Chapter Forty-Four: The Grand Transformation of Luoyun (Part One)

Three days later.

Although Li Ren had already anticipated the presence of a large number of players in Luoyun City and had therefore donned the Ring of Deceit before his return, he still underestimated the sheer size of the player crowd. Even though the hidden quest with the exchange NPC had ended, the city remained packed to the brim, the once-empty small town now teeming and suffocating with throngs of players.

Li Ren and Shadow were startled by the scene as they entered through the city gates. Since Lantis had not sent them any messages after their departure, Li Ren had assumed that Luoyun City remained tranquil, believing that after the two brothers, Tianya and Haijiao, left, the news had been tightly sealed; even if someone discovered the place later, the information would only spread in small circles.

Yet he had truly forgotten the existence of a certain kind of player—those feverishly passionate gossipmongers! The exchange quest in Luoyun City had spread across every alley among the players within a single day, becoming common knowledge. The endless stream of players arriving had created the spectacular scene before him.

Li Ren paused for a moment, but quickly regained his composure. A few players at the city gate eyed Li Ren with mild curiosity as he entered—after all, outside was an area filled with level 80 monsters, and none dared wander too far beyond the city, lest they court death.

Though puzzled, they paid him little mind, since there were always some restless players who ventured out for a stroll, hoping, perhaps, to chance upon a treasure chest or gather some herbs.

Li Ren and Shadow pressed forward through the crowded city, making their way to the castle of the city lord. There, using the city lord privileges, they teleported inside. Their sudden disappearance caused little commotion, and soon they found themselves in the grand hall of the castle.

Lantis was still asleep. The massive conference table had become her domain; she rested her slender, pale arms as if they were a soft pillow. It was only when Li Ren and Shadow approached that she stirred from her slumber.

Yet upon seeing the two, she promptly lay back down, lazily unwilling to move.

Li Ren smiled lightly at her demeanor. He had no desire to meddle in such trivial matters; it would only spoil the fun. This relaxed atmosphere was, in truth, quite pleasant.

Curious about the multitude in the city, Li Ren opened the records for Luoyun City. When he saw the soul count in the Death Wish Grounds soaring to nine million, his mouth fell open in astonishment.

He counted the string of densely packed digits three times before confirming the total!

“We’ve struck gold! Incredible! These players are truly outstanding!” he could not help but exclaim.

Their recent trip to the Iron Saw Centipede Caves had allowed them to farm monsters at an impressive rate, yet they had only acquired a little over twenty thousand souls—though plentiful in equipment, thanks largely to his luck stat.

When Shadow, using his deputy city lord privileges, saw the nine million souls, even his usually austere expression softened into a satisfied smile.

“Master, I recommend opening all relevant city functions as soon as possible. With the support of so many souls, we can easily cover the costs for summoning those NPCs,” Shadow began calculating as soon as he saw the number.

“Indeed, this way we can reap greater rewards. Letting so many people idle here is no solution,” Li Ren nodded. The potential profits a city could yield for players were colossal—far beyond imagination!

“Go ahead then. You’re more familiar with these matters. With this many souls, the priority is to set up the supporting facilities, and increase the guard force. There are too many players and too few guards—it’s not ideal,” Li Ren added.

Shadow nodded happily and set to work. Though he spoke lightly, the actual implementation was anything but simple.

While Shadow busied himself inside, the changes sparked a massive transformation outside.

In the Death Wish Grounds, as souls were consumed in large quantities, the previously shuttered buildings lining the streets began to shift.

Most noticeably, the Task Hall emerged—a fundamental source of ultimate profits. The hall occupied a vast area, and under the astonished gaze of the players, a grand structure with a markedly non-player style took shape.

Like a medieval vampire castle, the Task Hall exuded a strange, severe atmosphere. Exquisitely carved and lifelike reliefs coiled around the massive pillars at the entrance, depicting various monsters with agonized faces, as if transmitting boundless resentment. The oppressive aura instinctively subdued even the most unruly tempers.

Within the Task Hall, the spacious chamber featured three reception counters at the back, and a gigantic task board stood to the side—though for now, it remained empty. Three NPCs had already appeared behind the counters, functioning just like the task hall NPCs in the player world, able to display available quests and handle task publishing.

Following the Task Hall, a tavern was established—a haven for bored players, and an essential place for relaxation in the Land of the Gods.

Despite the contrasting exterior style, the interior amenities lacked nothing: aromatic, delicious wines, a wealth of gourmet dishes—culinary delights limited only by imagination. Add to this the soft and comfortable super beds—ah, truly a place one could linger forever. No wonder so many preferred to enjoy such imperial luxury within the game.

The marketplace, a core component of any city, had been planned from the start. Designed for player trading convenience, it allowed anyone to rent a small plot and sell their wares.

Of course, besides the rental fees, every successful transaction also incurred a tax.

The remaining large estate was all designated by Shadow as formal shops.

These shops served as assets for more powerful players. One had to apply to the city lord, pay a fee, and then gain the right to use the shop. Though this was merely a virtual world, after years of development in gaming industries, such assets had become fully linked to reality, especially with the virtual-to-real currency exchange chain present here.

Witnessing the city’s dramatic transformation, many players excitedly explored every corner. Only a select few, a very small minority, quickly recorded their findings in emails and sent them to various destinations. Shortly afterward, the teleportation array erupted again in a flash of white light.

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