Standing at the entrance of the Beginner’s Village, Ye Tianxie watched the massive crowd flowing in and out. As he felt the weight of many gazes upon him, he glanced sideways at the little Guo Guo perched on his shoulder with a resigned expression. His appearance had been enhanced by 20%, and combined with his already striking features, an aura of subtle wicked charm and danger clung to him—making him a natural focal point wherever he went. Yet, not a single gaze landed on Guo Guo.
Did every player in Destiny have a tiny creature like this with them? The thought crossed Ye Tianxie’s mind, but he quickly killed it off as utterly ridiculous.
"Guo Guo, can they not see you?" Ye Tianxie asked, testing his theory.
"Oh la! Master is so smart! How could so many people see such a cute and obedient little loli like me? Guo Guo is amazing, you know! If I don’t want to be seen, no one can see me, and no one can touch me either. Right now, only Master can see and touch me!" Guo Guo beamed with pride, laughing playfully.
Clearly, other players not only couldn’t see her, but they also couldn’t hear her voice. No one even glanced in her direction when she spoke.
Ye Tianxie shot a strange look at the tiny girl on his shoulder. Just how many secrets and mysteries was this little enigma hiding?
"Then, can you go back inside this thing?" Ye Tianxie pointed at the Eternal Moment resting against his chest. Since she had floated out of it, she should be able to return, right?
"I can… but it’s so dark in there! I don’t wanna go back!" Guo Guo pouted, playing with her silky soft hair as her sparkling black eyes curiously observed the scenery and people around them.
Ye Tianxie didn’t ask any more questions and stepped forward into the Beginner’s Village. He had always been used to walking the world alone, but now, with this chirping little spirit constantly flitting around him, the sense of companionship felt surprisingly… not bad. A nearly imperceptible smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
As for Guo Guo’s origins and the secrets of the Eternal Moment, time would eventually reveal the answers. He was eager to know, but he wouldn’t waste time fretting over it. At this moment, he had only been inside Destiny for less than an hour. The mysterious connection between his inexplicable pendant and the world’s energy core—the Eternal Moment—made him increasingly aware that Destiny was far from an ordinary game.
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The Beginner’s Village had only a sparse few buildings. Though the area was still bustling with players, it was no longer as overwhelmingly crowded as when he first arrived. In the village center stood the elderly village chief, busy handing out quests to the swarming newcomers. Ye Tianxie approached him and politely asked, “Hello, Village Chief. Is there anything I can help with?”
No matter one’s status or temperament in the real world, maintaining respect for NPCs was an essential rule in any game. Otherwise, instead of receiving quests, one might get misleading information—or worse. Every NPC in Destiny possessed an independent personality and will, making them no different from real people.
Ding… Due to your exceptional charm, the Beginner’s Village Chief’s favorability toward you has increased by +20.
The system notification made Ye Tianxie twitch slightly. That initial 10 points in Charm weren’t for nothing. Combined with the Eternal Moment’s bonus of 10 more points, his Charm level was already far beyond the average player’s.
The village chief, who had seemed exasperated from dealing with countless players, visibly brightened when he saw Ye Tianxie. A warm smile spread across his face as he began, "The core energy of this world—the Eternal Moment—has vanished, its whereabouts unknown. Without its power, the seal on the Tower of Fate has collapsed, releasing the Eight Demon Kings. The spreading demonic energy is corrupting the land, turning even the most docile creatures into bloodthirsty beasts…"
His speech mirrored the words of that eerie old woman from before. Ye Tianxie patiently listened until the chief finally got to the point.
"Adventurer from another world, in you, I see the dawn of a new hero’s rise. Even the once-gentle chickens have been tainted with a terrible madness. Would you be willing to help me eliminate 30 Angry Chickens?"
Ding… The Beginner’s Village Chief has requested you to eliminate 30 Angry Chickens.
- Quest Type: Normal
- Time Limit: None
- Rewards: 80 EXP, 5 Small Healing Potions
This was a basic quest for Level 0 players, offering nothing of interest to Ye Tianxie. He didn’t accept it but instead locked eyes with the chief and spoke seriously:
"Village Chief, since you see the hope of a hero in me, then giving me such a simple task is an insult. I imagine this is the same quest you’ve given to countless others from my world. I want a challenge—one they are not capable of completing."
If any ordinary player had said this, the village chief would have likely scoffed at their arrogance, given them a lecture on humility, or even chased them away. But for Ye Tianxie, with his astonishing 20 Charm…
The village chief blinked in surprise, then chuckled warmly. His smile grew even more approving as he nodded. "Good, you have the pride of a hero. Your presence, your gaze, and your unyielding spirit convince me even more that you may truly become the one who stands against the evil threatening our world. Very well, I shall grant you a worthy task."
Ding… The quest "Eliminate 30 Angry Chickens" has been canceled.
The smile faded from the chief’s face, replaced by a solemn expression filled with sorrowful nostalgia.
"In the not-so-distant north lies Direwolf Valley, home to fierce wolves corrupted by the demonic energy. They frequently emerge from the valley, threatening the once-peaceful Beginner’s Village. Long ago, my son—around your age—set out alone to rid us of this menace. But… he never returned."
A deep sigh escaped the old man’s lips before he continued, "Brave adventurer, could you journey to Direwolf Valley and bring me 100 Fierce Wolf Fangs? I wish to carve them into a gravestone to honor my son’s courage and the short but valiant life he lived."