CHAPTER 97: CHAPTER 97, DID THE SENIOR SISTER VOLUNTARILY SACRIFICE HERSELF????_1

The Divine Envoy chuckled. "Rise, my warriors."

Jiang Chen whispered, "Why aren’t you kneeling?"

"Nonsense. He’s a warrior type. Why would I, a Priest, need to kneel? Once we reach First-stage, we’ll go meet the Divine Envoy and accept tasks from him. Upon completing the Divine Envoy’s test, we can advance to First-stage."

Ruo Li continued, "Black Phoenix is a warrior. Once the Alliance competition is over, she’ll progress to First-stage and take on Hell-level difficulty. She’s trying to curry favor with the Divine Envoy because there are different options within Hell-level difficulty."

Jiang Chen had an epiphany. So she’s thinking about connections and backdoors. This world isn’t just about fighting and killing; it’s about networking and human interaction.

Ruo Li went on, "The Divine Envoy is particularly fond of Black Phoenix, especially since she has awakened her Talent. There’s a high probability he will let Black Phoenix complete her class advancement."

"Actually, Black Phoenix could have advanced her Class two months ago, but she waited to do it after the Alliance competition to earn military exploits."

"If she can’t make it, she might need your help!"

Jiang Chen laughed. "Me? Help? Isn’t class advancement supposed to be done alone?"

Ruo Li smiled. "Some are done alone, but for others, you can get help. Rules are rules, but even rules have loopholes!"

"For example, if Hell-level difficulty requires a monster’s heart and it’s supposed to be done alone, one person could beat the monster half to death and then let another person kill it. Wouldn’t that work?"

Jiang Chen was speechless. That’s actually a pretty slick trick.

Jiang Chen asked, puzzled, "Based on what you’re saying, couldn’t anyone tackle Hell-level difficulty then? Just pay someone to help."

A First-stage Class asking for help from a Second-stage Class? Wouldn’t that make things much easier?

"That won’t work."

"You just said it could."

"I said for *some* tasks, not all of them. Some tasks involve challenging a BOSS alone and require entering a Secret Realm. Others are different; the BOSS doesn’t just exist in Different Worlds but can be killed by anyone."

"Now, getting on good terms with the Divine Envoy might get you assigned a better task. Do you understand now?"

Jiang Chen was thoughtful. So, just give gifts then! Indeed, networking is everything!

Ruo Li continued, "Black Phoenix will be taking on Hell-level difficulty, and she might need strong people to help. How about lending a hand, junior?"

She wants me to help her husband with his First-stage advancement? She’s asking her lover for help? Am I crazy?!

Ruo Li lowered her head and said demurely, "If you agree to help, you can have whatever you want afterward."

Jiang Chen sized Ruo Li up. This woman is gorgeous, with curves in all the right places.

Jiang Chen chuckled. "As long as the pay is good, anything goes."

Ruo Li stared at Jiang Chen. Money? Is that all he thinks about? With such a beautiful woman standing right in front of him, and he’s talking about money?

Ruo Li rolled her eyes at Jiang Chen. She felt she needed to correct his perspective. Kid, you’ve gone down the wrong path.

"Between money and beauty, which do you think is more important?" she asked.

"Beauty is important, but money is even more important."

"Why?"

"Because once you have money, you can have countless beauties."

Ruo Li was speechless. That’s infuriatingly logical.

Ruo Li coughed. "Some women can’t be bought with money. You can buy their body, but you can’t buy their heart."

"I agree with that."

"Then why not choose me?"

"Even if I had your body, I couldn’t win your heart."

"How do you know if you don’t try?"

"Because you don’t have a heart."

Ruo Li was stunned. Go to hell, you detestable man! Watching Jiang Chen’s retreating back, Ruo Li fantasized about tying him to a bed and whipping him fiercely, candles and whips at the ready...

Ruo Li turned to her companion. "What were you two talking about?"

"Oh, just whips, candles, handcuffs..." her friend replied with a grin.

"Stop being so silly!" Ruo Li snapped. "Is that all you can think about right now?"

"Heh heh," her friend chuckled. "Maybe we should try it tonight when we get back."

"Try it yourself!" Ruo Li retorted. "I’m dumping my husband sooner or later anyway." She then added decisively, "Fine then, I’ll just go find my junior."

"He’s already taken," her friend reminded her.

"I suspect that junior is impotent," Ruo Li mused.

"Why?"

"Because he actually showed no interest in me! There’s practically no man in the world who wouldn’t be interested in me; he’s one of the few exceptions."

Ruo Li was usually very confident in her allure, but when it came to Jiang Chen, she felt completely uncertain.

「...」

「Conference room.」

As the Dragon Zone Union’s Alliance Commander, Black Phoenix’s first order of business was to call a meeting. They needed to discuss the upcoming battles and how to counter the other Alliance territories.

A battle involving one hundred thousand people could not be taken lightly.

Black Phoenix said, "First up is the individual Alliance battle, which is crucial for crushing the opponent’s morale. So, in the individual battle, we can only win; we cannot lose. I nominate Jiang Chen for this. Do any of you have other candidates to recommend?"

The Legion Commanders all looked at each other.

"Jiang Chen? Who is that? I’ve never heard of him."

"Black Phoenix, you’re the Alliance Commander. We all follow your orders, but can you tell us who Jiang Chen is and what his Class is?"

"The individual Alliance battle isn’t just about personal honor; it’s about the honor of our Dragon Zone Union. This battle is vital, and we cannot afford any mistakes."

"I recommend Wei Zeyang. He’s an SS-grade Dragon Knight. Dragon Knights are a formidable Class in both close-quarters and ranged combat."

"A Dragon Knight, eh? That’s not a bad idea."

"I disagree. The Nordic European Union has countless Dragon Knights. Our Dragon Knights can’t hope to defeat theirs."

Black Phoenix said, "Alright, quiet down, everyone. I know how important the individual Alliance battle is. I trust Jiang Chen. Jiang Chen, come out and meet everyone."

Jiang Chen stepped forward from behind her and smiled. "Hello, everyone."

"Brother, since the Commander recommended you, please show us your Class and Level," a burly man said slowly, eyeing Jiang Chen.

"Right, it’s not that we don’t trust you; we just want to know your Class."

"Black Phoenix trusts you; at least give us some peace of mind."

Jiang Chen didn’t hesitate to reveal his Class.

Everyone looked at the information displayed above Jiang Chen’s head and was instantly dumbfounded.

What’s going on? A Level 30 Swordsman? Black Phoenix, are you joking? Level 30 is one thing, but a Swordsman? Since when can a Swordsman represent the Dragon Zone Union in an individual battle?

They couldn’t believe Black Phoenix had recommended a Swordsman.

"Commander Black Phoenix, what is the meaning of this? I recall that Swordsman is a D-grade Class, right?"

"Indeed, Swordsman is a D-grade Class. A Level 30 Swordsman would likely be instantly killed on the battlefield. Black Phoenix, you couldn’t possibly be a spy from another Alliance, could you?"

"I thought it would be some amazing Class, but it’s just a Swordsman."

"Black Phoenix, we need an explanation. Why should he participate in the individual battle? If word of this gets out, won’t we become a laughingstock?"

Facing their many doubts, Black Phoenix explained, "Don’t underestimate Swordsmen. He is a Swordsman who has awakened a Talent and managed to solo the Crown of the King Hell-Level Instance at Level 20. I ask you, who among you could achieve that?"

Everyone was stunned.

Soloing the Crown of the King Hell-Level Instance at Level 20? How is that possible?