Inside the Mongolian tent, people came and went, dressed in various styles and wielding all sorts of weapons. Lin Feng glanced around and saw at least a few thousand people.
Yet even so, it didn’t feel overly crowded or noisy; rather, it was orderly and organized.
The tent spanned five hectares and was primarily divided into four areas, occupying the eastern, western, northern, and southern positions. These were: the Task Zone, the Supply Zone, the Healing Zone, and the Rest Zone.
At the very center, there was a three-meter-diameter, irregularly shaped Space Gate, flickering as if space itself was twisting, with a touch of an ethereal white glow. People entered and exited frequently.
Lin Feng gazed at this Space Gate, knowing that in 21 years, this gate would be destroyed, and countless Demon Beasts would flood out.
The warriors entering the Space Gate were quite similar, mostly forming adventure teams of five or seven people.
The team members each performed their duties, well-dressed, energized, and fully equipped.
Those who emerged from the gate, however, were like a different picture: either filled with joy or dejected, weathered by hardship.
Many were covered in blood, missing limbs, moaning and screaming in pain, and some couldn’t even open their mouths, wrapped in white cloth and carried out by teammates. Scenes like these were not uncommon.
"Kid, scared stiff, aren’t you?"
"Better go back and study hard first. You’re too raw to enter the Otherworld!"
Quite a few warriors looked at Lin Feng, speaking with a teasing manner.
Despite the harsh jests and taunts, there was a hint of persuasion in their words.
As this was Space Gate No. 1, in order to prevent Advanced Warriors from snatching away Demon Spirits from Low-level Warriors, it was mandated that only warriors below the Second Grade Realm could enter here.
Reasonably speaking, among the 46 Space Gates in Jiang City, Space Gate No. 1 was the least dangerous.
But those daring to enter the Otherworld were at least eighteen years old and First Grade Martial Artists. Someone as young as Lin Feng was extremely rare. If they appeared, they were often children of powerful families or large corporations, accompanied by bodyguards and protectors.
In their view, Lin Feng was overestimating his abilities, and they hoped the bloody reality would drive him back.
What none of the warriors expected was that Lin Feng stood his ground without any reaction.
What they didn’t know was that, as a mercenary who had roamed the Otherworld for many years, the Otherworld was practically Lin Feng’s second home. He had seen and experienced far more gruesome scenes, which mattered little to him.
As for death, if a warrior feared death, then why enter the Otherworld at all?
Finding a good job, becoming a white-collar worker, and starting a family would be safer and happier.
"A Level 3 Alloy Dagger, a Level 3 Alloy War Bow, thirty Level 2 Alloy Arrows, and twenty Level 3 Alloy Arrows."
Lin Feng first went to the Supply Zone to equip himself with weapons.
A Level 3 Alloy Dagger cost 60,000 new coins; a Level 3 Alloy War Bow, 240,000; a Level 2 Alloy Arrow, 1,000; and a Level 3 Alloy Arrow, 10,000, totaling 530,000, and a cheap quiver was given for free.
The weapons in the Equipment Zone were varied and numerous, but there were no thermal weapons.
For some reason, powerful thermal weapons lost their efficacy in the Otherworld, and basic firearms had limited impact on Demon Beasts. To prevent warriors from becoming overly reliant, firearms were prohibited in the Otherworld.
Lin Feng placed the dagger close to his chest, stored the arrows in the quiver slung over his back, and held onto the Level 3 Alloy War Bow, which felt comfortable in his hand. The Level 3 Alloy War Bow was completely black, even the bowstring, with a modern design that was simple and elegant, weighing around 50 pounds. Paired with the same material arrows, it could pierce a three-centimeter thick steel plate from a thousand meters away.
An archer was precisely Lin Feng’s profession in his previous life.
The reason Lin Feng chose to become an archer was simple: Swordsmanship, Bladesmanship, and Spear Techniques came in many varieties, all requiring guidance from famous masters, which Lin Feng couldn’t afford. Only archery didn’t require tuition, relying instead on fundamentals. Persistent, diligent practice could achieve something.
Having obtained weapons, Lin Feng went to the Task Area. On the wall of the task hall was a giant screen displaying various tasks, ranging from a few hundred new coins to tens of millions.
Lin Feng skimmed through it, collected useful information, and then began seeking a team.
The warriors entering the Otherworld mostly formed adventure teams of five.
And adventure teams were also divided into two types.
The first type was adventure teams established by martial arts halls, clubs, or college students themselves.
These teams were generally safer, with a high degree of cooperation, but were not easy to join unless they happened to need more people and had high requirements for new members.
The second type, like Lin Feng, had no fixed team, forming temporary adventure teams.
These teams had never worked together, were unfamiliar with each other’s combat strengths and skills, and lacked team spirit. If faced with a life-threatening situation, abandoning a teammate to flee was possible, and conflicts or disputes over monsters were commonplace.
"The Violent Adventure Team is recruiting, currently has five members, needs one First Grade Warrior with rich combat experience and at least one Attack Martial Skill. Joining now, target: Second Grade Gale Beast."
"Mad Blade Martial Arts Hall’s affiliated adventure team, qualified with excellent benefits and security! They need a scouting Thief skilled in Wind Series Cultivation Technique, fast, target: find Demon Beast cubs!"
"Recruiting Archers, free bow and arrow supply, requires a Basic-Level Archer Certificate, must be quick and accurate!"
Adventure teams recruiting were like a job fair.
Professional teams had dedicated spots, tables, chairs, and posters displaying team members’ strengths, skills, history, achievements, and conditions.
Amateur ones had nothing, recruiting teammates by shouting loudly.
Among the adventurers of Space Gate No. 1, aside from a third being middle-aged, almost all were young people in their twenties, with many university students in school uniforms.
Lin Feng originally intended to casually join an adventure team. Although his equipment looked good, unfortunately, no one found him appealing.
Lin Feng didn’t want to reveal his identity. Upon thinking it over, he figured going solo wasn’t bad either.
Joining an adventure team provided safety and security but sacrificed freedom. From his experience, he would gain more alone.
"That archer’s going solo?"
"The winds, how bleak and chilling; the brave warrior goes and never returns."
"Just another idiot looking for death; there’s one of these fools every day."
In the midst of surprised conversations, Lin Feng passed the inspection and proceeded towards the Space Gate.
Amidst the whirl of dizziness, with a faint earthy aroma in the air, the first thing Lin Feng saw was a high wall made of mountain stone.
On the wall were engraved four large red characters: "For Humanity."
Beneath these characters were countless cards densely packed.
These cards had photos, names, and ID numbers, evidently the identity information card of each individual.
"This is the legendary Card Wall; it’s frightening to look at!"
"Yeah, I can’t understand why place the cards here. The first time I saw it, I nearly wet myself."
"This is really unlucky; stop looking, stop looking."
Many people were discussing, grumbling at the same time.
It’s hard to imagine that in the Otherworld, the first sight isn’t a wondrous new world but a wall full of countless white cards.
And under the Card Wall, there were also many banknotes and offerings.
Many who saw this scene felt a cold wave rise from their hearts, spreading throughout their bodies, raising goosebumps and making their legs weak. Some were even completely stunned.
These cards remained on the wall for a single reason: their owners had died, perished in this region of the Otherworld.
Whether for commemoration or some other purpose, their identity cards were permanently left on this wall.
"Losers, go back and drink milk."
Many obviously first-time young adventurers were so frightened by the Card Wall that they retreated back through the Space Gate, abandoning their plans for adventure, leading their team leaders to curse them out.
Other teams who saw this, accustomed to it, chuckled a bit before heading towards the forest not far away. Lin Feng was no exception, standing out as unusual with his war bow on his back, threading his way alone among various teams.