Chen Guo truly stood out from the crowd.
With a charm score that had shattered the 10,000 mark, Chen Guo's dashing and debonair presence was undeniable, even when cloaked in the guise of Guangcheng. The Shan Brothers recognized it immediately.
"So, you're the Guangcheng? You seem rather unremarkable to me!" Shan Tianming said arrogantly, tilting his chin upward.
"The Guangcheng of legends, the Jutrelian's mythical hero? Hardly impressive. Indeed, fame often falls short of the truth," Shan Hongzhi added, shaking his head dismissively.
Chen Guo's brilliance was understated, a return to simplicity, devoid of any overpowering aura.
"You're the Shan Brothers?" Chen Guo inquired coolly.
"Correct, I am Shan Hongzhi, President of the Black Dragon Society!" declared Shan Hongzhi.
"And I am Shan Tianming, the Black Dragon Society's steward!" proclaimed Shan Tianming.
Together, they boasted, "We've come to challenge you, Guangcheng. United, we will ensure your demise, ha ha!" Their laughter was wild and unchecked.
"Hold off on the combat. Just wait a moment," Chen Guo said, gesturing with his hand.
Shan Hongzhi taunted, "Scared, are you?"
"Not at all," Chen Guo replied. "I need to upgrade my status before I handle you two. Hope you're not in a rush?"
The Shan Brothers exchanged a glance. "We'll give you no more than a minute," Shan Hongzhi conceded.
"A minute is more than I need," Chen Guo chuckled.
With that, he produced his forty-two Sovereign's Orders. As a second-rank Explorer, Chen Guo required ten Sovereign's Orders to ascend to the third rank as a Dao Seeker.
With a swift motion, Chen Guo upgraded his status without a second thought.
"Your status has been elevated. You are now a Dao Seeker!"
"As a Dao Seeker, joining a sect will come more naturally to you!"
"As a Dao Seeker, you'll receive discounts when purchasing items from the Mysterious Gate!"
"As a Dao Seeker, you may complete a non-mainline mission instantly, once per month."
"As a Dao Seeker, you will perceive the vulnerabilities of more monsters!"
The Dao Seeker granted Chen Guo a plethora of authorities, but he remained unfazed. He realized that to ascend from a third-rank Dao Seeker to a fourth-rank Skywalker, all it took was thirty Sovereign's Orders.
Having expended ten, he still had thirty-two Sovereign's Orders left, enough for another rank advancement.
Without hesitation, Chen Guo chose to elevate his status once again.
Whoosh!
"Your status has been upgraded. You are now a Skywalker!"
"Skywalker: You'll catch the eye of the Almighty, who will watch over you in silence!"
"Skywalker: Blessed with an eidetic memory, you're a cultivation prodigy, truly one in a million!"
"Skywalker: Under the Heavenly Dao's protection, you possess an aura that can turn peril into safety!"
"Skywalker: With the passive skill 'Star Shift,' you stand a chance to deflect enemy attacks in combat!"
As a Skywalker, Chen Guo gained an array of new privileges and advantages, feeling significantly more powerful.
To progress from a fourth-rank Skywalker to a fifth-rank Heaven's Chosen, however, required nine Dao Ancestor Tokens!
These tokens could be acquired directly or synthesized from Sovereign's Orders—thirty of which were needed for just one Dao Ancestor Token.
Nine Dao Ancestor Tokens equaled a staggering 270 Sovereign's Orders. Therefore, Chen Guo put the thought of further rank advancement on hold; it was a concern for the distant future.
For now, aside from a slight increase in strength, Chen Guo experienced no other profound changes.
Yet, in the eyes of the Shan Brothers, Chen Guo seemed to exude an overwhelming presence.
They felt as if they stood at the base of the Himalayas, dwarfed by its majesty.
"What's happening? I've got a bad feeling about this guy. His aura is downright intimidating!" Shan Hongzhi exclaimed, a mix of awe and apprehension in his voice.
"It's like facing a primordial beast. Has he gotten stronger?" Shan Tianming also sensed that something was amiss.
Chen Guo, flexing his hands, declared, "My business is settled; I'm ready for battle! And yes, you're not mistaken—I've grown stronger. Haven't you checked the rankings?"
The Shan Brothers quickly turned their attention to the leaderboard.
Everyone else, sensing that something was amiss, also cast their eyes toward the rankings.
At that moment, the leaderboard showed Chen Guo still securely in the top spot, yet his combat strength had changed dramatically.
First place ??, combat strength: 214,000!
Everyone's eyes widened in disbelief, and they gasped in astonishment.
"Hiss... Am I seeing this right? Boss Guangcheng's combat strength isn't 99,999, but 214,000!"
"Holy cow, this combat strength is off the charts. What kind of being is Boss Guangcheng?"
"Haha, the Shan Brothers thought they could push around one person, but it looks like they've met their match this time!"
"214,000 combat strength, that's horrifying. Boss Guangcheng must be a creature of legend, the real boss, right?"
Shocked exclamations filled the air.
Meanwhile, the people of Plioya were engulfed in gloom.
"Impossible, by the grace of God Tianzhao, this can't be happening. How can someone have a combat strength of 214,000?"
"It's got to be cheating! The Jutrelians' conscience is utterly corrupt; this is their conspiracy!"
"Our empire's martial fortunes had just begun to rise; are they to be shattered once again?"
The Plioyains were beside themselves with frustration, beating their chests and fuming with rage, yet powerless to change the situation.
They had been confident that they could overpower the Jutrelian experts and suppress the Jutrelian spirit, but they hadn't anticipated the Shan Brothers being such formidable opponents, only to find themselves outmatched.
The Shan Brothers, as the ones directly involved, were the most shocked, nearly wetting themselves with fear.
They had assumed that Chen Guo's combat strength was a mere 99,999, and that together, they could easily defeat him.
But Chen Guo's combat strength was actually 214,000!
Had they just walked right into a trap?
The Shan Brothers felt their knees buckle, close to tears. They stared at Chen Guo with faces filled with shock, as if beholding a monster.
"It can't be!" Shan Hongzhi stammered, "Your combat strength was definitely 99,999 just a moment ago. How did it suddenly jump to 214,000? Are you cheating?"
Shan Tianming challenged, "Are you using some kind of cheat?"
With a mocking laugh, Chen Guo retorted, "My fighting capacity has never been a mere 99999. It showed that figure because a second-rank Explorer's stats max out at 99999! But now, as a fourth-rank Skywalker, my true fighting capacity is fully visible—214000, that's my real power!"
"You two, one at 80000 and the other at 77000, are nothing but trash. You thought you had me cornered? How foolish. Enough talk, let's get on with it!"