Chapter 98: Digital Cruise (Part Eleven)

Chapter 98: Digital Cruise (Part Eleven)

When Zhang Daoan arrived, everyone had high hopes for him.

This is the guild leader's brother!

If the Chaoyang Guild was where the leader engraved his name in the guild's title, then in Ronghua, Zhang Daowu had embedded his ideology into the hearts of every member.

Whether during Ronghua's golden era or its period of decline, those who steadfastly guarded this ruin continued to embody his will, illuminating these broken walls and remnants with a faint glow of hope.

When the name "Zhang Daoan" first appeared on Ronghua's list, many felt a resurgence of Ronghua was imminent, and it brought a great sense of relief to many.

Even if they had to face a full-members dungeon, most likely meeting death and exiting the game, as long as Leader Zhang's spirit persisted, Ronghua would undoubtedly persist too.

But no one expected that the turn of events would gradually deviate from the pre-established trajectory.

The players, who were prepared for death and had even packed their "heritage" to bequeath to the newcomers, were first pulled into a level-five dungeon.

To put it bluntly, many of the remaining players in Ronghua hadn't cleared a level-five dungeon before, let alone after their capabilities were reduced.

Now, being forced into a level-five dungeon, many entered with the mindset of "Let's just fight, we are going to die anyway, just don't let it be by the hand of the guild leader's brother."

But who could have anticipated, the two new players, particularly the fair and delicate-looking older brother, were not ordinary. They boldly assaulted the NPCs, challenging all the dungeon rules, and the NPCs seemed to regard him as a living King of Hell.

As for the guild leader's brother... an unsettling aura was perceived by many.

Zhang Daoan always exhibited courteous behavior and demeanor. The piercing sharpness in his gaze seemed to see through anyone he looked at, coupled with his indifferent attitude towards other players, as if manipulating chess pieces, which evoked an uncomfortable detachment that made it difficult to like him.

Unfortunately, this person was the guild leader's brother and, clearly, both Wei Yuan and Nie Shuangshuang who knew him held an unusually high degree of trust in him.

Even if Wei Yuan's leadership position was nominal, he usually maintained a shrewd and tactful facade in front of others. Yet, when Zhang Daoan insisted on dining in the restaurant, despite apparently not fully understanding, Wei Yuan obediently complied. If Zhang Daoan said not to pay the ship fare, it simply was not paid.

Earlier too, when Zhang Daoan proposed coming over to collect the items, Wei Yuan agreed after only a moment's hesitation.

At this moment, when Zhong Daoan asked this question, someone couldn't hold back: "Old Wei, speak up!"

Everyone has weathered storms together in Ronghua for many years, with highly aligned attitudes and ideologies. Wei Yuan clearly understands where everyone's dilemmas lie.

However, he just looked at Zhong Daoan again, took a deep breath, his expression solemn.

"I trust you."

The room became instantly noisy.

"Isn't this too sentimental?"

"Damn! Old Wei, what are you doing indulging in idealism at this time? I'm dizzy!"

"Old Wei, can you or can't you do it? At least say something! Whether we understand it or not is one thing, but represent us, express something!"

"Exactly, you call yourself a guild leader, you wimp!"

Wei Yuan also lost his temper: "Damn it, whoever wants to be the guild leader can be! I will resign once we get out!"

A burst of cursing ensued.

Surprisingly, it was Nie Shuangshuang, who always seemed unreliable, who quieted everyone down with a gesture of her hand.

Nie Shuangshuang looked at Zhong Daoan.

Having experienced those dilemmas, she understood even more clearly where everyone's conflicting points were at this moment.

"I want to know what kind of guild you plan to lead Ronghua to become in the future. A bounty hunter guild?"

Everyone silently turned their eyes towards Zhong Daoan, including a few players who had exchanged items and were blessed, who couldn't help but gather around to watch.

Ronghua had long become a label, an entity resembling a spiritual benchmark.

At this moment, it clearly was an internal Ronghua meeting, but no one bothered to drive them away, so they secretly nestled in the corner listening, equally curious about how to regard the people of Ronghua in the future.

Zhong Daoan shook his head.

"Of course not."

Everyone sighed in relief.

Zhong Daoan remained calm, "Bounty hunters are just like Ning Suisui, striving to achieve maximum benefits while worrying about their own image; it's just a service industry. This path is not suitable for Ronghua."

Zhong Daoan first glanced at the few players who had exchanged items and were eavesdropping in the corner, then turned his head to look at the "Golden Leopard" squad across the bloody scene, who hadn't left yet.

He first addressed the few players who had exchanged items: "If you invite the Golden Leopard squad to help clear the dungeon, what compensation would you offer?"

Everyone paused, taken aback.

The Golden Leopard Squad is a well-known bounty hunter team throughout the game, renowned for their steep fees, with many not daring to even inquire about their services.

Someone did actually know: "The deposit is fifty million points, along with two rare items. Upon completing the dungeon, you need to pay all the point rewards of that dungeon and choose any three items, plus two additional rare items worth over thirty million each. If the dungeon clearance fails, half of the deposit will be returned to a player designated by the employer. However, their survival rate has always been very high, hence their higher fees compared to other bounty hunters."

"How high is the 'very high' survival rate?"

The person who spoke didn't hesitate: "Around 70%."

Zhong Daoan asked further: "In your opinion, is our strength greater or is it the Golden Leopard Squad's?"

"Definitely yours!" The speaker looked at Xie Fangcheng with bright, sparkling eyes, "This brother is the strongest player I've ever seen in my life!"

Xie Fangcheng modestly responded: "Not at all."

Zhong Daoan continued to query the players who had just paid with items: "Did everyone feel like the items you paid us with just now were a loss?"

The crowd immediately vocally denied it.

"How could it be? This brother is so strong and only asked for twenty million worth of our items in exchange for protecting our lives. We got a huge bargain!"

"Exactly, exactly! The moment I heard about this package, I immediately paid with my items without a second of hesitation!"

Clearly, when Xie Fangcheng initially proposed the item exchange for life-saving assistance, everyone's faces showed disbelief, uncertain why Ronghua's people would make such an excessive request. Ronghua wasn't like this before.

This isn't to say that all members of the Ronghua guild were foolish to the point of sacrificing themselves for others, but when they were able to help, they would do their utmost to assist others.

Xie Fangcheng's strength made overpowering NPCs seem too easy. According to Ronghua's previous conduct, they would unquestionably extend a helping hand without hesitation.

Items? Compensation? They wouldn't ask for such things.

However, that was the Ronghua of the past. Now, nobody dares to be like before, offering nothing more than a thank you when helped.

Now with Zhong Daoan asking this, everyone fears this unpredictable man with unclear intentions might have something else to say. They kept praising non-stop, afraid that a softer compliment might get them thrown into the sea, creating a rather warm atmosphere for a moment.

Yet, Zhong Daoan suddenly spoke: "I feel like it's a loss."

Everyone was startled.

Zhong Daoan spoke calmly: "Hasn't Ronghua always been offering help without asking for anything in return? If someone saves you, giving some compensation is expected. After all, what if they refuse to help the next time if nothing is given? Ronghua is different. They have always helped without asking for anything in return, it's fine even if nothing is given. In any similar situation, they would still offer help. It's a waste to give them so much, better to keep it for potential future needs where you can pay other players for assistance."

Silence.

Nie Shuangshuang knew early on that although he had ruthless methods, he was indeed a good person. Hence, she had always firmly stood by his side, her heart pounding in fear as she listened now.

"Brother, what exactly are you trying to say??"

Zhong Daoan just looked at the members of Ronghua in front of him.

"When I mentioned charging a fee just now, both President Wei and everyone showed hesitation. I'm saying this not because I think everyone made a mistake. I have no intention of criticizing the former president's methods, quite the contrary, I admire everyone's actions, which I find commendable in my eyes."

"Ronghua is a utopia, a spiritual haven for many in this game. I admire everyone here, because your perseverance has cultivated a 'Ronghua' legend in this brutal game."

His demeanor was calm, his expression notably solemn and serious.

"This is vitally important, because the existence of Ronghua allows many players to believe that humanity still harbors lofty ideals, still possesses the courage to confront the abyss. Since the emergence of Ronghua, the screens sharing free walkthroughs for clearing instances have increased from eleven channels to over two hundred channels, of which less than fifty percent are occupied by Ronghua. In level one instances, the novice clearance rate has risen from less than ninety percent to over ninety percent. The trend of veteran players explaining game rules to newcomers and sharing gaming experiences started flourishing after Ronghua's rise."

"I have always believed that what everyone is doing is commendable. However, these acts of self-sacrifice... have persisted until now and are on the verge of achieving a different outcome, it's time they could cease."

Nie Shuangshuang had a lingering feeling that Zhang Daoan was about to utter something absolutely shocking: "You mean to say..."

"The game is coming to an end," Zhang Daoan stated calmly.

There was a ripple of astonishment.

Even the eavesdropping "Yan Xiaotong" and others were so shocked that they forgot to maintain their disguise, staring directly at him.

Has he gone mad? What is he talking about???

Wei Yuan frowned deeply, "What exactly do you mean?"

Zhang Daoan was extremely straightforward, reaching into his pocket and retrieving Zhang Dawu’s “Heart of the Dragon” once more.

Zhang Dawu's skill was well-known, recognized by countless people who had seen the Heart of the Dragon, causing an immediate uproar.

"What?? What's happening???"

"Heart of the Dragon? Wasn't that the skill of the previous president, Zhang Dawu?"

"?? I was just doing a level five instance, right? What does this mean??"

Zhang Daoan raised his right hand in a quieting gesture, and the surrounding people quickly fell silent.

Without changing his expression, he said, "The president of the Chaoyang Guild, Ji Chaoyang, has brutally murdered my younger brother, the former president of the Ronghua Guild, Zhang Dawu. Before his death, he passed his skills and items to me, and brought this news. This game is currently controlled by Ji Chaoyang, and the so-called 'Reincarnation Trial' is merely an excuse to eliminate high-level players."

"?? You need to provide evidence when making such claims!!"

Immediately, someone started vehemently rebuking, their face flushed and ears red.

Zhang Daoan turned his head.

Behind him, one of the players who had just handed over their items was visibly furious.

Zhang Daoan asked, "Are you a member of the Chaoyang Guild?"

"Yes!!" The person spoke proudly, clearly taking great pride in their guild.

Understandably so, as being a part of Chaoyang, the strongest guild in the game, was a symbol of power.

Zhang Daoan simply asked, "Have the senior managers of your guild been frequently entering and exiting level five instances lately?"

The person's face registered a shock.

He only recently discovered that the big shots in the guild, especially those in the management layer, frequently venture into level-five dungeons together.

The level-five dungeons have a low success rate and high difficulty; even when Nie Shuangshuang was at her peak strength, she would enter them no more than three times a year, and only with ample preparation. The rest of the time was mostly spent lingering in level-three and level-four dungeons.

Moreover, each entry into a dungeon is akin to undergoing a life and death ordeal, with many arranging their "affairs" before stepping in.

Now, even temples dedicated to Guan Gong have emerged within the game, situated behind the three main buildings, near the second ring road, and enjoy an immense popularity among devotees.

In front of the temple, a row of fortune-tellers offering services ranging from I-Ching to tarot card readings can be found. Many players have made it a habit to consult them for auspicious dates to enter the dungeons before doing so.

This member of the Chaoyang Guild noticed that recently, the management layer has been entering the level-five dungeons quite frequently without any prior preparations or rituals for blessings and cleansing. Although unsure of the reason, he decided to follow suit, plunging headfirst into the level-five dungeons.

Now, with Nie Shuangshuang’s question, the change in this person's expression was clearly witnessed by everyone, evidently unable to conceal the truth.

Regaining his composure, he realized his exposure and ceased to cover up.

"Yes, that's right! What about it?"

Nie Shuangshuang inquired, "How did your guild's management know that the mortality rate in the level-five dungeons has recently decreased?"

"Know what?" The player froze, "You mean, they ventured into the level-five dungeons so readily because they knew about the decline in mortality rates? How is that possible?"

Nie Shuangshuang casually asked, "Why would it be impossible? If they knew that the mortality rate had significantly decreased recently, naturally they would seize the opportunity to profit from entering the level-five dungeons, wouldn't they? Additionally, it is widely known that Guild Leader Ji is the top player every year, a powerhouse never partaking in the [Reincarnation Trials]. Interestingly, despite his notorious concern for his younger brother, leaving him to fend for himself in the perilous dungeons seems oddly out of character, don't you think?"

This got the player thinking.

Ji Ge has a flamboyant personality, often leading guild members into dungeons.

He usually partners with a junior manager named "Liu Zi". They frequently team up, yet the flamboyant Ji Ge would mysteriously disappear from time to time, rumored to be undertaking level-five dungeons, with strategies occasionally spotted in the guild's strategy repository.

But, Ji Chaoyang, the guild leader, rarely takes Ji Ge along when entering the dungeons.

"This..."

Nie Shuangshuang just sighed.

"My brother met his end because he uncovered the secrets of this game, secrets that Ji Chaoyang wanted to keep hidden. I believe, by the time we exit this dungeon, the outside world will have undergone a dramatic change."

The crowd exchanged uneasy glances.

"Do you... have any proof?"

"I don't possess tangible evidence, but the reactions of the Chaoyang Guild serve as the best testament," Nie Shuangshuang calmly stated.

If someone were to use a summoning item to contact the outside world now, they would promptly find that a significant change has indeed occurred outside.

Countless screens flickered with messages, all seemingly pointing towards a singular name upon a cursory glance.

【Topic: Discussing the current online rumors: How credible are the claims that [Jie Fangcheng] is using cheats? Was Ronghua aware of this?】

【Content: Rumor has it that this player is exploiting the game? Allegedly, his entry into the game aims to absorb the core essence of the game, ultimately leading to a disastrous fate for all players. Is there any evidence to substantiate these rumors?】

Post #1: Just look at the screenshot for yourself. My friend cleared the [Fulai Inn] dungeon with him. Now only 1 clearance attempt remains, but upon opening, the instance has disappeared. Isn't this an obvious sign of him exploiting the game?

Post #3: I know this person! I sensed something was off before. How can he be so powerful? He's not on the leaderboard, and no one had heard of his name before. But he could make the top ten leaders on the leaderboard spit blood with a single strike, is this even possible?

Post #6: Many people witnessed it in the main hall that day, didn't they? With a single stomp, the floor cracked open. How many people can do that? To be blunt, Ji Chaoyang, our current top player, the strongest player who has cleared countless dungeons, could he even do that?

Post #11: I heard from a newbie in my guild, they cleared their first instance with this person. They said he only had two clearances, no skills or items, but with a single strike, he could kill NPCs that veteran players couldn't defeat. Do you think this is the strength of a newbie? Is this even possible?

Post #14: The Chaoyang Guild is currently offering a hefty reward for information on this person. I believe we will have results soon.

……

Post #392: Speaking of cheats, does anyone know a player called Lang Gu? I heard he's quite terrifying. Seems to be a new player, but once he entered the dungeon, he killed a player straight away, then killed many NPCs, and somehow cleared the dungeon in a mysterious way. Really strange.

Post #411: The son of the guild leader of [Yangchun] was killed by this Lang Gu. I heard that too. He also had no skills or items, just rushed over and killed him with two strikes. Terrifying!

Post #414: This has to be cheating, right? They came here with cheats... Are they planning to ruin the entire game? It's too much! I've been working so hard just to accumulate enough points to return to the real world through [Reincarnation Trial]. What can we do? Can we drive these cheaters out of the game?

Post #423: In any case, remember the name [Jie Fangcheng]. If you see any suspicious players, kill them on sight! Better to kill mistakenly than to let one go!!

Post #426: What about Ronghua then? Wasn't it said that [Jie Fangcheng] has now joined Ronghua? What should this guild do?

Post #432: What should they do? Since they tolerate cheats, if they hand over [Jie Fangcheng] willingly, we can forgive them. If they persist, then Ronghua will become the enemy of all players.

Meanwhile in the game, Zhang Dao'an's voice remained calm.

He calmly narrated the "facts": "I know many of you don't believe, Ji Chaoyang has disguised well. If Zhang Daowu hadn't told me, I wouldn't have known that this 'big shot', who seems to have a great relationship with my brother, is such a person. Since the beginning of the game, this guild leader Ji has stayed in the game. No one knows exactly how strong he is, or how many items he owns. Throughout the game's operation, countless powerful players have returned to the real world through the [Reincarnation Trial] he controls, yet he never got tempted."

"The managerial staff of the Chaoyang Guild who are in good terms with him haven't changed much until now. Every year, during the national dungeon event, this guild leader is able to boost the entire guild's clearance rate to an unimaginably high level with his exaggerated strength. He also accurately provides unknown 'tips' to those around him, helping them clear level 5 dungeons with such a low casualty rate."

With every word he spoke, the faces of the once proud members of the Chaoyang Guild grew paler.

"This is... This is just baseless speculation!"

"Indeed." Zhang Dao'an admitted swiftly, but then he turned his gaze towards Jie Fangcheng.

Receiving his gaze, Jie Fangcheng somehow understood his intentions.

"It's not baseless speculation."

Jie Fangcheng spoke up.

"Who are you then? What do you have to say?!" The players of the Chaoyang Guild were on the verge of collapse.

At this moment, everyone was dumbfounded, unsure whether to believe his words or not.

"Who am I?" Jie Fangcheng stood there with his staff, dressed in tattered She Institute uniform, wearing a white rabbit carrot headband and odd hairpins, looking quite strange yet remarkably composed.

"I am an employee of the Underworld."

“？？？”

Where did this lunatic come from?? What on earth is this "Underworld" place??

The crowd's eyes were fervently exchanging this piece of information.

Only the members of the "Golden Leopard" squad looked at each other, their expressions suddenly becoming gravely serious.

Ning Suisui had noticed the distinctions that set Jie Fangcheng apart from ordinary people a while ago.

It was glaringly evident; the higher a player ranked on the score leaderboard and the more instances they had cleared, the quicker they realized that something was amiss.

Jie Fangcheng demonstrated a speed typically seen in newcomers, yet his terrifying prowess, surpassing even the top-ranking players, made it hard to believe that he was a neophyte unfamiliar with the game. Players like Zhou Heqi were still making comparisons, debating who was more powerful between Jie Fangcheng and Ning Suisui.

However, anyone who had teamed up with the "big shots" to clear instances would soon realize that Jie Fangcheng's strength was on a completely different level compared to other players.

Compared to Zhong Dao'an, who quickly guessed that he was from the Underworld, Ning Suisui's speculation was slightly off the mark.

—Perhaps he's a person with special abilities or an extraterrestrial entity.

That's what Ning Suisui had suggested.

At a time when other players were dismissing this statement as lunacy, the members of the "Golden Leopard" squad were exceedingly serious, almost fully convinced in their hearts.

Initially startled, the members of the Chaoyang guild soon felt a burgeoning sense of being mocked.

"Damn it... From the Underworld? You're claiming to be a Hell Messenger, huh? What proof do you have?"

Without a word, Jie Fangcheng slammed his fist down, puncturing a hole in the boat beside him, causing waves to splash fiercely into the breach.

The marine creatures in the surrounding sea, attracted by the commotion, swam closer, only to flee in panic upon seeing him, causing a tumultuous upheaval on the water surface resembling dumplings being thrown into boiling water.

Jie Fangcheng stood amidst the splashing waves, his expression remaining serene.

"My power is the best proof."