Chapter 209: The Vampire Count (Part One)

Chapter 209: The Vampire Count (Part One)

The enormous dragon radiated a lustrous white glow; each scale appeared as if crafted from the finest jade. Its movements were agile and elegant, yet imbued with a sense of unassailable majesty. Even from an unknown distance, one could still feel its overwhelming presence.

Players with Orcish bloodlines were instinctively kneeling in reverence. The bustling player hall seemed to freeze, as if someone had hit the pause button, silencing even the mechanical system notifications.

Jie Fangcheng also found himself staring, mesmerized, at this majestic dragon.

In his mini-world, there were indeed many legends about dragons, including some in the Underworld.

The legend goes that after the ancient gods created the three realms, the Celestial and Mortal realms enjoyed the best light, attracting countless beings. Meanwhile, the Underworld remained a desolate and dark place no one wished to inhabit.

An ancient Dragon God decided to personally descend into the Underworld to alleviate its desolation.

With sharp claws, he carved out the land, establishing the Eighteen Levels of Hell; with a powerful tail, he swept out the River Styx.

To add life to the desolate Underworld, he planted Soul Revival Grass and Stygian Flowers along the banks of the River Styx, and crafted Dream-Returning Fish in the river based on the shape of his own fins…

But all of these were just legends. Neither Jie Fangcheng nor even Dongyue God had ever met this Dragon God.

Long before the first wave of ancient gods began to fall, the Dragon God had already vanished without a trace.

To witness such a magnificent dragon now left Jie Fangcheng in a state of awe.

The white dragon slowly circled above before eventually departing.

It wasn't until a significant time had passed after the white dragon left that the player hall finally resumed its usual bustling activity.

"The dragon... It's only after witnessing one firsthand that you realize how terrifying they truly are," sighed Zhan Xiaoming.

Jiefang Cheng's brows furrowed slightly, a hint of unease stirring within him, "Terrifying?"

"Yes," Zhan Xiaoming explained. "The one we saw isn't a real dragon, but a shadow left behind by one. The genuine dragon has been dead for a long time. After the six 'Founders' constructed the game, it attracted a greedy dragon wanting to take control. This dragon invaded the 'Three Thousand Worlds,' killing many players. It took the combined efforts of the six 'Founders' to slay the malevolent creature. Since then, the dragon's corpse was sealed in the forbidden area of Zone A1, and its dragon orb, which also serves as one of the game's power sources, was displayed in the player's hall of A1. Hence, only players who have completed the S-level hunting ground task are allowed in A1; others would be overwhelmed by the orb's aura. This dragon was previously only occasionally seen in A1; I don't know why it has now appeared in D-zone..."

Jiefang Cheng looked up to the sky, where the silhouette of the dragon had vanished.

Strangely... Jiefang Cheng felt as if the dragon had come for him.

A greedy dragon? Somehow, he felt there might be more to the story—

"Let's go!" Zhan Xiaoming quickly brightened up, "Come on, I can't wait to introduce you to the delicacies of the D-zone!"

The group chatted and laughed, heading to the teleportation point labeled D19-74.

Zhan Xiaoming briefed, "The player's hall is vast with many teleportation points, each having a unique code. When you plan to meet someone in the hall, always clarify the code."

Zhan Xiaoming lamented, "D-zone's layout is logical. But if you ever visit E-zone, their coding system is a nightmare. I've delivered takeouts there; I know!"

The others chuckled.

Inside the teleportation point, Zhan Xiaoming selected their destination.

A flash of white light, and then—

When Jiefang Cheng opened his eyes, he was momentarily stunned.

The player's hall, though verdant with its plethora of trees, was undeniably modern. Hovering carriages, AI robots, teleportation spots – all these elements screamed advanced technology.

But their current location resembled an ordinary ancient European town.

The buildings were predominantly wooden and hardly rose above three stories.

This environment resonated with the style of the player's hall—lush trees everywhere. It felt less like an urban space and more like a rustic European town nestled within a forest.

In front of the teleportation point was a commercial street. Unlike other zones fond of virtual electronic screens, shops here used traditional hanging signs. Every stall displayed a price board, and hawker calls echoed.

"Come on, let's grab some food; I'm starving!"

Zhan Xiaoming confidently led the way, explaining as they moved.

Their location in D19 was vast, but since it was a post-apocalyptic world infested with zombies before the collapse, many parts were still corroded by the zombie virus and unfit for habitation. Thus, players mainly resided in the southern half of D19, consisting of over a hundred teleportation points, representing a similar number of towns. Each town was isolated since the roads between them were impassable.

So, to visit other towns in D19, one must first enter the teleportation point, travel to the player's hall, and then teleport to the desired town.

The town they now reside in is called "Macktown." The name bears no special significance; it was simply generated randomly by the system.

"These trees surrounding us serve as the 'protective belt' for various towns. They are the lifeline bestowed upon District D19 by the Elf King. Thanks to these trees, we can inhabit D19."

Upon mentioning the "Elf King," Jian Xiaoming's face lit up with admiration, "Our District is unique. We deeply revere our 'King'. While the 'Elf King' never dictated how the place should be built, everyone knows that her world prioritizes magical essence over technology. Even today, she isn't fond of high-tech products. Thus, apart from areas like the players' hall, where players from D19 and beyond frequent, the primary residential zones in other districts — essentially, the worlds within D19 — predominantly adopt this architectural style."

As the group made their way, Xie Fangcheng seemed at ease. Despite being the most powerful among them, he was the least familiar with the intricacies of the game.

But for Liu Feiyao and the others, who had spent a month in different zones, the bustling, seemingly normal world before them was a source of wonder.

Liu Feiyao, in particular, felt this deeply.

Both Han Ruihang and Pei Xiaodong were from Zone B.

Zone B is renowned for its "rationality," with academic theories abounding. In stark contrast to Zone D, Zone B pursues all forms of high-tech advancements. The Zone Leader, known as the "Mad Scientist," has a mechanical body with only his brain remaining organic.

Body modification is highly popular in Zone B; even the practice of bloodline replacement is said to have originated there.

In such an environment, players are generally composed, seldom engaging in fights and placing little emphasis on making friends.

Zone C, on the other hand, is different. Ever since "Tianzi" took over as the Zone Leader, Zone C has become infamous for its lawlessness. Random killings are the norm, often without any apparent reason.

A common saying goes that the micro-worlds within Zone C are even more dangerous than hunting fields.

When Liu Feiyao stayed in Zone C, she always confined herself to the players' hall where combat was forbidden, aware that venturing elsewhere with her level of power would be tantamount to suicide.

She had always thought that the game was as tumultuous as Zone C, and only upon coming here did she realize that such peaceful places also existed within the game.

Jian Xiaoming was clearly familiar with the surroundings. After entering McTown, he guided them through a series of turns, soon arriving at a shop with a sign reading "Mingxin Snack Shop."

"Uncle! I'm back!"

Jian Xiaoming's uncle, a burly man towering over two meters, jolted from his distracted inventory management at the sound of his nephew’s voice, turning around abruptly.

Seeing Jian Xiaoming standing vigorously before him—albeit missing an arm—he felt an unexpected joy. To be alive was a blessing in itself.

Jian Shi patted him on the shoulder, his lips trembling slightly as he nodded, "It's good you're back."

Jian Xiaoming still wore his naïve and innocent grin, grabbing two bags of sunflower seeds cheerfully.

"Uncle, I'm taking my friends out for a meal first. We’ll catch up later."

Unlike his talkative nephew, Jian Shi was a man of few words. He simply nodded, "Go ahead."

With that, Jian Xiaoming cheerfully led the group out of the snack shop.

Liu Feiyao admired, "Your uncle really treats you well."

"Hehehe," Jian Xiaoming chuckled smugly.

Soon, they arrived at the restaurant that Jian Xiaoming had been praising—the tables sat beneath two trees whose canopies intertwined.

The restaurant wasn’t crowded. The owner stood idly behind the counter, snapping back to reality only when he noticed Jian Xiaoming.

"Xiaoming, you're here? Oh, are these your friends?"

"Yes!" Jian Xiaoming gleefully took the menu, making selections as he consulted its contents.

Jie Fangcheng leaned in for a closer look. The dishes had names he had never seen before. It seemed these might be specialties of D19.

While waiting for their meals, Jian Xiaoming handed out a portion of fried sunflower seeds to everyone.

"Eat up, give them a try."

Sunflower seeds! Jie Fangcheng didn't expect much at first, but after trying one, he exclaimed in surprise.

Jian Xiaoming looked proud, "Feels quite different from the ones you've had before, doesn't it?"

Han Ruihang and Pei Xiaodong nodded vigorously, already engrossed in eating.

Liu Feiyao had a different reaction. After imitating Pei Xiaodong and trying one, she replied, "I've never had sunflower seeds before, but these are tasty."

Jie Fangcheng found it hard to describe. It wasn't that the flavor was particularly unique, but the crunch was exceptional. It was so addicting that it felt like the crisp sound was resonating in his head.

Jian Xiaoming clarified, "Though these look like sunflower seeds, they're actually the seeds of a plant brought from an S-level hunting ground. The 'Elf King' sowed these seeds in D19, which is why only here can you find these 'seeds'. They're not available elsewhere."

Liu Feiyao had been curious earlier, "I don't really follow other players. I know the Elf King is the leader of D19, but she's also a player, right? How can a player have such transformative abilities?"

According to Jian Xiaoming, most of D19's sub-districts were crafted by the Elf King, like sowing seeds in this zombie world that grow into trees resistant to the zombie virus, enabling other players to survive in this microcosm.

Now there was this story of the Elf King's unique seeds, making it seem as if no other player could replicate her actions.

Yet Jian Xiaoming nodded as if it was expected, "Exactly! Every district can incorporate fragments of collapsed worlds, but only the district leaders have the 'authority' to modify the living environment within. For instance, in D19, we can determine our buildings and such, but the power to designate inhabitable towns resides solely with the district leader."

Authority?

Jie Fangcheng felt a twinge of alertness upon hearing this term, having previously encountered it in "Do Not Respond."

He inquired, "What authority? Who grants it upon becoming a district leader? How is this authority utilized?"

Jian Xiaoming looked stunned and hesitated.

"Well, I'm not entirely sure. It's probably confidential, known only to the district leaders?"

Jie Fangcheng pursued, "So, how does one become a district leader? Just by participating in some competition?"

Jian Xiaoming appeared dumbfounded once again.

He certainly recognized Jie Fangcheng's prowess, but if he recalled correctly, hadn't they just recently cleared their first instance together? That was the case, right?

How is it that right after clearing a dungeon, this guy is already considering how to become the district leader? Is there something off here?

Zhan Xiaoming seemed perplexed but reflexively answered nonetheless.

"Not everyone can participate in the competition. At the very least, you need to clear an S-level hunting ground to be eligible... and not everyone can enter an S-level hunting ground. You need to pass a skill assessment test to even buy a ticket. And to take that test, you need to have cleared a level 5 dungeon. Basically, it's a hierarchical testing process."

"Sounds complicated, doesn't it?"

"It's not so bad, is it?" Jian Xiaoming consoled. "Given your abilities, Xie, it's only a matter of time before you can enter an S-level hunting field."

Xie Fangcheng remained silent.

He suspected that the micro-world he was currently in might very well be an S-level hunting field.

Switching gears, Xie Fangcheng asked, "By the way, how does one get to Zone A1?"

Although the game seemed too vast to be disrupted by merely killing a few people, Xie Fangcheng hadn't abandoned his intention to give the game's creators a piece of his mind.

His question, however, was met with a familiar response from Jian Xiaoming: "You need to complete a mission in an S-level hunting field first..."

"Why is it always about that?"

Jian Xiaoming shrugged. "That's just how the game is designed."

"That's precisely what's wrong with this game," Xie Fangcheng retorted, clearly unsatisfied.

Before Jian Xiaoming could reply, a dish was set down forcefully in front of Xie Fangcheng.

"Your meal," said the restaurant owner, casting a glance at Xie Fangcheng before departing.

Once the owner was out of earshot, Jian Xiaoming whispered, "He's originally from a micro-world. He was on the brink of death but found new life here, even married and had children. However..."

Jian Xiaoming shook his head. "His daughter participated in an instance dungeon last year and never returned."

The game allows second-generation players, those who grow up within it, twenty years to mature. By the time they reach twenty, they generally receive a system prompt to join an instance dungeon.

If they refuse, they can't earn official player status and will be kicked out of the game—in other words, they die.

Xie Fangcheng wanted to say something but ultimately chose to remain silent.

After the meal, Jian Xiaoming was still quite enthusiastic.

"How about I show you around Zone D? While D1 isn't as famous as E8, it's a hotspot for elves, who are breathtakingly beautiful. Their personalities, however, can be a bit volatile."

Xie Fangcheng simply shook his head. "You guys go ahead."

Jian Xiaoming looked puzzled. "Aren't you coming, Xie?"

"I'm going to tackle an instance dungeon."

With that, Xie Fangcheng began heading toward the teleportation point.

To reach Zone A1, one must have a record of completing an S-level hunting mission; to enter an S-level hunting field, one needs to qualify. All in all, fighting his way up seemed like the most straightforward course of action.

Jian Xiaoming was bewildered. "Aren't you going to take a break? There's a one-month grace period after completing an instance dungeon where you don't have to pay any fees—it's quite a deal."

Most players usually rest until this grace period ends, given the perilous nature of instance dungeons. In there, it's hard to find a good meal or a comfortable place to sleep...

When Zhan Xiaoming tried to recall how Jie Fangcheng had cleared the dungeon, his mind drew a blank.

Is he suffering from poor sleep and bad meals like some NPC?

Jie Fangcheng clearly had no intention of taking advantage of the free trial period. Whether he was hanging out in the game lobby, some zone, or even in a dungeon, it made little difference to him.

Why not go check out the dungeon? You might even run into Professor Zhang.

"Alright, go ahead and play," Jie Fangcheng waved his hand. "I'm leaving first."

"Ah…" Zhan Xiaoming stood up blankly, watching as Jie Fangcheng confidently walked towards the teleportation point.

Half a minute later, Jie Fangcheng returned from the teleportation point.

Zhan Xiaoming was elated, "Jie, you're not leaving after all?"

Jie Fangcheng asked, "How do I get to the player's lobby?"

.

Zhan Xiaoming personally escorted him back to the player's lobby and even guided him to the dungeon selection terminal.

"Jie, you've only cleared one dungeon so far, so you can only enter a Level 2 dungeon... Yes, pick this one," Zhan Xiaoming instructed.

Though the terminal operated differently, the game strangely resembled "Do Not Respond" in many ways. It felt like an upgraded version, essentially the same despite the different appearance.

Jie Fangcheng got the hang of it instantly, quickly selecting a Level 2 dungeon.

As he was leaving, Zhan Xiaoming said wistfully, "Jie, let's have dinner together when you come back from the dungeon! Oh, I'll save some sunflower seeds for you. Come find me later!"

The sunflower seeds did have a unique flavor. Jie Fangcheng nodded.

A flash of white light.

Zhan Xiaoming stood with his hands in his pockets, staring nostalgically at the teleportation point where Jie Fangcheng had disappeared.

Just as he was lost in thought, another flash of white light enveloped him.

Within this teleportation point, flashes of white light were always coming and going. This particular flash, slightly different from the rest, went unnoticed.

After the flash of white light, Zhan Xiaoming was nowhere to be seen.

.

[Ding—Welcome to the Dungeon: Vampire Count]

[Dungeon: Vampire Count (Level 2)]

[Introduction: The Vampire Count's new castle is finally complete! He's a wealthy and knowledgeable gentleman of elegance. On this joyous day, the suave Count plans to invite the town's beautiful young men and women to join him for a three-day feast. He's prepared a lavish dinner and cleaned the castle from top to bottom. Will you become the Count's favorite Countess?]

[Objective: Enter the Vampire Castle. Will you be a graceful guest or become elegant prey?]

[Clearance Conditions: Survive within the castle for three days. Exiting the castle results in mission failure.]

Jie Fangcheng opened his eyes.

He found himself seated in an opulently decorated carriage. Outside the window, horses galloped along. He attempted to lift the window to take in the scenery, but as he raised his hand, a large question mark materialized in his mind.

Jie Fangcheng awkwardly lifted his arm and then lowered his head to inspect his attire.

...Is this a dress?

It's not that Jie Fangcheng was lacking in worldly experience, but the carriage's space seemed to be half-filled by the intricate, multi-layered garment he was wearing.

Just as he extended his hand to lift the fabric for a closer look, the carriage came to a halt.

A voice, tinged with mirth and as refreshing as a spring breeze, emanated from outside the carriage.

"Dear guest, we have arrived at the castle. Please alight."