Chapter 188: Chapter 187: The Predator's Pursuit, Crisis Approaches!
[Tianjing, Glory Guild Headquarters]
Late at night, Ling Ao sat alone in his office, smoking one cigarette after another, his thoughts heavy.
This was because he had already learned that his precious daughter had awakened a Predator in the Seventh World.
He also knew very clearly: awakening a Predator comes at a great cost.
More than ten years ago, when he first stepped into the Seventh World, he had accidentally awakened a Predator himself. For this, he sacrificed two of his permanent revival chances...
Ling Ao was consumed by guilt and regret, wishing he could slap himself to death.
This was because, more than ten years ago, after accidentally awakening a Predator, he had posted the news on a website he created.
Later, the website was shut down.
Ling Ao didn't know how his daughter had found this website again, but he hated himself: why did he set the login password to his daughter's birthday?
This had led to Ling Ke'er blindly trying combinations, ultimately using her birthday to crack the password and read about how to awaken a Predator on the website.
"I'm sorry, Ke'er. It's Dad's fault. Dad pushed you into the abyss."
Fortunately, the situation hadn't reached an irreversible stage yet.
He immediately called Glory Peerless: "Gather everyone from your Glory Guild over there and ensure the Predator, Taotie, is protected in the Seventh World. Do not let anyone harm it."
"Yes, Chairman."
Just as he hung up, Ling Ao suddenly received a call from the old butler: "Master, one of our [Divine Concealment Scrolls] sold at the Interdimensional Trading Post last night."
Ling Ao, uninterested in such trivial matters, impatiently said,"Handle these small matters yourself. No need to report them to me."
Butler Li on the other end insisted: "Although the specific address of the buyer is private, the buyer's general location is listed as Linhai City in Zhejiang Province."
"I heard Miss Ke'er went to Linhai City, and she also awakened a Predator..."
"Miss Ke'er intends to use the Predator to deal with that Beast Tamer named Zero. I heard Zero is trapped in a safe zone by the Predator, unable to escape. And since Predators track their targets through their aura, the Divine Concealment Scroll happens to hide a professional's aura. I suspect..."
Hearing this, Ling Ao seemed to understand immediately.
He abruptly ended the butler's call and dialed Glory Peerless again: "Take your men to search the wilderness around your tribe immediately. Leave no area unchecked."
In Ling Ao's mind, it was all because of Zhang Yue that his daughter had become this way.
Ling Ao himself had long hated Zhang Yue to the core and wouldn't let him off easily.
If Zhang Yue really was the buyer and used the Divine Concealment Scroll to hide his aura, then let the people of Glory Guild find Zhang Yue, unleash the Predator, and kill him.
———
Elsewhere, Glory Peerless received Ling Ao's orders and immediately led his men out to search the wilderness.
However, since only around twenty Glory Guild members were currently active in the Seventh World, the search was progressing slowly.
Around midnight, one of the Glory Guild's assassins found his way to the Slime Village.
When he saw a figure deep in the village, accompanied by a dragon and a skeleton, slaughtering slimes at an abnormal speed, he immediately determined: that must be Zero.
He quickly messaged Glory Peerless: ["Guild Master, I've found Zero. He's in Slime Village."]
Glory Peerless relayed the message to Ling Ke'er.
Ling Ke'er logged in immediately, appearing at the south gate of the Otiman Tribe. She ordered the Predator, Taotie, stationed outside the south gate: "He's in Slime Village. Go kill him."
Taotie's eyes gleamed with killing intent. With a roar, it darted toward Slime Village at an incredible speed.
Little did they know, this scene was witnessed by Overlord Blade and Overlord Hunter hiding in a corner inside the south gate.
"Not good, that creature has found Zhang Yue." Overlord Hunter said. "Quick, inform Zhang Yue to retreat."
"It's too late," Overlord Blade replied. "His mission only has 2% progress left. If he retreats now, the mission will fail."
"What do we do, then?" Overlord Hunter was conflicted.
Overlord Blade turned to his group, speaking in a low voice:"Anyone with revival chances left this week, come with me to Slime Village to escort Zhang Yue."
"Those without revival chances, stay behind."
With that, Overlord Blade led a group of his men toward Slime Village.
———
Meanwhile, Tian Xin'er, busy clearing the Sixth World, also received news through the guild.
Tian Xin'er, who had always cared about Zhang Yue, was especially anxious upon learning that he had been killed by the Predator and targeted again. She had her grandfather send several high-level Tian family professionals from the higher worlds back to the Seventh World, disguised as freelancers to monitor the Predator.
Although these professionals, at over level 200, were suppressed to below level 100 in the Seventh World and couldn't harm the level 50 Taotie, at least they could track its movements and report back to Tian Xin'er.
Upon hearing that the Predator was already on its way to kill Zhang Yue, Tian Xin'er became frantic.
"If only I were in the Seventh World."
"What do I do? How can I help Zhang Yue?"
Su Jinyan, standing beside her, was equally worried about Zhang Yue.
Seeing Tian Xin'er's distressed expression, Su Jinyan suddenly had an idea: "I might have a way to help Zhang Yue."
Tian Xin'er asked eagerly, "What's your idea?"
———
Back at Slime Village, Zhang Yue continued slaughtering slimes.
At this point, his [Slime Slayer] quest was 98.9% complete.
With only 1.1% left, he estimated it would take just ten more minutes to finish the quest.
The Divine Concealment Scroll's effect had 30 minutes remaining—plenty of time.
However, Zhang Yue had already received word from Overlord Blade that the Predator was en route.
He had to kill the remaining slimes even faster.
Unfortunately, Zhang Yue's speed still couldn't outpace the Predator.
When the quest progress reached 99.5%, Zhang Yue suddenly sensed an overwhelming aura of a god-tier boss closing in from outside the village...
WHOOSH!
A shadow darted into Slime Village at lightning speed.
In the darkness, the wolf-faced, humanoid Predator Taotie, its blood-red eyes glowing ominously, appeared.
However, upon entering the village, Taotie found it eerily quiet.
Aside from a few wandering slimes, there was no sign of anyone.
But as a god-tier boss, Taotie had sentience.
It knew Zhang Yue was still in the village.
However, the Divine Concealment Scroll had hidden Zhang Yue's aura, making it impossible for Taotie to pinpoint his exact location.
Taotie began scouring the village for Zhang Yue's whereabouts.
As time ticked by, Taotie drew closer and closer to Zhang Yue's hiding spot.
Behind a mud wall, Zhang Yue gripped his staff, ready for a life-or-death battle.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed from behind.
Taotie turned abruptly to see a group of professionals rushing in.
They were Overlord Blade, Overlord Hunter, and their comrades.
Overlord Blade, wielding his warblade, pointed at Taotie and shouted, "ATTACK!"
Archers and mages flanking him locked onto Taotie and launched long-range attacks.
ROAR!
With a deafening roar, Taotie charged at Overlord Blade and his group with blinding speed...
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