Black Blade also belonged to that kind of player who had both high popularity and prestige among players.

For most gamers, being able to gain popularity and prestige inside a game is the ultimate pursuit.

After all, who plays a game without wanting to be called a "big shot" by others?

Who doesn't want to hear people singing their praises and shouting "boss 666"?

Black Blade and Steve were actually the same type of person.

Black Blade naturally understood that popularity and prestige were both very hard to build up.

Although right now, maybe hardly anyone in the main world was still watching the situation inside the Trial Grounds.

But Steve quitting midway was definitely something that couldn't be hidden.

After all, Steve was currently together with Grayfist.

And Grayfist's eyes had been fixed on Steve the entire time.

If Steve left the trial, Grayfist would absolutely be the first to know.

And he definitely wouldn't let go of this chance to press Steve down.

That loudmouth Grayfist… once he knew, it was basically the same as the entire game world knowing.

By then, with Grayfist adding fuel to the fire in all sorts of ways, Steve probably wouldn't be able to save face anymore.

Thinking of this, Black Blade deliberately stressed a sentence.

"You know what Grayfist's mouth is like…"

Hearing Black Blade's words, Steve chuckled and teased.

"Oh, so you actually care about me, huh?"

"Since I've already made my decision, that means I've already thought it through."

"I'm the kind of person who only does what I think is worth doing."

"Besides, right now leaving really is the optimal solution."

"First, it can solve the problem with Entity 303 and the others."

"Second, it's also beneficial for the situation here in the Trial Grounds."

When Steve said this, Black Blade didn't quite understand and cut in.

"Beneficial?"

Steve nodded and continued. "Grayfist is way too wary of me, and he's never fully trusted me."

"My joining his side did indeed slow down his development."

"But I know very clearly, with his personality, in the end, once he realizes he's been played by me, he won't just give up in despair."

"He cares a lot about the rewards, and he's very curious, so he'll definitely switch sides to us in the end."

"Even if there are no rewards, he'll still want to survive until the very end, just to see what it's all about."

"So for us, Grayfist is also a reserve fighting force."

"But… with me here, it's hard for him to grow, since he's always on guard against me."

"That brain of his is already overclocking itself just to guard against me, he doesn't have the mind left to think about anything else."

"Luckily, once I'm gone, he'll be able to develop properly, and in the end he can also be used by us."

Hearing Steve's words, Black Blade gave a helpless laugh and shook his head.

"True, that kid Grayfist, he's not that young anymore, yet he's still like some hot-headed fool, always just wanting to press you down."

"The key is, he doesn't even have the ability to completely control you."

Saying this, Black Blade rubbed his chin, nodded, and said. "If you're not around, it might actually stimulate his potential. After all, those subordinates of yours are still following HIM."

"HIM, yeah, he'll definitely have to put on a show in front of your men and prove his strength…"

It had to be said, Grayfist really did have a kind of pure stupidity about him.

Black Blade and Steve hadn't interacted with him that much, but both of them already saw right through him.

After Black Blade finished, Steve couldn't hold it in anymore, and he suddenly felt a sense of "great minds think alike" with Black Blade.

"Exactly."

"But he's not really a bad person."

"His personality is just like an elementary school kid's, likes to go against people."

"But he's not truly stupid or evil. If he really does run into a wall, he still knows to turn back."

"When that time comes, don't hurt his pride too much, alright?"

Hearing Steve's words, Black Blade laughed and teased.

"Oh my, only a few days have passed and you're already speaking up for him?"

Then he patted Steve on the shoulder and said. "I know what I'm doing. Who would seriously argue with a grade-schooler?"

"Alright, you can go without worries."

Black Blade and Steve didn't have any real hatred toward Grayfist, even though Grayfist always liked to trip them up and oppose them.

But Black Blade and Steve both understood Grayfist's personality.

They both treated him like an immature little brother, so naturally they wouldn't hold grudges against him.

Steve and Black Blade chatted happily, taking turns like a duo, while off to the side, Xu Yuan didn't feel bored at all.

In fact, there were even a few moments where he felt a kind of "did I just ship them?" vibe…

"Good, you two… no, you three, living your days well, that's more important than anything else."

After Black Blade and Steve chatted for a while, they realized they'd been so caught up in their own two-person world that they had left Xu Yuan off to the side.

When the two finally noticed this, they saw Xu Yuan looking at them with a half-smile, an expression full of deeper meaning.

"Ahem…" Black Blade lightly coughed a few times to cover the awkwardness.

Steve also immediately switched back to the main topic.

"Uh… well…"

"I'll handle things on Grayfist's side."

"I've got a kid under me named Ping Pong, he's pretty clever, when the time comes I'll have him coordinate with you."

"Alright." Black Blade also nodded in agreement.

Seeing this, Steve looked to Xu Yuan and said. "After I leave, I'll first contact Peng Peng, and I'll give everything I've got to finish the task."

———

After the three of them chatted a little more casually, Steve then left.

Looking at Steve's departing figure, Black Blade couldn't help sighing.

"My king…"

"Only now do I understand, choosing the right camp can only protect a person's lower limit."

"But the key to raising someone's upper limit is their vision…"

"I finally know why, back at the very start of the Trial Grounds, my qualification score was lower than Steve's."

Black Blade's sense of vision had actually been opened up little by little because of Steve.

Steve's actions had indeed had a deep impact on him.

Black Blade was deeply moved, before this, he never would have thought Steve was the one who'd influence him and push him to grow.

And precisely because Steve had made Black Blade realize the importance of vision, Black Blade understood even more clearly the height at which Xu Yuan stood.

Black Blade's words were outside of expectation, but they were within Xu Yuan's anticipation.

Xu Yuan knew very well that after Black Blade came into contact with Steve, he was bound to be influenced.

He would also break through his past way of thinking.

The Black Blade of now had undoubtedly already grown, his way of thinking would be completely different.

Xu Yuan looked at Black Blade and asked with a smile.

"Now you should understand why, before competing with Blue Demon, I already laid out my entire plan, right?"

Hearing Xu Yuan's words, Black Blade nodded and said.

"Steve doesn't care about winning or losing, he only wants to protect this world. Because for him, this game is unique, it's a beautiful memory he wants to preserve."

"And you're the same as him."

"You don't care about winning or losing either, you can accept anyone winning this trial."

"Because the final winner of this trial will be the one able to maintain peace in the Trial Grounds."

"And that kind of person will likewise be able to maintain peace in the main world."

"And that is your ultimate goal."

"So it doesn't matter who wins."

Actually, Black Blade had always had a competitive heart, but his competitiveness wasn't for himself, it was for Xu Yuan.

He cared deeply about Xu Yuan's victories and defeats.

Just like earlier, when Xu Yuan agreed to compete against Blue Demon.

Black Blade had already decided in his mind that Xu Yuan would definitely win.

Because in Black Blade's eyes, Xu Yuan, as the king he believed in, had to be the strongest existence.

It was exactly because of this that Black Blade's vision had been restricted.

Only now did he finally become enlightened.

Hearing Black Blade's words, Xu Yuan nodded in satisfaction.

"Those who live with clarity all know what they truly want."

"As long as their general direction is right, they won't sweat the small details."

"Once you understand this, you'll find that life becomes very easy to live."

Although Xu Yuan's face stayed calm, deep inside he was truly moved.

Xu Yuan was like a great elder, witnessing the growth of everyone around him.

Seeing their transformation and progress, Xu Yuan felt genuine joy.

The only thing that still felt a little awkward to him, was that he was clearly a youthful, energetic young man, yet he always had this "old father" vibe about him.

After chatting a bit more casually with Black Blade, Xu Yuan returned to the main point.

"The matter with Entity 303 is considered resolved."

"Next comes the operations inside the Trial Grounds."

Seeing this, Black Blade also quickly shifted his mood and switched into work mode.

"Yeah, Rookie said it'd be best for the Trial Grounds to end in five days."

"With an error margin of 1–2 days, it can be delayed, but it can't end early."

After thinking for a moment, Xu Yuan decided to change the plan.

At present, inside the Trial Grounds, Xu Yuan's side had already gained control over three factions.

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