The four sat together. Ruo Li still wore her characteristic faint smile, while Black Wind maintained his usual stern expression. Jiang Chen was puzzled—how did these two end up together?
Jiang Chen had rarely seen Black Phoenix smile; that woman seemed to have a perpetually sour expression.
Getting to her feet, Ruo Li said with a smile, "You’re here."
Ruo Li poured two glasses of wine and placed them in front of Jiang Chen.
"How could I trouble you, Senior, to pour wine?"
"Oh, of course, your senior has a favor to ask. You’ve become quite famous lately. The whole world knows you killed the Demon King and avenged the Divine Envoys."
"Let’s get down to business. Who are we dealing with?"
Ruo Li replied, "The Mei Zone’s Union with the Wurei Zone, at the Leilun Magnetic Rift. Kill the Demon King inside to complete your First-stage assignment."
Jiang Chen nodded.
The First-stage Hell-level difficulty task was to kill a Demon King; this was the same for any profession. Of course, the rewards were quite generous: a two hundred point Four-dimensional attribute bonus. A simple assignment, on the other hand, was extremely easy: kill a certain number of specified monsters, and you would complete your First-stage. To reach greater heights and travel farther, Hell-level difficulty offered the best rewards.
Ruo Li asked, "What Level are you now?"
"Level 45."
The two of them were shocked. Level 45?
Ruo Li exclaimed, "I remember you were only Level 31 back then! How many days has it been, and you’re already Level 45? How did you level up so fast?"
To gain thirteen Levels in just a few days—was this leveling speed even plausible?
Jiang Chen said with a smile, "I’m still far behind you two!"
Ruo Li chuckled. "Junior Brother, how about I tag along with you from now on? You level up so quickly; what do you say about taking your big sister along to gain Levels in the future?"
Jiang Chen drank his wine, staying silent.
That would be like dragging dead weight around, and I’d have to share experience points—how could that work?Having one Priest is enough; I don’t need Ruo Li.
Ruo Li sighed. "I knew you wouldn’t agree. Once you have someone new, you forget your old flame."
Black Phoenix shot her a look. Is this woman pretending I’m not here?
Changing the topic, Black Phoenix asked, "Jiang Chen, I heard you’re planning to become a Divine Envoy?"
"I don’t have such plans right now. But I’d like to know if there’s such a thing as an Idle Divine Envoy—you know, one with no duties but still gets 99% damage immunity."
Black Phoenix shook her head. "No such thing."
"Then forget it. Being a Divine Envoy is no big deal."
"You level up so quickly; it would be a waste for you to become a Divine Envoy. You have a long road ahead, and being a Divine Envoy would only bind you. It might seem glamorous, but it would seriously hinder your path of improvement. If you became a Divine Envoy, you wouldn’t be eligible to participate in the World War."
"The participants are all Heroes."
Drinking his wine, Jiang Chen recalled that he had initially entertained the idea. After all, 99% damage immunity was impressive. But after gaining new Skills, the appeal had faded.
So what if one is a Divine Envoy? They still die by my sword.
Ruo Li said with a laugh, "Jiang Chen, Black Phoenix hopes you’ll join the Black Dragon Legion. She’s offering you the position of deputy commander. Would you consider it?"
"No need to consider. I’ve already joined the Dark Legion."
"Then, never mind."
The atmosphere turned awkward for a moment. Angelina was sitting aside, pouring wine. Jiang Chen didn’t quite understand why this topic had been brought up.
If I were to establish a Legion, it would have to be my own, Jiang Chen thought. But I have no such intentions at the moment.What’s the use of being a deputy commander? It wouldn’t be mine, after all.
Alice had once said that if Jiang Chen wanted to establish a Legion, she would cede the position of Legion commander to him, allowing him to demonstrate his strength. The Dark Legion had only seven members: Alice’s group of five, plus Jiang Chen and Angelina. Alice had established the Legion to preserve a friendship, not for rivalry. Otherwise, the Dark Legion wouldn’t have so few members.
Black Phoenix asked, "You have no intention of establishing a Legion?"
"Not right now. Who knows about the future? Besides, I still need to focus on leveling up; I don’t have time to manage a Legion."
"Why not have someone manage it for you? You wouldn’t need to handle everything personally. That’s what Black Dragon does; he leads a group to upgrade their Levels, and the Legion operates like a company."
Jiang Chen shook his head. "No, thanks. Leveling up with just the two of us is good enough for me."
Even if I were to establish a Legion, anyone who joined would have to be an expert capable of holding their own. Too many people would be useless; they’d just be a burden.
Black Phoenix stood up. "Fine. Tomorrow, I’ll help Ruo Li with her First-stage assignment. Just tell us what you need; don’t hold back."
"There’s no need to be so formal. Senior Ruo Li is my friend; I won’t just stand by and do nothing."
Ruo Li chuckled. "Just friends? As simple as that? No... deeper interaction?"
Seriously? Jiang Chen thought, exasperated. Flirting with someone else right in front of her husband. Is that really okay? This woman...
Black Phoenix and Ruo Li left together.
Angelina suggested, "Why not just snatch Ruo Li away from him?"
Other women, maybe, but not Ruo Li,
Jiang Chen and Angelina returned to the academy.
"Jiang Chen, could we talk for a bit?"
Jiang Chen turned around and was a little surprised to see who had called him. It was Hanna, with whom he’d had a minor conflict before.
Jiang Chen said with a smile, "What is there for us to talk about?"
"Of course, there is. It’s about the Dark Legion."
"What does this have to do with the Dark Legion?"
Hanna glanced at Angelina. Jiang Chen understood her implication and said bluntly, "Just say what you need to. I have to get back and rest."
"Alright. Black Dragon recently called a meeting that all the Legion commanders of Shenlong Academy attended. His goal is simple: to absorb all other Legions into his own."
So that’s what this is about, Jiang Chen realized. Ruo Li had just been asking for his opinion and inviting him to join the Black Dragon Legion. Now Hanna was approaching him with the same underlying purpose.
"I’m not going to join your Legion," Jiang Chen stated, perhaps misunderstanding her.
"I’m not asking you to join my Legion," Hanna clarified. "Instead, I want you to help stop Black Dragon. We’re all students from Shenlong Academy. I’m very clear about Black Dragon’s aim: he wants to unite and absorb all other Legions, making his the sole, unrivaled power. In the future, Shenlong Academy would only have the Black Dragon Legion, no others."
Jiang Chen laughed. "And what does that have to do with me?"
This woman is actually pleading with me, he thought.
"Of course, it does! Don’t forget, you’re also a member of a Legion. Since Black Dragon wants to recruit everyone, he won’t spare your sister Alice’s Dark Legion either."
Jiang Chen remained silent.
Jiang Chen inquired, "With all your Legions combined—dozens of them—can’t you withstand Black Dragon?"
"We could, but we’re missing a truly powerful individual to lead. Black Dragon is terrifying—far more so than Black Phoenix. And he’s about to complete his Second-stage advancement. Once he does, his dominance will be an ironclad fact."
"The Dean doesn’t care?"
"He won’t interfere in these matters. I hope you understand: we can’t escape this, and neither can the Dark Legion. Helping us means helping your sister Alice."
"Sorry, I refuse."
"Don’t you want to stop him? What if Black Dragon targets the Dark Legion next?"
"If he makes a move against them, I’ll naturally intervene."
Jiang Chen left with Angelina.
Jiang Chen had no reason to help Hanna. Whether her story was true or false, he had no obligation to get involved. Of course, if it concerned the Dark Legion, he would definitely take action. The Dark Legion only had seven members, and Jiang Chen didn’t want his sister Alice getting caught up in this.