Chapter Fifty-Two: Deliberating Strategies

Chapter Fifty-Two: Discussing Countermeasures

Xeroth still wore his intricately patterned silver mask, even his eyes remaining that bottomless, dusky black, almost unchanged from usual. Only under the sunlight, as Shen Ce observed closely, could he discern that muted, somber purple.

Shen Ce gazed at the tall, imposing figure before him. Xeroth’s sudden appearance was so unexpected that Shen Ce almost thought he was dreaming. He raised his brows in astonishment, exclaiming, “Xeroth? How did you get out so quickly?” Shen Ce had instructed Xeroth to wait for him in a cave within the Misty Spirit Mountains. Even after sending him the amethyst mine strategy guide, Xeroth shouldn’t have arrived so swiftly.

“I was worried about you, so I came out early,” Xeroth’s deep voice rumbled as his silver cloak billowed conspicuously in the wind.

Though these words were simple, after all that had occurred in the illusion, they evoked different thoughts in Shen Ce’s heart. His fingers trembled as he realized he could not maintain a calm state of mind.

Compared to when Xeroth was reduced to a mere wisp of light in the illusion, existing only in Shen Ce’s imagination, standing before him now, Xeroth’s features were strikingly clear. His brows were profound, his jawline elegant, and most importantly, unlike that fearsome figure from the illusion, the man standing before him now was far gentler.

It was the first time Xeroth had seen Shen Ce look at him with such an expression. Xeroth’s gaze burned with intensity as he tentatively asked, “Zero? What’s wrong?”

Shen Ce abruptly came to his senses, as though only just noticing Xeroth’s eyes. He asked, “It’s nothing. Xeroth, your eye color looks more black than purple. How is your magic?”

Xeroth’s lips curled in a wicked smile. “I haven’t tried it out yet, but by your logic, I’m better suited to be a demon.”

Shen Ce’s heart skipped at that smile, and the terrifying figure from the illusion flashed through his mind once more. He hesitated, then nodded in agreement, “Indeed, everyone says the demons’ magical prowess is linked to their eye color—the deeper the shade, the stronger their power. You really do fit the role.”

Xeroth fell silent for a moment, then, with a faint, ambiguous smile, asked, “Zero, if we were both demons, perhaps we’d be standing with the forces of light right now.”

It took Shen Ce two or three seconds to realize what Xeroth meant. He smiled lightly, replying, “Perhaps. But to me, it doesn’t matter which side I’m on. Completing the task is what matters most.”

For players, it was always about choosing whatever was most advantageous. The disputes between the dark and light factions were merely background lore set by the official “Heaven’s Dominion.” Without a conflict of interest, most players wouldn’t harbor real grudges against each other.

Xeroth pursed his lips, his gaze drifting to the distant sky before returning to Shen Ce. Teasingly, he said, “Then before you finish the task, shouldn’t you change clothes?”

Flushing, Shen Ce glanced at himself and replied slowly, “I was just about to buy some gear—I didn’t expect you to show up so fast.”

With that, he and Xeroth headed for the demon trading market. They entered an equipment shop, where a quick-witted clerk hurried over. “Welcome! Are you looking for equipment or potions today?”

Shen Ce glanced over the goods, his attention soon caught by a set of necromancer’s gear on a shelf to the west. Necromancers, like shadow priests, were hidden classes. Since they had necromancer sets, they ought to have shadow priest sets as well. “Do you have anything for a shadow priest? A complete set would be ideal.”

The clerk looked troubled. “Shadow priest is a tough hidden class to qualify for. The gear seldom sells, so we don’t stock it. We do have a lower-tier evil spirit priest set, though.”

Shen Ce felt a touch of resignation. Evil spirit priest was the base form of priest in the demon realm, and while shadow priests could use their gear, the effects and stats couldn’t compare to a real shadow priest set. “I’ll take a set, then—just make sure it matches my level, and the higher the stats, the better.”

The clerk grinned, delighted, and called out, “Very well! I’ll get that for you.”

Xeroth glanced at Shen Ce, his long eyes glimmering with dark purple. “Zero, if you need a shadow priest set…”

Shen Ce understood what Xeroth was offering and waved him off. “It’s alright, I’ll make do. I only need it for a few days, and once the task is done, I won’t need it anymore.” He had given Xeroth an assassin’s set before to settle a favor; if Xeroth gave him another, it would be a never-ending cycle of debts.

Xeroth fell silent at Shen Ce’s insistence. The clerk soon returned with a dark-toned set for an evil spirit priest. Its stats were decent, and after paying, Shen Ce donned it immediately. He felt the dark magical elements around him grow notably more intimate—definitely money well spent.

With the equipment acquired, Shen Ce and Xeroth began to discuss how to infiltrate the demon palace. Xeroth’s initial suggestion was to sneak in and seize the sacred relic of Lingshui City in one swift move.

But Shen Ce immediately rejected the idea. The reason was simple: they didn’t know where the relic was kept, and the demon palace was full of formidable figures. Rushing in blindly would only alert their enemies. Instead, Shen Ce believed it wiser to use their demon identities to blend into the palace, stay for a while, and strike when the opportunity arose.