Chapter 140: A Hidden Paradise

Everdark of Heaven habitually closed his eyes, pondering for a moment before speaking: “If there’s no other way, we’ll just have to wait. The other guilds in Stormwind Harbor wanting to establish guild halls isn’t going to be easy either.”

Bloodstained Battlefield frowned but said nothing.

Currently, all guilds formed by players were temporary organizations. To secure an official spot, they had to pay a fee, and the average player level and the guild’s reputation in the city had to meet certain standards.

Only after that could a guild hall be established, granting players a true foothold in this magical world.

So far, everything was proceeding according to plan—until yesterday, when news suddenly broke out in Stormwind Harbor, catching Everdark of Heaven completely off guard. If true, then the Dark Paradise far from Stormwind Harbor would suffer a great loss unknowingly.

At the same time, deep within the Dark Jungle.

Lu Kuan rested briefly before pressing onward.

He was always willing to help friends when he could, but this time it was impossible.

Before reaching Stormwind Harbor, Lu Kuan faced countless dangers, especially the challenge of taming an S+ grade pet midway—any misstep could cost him his life multiple times.

If he lost one or two items from his backpack then, and those happened to belong to Everdark of Heaven, how would that be accounted for?

So Lu Kuan had firmly decided: he absolutely could not take on this task.

...

“Pfft!”

“-210!”

“-190!”

Two consecutive bone-shattering arrows struck precisely into the eyes of two wild boars. After a series of agonized howls, the two charging boars lost their balance—one crashed headlong into the ground and rolled a great distance before coming to a stop.

With a rustle, Lu Kuan emerged from the hiding bushes, pulling the arrows from the fallen boars. Glancing back, he saw six more large wild boars lying in the grass nearby—the largest over two meters long, pierced by seven or eight feathered arrows.

This was the first time since entering the Black Jungle that Lu Kuan had been detected by monsters. These boars were only level 11, and their leader was a level 12 elite—yet their keen noses had brought disaster upon them.

Lu Kuan retrieved all his arrows, put away his weapons, stretched his limbs, then leapt onto a nearby large tree and began climbing swiftly.

One minute later, standing on a branch at the treetop, he poked his head through the dense canopy. His eyes brightened instantly as a cool breeze swept away the damp, stale air of the forest, prompting him to take a deep breath.

Before him lay a vast and magnificent vista.

The forest beneath grew on a cliff’s edge, ahead lay a sheer drop-off over a hundred meters deep, and below stretched an endless dense jungle—a small basin nestled within.

Several waterfalls thundered down the cliffs on either side like giant white ribbons, contrasting beautifully against the dark green forest. Flocks of birds occasionally flew by, emphasizing the boundless grandeur of the scene.

Directly ahead, a few miles away, a small village rested quietly within the jungle, serene and peaceful.

“This is it,” Lu Kuan exhaled softly, grinning. “Finally arrived.”

The village ahead was called Whitewater Village, one of dozens of beginner villages affiliated with Lava Fortress. Players reaching level 10 in the beginner village could choose to teleport to Lava Fortress to continue leveling up.

But returning meant relying solely on their own feet.

After confirming his location on the map, Lu Kuan jumped down from the tree and headed toward the nearest path descending the mountain.

Whitewater Village sat in the center of the basin, surrounded by many winding mountain trails carved directly into the cliffside—resembling the perilous paths of Mount Hua. Those faint of heart wouldn’t last long before their legs gave out.

Guided by the map given by Taobo, Lu Kuan quickly found a road leading down into the basin. Unexpectedly, after a short distance, he encountered a group of players ascending from below.

There were over twenty visible, not counting those hidden behind the rocky walls.

“What are they doing? The beginner village limits only extend to the basin floor. Are these novices trying to explore the beautiful new world beyond?” Lu Kuan wondered silently but showed no sign on his face as he brushed past them.

In truth, these players were even more surprised by Lu Kuan. Seeing his impressive gear and travel-worn appearance, their eyes betrayed unguarded curiosity.

“Excuse me, where did you come from? You’re not from Whitewater Village, right?” a girl from the crowd asked, unable to contain her curiosity.

Lu Kuan, feeling polite, smiled and replied, “From Lava Fortress.”

“Ah!”

The players instinctively gasped. Lava Fortress? After reaching level 10, beginners were teleported there. So this human ranger had crossed the Black Jungle on foot?

Their gazes shifted from curiosity to admiration and envy.

“Expert, may I ask what the situation is like up on the cliff? Are there many monsters?” the player leading the group quickly asked politely.

“The monster levels are pretty high,” Lu Kuan replied with a smile. Pressed for time, he didn’t elaborate, just returned their smile and hurried down the cliffside path.

Watching Lu Kuan’s retreating figure, the beginners showed hesitation.

“It was just a question—why rush off like that? So arrogant...” someone muttered under their breath.

“Maybe he has urgent business. It’s not like he owes you anything,” the girl who had spoken to Lu Kuan frowned and gave the complainer a glance.

Her face flushed immediately, and she bit back a reply.

The leader considered for a moment and said, “Since we’re here, we might as well check it out. That white deer appears on the mountain every week. We won’t feel at ease if we don’t see it.”

The others nodded in agreement, quickly deciding to continue ascending.

...

True to its name, Whitewater Village was surrounded by six white, ribbon-like waterfalls cascading into a wide river at the basin’s bottom. The river curved around the village before flowing eastward into underground caves, painting the small village like a scene of poetry.

Lu Kuan had no time to admire the scenery. He swiftly cleared the minor monsters on the beginner map with precise arrow shots and hurried into the village.

Many novice players noticed him. After days since the game’s launch, this was the first time they had seen a high-level player appear in the beginner village. Curious players gathered, following Lu Kuan to witness the spectacle.

He paid them no mind and headed straight to an open space on the village’s eastern side.

The clearing was large and expansive, with only a few tall buildings in the center—apparently a temple.