Star Moon Royal City, War God Temple.
As Shi Feng walked into the first-floor hall of the War God Temple, a Level 180, Fourth-Tier chief steward immediately approached with a respectful demeanor. The sight drew the attention of a group of players who had come to the War God Temple to pick up quests. One by one, they couldn't help but eye Shi Feng curiously, studying the figure clad in a black cloak whose features were partially obscured by a faint layer of dark mist.
"A Fourth-Tier chief steward receiving someone in person—who on earth is that guy?"
"I remember that before, when plenty of Fourth-Tier experts came to pick up quests, that steward couldn't have cared less. Now he's going out of his way to welcome someone? Could this be Black Flame?"
"It's definitely Sword Saint Black Flame! I heard he always travels alone and likes to hide his identity. In the entire Star Moon Kingdom, there's only one person who could make a Level 180 Fourth-Tier chief steward bow like that. Even the guild masters of the top-tier guilds wouldn't get this kind of treatment."
The crowd in the hall watched Shi Feng, and suddenly their eyes lit up with fervor. They swarmed toward him—some wanting to snap photos as keepsakes, others scrambling to record video, and still others trying to get his attention.
A living legend. In particular, many freelance Swordsmen had chosen the Swordsman class precisely because of Black Flame.
Several posts had even appeared on the Star Moon Kingdom's official forums—titles like "Sword Saint Black Flame spotted at the War God Temple!" and "Sword Saint Black Flame appears in Star Moon Royal City!"
For a moment, Shi Feng didn't know what to say. He had originally planned to conceal his identity by wearing the Shadowwalker's Cloak, but these players were far too sharp-eyed and had recognized him in an instant.
"Honored Sword Saint, the Temple Master has already given instructions. If you were to arrive, this item is to be handed over to you." The chief steward respectfully produced a parchment scroll and offered it to Shi Feng. "All you need to do is sign it, and it will take effect immediately."
Shi Feng took the parchment scroll and nodded. "Please thank the Temple Master on my behalf."
The parchment scroll the chief steward presented was the contract signed by the ruler of the Star Moon Kingdom. Once Shi Feng placed his signature on it, Zero Wing would officially establish itself in the Star Moon Kingdom, becoming its patron guild with the authority to participate in guiding the kingdom's development—even to mobilize the kingdom's military forces.
Without hesitation, Shi Feng wrote his name on it.
The next instant, a system notification chimed in his ear.
System: Congratulations! Your guild, Zero Wing, has officially established itself in the Star Moon Kingdom, becoming the kingdom's patron guild. You now enjoy a portion of the kingdom's administrative privileges.
At the same time, a system announcement rang out across the entire Star Moon Kingdom.
System Regional Announcement: Congratulations to Zero Wing for officially establishing itself in the Star Moon Kingdom and becoming its patron guild. Zero Wing now enjoys a portion of the Star Moon Kingdom's administrative privileges.
……
The announcement echoed three times in succession, reverberating through the minds of every player in the Star Moon Kingdom and sending the entire population into an uproar.
"What just happened?"
"Established in the Star Moon Kingdom?"
"Weren't you supposed to become one of the twelve reserve guilds of the Divine Realm continent before you could establish yourself in a kingdom?"
……
Many players were baffled by the sudden announcement, but the members of Zero Wing were in an uproar of excitement—especially the newcomers who had just joined.
Because even the densest player in the Divine Realm understood one thing: from now on, the entire Star Moon Kingdom would answer to Zero Wing. No major superpower would dare interfere or cause trouble in the kingdom anymore. Not only could Zero Wing's newcomers level up safely within the Star Moon Kingdom's borders, but they could also gain access to a flood of kingdom-exclusive quests that no ordinary player could obtain. This absolutely solved the problem that had always plagued Zero Wing—its inability to adequately train new members.
Countless factions across the Star Moon Kingdom could already imagine just how explosive Zero Wing's growth would be in the future.
With the backing of an entire kingdom, Zero Wing could massively expand its recruitment. It no longer had to worry, as it once did, about insufficient leveling resources—forced to accept only elites who had already reached Third-Tier before they could even set foot in Zero Wing's major cities for training.
Elite players were certainly formidable, but their numbers were simply too small to truly sustain Zero Wing's growth and expansion. That was why Zero Wing had always been self-sufficient but never truly growing. But from this moment on, that weakness was gone for good.
"Excellent! It's finally done!" Shi Feng looked at the system notification, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
He then left the War God Temple, vanishing from the sight of the gathered onlookers in a few swift movements as he headed straight for the kingdom treasury in Star Moon Royal City.
In the Divine Realm, when a guild established itself in a kingdom or empire, there was actually a hidden benefit. Beyond the guild receiving tribute from the entire kingdom or empire—along with a massive monthly influx of resources—there was another enormous advantage.
The kingdom treasury—or the empire treasury.
Within the kingdom treasury or empire treasury lay each realm's accumulated foundation. Of course, claiming that foundation required resources to exchange, as well as a certain level of status and standing.
If you were in a kingdom or empire, you needed to hold the rank of Grand Duke—or equivalent standing—just to be eligible to enter the treasury and exchange for its treasures.
Currently, Shi Feng did not hold the title of Grand Duke in the Star Moon Kingdom. However, he did possess the status of Elder in the War God Temple—a rank that surpassed even that of a Grand Duke in an empire. Entering the kingdom treasury to exchange for the kingdom's foundational resources was therefore absolutely no problem at all.