C128 Secret Fallen Hero!

"Have you all overlooked the news? The Beginner Village has added 1000 new slots! We can now apply to join the 996 Beginner Village, and the benefits of doing so are endless! It's like hitching a ride on Boss Guangcheng's coattails!"

"I was too proud to join the 996 Beginner Village during the last expansion, and I deeply regret it now. Had I known how influential Boss Guangcheng was, I would have joined without hesitation. But with this new chance, I'm definitely not passing it up—I'm joining the 996 Beginner Village!"

"To join the 996 Beginner Village and bear Boss Guangcheng's children is my ultimate dream!"

Suddenly, a wave of people, crying and shouting, surged forward with the desire to join the 996 Beginner Village.

Now, even the simplest person could see the vast potential of the 996 Beginner Village, especially with the backing of Chen Guo's golden support. Clinging to this golden opportunity, their futures were bound to soar.

Securing a spot in the 996 Beginner Village was even more coveted than a position within the top 500 companies on Blue Star.

After all, joining a global corporate giant might bring wealth, but joining the 996 Beginner Village offered the possibility of extraordinary longevity.

Most people around the world saw Chen Guo's strategy as nothing short of genius, skillfully circumventing system limitations and paving a brilliant path for the Beginner Village's growth.

Yet, some looked down on the native NPCs and harbored ill will toward Jutrela, spewing absurdities on the World Channel.

"Jutrelians have truly lost their way, trying to woo a bunch of native NPCs. They've abandoned the pride that befits trial challengers! In Plioya, we slay monsters and NPCs alike; these game characters don't deserve to survive!"

"Exactly! In Setheyso, we kill NPCs on sight, earning slaughter points just the same. Recruiting NPCs is like nobility courting slaves—it's beneath our dignity!"

These individuals from peculiar nations scorned NPCs and were particularly contemptuous of Chen Guo's efforts to recruit them.

Despite understanding that allying with NPCs could amplify their power, they entered the game with an air of superiority, as though they were more than mere players. Believing themselves to be above the NPCs, they refused to stoop to recruitment, unable to shed their haughty demeanor.

They were met with mockery and ridicule.

Yet, no one bothered to retaliate. These nations were notorious for their disgraceful behavior, akin to dung beetles tirelessly rolling their dung balls—a truly repugnant sight.

...

Inside the grand hall of Cruel Camp, Chen Guo was brimming with joy.

The mail system proved to be incredibly useful, allowing for future contact with friends across myriad worlds and even facilitating trade to a certain extent.

The expansion to include an additional 1000 recruits meant that Beginner Village could welcome 1000 more trial challengers, significantly bolstering their strength and propelling them towards becoming a town.

This was an auspicious sign, particularly as Chen Guo was strategizing to become the village chief.

"Welcome to our village!" Chen Guo greeted Zhao Jinrong with a smile. "I'm confident you've made an impeccable choice!"

"Now that it's our village, what's its name?" Zhao Jinrong inquired, already feeling at home.

"Our..."

Chen Guo was about to say that their Beginner Village was named 996 Beginner Village, but he caught himself, realizing that while trial challengers would easily grasp the name, it would seem quite odd to the native NPCs.

After a brief pause, Chen Guo announced, "Our village shall be known as Flame Dragon Village!"

The name Flame Dragon Village was spontaneously chosen by Chen Guo, yet it carried significant symbolism.

'Flame' represented the fire of the Yan descendants, the fire of the Yan Emperor, embodying the spirit of fire.

Where leaves fluttered, the fire thrived endlessly.

It was a name full of life and vigor.

'Dragon' symbolized the lineage of the dragon, the dragon of the Nine Heavens, the dragon of the Five-clawed Golden Dragon.

As the I Ching states, a true gentleman is akin to a dragon.

The dragon stood for burgeoning life, masculine energy, power, and enigmatic greatness.

Flame Dragon Village signified a community imbued with the essence of fire.

Zhou Tao and the rest were aware that Chen Guo had just coined the name, but they wholeheartedly approved of Flame Dragon Village, feeling it resonated with their national identity.

"Excellent choice of name!" Zhao Jinrong exclaimed. "I sense a burgeoning vitality. I'm convinced that the resurgence of humanity will begin in this village... By the way, you mentioned you had two reasons for coming. The first was to invite us to join Flame Dragon Village. What's the second?"

"My second question pertains to Aerilon Village. I'm eager to learn how one gains entry," Chen Guo stated.

Zhao Jinrong's face contorted with discomfort. "Is it inconvenient to discuss?" Chen Guo pressed.

After a brief pause, Zhao Jinrong replied, "It's not that it's inconvenient, per se. Well, considering the timber wolf has been vanquished and we're planning to depart Dusk Forest to join your Flame Dragon Village, there's no harm in sharing now. Though it's a secret of our village, making it public today isn't a bad thing."

"You're all aware of the legendary Lin Suzhen, who once saved us from peril and established numerous strongholds for humanity. Our Cruel Camp was honored to serve as Lin Suzhen's guard."

"It's common knowledge that Lin Suzhen ventured into Aerilon Village in search of the Gate of Myriad Realms to rescue us. After that, he vanished... But that's not the entire truth. The reality is far more brutal."

"Lin Suzhen was a once-in-a-generation hero, known for his integrity and boundless loyalty. He battled ferocious monsters, enduring countless wounds for the sake of human survival, and came close to death more than once. Yet, he remained unwavering in his dedication. Our ancestors held him in high esteem and chose to follow him."

"However, something corrupted Lin Suzhen after he entered Aerilon. He fell from grace, slaughtering many of his own guards in a bid to seize control of the Gate of Myriad Realms."

"He acted like a man possessed, killing anyone who dared near the Gate. My ancestors managed to escape by a stroke of luck. But out of respect for Lin Suzhen's legacy and his past deeds, we decided to conceal the truth."

"We couldn't bear to sully the name of the great hero Lin Suzhen with scandal... alas, such is the nature of the world. Eventually, we sent scouts back to Aerilon, only to find Lin Suzhen still guarding the Gate, now more corrupt, malevolent, and formidable than ever. In his presence, the timber wolf paled in comparison."

"We were no match for Lin Suzhen, and so, for years, we've steered clear of Aerilon."

In the faint glow of the lamplight, Zhao Jinrong disclosed a startling secret.