Chapter 228 : The Official Showdown Begins
Chapter 228: The Official Showdown Begins! Five Thousand New Recruits Grind Levels Like Mad!
Huangmei Township.
The northernmost Blessed Point of Wolong Mountain.
It had now been transformed into a frontline fortress in the style of the Undead race.
The outermost perimeter consisted of a wall over three zhang high. Inside the walls stood arrow towers, watchtowers, barrier towers, spell towers, and numerous other structures. In addition, a large number of Undead Bone Tombs had been built to repair and restore the Undead Bone Army.
At the center stood a Skeleton Altar burning with ghostly flames, capable of granting beneficial buffs to the Undead Bone Army and enhancing their combat power.
Besides these.
There were also many other Stars buildings.
Huangmei Township was merely a township-level Blessed Point.
For that very reason, there was an upper limit to both the size and number of buildings that could be constructed.
The Corpse Witch Territory had already developed it to its absolute maximum. It simply couldn't be improved any further!
If they wanted to build an even stronger frontline fortress.
Either the territory itself had to advance to a higher level.
Or they would have to occupy a city-level Blessed Point like Shansang City.
Just then.
A surge of shadow energy suddenly appeared before the Corpse Witch Territory's frontline fortress.
Gan Ning emerged from it.
He looked extremely battered. His armor was badly damaged, and more than a dozen fractures marred his skeletal body.
"It's General Gan!"
"Open the gates!"
"Please hurry inside, General!"
"......"
After recognizing Gan Ning, several low-ranking Undead Bone generals immediately opened the barrier and city gates.
Gan Ning entered the camp.
His first destination was the territory's frontline commander, Gray Decay.
Gray Decay sat atop the Skeleton Altar.
Dozens of well-equipped Corpse Demon guards surrounded him.
Behind them stood densely packed Undead Bone soldiers, including Huang Zu, commander of the Undead Bone Legion, along with several other high-ranking Undead Bone generals.
"You still have the nerve to return?!"
Gray Decay shouted angrily,
"The Lord expended a tremendous amount of precious Essence to raise your cultivation, yet you've failed again and again. You're nothing but a useless piece of trash!"
Gan Ning had always possessed a fiery temper.
Moreover.
His close friend Su Fei had just died.
His heart was overflowing with grief and fury.
He immediately shot back,
"You know nothing about the strength of the Human territory! Otherwise, you wouldn't be saying something so idiotic. If the Lord had sent you on either of those operations, you'd already be nothing more than a pile of dry bones in a grave!"
"How dare you!"
Gray Decay was completely enraged.
Huang Zu seized the opportunity to fan the flames.
"Lord Gray Decay was personally appointed by the Lord as supreme commander of the frontline. For Gan Ning to disrespect Lord Gray Decay is to disrespect the Lord himself! Men, seize this bastard!"
Deng Long.
Chen Sheng.
Chen Jiu.
The three were Huang Zu's trusted subordinate generals.
"Who the hell dares touch me?!"
Gan Ning let out a thunderous roar.
The several Undead Bone generals were instantly intimidated.
His overwhelming strength was right before them.
Even if the three of them joined forces with Huang Zu.
They still might not be his match.
Gan Ning's violent and savage temperament was well known.
He genuinely dared to attack.
For a moment.
No one dared approach.
"Enough!"
Gray Decay had originally only intended to establish his authority.
He wanted to use this opportunity to suppress this vicious dog and further strengthen his prestige within the Undead Bone Legion.
If Gan Ning had lowered his head and admitted his mistake.
Gray Decay would not have truly punished him.
Who could have expected.
Gan Ning had not only lost multiple subordinates.
He had also caused the Lord to lose ten Acolyte Secret Guards.
Yet he still remained this arrogant and violent.
If Gray Decay didn't teach him a lesson today.
How could he possibly command this frontline army in the future?
Besides.
Gray Decay was not a dependent race.
He was a genuine citizen of the Stars.
Although his status was below that of a Stars Lord.
His birthright was nearly equal.
Even the Lord himself had to respect the employment contract and treat him with courtesy.
How could he tolerate a native of this plane acting so arrogantly before him?
An aura burst forth.
It enveloped every soldier present.
Streams of black energy immediately emerged from their bodies.
All of it flowed into Gray Decay.
His strength instantly increased severalfold.
This was a White-grade Destiny Skill from the Stars:
Power of Morale!
Although it was only a White-grade Destiny Skill and couldn't strengthen the army's overall combat capabilities.
Among White-grade Destiny Skills.
It was considered one of the finest.
Its effect was to draw a portion of the army's strength and use it to enhance the commander's own power.
Once activated.
The troops suffered a slight reduction in attributes.
While the commander himself experienced an enormous boost.
Gray Decay was only a Level 27 Commander.
Under normal circumstances.
His personal strength was certainly inferior to Gan Ning's.
Yet now.
He had directly reached the threshold of a Tyrant.
He summoned a gigantic black mist hand.
It slammed Gan Ning to the ground on the spot.
If Gan Ning had been in peak condition.
He would not have feared such an attack at all.
He could have escaped instantly using Shadow Leap.
However.
Gan Ning had traveled a great distance.
His mana had already been completely exhausted.
Combined with his weakened state.
He was utterly suppressed by this power without the slightest ability to resist.
"Remember this!"
Gray Decay looked down at him from above.
"You are nothing more than a servant taken in by the Lord. You've only survived until today because of the Lord's mercy. As a mere servant, you will never be qualified to shout at a household retainer!"
Soul fire blazed wildly in Gan Ning's eyes.
"If you've got the guts, then kill me! Otherwise, I'll remember this grudge forever!"
Everyone had long known.
Gan Ning was the biggest troublemaker in the Undead Bone Legion.
But no one had expected him to be this difficult.
"You think I wouldn't dare?"
Gan Ning felt the force pressing down on him increase dramatically.
But there was nothing he could do.
On one hand.
His mana was completely depleted.
He couldn't break free.
On the other hand.
He truly had no way of striking against a Corpse Demon general.
To these Corpse Demons.
He really was nothing more than a lowly servant.
Or perhaps.
Nothing more than a vicious hunting dog.
If he performed well.
He might be rewarded with a few scraps of meat.
But should he dare bite his master.
There were a hundred different ways to discipline him.
Gan Ning had long harbored dissatisfaction.
Now.
His resentment had reached its absolute peak.
"Stop!"
A freezing storm suddenly swept across the territory.
When the storm subsided.
A Corpse Demon wearing a magnificent cloak, a royal crown, and wielding a long staff appeared before everyone.
Four powerful subordinates followed at his side.
Along with more than ten commander-level Acolyte Secret Guard Commanders.
"Greetings, Lord!"
Gray Decay.
Huang Zu.
And the others hurriedly bowed.
None of them had expected the Lord himself to descend.
A Lord was normally the greatest trump card of a territory.
Although they possessed incomparably powerful strength.
Their very existence also determined the survival of the territory.
Therefore.
They rarely entered battle personally.
Nor would they normally appear within enemy territory.
The vast majority of Lord Wars.
Followed roughly the same pattern.
At the beginning.
Both Lords remained behind the scenes.
They continuously observed.
Exchanged probing attacks.
Gathered intelligence.
Only after thoroughly understanding their opponent would they personally enter the battlefield.
Thus.
Xie Ming's appearance.
Left Gray Decay, Huang Zu, and the others astonished.
"The responsibility for the failure of these two operations does not primarily lie with General Gan Ning."
Xie Ming said calmly.
"Gray Decay, there is no need to be overly harsh toward General Gan Ning."
"Yes!"
Since the Lord himself had spoken.
Gray Decay naturally dared not continue attacking Gan Ning.
Xie Ming then turned his gaze toward Gan Ning.
"Although the failures were not your fault, you seem to harbor considerable dissatisfaction toward me and lack the respect you ought to possess. General Gray Decay's minor punishment was justified. Do you accept it?"
As those words were spoken.
The soul fire within Skeleton Gan Ning began trembling.
He could feel an almost instinctive urge toward submission emerging from the depths of his soul.
This was because Gan Ning had once sworn loyalty to Xie Ming.
The Stars Brand was influencing him.
Furthermore.
Skeleton Gan Ning was originally a lower-ranked Undead Bone dependent personally created by Xie Ming.
As the higher-ranked creator.
Xie Ming naturally inspired instinctive submission within him.
Gan Ning lowered himself onto one knee.
He bowed his head obediently.
"This subordinate knows his fault."
Xie Ming replied calmly,
"You should understand that I was the one who granted you a new life. I even enhanced your abilities and cultivation. Naturally, I can also reclaim every one of those gifts at any time."
Before his Lord.
Gan Ning could only bow his head.
"Yes."
Satisfied.
Xie Ming nodded.
"This matter ends here. Continue fighting for the territory. After all, this war has only just begun."
As that soul-deep pressure and instinctive submission gradually faded.
Gan Ning slowly regained clarity of mind.
What he felt.
Was overwhelming humiliation.
And helplessness.
Xie Ming had not punished Gan Ning.
Because doing so held little meaning.
Although Gan Ning still retained remnants of humanity and could never be fully assimilated.
Making him something of a thorn.
He nevertheless remained an excellent blade.
And a vicious hunting dog.
At this moment.
The Lord War was about to enter its decisive stage.
Gan Ning would still have an enormous role to play.
The exchanges over the past several days.
Along with the two consecutive probing operations.
Had both ended in failure.
They forced the Eldritch Corpse Demon Lord to acknowledge one reality.
Namely.
Seeking a swift victory through surprise attacks was no longer a viable strategy.
This Human territory was far more extraordinary than he had imagined.
At the very least.
Two aspects had completely exceeded his expectations.
First.
Its talent pool was astonishing.
Jia Xu.
Zhou Cang.
Wen Pin.
Zhang Zhongjing.
Any ordinary Lord would already be fortunate to possess even one individual of this caliber.
Yet this Human territory possessed several of them simultaneously.
Each possessed unique abilities.
None were easy opponents.
Second.
Naturally.
Was the Calamity Army.
Today's battle had officially confirmed an unbelievable truth for the Corpse Witch Territory.
This Human Lord truly possessed the ability to resurrect dependents on a massive scale.
It was indeed troublesome.
Yet Xie Ming felt no fear.
On the contrary.
He was excited.
The Stars possessed many methods of reviving the dead.
However.
He had never heard of any building or artifact capable of resurrecting entire armies in such enormous numbers and at such astonishing speed.
Every resurrection-type item was incomparably rare.
Even when used to revive subordinates.
The cost was extraordinarily high.
For example.
The Scroll of Genesis.
It was already one of the most famous and commonly seen consumable resurrection items.
Although expensive.
Among resurrection items.
It was considered highly cost-effective.
Yet even such an exceptionally precious consumable item.
Did not provide unlimited or unconditional resurrection.
Its success depended on whether the soul remained intact.
Without special protective measures.
The vast majority of living beings suffered damage and loss to their souls at the instant of death.
Even obtaining a Scroll of Genesis often failed to restore them.
Reviving one or two especially important subordinates was understandable.
But no matter how wealthy a Lord might be.
It was impossible to use such methods on every citizen of the territory.
Xie Ming strongly suspected.
The Human Lord possessed an extraordinarily powerful relic.
One capable of storing fragments of his dependents' souls.
Granting them almost perfect resurrection.
Relics could be inherited.
As long as he won this Lord War.
That relic would become his.
And that.
Was precisely why Xie Ming felt so exhilarated.
If he obtained such a relic.
His army would become incomparably stronger.
Perhaps even powerful enough to sweep aside superior races.
As for whether victory was possible.
Xie Ming remained confident.
The Human territory possessed many exceptional talents.
But the Corpse Witch Territory also had Gan Ning.
Huang Zu.
Along with Gray Decay and the other trusted officers he had hired at great expense from the Land of the Stars.
Although the Human territory possessed the ability to resurrect its troops.
Xie Ming refused to believe such resurrection came without cost.
How many resources could a mere Human territory possibly consume?
Xie Ming possessed an impressive background.
He had developed his territory for many years.
He had also personally built the Undead Bone Army to serve as expendable cannon fodder.
Even in a war of attrition.
He saw no reason why he would lose.
Moreover.
According to his observations.
Only about four thousand soldiers possessed immortality.
This force wasn't overwhelmingly powerful.
Nor was it impossible to deal with.
Xie Ming decided to change his strategy.
He would no longer pursue clever tricks or swift victories.
Instead.
He would advance steadily.
Gradually devouring the Human territory bit by bit!
………………
Luoshui Main City.
Inside the Core Hall.
Hang Yu noticed that the Calamity Army had already finished cleaning up the battlefield.
This battle had yielded abundant rewards.
Not only had over a hundred new players successfully advanced to Tier 2 as expected.
Twelve players had also broken through into Tier 3.
Essence was an important source of income.
But it wasn't the only one.
During today's battle.
These players had slain more than three thousand Undead Bone Skeletons.
Not only had they greatly weakened the Corpse Witch Territory's military strength.
They had also obtained an astonishing amount of loot.
The Magic Crystal drops alone.
Were estimated to exceed one hundred thousand.
That was an incredible fortune.
It greatly relieved the territory's urgent financial pressure.
And was more than enough to accelerate construction throughout the territory.
Of course.
After collecting these Magic Crystals.
The players wouldn't necessarily turn them all in immediately.
They would naturally keep a portion for themselves.
Using them as currency to compensate for the shortage of Contribution Points in circulation.
That problem wasn't difficult to solve.
The Main City already had numerous completed shops and real estate projects.
Next.
They would enter the auction stage.
If players wanted to compete for these high-quality assets.
They would have no choice but to exchange their Magic Crystals for additional Contribution Points.
Besides Essence and Magic Crystals.
The equipment drops from the Undead Bone Army were also exceptionally generous.
Thanks to the Calamity Army players' tenfold drop rate.
Almost every Undead Bone soldier dropped at least two pieces of equipment.
More than three thousand Undead Bone soldiers had yielded approximately seven thousand pieces of equipment in total.
If it had merely been a matter of quantity.
That alone would have been impressive.
However.
Among those seven thousand items.
Roughly five thousand were Tier 2 equipment.
Furthermore.
Most were White High Grade.
Even if the territory had no immediate use for them.
Selling them in bulk on the market would easily bring in a fortune worth one to two hundred thousand Magic Crystals.
Or tens of thousands of portions of Tier 3 Material Essence required for territorial construction.
War truly was one of the fastest ways to make money!
If the territory could remain in a constant state of war.
Why would it ever worry about lacking Magic Crystals or resources?
Its development speed would skyrocket!!
Of course.
The main reason Hang Yu could think this way.
Was because the Calamity Army possessed both a tenfold drop rate and true immortality.
They could reap enormous profits.
While their own losses were practically zero.
That said.
This opponent was no weak foe.
The Corpse Witch Territory's core main army had yet to be deployed.
Hang Yu likewise could not afford to become overconfident or careless because of that.
The secret that the Calamity Army could resurrect itself could no longer be concealed.
The enemy Lord would certainly take corresponding countermeasures.
However.
Correspondingly.
The Corpse Witch Territory's protection period was also about to end.
Hang Yu would soon escape his current situation of being forced to react passively.
Next.
He would be able to launch more proactive offensives and counter-invasions.
The real contest.
The real war.
Was only just beginning!
All the previous clashes had merely been warm-ups and probing attacks!
Although the number of Calamity Army players in the territory was currently increasing at a rate of more than 1,100 per day.
These newly arrived Calamity Army soldiers were still far too weak.
They would not be of much use in the short term.
Thus.
Hang Yu recruited another 230 dependents.
These 230 soldiers would be trained into a new batch of Azure Dragon Guards.
Together with the existing 270 Azure Dragon Guards, they would form a force of exactly 500 soldiers.
Their numbers were not large.
But they were extremely reliable.
Hang Yu would provide these 500 soldiers with the very best cultivation resources.
The Azure Dragon Guards would absorb most of the surplus Essence produced by the Calamity Army.
In addition.
They would receive top-tier equipment, premium skills, attribute elixirs, and access to facilities such as the Spirit Gathering Cultivation Tower.
This would ensure that the overall strength of the Azure Dragon Guards always remained far ahead of the Calamity Army, allowing them to serve as the stabilizing pillar of the territory.
After recruiting the 230 new Azure Dragon Guard recruits.
Hang Yu had just begun customizing their training plans.
"My Lord!"
Zhang Zhongjing arrived before Hang Yu.
"Chief Alchemist Bai Mu of the Main City has sent word that the latest batch of pill refining has been completed."
Hang Yu replied,
"Oh? That's a little faster than I expected!"
This batch consisted of over two thousand pills.
Among them.
There were more than one thousand Dragon Blood Pills.
Zhang Zhongjing stroked his long beard and said,
"After the latest batch of alchemists joined the territory, our pill-refining capability has increased tremendously. Instead, the supply and production of raw materials are beginning to fall behind."
After the territory completed the annexation of the region.
The number of the three production buildings increased by six.
Once all three buildings reached Tier 3.
The territory could recruit an additional thirty alchemists, thirty blacksmiths, and thirty chefs.
Given the territory's current scale.
There was no need for that many personnel yet.
Therefore.
Recruiting fifteen of each in the first round was sufficient.
Little Eight had been searching the recruitment market for suitable candidates during this period.
The current recruitment round was nearly complete.
Although not every position had been filled.
It was enough to greatly increase the territory's production capacity.
However.
There still wouldn't be any excess production.
Not only was Hang Yu actively expanding the territory, enlarging the market, and increasing foreign trade.
With the addition of over ten thousand new Calamity Army soldiers.
As well as hundreds of thousands of Wan City residents.
The future demand would become enormous.
Domestic demand alone would easily absorb all this productivity.
The current issue.
Was that the supply of raw materials could not quite keep pace.
As the saying went.
Even the cleverest housewife cannot cook without rice.
No matter how large the foreign trade market and domestic demand became.
No matter how much production capacity existed.
Without a stable supply of raw materials.
Nothing could be accomplished.
However.
No one became fat with a single bite.
Everything had to be done step by step.
The construction and development of a territory was a long-term undertaking.
This batch of pills had arrived at exactly the right time.
Hang Yu immediately contacted Lord 3244.
Hang Yu:
"Boss, are you there? The pills you wanted are ready!"
Only a few seconds later.
The other party replied.
Lord 3244:
"So fast? Your territory's production capability is pretty impressive."
Hang Yu:
"We've been working overtime to finish this deal as soon as possible. When can we trade?"
Lord 3244:
"We can trade right now. The Scroll of Genesis is already in my possession."
Hang Yu even began wondering whether this so-called upper-race big-shot friend the other party kept mentioning actually existed.
But that wasn't important.
What mattered was completing the transaction.
The two Lords immediately began trading.
Hang Yu paid Lord 3244 a total of 900 pills.
Among them were 500 Dragon Pattern Essence Blood Pills.
The market value of this batch of pills fluctuated between 55,000 and 65,000 Magic Crystals.
Lord 3244 was naturally very satisfied.
He immediately honored the agreement.
Hang Yu obtained the Scroll of Genesis.
His spirits immediately lifted.
Although this conditional resurrection item costing around 60,000 Magic Crystals wasn't exactly cheap.
It was still a reasonable price.
And for the current territory.
It wasn't an unbearable expense.
Once Jia Xu restored his physical body.
Not only would the territory gain a top-tier talent.
It would also gain the combat strength of a first-rate Tyrant.
Hang Yu could then entrust the task of dealing with the Eldritch Corpse Demons to him.
Jia Xu's abilities and strength were more than sufficient.
Moreover.
He was highly proficient in necromantic arts.
There was no one more suitable to face the Corpse Witch Lord.
With a top-tier native genius like Jia Xu.
Together with Zhou Cang and Wen Pin.
The territory would possess tremendous deterrent power.
Hang Yu might only need to remain seated inside the Core Hall of the Main City.
Watching everything unfold from behind the scenes.
Unless the situation reached a truly critical moment.
There would be no need for him to personally enter the battlefield.
Those subordinates alone would be enough to give the enemy a bitter time!
Hang Yu was genuinely looking forward to it.
Little Eight suddenly reported.
"Master, the fifth batch of players has descended. Login access has been granted to 1,150 players this round. All 1,150 have successfully logged in. The total number of new players has now reached 5,750!"
Hang Yu glanced at the time.
It was now 8:00 PM Beijing Time.
Every day at this hour.
New closed-beta players received login authorization.
During the past few days.
The number of newly added players had already far exceeded the combined total of all previous players.
However.
These newcomers still had little presence or discussion within the game.
The primary reason.
Was that their levels were still too low.
And their strength too weak.
They could only operate around Luoshui Main City.
Or the vicinity of White Tiger City.
Although among the players who logged in on the first and second days.
Several outstanding individuals had rapidly reached Level 5.
Obtaining permission to enter Wolong Mountain.
Some had even participated in today's Calamity Army operation.
But those were only a small minority.
The rest of the Calamity Army recruits still needed time to grow.
Even the handful of newcomers who participated in the Battle of Wolong Mountain.
With their current strength.
Were little more than cannon fodder and background characters.
They had merely joined to fill out the numbers.
Naturally.
They hadn't generated any particularly noteworthy discussion.
Of course.
Although the new Calamity Army recruits were still immature.
Hang Yu attached great importance to them as well.
Every leek possessed limitless potential.
Among these players.
There were undoubtedly talented individuals with outstanding abilities, brilliant intellects, enormous potential, and natural leadership.
In the future.
They would shine brilliantly throughout the Calamity Army's campaigns of conquest.
……
At this very moment.
Inside the barracks of Luoshui Main City.
Within one of the Tier 2 barrack rooms.
"Holy crap! I'm in! I'm finally in!"
A player with the ID Braised Pork Ribs with Scallions jumped up and down excitedly.
"This sense of touch! This sense of smell! This sense of taste! This is absolutely insane!"
Braised Pork Ribs with Scallions was overflowing with excitement.
At least nine out of every ten new players reacted this way.
Although they had long known how incredible this game was before entering.
No amount of praise from others.
Could compare to personally experiencing it for just a few seconds.
After calming down a little.
Braised Pork Ribs with Scallions walked out of the barracks.
The moment Luoshui City appeared before his eyes.
Tears of emotion streamed down his face.
Although he had already seen countless screenshots of Luoshui City.
Actually standing within the city.
Filled him with an unprecedented sense of awe.
It felt as though he had entered a fairy tale world he had dreamed of all his life.
"I'm on my knees!"
"Twisted Three Kingdoms is freaking awesome!"
"Congratulations, everyone, on joining the game!"
"My glorious journey begins now! The Calamity Army will definitely have a place for me!"
"......"
At this moment.
Many recruits wearing beginner equipment emerged from the barracks.
These were all players who had just entered the game.
Every single one of them was overflowing with excitement and anticipation for the future.
"Brother Cong!"
"Brother Cong, where are you?"
Braised Pork Ribs with Scallions suddenly heard someone calling.
A Ranger player with the ID I Don't Eat Beef was looking around everywhere.
"Over here!"
Braised Pork Ribs with Scallions quickly waved.
I Don't Eat Beef hurried over.
He looked Braised Pork Ribs with Scallions up and down.
"Why'd you choose a Warlock? A real man should fight with blades!"
Braised Pork Ribs with Scallions replied,
"So what if I'm a Warlock? The game never said Warlocks can't learn martial skills. Why can't I cultivate both magic and martial arts?"
I Don't Eat Beef laughed.
"As long as you're happy, Brother Cong. I've already prepared a guide. First we'll farm Snake-Tailed Pheasants outside the gate, then head to Hexi Village to hunt Skeleton Wild Oxen."
Braised Pork Ribs with Scallions replied,
"Not so fast."
I Don't Eat Beef looked puzzled.
"There are new players everywhere right now. The monsters around the Main City are in high demand. We'd better hurry."
Just then.
The surrounding recruits erupted into cheers.
"Whoa! Everyone look! So many big shots!"
"It's the Divine Feather Palace Guild!"
"Isn't that Big Sis Little Bell? She's the idol of us Warlocks!"
"We're so lucky! We just entered the game and already got to meet Big Sis Little Bell!"
"I heard they just returned from fighting at Wolong Mountain. The battle was even livestreamed on the forums! I can't believe we're actually seeing them in person!"
"If the big shots weren't holding back the foreign races on the front lines, how could we safely grind levels back here?"
"Salute to the big shots!"
"Salute to the big shots!"
"......"
A heavily equipped Calamity Army squad with an overwhelming aura appeared.
Leading them.
Was a girl wearing luxurious mage robes.
Holding the Nine-Curve Spell Staff.
Her entire body radiated the brilliance of high-quality, high-level equipment.
It was none other than the famous player Little Bell!
Although her fame still lagged behind Ye Limeng and Black Pupil Sharp Bro.
She was undoubtedly among the game's first-tier players.
In today's Battle of Wolong Mountain.
Little Bell's performance had been exceptionally dazzling.
She was currently one of the hottest topics on the forums.
At her side stood the Tier 3 players Hua Mulan.
Qing Chen.
Along with many other Level 20 elite players.
Every single one of them was among the strongest players in the game!
That presence!
That prestige!
Left the new recruits filled with envy.
At that moment.
Braised Pork Ribs with Scallions suddenly shouted,
"Lingling! Your cousin's over here!"
Little Bell walked over.
"Cousin, I've prepared some equipment for you. It'll be enough for your early leveling. Although I could also have someone carry you, I think it's better if you work hard yourself."
"No problem!"
"A real man fights his own battles!"
Little Bell took out a pile of equipment.
They were all Tier 1 White or even Green-grade items.
Several of the White-grade pieces had even been enhanced to +9 or +10.
Braised Pork Ribs with Scallions was none other than Zhao Cong.
He was Little Bell—Li Yuling's—cousin.
Following her father's instructions.
She was helping her cousin somewhat in the game.
However.
She had no intention of recruiting him into her own guild.
After handing over the equipment.
Little Bell left.
They had just finished a major battle.
Everyone was somewhat exhausted.
They all returned to their respective barracks to rest.
"Brother Cong!"
I Don't Eat Beef exclaimed excitedly.
"Little Bell is your cousin? Why didn't you tell me sooner?!"
Braised Pork Ribs with Scallions replied.
"I thought you already knew."
I Don't Eat Beef grinned.
"Brother Cong, you've got to look after your little brother from now on!"
Braised Pork Ribs with Scallions laughed.
"Don't worry! I've got you covered!"
"Brother Cong! Please carry me!"
"Brother Cong, can I join your party?"
"I want to follow Brother Cong! Please take me with you!"
"......"
For a time.
Countless newcomers flocked toward Braised Pork Ribs with Scallions.
All hoping to cling to his leg.
Braised Pork Ribs with Scallions was naturally delighted.
This was exactly the effect he wanted.
By borrowing Little Bell's reputation.
He could first gather a group of followers.
Then.
With his own financial resources and social connections.
His future development would become almost inevitable.
"Brothers!"
"Let's work hard together! First we'll level up, then we'll fight for the territory!"
Braised Pork Ribs with Scallions declared boldly.
"The Calamity Army will definitely have a place for us in the future!"
After giving his motivational speech.
Braised Pork Ribs with Scallions set off with his group of rookie followers.
At this moment.
More than five thousand Calamity Army recruits rapidly spread throughout Luoshui and White Tiger Mountain.
Under the guidance of veteran players and strategy guides.
They grew stronger at remarkable speed.
Grinding levels day and night without rest.
Before long.
They would join the various Calamity Army guilds.
Or establish entirely new Calamity Army guilds.
Continuously injecting fresh blood into the Calamity Army.
(PS: I finished this chapter relatively early. I originally planned to release an extra chapter tonight since I had plenty of time, but an unexpected emergency came up, so I could only write part of it tonight. I'll make up for it with an extra chapter tomorrow at noon. I really need to build up a stockpile of chapters.)