Chapter 1691

"Huu, huu, huu..."

Li Murui slumped in front of the bar, panting heavily. She hadn't died, but she was terrified half to death.

"So, you know the branch situations of all contractors in this city?"

Su Xiao was disassembling the gun in his hand. He was about to advance to the fifth rank, so he didn't care at all about exposing his position or identity in the real world. After surpassing the fourth rank, there was no need to sneak around anymore.

Or rather, upon reaching the fourth rank, it's best to settle grudges in the derived world. Seeking revenge in the real world might mean the avenger gets killed by the "Black Emperor" of that territory before the enemy even dies.

"Yeah, that's right. I know all of that."

"So, what does this mean for me?"

"Eh~"

Li Murui was momentarily at a loss for words.

"This time I'm not killing you, just because of your grandfather's connection. I have some history with that old man, but that's all."

Su Xiao's forehead throbbed faintly. For Li Murui, this shameless chuuni girl, killing her would offend the military and wasn't worth it.

"I can pay to learn combat skills."

"Not interested. Amu, see the guest out."

"Wait! Let go of me! I don't want medicine, I'm not crazy, I don't want this, wuu~, don't pinch my head, I was wrong, it hurts so much~"

A moment later, the jewelry store fell quiet. Li Murui recognizing Su Xiao was no surprise—since entering the Reincarnation Paradise, he had never activated the disguise function; he simply didn't fear enemy retaliation.

Life in the real world was peaceful yet lively, and it was lively precisely because this chuuni girl Li Murui had shown up again. Su Xiao simply ignored her; this girl was bold and careful enough to lie on the sofa and start playing with her phone. Judging by her appearance, she was clearly preparing to cling to a big thigh, so Su Xiao treated her as if she didn't exist—and besides, she could still be useful.

Although Li Murui wasn't stupid, compared to Su Xiao, this old sly fox, she was clearly just a naive, sweet little white rabbit who had willingly walked right into his trap.

Time flew by. Li Murui didn't seem as flighty as she appeared. When Su Xiao had only 12 hours left before returning to the Reincarnation Paradise, she left the jewelry store. According to the tracker placed by Bubu Wang, she had moved several kilometers away before stopping—evidently, this girl still had some sense of boundaries.

The teleportation sensation came—inside the private room.

【You are about to enter a new world. Hunters, prepare yourselves.】

【Hunter level has reached lv. 40. Checking prerequisites for advancement to the fifth rank.】

1. Participate in one fourth-rank war world (achieved).

2. Break through one or several 99-point attribute barriers (achieved).

3. Any attribute reaches 100 points (achieved),

4. Talent ability awakened at least once (achieved).

5. Obtained two or more S or higher overall evaluations (achieved).

6. Completed storyline events in an open world (achieved).

7. Reached the origin world (achieved).

8. Obtained any title (achieved).

9. Reached the Void/Abyss (achieved).

10. Number of contractors killed is less than 5 (not achieved—severely exceeded).

Note: Prerequisites 1 and 2 are mandatory. Among prerequisites 3–10, any three must be completed.

【Verification complete: Hunter has met the advancement prerequisites for fifth rank (9/10), exceeding requirements.】

【Matching fifth-rank advancement trial world……】

【The fifth rank is a special tier. Upon reaching fifth rank, hunters will assume multiple responsibilities (such as entering the Void).】

【The fifth-rank advancement trial world is a reward world (to enhance hunters'/contractors' future survival capabilities). Such reward worlds range from 1-star to 3-star (the higher the star rating, the richer the reward).】

【Because the hunter exceeded the prerequisites, a 3-star reward world has been selected for them (since the hunter completed 9/10 prerequisites, they have already surpassed the requirements for a 3-star reward world. Upon entering this 3-star reward world, the hunter will receive compensation in the form of identity/status, etc.).】

【The difficulty of the 3-star reward world will increase by 100%. This world's special reward is: if a score of S+ (the highest score) is achieved in this world, an exclusive reward will be granted.】

【The exclusive reward is as follows: when the hunter's strength, agility, stamina, and intelligence attributes all reach 100 points, they can master the corresponding 100-point attribute extinction-method shadow ability. If the world score reaches S+, the hunter can obtain this ability.】

【Teleportation preparation……】

【Note: There are 58 contractors and hunters located in the same origin world.】

【About to enter world: Ghost Soul Continent. Teleportation imminent.】

……

While Su Xiao waited for teleportation, inside a certain private room.

"Big bro, this Ghost Soul Continent sounds pretty high-level, huh."

"Yeah, that's right. It really suits our identity."

"Big bro, you're awesome."

"All that desperate fighting across so many worlds wasn't for nothing—+15 gear…… is just awesome."

"Big bro, 'awesome' sounds a bit vulgar."

"What's wrong with being vulgar? We're a dark force now!"

Yeah, this flirtatious dialogue—of course it's the "Dark Force" national team three brothers. These three guys may be goofy, but they're not weak. They each have a growth weapon—or rather, a skill: the energy great hammer they materialize with their abilities. This thing counts as growth gear and is also a skill, so each of them wields an energy great hammer—extremely flirtatious.

Even more flirtatious is that this thing can be enhanced. No idea what crap these three guys stepped on, but they actually enhanced this one-becomes-three energy growth weapon to +15!

Even if these three energy hammers are only gold quality, once enhanced past +13, each enhancement level is nearly equivalent to raising a quality tier. +15 is already super terrifying.

Originally, the energy hammers were already cheap enough, but after +15 enhancement, their attack power becomes terrifyingly high. As fourth-rank contractors, the three national team brothers literally hammered a fifth-rank contractor to the ground, clutching his head, shouting, "Big brothers, I was wrong!"

From then on, fourth-rank contractors gave these three goofballs a nickname: the Dark Force.

The +15 weapon wasn't the main reason the national team turned things around. More importantly, they dare to fight. While others spend one world's worth of time on progress, these three guys put in three worlds' worth—because they know: if you don't dare to fight, you'll always be a salted fish!

Right now, the national team three brothers are absolutely the top tier among fourth-rank contractors. Even a large adventuring group like the Divine Emperor wouldn't dare look down on them. These three goofballs share a life link—if one doesn't die, all three don't die. Even more shamelessly, they're all paladins—able to deal damage, tank, and heal each other, disgusting enemies to the point of doubting life.

Objectively speaking, if we treat the national team three as one person, the fourth-rank strength ranking would be as follows.

1. Su Xiao

2. Stan (deceased)

3. The Three Brothers of the National Football Team

4. Divine Emperor

5. Solomon

6. Gulu

7. Dust (will become a mage in the near future and will fight Gulu).

8. Citrus Sister

……

That's right, the Three Brothers of the National Football Team are indeed this fierce right now; they actually have an advantage that outsiders can never compare to—they are three people who absolutely trust each other, share resources, can obtain the mission rewards of three people, and dare to risk their lives to fight.

Such a national football team, unless they are pigs, would find it hard not to be strong; moreover, paladins have always been strong in the late game.

……

The teleportation sensation gradually enveloped Su Xiao; just from the name "Nether Ghost Continent," one could see that the world he was about to enter was absolutely dangerous, but what he did not know was that four acquaintances had entered this world together with him—namely, the Dark Forces' Three Brothers of the National Football Team, and Gulu from the Travel Group.

Gulu, who fears neither heaven nor earth, might perhaps fear something after ascending in this world.