Dusk was settling in, and the magic street lamps lining
Quite a few merchant players were also setting up shop along the main streets, buying up equipment materials.
Many players who had been grinding in the wild were filtering back to rest and recuperate. They would sell off whatever materials they no longer needed, and treat themselves to some good food and drink with a portion of the day's earnings.
Everyone had grown used to this new life in the Divine Realm.
Players on the streets chatted and laughed, and not a single conversation failed to touch on the
"Look — that guy's from the Zero Wing Guild."
"Those look like some seriously flashy pieces. He must be one of their elite members. If only he'd agree to carry us for a bit."
"Zero Wing really is something else. Even just some random person walking down the street is already level 30, decked out in gear we can only dream about. Too bad I didn't pass the assessment today. I'll definitely go back and try again in a few days."
The Six-Winged emblem was something everyone in White River City knew all too well — but the number of players who could actually earn it was vanishingly small. A handful of female players kept throwing flirty glances at Shi Feng, which prompted more than a few male players to shoot him looks of contempt.
"Tch, what's so great about him? He's just riding Zero Wing's coattails. If I got into Zero Wing, I'd be doing way better than him." A level-25 male Summoner snorted dismissively.
"If you're so capable, why not go try the Zero Wing assessment yourself? Get in as an elite and maybe I'll cling to your leg too," a short-haired young woman nearby teased. "Problem is, I doubt you've got the chops."
Everyone nearby burst into laughter.
Zero Wing's reputation was enormous. Countless players wanted in, including elite members who had dropped out of other guilds. Yet Zero Wing's roster hadn't ballooned — which said everything about how grueling the entry process was.
The assessment had always been strict, with high requirements, and the guild had always held to a "quality over quantity" standard. But even passing the assessment only made you an ordinary member. To become an elite, you had to accumulate a certain amount of guild contribution points and then pass the separate elite evaluation. Those demands were far steeper than those of any other major guild, and becoming a Zero Wing elite was genuinely difficult.
Anyone who had earned that title was already considered a top-tier player in the eyes of the average person.
Shi Feng let out a quiet, bemused laugh and shook his head. He pulled on a black cloak and briskly stepped into the City Hall building.
"Good afternoon, sir. How may I help you?" A female receptionist in a neat uniform walked over and asked.
"I'd like to arrange a meeting with Lord Whitman." Shi Feng promptly displayed the distinctive emblem of a baron.
"My lord baron, please follow me." The receptionist caught sight of the baron's crest and immediately led him through to a waiting room in the inner hall.
After a few minutes of waiting, Shi Feng was ushered into Whitman's office.
"Well now, young man — what brings you to visit this old man today?" Whitman stroked his white beard and spoke in a warm, friendly tone.
"Lord Whitman, please take a look at this." Shi Feng carefully produced the Elemental Core.
The moment the Elemental Core appeared in his hands, Whitman's eyes narrowed, and his expression turned serious at once.