The names had almost naturally surfaced in Xiao Wen's mind. Seeing the enormous stone statues before him, the shock on his face did not diminish in the slightest.
Sona stepped forward, her calm eyes fixed on the Three Phantom Gods before her. She removed Xiao Wen's Duel Disk and placed it directly beneath the pyramid's tip, before the Three Phantom Gods.
Crossing her arms protectively before her chest, Sona's face carried a trace of reverence.
"Ahxiu Sabola... Qila Suo..."
Strange incantations rang from her lips, the chanting of ancient spells.
As the chants echoed, a cluster of light suddenly gathered at the tip of the inverted pyramid hanging in the sky. A vertical Light Pillar abruptly descended from the heavens, enveloping the Duel Disk within it.
At the same time, the Millennium Puzzle before Xiao Wen burst with light, intertwining with the pyramid's Light Pillar.
Bang!
In that instant, Xiao Wen seemed to hear a crisp crack from the depths of his soul.
It was the sound of the shackles on his soul breaking.
In the outside world, within the room, a phantom image of a golden eye appeared on the forehead of Xiao Wen, who lay inside the Gaming Pod. Streams of crimson-gold light erupted from his body, enveloping him completely.
After a long while, the light faded. Xiao Wen looked at the Duel Disk floating before him, a strange glint appearing in his eyes.
The Duel Disk was still the same Duel Disk.
Yet Xiao Wen could clearly sense that something different seemed to have happened within his body.
It was a break in the shackles of life itself, but as for what exactly it was, he had no idea.
"Rookie Duelist, it is time for you to leave. I hope that when you return next time, you will have become stronger!"
Handing the Duel Disk to Xiao Wen, Sona spoke softly.
Xiao Wen remained silent. He was still immersed in the shock of the pyramid's mysterious power and the impact brought by the Three Phantom Gods.
Light flickered, and a mass of teleportation light wrapped around Xiao Wen. He returned to a secluded corner of Novice Village, raised the Duel Disk in his hand, and suddenly noticed that the two areas for placing cards had become completely different.
The one in front was used for placing monsters, while the one behind was for Magic Cards and Trap Cards.
"Have you found that person over there?"
"No. Our people have turned Novice Village upside down."
"The third group has searched every monster zone below level five, but they still haven't found him."
"Could that kid have logged off?"
"Keep searching! No matter what, we have to find him. Even if he has logged off, you must stay here and guard the place. One person every ten steps, one post every hundred steps. Find that person for me! No matter what, the Shadow Guild must obtain this first Guild Founding Token!"
Fragments of conversation drifted over to Xiao Wen's ears, and his expression suddenly turned strange.
These people had completely gone mad just to obtain the Guild Founding Token in his possession.
But did that matter?
Not in the slightest.
Xiao Wen opened his character panel and examined his attributes.
Player: Halfway Through the Mortal World Level: 6 Gender: Male Class: Duelist (Class can be hidden as Summoner) Strength: 85 Spirit: 10 Physique: 10 Speed: 10 Intelligence: 10 Bound Equipment: Millennium Puzzle (Sealed Divine Artifact) Accessories: Ring of Mountain's Might, Phantom Spirit Jade Pendant Summon Count: 1 (Randomly summons a monster from the deck. The monster's attributes are determined by its attack power, defense, star level, and the player's level.)
He still had the same number of bonus attribute points, but Xiao Wen knew that the attack power converted from his attribute points was far higher than that.
That was because, aside from bonus attribute points, there were also attributes that naturally increased as a character's level rose.
It was just that even Xiao Wen himself did not know why his character's attributes were displayed as attribute points, while everyone else's were displayed as attack power, defense, health, and so on.
Perhaps that was simply the difference between classes.
Muttering to himself, Xiao Wen emerged from the secluded corner and soon arrived at the village entrance.
When he reached the entrance, he discovered that a notice board had appeared there at some point.
Several temporary quests had been posted on the board, yet only a sparse handful of players gathered around it.
Only after approaching did Xiao Wen realize that these temporary quests all concerned Nightmare Forest. They were either investigations into the forest's intelligence or missions to kill monsters within it. Players who completed them could receive Reputation Value rewards.
After giving them a quick look, Xiao Wen's gaze settled on one section of the notice board.
Temporary Quest—Preparations Before the Great Battle.
Description: To weaken the strength of Nightmare Forest's monsters, players are encouraged to enter Nightmare Forest and hunt high-level monsters. For every monster from Nightmare Forest killed, one point of Reputation Value will be awarded.
"This quest seems pretty good."
Xiao Wen's gaze rested on the quest. He reached out and touched the notice board, and a notification rang beside his ear.
"Ding! Does player Halfway Through the Mortal World wish to accept the temporary quest—Preparations Before the Great Battle?"
"Accept."
After taking the quest, Xiao Wen was about to leave the village and begin his leveling plan when he suddenly realized that more than a hundred people had gathered around him at some point.
These players all had fairly decent equipment, and quite a few of them had already assembled a full set of green-grade gear.
Judging from their usernames alone, these people appeared to represent various families and factions.
"Brother, hello. I'm a buyer for the Flowing Cloud Guild, usually responsible for handling various miscellaneous matters for the guild. I know you have a Guild Founding Token. Could we talk?"
"Fuck! Stealing my business? Are you looking to die? Kid, I don't care who you are. Hand over the Guild Founding Token in your hand, and you'll naturally get to live well. Otherwise, the wrath of the Ten Great Guilds isn't something you can bear!"
"The Ten Great Guilds? Stop flattering yourself. Our Flame Emperor wants that Guild Founding Token!"
"Is Flame Emperor all that impressive? Are the Four Emperors that great? We've got them too!"
A group of people surrounded Xiao Wen. Before he could even voice an opinion, they had already started arguing amongst themselves, leaving him with a wry smile.
So they had already treated him like meat on a platter.
"Stop arguing. The Guild Founding Token is in my hands, and I won't give it to any of you. If you want it, then come kill me!"
For a moment, the previously arguing crowd instantly fell silent. Pair after pair of eyes turned toward Xiao Wen, their faces filled with surprise, anger, or dissatisfaction.
Not far away, a group of onlooking players covered their faces with both hands, shock written all over them.
"F-Fuck! Isn't this guy way too fierce? The people here basically represent the guild leaders among Kyushu's upper circles. With one sentence, this kid has offended every last one of them!"
"Fierce? I think he's just an idiot! Just wait. Even if he can kill a level-seven Lord Boss, so what? Can he really stand against a guild with thousands of members after angering these people?"
"Fuck... What did I just see? Th-this kid actually left the village."
"Half... Halfway Through the Mortal World left the village?"
"Now this is going to be interesting."
Before you continue