"And then?" Chen Guo asked, his voice tinged with skepticism. "Do you really think I care about acquiring those items? I couldn't care less! I've moved beyond the need for automatic trading. Sooner or later, I'll collect some things."
Lee Fala replied with a hint of pride, "A true boss always has patience. My approach is simply to showcase the Tiger Claw Gang's might."
"Let me give you the rundown: our Tiger Claw Gang now boasts over 20,000 members, including dozens of elite fighters above level 10. You ought to recognize our strength."
Chen Guo's frown deepened. "And what exactly does that have to do with me? I couldn't be less interested in your so-called Tiger Claw Gang."
Lee Fala pressed on, "Now, I have a few demands for you, so pay attention. First, you're to contribute two-thirds of your thrombin pills to our Tiger Claw Gang. This will also apply to any future spoils of war—you'll hand over two-thirds."
"Second, you must join the Tiger Claw Gang. I'll offer you the position of an elder, which should be considered an honor."
"Third, you need to share the secret of your strength and wealth with us. We want in on your secrets!"
"If you agree to these three conditions, it'll be a win-win for everyone. But if you refuse, our Tiger Claw Gang will make your life exceedingly difficult."
The threat was unmistakable.
Chen Guo couldn't help but laugh in exasperation. "Are you out of your mind? Do you take me for an idiot?" he scoffed. "Putting aside the absurdity of your demands, do you honestly believe you can hinder my every move? Do you even have that capability?"
Lee Fala admitted, "I concede that you're currently the strongest fighter in the world, but you've made a grave error—you're a lone wolf."
"Without allies, you're vulnerable. Our Tiger Claw Gang, on the other hand, is vast in number. We've taken down bosses stronger than you with ease. You're no threat to us."
"Cross the Tiger Claw Gang, and it won't just be a matter of difficulty moving around—you'll face a fate worse than death. Consider your options carefully."
Lee Fala revealed the source of his confidence: the Tiger Claw Gang boasted over 20,000 members, with dozens ranking Level 10 and above. If they mobilized against Chen Guo, it would certainly be a formidable display of power.
"My response to you is just four words: Get lost!" Chen Guo declared, promptly ending the private chat with Lee Fala and blocking him.
Lee Fala's threat was no laughing matter, yet Chen Guo remained utterly unconcerned. For now, interaction between the Beginner Villages was impossible. By the time they began to merge into a larger region, Chen Guo's abilities would have grown exponentially.
Even now, Chen Guo might not be able to take on the entire Tiger Claw Gang, but with the Flying Thunder God Art at his disposal, he could move freely, unafraid of any ambush.
The idea that Lee Fala thought he could intimidate him was laughable.
Meanwhile, Lee Fala, attempting to reach out to Chen Guo again, was incensed to find himself blacklisted.
"Ungrateful Guangcheng," Lee Fala snarled, his expression twisted with rage. "It seems we have no choice but to deploy that treasure! Since Guangcheng spurns our goodwill, we'll just have to show him the extent of our power!"
...
Having blocked Lee Fala, Chen Guo felt a sense of liberation, all the previous complications now behind him. He unleashed a reign of terror in Doonatel.
But the city's common monsters no longer provided enough slaughter points for him to level up.
Chen Guo turned his attention to the few remaining formidable creatures. He had already cleared out the monsters from Huaqing Temple.
Only the Glow Building and the City Lord's Mansion remained.
Chen Guo resolved to strike at the Glow Building first, then the City Lord's Mansion. The ordinary Fiend Demons roaming the city would be left for future trial challengers. After all, Chen Guo couldn't hoard all the opportunities; he had to leave some for others.
The Glow Building stood as the pinnacle of Doonatel's architecture, a towering six-story structure. On Blue Star, it would hardly be noteworthy, but in this ancient world, the Glow Building was an architectural marvel.
The Glow Building, thanks to its superior construction, remained standing despite the chaos. It was a testament to its resilience, showing little sign of damage.
Yet, the entire structure was shrouded in a sinister aura, casting an air of dread and horror all around.
Situated beside Phoenix Lake, the remnants of once-bustling pavilions and pleasure boats hinted at the Glow Building's former vibrancy.
Now, only desolation and the creatures lurking in the shadows occupied this space.
Upon entering, Chen Guo immediately realized the nature of the establishment – it was a brothel, no less!
Its grandeur made sense; throughout history, such places were akin to paradise on earth, raking in profits.
Inside, the Glow Building's monsters took the form of beautiful women, but these were no ordinary women – they were demons in disguise, their beguiling exteriors masking a malevolent core.
"Painted Skin Demons, Level 9, with a combat strength of 1640! These fiends stripped the prostitutes of their skin and wore it as their own, transforming what was once a golden hub into a den of evil!"
"Dear customer, won't you come and play with me?"
"Hehe, you're quite the handsome one, aren't you?"
"I have a fondness for wealthy young gentlemen like yourself!"
It wasn't long before the Painted Skin Demons noticed Chen Guo. They swarmed around him, deploying their enchantments in an attempt to bewitch him.
Their beauty was undeniable, clad in sheer silk that was undeniably seductive. Any ordinary man would have been ensnared, his identity forgotten, devoured by their allure.
But Chen Guo's mental fortitude was exceptional. He saw through the facade to the repugnant truth beneath, more revolting than the foulest cesspool.
"You vile creatures, I see right through your disguise. Reveal your true form!"
"Five-Element Thunder Magic, strike!"
"Spirit Gourd Curse, strike!"
"Secret Sect Palm Technique, strike, strike, strike!"
Chen Guo showed no mercy. His onslaught was relentless, reducing the horde of demons to nothingness, leaving them no place to hide.
With his staggering combat power of 5,500, the Painted Skin Demons stood no chance against even a single blow from him!
"You've slain the Skin-Changer and earned 3,100 Slaughter Points!"
"You've slain the Skin-Changer and gained 3,100 Slaughter Points!"
Chen Guo embarked on a relentless rampage, clearing one floor before ascending to the next. Upon reaching the sixth floor, a radiant burst of light signaled his advance to level 11.
His fighting capacity surged to 5,574!
Simultaneously, Chen Guo caught sight of the demonic nexus within the Glow Building.
"What is love in this world, that it commands life and death to pledge themselves to each other..." In the pavilion on the sixth floor, an enchanting woman was playing the zither and singing.