Riverwood Town was a bustling hub for newly minted adventurers, excitement permeated the air like a palpable energy.
The town bustled with eager players walking through the cobblestone streets and lively marketplaces. Within the marketplaces, it was a common sight to see wooden signs adorned with intricate carvings that marked the entrances to shops and guild halls, inviting exploration and discovery.
To add to the lively atmosphere, NPCs, indistinguishable from their human counterparts, roamed the streets, offering quests and guidance to the fledgling adventurers.
Most of the players clad in basic armor and wielding simple weapons would have their eyes wide with wonder as they took in the sights and sounds of this virtual world.
Meanwhile, deep in the center of Riverwood Town was the town square, where groups of players gathered, forming impromptu parties and exchanging tips and strategies for their next quests.
"Looking for a party of 5 to kill some Hobgoblins! Must be at least level 2!"
"Our newly formed adventure team, KillingGods, is looking for people to join. No level requirement!"
"Recruiting level 3 and above players for the Blazing Depth Dungeon!"
Different types of players shouting for recruitment or looking to be recruited could be heard from all angles, and Xu Feng was not an exception to this as he was forced to listen to their shoutings.
'These players really got a lot of time in their hands. Recruiting in public is just a waste of time and only a few would be lucky enough to recruit actual good players.' Xu Feng thought, finding these players in the town square ridiculous.
If there were indeed pros or skilled players, then they wouldn't be frantically looking for a party or an adventure team here. Instead, they would improve their image and hope the famous guilds would take notice of them.
Although the game had just started, the starter town offered many features.
From the blacksmith forging weapons to the innkeeper serving hearty meals, players could also go to the Town Hall to establish their own guild.
After all, surrounding the town were dense forests filled with monsters and hidden treasures, beckoning players to venture forth and test their mettle against the dangers that lurked within.
To encourage players actively, letting them believe they have the freedom to do whatever they want was the main point of a starter town.
Additionally, there are many tips and guides available through the channel of "NPCs" to assist clueless players.
Occasionally, there would be one or two NPCs walking toward Xu Feng directly and requesting him to do some quests.
In response, Xu Feng would put on his usual gentle smile and politely reject them, stating that he was working on a quest already. Of course, that was a big fat lie, and he had not accepted a quest at all.
'I'm already being inflicted with a huge debuff, so what's the point of doing your quest when you won't give me experience points in return.' Xu Feng wanted to roll his eyes when these types of NPCs approached him.
Unlike most games that have experience points granted to players upon completion of a quest, there are quests in the Divine World that don't reward them.
And most of the quests in the starter town wouldn't reward experience points to maintain balance and prevent others from hoarding the quests.
Thus, Xu Feng had zero interest in doing the quest, even if their request was to kill a few mobs.
After all, besides him, other players didn't have a negative 99 percent experience gained and would do those quests.
Taking a deep breath and ignoring the crowds, Xu Feng slowly made his way toward the Town Hall.
As Xu Feng arrived and stepped inside the Town Hall, he was greeted by sturdy oak walls adorned with simple yet elegant tapestries depicting scenes of local history and lore.
The interior of the town hall could be said to exude a sense of modest grandeur. The floors were made of polished stone, worn smooth by the countless footsteps of visitors and officials alike.
Large windows allowed ample natural light to filter into the space, casting a warm glow over the room. A simple chandelier hung from the ceiling, providing additional illumination when needed.
A few potted plants added a touch of greenery to the room, while maps and charts displayed on the walls offered information about the town's layout and surrounding areas.
And near the entrance, a receptionist sat behind a small wooden desk, her demeanor professional yet friendly as she greeted visitors and directed them to the appropriate areas of the town hall.
With a warm smile, she welcomed players to the town and offered assistance with any inquiries they might have.
"Hello, what can I help you with today, adventurer?" Upon noticing Xu Feng walking toward her, the receptionist smiled and asked gently.
Not beating around the bushes, Xu Feng directly responded, "Hi, I want to exchange a few rare herbs for money, and I wish to conduct the trade in a private room."
The receptionist, initially stunned by his request, quickly regained her composure.
"Adventurer, are you sure you want a private room to conduct the trade?" She asked, somewhat in a daze. "If the herbs that you mentioned are indeed rare, then there would be no problem. But if it isn't, then there's a fee you must pay for such mobilization."
To summarize, the receptionist was trying to kindly warn Xu Feng of the consequences and to reconsider his decision.
After all, the current stream of players could barely get an upgrade in their gears, much less have rare herbs that the town might find valuable. Hence, it wasn't the receptionist trying to look down on Xu Feng, but it was the reality of the situation.
"You may rest assured, receptionist." Xu Feng smiled and proceeded to retrieve one of the herbs that he had ransacked in the Miracle Herb Garden. He discreetly showed it to her, making sure no one else besides her would see it.
THUD!
The receptionist's palm slammed on the wooden desk and her eyes widened in shock.
She swallowed a mouthful of saliva nervously and said, "Wait here for a while, adventurer. I will get someone specialized in herbs."
