Elf Kingdom: Game of the World Tree

"The speed of gaining contributions did become faster, but the contribution needed to exchange for skills and equipment has become increasingly terrifying..."

After spending an afternoon battling monsters in the Underworld, Meng Zhihan returned to the Chosen City.

Looking at her pitiable account balance, she felt a faint sense of sorrow in her heart.

*"Should I also, like Brother Mu and the others, start exploring farther into the Elf Forest after advancing to silver, searching for stronger demon beasts to battle?"*

*"Although I've been killing monsters faster, there's now a level penalty after reaching silver, and the rewards have actually decreased."*

The level penalty was naturally set by Yvegar, to prevent players from becoming overly powerful and not seeking new challenges, instead, manically grinding weak monsters.

Under this penalty, the greater the level difference between a player and a monster (with the player being higher), the less experience points and contribution are gained when the opponent is killed.

*"Tasks as well, the current daily tasks are becoming less and less effective for me, the only thing that still attracts me is gaining NPC goodwill, I wonder when there will be daily tasks suitable for the silver level..."*

The girl thought helplessly.

Once home, Meng Zhihan sorted and stored the various materials obtained from slaying monsters.

Many of these materials would become materials for her to practice forging with, and those she couldn't use, she would choose to sacrifice to the Goddess to gain a certain amount of contribution.

However, just as she was sorting through the materials, her gaze was suddenly drawn to a peculiar item among them.

It was a horn, somewhat resembling a goat's, exuding an unsettling aura.

"What is this?"

Meng Zhihan was somewhat confused.

She recalled, realizing that she seemed to have accidentally obtained it during a battle in the Underworld.

At the time, she was monster hunting when suddenly a hideous-looking monster leaped out from the side, startling her.

Luckily, the monster wasn't very strong and was slain in one breath by Meng Zhihan, who had transformed into a Winged Dragon, and this horn was all that was left by the monster.

After thinking for a moment, Meng Zhihan used her identification technique, and the information about the horn floated into her vision:

[Demon's Horn: This is the horn of a Flame Lesser Demon, a fire-attributed forging material.]

Demon's Horn?

Meng Zhihan was slightly stunned.

That monster that suddenly appeared... was it a demon?

While Meng Zhihan was still surprised, her vision suddenly popped up with a new system prompt:

[Ding—]

[Hidden Quest Triggered: Demon's Horn]

[Quest Description: You encountered a demon in the Underworld that shouldn't have existed there and obtained one of its horns, what could this mean?]

[Quest Objective: Discover the origin of the demon]

[Quest Time: 1 day]

[Quest Reward: 1000 contribution points]

[Quest Hint: Divine Favored Zero is the most knowledgeable about the mysteries of the entire Elf Forest, perhaps she knows something.]

*Hidden... Hidden Quest?!*

Looking at the system message in front of her, Meng Zhihan's eyes widened.

Then, she was overjoyed:

"A hidden quest! Is it really a hidden quest?! I never thought I'd have a day when I could trigger a hidden quest!"

Hidden quests and main storyline quests were considered the most coveted quests in "The Elf Kingdom."

Because they were either a hidden quest chain or directly involved in the main storyline progression.

Both often meant extremely high quest rewards!

Meng Zhihan felt joyful in her heart and quickly, with the Demon's Horn in hand, left her home and headed straight to the Life Temple in Chosen City.

"Divine Favored Zero... If I remember correctly, although this NPC is elusive, she appears most frequently at the temple, I can check the temple, and if I can't find her, I'll ask Alice where she is!"

At a quick pace, Meng Zhihan arrived at the Life Temple.

This time, luck favored her once again.

As soon as she entered the Life Temple, she saw the cold figure that was usually absent in the temple's side hall.

Silver-gray hair, red eyes, and that iconic stern black dress armor...

It was Divine Favored Zero!

Meng Zhihan took a deep breath, hurried over, and while wearing the customary player-to-NPC flattery smile, she respectfully said:

"Good afternoon, Lord Ling~!"

Hearing her greeting, Divine Favored Zero turned around.

Looking at Meng Zhihan, she nodded slightly, and the corners of her mouth turned up just a bit, forming a smile so subtle it could easily be missed:

"Good afternoon, brave Chosen One."

Of course, Meng Zhihan, with her keen eye, noticed this expression.

*She smiled!*

*Zero actually smiled!*

*The icy beauty in the game actually smiled!*

Meng Zhihan's eyes widened, her heart touched:

*Really, it was worth it to improve her personal reputation to 90 points, even the ice-cold Zero would smile at her!*

"What's up?"

Zero's cool voice rang out again.

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Meng Zhihan nodded like a pecking chicken while presenting the Demon's Horn:

"I accidentally obtained this while battling in the Underworld. I've heard Lord Ling is knowledgeable and would like to inquire about its origin."

"The horn of a Flame Demon?"

Seeing the horn Meng Zhihan presented, Divine Favored Zero's eyes slightly narrowed.

She took the horn, examined it, and soon her expression turned solemn:

"I never imagined... a demon could escape from there so soon, it seems the seal there is still imperfect. We must send new personnel to clean it up."

There? Seal? New personnel?

Hearing Divine Favored Zero's words, Meng Zhihan's heart raced.

*Hidden quest!*

*Indeed, there was more to the hidden quest!*

*It seems like a new scene!*

*Is it a new storyline quest or a new instance?*

Meng Zhihan couldn't help but daydream...

Of course, she didn't forget to continue asking questions in hopes of triggering the follow-up to the quest:

"Lord Ling, what is the seal you're referring to?"

"It's the seal on the Seventh Demon God Azazel, the same Evil God True God pursued during the recent underground war!"

Divine Favored Zero explained with a serious expression.

"In that war, the great Mother Goddess eventually defeated that Demon God and sealed it in the Underworld, in a vast and complex Demon Maze..."

"It now appears that the opponent has not given up struggling, still trying to break free from the seal, and the owner of this Demon's Horn might be a demon servant who escaped from there."

"They want to rescue Demon God Azazel!"

After saying this, Divine Favored Zero looked at Meng Zhihan again and earnestly said:

"Chosen One, I have a task I wish to entrust to you."

"Are you willing to go to the underground Demon Maze, clear the demons there, and reinforce the seal on the Seventh Demon God?"

As soon as Divine Favored Zero finished speaking, a new system message appeared in Meng Zhihan's vision...

[Ding—]

[You triggered an instance task: Demon Maze]

...