Chapter 1 Inner Corridors of the Molten Ruins

The interior corridors of the Molten Ruins.

A team of fewer than fifty people was desperately retreating into the ruins while fending off two 106th-level High Lord-ranked Guardian Giants.

Although this team numbered less than fifty, it included no fewer than eight Tier 3 experts. One of them, a female Guardian Knight clad in silver-and-black armor, wielding a dark-patterned magic shield and a two-handed greatsword, stood at least 1.9 meters tall. She single-handedly held off the two Guardian Giants, completely unfazed.

Because of this female Guardian Knight’s performance, the other Tier 3 classes were able to deal with the dozen or so Lord-ranked Guardian Mechanical Puppets that swarmed forward, ensuring the entire team could retreat safely.

This valiant Tier 3 female Guardian Knight was none other than Zi Wei, the renowned leader of the Skyfall Blade adventurer team on Dragonheart Island, and the very soul of Skyfall Blade.

“Guild Leader, I received a message offline from Fan Muran. Muran said she found Hei Yan, the Guild Leader of Zero Wing. After discussions, their condition for rescuing us is a main branch of the Tree of Life.” At this moment, a 101st-level Tier 3 Shadow Assassin suddenly appeared beside Zi Wei and reported.

As this Tier 3 Assassin spoke, the entire team fell silent.

“Zero Wing has quite the appetite!” A 102nd-level Tier 3 Berserker exclaimed angrily, “We’re risking our lives here in the inner corridors, delving deeper into the ruins, all to protect the main branch. And they want it outright? Does that mean we’ve been working for nothing?”

“Exactly. If we’re really going to give away the main branch, we might as well trade with Blood War, or some other super guild. At least that would be more secure,” a Tier 3 Elementalist chimed in, nodding.

The others present agreed wholeheartedly.

They had guarded the main branch of the Tree of Life with great difficulty until now, and Zero Wing wanted to take it away right off the bat? It was a joke.

They might as well trade with one of the true super guilds. With the value of the Tree of Life's main branch, these super guilds would definitely be more than willing, and it would be much more secure than dealing with Zero Wing.

“Shen Ying, what do you think?” Zi Wei, wearing a silver helmet, asked the Tier 3 Assassin while fighting.

Zi Wei’s voice was like heavenly music, possessing an indescribable sense of justice and holiness, instantly silencing the murmuring team as they listened intently to the Vice Guild Leader's thoughts.

“Guild Leader, if you ask me, we’ll probably have a hard time protecting the main branch of the Tree of Life. And for other super guilds, a branch isn’t that attractive. They definitely won’t fight Blood War head-on for it,” Shen Ying, the male assassin whose face was completely hidden, said slowly. “But if we’re willing to use the main branch as a bargaining chip, then we’ll have a lot more options.”

“And your point?” Zi Wei asked calmly.

“Giving it to Blood War is definitely out of the question. Zero Wing can be ignored, and even the super guilds aren’t very reliable. I received a message offline from the Thirteen Thrones. I don’t know how they found out, but they know we have the main branch of the Tree of Life. They said they’re willing to help us. If we’re willing to trade the main branch, they’ll not only come to our rescue but also provide protection and convenience for Skyfall Blade on Dragonheart Island in the future,” Shen Ying said.

Upon hearing what Shen Ying said, everyone felt unwilling, but what Shen Ying said made a lot of sense.

The entire Molten Ruins was extremely dangerous. Although the various super guilds of Dragonheart Island had come to search for the eggs of the Horned Eagle, they could only operate in the outer regions of the ruins. Very few could enter the inner regions, and they had only managed to enter the inner region with special methods.

Although Zero Wing was no weaker than those super guilds in terms of top-tier combat power, it was questionable whether some of those super guilds could even enter the inner region, let alone come to their rescue. The only one with both the strength and the security to do so was Thirteen Thrones.

Zi Wei fell silent. Everyone quietly watched their leader, waiting for her final decision.

Because no matter what decision Zi Wei made, they would execute it without hesitation.

“Alright, let’s do as you say,” Zi Wei said.

“Then I’ll inform the Thirteen Thrones.” As Shen Ying spoke, he prepared to log off.

“Also, inform Muran that if Zero Wing can be the first to reach me, Skyfall Blade will trade with Zero Wing. The same goes for Thirteen Thrones,” Zi Wei said after thinking for a moment.

“Understood.” Shen Ying nodded and disappeared into the corridor.

At this time, Blood War was chasing closely in the inner corridors. The deeper they went into the ruins, the greater the difficulty and danger became. The time they could hold out was very limited, so they naturally couldn’t agree to Thirteen Thrones’ verbal promise.

Previously, Zero Wing had saved Muran and the others, so Skyfall Blade owed them a favor. It wouldn't be good to rashly reject Zero Wing. This could also give Zero Wing a chance. Although that chance was slim, it at least gave Zero Wing and Thirteen Thrones a fair chance to compete.

As Shen Ying logged off, he immediately informed Fan Muran and the people from Thirteen Thrones that whichever side could reach the Skyfall Blade team first would be the side they would trade with.

Meanwhile, in the dense forest of the Molten Canyon, Shi Feng and the others were resting quietly, waiting for Fan Muran to log on.

“Guild Leader Hei Yan, although our Guild Leader agreed to your conditions, you must reach our Guild Leader before the Thirteen Thrones can. I hope you can understand,” Fan Muran said apologetically after logging on.

Currently, in the Molten Ruins, the side with the most people was undoubtedly the Thirteen Thrones. To obtain a flying mount, the Thirteen Thrones had dispatched a large number of experts early on, and some had already explored the inner regions of the Molten Ruins.

The inner regions of the Molten Ruins were not a place ordinary teams could set foot in. Even a team of several hundred people with more than twenty Tier 3 classes would need two or three hours to get through. After all, the monsters guarding the entrance were too strong for ordinary super guild teams to withstand. Skyfall Blade had only managed to get through with special methods.

On the other hand, Zero Wing had not even assembled its main force yet. By the time they assembled and ventured into the dangerous inner corridors, the cucumbers would have gone cold. (idiom for "it would be too late")

Although Shi Feng had saved their team, the conditions set by Guild Leader Zi Wei could not be changed, as it concerned the survival of the adventurer team.

“I understand. The survival of the adventurer team comes first. Guild Leader Zi Wei made a wise decision,” Shi Feng said with a smile, showing he understood Skyfall Blade’s thoughts. “But may I ask something? As long as Zero Wing is the first to reach your Guild Leader’s location and provide aid, your Guild Leader is willing to trade the main branch to us, correct?”

Fan Muran looked blank, not understanding why Shi Feng was asking this.

“I think that should be right.” Fan Muran nodded, thinking that what Shi Feng said should be correct.

“Then that’s simple.” Shi Feng couldn’t help but smile. “I wonder if Captain Fan can sign this trade contract with Zero Wing?”

“Simple?” Fan Muran didn’t understand what Shi Feng was thinking at all, but she still chose to sign the contract with Shi Feng. In any case, this was what the Guild Leader had said, so it was okay for her to represent them.

Soon, Fan Muran signed the trade contract with Shi Feng and had someone report the matter to the Guild Leader.

“Now that the contract has been signed, let’s head over there.” Shi Feng was very satisfied as he looked at the signed contract.

“Head over? Head where?”

Fan Muran looked at Shi Feng. Although she understood somewhat, she wasn’t very sure. After all, it was impossible for Zero Wing to reach them before the Thirteen Thrones. Instead of risking entering the inner corridors, it would be better to focus on finding the eggs of the Horned Eagle.

“Of course, to your Guild Leader’s location.”

Shi Feng smiled and took out the Thunder Eagle’s summoning flute from his bag. He directly summoned the Thunder Eagle. Instantly, a giant Thunder Eagle with a wingspan of more than twenty meters appeared in the sky above the Molten Forest, emitting a deafening cry that echoed throughout the Molten Canyon.