Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Bei Chen's eyebrows shot up high. He slapped his thigh again and declared, "Just what the doctor ordered! With this Mysterious Brilliance Fragment holder, our team is complete!"

Sitting across from him, Qing Shu was lightly tapping the table with his fingertips, a frown creasing his brow.

He was repeatedly checking the detailed data provided by the system backend.

This was one of the paid privileges for guild managers—the ability to check an applicant's past records. Although it only covered the last six months, it was usually sufficient.

The records for "Bai Yan" were a complete blank. From the moment he entered the game until now, he had no guild history, no fixed team, and not even any "close relationships."

"Guild Leader," Qing Shu's voice was as gentle as ever, but carried a note of gravity, "this person is problematic."

"His data is as clean as a blank sheet of paper. That's downright suspicious."

"To hide oneself to this extent within the Two Principles Painting Scroll... either he has permissions beyond our understanding, or the backing he has is far beyond our imagination."

"You always overthink things!" Bei Chen waved his hand dismissively. "What's wrong with clean data? Maybe he's a lone wolf who doesn't like leaving traces! Besides, this game has a huge sandbox; there are plenty of weirdos who are amazing at it!"

"Guild Leader," Qing Shu reminded him, "don't forget about those 'Abyss Guide' fanatics. They operate in weird ways, and they're obsessed with destroying high-quality Civilization Fragments. What if..."

"Abyss Guide..." Bei Chen's brow furrowed, then relaxed again, his tone carrying a devil-may-care bravery. "So what if it is them? What's coming can't be avoided! I'm not selling the first-clear rights for the [Lu Ban's Locked City] dungeon anyway. Since we have to face it one way or another, we might as well roll the dice!"

"Guild Leader..." Qing Shu tried to persuade him further.

"Enough!" Bei Chen cut him off. "I went with your call on Ji Xia's Fragment Box. This time, you listen to me."

Seeing the familiar glint in Bei Chen's eyes, Qing Shu sighed softly and said no more, only replying, "...Alright."

At the same time, Ji Xia got a system notification: "Congratulations, World Painter Ji Xia, on joining the guild - Starfall."

In the next instant, a new package appeared in Ji Xia's mailbox.

Inside were the Starfall guild emblem, a set of guild uniforms, and three bottles of Spirit Ink potion.

After putting on the guild emblem, Ji Xia's view flashed, and a bustling guild channel interface appeared on the light screen.

Despite being a full-dive VR game, to simulate reality, the use of teleportation talismans was restricted. Most players got around on their own two feet, so actually meeting up was rare, and most communication happened "online."

The guild channel was filled with scrolling text and voice messages.

"Lao Liu Isn't a Rogue": Welcome, newcomer! @Ji Xia, are you the fierce one who snatched the prize right from under Rivers and Mountains Pavilion's nose?

"Qun Qun": Spill the tea! How exactly did you trick those bastards from Mad Blade's group? They've been throwing their weight around for ages!

"Little Transparent": Welcome, big shot! Rivers and Mountains Pavilion has been pushing people around in the beginner villages for too long; it's about time they got their comeuppance!

"Since Ancient Times, Hong Lan Dies CP": @Ji Xia, single? I'm 185cm, a sports student, Charm 7.

"Lao Liu Isn't a Rogue": @Since Ancient Times, Hong Lan Dies CP Female.

"Since Ancient Times, Hong Lan Dies CP": I know.

"Lao Liu Isn't a Rogue": I was telling @Ji Xia that *you're* female!

Watching the scrolling channel, Ji Xia lightly tapped her fingertip and sent a system-default cute, well-behaved smiley face.

"Ji Xia": ^_^ Hello, everyone.

The guild channel erupted again with playful banter.

Just then, a new system prompt abruptly popped up in the guild channel:

"New member [Bai Yan] has joined the guild"

Bai Yan?

Ji Xia's brow twitched involuntarily.

The guild channel's attention was instantly hijacked.

"Qun Qun": Wow! Another newcomer! What's the occasion today?

"Lao Liu Isn't a Rogue": @Bai Yan Welcome, welcome! What's your background, friend? Don't tell me you also have a Mysterious Brilliance fragment?

"Little Transparent": Are big shots flocking to join today...

In the middle of all the welcomes and questions, the newly joined Bai Yan responded.

"Bai Yan": ^_^ Hello, everyone.

The expression was identical to the one Ji Xia had just sent, and even the "Hello, everyone" was exactly the same.

The channel fell silent for a moment, then exploded.

"Since Ancient Times, Hong Lan Dies CP": ???

"Qun Qun": Wait... @Ji Xia, do you know each other? Did you come together?

Ji Xia looked at the copied smiley face, the corner of her mouth twitching.

"Bai Yan": ?

Helpful members immediately explained to Bai Yan that Ji Xia had just used the same expression and identical "Hello, everyone."

A moment later, Bai Yan's response popped up. He said it extremely naturally, yet it made Ji Xia's eyelids jump.

"Bai Yan": It seems we share a Telepathic Connection.

The words "Telepathic Connection" all but confirmed it for Ji Xia!

She quickly opened the guild member list, found the name "Bai Yan," and clicked to check his info.

The profile card that popped up included a low-res photo, seemingly a casual close-up shot—that handsome yet weary face was none other than the lantern-carrying "Mr. Bai"!

Yun Ling poked half of her little paper body out from the [Divine Cloud Brocade] and also saw the photo. Clasping her tiny hands, she commented, "What a persistent Old Lamp!"

The tension Ji Xia had felt upon Bai Yan joining the guild was broken by Yun Ling's pun, nearly making her laugh out loud.

Her mood was unexpectedly eased.

Compared to an enemy hiding in the shadows, it was better to have them out in the open.

Just then, a message in the font unique to the guild leader appeared in the channel.

"Bei Chen": Quiet down, don't scare the newcomers. Let me formally introduce everyone. @Ji Xia, Civilization Fragment "Inspiration Pen" (Mysterious Brilliance), source: "Huaxia Civilization · Along the River During the Qingming Festival." @Bai Yan, Civilization Fragment "Swift Snow" (Mysterious Brilliance), source: "Huaxia Civilization · Letter on the Clearing Sky after Snowfall."

This message was pinned at the top for ten seconds.

The channel was filled with another round of amazed reactions.

Two Mysterious Brilliance Fragment holders joining at once was a cause for celebration for any guild.

Ji Xia looked at the name "Swift Snow" and glanced at its fragment source... *Swift Snow in Clearing Skies Calligraphy*.

She didn't know what its inherited effect was.

Yun Ling: "You're the brush, he's the calligraphy. You've got the upper hand!"

It was clear the Little Paper Person was very bothered by Bai Yan.

Ji Xia asked, "Is this 'Swift Snow' that lamp?"

Yun Ling shook her head. "Definitely not! That Old Lamp... either isn't a Civilization-Grade Fragment at all, or it's a very high-quality one!"

Ji Xia nodded, unconsciously rubbing the thin callus on her middle finger from holding a brush.

"Swift Snow" was indeed a "Mysterious Brilliance" fragment; that couldn't be faked.

This was likely just a fragment Bai Yan tossed out to deceive others. He definitely held more than just this one Mysterious Brilliance fragment.

Just then, Ji Xia received a private message from the guild leader.

Bei Chen: "Come to Private Room No. 1 at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion in Bianjing at 5 PM. Our team members will meet up."

Ji Xia replied "Okay."

"The Locked City of Lu Ban" was highly difficult. They indeed needed to meet, understand their teammates' situations, and coordinate better.

Ji Xia didn't wander around. Instead, she sat cross-legged in the spirit-rich tea room, recovering her Spirit Ink value.

With five minutes left until the agreed time, Ji Xia arrived at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.

With her Starfall Guild status, she didn't have to worry about being cornered by Rivers and Mountains Pavilion members anymore.

However, they were currently preoccupied with their own troubles and probably wouldn't have time to bother her for a while.

When Ji Xia pushed open the carved wooden door of the private room, all eyes in the room turned to her.

Around the round table, Bei Chen, tall and sturdy in his crisp guild uniform, sat at the head. Next to him was Qing Shu, wearing a scholar's robe and delicate glasses.

There were also several unfamiliar faces.

A tall, slender girl with neat short hair, ID "Red and Blue Are Doomed CP," was leaning casually back in her chair, her eyes full of curiosity.

Beside her sat a fair, cute-looking girl whose ID was surprisingly "Lao Liu Isn't a Rogue." She was holding a glass of juice, blinking her big eyes as she sized Ji Xia up.

The other two were not guild members.

One had the simple ID "Ink." His appearance was extremely ordinary, the type who would melt into a crowd, but his aura was cold and gloomy.

The other's ID was "Star." She seemed much more lively, idly spinning a teacup in her hand, a pair of cute little fangs showing at the corners of her mouth.

There were also two other players, a woman and a man, IDs "A Mu" and "Sui Yu." They sat farther away, looking quite reserved. Although they were also Starfall Guild core members, their strength was not in the same league as the others present.

"You're here? Have a seat." Bei Chen greeted her with a smile. "Everyone's here. Let me briefly introduce everyone. This is Qing Shu, the pillar of our guild. Don't let his fragment quality fool you; he pieced together this *Dan Qing* set himself. He excels in buffs, crowd control, and healing—an absolute top-tier team support."

Qing Shu sat upright and proper. Even holding only *Dan Qing* fragments, he commanded respect.

"These two," Bei Chen pointed to the tall girl and the petite one, "Hong Lan, Mysterious Brilliance Fragment 【Star of Destruction】; Lao Liu, Mysterious Brilliance Fragment 【Immovable Wisdom King Armor】."

"Ink, Star," he then pointed to the two non-guild players who had caught Ji Xia's attention, "They're friends of a friend. They both hold Mysterious Brilliance fragments and are here temporarily to help."

Finally, he introduced A Mu and Sui Yu. Although they also possessed a set of three *Dan Qing* fragments, their demeanor was far less composed and steady than Qing Shu's.

"Alright, everyone's acquainted now." Bei Chen clapped his hands, his expression turning serious. "【The Locked City of Lu Ban】 isn't an ordinary dungeon. We need seamless coordination. Let's all explain the inherited effects of our fragments in detail."

No one objected. Since they decided to team up, they at least needed to know each other's "skills" to cooperate.

Hong Lan spoke first: "【Star of Destruction】, the first and second effects are both strong offense. The third effect is super high burst damage."

Lao Liu gave a sweet smile: "【Immovable Wisdom King Armor】, all three effects are defensive. Leave drawing aggro to me."

Ink's voice was low: "【Thousand Mechanisms】, crowd control, defense reduction."

Star grinned, showing her little fangs: "【Flowing Firefly】, high speed, assassination. The ultimate skill is... goes 'boom' when it explodes."

A Mu and Sui Yu also introduced their respective *Dan Qing* fragments, both leaning towards buffs and support.

When it was Ji Xia's turn, she said calmly, "【Inspiration Pen】, utility-based. Can create illusions, good at tactical deception."

Many present had seen the footage of Ji Xia's battle with Rivers and Mountains Pavilion. Hearing this, they instantly understood: "So it was illusions!"

Finally, everyone's gaze fell on Bai Yan.

He seemed to have just been roused from a doze, looking up a beat late. "【Swift Snow】, hmm... slowing, assassination, area clearing."

Area clearing?

Everyone's eyes changed slightly. This was a very rare large-scale attack effect.

Bei Chen nodded with satisfaction. "Good! With this, we have offense, defense, support, control, and AoE damage. This team composition is very balanced! We'll discuss team synergy later..." He looked at Qing Shu. "First, share the intel with everyone."

Qing Shu nodded, tapping a finger in the air. A light screen materialized. His tone was grave. "We obtained this first-clear qualification from a randomly triggered prerequisite dungeon. There, we encountered an NPC who escaped from 【The Locked City of Lu Ban】, and he had gone completely mad."

He looked around at everyone, slowly repeating the NPC's deranged ravings:

"He kept shouting... 'Gong Shuwan is mad! Gong Shuwan is mad! That devil... she killed her own parents, killed her lover, killed everyone in the village, and finally even sacrificed herself... all to complete that sinful, terrifying mechanism!'"

The private room fell into silence, broken only by the faint sounds of Bianjing's bustling prosperity from outside the window.

Killing her closest kin, sacrificing herself...

All to complete a mechanism?

The background of the "Locked City of Lu Ban" dungeon exuded a sinister, spine-chilling aura.

Red envelopes are dropping in the comment section!

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# The Locked City of Lu Ban