The Dragon of Shadowed Wings bit down on the dragon crystal and swallowed it. The aura emanating from his body diminished significantly, yet Nie Yan could sense that this aura had become more refined, giving off a heavy, oppressive feeling.
Since Nie Yan himself had a certain spiritual connection with the Dragon of Shadowed Wings, he could feel the dragon gradually digesting the crystal, with pure energy slowly seeping into its body.
It would not be easy to completely digest this dragon crystal; it would not be accomplished in just a day or two.
In the Valley of Fate, a rushing river flowed between several high mountains, forming an alluvial plain at the foot of the mountains. This area was one of the most unpredictable regions near Carol City.
Many types of monsters spawned here, and the area was filled with elite creatures. There were even many golden monsters that dropped excellent gear. Moreover, the Valley of Fate was rich in resources, producing various herbs. With good luck, one might even encounter some valuable crystal ore. Players often formed parties to enter the valley, and their main purpose was not leveling up, but rather adventure.
If things went smoothly, the rewards from spending a day here could be quite astonishing. Obtaining a few good items could ensure financial stability for the next few months. However, if one was unlucky, it would be quite frustrating. Encountering high-level elites often meant fleeing for one’s life; losing a few party members was normal. In even worse scenarios, one might encounter powerful dragons and be wiped out before even realizing what had happened.
Nie Yan, riding the Dragon of Shadowed Wings, circled in the air for a long time before finally finding a suitable place to land and slowly descending.
Upon landing, Nie Yan jumped off the back of the Dragon of Shadowed Wings.
Soon, several rogues appeared before Nie Yan.
“Boss Nie Yan, you’re here.”
Nie Yan glanced at these people; they were members of the rogue guild. Their faces were somewhat familiar, but without checking their personal information, he couldn’t recall their names. After all, the rogue guild of Bull Player Tribe had far too many members.
These rogues were visibly excited upon seeing Nie Yan.
“Take me there,” Nie Yan said.
“Sure, Boss Nie Yan. Follow me,” said a rogue named Feng Dao.
Nie Yan followed behind them, moving forward. The nearby mountains were lofty and steep, and occasionally large flying creatures passed overhead.
The rogues leading the way were clearly cautious. This place was full of dangers, and a single misstep could bring disaster. They had already lost several members.
“Boss Nie Yan, there are often flying creatures around here,” one rogue said. Seeing Nie Yan’s calm expression and the gentle smile he offered, he suddenly felt his warning was unnecessary.
At the moment, in a forest beneath a cliff in the Valley of Fate, about a dozen rogues were hiding. They had been monitoring the dragon nests on the cliff wall for quite some time. Looking up at the cliff, occasionally one or two dragons would take off and fly away to forage.
Two rogues were hiding under a tree, looking upward. Through the gaps in the leaves, they could clearly see the movements on the cliff wall.
“Chief, this looks like the eighth one, right?” a rogue in his early twenties, with a somewhat youthful appearance, asked. His name was Su Yue. The other rogue beside him was in his thirties, with a mustache and dark skin, appearing more composed. He was known as Yin Hui Zhi Ye, a small squad leader within the rogue guild.
“No, it’s the seventh. This one has already appeared before,” Yin Hui Zhi Ye shook his head.
Su Yue looked at Yin Hui Zhi Ye in surprise and asked, “Chief, how can you tell? These dragons all look the same.”
Yin Hui Zhi Ye smiled and said, “They’re not exactly the same. If you observe carefully, you’ll know. Try to remember the characteristics of each dragon.”
Su Yue looked puzzled; these dragons all seemed identical, so where were their distinguishing features? That Yin Hui Zhi Ye could remember the subtle characteristics of each dragon seemed somewhat incredible. Since joining the rogue guild, he had always followed Yin Hui Zhi Ye, and he deeply admired him, considering Yin Hui Zhi Ye a capable person who knew everything.
“I heard Boss Nie Yan is coming?” Su Yue looked at Yin Hui Zhi Ye and asked. He had heard this from a teammate, and currently, everyone was still speculating. For the sake of secrecy, only a few people knew that they were in the Valley of Fate on Nie Yan’s orders.
“I’m not sure either,” Yin Hui Zhi Ye replied, still adhering to the principle of confidentiality.
“What kind of person is Boss Nie Yan?” Su Yue asked curiously.
“What kind of person Boss Nie Yan is… well, I can’t really explain,” Yin Hui Zhi Ye’s mind was filled with many memories. He was considered one of the older members of Bull Player Tribe, having joined not long after its formation, when the tribe had only about 20,000 members. Back then, they had joined Bull Player Tribe on a whim, never expecting that the tribe would experience one glorious victory after another within just two short years, now becoming the dominant force in the Granian Empire. Their status had risen accordingly. In the past, they wore inferior equipment and were looked down upon, but now, walking on the streets of Carol City, anyone who knew they were from Bull Player Tribe would show them respect. All of this was due to one person—Crazy Thief Nie Yan! Reflecting on the past two years in Bull Player Tribe, every rise and fall of the tribe had touched their hearts. In their minds, Nie Yan was an unquestionably lofty figure.
“Chief, have you met Boss Nie Yan?” Su Yue asked curiously.
“A few times,” Yin Hui Zhi Ye chuckled.
“Chief, describe him for me. I’ve seen videos, but videos aren’t real, and you can’t really see what Boss Nie Yan looks like,” Su Yue said enthusiastically. One of the main reasons he had joined Bull Player Tribe was his admiration for Nie Yan. Someone who had started from nothing and built an empire, his intuition told him that Nie Yan was a very heroic figure.
“He’s just average looking, not particularly aloof. He’s very approachable, so you might be disappointed. He’s definitely not what you’re imagining,” Yin Hui Zhi Ye smiled faintly.
“No way.”
“Actually, appearance is secondary, right? To tell you the most memorable time I had, my two teammates and I once encountered over sixty people from the Triumph Empire. At the time, we thought we were doomed. Later, we found out that those sixty people were tracking Boss Nie Yan, and they didn’t even pay attention to us.”
“What happened later?” Su Yue was intrigued.
“At that time, our levels were still very low, and Boss Nie Yan didn’t yet have a full set of legendary gear like he does now. In terms of equipment, it was quite good, but not extraordinarily powerful. However, the outcome later… over thirty people from the Triumph Empire died, and the rest fled. They were simply no match,” Yin Hui Zhi Ye showed a look of admiration. “From that moment on, I truly understood what it meant to be a rogue.”
One person defeated over thirty people. Su Yue opened his mouth in amazement. Such a feat wasn’t particularly rare for Nie Yan, but in the early days when the equipment advantage wasn’t particularly obvious, it was indeed very difficult.
Yin Hui smiled suddenly and said, “That was the most memorable time for me. Since then, my strength has improved rapidly, all thanks to that experience. Kid, do you know what a true rogue is?”
“What is a true rogue?” Su Yue asked in confusion. Wasn’t it just a profession? Why was it so profound?
“A rogue, to be precise, is a path, the path of a king. You might not understand this, but why is the rogue called the king of the wilds? It’s not because of their ability to fight head-on. They have two supreme abilities: the first is the ability to escape and hide. A skilled rogue can ensure their own safety in any dangerous situation. The second is ambush. Under the protection of shadows, they kill without a sound. That is my domain. In my domain, if I decide you must die in this moment, you won’t survive to the next second. Everyone can only tremble in fear under my daggers, and their fear will rob them of their combat effectiveness. They are my prey. When you truly grasp the king’s way of the rogue and possess an unyielding aura, you become invincible,” Yin Hui Zhi Ye said meaningfully.
“The path of a king?” Su Yue murmured, repeating the phrase. This theory was still quite unfamiliar to him.
“Kid, take some time to understand it,” Yin Hui Zhi Ye patted Su Yue’s shoulder and said earnestly. He glanced at the team chat and his expression changed, showing a flicker of surprise. “Boss Nie Yan has arrived.”
They looked into the distance and saw several rogues rushing toward them. One of them wore a cloak, making it impossible to see his face, but the gazes of the dozen or so people nearby were instantly fixed on him, their breaths slightly catching. Although hidden by the cloak, they could still sense a composed and commanding presence.
That person was Boss Nie Yan! It was this person who had created an astonishing myth.
Nie Yan approached and stepped under the shade of the trees, removing his hood. His gaze swept over everyone’s faces before finally settling on Yin Hui Zhi Ye.
“Yin Hui, have you figured out the terrain around here?” Nie Yan asked.
“Yes, Boss Nie Yan remembers me,” Yin Hui Zhi Ye appeared somewhat excited. To him, it was unexpected and surprising that Nie Yan could remember him.
The few people nearby looked at Yin Hui with envy. Being remembered by Boss Nie Yan was a great honor.
Nie Yan smiled and said, “Of course. You left a deep impression on me. You’re very observant and suitable for reconnaissance. I often hear the acting guild leader mention you.”
Standing close to Nie Yan, Su Yue realized that Nie Yan was actually about the same age as him. Though young, Nie Yan was very composed, exuding authority and approachability. It created a slight illusion that Nie Yan’s real age was much older than he appeared. He was a mysterious person!
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