"Master, run! We'll hold them off!"
Dou Youyou and the others rushed towards Zhang Pingfan with anxious expressions, unsure of what happened after death.
Zhang Pingfan shook his head. "All of you, retreat! I'm immobilized and can't escape!"
Facing the Dragon Claw, Zhang Pingfan closed his eyes.
He wondered what would happen if he, an NPC, died. Would it all end?
He had done all he could, enjoyed being a powerful figure, and was willing to return to his original state.
Just as everyone believed Zhang Pingfan was doomed,
Just as everyone believed the mission was about to fail,
Even Zhang Pingfan thought he couldn't evade this attack.
A willow branch suddenly appeared in the void.
Accompanied by a terrifying pressure, the willow branch struck from across the void.
The entire space seemed to freeze.
The willow branch's appearance broke the stalemate.
The Azure Dragon Demon Emperor stood frozen, unable to move an inch.
With a gentle sweep of the willow branch, the Azure Dragon Demon Emperor's massive body was sent flying.
The willow branch struck again, and the White Tiger Demon Emperor and the Black Tortoise Demon Emperor were both hit, spitting blood like kites with broken strings.
The willow branch moved once more.
The three demon emperors were tightly bound by the willow branch and tossed aside like trash.
After completing its task, the willow branch vanished into a spatial rift before everyone's eyes.
Once the willow branch disappeared, everyone realized they had forgotten to breathe.
"Damn, I couldn't move just now!"
"Me too! Everyone was frozen! What was that willow branch? It was terrifying!"
"The three top bosses couldn't even resist the willow branch's attack. It was too fearsome."
"So terrifying! We thought the mission was over and would fail, but the Village Chief had this up his sleeve! The Village Chief is mighty and domineering! No wonder he wasn't moving, he had this planned!"
"The Village Chief is indeed the Village Chief, never disappointing us. It seems our cultivation needs to improve. The Village Chief wasn't panicking, so why should we?!"
"Exactly! We thought the mission was going to fail, but the Village Chief showed off again!"
"The Village Chief is too much of a show-off! Tomorrow's headline will probably be about this!"
In reality, Zhang Pingfan was as surprised as everyone else and had no idea where the willow branch came from.
However, hearing the surrounding players attribute all the credit to him, Zhang Pingfan didn't object.
He decided to treat it as his trump card. With so many people around, even if he hadn't done it, he had to claim responsibility. Moreover, this display of power was a success!
Thankfully, he hadn't panicked at the last moment, or he would have been exposed.
The Barbarian City Lord trembled all over as he watched the willow branch. Even at his level, he couldn't discern what it was.
His feeling was one of immense dread!
Zhang Pingfan cleared his throat.
"Ahem, the three demon emperors have been subdued. Begin clearing the battlefield!"
"Yes, Village Chief, the Village Chief is mighty!"
"Village Chief is so handsome and awesome!"
The Undying Bird knew its master was testing it and was glad it had always been loyal.
It knew that a powerful entity would appear at the critical moment, and indeed, the willow branch made its soul tremble.
Zhang Pingfan approached the three demon emperors, who were now powerless, bound by the willow branch.
The Undying Bird also walked up to Zhang Pingfan and transformed into human form.
Zhang Pingfan pointed at the Azure Dragon. "Azure Dragon Demon Emperor, are you willing to become my servant!"
The Azure Dragon Demon Emperor's expression was extremely complex.
No wonder his third brother was willing to serve this young man. His backing was too formidable! A single willow branch had easily subdued them.
The Undying Bird also helped persuade him.
"Brother, you saw the terrifying willow branch just now. If you continue to be stubborn, you might truly die. Does that Lord of Domination have this ability?"
The Azure Dragon Demon Emperor said in a low voice, "Brother, why didn't you say this earlier?"
The Undying Bird rolled its eyes. "I already told you, but you didn't believe me. The Director was testing us, so he used his power at the last moment."
Zhang Pingfan nodded. "If you are unwilling, then there is no need to keep you three alive!"
The Azure Dragon Demon Emperor nodded repeatedly. "Master, we are willing to become your servants!"
Zhang Pingfan chuckled.
Three master-servant contracts appeared in his hand.
"Sign the contracts, and you shall be free!"
The Azure Dragon Demon Emperor, White Tiger Demon Emperor, and Black Tortoise Demon Emperor didn't dare to hesitate.
If they hesitated any longer, they would think they were insane. With such a powerful hidden force, crushing them would be as easy as crushing an ant.
They didn't want to die here.
Watching the three demon emperors sign the family contracts, Zhang Pingfan's tense heart finally relaxed.
Damn, he almost thought he was finished. But what exactly was that willow branch?
"Master, are you alright? What was that willow branch? We've never seen anything like it!"
Dou Youyou and the others were also full of questions. If they had such a good thing, why didn't they use it sooner?
Zhang Pingfan paused. "It's my life-saving trump card. Do I need to explain it to you? As for what the willow branch is, you will know in the future!" I don't know myself, and who knows if I'll ever find out.
"Oh, Master, can the mission be completed now?"
Zhang Pingfan nodded.
"Kill all these remaining wild monsters, and the mission should be completed. You all go and kill those monsters!"
"Yes, Master!"
"System Sister, what was that willow branch just now? Did you arrange it? This thing is too powerful! The whole space felt frozen when it appeared!"
[Ding! I don't know anything, don't ask me, if you ask me, I don't know!]
"...Why do I feel like you know something? What's there to keep secret? Tell me, don't you control this game?"
[Ding! Although I control this game, there are many things far more powerful than me. You can guess for yourself!]
"...Uh, I feel like your role isn't very significant!"
[Ding! Are you looking for a beating again?]
"No, no, no, just kidding, big sister, you are the most powerful!"
Zhang Pingfan felt strange that the system hadn't punished him.
Who could be helping him? And if even the system was unwilling to say, it meant this person was definitely stronger than the system.
It seemed this game was far more complex than he had imagined.
He had thought that with the system, he was the chosen one, invincible as long as nothing went wrong. Now, it seemed he was gravely mistaken. The system was not omnipotent.