Chapter 22

The hot air balloon flew very high and very fast, and the clouds soon covered the ground. The inscriptions engraved on the balloon glowed faintly. After careful observation, Ye Bai determined that there were not only protective inscriptions on it, but also inscriptions for acceleration and navigation functions.

[Inscription] technology belongs to the advanced technology [Alchemy] and is one of the three advanced technology branches in the world.

When the technology tree is developed further, it will move towards three development directions: elemental magic, alchemy technology, and the power of chaos.

The traveling merchant's hot air balloon used alchemy, which tended to be more pragmatic, and the next destination he mentioned, the 'Magic City' Melo City, was obviously a large city that specialized in elemental magic technology.

This is good news for Ye Bai.

Another difference between Wanjie and other online games is that each of its servers is a different 'sandbox map'.

The towns, terrain, and resource distribution of each server are different. Otherwise, the locations of high-level resources on the map are fixed. As long as the location is found in one server, it can be directly found in other servers, which makes it unfair.

Not only that, the NPCs in each town are also different. Like the towns, they are randomly generated and the specific tasks they will issue are also different.

Of course, this randomness has basic rules.

For example, each server will generate a varying number of NPC towns based on the number of registered users on the server. Among them, there will definitely be three mega-cities encompassing the three major technological routes, called [Main Cities], to show players what these three types of technology will look like when they reach their peak.

These are also the three major academic schools in the game. The development of other NPC towns will be affected by these factions, including player territories. Lord players can choose to join the corresponding academic faction, and then obtain these faction-exclusive resources and technological support, unlocking special buildings and professions.

In terms of NPCs, various forces such as the Adventurer's Guild and the Merchant Guild exist in every server, but players will find that in different servers, the top leaders of these forces are completely different NPCs. The same is true for various skill mentors and job transfer mentors NPCs, who have the same functions but different specific people.

So since Kazmai called Melo City the "Magic City", Ye Bai could almost be sure that it was a main city of elemental magic.

If players are careful, they can get a lot of information from NPCs, and unless in some special circumstances, this information is rarely false.

In cities on the magic and alchemy sides, Ye Bai can find the job transfer channel she wants. If she goes to a town that is more inclined towards the power of chaos, she will have to spend a certain amount of money to use the town teleportation array.

With the acceleration inscription, the hot air balloon arrived at Melo City after one game day.

During the period when the game entered the night, Ye Bai logged off and found that there was no change in the outside world. This was not unexpected. Ordinary interstellar journeys are at least measured in "days and months". Ye Bai's kidnapping from the Blue Star can definitely be regarded as "smuggling". Maybe he took some secret route similar to sneaking.

The sky in the game lit up, and Ye Bai saw a magnificent city coming into view from afar.

The overall architecture of this city prefers dark colors. The most common buildings in the city center are various high tower-shaped buildings. The main roads are dotted with decorations formed by various elemental magic, a rainbow bridge formed by controlling the backflow of water elements into the sky, various plants flourishing under plant magic, and suspended steps made using gravity magic, etc.

When the hot air balloon slowly descended to the landing platform in the city, Ye Bai saw that most of the pedestrians passing by were wearing long robes, and they looked mysterious and bookish. Some of them were accompanied by strange magical pets.

"Lord Bai Ye, we have arrived at our destination. See you next time." Kazmai said goodbye to Ye Bai. He was going to the market in Melo City to trade the source energy crystals he had obtained before.

Ever since purchasing the extra 'ticket', Ye Bai discovered that Kazmai's way of addressing her had changed. It seemed that the traveling merchant had completely remembered her.

However, if Ye Bai were a traveling merchant, he would definitely remember a lord who "had a mine at home."

Ye Bai replied: "Goodbye, I hope you can come to our territory to trade again next time."

"Of course, you are my big customer!" Kazmai agreed readily, then left with his iconic package.

Ye Bai also turned around and left, but she did not forget her current business.

Because she came with a traveling merchant, Ye Bai landed directly in the inner city area and did not need to pass the inspection of the guards at the inner city gate. This step saved her a lot of trouble.

There is a difference between the inner city and outer city of a city. The core area of ​​the inner city includes many important core buildings, and the level of the residents inside is much higher than that of the outer city. Basically, the people living here are high-level professionals and noble NPCs.

Players can enter the inner city directly only after changing their job. If they want to enter before completing the job change, they must either complete a series of tasks or pay a "bribe" fee of 1 silver coin to the guard.

Ye Bai undoubtedly saved extra time or money this time.

"Sir, do you need a map of Merlo City? You look like you've just arrived here, and you'd be lost without a map. A map is only 10 copper coins!"

"No, thank you."

After rejecting the inquiry of a child who looked like a newsboy and was selling a city map, Ye Bai stood on a higher ground, scanned the exteriors of several buildings, and then locked his eyes on a tall tower with a three-pointed style, and trotted in that direction without delay.

Of course, a map is not needed. Ye Bai is indeed not familiar with Melo City, but she is familiar with the styles of various functional buildings!

"Why won't you let me in?"

After being rejected several times in the inner city, the player Zhu Ya looked at the clerk who tried to stop him and finally couldn't help but question him.

The Magic Guild, the City Hall, the Library... It's fine if he's not allowed to enter these buildings, but why is he now trying to enter a magic equipment store to buy some... well, he's not even allowed to look at the equipment!

"Sorry, obviously your identity and strength are not suitable for this place." The clerk gave Zhu Ya a contemptuous look, coupled with a cold expression, deeply interpreting what it means to be condescending and arrogant.

"What's your attitude?!"

Zhu Ya is also a strong man in reality, and has never been offended by such an insult.

Zhu Ya got the opportunity to enter the inner city of Melo City by chance through a letter delivery mission. He can basically confirm that he is the first player to enter the inner city.

I originally thought that I could take this opportunity to get in touch with advanced tasks and professions before other players. However, after entering here, I encountered obstacles everywhere, the task deadline was about to expire, and I didn't gain anything.

He was immediately enraged when he was discriminated against by the clerk.

"Um?"

Seeing Zhu Ya's unfriendly expression, the clerk whose combat profession was [Magic Apprentice] immediately glared at him.

In the player's field of vision at Zhuya, this NPC, who originally belonged to a friendly unit, showed him his health bar.

“…It’s okay.”

After comparing the thickness of his own health bar with that of his opponent, Zhu Ya wisely chose to take a step back and see the bigger picture.

"You're smart." The clerk sneered.

Just then, a figure trotted past the cliff without stopping.

Zhu Ya looked over subconsciously, and then his pupils shrank - from the standard system initial body shape, the standard system initial hairstyle, and the clothes with no sense of matching style, he immediately recognized that the other party must be a player!

There are actually other players entering the inner city!

And it seems that he is not a member of the circle of powerful people in Melo City that he is familiar with.

Unfortunately, in the Wanjie game with robbery and wanted games, players cannot know each other's names unless they actively leave their contact information.

While he was thinking about it, an even more horrifying scene happened to Zhu Ya.

He watched helplessly as the jogging player stepped into the library door. The two guards who had stopped him before didn't even raise their eyelids and let her figure disappear into the library... How could this be possible? He was stopped before he even stepped onto the stairs!

After Zhu Ya was stunned for a moment, he couldn't help but feel something in his heart and subconsciously followed him.

However, before he even set foot on the library steps, a cold shout came from above: "Stay away, you idlers!"

"Why can the person in front go in?" Zhu Ya said unwillingly.

Unfortunately, the two armored guards guarding the library entrance did not answer him directly, but just touched the weapons at their waists.

Two blood bars, thicker and longer than the ones from the clerk just now, appeared in Zhuya's sight.

Zhuya put his raised foot back to where it was.

He couldn't help but look at the door for a while, until he received a reminder that the task was about to expire, and then he left with a feeling of resentment.

"Tsk, what kind of identity..." The clerk not far away sneered at the scene, then turned around and went back into the store.

If Ye Bai were here, he would be able to answer Zhu Ya's questions.

Just as the clerk said, the difference lies in 'identity'.

All players are of divine blood, and what Ye Bai has more than Zhu Ya is the identity of "Lord".

Although Baiye Village is currently a level 1 territory, it pales in comparison to a level 9 main city like Melo City. However, a "small village chief" is still a village chief! No matter how small Ye Bai's lord status is, it can still be considered an aristocratic class. Ordinary players need to change their jobs to catch up with her treatment.

Ye Bai ran all the way over and naturally saw Zhu Ya, but she was busy entering the library and just glanced at him without paying much attention to this player. Her time was very precious.

After entering the library, Ye Bai went straight to the densely packed tall bookcases inside.

Unlike Alchemy, which focuses on experimentation and application, and Chaos, which emphasizes communication and faith, Magic Technology is the most devoted to "knowledge" itself among the three major branches of technology. Therefore, the library here has the most comprehensive collection of books among the three major cities.

After searching for a while, Ye Bai stopped in front of a row of bookcases, and then took out several books from them with a clear purpose.

[Do you want to consume 10 points of energy to read "General History of the Continent I"?]

[Should I consume 10 points...?]

[Do you want to consume 10 points of energy to read "A General History of the Continent V"?]

Ye Bai was very glad that he could quickly standardize the system panel by only consuming physical strength. He quickly confirmed it five times, consuming 50 physical strength points, and finished reading the general history of the continent that was piled up half a person's height.

She then searched several other rows of bookshelves and found several other introductory history books.

[Do you want to consume 10 points of physical strength to read "History of the Discovery of Elements"?]

[Do you want to spend 10 points of energy to read "The Beginning of Alchemy"?]

[Do you want to consume 10 points of physical strength to read "The Origin of Bloodline"?]

【whether……】

"Ten books... that's enough." After reading the tenth history book and upgrading and recovering his physical strength in the middle, Ye Bai's personal level reached level 16.

She stood up from her desk, stopped reading, and began to walk around the library, seemingly aimlessly.

But not long after, when Ye Bai passed by a desk or counter, a figure who was originally concentrating on reading raised his head from behind the desk and called Ye Bai.

"Wait, the kid in front..."

This was an elegant elderly lady with her silver hair neatly combed behind her head. She pushed the lenses on her nose and looked at Ye Bai with her green eyes.

"From what I've observed, you seem to be interested in history as well?"

Ye Bai stopped and raised the corner of his mouth: Here it comes!