Chapter 1671 - 423: I Am a Natural Disaster, What’s There to Fear? (Part 4)

Chapter 1671: Chapter 423: I Am a Natural Disaster, What’s There to Fear? (Part 4)

He once again drained the remaining liquid in his glass, the icy sensation spreading down his throat to the depths of his heart.

At that moment, the usual clamor inside the bar seemed to be suppressed by some invisible force.

A burly figure, like a moving mountain, stopped right beside the spot where Yang Xiu was sitting, casting a shadow that completely enveloped both Yang Xiu and Black Snake.

The newcomer’s skin was grayish-white, muscles knotted all over, standing close to three meters tall.

Behind him were several other team members, all different but equally robust.

Just standing there casually, they naturally exuded a sense of oppression.

Yang Xiu did not look up, still staring at his empty glass. However, beside him, Black Snake instantly straightened his back, the softness on his face disappearing completely, his gaze turning cold and sharp, his right hand naturally dropping, his fingertips barely touching the hidden weapon on the outside of his thigh.

The strong man, codenamed "Chong Yue," was the captain of the "Bengshan" team, the fourth-ranked strong team in Death City.

They were also fierce competitors with their Life Soul Squad.

Chong Yue gently tapped on the bar countertop with his thick fingers, making a sound to attract Yang Xiu’s attention.

When Yang Xiu raised his eyes to look at him, Chong Yue’s rough face broke into a smile, and with a deep voice, he said:

"Drinking alone? Seems like Life Soul Squad has been having a rough time lately?"

Immediately, the team members behind him let out light laughs.

It seemed like concern, but was full of provocation.

Chong Yue’s gaze swept over Black Snake before returning to Yang Xiu, and continued:

"I heard you lost some people in the Monster World last time? Tsk, what a pity. That’s why I say, sometimes taking a step back and choosing simpler tasks might yield fewer points, but at least it’s safer, right?"

This remark sounded like a friendly reminder.

But it precisely hit the pain point of Yang Xiu, triggering memories of when his comrades were sacrificed.

He understood clearly that Chong Yue was covertly probing the recent state and strength depletion of the Life Soul Squad.

The air in that corner of the bar instantly became tense.

Although Death City had explicit rules prohibiting any combat, nearby Jile Players still instinctively drew back, not wanting trouble.

Yang Xiu’s fingers slightly tightened around the empty glass, but his face showed no sign of agitation:

"I know the path for Life Soul Squad. If you’re not busy, get lost and don’t disturb my drinking."

Chong Yue’s smile faded slightly:

"You’ve been in the third spot long enough. Working too hard is sometimes a mistake, you know."

Saying this, Chong Yue moved his face closer to Yang Xiu:

"Make room, it’s good for everyone, don’t you think... Monster World is fraught with danger, no one can guarantee coming back unharmed every time."

These words were undoubtedly a blunt threat.

Chong Yue no longer hid his covetousness for the position of the Life Soul Squad.

Yang Xiu was not surprised by this.

He was well aware of why Chong Yue came to provoke them.

The team rankings in Death City were the focus of contention for all Jile Player Teams.

The rankings were not primarily about honor but were tied to the actual rewards distributed every 72 days.

The higher the ranking, the richer the point feedback received from Ah Le.

This clearly encouraged competition and mutual elimination.

There were mainly two ways to improve one’s ranking.

The first way was to play it fair, struggling in the Monster World to earn more gains, offering them to "Ah Le" in exchange for points, climbing up through sheer strength.

The second way was much more straightforward: eliminate the squads ahead.

As long as the teams in front are gone, their squad’s ranking naturally ascends, effortlessly securing rewards originally belonging to others.

In this model, the teams at the top are always pursued by those behind.

His Life Soul Squad was positioned third in the rankings.

The Bengshan Team led by Chong Yue was pressed right below at fourth.

The difference seemed like only one rank, but the settlement rewards between the third and fourth positions differed greatly.

This was why Chong Yue just suggested "choosing simpler tasks yields fewer points but at least it’s safe."

They didn’t want the Life Soul Team to continue holding the third position and aimed to replace it.

But they had never succeeded.

So Chong Yue chose to take the second approach.

Quickly eliminate the Life Soul Squad, allowing his Bengshan Squad to advance directly to third in the rankings.

The Life Soul Squad had become a thorn in Chong Yue’s side, an obstacle blocking more resource acquisition and growth for him.

The naked conflict of interest made Yang Xiu feel unprecedented pressure.

In terms of overall team strength, the Bengshan Team led by Chong Yue was stronger than his Life Soul Squad.

The Life Soul Squad followed an absolute elite route.

Every member was carefully selected by him, having proven themselves through countless life-and-death trials, establishing deep bonds of friendship.

He did not want to blindly expand by bringing in new members who only cared about interests without any emotional foundation.

This model had its pros and cons.

The advantage was that every team member had strong individual combat capabilities, with high mutual tacit understanding.

They excelled in blitz sieges, becoming a sharp sword in complex environments, capable of striking the enemy’s heart at minimal cost.

The downside was that they were too few in number.

Engaging in a frontal conflict with a team of Bengshan’s scale, which exceeded five hundred members, the enormous disparity in numbers would become a fatal weakness.

He used to be a member of the Divine Hall Guild, mingling in the Emperor’s Tomb Mountain Range.