Chapter 652: Rampant Soul

In terms of individual player strength, within the entire Bullman Tribe Alliance, the Rampage Alliance is second only to the Bullman Tribe, surpassing guilds such as the Sanctum of Jalan and the Holy Roman Empire. Although their guild has fewer members, numbering around eighty thousand, they are formidable in battle.

Nie Yan recalled the Rampage Alliance from his previous life, a guild with a formidable reputation. Aishang Shangshang was an excellent leader; in the past, he didn’t lose in guild battles but succumbed to powerful financial forces. However, in this lifetime, Nie Yan has taken controlling interest in the Rampage Alliance, and under the protection of the Bullman Tribe, they won’t face the same fate as before.

In the Firefly Teahouse in the eastern part of Jade City, business was very slow, with only a few players coming and going.

Nie Yan entered the teahouse and sat at a corner seat, lowering his head and quietly sipping his tea.

Around him, only a few seats were occupied by players discussing various topics: levels, equipment, instances, and anecdotes about major guilds. These players appeared rather laid-back, with levels only around sixty to seventy. In a time when players at levels ninety or a hundred were common, they could be considered third-rate players.

“You’re really impressive, reaching nearly our level in just a month and a half in the game,” a thirty-something mage said with a hint of frustration, glancing at a warrior beside him who was only eighteen or nineteen.

“No big deal; I’m sure I can catch up with the top players within two months,” the warrior replied proudly.

Reaching level seventy in a month and a half was quite fast. With nothing better to do, Nie Yan cast a Detection spell on the warrior and was stunned when he saw the name displayed: Kuang Hun (Crazy Soul).

Kuang Hun was a formidable warrior, ranked even above Shui Se Yan Tou (Smoke with Colored Tip) in the previous life, one of the Holy Swordsmen, consistently ranked in the top three among all Holy Swordsmen. Kuang Hun was undoubtedly talented, but in his previous life, he was arrogant and domineering, humiliating his opponents after defeating them, which earned him a poor reputation.

One could tell from his current manner of speaking.

Although Nie Yan had inadvertently discovered a promising talent, he had no intention of recruiting Kuang Hun into the Bullman Tribe, as such a person could disrupt the internal harmony of the guild.

Nie Yan considered waiting for Aishang Shangshang to arrive and letting him test Kuang Hun.

As he was drinking tea, a nearby conversation caught his attention, causing his teacup to pause mid-air as he focused on listening.

“Lately, something strange has been happening in the eastern part of Jade City; some skeletons have been spawning, different from ordinary skeleton soldiers. These skeletons often appear in large groups, frequently led by elite-level ones, showing great organization and attacking anyone on sight. Today, while participating in a group in the eastern desert, over ten members were killed, and I barely escaped. Damn, it scared the hell out of me,” a mage complained.

“I’ve heard about it too. It’s said that if you’re killed by those skeletons, your corpse will be resurrected as a skeleton, which is very troublesome. These skeletons also attack villages, often wiping them out, sparing no NPCs, and over ten villages have already become ruins. Jade City will probably send guards to eliminate those skeletons soon.”

“These skeleton soldiers seem to be active near Broki Fortress.”

“Shh, speak softly, don’t say anything reckless, or you might be overheard by members of the God-Slaying Sword.”

Nie Yan furrowed his brow in thought. The information these players were discussing aligned with his previous suspicions, suggesting it might indeed be related to the Undead Vengeance expansion. It was possible that a corrupted player had just revived a necromancer.

If they continued to develop, it would become a serious problem. Nie Yan decided to go and check it out. With his escape abilities, even if he encountered some trouble, he could still retreat safely.

After a while, Aishang Shangshang, wearing a set of dark golden armor, entered the teahouse. When he walked in, clad like a steel beast, the entire teahouse immediately felt cramped.

As Aishang Shangshang walked, the wooden floor of the teahouse trembled and groaned. Two other players followed behind him.

Aishang Shangshang glanced toward Nie Yan, and their eyes met, exchanging nods.

Seeing Aishang Shangshang, the players in the teahouse were stunned.

“It’s Aishang Shangshang, the leader of the Rampage Alliance!”

The players showed expressions of reverence, knowing what the name Aishang Shangshang meant in Jade City, a heavy pressure coming over them.

Kuang Hun looked at Aishang Shangshang in his steel armor, his eyes showing not only reverence but also a fiery passion. If one day he could wear a set of gear like Aishang Shangshang’s, how cool would that be? Aishang Shangshang was his goal. Kuang Hun held Aishang Shangshang in high esteem, not because of his technical prowess, but because under Aishang Shangshang’s leadership, the Rampage Alliance was disciplined and battle-hardened, a feat not easily achieved by ordinary people.

“Aishang Shangshang of the Rampage Alliance has business here; everyone please leave. Aishang Shangshang thanks you,” Aishang Shangshang’s voice was low and deep, carrying an air of unquestionable authority.

Upon hearing Aishang Shangshang’s words, the players instinctively stood up and prepared to leave, including Kuang Hun.

In Jade City, Aishang Shangshang carried significant weight; even the upper echelons of the God-Slaying Sword dared not provoke him lightly.

Watching the players leave one by one, Nie Yan opened a voice chat with Aishang Shangshang and said something.

As Kuang Hun was about to leave the teahouse, Aishang Shangshang suddenly turned back and called out, “Hey, you skinny kid, stop.”

Kuang Hun paused, looking back in confusion. Was Aishang Shangshang calling him?

“That’s you. Come back and sit down,” Aishang Shangshang said. Seeing Kuang Hun’s lack of response, he walked over, grabbing Kuang Hun by the collar and dragging him like a chicken.

While being dragged by Aishang Shangshang, Kuang Hun felt particularly dejected. He dared not attack Aishang Shangshang, but more importantly, in the face of Aishang Shangshang’s overwhelming strength, he was utterly powerless to resist.

The gap was too great for him to even consider resistance.

Aishang Shangshang glanced at the two nearby players and said, “Add him to the Rampage Alliance, prepare a contract, and have him sign it. If he refuses, let him know the consequences.”

“Why?” Kuang Hun looked at Aishang Shangshang in confusion. Anyone dragged back like this and then threatened to join a guild would be perplexed.

“There’s no why,” Aishang Shangshang said indifferently, smirking inwardly at Kuang Hun’s frustrated expression. “Kid, messing with you is easy.”

Kuang Hun nearly went crazy, wondering how he ended up in this situation. Although he had always wanted to join the Rampage Alliance, being forced into it like this was quite baffling.

“Can I at least get a reason?”

“I don’t like your name; I can’t stand anyone more arrogant than me.” After saying this, Aishang Shangshang turned and walked toward Nie Yan.

Is that the only reason? Kuang Hun rolled his eyes.

“Sign it,” a mage behind Aishang Shangshang placed a contract in front of Kuang Hun.

Kuang Hun glanced at the terms, finding them not only not harsh but also quite generous. For Kuang Hun, who was still in school, had no income, and came from a middle-class family, this contract was quite attractive.

Kuang Hun swallowed hard, feeling like he had been hit by a falling pie from the sky.

“What if I don’t sign?”

“You’ll be killed back to level zero within five days,” the player said without batting an eye.

Are all the members of the Rampage Alliance recruited like this? Kuang Hun was somewhat amused. He rolled his eyes again, seeing the player’s unyielding tone, and reluctantly signed his name.

Kuang Hun looked toward Aishang Shangshang and was stunned. In his view, Aishang Shangshang was an unapproachable, towering figure, but now, Aishang Shangshang was showing great respect to the person in the black cloak.

A strong sense of curiosity arose in Kuang Hun’s mind: who was the person sitting opposite Aishang Shangshang?

No one was there to answer him for the time being.

“That guy signed the contract,” Aishang Shangshang said to Nie Yan, glancing at Kuang Hun in the distance.

Nie Yan nodded. For Kuang Hun, joining the Rampage Alliance was no different from joining the Bullman Tribe. He didn’t dwell further on this matter and shifted the conversation to the God-Slaying Sword.

“How has the God-Slaying Sword been lately?” Nie Yan asked. Aishang Shangshang, being in Jade City, should know the most about them.

“The development of the God-Slaying Sword has indeed exceeded my expectations. They began to grow strong after merging with more than ten guilds and now control twenty-one fortresses in Jade City. The God-Slaying Sword has always been supported by a powerful force with substantial financial resources. Therefore, I try to avoid contact with them and expand toward the outer cities,” Aishang Shangshang said, showing clear caution toward the God-Slaying Sword.

Nie Yan nodded. The Rampage Alliance’s strategy was reasonable. If they clashed with the God-Slaying Sword, it would be hard to determine a winner, and the loser would face irreversible consequences. Naturally, Aishang Shangshang dared not gamble the guild’s future on such a conflict.

“The God-Slaying Sword is supported by the Monei Corporation, making them quite troublesome. They have just conquered Kerte City, and it won’t be long before we go to war with them,” Nie Yan said.

Aishang Shangshang looked at Nie Yan. The Bullman Tribe had already controlled such a vast territory, yet they continued to provoke powerful enemies one after another. It seemed Nie Yan’s ambition was not merely to hold onto their territory but to unify the entire Granlan Empire.

Was that really possible? Thinking about it, Aishang Shangshang couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement.