By five in the afternoon, Lin Zhao's red name had been cleared.
Downstairs, Sister Ju Zi and Little Ju Zi returned home from grocery shopping and were already busy. By the time Lin Zhao and the others logged off, a table of rich food was prepared. Everyone ate their fill this meal, but dared not drink much water, as entering the Titan's Secret Realm required a full four-hour stay. Logging off or dying would directly remove them from the map, so no one dared to drink.
...
In the evening, 19:50.
The Titan's Secret Realm map refreshed to the south of Yun Shang Commandery, occupying a large area. This region was currently blood red and forbidden territory, inaccessible to players. At the entrance to the secret realm map, eight cavalrymen, armed with long spears and clad in armor, were stationed, spaced dozens of meters apart. Conversing with them allowed for the exchange of certain supplies to enter the map. However, the map was not yet open, so it was temporarily impossible to interact with these NPCs.
To the north of the secret realm map, countless players swarmed. The total number of players in the entire Huaxia District had exceeded 300 million according to statistics. With regular online players halved, that's 150 million people. If players above level 50 were again halved, the number of players in the national server meeting the secret realm entry conditions was around 80 million. The national server had nine states, and each state was divided into over 10 commanderies. In reality, each commandery's Titan's Secret Realm map would likely see hundreds of thousands of people entering to compete.
Yun Shang Commandery was currently divided into three major factions.
The Azure Knights, currently the most popular, had a total of over 2500 members. Next was Flourishing Peony, with over 2200 members. Following them was the Passionate Youth Corps with 500 members. Despite only having 500 members, the Passionate Youth Corps was elite and had a satellite group, the White Robe Corps, with hundreds of members, making their combined strength enough to directly contend with either the Azure Knights or Flourishing Peony.
The rest were small guilds and organizations, generally in groups of three to five people. In this game, banding together for warmth was a facade; everyone was there to make a living, wanting money. Large guilds were formed by a large amount of capital. Other small guilds had at most a few dozen to a hundred people, and couldn't be larger. Such small guilds would have a great number of people entering this secret realm map.
"Move forward a bit."
Amidst the crowd, Lu Han, the leader of the Passionate Youth Corps, rode a fine steed, clad in top-tier equipment, leading the way. "Tighten the flanks a little, move forward, and charge into the map first to clear space for the brothers behind!"
"Yes, boss!"
Not far from the Youth Corps, Shao Nian Xu Du, carrying a long sword, rode his horse at the edge of the crowd. He said to a group of White Robe Corps players, "Stay close to the brothers in the Youth Corps, don't give anyone an opportunity!"
"Yes!"
In the gap left between the Youth Corps and the White Robe Corps, Lin Zhao, accompanied by Chen Xue, Luo Man, Ding Chi, and Zhang Jun, casually walked up to the NPC cavalrymen, completely in a kingly manner, surrounded by the two large groups.
"Hmm..."
Chen Xue looked to the sides, her beautiful eyes filled with satisfaction, and smiled, "The White Robe Corps is developing well. The total number has already exceeded 400. In a few more days, it should catch up to the Youth Corps' total numbers."
"How's the combat power?"
"It won't be too bad."
She smiled, "Xu Du is picky about recruits and trains them well."
"That's good."
Lin Zhao nodded with a smile, his hand on the Qinglu Sword, leading everyone, ready to step into the new map at any moment.
...
Not far away, at the front of the Flourishing Peony formation.
"Hmm?"
Fei Long Zai Tian, holding a shimmering long sword, narrowed his eyes and frowned. He said to Ghost King beside him, "Alliance Leader, look at the Youth Corps side... it seems like a few people from the Scarlet Moon Knights are between the Youth Corps and the White Robe Corps. What does that mean? Are they covering for the Scarlet Moon Knights?"
"Oh?"
Ghost King also looked over, and indeed, it was the case. Ghost King's brow furrowed. Could there really be something fishy?
On the side, Fan Wang Zhi Xue frowned, "Actually, we could already see some hints before. When the White Robe Corps established their second group, why did they choose the name 'White Robe Corps'? That already explains a lot. This White Robe Corps might just be a substitute for a golden cicada shedding its shell, created for the Scarlet Moon Knights."
Huang Xiao Xie said with venom, "Damn it, I've always felt that the people from the Passionate Youth Corps weren't good sorts. Why would they come to Yun Shang Commandery and stir up trouble? What good could they be?"
"Don't be impulsive, everyone."
Ghost King frowned and said, "I'll go ask Lu Han."
With that, he opened the voice chat with Lu Han.
"Alliance Leader Fan Chen, you and... the White Robe of the Scarlet Moon Knights are friends? I saw them seemingly using your territory to prepare to enter the secret realm map?"
"Ah?!"
Lu Han was stunned for a moment, then chuckled, "What are you talking about? A few people from the Scarlet Moon Knights just happened to be queuing here. What can I do? Are our Youth Corps members bandits? Would we attack them just because they're queuing?"
"You don't mean it?"
Ghost King said blandly, "Actually, there's no need for so many scheming tactics. There's no need. If you want to fight, just do it head-on. Even an idiot can see that the Scarlet Moon Knights have been merged by your White Robe Corps. Alliance Leader Fan Chen, you still want to put on an act in front of me?"
"There really isn't."
Lu Han raised his index and middle fingers to the sky, "I swear to heaven, our Youth Corps has truly not merged with the Scarlet Moon Knights, truly not. If I break this oath, may heaven bless me to never find a girlfriend in this lifetime."
He chuckled inwardly. Our Youth Corps truly hasn't merged with the Scarlet Moon Knights. This oath is not a single word of falsehood, after all... we were merged by the Scarlet Moon Knights!
Ghost King grumbled, "If that's the case, I'm relieved. After entering the secret realm map, let's try to be as innocent as possible!"
"Definitely, definitely..."
...
Further away, the Azure Knights occupied a unique NPC cavalryman's teleportation space. Li Canghai looked at the posture of the Youth Corps and Flourishing Peony standing adjacent to each other from afar and couldn't help but let out a laugh. Soon, they'll be fighting each other. Anyway, once the Azure Knights enter the map, they'll definitely claim territory, cutting off one-third of the secret realm map and then clearing it out. monopolizing one-third of the commandery's new map's big cake will be enough for the Azure Knights to take flight!
Time flowed by, and it was almost eight o'clock.
"This situation isn't simple today!"
Lin Zhao said to Chen Xue beside him, "Once the secret realm map resources are out, it's likely time for a showdown. Be mentally prepared for the Youth Corps to join the Scarlet Moon Knights today."
"Mmm."
Chen Xue nodded, "I think so too. Today we might need to activate the Youth Corps and White Robe Corps, otherwise... we won't have any room to survive in the secret realm map. Flourishing Peony and the Azure Knights will definitely send elites to clear us out."
"That's right."
Lin Zhao smiled slightly, "Tell Lu Han and Xu Du to be mentally prepared."
"Okay~~~"
...
Just then, the map officially opened, and the misty halos surrounding the eight cavalrymen completely dissipated, revealing golden armor and weapons. Lin Zhao recognized them at a glance: these eight cavalrymen guarding the map's barrier were all peak Eighth Realm martial experts, the same realm he was in before his previous life's death. Eight Eighth Realm martial experts guarding the map together, and it's just a map within a commandery. This map is being given a lot of face.
"Let's go!"
Lin Zhao immediately conversed with the NPC, and the interface for entering the map popped up. After paying 10g, his body was directly teleported behind the NPC, entering a blood-red barrier, officially entering the secret realm map. He rode forward a few steps with his sword. Chen Xue, Ding Chi, Luo Man, and Zhang Jun followed behind him. The people from the Youth Corps waited until they had all entered the map before entering, showing great respect. In fact, some Youth Corps members who knew the inside story understood that the people from the Scarlet Moon Knights at the front were big shots. The White Robe Corps would be the future alliance leader, Xue Qian Cheng would be the deputy alliance leader, and the remaining few would at worst be group leaders. It was best not to provoke them.
Ahead, within the secret realm's forest, monsters began to spawn. Starting from Dark Gold tier, and with plenty of loot!
But Lin Zhao did not linger. He led everyone on horseback deeper into the secret realm. The people from the Scarlet Moon Knights' studio needed to go as far forward as possible, leaving enough development space for the Youth Corps and White Robe Corps. Otherwise, they would become an obstacle to the two groups.
They charged forward for two to three li, almost crossing the entire map, reaching the southern frontier of the Titan's Secret Realm.
Lin Zhao stopped, "Alright, we'll level up here. Everyone report your current level and experience."
"99%!"
Chen Xue smiled slightly, "I deliberately saved it to 99%, hoping to get a breakthrough in the new map!"
"Can do, can do!"
Lin Zhao clapped his hands and praised repeatedly.
Luo Man said, "75%!"
Ding Chi: "42%!"
Zhang Jun: "91%!"
Currently, Chen Xue and Zhang Jun were the closest to leveling up. They would see if they had any opportunities first. Whether Chen Xue awakened the Sacred Sword system or Zhang Jun awakened the Yun Jian Lake, it would be a very considerable increase in strength for the studio.
...
They began to hunt monsters.
On the southern frontier of the secret realm, monsters called "Deer Fiends" were scattered throughout the map. They were creatures with human heads and deer bodies, and specifically, female bodies, with full busts and quadrupedal lower bodies. Their long hair flowed, and they wielded iron spears, which they hurled incessantly. They were level 70. Most importantly, these Deer Fiends were Flowing Gold tier monsters, with a low chance of dropping Flowing Gold equipment!
"Damn, this is exciting!"
Ding Chi looked at a group of Deer Fiends ahead, rubbing his hands.
"Let's begin."
Chen Xue said calmly, "Same old rule, Lin Zhao will single-handedly pull monsters and solo them. The rest of us will form a team and AoE them. Level 70 Flowing Gold monsters have very high attack power. Roman and I will each pull one. Ding Chi and Zhang Jun, you two use your AoE skills well. The efficiency of clearing monsters shouldn't be too bad, and we can't let Lin Zhao do all the work."
"Mmm!"
Everyone rushed forward, beating up the Deer Fiends.
Lin Zhao, on the other hand, holding the Qinglu Sword, walked in a circle and pulled over 30 Deer Fiends. Then, under the astonished gazes of Ding Chi, Zhang Jun, and the others, he began to AoE them.