Ye Tianxie: "..."
Putting on the tiger mask, Ye Tianxie thanked the shopkeeper and walked out. The tiger mask was just a simple tiger-head disguise, covering the entire face while leaving two fairly large openings for the eyes. It didn’t obstruct vision at all, nor did it feel uncomfortable to wear.
A rotund, potbellied man appeared in his line of sight—it was the warehouse keeper of Tianchen City. Upon seeing Ye Tianxie enter, his already squinted eyes, squeezed by layers of fat, narrowed even further into thin slits. "Young man from another world, is there anything I can do for you?"
"Expand my backpack capacity to 200 slots," Ye Tianxie said, pulling out 150 gold coins—a fortune that no ordinary player could afford. At this stage, having 150 gold coins was equivalent to being a multimillionaire in the real world. Players could have their backpack capacity expanded by the city's warehouse keeper, with a maximum upgrade from 50 slots to 200 slots. The cost was one gold coin per slot. It was a reasonable price… but considering that there were five hundred million players across China, and assuming most of them expanded their backpacks to the max, the total gold spent would amount to a staggering 75 billion—money that naturally flowed into the hands of the mysterious Tianwai Group. A seemingly insignificant game mechanic could generate such an astronomical sum, proving how easily the company could recoup its initial investment in distributing free gaming equipment.
"Alright, please wait a moment…" The warehouse keeper responded with a beaming smile. However, in the next instant, his nearly invisible eyes suddenly widened in sheer disbelief as he pointed at Ye Tianxie's chest. "T-That…! If my eyes aren’t deceiving me… isn’t that the legendary Badge of Valor that only Nameless could obtain back in the day?!"
The exaggerated shock on this fat man's face was almost identical to the old shopkeeper's reaction earlier—even his words were about 80% the same. Ye Tianxie could only sigh and lift the Badge of Valor again. "Yes, this is indeed the Badge of Valor."
"My heavens! You’re actually a warrior bearing the Badge of Valor… What an honor! Please, put away your gold coins! You are destined to be a hero—helping you is my privilege. How could I possibly take your money? Let me expand your backpack to the maximum right away. I hope this can aid you on your journey."
With an expression of utmost sincerity, the warehouse keeper eagerly refused Ye Tianxie's gold and swiftly upgraded his backpack to the 200-slot limit.
Clutching the Badge of Valor on his chest, Ye Tianxie suddenly felt like kissing it—hard. When he first received it, he had complained about its seemingly useless "+100 Reputation" attribute. But now, all those complaints had vanished into thin air. A trial as impossible as the Abyssal Test could never have given him something ordinary. While its immediate stats seemed unimpressive, its hidden benefits had already proven themselves multiple times in such a short span of time.
"You all hold great respect for those who possess the Badge of Valor?" Ye Tianxie asked, testing the waters.
The warehouse keeper lifted his chin, his greasy, round face glowing with an almost sacred light. "The Tower of Fate teeters on the brink of collapse, and the Eight Demon Kings have all escaped. Now, everyone knows that the Lost Continent could face an unprecedented catastrophe at any moment. That is why we need heroes—why we long for heroes to appear… And more than anything, we hope for heroes like you, those who bear the Badge of Valor, to rise and save the Lost Continent. So, we will do whatever we can to assist heroes in their endeavors."
"I see… Well then, I hope I can become the hero you all expect me to be," Ye Tianxie said with an earnest expression. What he was actually thinking? Only he knew.
The shopkeeper had mentioned that Nameless once single-handedly saved the entire Tianchen City. No wonder his name was so well-known here. Even Kong Xiu, the city's most powerful mage, spoke of him with pride and admiration.
"By the way, fated hero, I suggest you visit the City Lord’s Mansion. The City Lord has many pressing matters that require the aid of warriors like you from another world. Since you have earned the Badge of Valor just like the legendary Nameless, your strength must be extraordinary. I’m sure the City Lord would be more than happy to meet you," the warehouse keeper suddenly suggested just as Ye Tianxie was about to leave.
The look in Ye Tianxie's eyes immediately changed as he gazed at the fat man. He had originally been planning to look for quests, and now, this was a direct lead. Without hesitation, he turned toward the center of the city and headed for the City Lord’s Mansion.
However, the moment he arrived, he was nearly scared off by the overwhelming crowd.
The enormous City Lord’s Mansion was packed wall to wall with people, making it seem as if ten entire marketplaces had been crammed into one. And this was with only a million players having completed their class transitions. In just a few more days, the chaos here would be unimaginable. The purpose of all these players was singular—accepting quests.
To the right of the City Lord’s Mansion’s entrance, a massive board displayed five available quests, each tailored for players around their current level. Below the board, more than a dozen officials were lined up, drenched in sweat as they struggled to handle the overwhelming tide of players eager to take on missions.
Ye Tianxie pushed his way through the crowd for a long time but still couldn't get close. Frustrated, he turned his attention to the large quest board instead.
- Level Requirement: 10
- Quest Type: Normal
- Quest Rewards: 6,000 EXP, 10 Gold, +3 Reputation, 10 servings of the City Lord’s special roasted meat.
- Description: The Falling Wind Plains are home to a species of lightning-fast rabbits with incredibly tender meat, a delicacy favored by the City Lord. However, due to their speed, they are notoriously difficult to catch. Any brave warrior who can collect 50 Lightning Rabbit legs will earn the City Lord’s gratitude—and a generous reward.
- Level Requirement: 10
- Reputation Requirement: 10
- Quest Type: Normal
- Quest Rewards: 10,000 EXP, +5 Reputation, a randomly enchanted Emerald Earring (+1-2 to an attribute).
- Description: In the northern Blackwood Forest, a group of grotesque green-headed creatures has been scaring children who pass through. Recently, their leader, the Hideous King, frightened the City Lord’s son to tears, enraging the City Lord. Any warrior who can defeat the Hideous King and bring back his Green Hat (…Wait, a green hat?) will be handsomely rewarded.
- Note: The Hideous King is a Level 12 three-star elite monster. Players can complete this quest alone or in teams.
Ye Tianxie stared at the quest descriptions, a smirk forming on his lips.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
- Quest Restrictions: None
- Quest Type: Normal
- Quest Rewards: 3,000 EXP, 5 Gold, +2 Reputation, +3 Favorability with the City Lord, 10% chance to obtain a Level 10 Bronze Equipment suitable for your class.
- Description: A few days ago, while fleeing in tears after being frightened by the hideous Hideous King, the City Lord’s son accidentally dropped his three cherished marbles in the Blackwood Forest. Brave adventurers, please help retrieve them.
After reading through these three quests, Ye Tianxie lost all interest in checking the fourth, another ordinary white-lettered quest. Instead, his attention turned to the final one—the one written in blue.
White text indicated a common quest that anyone could accept. But blue…
- Quest Restrictions: 200 Reputation
- Quest Type: Unique
- Quest Rewards: Unknown (determined by completion level)
- Details: Please consult the City Lord personally for specifics.
A Unique Quest!
A unique quest meant that once a player accepted it, no other player could take it. These quests often had extremely high entry requirements and were significantly more difficult than normal quests. However, their rewards were equally exceptional.
When this unique quest appeared on the City Lord’s notice board, it stirred countless players into a frenzy. But that daunting 200 Reputation requirement was like an insurmountable wall, crushing their hopes.
The first player to reach 200 Reputation would likely be the one to claim this quest. And as soon as the Reputation Ranking was revealed, all players who knew of this quest fixated on the leaderboard’s #1 spot—the glaring "220" next to a name that shattered their last hopes.
Unlike the Level Ranking, where small gaps existed between players, on the Reputation Ranking, that three-digit number loomed like a crane towering over a flock of chickens, utterly suppressing the nine names below it. Even the second-place player, despite being just one rank lower, had barely one-tenth of his Reputation score.
And that name at the top—Xie Tian.
A name that had shaken Huaxia and the entire Destiny world from yesterday to today.
A single person, just one, had managed to pass the Abyssal Trial.
Now, in the Huaxia battle zone, almost everyone knew the name Xie Tian. Even other countries had started paying close attention to him—this name that had forged a legend, an almost unbelievable myth.
Navigating the crowd like a nimble fish, Ye Tianxie swiftly reached a nearby NPC official. Taking a deep breath, he stated, "I’m here to accept the quest to investigate the whereabouts of the City Guards."
The overworked official froze for a moment. He was about to explain that accepting this quest required 200 Reputation, but before he could speak, Ye Tianxie proactively displayed his status panel—where the "220" Reputation value was clearly marked.
The official was visibly stunned. In his understanding, these outsiders from another world shouldn’t even be able to accumulate over 100 Reputation at this stage—200 was simply impossible.
Yet here Ye Tianxie stood, shattering that assumption.
The official blinked multiple times, double-checking again and again before finally speaking. "…You do qualify for this quest. Please, follow me—I will take you to see the City Lord."
The City Lord’s Mansion was massive—far exceeding Ye Tianxie’s expectations.
Judging by the eerie silence, Ye Tianxie could tell he was the first player to ever set foot here. Following the official through a series of twists and turns, he finally arrived at the City Lord’s study, where the City Lord usually handled affairs.
The official respectfully reported, "My Lord, an adventurer from another world wishes to help investigate the disappearance of the City Guards last month."
At his desk, brows furrowed, the City Lord of Tianchen appeared to be a man in his early forties—his refined features indicated a life of wealth and privilege. He looked up at the official’s words, clearly surprised.
"What? Someone has already reached over 200 Reputation?!"
His sharp gaze immediately landed on Ye Tianxie, scanning him up and down before shaking his head.
"Young man from another world, you are far too weak. You lack the strength to complete this task. Come back when your level is at least 18 or higher."
Although this Unique Quest had no explicit level restriction, the Reputation requirement itself acted as a barrier. Based on his calculations, achieving 200 Reputation should require a player to be nearly Level 20.
But here stood Ye Tianxie—just Level 11—yet somehow boasting over 200 Reputation.
A Level 11 player attempting this mission? Suicide.
Ye Tianxie didn’t budge.
Instead, he slowly lifted the Badge of Valor pinned to his chest, and in a calm, measured tone, said:
"City Lord, level is not the only measure of strength. Perhaps this… can prove my capability?"
"T-That’s… the Badge of Valor?!"
The previously composed City Lord of Tianchen suddenly leapt to his feet, his face filled with shock as his eyes locked onto the bronze emblem on Ye Tianxie’s chest.
The official who had led Ye Tianxie here was equally stunned. The moment he heard the words "Badge of Valor," his gaze turned fiery with excitement, his entire demeanor toward Ye Tianxie shifting drastically.
Ye Tianxie remained composed, merely nodding.
The City Lord’s reaction was even more exaggerated than those of the shopkeeper and warehouse manager earlier—confirming his suspicion.
This was it.
The Badge of Valor was far more valuable than he had originally thought.
The City Lord finally calmed himself, sitting back down and nodding in approval.
"Anyone who possesses the Badge of Valor is a true hero… and a hero’s strength is beyond question."
A slight smile played on his lips. "No wonder you reached 200 Reputation so quickly. You are no ordinary young man… Well then, would you be willing to assist me with something of great importance?"
Ye Tianxie nodded. "City Lord, please speak."
The City Lord sighed, a troubled expression settling on his face.
"Tianchen City is located in the eastern region of the Lost Continent, where the climate is the most comfortable, resources are abundant, and food is never scarce. As a result, we have never faced any major conflicts, nor do wild beasts stray from their territories into our lands. Even when the Fate’s Hour disappeared and the dark energies of the Tower of Fate began to spread across the continent, Tianchen City remained peaceful."
"But then… three years ago, a great bird’s cry echoed above Tianchen City…"
Ye Tianxie listened intently.
"It was a massive bird… A Phoenix. Later, we learned that it was something that should never have appeared here."
The City Lord’s expression turned solemn.
"Phoenixes, like dragons, are noble and sacred creatures on the Lost Continent. They symbolize beauty, divinity, and good fortune. They are revered by our people… However, a Phoenix should only exist in the blazing lands of the far south—no one has ever seen one near Tianchen City."
"But on that day, it was indeed a Phoenix. A Phoenix whose entire body… was as red as blood."
Ye Tianxie’s eyes narrowed.
"A Blood Phoenix?"
In Chinese legends, Phoenixes were typically multi-colored, with golden ones representing royalty, and fiery-red ones symbolizing flames and rebirth.
But a Phoenix the color of blood?
That… had never been heard of before.