Player Town, half an hour ago.
The early morning in Player Town was as bustling as ever. Logged-in players filled the streets and alleys, hunting monsters, doing manual labor, and running daily quests—a picture of thriving activity.
Nan Cheng walked familiarly along the path leading to the Temple of Light.
As usual, he planned to find Lilith at the Temple of Light to ask if she needed any help today, boosting his favorability with her.
By now, Lilith's favorability toward him had reached 70, which fell under the 'Highly Trusted' category.
The perks of such high favorability were downright absurd: massive personal reputation, exclusive daily quests, and best of all, a permanent thirty percent discount in the game shop.
Just yesterday, having finally accumulated enough Merit Points, he made a massive full-price shopping spree, acquiring several high-tier skills and completely upgrading to a set of end-game Mage gear:
The Epic-grade purple-tier 【Holy Radiance Robes】 and 【Holy Radiance Staff】 instantly boosted his combat power, significantly raising his attributes.
At this thought, the corners of Nan Cheng's mouth curled upward. He couldn't resist opening his status panel to admire his stats with delight.
【Name: Nan Cheng】
【Race: Human】
【Alignment: Lawful Neutral】
【Primary Class: Mage】
【Sub-class: None】
【Level: 40 (Bronze Rank peak)】
【Status: Normal】
【Bloodline Talent: 2/1000】
【HP: 100/100】
【EXP: 350000/500000】
【MP: 1000/1000】
【Attributes: Constitution (50), Spirit (55), Endurance (55), Strength (55), Agility (55), Mana (50)】
【Skills: Strength Amplification (Tier 1 high-grade), Appraisal (Tier 1 high-grade), Wind Slash (Tier 1 mid-grade), Holy Light's Aegis (Tier 1 high-grade), Holy Light (Tier 1 high-grade), Defensive Magic (Tier 1 high-grade)】
“Hmm... Not bad, not bad. Level 40, Bronze Rank peak. It won't be long before I can rank up to Silver Rank.”
He muttered to himself, his gaze falling on the sub-class column as his smile widened.
“Once I reach Silver Rank, my sub-class has to be Knight.”
Mages offered strategy and damage output, while Knights provided charge and faith—he had always believed that pairing the two was the ultimate combination. It would grant him both long-range control over the battlefield and the confidence to engage in close-quarters combat.
When team fights broke out, once he got comfortable commanding from the backline, he could just grab a sword and charge to the front to slash a few enemies. Wouldn't that be glorious?
He closed the panel and continued walking toward the temple with light steps.
Then, he stopped.
A large crowd had gathered at the temple entrance. It was a sea of heads, and their noisy chatter could be heard from dozens of meters away.
“What's going on?” Nan Cheng frowned.
Although many second beta players usually came to the temple to pick up daily quests, there were never this many—and looking at their expressions, they clearly weren't here for quests. It looked more like... they were spectating some drama?
Just as he was about to step forward, he caught sight of a familiar figure approaching from the other side. Walking beside her was West.
“Bing Lin?” Nan Cheng was slightly surprised. He took a couple of steps forward and greeted her.
“Nan Cheng,” Bing Lin acknowledged him, nodding slightly as she walked over.
“What's the situation here? Why is there such a crowd at the entrance?” Nan Cheng asked casually, pointing at the mob of players.
“I heard some new NPCs are moving in. I just received a summons from Her Highness Lilith as well.” Bing Lin pointed at West beside her. “He was actually on his way to find you.”
West stepped forward and bowed slightly. “Mr. Nan Cheng, Her Highness Lilith requests your presence in the temple for a meeting. There are important matters to arrange.”
New NPCs?
Nan Cheng's eyes instantly lit up.
New NPCs meant new storylines, new quests, and more reputation. If he was lucky, he might even get a bigger discount in the game shop.
“Then what are we waiting for? Let's go.”
West led the way. Seeing a temple knight NPC personally guiding them, the spectating players voluntarily parted to make a path.
The crowd whispered among themselves, their gazes shifting between Nan Cheng and Bing Lin.
“Holy crap, the guild leaders of the two top guilds were both summoned inside? This is definitely going to be huge!”
“I bet a new main storyline is coming! We just finished off the ogre boss the day before yesterday, and now we're getting new NPCs today. The game's progression is so fast!”
“I'm so jealous. To be invited into the temple for a meeting, just how high does your favorability have to be...”
Inside the temple.
The light inside was much softer than outside. Golden rays spilled down from the vaulted ceiling, enveloping the entire space in a warm, serene atmosphere.
Nan Cheng spotted Lilith immediately. She was standing before the Goddess Statue, accompanied by six unfamiliar faces.
One was a gray-haired, middle-aged knight with a steady aura, looking like the core figure of the group. Another was an older man in a mage robe, his posture relaxed, looking around with a scrutinizing gaze. There was also a half-elf girl whose bright eyes darted about as if searching for something. Finally, a young mage and two young knights stood rigidly, appearing somewhat afraid to make any sudden movements.
“Miss Lilith,” Nan Cheng greeted her, while swiftly scanning the six individuals.
“Her Highness Lilith,” West bowed and reported. “I have brought Mr. Nan Cheng and Miss Bing Lin.”
Lilith nodded to Nan Cheng and Bing Lin, then looked at West, her tone gentle. “Thank you for your hard work, West.”
“It is my honor to share your burdens, Your Highness,” West replied with a smile.
Lilith then turned to Nan Cheng and Bing Lin, briefly introducing the six newcomers. Selby, Levinel, Shiruya, Phelin, and the two young knights—Nan Cheng quickly committed their names and faces to memory.
“Next, I hope you can organize the God-Chosen Ones to assist in the relocation of the Goddess's believers.” Lilith's tone grew more solemn. “Soon, many residents of Windhaven Town will arrive here through the teleportation array. To prevent unnecessary chaos, I will need your assistance.”
Nan Cheng immediately understood her meaning. This was a quest to help settle the new NPCs.
“Of course, Miss Lilith,” he nodded in agreement. “I will organize our guild members to assist with the resettlement.”
“Our guild has also constructed many vacant houses,” Bing Lin added from the side. “I will arrange for people to help with the relocation. Space and accommodation shouldn't be an issue.”
Levinel heard this and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
He hadn't expected these two to be the God-Chosen Ones. He had assumed the God-Chosen Ones would be much older, but this 'Mr. Nan Cheng' who was being entrusted with such an important task by Lilith...
...looked barely a few years older than Shiruya, yet he was already at the Bronze Rank peak.
And he was even a leader of the God-Chosen Ones?
Back in his day, at this age, he had only just reached the Bronze Rank mid-stage.
“The youth of today are truly formidable,” Levinel couldn't help but murmur in admiration.
Meanwhile, Shiruya was secretly sizing up Nan Cheng and Bing Lin, a hint of anticipation shining in her eyes.
She had heard from Uncle Selby that the God-Chosen Ones were messengers summoned from another world by Her Divine Majesty. In her heart, she had pictured them as winged angels like Lord Mikael.
Instead, the two who walked in were perfectly normal-looking humans.
...Though they were quite good-looking, they didn't have wings.
Shiruya was slightly disappointed, but she politely refrained from showing it.
Selby, however, was thinking deeper. He looked around the temple, then glanced at the crowd outside the door. After pausing to gather his words, he asked:
“Her Highness Lilith... Are all those young people I saw on the way here God-Chosen Ones?”
“Yes, Uncle Selby,” Lilith nodded with a smile. Discerning his concerns immediately, she explained gently, “They are brave and passionate warriors summoned from another world by Mother Goddess. Although they are not yet believers of Her Divine Majesty, their loyalty to the Goddess is second to none.”
Levinel was surprised to hear this. “The God-Chosen Ones are not believers of Her Divine Majesty?”
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