Shortly after Shi Feng's post went up, it attracted a huge number of replies.
"No way, with a bounty like that, I wish I'd been born in Red Leaf Town."
"Even a regular member is worth one silver coin — that's equivalent to a full day's income for me. If I push myself and kill seven or eight a day, that's seven or eight hundred Credit Points. Do that for a month and my income would be several times higher than my salary!"
"This has to be a scam, right? Didn't they say Ye Feng is some washed-up expert? Where would he get that kind of money?"
"The guy above is right. It's definitely a scam. He's just trying to hype himself up, win people's sympathy, and trick them into fighting the Martial Alliance."
There were plenty of players weighing in, with all kinds of opinions — some supportive, some hostile. Quite a few were outright cursing Shi Feng. The majority believed it was impossible for him to have that much money. After all, a quick calculation showed that even one coordinated strike against Martial Alliance members would cost a fortune, let alone repeated attacks. Even wealthy tycoons wouldn't dare play like that, let alone a broke has-been expert.
"I am Ci Xin of the Assassin Alliance. I'm here to vouch for Brother Ye Feng. I guarantee everything he's saying is true. If he fails to deliver, come collect from me."
Just when everyone was convinced Ye Feng was a fraud, Ci Xin suddenly posted a message that set the entire forum ablaze again.
Ye Feng may have had name recognition, but his credibility was a far cry from what the major guilds commanded.
When Ci Xin of the Assassin Alliance spoke up, it was an entirely different matter. Setting aside the fact that the Assassin Alliance was a top-tier second-rate guild with over ten thousand members, the more than ten years of reputation they had built in other virtual games carried enormous weight.
"Wow! Ci Xin of the Assassin Alliance just showed up! Carry me on your back — I want to join!"
"If even Ci Xin is backing him, it must be real. The players in Red Leaf Town are about to cash in big time. Think of all that money!"
Not long after Ci Xin's appearance, another post went up that sent the view count on Ye Feng's original thread skyrocketing by dozens of times.
"Ye Feng is my friend. I can vouch for his credibility. If there's any issue afterward, you can come to me."
The poster was none other than the Ice Goddess, Bai Qingxue, in person — and she was willing to serve as guarantor. The people who had been calling Shi Feng a scammer immediately shut their mouths. If they didn't know when to keep quiet, the consequences would be a doxing and a beatdown from the goddess's fan army.
"Ye Feng, you're my idol! Please take me as your disciple! I can do anything. I promise I'll be obedient."
"Brother Ye Feng, do you have a girlfriend? Your little sister here is eighteen, beautiful as a flower, with a killer figure. I'd love to be your girlfriend — I'll even bear you a whole bunch of little monkeys!"
After seeing this post, everyone suddenly realized just how incredible Shi Feng was. To have earned the backing of both Ci Xin from the Assassin Alliance and the Ice Goddess of Snake of the Body — that was treatment no ordinary expert could dream of. With Divine Realm being this popular, his future prospects were surely boundless.
The Slum. The Drunken Heart Bar.
"Boss Iron Sword, it's bad! That Ye Feng has started putting bounties on us too!" a rogue suddenly burst into the private room, his voice urgent.
Iron Sword Mad Lion's rugged cheeks flushed red. He had been drinking merrily, never expecting that alcohol in a virtual world could actually get you drunk — and so smooth and pure at that, far better than anything in the real world. No wonder players who walked the dark edges every day loved coming here to unwind.
The commotion immediately ruined his buzz, and he scowled. "What are you shouting about? It's not like the sky is falling. Which damn bastard put a bounty on me? I'll chop him to pieces."
"Boss, I heard it was that Ye Feng who's putting a bounty on us," Ximen Piaoxue mumbled in a drunken haze.
"Ye Feng? Him? Putting a bounty on our Martial Alliance? Who'd believe that?" Iron Sword Mad Lion sneered and took another swig of Tom's Ale.
"Boss Iron Sword, it's true. If you don't believe me, check Ye Feng's post — it's been pinned to the top and already has over a million views," the rogue said helplessly.