The Monster is Coming

Chapter 427 Warm Soup in Snow Valley Reminisces, Bright Lights of Paradise Reunite with Old Friends

A snowy plain in the dead of winter, a snow valley.

Snowflakes fluttered down, and the continuous snow-capped peaks stood silently under the gray-white sky.

The cold wind swept across the valley, stirring up layers of snow dust that mingled in the air, creating a low, mournful sound.

This area may be unfamiliar to new players.

But it still holds a special place in the memories of veteran players.

The highly sought-after spatial elemental material "Kongyuan Stone," which commands a high price in the trading market, originates from a domain node deep within this snowfield: Kongyuan Peak.

Once upon a time, this snow valley was bustling with activity.

It is the starting point for countless new players.

After choosing your initial soul, you don't need to teleport across space; you'll be greeted by Ah Le's weakling army as soon as you step outside.

At that time, the Elysium Legion was in its early stages, and its structure in all aspects was very rough.

The scene of both sides acting like complete noobs provided plenty of amusement for the forum.

However, the "game" Monster World does not have version rollback or new server openings.

The players' stories continue to unfold, and the innocent days in the snow valley are ultimately sealed away in the memories of veteran players.

It has become a scene to look back on the past.

When Kongyuan Peak node is contained, it is integrated into the Dizhong Village mining area.

The local bully's Black Tide Legion advanced like an iron curtain into the frigid snowfield. Seeing that the situation was not good, Ah Le decisively closed down his business and fled.

The once bustling Snow Valley has fallen into complete silence.

Now, all that remains here is the crimson moon hanging high in the sky, the cold wind, and the flying snow, like a corner forgotten by time.

Only the battle scars buried deep beneath the snow record the clamor and passion of yesteryear.

At this moment, deep in the valley.

Beneath the sheltered mountainside, two figures sat around a flickering campfire.

The orange-red flames looked especially warm in this snow-covered world.

Deputy Commander Wu Xing was attentively tending to a small, rustic pot placed over the fire. The milky-white broth was bubbling and gurgling, emitting a rich and enticing aroma.

In the broth, translucent "snow jade lotus root" floats, while several slices of "lava tenderloin" as red as flames unfurl in the broth. A star-patterned stone covered with silver specks slowly releases pure energy as it is soaked in the broth, giving the broth a dreamy halo.

Wu Xing would occasionally stir with a spoon, sprinkling in a small pinch of shimmering "shattered star salt," or adding a few grains of condensing pearl grass that could enhance freshness and lock in vitality.

With each movement, the aroma in the pot becomes even more intense.

Amidst the rising steam, the heavy snow falling outside had already melted before it even got close.

"Come on, try my cooking. I'm a semi-spirit chef player, so the taste is guaranteed."

As Wu Xing spoke, he skillfully scooped up a spoonful of soup containing spiritual ingredients and poured it into the wooden bowl held by Yang Xiu.

Yang Xiu didn't stand on ceremony and immediately took a big gulp.

The moment the broth touches your mouth, your taste buds are awakened.

The crisp sweetness of the snow-white lotus root and the rich, intense flavor of the lava meat intertwine in the mouth, creating a wonderful taste sensation.

A warm current instantly slid from the throat into the stomach, and then spread to every part of the body.

Yang Xiu felt that the fatigue of the past few days had been relieved by this bowl of hot soup.

"Hiss... Whew..." Yang Xiu let out a satisfied sigh, a hint of amazement flashing in his eyes:
"Old Wu, your skills are truly exceptional, far superior to those concoctions in Death City that use Elysium Energy to fool ghosts."

"Of course. If I hadn't joined the Divine Hall Guild with you back then, I'd probably be an exploration-oriented and culinary-focused player now." Wu Xing proudly raised his chin, ladled himself a bowl, picked up a piece of meat soaked in broth, and put it in his mouth, mumbling:
“These are all genuine high-grade spiritual ingredients, every sip is pure essence. This pot of my own creation, the Yin-Yang Soup, would be worth at least this much in a trading house.” As he spoke, Wu Xing stretched out his palm and waved it.

"Five figures?" Yang Xiu asked tentatively.

"Fifty thousand sacrificial power." Yang Xiu clicked his tongue in amazement, then stopped asking questions and began to enjoy the food.

Hearing the price, the soup seemed even more delicious.

Wu Xing then took out a dark purple gourd from his spatial bag. The moment he pulled out the stopper, a clear and mellow aroma of wine immediately filled the air, suppressing the fragrance of the boiling spiritual food in the pot by half.

He delved into the sheep's lungs and internal organs, which invigorated him.

"Try this, it's Sea Spirit Wine, a specialty of the Azure Star Sea, it goes perfectly with this soup." Wu Xing handed the gourd to Yang Xiu.

Yang Xiu took it and tilted his head back to gulp it down.

The liquor is icy cold on the palate, like swallowing a mouthful of snow, but it bursts into a warm current as it slides down the throat, instantly making one feel completely comfortable.

"Good wine!" he exclaimed, handing the gourd back.

Wu Xing didn't take it. Instead, he took out a gourd from his spatial pouch, took a big gulp, wiped his mouth, and looked at Yang Xiu with a more serious expression.
“Old Yang, to be honest, you never planned to come back? It’s been two years since you left… Look at me, I joined the shrine with you back then, and now I’ve become the deputy commander of a branch. If you hadn’t left back then, this position would definitely be yours, and maybe you could have gone even further.”

"They said they'd only be gone for three months, then another three months, and now they can't come back."

Yang Xiu paused, his hand holding the spoon still, and the smile on his face gradually faded.

He gazed at the leaping campfire, remained silent for a moment, and then sighed:
"Of course I've thought about coming back. I've thought about it more than once. My original plan was to make a quick buck and come back... but it seems I've gotten a little too involved."

Upon hearing this, Wu Xing's expression also became more serious:
"Your teammates are truly exceptional. I've read posts from Blissful Players before, and they mostly described how the players schemed against each other and stabbed each other in the back. It's rare to see a team as united as your Soul Team. You saw it today too. To save you, they dared to rush forward even knowing it was a dead end. They were prepared to die... You didn't bring these brothers to waste."

As he spoke, he patted Yang Xiu on the shoulder:

"The benefits of Death Space are outdated, but once you get emotionally attached, it's hard to shake off. You need to think this through. The guild leader has always reserved a place for you, and your old brothers still miss you. Just let me know if you want to come back."

Yang Xiu nodded, a warm current flowing through his heart, yet mixed with even deeper, more complex emotions.

He tilted his head back again and took a large gulp of the spirit wine, a mixture of ice and fire, as if trying to swallow down his chaotic thoughts.

Yang Xiu understood Wu Xing's words perfectly.

In the eyes of veteran players, the Dead Space Trial was once an extremely difficult opportunity to win a prize.

Completing a trial once will grant you substantial sacrificial power; you will receive rewards upon death.

All the enhanced attributes from the Elysium player period will be converted into sacrificial power.

But those are all old almanacs.

The current Deadspace is more suitable for players who are just starting out or have graduated from the Ale Training Camp.

The way to maximize your rewards is to settle the score immediately after completing the trial and entering the monster world.

This way, they can return to the village with abundant sacrificial power and turn to other growth paths.

Very few players are truly willing to stick to one path to the end.

Ultimately, this is just a stage in the growth process.

As player factions evolve, so do the ways to earn rewards.

The current output of the Emperor's Tomb Mountain Range far surpasses the meager output of the Death Space.

The Earth Bully's Black Tide Legion and Zerg Legion deliver resources daily, along with occasional cross-regional node battles, and even cross-dimensional space dungeons with the Bully.

These combined profits far exceed those of two years ago.

After all, back then players were weak and bullies were poor, so everyone was fighting in low-level matches, and the rewards were naturally incomparable to those in Deadspace.

Yang Xiu stared at the bubbling spiritual food in the pot, the steam blurring his expression.

He understood perfectly well that returning to the Divine Hall Guild was the best option.

Thinking of this, he shook his head:

"Old Wu, some choices can never be measured by profit."

Wu Xing fell silent. He picked up the gourd and took a big gulp, the spicy liquid sliding down his throat.

Yang Xiu continued at this point:

"Old Wu, I've thought a lot during these two years in Dead Space. Tell me, what are we playing games for?"

He paused and continued:

“I used to think that becoming stronger, improving skills, opening star veins, and earning sacrificial power were all sources of happiness. But then I thought that in our short hundred-year lifespan, what we fight for in the game doesn’t necessarily have to be strength or weakness, victory or defeat.”

“Look at those adventurers, they traverse mountains and valleys, record the scenery, and study the plants and history of various regions... What do you think they’re after? Isn’t it the journey itself, the awe that can only be experienced by seeing it with their own eyes, and the joy of discovering the unknown and new things?”

"Profits are important, but there's no need to let them be the standard for measuring everything. Sometimes, the scenery along the way, the people who walk alongside us, and those unquantifiable experiences and emotions are what make our gaming journey unique... Perhaps when we can no longer play games in the future, these memories can still accompany us to the end of our lives."

Wu Xing was taken aback upon hearing this. He opened his mouth, but chose to continue listening to Yang Xiu's story. "In the Death Space, I led them through their struggle for survival, watching them grow from ignorance to resilience, entrusting each other with their lives... This journey itself, for me, is perhaps already an invaluable gain. What do you think, Old Wu?"

When questioned, Wu Xing wiped his mouth and laughed, scolding:
"If you say so, then so be it. I really don't know how to persuade you. I have many brothers in the temple, but we are all immortal. We don't really feel anything when we die. We can meet again in the village in an hour, and we can even have a meal together on the Misty Coast sometimes... So I can't empathize with you. If I say too much, you'll think I'm faking it."

After speaking, he patted Yang Xiu's shoulder forcefully:

"Alright, I won't try to persuade you anymore. Since you can't let go, just keep leading them through. If you need help, just say so. Don't end up like this time, where things almost really went wrong."

Yang Xiu smiled too, but this time his smile was much more relaxed:

"Don't worry, don't underestimate me just because I'm weak now. There will be plenty of opportunities to take advantage of others in the future. The Blissful Player Legion is a key research and development project for Ah Le. Who knows, there might be a series of welfare updates in the future. My Soul Squad is one of the top three teams on the list. We'll be the first to take advantage of it, and maybe our combat power will easily surpass yours in the future."

"Oh ho, you have big ambitions, but forget about surpassing us. If you spend more time browsing the forums, you'll know how well our Temple is developing now. We're not even in the same league as Death Space."

"Is it really that amazing?" Yang Xiu raised an eyebrow.

“Absolutely,” Wu Xing affirmed.

"Let me transfer 100,000 units of my sacrificial power to you and see how strong you are. I'm giving you this chance to show off, so you'd better seize it."

"You brat..." Wu Xing spat out a mouthful of wine, then laughed and cursed as he punched Yang Xiu in the chest.

Yang Xiu also laughed heartily, then raised his wine gourd:

"Let's not talk about this anymore, let's drink!"

The two gourds collided in mid-air, making a crisp sound.

Some roads are destined to be difficult, but in Yang Xiu's eyes, the people who walk alongside him make it all worthwhile.

The wind and snow continued to howl, but the campfire warmed this small patch of land.

……

Three days later, in the City of Death.

The Soul Squad's base.

Inside the hall, a deathly silence enveloped every inch of space.

This used to be the place where the Soul Squad would chat and laugh loudly after completing a mission, and share their spoils.

At this moment, only a suppressed silence remained.

The chair, which always occupied the main position in the hall and symbolized the core of the team, was now empty.

Black Snake sat alone in the shadows of a corner, head bowed, her long, pale purple hair falling down and obscuring her face.

She was clutching a thin silver disc tightly in her hand.

This is the last Tranquilizing Talisman that Yang Xiu distributed to them.

The stone statue stood against the wall, its heavy mask removed and placed at its feet, revealing a scarred face.

He stared blankly at the ground, his fists clenched tightly.

Li Man sat on the training equipment, his burly body now appearing hunched over.

Eagle Head sat at the usual conference table, wiping his arm armor repeatedly, his movements appearing unusually numb.

“We can’t… go on like this.” Just then, a hoarse voice broke the silence.

Everyone looked up and saw Light Shield stand up. He still had unhealed wounds on his body, but his eyes looked unusually firm.

"Our leader is gone, but the Soul Squad remains. Every codename we have was given to us by him, and he pulled us back from the brink of hell time and time again." As he spoke, his gaze swept over each face filled with despair.
"Do you think the boss would want to see the team he poured his heart and soul into building become this pathetic mess?"

"Now that our leader is gone, we should carry on his legacy and lead the Soul Squad to the top. To wallow in grief and despair would be the greatest betrayal of him... Don't forget, in the monster world, anything is possible. Perhaps when we are strong enough, we can resurrect our fallen leader."

Upon hearing this, the black snake suddenly raised its head, and a faint light ignited on its tear-streaked face.

It seemed as if I suddenly had the motivation.

The stone statue slowly straightened up at that moment, silently donned its mask, and made a soft "click" sound:
"I agree."

“Light Shield is right.” Eagle Head stopped wiping and fastened the arm armor back onto his arm.

"Our leader gave us a second life, not so we could give up on ourselves here. The Soul Squad... cannot fall. The monster world holds the hope we seek."

“That’s right.” Black Snake stood up, his voice still hoarse:
"We want to reach number one, and then become strong enough to overcome any obstacle and bring the leader back, even if he is now dead."

At this moment, the Soul Squad was injected with new energy because of Light Shield's words.

At this point, LightShield continued to propose:
“Since we all agree on this goal, let’s cheer up. I propose that we hold a temporary farewell ceremony for the boss.”

Light Shield deliberately emphasized the word "temporary," and then continued:
"This ceremony will be a new starting point for us, and a vow that we will do our best to fulfill."

"Let's go to Blissful Depths, that's the boss's favorite place," Black Serpent suggested.

Upon hearing this, Li Man nodded emphatically:
"That place is perfect."

……

That evening, the members of the Soul Squad, with heavy hearts, arrived at the only place of entertainment in the City of Death: Elysium.

They decided to hold a simple farewell ceremony for their eldest son here.

There was no remains, no tomb, only a cup of his favorite wine, offered in remembrance of the leader who had accompanied them through their growth, in the place where he frequented most.

Pushing open the dark purple energy door, a hazy light and a cacophony of sounds rushed out.

The inside was no different from usual.

All sorts of ecstasy players come here to drown their sorrows, exchange information, and try to numb their senses and forget the cruelty of the monster world.

The members of the Soul Squad who entered the bar all turned their gazes to that familiar corner, the spot where their leader often sat alone.

But to their dismay, a figure was sitting in that spot.

The man was wearing a large black cloak that completely concealed his figure, even his face was hidden in the shadow of the hood, and he was sitting there alone with a glass of wine with a faint blue luster in front of him.

Seeing someone take the leader's position, an unnamed anger instantly ignited in the hearts of the members of the Soul Squad.

That was the place they intended to place their grief; how could they allow others to occupy it?

Although no fighting is allowed in the City of the Dead, those who do so will be severely punished by the evil god.

But the underlying rules still exist.

That seat symbolizes the authority of the top three teams on the leaderboard, "Life Soul," and can also be seen as the exclusive position of the leader. This has almost become a consensus in Death City.

Other players in the Blissful Realm dared not offend the dignity of the Soul Squad.

While it may be safe in the City of Death, once you start a quest and enter the monster world, who can guarantee that you won't be hunted down across space by the Soul Squad?

At this moment, the black-robed man's actions were undoubtedly the most blatant provocation against the Soul Squad.

Deep breathing came from beneath the stone statue's mask, Li Man's fists clenched so tightly they cracked, and the black snake's eyes were so cold they could freeze the air... Even the usually composed Light Shield narrowed its eyes slightly.

They exchanged a glance, reaching a consensus without a word: this reckless fellow had to get out of here immediately.

Suppressing their displeasure, they walked toward that corner.

Just as they were about to reach their seats, exuding a menacing aura.

The man in black robes casually tapped the table twice with his left hand, which was the same gesture Yang Xiu had made when he asked for more wine.

This discovery made the black snake abruptly stop in its tracks, its breath catching in its throat.

The man in black robes then raised his wine glass, gently swirled the dark blue liquid inside, and drank it all in one gulp.

Only then did everyone realize that the man in black robes was drinking the "Sinking" drink that the boss often ordered.

The members of the Soul Squad were frozen in place as if under a spell, their pupils trembling violently.

An absurd yet heart-pounding conjecture flooded their minds.

In the deathly silence, the man in black robes put down his wine cup and let out a soft laugh that felt all too familiar to them.

Then he raised his other hand and pulled down the hood.

Under the light, there was a face with a familiar smile that they thought they would never see again.

Yang Xiu turned around at this moment, his gaze sweeping over the faces contorted with shock, finally settling on the black snake's purple eyes, which were instantly flooded with tears. His tone was teasing:

"What? You don't recognize your boss after only three days?"

(End of this chapter)