Chapter 13
"50 Gold? Make it 20!"
"40."
"25."
"30."
"35! Ah wai-"
"35, Sold!"
"..." The goat-headed demihuman grimaced as he paid the pudgy merchant, who was smiling in glee as he handed over a ruby pendant.
Wuji had been looking at the two haggling, a common sight within the village. Not long since he entered did he find out that the prices here were absolutely ridiculous. If the rest of the world had found out about the prices within this village, they'd be frightened with shock. Most of the items were paid in gold, sometimes in silver, and rarely with platinum. For the players who were still trying to earn bronze, they couldn't even buy the dirt off the NPC's shoes.
As Wuji continued to explore the village, he examined his [Spirit Pouch], which had the function of giving him an additional storage space. It could hold a total of 100 items, regardless of the weight, and it wouldn't decrease his speed in fights at all. He basically had the benefit of a weightless inventory while every other player had to carry their items with them.
Edmund guided him around the village and they eventually reached an alchemist's workshop, Wuji's eyes twinkling at the sight of some purple powder about to be discarded in the trash.
"Excuse me, if you aren't going to use that, may I have it?" Wuji politely asked the Level 450 [Alchemist], his name floating above his head: Weiss.
"Hmm? You want this Lesser Magic Powder?" asked Weiss, his green cloak wrapping around his old, wrinkly face. Why would anyone want such garbage?
"Yes, please." If he could get anything at all from this place, Wuji was sure that it would be a priceless treasure compared to what the other players had. After all, one man's trash is another man's treasure.
"And why should I give it to you?"
Edmund, behind Wuji, glared at the alchemist and his audacity.
"Excuse me, he is a -"
Wuji hushed Edmund's lips, his hand signaling that it was fine. Edmund could barely stifle his anger. How dare Weiss be so rude to the kind immortal!
"You are right, trades should be equal. Would you need any assistance or need someone to do something for you?" Wuji asked, ignoring his unfriendly attitude.
"Hmph. If you can go to the Spirit Sealing Valley and get me some Soul-Refining Grass, then I'll reward you with something far beyond that trash powder," Weiss snorted.
"You can't be serious, you know the Spirit Sealing Valley is-"
"Alright, I'll go. But when I come back, I still want the powder." Wuji said, cutting Edmund off.
"It's all yours. Here." Weiss threw a bag of the powder at Wuji, almost dropping onto the ground.
"But if you don't come back with the Soul-Refining Grass, then pay me 10 Gold." Weiss sneered. This blue-haired stranger was basically free money.
Wuji nodded his head, turning around as he walked towards the entrance's direction. He sighed in relief. It seemed that obtaining quests in Transcendence was similar to that in Freedom in which you had to interact with the NPCs. But he still wasn't used to having such human-like interactions.
As he looked at Wuji's fading silhouette, Edmund growled at the alchemist, blurting out:
"He's a guest and an immortal, and you dare to be so rude?"
"If he's an immortal then he should have no problem with getting me some grass. Besides, you're merely a guard and you dare to be rude to me?" the alchemist snorted, his face darkening in discontent.
"... You'll regret this. Evelynn gave him the token."
"What?!" the alchemist hissed, his eyes widening as Edmund smirked, turning around and following Wuji.
"Wait, come back! I was just joking-" Weiss stood up and tried to stop them, but it was too late.
Weiss's arrogance disappeared as he grunted in annoyance. He didn't want to deal with Evelynn after she found out that he had sent her esteemed guest to that place. The place where no one besides the Village Elder could go to... He'd just have to make some excuse later. Besides he was an immortal, wasn't he?
. . .
Wuji had no idea any of this was going on as he was preoccupied with checking out the details of the new quest he had received:
================
Active Quest:
Rank: SSS
「Head to the Spirit Sealing Valley and obtain Soul-Refining Grass for the Alchemist, Weiss.
0/10 Soul-Refining Grass 」
Rewards:
[Unknown Item]
[1,000,000 EXP]
================
[System Message: You are the first player to receive a SSS ranked Quest. Would you like to reveal your name?]
Wuji's brows furrowed in thought. Should he remain low while building up his strength or reveal to the world that Wuji, the tyrant of Freedom!, also existed within Transcendence?
... He didn't really like hiding though. He had chosen the name Free before for a reason.
"Reveal my name."
[World Announcement: Player Wang Wuji has received the first SSS-ranked Quest, gaining 10 Universal Reputation and 5 Gold.]
[World Announcement: Player Wang Wuji has received the first SSS-ranked Quest, gaining 10 Universal Reputation and 5 Gold.]
[World Announcement: Player Wang Wuji has received the first SSS-ranked Quest, gaining 10 Universal Reputation and 5 Gold.]
The entire world went still as the announcement rang out in their minds. Countless guilds and corporations shook as they heard that name. Expert players all over the globe were reminded of a certain nightmarish player. They all hoped it was a coincidence.
Players around the globe became restless and began discussing and gossiping about the player, Wang Wuji. Who exactly is he? Was he part of the Wuji guild? Was this finally Wuji's return to the gaming world? How did he get an SSS Quest? Players could barely get F and E Quests!
Of course, although many experts were concerned about Wuji's arrival, others snorted and arrogantly bragged. So what if he was good at a computer game? Virtual Reality was completely different- one needs actual fighting skills. He was just lucky to get a quest, so what? Someone like this Wuji brat wouldn't even be able to enter the top 1,000, just watch.
. . .
An island in the West Atlantic Ocean:
Inside a large, black cabin, in one of the many floors:
"Who is this Wang Wuji?" asked a white-haired man, his legs crossed on a golden chair, as his his elbow lazily supported his head. The chair embroidered with white patterns glowed mysteriously.
"Sir, he was the number one player within the computer MMO Freedom!" replied a firm voice.
The owner of the voice, a black-suited guard, had a buzz-cut and was bulging with intimidating muscles. However, his head was respectfully bowing down to the white-haired man.
"Hmm. Investigate him further and see if you can rope him in."
"Sir, what if he refuses?"
"Then you know what to do."
The white-haired man suddenly appeared at the window, his body a gust of wind. His speed was impossible for a human to achieve.
"Sir?"
"... I could've sworn there was someone just there."
"I'm sorry sir. I didn't sense anythin-"
The man's mouth widened into an o as his neck became a lonely stump. His body slumped to the ground as the decapitated head bounced on the floor, the man's expression of horror displayed on it.
"Then I don't need someone useless alive."
Looking at the bloody mess, the white-haired man tschd in disgust.
"Have someone clean this. I do not want a single spot of blood anywhere, do you understand me?" The white-haired man glanced at the nearby door.
"Yes, sir." the guard outside the door replied, his legs shaking in fear.
The white-haired man smirked as he walked outside of the room, wiping away his hands.
Neither the white-haired man nor the guard had noticed the kaleidoscopic eyes that stared at them from outside of the window.