As dusk settled, the entire area of Xueyu Tianchi and Jiuzhangyuan was shrouded in twilight.
Rustling sounds echoed from the dense forest. Within the gloom of night, over a hundred players, their IDs now a deep crimson, appeared at the edge of Jiuzhangyuan. They were the core elite team of Ding Chunqiu's "Quan Yuan E Ren" (All Villains), a group of over 150 individuals. While not excessively large in number, each had pledged allegiance to a demon cultivator, gaining significant opportunities and rewards. In terms of level, magical artifacts, and other aspects, they held a considerable advantage over ordinary players on the national server.
"Boss!"
Jiumozhi, the deputy leader who had leveled up twice within a single day, squinted into the distance. His staff glowed with a faint flame, and he chuckled, "It's the Xin Huo Xiang Chuan guild. Their strength might barely make the top 20 on the national server, and this leveling party has less than 50 people. We should have no trouble dealing with them."
"Mhm."
Ding Chunqiu nodded. "We'll rush them all at once. Don't let a single one escape. We no longer gain notoriety for PK kills. Not only that, but we can also devour a portion of their current level experience. Coupled with equipment drops, this means we can now develop by fighting. In the near future, we'll go toe-to-toe with Xinghe. Let him know who the true master of the Huaxia region is!"
"Mhm!"
A wave of excitement washed over the group.
Only a female swordswoman frowned slightly and whispered, "Guild Leader, is it really a good idea to fall out with all the guilds on the national server like this? Won't we… become like rats in the street, hunted by everyone from now on? If that's the case, what's the point of us joining the demon faction?"
"What did you say?"
Ding Chunqiu turned to look at her, his gaze sharp and cold.
"I..."
The girl bit her red lip, unsure of what to say.
"Hmph!"
Ding Chunqiu snorted coldly, then smiled. "Xiao Hui, it's not that I want to criticize you, but you're too soft-hearted. This game, 'Tian Xia,' is fundamentally a game of the survival of the fittest. We must follow the law of the jungle. If you don't take something, someone else will, and then they'll turn around and attack you. Furthermore, we are now players of the demon faction. Killing players of the human faction grants us sect contribution points and a large amount of experience. These contribution points can be exchanged for many high-level materials and magical artifacts, which you'll need for refining swords, cultivating your innate items, and so on. As for experience, it's even more crucial. Once you're more than 10 levels ahead, it becomes incredibly difficult to catch up. Do I need to explain this to you?"
The girl pursed her lips. "Yes, I understand."
"That's right."
Ding Chunqiu smiled calmly. "Prepare yourselves. On my command, we'll charge out in one go and give these Xin Huo Xiang Chuan guild members a surprise. Those with control skills, target the person directly in front of you. We aim for a swift surprise attack and an annihilation battle, while striving for zero casualties on our end. Alright, let's move out!"
...
In the dead of night, the Quan Yuan E Ren guild players emerged from the forest. The night sky was instantly filled with the concentrated brilliance of attacks like Soul Burning Arrows, Flame Bursts, Sword Qi Cages, and Flying Sword strikes. The Xin Huo Xiang Chuan players were caught completely off guard. Over a dozen players at the forest's edge were instantly reduced to corpses, and the Quan Yuan E Ren team then outflanked them from both sides.
"Kill them all!"
Ding Chunqiu plunged his sword into the chest of a Xin Huo Xiang Chuan team leader. Just as the latter raised his sword to counterattack, a streak of brilliant light flashed, and Ding Chunqiu's flying sword pierced through the opponent's neck from either side, inflicting over 10,000 HP damage. The team leader let out a whimper and collapsed before Ding Chunqiu. The moment he fell, Ding Chunqiu suddenly opened his mouth and inhaled a dense white light from the corpse – 30% of the opponent's current level experience!
Coincidentally, this team leader was level 105 with 96% experience. This instantly granted Ding Chunqiu over 30% of his current level experience, comparable to an S-rank main quest reward. A golden light descended from the heavens, and Ding Chunqiu had leveled up. He couldn't help but laugh heartily, "This is too damn satisfying! Keep killing! We aim to capture all the top ten spots on the player faction's level leaderboard!"
Everyone was invigorated and fought with ferocity, exceeding their usual capabilities. Within moments, they had wiped out the entire Xin Huo Xiang Chuan force of 40+ players. During this process, Ding Chunqiu had leveled up twice, truly embodying the principle of developing through combat.
"Continue!"
After kicking aside the corpse of a young swordsman, Ding Chunqiu, with his blood-stained sword in hand, said with a smile, "Clean up the battlefield in one minute, then we'll continue eastward. We'll fight our way through. Since we've left Wuzhui Mountain and headed south, we must feast and fill our bellies, earning plenty of sect contribution points!"
"Hahahaha~~~"
The Quan Yuan E Ren players, having tasted victory, were all smiles.
They pressed on eastward without delay and quickly eliminated several small player squads from Baidi City, demonstrating an intent to clear out Jiuzhangyuan. Furthermore, as Ding Chunqiu and his group advanced east, the demon units completely ignored them, treating them as their own. In fact, demon units would even assist Ding Chunqiu during his PK battles.
In no time, news of Quan Yuan E Ren's rampage through Jiuzhangyuan spread across the national server.
...
On Beishan, Su Xinghe held his sword, his gaze filled with cold intent. "Feng Bing Cao Jia, Yun Mi Wu Suo, bring all our elites and descend the mountain with me. We'll go to Jiuzhangyuan to face Quan Yuan E Ren. I want to see if this Ding Chunqiu is truly invincible!"
"Mhm!"
Nearby, Yi Shi Cang Liang also stood up and said solemnly, "Cang Long, we shouldn't be idle either. We'll attack Quan Yuan E Ren from the right flank. Once you spot their tracks, hit them with everything you've got. Destroy them at all costs!"
"Yes, boss!"
From the Wu Wang guild, Shu Mei Jian Qing Feng led over 300 elites down Beishan, heading straight for Jiuzhangyuan.
Thus, a hunt between players had begun.
On the way down the mountain, Su Xinghe, filled with indignation, spent 5000 universal coins to send a system announcement:
"Ding!"
System Announcement (Player Zheng Du speaks): Ding Chunqiu, joining the demon faction is one thing, but now you're turning around and PK'ing players from Baidi City. What's the meaning of this? Do you really consider yourselves part of the demon race? Aren't you afraid of completely enraging the players on the national server? As they say, good and evil will eventually be rewarded. Just you wait, the retribution for your Quan Yuan E Ren will come sooner or later!
A few minutes later, Ding Chunqiu, not sparing expense, spent another 5000 universal coins to send a system announcement in response:
"Ding!"
System Announcement (Player Ding Chunqiu speaks): Su Xinghe, the only difference between us is our playstyle. Since the game 'Tian Xia' has introduced a completely free sect system, it's meant to offer us more ways to play. Since players can join the demon faction, what's wrong with me joining? When you attack Quan Yuan E Ren from a high moral ground, don't you feel ashamed? Your Xinghe guild has schemed and consumed so many resources from the national server, have you ever considered the feelings of other players?
"..."
Su Xinghe gazed at the sky, his brows furrowed. Honestly, arguing was not his forte. Su Xinghe's greatest strength had always been drawing his sword and fighting. PK and strategy were his specialties. However, Su Xinghe considered himself not a bad person and held sound moral principles. Unfortunately, encountering someone like Ding Chunqiu, who lacked any principles or bottom line, was like a scholar meeting a soldier – there was no reasoning to be had.
Unexpectedly, just as Su Xinghe was feeling frustrated, Ding Chunqiu sent another message:
"Ding!"
System Announcement (Player Ding Chunqiu speaks): Brothers and sisters of the national server, aren't we playing 'Tian Xia' to live better lives? After all, this game can increase your income, even improve your social standing. So don't listen to the lectures of Su Xinghe, Bai Yi, Yi Shi Cang Liang, and the like. What's the point? They've already eaten their fill and have no thought for you! We, who come from humble backgrounds, can only rely on ourselves to make something of ourselves. Now, an opportunity lies before you. To be frank, after joining the demon faction, killing players of the human faction allows you to devour 30% of their current level experience, and the chance of dropping equipment upon death is also higher. Furthermore, PK'ing human faction players grants a large amount of sect contribution, which can be exchanged for numerous rare treasures from the Master, including Heavenly Grade Flying Swords, Sea God Rocks, Qing Xin Rocks, and more. So break free from the constraints imposed by those in power. If you are strong enough, come to the Northern Region, contact me, Ding Chunqiu, and I will arrange your apprenticeship. Wouldn't it be great to roam the world and live a prosperous life together in the demon realm? As the saying goes, Heaven's movement is ever vigorous; thus, the noble person forgoes ease and strives with all their might. The wine of this world is not only the human realm's wine that is mellow and fragrant!
Listening to the incessant beeps, Su Xinghe was almost furious. Ding Chunqiu not only showed no remorse or reflection but was instead trying to mislead the other players on the national server. Moreover, Ding Chunqiu's rhetoric was quite effective. Its effectiveness lay in its complete self-serving angle, openly promoting the idea that one should look out for themselves, and slandering the top players and guilds on the national server. This naturally resonated with players who were dissatisfied with the current "society" within the game, sparking a desire to join the demon faction.
Su Xinghe's brow furrowed, filled with helplessness. If Shen Xingchen were here, she would surely devise a counter-strategy.
"Su Xinghe!"
Not far away, Yi Shi Cang Liang, the leader of Cang Long guild, frowned. "Don't waste your breath arguing with a scoundrel like Ding Chunqiu. You can't win verbally, so there's no need. Let's just go there and chop them up!"
"Mhm!"
Su Xinghe nodded, suddenly finding the gruff middle-aged man Yi Shi Cang Liang quite agreeable.
...
At the foot of the mountain villa in Xueyu Tianchi.
Lin Zhao, holding his sword Can Yang, sat on a piece of blue rock. He was honing two flying swords in the Sword Embracing Lake. Before him stood two young ladies: Deputy Leader Chen Xue and Deputy Leader Shen Xingchen. Behind the two deputy leaders, 500 of the strongest players from the Scarlet Moon Knights had assembled, including Lu Han, Ding Chi, Luo Man, Zhang Jun, and Bu Su Li Ren.
"Boss."
Bu Su Li Ren frowned. "You've summoned us… there must be something big going on, right?"
"Mhm."
Lin Zhao slowly stood up. "Are all the men here?"
"All here," Chen Xue nodded.
"Prepare to depart."
Lin Zhao knitted his brows and said, "We're going to Wuzhui Mountain to kill Lu Xiuyuan!"