Chen Tian faced Ba Tianhe's dominance with even greater force. His words alone seemed to shake the entire Blustering Ravine, a terrifying aura sweeping across the map. Players watching from the periphery gazed at Chen Tian with awe, curious to see how this human professional player would survive the encirclement by two major guilds. He appeared unfazed, as if he held no fear of Ba Tian or the Cloud Water Guild. Upon hearing Chen Tian's arrogant declaration, which surpassed his own, Ba Tian felt a surge of loathing towards Chen Tian.
His face turned cold as he spoke, "Kid, it seems you've chosen the second path. That is, we'll beat you down. Cloud Water, my apologies, but the Heart of Blustering Winds is mine now."
"Heh, that's not a certainty yet," Yun Shui Kuang said with a sarcastic smile, his own calculating plan brewing. If Ba Tian managed to secure the Heart of Blustering Winds, he could simply swoop in and snatch it away. Ba Tian and Yun Shui Kuang were not of the same race, allowing them to engage in combat. In Yun Shui Kuang's eyes, if Chen Tian hadn't been a human professional, he would have already been eliminated. The rules of the game in the Chrono Era of World Merging had suddenly become more numerous, restricting many players, yet they were powerless to defy the official server.
Chen Tian observed Ba Tian's restless movements and declared, "All members of the Ba Tian Guild, come at me. I'll deal with all of you at once."
Ba Tian let out a cold roar, "Arrogant! Kid, you're overconfident. Ba Long, go and test him!"
"Yes, Captain."
From behind Ba Tian stepped out a burly youth, clad in dragon scale armor. His left hand was a black dragon's claw, his eyes pitch black, and two black dragon horns sprouted from his head. He exuded an imposing aura, surrounded by swirling black energy. Chen Tian's expression turned frigid, a killing intent blooming forth. As this formidable, boundless killing intent erupted, the entire Blustering Ravine was instantly enveloped in a crimson sea. This crimson sea formed a circular barrier, enclosing the entire area. Countless players felt this killing intent, their bodies trembling. "What terrifying killing intent! Gods, how many must one kill to possess such a thing? And this is a game, isn't it? Why does the killing intent feel so real?" They sensed that Chen Tian wasn't targeting them directly, otherwise, they would have gone mad.
Ba Long stood within the killing intent, his black energy forming armor that layered over his dragon scale armor. The killing intent had no effect on him. Chen Tian's objective wasn't there. With the killing intent shrouding the Blustering Ravine, no one could leave. Chen Tian intended to keep everyone from the Cloud Water and Ba Tian guilds here.
Ba Long praised, "Little fellow, you have some strength. But you face three major guilds. Your level and strength are insufficient to justify such arrogance and conceit."
Chen Tian shook his head and said, "Do you enjoy talking nonsense? Make your move. You only get one chance."
Chen Tian was granting this one chance out of consideration for the fact that Ba Long was once human. After this move, in Chen Tian's eyes, Ba Long would no longer be human but an evil spirit.
Seeing Chen Tian's demeanor, Ba Long experienced the same emotions as his captain and became enraged. He channeled all his strength into his dragon claw and thrust it out, aiming straight for Chen Tian's face. With this strike, he intended to tear off the opponent's head.
Just as the dragon claw neared Chen Tian's face, Chen Tian's hand, which had been lowered, was raised and lightly clasped Ba Long's claw. Ba Long's full force was applied, yet the claw remained unmoving. This made Ba Long's entire body tremble.
"Such terrifying strength! My dragon claw is held fast, with no chance of escape. Who exactly is this youth before me? Is this the power a Blue Spirit level player possesses? I am a Violet Light level player; there's a whole major level difference."
"It seems your full-powered attack isn't all that impressive!"
Chen Tian spoke, then rotated his arm. Bang, bang, bang!
Numerous sounds emanated from Ba Long's body as internal explosions occurred consecutively. His entire form disintegrated before Chen Tian's eyes. Chen Tian flicked his wrist, and an invisible flame burned, incinerating Ba Long's contract. Only Chen Tian could see the contract and its contents; other players could not. The fewer people who knew about this, the better. It was not something Chen Tian would reveal unless he decided to.
To the onlookers, the scene appeared as if Chen Tian had simply gripped Ba Long's claw, and then Ba Long's body exploded. Many players were bewildered, wondering what had happened. The opponent hadn't made any apparent attacking movements!
"Kid, you dare kill my Ba Tian member? You're seeking death!"
Ba Tian was furious. Chen Tian had not shown him any respect and had killed his subordinate right before his eyes. For the easily enraged Ba Tian, this was intolerable. He lunged at Chen Tian, his movements incredibly swift, and threw a punch. His Tiger Fist approached Chen Tian. Ba Tian's level was even higher than Ba Long's, and his strength far surpassed Ba Long's. Chen Tian felt the Tiger Fist nearing and clenched his own fists, unleashing a counter. Fist met fist. The other players assumed Ba Tian would win. Ba Tian's fist style was characterized by its dominance, and at the same level, no player dared to clash with him head-on. They expected this player facing Ba Tian head-on would have their arm broken.
"Ah!"
A miserable scream echoed. Ba Tian was sent flying backward. Chen Tian stood his ground, not moving an inch, frozen in a punching stance. Ba Tian looked at his arm, his entire limb shattered. He felt the pain in his arm and a deep-seated terror. "I'm feeling pain? Isn't this a game? Didn't I disable the pain simulation?"
Chen Tian spoke calmly, "You betrayed humanity. Pain is but a small punishment for you."
"It's you, it's definitely you! All Ba Tian members, attack him!"
Ba Tian knew he was no match for Chen Tian and opted for a group assault. Feeling the pain, combined with Chen Tian's words, Ba Tian realized he must have been affected by Chen Tian's methods.
Indeed, Chen Tian had directly used data modification to disable the pain sensory shielding and altered some contract details. Chen Tian wanted them to suffer a little.
The players watching in disbelief could not believe their eyes. Ba Tian had been defeated! He was beaten, and the player before them was only at the Blue Spirit level, while Ba Tian was at Violet Light level.
"He must have a treasure on him, it's mine!"
"Ba Tian, I'll help you!"
"Me too!"
"Count me in!"
The players, recalling Chen Tian's ability to fight opponents of higher levels, believed he must possess excellent equipment and treasures. A crowd joined the group to surround and kill Chen Tian. Chen Tian observed the players who had not been infected by the evil spirit aura. Greed for treasures moved their hearts, and human nature was unpredictable. Chen Tian's expression turned stern as he said, "Are you sure about this? I'll give you one last chance. Retreat now, and I can spare your lives. Otherwise, the consequences will be beyond your ability to bear."
"Everyone, what are you afraid of? Death means losing levels but can be resurrected anyway. What's there to fear?" Yun Shui Kuang egged them on, adding fuel to the fire. His words, however, held some logic. This was a game; death meant resurrection, with only the cost of losing some equipment and levels.
Chen Tian looked at the unmoving crowd. It seemed there was no need to spare these people.
Chen Tian raised his palm. Facing the gathered players, Chen Tian chose to act. A massive formation appeared on his palm, its size encompassing the entire Blustering Ravine. The formation had nine corners, each with a different color, and a nine-colored orb etched in the center.
Power emanated from the formation as it condensed. Chen Tian spoke again, "Those not involved, leave quickly. I cannot guarantee how many will survive this move."
This move by Chen Tian involved mastering and controlling nine types of energy, combined with the power of the formation to create a small technique. Ba Tian and Yun Shui Kuang looked at the formation above Chen Tian's head, their bodies trembling with a chill from the depths of their hearts.
"You're not a mage class, so how can you activate a formation? Wait, you are... you're the public enemy boss!"
Ba Tian, being quick-witted, realized Chen Tian, despite not being a mage, could wield a magic formation. The thought of the public enemy player boss plunged Ba Tian into despair.
"Die!"
Chen Tian brought down his arm. The colossal formation unleashed countless blue fire arrows, ice cones, green wind blades, light needles, dark energy, and more. A multitude of attacks rained down on the players. Arrows pierced their bodies, ice cones froze them, light needles instantly killed them, and dark energy engulfed them. A slaughter unfolded within the Blustering Ravine. Chen Tian faced the onslaught of hundreds of attackers, slaughtering them!
"No, Lord, save me!"
Ba Tian's voice, filled with unwillingness and fear, rang out. Black energy surged from his body, and the surrounding players' energies converged, creating a spatial vortex.
"Who dares lay hands on my disciple?"
Clearly, a furious voice boomed from beyond the vortex. Chen Tian calmly observed the spatial vortex. The presence from the other side exuded a very potent evil spirit aura. It seemed the arrival was an evil spirit. Chen Tian did not fear evil spirits. An evil spirit emerged from the vortex. All evil spirits had a similar appearance, differing only in their faces. Chen Tian was accustomed to this.
"Master, save, save, save me."
Seeing the arrival, Ba Tian pleaded desperately. Xie Pangyuan flicked his palm, condensing evil spirit energy into his hand and pulling Ba Tian from his predicament.
"Worthless!"
Xie Pangyuan did not forget to roar at Ba Tian. Ba Tian was his disciple, and he could not abandon him. He was the representative of this world.
"You want to save him? Did you ask me first?"
Chen Tian watched Xie Pangyuan. From the moment he appeared, Xie Pangyuan hadn't even glanced at him, completely disregarding him. Chen Tian's expression was calm. He brought his arm down, and the massive formation descended from the sky.
The entire Blustering Ravine was leveled by the formation. Yun Shui, Ba Tian, and the newcomer were all annihilated.
"Kid, you're playing with your life."
Xie Pangyuan felt Ba Tian's aura completely vanish from below. Ba Tian was truly dead and gone, enraging him immensely. He turned, his face contorted with ferocity, and snarled, "Do you think this solves everything? Representatives can always be found again. You cannot stop the evil spirit race from completely controlling this world."
"Evil spirits, everyone is obligated to eliminate them! Give up your life!"
Chen Tian offered no words to Xie Pangyuan. The latter manipulated humans, turning them into evil spirits. Chen Tian immediately attacked. Xie Pangyuan saw Chen Tian's assault, and the two engaged in a fierce clash, neither able to gain the upper hand for a time.
Xie Pangyuan's strength was comparable to Chen Tian's. Evil spirits hailed from countless worlds, and the sealing power on Xie Pangyuan meant his strength was not at its peak. Chen Tian would need some time to deal with him. If the world allowed, Chen Tian could have eliminated Xie Pangyuan with thirty percent of his strength as easily as slaughtering a dog.
Chen Tian and Xie Pangyuan retreated simultaneously, standing in the sky. Chen Tian waved his hand, and a light barrier appeared in the sky. No one could see what was happening inside the barrier. The appearance of evil spirits needed to be kept secret; some things were not necessary to reveal until the time was right.
"You've finally recovered your full strength, but I am different from before."
"I am me, he is him. My responsibility is to expel and annihilate you."
Chen Tian and Xie Pangyuan's eyes locked onto each other, electricity crackling between their gazes. A sizzling sound arose. Chen Tian unleashed a series of palm strikes, instantly appearing beside Xie Pangyuan. Countless palm shadows were unleashed, Chen Tian's full power. Xie Pangyuan's eyes were as black as night. Facing Chen Tian's onslaught, he dodged left and right, evading Chen Tian's attacks.