Chapter 1036 NPC Eruption

"How can there be so many NPCs?"

Zi Qiong looked at the NPCs chatting and laughing on the street, completely unable to believe it was real.

The West Continent where they were located was an island nation, and the environment here could be said to be very harsh. Not to mention the NPCs, even the number of players here was not large.

If the two continents hadn't become increasingly closer, attracting many forces and player merchants to come over, the number of pedestrians on the street probably wouldn't even exceed a hundred.

But what was happening before their eyes?

Just a casual glance revealed that the number had already exceeded a thousand, and there were many adventurer NPCs. Here, players seemed like a small minority, not worthy of attention.

"Have you investigated where these NPCs came from?" Yuan Tiexin pondered for a moment and couldn't help but ask the Tier 3 Ranger behind him.

"We have investigated, and we don't know where these NPCs came from. We only know that these NPCs seemed to appear directly in the city," the Tier 3 Ranger shook his head, saying anxiously, "Now, because of the appearance of these NPCs, the number of adventurer guild missions in major cities has plummeted. The number of missions that players can accept is getting smaller and smaller, and..."

"And what?" Yuan Tiexin asked curiously.

"According to the information we have received, many players have had conflicts with some NPCs after leaving the city. Many players have been killed, but these are not the most important things," the Tier 3 Ranger said uneasily, "Now, a large number of NPCs have also emerged in many guild towns. Some NPCs are quite restless and have caused a lot of trouble. Moreover, according to our observation, we have discovered that these NPC forces have actually begun to secretly investigate us..."

"How is this possible?" Zi Qiong was also stunned.

Those NPCs who should only give them missions were now secretly investigating them. No matter how she heard it, it felt creepy, as if the doll in her hand had suddenly come to life and was secretly observing their every move.

At this time, it wasn't just Tianji Pavilion that was shocked by the sudden outbreak of NPCs. The major forces and players in God's Domain were also in a panic.

"What's going on? Why are so many NPCs suddenly appearing to snatch missions?"

"Snatching missions is nothing! I always feel that the way those NPCs look at us players is like looking at aliens. Some bars even directly refuse us players to enter."

"What are those things you are talking about? You haven't been to the wilderness. Now there are more NPCs in the wild than us players. Even those NPCs are forming groups to grab dungeons. This is a dungeon that we finally discovered!"

...

For a time, major forces and a large number of free players were discussing this sudden change on the forums.

Everyone felt as if they had really come to another world. Originally, there should only be struggles between players, but now there was also a struggle between players and NPCs, and it was difficult for players to compete with those NPCs.

Because those NPCs were not only powerful but also numerous. Players did not have an advantage in numbers. The only advantage was that they were not afraid of death, but it would be troublesome if they died too many times.

However, those NPCs also knew this, so they did not form mortal feuds with the players. Many of them just taught the players a lesson, making them retreat in the face of difficulty. Only some dark forces NPCs didn't care about this at all.

Compared to those free players, the major forces were also in a headache.

"Damn it! Where did so many NPCs come from!"

"Instead of staying in NPC cities, they are causing trouble in our guild towns, making it impossible for many businesses to operate."

"Causing trouble is one thing, but they are even robbing mines and transport teams. It's simply too hateful!"

For the first time, each force felt that guarding guild towns and doing those large-scale transportation missions was so difficult. Even some super forces tasted the feeling of being bullied for the first time.

But now the NPC forces were strong, and it was not something that the major player forces could resist at present. Even the major super forces had to give up many development plans and start to defend their current territories. As for the second-rate forces, they began to abandon some guild towns and territories, concentrating their forces in some important areas and guild towns.

For a time, all the player forces in God's Domain began to shrink significantly. At the same time, they were frantically recruiting people to resist the increasingly frequent NPC forces.

Silverwing City, Zero Wing Residence.

Because of the sudden surge in the number of NPCs, coupled with the many incidents that had occurred, the many high-level members of Zero Wing were also gathered together to study how to deal with these NPCs.

"Guild Leader, in order to consolidate their own forces, the major forces have begun to frantically recruit people. They have even started to spend a lot of money to hire those Tier 3 NPCs from the Adventurer's Association to guard guild towns. If we don't act now, I'm afraid some powerful Tier 3 NPCs will be snatched away by the major forces." Liang Jing looked at the information she had just collected and looked at Shi Feng anxiously.

The surge in NPCs had exceeded the expectations of all players.

Originally, the changes in NPCs were already some trouble, but now the number of NPCs obviously exceeded the number of players. Such a change was not just a trouble, but a disaster.

Now, Zero Wing's three guild cities were not only on important transportation routes, but also had great development potential. According to the feedback from below, many NPC forces had taken a fancy to their Zero Wing's guild cities. However, they were all secretly investigating Zero Wing's strength before taking action. Once they investigated Zero Wing's strength, they would probably take action.

If the NPC forces took action, it would be much more troublesome than the player forces. Although the possibility of a frontal attack on the city was low, it was not impossible. Even if the NPC forces did not attack the city, just the daily troubles would be enough for Zero Wing to suffer. If a large number of NPCs were directly sent to lurk on the transportation routes of the guild cities, it would be a nightmare.

Therefore, they must act quickly now and improve the guild's defense force as much as possible.

"That's right, Guild Leader, if we are slow, those powerful Tier 3 NPCs will be snatched away by the major forces!"

The people in charge of managing the guild towns also nodded in agreement. The situation was not as good as people thought. Even those super forces had to bow their heads and shrink their forces, hiring a large number of Adventurer's Association NPCs at high prices. If their Zero Wing didn't act again, it would be too late.

After all, the number of Tier 3 NPCs that the Adventurer's Association could hire was limited. If other forces hired them all, there would be no one left.

Although their Zero Wing also had many very powerful Tier 3 guards, it was really a drop in the bucket to maintain the safety of three cities with these Tier 3 guards.

Moreover, it was too difficult to directly recruit Tier 3 guards. At most, they could only recruit some Tier 2 NPCs with good potential. In addition, it was not easy to train guards. Each one was trained at a high price. If they died in battle, they would cry to death.

But they didn't have to worry about hiring NPCs from the Adventurer's Association. If they died, they died. They only needed to pay the hiring fee, and they didn't need to spend a lot of money to revive these NPCs.

"There's no need." Shi Feng shook his head and said slowly, "Hiring those Tier 3 NPCs from the Adventurer's Association is indeed a way, but it's not a long-term solution. After all, the hiring price is too expensive. Just one person costs at least 100 gold a day, and 100 people cost more than 10,000 gold. It takes at least 500 to 600 people to guard a small city, which costs 50,000 to 60,000 gold a day."

An expenditure of 50,000 to 60,000 gold a day for a guild city was something that only those super forces could afford. It was different for their Zero Wing. Their Zero Wing was originally a big spender of gold, and the daily guild operations relied entirely on the sale of gold coins, so their Zero Wing couldn't afford it at all.

"But now many NPCs are causing trouble in the city. Fortunately, we have Tier 4 NPCs stationed there, so those NPCs from the major forces don't dare to mess around. But if those NPC forces attack from the outside, it will be difficult for us to manage." Youlan was also a little worried.

In the past, when facing those players, they still had some ability to resist. Now, facing those Tier 3 NPCs whose levels were easily 130 or 140, or even 150 or 160, this was quite unfavorable to their Zero Wing.

The only ones who could fight were those NPC direct guards, but these people had to maintain the safety of the city and could not be taken out at all.

"Then let's not bother with it." Shi Feng smiled and said.

"???" Youlan was stunned.

Not bother with it?

At this time, not to mention Youlan, all the high-level members of Zero Wing present were stunned.

What did not bother with it mean?

If they didn't bother with it, where would the income of the three guild cities come from in the long run?

If there were no trade routes, those items sold by the NPCs would not be able to enter the city at all. In this way, the guild cities would be much less attractive to those players. Moreover, NPC merchants were also a major source of income for the guild cities, and even the key to developing the guild cities.

"From today onwards, all three guild cities of our Zero Wing will prohibit the entry of outside NPCs. As for those NPC merchants, they can be an exception, but each store is only allowed to have a maximum of ten people." Shi Feng's words were completely shocking, "In addition, all players who want to enter Zero Wing's three guild cities will have to pay an entrance fee of 20 silver coins, and all store rents will be doubled, but forces that cooperate with us can get a 20% discount."

"Guild Leader?"

The Zero Wing members present looked at Shi Feng, their mouths wide open, completely shocked by what Shi Feng had just said.

Was he trying to die?

Not allowing NPCs to enter could indeed prevent NPCs from causing trouble, but it would also prevent the guild cities from developing. After all, players took missions from NPCs, and many items were purchased from NPCs. Refusing them was equivalent to cutting off a large part of the city's income.

As for increasing the entrance fee to 20 silver coins and doubling the store rent, this was simply to make all the players leave the city.

If their Zero Wing really did this, they would definitely die without a burial place.

"You guys do it. I have my own reasons." Shi Feng looked at the silent crowd, stopped explaining, and left the conference room directly.

Before the great upgrade in the previous life, the Tier 3 players of the major forces were very numerous, and there were even some Tier 4 classes. Now, the NPC population explosion exceeded that of the previous life, but the number of Tier 3 classes in the major forces was extremely scarce. The major forces would only suffer more losses than in the previous life.

Now, Zero Wing's strength was indeed not bad, and there were even Tier 4 NPCs stationed there, but it was impossible to maintain the security of the three guild cities.

Now, the only way was to make a quick decision, completely prevent NPCs from entering the guild cities, and then the guild members would go all out to enter the Secret Tower to improve the guild members' levels and strength. Otherwise, the NPC population surge and NPC force invasion that would follow would only be more terrifying.

Soon after, the three guild cities of the Zero Wing Guild announced Shi Feng's decision to the public. The three guild cities would completely refuse the entry of foreign NPCs, and the entrance fees and rents would be greatly increased.

As soon as the announcement was made, the three cities were in an uproar.