther the target, the weaker the effect.

Now, with wind energy infused, even if the air cannon weakened over distance, the explosive wind blades would still inflict heavy damage.

And if someone took a direct hit at close range…

“Hiss!” Bai Xue shuddered, the image of blood and flesh flying flashing through her mind.

Ye Lian dispersed the orb and clapped her hands cheerfully.

Even though her level hadn’t increased, her understanding had deepened during this period.

Her overall strength had undeniably improved by a significant margin.

Her destructive power had climbed to a whole new level.

Even when facing powerful enemies, she no longer felt intimidated.

“That reminds me, where did Mu Ling go?”

Calming herself, Ye Lian suddenly thought of her hypothetical enemy, the one she had been so wary of.

After learning that Mu Ling meant no harm, Ye Lian had felt relieved.

Her attitude toward Mu Ling had also shifted.

Now she was curious—deeply curious.

“I hope the beta test ends soon. I really want to know her secret.”

Ye Lian gently clenched her right hand and murmured.

***

Just then, all players heard a familiar sound.

[“Ding!”]