Chapter 22: Teaming Up with NPCs (Vote for Recommendation!)

Hidden plot?

The other three players were first taken aback upon hearing Demacia's words, then became joyful:

"Really?"

"Bro, are you sure?"

Demacia slapped his chest and boasted:

"Of course! I've been playing games for so many years, I've seen too many of these plot mechanisms!"

"But didn't Brother Mu say 'Elf Kingdom' can't be measured with common sense..."

Someone whispered.

Demacia paused.

He coughed awkwardly and then waved his hand somewhat sheepishly:

"Well, well! How can we know without trying?"

After he finished speaking, he excitedly glanced at the Oak Guardian who was silently waiting for their answer and then instructed his teammates:

"I'll handle the negotiations. You guys just follow my lead, don't say a word! If there are any benefits, we'll split them evenly later!"

The other three players nodded and quieted down.

They still trusted Demacia quite a bit; although the guy was a joker, he was also very loyal.

"Have you all finished discussing?"

At this moment, Berserker's deep voice also came from above.

Demacia's eyes darted around, and then he chuckled gleefully.

He tried to look innocuous and trustworthy in order to gain the Oak Guardian's favor, but for some reason, his ordinarily handsome Elf appearance, combined with Demacia's demeanor, just came across like a goofball.

"Cough, cough, hello! We have made our decision. Uh... may I ask, are you the Oak Guardian?"

Demacia imitated the opponent by sketching a tree symbol across his chest.

But the motion was quite awkward, making it look rather comical.

Berserker fell silent for a moment, then answered:

"Yes, I am a Silver Oak Guardian, my name is Berserker. In the name of the Mother Goddess, I seek the divine artifact."

"Oh my! Silver? How high-level is that?"

"Berserker? B... Uncle B?"

"Come to think of it, he does kind of look like..."

After hearing the Oak Guardian's answer, the other players couldn't help but mutter quietly to themselves.

Demacia turned around and glared at them, making a "shush" gesture, then turned back to face Berserker, rubbing his hands together and cheerfully saying:

"So you are Lord Berserker, cough cough... uh... my apologies... About the divine object you mentioned, could it be this?"

Saying this, he took out a pale green crystal that they had just found in the Goblin's ashes.

The Oak Guardian's eyes flashed, and he nodded:

"That's correct."

It really is it!

A thought flashed through Demacia's mind.

He considered for a moment, then carefully confirmed again:

"You said... you could fulfill one appropriate request for us?"

Berserker glanced at him, nodded, and said meaningfully:

"Yes, appropriate."

He emphasized the word 'appropriate.'

Having been looked at by the Oak Guardian, in an instant, Demacia felt as if his thoughts were completely transparent.

He shuddered, cleared his throat a few times, and quashed the big greedy thoughts that had just emerged.

Then he hesitated for a moment and finally gritted his teeth and asked:

"Could you... tell us what this is?"

He was betting, betting that this unknown crystal was the key to unlocking some sort of plotline!

Seeing the attitude of the Oak Guardian, it seemed impossible for them to keep the divine object.

In that case, if this really was a hidden plot, then it must be related to the information about this artifact!

After hearing what Demacia said, Berserker was silent for a moment, then asked:

"Is this your request?"

Hearing his words, Demacia was revitalized.

There's a chance!

The fact that the conversation could continue meant that he had chosen the right direction!

His excitement grew.

The other players also realized this, and they exchanged glances, seeing a glint of anticipation in each other's eyes.

They all nodded together, and then in unison declared:

"Yes! Please tell us the origin of this divine artifact!"

Upon hearing the players' response, the giant Oak Guardian extended his hand to Demacia.

Demacia was initially stunned, then quickly figured it out. He took out the crystal and placed it in Berserker's massive hand.

After retrieving the artifact, Berserker once more sketched a tree symbol across his chest, then fervently said:

"This is a Divine Blood Crystal left by the Mother Goddess a thousand years after the divine war, it helps Her to recover strength more quickly."

Is this for the Goddess to regain her strength?

The players were shaken after hearing this.

And then, they suddenly thought of the main storyline of 'Elf Kingdom' —

Assist the ancient god Eve Yoctrahill to regain her strength and rejuvenate the Elf Clan!

Could it be... they really stumbled upon a hidden quest?

Their hearts raced with excitement, and they felt a flutter of anticipation.

Having said that, Berserker glanced at a few players, a flicker of appreciation flashing through his profound eyes:

"Chosen Ones, thank you for your help. Your rectitude and bravery are commendable. I will head to the Natural Temple and report the retrieval of the divine object to Mother Goddess, and also convey your meritorious deeds to her. Would you be willing to accompany me?"

As soon as his voice trailed off, Demacia and the others saw several system prompts suddenly appear in their field of view, accompanied by a delightful ding:

[Ding——Berserker's favor towards you has increased by 20 points, your relationship with him has reached Friendly.]

[Berserker invites you to form a team, do you accept?]

Form a team?

The players' eyes lit up.

In "Elf Kingdom," there was a team system, where earned experience was distributed according to team contribution, and the mini-map was shared among team members.

However, previously only players could form teams with one another; this was the first time an NPC had proposed it!

At that moment, they were almost certain that they had encountered a hidden quest!

Demacia and the others were nearly ecstatic, nodding their heads repeatedly as if afraid that the Oak Guardian might change his mind:

"We accept! We accept!"

"Very well!"

The giant Oak Guardian nodded.

He bent down slightly, gesturing an invite:

"Come on, the journey is long, I'll carry you back."

Could it be like this?

The players exchanged glances, more excited.

To use the Oak Guardian as a mount, this opportunity was rare!

Indeed, a hidden quest was a hidden quest; they hadn't even started, but they were already getting to experience a Silver Mount!

Imagining the expressions of the other players when they would return to camp seated on the shoulders of the Oak Guardian, they almost laughed out loud.

"Let's go! All aboard!"

They cheered and then, nimble as monkeys, clambered up the Tree-man's branches onto his shoulders and excitedly took their seats.

"This height is awesome!"

"Uncle B rocks!"

"Scoot over, I want to sit on the edge and enjoy the view!"

The players were wildly excited.

"Hold tight, off we go."

Seeing the players seated, Berserker slowly got up and headed towards the World Tree...

...

Underneath the Elf Forest's World Tree.

Everything here had changed since a dozen or so days ago.

With the enhancements from magic and swordsmanship, plus continuous effort, three hundred players eventually pushed Tianchao's infrastructure mania to the extreme...

After several days of construction, the camp underneath the World Tree had undergone a complete transformation, and the Elf Town envisioned by a few "player designers" such as Gugu Bird was finally beginning to take shape.

In the center of the town stood a small and exquisite Natural Temple, which enshrined the statue of the ancient god Eve Yoctrahill and was also the residence of Natural Saintess Alice Wind.

In front of the temple was a spacious bonfire plaza that could accommodate up to a thousand people. Moreover, Alice had also constructed a Teleportation Array here, which provided direct access to the players' respawn point on the World Tree.

Four roads radiated outward from the plaza, with uniquely designed wooden houses lining both sides of the streets, belonging to individual players, many complete with their own courtyards.

Faintly, a distinctive newbie village was gradually taking shape...

At this moment, it was the afternoon.

Countless players were still busy within the town, engaging in various construction tasks to accrue experience.

"Boom..."

"Boom..."

Suddenly, a series of rumbling sounds approached from afar, growing closer, resembling the footsteps of some giant creature.

"What's that sound?"

The players stopped their work, looking up curiously in the direction of the sound...

Suddenly, a rustling noise arose from the southeast forest of the town, and a flock of startled birds took flight.

Then, a towering Tree-man standing more than thirty meters tall emerged, parting the foliage and stepping out slowly.

The enormous Tree-man was so majestic that it captured the gazes of countless players the moment it appeared.

"Holy crap! What is that? A Tree-man?"

"No, it's an Oak Guardian! I've seen one at the edge of the safe zone! Terrifyingly powerful!"

"Why is he coming to our camp?"

The players immediately grew restless, brimming with curiosity.

"Wait… aren't those people on his shoulders Demacia and the others?"

Suddenly, some sharp-eyed players noticed the figures on the Oak Guardian's shoulders and exclaimed in disbelief.

As this was said, the players were struck dumb.

And as the Oak Guardian gradually approached, Demacia's smug and delighted expression became visible to everyone, setting the players alight:

"Damn! It's really that guy!"

"It's actually them! How did they get on the Oak Guardian's shoulders?"

"So cool! I'm seriously envious!"

"What happened to them?"

"Demacia! Demacia! How did you manage this?"

In an instant, the players put down their work and crowded around, curious and excited.

Facing the surrounding gazes filled with envy, jealousy, and curiosity mingled with confusion, Demacia stood up, holding onto the canopy of Berserker.

He placed his hands on his hips, looked up, and proudly proclaimed:

"Heh heh heh! We've triggered a hidden quest!"

Hidden quest?

At those words, the players erupted in excitement.