Unexpected Confrontation at the City Gates

As Lin Shenyue and the other three reached the South Gate, Ye Jue paused, clearly startled by the people outside, before his brow furrowed.

He was intimately familiar with members of the Undying Dynasty. In his previous life, he had suffered considerable bullying from them within Vermilion Bird City. Even after his rise, when he joined a large guild as a core member, clashes with the Undying Dynasty were frequent. After all, as one of the few super guilds, the Undying Dynasty held little regard for a mere large guild.

A few minions from the Undying Dynasty, tasked with blocking the gate, spotted the quartet approaching. “This area has been reserved by the Undying Dynasty,” one said impatiently. “Once you’re outside, follow the city wall either east or west. Keep moving, or don’t blame us for being impolite.”

Ye Jue frowned slightly. Dark Demon’s expression turned cold, and just as he was about to retort, he saw Ye Jue shake his head. At this stage, his own faction was still in its nascent form, a far cry from the super guild Undying Dynasty, which boasted tens of thousands of members.

Avoiding battle now did not signify cowardice; there was simply no need to waste time engaging them at this moment.

Ye Jue nodded, just about to lead everyone out, when suddenly a minion spotted Lin Shenyue. “Isn’t that the woman the Guild Leader told us to find?” he exclaimed.

Lin Shenyue blinked, then a hint of resignation crossed her face. It seemed her objective was indeed quite obvious.

Upon closer inspection, the other minions also recognized Ye Jue as the additional person they were searching for. The lead minion sneered, “You dare to provoke our Undying Dynasty? Today, let’s see how you manage to leave through this gate.”

Ye Jue clicked his tongue. It appeared this confrontation was unavoidable.

Lin Shenyue took a deep breath, then asked, “Are we preparing for battle?” Her group barrier was still on cooldown, a powerful weapon they desperately needed. Without it, breaking through the human tide might prove impossible, as at least ten thousand members of the Undying Dynasty waited outside. Even Ye Jue likely couldn’t withstand many attacks.

Ye Jue chuckled. “Let’s go to the East Gate,” he said. While confident in his own strength, he didn’t believe he could defeat so many players at this stage.

In the late game, some players could single-handedly turn the tide of battle. However, defeating such a vast number of players alone was impossible, save for the few god-tier players at the peak who possessed wide-area attack capabilities.

The minions, in the midst of reporting the information, scoffed upon hearing Ye Jue’s words. “You can only flee in despair. But even if you run to the East Gate, don’t think you’ll escape the Undying Dynasty’s pursuit.”

Ye Jue cast a faint glance at him, and an unknown aura emanated from his body. The minion standing before Ye Jue felt as if the sky itself were collapsing, instantly breaking into a cold sweat, his legs trembling.

As the game progressed into its later stages, the aura of top-tier players could instantly overwhelm a crowd. Although Ye Jue was merely considered a skilled player, he possessed his own unique presence, one that had grown daily since his rebirth.

Divine Wind and Dark Demon watched, their hearts stirring. They sensed something awakening, yet it wasn’t quite time for its full emergence. Previous games were not virtual worlds; players could only control characters from outside the screen. While top players had a natural aura, it remained dormant.

However, in this virtual world, such an ethereal quality as aura became tangibly real, evolving with a player’s growth.

Ye Jue scoffed, turning to leave without another word. He couldn’t be bothered to speak to such insignificant minions. Lin Shenyue, however, looked somewhat bewildered. Clearly, she had yet to develop an aura, being merely a novice, so she had no idea what had just transpired with Ye Jue.

The quartet departed from the South Gate, heading towards the East Gate. Lin Shenyue sighed with resignation. “I didn’t expect them to react so quickly and put bounties on us.”

Divine Wind, however, was curious. “What exactly did you two do to get yourselves wanted?”

Lin Shenyue softly replied, “They tried to steal our things, and we counter-killed them. So, they probably hold a grudge.”

Dark Demon scoffed. “Typical large guild. Their conduct disgusts me.”

Lin Shenyue shook her head, smiling. “Not all guilds are like them.”

Ye Jue nodded, then shook his head. “Actually, every guild would do the same. It’s not just about personal vendettas; it’s about the entire guild’s reputation. So, even the more reputable guilds will, to some extent, engage in bullying. It’s unavoidable.”

Dark Demon “Tch”ed. “That’s precisely why I refuse to join a guild.”

Ye Jue chuckled. “Alright, let’s not talk about them anymore. For now, let’s focus on leveling up properly.” Yet, in his heart, Ye Jue quietly began to lay out his plans.

He hadn’t anticipated confronting a super guild so soon. However, for now, the guild had only taken slight notice of him, so the pressure remained manageable. Still, he needed to start preparing many things in advance, lest he be caught off guard when the time came.

Lin Shenyue seemed to understand a little. She had known Ye Jue’s ultimate goal from the beginning, naturally realizing he would eventually clash with such large guilds. However, facing them so early was likely beyond his expectations. Still, these matters had little to do with her. Unfamiliar with the game, her intervention would only cause trouble, so she could only rely on Ye Jue.