C166 Invincible Unstoppable!

As soon as the Dueling Sword Mode launched, it captured the attention of trial challengers around the globe.

That's hardly surprising. A new store opening on the street always piques the interest of shoppers, so imagine the buzz a new mode creates in a game as unforgiving as this one.

Scores of trial challengers eagerly paired up, igniting a relentless series of battles. Out of sight, a dance of blades and shadows ensued.

Regrettably, to date, the highest rank achieved is merely the Third Layer, with no one yet claiming their exclusive statue in the Dao Confirming Hall.

But there's no need to hurry. Earning one's statue requires a ranking above sword excellent. Those from the First to the Ninth Layer simply don't qualify.

At present, Chen Guo holds no rank. Noticing the world channel abuzz with discussions on battle tactics, he realized the Sword Trial mode was teeming with participants. Opponents would be plentiful.

"Now's the time to surge through the ranks. I'll push straight to sword excellent in one fell swoop! From there, a few casual bouts should see me ascend to the world's preeminent Sword Sovereign with ease!"

Chen Guo brimmed with confidence.

His combat strength stood at three million.

Lei Kun, in second place, had barely crossed a million.

And Chen Guo's prowess wasn't inflated; his actual combat level was even more formidable than the figures suggested, considering many of his talents didn't translate into combat strength bonuses.

Ding!

Chen Guo initiated matchmaking.

Within three seconds, he found an opponent, a clear sign of the multitude of trial challengers seeking matches.

Transported to the Dao Confirming Hall, Chen Guo found himself in an expansive square, offering ample room for combatants to dodge and weave. Dominating the square was a towering platform adorned with countless white jade statues, ranked from the Heavenly Astral to the Earthly Demon, in descending order. Yet, these statues bore no faces, their forms identical, representing no one in particular—a testament to the vacancies yet to be filled by the worthy.

Upon stepping into the square, Chen Guo immediately noticed the battle countdown and his adversary.

Five seconds to go.

The true strength of his opponent was obscured, but his appearance and name were clear.

His opponent was a hefty man named Chen Jianbin.

Chen Guo allowed himself a slight smile.

Chen Jianbin's gaze fell on Chen Guo, and to his astonishment, his name read as a series of question marks.

"Could you be Boss Guangcheng?"

Chen Jianbin blurted out, visibly stunned.

"That would be me," Chen Guo confirmed.

"Then what's the point of this fight? Are you just toying with me?"

With that, Chen Jianbin promptly exited Dueling Sword Mode, vanishing from sight.

"Your opponent has forfeited the Dueling Sword Mode. Victory is yours, along with one star!"

"Your current title stands at 1/3, unranked..."

It dawned on Chen Guo that each victory brought a star, and three stars were needed to ascend from unranked to the first tier.

But his opponent's choice to flee rather than fight was undeniably timid.

After departing the Dao Confirming Hall, Chen Guo stumbled upon Chen Jianbin airing his grievances in the World Channel:

"Don't talk to me about bad luck. No one's had it worse than me. My very first match-up, and I'm pitted against Boss Guangcheng! Just thinking of his fearsome record had my knees buckling, I nearly peed myself!"

Chen Jianbin broadcasted his woes to the world.

He likened himself to a novice hero in the martial world, who, upon facing his first boss—Zhang Sanfeng—decided it was best to retreat and train for another two hundred years.

"Did you even get to exchange blows with Boss Guangcheng?"

"How many moves did it take for Boss Guangcheng to beat you?"

"Did you at least lose gracefully?"

The trial challengers inquired with a mix of curiosity and mischief.

"Forget it. I bailed immediately! Boss Guangcheng could squash me with his pinky. I'm not keen on tasting death, even if it's not for real!"

Chen Jianbin vented his frustration.

Chen Guo couldn't suppress a chuckle upon reading the World Channel's banter. His reputation had clearly preceded him, commanding a mix of awe and respect.

"Time to pick up the pace and keep going!"

With the knowledge of his burgeoning fame, Chen Guo shifted his focus away from the chatter and back to the matches. In no time at all, he was paired with his next challenger.

"You... are you Boss Guangcheng?"

"Yes, it's me!"

"I'll take my leave!"

And just like that, Chen Guo claimed another victory without a fight!

"Damn, you're Boss Guangcheng?"

"Correct."

"Could I get your autograph?"

"No."

"Guess I'll show myself out, then!"

"Fine."

Chen Guo triumphed once more.

"Boss Guangcheng..."

"Hi there!"

"Farewell!"

Chen Guo scored another win.

Matches were made at breakneck speed; Chen Guo could find an opponent in mere seconds. Yet, upon encountering Chen Guo, challengers would often tentatively ask a question or two before promptly withdrawing, granting Chen Guo a string of effortless victories.

Others didn't even bother with pleasantries. Spotting Chen Guo's infamous double question marks, they'd immediately take their leave. In this hectic age, everyone was accustomed to the 996 lifestyle of Blue Star—there was simply no time for futile endeavors. Efficiency was the name of the game.

Facing an insurmountable foe, it was better to retreat and save face than to suffer a humiliating defeat.

The Dueling Sword Mode did nothing to dull the pain; no one was eager to taste death.

Ancient military tacticians believed that the pinnacle of strategy was to subdue the enemy without battle, and Chen Guo seemed to embody this philosophy.

Still, there were those too naive to grasp their own limits, eager to test Chen Guo's fists.

Chen Guo was not one to show mercy to such challengers, dispatching them with a single, decisive blow.

The reality was stark—Chen Guo's adversaries ranged from a few thousand to several hundred thousand in fighting capacity, but most were merely in the tens of thousands. To Chen Guo, they were no more significant than ants; a mere glance from him was lethal.

Consequently, Chen Guo's rank soared at a remarkable rate.

The world channel erupted with astonishment.

"Boss Guangcheng is on a rampage; his rank is skyrocketing!"

"With my five hundred thousand fighting capacity, I was taken down in one move by Boss Guangcheng? Is this the power of a man with three million fighting capacity? He's truly out of my league!"

"Boss Guangcheng has ascended to the Outer Aura Fifth Layer!"

"Holy smokes, Boss Guangcheng is now at the Seventh Layer!"

"No way, Boss Guangcheng has already ascended to the Ninth Layer? He's the first man to achieve that milestone!"

Truth be told, climbing the ranks is incredibly challenging, especially since the Dueling Sword Mode has no time constraints—you fight until one falls.

Most trial challengers find themselves evenly matched with their adversaries, necessitating a dance of repeated probing and entanglement, a mental chess match that can stretch on for hours on end.

A typical battle spans about ten minutes, but even so, it can take a significant toll on a combatant's energy reserves.