Chapter 6: Fallen Species (3)
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Much like the popular content creator Xiao Ai, there are plenty of life players out there who have absolutely zero combat skills.
Six months ago, they entered the Asking Dao Continent, and their initial goal wasn’t leveling up but soaking in the new experiences the virtual world had to offer.
Especially after Xiao Ai’s first travel video about the Asking Dao Continent went viral online, he was even more determined to live the life of a non-combat player.
The subsequent interviews about Yihong Courtyard and Li Xiaocong were all handled by Xiao Ai.
He thought this money-making video lifestyle would continue indefinitely, but out of the blue, the game’s officials pulled a massive stunt that sent these numerous life players crashing from heaven to hell.
Faced with an influx of newcomer players, life players had almost no differences from them aside from holding a “get out of jail free” card.
Before they knew it, they were swept under in the unending tide of guild wars, becoming part of the ruins of Sky Sword City.
As one of the luckier souls, Xiao Ai would have been kicked out of the guild ages ago, had he not once filmed a promotional video for the Heavenly Sword Sect. His minor contributions were the only reason he still had a spot; at his current level, he’d have been left to fend for himself.
Looking at the three aloof and stylish figures standing confidently by the teleport station, illuminated only by the dim glow of flames, Xiao Ai felt a shiver run down his spine.
He glanced back at the players who had kicked him out. Their retreating postures were crystal clear.
Those players immediately made a dramatic chopping motion across their necks.
With that, Xiao Ai didn’t dare turn back. If it weren’t for that “get out of jail free” card, he’d be shaking so hard that moving another step would feel like climbing Mount Everest!
His mission was to inquire about the origins of the three women.
If their strength checked out, the next step would be to invite them to join the Heavenly Sword Sect.
Whether those three would suddenly decide to slice him in half—something that happened quite often—wasn’t even on his radar.
Xiao Ai felt like his heart might leap out of his throat.
Although they were still fifty meters away, he could vaguely feel their eyes glued to him.
To totally disarm their wariness, Xiao Ai raised both hands in a sign of peace and said, with his heart pounding like a drum, “I… I’m Xiao Ai from the Heavenly Sword Sect! I’m not sure if you’ve joined any guilds yet, but if not, you should seriously consider switching to ours!
At our base, we serve top-notch steaks every night, plus all the desserts and fruits that the ladies adore!
Trust me, there’s no other guild in Sky Sword City that treats its members like we do. The rest are just squatting on land they don’t even use, while we’re the real deal in terms of strength and provisions—definitely number one in Sky Sword City!”
This wasn’t Xiao Ai’s first rodeo.
Thanks to years of video work and voice acting, his words flowed with a kind of authoritative charm that made people trust him without thinking.
That’s part of why he had survived this long.
The three tall and stylishly dressed women exchanged glances after hearing Xiao Ai’s pitch.
Then the one in the black crop jacket nodded slightly, her long hair flowing. “With perks like that, it would be a shame not to check it out.”
Xiao Ai’s heart soared—he rapidly nodded his head. “You’ve made the right choice! The Heavenly Sword Sect won’t disappoint!”
“Lead the way.”
“Sure thing!”
Xiao Ai darted ahead, eager to guide them.
Standing around 1.7 meters tall, he was almost the same height as the three women, but with his big head and small frame, his proportions were rather comical.
So, even when standing with Lin Nan and the others, people would still get the impression that Xiao Ai was the short one in the group.
Especially the beauty at the center—she practically embodied the golden ratio from head to toe. Her flawless looks had the guys trailing behind her practically drooling, wishing they could swap places with Xiao Ai to experience being next to such a stunning sight.
Women really are peculiar beings.
Just a change of clothes and hairstyle, and suddenly you seem like a totally different person in others’ eyes.
In the seasoned players’ minds, the Cold Moon Witch always made her entrance in a swirling mass of black hair and dress, giving off an aura of icy elegance that made people swoon.
Now, however, Lin Nan was decked out in efficient, modern attire, her long hair tied back in a ponytail, with bangs obscuring part of her face.
With the dim light of night casting shadows, Xiao Ai didn’t even think to make a connection to the Cold Moon Witch.
As for Little Musashi and Jing Feng, they too had swapped their once archaic outfits for casual pants and short tops, effectively obscuring their true identities.
“Is this the City Lord’s Mansion?”
After walking for a spell, when Xiao Ai came to a halt in front of a towering fortress, Lin Nan couldn’t help but express her surprise.
“Yes! Right now, this is the base for the Heavenly Sword Sect.”
Xiao Ai reveled in their shock, almost as if he owned the place.
After passing through a guard inspection, the three women followed Xiao Ai into the fortress.
Even though it was late at night, players accustomed to the vibrant nightlife wouldn’t be caught napping anytime soon. The castle was abuzz with players milling about.
Compared to the ruins and broken bricks of Sky Sword City, the fortress might be a bit chaotic but at least had some life to it.
As soon as players spotted the three long-legged ladies entering the castle, they froze in place.
Female players were a rare find, and with all the ruthless battles between guilds, many had unfortunately met their end. While players had managed to capture some female NPCs to entertain themselves, that practice had been quietly approved at higher guild circles.
After all, in such a high-stakes war where it’s “k*ll or be killed” nearly every day, NPCs and players were practically from different worlds, with no mercy given to either side.
For them, capturing a few women for some fun was hardly a big deal.
Compared to the batch of NPCs that had been lost, these ladies were quite lucky.
However, their thought processes were just as antiquated. Establishing a common language was impossible; it was either tears or hanging—who had the time to coddle them all day?
Now, the sight of the three modern women was refreshing enough to leave them breathless, wiping all other thoughts from their minds.
If it weren’t for Little Musashi’s imposing dual swords slung over her shoulder, they might have rushed over in excitement already.
“The guild leader wants to see you.”
A few players still clad in Heavenly Sword Sect inner door disciple robes appeared before the trio.
Xiao Ai quickly stepped aside, not daring to breathe too heavily.
The surrounding players shot envious glances at the City Lord’s Mansion.
With such fine company, how could the guild leader let them slip away?
Sigh… Let’s disperse.
Tomorrow was bound to be another bloody day; they would think about other things only if they survived.
