C3 Secretly Killing Monsters!

Stealthily grinding monsters!

Chen Guo wasn't disheartened when she failed to acquire what she sought from Liu Loong. Disguising herself as an adoring fan, she lavished Liu Loong with compliments before slipping away unnoticed.

She knew from experience that a person could typically only be copied once. With Liu Loong now rendered useless, it was time for Chen Guo to cut ties without hesitation.

Her focus shifted to the next pawn in her game: Zhou Tao.

Out of all the individuals with talents surpassing Eon-level, Zhou Tao was the only one who had openly disclosed his abilities.

Consequently, Zhou Tao had become the darling of the crowd, basking in the adulation of his many admirers.

The beauties, in particular, seemed vulnerable and in dire need of a protector.

They evidently saw Zhou Tao as a pillar of strength, flocking to his side and vying for his favor.

Chen Guo deftly wove through the throng, still masquerading as one of Zhou Tao's sycophants. In a seemingly accidental brush, she made contact with him.

"Ding! Duplication triggered. You have copied Zhou Tao's Eon-level talent: Teleportation!"

"Sweet!"

Chen Guo hit the jackpot this time, successfully duplicating Zhou Tao's teleportation ability.

This teleportation was a game-changer—a skill that could save one's life.

Armed with this ability, Chen Guo could strike or retreat at will, navigating any situation with ease.

While others were preoccupied with discussions about the dangers outside and strategies for strengthening themselves, Chen Guo had already secured a formidable power through her duplication.

At this juncture, Chen Guo's fighting capacity was off the charts:

Name: Chen Guo

Identity: Trial Challenger

Level: 1 - ???

Strength: 21

Agility: 24

Endurance: 19

Spirit: 32

Charm: 18

Talents: Heaven Level Omnipresent Duplication, Super Vision, Super Perception, Super Strength, Teleportation, Energy Flood, Thunder Strike...

Skills: Military Boxing, Simplified Tai Chi, Mastery of Cold Weapons, Sichuan Cuisine Expertise, Advanced Scouting, Guitar Playing...

Combat Strength: 259

Overall Assessment: A greenhorn just starting out

Chen Guo's attributes had soared, but the real game-changer was the dozens of new talents she had acquired—a colossal edge over the competition.

While other trial challengers were limited to a single talent, Chen Guo had amassed a diverse array through duplication. Although many were of Desolate Level, their combined might made her combat strength far more formidable than the system's description suggested.

With teleportation at her disposal, Chen Guo had the flexibility to move as she pleased.

Moreover, among the hodgepodge of skills she had duplicated, most were of little use. However, Advanced Scout and Cold Weapon Proficiency were undeniably valuable.

Still not content, Chen Guo made several more rounds in the area, looking for any overlooked advantages.

But with more than two thousand people already picked clean by her efforts, another two loops yielded nothing more than a comical Hand Cannon Master skill.

Chen Guo recognized that she had stripped the field bare. Though she lamented missing out on another Eon-level talent, she knew she had already secured a significant head start. It was time to take action.

As the adage goes, to be one step ahead is to lead the way. Chen Guo was determined to cement her lead while others were still indecisive.

With this in mind, she found herself at the edge of the protective barrier and stealthily exited, then concealed her name on the system's roster.

She believed in the principle of moving silently and keeping her abilities and accolades under wraps. That was Chen Guo's approach.

It wasn't that she shied away from the spotlight, but rather, she knew that the most visible target often takes the first hit. Given her unique talents and the standout nature of her performance, it was wiser to keep her identity hidden.

"Brother Liu Loong, what's your combat strength now?"

"128!"

"Such fearsome combat strength! Brother, you're incredible!"

"Brother, you're invincible!"

"Brother, you rock!"

Inside the Beginner Village, a group of trial challengers marveled at Liu Loong's formidable combat strength.

Even though everyone had awakened their talents, most had not broken the hundred mark.

Liu Loong had astonishingly reached 128, likely the highest among them.

Little did they know, Chen Guo's combat strength had soared to 259.

Chen Guo, having slipped away from the Beginner Village, scoffed to herself: Liu Loong enjoys the limelight, but such a path may not lead to a favorable outcome.

Beyond the village, amidst a landscape riddled with dangers, Chen Guo entered a small grove and suddenly felt a cold sensation on her back.

Her Advanced Scout training kicked in, alerting her to an enemy ambush.

Chen Guo spun around, channeling her Super Strength and Short Burst talents, and landed a solid punch on her assailant.

Boom!

"You've slain a level 1 zombie and earned 20 Slaughter Points. Your current total: 20/100."

Chen Guo peered down to see a green-faced, fanged zombie sprawled on the ground, her own handiwork evident in its mangled form.

"Just as I suspected, these level 1 creatures are no challenge at all!"

A sense of calm filled Chen Guo as she set about searching for more zombies. With her two talents at the ready, she dispatched each with a single punch.

Before long, her Slaughter Points hit 100, and she ascended to level 2.

"Leveling up is a breeze!"

Chen Guo gathered the remains of the zombies and initiated their duplication.

"Ding! Duplication initiated. You've tripled the zombie's strength."

"Maximum duplication reached. You can only extract 10 points of strength from a level 1 zombie."

...

Meanwhile, in Beginner Village.

Uncertainty reigned.

The specifics of the outside world were unknown, but the sense of peril was palpable.

Over two thousand souls milled about the plaza, none brave enough to cross the threshold.

"Go ahead, buddy!"

"No, you first!"

"After you..."

Many lingered in indecision, unwilling to be the pioneer to step beyond the village confines.

Just then, a prompt appeared in the chat:

"Trial challenger? has slain a level 1 zombie, earning 20 Slaughter Points!"

"Someone actually took down a level 1 zombie? Who could it be?"

"Could it be the mighty Liu Loong?"

"Are you kidding? Liu Loong hasn't left!"

The speculation ran rampant.

But the chat was soon updated with another message:

"Trial challenger? has slain a level 1 zombie, earning 20 Slaughter Points!"

After the fourth identical alert, a message appeared that turned everyone green with envy:

"Trial challenger? has advanced to level 2!"

"Who is this powerhouse? To have slain five level 1 zombies and leveled up so swiftly?"

"How impressive is that? And the boss's name isn't even displayed?"

"Exactly. The true powerhouses keep a low profile. A full bottle makes no sound, but a half-filled one clanks loudly! It's only the ones lacking in skill who feel the need to constantly make their presence known!"

Everyone was left in awe of Chen Guo's swift and lethal efficiency. He had ascended to level 2 in no time, making the survival mission seem like a walk in the park.

Liu Loong, however, was not pleased. He used to be the center of attention, but now all eyes were on that mysterious newcomer.

This was outrageous!

"Haven't any of you ever played this game? A level 1 zombie is just the weakest mob in Beginner Village, practically a one-hit wonder!" Liu Loong exclaimed. "Watch and learn, I'll show you what real speed looks like!"

With those words, Liu Loong strode confidently out of the protective shield.

He was determined not to let this unknown upstart overshadow him.