Chapter 261: Going into Battle

Golden Earthworm is a rare high-level creature, at least a super-mutated or even demonic lord. It occasionally appears, and its location will be announced on the official website. Such a rare creature naturally draws fierce competition among the major guilds.

In Carol City, the five major guilds are gathering for a showdown. This time promises to be an exciting spectacle.

Nie Yan remained calm and composed. If they managed to defeat the Golden Earthworm, it would be a stroke of luck. If not, he wouldn’t insist on it; simply going there to gain some benefits would suffice. The main goal was to suppress the Triumph Empire and Holy Radiance.

Currently, the Elites of the Bull Guild are gathering strength. Both their average level and equipment surpass those of other guilds by a significant margin. Although the Bull Guild is ranked first online, many players still doubt its supremacy. It’s time for the Bull Guild to solidify its position as the top guild.

“Are we going to fight the Golden Earthworm?” asked Cui Can Dao Guang (Cui Candao Guang). If they went now, their plan to grind monsters and level up in the outskirts of Eternal City would fall through.

“Let’s first deal with the Triumph Empire and Holy Radiance,” Nie Yan replied. Delaying their leveling plans was not a big issue. Cui Can Dao Guang had equipped the Epic-level Eternal Set, while Yi Yan had equipped the Rare-level Eternal Set. Additionally, there were three extra Common-level Eternal Sets. They had already gained a lot in Eternal City, and the team members’ strength had improved significantly. Competing with the now-isolated Holy Radiance for control of the minor fortress should be more than manageable.

At this time, the guild chat was in an uproar.

“Brother Slow Snail, hurry and talk to Leader Nie Yan. Let’s head to Zuiyu Canyon and wipe out the Triumph Empire and Holy Radiance!”

“Let’s crush the Triumph Empire and Holy Radiance a few more times and see if they dare to be so arrogant again!”

The members were all excited. The previous battles had been exhilarating, boosting the Bull Guild’s morale and reputation. Now, it was the Bull Guild that was arrogant, not the Triumph Empire or Holy Radiance.

The arrogance of the Bull Guild differs from that of the Triumph Empire and Holy Radiance. The Triumph Empire and Holy Radiance show contempt for ordinary players, freely monopolizing monster spawns and ruthlessly hunting others due to their overwhelming strength. In contrast, the Bull Guild’s arrogance stems from their disdain for the Triumph Empire and Holy Radiance. Bull Guild players often say: “F***, the Triumph Empire and Holy Radiance are nothing. I’m from the Bull Guild!”

This single sentence captures the Bull Guild’s prestige and spirit.

Online, some compared the combat strengths of guilds like the Bull Guild, Triumph Empire, Holy Radiance, and Holy Roman Empire, analyzing several key data points for a more intuitive understanding.

Bull Guild: Level 4 guild (newly promoted), with 52,000 members. Average level is 23.8, equipment level is 267, and there are 23,200 members above level 25.

Triumph Empire: Level 5 guild (newly promoted), with 165,000 members. Average level is 18.1, equipment level is 185, and there are 12,200 members above level 25.

Holy Radiance: Level 5 guild (newly promoted), with 150,000 members. Average level is 17.8, equipment level is 186, and there are 12,800 members above level 25.

Holy Roman Empire: Level 5 guild (newly promoted), with 10,300 members. Average level is 17.9, equipment level is 156, and there are 10,800 members above level 25.

Ji Lan Temple (Ji Lan Temple): Level 4 guild, with 82,000 members. Average level is 17.6, equipment level is 196, and there are 11,000 members above level 25.

After comparing all the data, it was found that the number of players above level 25 in the Bull Guild is almost equal to the combined total of the Triumph Empire and Holy Radiance. The density of high-level players in the Bull Guild is astonishing, and their equipment level is far ahead of other guilds. Although the Triumph Empire and Holy Radiance have more members, in actual combat, one level 25 player can easily defeat three level 20 players.

Therefore, the Bull Guild’s strength is indeed enough to make other guilds fear them.

Thus, in the alliance of the Bull Guild, Holy Roman Empire, and Ji Lan Temple, the Bull Guild gradually took the lead. When ordinary players from the three guilds grouped for leveling, a player from the Bull Guild, with higher level and better equipment, naturally commanded respect. This directly led the Holy Roman Empire and Ji Lan Temple to become dependent on the Bull Guild.

Ban Xing Hu Li (Half-Awake Fox) and Fa Lan (Falan) could only reluctantly accept this situation. They couldn’t afford to fall out with the Bull Guild, especially since they were shareholders in the Assassin Alliance, which provided them with daily income, crucial for their guild’s development. Without the Bull Guild, they wouldn’t be able to compete with the Triumph Empire and Holy Radiance. As the Bull Guild rapidly developed, even capable of directly confronting the Triumph Empire and Holy Radiance, they also had the mindset of benefiting from the shade of a big tree.

In the previous battle, the Bull Guild had already made the Holy Radiance and Triumph Empire taste defeat. Within the Bull Guild, a fierce and bold spirit had formed. Influenced by Nie Yan, they had developed the belief: the Bull Guild is invincible; whoever opposes us will be beaten!

The two guilds that still opposed the Bull Guild were the Holy Radiance and Triumph Empire.

This time, they finally had another opportunity to teach the Triumph Empire and Holy Radiance a lesson, and the Bull Guild members were all eager to fight.

“It seems Leader Nie Yan is still leveling up.”

“What about Leader Yao Zi?”

“He seems to be there too.”

“What if they take the Golden Earthworm before we get there?”

The members anxiously awaited Nie Yan’s response. The Bull Guild has strict discipline; anyone who acts on their own will be severely punished, and in serious cases, even expelled from the guild. They didn’t want to be reprimanded, so they all waited for Nie Yan’s orders.

“What’s the rush? The Holy Roman Empire and Ji Lan Temple have already gone. Better late than never,” Nie Yan replied in the guild chat.

As soon as Nie Yan appeared, the guild chat exploded.

“Leader Nie Yan is here.”

“Hello, Leader Nie Yan.”

“Leader Nie Yan, give us the order. As soon as you do, all the brothers will come back immediately.”

The members were talking all at once.

“All members, be quiet! Listen to what Leader Nie Yan has to say!” Guo Huai shouted in the guild chat.

The chat fell silent, showing that Guo Huai had considerable authority within the guild.

“There will be more trouble if too many people come. This mission doesn’t require too many people, two thousand will be enough. Everyone above level 27, come here. The rest can continue with whatever they were doing. If you can’t level up, you won’t be able to participate in any guild activities!” Nie Yan said in the guild chat.

The players above level 27 cheered, while those below were disappointed.

In the Bull Guild, Nie Yan’s word is law. Those who couldn’t participate in the guild activities were all frustrated and focused on leveling up, otherwise, they would miss out on all future activities, which would be a huge loss.

Players above level 27 gradually returned from various locations, totaling nearly 2,000, a truly grand sight. Most of them were level 27 or 28, many having just leveled up today. Since the expansion pack, leveling up has become much easier, so their levels have risen. Level 29 players were rare, and level 30 players were almost non-existent.

However, gathering 2,000 level 27 players is probably something only the Bull Guild could achieve.

Nie Yan and Cui Can Dao Guang gradually returned to the city.

When Nie Yan and Cui Candao Guang arrived at the headquarters of the Bull Guild, it immediately caused a sensation throughout the entire organization. The members of the Bull Guild were thrilled to see Nie Yan’s return and warmly welcomed him.

This shows how high Nie Yan’s prestige is within the Bull Guild.

It was Nie Yan who led the Bull Guild to create one myth after another. “Kuang Zai Nie Yan” (Crazy Thief Nie Yan) is no longer just a personal title for Nie Yan but has become a symbol of honor and pride for the entire Bull Guild.

“I’m a bit envious of you,” Tang Yao remarked beside him. To be so beloved by so many people, Nie Yan, as a guild leader, was undoubtedly extremely successful and admirable.

During the Meltfire Forest battle, Nie Yan displayed his strength, and the Bull Guild players merely admired him. It wasn’t until Nie Yan led his men to rescue the Ku Ye Workshop and delivered that speech that he truly won their hearts and earned their respect. That speech touched countless people, uniting the Bull Guild from then on.

Whoever harms a member of the Bull Guild, whether it’s the Triumph Empire or Holy Radiance, the Bull Guild will retaliate without mercy!

That sentence is still fresh in everyone’s memory.

Gazing at the high-spirited team members, Nie Yan announced in the guild chat, “A Golden Earthworm has appeared in Zuiyu Canyon. The Triumph Empire, Holy Radiance, along with our allies—the Holy Roman Empire and Ji Lan Temple—have all mobilized. Rumor has it each faction has dispatched at least ten thousand members, so it’s bound to be quite the spectacle. As for us, the Bull Guild, we’re only sending two thousand members. I’m sure many of you are puzzled and grumbling internally, wondering why your leader is being so stingy by deploying so few troops.”

The members below let out a light laugh.

Nie Yan’s humor eased the members’ tension. They didn’t expect that the usually stern and taciturn Nie Yan could be so witty. Nie Yan’s words undoubtedly brought him closer to the Bull Guild members.

“Actually, listen up. We’re just going to grab a Golden Earthworm, just going to pick up some easy gains. Why do we need so many people? We shouldn’t make such a light-hearted matter so tense, right? So, everyone needs to stay calm. I’m going there for sightseeing, to relax a bit and have some fun with the Triumph Empire and Holy Radiance, and pick up some easy gains. But we can’t let down the Bull Guild’s reputation either. From the moment we set out, we’ll count the kills. Whoever takes down the most enemies will get a set of Epic gear from me, the leader!”