Full health is the kill threshold, no matter if you're a god or a demon!

While Liu Nian was causing chaos and chaos in the pigman territory, the human camp was quietly undergoing a difficult climb from the depths of despair to the peak of hope.

Bob's demise and the change of ownership of the Unbreakable Oath were like a heavy hammer blow, shattering the already fragile confidence of the human players in Azure Town.

The "number one expert" has perished, and the iconic divine weapon has been taken away. An invisible panic is spreading like a plague—do we still have hope?

However, the gloom did not last long.

The first things to pierce the despair were some scattered but encouraging rumors from the border.

Small guilds and lone wolves, such as the "Fortress Guild," who often lived on the edge, became the first messengers.

"Have you heard? We've got a tough guy around here who dared to single-handedly storm the pigmen's lair! Apparently, he's already slaughtered several hundred piglets!"

"It's more than just slaughtering! My brother saw it with his own eyes. That ruthless man specifically targets the pig-men's mines and transport teams, looting, killing, and burning everything! Now those pink-skinned beasts are too afraid to even leave their homes alone!"

"Who is it? So fierce? Even more impressive than Bob?"

"His name is... Liu Nian! Yes, Liu Nian! I heard he's from the Dragon Soaring Guild, on Wang Mu's side, and has a close relationship with Boss Wu Zhan!"

At first, these words were only passed around by word of mouth in a small circle, with a mixture of skepticism and excitement.

However, as adventurers brought back news of frequent disturbances and troop movements in the pigmen's territory, and the visible tension and gathering of pigmen patrols on the border, these rumors became increasingly credible.

Following this, the new leadership of the Azure Council, with Wang Mian at its core, demonstrated a completely different level of efficiency and decisiveness, launching a series of combined initiatives that stabilized morale.

After obtaining crucial information secretly passed between Yelena and Wu Zhan, he decisively launched a secret and in-depth investigation into Charles and his remaining followers.

Clues gradually pieced together a chilling picture: there was indeed a clandestine connection between these druids and the ratmen faction.

Instead of immediately alerting the enemy, Wang Mian laid a trap—all Druid players were placed under close surveillance.

The underground prison where Charles was imprisoned was surrounded by his trusted sentries 24 hours a day, recording every suspicious contact.

Moreover, he secretly set up several hidden and powerful traps in and around the prison.

This is both a surveillance network and a "surprise gift package" prepared for "guests" who might emerge from here during the upgrade battle!

Wang Mian knew that in turbulent times, the leader's own strength was the most effective calming agent.

So he stopped keeping a low profile and announced that his profession, "Astral Warlock," had completed a crucial legendary advancement. He then showed the whole city that he and many members of his core team had surpassed level 60, and also released several new legendary equipment items (of course, without revealing their specific attributes).

This new force quickly filled the high-level combat vacuum left by the destruction of Bob's faction, and thoroughly solidified his authority and prestige as the new speaker.

Immediately following up, he struck while the iron was hot and directly revealed to all human players a new map that bypassed the pigman blockade – "Crystal Forest".

The monsters here are between level 55 and 70, and resources are plentiful. Wang Mian promised that he would organize the power of the Azure Council to provide safe escorts and exploration support to all players who have reached level 50, are willing to fight for the future of humanity, and obey orders!

One stone caused a thousand waves!

Players who have been trapped in low-level areas for a long time and struggling have seen the dawn of breaking free from their shackles and becoming powerful quickly!

This is a far cry from the information monopoly and resource barriers of the Charles and Bob era.

Hope became the most powerful unifying force. Countless small and medium-sized guilds and skilled individual players gathered under Wang Mian's banner, and the Azure Town was once again full of vitality.

Taking advantage of the situation, Wang Mian joined forces with the leaders of major guilds in the city and quickly formed the first large-scale exploration team.

With meticulous planning and concerted efforts, humanity successfully established a stable outpost in the "Crystal Forest," where rare equipment and materials were continuously produced, and the overall strength of the players was transforming at a visible speed.

At the same time, more details about Liu Nian's "heroic deeds" behind enemy lines were intentionally released.

"Outside the Pigmen's 'Crackhoof Arena,' Boss Liu single-handedly defeated a hundred enemy generals, slaying the enemy overlord and seizing the second piece of the 'Immortal King' legendary set!"

"Urgent news from the front! Several key mines belonging to the Pigmen have been harassed and shut down by Liu Nian, and their frontline legions are showing signs of exhaustion in terms of equipment and supplies!"

"The exorbitant wanted notice for the Pigman has become a laughing stock! 'Bloody Calamity' Liu Nian reigns supreme, while those who hunt him become the prey!"

These messages acted like a shot in the arm, slowly dispelling the clouds of despair hanging over humanity, and even inspiring a spirit of shared hatred and determination to forge ahead.

The human players suddenly realized: the situation seemed to be reversing?

We have a pragmatic new leader like Wang Mian, a leveling area called "Crystal Forest" that breaks through level restrictions, and Liu Nian, a legendary figure who wreaks havoc in the enemy's heartland, leaving the pigmen with no time to spare!

An optimistic belief that "we can win" and "hope lies ahead" began to take root and sprout among the people.

In the tavern of the azure town, the conversation shifted from pessimistic sighs to "What good stuff came out today?" and "When can we be like Boss Liu Nian, making seven in and seven out of the pig people's hometown?"

Wang Mian's prestige reached its peak as a result, and under his leadership, the Azure Council seemed to have truly broken through the clouds and regained its cohesion and direction.

However, not everyone is immersed in optimism.

Wu Zhan remained clear-headed throughout, knowing full well that opening champagne at halftime was a major taboo!

Humanity's enemies aren't just pigmen, but also ratmen and goblins!

Therefore, he had to cover for the human players. So, on the one hand, he secretly planned the construction of "Dragon City", and on the other hand, after completing his own job change, he quickly led the Dragon Abyss players to level up like crazy. When the Ascension War came, he would directly attack the Pigmen's main city and cut off their roots!

Let them never rise again!

Meanwhile, Liu Nian was on his way to the Shattered Stone Canyon. It was said that a pigman transport team had been active recently, carrying valuable supplies looted from the territory of the Demon Bear Clan in the north. This information came from Wang Mian.

Liu Nian has been wandering around the pigmen's territory for three days now, and he has killed more than a thousand pigmen. He can hardly find any pigmen below level 80 anymore.

His level reached 57, and in three days his health increased by more than 180 million, bringing his total health to nearly 400 million. He also had Hell Curse at 3000+ and Soul Drain Strike at 677 stacks.

In addition, although the boars that slaughtered pigs hadn't dropped any Prismatic Skill Stones these days, there were 11 Silver Skill Stones and 2 Gold Skill Stones. Liu Nian originally planned to synthesize a Prismatic Skill Stone before using it, but after thinking about it, he decided to use it all at once while he was at it, using the gold enhancements from the third Body Tempering and Soul Absorption Strike together.