Chapter 125: War God Seal, Phase One Graduation (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

[Challenger Hint (All Channels): Congratulations to players Game Brick-Moving Party, So Poor I Eat Dirt, Family-Sharing Godfather... for obtaining the Special Rule Fate Soul: Junior War God Seal.]

Junior War God Seal (Special Rule):

Rule Fate Soul Rank (No Star Vein Inlay Required): 0

Rule Fate Soul Introduction: Can only grow by absorbing rule experience from warfare; capable of drawing war power from battles (involving over ten thousand participants) to infuse into oneself, where each portion of war power grants significant body-tempering experience; upon leveling up the Rule Fate Soul, rule-attached War God Techniques will be unlocked (Hint: Upgrading the Junior War God Seal to the Intermediate War God Seal requires triggering subsequent Training Camp missions).

This sudden hint instantly captured the attention of all online players.

They flocked into the Liver-God Team's livestream room to watch them undergo the process of receiving the Ni Chao Divine Blessing.

Unlike other Fate Souls.

Although it was merely the Junior War God Seal, the amplification effect it brought was far beyond what existing Fate Soul intensities could compare to.

With the blessing of the Junior War God Seal, even if Li Zheng and the other Liver-God Team players did not kill a single target during their participation in warfare, they would still gain an increase in strength.

Merely the effect of the Junior War God Seal had already reached the intensity of Generation 9 Primordial in the Guide's analysis and evaluation.

Players possessing infinite resurrection capabilities, paired with the War God Seal, were virtually invincible.

Compared to other players, the Liver-God Team players already possessed a gap-severing growth potential.

However, regarding their desire to obtain the full version of the War God Seal, the Guide stated it was utterly impossible.

The Guide's judgment was that this Rule God Seal could at most advance to the Senior War God Seal.

Just like the Analysis Rule, Purification Rule, Space Rule, and All-Things Extraction Rule within the Challenger System, players could never master the complete rules belonging to the Four Gods; they had only obtained a replicated node of a rule.

And Li Zheng and the other Liver-God Group players, on the foundation of being blessed by these four world rules, had also integrated a node rule of war power.

Most importantly, this rule did not require inlaying into a Star Vein slot.

The Guide's choice was to directly help them integrate it into their bodily structures, unlike non-rule Fate Souls such as "Pain," which occupied a Star Vein inlay slot.

At this moment, Qi Sheng finally understood why the Ni Chao Legion had been able to stand tall until now.

In the current Monster World, powerful clans stood everywhere and wars raged endlessly, yet such an environment was nothing short of a blessed land for growth for Ni Chao.

Every war could bring him immense war power, making him even stronger.

No wonder that when deeply analyzing and interpreting Duan Xing's memories, one would see this fellow sitting on his throne, spouting arrogant words:

"No need to inherit Di Zhao; I will surpass Di Zhao."

But the Guide showed disdain for this, because the war rules mastered by Hun Zhan, along with Hun Zhan's very life, were woven and created by Di Zhao.

Relying solely on war rules made it truly impossible to surpass Di Zhao; Ni Chao speaking these words was more about instilling confidence in his followers, raising the banner for the Monster World to resist alien invasion, and recruiting countless alien races to pledge loyalty to himself.

But what could be certain was that Ni Chao, blessed by the war rules, was absolutely one of the standouts among the current generation's cheater-level players.

No wonder he could contend on equal footing with terrifying enemies like the Horror Black Black Tide and the Combat Insect Swarm, without falling behind, and establish a powerful war legion in the Monster World.

Now that he learned Ni Chao was Hun Zhan, one of the Eight Extreme Gods, Qi Sheng became curious about the other seven Eight Extreme Gods.

However, in the maps players had opened up at the current stage, there was no sign of the other seven Eight Extreme Gods.

Only when players became strong enough to step onto the world-stage of war would they be able to see the performance of other gods who once served Di Zhao on this new world stage.

Observation ended; Qi Sheng restarted the Purification Power on the Liver-God Team players, then withdrew his consciousness.

At this moment, before the Ni Chao statue, the expressions of all the trainees were extremely excited.

Receiving Ni Chao's blessing meant they had truly become reserve warriors of the Ni Chao Legion in the full sense of the word.

And for the players of the Liver-God Team, this special reward now in hand was something they had long awaited.

Li Zheng: "Brothers, the preliminary reward for the hidden quest is finally in our hands; this Special Rule Fate Soul feels incredibly strong; it doesn't even occupy a Star Vein slot; it's simply invincible."

So Poor I Eat Dirt: "From now on, whether we return home to participate in wars to open up maps or follow the Ni Chao Legion to fight abroad, we can grow rapidly; I'm afraid we're about to pull away significantly in strength from the brothers back home."

Family-Sharing Godfather: "Hehe, bitterness ends and sweetness begins; brothers, let's push a bit harder and upgrade this Junior God Seal to the highest level; by then, we just stroll around the battlefield, our strength multiplying several times over; just thinking about it feels awesome."

Listening to the Liver-God Team players chat, the onlookers in the livestream room also voiced their opinions one after another.

"I think it's only natural that you've grown stronger; after all, you suffered so much in the early stages, getting beaten black and blue every day, starving until you were almost gnawing on tree bark; but if you start cheating, I'm going to report you; what kind of Fate Soul is this, getting stronger just by participating in wars with over ten thousand people? If I had this Rule Fate Soul, I'd organize people to fight the Black Black Tide and Insect Swarm every day and level up my strength like riding a rocket."

"Audacious! You dare to openly cheat in the game; I think this War God Seal's intensity exceeds standards; I strongly demand the officials to nerf it... or, give me one too."

"The value of the Training Camp has skyrocketed; although life is bitter, we eat and drink well, and now they even give out Rule God Seals; I want to go too, ahhh!"

"Hurry up, hurry up, when does the next round of the Training Camp open? I can't wait; I want to go to the Training Camp and take on ten guys!"

"Feeling a bit emotional; the brothers of the Liver-God Team have clearly pulled ahead in growth from the elders and folks in the village; every time I enter the Little Black Room to Iron Face the wall, I come watch your livestream; it's so entertaining; looking forward to your performance in the Phase Two Training Camp; add oil (Donation: 1 point of Sacrificial Power)."

The blessing concluded, and the group of trainees dispersed on the spot.

The next two days were completely free activity; although Kuang Sha would monitor their situation within the Training Camp, he would not restrict any of their activities inside it.

On this day, Li Zheng and the others woke up and prepared to head to the stream at the foot of the snow mountain to catch fish.

Just as they stepped out, they saw Gui Tong leading a group of alien trainees sitting in a circle on the camp's open ground.

Curious, they approached to take a look and discovered a lacquered black lid covering something on the ground; in front of the lid were five circles drawn, inside which were written: Reversion, Heart Demon, Soul Shadow, Fate Soul, and Li Jiu.

"What are you doing?" Li Zheng couldn't help but ask curiously.

Seeing the player clan arrive, Gui Tong lifted his head and explained with a smile:

"This is a form of entertainment widely circulated within our Ni Chao Legion; we call it Spirit Luck Gambling; the lid is crafted from special materials that restrict perception scanning; before opening the lid, one can place bets; after opening, victory or defeat is determined by comparing the bet circle with the Spirit Luck manifestation revealed when I lift the lid..."

Through Gui Tong's detailed introduction, Li Zheng and the other Liver-God Team players immediately understood the gameplay of this game.

Reversion, Heart Demon, Soul Shadow, Fate Soul, and Li Jiu were five types of mutually counteracting fortunes in this game.

Participants needed to choose one of the five fortunes to bet on; the results would have five manifestations: Draw, Major Counter, Minor Counter, Counter by Minor, and Counter by Major.

If the fortune bet on matched the fortune inside the lid, this Spirit Luck match was considered a Draw, and the participant retrieved their wagered item.

If one bet on a Minor Counter, they gained one times the wagered profit; betting on a Major Counter yielded two times the wagered profit.

Being countered by a Minor meant losing the wagered item; being countered by a Major meant losing two times the wagered item.

The gameplay was extremely simple.

After explaining the rules, a provocative glint appeared in Gui Tong's eyes:

"Do you want to give it a try?"

Hearing this, Li Zheng beamed with joy:

"Try? We must try; it sounds like great fun."

Seeing this, the other aliens made way for them, allowing them to participate.

Sitting down before Gui Tong, Li Zheng scanned the surroundings and asked curiously:

"What are you using as stakes?"

In response to the question, Gui Tong pointed at the five circles on the ground:

"As long as you can afford it, I'll accept anything."

"Good!" Li Zheng nodded, then turned to look at Chi Tu:

"Go to our room and bring the gear."

After speaking, Li Zheng added another sentence in the team chat channel:

"Go buy some Spirit Stones from the Mall and bring them; today we must teach him a proper lesson."

Upon hearing this, Chi Tu immediately stood up and walked in that direction, returning shortly after with an armful of Intermediate Spirit Stones.

Seeing that the player clan intended to play for real, Gui Tong appeared somewhat surprised but still nodded:

"Let's begin."

Speaking thus, Gui Tong lifted the lid, revealing a black rune inside.

Gui Tong pressed his hand onto the rune; instantly, the rune began to change forms, shifting among white, black, red, nether-blue, and purple; then Gui Tong lowered the black cover over the rune, scanned the aliens present, and smiled:

"Place your bets; the fortune will automatically lock in after 10 seconds."

Hearing this, the aliens present immediately took out Spirit Stones, Spirit Herbs, and other easily valued items from their persons, placing them within the different circles.

Li Zheng did not rush to place his bet; his eyes stared fixedly at the black cover, while Chi Tu, sitting beside him, attempted at that moment to penetrate the barrier using spiritual perception, only to find it was like hitting a wall; just as Gui Tong had said, it was impossible to view the internal situation through a perception perspective.

Once the 10 seconds passed, the fortune locked in.

Confirming that cheating via perception was impossible, Li Zheng looked up at the Guide floating beside him:

"Brother Guide, I'll have to trouble you then."

In response to the inquiry, the Guide's water sphere glanced at the black cover and said with an indifferent expression:

[Inside is Soul Shadow.]

Hearing the hint from the Guide, Li Zheng decisively shoved all the Spirit Stones in front of him forward, going all-in on "Reversion," which majorly countered the Soul Shadow fortune.

Seeing Li Zheng play so big on the very first round, Gui Tong's Iron Face showed some surprise.

"Are you scared? If you're afraid, shall I take it back?"

"Bullshit; I accept it." Speaking thus, Gui Tong suddenly lifted the black cover.

Upon seeing the fortune displayed was Soul Shadow, the smile on his Iron Face vanished instantly.

"Hahaha, Tong-zi, hand over the money quickly!"

Li Zheng and the others immediately beamed with joy, clamoring for their money.

Gui Tong turned to look at the clansmen behind him; a clansman stepped forward to perceive the intensity of the Spirit Stones, calculated their value, and then took out two red crystals from his person, tossing them to Li Zheng.

Accepting the crystals, Li Zheng and the others couldn't help but burst into laughter within the voice channel.

With the Guide, who ignored perception obstacles, assisting on the side, they couldn't imagine how they could possibly lose.

"Again."

"No problem." Speaking thus, Li Zheng subconsciously looked at the necklace around Gui Tong's neck.

"Don't get ideas about it; I will never use the necklace as a stake, and you couldn't afford items of corresponding value anyway."

"I'll just take a look, don't be so nervous, hurry up and start the next round."

Upon hearing this, Seeing Gui Tong immediately pressed his hand onto the red rune; instantly, the rune re-entered the fortune-switching state, and he once again covered himself with the black shroud that blocked perception.

Only after the other students finished placing their bets and received the guidance prompt did Li Zheng make his move.

This time, he went all-in again, wagering all his spirit stones on the Soul Shadow.

When the black shroud was lifted, Seeing Gui Tong's expression changed; once again, the Player Clan had correctly predicted a major loss for him.

The third round, the fourth round... as the game continued, Seeing Gui Tong's expression grew stiff, sweat streaming uncontrollably down his forehead.

During this process, to keep Seeing Gui Tong playing, Li Zheng occasionally let him win a round, and his bets were no longer an all-or-nothing gamble.

Every time he intentionally threw a match, the players of the Liver Emperor Group could see a look of relief on Seeing Gui Tong's Iron Face, clearly showing that continuing the game placed immense pressure on him.

At this moment, the live stream chat was more lively than ever:

"Cheating, it's definitely cheating! Someone needs to step in; bullying our Brother Tong like this is unbearable. If they keep winning like this, I can't take it."

"Earning Sacrificial Power is too easy for them; they have a built-in guidance cheat, it's simply a dimensional strike. Only our Brother Tong is naively thinking he's just unlucky, when in reality, every win and loss is under the control of the Brick-Moving Brothers. I suspect that once he loses so much he sees red, he'll even wager his necklace, and then it'll be truly over."

"All the gamblers in the live stream, take a good look: nine out of ten bets are rigged. The brothers of the Liver Emperor Group are using facts to tell you that gambling is something you must never touch; you can never imagine what methods of cheating the other side employs."

"Stop while you're ahead, don't earn any more. If you continue like this, I'm going to get jealous and start ranting. I can allow you to make a little extra money, but this kind of big fortune makes me envious and jealous, sending me into a hysterical state of venting."

Ignoring the comments in the live stream chat, Li Zheng and the others continued their game of wits against the Seeing Gui Tong Clan.

One could see that the hand Seeing Gui Tong used to hold the cover was trembling.

Realizing that if they kept playing like this, Seeing Gui Tong might suffer a heart attack, Li Zheng spoke up at this moment:

"Tong Zi, that's enough, let's stop."

"What does this small loss amount to? Let's continue."

Realizing that Seeing Gui Tong had lost his head over the losses, Li Zheng sighed inwardly, then reached out and swept his hand across the pile of crystal stones before him, pushing half of them toward Seeing Gui Tong:

"Tong Zi, I'm returning this portion to you; we're not playing anymore."

With that said, Li Zheng gathered the crystal stones before him and prepared to leave.

"Wait." Seeing Li Zheng's actions, Seeing Gui Tong suddenly realized his own state was abnormal, then looked at Li Zheng and said:

"A loss is a loss; we can afford to lose and don't need your pity. The game ends here."

Having interacted for so long, Li Zheng naturally understood Seeing Gui Tong's personality.

Since Seeing Gui Tong had said this, continuing to decline would, in Seeing Gui Tong's eyes, be an insult to him.

Li Zheng immediately gave Eating Dirt a look, and they took the remaining crystal stones with them as well.

Watching the figures of the several Player Clan members depart, Seeing Gui Tong's gaze was complex, and finally, he couldn't help but sigh:

"These bastards really have good luck."

On the way back to the room, Li Zheng asked in the team chat channel:

"Brothers, you won't blame me for making a unilateral decision to end the game early, will you?"

"No way, you're our boss; your decision is our decision," Eating Dirt responded immediately.

"Brother Li, we've been brothers for so many years, why are you being so formal? Let me say it again: your decision is our decision," Killing Heart also said with a smile at this moment.

"Although Tong Zi acts arrogantly, he values emotions and loyalty; there's no need to target him so heavily. When we reach the Phase Two Training Camp, we'll need to present a united front against outsiders, so let's stop while we're ahead."

Hearing his brothers' responses, Li Zheng grinned broadly.

These brothers who had followed him for many years could always be relied upon to support any of his decisions at critical moments.

Back in the room, the players of the Liver Emperor Group closed the door and began tallying their profits, discovering that the total value of the crystal stones won this time exceeded 30,000 Sacrificial Power.

After dividing the spoils, they went out again, heading straight for the stream at the foot of the snow mountain.

Next up was fish-catching time.

The two days of rest passed in the blink of an eye.

On the morning of the third day, Li Zheng and the others, carrying the packs prepared by Instructor Kuang Sha and other instructors, stood on the training grounds listening to Kuang Sha explain the precautions for heading to the Phase Two Training Camp.

Among these, special emphasis was placed on the items carried within the packs.

Besides the essential food and energy-replenishing potions, Kuang Sha highlighted that each new student's pack contained three "Illusion Extinguishers."

According to Kuang Sha's explanation, these were rune bombs that, when detonated at necessary moments, could inflict massive area-of-effect damage.

After explaining the precautions for traveling to the Phase Two Training Camp, Kuang Sha took a deep breath, swept his gaze across the students present, and said with a solemn expression:

"Students, our fate together ends here."

"In this turbulent new world, I will wait here at the Snow Valley Training Camp for good news concerning you... Finally, may your journey of growth contain both magnificent epic chapters and brotherhood shared through honor and disgrace. Wherever you go, remember that you were once members of the Snow Valley Training Camp; do not bring shame upon us instructors. Perform well in the Phase Two Training Camp and write your own brilliant chapter."

Hearing Kuang Sha's emotional speech, the students erupted in applause.

"Instructor, well said!" Eating Dirt couldn't help but praise aloud.

"Nonsense, I use these lines often; I used this same speech last session too, I'm almost sick of saying it. You can all scram now," Kuang Sha glared at Eating Dirt, saying fiercely.

Hearing this, the students couldn't help but burst into loud laughter.

Led by Kuang Sha, the students walked out of the training camp gates, heading toward the mountain peak amidst the swirling heavy snow.

For the journey ahead, they would join hands to Iron Face the numerous difficulties and challenges along the way, until they reached their destination: the Phase Two Training Camp.

Walking along the stream toward the snow mountain for a distance, the students looked back and found that the silhouette, already blurred by the swirling heavy snow, still stood before the training camp gates, watching them depart.

"Let's go, no more sentimentality; the best repayment to Instructor Kuang Sha is to not embarrass him once we reach Phase Two," Seeing Gui Tong, walking at the very front, shouted at this moment.

Hearing these words, Li Zheng, standing beside him, nodded with a smile, then looked at Seeing Gui Tong and asked curiously:

"Tong Zi, be honest: if we encounter a life-or-death crisis on the road, would you sacrifice yourself to save me?"

"No way, I'd run faster than anyone else."

"Then I definitely wouldn't save you either."

"That's for the best; in my eyes, you lot are nothing but burdens. If it weren't for the instructors requiring us to travel together, I'd already be sprinting ahead. By the time I arrive at the Phase Two Training Camp, you'll probably have only covered one-third of the journey."

"Pah!"

"Disgusting Player Clan, spitting everywhere."

"Tong Zi, is your skin itching? Why are you getting arrogant again?"

"This time, we of the Brass Clan support the Player Clan; if a fight breaks out, we'll definitely back you up. Tong Zi is too arrogant..."

Amidst the banter and jokes, the students walked farther and farther away, their figures gradually disappearing into the swirling heavy snow.

(End of Chapter)