Chapter Sixty-Nine: The Veteran Player "From the Old Days"

The six members of Nightfeather’s party ventured deep into the Ancient Ruins Stone Forest. Entering this gray zone meant losing contact with everyone outside the area—a peculiar state of “disappearance.” Only by leaving the gray zone or dying and reviving at the nearest city safe zone would this status be lifted.

“Third Brother, what’s our plan now? Can we clear this gray zone of the Ancient Ruins Stone Forest?” Luo Feng asked.

“I think others might assume we’re here for the main storyline, but that’s not the case. I intend to look for other dungeons within the Ancient Ruins Forest. If we find any, we’ll tackle them,” Nightfeather replied, continuing forward. “If not, we’ll proceed with the main storyline. The main quests offer the best rewards, but if we complete them too early, we’ll miss out on other opportunities. We should save them for last.”

At that moment, a voice called out behind them—gentler than expected, carrying a hint of goodwill.

“If you’re hoping to find dungeons in the Ancient Ruins Forest, I advise you to give up,” the voice said.

The six of them turned toward the source and saw a figure clad in silver light armor, gripping a massive square shield in his left hand and a gleaming stone sword in his right, astride an armored saber-toothed tiger. The sight was undeniably imposing.

“A Demon, Command type?” Tan Cong and Qu Zheng immediately recognized the newcomer’s class, momentarily stunned.

But what truly caught their attention was not the class or the race—it was the level.

Level 39. The same tier as Nightfeather and his companions. This person’s speed in leveling had kept pace with their entire group.

Nightfeather glanced at the ID, his eyes narrowing. “Level 39 already. If I hadn’t seen it myself, I’d never believe someone could keep up with us.”

The player’s name: “From a Long Past.”

“I’ve long heard of the legendary figure on the game forum’s newbie board—Master Liangye. Or should I say, if Liangye has become but a dream?”

“From a Long Past” spoke with the same gentle tone, but his eyes glinted coldly, as though he had just encountered a long-sought rival.

“To reach level 39 solo at this speed, I doubt you’re a new player. Making it into the newbie server by other means proves your skill,” Luo Feng said, noticing something and curling his lips in a faint smile.

“From a Long Past” only smiled and shook his head. “Though ‘Divine Remnants’ does its utmost to keep veteran players out of the newbie servers, don’t forget—there’s never a shortage of geniuses in this world, in every field.”

“Level 39, yet you have no party or guild. So you admit you’re from an old server,” Nightfeather remarked, reminding the others of the significance. This was a gray zone; a confrontation here would be dangerous, especially since this player was clearly from an older server. To match six players’ pace alone meant formidable ability.

“Haha, you really are as skilled in analysis as you are in strategy. I was hunted down on the old server and put on the server’s most-wanted list. I paid a price to start over on the newbie server. But don’t worry, I won’t be much trouble for you,” the stranger replied.

The server’s most-wanted list marked so-called “Red Name Players”—notorious killers who relied on their skills and gear to hunt others, prioritizing player-versus-player combat outside safe zones. They feared no challenge, but their only weakness was the bounty system: anyone could place a bounty on their head, for a price.

Nightfeather, however, wasn’t concerned with this. If one old player could enter the newbie server, others might as well.

He frowned slightly, recalling “From a Long Past’s” earlier words. “What about the deeper parts of the Ancient Ruins Forest? Have you been there too?”

At this, a strange look flickered in the other player’s eyes. While everyone else was preoccupied with his status as a veteran, Nightfeather’s focus lay elsewhere—a fact that made the old player regard him with newfound interest, studying this enigmatic figure in the Xuanyan server.

“The monsters on the outskirts of the deeper forest are already level 40. I didn’t venture further in. I cleared out the two dungeons near the edge; you’ll have to wait until tomorrow for them to respawn,” “From a Long Past” answered, shaking his head.

“I’ve read that two random dungeons—level 40 to 55—spawn deep in the Ancient Ruins Forest. If we clear them, our guild members could enter and farm experience; even the lowest yield is enough for a full level, maybe two if lucky,” Nightfeather mused quietly, his eyes suddenly locking on “From a Long Past,” a slight curve appearing on his lips.

At that look, “From a Long Past” felt a trace of unease.

“Since you’re a veteran, would you consider joining my guild, Violet Mirage? We’re about to reach level two, and we can offer you an elder position. If you have time, I’d like you to mentor some of our Command-type players,” Nightfeather said, his tone gentle, but his sincerity was unmistakable. He’d freely admitted his past on the most-wanted list—a background many would reject outright.

“Why invite me?” the other asked.

“We lack the experience of veteran players. I don’t believe your past on the wanted list should bar you. If you’re willing to help, I’ll offer you some compensation. It won’t be much for now, but it’s what I can do,” Nightfeather replied.

Hearing this, “From a Long Past” frowned, hesitating for a moment as if wrestling with himself. Then he smiled, and, meeting Nightfeather’s extended hand, he reached out his own. They exchanged a glance and a handshake, both smiling.

“A pleasure,” he said.

“I look forward to working with you,” Nightfeather answered.

…