Chapter 826 - 821: S+ Difficulty, SS Rating!
"The power of the Three Great Demon Emperors should be about the same."
Bai Pu stood at the forefront, enduring the spiritual pressure of the Black Emperor, and slowly said, "However, the Black Emperor only left this avatar phantom, while the phantoms of the Emperor Qing are present in all three palaces of the Corruption Forest... This might be the reason, spreading the power thin."
The Black Emperor sneered, "You’re wrong, Gangxin! The true strength of the Emperor Qing was never as great as mine. You humans, taking advantage of the Three Emperors Conference, dared to venture into the underground on your own, what audacity. If I were there, none of you would leave alive!"
"I know you’re powerful. But, with just an avatar phantom, you should stop this already?" Bai Pu didn’t retreat; instead, he took another step forward.
"You!" The Black Emperor exerted his spiritual pressure, the intense momentum like a substantial ocean, bottomless and invoking fear.
Rein and Leia felt discomfort, stepping back two paces.
The Demon General Blood Bat screeched, hiding behind Bai Pu.
The Black Shark Queen Mei Xi clung tightly to Bai Pu’s arm.
Under the might of the Black Emperor, both Blood Bat and Mei Xi, one a demon and the other a half-demon, trembled in fear.
Bai Pu stood straight without retreating, staring at the Black Emperor’s phantom and said, "Do you think you can scare me?"
The experience of slaying the Demon Emperor in the Great Wilderness River became Bai Pu’s most valuable mental wealth in resisting the Black Emperor’s pressure.
He knew that the Demon Emperors were not invincible.
"Hmph."
The Black Emperor snorted coldly, "Gangxin, your activities in the Corruption Forest and the Eternal Night Dark Sea have actually helped the Emperor Yan a great deal and have significantly accelerated the progress of the Three Emperors Conference... Just wait and see! The day of the Black Heaven’s descent is not far off, hope you won’t regret it!"
The Black Emperor’s avatar phantom dissipated.
Bai Pu seized the moment, storming into the inner hall of the Profound Water Palace, plundering lavishly.
The Black Emperor, unlike the Emperor Qing, perhaps because the Shadow Island Chain’s defense system was perfectly crafted, was very confident in the security of his lair and did not set up any barriers for storing treasures.
On the contrary, the Black Emperor openly displayed the treasures in the inner hall of the Profound Water Palace, decorating the entire hall luxuriously and tastefully.
Bai Pu, regardless of anything, stuffed those treasures into the storage space. Of course, he also gave Rein and Leia a share as a reward for their unwavering allegiance.
Although the awakened ones couldn’t take these Black Emperor treasures out of this world, they could trade them with strong native people.
Bai Pu plans to use these treasures, along with the Emperor Qing’s treasures, to trade with the White Tiger Oath—Xiyuan Clan’s secret technique.
Of course, a direct exchange isn’t possible, as Bai Pu still needs the Spirit Realm Will’s task reward for enlightenment.
Rein, seeing one of the items, the "Pure Bell," an ordinary-looking old bell, was moved, realizing it could be exchanged for 800 Battle Merit points at the Black Tortoise Oath family.
He had seen the Battle Merit exchange list at Beiming Chuan, among which the spell series were particularly enticing.
For instance, the "Black Tortoise Armor" spell can be enchanted onto armor, enhancing it with an extra 60 points of armor and providing 1000 shield value upon breakdown, a life-saving spell enchantment only needing 1500 Battle Merits.
Such spell enchantments are much more valuable than equipment to Rein, genuinely useful for increasing combat power.
Bai Pu stipulated in advance to divide the spoils based on the combat power in this battle. Bai Pu’s side had four combat powers (excluding the Demon Spider Empress and her summoned creatures), while Rein’s side had two combat powers, dividing the Black Emperor’s treasures into six parts, giving two to them.
Rein was quite satisfied, feeling that he and Leia’s role in this battle was far less significant than Gangxin’s side. Whether it was Gangxin himself or Mei Xi, their roles were irreplaceable.
That they could get 1/3 of the spoils was indeed a testament to Gangxin’s straightforwardness and reliability, someone worthy of long-term cooperation.
After finishing the looting, Bai Pu received news that the supporting forces led by Demon General Cangming were fast approaching via waterway with the "Tide Demon Tribe," already reaching Ox Demon Mountain with about half the distance remaining.
Bai Pu hurriedly led his team to escape.
...
One day later.
Black Tortoise Oath, aboard the Turtle Ship.
Everyone had reassembled after a full rest.
"Good!"
Beiming Jihu, after listening to Bai Pu’s battle report, was highly enthused, "Breaking through the Profound Water Palace and plundering the Black Emperor’s treasures! This victory is bountiful, and Gangxin’s command and coordination were indispensable!"
[Beiming Jihu, the master of Beiming Xuan Mirror Style, greatly improved his favor level towards you, the current favor level: Friend.]
Bai Pu secretly scoffed, knowing that Beiming Jihu wasn’t as pure as Dongbo Chengzhi regarding friendships. Being considered a friend was merely because Bai Pu was very useful to him, nothing more.
"Master Beiming Jihu, this battle not only broke through the Profound Water Palace but also destroyed the Yellow Springs Belt, the Tide Demon Mother Pool, and annihilated the Black Emperor’s generals and many Fallen Wild Warriors, making it a great victory."
Bai Pu reminded, "I wonder if the secret technique of Beiming Xuan Mirror Style, as we agreed beforehand, can be handed over to me?"
"Isn’t that a bit too direct..." Rein and Leia exchanged glances, both feeling Bai Pu was being rather discourteous to the Guardian Camp’s strongest warrior.
Dongbo Chengzhi, however, wasn’t surprised and laughed, "Lord Beiming Jihu doesn’t like beating around the bush; after making contributions, you can just straightforwardly claim your rewards."
Indeed, Beiming Jihu handed Bai Pu a black scroll, smiling, "Rest assured, this expedition to the Underworld, to prevent the Great Dark Heaven, still needs your assistance."
Bai Pu received the black scroll.
[Side Task: Raid the Shadow Island Chain completed.]
[According to your completion process, the final difficulty level of this task is: S+.]
[Task completion evaluation: SS!]
[Task reward: Beiming Xuanjing Secret Technique (acquired)]
[Your reputation in the Black Tortoise Oath Camp has greatly increased; current reputation level: Adoration.]
The SS-level task evaluation was the same as the "Dragon’s Fang" evaluation, but the difficulty and quality of the two tasks were different.
Raiding the Shadow Island Chain was just a regular side task, but Bai Pu, through meticulous planning and coordination, finally created a scenario where his awakened team launched a frontal strong attack on the Profound Water Palace, hence the task difficulty was ultimately judged as S+.
Breaking through the Profound Water Palace and looting the Black Emperor’s treasures achieved an "SS" level task completion evaluation.
One is a reward for an S+ difficulty side task, the other for a B-level Golden Side Task. Overall, the B-level Golden Side Task is more valuable.
Typically, a Golden Side Task equates to a two-tier difficulty rise over a Silver Side Task; a Silver Side Task equals a two-tier difficulty rise over a normal side task.
The distinction between Golden Side and Silver Side lies in the task’s impact on the world mainline.
The Spirit Realm Will determined that helping Dongbo Chengzhi to acquire the White Dragon Fang had enormous influence on the world mainline, thus granting it as a Golden Side Task.
This is also why Bai Pu speculates that Dongbo Chengzhi is the World Protagonist. Following the World Protagonist involves high risks, but also great rewards!