172: Chapter 172 Today is truly a perfect day for... global fame.

Outside the Hunter Headquarters, a dark mass of people stood in three distinct groups, clearly divided.

On the left was the team from the Tianxiao Guild, all dressed in black and red armor, riding fierce falcons. The old man leading them had the gaze of an eagle and the cunning of a wolf; blood-colored flames rose faintly around him. His Aura was clearly at the Peak of the Eighth Rank!

His name was Yang Wei, the Chief Elder of the Law Enforcement Hall of the Tianxiao Guild. At this moment, he stood with his arms crossed, a mocking sneer hanging on his lips.

On the right was the team from the Jinbao Pavilion, dressed in luxury and dripping with jewels, as if they hadn't come for a battle, but to attend an auction.

The leader was a plump middle-aged beauty with eyes as sharp as a hawk, Yin Daoyan, also at the Peak of the Eighth Rank.

She gently waved a round fan inlaid with large gemstones and giggled, "Yo, I've been waiting for so long, I thought that kid Lu Chen was too scared to come out."

In the center was the representative of the Five Elders Association. They were the fewest in number, but their Aura was the most heavy and condensed.

The leader was an old man with a rigid face and a figure like an iron tower. His name was Qian Liexian, a Peak Eighth Rank Rock Mage.

He closed his eyes to rest, seemingly indifferent to everything around him, but that mountain-like, heavy Aura made no one dare to underestimate him.

Besides these three main forces, there were countless awakened ones who had rushed over upon hearing the news. Some hovered in mid-air on mounts, others used items to hide their forms, and the sound of their discussions was like a buzzing swarm of bees.

"Is that Lu Chen? I heard he just reached the Seventh Rank, and he actually provoked three Nine-Star Guilds to join forces to capture him?"

"Newborn calves aren't afraid of tigers. He probably thinks he's invincible because he has some talent, but now he's kicked an iron plate."

"Even the Hunter Headquarters can't protect him; they can only hand him over to calm the situation. What a pity..."

"Let's see how he dies in a moment! All three major guilds sent their elites, led by Peak Eighth Rankers. What can a Seventh Ranker use to block them?"

No one was optimistic about Lu Chen; everyone believed this was a one-sided crushing with no suspense. The only question was how many seconds Lu Chen could last and which guild would be the first to capture him.

In the shadows, three Auras that were almost one with the darkness were faint and elusive.

They were the three Bone King-level assassins of the Skeleton Shadow Guild—Bai Hai, Lv Hai, and Lan Hai.

They were like the most patient hunters, having restrained all their killing intent.

"The target has appeared," Bai Hai whispered.

"Shall we act?" Lv Hai was eager to move.

"No!" Lan Hai stopped him immediately, his voice carrying a trace of imperceptible dread.

"The leader's secret order reiterated: This kid is strange; only a Ninth Rank Legend can face him head-on! We can only observe his true strength and record data, and we must never act without authorization! Retreat another three miles and activate the 'Shadow Water Mirror' for remote observation to prevent being discovered by his powerful perception!"

The three Bone Kings, who were terrifying in the dark world, were now retreating quietly like frightened rabbits because of the appearance of a Seventh Rank young man, being cautious to the extreme.

Just then, the light curtain of the Hunter Headquarters rippled, and a figure stepped out slowly.

Dressed in a simple combat suit, with a straight posture and an excessively young face, it was Lu Chen.

He was alone, facing hundreds of elites in front and the gazes of countless onlookers further away. There was not a trace of fear on his face; instead, there was a hint of... mockery?

"Tsk, is that all of you? Your Guild Leaders didn't dare to come?" Lu Chen picked his ear, his tone frivolous.

"Arrogant!"

"The kid is courting death!"

"He doesn't know the height of the sky or the depth of the earth!"

The representatives of the three major guilds were instantly enraged and shouted sternly.

Yang Wei's blood-colored eyes widened: "This Elder is enough to capture you; there's no need for our Guild Leader to act!"

Yin Daoyan covered her mouth with her round fan, her eyes cold: "Little guy, it seems I have to let you taste the pain of the Jinbao Pavilion's 'Myriad Treasure Soul Erosion'."

Qian Liexian finally opened his eyes, his gaze as heavy as rock: "Surrender, and you might keep a whole corpse!"

Lu Chen smiled, a brilliant smile, but it carried a bone-chilling coldness: "Come together! I'm in a hurry."

"Court death!"

"Take him down!"

The three Elders could no longer hold back and attacked almost simultaneously!

Yang Wei's blood-colored flames surged, turning into a giant blood-flame demonic claw that tore through the air and grabbed down from above!

Talent Skill — [Blood Flame Sky-Tearing]!

Yin Daoyan waved her round fan, and countless shimmering golden ingot phantoms poured down like a rainstorm, each containing terrifying explosive energy and mental impact!

Talent Skill — [Money Rainfall]!

Qian Liexian roared, and the magic array in his hand bloomed with magic light. The ground suddenly bulged, and countless giant rock spikes rose like a forest, instantly sealing off all of Lu Chen's escape routes!

Talent Skill — [Rock Thrusting Spear Forest]!

The angry strikes of the three Peak Eighth Rank powerhouses were earth-shattering. The energy aftermath made the onlookers on the periphery tremble with fear and retreat repeatedly.

Everyone thought Lu Chen was finished; even if he didn't die, he would be seriously injured.

However, facing this world-destroying combined attack, Lu Chen just gently raised his hand.

Forbidden Spell · Thunder Punishment World Destroyer!

In an instant, the world lost its color!

Centered on Lu Chen, the sky over a range of more than fifty kilometers was instantly covered by endless thunderstorms!

Dark clouds rolled, and countless purple-gold thunderbolts as thick as buckets were like spears of world destruction, carrying the Aura of destroying everything, falling crazily!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The seemingly mighty blood-flame demonic claw evaporated instantly under the thunder like paper.

The dense golden ingot phantoms were split into points of light by the thunder before they could even get close.

The forest of rock spears that rose from the ground was shattered inch by inch under the baptism of thunder, turning into powder!

That wasn't all!

The thunder covered the entire team of the three major guilds indiscriminately!

"Ah!"

"No!"

"My equipment!"

"Defend quickly!"

Screams, exclamations, and explosions followed one after another.

Members below the Eighth Rank didn't even last a second. As soon as their protective items and skill lights lit up, they and their equipment were struck into charred remains.

Even those Eighth Rank Elders and elites were struggling to support themselves under the magnificent heavenly might. Their health bars dropped crazily, and the [Thunder Strike] marks on their bodies stacked layer by layer. When full, it instantly triggered [Chain Explosion], and their bodies exploded from within as if bombs had been buried inside, making things even worse!

Yang Wei, Yin Daoyan, and Qian Liexian bore the brunt and were specially taken care of.

The Domains and shields they raised with all their strength trembled violently under the sky-filling thunder punishment, flickering on and off. Blood spilled from the corners of their mouths, and their faces were filled with endless horror and disbelief!

What the hell? This is Seventh Rank?! Which Seventh Rank can instantly cast such a terrifying Forbidden Spell?! This attribute definitely exceeds a normal Ninth Rank!

Only three seconds!

Before the thunderstorm Domain ended, the only ones left standing in the field were Yang Wei and the other two, but they were all seriously injured and in a sorry state, looking at Lu Chen as if they were looking at a demon god who had descended to the world!

And the hundreds of elites they brought had been completely wiped out, turning into charred remains all over the ground.

The whole scene was dead silent!

All the onlookers had their mouths wide open, their eyeballs almost popping out, and their brains were blank. The previous ridicule and discussion had all turned into silent shock and fear.

In the shadows, the three Bone King-level assassins observing through the Shadow Water Mirror also gasped in unison.

Bai Hai's voice was dry: "...Instant cast, super-range, true damage, with mark and explosion effects... This kid, must never be left alive!"

Lv Hai muttered: "The leader is wise... If we had attacked just now, I'm afraid..."

Lan Hai was silent for a moment, only spitting out two words: "Monster!"

Lu Chen clapped his hands, as if he had just casually cleaned up some trash, and his gaze swept over the three of them who were barely standing. He said lightly: "Being able to withstand one Forbidden Spell, you are still considered strong, but! Can you withstand the second Forbidden Spell?"

Forbidden Spell · Eye of the Ringed Heavens!

Yang Wei and the other two were instantly desperate, having to watch themselves being marked by the golden arrow seal, and then, following Lu Chen's light shout of "Skyquake Blast," the three of them were instantly pierced by ten thousand arrows, and their Aura was cut off.

Meanwhile, a piece of reliable intelligence spread instantly.

"Shocking intelligence! The West Sea Overlord has moved! It has left the depths of the West Sea and is heading towards the Hunter Headquarters at full speed!"

"The West Sea Overlord's target seems to be Lu Chen! It roared all the way, shouting to tear Lu Chen to shreds!"

"For some reason, the West Sea Overlord has turned against Lu Chen and is leading countless sea monsters to kill their way to the Hunter Headquarters!"

The originally dead-silent crowd was in an uproar again!

"West Sea Overlord?! That supreme existence of the West Sea?"

"It's coming for Lu Chen? And with monstrous killing intent?"

"My god! What on earth did Lu Chen do? Offending the three Nine-Star Guilds and the West Sea Overlord at the same time?"

"He's dead for sure now! The West Sea Overlord is a true Ninth Rank Legendary BOSS, with unfathomable strength!"

Almost the moment they received the news, the heads of the three major guilds—President Lin Tianxiao of the Tianxiao Guild, the First Lady Jin Nihuang of the Jinbao Pavilion, and Elder Xuan of the Five Elders Association, Huangfu Xuan—did not hesitate at all. They immediately gathered the most elite forces of their guilds and rushed to the Hunter Headquarters at full speed!

They wanted to seize the opportunity to capture Lu Chen to obtain the secrets on him!

The storm!

At this moment, it suddenly escalated!

And Lu Chen, who was at the very center of the storm, not only was not afraid when he heard the news of the West Sea Overlord's arrival, but a strange and playful smile appeared on his face.

"Just in time, it saves me a trip to the West Sea."

He looked up at the intersection of sea and sky in the distance.

There, a terrifying pressure that made one's heart palpitate was spreading at an astonishing speed.

"Today, is indeed a good day to... become world-famous."