Chapter 18: Surrounded by a Hundred, Do You Take Me for a Fool?

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Su Nian looked at the sudden white glow appearing on his chest and raised an eyebrow.

"Marked already?"

Only one person in his previous life possessed such a technique...

That was Han Jiangxue, with the S-tier talent known as the "Eye of Illusion Breaking"! The future core of the team and the top ice mage!

The Eye of Illusion Breaking could lock onto enemies within a kilometer radius and randomly create a weak spot on them.

Anyone who struck this weak spot would have their skill or basic attack deal five times the normal damage!

What made this talent truly overpowered wasn’t just that each weak spot refreshed every thirty seconds.

Han Jiangxue could lock onto dozens or even more enemies at once, causing all of them to bear weak spots!

It was precisely because of her as the team’s core that the Haoyue Guild had won the championship in the first-ever guild war in the last game.

"Beautiful, kind-hearted, and incredibly gifted."

That was Su Nian’s impression of her.

"But later on... such a pity."

With a sigh, he relied again on memories from his past life and slipped deeper into the forest.

Since the Haoyue boss knew he was the only one within a kilometer radius, they would surely be bringing reinforcements.

He had to act fast.

The grand gift he had prepared could not be taken lightly!

...

Minutes later, deep within the forest, Han Jiangxue raised her delicate hand, pointing to a towering ancient tree several times larger than the surrounding ones, wide enough to be embraced by dozens of people, and said, "He’s up there."

At her words, everyone instinctively looked up.

There stood Su Nian on the lowest branch of the tree, yet still several meters above the ground.

Noticing the nickname above his head, Haoyue’s leader stepped forward with a gentle smile. "Greetings, Lord Di. I am the owner of Haoyue Club, and I sincerely invite you to join us!"

Su Nian looked disdainfully down at the crowd beneath him, his eyes fixed on the Haoyue leader with unhidden contempt. He sneered, "Join your club?"

"What’s this? You’re already itching to use some tricks in the contract to make me work for you for free, while handing over all my in-game equipment and items without compensation? And then if I break the contract, I’m hit with an astronomical penalty?"

After saying this, Su Nian glanced at Han Jiangxue.

Haoyue’s leader’s face immediately stiffened!

He quickly suppressed the dark expression and replied amiably, "Not at all. We are a legitimate club. Contracts aren’t one-sided. If you don’t understand, you can have a lawyer review them for you."

At this, the Haoyue leader’s expression grew serious, emphasizing, "If you’re willing to join us, name your price. A monthly salary of one million is negotiable!"

The crowd erupted with astonishment.

A million a month?

For gold-farming players like them, it was unimaginable!

If this big shot didn’t join, they would think he was out of his mind.

But in the next moment...

"Cut the crap!"

"You want me to join your damn club? Fine! Kill me here and now, and then I’ll join without pay! How’s that?"

Su Nian spread his hands. This was the first time since his rebirth that he had sworn at someone!

He wasn’t usually one to speak crudely, but seeing the Haoyue leader’s hypocritical face was unbearable.

The reason was simple...

His death in the past life was caused by this very person.

Who would have thought that someone who unexpectedly awakened as a hidden "Contract Mage" would not only contract a demon but also betray all of humanity?

He would treat his own kind as fodder for demons to strengthen himself!

Furthermore, to become stronger, he cooperated with invaders, slaughtering an entire innocent city!

Though all this happened in the previous lifetime,

Su Nian had countless ways to stop it!

But one person’s hypocrisy could never be changed.

The Haoyue leader’s face twisted slightly, suppressing his anger. "We can discuss things reasonably. I’m not here to demand an explanation."

"I just admire you—you’re the first to kill the boss and top the level leaderboard! If possible, I hope we can meet offline."

Su Nian almost laughed in anger.

"Are you kidding me?"

"The people you brought are enough to form a whole company! What’s this, a forest day trip? Are you the tour guide?"

...

The crowd fell silent.

Some fiddled with their gear, fascinated by the strange trees in the forest; others opened the world chat, afraid to laugh and lose the hundred gold they had just earned...

The Haoyue leader’s expression darkened further. He squinted and said, "There are many powerful wild monsters in the forest. I brought people just in case."

Su Nian chuckled lightly, glanced at the time in the top-right corner, then suddenly turned expressionless. "Then your precaution is quite justified!"

Upon hearing this, Brother Kun felt goosebumps rise and had a strange sense of déjà vu.

Su Nian grinned with interest. "Since you brought so many people, do you think you can get out of here alive?"

"Rumble!"

Just as he spoke, the ground beneath them began to shake violently!

"What... what the hell?"

"What’s happening?"

"I feel the ground beneath my feet..."

Before the last person could finish,

Boom!

A massive emerald-green python, over ten meters long, burst from the earth!

Players standing directly above were flung dozens of meters away by a tremendous force and instantly fell unconscious!

[Forest Python killed player: Turning your pink into black!]

[Forest Python killed player: Professional gold farmer!]

[Forest Python killed player...]

The scene caught everyone utterly off guard!

When they finally realized what was happening and saw the huge, fearsome forest python before them, they were struck with panic, their legs feeling like lead, frozen in place.

[Forest Python: LV15]

[Rank: BOSS]

[HP: 22,780/22,780]

[Attack: 410]

[Skills: Bite, Constrict, Giant Tornado, Direct Assault]

Indeed, this was one of the rookie village bosses.

Though its HP was just over twenty-two thousand, far less than the Rock Behemoth, its attack power and agility were unmatched among rookie village bosses.

Without heavy crowd control, slows, or guaranteed hit skills, the Haoyue team could only dream of escaping.

And this...

Was Su Nian’s grand gift prepared for the Haoyue Club!