"Just who exactly is this
Before meeting Shi Feng, she had already imagined every possible conversation and way to handle him, even assuming that he would readily agree to the conditions she planned to offer.
But now that she had actually met Shi Feng, she found herself at a complete loss for words.
A research workshop was one thing — after all, Candlefire Commerce had only just risen to four-star status, so some discrepancies with their investigation were to be expected. But now discovering that the guild master was a third-tier class? She couldn't help but wonder if she had done something wrong before stepping into Zero Wing's territory.
A third-tier class!
So far, not a single person in their
At their level, she understood all too well how enormous the gap between tiers was. A third-tier class was an absolute nightmare for every major superpower right now, because a third-tier player could easily slaughter second-tier players — it was no different from a second-tier expert bullying first-tier players.
Moreover, being able to advance to third-tier this early brought incomparable advantages. After all, those level-100 neutral maps were designed for third-tier players, and when it came to exploring them, the current player base was simply no match.
While Yi Han stood there dazed, unsure of what to say, Nan Cheng Jiu Meng gritted her teeth and stepped forward.
"Guild Master Black Flame, greetings. I am Nan Cheng Jiu Meng, vice commander of the main force of the Dark Pursuit Alliance's Fourth Branch." Nan Cheng Jiu Meng introduced herself to Shi Feng with some nervousness. "Beside me is Yi Han, also a vice commander of our Fourth Branch's main force. The two of us are here representing the Fourth Branch of the Dark Pursuit Alliance, hoping to discuss a potential cooperation with your guild."
If they had previously felt confident enough to stand as equals before Shi Feng, the master of Zero Wing, on the strength of the Dark Pursuit Alliance's name alone, they no longer had any confidence at all.
Even their Fourth Branch's vice president would likely treat a third-tier powerhouse with a measure of awe. After all, if they angered a third-tier expert and that expert targeted them without restraint, the trouble it would cause would be absolutely severe.
"The Fourth Branch of the Dark Pursuit Alliance?" Shi Feng nodded and asked calmly. "I'm curious — how exactly do you envision cooperating with us at Zero Wing?"
Super guilds were vast organizations that divided their operations by region. Generally, cooperations with super guilds were handled through their branches, and it was rare for anyone to establish a comprehensive partnership with the guild as a whole.
The Dark Pursuit Alliance had five major branches, and as far as Shi Feng knew, the Fourth Branch controlled a wealth of alchemical resources. Many of the unique potion ingredients produced in the Moon God World came from territories held by the Fourth Branch, and they had made enormous contributions to the Dark Pursuit Alliance's efforts to capture the kingdoms and empires of the Divine Realm's continent.
"The real reason we've come is that we'd like your guild member Miao Wuyin to join our Dark Pursuit Alliance," Yi Han said through gritted teeth. "I know this proposal may seem presumptuous, but Guild Master Black Flame, you may not be aware of Miao Wuyin's true identity and obligations. If she remains in Zero Wing, she'll only ruin herself. Only by joining our Dark Pursuit Alliance can those problems be resolved. Of course, we'll do our best to leverage our authority within the Fourth Branch to provide Zero Wing with all manner of resources. That way, Zero Wing will surely be able to develop further in the Divine Realm. I hope you won't stand in the way of Wuyin's future."
Zero Wing's displayed foundation had indeed startled her considerably — especially the revelation that Shi Feng was a third-tier class. But no matter how strong one person was, they were still just one person. The matters Miao Wuyin was involved in could not possibly be resolved by a single individual.
Only a super guild like their Dark Pursuit Alliance could solve Miao Wuyin's problems.
"Yi Han!"
Miao Wuyin suddenly snapped at her, signaling for Yi Han to stop talking. After all, these were her own personal matters. Zero Wing had treated her well — the conditions had been generous in every respect, and her skills had improved considerably. Zero Wing's development needed her contributions now, and she could never simply leave over her own personal issues. But if she stayed in Zero Wing, the guild would face considerable danger in the future.
It was a situation where neither leaving nor staying was right, and it had been tormenting her with worry and indecision.
"Wuyin, you should know you're running out of time. Just one Yan Xiao Qian already has the full backing of the Dark Pursuit Alliance — did you really think you could outmatch them on your own?" Yi Han asked.
"..." Miao Wuyin fell silent.
If it were a pure contest of skill, she still felt somewhat confident she could win. But when it came to a contest of strength and resources, things became far more difficult.
"Wuyin's identity? What do you mean?" Shi Feng asked in surprise.
He knew Miao Wuyin reasonably well — after all, she had been one of the top ten grandmasters of alchemy in his previous life, a lone wolf courted by every major superpower. But beyond that, he had never heard of any other identity or background she might have.
"You've surely heard of Azure Commerce," Yi Han said.
Shi Feng nodded. Azure Commerce was something virtually everyone in the Divine Realm knew about. It was a colossal trading conglomerate in the virtual gaming world. While it couldn't compare to the Tianji Pavilion, it was still one of the Divine Realm's top ten trading organizations, with resources and financial power that ordinary superpowers simply couldn't match.
However, Azure Commerce had always focused its development on the Divine Realm's western continent and had relatively little contact with the eastern side.
"Wuyin is one of the heirs to the two great families that control Azure Commerce. The two families agreed to settle their contest for dominance through a competition between their heirs, with the rule that neither side could draw on Azure Commerce's power. The date of the competition is not far off now, and one of Wuyin's opponents, Yan Xiao Qian, has joined the Dark Pursuit Alliance and received its full support." Yi Han made no attempt to hide anything, smiling at Shi Feng as she spoke. "Now, Guild Master Black Flame — do you still think Wuyin can continue staying in Zero Wing?"
Azure Commerce's strength was in no way inferior to those super guilds. The two holding families that controlled Azure Commerce were going all out for dominance. If Wuyin lost, her opponents like Yan Xiao Qian would certainly not let Zero Wing — the guild where Wuyin had stayed — off the hook. And Wuyin's own family wouldn't spare Zero Wing either. After all, losing such an important contest would inevitably provoke their fury, and they would take it out on Zero Wing in every way they could.
Not to mention that Yan Xiao Qian had joined the Dark Pursuit Alliance and received its full support — Wuyin simply had no chance of winning.
The best course of action was for Wuyin to join the Dark Pursuit Alliance. That way, both sides would be on equal footing, and the Alliance would have no excuse to tip the scales. As for any other forces that tried to interfere in this matter — they would have more than they could handle.