"A flatbread."
Li Canghai patted the other's shoulder and chuckled, "The Scarlet Moon Knights only have two people left, Bai Yi and Xue Qiancheng. What can two people achieve? We should focus our attention on the Prosperous Peony and Hot-Blooded Youths. The resources in Yunshang County are becoming increasingly scarce. We need to seize resource maps and grow stronger step by step, instead of being fixated on individual strength. So what if I can't beat Bai Yi? Just leave him be; he's no threat to us."
He raised his fist, then opened his hand, smiling, "We need to broaden our horizons!"
"How can that be?"
Xihe Daguan Kui suddenly stood up, his fists clenched. "Alliance Leader, I've heard a very wise saying: 'When a man is born between heaven and earth, how can he be content to live forever under others?'"
"What!?"
Li Canghai rolled his eyes. "Isn't that Lü Bu's famous line? He said that and then slaughtered his lord Dong Zhuo. Are you, Daguan Kui, trying to slit my throat with a sword?!"
Xihe Daguan Kui quickly shook his head. "Alliance Leader, you misunderstand. I didn't mean that. I meant... I don't believe Bai Yi is truly invincible. I want to try again. Tomorrow, I'll aim to defeat him. Alliance Leader, think about it. After our Azure Knights and the Scarlet Moon Knights fell out, only Li Ren Sha Guo had defeated Bai Yi once. Everyone else has never had the chance. And Li Ren is currently throwing a tantrum and has left. If we can defeat Bai Yi again, it will boost the morale of the entire guild!"
"This..."
Li Canghai frowned. "How do you plan to try again?"
"I just got some news,"
Xihe Daguan Kui said. "A guild in Fufeng County, just half an hour ago, defeated a Level 62 Gilt-grade boss. It dropped a pair of Gilt-grade armor greaves. A guild leader happened to pick up these greaves, but instead of handing them over, he quit the guild and put them up for auction. They're Level 58 Gilt-grade greaves that will significantly increase defense. I can wear them right now. I plan to go to Fufeng County first thing tomorrow morning to bid for them. Tonight, I'll still lead the brothers from the Fengzi Camp to go outside the city and 'harvest' some gathering players. Bai Yi likes to play the hero, doesn't he? If he shows up again today, I'll take him down myself. We, the Fengzi Camp, will take him down alone!"
"This..."
Li Canghai was dumbfounded, his mind struggling to keep up. "Daguan Kui, I must advise you. The drop rate of newly equipped gear increases several times within 24 hours. Even if you want revenge, you should wait until after the 24-hour period to challenge Bai Yi. Think of it as saving money."
"No need."
Xihe Daguan Kui said, " I can even tell Bai Yi about this openly. If he dares to come, I'll see how he dies!"
"Fine."
Li Canghai said, "Then I won't interfere. Just make sure you lead the Fengzi Camp well. You decide everything else. I'll lead other teams to continue developing and compete for dominance in Yunshang County."
"En!"
...
The next day, early morning.
Wang Ju went to the family across the street who made tofu early in the morning and asked for some loose soybean milk used in making tofu. They brewed a pot of sweet and delicious rice porridge with soybean milk, which was incredibly appetizing. Ding Chi and Zhang Jun, who had never seen such a thing before, each drank three large bowls. Lin Zhao, however, had to restrain himself because he needed to kill monsters to clear his red name today, so he only had one bowl of porridge and sixteen steamed buns.
After breakfast, Chen Xue grabbed Lin Zhao's sleeve and led him upstairs to log in.
"What are you doing?"
Luo Man pouted, looking somewhat unhappy. "Axue, why are you dragging my brother around?"
"He's with me today."
Chen Xue raised her eyebrows. "Not happy?"
"Happy."
Luo Man smiled, her dimples shallow. "It's okay, as long as my brother's heart is with me."
Lin Zhao rolled his eyes and explained, "I killed too many people yesterday, and my name turned bright red. Chen Xue logged off with me. She's logging in first today to confirm it's safe before I log in, to avoid an ambush. Don't think about such nonsensical things."
Luo Man chuckled. "I knew it. My brother is explaining to me because he cares about me. He only has me in his heart, I know it all."
"Get lost. I don't have you."
"Damn, Brother's stubbornness is also so cute~~~"
"Your sister..."
Lin Zhao logged in with a frustrated expression, wondering what Luo Man was up to. She must have a motive. He hadn't had much luck with women since childhood, so why would any girl be so enthusiastic towards him? Luo Man's behavior was definitely unusual. Ding Chi and Zhang Jun shook their heads, feeling it was a waste. Luo Man, such a beautiful and cute girl, if she were this proactive and enthusiastic towards them, they would have surrendered long ago. Lin Zhao, this guy, truly lacked romantic sense, and deserved to remain single.
"Swish!"
Chen Xue logged in first, summoned her jujube-red horse, mounted it, and rode around the surrounding maps with her spear. After confirming it was safe, she reached out and gently patted Lin Zhao's hand in reality. "Okay, log in. It's safe."
"Ok!"
Lin Zhao logged in, and with a flash of sapphire light, his character slowly rose from the grass. His equipment was pure white, incredibly stylish. After summoning his Snow Rock Warhorse, he drew his Qinglu Sword and entered a combat state. "Axue, you go and play by yourself. I'm going to the northern maps to farm monsters."
"I'm going to farm monsters in the north too."
Chen Xue smiled. "But I'll be in a different map from you. Don't worry."
"Good!"
...
Early in the morning, as Lin Zhao and Chen Xue were heading out of the city to farm monsters, a grand public auction was being held in Fufeng County at 9:30 AM.
Vulture Greaves, Armor, Level 58 Gilt-grade.
This final treasure attracted players from all major counties, and even guilds like Starlight and Azure Dragon had representatives present. Victory Heaven players were absent. Leng Yan had been dragging her vice-alliance leader around for the past few days, happily acting as an experience fodder with the Snow Domain War Bow. As for a mere Gilt-grade item, she didn't pay it any mind. In Leng Yan's opinion, it was more satisfying to obtain equipment through her own efforts. What was the point of piling up equipment with money?
Of course, unless the equipment was exceptionally powerful.
Morning.
In the auction house, various Gold-grade and Dark Gold-grade treasures were successively auctioned off. The three Dark Gold-grade equipment pieces in the final batch all sold for over 100,000 common coins. The auction house owner's face was already beaming with smiles. And when the final piece, the Vulture Greaves, appeared on the auction stage, everyone was exhilarated.
"Vulture Greaves."
A beautiful female auctioneer, dressed in a revealing long skirt, walked onto the stage and said with a smile, "Level 58 Gilt-grade. It's an essential treasure for Swordsmen, Paladins, and Berserkers when leveling and engaging in PvP. It offers extremely strong defense and exceptional toughness for HP. The starting bid is 200,000. Now, please begin bidding for your desired treasure!"
"Three hundred thousand!"
A player from Haixi County raised his hand.
"Four hundred thousand!"
Another person raised their hand. It was a player from Yuzhou in the south, a very distant place.
"Five hundred thousand!"
An uncle from Hantai County raised his hand. He was Yi Shi Cang Liang, the alliance leader of the Azure Dragon Guild.
"Azure Dragon?"
In the VIP room on the second floor, Xihe Daguan Kui frowned, looking at Yi Shi Cang Liang sitting in the crowd. He immediately had a new impression of the Azure Dragon alliance leader. The leader of a top ten guild in the national server, and the boss of a major conglomerate, was actually so low-key, sitting in the crowd like this, not even willing to book a private room? What a stingy bastard!
After calling out his bid, Yi Shi Cang Liang picked his nose with his bidding finger, feeling a bit dejected. Damn it, the auction house in this shabby county was so pathetic. The private room tickets had already been sold out by the time he arrived, forcing him to sit in the public seating. The brat behind him kept kicking his chair, which was infuriating.
Xihe Daguan Kui decided to wait a bit longer and observe before bidding. He had brought 2,000,000 common coins in guild fees this time, and if nothing unexpected happened, he should be able to get these greaves. After all, Leng Yan only spent 2,000,000 for the Level 60 Snow Domain War Bow last time. The Vulture Greaves shouldn't be worth as much as the Snow Domain War Bow. 2,000,000 should be safe.
Soon after, the price rose to 1,100,000. The subsequent bids increased by 10,000 each time. In reality, the price of these Vulture Greaves was roughly around this point, about 1,200,000. Any higher would be somewhat unreasonable.
"1,200,000!" Yi Shi Cang Liang raised his hand.
"1,250,000!"
Xihe Daguan Kui finally made his move. He didn't dare to bid 1,210,000, as it would be a provocation to Azure Dragon.
"Oh?"
Yi Shi Cang Liang turned to look at the person in the private room and couldn't help but let out a cold laugh. "1,500,000!"
Xihe Daguan Kui was shocked. Was Yi Shi Cang Liang really going to compete with him like this? It wasn't necessary, was it?
But was Xihe Daguan Kui someone who would back down from a challenge? Absolutely not. He would just spend money. He would sell his pots and pans to go head-to-head with Yi Shi Cang Liang. Losing was fine, but admitting defeat would be a huge problem!
"2,000,000!"
Xihe Daguan Kui went straight for the kill. If you bid higher, I won't buy it. You're the one being foolish, not me.
As a result, Yi Shi Cang Liang touched his nose and smiled, giving Xihe Daguan Kui a thumbs-up. "It's yours, it's yours. There are so many fools in Yunshang County."
"You..."
Xihe Daguan Kui was furious. He had acquired the Gilt-grade greaves for 2,000,000 like this.
...
A day passed in a blink, and it was 10:30 PM again.
Lin Zhao's red name had turned white by 8 PM. He was now Level 63 with 87% experience. Without doing any quests, it would be impossible to level up in a day. However, this leveling speed was normal. Otherwise, this game, which was advertised as a game for everyone, would quickly become a flash in the pan.
It was time to return to the city to resupply.
He crushed a town portal scroll and returned to the city. He deposited equipment, bought potions, repaired his gear, and everything was done.
...
Meanwhile, outside the city in Butterfly Forest, over 200 elite players from the Fengzi Camp had gathered. Xihe Daguan Kui was furious today. The greave slot equipment was gleaming. He took a deep breath and spent another 5,000 common coins to send a message:
"Ding!"
System Announcement (Player Xihe Daguan Kui announced): Bai Yi, I'm about to go all out again in Butterfly Forest against those gathering players. You want to play the hero, right? Come on, smash this bandit and scoundrel! Dare you come, you loser? DAFENG NOVEL
...
Inside the grand cathedral's long bench, Lin Zhao stood up and left the city with his sword.