C19 A Generous Reward!

Chen Guo finally took action.

The Bellowtalons had scoped out Ghost King Sun Chengzong's tactics for her, revealing that his deadliest move was the Mandala Illusion.

By summoning the Mandala Flower to bloom, he could draw his enemies into an illusory realm.

Once inside, the enemies would be defenseless, like punching bags, easily hit one after another.

It was a formidable technique indeed.

Yet, the effectiveness of Ghost King Sun Chengzong's Mandala Illusion diminished with the level of the trial challenger.

Chen Guo noted that a level four challenger was disoriented for over thirty seconds, a level five for only twenty seconds, and a level six was the quickest to recover, merely confused for ten seconds.

As a level eight entity, Chen Guo would be minimally affected by the Mandala Illusion, likely for just a couple of seconds.

Furthermore, since the Mandala Illusion was a psychic attack and Chen Guo could replicate attributes and wield Mount Maoshan Dao Arts, her mental fortitude was exceptionally strong, at a formidable 169 points.

This mental prowess gave her an overwhelming advantage in resisting psychic attacks.

Additionally, Chen Guo's Heavenly Snow Robe offered further protection against such assaults.

Her Soul Slaying Blade was particularly effective against spectral entities like Ghost King Sun Chengzong.

After assessing the situation, Chen Guo concluded that her odds of victory were substantial. Aside from a few skilled challengers who had fled, the majority were facing certain defeat.

Chen Guo was no saint, possessing a heart capable of cold calculation. Still, with the power to save over a hundred lives, she wouldn't stand by and let them perish.

After all, these individuals had assisted in uncovering Ghost King Sun Chengzong's strategies. Saving them was a modest way to repay their efforts.

And so, donned in her Heavenly Snow Robe and wielding the Soul Slaying Blade, Chen Guo, under the guise of Guangcheng's skin, struck with resolve.

True to her expectations, once within Ghost King's attack radius, the Mandala Illusion had no hold on her. She only experienced a slight, fleeting pain in her mind.

But it was nothing more than a minor sting.

"Fiend, cease your harm!" Chen Guo bellowed, raising her hand to unleash the Ten Thousand Spirits Gu.

The Ten Thousand Spirits Gu could reduce Ghost King Sun Chengzong's defenses by 10%—a tactic Chen Guo naturally employed at the battle's outset.

"Aum! Realm of the Pure Blue, Prosperity of the Heavenly Monarch, Steadfast and True! Yellow Turban Warrior, arise!"

Chen Guo summoned the Yellow Turban Warrior, using it as a punching bag to absorb the blows.

She then relentlessly cast the Heavenly Master's Talisman, sending fire serpents swirling towards Ghost King Sun Chengzong.

The Ghost King was forced into a retreat, step by step.

The hundred-plus survivors, upon regaining consciousness and witnessing the scene, were utterly astonished.

"Holy smokes, who is this boss? He's incredible, taking on Ghost King Sun Chengzong single-handedly. So cool—I want to have his babies!"

"It's got to be that hidden powerhouse. No one else could pull this off! His magic arts are off the charts!"

"Thanks for saving our lives, big guy. Too bad I'm a dude, or I'd pledge myself to you in my next life!"

The crowd was awestruck, showering Chen Guo with gratitude for his life-saving intervention.

They were acutely aware that without Chen Guo's timely action, they would have been goners.

"Ghost King Sun Chengzong, this is your mess. Everyone else, beat it, or I'll take you down with him!" Chen Guo waved dismissively, his voice thundering, "Scram!"

He was determined to cultivate a persona of merciless cruelty as Guangcheng.

The survivors scattered, equally terrified of Ghost King Sun Chengzong and Chen Guo.

Chen Guo executed ten Heavenly Master Talismans in quick succession, depleting his reserves.

And just then, Ghost King Sun Chengzong initiated another round of the Mandala Illusion:

"Behold the blooming mandala, step into the realm of illusion!"

The onlooking survivors gaped, eager to see how Chen Guo would counter this Mandala Illusion.

But Chen Guo appeared utterly unaffected by the Mandala Illusion, as if it didn't exist, and he simply roared:

"Child's play! How dare you flaunt your skills before me? You clearly don't see me as a threat. Bring it on!"

In the midst of speaking, Chen Guo's Soul Slaying Blade soared from her side, guided by her electromagnetic control, and launched an assault on Ghost King Sun Chengzong.

"Your Soul Slaying Blade has struck Ghost King Sun Chengzong, activating a 'breakthrough' effect. Your attacks on Ghost King Sun Chengzong will now be 50% more effective for the next 30 seconds!"

After a flurry of slashes, the Soul Slaying Blade successfully exploited the breakthrough.

At that point, Ghost King Sun Chengzong, already weakened from the onslaught of two hundred challengers, was further compromised by the breakthrough, his strength dwindling rapidly.

Chen Guo seized the opportunity, relentlessly commanding the Soul Slaying Blade to continue its assault while simultaneously drawing the Seven Star Sword. She engaged in close combat using the Mount Maoshan Sword Technique, delivering a powerful dual attack.

Her swift and precise maneuvers left the onlookers in awe.

"Is this the power of a hidden master? Such prowess is akin to that of an earthly immortal!"

"Absolutely terrifying. A boss that took two hundred of us to defeat is being decimated single-handedly!"

"The world's number one combat force is truly formidable!"

The crowd was astounded, and the chat channel erupted into a frenzy.

"The heavens are unjust, so unjust..."

Ultimately, Ghost King Sun Chengzong let out a wail and disintegrated into ash.

"You have slain the rare elite Ghost King Sun Chengzong, earning 5000 Slaughter Points!"

"You have obtained a Second-Rank Energy Bracer!"

"Energy Bracer: Upon equipping, your strength and spirit each increase by 10 points, allowing you to maintain a state of peak energy for an extended period."

"You have acquired the Medicine King's Scripture!"

"Medicine King's Scripture: With this scripture, you can identify all manner of medicinal herbs and spiritual medicines, and you'll begin to master the art of pill-making, setting you on the path to becoming an alchemist!"

"You have obtained 1 Orange Legendary Treasure Chest Fragment."

"You have obtained 1 Golden Treasure Chest."

"You have gained 200 points of Buddhist Reputation, 200 points of Taoist Reputation, and 200 points of Heavenly Court Reputation..."

"Reputation: Your reputation score influences how various factions perceive you, allowing future purchases from their stores and improving your standing in the rankings!"

Chen Guo, a rare elite indeed, was astounded by her own gains after defeating the Ghost King Sun Chengzong. Her grueling journey to level 8, culminating in the vanquishing of the Ghost King, had certainly not been in vain.

The rewards were substantial, from slaughter points to equipment rewards, golden treasure chests, and even reputation points—each proved immensely valuable. These prizes were a far cry from the lackluster loot from blue treasure chests.

Yet, Chen Guo remained focused on the crucial task at hand: looting and replicating the remains. Despite Ghost King Sun Chengzong's soul having vanished, leaving behind only a pile of blue powder, Chen Guo was determined to investigate.

Could this be the remains of Ghost King Sun Chengzong? She wasn't entirely certain but proceeded to touch the powder, triggering the replication process.

"Ding! Replication initiated. You have successfully copied Ghost King Sun Chengzong's Illusion—Mandala Flower!"

"Illusion—Mandala Flower: Summon a Mandala Flower to plunge your enemies into a hallucinatory state for a duration dependent on the level disparity!"