New Soldiers and Adventurers
“What's the difference between a visitor and a naturalized citizen? Is it just that one costs money and the other is free?”
“Of course not! Once naturalized, you gain Zhenhai City identity and can join various factions or organizations within Zhenhai City. For example, the Guard System, the Army System, the Adventurers' Guild's Bounty Hunter System, the Night Watchman System in the towns below...”
Yang Jian listened, feeling impressed despite not fully understanding, and unconsciously looked at Chen Ergou with new respect.
“How long have you been in Zhenhai City to know so much?”
“Over ten days. The seven main cities were all recently established. New cities offer more opportunities. I used to live in Luoshuang City on the Qishen Continent, but I still have six years before I can participate in the Awakening Ceremony...”
“Coming to Zhenhai City means you can participate in the Awakening Ceremony earlier?”
“No, it means I can earn a bit more money and live a better life!”
“Did you go to Luoshuang City later?”
Chen Ergou shook his head.
“I was born in Luoshuang City. When my parents awakened, they didn't have any talent, and their professions weren't even combat professions... So, our family lived at the bottom!”
The two chatted along the way, and Chen Ergou led Yang Jian to the household registration office.
“Naturalization costs fifty silver coins? That expensive?”
The junior official at the registration office had no airs of a public servant.
“Valiant Sir, please don't make it difficult for me. These are all unified prices set by the higher-ups...”
It's hard to hit a smiling face, especially when this person, big or small, was an official.
After paying fifty silver coins, Yang Jian officially became a resident of Zhenhai City.
If he didn't have money, he wouldn't even be able to get naturalized!
He considered himself a high-level player, with many system rewards and the support of an entire guild behind him.
Otherwise, at level ten, finding an additional fifty silver coins would be quite tough.
After completing the registration, the two headed towards the government office.
On the way, Yang Jian asked Chen Ergou curiously,
“The people at the household registration office were quite easy to talk to!”
Although Chen Ergou was young, he had been self-reliant for several years.
“I heard he's very polite to anyone who comes to the main city within the first ten days of the server opening...”
“Why?”
“I don't know that... Just heard it!”
They arrived at the government office!
There was a dedicated Zhenhai City onboarding hall where one could choose the department they wished to join.
“I'll tell you a secret: there's actually a way to join multiple departments, but the job responsibilities of the departments cannot conflict...”
Yang Jian frowned.
That's right, this wasn't some rigid game program.
“How do you know that?”
“It's no longer news in Luoshuang City!”
“Then how do you join multiple departments?”
“I'm only twelve...”
Alright, Yang Jian handed him a silver coin as a reward for his reminder.
Entering Zhenhai City's onboarding hall, it was full of people recruiting... Only a few scattered natives were inquiring about the conditions for passing the civil service exam.
He understood. This was the advantage of high-end players! One person dominating the entire blue ocean market.
Ultimately, Yang Jian joined Zhenhai City's City Defense Army and Zhenhai City's Adventurers' Guild.
Players who joined the City Defense Army received preferential treatment.
For example, they didn't need to report to the barracks daily, but they had to complete at least ten guaranteed city defense missions each month.
Completing city defense missions earned City Defense Army system points, and promotions and raises depended on completing missions.
Additionally, city defense missions could be accepted in all 27 towns within Zhenhai City's jurisdiction.
Yang Jian found that some of Zhenhai City's layouts were quite reasonable.
For instance, these city defense missions were accepted in the sentinel's rest room next to the East Gate.
No need to run too far.
Although one could ride mounts, and even flying mounts, in Zhenhai City, those were still very distant prospects.
Of course, flying mounts could only fly in the outer city, with no-fly zones in the inner city, but horses could be ridden!
The riding skill required reaching level twenty to learn!
It was out of the question for the short term.
Therefore... the value of the druid king ring was still increasing.
Upon joining the City Defense Army, he was given a Private's Badge with Strength +1.
It was better than nothing, he supposed.
Yang Jian also decided not to ask about housing.
After all, Bai Youyou would arrive at level ten by tomorrow at the latest. She had management talents and could save 30% of gold coins when purchasing assets.
If it were real-world currency, Yang Jian wouldn't bat an eye.
But since it was in-game currency, he absolutely had to save that 30%!
He first toured the Auction House with Chen Ergou. The items inside were networked across the entire Eastern Continent!
To purchase items from other continents, one had to go to the neutral Goblin Auction House!
Goblins had no other faults in their dealings, just that they were expensive! Extremely expensive!
There was nothing of interest in the Auction House, so Yang Jian didn't look further. He then went to a public inn near the city gate and bound his Hearthstone!
Although it cost money, it was ultimately much more reliable than simply returning to the city square for no reason.
After all, if he really ran to the city square for no reason, it would be too far to go out and fight monsters again!
Having dealt with these minor errands, Yang Jian took a moment to open his Heavenly Eye and check Chen Ergou's attributes.
Name: Chen Ergou.
Description: Possesses a purple forging talent, with considerable cultivation value. Recruitment is recommended.
Remarks: omitted...
Yang Jian tentatively sent a guild invitation to Chen Ergou.
Chen Ergou's eyes immediately widened, looking at Yang Jian in disbelief.
“I... this... can I?”
“Do you want to come?”
“Yes!”
“Then what are you waiting for?”
Ding, Guild Message: Chen Ergou has joined the guild!
The Star Palace guild now had roughly over five hundred members.
After all, the guild had restrictions on talent and player level for outer members.
Because the two-hour experience buff that could be activated daily was still very tempting.
As for other benefits of joining the guild?
Those were matters for later!
So, regarding new members joining the guild, apart from a few managers and officials sending a welcome message, everyone else remained quiet.
Of course, many probably secretly muttered about how down-to-earth his screen name was... He sent a private message to Bai Youyou.
He instructed her to contact Chen Ergou directly upon arriving in Zhenhai City and have him assist with setting up the guild'sstation.
Bai Youyou: Native? What does native mean?
Yang Jian: It means exactly what you think!
Bai Youyou: Very good, this game is getting more and more fantastical! Does he know how to take his power out?
Hmm? Good question!
“Guild Leader, I don't know that! You know, those of us in this line of work... are all failures!”
“Then... what about those who succeeded?”
“There are no successful ones... Success is temporary. They are still in their own worlds, locked in a struggle with the abyss!”
There must be some who succeeded, but that was beyond what a small fry like Chen Ergou would know... Yang Jian was not discouraged.
He sent Chen Ergou away, then planned to complete Village Chief Village Chief Wang Hu's letter delivery quest.
Archer instructor Li Weina... Yang Jian originally thought she might be a blonde, blue-eyed foreigner.
After all, although this was the main city of the Eastern Continent, there were quite a few other races in the city.
Even the inn where Yang Jian had just bound his Hearthstone was run by a cat-eared older sister... Of course, Yang Jian would never admit that he chose their inn out of three nearby establishments because he was attracted to the cat-eared girl's identity!
It turned out, upon meeting her, that she was a black-haired, black-eyed young lady.
“Money, money, money!”
Once she confirmed that Yang Jian was the hunter looking for her, the archer lady immediately started shouting at the other profession instructors around her for money.
Yang Jian understood what was happening at a glance.
They were betting on the first profession to come in? It seemed they had been idle for too long these days?
No worries, in a few days, you'll all be busy.
“My apologies, you've seen something embarrassing!”
Li Weina sized Yang Jian up and down.
“You're a hunter?”
“Yes!”
“It's rare for a hunter to be the first to arrive. After all, if you can't buy a pet taming skill book, leveling up indeed doesn't offer much advantage!”
Yang Jian made no comment, silently handing over the letter of introduction from Village Chief Village Chief Wang Hu.
Li Weina simply took it without opening it.
However, seeing this item, Li Weina was quite surprised!
Only the first person to reach level ten would possess this item. To be precise, Li Weina and Village Chief Wang Hu did not know each other!
The so-called old friend was merely someone she had heard about through Yang Jian.
Seeing Village Chief Wang Hu's letter of introduction, Li Weina knew why Yang Jian was here.
She didn't waste words and directly issued a quest.
Contesting Territory with Murlocs (Elite).
Quest Description: Sixty miles to the east is Zhenhai City's food base. The subordinate Wanghai Town wants to establish three new villages! Why build when you can plunder faster? Please help Wanghai Town drive away and seize the murloc villages!
Yang Jian: ...Listen, listen, are you even doing human things?
How did the murlocs offend you?
Quest Reward: Rare Profession Change Scroll!
Murlocs, they not only eat fish, but they also eat people, truly unforgivable!
“Accept!”
At Archer Instructor Li Weina's place, Yang Jian learned three new skills.
Serpent Sting, Frost Trap, and Concussive Shot!
None of them were core skills, but they were all quite useful.
The young lady indicated that she only knew this many skills!
In salvation, one must rely on oneself... Leaving the skill instructor, Yang Jian then went to explore the teleportation array.
The teleportation array could reach other main cities. From the southernmost Zhenhai City to the northernmost Luoye City, it cost ten gold coins for teleportation!
It was completely topsy-turvy!
Although he had enough gold coins, making such a round trip would pain him for a very, very long time!
Therefore, it was estimated that for a short period, the seven main cities would likely have to fight their own battles.
All preparations complete, Yang Jian planned to head out to level up.
He still needed to maintain his level advantage.
Furthermore, the greater the advantage he gained, the more leeway he would have in dealing with future changes.
Zhenhai City's west side faced the sea, with a huge dock built there. The north side leaned against mountains, with a small gate leading up the mountain.
The entire south side of the city was a slum, and most people didn't like to enter or exit from there!
Therefore, only the large gate on the east side was the true main entrance and exit.
Yang Jian exited through the East Gate and then ran south along the main road.
He felt his running speed was approximately 60 kilometers per hour.
After all, his current load wasn't light.
Then, in travel form, his speed was approximately 90 kilometers per hour.
Travel form also had another advantage: it was like traversing mountains and rivers as if walking on flat ground!
Passing through the level eleven and twelve monster areas, Yang Jian directly reached the level fifteen monster area!
He decided to practice with these level fifteen wild monsters to get a feel for the intensity... But before that, he would upgrade his talent first!