After Gyanendra, it was Cloud Peak's turn to act. Ye Zhongming personally stepped forward and swung the stone hammer, immediately feeling a strange recoil force that was extremely uncomfortable.
No wonder Wu Xiu had struck so lightly earlier.
Moreover, the hammer's force application was noticeably different from the first round.
Ye Zhongming pondered for a moment but did not strike immediately. Instead, he took out a card.
The factions watching from behind erupted in an uproar.
Because, aside from the Head Start Card, no other cards could be used during the initial phase.
No, to be precise, the first seven types of cards couldn't be used.
In other words, the card Ye Zhongming was using now had to be one of the last three.
That is, the Minor King Card, Major King Card, or Luck Card.
The Major King Card and Luck Card had purchase restrictions, so it could only be the Minor King Card!
But to use the Minor King Card on the very first moveâhad the leader of Cloud Peak gone mad?
After all, the Minor King Card could only be used once. Once used, it was gone!
Yet, against all expectations, Ye Zhongming used it.
"This idiot has lost his mind!"
The Mechanical Genius naturally seized the opportunity to mock, tossing out sarcastic remarks.
The Women Guard evolved, who hadnât left yet, also shook their heads, thinking this Easterner was far too reckless. How could he use such a precious card now? What would he do for the remaining nine rounds? Just wait to be beaten?
Even Cloud Peakâs own members hadnât expected their leader to do this. But out of trust in him, they believed there must be a reason.
At the same time, whether it was the taunting Mechanical Genius or the sighing Women Guard, everyone was intensely curious about the Minor King Cardâs effect. The wheel hadnât specifiedâso what was Cloud Peakâs cardâs attribute?
Ye Zhongming waved casually at his team with a confident air, and the entire group vanished.
When they reappeared, they were on Bright Star No. 8âthe one that had originally belonged to Cloud Peak but was now under Gyanendraâs control due to the Bad Neighbor Card.
Since the team had already arrived on the Bright Star, all factionsâwhether they had taken their turns or notâcould observe the situation. Every eye was fixed on the card in Ye Zhongmingâs hand.
Sure enough, the spaceâs announcement followed:
"Cloud Peak uses Minor King Card. Card attribute: Super Annexation."
Hearts raced as everyone formed their own interpretations.
But the spaceâs announcement ended there. What exactly was the Super Annexation Card? They would have to wait for the results.
Then, in an instant, Bright Star No. 8âwhich had just been seized by Gyanendraâs Bad Neighbor Cardâwas once again under Cloud Peakâs control.
Was this the Super Annexation Card?
But something still felt off.
Next, everyone learned the meaning of the word "Super."
"Cloud Peak selects Bright Stars No. 6, 7, and 19 as annexation targets. Gyanendra loses Bright Stars No. 6, 7, 8, and 19!"
The announcement sent shockwaves through the crowd.
Gyanendraâs earlier seizure of two stars had already stunned many, since gaining control of Bright Stars now required either bloodshed or exorbitant payments. To effortlessly claim two stars was an absolute windfall.
But Ye Zhongmingâs Super Annexation Card? It snatched four stars at onceâall from the same person!
This was downright broken!
"Ye Zhongming!"
A voice echoed across the starry expanseâGyanendraâs furious roar.
No one had expected the space to have this function. Many tried speaking, but only faction leaders had the "privilege" of having their voices broadcast to all.
Ye Zhongming didnât respond. He saw no need for dialogue.
As the faction with the highest chance of claiming the Mountain King Crown, his goal was simple: seize as many Bright Stars as possible and eliminate all potential threats.
Previously, Ye Zhongming had considered the Mechanical Genius the greatest threat. They had one more Bright Star than Cloud Peak in the initial phase, and surpassing them would require tremendous effort.
But Ye Zhongming was confident. The Mechanical Geniusâs personality and his teamâs composition made them ill-suited for ten consecutive battles. Defeating them was within reach.
As for Great America, the Women Guard, and Gyanendraâgiven their lower Bright Star countsâYe Zhongming had already mentally written them off as competitors.
Who could have guessed that Gyanendra would immediately make a power move, becoming a major variable?
This was unacceptable to Ye Zhongming.
The best way to deal with a variable was to eliminate it.
So he struck hard, using the invaluable Minor King Card in the very first round.
At this stage, he couldnât afford to sit back and watch. He had to crush all threats in their infancy.
Whoever dared to rise, whoever posed a threatâYe Zhongming would bury them.
Now that Gyanendra had revealed his trump card, Ye Zhongmingâs first shot was aimed squarely at him.
"Since the occupied Bright Star is no longer under your control, Gyanendra, please choose: fight, pay, or play a card."
"Cloud Peak, please select a guardian beast and decide whether to upgrade it."
Smiling, Ye Zhongming tapped a guardian beast on the crystal disk visible to all.
"Madman!"
"Do you even have that much money?!"
"This guy really wants Gyanendra dead!"
"Cloud Peakâwe should remember them and stay far, far away."
"This kid is ruthless. Getting on his bad side means death."
The first remark came from the Mechanical Genius, whose earlier schadenfreude had vanished. He now felt relieved he hadnât taken his turn yetâotherwise, that Super Annexation might have been aimed at him.
The following comments came from the Women Guard and Great America. After witnessing Cloud Peakâs move, their hopes of claiming the treasureâboosted earlier by the cardsâinstantly dimmed.
The last line was Wu Xiuâs lament. Like the Mechanical Genius, she felt fortunate. With a faction like Cloud Peak, it was far better to be a friend than an enemy.
Ye Zhongming had chosen one of the six strongest guardian beasts in the triangular zoneâone of the two in the second row!
In terms of strength, it was second only to the multi-headed dragon at the very top!
But he wasnât done.
Under the horrified gazes of Gyanendraâs subordinates, he selected upgrades.
Not just oneâfive consecutive upgrades!
He had maxed out this already formidable guardian beast.
And thenâyes, Ye Zhongming still wasnât finished.
He took out another card.
He was about to use a second card in this round!