Chapter 483: Operation

Arriving at the shore, the shockwave and giant waves had reset nearly every boat, pushing them back to the starting point, or launching them into the sky—had that guy already reached the finish line?

Despair filled the hearts of the contestants as they brushed wet hair from their faces and looked up at the sky.

What kind of crap competition was this? A complete waste of time!

Discontent brewed rapidly in their hearts, and many had already lost all interest in this race.

No one enjoyed such a helpless sense of defeat.

Negative emotions spread swiftly through the crowd.

[Acquired… Villain Points…]

Yet, amid the chorus of boos, Jiang Ke’er descended, swaggering right into the middle of the crowd.

What was she up to now? Wasn’t she afraid the furious contestants would beat her to a pulp?

Shenzhou was a place thick with Righteous Qi. If she dared to toy with other Cultivators like this, some hot-tempered Knife-wielder might end her with a single blow.

“Everyone, calm down. I’m forfeiting.” Jiang Ke’er said with a smile.

“What?!”

Naturally, everyone was baffled… Giving up while holding such a huge advantage? What were you even here for?

“I’m a staff member of the Arena and the hidden level for this race.”

Jiang Ke’er flashed the sleeve badge of her staff credentials, “Defeating my Team before all the contestants’ boats are destroyed earns the hidden reward for this race—a large piece of thunder tribulation wood. Unfortunately, no Team accomplished that condition this year.”

Amid the clamor of discussion, voices of regret kept ringing out, along with others feeling grateful, or surprised.

“This race has given all the contestants too many surprises, and now an even bigger one. So, will the race be held again next year?” Someone asked with anticipation.

“Of course.” Jiang Ke’er knew she had achieved her goal, and smiled slightly, “The Novice Village will hold dragon boat races frequently from now on. Moreover, every festival will bring new surprises with equally generous rewards. Everyone is welcome to come and challenge.”

That thick, negative emotion vanished in an instant, replaced by overwhelmingly intense anticipation!

Expectation for tomorrow’s fishing competition, for the next dragon boat race, and even for everything the Novice Village had to offer!

The designer here was simply a genius. Although the experience of being toyed with was terrible… everything here was beyond anything they’d ever heard of!

Every step forward was filled with the unknown and surprises, giving them an unprecedented, marvelous experience.

They were truly curious, curious about what would happen if they kept going, what items they might obtain.

Could they, like her just now, piece together an ultra-powerful combo that instantly wiped out the whole field?

Just thinking about it made their hearts itch!

“Additionally, as compensation—after the race ends, every contestant can claim a small fragment of the six-thousand-six-hundred-year thunder tribulation wood. Although it’s small, everyone should be well aware of its value.”

“And since we didn’t give everyone a heads-up beforehand, we’ll now offer everyone this compensation.”

But the news that would ignite the crowd even more was still to come.

“Because today’s dragon boat race is still in the early access testing phase…”

Upon hearing this, the contestants tacitly lost their memories.

“The Novice Village is number one in the world!”

“I can’t remember anything at all. It’s definitely not because of the thunder tribulation wood fragments or anything—I’ve lost my memory. What? I was just toyed with? No, I’ve already…”

[Acquired… Orthodox Points…]

Jiang Ke’er’s dragon boat race truly brought them far too many surprises. What’s more, they were simple people—give them money, and they’re your friends.

They had originally wanted to beat Jiang Ke’er to a pulp, but unfortunately, she gave them far too much.

“Now everyone has returned to the starting point, and the boats are almost repaired. So… please, everyone, continue to enjoy this dragon boat race!”

Jiang Ke’er gave a slight bow to the crowd and made her glorious exit amidst thunderous applause.

Shifu’s methods always left Pei Zheng in awe. As expected of Shifu, effortlessly achieving things he could never even imagine.

First, she brutally toyed with those contestants, driving them into an emotional valley.

Then, she pulled a sudden twist, turning everything around, searing it all deep into their memories.

Finally, she gave them a sweet treat, turning them all into devoted fans—walking promotional machines for the Novice Village.

Pei Zheng felt he would never reach Shifu’s level in his lifetime.

This was a mighty army of Cultivators.

More precisely, it was an army of gifts.

The burly male Cultivators had thick, bushy beards.

If that were all, it would be fairly normal.

The problem was that most of these beards were dyed a vibrant pink, bursting with girlish charm.

These flamboyant, burly male Cultivators—some wore black stockings, others were squeezed into oversized dresses.

Their faces were caked with thick foundation, with blush applied mercilessly.

As they walked, their thick waists with eight-pack abs and muscular hips swayed side to side, exuding an ultimate allure.

Their protein-rich, sturdy legs stepped out in dainty little mincing steps, occasionally raising a delicate orchid finger to cover a giggle behind their hands.

Luo Han couldn’t take it anymore.

He prided himself on his vast experience and respected people’s various forms of self-expression… but the preferences of the Tribulation Immortal Hall were truly physically unbearable for him.

This had gone far beyond the point of just being an eyesore.

Sure enough, he should just go seek out Mingzhou Houtu in the Underworld Province and honestly enter Reincarnation. The Immortal Realm, or whatever… he really just couldn’t bring himself to love it…

“Luo Han, we’ll deliver the gifts to the Tribulation Immortal Hall. You take your men and go complete your Mission.” The Sect Leader said with a pale, trembling face.

Even the Sect Leader found such a spectacle somewhat hard to bear.

But who made him the Sect Leader?

The Sect Leader had to bear even more…

Mainly, he had to be present for such an occasion as presenting gifts at the Tribulation Immortal Hall, and this meeting also concerned major affairs regarding the Nine Provinces and the Outer Realms.

Upon receiving the order, Luo Han was nearly moved to tears of gratitude: “This subordinate will set off at once!”

He had been wanting to slip away for ages. He couldn’t spend another second in such a suffocating atmosphere.

Although the weather wasn’t absurdly hot, the heat radiating from those gazes and those fiery bodies was practically roasting him alive.

Leading men to slaughter a Novice Village was far easier than staying here.

The Huangtian Sect Disciples cast pleading looks at Luo Han, begging him to pick them and take them along too.

They were all from the same sect, and Luo Han was happy to help where he could. So, he decisively took all the Disciples of the Shasheng Hall, along with those he had good relations with.

Those whose names were called all sighed in relief, looking as if they’d just been freed from Hell.

Everyone felt that the most righteous thing he had ever done in his life was leading them to the Novice Village, escaping this place, and joining this delightful slaughter party.

For the first time, they also realized that carrying out a mission could be such a joyful thing.

It was like going from Hell straight to Heaven.

“This matter must not fail. They have already provoked our Huangtian Sect, and we must make them pay the price!” The Huangtian Cult Leader commanded in a deep voice.

“Rest assured!” Luo Han gave a vicious smile, “With my Shasheng Hall making a move, what can that Novice Village possibly do to me?”