Chapter 248: Shock

After logging back into the game, Nie Yan checked the changes brought by the system update. Everything was consistent with his past life: the experience required for leveling up had been significantly reduced. If this had happened when everyone was around level 100, during the launch of the “Unearthing History” expansion, lower-level players would gradually catch up, though they wouldn’t pose a threat to the top-tier players. However, now that everyone was still at an early stage, this drastic reduction in experience requirements meant that the level rankings were about to be reshuffled completely.

The easier leveling would also bring a significant change. Previously, when a player was attacked by someone six or seven levels lower, the damage dealt was minimal, often resulting in a “miss.” This was the suppression effect brought by level differences. Now, however, this level gap had expanded to over ten levels.

Various class skills had also been slightly adjusted. The biggest change was to warriors’ defensive stance, whose defensive effectiveness had been enhanced, enabling them to handle higher-level bosses. Some named lord-level bosses had also had their attributes adjusted and strengthened.

The difficulty of some dungeons had been modified. The difficulty of high-level and expert-level dungeons had increased, while the drop rates of certain sets had decreased, and the attributes of some equipment had been enhanced.

Nie Yan arrived at the Bull Tribe guild headquarters to adjust the guild’s future strategies. The most urgent matter at hand was to organize a group of players to head to some optimal leveling spots. In the afternoon, they would assist Ban Xing De Hu Li (Half-Awake Fox) in seizing a fortress, and the Bull Tribe would also begin preparing to clear the fortress.

Clearing fortresses in the wild was extremely difficult, so the immediate priority was to strengthen the players’ overall capabilities.

Nie Yan arranged some guild affairs and then sent a message to Zhai Hao, typing in the name Kuang Bao Zhan Kai (Raging Battle Armor) in the chat window and adding him as a friend.

“Zhai Hao, do you think Nie Yan might stand us up? Why hasn’t he shown up yet?” a girl beside him asked.

“I don’t think so. I believe Nie Yan is a man of his word,” Zhai Hao replied, though he wasn’t entirely sure. Nie Yan hadn’t contacted him yet, and hadn’t even told him his in-game ID. How was he supposed to contact Nie Yan?

“Otherwise, why wouldn’t he give you his ID?” Nine people had gathered, including Xia Ling. Zhai Hao felt a bit annoyed. Had Nie Yan really stood him up?

“If Nie Yan doesn’t come soon, we’ll just go leveling first. We’ve got five mages, two warriors, one paladin, one priest, and one rogue. Leveling up should be pretty quick,” Xia Ling suggested, easing Zhai Hao’s awkwardness slightly.

“I guess that’s the only option,” Zhai Hao nodded, feeling somewhat grateful toward Xia Ling. She was really considerate.

Just then, Zhai Hao suddenly received a system notification. He glanced at it and was shocked.

System: Player Nie Yan has added you as a friend.

“What the hell!” Zhai Hao exclaimed. Who didn’t know Nie Yan? Back in the Magma Forest, he had single-handedly wiped out twenty thousand players from the Triumph Empire. He was the guild leader of the Bull Tribe, a legendary figure in the game Faith!

So many people had tried desperately to join the Bull Tribe just for a chance to receive Nie Yan’s guidance. When they had applied to join the Bull Tribe, they were rejected outright, so they had no choice but to join a lesser guild called Warrior Tribe, becoming just ordinary members.

Nie Yan was the boss of their boss, the ultimate superior!

If they met Nie Yan on the street, they could only look up to him in awe and exclaim, “My idol!”

Yet this godlike figure had now requested to add him as a friend. How could he not be shocked?

Rubbing his eyes to confirm that the name Nie Yan was indeed correct, he felt as if he had just acquired an unshakable brand. This legendary figure adding him as a friend was something he could hardly believe, even after verifying it multiple times.

“Nie Yan, Nie Yan…” Zhai Hao muttered to himself, his body trembling slightly. Could it really be him? What the hell!

“Hey, Zhai Hao, are you spacing out? Why are you muttering Nie Yan’s name over and over?” a girl beside him asked.

“Do you even know who Nie Yan is?” Zhai Hao asked, visibly moved.

“Who? Isn’t he just the new student in our class?” the girl replied, puzzled.

Xia Ling also looked at Zhai Hao in confusion.

“You’ll find out soon enough,” Zhai Hao said excitedly. Then he clicked “Accept” to add Nie Yan as a friend.

“Where are you now?” Nie Yan messaged Zhai Hao.

“We’re in Link Town,” Zhai Hao replied. They had just teleported there and were preparing to go leveling together. “Nie Yan, you really kept us in the dark.”

“Sorry, it was unavoidable,” Nie Yan replied without further explanation. He arrived at the Karol City teleportation point and then teleported to Link Town.

Following the coordinates provided by Zhai Hao, Nie Yan made his way toward them.

“Nie Yan is here!” Zhai Hao announced, his heart pounding with nervous excitement. He was about to meet his idol in person. How could he not be thrilled?

“Where is he?”

The others asked, and just then, they saw a figure approaching. The figure looked very familiar. After a moment of thought, they recognized him.

“What the hell, it’s Kuang Zei Nie Yan (Rogue Nie Yan)!”

“Nie Yan?”

One by one, their hearts pounded with shock. Nie Yan’s appearance was a huge blow to them. Watching him approach, they felt as if they were transported back to the Magma Forest, where Nie Yan wielded his dagger with a cruel smile on his face, sending chills down their spines.

“Nie Yan is really this Kuang Zei Nie Yan?” They couldn’t believe it, yet the reality was right in front of them, leaving them no choice but to accept it.

Only Xia Ling remained relatively calm. As a close friend of Xie Yao, she often heard stories about her. She had long known that Xie Yao deeply admired someone in the game, a legendary figure known as Kuang Zei Nie Yan.

Xia Ling had once teased Xie Yao, thinking that her admiration for heroes was too intense. Who was Kuang Zei Nie Yan? He had led the Bull Tribe to create an era, a history, becoming an immortal legend in the hearts of millions of players. But such a person was only meant to exist in the virtual world, completely out of reach in reality. Therefore, there was absolutely no future between Xie Yao and Nie Yan.

When Xie Yao called Xia Ling in the afternoon, saying she suspected Nie Yan was actually Nie Yan, Xia Ling had laughed and asked if she was developing delusions. If she liked Nie Yan, why did it matter whether he was the Nie Yan from the game?

Xie Yao had earnestly asked Xia Ling to come and check for herself whether Nie Yan was indeed the Nie Yan from the game.

Though Xia Ling didn’t believe it, she still accepted Xie Yao’s request. To her surprise, Xie Yao had been right all along. A meaningful smile appeared on Xia Ling’s lips as she wondered what Xie Yao would do upon learning the truth.

Nie Yan looked at the nine people in front of him. Zhai Hao was there, along with the other six familiar faces, especially Li Rui and Liu Xu Chen, who had been his close friends in his past life. Although they were from different classes, they often hung out together. They were all good guys. As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together.

“Damn it, Zhai Hao said he was introducing us to a new student from his class, but it turned out to be Kuang Zei Nie Yan, the leader of the Bull Tribe! Am I dreaming? Li Rui, pinch me!” Liu Xu Chen exclaimed in disbelief.

“It doesn’t feel like a dream,” Li Rui replied, still dazed. Names like Nie Yan, Po Tian (Raging Sky), and Ban Xing De Hu Li were supposed to exist only in legends, topics of conversation among players. Actually meeting them and talking to them was something they had never even dared to imagine.

Zhai Hao and the others had wanted to join the Bull Tribe, but were rejected due to insufficient skill. In their eyes, every member of the Bull Tribe was an elite, unattainable figure, let alone the guild leader himself!

And yet, here he was, standing right in front of them.

It was like a devoted believer who spent every day praying to the Buddha suddenly finding himself face-to-face with the Buddha himself.

The shock was beyond imagination!

“Bro, I didn’t expect you to be this impressive,” Zhai Hao said, raising his hand as if to punch Nie Yan playfully, but suddenly realizing the difference in their statuses, he awkwardly withdrew his hand.

“Sorry, I was delayed because of some guild matters. Let’s go, I’ll take you leveling. We’re all classmates, no need to be so formal,” Nie Yan said with a cheerful smile, giving them a refreshing feeling. He didn’t want his old friends from his past life to feel distant from him just because of their differing statuses.

Nie Yan’s smile eased the tension among the group.

“Who would’ve thought Kuang Zei Nie Yan was actually Zhai Hao’s classmate? This is unbelievable!”

“Yeah, truly unimaginable!”

Realizing that Nie Yan wasn’t as unapproachable as they had thought, Li Rui and the others gathered around, talking excitedly.

“Sorry for not telling you earlier. My identity isn’t something I can reveal to too many people. I hope you can keep this a secret,” Nie Yan said sincerely.

“We’ll definitely keep it a secret!” they all promised, patting their chests, feeling even closer to their idol.

Looking at these familiar faces, Nie Yan felt a warm glow in his heart. In his past life, these people had accompanied him through the darkest times. This brotherly bond, he could slowly rebuild.

Two girls also approached.

“Who would’ve thought you were actually Kuang Zei Nie Yan? That’s amazing!”

“Hey, do you have a girlfriend?” one bold girl asked directly.

“I’m pursuing Xie Yao,” Nie Yan replied frankly.

“Woah, she’s the goddess of our class, but you’re definitely worthy,” the girl said. If Nie Yan wasn’t worthy, then who was?

“Yeah, Xie Yao is so lucky. I’m so jealous,” another girl added. If someone like Nie Yan pursued her, she would definitely accept without hesitation.

Nie Yan exchanged a knowing smile with Xia Ling. He knew Xia Ling would convey his words to Xie Yao.

From the perspective of Xie Yao’s best friend, Xia Ling had assessed Nie Yan and found his personality truly impressive. Talented, calm, and confident without being arrogant, Nie Yan possessed a unique charm. Considering Xie Yao’s genuine affection for Nie Yan, the two seemed like a perfect match. Xia Ling had already secretly sent a message to Xie Yao.