What was being held at the sanatorium today was actually a small internal introduction session for the Thousand Rays Society.
Everyone attending the session was registered with the Thousand Rays Society, but none of them were official members.
Before the Thousand Rays Society officially stepped into the public eye, these people had been invited to learn about some of its internal workings so they could decide whether to join.
Zhang Yingluo and Xu Nan both understood clearly that joining the Thousand Rays Society was a major decision.
Under the future plans, registered members might be required to sign agreements restricting their use of abilities beyond those of ordinary people.
After all, the higher-ups had put a great deal of thought into maintaining public order.
Official members of the Thousand Rays Society might face even more restrictions, since the organization would represent the authorities in the future.
Of course, they would also receive more resources.
No one knew where this suddenly absurd world would ultimately head.
Many people were at a loss over their sudden superpowers.
As he walked along the paths of the sanatorium, Xu Nan saw many people lost in thought, clutching various flyers in their hands.
The Thousand Rays Society had many internal divisions as well, and it seemed every division hoped to recruit more people before formally appearing before the public.
That made Xu Nan wonder whether the renamed Thousand Rays Society, or perhaps the China Dragon Group, would make new changes in that regard.
Thinking as he went, he arrived at Building Eight.
Because of its location, Building Eight was quieter and more secluded than the other buildings, with fewer people around.
Other than Xu Nan, there were only a few people outside. They craned their necks around awkwardly, all unsure where the entrance was.
Fortunately, before long, a young man in military uniform came out. "Are you all here to learn about the Workers' Troupe?"
"Please follow me."
"Since you are registered members, you should know how the Thousand Rays Society came to be. Due to its military background, parts of its internal structure have retained the style of the armed forces."
"The old gentlemen of our Workers' Troupe were among the first batch of veterans to enter another world. Coincidentally, they had originally gone there to investigate local customs and gather intelligence, but they encountered another opportunity and became professionals."
After giving them a simple introduction, the young man led them to a theater-like entrance on the second floor. He pulled open the curtain, and Xu Nan and the others filed inside.
The entire way had been rather quiet.
On the theater stage, under dim lighting, four veterans in immaculate military uniforms sat upright in their chairs. Each held an instrument, their expressions stern and serious.
Xu Nan and the others were instantly stunned!
"Please wait a moment, everyone. The performance will begin once more people arrive," the young soldier explained.
Everyone gradually took their seats. There were already some people quietly waiting in the darkened theater.
Xu Nan chose a seat near the front. As he quietly observed, he found that the auras of the veterans were deeply restrained. The oldest looked to be in his sixties or seventies. He wondered what the military had been thinking when it sent them into another world.
Looking at the old man's resolute face and graying hair, Xu Nan suddenly felt his nose sting.
When these people entered that other world, had they ever thought they would make it back alive?
They had been fortunate enough to become professionals and return alive, but what about their companions?
While another world had been stirring restlessly, ordinary citizens like him had still been peacefully falling asleep in an age of peace. Yet they had already entered a realm where they contended with the gods of another world.
Had the instruments in their hands also been brought back only after fierce battles between life and death?
Wait...
At that thought, Xu Nan suddenly snapped out of his sentimental mood!
Because he abruptly realized that the instruments held by the four veterans were not traditional instruments from Pro World at all!
The oldest veteran was holding a Suona!
The others held an erhu, a pipa, and clappers respectively!
Fine, he could understand the Suona, erhu, and pipa.
But what the hell were clappers doing here?!
Xu Nan suddenly had a bad feeling.
After some more time passed.
The soldier responsible for receiving guests made three or four more trips, and the theater gradually filled up, with at least twenty people now present.
Some wore masks, some wore sunglasses, and some had pulled the brims of their baseball caps down low.
"Looks like not everyone is as open and aboveboard as I am!"
Xu Nan secretly looked down on them.
"That should be enough people. Let's begin."
A rather magnetic voice rang out. Everyone perked up. The four veterans onstage had remained unmoving as mountains, but someone had finally spoken!
It was the veteran holding the erhu.
"Age before beauty. Old Liu should give the young people a lesson first."
The erhu-playing veteran spoke to the oldest man.
The old man did not decline. He nodded, lifted the Suona, and made a slight adjustment. The next second, an intense and soaring melody suddenly rang out across the stage!
In just a few seconds.
Xu Nan's scalp went numb.
The old man was playing the traditional ancient piece, "General's Order"! Not some bardic tune from Pro World, as Xu Nan had expected!
You have received a Bard group buff: Strength +1; Constitution +1 You have received the spell effect: Fearless (For fifteen minutes, you and your companions will fear nothing and sweep aside all opposition) You have received the spell effect: Tireless (For fifteen minutes, you will not tire, and your stamina limit is removed) You have received the spell effect: Mighty Strike (For fifteen minutes, your melee critical hit rate is doubled) ...
Xu Nan stared in astonishment.
A low-quality PowerPoint suddenly appeared onstage, briefly introducing Old Liu's strength.
A third-rank Bard!
He had independently invented a method of combining the ancient piece "General's Order" with spells from another world. The results were remarkable, making him one of the academic leaders of the Thousand Rays Society's Bard profession.
"Third rank means level ten and above. The Thousand Rays Society truly has deep foundations."
Xu Nan sighed inwardly. He was merely a first-rank Warlock. Compared to the powerful foundation of the authorities, he was indeed still tiny.
"General's Order" did not merely set Xu Nan's blood boiling; everyone else in the theater was fired up as well. Xu Nan watched those wearing sunglasses and masks remove their coverings one after another.
Everyone became highly excited.
Xu Nan suddenly felt that Bards were not so useless after all!
But at that moment, the music from the stage suddenly changed!
At some point, Old Liu had already set down his Suona and begun resting.
Taking his place was the veteran holding the erhu!
The erhu strings trembled.
"Moon Reflected in the Second Spring."
Xu Nan's body shuddered—
You have been struck by a Bard group debuff: Will -2 For twenty minutes, you cannot cast spells For twenty minutes, you cannot run or even walk quickly For twenty minutes...
As Xu Nan looked at the debuffs appearing one after another, his heart pounded wildly.
Who the fuck said Bards were useless?
Get out here! I won't beat you to death!
By the time Xu Nan stumbled out of the theater in a daze, he had been successively baptized by the four veterans' "General's Order," "Moon Reflected in the Second Spring," and "Ambush from Ten Sides." Buffs and debuffs had stacked onto him in turns, leaving him feeling both blissful and miserable.
The others were no better off.
Of course, the veteran who played the clappers finished with a cheerful song, which at least helped everyone's mood return somewhat to normal.
All four veterans were third-rank powerhouses!
Xu Nan could not help wondering whether that meant the Thousand Rays Society's other professionals had similarly terrifying levels.
Senior A-Kun had mentioned a second-rank Bard appearing in North America. Before people like Old Liu, that person was probably nothing but trash!
Of course, Xu Nan had not forgotten why he had come to the sanatorium today.
He began asking around for the introduction point for Warlock professionals.
After all, even though he wore the disguise of a Bard, he was fundamentally still a spellcaster.
Just then, Zhang Yingluo hurried over.
"How was it? Has the Bard introduction finished? Were you shocked?"
Xu Nan nodded. "They were indeed impressive."
"Then do you want to join our Thousand Rays Society and become an official member? Of course, becoming an official member requires a very strict assessment."
Zhang Yingluo spoke eagerly.
Xu Nan thought about it, then ultimately nodded. "I'll join. But not as a Bard."
"Actually, I'm a Warlock."
Zhang Yingluo did not seem particularly surprised. "That works. We can modify the form later."
"Come with me and register first. Joining the Thousand Rays Society—no, it's the China Dragon Group now—is actually very beneficial for you. Once the new department officially launches, joining later will involve procedures at least two or three times as troublesome!"
As Zhang Yingluo led Xu Nan deeper into the sanatorium, she introduced him to the internal situation of the Thousand Rays Society.
The more Xu Nan heard, the more convinced he became that he had made the right decision.
Leaving aside the Thousand Rays Society branches in other regions, in the Jiangdong Area branch, the leading professionals were basically all third rank and above.
Most professionals who had awakened independently among civilians were still hovering around first rank.
And just after joining the Thousand Rays Society, Xu Nan received an important piece of news.
"The Thousand Rays Society is about to launch a major operation. An evil dragon has appeared in Five Yang Lake!"
"If your paperwork is processed quickly, Junior Xu Nan, you might even get the chance to fight alongside us!"
Zhang Yingluo stuck out her tongue playfully, a rare sight.
This senior sister really was as battle-hungry as ever.
Xu Nan was just about to say something.
Zhang Yingluo suddenly changed the subject. "Oh, right. Do you know what Lele has been doing lately? I haven't seen her at all. Her mother even asked me about her yesterday."
Xu Nan was caught in a dilemma, unsure how to answer.
At the same time, the monthly event on the Quest Card suddenly refreshed!
This month's Bloodline Awakening event quest has begun: Even Alone, I Will Be the Enemy of the Entire World! Quest Description: The strong must understand loneliness; wanton insults and malicious attacks will only make you stronger; walk the road alone. In December, you must learn to provoke and retaliate! Whenever your words and actions deal a finishing-blow-like effect to others, you will automatically gain Activity Points; special note: when the target is a professional, the points gained are doubled Quest Deadline: December 31, 2018
Xu Nan: "...System, have you been secretly reading Qidian behind my back?"
This goddamn quest had a far broader range of targets than just couples!
It was forcing Xu Nan further and further down the road of mocking people and committing crimes!
When Xu Nan thought about how he might have to spend all of December becoming someone he did not want to be just to earn points, he felt a little sad.
He casually made up an excuse to brush off the matter of Qin Lele.
Then he could not resist posting on Moments—
In December, I might become loathsome.
Very quickly, a neighbor liked and replied to it—
Song Cheng: When did you develop the illusion that you were ever not loathsome?
...!
Before you continue