Chapter 31: News from the Three Great Guilds
After sending Ma Chao away, Xiao Wen was handling matters related to territory construction when he heard someone calling out to him from the real world.
Logging out, he sat up from the gaming pod and immediately saw Uncle Fu standing nearby.
The moment he saw Uncle Fu, Xiao Wen realized that his eyesight had become astonishingly sharp. His keen gaze could even make out every pore on Uncle Fu’s face.
His relaxed fingers slowly clenched into a fist, and a faint sonic boom echoed within his palm.
At that moment, Xiao Wen felt his body overflowing with power. Although this power could not compare to the strength he wielded in the game, it was still far greater than the strength he had possessed before!
The virtual world was merging with reality!
The power gained in the game was being transmitted into real-world bodies through unknown means, using gaming pods, VR helmets, and similar devices as mediums to transform the human body!
Xiao Wen leaped up and landed directly on the ground. Looking at Uncle Fu, he asked, “Uncle Fu, what news do you have?”
“Young Master, the investigation you requested regarding the three great guilds of Jiuzhou has produced results. This is the information currently available about them. Please have a look.”
As he spoke, Uncle Fu handed the tablet in his hand to Xiao Wen.
Taking the tablet, Xiao Wen tapped it with one hand. A virtual interface projected itself before him. As his fingers slid across the screen, information regarding the three great guilds appeared.
The three great guilds of Jiuzhou: Ironblood Alliance, Ancient Profound Manor, and Dongning Pavilion!
Rumor had it that behind these three guilds stood three major conglomerates. Those conglomerates provided both money and resources to build up the guilds.
As for who truly controlled the guilds from behind the scenes, nobody knew.
Even the guild leaders themselves remained a mystery.
The people who regularly appeared in public and handled the guilds’ daily affairs were the three vice guild leaders.
Liu Chu of Ironblood Alliance, Meng Feng of Ancient Profound Manor, and Wang Heng of Dongning Pavilion.
When Xiao Wen’s eyes landed on Wang Heng’s information, a trace of icy killing intent flashed through them.
But it quickly disappeared into the depths of his gaze.
Most of the information provided by Uncle Fu was fairly basic. Xiao Wen already knew the majority of it from his previous life.
This information was not particularly important to him.
Frowning slightly, he looked at Uncle Fu and asked, “Do you have anything deeper? Preferably information about these three vice guild leaders.”
Hearing this, Uncle Fu revealed a troubled expression and replied, “Young Master, you know how this old man is. Online games are things for young people. I played some when I was younger, but now I've basically forgotten all about them.”
“However, regarding the three guilds you asked me to investigate, I do remember something. Back when I was young, these three guilds were already among the Four Great Guilds.”
The Four Great Guilds?
Hearing those words, Xiao Wen’s expression became serious.
“You mean the Four Great Guilds that included the now-defunct Carefree Valley?”
“Young Master knows about it?” Uncle Fu asked in surprise.
Xiao Wen nodded.
He had heard some stories about Carefree Valley in his previous life.
Even many Ninth-grade Emperor-level powerhouses had lamented that if Carefree Valley had still existed when the virtual world merged with reality, they would undoubtedly have become the rulers of Jiuzhou.
And with that Carefree Daoist still around, how could Jiuzhou have suffered so many hardships?
After all, that Carefree Daoist had once supported the entire Carefree Valley with his own strength alone in the online gaming world. Unfortunately, he disappeared for unknown reasons, and Carefree Valley eventually disbanded as well.
“Forget it. Carefree Valley is already gone, so there’s no need to discuss it further. Any other news, Uncle Fu?”
“Yes. While browsing the forums, I noticed some players saying that the three guilds are secretly competing against one another and trying to increase their strength.”
“Right now, members of the three guilds are spending huge sums of money buying equipment everywhere. They’ve even spent heavily to establish relay stations and gain access to Luoyang, hoping to purchase equipment there.”
“However, I heard that they’ve already bought out all the equipment available in the Treasure Pavilion, yet they still haven’t met their minimum requirements. It seems they’re continuing to buy more.”
Xiao Wen nodded.
Luoyang was an NPC main city in Heroes Contend and held tremendous importance.
It was not merely a major city.
It was the imperial capital—the political center!
Even though imperial authority had weakened, warlord families had risen, the Yellow Turban Rebellion had broken out, and warfare spread across the land, Luoyang’s position remained unshaken.
To reach Luoyang quickly, one had to construct a relay station.
Once the station was built, players could use its transportation array to travel directly to Luoyang.
As for the Treasure Pavilion, Xiao Wen naturally knew about it.
It was an NPC-operated shop.
Within it, players could purchase various items depending on their identity and official rank.
But if you were merely an ordinary civilian, you could only purchase the lowest-grade equipment.
Just like...
The equipment the three guilds were buying from the Treasure Pavilion.
Their financial resources might be considerable, but because their ranks and status within the game were too low, they were unable to purchase high-quality equipment.
At most...
They could only obtain Bronze-grade equipment.
If that’s the case, then perhaps this lord can throw out some bait and let that fellow take the hook first.
Xiao Wen muttered to himself inwardly as he tapped the virtual screen and enlarged Wang Heng’s photo and personal information.
“Uncle Fu, I need a favor. Use every resource available to investigate this man. I don’t want his in-game information—I want information about his real-life identity.”
“And if possible, keep an eye on the person behind him as well. A woman named Zhang Yazhi.”
Zhang Yazhi was the true controller behind Dongning Pavilion and also its guild leader.
In his previous life, she had been Xiao Wen’s girlfriend.
Together with Wang Heng, she had plotted against him and caused his death.
Now that he had been reborn, this debt had to be settled!
Uncle Fu looked puzzled but did not ask any questions. He immediately agreed before turning and leaving.
After Uncle Fu departed, Xiao Wen refilled the nutrient solution in the gaming pod, lay back inside, activated the game, and logged in once more.
By the time he entered the game, it was already evening.
He sent instructions for a banquet to be prepared within the Lord’s Manor and invited Zhang Song, Ma Chao, and Lu Cheng.
This feast served both as a welcoming banquet and as an opportunity for the key figures of the territory to become more familiar with one another.
The group ate and drank happily.
Before long, they were chatting freely, discussing the world, their ideals, and their ambitions.
Without Xiao Wen even noticing, the loyalty of Zhang Song and Lu Cheng rose to 50.
Early the next morning, Xiao Wen spent 5,000 ingots to construct a relay station within the territory.
Afterward, he paid another 10 ingots for transportation and headed toward Luoyang.
Luoyang, here this lord comes!
Three great guilds...
Are you ready?
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