Twin Towers Kingdom, Celestial Spring City.
As streams of light faded, three figures materialized in the teleportation hall — Shi Feng, Jing Wuming, and Gu Jiuji, returning from Dragon Heart Island.
The moment the three of them appeared, they saw that Celestial Spring City's teleportation hall was packed with players, easily numbering over ten thousand. It was far more bustling than even the transit hub of the Twin Towers Royal Capital.
The vast majority were Tier 3 players, each bearing the guild emblem of one major guild or another. The cold killing intent radiating from every one of them made the entire hall feel suffocating.
"Why are there so many experts from every major guild here?" Gu Jiuji looked around and clicked his tongue. "I doubt even Dragon Heart City has this many!"
Among these Tier 3 experts, Micro-level masters were far from rare — and in any superpower, such individuals were absolute core members. A single sweep of the hall revealed more than five hundred of them.
And this was merely one teleportation hall. That many Micro-level masters was comparable to an entire mid-tier superpower.
*This book was compiled and produced by a public account. Follow the WeChat official account [Book Club Headquarters] to read and claim cash red envelopes!* "You gentlemen must have just arrived in the Twin Towers Kingdom. If you don't know about today, it might just be a day that goes down in the history books of the Divine Realm," said a burly Tier 3 player who had just stepped out of the teleportation magic circle with a grin.
The man was Level 122, clad in a full set of Level 120 Gold-grade equipment, with a Level 120 Dark Gold-grade battle axe strapped to his back. Among Tier 3 players, his gear was practically top-of-the-line.
Moreover, he bore no guild emblem of any kind, meaning he was a free agent — and for a free player to have equipment of this caliber was no small feat. The dozen or so companions behind him were similarly outfitted, all wearing matching white lion insignias on their clothing, clearly members of the same adventure team.
"In the history books of the Divine Realm?" Gu Jiuji, cloaked in a black cloak, paused in surprise and asked with curiosity, "Brother, we really have just arrived. What's supposed to happen here?"
"Our White Lion Adventure Team just received the news," the giant sighed, shaking his head. "Apparently, not long ago, over a dozen senior executives from Zero Wing, War Spirit Unfallen, and Red Emperor were captured during an ambush involving over ten thousand players in the wild — taken by a Tier 4 NPC from the Secret Hand Society that Star Ring hired from who-knows-where. They're being held at Star Ring's base right now."
He continued, "Star Ring has announced they're convening a Crusade Assembly at the Tower of Secret Pact, calling on forces from all directions to gather in Celestial Spring City. They intend to use those captured executives to force the three guilds to lift their blockade of Celestial Spring City. If the three guilds refuse, they'll sacrifice these dozen-plus leaders as a show of force."
"I hear among those captured are not only Zero Wing's well-known core experts like Banxia Qingcheng and Jianying, but also War Spirit Unfallen's Vice Guild Master Mu Lingsha and Red Emperor's genius newcomer Qingyi Duxing. If the three guilds don't capitulate, a Tier 4 NPC will use a special method to kill them — dealing severe damage to their souls, multiplying their death penalties, plunging them into a prolonged weakened state, and possibly even bricking their accounts entirely."
Upon hearing this, Shi Feng furrowed his brow slightly. He hadn't expected that the Secret Hand Society's Tier 4 NPC had also gotten involved in this affair.
"Star Ring's got some nerve — running amok right in Zero Wing's territory and threatening to sacrifice the three guilds' leadership. What grand posturing," Shi Feng sneered.
"Tell me about it. But you have to admit, Star Ring is a completely different beast now. Rumor has it they've got three Tier 4 Class holders of their own, backed by numerous superpowers, and apparently allied with some mysterious faction to boot. On top of all that, they've got NPC forces behind them. In terms of influence on the Eastern Continent, they're on par with even the five great super guilds," the giant nodded, sighing with emotion. "Now that they're holding this crusade assembly, our White Lion Adventure Team has some reputation here in the Twin Towers Kingdom, so we received an invitation. Figured we'd come and see the spectacle."
"And I've also heard the three guilds' leadership will show up in person. If negotiations fall through this time, it'll absolutely become the biggest battle in the history of the Divine Realm!"
"I see." Shi Feng nodded.
He now had a clearer picture of what Star Ring was doing.
Star Ring intended to use this event to establish dominance. First, to deal with Zero Wing and the other two guilds. Second, to position themselves as the next member of the five great super guilds — hence the grand invitations to forces from every direction.
"You three, be careful. Celestial Spring City is a warzone right now. If you're hoping to enter the Tower of Secret Pact, you've come to the wrong place. On top of that, every superpower here is watching like hawks, especially free players like us. One wrong move and you could be mistaken for a member of one of the three guilds — and if that happens, you're in serious trouble." The giant eyed the three cloaked figures and warned them carefully. "At best, you'd be assassinated in the shadows. At worst, you'd be captured. Better to tread carefully."
"Thanks for the warning," Shi Feng said with gratitude.
After exchanging a few more words, he led Jing Wuming and Gu Jiuji out of the teleportation hall.
Once the three were gone, a young man in the White Lion Adventure Team looked at the giant leader with puzzlement.
"Boss, why did you suddenly strike up a conversation with a bunch of strangers?"
"No particular reason. Just had a feeling those three aren't ordinary. Our White Lion Adventure Team hasn't made it this far by accident — the more friends you have, the more roads you can walk. If we can connect with some real experts, there's nothing but upside for us." The giant watched the departing trio and chuckled. "Besides, I feel like I've seen that black-robed swordsman somewhere before, but I can't quite place it."
"Not ordinary? Familiar?" The young Tier 3 player laughed. "Boss, anyone who shows up in Celestial Spring City as a Tier 3 is bound to be an expert. Running into someone who looks familiar is totally normal — put a black cloak on anyone and they all look the same. But they're probably nobody special. They didn't even know about the crusade assembly, and they clearly weren't invited by Star Ring. Must be some experts from a minor city."
Across the entire Divine Realm, experts emerged like fish crossing a river — but those who truly made a name for themselves were vanishingly few. At a grand event like this crusade assembly, anyone of real renown would have received an invitation from Star Ring. The fact that these three hadn't meant they were merely ordinary players, not worth the White Lion Adventure Team's attention.
Outside the teleportation hall.
"Guild Leader, where are we headed now?" Jing Wuming asked, noticing that Shi Feng showed no intention of returning to Zero Wing's base.
"Star Ring's gone and invited every expert under the sun to hold a crusade assembly, and they're planning to sacrifice our Zero Wing leadership as a show of force." Shi Feng shot him a sidelong glance. "How could I possibly not go and offer my congratulations?"
With that, Shi Feng began walking toward the grand and lavish headquarters of the Star Ring Guild, towering majestically along the main avenue.