Chapter 88 The Mutual Aid Association's Overt Scheme, Chen Chen's Ambition

["He's dead..."]

[Looking at the young corpse on the white jade platform, its face ashen and gray as if it had drowned.]

[The originally noisy crowd instantly fell into a deathly silence.]

[Fear, like an invisible giant hand, gripped everyone's throat.]

[At this moment, everyone present sobered up.]

[The so-called "Climb the Heavenly Ladder, Claim the Legacy" spoken by that deity named "Han Ming."]

[It was not some relaxing playground game, nor was it a charitable activity where treasures could be picked up everywhere.]

[This was a high-stakes gamble with one's life as the wager!]

[This young man, with his bloody corpse, had taught everyone a lesson.]

[Climbing the Heavenly Ladder carried a risk to one's life.]

[This Legacy was not something just any random person was qualified to touch.]

["This ladder can kill..."]

[Someone said with a trembling voice.]

[As the passion for obtaining the Great Power's Legacy receded like the tide.]

[All that remained was deep anxiety and panic at being trapped here.]

["What if none of us can get up there?"]

["Are we going to be trapped to death in this hellhole forever?"]

[The panic caused the originally loose Martial Artists to quickly begin banding together.]

[They formed small groups with Martial Artists they knew.]

[They warily sized up the strangers around them, their eyes filled with vigilance and calculation.]

[Some even began to cast their gazes toward the supply bags at others' waists.]

[Arguments, curses, and sighs of despair rose and fell one after another.]

[At this moment, this sacred and solemn entrance to the Heavenly Ladder was as noisy as a mundane vegetable market.]

[Carrying the Tall and Thin Martial Artist, you hid in the shadows of the distant woods, watching all of this coldly.]

[You originally thought such chaos and argument would last a long time, until the first drop of blood was shed.]

[However, the arrival of one person forcibly ended this farce.]

["Shut the hell up, all of you! Our boss has something to say!"]

[A roar like thunder, accompanied by an incredibly powerful aura, swept over from the distance.]

[Many people wearing the "Wild Hunters" uniform surrounded a person in the middle as they walked from afar.]

[The person in the middle was the boss mentioned by that arrogant "Wild Hunter" you heard before—Chen Chen.]

[This was a genuine Kaiyuan Realm Expert.]

[He wore a heavily worn but still upright "Wild Hunters" guild uniform.]

[On his left arm was a striking black armband.]

[Embroidered on it was a golden shotgun badge, displaying his status as the guild leader.]

[His appearance was very impactful.]

[He was a middle-aged man who looked to be in his forties or fifties, with a typical East Asian face.]

[His skin appeared rough and dark from years of exposure to the elements, full of a sense of life's vicissitudes.]

[He had a head of messy long hair and a long, weed-like beard on his chin.]

[It seemed to be stained with some dried blood from exotic beasts.]

[But what made people most afraid to look directly at him were his eyes hidden behind the messy hair and beard.]

[Those eyes flickered with a heart-palpitating sharpness—fierce, greedy, and showing a beast-like cunning.]

[It was as if he were a hungry brown bear that had just awakened from hibernation.]

["Boom!"]

[Chen Chen strode into the center of the crowd.]

[In this "Land Cut Off from Origin Qi," every bit of Origin Qi was incredibly precious.]

[Yet he was actually not stingy at all, specifically consuming some precious Origin Qi.]

[He released the pressure belonging to the Origin Opening Realm without reservation.]

[A violent airwave centered on him spread in all directions, instantly making the surrounding Qi and Blood Realm Martial Artists unable to breathe.]

["Guild Leader!"]

["Boss, you're finally here!"]

[The arrogant hunter who had just been surrounded by rogue Martial Artists and looked somewhat pathetic.]

[Seeing his backing arrive, he immediately ran over like a lapdog.]

[He leaned into Chen Chen's ear, waving his hands and babbling a great deal.]

[He vividly reported everything that had just happened.]

[The young man's death, the danger of the ladder, and the greed of the crowd for others' sweet dew that you hadn't seen with your own eyes.]

[As Chen Chen listened, he narrowed his eyes, his fingers unconsciously stroking the hilt of the war blade at his waist.]

[A thoughtful expression appeared on his face, and his gaze swept through the crowd like a searchlight.]

[He seemed to be evaluating the value of this group of "fat sheep."]

[Soon, he made a decision.]

["Ahem."]

[Chen Chen cleared his throat, withdrew his aura, and squeezed a hearty smile onto his face.]

["Brothers, quiet down!"]

[He said loudly, his voice resonant and full of vigor.]

["My name is Chen Chen, and I serve as the president of the 'Wild Hunter Association.']

["I'm sure many of you friends here have heard my name on the streets."]

[The crowd gradually quieted down; after all, a person's reputation follows them, and the weight of a Kaiyuan Realm Expert was still significant.]

[Chen Chen continued:]

["I'm relying on my age and this meager cultivation of mine."]

["To speak a few heartfelt words to everyone here, also wanting to help everyone think of a way to survive."]

["We have wandered into this place by mistake; meeting is fate."]

["But as you've seen, the difficulty of obtaining the Legacy from this 'Heavenly Ladder' is immense; it's simply not something everyone can participate in."]

[He pointed to the cold corpse on the ground.]

["Without enough strength and foundation, forcibly trying to pass will result in an unnatural death like that young man just now!"]

["Not even an intact corpse will be left!"]

[These words struck a chord with many people; many Martial Artists with low strength turned pale and subconsciously nodded.]

[Seeing that the timing was right, Chen Chen revealed his true intentions.]

["Therefore, I propose!"]

["We form a 'Mutual Aid Society' here!"]

["Divine Venerable Han Ming said that everyone gets one drop of 'sweet dew' per day."]

["This thing is the key to our survival."]

["However, for those who don't want to go to their deaths, or who know their strength is insufficient, holding onto this sweet dew is a waste."]

["I suggest that those who do not wish to attempt the 'Heavenly Ladder' hand over the sweet dew they obtain daily."]

["Leave it for those who have the need and the ability to attempt the challenge!"]

["What?!"]

[As soon as these words were spoken, the originally quiet crowd instantly erupted.]

["If I give the sweet dew to you, what will I eat every day? What will I drink?"]

["Exactly! Do you want to raise us like pigs? Or do you want to starve us to death?"]

["Don't listen to this old guy's nonsense! He just wants to monopolize the resources!"]

[Even more fiery-tempered Martial Artists shouted loudly:]

["Who's afraid of him! Origin Qi is cut off here, let's all charge together!"]

["Once that bit of Origin Qi in his body is exhausted, won't he just be a Qi and Blood Realm Martial Artist?"]

["There are hundreds of us; we can pile up and kill him!"]

["Right! Rob him!"]

[The atmosphere here instantly became tense, the air filled with the smell of gunpowder.]

[Seeing this, the dozen or so "Wild Hunters" behind Chen Chen immediately drew their weapons and released their auras simultaneously, confronting the crowd.]

[But Chen Chen did not make a move.]

[He was a smart man.]

[Although he was in the Origin Opening Realm, in this place where Origin Qi could not be replenished, if he truly incited public anger and was besieged.]

[Even if he could win, his Origin Qi would be heavily damaged, and the loss would outweigh the gain.]

[Killing was the stupidest thing to do.]

[The people here were all scarce resources; they were his "blood bags."]

["Hey! Everyone has misunderstood!"]

[Chen Chen shouted, forcibly suppressing the noise.]

[He spread his hands, putting on a look as if he had been wronged.]

["I, Chen Chen, do not want to rely on force to commit such robbery, let alone starve you to death!"]

["On the contrary, I want to save you!"]

[He pointed toward the distant jungle and the direction of the water source, his tone becoming confident and certain.]

["On the way here, I have already carefully scouted."]

["Although this grotto-heaven has no Origin Qi, the ecological environment is excellent."]

["There are many large and small lakes over there, rich in aquatic products, with plump fish and shrimp."]

["The forest is even more diverse in species, with many types of edible plant fruits and many herbivores."]

["Moreover, the output is very abundant, enough to supply all our daily needs!"]

[At this point, he patted his chest.]

["Identifying toxins in the wild, hunting and gathering, processing these ingredients..."]

["This is our 'Wild Hunters' old trade! It's our specialty!"]

["Everyone can rest assured! As long as you join our Mutual Aid Society and hand over your daily sweet dew."]

["Our Mutual Aid Society will handle all your future food and drink!"]

["We will be responsible for hunting, cooking, and providing protection."]

["You only need to rest in the camp; you don't have to face those unknown dangers, and you don't have to worry about going hungry!"]

["So, brothers who have no intention of 'climbing the Heavenly Ladder,' joining our Mutual Aid Society is the best choice."]

["Using a drop of sweet dew to trade for a stable living environment—this deal isn't a loss, right?"]

["As for those brothers who intend to 'climb the Heavenly Ladder'..."]

[Chen Chen's eyes were burning.]

["You can also join our Mutual Aid Society! You will receive more sweet dew that we have distributed evenly!"]

["Concentrate resources to do big things and reduce the difficulty of climbing the ladder!"]

["Everyone huddling together for warmth and planning a way home together, wouldn't that be wonderful?"]

[These words used both the carrot and the stick, with strict logic.]

[After hearing this explanation, although many people still looked dissatisfied, the agitation in the crowd clearly calmed down a lot.]

["This..."]

["If I don't go for the challenge, then the sweet dew really isn't of much use."]

["If they can really provide food and lodging..."]

["Wild Hunters are indeed good at this."]

["If I have to go into the forest to find food myself, it'll be even more troublesome if I get poisoned."]

[Gradually, some people felt that Chen Chen's words made sense.]

[Especially those Martial Artists with weaker strength who had no intention of risking their lives for the Legacy.]

[Their hearts had already begun to waver.]

[For them, rather than holding onto sweet dew and being coveted by the strong, it was better to hand it over in exchange for a long-term meal ticket and protective umbrella.]

[Looking at the weapons being gradually lowered and the hesitant eyes, the smile at the corner of Chen Chen's mouth grew even thicker.]

[This was his open scheme.]

[As long as he controlled the food supply, he controlled the lifeblood of this group of people.]

[As long as he monopolized the distribution of sweet dew, he possessed the highest power of allocation here.]

[Hiding in the woods, you watched this scene, a cold light flashing in your eyes.]

["Good tactics."]

["Using cheap ordinary food to exchange for sweet dew with miraculous effects."]

[You were very clear about the value of sweet dew.]

[That stuff could not only provide Origin Qi but also strengthen one's Origin and assist in cultivation.]

[If Chen Chen were allowed to dominate and collect all the sweet dew, there would be no profit for you.]

["I can't let him succeed."]

["I also need a large amount of sweet dew."]

[You understood clearly in your heart.]

["At this moment, I must make a move."]

["Otherwise, the interests will be completely carved up, and it will be difficult to intervene then."]

[You lifted the Tall and Thin Martial Artist and straightened your clothes.]

["Let's go, good son."]

["Let's go join the fun."]

[But before that, you still had things to do.]