Dark Moon Valley, Dark Moon Cemetery.
Countless tombstones stood near a dilapidated church, and at night, agonized wailing always echoed from within them. Around the crumbling church, a number of Kobold assassins lurked in the shadows, patrolling back and forth.
This was the most famous spot in Dark Moon Valley.
It was the first twenty-person team Dungeon to open near Red Leaf Town, and the first raid dungeon that players from Red Leaf Town would have to face. Compared to the six-person mini-dungeons before it, this was the dungeon every guild cared about most.
Because team dungeons were nothing like small-group ones — not only was the difficulty higher, but the equipment drops were far better. Clearing a team dungeon was the true measure of a guild's strength. Besides, next to every team dungeon portal stood a massive Glory Board, recording the names of the team and players who achieved the First Clear for all future challengers to admire.
Of course, beyond the First Clear, there was also a record for the fastest clear time. The placeholder record was three hours — any team that beat it could have their name inscribed. But this inscription wasn't permanent; it was temporary. If another team cleared it faster, they would replace the previous holders.
Right now, the entire Dark Moon Cemetery was packed with people. Not only were the major guilds of Red Leaf Town represented, but plenty of pickup groups were also preparing to take a shot at this team dungeon.
"Wow, no wonder this is a race for the team dungeon First Clear — look at that gear! Our pickup group can't even compare."
"Obviously. Look at how many times these guilds have farmed the three- and four-person dungeons. Even the weakest guild team is decked out in seven or eight pieces of Bronze Equipment. Look over there at the Martial Alliance — they're all wearing Bronze gear. Their leader Iron Sword Crazy Lion is wearing the Wolf Fang set that only drops in the level four dungeon Black Wolf Lair."
"Iron Sword Crazy Lion's gear is decent for a bottom-tier guild, but look over there — the vice-leader of the Crown of Heaven's elite squad, Wanderer of Wind, from a third-rate guild. He's wearing the Spirit Wind set that only drops in the level four advanced dungeon Ghost Fortress. That's a top-tier Warlock set from level four, and the rest of them are wearing various individual pieces from Ghost Fortress too."
The pickup group players eyed the guild teams' equipment, rattling off details like connoisseurs. The more they talked, the more they drooled, consumed by envy. Only guild elites could clear high-difficulty mini-dungeons — for lone wolves like them, it was utterly impossible.
Just as everyone was marveling at these elite guild squads, Ci Xin from the Assassin Alliance walked over with a team in tow. Their gear was remarkably uniform — all twenty of them wore matching level four Bronze sets. And at Ci Xin's waist, two gleaming silver daggers caught the eye.
"No way — are those the Twin Fangs? They only drop from the final boss of the level four hard-mode Ghost Fortress!" an assassin who was obsessed with daggers blurted out.
Immediately, the leaders and officers of every other guild turned to look.
The design and color matched exactly what had been officially released.
"The Assassin Alliance really lives up to being a second-rate guild — their strength is no joke. They silently cleared hard-mode Ghost Fortress, and we've only managed to take down the first hard-mode boss so far," lamented Wanderer of Wind, vice-leader of Crown of Heaven.
"Hmph, so what if they cleared hard mode? Everyone starts on equal footing for this. A team dungeon's difficulty is nothing like a mini-dungeon — getting through it depends far more on leadership," scoffed Iron Sword Crazy Lion with a cold snort and a furrowed brow. He considered his skills no worse than Ci Xin's. If that damned Night Edge hadn't ambushed him and cost him a level, his squad might have already cleared hard-mode Ghost Fortress.
"How amusing." Zhang Luowei, the leader of Shadow, listened to the other guilds' discussions with a faint smile, as if none of them were worth taking seriously. His demeanor radiated arrogance.
None of the guilds present were willing to defer to any other. After all, the game had just begun, and nobody knew what lay ahead. The Assassin Alliance only had the advantage of a strong foundation from getting in early. But securing the First Clear of Dark Moon Cemetery wasn't something raw strength alone could guarantee — it was merely an edge.
This team dungeon's First Clear could be called a reshuffling of power in Red Leaf Town. Whoever claimed it would see their prestige soar and their development accelerate. The impact on new players, in particular, would be enormous.
Everyone glanced at the time — there were still over twenty minutes until Dark Moon Cemetery opened. They stood quietly to the side, waiting in silence.
"Sister Qingxue, it's so lively here!" Xiaoyue'er hooked her arm through Bai Qingxue's and looked around with a cheerful giggle.
Bai Qingxue nodded slightly, surveying the surroundings with an expression as cold and indifferent as eternal frost. She wasn't paying attention to these guilds — she was looking for someone.
Although Bai Qingxue and her group had walked to the Dark Moon Cemetery entrance very quietly, everyone's gaze drifted involuntarily toward them, including the higher-ups of every guild.
Second-rate guilds still had the confidence to compete with each other, but a first-rate guild was beyond such ambitions. The gap between second-rate and first-rate was simply too vast — not just in player numbers, but more critically in player quality and financial backing.
Bai Qingxue's mere presence here sent a wave of oppressive pressure through the guild officers. Beyond the guild disparity, much of it stemmed from personal strength. Anyone who played virtual reality games knew the name Ice Goddess — this wasn't just praise for her stunning beauty, but primarily for her terrifying power.
"Ice Goddess indeed — that gear is probably the top-tier equipment available to players at this stage," Ci Xin thought to himself, admiring the silver-and-red armor Bai Qingxue wore.
That was the Blaze set — it only dropped in the level five advanced dungeon Lava Cavern, a dungeon his guild still hadn't cleared. And this particular set was the Iron Rank version that only came from hard mode…
It was incomparably better than his own gear, let alone the red Flaming Spirit Sword in her hand — a level five Mythril two-handed sword that utterly eclipsed his Iron Rank Twin Fangs.
The pressure this equipment imposed on every expert present was enormous. Combined with Zhao Yueru and Xiaoyue'er's Iron Rank gear, it was practically a steamroll through Dark Moon Cemetery. How were they supposed to compete?
"Why hasn't he shown up yet?" Bai Qingxue swept her gaze across the crowd but didn't spot Shi Feng, a faint frost creeping into her expression.
"Hahaha, Qingxue, he probably knows he'd just embarrass himself, so he didn't dare come. Why don't we call a few more people over?" Zhao Yueru said with a triumphant smile, her ample chest held high.
Bai Qingxue considered it. The First Clear of Dark Moon Cemetery was critically important. If Shi Feng truly wasn't coming, then it made sense to prepare in advance.
Just as she was about to contact her subordinates, Shi Feng and his group came rushing over in a hurry.
"Sorry about that — didn't mean to keep you waiting." Shi Feng scratched his head, looking genuinely embarrassed.
He'd been hurrying as fast as he could, but the distance was great, and he'd run into a level five super-rare elite along the way, which had eaten up some time...
PS: Thanks to "A Fallen Youth Becomes a King" for the 100-point tip!