C12 The Legend of the Nether Phoenix!

"Oh no!"

The moment Shield Hero and his companions witnessed the unfolding chaos, they snapped out of their stupor!

Prophet clutched her mouth, unable to stop the waves of nausea.

The faces of the others blanched to an ashen white!

One of their own had been mercilessly slaughtered by a person whose ID read One More Life!

He was the one who had claimed the Global First Kill, the one who had seized the Mythical First Kill, the one who could single-handedly take on a multitude with ease!

In that instant, they realized they were facing someone they dared not provoke.

Sweat beaded on the brow of the Shield Hero's captain as he stammered, "Brother, we're sorry. The one you killed was part of our team. We had no intention of attacking you, but we couldn't stop him in time."

His voice shook with fear!

Lin Bei's ruthless display had them forgetting they were merely inside the Eon Realms game world!

After hearing the captain's plea, Lin Bei paused to consider. Sheathing his sword, he stated coolly, "Consider this a warning. Next time, you won't be so lucky."

With those final words, he turned and strode away.

Relief washed over Shield Hero and his group as they watched him go, believing they had narrowly escaped doom.

Little did they know, Lin Bei was far from merciful.

His past life had taught him never to take an enemy's words at face value.

Yet, he had no desire to end their lives.

Leaving was his priority, not killing. He knew that soon enough, a swarm of guild players would descend upon this place.

Time was better spent leveling up and tackling quests than wasting it on conflict.

So, he hastened his pace, steering clear of the major guilds' likely paths, and before long, he arrived at the Village Chief's home.

The Village Chief greeted him with open arms, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. "One More Life, you've returned so swiftly. Have you brought good tidings?"

Without delay, Lin Bei presented the Nether Phoenix Crystal, inquiring, "Village Chief, Black Water has vanished. I found no one there, but I did come across this. Have you ever seen it before?"

Lin Bei hadn't bothered searching for survivors. If anyone had ventured to the Medusa Holy Son's domain, their fate was sealed.

The sight of the Nether Phoenix Crystal caused the Village Chief's eyes to narrow, his voice quivering as he spoke, "This is the exalted crystal of the Nether Phoenix Clan's lineage. You're saying you retrieved this from Black Water?"

Lin Bei's thoughts raced upon hearing the Village Chief's response.

He sensed the significance of the crystal and nodded, "Yes, this was all that remained in Black Water. Do you know its history?"

Truth be told, Lin Bei, reborn, was not well-versed in the lore of the Nether Phoenix Clan.

He had only gleaned fragmented information from Wan Dao, who seemed reluctant to delve into the topic.

Lin Bei hadn't anticipated learning such revelations from the old Village Chief!

Overcome with emotion, the Village Chief's eyes brimmed with tears as he recounted, "I'm well aware of its origins. The Nether Phoenix Clan, branded as sinners and forbidden by the world, are a subject most dare not broach. But who could fathom their sacrifices?"

The world of ten thousand years past was fraught with turmoil, an era rife with instability.

The emergence of the Nether Phoenix Clan thwarted the deceitful gods, yet they were vilified as the embodiment of sin.

Thus, the gods and their indoctrinated human followers annihilated the Nether Phoenix Clan.

But when the gods' true nature was exposed, humanity recognized the righteousness of the Nether Phoenix Clan's actions.

Regrettably, by then, it was too late.

Humans may have triumphed in that war, but to conceal their egregious error, the Nether Phoenix Clan was erased from history, their existence distorted into a myth by subsequent rulers.

All that remained was a legend of dubious authenticity.

Legend had it that the Nether Phoenix Clan wasn't entirely wiped out.

Foreseeing their doom, they left behind a crystal of destiny before their fall. They infused their bloodline's power into a mystical crystal known as the Nether Phoenix Crystal.

The Nether Phoenix Clan cast the crystal into the Spatio-temporal Turbulence, hoping that one day, someone would uncover it, reignite its glow, and rekindle the Nether Phoenix bloodline.

Yet, legends are often just that—legends.

The tale of the Nether Phoenix Crystal faded into obscurity with the demise of the Medusa Clan.

"I've carried this story with me since childhood, taught by my parents. It's etched into my very soul."

"I never imagined that at sixty, I would lay eyes upon the Nether Phoenix Crystal!"

"This is wonderful!"

"The legend is true! My faith has been restored!"

The Village Chief, overcome with emotion, wept openly.

Lin Bei was taken aback, his curiosity piqued.

This quest was shaping up to be of paramount importance.

Was it connected to a race of legend?

Moreover, the Nether Phoenix Clan might be linked to the tunnel invaded by the Primeval Devil Clan.

With this in mind, Lin Bei respectfully inquired, "Village Chief, do you know how I can awaken the power of the Nether Phoenix Crystal?"

"Your current strength is far too feeble to make any difference," the Village Chief said with a sigh, shaking his head. "If you meddle in these affairs now, you're bound to encounter endless calamities."

He took a deep breath before continuing, "That's why, once you leave Misty Village, I recommend you head to Ancient Dragon City and seek out a woman named Nihuang. Only then should you decide whether to delve further into this matter."

Nihuang? Lin Bei's expression was one of utter astonishment.

Nihuang was no ordinary figure; she was the esteemed President of the Profession Transfer Guild. Her status towered above even that of the City Lord of Ancient Dragon City. Moreover, Nihuang was elusive, a figure players struggled to even catch a glimpse of.

The thought of seeking out such an elusive NPC hadn't crossed Lin Bei's mind. Was the Village Chief setting him an impossible task on purpose?

Just as Lin Bei pondered this, the Village Chief seemed to recall something important and hastily added, "I have such a poor memory; I nearly overlooked a crucial detail. To meet Nihuang, you must demonstrate your strength. Without that, she will remain beyond your reach."

"You might consider venturing to the Desertification Altar to seek the fabled Sand Heart, a relic of the Medusa Clan. With that in hand, Nihuang will surely grant you an audience."

"And remember, you mustn't breathe a word of this to anyone else. If you do, your life will be at grave risk."

As the Village Chief finished his warning, a system notification chimed in Lin Bei's mind:

"Congratulations! You have completed the second phase of the Red Lotus's hidden main storyline quest!"

"Congratulations! You have received the following rewards: 1,000 experience points and one random Silver Equipment Box!"

"You have automatically embarked on the third phase of the Red Lotus's hidden main storyline quest!"

"Quest Details: Defeat the final difficulty Lord of the Desertification Altar and secure the Sand Heart. Present it to Nihuang, President of the Profession Transfer Guild, to prove your might!"

"Quest Reward: Unknown!"

"Quest Failure: The quest will vanish forever, potentially leading to dire consequences and unforeseen tragedy."

Indeed, Lin Bei's suspicions were confirmed; this quest was tied to the Dungeon that players from Misty Village referred to as a nightmare. And to succeed, he would have to conquer the Dungeon at its most challenging level.

But that's what made it a true challenge, wasn't it?

With a smile, Lin Bei bowed respectfully to the Village Chief. "Thank you for your guidance. I will not let you down and will uncover the secrets of the Nether Phoenix!"

The Village Chief returned the smile, a twinkle in his eye. "Good! I've lived long enough to have few desires left. But your promise—I will hold onto that."

Lin Bei nodded firmly, then without further ado, he took his leave from the Village Chief's home.

To conquer the Dungeon, Lin Bei knew he had to level up and strengthen himself—that was now his top priority.

Filled with a surging sense of purpose, Lin Bei felt hopeful about the future.

Naturally, as he left the village, he didn't forget to inspect his reward—an equipment box. Without bothering with the description, he eagerly opened it:

"You have opened the Silver Equipment Box!"

"Congratulations, you have obtained a piece of Silver Equipment: the Village Chief's Shoes!"

Shoes? Lin Bei's fortune was looking up.

He was in dire need of footwear, and upon examining the Village Chief's Shoes, he found them to be quite ordinary in attributes but invaluable to him at the moment. Slipping them on, he sprinted towards the village outskirts.

Lin Bei's next stop was Maple Leaf Plain, but first, he planned to log off for a meal.

His memory served him well; he knew that soon, a significant event would unfold in Maple Leaf Plain. Ancient Dragon City had been recognized as one of the Ten Great Level 4 Cities, earning a reward from the Imperial Capital.

However, a spy had pilfered the Cloud Feather from the Imperial treasury, hiding it in the reward carriage. The plan was to smuggle it out under the guise of the reward transport, with a contact in Ancient Dragon City ready to receive it.

The theft of the Cloud Feather went unnoticed until the carriage reached Maple Leaf Plain. By then, the Empire had also learned of the heist and issued numerous quests in response.

But with Maple Leaf Plain being a Level 15 map, far from Misty Village, and the players' average level not even reaching Level 5, they had completely missed this unexpected turn of events.

Although Lin Bei didn't know exactly what the Cloud Feather was, his gut feeling assured him it was something valuable. After all, the Empire wouldn't issue a bounty for its retrieval without good reason.

So, Lin Bei set out on his quest.

Time flew by, and before he knew it, half an hour had slipped away.

After a relentless trek, Lin Bei finally reached the Maple Leaf Plain.

Truth be told, the Village Chief's shoes were rather extraordinary. Every so often, they'd give Lin Bei a sudden burst of speed, which shaved precious minutes off his travel time.

After a brief pause to catch his breath, Lin Bei's gaze drifted over the plains before him.

A perpetual red mist shrouded the area, painting the entire plain in shades of crimson, as if it were a realm blanketed in fallen maple leaves.

Collecting his thoughts, Lin Bei stepped forward into the vibrant expanse.

But it wasn't long into his walk across the mist-enshrouded plain that he came face to face with a pair of mantises, their bodies ablaze with fierce flames.