City of Glory, Central Auction House.
This was the most prosperous and bustling place in the entire Huaxia Region of "epoch," a swirling vortex where wealth and desire intertwined. Countless players spent fortunes here, just for a piece of equipment they desired; and countless players also became rich overnight, achieving a reversal of their lives.
But today, the heat of this magnificent building reached an unprecedented boiling point.
Almost all online players with even a little strength focused their gaze on the several pieces of equipment, radiating alluring light, that were prominently pinned to the auction house's homepage.
[blade of the flame demon] (Silver-tier)!
[Mad Dragon Battle Armor] (Blue Excellent)!
[Bloodsucker Leggings] (Blue Excellent)!
...Each one was a top-tier piece of equipment capable of driving ordinary players insane at this stage. And when they appeared simultaneously, and the seller ID all pointed to the same widely known name, this auction was no longer just a transaction of equipment, but evolved into an ultimate contest of financial strength and reputation between top guilds.
"Five thousand gold coins! The blade of the flame demon, our Ba Tian Guild wants it!"
"Heh heh, Overlord Tiger, are you joking with us brothers? You think you can take away such a Berserker ultimate divine artifact for five thousand gold coins? My [Wind and Cloud Under Heaven] offers six thousand gold!"
"Seven thousand gold! No one is to snatch it from me!"
In the public channel of the auction house, the big shots of the major guilds openly revealed their identities, brazenly engaging in a money-fueled battle. The price was skyrocketing at an alarming rate.
And Lin Mo, the instigator of all this, was deaf to the storm outside.
He was in the most inconspicuous hotel room in the slums of City of Glory, calmly looking at the string of shining "0"s after his account balance.
"Thirteen thousand seven hundred forty-two gold coins..."
Lin Mo's breathing also quickened slightly for a moment, involuntarily.
This was just the transaction price for the blade of the flame demon, a single weapon!
According to the current black market exchange rate of 1:100, this represented over 1.3 million in real currency!
And this was just one of his many spoils from his trip to Moonlight Forest.
Nearly two hundred elites from the Mad Dragon Guild, almost every one of them, contributed one or two blue pieces of equipment and some silver coins to him, plus the "big red packet" from Raging Dragon Howls to Heaven. His total assets in his backpack at this moment had reached a terrifying figure.
If fully cashed out, it would be enough to easily place him among the ranks of multi-millionaires in the real world!
The poor student from his previous life, who had to hand out flyers under the scorching sun and wash dishes in restaurants for tuition and living expenses, had completed such an astonishing accumulation of initial capital in less than a month after entering "epoch."
This was the charm of "epoch."
This was the supreme Authority that the divine talent Endless Poison Source brought him!
Lin Mo slowly exhaled a turbid breath, suppressing the surging emotions in his heart, his eyes returning to their calm, unruffled state.
Money, while important, in this world that was quietly changing reality, one's own strength was the fundamental determinant of everything.
He opened his equipment bar, his gaze falling on the molten heart breastplate, which lay quietly in the corner of his backpack, glowing with a dark purple radiance.
This was his biggest gain from this battle.
As long as he could quickly level up to 20 and equip this almost buggy purple-tier item, his survival capability would undergo a qualitative leap. At that time, he would truly possess the capital to contend head-on with top guilds.
"Level, still level."
Lin Mo murmured to himself, beginning to plan his leveling route.
Just then, with a soft "beep," his friend communication bar suddenly flickered.
Lin Mo was slightly startled.
He had hardly added any friends in the game.
He opened the communication bar with a hint of doubt, and when he saw the applicant's ID, his eyebrows couldn't help but rise slightly.
Overlord Tiger.
The elite commander of the Ba Tian Guild, the man who once treated him as a "burden" outside the Valley of the Dead dungeon.
What was he here for?
A hint of playfulness flashed in Lin Mo's eyes. Was it because the video on the forum made him realize that he was the "Anonymous Great God," so he specially came to apologize? Or was it that the Ba Tian Guild also wanted to get a piece of the pie, just like the Mad Dragon Guild?
He pondered for a moment and chose to accept the friend request.
"Great God Lin Mo! It really is you!" As soon as the communication connected, Overlord Tiger's characteristic loud voice rang out, filled with excitement and... awe.
Yes, awe.
There was no longer the contempt and arrogance he had shown at their first meeting.
"It's me." Lin Mo's voice was very calm, "Something wrong?"
"Something wrong! Of course something's wrong!" Overlord Tiger seemed a little incoherent, "Great God, I... I first want to sincerely apologize for what happened at the dungeon entrance! It was I who was blind and looked down on others! Please don't take it to heart!"
"Are you done?" Lin Mo was noncommittal.
"Uh... I'm done." Overlord Tiger was choked for a moment, then quickly got to the point, "Great God, I'm here this time representing our Ba Tian Guild's guild leader, Overlord Mad Saber, specifically to contact you!"
"Oh?" Lin Mo's interest was piqued a little, "What does he want to say?"
"Our boss said that what you did in Moonlight Forest this time was truly brilliant! You are simply the idol of all our rogue players... no, of all our players!" Overlord Tiger's tone was full of admiration, "Those bastards from the Mad Dragon Guild are usually arrogant and overbearing, we've long disliked them! Your battle really rubbed their faces in the dirt, it was so damn satisfying!"
Lin Mo listened quietly, without interrupting. He knew that these compliments were just appetizers.
Sure enough, Overlord Tiger changed the subject, his tone becoming serious: "Great God, our boss wants to ask if you are interested... in a deep cooperation with our Ba Tian Guild?"
"Deep cooperation?" The corner of Lin Mo's mouth curved into a faint arc, "Such as?"
"Such as, forming a strategic alliance!" Overlord Tiger's voice lowered a few notches, "Great God, you also know that although you became a god in one battle this time, you also completely offended the Mad Dragon Guild, and they will definitely not let it go. Moreover, according to the intelligence we've received, the other two major guilds, Oracle and Flame Alliance, have also raised your threat level to the highest. It can be said that you have now become a thorn in the side of all top guilds."
"So?"
"So, you need a powerful ally!" Overlord Tiger's tone was full of temptation, "As long as you agree, our Ba Tian Guild is willing to become your strongest backing! From now on, wherever you point, we will fight! Whether it's clearing dungeons, fighting bosses, or going to war with the Mad Dragon Guild, we will all follow your lead! We can even specially form a 'Personal Guard' for you, and all resources will be tilted towards you!"
It must be said that the conditions offered by the Ba Tian Guild were extremely sincere.
This was almost equivalent to enshrining Lin Mo as the "Grand Emperor Emeritus" of the guild.
Any rogue player, upon hearing such conditions, would probably agree without hesitation. Everyone understands the reason of leaning against a big tree for shade.
However, Lin Mo merely smiled faintly.
"Sounds good," he said, "But I refuse."
"W-why?!" Overlord Tiger's tone changed; he couldn't understand how anyone in the world could refuse such generous terms.
"Because I alone am an army."
Lin Mo's voice was still calm, but in his words, there was an unparalleled confidence and dominance stemming from absolute strength!
"..."
On the other end of the communicator, there was a long silence.
Overlord Tiger was so shocked by this sentence that he couldn't speak for a long time.
One person is an army.
When others say this, it's arrogance.
But when this sentence came from the mouth of the man who, by himself, annihilated nearly two hundred elites of the Mad Dragon Guild, it seemed so natural!
After a long while, Overlord Tiger sighed with a bitter smile: "I understand. Great God, I was presumptuous."
"However," he paused, and continued, "Even if we can't form an alliance, our Ba Tian Guild still hopes to be friends with you. These are our boss's original words. From now on, in City of Glory, if you need anything, you can contact me anytime. We can't guarantee anything else, but as long as the Mad Dragon Guild tries to cause you trouble, our Ba Tian Guild will absolutely be the first to stand up!"
This time, the other party's tone was less utilitarian and more sincere.
Lin Mo's gaze also softened slightly.
More friends are always better than more enemies.
"Good." He replied with a concise word.
"That's great!" Overlord Tiger was relieved, "Then I won't disturb you, Great God! Let's keep in touch!"
After ending the communication with Overlord Tiger, a thoughtful expression appeared on Lin Mo's face.
The Ba Tian Guild's goodwill, the wariness of Oracle and Flame Alliance... He knew that from tonight onwards, the situation in City of Glory would become increasingly unpredictable because of him, this "fierce dragon crossing the river."
But he was not afraid.
On the contrary, he was looking forward to it.
Just as he was about to set off for the high-level leveling area outside the city, an urgent and familiar system notification suddenly rang in his ear!
[System Notification: Your mentor, Cassus Shadowtalker, has sent you an urgent message. Please return to the Shadow Sanctuary immediately!]
Mentor's message?
Lin Mo's heart suddenly pounded!
Since he completed his class change, this was the first time his mentor had actively contacted him. And, it was an "urgent message"!
Could it be... Lin Mo's mind instantly brought up the unique hidden quest he had accepted for the guild.
The Fading Legacy!
Without the slightest hesitation, Lin Mo immediately abandoned his leveling plan, turned around, activated Stealth, and his figure silently merged into the intricate shadows of the slums.
He had a strong premonition.
A larger storm, concerning the core secret of his profession, was about to arrive!