My Disciples are Too Idiotic

"God damn it! Damn Game Designer, come out and get beaten up!"

"What the hell? I didn't even see the Boss and I got sent back already? And I also dropped from Foundation Establishment to Qi Cultivation?"

"Crappy game! What's with this Realm demotion mechanic? Do we really need this kind of realism?"

"I'm not playing anymore! I can't beat this Boss. I'm gonna go wash my feet and relax."

"Tell that Dung Beetle I've got his number. He better not think of leaving the Respawn Point for the rest of his life!"

"..."

The players' resentment had completely erupted.

The Boss was unbeatably strong, and it forcefully caused Realm demotions—how could anyone bear that?

It was hard enough to earn some Contribution Points to raise one's Realm, only for it all to be lost because of one Boss.

Most importantly, these players who were out on Tasks hadn't even provoked this Boss!

Who could they even complain to?

Those who stayed behind to help ended up sacrificing themselves.

Such a huge loss.

Xu Nian also wore a solemn expression. Can't hold out, can we? What the hell kind of situation is this?

"ROAR—"

The dragon's roar resounded. Faced with this terrifying roar, immense destructive power fell upon the players. In an instant, the players who had remained Outside, intending to battle the Nine Nether Cold Red Flood Dragon, saw their bodies begin to crumble and disintegrate. They croaked.

Not a single complete corpse was left behind—all the players Outside and on top of the City Wall were nearly wiped out in an instant.

Even Old Mo, the strongest in combat, despite activating the Eight Gates Escape Armor, was incinerated by a blast of dragon breath. He didn't even have a chance to fight back. Pathetically weak!

Inside the City Wall, a handful of players were still alive. But what was the use of them being alive? With Old Mo and the others dead, what difference did it make if they lived or died?

The members of the Great Dream Immortal Sect, who were originally inscribing the Array, chose to leave the instant the Nine Nether Cold Red Flood Dragon approached. Stay behind? If the Profound Yellow Sect members wanted to court death, they certainly didn't. The only regret was losing such promising young disciples.

The Fifth Elder, protecting the disciples of the Great Dream Immortal Sect, immediately retreated towards Kuhai Town. They couldn't stay here any longer, or they too would perish. Even their Sect Leader would have to think twice before facing this Nine Nether Cold Red Flood Dragon.

The Dung Beetle leaped atop the City Wall. Looking at the bodies and bloodstains scattered all around, he suddenly felt a chill run up his spine. We're so screwed! This time, it looks like an even bigger mess.

He hadn't participated in this Task with the Ao Xiang Squad. His original plan was to find a high-Realm Demonic Beast and use his Secret Stinky Tofu to cleverly earn a load of Contribution Points. Who knew he would attract such a Boss? If it weren't for his special wind-type Magic, he probably would have been dead already. But now, it seemed he might as well have been. With so many players dead, wouldn't they beat him to a pulp if he returned? This is big trouble.

The Nine Nether Cold Red Flood Dragon circled above the City Wall but didn't immediately crush the Dung Beetle. With its Power, crushing him would have been effortless. Yet, unexpectedly, the Dung Beetle survived.

"'Damn it all! After chasing me for so long, just kill me if you're going to!' the Dung Beetle yelled, sitting on the City Wall with a look of utter despondency. 'I'm tired. I'm done with this. Just destroy everything!'"

The Nine Nether Cold Red Flood Dragon descended fiercely, and the players' once-prideful little Great Wall collapsed in that moment. Xu Nian was buried beneath the dust and rubble.

For a Demonic Beast of its Realm, speaking was easy, so it naturally understood the Dung Beetle's words.

"'Human, hand over the thing you used to lure me!' the Nine Nether Cold Red Flood Dragon demanded, its huge dragon eyes fixed on the Dung Beetle. It was careful not to accidentally kill him, so it slightly retracted its oppressive aura."

Hearing this, the Dung Beetle was stunned. When did I lure it? I was just... Holy shit! Stinky Tofu?!

The Dung Beetle suddenly realized and completely freaked out. You chased me all this way just for a few pieces of Stinky Tofu? If you can talk, why didn't you say so earlier? The Ao Xiang Squad was wiped out, and so many players died here. They'll definitely hunt me down when I go back! I might even get targeted in real life!

"'You should have said so earlier! If you'd told me, wouldn't I have given it to you?' the Dung Beetle lamented, lying on the ground lifelessly. 'If you had just said you wanted Stinky Tofu, I wouldn't have led you here. Now I'm in huge trouble!'"

The Nine Nether Cold Red Flood Dragon didn't care about his troubles. Although it didn't know what the Dung Beetle had used to lure it, instinct had driven it to chase all the way here. As for how many of the Human Race had died, it couldn't care less.

The Dung Beetle lay on the ground, helplessly taking out the Stinky Tofu from his Storage Ring and placing it aside without another word. What more was there to say? He didn't even know what to do now. Having provoked so many players, he was definitely going to be hunted down offline. He'd never try something like this again. He had overestimated the players' Power and underestimated the Nine Nether Cold Red Flood Dragon's.

Xu Nian crawled out from the rubble, his face grimy, staring at the massive Flood Dragon. So this creature caused a Team Wipe of all the players... all for a bit of Stinky Tofu? It even nearly killed me? All because of that damn Stinky Tofu?! God damn it!

At that moment, Xu Nian began to resent the Dung Beetle all over again.

Meanwhile, the Dung Beetle received a System Reminder:

[Player 'Dung Beetle' has offended Sect Leader Xu Nian, deducting 10,000 Contribution Points!]

[Player 'Dung Beetle's Contribution Points are insufficient; deducting his entire 2,300 Contribution Points. He now owes Sect Leader Xu Nian 7,700 Contribution Points!]

"'Holy shit!' The Dung Beetle was dumbstruck by the System's message. I didn't earn any Contribution Points, and now I'm saddled with a huge debt? How the hell am I supposed to keep playing?! Damn Game Designer, do you even know how to run an in-game event?!"

The Nine Nether Cold Red Flood Dragon opened its mouth wide, sucked in the Stinky Tofu in one gulp, then rose and flew straight towards the Black Water Cold Pool. The Human Race? What do they have to do with me?

Watching the Nine Nether Cold Red Flood Dragon just leave like that, Xu Nian's face grew increasingly unsightly. The players who respawned and rushed back were equally dumbfounded.

"'I was doing a Task, my Realm dropped, and I got nothing out of it?'"

"'That damn Dung Beetle! If I don't break his legs this time, I'll change my name to his!'"

"'Brothers, let's get him! Take down this son of a bitch first! I've tolerated him for too long. This bastard is just a shit-stirring stick!'"

"'Huh? That analogy isn't right. If he's the shit-stirring stick, what does that make us?'"

"..."

A group of players charged forward, pinned the Dung Beetle to the ground, and started pummeling him. The Task? My Realm level dropped! To hell with the damn Task!

Xu Nian, covered in dirt, glanced at the players, then turned and walked away without a word. From now on, I'm avoiding anything related to the Dung Beetle like the plague. It's safer in the Sect. I'll let the players deal with things Outside; I'm done tempting fate.

Just as Xu Nian was returning to the Sect, a sudden System update made all players pause in surprise.

[System Version 3.5 update. This is an online update and will not affect player experience.]

[This update adjusts player Realm strengths. After the update, special Cultivation Techniques will have greater restrictions, and the Northern Wilderness Power Struggle chapter will be opened.]

[The Profound Yellow Sect has gained prominence. The Northern Wilderness Power Struggle chapter is now officially online, with arrangements to be prioritized by Sect Leader Xu Nian.]

[Contribution Points have been adjusted downwards. The Contribution Points required for Realm advancement are reduced, and the Contribution Points players receive for completing Tasks will also be reduced.]

This was considered a minor update that also introduced a New Map, so it wasn't disruptive for the players. Previously, high Rewards meant the Contribution Points needed to increase Power were also high. Now, Task Rewards were lower, and correspondingly, the Contribution Points needed for advancement were also reduced.

The most intriguing new feature was the introduction of the New Map. Players could now explore larger Maps, which was likely the only piece of good news for now.

Players also successfully claimed the inheritance of the Profound Nether Immortal Emperor. The so-called inheritance was, in fact, just a grave. The tomb's guardian Demonic Beast, affected by the Nine Nether Cold Red Flood Dragon, was deader than dead, so the players completed the Task easily.

Thanks to the completion of this Task, Xu Nian's Realm also improved, and he smoothly advanced to the Nascent Soul Realm. Such a speed of advancement was quite fast. He had originally planned to stabilize things for a while and let the players continue to grind. But Liu Ruyan's sudden visit completely shattered Xu Nian's plans...