Volume One, Chapter 15: Breaking the Chains, Confronting Desire—The Fall into Corruption

What exactly is an elite monster?

For a moment, Xiao Ran, Li Xuan, Pang Haoyu, and the others were stunned.

At the same time, all the trial participants from the Weiyang faction within Qinghe University’s campus were equally taken aback.

They certainly understood what an elite monster meant in the game, and could roughly guess the meaning behind this pop-up message about an elite monster.

But the question was: if the elite monster was the same as in the game, what special traits would it possess? How much stronger would it be compared to ordinary monsters?

The only one who remained calm was Gu Xinian.

Since his rebirth, he had gradually adjusted his mindset and adapted. No matter how great the opportunity before him, he could remain largely unshaken.

As an elite-level monster, Gu Xinian was undoubtedly one of the few, apart from certain “Seers,” who truly understood such creatures. In fact, he was the only person in the world familiar with them.

Being a reincarnator, he had naturally hunted elite monsters in his previous life.

An elite monster’s four-dimensional attributes were four times those of a hell-difficulty monster, and it possessed at least one talent skill rated above C level, making its solo combat power terrifying.

Most importantly, whenever an elite monster appeared, it was always accompanied by a guard squad of about twenty units.

In other words, each elite monster’s emergence was accompanied by twenty hell-difficulty monsters.

At that moment, his gaze swept across Xiao Ran, Li Xuan, and the others.

“Let’s hurry up and finish clearing out these monsters.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ran, Li Xuan, and the others came back to their senses and glanced at Gu Xinian in surprise. They didn’t understand how he could remain so calm, as if he wasn’t surprised at all.

It was as if... he had known about the elite monster’s appearance all along.

But how could that be possible?

However, judging by the slight urgency in Gu Xinian’s tone, everyone thought maybe he was just extremely confident, which explained his lack of a strong reaction.

After all, to someone as abnormally powerful as him, any monster might just be a moving experience pack.

Otherwise, why would his tone sound like he was eager to be the first to take the risk?

Still, no one objected.

After all, fighting alongside Gu Xinian made battling monsters easier and simpler.

Besides, with Gu Xinian present, they were more confident about defeating the elite monster—or even seizing the killing blow at a critical moment and skyrocketing in rank!

Any monster worthy of being publicly announced would surely yield generous rewards upon defeat!

Of course, Li Xuan and Xiao Ran had no intention of stealing kills. Both were cautious realists. Without special circumstances and clear profits, they wouldn’t risk such reckless actions.

Moreover, neither wanted to offend Gu Xinian or become his enemy.

After Gu Xinian’s words, he took the lead and resumed attacking the monsters.

Pang Haoyu followed behind, breathing a sigh of relief.

Although he hadn’t expected their current predicament to still be the result of human scheming, at least the people they encountered now were not enemies or villains.

As they acted, Xiao Ran, Li Xuan, and the main force joined the fight.

In an instant, the situation reversed.

The monsters became lambs to the slaughter.

After all, Xiao Ran and Li Xuan’s main force consisted of ninety-six people, divided into eight combat squads, each squad having at least one perfect six-person full-profession team—a luxurious and powerful lineup for the early apocalypse.

With the addition of the overwhelmingly strong Gu Xinian, the effect was comparable to a top-tier game party running a dungeon at the start.

At this moment, many job changers’ area-of-effect skills came into play, unleashing massive, unrestrained bombardments.

Before long, they had nearly cleared all monsters on the Shannan River Crossbridge.

As the monsters on the bridge were eliminated and the view at the bridge’s end gradually opened up, they witnessed a horrifying scene.

There appeared a group of peculiar monsters.

Some resembled mermaids, others looked like humanoid crabs or shrimps...

In short, they all shared features of humans and fish, with faces twisted in rage and ferocity, embodying the very essence of monstrosity.

They also shared another trait: each wielded standardized weapons and wore uniform armor, giving the impression of legion soldiers.

Most notably, among them stood a larger, far more terrifying monster.

It resembled a gigantic humanoid crocodile, with veins on its body pulsing as if filled with blood and molten lava—less eerie but far more terrifying.

In its hand, it gripped a massive black battle axe.

Feeling the immense oppressive aura emanating from it and witnessing such an imposing figure, Xiao Ran, Li Xuan, and the others couldn’t help but think:

Damn, could this be the elite monster?

Just then, five minutes had passed.

Another new pop-up window appeared before everyone’s eyes.

It was a fragmented map of Qinghe City.

The map precisely covered the area from Qinghe University campus to Nanshanwu Metro Station.

Within this range, a huge red marker indicated the elite monster’s location.

That position was exactly at the end of the Shannan River Crossbridge, toward Nanshanwu Metro Station.

In other words, the humanoid crocodile they had just seen!

“Damn, why did the elite monster spawn right in front of us? Talk about bad luck.”

“Maybe it’s not bad luck, but an opportunity?”

“Opportunity my foot! I feel like it could slap me to death with one hand!”

...

Among Xiao Ran and Li Xuan’s main force, some were mentally shattered, while others were irrationally excited.

Li Xuan’s expression was grim.

He felt like a mere mayfly before that humanoid crocodile.

Yet he showed no sign of backing down; his eyes gleamed with bright determination.

As for Xiao Ran, though shocked and puzzled whether the elite monster’s spawn here was coincidence or something else, her attention shifted to Gu Xinian.

Upon seeing the pop-up map and confirming the elite monster’s presence, she immediately looked at Gu Xinian.

In the next instant, turmoil surged within her heart.

Gu Xinian’s face remained impassive, as if he had foreseen the elite monster’s appearance.

Could it be that this guy possessed some kind of precognition?

Such a thought involuntarily crossed her mind.

And she was right.

Gu Xinian indeed had foreknowledge of all this.

He clearly understood the rules governing elite monster appearances.

In the trial, elite monsters would appear where the most participants gathered.

Though many participants heading to Nanshanwu Train Station gradually formed groups for mutual support, they did not act as a single unit.

Instead, they divided into different combat or action squads.

Not everyone, like Li Xuan or Xiao Ran, upheld moral principles and retained their humanity from before the world’s upheaval. Many groups formed under the guise of mutual aid but were actually power blocs vying to become the new “capitalists.”

A simple example was the Destiny Breakthrough Group formed by Han Tong and Lin Qingsue in Gu Xinian’s previous life.

They sent scout teams to explore the trial area, investigate monster distribution and strength, and then led combat squads to hunt monsters.

Loot distribution was hardly fair—strong leaders like Lin Qingsue and Han Tong picked first; the weaker ones got the leftovers, an exploitative hierarchy.

Of course, leaders like Lin Qingsue and Han Tong weren’t doing this out of kindness—they just wanted those people to remain valuable, capable workers.

Trials grew increasingly difficult, monsters and anomalies stronger; without improving these “workers’” abilities, how could they serve better?

Were those “workers” fools, willingly exploited by these leaders?

Not at all.

Without joining an organization and working for the strong, could these weaklings survive in the brutal post-apocalyptic world and repeated trials?

They had no choice but to immerse themselves in the leaders’ grand promises of “first we get stronger to secure top-tier combat power, then help you improve,” a beautiful yet manipulative lie.

Gu Xinian, no longer the naive, passionate youth of his past life, held no strong opinions about these tactics.

To him, everyone had their own way to survive and the right to strive for a better life.

He was no nobler than anyone else and had no right to judge.

Becoming the legendary “sage” was no easy feat; otherwise, sages wouldn’t be so rare throughout human history.

Returning to the matter at hand:

In the Weiyang faction’s trial at Nanshanwu Metro Station, the elite monster could only appear near Li Xuan and Xiao Ran’s main force.

The Destiny Breakthrough Group had intended to use Li Xuan and Xiao Ran’s main force to cooperate and kill the elite monster by proxy.

Who would have thought that fate would bring Xiao Ran, Li Xuan, and the overwhelmingly powerful Gu Xinian together, causing the elite monster to spawn right before Gu Xinian, saving him the trouble of searching!

Moreover, this brought him many allies.

Many coveted the elite monster. Though Gu Xinian believed he wouldn’t lose the kill to someone else unexpectedly, the trial time was limited while experience gained was theoretically unlimited, along with many other benefits.

No matter what, they couldn’t afford to waste too much time on the elite monster.

So he looked at Xiao Ran and Li Xuan.

“You keep me occupied with the other monsters. I’ll handle the elite monster myself.”

After snapping back to reality, Xiao Ran, Li Xuan, and their main force were momentarily incredulous, all asking in unison:

“Gu... Gu sir (Big Brother Gu), you said what? You’ll handle the elite monster alone?”

Gu Xinian raised an eyebrow.

“What’s the problem?”

The main force was speechless, thinking Gu Xinian was a little too arrogant.

The elite monster had just appeared; no one knew what to expect, yet Gu Xinian claimed he’d take it on alone while they distracted other monsters.

Damn, we admit your strength is insane, but can you really be this reckless?

How much courage did Liang Jingru give you?

Li Xuan frowned, also feeling Gu Xinian was somewhat overconfident.

Only Xiao Ran’s heart roiled in turmoil.

After careful observation, she realized Gu Xinian was not arrogant or reckless.

His boldness came from absolute confidence.

She was right; as a reincarnator, Gu Xinian naturally had supreme self-assurance.

In his previous life, during the trial at Nanshanwu Metro Station, the elite monster also appeared.

It took the combined strength of all trial participants in Qinghe University’s campus area to kill it, and Lin Qingsue stole the final kill, marking her rise.

After a moment, Xiao Ran calmed herself and said:

“No problem. But if you need support, just ask.”

Her growing awe for Gu Xinian caused her to lower her posture in speech and manner.

Li Xuan watched Xiao Ran thoughtfully.

The main force remained somewhat shocked, even looking at Gu Xinian with envy and jealousy.

After all, Xiao Ran was their goddess.

Gu Xinian’s expression remained unchanged, but a sharp gleam like a blade shone in his eyes.

“Then I’ll leave the other monsters to you.”

Not one to put on airs, he spoke kindly to Li Xuan and Xiao Ran, who bore no ill feelings.

As soon as he finished speaking, he pushed off forcefully, like an arrow released from a bow, dashing toward the elite monster.

As he closed the distance, the trial’s unwritten rules triggered.

Not only the elite monster but its entire guard squad fixed their hate target on him.

Simultaneously, Xiao Ran began issuing orders.

“All combat squads, prepare to attack all monsters near the elite monster except the elite itself. Help Gu sir relieve as much pressure as possible!”

Then Li Xuan led the first combat squad in a direct assault on the elite monster’s guard squad.

The other squads closely followed.

The guard squad was extremely formidable and, in the previous life, had nearly wiped out all trial participants in Qinghe University’s campus area in cooperation with the elite monster.

But now, in the hands of Li Xuan’s and Xiao Ran’s ninety-six-strong main force, they gained no advantage.

This was not because the ninety-six had gained power comparable to all previous trial participants in the Qinghe campus area combined, but simply because Gu Xinian was holding the elite monster’s attention.

The guard squad’s primary attack target was also Gu Xinian!

As he neared the guard squad and elite monster, the elite monster unleashed a deafening roar and, together with the guard squad, launched an assault on Gu Xinian.

Twenty-one gleaming cold blades surged from all directions, carrying the power of destruction straight at him.

Even without facing such an attack directly, Li Xuan, Xiao Ran, and the main force felt suffocated under the immense pressure, their faces turning pale.

As for Gu Xinian, facing the attack head-on, not only Li Xuan and the main force but even Xiao Ran herself could not imagine how he would withstand it.

Yet Gu Xinian remained calm.

The Mire of Corruption formed beneath his feet.

At the same time, an eerie, sinister light flickered in his eyes.

“Break the shackles, confront desire!”

“Offering!”