"So, System, here's the question: if destroying novice villages increases exposure, how am I supposed to collect novice village core fragments?"
To become stronger, one must take risks.
Su Nian called bullshit on that. He wanted to become stronger without taking any risks.
Staying alive meant maintaining damage output. Just survive, that's all.
[Please be patient, host. The players' invasion will trigger worldwide warfare, during which countless powerful individuals will emerge]
[Novice villages are just the beginning. Many more novice villages will fall in the future. Before you fully develop, you can temporarily hide in the shadows of these powerful beings]
Now that's what a high-quality system looks like!
This is it!
Even cowardice sounds noble when the system explains it.
Su Nian understood the system's meaning. Basically, don't be the first to stick your head out, and everything will be fine. Although he had already become somewhat conspicuous, the situation wasn't too severe yet. There was still room for damage control.
"Good, good, System-chan, you understand me so well."
"But how will I know when something major happens in the world?"
"After all, I'm stuck in this remote corner where news travels slowly..."
Su Nian continued flying toward Sakura No. 1 Novice Village with a shamelessly innocent expression.
What he really hoped for was:
Whenever something significant happened in the world, the system would pop up like a secretary and say: Boss, xxx has happened at xxx location. It's a golden opportunity. We should act now.
However, the system wasn't buggy enough to do that.
[Host possesses Edict: Sacrificial Ritual. You could transport and develop more followers to learn about developments across the continent]
"System, that's not cautious enough."
Su Nian said with a serious expression.
System: "..."
[Ding! A Special Female NPC has sent you a summoning invitation. Do you wish to respond?]
"No."
Su Nian casually flapped his wings.
Silly little system, how amusing, how amusing.
Unfortunately, he wouldn't fall for such tricks!
...
"Failed again..."
In a simple, modest room.
A beautiful elven maiden finished her prayer.
She shook her head in disappointment, biting her rosy lips.
Her expression showed both sorrow and anxiety.
This elven maiden had golden hair that reached her ankles, skin as smooth and white as milk, and light green eyes gentler than an autumn lake.
Most striking of all was her devilishly perfect figure.
Those delicate, slender legs, proud and towering bosom, and round, perky buttocks.
Even wearing loose ceremonial robes couldn't conceal her breathtaking curves.
Her name was Celestine.
The ruler of the Holy Aulist Kingdom.
She was believed to be the reincarnation of a goddess, respected and worshipped by all citizens of the country.
In truth, she wasn't a pure-blooded elf.
She was born with this appearance as the goddess's reincarnation.
So, in reality, she had no connection to the reclusive races of the Emerald Forest.
Yet even such an illustrious identity couldn't erase the worries in her heart.
Because her army had been defeated.
Defeated by the Black Beast Mercenary Group.
The next target would obviously be the capital of her Holy Aulist Kingdom.
The Black Beast Mercenary Group was an infamous mercenary organization.
Not only were they greedy and powerful, but they had also declared their intention to establish a "Servitude Nation" in this world.
In such a nation, all women would become state property, forced to obey unconditionally any request from any man in the land.
The leader of the mercenary group was named Gus Jett, a powerful fourth-rank warrior.
Although her Holy Aulist Kingdom wasn't a major power,
Gus alone didn't have the strength to challenge an entire kingdom.
His true power came from the army he had assembled from various humanoid races.
Now Celestine had run out of options.
She couldn't accept letting her country become the absurd "Servitude Nation," but she also lacked the power to resist the Black Beast Mercenary Group's invasion.
The reason she came to the prayer room today was because she had taken an ancient artifact from the palace treasury.
It was a cloak once worn by the Conqueror Emperor Sivi, said to have been handcrafted by the Time Goddess before her ascension.
Normally, this cloak was treasured and displayed in the most prominent position in the palace treasury. When Celestine visited the treasury today, she naturally spotted it immediately.
But for some unknown reason,
The cloak she had seen countless times seemed particularly attractive today.
She had a mysterious premonition that by holding this cloak, praying to it, and offering her soul, she would receive aid.
If it meant protecting her people and country, what was a mere soul? She would gladly offer it.
Celestine didn't hesitate for a moment.
Especially if the one receiving her soul's allegiance might be the great and valiant Conqueror Emperor.
However, imagination is often more beautiful than reality.
Throughout the morning, Celestine had prayed over a hundred times, but received no response.
She felt she had connected with some unknown entity, but they seemed unwilling to acknowledge her.
"Sigh..."
"Perhaps becoming a Servitude Nation is the fate of Holy Aulist?"
Disheartened, Celestine shuddered at the thought of what would happen to her subjects after becoming a Servitude Nation, and how chaotic her country would become. It would be a living hell.
She absolutely could not allow this to happen.
Even if it cost her life.
With this thought, Celestine knelt on the ground.
Hands clasped together, eyes filled with hot tears, she continued her prayers.
In the dimly lit prayer room, the maiden's prayers became increasingly sorrowful and desperate.
...
"So annoying! Blah blah blah!"
"It never ends!"
Su Nian was truly getting a headache.
Ever since the system notified him that a special NPC was praying and requesting to summon him,
A voice had been constantly calling in his mind.
That golden star in the Star Chart glowed brightly, appearing extremely urgent.
"The last time a star glowed like that, it died out quickly. Why has this one been glowing for so long?"
Su Nian was thoroughly annoyed.
He was almost at Novice Village No. 1.
[Host, perhaps you should go check it out?]
[You should know that Special Female NPCs can provide you with new abilities]
[And after establishing a connection with her, you can completely control her, making her your pawn on the continent]
[You would be the great chess player, the behind-the-scenes BOSS, which would greatly benefit your cause]
"Well, well, you damned system, you're even flattering me to get me to go?"
Su Nian shook his head in amusement, but remained firm in his conviction.
"No matter what, I need to handle matters here first. Who rushes to take a shit when they're still eating?"
"Let her wait."
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