Chapter 181: Joining the Alliance
Chapter 181: Joining the Alliance
The copper coins circulating in Blackwater City had exactly the same appearance as the giant copper coins that Gao Jing had seen before.
Only the size was one-tenth of the latter’s.
Gao Jing felt it was super super cheap, and when he got the wood carving, he almost laughed out loud.
Like the idol he once seized in the goblin camp, this wood carving also contained rich Power of Faith, and as soon as he touched it, it flowed into his body automatically, constantly absorbed by the Bronze Anchor.
To avoid trouble, Gao Jing immediately shoved the wood carving into his backpack.
Otherwise, once the Power of Faith was drained clean, it would destroy itself, and that would be too eye-catching.
Ling Ling’s eyes sparkled: “Your travel bag is really nice.”
She meant Gao Jing’s backpack.
Although he had a huge Storage Space, Gao Jing always carried a backpack when going out.
It was for everyday disguise purposes.
He wasn’t short on money, so the backpack he bought in the Primary World was a big-brand product, excellent in design and quality.
That was why it drew the thieves’ greed earlier.
Gao Jing lifted the backpack and smiled: “If you like it, I’ll give you one next time.”
Without the guidance of this archer girl, he wouldn’t even know this underground city existed.
And he would have missed the chance to buy the wood carving.
To gather Power of Faith, Gao Jing spent tons of money in the Primary World, hundreds and thousands gone.
For her, giving one backpack or even a hundred would be no loss!
Ling Ling immediately beamed with joy: “Thank you!”
She really liked Gao Jing’s travel bag but hadn’t dared to ask about it earlier.
Now getting one for free made her super happy.
“No big deal.”
Gao Jing waved his hand and continued scouting the street stalls.
He looked through them one by one, checking for more similar items.
And he actually found two more!
As usual, he let Ling Ling handle the haggling, and both wood carvings were bought.
Plus, Gao Jing learned from one stall owner that this wood carving was called Guru Idol, and it was an idol of the demon god used by Gru Goblins for daily worship and sacrifices!
Abyss Dweller Adventurers often got such wood idol carvings when destroying goblin tribes or camps.
As loot, it was worth very little and almost nobody wanted it.
Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been sold to Gao Jing so cheaply.
Gao Jing stuffed all three wood carvings into his backpack, making it bulge out.
Besides Guru Idols, Gao Jing found many interesting things at the stalls.
But he didn’t buy any.
The copper coins for the idols were paid by the girl, and since he knew the place now, he could come back later to shop alone.
It wasn’t a necessity.
Even though Ling Ling was very willing to lend money.
Gao Jing asked her: “Can the copper coins used here be exchanged for giant copper coins?”
The answer was yes, of course.
The exchange rate was 1:1000; one big copper coin could be swapped for 1000 small copper coins.
Such exchange service was provided in the three alliances.
After browsing the stalls, Gao Jing followed Ling Ling to the Alliance Branch of the Yuancheng Alliance in Blackwater City.
That was the tallest building, a landmark.
This five-story building, over ten meters high, not only stood tallest in the Middle District but also had much finer craftsmanship than the houses around it.
The building looked solid and square, with a grand main door leading to a huge hall.
Gao Jing guessed it covered four to five hundred square meters.
A big chandelier hung from the ceiling, with twenty-four arms each holding a candle.
The bright candlelight made the entire hall clear as day.
On the left side of the hall, there were sofas and tea tables, with a few people chatting there.
But more gathered in front of the notice board on the right.
They formed small groups or stood alone, studying the wooden plaques hung on the board.
And there were five such notice boards!
“Those are all task plaques,” Ling Ling explained to Gao Jing. “If you want a task, you can go there.”
Gao Jing noticed the people around the notice boards were very different from the ordinary Abyss Dwellers outside, in both clothes and aura.
They were clearly professionals or Superhumans, like fighters, archers, or Scouts.
Gao Jing even spotted one guy in a robe with a wooden staff.
He looked like a Shaman!
Gao Jing didn’t rush over to look. Instead, he followed Ling Ling to the counter at the far end of the hall.
“Uncle Zhu,” Ling Ling said sweetly to the middle-aged man behind the counter. “I’ve brought a friend to join the alliance!”
“Ling Ling!”
Just then, a group of people approached.
A young man in leather armor exclaimed with surprise: “We finally found you! Where have you been these past days? Everyone was worried about you!”
There was a hint of clingy complaint in his tone.
Ling Ling looked shocked and forced a smile: “Thanks, I’m fine.”
The leather-armored man, as if ignoring her mood, went on: “Ling Ling, we just picked up a task to hunt stone-nest worms, and we need you as our archer!”
The archer companion behind him looked awkward instantly.
Ling Ling refused gently: “I’m afraid I don’t have time for your task.”
The leather-armored man frowned and finally noticed Gao Jing beside her.
His face turned grim.
Gao Jing was taller, handsomer, and looked richer than him.
Male instinct made this leather-armored man sense a big threat from Gao Jing!
“Cough cough!”
The middle-aged man behind the counter coughed. “Ling Ling, what level is your friend?”
To join the Three Thousand Five Hundred Seventy-Seven Yuancheng Alliance, strength level was a hard rule.
Of course, unless one had power or wealth.
Ling Ling glanced at Gao Jing—he had to answer this himself.
Gao Jing didn’t waste time. He raised his right arm and activated his Totemic Power, instantly materializing a Flaming Longblade!
A Totem Combat Art!
Shouts of amazement erupted around him instantly.
Being able to use a Totem Combat Art meant one must be an Advanced-rank Totem Warrior or above.
Although in the alliance, Advanced-rank Totem Warriors weren’t super rare.
But Gao Jing had such strength at his young age, so his tall talent was clear!
After all, in Totem combat training, Abyss Dwellers were naturally weaker than Giants.
Everyone’s gaze toward Gao Jing changed at once.
The leather-armored man, who had just seen Gao Jing as a big threat, now looked deathly pale!
He had passed Body Tempering and Bone Refining, and was one step from Igniting Bloodline, thinking he had good talent.
Compared to Gao Jing, he seemed nothing!
While others weren’t watching, he slipped away quietly, not even calling his companions.
He was lucky he hadn’t been rude to Gao Jing earlier.
Otherwise, he might not have escaped.
“Advanced-rank Totem Warrior!”
The middle-aged man chuckled: “Welcome to the Yuancheng Alliance. I’ll help you fill out the form.”
This kind of welcome was truly rare.
The joining process was simple. Gao Jing told him his name, age, and home Abyss City.
Then, on a beast-hide form, he pressed his right thumbprint using beast blood.
This fingerprint served as ID proof.
Lastly, the middle-aged man registered his identity and gave Gao Jing an alliance badge.
With this third-level badge, he could use all services provided by the alliance in any underground city or Abyss City with an Alliance Branch, based on matching permissions!
Also, a little booklet with rules for the Three Thousand Five Hundred Seventy-Seven Yuancheng Alliance members.
Gao Jing planned to read it slowly later.
He first took one big copper coin from his backpack and swapped it for 1000 small copper coins.
He paid back the money he borrowed from the girl.
Then, guided by Ling Ling, he toured this Alliance Branch building.
First floor: hall. Second floor: tavern. Third floor: inn. Fourth floor: meeting hall. Features were quite complete.
But the top fifth floor—neither Gao Jing nor Ling Ling could go up there.
After a walk around, Gao Jing checked the time. It was about right, so he said goodbye to Ling Ling.
“Don’t walk me out,” Gao Jing told this archer girl. “I remember the way back. I’ll come again tomorrow.”
He worried that staying away too long, if Shan Tai returned and couldn’t find him, it might cause panic.
But what Gao Jing never expected was that just as he stepped out of the Alliance Branch main door, a group of heavily armed fighters rushed over fiercely.
“It’s him!”