Chapter 1 The Gathering

Experts were as numerous as the clouds in the magnificent auction arena. Not only were there pillars of various influential forces who shook their respective regions, but even top experts from the various super forces were present.

However, as the Star Ring players entered, everyone present gasped, feeling immense pressure. It was as if they weren't facing players at all, but great overlords eager to try their hand, radiating an aura that soared to the heavens, leaving no room for resistance.

And the dozen or so leading the way inspired mortal fear in the expert players present.

"Why are they here?"

Lei Yuan, who was originally on good terms with Zero Wing, saw these people and his expression instantly changed, his eyes filled with surprise and apprehension.

"Grandpa, who exactly are they? Why do I get the feeling that the top experts of the other super forces are wary of them?" Mu Lingsha looked at the super force experts who had come to watch the battle and asked, puzzled.

It was true that these people were powerful, but everyone present was from a super force, so who was afraid of whom?

Even if there were some differences in strength in this auction arena, the top experts of these super forces shouldn't be showing such apprehension. Yet, they were all showing it on their faces, without any attempt to hide it.

Especially her grandfather, Mu Cheng. The title of Thousand Shadows Hand was not just for show; he was a true expert who controlled the Domain. Although he had physical problems and was old, limiting the level he could display, dealing with top experts was not a problem. But now, seeing the leading dozen or so people, he was showing the same expression as the other super force experts.

In her eyes, it was simply unbelievable.

"Zero Wing has completely lost its chance in the White River City battle this time," Mu Cheng said with a bitter smile, looking at the leading dozen or so people from Star Ring.

Before, with Sen Luo Hall taking the lead, he thought that adding his own reputation as an old man on the outside would be enough to protect Zero Wing's White River City. After all, the various super forces also had their own important NPC cities to seize, so the strength they could spare was very limited. But he still underestimated Star Ring's attitude towards Zero Wing.

"Are they really that strong?" Mu Lingsha asked, even more surprised by Mu Cheng's pronouncement.

"Strong? They are more than strong! Even the well-established super guilds, War Wolf and Saintly Temple, could lose if they don't take them seriously!" Mu Cheng slowly said, his eyes fixed on four men with slightly white hair. "Although I knew that Star Ring's hidden strength was extraordinary, I didn't expect Star Ring's abilities to be so great that they could even bring out the Four Demonic Specters, who have been missing for many years. I'm afraid War Spirit won't have an easy time either."

"Four Demonic Specters?" Mu Lingsha pondered for a moment, then exclaimed in surprise, "Could it be those four lunatics who stirred up the various super forces back then?"

The Four Demonic Specters rose to fame more than ten years ago. These four people were not a group, and they didn't even know each other. They acted independently, always alone.

The reason these four were called the Four Demonic Specters was entirely because each of them had provoked the various super forces of the time, killing countless experts from those forces. Many experts from War Spirit were among them, as well as many top expert players.

These people were all like devils, and because the four were free players, they appeared and disappeared without a trace, making it difficult for the super forces to encircle them, resulting in considerable losses instead.

It was a major event that caused a sensation at the time, a hot topic discussed by everyone. So Tianji Pavilion called these four the Four Demonic Specters, a name that resounded throughout the virtual gaming world.

The super forces were most troubled by such powerful lunatics who they couldn't do anything about.

Now that the four lunatics were gathered together, one could imagine how terrifying it would be...

Meanwhile, in the top-level VIP viewing room, over a hundred players wearing Blackwater badges were calmly watching everything. A resolute middle-aged man at the head of the group looked at Shi Feng in the arena, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

If Shi Feng were here, he would definitely recognize this resolute middle-aged man as Jing Yang, the Blackwater representative who had previously run to Zero Wing's headquarters.

"As the Vice President predicted, those four old ghosts have long been secretly recruited by Star Ring," Jing Yang said with a faint smile. "I'm afraid Zero Wing would never have imagined that such a thing would happen."

"Are we going to take action now?" Xue Hen, standing beside him, glanced at Shi Feng and asked indifferently.

"No, it's too early yet. Let's wait a bit, until the competition officially starts, until Zero Wing feels despair. Then we'll make our proposal to them. At that time, even if we don't say anything, Zero Wing will kneel down and beg to hand over the war puppets," Jing Yang said with a smile.

Just as everyone was surprised by the appearance of the Four Demonic Specters, the atmosphere in the arena completely changed.

Before, Zero Wing was the center of attention, supported by two super forces, with unlimited potential for the future. But at this moment, no one thought so anymore.

"Zero Wing's path has come to an end. Qin Yin, you should give up. Zero Wing probably won't be able to be a permanent backer for your Ninth Heaven. Only our Remnant Night can guarantee the eternal prosperity of your Ninth Heaven in the Morin District," a young and elegant half-elf man sitting in a second-floor viewing room, wearing a holy robe and having pointed ears, said with a smile. "This Zero Wing may have the capital to deal with the Underworld Workshop, but now it can barely protect itself. How can it help you?"

"Don't think that the Star Ring Guild only has the Four Demonic Specters. The dozen or so people beside them are also not simple. For example, that blue-clothed swordsman is known as the Illusion Swordsman. His individual level is no lower than that Sword Maniac, Jiuxiao Longyun. And that tall shield warrior, named Lan Jiao, is not inferior to Mo Yu Feiyu, who has the title of Iron-Armed Giant from the Scarlet Emperor Guild."

"It can be said that each of these people is an absolute top expert, and each of them has epic equipment and weapons bestowed by Star Ring. Not to mention Star Ring's deep resources, just the strength of these people is enough to plunge a top-tier guild like War Spirit into a bitter battle, let alone a mere Zero Wing."

"Is Zero Wing really finished like this?" Qin Yin looked at Shi Feng, unable to open her mouth to refute, because what the half-elf man said was very true.

Even if Zero Wing had the support of a super force, it was ultimately no match for a true super force.

Compared to Qin Yin's despair, Tian Jing, the former president of the Hundred Battles Empire in Sin Domain, was overjoyed.

"Black Flame, what if you have the support of two super forces? Aren't you still going to watch White River City become someone else's?" Tian Jing couldn't help but laugh.

Before, he had watched as one great figure after another stepped forward to support Zero Wing, making Zero Wing a future behemoth in everyone's eyes, and he could only sigh at his own powerlessness.

But who would have thought that things would take a turn for the better?

No matter how glorious Zero Wing was before, in the end, wasn't it just an ant in this game of God's Domain, to be slaughtered by the various super forces at will?

Amidst the quiet discussions of the crowd, the bell that signaled the official opening of the auction suddenly rang, echoing throughout White River City...