I am the Arcane Archer, and all my skills are self-created.

Looking at the densely packed list of cities on the screen, Li Wu was momentarily overwhelmed.

The world of Origin is extremely vast, with hundreds of starting villages alone, and a few hundred towns.

Each town has its own unique culture, architectural style, and factional affiliation.

"Which one should we choose?" Li Wu looked at Hua Zitong and handed the decision over to her.

When making such important decisions, he had become accustomed to relying on Hua Zitong's intelligence.

Ironforge.

Hua Zitong reached out her finger almost without hesitation and gently tapped a name that looked powerful on the light screen.

Ironforge

[Faction: Absolutely Neutral]

[Introduction: An underground city-state built by ancient dwarven artisans, renowned for its exquisite forging techniques and powerful warriors. It is an adventurer's paradise, a place where wealth and power converge.]

"Why did you choose this place?" Li Wu asked.

"Three reasons," Hua Zitong said, holding up three fingers and analyzing the situation clearly:

"First, Ironforge is an absolutely neutral city and does not participate in any faction struggles. This means that we will not be drawn into meaningless wars and can develop in peace."

"Secondly, this is the best forging center in the entire game. Your Arcane Bow needs to constantly absorb weapons to advance, and the Ironforge trading market and dwarven blacksmith shops can provide us with the most stable and highest quality 'nourishment'."

"Third," Hua Zitong paused, glancing at Li Wu, "and most importantly, Ironforge is one of the three towns directly under our District 21. If we give reputation to towns in other districts, it'll be useless!"

After listening, Li Wu couldn't help but nod to himself.

Hua Zitong's analysis is always so accurate, pragmatic, and gets straight to the point.

"I have no objection," Li Wu said.

[Selection confirmed: Ironforge.]

[Conversion calculation in progress...]

Your total reputation in Starting Village #101 is 3300 points.

Conversion ratio: 1:10

[Final Ironforge reputation gained: 33000 points.]

Your Ironforge reputation level has been raised to: Honored!

A series of system notifications flashed past the two of them.

"Respect?" Li Wu asked, somewhat surprised.

He knew that the reputation levels were divided into: indifferent, neutral, friendly, respectful, revered, and worshipful.

When ordinary players first arrive in a major city, their reputation is "Neutral." But these players skipped "Friendly" and went straight to "Honored"!

"33000 reputation points..." Hua Zitong looked at the number and was filled with emotion.

Among these rewards are those for completing the unique hidden quest, and those for achieving the first clear of the dungeon and the first kill of the boss.

These reputations might be just empty titles in the starting village, but once they are converted into town reputations, they will bring real benefits.

"What's the use of respect and prestige?" Li Wu asked.

"It's very useful," Hua Zitong explained. "In towns, your reputation level directly determines what level of quests you can accept, what level of items you can buy, and even what level of NPCs you can talk to."

"Reaching 'Honored' means that as soon as we arrive in Ironforge, we can skip all the tutorials and low-level quests and go straight to the core of the city. Also, we can enjoy at least a 20% discount when buying items in shops."

"That's good?" Li Wu's eyes lit up.

A 20% discount—that's real money!

For him, who had been terrified of poverty, this was more meaningful than any reward.

"This is just the beginning." Hua Zitong's lips curled up slightly. "The higher the reputation, the more benefits. If we can reach 'Worship,' we can even mobilize a portion of the city guards and obtain a piece of land of our own."

Li Wu listened with great interest.

He increasingly felt that teaming up with Hua Zitong was the best decision he had ever made in his life.

This woman is like a walking treasure trove, always bringing him endless surprises.

"Alright, we've got the rewards and the reputation points, it's time for us to leave," Hua Zitong said.

In the center of the hall, the treasure chest of light had disappeared, replaced by a portal emitting a soft white light.

Once they pass through this door, they will bid farewell to the novice stage and enter a wider, more dangerous, and more exciting world.

Li Wu glanced at the "Lost Page of Erlin" in his backpack, then at Hua Zitong beside him, his heart filled with boundless pride.

Ironforge...

A new journey is about to begin.

He suppressed his excitement and nodded to Hua Zitong: "Let's go."

The two walked side by side toward the portal to the new world.

……

When Li Wu opened his eyes again, a scent mixed with scorching metal and biting cold wind rushed towards him.

The silence of emptiness was no longer in my ears; instead, it was replaced by a grand and noisy sound.

Ding! Ding! Clang! Clang!

The sound of thousands of hammers striking anvils blends into a magnificent and rhythmic symphony that sends shivers down your spine.

He looked around and found himself standing on a huge circular teleportation platform.

The platform was cast from black metal and covered with intricate and powerful runes, radiating a ghostly blue light.

Above them was not the sky, but a dome made up of countless giant gears and steam pipes.

The molten lava flowed slowly like a river in the ravines beneath the dome, illuminating the entire underground world as bright as day.

This is Ironforge!

A steel city built deep underground, never to be extinguished!

"How spectacular..."

Even with Li Wu's calm and composed nature, he couldn't help but sigh in awe when he saw this magnificent, epic scene.

Compared to this place, the starting village is like the difference between a small country hill and an international metropolis—they're not even in the same league.

"You'll get used to it," Hua Zitong's voice rang out from the side. She seemed to be quite accustomed to the scene here.

Just as Li Wu was about to ask something else...

A server-wide system announcement suddenly rang in his ears!

[Origin Realm Server-wide Announcement: Congratulations to player Ghost Swordsman for successfully clearing the "Realm of Gods" and creating his own legend!]

Let us give this courageous pioneer a warm welcome!

[Origin Realm Server Announcement: Origin Realm is undergoing maintenance for ten days. Players will be forcibly teleported out in ten seconds.]

[Countdown: 10, 9, 8...]

Server maintenance has begun; forced offline restart.

The moment the words left his mouth, Li Wu felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, an irresistible pulling force pulled him away, and his consciousness was instantly ripped from his body.