Jiang Yan watched as Chen Guo disappeared into the depths of Blackwater Town, a place fraught with danger. In just a few swift movements, Chen Guo had left the town behind and ventured into an even more perilous territory.
"Look, Chen Guo has left Blackwater Town, but he's headed deeper into danger, and he's on his own..." Jiang Yan's eyes suddenly widened with realization, "Could he be the elusive big boss?"
The audacity to venture alone into such danger was characteristic of the mysterious big boss everyone was whispering about.
"No way, how could he be the elusive big boss?"
"It's quite possible. I mean, not just anyone can make it to Blackwater Town!"
"Do you think we've actually crossed paths with the big boss?"
Faces exchanged glances, filled with a mix of astonishment and doubt.
Just then, a system notification broke the silence.
"Trial challenger? Defeated a Level 3 Demon, earning 320 Slaughter Points!"
Liang Kuan inhaled sharply, "He's barely left Blackwater Town for a higher-level area, and the system's already reporting that the hidden big boss has slain a Level 3 Demon. It looks like he's the rumored Level 6 big boss! We've missed our chance with this big boss!"
Liang Kuan was mortified, recalling how he had scrutinized and judged the hidden big boss as if he were mere merchandise. The thought of missing out on such a powerful ally had him beating his chest and stomping his feet in vexation.
"He... He's really that powerful..."
The thought of Chen Guo's prowess made Jiang Yan's face pale.
...
On the outskirts of Doonatel.
A mere five or six miles past Blackwater Town, one could see Doonatel.
Much like Blackwater, Doonatel was a desolate place, overgrown with weeds and in ruins, the sky heavy with an ominous aura that screamed danger.
Therefore, Chen Guo didn't head straight into Doonatel. Instead, he sought ways to bolster his strength on the city's fringes.
Two types of monsters roamed the outskirts.
One was the Human Demon.
A Level 3 monster with a combat strength of 450, the Human Demon bore a striking resemblance to a zombie, albeit less decayed. At a glance, it could be mistaken for a sickly, yet living person.
Moreover, the Human Demons didn't need to hop around; they could move just like humans.
Yet, they lacked any real intelligence, only capable of uttering nonsensical phrases such as "May the Bodhisattva of Medicine Valley bless us."
Another type was the fourth-level disciples from Medicine Valley.
These disciples boasted a fighting capacity of 610.
Dressed in green robes and armed with weapons, their eyes were void of life, lacking any sign of intelligence. They were mute, essentially puppets.
However, Medicine Valley disciples were far fewer in number.
Killing these two types of monsters yielded a generous amount of slaughter points. Chen Guo decided to stay in the area, relentlessly hunting the creatures.
In Blackwater Town, people were fiercely competing for the red-haired zombies, often escalating into full-blown brawls and team skirmishes.
Chen Guo, however, managed to stay one step ahead, efficiently dispatching monsters without the concern of competition.
That's the power of taking the initiative!
Chen Guo wasn't one for rash actions. He preferred to play it safe and focus on growth, wishing he could train just outside Doonatel to ascend to the status of a Sword God.
But that was a pipe dream. Aside from the soaring requirements for slaughter points and the tasks set by the system, lingering too long would allow other trial challengers to catch up and vie for the same monsters.
Elite squads had already attempted to take down the Human Demons, only to retreat to Blackwater Town after realizing they were outmatched, almost exclusively targeting the red-haired zombies.
Knowing that time was precious, Chen Guo was determined to eliminate these creatures with utmost efficiency.
He summoned the Yellow Turban Warriors repeatedly.
With the Yellow Turban Warrior taking the lead, Chen Guo utilized electromagnetic manipulation to wield the Seven Star Sword as a flying weapon, slaying his foes from a distance.
He exercised extreme caution, avoiding close-quarters combat whenever possible.
This prudence proved to be effective.
The Human Demons were one thing, but the Medicine Valley disciples practiced sorcery and their bodies were toxic. Engaging them in hand-to-hand combat would surely be detrimental.
After the Yellow Turban Warrior fell, Chen Guo became acutely aware of the threat posed by the Medicine Valley disciples.
"You've slain a level 4 disciple from Medicine Valley and earned 500 slaughter points!"
"Ding! You've received 1 blue treasure chest and 1 golden treasure chest fragment."
"Blue Treasure Chest: Upon opening, you can acquire an item of blue quality!"
"Golden Treasure Chest Fragment: Collect 20 of these to assemble a golden treasure chest, which yields golden quality items!"
"There's a 1% chance of obtaining a treasure chest or treasure chest fragment when you defeat monsters above level 3!"
The system offered a substantial boost.
Chen Guo had an epiphany.
Initially, he was puzzled about how to acquire skills and equipment if defeating monsters only resulted in leveling up. Surely, trial challengers weren't limited to just their levels, right?
Now, it was clear that there was a 1% chance of getting a treasure chest from monsters above level 3. Though the odds were slim, with a team, it was common to level up after slaying a few hundred monsters, ensuring a decent drop rate for treasure chests.
Chen Guo's interest piqued at the sight of the unexpected blue treasure chest and golden treasure chest fragment.
"I wonder if I can duplicate these treasure chests and fragments?"
Without hesitation, Chen Guo placed his hand on the blue treasure chest and initiated Omnipresent Duplication.
"Ding! Duplication activated. You've acquired another blue treasure chest!"
"Ding! Duplication activated. You've acquired another blue treasure chest!"
"Ding! Duplication activated. You've acquired another blue treasure chest!"
"Due to the rules of creation, you can only duplicate up to three chests..."
Chen Guo discovered he could only duplicate a maximum of three chests, but this was still an incredible advantage—it meant he could gain triple the rewards!
"Let's open these treasure chests!"
With that thought, Chen Guo eagerly opened all four blue treasure chests at once.
"You've obtained the Soul Slaying Saber!"
"The Soul Slaying Saber, with an attack range of 20-30, is especially effective against ghosts!"
"You've obtained an Attribute Pill!"
"Consuming the Attribute Pill boosts all attributes by 2!"
"You've obtained the Level 8 Dragon Fist skill!"
"The Level 8 Dragon Fist, an immensely powerful technique taught to the protectors by the Qing Sect!"
"You've obtained the Heaven Snow Robe!"
"The Heaven Snow Robe, expertly tailored, offers protection against certain spiritual attacks once donned!"
The quality of the Soul Slaying Saber is comparable to the Seven Star Sword, though it may have a slight edge in combating spirits.
The Attribute Pill is undoubtedly a valuable find.
The Level 8 Dragon Fist, being of a lower rank than the Mao Mountain Body Technique, was superseded by it, yet it boosted the technique's attack power by 5%.
Styled after Ming Dynasty Hanfu, the Heaven Snow Robe gives off a Taoist priest vibe, but its ability to ward off spiritual attacks made it a practical choice for Chen Guo.
"Gear, abilities, stats... this chest has it all, if only the drop rate weren't so abysmal! Time to try duplicating the golden treasure chest fragment. I'm curious if I can replicate 19 at once to unlock the golden treasure chest..."
Mulling over the possibilities, Chen Guo set to work on duplicating the golden treasure chest fragment.