With a soft *clink*, Lin Zhao successfully changed his weapon. The Azure Pavilion Sword in his hand had transformed into the more menacing Thunderclap Sword. A surge of power flowed from the hilt into his hand, then coursed through his entire body. It felt similar to breaking through his cultivation realm, indicating the significant boost in his strength that the Thunderclap Sword provided.
A glance at his personal attribute panel revealed the most substantial increase in attack –
【White Robe】(Sword Master)
Level: 71
Attack: 1460-2297 (+191%)
Defense: 1610 (+214%)
Health: 29350
Critical Hit: 16%
Life Steal: 44%
Damage Reduction: 21%
Damage Amplification: 23%
Intelligence: 99
Charm: 11
Reputation: 10580
Combat Power: 4025
Combat Power officially surpassed 4000 points. With the addition of the Thunderclap Sword, his attack power had drastically increased. Lin Zhao's true attack power was now terrifying: 4248-6684. Against most players who currently had true defense ranging from only 1000-2000, Lin Zhao's attack power was on a god-slaying, Buddha-destroying level!
"Sigh..."
Shen Xingchen let out a sigh. "Your combat power is truly impossible to catch up to."
Lin Zhao couldn't help but chuckle. "Why do you need to compare yourself to me!"
"Wait."
Nearby, Qing Ning, holding her staff, spoke up. "Why haven't we received the quest rewards yet? Did the system skim them off?"
"No way?"
Lin Zhao was also surprised. At that exact moment, a system chime sounded in all three of their ears. The SS-grade quest rewards were just slightly delayed –
"Ding!"
System Notification: Congratulations on completing the main quest [Slay the Ghost Cultivator Huang Liang] (SS-grade). Rewards: Current level EXP +70%, Gold +2500, Reputation +1200, Charm +2, and an additional reward: [Sword Qi Cage] (SS-grade Skill Book)!
...
"Swish!"
Three beams of golden light rained down from the sky, and all three of them leveled up. Simultaneously, Shen Xingchen exclaimed, "Wow! Guess what my bonus reward was?"
"What?"
"A Golden-grade staff."
She rolled her eyes. "I really thank the system."
Lin Zhao and Qing Ning burst into laughter.
"I didn't get any bonus reward,"
Qing Ning pursed her lips. "Compared to that, your Golden-grade staff is actually quite good."
"That's true..."
Shen Xingchen glanced at Lin Zhao. "What about you?"
"Me..."
Lin Zhao directly held up the skill book. "They gave me a skill book, tsk tsk..."
As he spoke, he directly shared the skill book's details –
[Sword Qi Cage] (SS-grade Skill Book): Unleash a 20x20 yard cage of sword qi, significantly slowing down targets within the Sword Qi Cage, and causing them to take 150% damage per second for 5 seconds. Cooldown: 30 seconds. Learning requirement: Level 60, Profession: Sword Master, Cost: 1 Charm point.
...
"The Sword Master's hidden level 60 skill has finally appeared..."
Qing Ning laughed. "It has control and output, and it's an area of effect attack. This enhancement for Sword Masters is a bit excessive."
"Indeed."
Lin Zhao waved his hand and learned Sword Qi Cage, consuming 1 Charm point. But it was definitely worth it. The effect of Sword Qi Cage was too powerful and perfectly suited for team battles. If several Sword Masters cast Sword Qi Cage together in a team battle, they could control a large part of the local battlefield. For a Sword Master like Lin Zhao with explosive attack power, unleashing a Sword Qi Cage to harass the enemy's backline of ranged attackers – who could withstand that? Many ranged players would be forced to use their blink skills, or they would have no choice but to wait for death within the Sword Qi Cage.
"Now I'm truly complete."
Shen Xingchen smiled faintly. "Equipment and skills, both mastered. Next, we just wait for Sky Machine City to open."
"Mhm!"
Lin Zhao smiled and nodded. "Let's go back to the city and get Chen Xue. We're ready to establish a guild."
"Mhm mhm!"
Shen Xingchen and Qing Ning crushed their Return Scrolls and left. Lin Zhao, however, couldn't leave. Just as he was about to crush his own Return Scroll, a system chime sounded in his ear –
"Beep!"
System Notification: Subsequent tasks are in progress. Returning to the city is currently not allowed!
"What's going on?"
Lin Zhao was slightly stunned. He turned to look at the dissipated miasma in the valley and the scattered remnants of the ghost cultivator's corpse. It couldn't be. This Star River realm ghost cultivator was as dead as dead could be. What subsequent task could there be?
Just then, the sound of hooves approached from the east. As Lin Zhao walked out of the valley, he saw hundreds of cavalrymen clad in the Vermillion Bird Camp's fiery red armor appear in his sight. Leading the charge was a cavalry commander with a single gold star on his epaulet. He was a middle-aged man with a stern expression. After dismounting, he cupped his fists respectfully and said, "Young Hero!"
"Sir, is there something you need?" Lin Zhao asked, cupping his fists.
"Mm."
The cavalry commander said gravely, "Young hero, you interrupted a Star River realm ghost cultivator's breakthrough attempt here. Shanhaiguan has been informed. Your actions have effectively eliminated a top-tier enemy of the ghost race for our human empire in advance. Therefore, Commander Han Yetang has decided to bestow this item upon you. We hope you will use it well and not fail the Commander's good intentions."
He held out a golden token with both hands, lowering his posture in a show of deep respect.
There's such a good thing?
Lin Zhao frowned. He remembered Han Yetang, an eleventh-realm Sword Cultivator guarding the border. He had succeeded Shao Shiyu. While his strategy and command abilities were unknown, his cultivation was truly far superior to Shao Shiyu's. Shao Shiyu was only a ninth-realm Sword Cultivator when he died, while Han Yetang was a gifted eleventh-realm Sword Immortal at a young age. The difference in their strength was like heaven and earth. However, Han Yetang appeared too aloof and unsmiling. He hadn't expected him to proactively bestow a token upon him now.
No matter, he would accept it first. He'd treat it as a system reward.
After taking the token with both hands, he cupped his fists and smiled at the commander. "Thank you!"
"Mm, since that's the case, we shall take our leave."
The cavalry commander mounted his horse and led his troops away, stirring up dust.
Lin Zhao then looked at the token, and his eyes were instantly captivated. This was truly an excellent item!
[Shanhaiguan Gold Token] (Superior Accessory)
Strength: +100
Stamina: +100
Effect: Increase affinity with human NPCs by 50%.
Effect: When carried, allows free passage through Shanhaiguan without any restrictions.
Effect: While holding the token, you may dispatch any Vermillion Bird Camp branch with no more than 500 cavalry from within Shanhaiguan territory, but their losses must not be too severe.
Belongs to: Player White Robe
Issued by: Han Yetang
When Lin Zhao confirmed its use, the Shanhaiguan Gold Token was immediately embedded at the bottom of his character panel, becoming one of Lin Zhao's accessories. This was a treasure different from equipment or magical artifacts; it was a credential issued by a secular dynasty. With this gold token, one could receive certain preferential treatment in many human territories.
Lin Zhao treasured it like a rare find. This was truly a godsend. He had been worried earlier that even though the Northern Territory would be open to players after entering Sky Machine City, he might not be able to pass through smoothly. Shanhaiguan was no mere decoration; passing through it would inevitably come at a price. With this token, Lin Zhao no longer had to worry about such matters.
He crushed his Return Scroll again. This time, there were no issues.
When Lin Zhao reappeared in the city, Shen Xingchen and Chen Xue were waiting for him nearby, shoulder to shoulder. He immediately strode over and first took out the Lion God Shield and handed it to Chen Xue. "You're still a bit short on your level. Keep it in the warehouse for now and don't carry it on you. It would be a huge loss if it dropped."
"Mhm!"
Chen Xue had already heard some of the story from Shen Xingchen and nodded with a smile. "Thank you, Alliance Leader! Thank you, Xingchen!"
"No need for formalities!"
Lin Zhao and Shen Xingchen said in unison.
Chen Xue burst into laughter, her cover blown, feeling a bit awkward.
Shortly after, the three of them arrived at the City Lord's Mansion.
The City Lord's Mansion in the county city was no longer a mystery to players. Many quests required visiting it, much like a convenient public service office. Lin Zhao, accompanied by the two beautiful vice-alliance leaders, went directly to the deeper parts of the mansion and saw the portly City Lord again. Regardless of his official or personal conduct, as long as he could help establish the guild, that was all that mattered.
"Lord City Lord!"
Lin Zhao walked in front, cupping his fists and smiling.
"Oh?"
The City Lord looked at Lin Zhao. At first glance, he felt this adventurer's level was quite high; he was a capable individual. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was the fellow who had arrogantly refused his overtures. Just as the City Lord was about to get angry, he suddenly noticed a Shanhaiguan Gold Token among the accessories the player was wearing. It had been personally issued by the eleventh-realm Sword Immortal, Commander Han. Instantly, the City Lord nearly knelt. His attitude became extremely humble. "Young Hero, what brings you to my humble abode this time?"
"To establish a Battle Guild."
Lin Zhao took out the Guild Establishment Token and submitted it to the City Lord. "I want to establish a guild named the Scarlet Moon Knights."
"Oh, Scarlet Moon Knights, you say..."
The City Lord, now officially managed by the main consciousness, had a data glow flicker in his eyes. "This guild name was certified and registered over a hundred years ago. To establish a guild with the same name, you must possess the Guild Secret Key."
"I have it." Lin Zhao nodded with a smile.
"Very well, Young Hero. Please enter the Guild Secret Key."
Thus, Lin Zhao meticulously entered the 21-digit Guild Secret Key given to him by his cousin Murong Feiyue. Upon confirmation, a chime echoed through the skies of Cloud Haven County, and guild establishment was successful –
"Ding!"
System Announcement: Congratulations to player [White Robe] for successfully creating the guild [Scarlet Moon Knights]!
...
It's done!
The second guild established in all of Cloud Haven County, even earlier than Grand Blossom Peony!
The person who established the guild naturally became the Alliance Leader. Lin Zhao immediately pulled Shen Xingchen and Chen Xue into the guild, granting them vice-alliance leader positions. He would first give them permissions, and then they would grant permissions to Ding Chi, Lu Han, Shaonian Xudu, and others. This layered delegation of power was the only way to collectively manage a vast guild.
"The population cap for a Level 1 guild is 500 people. That's still too few."
Chen Xue said, "I'll organize the people who are leveling all night to join the guild first. Let them form parties and level up to increase the guild's level. We'll aim to reach Level 2 within 24 hours, which will allow for 1000 people. We can continuously rotate people into the guild to boost its level, aiming to reach Level 3 within 72 hours. By then, when we enter Sky Machine City, we'll already be a guild with a capacity of 10,000 people, making it easier to recruit."
"Mm."
Lin Zhao nodded with a smile. When it came to managing the guild, with Chen Xue in charge, he didn't have to worry about anything.
...
Just then, a "beep" message arrived from Leng Yan: "Want to grab some late-night snacks together? I'm treating everyone. I'm nearby. After eating, I'll sleep with Xingchen~~~"
"..."
Lin Zhao was taken aback. He turned to look at Shen Xingchen. "Miss Leng is coming over, you know?"
"Just found out."
Shen Xingchen smiled slightly. "Then let's have some hot pot together. There's a hot pot restaurant not far from here. Call everyone over, and we'll fill a large table."
"Mm, alright."