Volume One, Chapter 12: Are You Calling Me a Son of a Bitch?

If someone familiar with S-rank talent skills were to witness this scene, they would be utterly stunned. Even if Gu Xinian had allocated all 40 available attribute points to Intelligence, boasting a formidable 50 Intelligence and 100 Spirit, it would be impossible for an S-rank talent skill to manifest such overwhelming power at this stage.

Indeed, even though the Stagnation Swamp is an S-rank quality talent skill, no matter how high Gu Xinian’s current 100 Spirit is, it cannot unleash such terrifying might. The reason for this anomaly lies in a hidden mechanism known only to him.

When your equipment perfectly aligns with your talent skill and your spirit is at its peak, the power and effects of the talent skill are doubled.

The Stagnation Spear, as an S-rank piece of equipment from the Stagnation series, does not synchronize with the Stagnation Swamp skill.

So, what kind of equipment can harmonize with the Stagnation Swamp?

Of course, the Stagnation Swamp’s status as an S-rank talent skill stems not only from its ability to almost completely overpower most talent skills below A-rank, rendering them useless, but also from a far more terrifying mechanism.

The more things contaminated by the Stagnation Swamp, the more entities embrace and succumb to stagnation, the stronger its energy field becomes.

That is why he tolerates wasting words on those greedy ones and invests effort in them, rather than simply resolving everything as straightforwardly as in the novice trials.

Hence, he has deliberately held back the 40 unallocated attribute points.

Now, with all buffs stacked and aided by Pang Haoyu’s unique talent skill that helps restore spirit, wiping out all these monsters here is not beyond reach!

...

High above the heavens, in the Divine Human Star Kingdom.

Standing proudly while observing the insignificant mortals within its dominion, the Being suddenly widened its eyes and once again revealed a look of astonishment.

Over countless ages, it had rarely shown any emotional fluctuation, yet in such a short span, it had twice displayed genuine shock.

It noticed that the number of survivors in the Qinghe campus zone, which had been steadily declining, suddenly stabilized and then slowed dramatically, while the deaths of monsters grew more intense.

Just like during the novice trials.

Could it be that guy again?

A terrifying divine light blossomed within its eyes.

With a mere thought, the projection of the Qinghe University campus grew larger, eventually locking onto a single figure.

That person stood with feet sinking into the black swamp, clad in strange black armor and wielding an eerie long spear, leading countless corrupted monsters in fierce combat against those shrouded in blood mist.

Gu Xinian!

This human left a profound impression on it.

From the moment of its descent to this trial, every aspect of this man’s performance was noteworthy.

Throughout the long passage of time, as it had helped its master impose countless laws, it had encountered all manners of humans and other beings.

This man’s excellence ranked within the top ten.

Yet, to choose the Stagnation Lord as your faith and know how to please Him—that was truly intriguing.

Its hollow, mysterious eyes flickered ceaselessly, plotting unknown schemes.

Beneath its throne, countless human-sheep hybrids busily attended to their tasks, ceaselessly, day and night.

...

The eerie blood mist spread across the land.

The Stagnation Swamp had already expanded over a hundred yards in all directions.

Panting heavily, Pang Haoyu sat on the ground, wiping sweat from his face, gazing at the now-cleared surroundings, still feeling as if trapped in a dream, unreal.

He had originally thought that accompanying Gu Xinian, managing to eliminate a third of the monsters would be remarkable.

He never expected that Gu Xinian would clear all of them here!

This was simply too powerful!

During this trial, everyone else fled toward Nanshan Mist Subway Station, trying to escape the monsters.

Only Gu Xinian, with Pang Haoyu, boldly advanced into the blood mist, actively launching assaults and slaughtering the monsters within the mist—who would believe such a thing?

Though he already had a deep understanding of Gu Xinian’s strength, his perception was once again shattered.

Gu Xinian inviting them to build a stronghold was no mere impassioned dream—it was genuinely achievable!

Looking at Gu Xinian, Pang Haoyu’s eyes brimmed with tears of excitement and gratitude.

If not for Gu Xinian, he would have died in the novice trials.

If not for Gu Xinian, how could he have experienced this life, seen such sights?

As for Gu Xinian, he looked at his information panel and exhaled contentedly.

Having slain 72 monsters, he reached level 12 and gained another 20 attribute points to allocate.

He could have killed ten more, but considering Pang Haoyu also needed to level up and increase his strength, he generously credited him with ten kills.

After all, as long as he wished to kill, monsters were plentiful.

Ten kills were nothing.

According to the trial’s rules, monsters not killed by Gu Xinian would pursue those trial participants who fled northeast toward Nanshan Mist Subway Station.

By heading northeast toward the subway station, they would find more monsters to kill, gain more experience.

He looked up at Pang Haoyu.

“Do you want to rest for a while?”

“If not, then evenly distribute your newly gained attribute points between Strength and Intelligence.”

If it weren’t for the fact that healing spells like Spring Breeze could not heal the caster themselves, he would have wanted Pang Haoyu to exploit a bug to heal himself and restore both physical and spiritual strength.

Pang Haoyu nodded. He had considered this but felt it best to consult Gu Xinian before making any decisions.

Hearing Gu Xinian now, he promptly allocated the 20 attribute points gained from leveling up in the novice trials and the 10 points from the job transfer evenly between Strength and Intelligence.

As soon as the points were allocated, his fatigue and weakness nearly vanished—not quite to the level of Gu Xinian, who could instantly restore himself with 40 points—but enough to continue moving forward and fighting.

“I’m ready!”

He stood up, eyes bright, looking at Gu Xinian.

Gu Xinian nodded and began the journey toward the northeast, to Nanshan Mist Subway Station.

By now, the trial had lasted four hours.

The blood mist had spread over more than half the distance from Qinghe University to the subway station.

Only upon reaching the familiar Shannan River Crossing Bridge did he finally see the world beyond the blood mist—the ravaging monsters and a group of old acquaintances.

“Damn it, I knew we shouldn’t have provoked that pervert Gu Xinian. If only we had headed straight to Nanshan Mist Subway Station, maybe we’d be there by now!”

“You’re talking nonsense. Don’t you want the Stagnation Spear in Gu Xinian’s hands? What’s the point in saying this now? Let’s just work together to kill these three monsters and survive!”

...

Indeed, those who had once harbored ill intentions to ambush Gu Xinian for the Stagnation Spear were almost all hunted down by the corrupted monsters.

Yet a few had slipped through.

These six survivors, who had “shared some benefits” by following Gu Xinian during the novice trials, ranged from levels 2 to 3.

Thanks to their keen judgment, when things looked grim, they fled immediately and, with some luck, survived until now.

Although this time Gu Xinian’s rebirth in the novice trials made him the most dazzling and highest-level presence, triggering a butterfly effect that subtly changed the course of events and fate.

As a result, during the journey to Nanshan Mist Subway Station, Li Xuan, Xiao Ran, Han Tong, and Lin Qingsue were not chosen as leaders.

Li Xuan and Xiao Ran also did not immediately organize everyone to travel together.

But now, as most sensible people realize that facing monsters alone is almost impossible, they begin forming alliances to cooperate and survive.

One battle squad after another has emerged.

These six greedy ones form just one of many such squads.

They had killed several lone monsters on the road, and the luckiest and strongest among them had already reached level 5.

But now, they unexpectedly faced three monsters at once!

Fortunately, these three were not heavily armored, and their attacks could harm them.

With proper teamwork, they could still defeat these monsters, level up, grow stronger, and survive.

These six deserved to be survivors, having endured the relentless pursuit of corrupted monsters under Gu Xinian.

After numerous battles, they had honed their coordination and gained valuable combat experience and skills.

Thus, after a fierce, desperate fight where they divided and conquered, they finally executed these three monsters on the spot.

Staring at the experience points popping up and the fallen corpses, the six were overjoyed, laughing heartily.

“Looks like the monsters in this trial aren’t as terrifying as we thought.”

“Damn, if we had been bolder during the novice trials, maybe we’d have gained even more.”

“I wonder if that bastard Gu Xinian is dead. If it weren’t for this weird blood mist, I’d sneak back to see. If we could get the Stagnation Spear, this world might be ours, haha!”

...

Mentioning the Stagnation Spear, their eyes glowed with greed once more.

What they didn’t know was that the monsters en route to Nanshan Mist Subway Station were not actually so formidable.

Nor were these three monsters’ strengths exaggerated.

It was simply that the six of them had the perfect combination of professions: Warrior, Mage, Priest, Assassin, Hunter, and Bard!

Having all six major classes together multiplied their combat power.

The job transfer after the Gods’ Trial carried deep significance.

As time passed, the trials grew more complex and difficult.

At such times, even the strongest needed the assistance and cooperation of other classes.

Thus, team formation among different professions was born.

When a team gathered all six major classes, their capabilities became versatile and their combat power multiplied, far surpassing solo fighters or incomplete teams missing some classes.

This mechanism was only gradually discovered during the fifth trial in Gu Xinian’s previous life.

Unexpectedly, these six stumbled onto the perfect class combination, forming the strongest team.

But just as the six continued to ogle and covet the Stagnation Spear in Gu Xinian’s hands, a cold voice echoed from the blood mist:

“You calling me a bastard?”