Chapter 1: The Dawn of Epic Plot
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A post by the user “Upgrade Maniac” suddenly blew up in the forum.
“MAJOR DISCOVERY! MAJOR DISCOVERY! MAJOR DISCOVERY! Important things need to be repeated three times!”
“Suspected major epic plot about to unfold! All players should tune into Upgrade Maniac’s live streaming room right now, just in case you miss out on the secrets of ‘The Way of Inquiry’ you didn’t know about.”
“As we all know, for nearly two months since the game launched, most players have been wandering around the territories of the Seven Great Immortal Gates. ‘The Way of Inquiry’ looks like it has a lot of freedom, but in practice, it’s not that simple. The only races available to players are humans, and the monster tribes are yet to be unlocked.”
“From my utterly irresponsible speculation, it’s likely because the monster tribes are crucial NPCs in ‘The Way of Inquiry’s story, holding key positions in the plot development.”
“It goes without saying that humans are the opposite of monsters. And in the epic battle between good and evil, good will surely triumph in the long run.”
“So, here’s the question: if a player chooses to side with the enemy faction, are they just destined to fail? I doubt any player would want to test out that game experience.”
“Maybe that’s the real reason ‘The Way of Inquiry’ hasn’t opened up registration for monster tribes.”
“If the game developers see this post and think it’s spot on, don’t forget to smash that like button!”
“Now, back to the main topic. Why do I call the upcoming live stream an epic plot?”
“Since the launch, players mostly focus on grinding, yet so far, very few have become Inner Door Disciples of the Immortal Gates. If a war plot between the three races starts now, player participation would plummet.”
“To ensure everyone remembers that there are other races in this world, the developers played a smart trick.”
“I bet the players reading this have figured it out: the arrival of the Cold Moon Witch!”
“Those who’ve watched my streams know that, while I was just a player trying to complete my first job transfer quest, we encountered a hidden boss as if by divine intervention.”
“Of course, we had no idea what her appearance truly meant back then.”
“No surprises here, we were brutally slaughtered by the powerful boss.”
“The top Inner Door Disciple from Thousand Bird City, Gongsun Ding, couldn’t even withstand the ferocity of the Cold Moon Witch.”
“Then the Female Demon Leader transformed the celestial crane into the Dark Feather Crane before quietly leaving. Since then, we’ve never seen her again.”
“However, the subsequent events in the Chaos Forest proved that the Cold Moon Witch hadn’t given up. Strong Brother’s post has already analyzed the entire incident in detail, so I won’t go into it.”
“Speaking of which, many of you must be wondering, what exactly am I trying to say?”
“The appearance of the Cold Moon Witch is definitely the prologue to an epic plot! If we can closely follow her trail, we’ll gradually uncover the inner workings of ‘The Way of Inquiry’ and get close to the core areas of the monster tribes.”
“This is the brilliance of the game developers, the so-called gentle influence is just like this.”
“Not long ago, I managed to snag a job accompanying Gongsun Ding to the monster tribe’s White Feather City.”
“Moreover, Gongsun Ding’s main purpose for heading to White Feather City is to pressure them into handing over the Cold Moon Witch, who has been causing chaos in the human world recently.”
“Take a guess: how will White Feather City react? A direct refusal, evasive dodging, or all smiles and promises?”
“Perhaps we’ll finally get to see the Cold Moon Witch’s chilling figure once more, or maybe we’ll be torn apart by the monster tribe.”
“Most importantly, we’re about to witness the beginning of the first epic plot in ‘The Way of Inquiry.’ How could players possibly miss out on such a crucial moment?”
“Players, don’t you dare miss Upgrade Maniac’s live stream!”
“PS: White Feather City hasn’t appeared on our map because it has never been explored, and this time, I’ll be taking you all along to explore this mysterious monster city in the live stream.”
As soon as Tang Tong posted, it ignited the entire player forum.
Countless players’ envy and jealousy need not be mentioned.
Who would have thought it was Upgrade Maniac again?
Last time, he unluckily bumped into a hidden boss, and now he’s the only one following an NPC to the core area of the monster tribe. Others didn’t even get a chance to tag along!
This guy’s luck is off the charts!
But while they shouted curses, when it came time for his live stream, Upgrade Maniac’s room was still packed with players, even more than during his first encounter with the Cold Moon Witch.
Tang Tong was undoubtedly thrilled.
However, he didn’t dare to show it in front of Gongsun Ding; what if this proud senior brother noticed something off and decided to kick him off the Roc mid-flight?
But as the Roc soared higher, under the azure sky dotted with clouds, and the vast, dense forest below, Tang Tong’s acrophobia kicked in.
He clung tightly to the Roc’s back, barely daring to glance below.
Fearing he might faint and meet his end before the epic plot even started.
The players in the live stream were already rolling with laughter.
Thank goodness the system provided a camera that could be adjusted around the streamer; otherwise, players might have quit out of boredom midway.
People chatted randomly.
“This big bird is way smaller than the celestial crane we saw last time. It’s like a smart car next to a bus.”
“Uh, you don’t get it. This Roc belongs to Gongsun Ding. The celestial crane is from Thousand Bird City. It’s like comparing a private car to a bus. Do you expect your family to buy a bus?”
“So, it seems all Inner Door Disciples from Thousand Bird City get their mounts?”
“Of course! I heard there’s a special beast park in the Floating City, run by the Inner Door Disciples. You know what they say: the early bird gets the worm. It’s totally normal for them to have their own mounts.”
At this point, Tang Tong had no energy to interact with the audience. Fortunately, the hype from the live stream title kept viewers engaged during their flight on the Roc.
Most players were stuck at the Inner Door Disciple recruitment of various Immortal Gates, and they wanted to unwind and see what Upgrade Maniac would uncover next.
After all, he had hyped himself up too much in his posts, leading to quite a few players waiting for him to mess up.
Whenever there was a chance, Upgrade Maniac’s live stream would absolutely get bombarded with chaos.
The Roc flew at lightning speed, and after half a day’s journey, they finally spotted a city shrouded in black storm clouds deep within the forest.
The audience’s interest peaked instantly.
Who would have thought there truly was such a grand city hidden within the vast unexplored area?
Given the ominous black mist hanging over the city, there was no doubt it belonged to the monster tribe.
With a stoic expression, Gongsun Ding turned back to check on Tang Tong, who looked like a popsicle from the wind, and calmly announced, “Prepare for landing.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the Roc dove sharply.
Even with Gongsun Ding’s warning, it scared the life out of Tang Tong; his heart raced as if it would leap out of his throat, his face turned pale, and cold sweat soaked his back.
The Roc deftly weaved through the black clouds and smoothly landed at the City Lord’s Mansion located in the heart of the city.
Clearly, there must have been formal contact beforehand.
Before the Roc even fully landed, a goat-headed man in scholarly robes greeted them with a big smile.
However, he was flanked by a row of armored guards wielding long axes—tall and imposing, nearly all over two meters, as if transformed from some massive beasts.
Tang Tong felt as if he’d entered a land of giants, cautiously trailing behind the composed Gongsun Ding.
“Ah, the immortal has finally arrived! The City Lord has been waiting for you for quite some time,” the goat-headed man said politely.
Gongsun Ding, as if he hadn’t seen the two rows of guards, nodded and replied, “My apologies, please lead the way.”
Tang Tong curiously looked around, while the audience widened their eyes, eager to catch a glimpse of the monster tribe’s mansion.
“I think the monster tribe seems to be doing pretty well. Look at this grand estate compared to humans—it’s not much different, and the intricacies of some carvings are rather exquisite, it seems quite refined.”
“Well, this is their City Lord’s Mansion. If it were falling apart, what dignity would they have?”
“Wow, this is my first time seeing an actual monster, and that goat-headed guy actually talks! It’s so weird.”
“Same here, there’s just this strong sense of dissonance. No wonder humans and monsters can’t coexist; there’s an inherent conflict in their nature.”
“Naturally, those who are not of our kind must have different hearts.”
The goat-headed man guided them through a wide corridor, flanked by lifelike stone sculptures of humans, animals, and half-human, half-monster forms.
Their expressions were particularly vivid, almost indistinguishable from real people.
Tang Tong couldn’t help but praise, “The sculptors of the monster tribe are truly ingenious, turning decay into wonders.”
The goat-headed man merely smiled and said nothing.
This wasn’t Gongsun Ding’s first visit; he glanced at the sculptures and said, “Seems like these stone figures have been replaced.”
“You have a keen eye, immortal. These were moved here just last month.”
Gongsun Ding nodded, but the next thing he said was directed at Tang Tong, “These are the enemies of the monster tribe who fell victim to petrification spells. They’re deliberately displayed here to intimidate guests.”
Tang Tong was instantly dumbfounded, “Those were once living people?”
Gongsun Ding merely hummed in acknowledgment and chose not to respond further.
The goat-headed man then looked at Tang Tong, explaining, “Rest assured, most of those human-like stone figures are just transformed little demons, not actual humans.”
“Oh, I see.”
Tang Tong hurriedly restrained his anxious surprise, feeling far too low compared to the consistently calm Gongsun Ding.
The goat-headed man might not say it, but he was probably already looking down on him internally.
Fortunately, as they exited the corridor, they found themselves in a reception hall that radiated golden splendor, allowing Tang Tong’s fluttering heart to finally settle.
It was finally time to discuss the critical plot point, and even if he died right after hearing it, at least he could claim to have shared the moment live, which he considered a mission accomplished.
