"Ling Feng? What happened?"
Emperor Blood God Slayer waved his hand, and the underlings around him immediately fell silent.
One of the guild members was still being attacked by a Goblin, but he stopped all movement and let the Goblin beat him to death without daring to make the slightest sound.
The young man called Ling Feng glanced expressionlessly around him before answering:
"Emperor Blood, our people found a level 4 green-quality one-handed sword at the Warehouse."
"Level 4? Green?!" Emperor Blood God Slayer's pupils contracted slightly.
"Absolutely certain!" Ling Feng nodded, his expression still as still as stagnant water.
"Along with the level 4 one-handed sword, there was also a level 4 boss material, the Hill Sheep Leader's Horn. Someone must have taken down a level 4 boss and listed these items for auction."
"Could the ones who took down the level 4 boss have been those people from Skycutter?" Emperor Blood God Slayer frowned slightly. "But that doesn't make sense! Why wouldn't they use such good equipment themselves? Why put it up for auction instead? Skycutter Sword is a Warrior himself!"
"No, it wasn't the Skycutter Guild that took down the boss." Ling Feng explained with a grim expression.
"I suspect a solo player killed the level 4 boss alone and obtained this equipment and material. Since he couldn't use them himself, he put them up for auction."
"A solo player?!"
Emperor Blood God Slayer found it unbelievable.
He was currently wearing half a set of level 3 equipment and wielding a level 3 one-handed sword, yet he definitely couldn't even solo the level 2 boss, the Goblin Leader.
Soloing a level 4 boss?
How was that possible?
Ling Feng said seriously, "My deduction shouldn't be wrong, because this solo player also listed a green excellent-grade Skill Scroll—Fatal Strike."
Ling Feng described Fatal Strike's attributes in detail before adding:
"This skill can be called a top-tier pioneering skill for the Warrior class. No guild would put a Skill Scroll of this level up for sale."
"So the one who killed the level 4 boss could only have been a solo player, and that player wasn't even a Warrior."
After hearing Ling Feng's description of Fatal Strike, Emperor Blood God Slayer looked at his own skill bar.
His only damage skill, Heavy Strike, could deal only 120% physical damage, while Fatal Strike dealt 170% to 340%!
They had the same three-second cooldown, yet his skill was practically trash!
"What's the name of the player who listed the items?" Emperor Blood God Slayer's expression became exceptionally grave.
"His name is Kexing," Ling Feng answered solemnly.
Five minutes later, at the Warehouse in Novice Village 002.
Emperor Blood God Slayer hurried over with his underlings.
By then, the plaza outside the Warehouse was already packed with players.
"Oh my god! There really are level 4 boss materials in the Warehouse!"
"I haven't even reached level 2 yet, and someone's already taking down level 4 bosses!"
"Which major guild has such strength? They took down a level 4 boss?"
"The guy auctioning it is called 'Kexing'? Which guild is he from?"
"Shouldn't equipment and skills this good usually be handled internally by major guilds? Why are they being sold?"
The players crowded around the Warehouse plaza, discussing it among themselves.
However, right at the Warehouse entrance, Emperor Blood God Slayer encountered an "uninvited guest" blocking the door.
This uninvited guest had also brought a group of people with him, and he was looking at Emperor Blood God Slayer with a smile.
Emperor Blood God Slayer waved his hand, signaling his underlings to stop.
Then he looked coldly at the uninvited guest.
"Skycutter Sword? It's you! Why aren't you staying properly in Number One Novice Village? Why did you come to Number Two Novice Village to join the fun?"
Skycutter Sword, standing opposite him, was a weathered middle-aged man with a square face.
He leaned on his sword and looked at Emperor Blood God Slayer with a teasing expression. "The game has only been open for a few hours, yet I already heard that someone was monopolizing leveling grounds and damaging the game's ecosystem. As the largest guild in the game, of course we have to step in!"
"You really stick your nose into everything!" Emperor Blood God Slayer was extremely displeased.
But Emperor Blood God Slayer also knew that, with their current manpower in the game, they were still far from being a match for the Skycutter Guild.
So he changed the subject.
"I came here to look at that green-quality Skill Scroll. Is Guildmaster Skycutter blocking the entrance because you don't want us to go in?"
"Of course not." Skycutter Sword smiled.
"The Warehouse is a public place. Naturally, I won't interfere with your right to use a public place."
"Of course, we also won't allow anyone to interfere with other people's right to use public places, such as monster zones used for leveling. Please."
Skycutter Sword smiled and made an inviting gesture before entering the Warehouse first.
Emperor Blood God Slayer shot Skycutter Sword a vicious glare, then waved his hand and led his underlings into the Warehouse as well.
Like the Mage's Hut, the Warehouse was an independent dimension. After entering it, Emperor Blood God Slayer could no longer see Skycutter Sword. The only people he could see were NPCs and teammates in his party.
When Emperor Blood God Slayer's underlings failed to see anyone from the Skycutter Guild inside the Warehouse, they immediately relaxed and began cursing.
"What's that smug bastard called Skycutter Sword acting so proud for?
"Who does he think he is?"
"Just wait until all our people enter the game. He'll get what's coming to him."
"Shut up!" Emperor Blood God Slayer barked coldly.
The underlings hurriedly shut their mouths, holding their breath and not daring to make a sound.
Emperor Blood God Slayer swept his underlings with a cold glance, then began checking the Skill Scroll's details in the Warehouse auction interface.
When he saw that Fatal Strike's attributes matched Ling Feng's description exactly, and that its price had already surged to 500 Psionic Coins, Emperor Blood God Slayer let out a long breath.
"Ling Feng, we must get this Skill Scroll!"
"But Emperor Blood, we can't raise that much money." Ling Feng said awkwardly. "It's not just Skycutter Sword bidding against us now. There's also someone named Snowflake Leopard from Number One Novice Village bidding on this scroll."
"Snowflake Leopard?" Emperor Blood God Slayer frowned. He had never heard of this person.
Ling Feng explained, "Snowflake Leopard is the president of a guild that's been making quite a name for itself in Number One Novice Village. Their guild seems to be called the Relevant Department."
"The Relevant Department? Strange name." Emperor Blood God Slayer rubbed his chin. "But we must get this Skill Scroll, no matter the cost!"
"But—"
"I know we don't have enough money, but I've already thought of a plan. In a moment, you'll take people to Novice Villages 3 through 7 and charge every player entering the villages an 'entry fee.' Every time they enter a village, they must pay at least one Psionic Coin!"
"If each player pays one Psionic Coin, and each Novice Village has tens of thousands of people, we'll collect over ten thousand Psionic Coins! Then we'll have money."
Emperor Blood God Slayer was full of confidence.
Ling Feng was stunned when he heard the plan. "Emperor Blood! Our guild may be taking the chaotic evil route, but doing this will provoke the outrage of all players! Before long, we might be driven out of the game by a united player force!"
"Why are you so stupid?"
Emperor Blood God Slayer couldn't help rapping Ling Feng once with his sword hilt.
"During this operation, you must pretend to be members of the Skycutter Guild."
"It's the 'Skycutter Guild' forcibly collecting entry fees from every player. It has nothing to do with us, Emperor Blood God Slayer! Understand?"