Lord Shenxiu

"Brothers... we have been bled dry for too long. The Special Review Bureau, the Shock Troops, the nobility... Why should we hand over the experience points and elixir pills we've worked hard to earn to outsiders?"

Jiang Shang's voice, measured and steady, carried across the Black Tiger Army.

Those who were mockingly referred to as 'the basic labor force' of the open beta players were instantly bewildered.

"I sincerely invite you to leave the Special Review Bureau and join the Freedom Wings Guild!"

"I can guarantee the safety of each player's family members. They will absolutely not suffer any retaliation!"

"Even if you choose not to join, it doesn't matter, I will lead others to resist... At the very least, after the establishment of Freedom Wings, players who stay in the Special Review Bureau will benefit too. Your treatment is bound to improve... we are not enemies!"

...

"Director, what should we do now?"

Xie Biqi looked at Luo Xiaoyi, and realized that her friend's face was also filled with perplexity.

"Jiang Shang, you're doing great!"

Shen Mo nearly spat out a mouthful of blood. "I'll remember today's events."

"It's useless for you to remember."

Jiang Shang laughed heartily. "Who else will take the blame if not you? Maybe you won't be around next time... At least you'd have to step down from the Director's position! And... Since you're playing the nice guy, Freedom Wings also needs a foothold in the Daqian Nine Provinces, so consider this Cangyuan County a gift to us!"

Pu!

Shen Mo really did spit blood. "What are you saying?"

He had spent tremendous manpower, material resources, and effort to secure Cangyuan County, and now Jiang Shang wanted it with just a word?

On what grounds?

"Lin Fan, it seems we must fight side by side once again."

Jiang Shang took a deep breath. "To give the Special Review Bureau and the big shots behind it a rude awakening, let them witness the combined power of the internal test players."

"I couldn't ask for more!"

Lin Fan laughed heartily. "Shall we fight here, or will you follow me to the battlefield in the wilderness?"

Having said this, he didn't wait for Shen Mo and the others to respond. He directly controlled a tornado, sweeping towards the mountains and forests outside Cangyuan County City.

"Let's go!"

Of course, Shen Mo wouldn't just watch his own forces die from nuclear radiation; he led a group of confidants towards the direction where Lin Fan had gone.

Boom!

Moments later, a huge mushroom cloud rose slowly from the distance.

The shockwave swept across, causing chaos both inside and outside of Cangyuan County City.

"Is this... the power of a mythic-grade cultivation technique?"

Jamie looked at the scene, his expression one of profound horror.

Beside him, the White Tiger Ancestor was simply baffled.

Even though he was a First Grade Martial Artist, a Land True Immortal, at the Martial Arts Peak, could he possibly wield such destructive power?

Was the legacy of the Holy Immortals truly this fearsome?

Why did he have the nagging feeling that the Second Grade Martial Artist would be able to defeat him?

"The Daxia Alliance... Even after splitting up, is still so powerful..."

Jamie sighed. "However, my lowest goal has been reached. Competition between nations is a long-term process... White Tiger Ancestor, it's time for us to leave."

"That's right."

The White Tiger Ancestor glanced in the direction Lin Fan had left and disappeared with Jamie into the shadows.

...

Grotto Heaven.

A year and more has passed since the public test, but only a few months have gone by in Grotto Heaven.

However, the entire world was already rife with undercurrents, even transforming into overt vortexes.

Inside the villa.

Zhong Shenxiu casually turned on the television and tuned into a channel.

This was the latest player channel, established by the Da Xia Empire, and it specialized in broadcasting player information from Da Xia and other nations.

"Special Review Bureau Director Shen Mo is being isolated and investigated for suspected corruption and bribery by the Internal Affairs Investigation Department!"

This piece of news was the first to appear.

In it, Shen Mo was hunched over, looking to have aged significantly.

"Isn't this just deceitful... He's not crippled and still pretending to be an old man? But that's the tragedy of being a lackey; when the higher-ups decide to pin the blame on him, he has to take it..."

Zhong Shenxiu snorted in disdain.

In fact, Shen Mo should be thankful for his Martial Artist status, which gave him the utility to be exploited.

And his own martial prowess also prevented the nobility from being too outrageous, such as letting him die of sickness in prison or something.

In fact, he might just be removed from his position momentarily, to lay low for a while before he could make a comeback.

"The civilian player organization 'Freedom Wings' was established and is recruiting players across Da Xia. It promises that players from the Special Review Bureau can join the guild after giving up their previous identities... Guild spokesperson Huang Tianyao stated that Freedom Wings is an indispensable extraordinary force of the Da Xia Empire and has officially founded a sect in Xuanming Sky with Cangyuan County as its base..."

"Sure enough, they've split. This will be the catalyst... Players are about to stir things up."

Zhong Shenxiu nodded indifferently.

No matter how badly the natives of Xuanming Sky have been bullied, or what developments might occur in Grotto Heaven, none of it concerned him.

He was only focused on the digestion of a unique divinity.

The establishment of Freedom Wings marked the beginning of a new phase for the players.

Having acquired sufficient power, they were no longer willing to endure restraints and sought to make their voices heard.

Zhong Shenxiu pondered for a moment, then switched to a foreign channel.

"Hello, this is Daxia Society's correspondent Su Minmin, bringing you this live report... The coup in the Nible country is nearing its end, and the military faction led by the country's players has obtained an overwhelming victory, currently advancing on the Royal Capital!"

A formally dressed reporter was at work just outside the desert Royal Capital.

Not far away, columns of armored vehicles converged like a torrential flow.

Pu!

Suddenly, a figure leaped out from the armored vehicles and started slaughtering towards the Royal Capital.

Along the way, all manner of tanks or armed helicopters exploded and turned into beautiful sparks.

There were constant exclamations from foreigners around the area, alongside various screams.

"Do you see that? That was the coup faction's top expert, 'Evil King' Mo Ye making his move... This player is also known as 'Evil King' in the game and is said to have infiltrated a Demon Path sect, then to have slaughtered them to gain a full inheritance, now he's a Third-Grade Martial Artist—Vajra Unbreakable Realm!"

Su Minmin screamed excitedly.

In the Royal Capital as well, several Martial Artists appeared, seemingly also players.

Unfortunately, they were only Fourth Grade and, after contributing to a spectacular and cinematic fight, each fell in turn.

"From today onwards, the kingdom of Nible abolishes the position of King. I am the lifetime President!"

Mo Ye declared loudly, his voice echoing in all directions.

As those watching the TV were struck speechless.

Nible was a tiny country, incapable of planting mushrooms; it was already down for the count.

And yet, it was the first nation to fall under player control, but certainly not the last!

Around the world, unrest began to stir.

Even in the Da Xia Empire, the Star Ring Federation... it was the same.

The emergence of the superhuman was bound to bring chaos.

The efforts of people like Jiang Shang, to some ambitious individuals, seemed utterly superfluous.

They were longing for chaos, because chaos was the best ladder.