The two Beginner Villages were split apart, reverting to their original forms.
Chen Guo couldn't help but feel a tinge of disappointment.
He hadn't had his fill of battle before they surrendered.
But victory was his, and the details no longer mattered.
"I'm aware that many covet what I have. Lee Fala and the Tiger Claw Gang are prime examples," Chen Guo declared in the district channel with composure. "However, I advise those who seek to trouble me to first weigh their own strength. My rule is simple: if you don't cross me, I won't cross you. But if you do, I'll wipe out your entire lineage!"
"Boss Guangcheng is invincible, single-handedly toppling a Beginner Village, standing against two thousand foes alone—a feat without equal!"
"Boss Guangcheng is truly a deity among us!"
"I never had an idol before, but from this day forward, I've made my choice—Boss Guangcheng, you are my idol!"
Chen Guo's battle achievements left countless in awe. To single-handedly bring down an entire Beginner Village was nothing short of domineering!
Just then, two special announcements echoed:
"Ancestor Dark River has taken pleasure in witnessing this battle. The Explorer's art of slaughter and audacity have earned the Ancestor's favor, thus marking him with the Dark River Path!"
"Dark River Path: Significantly boosts HP and accelerates HP recovery speed!"
"Ancestor Dark River has also watched this battle, finding the trial challenger Lee Fala's cowardice displeasing, bestowing upon him the Blood Demon's Curse!"
"Blood Demon's Curse: Suffering from the Underworld River's curse, your health points will be drastically reduced, along with a slower recovery rate!"
It appeared that the Ancestor Dark River from the ancient world had been watching the battle, dispensing both rewards and punishments!
This deepened Chen Guo's sense that the Whole Heaven Battlefield was a complex realm, possibly even a playground for the pantheon of gods.
"Long live Boss Guangcheng!"
"Boss Guangcheng is the unrivaled champion of the world!"
"Without Boss Guangcheng, our 996 Beginner Village would have been doomed. We didn't just win; we gained a windfall of resources beyond our wildest dreams. A fortune made, all thanks to Boss Guangcheng's grace!"
"Boss Guangcheng, we're eternally grateful!"
Survivors from the 996 Beginner Village slowly came together. From the original 2,500 residents, only about 1,000 remained.
The loss in numbers was staggering.
Yet, when it came to resources, the other side had forked over half. Although Chen Guo claimed the lion's share, the remaining wealth, once divided, was a significant boon for everyone.
Thanks to these assets, the 996 Beginner Village could now bolster its strength beyond its previous capabilities.
It was common knowledge that Chen Guo was the catalyst for this windfall. Without him, such fortune would have been unthinkable.
"This situation arose because of me, so consider your gains a form of restitution. Keep pushing forward!" Chen Guo offered a serene word of encouragement to all, "I've got other matters to attend to, catch you later... Oh, and the monsters in Doonatel? They're all yours. I've set my sights on more distant horizons."
With that, Chen Guo invoked the Flying Thunder God Art and vanished into thin air.
At that moment, had Chen Guo wished to create his own faction, a mere look would have sufficed to rally everyone to his cause, ready to serve loyally and face any peril.
But for now, he chose to remain a solitary wanderer.
"A dragon that shows its head but hides its tail, who comes and goes without a trace—that's the mark of a true boss!"
"Boss Guangcheng is the pride of our 996 Beginner Village. Even though he may not need it, perhaps one day he will. Why not form a gang in his honor?"
"Absolutely. We should form a gang for Boss Guangcheng, hold him in high esteem as our leader, and grow stronger. When Boss Guangcheng needs us, we'll be ready to brave any danger for him!"
Propelled by gratitude, the Four Seas Gang and Bellowtalons of the Beginner Village disbanded.
After some deliberation, they agreed to form a new gang named "Jade Void Temple."
The Jade Void Temple on Mount Kunlun, the sanctuary of Primus and the cradle of the Sect of Revelation, was a fitting namesake for Guangcheng's force, given his status as one of the Sect's Twelve Golden Immortals. It was a fitting and flawless choice.
Unbeknownst to Chen Guo, he had become the sect master of the Jade Void Temple, with Zhou Tao serving as the vice sect master.
...
The 996 Beginner Village was bustling with newcomers, yet the 10733 Beginner Village seemed to be in the throes of hell.
Once a thriving community, the 10733 Beginner Village, home to the formidable Tiger Claw Gang—a top ten gang in the region—had fallen from grace after a devastating defeat.
A staggering 50% of resources were seized, halving the wealth of its inhabitants and dealing a severe blow to their vitality.
Yet, the loss of resources paled in comparison to the deduction of 200 attribute points. This reduction halved the fighting capacity of many, with weaker trial challengers seeing direct hits to their health points. Although there were no fatalities, numerous individuals were left lying weakly in the village, barely clinging to life.
Overnight, the once-prosperous Beginner Village regressed to its pre-liberation state, seemingly unable to ever catch up with other villages.
But who was to blame for this catastrophe?
All fingers pointed at Lee Fala.
It was Lee Fala who had provoked Boss Guangcheng.
It was Lee Fala who had declared war on the 996 Beginner Village.
Lee Fala was identified as the instigator of the chaos.
Consequently, Lee Fala became the target of widespread resentment, his once-sturdy reign teetering on the brink of collapse.
Lee Fala's personal situation was dire.
His fighting capacity had plummeted to 923, insufficient to command respect from his followers.
Moreover, he was afflicted with the Blood Demon Curse by the Nether River ancestor, leaving him vulnerable and feeble.
Key allies, who had been pillars of his rule, had perished at the hands of Chen Guo.
This led Lee Fala to the grim realization that his days as the leader of the Tiger Claw Gang were numbered, and whether he could secure a dignified exit remained uncertain.
"Damn it, those traitors are close to staging a coup!" Lee Fala raged, "But would I have even gone after Guangcheng if not for them? Surely, we can't all share in the feast and then not stand together when it's time to face the consequences?"
"There's no choice. The losses are too substantial. To defuse the situation, we must find a way to redirect the blame," Lee Fala's last loyal confidant remarked with a wry smile.
"Everything I have is thanks to Guangcheng. To take him on, I need to redirect the conflict toward him!" Lee Fala said through clenched teeth.
"You dare to mess with Guangcheng?!" His confidant was taken aback. "He's a fiend, beyond our ability to confront!"
"We may not be able to defeat them in combat," Lee Fala conceded, "but we can use our words. We can certainly stir up trouble and make Guangcheng the target of everyone's wrath!"