153: Overestimate the enemy and underestimate yourself

"You speak." The portal, which had just opened a crack, closed again immediately.

"Although you previously declined to become a Nine-Star Hunter, this time, I would like to invite you to join the Star Alliance and become one of the Commanders. What do you think?"

The two words 'one of' were indispensable.

It wasn't that Zhao Qian was reluctant to give up his current power, but rather that he was worried others would be.

If Chen Ming wanted to be the sole Commander, Zhao Qian would relinquish his power without hesitation, demote himself, and assist him wholeheartedly.

However, people who would think this way are, after all, only a minority.

Zhao Qian could not control other people's thoughts.

Zhao Qian still had the authority to make the decision to recommend Chen Ming as one of the Commanders.

Refuse? Chen Ming's strength was evident; how could they possibly dare to refuse?

"The Undead Monarch looks like he's only in his early twenties, right? In his early twenties, he became the highest Commander of the Star Alliance!"

"This must be what 'young and promising' means, right?"

"Too strong! Absolutely too strong! He's simply a role model for our generation!"

"Earlier, I was proud of fishing up a B-grade skill at twenty-three, but now it seems the ancients were right after all; there's always someone better, there's always a higher mountain!"

...

In contrast to the onlookers, Chen Ming appeared very calm, "Commander Zhao, I appreciate your kindness, but I don't believe I have any political acumen or the talent of a Commander. Please allow me to decline."

The word 'Commander' certainly sounded impressive, but if Chen Ming accepted, he would be bound to the Star Alliance.

At that point, the balance between contribution and reward would inevitably be difficult to maintain.

Chen Ming also didn't want to bear the responsibility of saving the world or endure others' inexplicable expectations of him.

If he failed to meet some people's expectations, he knew without a doubt that it would lead to endless curses and abuse.

Chen Ming didn't want to seek trouble for himself.

"Ah, I see... That's truly a shame, but I will always keep this position open for you. You can join the Star Alliance anytime you wish."

A hint of disappointment flashed in Zhao Qian's eyes.

He quickly adjusted his mood and wasn't in a hurry.

He knew that such matters needed to be approached gradually, step by step.

Life was still long; there was no need to rush for a moment.

"Okay." Chen Ming nodded in agreement.

Just as he was about to open the portal leading to the Star Alliance, a startled cry from someone broke the silence, "Wh-what is that?"

"A portal, where did a portal come from?"

"Hey, hey, hey! Didn't they say monsters wouldn't escape from the Trial Tower?"

"That!" At this moment, someone in the crowd raised his hand and shouted loudly, "Sorry! Everyone, I just completed a task and got a fishing opportunity. I couldn't resist, and I ended up fishing up a..."

He stopped, hesitant to speak.

"Don't keep us in suspense now, what did you fish up exactly?" someone asked anxiously.

"The system says it's a Qi Refining Stage Cultivator," the Man replied.

"Qi Refining Stage, Cultivator?"

As soon as he finished speaking.

From the portal stepped out a Youth wearing a green robe, carrying a long sword on his back, dressed in an ancient style, with his hair tied up.

"Don't say it, he really has a bit of that immortal and scholarly aura."

"So, is he friend or foe?"

Just as someone asked this, the next second, they saw the Youth draw the seven-foot green-edged long sword he was wearing and directly swing it towards the nearest person.

"Damn it!" Although that person reacted quickly, he was still cut across the chest by the blade, and blood splattered far with the sword.

"This guy is an enemy!"

After confirming that the Youth Cultivator was hostile, everyone retreated, creating distance while simultaneously condensing Fireballs, Ice Cones, or raising their giant shields and long swords...

Ready to charge forward and attack upon Zhao Qian's command.

"Another fantasy Cultivator?"

"Another?"

Hearing the word 'another', Zhao Qian suddenly remembered, "I recall Mr. Chen, you said that the boss guarding the twentieth floor was a group of fantasy Cultivators, right?"

"Yes." Beside Chen Ming, the Advanced Zombie Cultivator, who had recently been extracted as an Undead, quickly emerged and introduced him to Zhao Qian, "It's this guy."

"Is it him?" Perhaps because he had witnessed too many world-altering scenes involving Chen Ming, Zhao Qian was much calmer than he expected at this moment.

"Go test that guy's strength," Chen Ming ordered the Advanced Undead Cultivator.

The Undead Cultivator immediately attacked, his long sword unsheathed, accurately passing through the crowd and shooting towards the Youth Cultivator.

Seeing this, the Youth Cultivator immediately raised his sword horizontally in front of him, and was forcefully pushed back seven or eight steps by the power of the Undead Cultivator's flying sword, sliding backward.

On the Undead Cultivator's side, he wasn't planning to give the Youth Cultivator a chance to catch his breath. Two other swords simultaneously unsheathed.

Following the exact same pattern, they flew towards the Youth Cultivator, coming from both left and right directions, aiming directly for his head, trying to catch him off guard.

Perhaps feeling this wasn't secure enough, he activated the skill [Fire Sword Technique].

Boom! Boom!

During flight, the dark sword bodies ignited with white flames.

Those who were a little closer could clearly feel a wave of scorching heat coming towards them.

Facts proved that the Undead Cultivator had overestimated the Youth Cultivator's strength.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The two swords crossed, entering through the temples and exiting from the jaw, piercing through the Youth Cultivator's head.

The green-edged long sword in his hand was also knocked away.

Whoosh!

Following that, another sword pierced through his chest.

It was clear that the Youth Cultivator's strength was below that of the Advanced Undead Cultivator, and whether he could even compare to a regular Undead Cultivator was still unknown.

"So strong! I thought it would cause a bloody storm, but I didn't expect him to be instantly killed."

"Is that the boss guarding the twentieth floor! He looks really domineering!"

"To challenge a monster of this level, it seems I still need to keep working hard. The road is long and arduous."

"I really want this skill, even if it just summons low-level Zombies."

"Speaking of which, every skill has a weakened version, right? SSS-level Undead Summoning is unique, but have none of the SS, S, or A-Rank versions been fished up?"

"Even SS and S-Rank skills are incredibly difficult to fish up."

"Is it possible that the Undead Summoning skill is an ultra-rare skill, existing only in the SSS-level version?"

"How can that be? Don't ruin my beautiful dream!"

...

He took the treasure chest, stole the skill, and extracted the Undead, all in one go.

The three long swords automatically flew back and returned to their sheaths, and the Undead Cultivator returned to where he came from.

He could be summoned at will and dismissed at will, which was very convenient.

Since the matter was resolved, there was no need to stay here anymore.

Chen Ming opened the portal and, watched by the crowd, left the Trial Tower with Zhao Qian.

As for Zhang Bo, he planned to rest for a while and then continue to the third layer of the Trial Tower for a challenge.

He didn't want to relax. It was a rare opportunity to continuously hone himself, acquire blood cores, and improve the overall combat strength of the Star Alliance.

To allow more people who didn't have the chance to fish up skills but had the talent to become professional Hunters, and to have the strength to face monsters head-on by strengthening their weapons...

Back at the Star Alliance.

Chen Ming took out a generous gift he had decided on beforehand.