Chapter 1 The Changes in White River City

Star-Moon Kingdom, White River City.

Since Shi Feng's return after being sent back by the Archangel Voutra, White River City had undergone tremendous changes compared to when he left.

Even though only a little over ten days had passed, experts from well-known adventure teams could be seen everywhere on the streets. Each of them was at least a Tier 2 class at level 63, wearing a set of level 60 Mithril equipment. It was as if level 60 Mithril equipment was already commonplace, not attracting any attention from players at all.

Even the rare Bronze Mounts on the streets were now very common. Occasionally, players riding Mysterious-Iron Mounts could be seen passing by. The prosperity was no less than that of an empire's capital.

The changes were so great that even Shi Feng hardly recognized it.

Moreover, most of the guilds active in White River City were originally from the Star-Moon Kingdom, but now the entire White River City was filled with guilds from outside the Star-Moon Kingdom. Among them were many first-rate guilds. Even top experts from first-rate guilds, who were usually extremely difficult for ordinary players to see, could now be seen everywhere on the streets, leaving players who came to develop in White River City for the first time in amazement.

"So handsome! The person over there is probably wearing the Berserker's Dawn set!"

"Look at the Elementalist over there, so amazing! The level 60 Fine-Gold Wind Spirit set. I heard that it only has a chance to drop in a level 60 Hell Mode 100-man dungeon!"

"Is this White River City? The equipment of the players here is too good! I haven't seen many people wearing level 60 Fine-Gold sets in Black Dragon City of the Black Dragon Empire. How come so many people here are wearing level 60 Fine-Gold sets?"

The surrounding players cast sidelong glances at these players who were visiting White River City for the first time and were filled with amazement, but they were not surprised by this.

After all, White River City was developing too fast. It could simply be described as changing with each passing day.

The reason for this transformation was entirely due to the opening of the Auction Field system. As the only city in the surrounding countries with the possibility of being upgraded to an Auction House, White River City instantly became the center of the surrounding countries. Major powers flocked here, wanting to compete for control of White River City. Therefore, the experts gathered here were beyond imagination.

In addition to the experts from major powers, the Auction Field system also provided new development opportunities for merchant players and many experts, so they all ran to White River City. This allowed White River City to develop into a super-large NPC city with a player population of over 20 million. At the same time, it was the NPC city with the most forces gathered in the surrounding countries. Even second-rate guilds were not considered significant here.

As for weapons and equipment, it goes without saying. Level 60 Mithril equipment, which was difficult to find in other cities, had become very common here. Even the level 60 Fine-Gold equipment, which was like divine gear to many expert players, was nothing special in White River City. Only level 60 Dark-Gold equipment could attract a few more glances.

However, compared to the discussions of newbie players about the experts and equipment in White River City, the players resting and chatting on the streets were more concerned about the competition for White River City.

"The battle for White River City will officially begin in two days. We free players will have a feast for the eyes then."

"I heard that there are as many as four super powers that want to compete for White River City this time. I wonder if Zero Wing Guild can defend it? If they can't defend White River City, Zero Wing Guild's long-term accumulation in White River City will be in vain."

"That goes without saying, Zero Wing definitely can't hold on. The one who will eventually obtain White River City will definitely be one of the four super powers. After all, the competition for the Auction House is not like a battle in the wild. External objects cannot be used. It completely depends on the strength of the experts and external resources. Zero Wing has accumulated too little in this regard, especially the number of top experts. The two are not on the same level at all. Zero Wing simply cannot compare with any of the current super powers."

"That's right. If they had another year or so, Zero Wing Guild might be able to compete with other super powers in terms of experts and resources. Unfortunately, White River City's development speed is too fast. It was actually one of the first cities to be upgraded. If it had been upgraded in the second or third batch of cities, it would not be a problem for Zero Wing to defend it."

Now, in the entire Star-Moon Kingdom, nothing was more attractive than the battle for White River City. This was not only related to the control of White River City, but more importantly, it was the first real competition between the major forces. The well-known experts they usually cared about, as well as the experts who were emerging in God's Domain, would have a platform to show their skills. It would be a major battle to redistribute the territories of the forces and reorder the rankings of the experts.

Usually, they could only determine the level and ranking of expert players through some small battles or competitions between a small number of experts. Such rankings were unfair. But now that all the experts were gathered together, this was a good opportunity to truly determine the outcome.

At the same time, this was also an opportunity for countless free expert players to show themselves. After all, there were too many experts in God's Domain who had no chance, or who had obtained opportunities but had not yet had time to show their skills. Through this battle for White River City, they could show their strength to the major forces and take this opportunity to reach the peak of their lives.

It seemed a bit ridiculous, but it was the best way to become famous overnight.

Now, God's Domain's influence in reality was growing, and more and more capital was being injected into God's Domain, so the demand for talent was increasing. If they could perform well in the battle for White River City, it was not impossible for them to be offered an olive branch by the major super powers.

"As expected of an NPC city that was upgraded to an Auction House in the early stages, its development speed and competitiveness are truly astonishing." Shi Feng looked at the players wearing guild emblems on the streets and secretly clicked his tongue.

The number of second-rate guilds he had seen along the way had already exceeded thirty, and there were more than ten first-rate guilds. Even the imperial capitals of empires did not gather so many large guilds, but this was only what he had seen. There were countless other forces waiting in the wings.

In his previous life, the initial NPC city competition had nothing to do with his former guild, Shadow. Because it was already very difficult to survive in the battles between the major forces. Leveling up and improving equipment had already exhausted them. Where would they have the strength to compete with others?

They would just listen to others talk about it, marvel at the power of these forces, and lament the fierce competition. They would guess which force could win the city in hindsight, but they had no real feeling.

Now that he was truly participating in it, Shi Feng could not help but feel some emotion.

Then, Shi Feng went directly back to the Zero Wing Guild Residence, preparing to deal with the materials he had obtained during this time.

However, after Shi Feng walked into the hall of the Guild Residence, he suddenly noticed that the atmosphere among the guild members in the entire Guild Residence was very strange, giving people a feeling of depression. Also, there were fewer expert players.

"Youlan, what happened to the guild? Why does the atmosphere feel so strange?" Shi Feng could not help but ask Youlan, who was sorting out the guild members' information.

"Guild Leader, you're back!" Youlan looked at Shi Feng, who had returned. She was first happy, but then her face turned gloomy. "During this time, Twilight Echoes on the Storm Empire side has encountered a crisis. Vice Guild Leader Aqua Rose really doesn't want to see the Twilight Echoes established by her family destroyed, but she doesn't want to implicate Zero Wing, so she temporarily resigned from her position as Vice Guild Leader and went to Twilight Echoes to help in her personal capacity. Many of the original Twilight Echoes players in the guild also followed her. I originally wanted to contact you, but I couldn't reach you."

"Twilight Echoes is facing a crisis of destruction?" Shi Feng asked in surprise, "What's going on?"

"I heard that the Underworld Pavilion wants to completely swallow the Storm Empire and turn all the guilds in the Storm Empire into subsidiary guilds. Twilight Echoes doesn't want to, and plans to leave the Storm Empire to develop, but the Underworld Pavilion is not willing either. They said they would make Twilight Echoes completely disappear from God's Domain, which has led to Twilight Echoes being close to destruction." Youlan said slowly.

"I see." Shi Feng understood roughly and smiled wryly. "Is Zero Wing so unreliable?"

Twilight Echoes was everything of Aqua Rose's family behind her. Although Aqua Rose had now left the family and developed independently, if Twilight Echoes was finished, Aqua Rose's family would naturally be finished as well. However, the current Underworld Pavilion was not the first-rate guild it used to be. After being injected with capital from a large consortium, it had already driven the original super-first-rate guild out of the Storm Empire. After so long, its strength could be imagined.

Zero Wing was already facing many problems. If Aqua Rose went there as the Vice Guild Leader of Zero Wing Guild, it would naturally arouse the Underworld Pavilion's anger towards Zero Wing and cause Zero Wing Guild unnecessary trouble.

"Guild Leader, should we send people over there?" Youlan asked.

"Of course. Not only should we send people over there, but you should also notify the Underworld Pavilion and tell them that Zero Wing is protecting Twilight Echoes!"