Zhou Tao was quick on the uptake. After a moment's thought, he pinpointed the issue.
"Got it. There's something off with your combat strength. You've been leveling up without any change to it!" Zhou Tao exclaimed, eyes wide.
Chen Guo nodded and explained, "My displayed combat strength is 99999, but that's not my actual power. It's because my status level isn't high enough. That's why I'm interested in buying your Sovereign's Order."
"Buy our Sovereign's Order?" Zhou Tao hesitated. The Sovereign's Order was valuable, and its ability to elevate one's status was not something he was eager to part with.
But it was hard to say no to Boss Guangcheng.
Chen Guo noticed everyone's reluctance but wasn't bothered.
The Sovereign's Order was indeed valuable, and naturally, no one was keen to let it go.
Chen Guo, however, was confident that everything had a price. With the right offer, anything could be acquired.
"I realize this puts you in a tough spot, but I'm not looking to shortchange you," Chen Guo said with a smile. "Zhou Tao, have you ever opened a golden treasure chest?"
Zhou Tao replied with a tinge of regret, "Golden treasure chests are incredibly rare. I've never had the chance. I even traded the fragments I had to you."
"So, would you like to open one?" Chen Guo inquired.
Zhou Tao's lips twitched with anticipation. "Of course!"
Chen Guo held up a finger and proposed, "I'll trade you a golden treasure chest for your Sovereign's Order. Think about it—the chest could offer you much more than the order. With a bit of luck, you might even find a Creation Pill inside!"
Curious, Zhou Tao asked, "What's a Creation Pill?"
He genuinely didn't know.
Most trial challengers had never laid hands on a golden treasure chest. Chen Guo, treating them as commonplace, was likely the only one globally.
Even those who had managed to open one might not have been fortunate enough to find a Creation Pill. As it stood, the number of challengers who knew what a Creation Pill was could be counted on one hand.
Chen Guo proclaimed, "The Creation Pill has the power to elevate your innate talent level. Talent is the cornerstone of our existence! You've all drawn new talents, but I suspect they're not of a high caliber. Yet, with the Creation Pill, you can boost your talent to new heights, potentially reaching Earth Level! My own strength stems from enhancing my talent level!"
The Whole Heaven Battlefield is far from a level playing field; it's a chaotic arena devoid of fairness. For most, their fate is sealed in the moment they draw their talent. Without exceptional luck or formidable talent, one's journey is short-lived.
Those who have made it this far, the trial challengers, are the cream of the crop from Beginner Village, boasting impressive talents.
But who would say no to stronger talents? If there's a chance to amplify one's gifts, it's an opportunity no one would pass up. Imagine the surge in talent as a social climb, more exhilarating than a commoner's rise to nobility!
Naturally, everyone was intrigued.
Chen Guo went on to entice them further, "Are you aware of how scarce golden treasure chest fragments are? Not a single golden chest has been assembled in all of Beginner Village. It took purchasing from the entire district for me to acquire a few! Miss this chance, and there's no other store to turn to!"
"Boss Guangcheng, count me in!" Zhou Tao declared, his excitement palpable.
"I'm in too!"
"A golden treasure chest, worth taking a chance on. From a bicycle to a motorcycle, let's make the swap!"
The crowd was unanimous in their agreement.
It was a foregone conclusion.
For them, the Sovereign's Order, while rare, paled in comparison to the allure of a golden treasure chest.
Unlike Chen Guo, who possessed the ability to duplicate, the golden treasure chest was more than a trifle to him, albeit not extraordinary.
Regrettably, his duplication ability was constrained by the laws of creation. He could only replicate one Sovereign's Order; otherwise, there would be no need for him to procure them.
"Let's make the trade!" Chen Guo announced.
One by one, they approached and completed their transactions with Chen Guo.
He generously handed over the golden treasure chests.
In return, they surrendered their Sovereign's Orders.
And so, Chen Guo came into possession of twenty-one Sovereign's Orders. Should he duplicate them, that number would double to forty-two.
Could he possibly elevate his status by two whole levels?
Once the group got their hands on the golden treasure chests, they were like cats that had just snagged some dried fish, eagerly diving in to savor the contents. One by one, they opened their chests.
"A fifth-rank weapon, the Peacock Plume—a formidable hidden weapon!" Zhou Tao exclaimed, brandishing a golden, exotic weapon. "The renowned Peacock Plume! It's not a Creation Pill, but I'm thrilled with it nonetheless!"
"I... I've got the Great Sorrow Spell! I can't believe there's actually a heart sutra! Wow, equipping the Great Sorrow Spell has significantly boosted my combat strength!"
"As for me, it's an attribute pill. It's not much, but it's better than nothing, and it does offer some improvement!"
"I've acquired the Flying Cloud Sleeve skill!"
Everyone found something within their golden treasure chests—be it equipment, heart sutras, attribute pills, or skills. While the coveted Creation Pill eluded them, each person was content with their haul.
The enhancements from the golden treasure chests were no joke.
The group now understood why Chen Guo was so formidable; the thrill and surprises of opening treasure chests were truly boundless!
"Ahhh!" Suddenly, Jiang Yan let out an ecstatic cry.
All eyes turned to her.
Clutching a pill in her hand, Jiang Yan could barely contain her excitement. "I've found it—the Creation Pill! It can actually elevate one's talent! It really can!"
Her excitement was understandable; it's like how anyone would react to winning the lottery. They hadn't been in the Whole Heaven Battlefield long enough to become indifferent to such windfalls.
While everyone felt a pang of envy, no one harbored ill intentions. Those with malicious thoughts had long since perished.
The survivors were of decent character, and being members of the same alliance, they supported each other. They knew the folly of stealing from one another—today's victim could become tomorrow's thief, to the detriment of all.
Above all, in the presence of Chen Guo, the heavyweight among them, they wouldn't dare engage in any treacherous acts.
Chen Guo offered a slight smile. "It looks like fortune is on your side. Congratulations!"
Zhou Tao quickly joined in, "Congratulations!"
"Congratulations!" came the chorus of well-wishes from the rest.
"Thank you all!" Jiang Yan wasted no time in using the Creation Pill. Her talent, previously at the Primitive Level, soared to Eon-level. "My talent has ascended from Primitive to Eon-level. The Creation Pill truly lives up to its name!"
While Chen Guo and the folks from the Jade Void Temple were engaged in their trade, over in Plioya Country's Beginner Village Number 577, a pair of brothers stood on the cusp of completing their legendary quest.