White River City, the Candlelight Trading House's first-floor reception hall.
At this moment, the vast reception hall was packed with high-ranking players from various major guilds. Among these major guilds, the weakest were second-rate at minimum, while the strongest approached super-guild status. Some of these guilds were allies, and others were enemies, so the atmosphere throughout the entire hall was thoroughly somber and oppressive.
Even the beautiful NPC attendants serving these people felt deeply uncomfortable.
"I didn't expect Guild Leader Bai to come in person. That's quite the rare sight." Xinghe Wangxi looked toward Bai Qingxue, seated not far away, and said with a smile. "I hear the Snake of the Body is rebuilding from the ground up — Cao Chenghua wants to split off, more than half the players want to follow him, and Cao Chenghua still has a great many former subordinates in Star Moon City. Is it really wise for you to be here right now, Guild Leader Bai?"
"That's not something Guild Leader Xinghe needs to worry about. The Snake of the Body is doing perfectly fine — otherwise, why would I have come?" Bai Qingxue looked completely calm, like still water, without a single weakness to be found. "On the other hand, I hear you're having a rough go of it, Guild Leader Xinghe. I've heard the Star River Alliance took heavy losses in the Lion Kingdom — over ten thousand members lost in a single guild war, and the spoils went to someone else."
As first-rate guilds, they all operated across several major regions simultaneously, and the Star River Alliance was no exception.
The Lion Kingdom lay to the west of the Star Moon Kingdom. Its total area was only half that of the Star Moon Kingdom, but it had no shortage of players. It had long been contested by two first-rate guilds and multiple second-rate guilds, and the Star River Alliance was one of those two first-rate guilds. However, in a scramble for a single treasure, the guilds had clashed fiercely, and the Star River Alliance suffered devastating losses. To add insult to injury, the treasure was snatched away by the other first-rate guild.
"Truly worthy of being Guild Leader Bai — your sources are impressively well-informed. You really do carry a hint of the presence your brother once had when he ruled the Snake of the Body. What a pity the Snake of the Body is no longer what it once was." Bai Qingxue had struck a raw nerve with Xinghe Wangxi. Yet rather than growing angry, Xinghe Wangxi just shot back with a teasing grin.
But the beautiful Elementalist at Xinghe Wangxi's side, Zitong, radiated killing intent, giving off unmistakable hints that she was ready to strike.
"Looking to start something?" Bai Qingxue let out a light laugh, an astonishing burst of aura erupting from her as she fixed her gaze on Zitong. "I've heard the Star River Alliance has five great experts — Xinghe Wangxi, Chi Yu, Liu Qianqian, Bai Yufei, and Zitong. Of those, Bai Yufei is the most mysterious, and Zitong is the strongest in combat. I've been rather curious whether that's actually true."
"Then why don't you find out for yourself!" Zitong showed not the slightest hint of backing down. If anything, her words were a direct challenge.
In an instant, the atmosphere in the entire venue grew several degrees colder.
The Snake of the Body and the Star River Alliance were practically sworn enemies. They had clashed across countless virtual games for over a decade, two guilds locked in a rivalry that could only end with one annihilating the other. Now that their leaders stood face to face, nobody found it the least bit surprising.
Still, plenty of other guilds sat watching from the sidelines, all of them secretly hoping these two beautiful women would actually come to blows.
Up in the front row of the reception hall, a powerfully built man with the imposing figure of Zhang Fei suddenly turned to the handsome young man beside him and spoke with deep respect: "Pavilion Master, allow me to go remind them. No need for them to ruin your pleasant mood."
With that, the Zhang Fei-like bruiser started striding forward with heavy steps — only to be stopped by an outstretched hand.
"Forget it. We were going to be sitting around here doing nothing anyway. Watching them fight could serve as rather pleasant entertainment." The handsome young man offered a faint smile.
"Yes, sir."
The explosive, Zhang Fei-esque man immediately stepped back to the side.
Everyone present could see clearly the handsome young man’s behavior and that supremely arrogant attitude. It left everyone feeling very displeased, though no one felt there was anything wrong with it.
After all, this handsome young man was the master of the Dragon Phoenix Pavilion. The Dragon Phoenix Pavilion already possessed the strength of a super guild; it simply lacked a stage to demonstrate it. In the eyes of a super guild, first-rate guilds were nothing more than children—they had never taken them seriously.
Just as it seemed Bai Qingxue and the Violet-Eyed girl were about to clash, a sudden shout echoed through the hall.
«Stop!»
The clear voice reverberated throughout the entire reception hall. Everyone turned toward the source of the sound and was startled to discover it was another beautiful woman. This woman did not possess any astonishing aura—she merely appeared to be an ordinary beauty—yet her words demanded immediate attention.
Because this beautiful woman was the manager of the Candlelight Trading Company: Melancholy Smile.