The pillar of light from the cleared dungeon hadn't yet faded when Xu Zhu and Ling Xue stepped out of the canyon—and instantly felt countless eyes on them.
The plaza full of players froze for a heartbeat, then erupted in a deafening uproar.
"They're out!"
"It's him! The Residual Blood Maniac!"
"He really survived! Even the Rabbit King was slain!"
Xu Zhu's steps were steady, his gaze indifferent. He wasn't used to being watched like this—nor did he like the overwhelming shouts of "Residual Blood Maniac." But he knew there was no point in explaining. To others, he wasn't a cursed one-HP player—he was a hidden powerhouse.
Ling Xue walked beside him, posture straight. She didn't try to correct them. Instead, she silently resolved—if the world misunderstood him, she would be the one to stand by him first.
…
Meanwhile, the forums and world chat were boiling over.
[Hot Thread #1! Residual Blood Maniac solos the boss, first dungeon clear!]
[Video link! Watch this and doubt your life!]
[Who is he? Cheat? GM? Or… a god?]
[I declare: Residual Blood Maniac is the legend of Seles Continent!]
The video broke a million views. In slow motion, Xu Zhu's strike at the Rabbit King's charge was so precise it suffocated viewers. The scrolling comments went wild:
[No human could pull that off]
[Residual Blood Maniac = cheat?]
[No—he's a god]
His name, once a joke, had become legend.
…
But while countless players worshiped him, others watched the frenzy coldly.
Inside the meeting room of the top guild [Overlord Spear], a dozen members stared at the recording.
The guild master half-closed his eyes, fingers tapping the table. "One HP, pulling off moves like this? Hmph…"
The vice master asked quietly, "Guild Master, should we recruit him?"
"Recruit?" the master sneered. "He's stolen our spotlight. Every player talks of him. If we don't crush this, the name of Overlord Spear will be buried beneath his."
The room fell silent.
The master's voice was icy: "Make a statement—label him a suspected cheater. And… send someone to assassinate him."
…
Under nightfall, Xu Zhu and Ling Xue left the dungeon, returning to the novice village.
Players turned their heads as they passed, whispers buzzing.
"Look, that's him!"
"Residual Blood Maniac!"
"For real? One HP killed the boss?"
"The legend's true—he's the Undying Residual Blood!"
Xu Zhu ignored their stares, casually leaning his stick against the wall.
Ling Xue suddenly smiled, eyes resolute: "They call you a maniac, but I know—you're just fighting to live."
Xu Zhu froze, then bowed his head slightly, giving no reply.
Just then, a guild announcement rang across the system:
[Overlord Spear: Strongly suspect 'Residual Blood Maniac' of cheating, official investigation submitted.]
The entire server erupted in shock!
Fervent worship and furious doubt crashed together, both aimed at that single name.
—The Residual Blood Maniac, just spread across the server, had already met his first surging storm.