"Relying on ourselves? Doesn't winning imply recognition? This is unfair, so unfair!" The Third Test Players immediately started protesting, cursing the Game Designer's ancestors. Xu Nian, however, said nothing and just stood aside, quietly watching.

Seeing that no one paid them any attention, the Third Test Players grew even more annoyed. "What is this nonsense? Are they just going to ignore us?"

At that moment, more than thirty people walked out, chests out and heads held high, their steps brisk and uniform as if they had been professionally trained. Xu Nian watched them emerge, a guess forming in his mind.

"We challenge Iron-blooded War Hero!" they declared to Xu Nian, then turned their gazes towards the Pavilion where Iron-blooded War Hero was.

Hearing them, Iron-blooded War Hero also stood up with a smile. Finally, they're here. His War Alliance had finally gained members, apparently sent from the higher-ups.

"Sect Leader, there's no need for a contest. I accept them!" Iron-blooded War Hero called out to Xu Nian from the edge of the Pavilion.

Xu Nian nodded gently. "Congratulations, and welcome to the Profound Yellow Sect."

As soon as he finished speaking, halos of light appeared beneath the feet of these thirty-three individuals, and in an instant, they exuded an indescribable aura. It was the same aura as Junlin's! The Qi Cultivation Realm! Truly a leap to the heavens in a single step!

Seeing this, all the players' eyes lit up. They definitely used backdoor connections! That special treatment is unmistakable.

"Sister Zhou, you banana-shaped sledgehammer! I, Liu, came all this way specifically to join you!"

"Abbess, Don't Love Me? Husband, what kind of ridiculous name is that?"

"Thirty Years Monk, bro, come and get me!"

"Husband, I'm right here! My name is Madly in Love with Duck Feet Rice! Come and get me!"

"..."

Immediately, the players erupted into a ruckus. Those newly registered players also began desperately seeking connections to get someone to vouch for them as soon as possible. After all, no one wanted to get beaten up.

Flourishing Flowers glanced at the people around her and said sternly, "Brothers, let's not make this too ugly. Just give them a beating to let off some steam."

"My younger brother is a disgrace. I'll go beat him up!" Thirty Years Monk said, his face dark.

A Bowl of Duck Feet Rice sighed. "I'm starting to regret ever meeting my girlfriend. Can someone help me beat her up?"

"I'll do it!" Dung Beetle immediately stood up, a grin on his his face. "I'm the best at beating up women."

"I'm good at it too," Hero Xu Xian chimed in, close behind.

When these two got ruthless, they could pin a woman to the ground and beat her half to death, regardless of who she was or her background. They'd beat her until even her own mother wouldn't recognize her!

Seeing these two step forward, A Bowl of Duck Feet Rice felt a muscle twitch at the corner of his mouth. You two? I'd better do it myself then.

Over at the Second Legion, I, Xuanqing frowned. "Ignore them. Even if your own parents show up, you stand here and watch. Don't you dare use connections to get them through!"

"The War Alliance's situation is different from ours; it's better if we don't cause trouble."

Half-Leaf nodded and then said, "I know it's not easy for everyone. But just by them getting a nod, they reached the Qi Cultivation Realm in a single step! Can you swallow that? I can't! My old man came this time too, and I swear I'm going to beat him up myself!"

Apart from the War Alliance, the players from the other Halls didn't move. At that moment, they were all united against a common 'enemy'. What a joke. If Half-Leaf was planning to beat his own father, what was wrong with them teaching their wives and girlfriends a lesson?

When the few new players who had been calling out realized they were being ignored, they started to panic. "What's going on? We came here through connections! Why is no one helping us now? Are they all actually planning to fight us?"

"Husband, you actually want to hit me? Don't even think about sleeping in the bed tonight!"

"Rebel! You rebel! Your allowance for this month is gone!"

"A Bowl of Duck Feet Rice, what do you think you're doing? I bought black stockings and a JK uniform! Believe it or not, I'll return them right now!"

It's over. There's no escaping this beating.

"..."

At that moment, the Third Test Players who hadn't used connections felt a mix of joy and anger. Those chosen by the System to fight still harbored resentment. After all, using backdoors in a game was going too far. But seeing the players who *had* used connections now being ignored, they all breathed a collective sigh of relief. Good. At least everyone is on the same starting line now.

Xu Nian stood by, quietly observing without saying anything more. The remaining Third Test Players also didn't want to get beaten up. After hesitating for a long time, a few finally stepped forward: One Blade 999, Starting with a Dog, Output Relies on Shouting, and Steady as an Old Dog.

The four players, having teamed up, squeezed their way out. Grinning, they announced, "Sect Leader, we challenge Boss Dung Beetle!"

Hmm? Seeing their names, Xu Nian couldn't help the corner of his eye from twitching. These four… I have some impression of them. One Blade 999 was the player he recalled seeing grazing on grass with great relish. Starting with a Dog was the one he remembered pestering him with questions earlier. Output Relies on Shouting was the connoisseur of Dung Beetle's Stinky Tofu, whose expression of pure bliss Xu Nian still remembered vividly. And Steady as an Old Dog was the player who looked like he wanted to loot the entire Profound Yellow Sect, still laden with all sorts of pots and pans. These four weirdos actually teamed up? And they specifically chose to challenge Dung Beetle? Are they doing this on purpose?

Little Boss looked at the four players and chuckled. "Dung Beetle, you were actually chosen first! Go teach them a lesson!"

Dung Beetle himself was surprised. He hadn't thought he'd be picked. But since these punching bags were delivering themselves to his doorstep, he certainly wasn't going to refuse! Want to ascend to the Qi Cultivation Realm in a single step? Have you asked my Stinky Tofu for permission first?

Dung Beetle leaped from the Pavilion, landing firmly in the basin below. "Come on! If I don't beat you all until you look like pig heads, I'll consider it my loss!"

In the neighboring Pavilion, Flourishing Flowers laughed. "Little Boss, do you think Dung Beetle will go easy on them or be ruthless? Want to make a bet?"

"No betting. I have no money!" Little Boss flatly refused.

Dung Beetle was the most audacious among the players. If his cultivation realm were the same as the Sect Leader's, they all felt Dung Beetle would dare to fight the Sect Leader over a woman! When this guy got serious, he was utterly ruthless.

Seeing Dung Beetle make his way down, One Blade 999 and his companions also hurried towards the Basin. The four of them looked quite young, each brimming with youthful vitality.

"Boss Dung Beetle, we finally get to meet you!" Starting with a Dog rushed forward, grabbed Dung Beetle's hand, and exclaimed, "We've admired you for so long! You're the Boss we truly acknowledge!"

"Yes, yes, yes! We even created a fan group, and we discuss your combat style in it every single day!"

"Please don't hold back! Hit us as hard as you can! We can take it!"

"Ao Xiang Squad, reporting for duty!"

"..."

The four of them chattered away, their unbridled enthusiasm baffling Dung Beetle. So, I have fans now? And I just happened to run into them? Uh... Ao Xiang Squad? That name... it's pretty good, actually. It resonates with my very soul!

Starting with a Dog quickly explained, "Our group has over a hundred members, all of them your fans! Unfortunately, only the four of us managed to get an Internal Testing Qualification this time. We're here carrying the hopes of everyone else in the group! Please, don't hold back—beat us fiercely!"

HISS— Dung Beetle inwardly drew a sharp breath. Such a perverted request! Even I'm taken aback. And I actually have a fan group? It feels like I've become a celebrity overnight!

"Ao Xiang Squad, get ready!" Starting with a Dog suddenly stepped back, and the other three followed suit.

Seeing them group together, Dung Beetle tensed, thinking they were about to attack, and raised his guard slightly.

But the next moment, the four members of the Ao Xiang Squad began striking ridiculous poses on the spot.

"To follow in Boss Dung Beetle's footsteps! To strive for Boss Dung Beetle's goals! We, the Ao Xiang Squad, are the Boss's vanguard!"

"Ao Xiang Charge!"

The player named Steady as an Old Dog even started banging on a wooden basin like a drum.

This scene truly caught Dung Beetle completely off guard. Cringeworthy! This is so cringeworthy! Why are my fans like this? How did a perfectly normal fan meet-and-greet turn into such an embarrassing spectacle in an instant?

Up in the Pavilion, Little Boss burst out laughing at the sight. "Dung Beetle, your fans are hilarious! My stomach hurts from laughing so hard!"

The other players from Celestial Realm were also dumbfounded. It's good that Dung Beetle has fans; it means he's made a name for himself. But fans like *these*... He'd probably be better off without them!

"Hahahaha! I can't take it anymore! I'm completely won over by Dung Beetle now!" Flourishing Flowers cackled, clutching her stomach. "From now on, if Dung Beetle claims to be the Top Player, I'll be the first to agree!"

Hero Xu Xian also couldn't help but chuckle, then his smile abruptly vanished. He quickly scanned the crowd of Third Test Players. Surely, I don't have fans like *that* among them, do I? Please, don't let them be like this. Social death is truly a terrifying prospect.

What was supposed to be a straightforward trial had devolved into a massive public humiliation for Dung Beetle, whose face was now etched with black lines of frustration.

"I'm begging you, can you please not embarrass me any further?" Dung Beetle pleaded through gritted teeth. "You win! I'll acknowledge all four of you, okay? Just please, stop talking! It's too humiliating!"

Damn it! This is unbearable! He had been all set for a proper fight. Who could have expected *this*? If I'd known it would be like this, I never would have come out here to be humiliated!

Xu Nian glanced at the four, the corner of his mouth twitching. "The four of you have received recognition. From this moment on, you are Disciples of the Profound Yellow Sect."

As his words fell, halos of light flared up from beneath the feet of Starting with a Dog and his companions, instantly advancing them to the Qi Cultivation Realm.

The four of them then followed Dung Beetle over to where the Celestial Realm players were gathered.

"Welcome, welcome!" Little Boss greeted them with a wave and a smile. "From now on, you'll be with Dung Beetle. We're all one big family here."

"Thank you, Boss Little Boss!"

"We will definitely not bring shame to Celestial Realm, nor will we disgrace Boss Dung Beetle!"

"With the Ao Xiang Squad around, Celestial Realm has nothing to worry about!"

"Everyone, rest assured! If there's any good loot in the future, we'll definitely think of you all first!"

"..."

Watching the four of them already acting so chummy and familiar with everyone, Dung Beetle's expression grew even darker. These fans... I'd really be better off without them...

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