A level 156 player actually escaped right under their five noses. If they were to tell others in the guild, they would be too ashamed to show their faces. Even if their opponent was the infamous thief Nie Yan!
“Everyone, think. How did that guy manage to escape just now?” Mo Yin asked. Even now, he still couldn’t figure it out. They had seen Nie Yan use his clone skill, splitting into two figures running in opposite directions. But how could both of them be fake? Where was his real body?
“I don’t know. That doesn’t make any sense,” the necromancer replied, somewhat frustrated.
Everyone was puzzled.
“That guy has some tricks. No wonder back then, so many people tried and failed to kill him, allowing him to become a legend of invincibility,” Mo Yin said, feeling frustrated. They had been outwitted by a level 156 player, which left him feeling defeated. With their current levels and gear, even the five of them together couldn’t handle Nie Yan. If Nie Yan were in his prime…
“I remember now! He escaped like this!” the dual-wielding swordsman suddenly exclaimed, realization dawning on him.
“How did he escape?” Everyone turned their attention to the swordsman.
“Do you remember the first clone we defeated? At that moment, three spells nearly hit him simultaneously, and my attack landed as well. When the clone was hit, it suddenly vanished like a wisp of mist. We all assumed it was a fake clone!” the swordsman explained, truly astonished. That guy had used such a method, skillfully deceiving all of their eyes.
“You mean he used a potion of invisibility?” the necromancer raised his eyebrows, finally recalling.
“Exactly! It must have been the potion of invisibility!” the swordsman nodded. Nie Yan’s clone was a real entity, and when attacked, it displayed damage. They had overlooked this detail back then, since they had never fought Nie Yan before and weren’t familiar with the Shadow Assassin’s exact stats. They didn’t know Nie Yan’s clones were actual physical forms. In the heat of the moment, who could have thought of all that?
Everyone exchanged glances, stunned. That method actually worked! Normally, they were confident that no level 156 rogue could escape their pursuit, but today they had been completely outplayed, witnessing something truly eye-opening.
“Nie Yan sure is skilled. If we meet him again, he won’t escape this time!” the necromancer remarked.
“Do you think he’ll give us a second chance? He’ll probably stay far away when he sees us. Luckily, his level dropped so much that it’ll take years for him to climb back up. Otherwise, being targeted by such a rogue would definitely be no pleasant experience,” the dark priest mused. Today’s encounter with Nie Yan reminded him faintly of the legendary thief from years ago.
“Mo Tian, what should we do now? Nie Yan must have used the potion of invisibility, so he’s probably still around. Should we search the area?” the necromancer asked.
“You fool! Even if Nie Yan is only level 156 now, he’s still the guild leader of the Bull Tribe. Do you think he’s someone we can mess with easily? If even one of the thousands of Bull Tribe members in the Endless Canyon spat at us, we’d drown! Do you all want to die chasing Nie Yan?!” the dark priest Mo Tian scolded. “Don’t mention this incident to anyone! If others find out, we’ll be too ashamed to show our faces!”
Mo Yin and the others could only leave in frustration.
As Mo Tian’s group disappeared at the edge of the forest, Nie Yan emerged from the shadows, watching their retreating figures with a faint bitter smile. If he hadn’t come up with that clever idea just now, he probably wouldn’t have escaped the pursuit of Mo Tian and his gang.
The attacks from players over level 180 were indeed formidable. Nie Yan recalled the magic swordsman’s moves and still felt a chill.
Reflecting on his own level—a mere and pitiful 156—it was truly considered trash in the eyes of high-tier players. Mo Yin, Mo Tian, and the others weren’t even top-tier experts. If any of the elites like Cui Can Dao Guang, Shui Se Yan Tou, or Tang Yao made an appearance, they could effortlessly wipe out all five of them!
Nie Yan wondered whether this group would spread the news of his reappearance. He had once been so prominent, and if others learned he was back, countless eyes would be watching him, waiting for him to fail.
Players outside the Bull Tribe, especially those who disliked him, would surely mock him endlessly, saying, “Look, that’s the infamous thief Nie Yan. He’s no longer any good.”
As for the players within the Bull Tribe, Nie Yan had no idea how he would face them.
If he had quit the game and never returned, people would mock even more, saying, “Look, the former Nie Yan is too scared to log on anymore.”
Nie Yan touched his nose. Human nature was like this: when you were strong, many flattered you, feared you, and envied you. But when you fell from the heights, only those who truly supported you were genuine friends. Others would only wish to trample you further. The more miserable you became, the happier they would be.
Faced with the impending wave of mockery, did you retreat? Nie Yan’s eyes flashed with determination. He snorted coldly. They called him a has-been? He would show them that even after three years offline, Nie Yan was still a name they could barely reach. One day, he would rise to the peak again!
Nie Yan felt a surge of ambition. In the past, with strong confidence, he had gradually climbed to the top, establishing the mighty Bull Tribe. Although his prior experience and some luck played a role, his success couldn’t be attributed solely to luck—it was his strength that truly mattered.
One day, he would prove to everyone that Nie Yan was still the same fearless thief, untouchable by anyone. This was the pride of the Mad Bandit!
Originally, he had only wanted to be an ordinary player, enjoying the game as a pastime. But unexpectedly, he couldn’t bear the quiet life. Perhaps he had always been someone who refused to live an ordinary life. Thinking back, maybe his previous life had been too mundane and suppressed, so this life was meant to be lived with passion and dominance.
Nie Yan clenched his fist. He had a new goal. He glanced into the distance, activated his stealth ability, and disappeared into the jungle.
At his current level, engaging in PvP was definitely not a wise choice. He needed to level up quickly. However, after level 156, leveling up was no longer easy. Each level required an astonishing amount of experience. He needed to find a secluded place to grind in peace!
First, he should look for the Life Inheritance Gem. If he could obtain both Inheritance Gems, his equipment would improve, giving him more confidence in leveling up.
Nie Yan activated his stealth ability and swiftly advanced deeper into the Endless Canyon. Along the way, he encountered numerous players, all at least level 170 or higher. For those below level 170, entering the Endless Canyon was practically a suicide mission. This place was a paradise for elite players, where many spent years battling and refining their skills. Some level 190+ players might even fall to level 170+ veterans. Those who merely leveled up by grinding monsters couldn’t hope to match the combat prowess of these battle-hardened experts.
Whenever he spotted players from the Dark Faction, Nie Yan stealthily avoided them. The earlier detection by those Dark Faction players made him realize his current situation. His stealth ability was no longer sufficient due to his low level.
Eventually, he reached the depths of the Endless Canyon. An open clearing appeared before him—the central area of the canyon, only two or three thousand yards away from the underground passage.
Looking ahead, a massive beast stood in the center of the clearing. It was five or six yards tall, entirely black, with a bizarre appearance resembling a minotaur. It had two pairs of large wings on its back and wielded a giant cleaver in its right hand, roaring with earth-shaking fury.
“ROAR!” The beast’s deafening roar echoed through the air.
Looking down, Nie Yan saw a large group of players gathered on the ground. From this distance, they looked like tiny black dots.
This Chaos Guardian was actually a level 190 demonic lord! Nie Yan was stunned. Were monsters of this level appearing in the Endless Canyon now? How terrifying!
Nie Yan didn’t know that during the three years he had been gone, the number of boss-level creatures in Atlantean had increased dramatically. It wasn’t uncommon to encounter demonic lords even at level 250!
This must be the result of the Chaos Temple opening, Nie Yan thought with a helpless smile. He had fallen far behind.
He had originally planned to defeat the Chaos Guardian and obtain the Life Inheritance Gem, but now he thought better of it. At his current level, he couldn’t even handle the players below, let alone the Guardian itself.
Magic spells soared through the air, striking the Chaos Guardian and exploding with brilliant flashes.
The players below belonged to both factions, creating a chaotic scene. Neither side could easily defeat the Chaos Guardian.
The Chaos Guardian roared in fury, swung its massive cleaver, and brought it down with a thunderous crash. The powerful blade energy engulfed hundreds of players.
The players below panicked, scattering in all directions. The Chaos Guardian pursued, swinging its blade repeatedly, cutting down several players with each strike, sending them sprawling.
Nie Yan couldn’t help but inhale sharply. What a powerful monster!
It would probably require the top experts from both factions to defeat the Chaos Guardian. However, the top experts from both sides were preoccupied with the Chaos Temple and the Sword of War God. It was unlikely anyone would come here!
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