Chapter 287: The Qijiao Alliance (A rushed long chapter, some filler, no need to purchase)

The light and shadow dimmed, as if it had developed a consciousness of its own.

However, Lin Chao knew that it possessed no consciousness; it was merely making judgments according to some of the instincts of its main body.

After all, this so-called Qijiao likely would not have imagined that a Resident stronger than himself would appear within his Building.

The light and shadow flickered incessantly, even appearing somewhat pitiful.

"Hand it over, will you?" Lin Chao sat in a chair, sipping a cup of tea.

Lin Chao did not care at all about the light and shadow's display of weakness.

This Qijiao Building was merely a magical treasure operating automatically without consciousness.

The light and shadow flickered, and finally shone brightly for a moment.

A large cluster of things resembling God Positions began to circulate, floating in the room.

"So little?"

Lin Chao was slightly stunned; this quantity was far too small.

It was not even as much as the God Positions he had obtained from slaying the black-armored knight Ye Xue.

But upon reflection, he understood.

How many God Positions could tasks completed by these Ordinary people possibly yield?

Moreover, the tasks currently issued by the Qijiao Building were not of high difficulty.

For one, these Residents were too weak.

For another, in the old lands of the Foreign Lands, things related to God Positions were currently rare, and their energy levels were not strong enough.

"Is that really all there is?"

Lin Chao grabbed the God Positions.

The light and shadow trembled, but there was no reaction.

"It seems there really is no more." Lin Chao's gaze was calm.

Currently, with his strength, he could remain transcendent within the Qijiao Building, but he could not yet change the Rules of the Qijiao Building.

That would require making actual contact with Qijiao.

"From now on, I won't be doing any tasks," Lin Chao said casually.

The light and shadow had no reaction; how could it dare to have an opinion?

Lin Chao sat in the room, his gaze calm.

He was contemplating his future path.

At present, there were a few things to do.

First, practice the Qi-Blood Martial Dao until reaching the Innate Realm.

Second, find people or objects related to the Wu Kingdom through clues from the Golden Cloud Sword Technique.

Third... he was currently considering it, which was to steal the fruits of labor from the Qijiao Building.

For Lin Chao, God Positions were also good things.

Lin Chao waved his hand, and the light and shadow vanished.

The entire Building returned to calm at this moment.

The strange shaking disappeared.

Inside the Building, the others were very astonished; they did not understand what had happened.

Ji Wei's gaze was full of confusion: "What on earth happened?"

Zhuge Anran also frowned, pondering something: "The Building represents the Rules and is an unrivaled existence... why?"

He was also puzzled, feeling for the first time that the Building was not as powerful as imagined.

After all, the omnipotent Building had actually shaken.

In the handbook of the Qijiao Building, it was explicitly recorded that items within the Building could not be destroyed.

Now, with a pile of destroyed things laid out before them, the Building's handbook recorded otherwise.

The authority of the Building was being questioned for the first time.

Zhuge Anran and Ji Wei exchanged a glance, and neither spoke.

But they both understood the meaning in each other's eyes.

That was, the Building was not invincible.

For instance, the power that had just caused the Building to shake might perhaps be able to help them leave this Building.

Or, it could help them complete their tasks.

The prerequisite was to figure out the reason for the Building's shaking.

Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Zhuge Anran continued: "The reason for the Building's shaking is not something we can investigate.

Let us first talk about Xu Ling; he is indeed a newcomer worth cultivating.

A B-rank Task, an A-rank monster—I don't know how he succeeded.

But this task alone is enough to prove his Excellent nature."

In his words, Zhuge Anran held Xu Ling in high regard.

"Do you mean you want to recommend him to join our Elder Council?" Ji Wei asked.

The Elder Council was an organization formed by senior members among the Residents of the Qijiao Building.

This organization understood various tasks, and the people within were experienced, having gone through all sorts of tasks.

Generally speaking, if any member of the Elder Council encountered a task, they could post it in the group established by everyone to discuss the task together and seek a method to crack it.

It could be said that 99 percent of the Residents in the Qijiao Building hoped to join the Elder Council.

Unfortunately, not just anyone could join the Elder Council.

"He has only just experienced his first Newcomer Mission, so inviting him to join the Elder Council like this might cause dissatisfaction among the other elders.

Generally speaking, when a newcomer joins the Qijiao Building, they will take on their third mission by the third day at the latest.

We only need to wait a day or two to see his performance in his second mission; if he is still just as... Excellent, I will also recommend him to join the Elder Council.

The Elder Council has not had any excellent talent join it for a long time now."

For newcomers in the Qijiao Building, the first mission and the second mission are back-to-back.

This is mainly to quickly screen for more qualified newcomers before they perform missions.

"Fine." Zhuge Anran nodded; waiting another day or two would be fine.

Exiting the Qijiao Building, Lin Chao discovered he had appeared on the second floor of the bookstore.

As long as he wished, he could return to the Qijiao Building at any time.

"Residents in the Qijiao Building can also return to reality.

However, once a mission begins, one must return to the Qijiao Building."

Lin Chao made a fragrant meal, watched some television, and then continued to cultivate.

Of course, now that he was doing other things, the Qi and blood in his body would still circulate naturally, which was equivalent to practicing at all times.

A few days passed, and Lin Chao lived a very leisurely life, occasionally returning to the Qijiao Building to take over God Positions.

It was a pity that the number of God Positions he could take over in the Qijiao Building was pitifully small.

At this moment, inside the Qijiao Building, Zhuge Anran frowned, a look of bewilderment appearing in his eyes.

"Why hasn't Xu Ling started his second mission yet? It's already the third day." He did not understand.

The Building's manual also stated the rule that every newcomer must perform their second mission within three days.

However, Zhuge Anran had checked the entire mission list, and Xu Ling was simply not on it.

"Regarding the last mission, I asked Zhao Ting, who was on a team with Xu Ling; she was hesitant and unwilling to tell me exactly what happened.

However, she did say that the mission was indeed completed by Xu Ling.

That sheep was also carried back by her because Xu Ling told her to."

Ji Wei said from the side.

He had the means to make Zhao Ting tell the truth, but after thinking about it, he rejected this idea.

Ji Wei asked: "Now that Xu Ling is in the Building, should we go and ask him?"

"Not for now," Zhuge Anran said, "When I left the Qijiao Building the day before yesterday, I had already entrusted my uncle to investigate Xu Ling's identity, and the results should be out today.

Let's wait for me to go back and check Xu Ling's identity before we discuss it further."

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles.

Zhuge Anran did not really like the feeling of everything being out of his control.

Of course, inside the Qijiao Building, it was also very difficult for him to control everything.

"Fine." Ji Wei agreed with Zhuge Anran's words.

Bidding farewell to Ji Wei, Ji Wei returned to his room.

He recited silently in his heart, and immediately, the environment around him changed.

He appeared in his own bedroom.

Wang Bing was fast asleep at this moment, wearing pajamas, curled up on her side, eyes tightly shut, her eyelashes very long, and a look of fear still lingering on her face.

Zhuge Anran could not help but feel a pang of heartache, and he said secretly in his heart: "Bingbing, I will definitely make you successfully leave the Qijiao Building, no matter what the cost."

Zhuge Anran left the room and came to the living room.

He picked up the phone, hesitated for a moment, and dialed a familiar number.

"Hello, Uncle, how did that young man I asked you to investigate turn out?"

In this world, there must be many people named Xu Ling.

Zhuge Anran added 'young' and 'gender', so the search scope would be smaller.

This uncle worked in the military and held a very high position.

After Zhuge Anran left home, he had been well taken care of by this uncle.

This time, he had passed his request to his uncle through his uncle's deputy.

"Anran, why did you suddenly investigate this gentleman?

Could it be that you saw him in Longhang City?"

On the other end of the phone, the voice of Zhuge Fang trembled slightly.

Zhuge Anran was slightly stunned.

Could it be that this Xu Ling was very famous?

Listening to his uncle's tone, which carried a hint of respect, could he be some powerful figure?

"Uncle, I haven't met him." Zhuge Anran hesitated for a moment and spoke slowly.

"Hmm... Alright." Zhuge Fang paused for a moment; he knew Zhuge Anran's personality, so he did not pursue the matter further, "If you encounter that gentleman, you must be extremely respectful and never offend him."

"Mm-hmm, Uncle, who exactly is... Xu Ling?"

"Your father, he went to Linhai City, you should know that, right?"

"..."

"His trip to Linhai City is related to Mr. Xu Ling.

Some time ago, Grand Marshal Zhang died, and his Blood Guard also suffered heavy casualties.

The Eighteen Provinces are in a state of panic, and all of this is because of one person."

"What?" Zhuge Anran was shocked.

He had heard of this matter vaguely.

However, he did not know the specific details.

But, according to his uncle's meaning, it was this Xu Ling who crippled the Blood Guard and Slayed Zhang Yuanmou.

The difficulty of this was unimaginable.

"He... is a martial artist.

Very strong... very strong."

Being able to kill Zhang Yuanmou, he must certainly be very strong.

"How strong?"

"Peerless... invincible.

At the time, Zhang Yuanmou's air force unit was even dispatched, but the result... no one returned alive."

"What?" Zhuge Anran was completely shocked.

That powerful?

He took a deep breath.

Could it be that that A-level Monster was truly killed by Xu Ling?

Did he not continue to take on missions also because he was too strong?

Did the shaking of the Qijiao Building have anything to do with him?

Various thoughts surged within Zhuge Anran's mind.

Inside the Qijiao Building, Lin Chao obtained the God Position from the light and shadow.

This time, the God Position was also very little, one could even say pitifully little.

Lin Chao frowned.

"It seems these people are still too weak."

Lin Chao remembered that he had completed the Newcomer Mission and obtained a lucky draw.

He would see just what kind of items these newcomers obtained.

"Start the draw." Lin Chao spoke.

Instantly, a burst of light surged across the screen.

"Congratulations to Resident 2013 for obtaining one bottle of Strength Potion.

Strength Potion: After consumption, physical strength increases by thirty percent, lasting for thirty minutes."

Looking at the description of the Strength Potion, Lin Chao was quite speechless.

This Strength Potion could be effective in sports, but for these Residents encountering Supernatural events, the effect it provided... was too weak.

Lin Chao frowned.

He could not yet truly control the operation of the Qijiao Building, but adding a little something extra was still something he could do.

Lin Chao waved his hand, and a large number of Blood Beads appeared in his hand.

He looked at these Blood Beads, pondering something.

At this moment, a knock on the door sounded.

Lin Chao was slightly stunned.

He opened the door and immediately saw Zhao Ting outside with a nervous expression.

"Something up?" Lin Chao's gaze was calm.

"Mr. Xu Ling... Zhuge Anran and Ji Wei said they have something to discuss with you, to see if you have time." Zhao Ting had experienced two missions, though she had just been a bystander in both; it had to be said her luck was very good.

"Let them in."

Lin Chao sat down casually.

"Okay." Zhao Ting felt relieved.

She hurriedly ran out.

Not long after, Zhuge Anran and Ji Wei entered the room.

The gazes both of them directed at Lin Chao carried a trace of awe.

"Mr. Xu Ling, regarding the last Newcomer Mission, I must thank you for helping us pass and Slaying the monster." Zhuge Anran said the words he had already deliberated over.

A smile was on Lin Chao's face.

How could he not understand the meaning in Zhuge Anran's words?

"It's nothing." Lin Chao replied casually, which also counted as admitting the fact that he had Slayed the monster.

Hearing this answer, joy flashed in the eyes of both Zhuge Anran and Ji Wei.

It seemed it was true.

"Mr. Xu Ling... would you be willing to join the Elder Council of our Qijiao Building?" At this time, Ji Wei, who was to the side, spoke, his eyes carrying a look of anticipation.

Such a powerful person naturally should join the Elder Council.

"Not interested." Lin Chao refused directly without even thinking.

A look of disappointment flashed in the eyes of Ji Wei and Zhuge Anran.

However, they did not say anything more.

After all, they were not familiar with Xu Ling, and this was only their first contact.

It would be somewhat inappropriate to say too much during the first contact.

The three of them exchanged some insights on completing missions, and then Zhuge Anran and Ji Wei withdrew.

The Qijiao Building remained the same as usual; every day new Residents entered, and most missions involved casualties.

And in the real world, a major event was quietly happening, currently brewing.

Of the three great warlords, Zhang Yuanmou was dead; the remaining two warlords, along with the forces left behind by Zhang Yuanmou, discussed together and decided that all parties would cease hostilities and form a parliament and political parties.

Among these, a Constitutional Monarchy system was established, the legitimacy of the Huang Hun imperial clan was recognized, and Huang Hun was enthroned as king.

At this moment, in a place unknown.

Over a dozen clusters of light and shadow flickered in the air, with countless divine senses intermingling.

"The Tianfang Alliance is about to develop the Ancient Origin Realm; our actions must be even more cautious, so as not to be discovered by the Tianfang Alliance."

"The Tianfang Alliance possesses countless worlds; why would they pay attention to such a remote world? Heishan, you are being far too cautious.

This time, the one preparing to preach in the Ancient Origin Realm is the Anyue World, which is under the jurisdiction of the Tianfang Alliance.

This world has only one sleeping Venerable Immortal.

To go to the Ancient Origin Realm to preach, at most, Sixth Tier powerhouses will go.

Everyone present here is Eighth Rank; are you really afraid of being discovered?"

"The disciple taken in several hundred years ago by Wendi Immortal Lord of the Tianfang Alliance comes from the Ancient Origin Realm.

We should still be a bit careful and try our best not to be exposed.

Otherwise, if the Tianfang Alliance discovers the secret of the Ancient Origin Realm, with our strength, it will be very difficult to snatch meat from their mouths."

"God Positions..."

"It seems there are also God Positions belonging to the Main God inside; whoever obtains them... hehe."

The light and shadow present flickered constantly; even though they had no faces, one could still sense the greed they exuded.

"It is a pity that the God Positions obtained so far are too few.

We are still too gentle.

I think we should raise the mortality rate to over eighty percent; only then will we obtain more God Positions."

"How is eighty percent enough? Ninety percent."

These light and shadow figures communicated, and before long, they reached an agreement.

They would expand the scale of task releases and increase the difficulty of tasks, all for the sake of obtaining more God Positions.

Although many people would die because of this.

Yet, in their eyes, what did that count for?

Besides, did they not also provide some rewards?

This did not violate the Human-God Equality Ordinance formulated by that person.

"Has Qijiao not come this time?"

"Hehe, who told him to be so bold as to run into a stronghold of the Tianfang Alliance to cause trouble? As a result, he was severely wounded and has yet to wake up.

However, as long as we have determined the new Rules, it is irrelevant whether Qijiao agrees or not."

"Should we conduct joint tasks, where our chosen people complete the same task?

Would that increase the probability of passing the task?"

"To whom does the reward go?"

"Naturally, whoever completes it, it goes to them."

"Good."

Qijiao Building.

Inside the lobby, over thirty people were gathered.

At this moment, the expressions of these people were all very gloomy.

"What is going on? Why were six tasks suddenly released all at once?"

In the past, Qijiao Building would only release one task a day.

Therefore, after completing a task, each Resident could rest for quite some time.

Now, releasing six tasks in one day was not giving them any time to catch their breath.

"Six tasks: 3 C-rank, 2 B-rank, 1 A-rank." Ji Wei frowned deeply.

This result was unacceptable.

Such high-difficulty tasks had an extremely high casualty rate.

Moreover, with these tasks coming all at once, the people of their Elder Council could not analyze them one by one; there was simply not enough time.

Therefore, of the thirty-plus people present, the number of those who could return alive this time would likely be in the single digits.

Everyone present was filled with anxiety.

Some were breaking down.

Some had a look of madness in their eyes, as if they did not take these tasks to heart.

"Ji Wei, what exactly is going on?

If it is like this every day from now on, we veteran Residents simply won't be able to handle it." Someone looked at Ji Wei.

This person was also a member of the Elder Council and had deep experience in completing tasks.

Ji Wei furrowed his brows and said helplessly, "Qijiao Building is mysterious and unfathomable; I also have no idea what to do."

"The items we have now are simply not enough; this time I was assigned an A-rank Task, and I don't want to die." A man had a mental breakdown.

He had not entered Qijiao Building long ago and had only participated in three tasks, each of which had been fraught with danger.

This time, encountering an A-rank Task, and with the items on his person almost completely used up, it was simply impossible to survive.

"Damn Qijiao Building, one day, I will tear this building down." Someone cursed loudly, clearly also very angry.

Of the thirty-plus people present, there were those who were calm, those who were worried, and those who were thinking.

Ji Wei frowned deeply; he could not think of a good solution to the predicament before him.

Thanks to 【Geshu Beidou】, 【Look at the Sea and Come See】, and 【Royal Family Following the Wind as One Wishes】 for the tips.

PS: Stop scolding, *cough cough cough*! I am working hard to write well!

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(End of this chapter)