MMORPG: War God, You are Invincible Again

Although Lin'an is very close, Lu Hong and his companion didn't go directly. Who knows if Lin'an has open gates, allowing free passage, or if it requires identity verification and restricts access, or perhaps, like the current Tang Shi World, enforces closed management with strict passage prohibitions.

In the first two scenarios, Lu Hong and Tian Shengwu might be able to think of a way, but if the passage is prohibited, they can only rely on gathering usable intelligence in the small towns on the ancient paths.

The two first found a small town, and after paying the town entry fee, they lodged in the largest inn.

The scale of this small town is much larger than Wuzhen, where Lu Hong had previously entered.

While chatting with the inn's waiter, Lu Hong learned that the controller of this small town is a mid-level Earth Realm Heavenly God, and has some connections with the Shadow Demon Race, otherwise, he couldn't have grown so strong.

After wandering around the town all day, the scavengers and adventurers talked mostly about the Stellar Sea, which has been the most prominent in the Constant Domain recently.

The next day, noisy shouts disturbed Lu Hong's meditation.

"What's happening outside?" Lu Hong asked Tian Shengwu.

At these words, Tian Shengwu went downstairs to investigate and came back to the room shortly after, excitedly saying, "Brother Lu, we have hope of entering Lin'an now."

"Tell me." Hearing this, Lu Hong became interested. Yesterday, during a chat with scavengers in the small town, he learned that Lin'an was in a semi-closed state. To enter, one needed a permit issued by Lin'an, and the issuance of these permits ended four months ago. To get a permit, one would have to earn it next year.

"The ones setting up the stage outside are people from the Lin'an World. It's said they are recruiting talents, wanting to enlist a batch of talented individuals. We can take this opportunity to enter Lin'an."

"Let's go and take a look."

The two slightly disguised their appearances and went downstairs, squeezing into the area near the stage, already filled with spectators.

The sound of gongs and drums quickly attracted most of the people in the small town. Seeing the moment was ripe, an old man in a butler's outfit walked to the center of the stage and said with a big smile, "Ladies and gentlemen, today our Lin'an Yang family is setting up this stage here, hoping to select a group of outstanding talents to become guests at the Yang family's residence. This stage does not require you to fight among yourselves. The standard is battling against the Yang family's guards. If you can defeat our Yang family's guards, you will be honored as a distinguished guest of the Yang family, enjoying the highest treatment. If you can endure a hundred moves against our guards, you can also enter and become a guest at Yang's residence. Besides, anyone who challenges the stage today will receive a small token of appreciation from the Yang family. Please do not scorn it."

After hearing the butler's announcement, everyone under the stage was astonished: "The Yang family, one of the three major families in Lin'an? That is the family known as the Mountain King!"

Lu Hong patted the adventurer in front of him and handed over a handful of Yuan Currency: "Brother, is the Yang family very powerful?"

Weighing the Yuan Currency in hand, it was indeed ten pieces!

The adventurer calmly explained: "Indeed, Lin'an World is controlled by the three major families, which take turns in ruling based on martial challenges, though this competition isn't for the family patriarchs but is carried out by the strong members of the family, their wins and losses are considered. The guests can also be counted as powerful family members, and this Yang family recruiting guests so openly must be for this reason. Though it's unclear why the Yang family would lack strong individuals, their strength is not weak, holding the title of Mountain King in Lin'an. When the Shadow Demon Race rampaged through the Constant Domain, slaughtering countless worlds, Lin'an was also targeted. It's said that back then, Yang Lin, the Mountain King, alone with his spear, defended the world's gateway, causing the Shadow Demon Race to suffer a crushing defeat. Even the Shadow Demon Race fears his notorious reputation. Can he not be formidable?"

One individual with a spear challenging the Shadow Demon Army alone?

Lu Hong immediately understood that he knew well about the peculiar physique of the Shadow Demons. No matter how strong an individual was, there would come a moment of exhaustion against an army. So Lu Hong concluded that this Mountain King Yang Lin must possess a Skill with the Divine Power attribute to achieve such a feat as killing the Shadow Demons as if they were mere mortals.

Becoming a guest of the Yang family comes with extraordinary benefits, and soon an adventurer stepped onto the stage.

Unfortunately, the challenger on the stage lacked strength and was punched off the stage by the Yang family's guard.

Even so, the butler still held out a reward of one thousand Yuan Currency and personally handed it to the defeated adventurer.

"Hehe, young knight, thank you for your effort, are you not injured? This is a small token from my Yang family; I hope you won't mind."

The adventurer, who was punched off the stage, blushed red with embarrassment. It was too humiliating! Yet, why would he still take the money? Because... because the Yang family offered too much.

The adventurer thickened his skin, accepted the Yuan Currency, and vowed: "The Yang family's kindness will never be forgotten. I, Lazy Dog No. 2, am weak now, but if I ever gain fortune, I shall repay the Yang family generously."

After speaking, he tucked away the money, slipped into the crowd, and disappeared.

Let's say, the temptation of money is immense. One thousand Yuan Currency is considerable income for these scavengers and weak adventurers.

Soon, a queue formed of those ready to challenge the stage.

As for Lu Hong and Tian Shengwu, they turned away and returned to the inn.

Leveraging the Yang family's recruitment of guests to enter Lin'an for investigation is what they intend to do, but they're not going to rush in blindly like a dog attracted by a smell. Which of these proud talents doesn't have some capital of self-pride? There's no rush to challenge the stage. They'll wait for a few days until some truly strong individuals step up before making plans.

Driven by money, the news of the Yang family setting up a stage quickly spread on the ancient path of the Constant Domain.

Some slightly more powerful individuals were also quite moved, not necessarily by the one thousand Yuan Currency, but by the idea of becoming a guest of the Yang family.

Three to five days later, strong individuals capable of dealing with the Yang family guards started appearing on the stage.

Several guests successfully got through the selection process within a day.

At night, in the inn's celestial room, a delicate-looking young lady was staring at the candlelight in a daze, not even noticing the butler sitting beside her.

"Miss... Miss."

"Ah?" The young lady snapped back to her senses at the butler's soft call: "Housekeeper Huang, why have you come?"

"Miss, haven't I repeatedly reminded you to be extremely careful when traveling? Why didn't you activate the defensive Formation in the room?"

"I... I was just about to go out." The young lady was evidently guilty, quickly finding an excuse.

The butler, seeing this, didn't press further but asked: "Miss, what were you thinking?"

"Housekeeper Huang, do you think this recruitment is effective?" The young lady asked with some worry: "It's already been five days, and no one capable of defeating our Yang family guard captain has appeared. How could they possibly deal with the help that the Lu family invited from the Sky Domain?"

With the impending leadership change in the Lin'an World, the top-tier talents invited from the Sky Domain by the Lu family clearly give them a stable win, with the continuous position of the world master almost nailed down. The Xu family, one of the three major families, has started to give up, whereas her Yang family is willing but unable to resist.

Therefore, the Yang family girl dreamed of recruiting talents for the Yang family, but unfortunately, this method yielded little result. Top-tier talents, wouldn't they have their own backing? Who would care about being a guest of the Yang family when they have their own forces to support them?

"At this point, we can only do our best."

"Then, will father blame me for acting recklessly?"

Listening to the young lady's worry, Housekeeper Huang smiled slightly: "This you need not worry about, Miss. You left Lin'an with great fanfare and set up a stage. I believe the master couldn't have missed hearing the wind about it. Since the family's funds are still being provided to us, it shows that the master tacitly approves of your actions. However, when you return to the family, some scolding is inevitable."

At the thought of her father's stern expression and scolding manner, the young lady slightly shrank back: "Well... okay."

The next day, the martial challenges on the stage continued as usual, and the challengers were Third Transition strongmen who had received the news and came from around the small town.

Compared to the first few days, the quality improved greatly.

And just as an adventurer was about to go on the stage to collect money, a hand gripped his head from behind.

"Who is it?!"

Before the adventurer could finish speaking, he was thrown out.

The butler, seeing the troublemaker, narrowed his eyes slightly, but his smile remained unchanged: "Hehe, it turns out to be the young master from the Pifu World. What guidance do you have?"

The young man, called the young master, glanced at Housekeeper Huang and then said: "Where is Yang Xiuxiu? I know she's here. Let her come out to see me."

"This..." Housekeeper Huang was a bit hesitant, but... he couldn't afford to offend the young master before him. The Yang family may not fear, but they can't lightly offend him either.