The world's mightiest combat prowess.
The foremost of the Legendary Warriors.
Wealth beyond belief.
The astonishing power to annihilate a village single-handedly.
These feats propelled Chen Guo to fame.
Luckily, Chen Guo had the foresight to go incognito, adopting the alias Guangcheng. Had he not, the combined efforts of the entire district could have unearthed his family history back eight generations.
In the eyes of many, Chen Guo was a big boss with boundless potential. Under his banner, the Jade Void Temple was seen as a force with a similarly limitless future.
Trial challengers from other Beginner Villages were drawn in, flocking to join the Jade Void Temple.
To date, the Jade Void Temple boasts 1,500 members in Beginner Village 996 alone.
In other Beginner Villages, the number swells to 9,000.
It has become a formidable faction, a gang surpassing ten thousand members.
Faced with this reality, Chen Guo was taken aback.
"I've done nothing, and yet I've unwittingly become the leader of a ten-thousand-strong gang?"
Chen Guo was torn between amusement and disbelief.
He suspected Zhou Tao was behind this, the man who now effectively controlled the Jade Void Temple.
Chen Guo reached out to Zhou Tao.
"Are you there?"
Zhou Tao was thrilled to receive a private message from Chen Guo, a boss he could only dream of serving.
"Yes, I'm here! What guidance does Boss Guangcheng have for me?" Zhou Tao asked, his tone reverent.
"Since when did I become the leader of the Jade Void Temple? This has your fingerprints all over it, doesn't it?" Chen Guo asked, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
"You've been a savior to all of us in Beginner Village 996. Without your intervention, the Tiger Claw Gang would have wiped us out," Zhou Tao insisted earnestly. "Your solo conquest of Beginner Village 10733 brought us a wealth of resources and attributes. You are our hero! My admiration for you is like the endless flow of a mighty river..."
Chen Guo cut off Zhou Tao's sycophantic praise, "Enough with the hyperbole and the flattery. Just give it to me straight."
Zhou Tao replied, "We wanted to show our gratitude, so we founded the Jade Void Temple and honored you as our sect master. We're at your beck and call for any task. Should you wish to take the helm of the Jade Void Temple, we are ready to heed your commands!"
Chen Guo lapsed into contemplation. He had always been a loner, concealing his true identity out of habitual caution. He feared that his extraordinary Heaven Level talent would be discovered, making him a target for others' plots.
Yet, it now seemed that someone like him was akin to a firefly in darkness—unable to hide their inherent glow, no matter how much they tried. His power was simply too great to conceal.
Disguises were futile; individuals like Lee Fala were still drawn to him. This realization prompted Chen Guo to shift his strategy. If subtlety was futile, he would resort to using his formidable martial prowess to deter the world.
Furthermore, with the emergence of legends like Blues and Lei Kun, the pressure on Chen Guo had been inadvertently lessened. No longer the center of attention, there was no need for him to maintain such a low profile.
Besides, this narrative required the collaboration of many, and it was only the beginning. Surely, there would be more instances necessitating collective effort in the future. And for tasks that could be easily delegated, there was no point in handling them personally.
It became clear that the Jade Void Temple still served a purpose. When the need for manpower or handling trivial matters arose, the Temple's members could be called upon to assist.
With this in mind, Chen Guo declared, "I grant you permission to expand the Jade Void Temple under my name, but should you dare to misuse it for wrongdoing, don't expect me to be lenient!"
Zhou Tao was ecstatic. "That's wonderful! The Jade Void Temple's creed is mutual aid and support, helping more people survive in this harsh world. We certainly won't abuse our position."
Chen Guo added, "Regarding the management of the Jade Void Temple, I lack the inclination. You shall continue to oversee it. Should any issues arise, you will answer to me."
"Thank you for your trust, Sect Master!" Zhou Tao exclaimed.
"Don't call me Sect Master!"
"Should I keep calling you Boss Guangcheng then?"
"Just call me Guangcheng. Drop the 'Boss'; I'm not part of the underworld," Chen Guo corrected. "By the way, I've reached out to you because I need something."
"Whatever you need, Guangcheng, just say the word," Zhou Tao responded.
Chen Guo asked, "Are you all leveling up in Doonatel now?"
"Yes," Zhou Tao replied, "us top-tier trial challengers have already reached level 9. But many of the weaker ones haven't made it yet. To prevent mass failure and elimination, I've rallied everyone to eliminate the Fiend Demons in Doonatel."
"There are three perilous areas in Doonatel," Chen Guo continued. "I've dealt with two, but the third, the City Lord's Mansion, contains a 'storybook.'"
"A storybook?"
"It's akin to the game dungeons you're familiar with—a real-world scenario with a gaming twist, thanks to the influence of several almighty beings," explained Chen Guo. "This storybook requires a team of at least twenty to enter, and I'm in need of nineteen teammates."
Zhou Tao's face lit up with excitement. "Do you mean—?"
He'd been currying favor with the boss for so long, and now he finally had a chance to ride on the boss's coattails.
"I mean for you to select a hundred elites from the Jade Void Temple, and I'll choose nineteen among them to join me in conquering the storybook," Chen Guo clarified. "As for the loot, you get the leftovers—I take the lion's share, you get the scraps. If you're in, come along. If not, it's no big deal."
"I'm in, totally in!" Zhou Tao exclaimed, barely containing his excitement. "I'll get our people together and head to the City Lord's Mansion, right?"
Even if they'd only get the crumbs of the spoils following Chen Guo, the allure of the slaughter points was too tempting to resist.
"Meet at the City Lord's Mansion, and make it quick."
"I'm on my way!"
Once Zhou Tao was off the line, Chen Guo began to wait for the group at the City Lord's Mansion.
True to his word, Zhou Tao was quick to act, soon arriving with a hundred people in tow. The weakest among them was level eight, but most were level ten—truly the cream of the crop from the Jade Void Temple.
To these elite trial challengers, who seemed untouchable to the ordinary ones, Chen Guo was as intimidating as a job interviewer.
"Guangcheng, I've brought the people," Zhou Tao said with deference. "Feel free to choose anyone you need."
"Everyone's eligible, but you've really put in the effort. Out of the twenty spots, I've reserved one just for you. You're my first pick!" Chen Guo announced, pointing at Guangcheng.
Chen Guo might not have been adept at social niceties, but he knew the essentials of human interaction. He anticipated needing Zhou Tao's assistance in the future, so he didn't hesitate to offer him a little advantage now.
"Much appreciated, Boss Guangcheng!" Zhou Tao was thrilled. This was a clear sign of Boss Guangcheng's esteem for him!
Activating his Divine Insight, Chen Guo scrutinized the hundred individuals before him. With his ability, their levels, strengths, and weaknesses were all quantified and laid bare for easy assessment.
"Kong Lian Shun, you're up!"
"Wang Ba Da, you've been selected too!"
"And you, Liang Kuan..."