Majestic.
This was the first word that popped into everyone's mind the first time they saw Azure Dragon City.
If one were to exclude the magic towers and flying ships floating in the sky, the ground-level city walls alone stood a hundred meters high, constructed entirely from massive cyan boulders with faint magical array lights shimmering across their surfaces.
The city gate was fifty meters wide, with two enormous stone sculptures of azure dragons coiled on either side, overlooking the ants entering and exiting as if they were living creatures.
Walking through the gate, one entered the main thoroughfare, wide enough to accommodate ten carriages abreast—the Azure Dragon Avenue.
On both sides of the road, shops stood in orderly rows, displaying various signboards: [Divine Weapon Pavilion], [Herbs Hall], [Myriad Treasures Pavilion]... Some were run by NPCs, while others were storefronts just rented by major guilds.
In the sky, patrol guards riding griffins occasionally flew past, casting massive shadows below.
"This modeling... it's simply a work of art."
"Look! What is that floating in the sky? Is it a mage tower?"
"It's too big, this map is going to run people to death!"
The newly arrived players were like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden, looking around in every direction and exclaiming in constant amazement.
Ye Yi stood in the crowd, taking a deep breath of the air, which was filled with a mix of magic and Oriental charm.
This was Azure Dragon City.
The core stronghold for hundreds of millions of players in the China Region in the future, and the stage where countless legendary stories would unfold.
"First things first."
Ye Yi did not go to the guide NPC to get a map like the others; his familiarity with this city even surpassed that of its designers.
He crossed the bustling main thoroughfare, turned into several intricate alleys, and finally arrived at a remote area in the northern corner of the city.
This was the boundary between the slums and the commercial district, filled with low, dilapidated houses and flowing sewage, with only a few tattered NPC beggars curled up in the corners.
Yet amidst this decay, there was a vacant lot overgrown with weeds, with a crooked sign standing on it: [Land for Sale].
"This is it."
A sharp glint flashed in Ye Yi's eyes.
In his past life, because of its remote location and harsh environment, this place had been ignored for a whole month after the server launch.
It wasn't until the first version update, when the officials announced the establishment of a "Cross-Continent Teleportation Array" here, that the price of this land skyrocketed five hundred times.
The Iron-Blood Consortium was the one who bought this land back then, and they made a fortune just by collecting stall fees next to the teleportation array.
"This time, it is mine."
Ye Yi walked to a nearby dilapidated shack and knocked on the door.
"Who is it? Disturbing people's sleep early in the morning."
A greasy-faced, fat NPC walked out, holding half an unfinished chicken leg. He was the land administrator for this area.
"I want to buy that plot of land." Ye Yi pointed at the weed-filled lot.
The fat man glanced at it and sneered, "You want that piece of junk? It's wasteland, even rats wouldn't want to live there. But since you want it, one price: 50 gold coins."
50 gold coins!
If an ordinary player heard this price, they would definitely turn around and leave. At this stage, even major guilds only had a few hundred gold coins in liquid assets. Spend 50 gold coins to buy a piece of wasteland? They must be crazy.
But Ye Yi knew that this was a dirt-cheap price.
"Deal."
Ye Yi did not haggle, directly counting out 50 gold coins from his bag and placing them on the table.
These gold coins were all his savings, accumulated from frantically farming elite monsters in the Mist Forest last night, along with first-kill rewards and auction house profits.
The fat man's eyes went straight instantly, and the chicken leg in his hand dropped to the ground.
"Oh my! This sir, you truly have a discerning eye!" The fat man's attitude did a 180-degree turn instantly, and he nimbly took out the deed and a seal. "Come, come, sign and press your thumbprint, this land is yours! Permanent property rights!"
A few minutes later.
A golden-glowing deed fell into Ye Yi's hands.
[Land Deed: Azure Dragon City North District - Plot C09]
[Owner: Yi]
[Description: You have full control over this plot and can build shops, warehouses, or residences.]
Ye Yi carefully put away the deed.
This piece of paper was the key to the future "Scourge Legion" treasury.
Having secured the land, Ye Yi checked the time.
7:30 AM. There was still half an hour until the time he had agreed upon with Bing Xin.
"My current level is 18, still a bit off from level 20."
Although he had a recommendation letter to lower the difficulty of the job advancement, the Magic Swordsman job advancement quest still required solid strength to complete.
He turned and walked towards the "Class Hall" in the city center.
That was the must-visit place for all players to advance their classes, and also where experts of all kinds gathered.
Before he even reached the entrance of the hall, a commotion in the distance caught his attention.
In the square in front of the Class Hall, a large crowd had gathered. In the middle of the crowd, it seemed like people were arguing.
"Dynasty Professional Team is handling business, everyone else get lost!"
Dynasty Professional Team?
Hearing this name, Ye Yi's footsteps came to a sudden halt.
That was one of the top three professional teams in the China Region in his past life, and also... the team where his former teammate "Han tian " was.
He pushed through the crowd and looked inside.
He saw an assassin wearing black leather armor with a cold expression standing in the center of the scene. He was gripping a dagger tightly, his body was injured, but his eyes were as stubborn as a lone wolf.
Opposite him stood four or five players wearing matching red and black team uniforms, led by an arrogant-looking archer.
"Han Tian, don't be ungrateful." The archer sneered, "The coach said, as long as you admit that the previous match was your mistake, the team can re-sign you. Otherwise, in this game, the Dynasty Professional Team will kill you every time we see you."
The assassin named Han Tian spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Mistake? You forced me to throw the match!"
Han Tian's voice was hoarse, yet it carried an unyielding spirit.
"I'm done. You want to kill me? Come ahead. But even if I, Han tian , die, I will still bite a chunk of flesh off you!"
Ye Yi looked at that lonely, arrogant figure, the smile on the corner of his mouth gradually widening.
"Han tian…...."
The number one assassin known as the "King of Shadows" in his past life, the brother who self-destructed his core to cover him.
So, at this time, he was at the lowest point of his life.
"Since I've run into you, I can't just ignore it."
Ye Yi adjusted his cloak, placed his hand on the hilt of his magic sword, and slowly walked out of the crowd.
"Dynasty Professional Team, is it? Quite impressive."
The calm voice instantly attracted the attention of everyone present.