Biji Metropolis, renowned throughout the world, served as the political, economic, and cultural nexus of the entire Holy Word Alliance. In my recollection, three years prior, the Biji Empire concluded a century-long religious crusade against the Demon Sealing Empire. A peace accord, known as the Cangyue Covenant, was signed in the neutral territory of the Cangyue Empire. This period ushered in a rare era of peace across the Mafa Continent, one that both sides eagerly utilized to accelerate reconstruction and production efforts. As the capital, Biji was naturally subjected to extensive refurbishment. Even before stepping through the city gates, the avenues were already teeming with the industrious figures of craftsmen. Although this ornamentation had begun three years ago, the sheer scale of Biji Metropolis far exceeded my imagination. To ease the production strain on other regions, the Royal Family had only dispatched a limited number of artisans to Biji, naturally slowing the progress of the engineering works, which remained incomplete even now. Despite this, one could still sense the city’s inherent splendor, solemn grandeur, and magnificence, with towering, glorious structures built in a style reminiscent of Beijing’s Forbidden City palace complex. The main thoroughfares were a torrent of chariots and bustling crowds, offering a profound sense of a city brimming with vitality and life. As far as the eye could see, it was a spectacle of prosperity, song, and vibrant activity.

Truthfully, Biji Metropolis was one of the places I most longed to visit. The reason was simple: the indelible, deep impression the city had left on me in the legendary games. After all, it was one of the first cities to appear in Legend. I recalled that initially, Legend only featured three great cities: Biji Metropolis, Mengzhong Earth City, and White Day Heavenly Gate.

Now, standing here immersed in the reality of it, I realized the actual Biji Metropolis was infinitely more brilliant and magnificent than its digitized counterpart. Fortunately, I was no longer the country bumpkin of two years ago; my mental fortitude had strengthened considerably, yet even so, my vision felt slightly overwhelmed.

Biji Metropolis was bisected by a wide river, dividing it into two major sectors: the North and the South. The North Sector housed the Imperial Palace, military garrisons, and other crucial military and political establishments. The South Sector, however, was dedicated to commercial markets and residential districts. At this moment, I was navigating the Fengwu Avenue in the South Sector, guided by the map in my Ranger’s Handbook.

As far as I could see, the crowds were immense, packed with people from outer regions dressed in outlandish attire. There were demonic artifact merchants from the Demon Sealing Empire, jewelers from Cangyue, and even numerous slave traders hailing from obscure, smaller nations, loudly hawking their wares in the slave market. To my astonishment, what they were selling were not people, but towering, fiercely visaged monsters. These creatures immediately brought to mind the mutated beings from Legend's Dragon Blood Domain—monsters like the Dragon Blade Soldiers or Dragon Armor-Piercing Soldiers. Could these people be from the Demon Sealing Empire? Merely observing those terrifying beings, with muscles bunched like iron castings and hardened armor seemingly fused to their very bodies, sent a shudder of fear down my spine. Their combat prowess, I was sure, surpassed even high-level warriors like Xiang Zhen. It was hard to fathom that such colossal brutes were captured and sold openly on the streets.

It took the better part of the morning, guided by a humble sundry vendor, before I located the Biji Inn in Biji Metropolis. Reputedly the oldest inn on the Mafa Continent, much like the inn in Mengzhong Earth City, its primary clientele consisted of Rangers. Furthermore, its scale dwarfed that of the Earth City inn by several times.

The moment I stepped inside, someone grabbed my arm. Turning around, I found myself facing an unfamiliar woman. Her teal-colored long hair hung somewhat messily down her back. Just as I began to scrutinize her features more clearly—

“It’s me, Yan Luo.”

Ah! I was utterly startled. Before I could demand an explanation, Yan Luo swiftly pulled me upstairs.

“What is all this?” I asked, gazing with confusion at Yan Luo’s bizarre ensemble. She was currently outfitted like a novice Mage. She wore a blue robe resembling a qipao with Daoist elements, yet in her hand, she carried a Crescent Blade. Adorning her person were the Phoenix Pearl and a Pearl Ring, and on her wrists, thick bracelets—all standard equipment for a low-level Taoist. What truly astonished me, however, were the changes to Yan Luo herself: her former golden hair and eyes had transformed into teal hair and emerald eyes. Moreover, her entire aura seemed altered. If the old Yan Luo projected the cool, distant air of an iceberg beauty, the current her seemed more like an innocent, inexperienced girl next door, possessing a fragile, endearing charm akin to a modest young lady.

“There was no other way,” Yan Luo chuckled lightly. “To throw people off the scent, I had to do this.”

“But you’re a Mage, right? Dressing like this! How will you fight later?” My head started to ache.

“Who said I’m only a Mage?” Yan Luo casually flicked her hand, sending out a sharp Soul Fire Talisman. Then, with a light wave of the Crescent Blade, a cloud of poison powder dispersed, followed instantly by another gentle swing of the blade, enveloping me in a soft Healing spell.

“............” I was completely dumbfounded: “How is this possible? You know Taoist skills.”

“Hehe,” Yan Luo replied with a touch of smugness. “Actually, I only know these three. If you ask me to summon a skeleton or something, I’d be useless.”

“How did you manage that?”

“The Soul Fire Talisman and the Poison Mist spell are simple,” Yan Luo said, pulling out a protective amulet. “You just use the same motion as throwing a Fireball; toss it out, that’s all. As for how effective it is, I don’t know. As for the Healing spell, I owe that to this disguised Healing Ring. Without it, I couldn't cast it.” Yan Luo then proudly jiggled the Pearl Ring on her right hand. “This is my absolute secret equipment; you’re the only one who knows. These Taoist items were all custom-made at great expense. Don’t let them look like novice Taoist gear; they actually conceal powerful magical attributes, stronger than an entire set of mid-level Mage equipment.”

“Are they perhaps ridiculously overpowered Jipin equipment? Good heavens, you can actually do this!” I admitted defeat. “I imagine even your acquaintances wouldn't recognize you in this guise. But what about your hair and eyes?”

“The hair is dyed,” Yan Luo explained. “As for the eyes, I just need to wear this.” She reached into her waist pouch, pulled out a small box, and opened it, revealing two thin, small circular pieces inside.

“Contact lenses!” I exclaimed in shock. They were contact lenses!

“What contact lenses?” Yan Luo looked decidedly displeased. “These are the Eye of Illusory Magic, secretly passed down by the Royal Family. Besides the court, only these two sets have ever circulated externally.”

“Incredible!” I gasped in admiration.

“Indeed,” Yan Luo chuckled. “It was necessary. The Dove Group of the Mad Dragon Gang is just too terrifying; they are completely pervasive.”

“Haha, you’ve achieved a complete transformation this time. Who would ever suspect that the famously known ‘Mad Woman’ Yan Luo is this unassuming little Taoist girl before them?”

“Calling me famous, I hardly deserve it,” Yan Luo seemed drastically different from before. Had the change in appearance altered her personality as well? “It’s you who is truly famous now.” Yan Luo looked at me with ill-concealed amusement. “Last time at Kunlong Stockade, you single-handedly took down nearly twenty Red Dawn initial-stage warriors and fifty peak high-level warriors from the Mad Dragon Gang. They’ve issued a ‘Blood Hand Order’ decree to find and eliminate you no matter what. Right now, you’re ranked eighty-ninth on the Mafa Expert Ranking, and you’ve also been acclaimed as one of the Seven Great Quick Swordsmen of Mafa.”

“The Seven Great Quick Swordsmen?” I felt confused. “It wouldn’t be some other bizarre ranking, would it?”

“That’s right,” Yan Luo confirmed. “The Seven Great Quick Swordsmen refers to the seven young masters famous for their speed with the sword across the Mafa Continent today. First is Ling Feng Sword, though he hasn't been heard from in ten years. Second is Fei Ying Sword, Ying Zhen the Maniac, though some claim his quick swordplay surpasses Ling Feng Sword’s. Third is Illusory Demon Sword, Ying Zhen the Mad Demon, who is Ying Zhen the Maniac’s junior apprentice brother. Fourth is Rains-Slicing Sword, Long Yuan the Rain, a young master from the Long Yuan Sect. Sixth is Shadow Sword, Long Ying the Startling Cloud, a top expert from the Long Ying Sect. Originally, there were only six Quick Swordsmen in the Ranger world, but now there’s an eighth—you: Lightning Sword, name unknown, age unknown, sect unknown, sword emerging like lightning, impossibly fast.” Yan Luo looked at me strangely as she finished. “Well? Don’t you feel quite dashing? Although my rank is higher than yours, in terms of fame, I’m far behind you.”

“Well, haha, how should I put it,” I admitted with a bit of pride, “I do feel a little light-headed.”

“Enough!” Yan Luo declared. “Let’s talk about something else. I specifically kept this Eye of Illusory Magic for you. Starting today, you also need to change your appearance. Someone with your black hair and black eyes has features that are far too conspicuous; people with ill intent can easily trace your origins.”

“What? I have to disguise myself too?” I was shocked again.

“Of course. I’ve already prepared everything.”

“.............”

An hour later.

Teal hair and emerald eyes, his features now bore a faint resemblance to Yan Luo’s. His body was clad in a light, yellowish-brown Mage robe, holding a Sea Soul Blade. Around his neck hung a platinum necklace, his hands sported large yellow bracelets, and on the middle fingers of both hands, he wore a pair of wrought iron rings—though the one on his right hand was a modified, disguised Fire Ring. Thanks to this Fire Ring and his magical equipment, I could easily cast a Fireball without even reciting an incantation. On his feet were deerskin boots, and at his waist, a steel belt. Staring at the unfamiliar silhouette in the mirror, I froze.

“This… this change is too drastic,” I muttered. “Even I don’t recognize myself.”

“Hehe.” Yan Luo circled me, nodding approvingly, seemingly quite satisfied with her creation. “Not bad. You actually look a bit like me now. If you said you were my younger brother, no one would doubt it.”

“What? Your brother?”

“Exactly.” Yan Luo confirmed. “From now on, your name is Lan Xing, and I am Lan Yue. We are from the Liu Su Lan family of Cangyue.” With that, Yan Luo handed me a small booklet. “Memorize all the data inside.”

And so, I inexplicably became Yan Luo—no, I should say, Lan Yue’s brother. My new identity was that of a collateral member of the Liu Su Lan family from Cangyue. My father, Lan Zhong, was a Mage, and my mother, Tong Yun, was a Taoist; they died in the war ten years ago, leaving only the two of us to rely on each other. The booklet also contained details about the customs and lore of Cangyue Liu Su. I spent the entire afternoon internalizing the information.

I never imagined that I, possessing the Demon Devouring Body, could now cast Fireball spells thanks to equipment assistance. This filled me with ecstatic joy. I had always been deeply fascinated by the mysterious magic of spellcasters. Although at this moment I could only manage the most rudimentary Fireball, I was already impatient to test it out in the Zombie Cave.

The Biji Mining Area was located northeast of Biji Metropolis, near the entrance to the Snake Valley. Legend claimed the Biji Mining Area existed long before the First Religious Crusade, over three thousand years ago. Back then, this area had served as a prison where the once supreme and brutal Orcs incarcerated human resistance fighters. During that dark period in human history, the Orcs forced the humans to excavate the mines, resulting in countless individuals literally working themselves to death within the area, which is why the mine later accumulated a massive amount of lingering spiritual resentment from the undead, turning it into a terrifying place overrun by undead zombies.

Of course, this was only relative to ordinary people. For Rangers, the Biji Mining Area was an excellent training ground. The mutated or undead creatures there, such as Warriors, Maggots, and Zombies, provided ideal practice targets. For young, newly emerged Rangers, the Biji Mining Area was a natural treasure trove, as they could dig up vast quantities of high-purity ore. On the martial-focused Mafa Continent, the demand for iron, copper, gold, and silver was astonishingly high, making ore, the raw material, a perpetually sought-after commodity. Simply put, as long as you weren't lazy and carried a pickaxe, spending a day digging in the mining area would yield considerable returns.

When Yan Luo and I entered the massive, shadowed wooden gate, we were met with a dimly lit, grayish world, filled with the clamor of intense labor. Over a hundred people in simple cloth outfits were working in the mine, huddled against the walls, continuously digging and hammering—both men and women. The air vibrated with the constant clink-clank of tools, and everyone was drenched in sweat. A dozen or so people, perhaps Taoists, stood behind lines of skeletons that idly hovered behind their masters, their empty eye sockets occasionally scanning the surroundings, evoking a chilling sensation. Occasionally, a Zombie or Maggot would scuttle out from a corner, only to be instantly dismembered by the practitioners.

Hoo, it was lively indeed. The scene reminded me of the leveling and mining armies from the modern age. I recalled a silly rhyme popular back then: Hoeing sun at noon, mining is hard work. Digging only copper, purity only five. It was clear that most of them were young, newly debuted Rangers. Aside from the bustling mining contingent, there were also quite a few who were here to train, most dressed as mid-level Rangers with only a light armor set and a weapon as their entire worldly possession.

After entering the mine, Yan Luo and I wasted no time, heading straight toward the deeper passageways. Along the path, we encountered many other teams, mostly groups of ten, with the smallest having five members. In contrast, Yan Luo and I seemed rather solitary. Occasionally, we’d run into Zombies or Maggots along the way. These monsters looked identical to those seen in Legend. However, Yan Luo and I never got a chance to strike; the passing Rangers easily obliterated the creatures. This area, near the entrance, didn't have many mutated undead like Maggots or Zombies, making it relatively safe for average novice Rangers to mine here.

The ground was still covered with dilapidated, ancient mine cart tracks. Piles of timber supports were scattered near the corners of the walls. Every so often, we could spot a patch of brilliant, shining gold—a vein of ore. Wherever such a spot appeared, it was instantly surrounded by a dense throng of miners, each wildly enthusiastic, furiously swinging their pickaxes to excavate as much ore as possible. Occasionally, bursts of ecstatic cheers or groans of complaint could be heard.

“Roar! Gold ore! I’m rich, hahahaha!”

“No way! I’ve mined for a whole morning and only got a dozen pieces of copper.”

“Stop complaining. I’ve only dug up five so far.”

“Wow, that’ll sell for a lot of money! Finally, I can afford a decent weapon.”

“Sigh, I don’t know how long it will take me to get an Eight Desolations Blade.”

........................

Truly a group easily satisfied. I surveyed the cluster of teenagers arguing animatedly, feeling a strange, inexplicable sense of melancholy.

“What’s wrong?” Yan Luo noticed my strange expression, but seeing the excitement of those young Rangers, she, too, felt a wave of emotion. “Hehe, it brings back memories.”

“Memories?” I was curious. “Did you mine back in the day?”

“Of course,” Yan Luo replied. “Don’t tell me you never had to?”

“Well, you actually hit the nail on the head there.”

“It seems you’ve been lucky,” Yan Luo observed. “You never seem to have worried about money.”

“Hehe.” I could only manage an awkward smile. Unlike most Rangers, ever since leaving home, I’d had Long Xin looking after me like a strict housekeeper. She managed everything, food and necessities—I never had to worry about anything. Furthermore, thanks to the Hundred Battles Blade, I didn't heavily rely on equipment and never planned on buying high-tier gear, so I had no concept of sound financial management.

The luckiest break, of course, was the trip to the First-Line Sky, which instantly yielded me a surplus of equipment, allowing me to skip the crucial initial accumulation phase that most Rangers endured. However, because of that, I missed out on that precious, hard-won experience—I wondered if that counted as a loss.

Following the ancient mining tracks, we proceeded eastward through the mining zone, passing through a low wooden door, and entered the first level of the mining area.

Rumble! Rumble! A series of sharp, ear-piercing whistles mixed with coarse shouts created an auditory assault, accompanied by flashing electrical arcs and dancing flames—the characteristic sound and visual effects of Mages’ Lightning and Fireball spells. A dense swarm of Zombies and Maggots coated nearly every corner of the chamber. The Rangers positioned near the entrance, though belonging to different guilds or teams, had spontaneously formed a solid defensive line, holding the corner closest to the entry. Warriors took the front, wielding their Eight Desolations or Ling Feng Blades, launching fierce assaults against the encroaching Zombies. The Mages and Taoists sheltered behind them were not idle; Soul Fire Talismans, Fireballs, and Lightning Bolts rained down like snowflakes upon the dense undead horde. The Taoists, besides attacking with Soul Fire Talismans, kept a close watch on the Warriors holding the front line. Gentle white lights invariably enveloped the Warriors at the most critical moments—these were Healing spells, the most potent support skills available to mid-level Taoists.

“Quick, give me more healing!” shouted a Warrior in light armor stationed at the front.

“Alright, you ask for too much drama,” a female Taoist, no older than sixteen, swiftly cast a Healing spell.

“Over there, Second Group, hold the line!” A young Taoist, looking about twenty-three or twenty-four, clearly the group’s commander, gave the order.

“Hehe, lively scene!” The situation reminded me of the time I trained alongside Long Xin and the others. Honestly, with my current strength, annihilating the entire swarm of Zombies on the field would be child's play. However, as Lan Xing, the Mage, I couldn't unsheathe my Hundred Battles Blade. But even so, I felt an irrepressible excitement and urge.

“Roar! Watch my Fireball!” With a casual flick of my wrist, the equipped magic items instantly activated their strange effects. A fist-sized fireball shot into the dense mass of Zombies. As for which specific Zombie it hit, I couldn't possibly tell, as the swarm was far too dense. The incessant flurry of magical light and shadow completely obscured the creatures trapped within.

Yan Luo, in turn, methodically launched sharp Soul Fire Talismans, occasionally taking a moment to cast a gentle Healing spell onto the Warriors guarding the front.

“Hehe, you actually have some Taoist potential,” I commented.

“Naturally. You aren’t doing badly yourself.”

Currently, to avoid exposing our identities, Yan Luo and I joined the vigorous leveling army, utilizing the most rudimentary magic or Soul Fire Talismans.

Using the Fireball spell was simple. Because I wore the Fire Ring, I didn't need to recite any complex incantations; just shouting “Fireball!” or thinking it was enough.

Yan Luo didn't even bother with verbal incantations; her protective amulets struck the monsters like incredibly sharp flying knives.

A wide expanse was swiftly cleared before our eyes.