Chapter Twenty-One: The Ring of Deceit

Character Name: Bones One by One
Level: 50
Race: Elite Skeleton
Attributes: HP 150,000/150,000, MP 150,000/150,000
Strength (140) +1500, Intelligence (133) +1500, Constitution (152) +1500, Agility (160) +1500, Bone Structure (999), Luck (5), Souls Absorbed (1535)
Class: Skeleton Centurion
Hidden Attribute: Free Advancement, Absorption Attribute (Level 0)
Upgradeable Skill: Blink (Level 1) — Instantly teleport 10 meters ignoring terrain; cooldown: 50 seconds.
Self-Created Skill: Crescent Slash.
Innate Skills: Summon Skeleton Guards (Guards have 30% of the summoner’s attributes; each summons costs 50 souls, lasts 1 hour, max 100 at once, can be upgraded); Blood Essence Conversion.

Examining his attribute panel, Li Ren nodded with satisfaction. As expected, after advancing to Centurion, his underlings could now number a hundred at once. Of course, the soul cost for summoning them simultaneously had increased significantly, but in the Corrosion Ravine, deploying them all was not impossible.

For now, he dismissed the idea of summoning his minions. First, the monsters here were already a bit on the low side—while still offering decent experience, they were no longer optimal. Second, given his current circumstances, each time he was teleported out, he had only a brief window before being forcefully sent back again, so summoning his minions right now would hardly be cost-effective.

"Since your level has reached a critical threshold, the Ultimate Mode Skeleton Cavern will no longer forcibly teleport you. Please select your accumulated reward: a unique dark-gold accessory." The system prompt sounded in Li Ren’s ear. Although it claimed he could choose, only one item was presented—so much for choice. Still, a dark-gold tier item was nothing to scoff at, and considering how many accumulated rewards he’d earned, it should be something decent.

Li Ren felt a twinge of regret. The Skeleton Cavern had been a lucrative spot for grinding experience and absorbing attributes, and to have lost it felt like a waste. Still, at least he’d received an item as some consolation.

With a resigned tap on the dark-gold accessory option, there was a chime, and suddenly a ring appeared in his hand. At first glance, it seemed utterly ordinary—no distinguishing features; no matter how closely he looked, it was little more than an iron band.

Ring of Deceit
Equipment Tier: Dark-Gold
Attributes: Conceals true identity, allows transformation into any race; after absorbing a race’s traits, the ring’s cooldown is 7 days. All converted attributes are forcibly reduced. Tradable: No. Droppable: No. Soulbound.

While seemingly useless, this ability would allow him to blend into any race without worry—even becoming a player was possible! Though, to be honest, he felt little excitement at the prospect of masquerading as a player now.

The cooldown seemed to activate only after absorbing the traits of a race, but this minor complication was no issue for him.

The flames in Li Ren’s eye sockets burned brighter than ever before. He glanced out toward the edge of the Illusive Mountains, then turned, summoning an endless legion of skeleton guards, and began a frenzied slaughter of every zombie in the Corrosion Ravine.

Unrivaled Legion Headquarters.

This was a small village, its broad, clean streets lined with all manner of shops—everything one could need was available at a glance. Though only a village, it exuded a sense of bustling prosperity.

The whole settlement was surrounded by sturdy, solid walls. At the main gate, two system-assigned blade-wielding guards stood imposing and immovable—no one dared cause trouble.

At the center of the village stood a building half again as large as any other. This was the hub of the village, the source of all orders maintaining daily order and governance.

Indeed, this was the first city owned by players themselves! For now, it was only a village, but as tasks were completed and the settlement developed, it would one day become a metropolis on par with Light City or Panlong City! Every player here believed in this future and strove tirelessly toward it.

Within the largest building—the Lord’s Mansion—a solitary, proud figure stood before a window, gazing out at the village, its layout, the bustling players, and the NPCs selling their wares.

“At this rate, it’s still a bit slow,” the figure muttered. It was Soren. He sighed softly.

“Destiny... Even though I possess such fortune, at this pace, who knows how long it will take to reach those heights? And besides, there’s still him!” At the mention of “him,” Soren’s aura burst forth violently. Clenching his fist so tightly that the sheer force sent the meticulously arranged furniture in the room into disarray. Had anyone witnessed that display of power, they would have been shocked speechless.

“You’d better not cross my path. Otherwise... hmph.” Soren’s gaze wandered into the distance, his eyes unfocused, muttering in a low voice. But every word carried an innate chill that made the heart quail.

It was hard to imagine who could still weigh so heavily on Soren’s mind, now that he was the undisputed leader among players.

Soon after, Soren vanished from the room, as if he had never been there at all.

The daily affairs of the Unrivaled Legion proceeded smoothly as usual, with resources being steadily accumulated for the settlement’s upgrade—like a vast machine, it operated ceaselessly.

In a remote, perilous mountain, rarely touched by human feet, ordinary players had no idea such a place even existed, let alone how to reach it.

“Just keep doing as I instructed. Focus on your own task. Destiny is something you have to fight for yourself!”

“If you know all this, why won’t you tell me about him as well?”

“Tell you? Hahaha, do you really think it’s that easy? Who do you think you are? You’re just a pawn, nothing more!”

“Hmph, don’t play the mysterious sage. As I see it, your situation isn’t much better—otherwise, why would you have come to me!”

“That’s right, my circumstances aren’t great. But if I wanted you dead, it would be effortless. Everything you have, I gave you—and I can take it all away. But since you still have some use, don’t do anything to disappoint me.”

“You know his situation. Taking him out would be beneficial for both you and me. Why not tell me?”

“With my rival there, you’ll never find him. If you insist on trying, you may drag me down with you. You’d better keep your ambitions in check and don’t stir up trouble. There are more important things for you to do now!”

“More important? Destiny? Hmph. Ev