《Apocalypse: Everyone Levels Up, I Return to the Time Before the Server Opened》 Chapter 1 - A Mysterious Game is About to Open Chapter 1: A Mysterious Game is About to Open ¡°22:15:09¡­¡± ¡°22:15:08¡­¡± ¡­ ¡­ ¡°The countdown is almost over!¡± ¡°You still haven¡¯t figured out what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°The experts say it might be an alien invasion countdown.¡± ¡°Three-Body? Sophon? What kind of cosmic joke is this?!¡± ¡°Regardless, everyone should prepare in advance. Food, water, weapons¡­¡± ¡­ The internet exploded! All over the world, endless speculation about the ¡®countdown in our minds¡¯ kept emerging! Every bizarre theory imaginable! TV, news, even variety shows were discussing it! ¡­ Hanxia Nation. Anlong City, Tianhe Province. Inside a small house. Ye Qiu sat dumbfounded on the bed for a long while. His eyes finally cleared. ¡°2028¡­ ¡°I¡¯ve been reborn?! ¡°Back to twenty years ago! ¡°That damned thing hasn¡¯t launched yet! ¡°The countdown hasn¡¯t hit zero yet!¡± Ye Qiu¡¯s breathing became rapid. His face shifted between crying and laughing. His memories were still stuck in 2048. The moment Earth was destroyed. The moment humanity went extinct! As his thoughts contracted, his emotions gradually calmed. ¡°When the countdown ends, all of humanity will be able to freely enter and exit the ¡®City of Trials.¡¯ Or rather, enter a game world! ¡°At first, people thought it was just a real virtual game, something to play in their spare time, killing monsters, leveling up, and reviving after death. ¡°But¡­ ten days later, the game would shut down immediately, and everything people obtained inside ¡ª levels, equipment, skills, pets¡­ everything except revival ¡ª would transfer into the real world! ¡°However, where there is fortune, there is disaster! The monsters from the game came out as well! ¡°In the game, players charged forward fearlessly, throwing themselves at the monsters, because even if they died, they could respawn! ¡°But when everything became reality, the monsters remained just as ferocious. ¡°But the players¡­ only had one life!¡± ¡°If they died, they were truly dead!¡± Ye Qiu recalled the past. In his previous life, he, like most people, drifted through the countdown without much thought. He entered the game cluelessly, killed monsters and leveled up aimlessly, and never took the ¡®game¡¯ seriously. Aside from the first day spent immersed in the game, for the remaining days, his average playtime was at most one hour per day. Because the time ratio between reality and the game was 1:10. One hour in reality equaled ten hours in the game. One day in reality equaled ten days in the game. Ten days in reality equaled one hundred days in the game. When ten days passed in reality, the game shut down instantly! People were still in a daze. Then came the roars of monsters, waking everyone up! In that moment, people finally realized tha teverything they had gained in the game had transferred into reality! And the monsters from the game had arrived in the real world! Everyone regretted it! Including Ye Qiu. At that time, he was only level 5! And most people were only around level 10. Some purely casual players had nothing but basic gear and were level ¡°0!¡± Those people broke down completely! Some nearly committed suicide on the spot! ¡°I can¡¯t let history repeat itself!¡± Ye Qiu took a deep breath. He immediately got up, grabbed his phone, and rushed to the nearest supermarket! He had to stock up! Buy enough food and water! Then spend as much time in the game as possible! Killing monsters! Leveling up! Before the shutdown, he had to become absolutely invincible! The supermarket was crowded. People were discussing wildly, speculating about everything. They were worried about the apocalypse, a zombie outbreak, an alien invasion, and more. Stocking up on supplies, just in case! Luckily, supplies were still abundant. Ye Qiu wasn¡¯t picky. Bread, instant noodles, bottled water, compressed biscuits, ready-made meals¡­ He only needed to last ten days! Moreover, after ten days, a global currency reset would happen. Old currencies would be rendered useless. All transactions would use in-game currency instead. Monsters would also drop money. Ye Qiu borrowed as much as he could from every available platform. It was a total of around 300,000. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His parents had passed away long ago, leaving him only a residential house. He had no family obligations. He only needed to take care of himself! He hired a helper to move all the supplies back home. Once everything was in place, Ye Qiu locked himself in and waited for the game to launch! His phone rang. Ye Qiu glanced at it. It was a message from his class group chat. [Class President Su Xintong: @Everyone The school has organized a Mutual Aid Group. If you have no one to rely on and are uncertain about what will happen when the countdown ends, you can come to school and join. We have plenty of food and water.]. Seeing this message, Ye Qiu felt reassured. Everything was unfolding exactly as it had in his past life! Someone quickly responded. [Fang Yifei: @Class President Su Xintong, me, me, me! I want to join!].[Class President Su Xintong: @Fang Yifei, there¡¯s a 500 yuan entry fee.].[Fang Yifei: Huh? We have to pay?].[Class President Su Xintong: The Mutual Aid Group spent a lot on food and water. We can¡¯t just let people eat and drink for free, plus we provide shelter.].[Class Rep Chen Ziheng: @Everyone The class president is right. We have to pay for this stuff; we can¡¯t expect the school to provide for free! Thumbs up, class prez! [Heart emoji]].[Ma Pengfei: Are there lots of girls? If so, I might consider joining.].[Zhang Chao: If the world¡¯s ending, we should just enjoy life while we can. Wasting time on this is pointless!].[Tian Kang: Heh, I¡¯m not afraid of the apocalypse! My family owns a convenience store. We¡¯ve already locked up, so we can survive inside for a year or two no problem!].[Tong Lei: I¡¯m hunkering down in a rental with my girlfriend. As long as it¡¯s not a zombie outbreak, we¡¯ll be fine!].[Xu Jiajing: Everyone, stay positive. Maybe it¡¯s just a prank.]. The once-quiet class group became lively again. Ye Qiu was a loner by nature. And after experiencing the horrors of his past life¡¯s catastrophe, he no longer felt joy or sorrow. Looking at these familiar yet distant names, his mind was filled with past memories. Class President Su Xintong had died on the first day after the shutdown. He remembered it vividly, because everyone had gathered at school for safety. Ye Qiu had been in the shower at the time. Then¡ª The entire school building trembled! Walls collapsed. The boys¡¯ and girls¡¯ shower rooms were smashed open. Ye Qiu saw, in terror, Su Xintong¡¯s naked body impaled against the wall by a giant hornet¡¯s stinger. Blood dripped from her mouth. Her eyes wide open, filled with fear and a hint of confusion. Then, she stopped breathing. Dying tragically right before Ye Qiu¡¯s eyes! Chapter 2 - Hidden Rewards Chapter 2: Hidden Rewards [Ye Qiu: @Class President Su Xintong, 10 days from now, make sure not to take a bath in the girls¡¯ dormitory shower at school.]. Ye Qiu left this message in the group chat and tagged Su Xintong. It was just a small gesture, nothing more. Whether she believed him or not, whether she listened or not, it had nothing to do with him. As for everyone else, Ye Qiu couldn¡¯t care less. He could never forget. After the game servers shut down, the monsters descended into the real world. The ugliness of human nature was laid bare! Between people, there was no longer ¡°trust¡± or ¡°cooperation.¡± Greed, malice, filth, plundering¡­ Every terrible thing imaginable, Ye Qiu had seen it all! Without hesitation, he closed the group chat. But what he didn¡¯t know was, because of his message, the once mildly active chat exploded into chaos! [Zhang Chao: What¡¯s going on? What¡¯s going on?].[Ma Pengfei: @Ye Qiu, please elaborate. It¡¯s not that I¡¯m interested in Su Xintong taking a bath, I¡¯m just interested in the act of bathing itself! [smirk.jpg]].[Fang Yifei: ??! [confused.jpg]].[Class President Su Xintong: @Ye Qiu, what do you mean? Are you trying to be a pervert? You better explain yourself clearly!].[Class Rep Chen Ziheng: @Ye Qiu, are you sick? A grown man bringing up a girl¡¯s showering habits in a group chat, don¡¯t you find that disgusting and sleazy? As a fellow man, I feel ashamed for you!].[Chen Ziheng: @Class Monitor Su Xintong, don¡¯t even bother with this cowardly keyboard warrior. He¡¯s just a typical internet troll. It¡¯s not worth getting angry over someone like him. By the way, class monitor, where do we pay the registration fee? I¡¯m planning to sign up and head to school soon! When we¡¯re together, unity is strength!].[Zhang Chao: I thought I was already the most carefree and reckless guy around, but damn, this guy just outdid me. He actually dared to tease the class monitor!]. Su Xintong wasn¡¯t just the class monitor, she was also the school¡¯s top beauty. Among the entire student body, there were probably only three girls who could even come close to matching her looks and figure. That¡¯s why Ye Qiu¡¯s words sent shockwaves through the group! At the same time, many students were confused. ¡°Who even is this Ye Qiu?¡± ¡°Oh, that quiet guy in class. Pretty average in every way.¡± ¡°Probably got brainwashed by all those ¡®apocalypse¡¯ theories online and had a mental breakdown, which is why he¡¯s saying stuff like this.¡± ¡°Bullshit. He¡¯s just showing his true colors!¡± ¡°Saying something online suddenly means exposing your true self? I joke about eating poop all the time. Does that mean I¡¯d actually do it?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve tried it before. It¡¯s not easy to swallow.¡± ¡°???!!!¡± ¡°Damn!¡± ¡°Bro, I was eating! What the hell!¡± ¡ª 00:00:03. 00:00:02. 00:00:01. Finally, the countdown hit zero. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that exact moment¡­ All around the world, every single person heard a sudden mechanical voice echo in their minds. Different countries. Different languages. Yet, in this instant, everyone understood it perfectly! ¡°The Trial City has been activated. Do you wish to enter?¡± The voice fell silent. Almost everyone¡¯s first reaction was one of shock, confusion, and disbelief. Except for one person. Before the mechanical voice had even finished speaking, Ye Qiu had already responded instantly, ¡°Enter the game. Confirm DNA. Bind identity information. Select the Swordsman class. Character name: ¡®One Leaf Knows Autumn.¡¯ Keep my appearance unchanged. Let the system allocate my attribute points freely!¡± He was in a pitch-black space. His consciousness condensed into a physical form. Even before he finished speaking, The system¡¯s voice finally caught up, stuttering: ¡°Confirming DNA¡­ Binding identity¡­ Entering the g¡ª¡± The system¡¯s voice lagged for a moment. Then, after a brief silence, it suddenly continued, now strangely filled with emotion, ¡°The system has allocated your attribute points.¡± At the start of the game, no matter the class, all players received the same base attribute points. Strength, Agility, Constitution, Spirit, and Luck. Each starting with 50 points. Players could distribute them manually or let the system handle it. Ye Qiu chose system allocation for a reason¡­ [Ding! Since you are the first player to let the system allocate attribute points, you have triggered a hidden reward.]. [Ding! Your initial attribute points have been doubled!]. Hearing this, Ye Qiu, who had been holding his breath, finally exhaled. ¡°It worked! The rumors from my past life were true!¡± In his past life, someone had posted on the forums that if a player chose system allocation at the start, they would trigger a hidden reward. Their initial attribute points would double from 50 to 100! However, this hidden reward could only be triggered once. Only the very first player to choose system allocation would receive this benefit! Ye Qiu immediately checked his character panel: [Character: One Leaf Knows Autumn]. [Class: Swordsman]. [Subclass: None]. [Level: 0]. [HP: 100]. [MP: 100]. [Attack: 20]. [Defense: 20]. [Movement Speed: 10]. [Attributes, Strength: 10 (Affects attack power)]. [Constitution: 10 (Affects HP)]. [Agility: 10 (Affects movement speed)]. [Spirit: 10 (Affects MP)]. [Luck: 10 (Special attribute)]. [Fame: 0 (Tied to world achievements)]. [Active Skill, Slash (Lv1): 0/500 EXP, increases attack power by 10 when used.]. [Special Skills: None]. [Pets: None]. [Guild: None]. [Available Stat Points: 50]. All stats were the same as his previous life. The only difference was the ¡°Available Stat Points.¡± This was the hidden reward! His initial points had doubled! The system had given him 50 extra points! Ye Qiu¡¯s face lit up with excitement. For a moment, he felt like he was dreaming. Just to make sure, he pinched himself. The game¡¯s pain sensitivity was identical to real life. So, it hurt! Not a dream! ¡°Allocate all 50 points into Luck!¡± Ye Qiu wasn¡¯t arrogant. Even with a second chance, the early game was nothing more than a warm-up. This reward alone wasn¡¯t enough to change the future! Soon, the extra points were used up. They were all added to ¡°Luck.¡± This stat could not be increased by leveling up or killing monsters. The only ways to improve it were through free stat points or special encounters. In short, it was extremely, extremely difficult to raise. In his past life, no one ever paid attention to ¡°Luck.¡± Most dismissed it as useless, an unnecessary gimmick. Until, a casual player posted on the forums. He had dumped most of his free stat points into ¡°Luck¡± and what happened next shocked everyone. He would randomly stumble upon spirit beasts. Fall off a cliff, only to discover an ancient tomb. Go to sleep, only to wake up surrounded by rare equipment. At first, no one believed him. They mocked and doubted. But then, more players followed his example and were stunned to realize that the stories were true! But by then, it was too late. Free stat points were incredibly hard to come by! Just as Ye Qiu finished adding his points, his Luck stat reached 60. And suddenly, the system¡¯s alert rang out loudly! Chapter 3 - Be the First to Enter the Game Chapter 3: Be the First to Enter the Game Ding! [Congratulations! Player ¡®One Leaf Knows Autumn¡¯ has surpassed 50 Luck points and triggered a hidden reward. You will receive a random skill.] Ding! [You have obtained the skill ¡®Heavenly Eye.¡¯] [[Heavenly Eye] (Active Skill): Upon activation, you can perceive all basic information of objects within your vision, uncover hidden traps, acquire unknown secrets, and detect concealed entities.] ¡°Whoa!¡± Ye Qiu¡¯s eyes widened the moment he heard the system notification. He was extremely familiar with this skill! In his past life, the ninth-ranked player on the leaderboard had this very skill, and it was unique worldwide! With this ability, that top-tier player could anticipate monster information, prepare in advance, and even identify other players¡¯ strengths and weaknesses. Some people disguised themselves as harmless nobodies, only to reveal their true sinister nature when the time was right. But with this skill, Ye Qiu could instantly see through their stats, exposing them completely! Character Panel [Name: One Leaf Knows Autumn] [Class: Swordsman] [Subclass: None] [Level: 0] [Health: 100] [Mana: 100] [Attack: 20] [Defense: 20] [Movement Speed: 10] Attributes: [Strength: 10] [Constitution: 10] [Agility: 10] [Spirit: 10] [Luck: 60 (Special Attribute)] [Fame: 0] Active Skills: [Slash (Lv.1): 0/500 XP. Increases attack power by 10 when used.] [Heavenly Eye (Lv.1): 0/5000 XP. Grants insight into all objects in view, reveals hidden traps, unveils unknown mysteries, and detects concealed entities.] [Special Skills: None] [Pets: None] [Guild: None] [Fixed Stat Points: 50] ¡°So¡­ this is what the first player to enter the game gets as their starting stats?¡± Ye Qiu felt an overwhelming urge to cry. In his past life, his initial stats had been completely average. Like most players, he had assumed the ¡®Trial City¡¯ was just a highly advanced, immersive virtual game implanted into their consciousness by some mysterious entity. A simple pastime. Nothing more. Because of this mindset, when the game shut down after ten days, his character data had been so weak that he couldn¡¯t even find himself on the rankings. After that, life had been nothing but endless struggle ¡ª hiding, fleeing, doing whatever it took just to survive. He could still remember vividly how those at the top of the leaderboard treated weaker players like disposable pawns, mere tools to be used and discarded. People like him, who were at the very bottom, were nothing but cannon fodder. Insignificant. Pathetic. A flash of light swept across his vision. Gradually, the world around him brightened. A fresh, crisp scent filled his nostrils. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Player ¡®One Leaf Knows Autumn,¡¯ you are currently in Novice Village #0001. Once you reach level 10, you may leave and explore the wider world!] The system¡¯s voice echoed in his mind. Ye Qiu scanned his surroundings. For now, he was the only player present. But within minutes¡­ A series of white lights flickered into existence. As the light faded, one player after another materialized. They were all from the Hanxia Nation server. ¡°This game is insane! It¡¯s way too realistic!¡± ¡°Can someone let me touch them? No weird reason, I just want to see how real they feel.¡± ¡°I have a bold idea¡­¡± ¡°If I commit a crime in the game, will I get arrested in real life?¡± ¡°You¡¯d have to ask Zhang San about that one.¡± ¡°I heard there are in-game rules. Break them, and you get a red name. If that happens, you can¡¯t enter towns and will be struck by divine lightning every day until your name resets.¡± ¡°In-game time is 10 days for every 1 day outside. How does that work? Can we survive without eating or drinking?¡± ¡°Whoa! I found an insanely beautiful NPC!¡± More and more players kept appearing. Before long, the once-spacious village streets were completely packed! But Ye Qiu was already ahead of the crowd. He had gone straight to pick up quests. He remembered how, in his past life, players had to queue up just to receive missions! That was also why so many casual players existed in the game. Rather than wasting time waiting for quests, many chose to simply explore and enjoy the experience. A small but crucial detail: Every new player was automatically equipped with a set of basic gear and a simple, unenchanted linen outfit. The starting equipment depended on one¡¯s chosen class. As a Swordsman, Ye Qiu¡¯s gear included: Peachwood Sword (Beginner Equipment): +5 Attack Chainmail (Beginner Equipment): +5 Defense Cloth Shoes (Beginner Equipment): +2 Movement Speed Before long, Ye Qiu located the first quest-giving NPC. Unlike other games, where village chiefs were depicted as frail, elderly men, this NPC was much more refined and lively. It was almost like a real person. Or rather¡­ this world was not just a game. In ten days, everything within this world would manifest into reality, including the NPCs. ¡°Excuse me, sir. Is there anything I can help you with?¡± Ye Qiu asked respectfully. In his past life, he had never gotten the chance to interact with NPCs in the Novice Village. Simply because there were too many players! It had been impossible to get close. The NPC before him was an old man who appeared to be around seventy or eighty years old. His hair and beard were snow-white, but his complexion was youthful and radiant, without a single wrinkle. Leaning against the doorway of a small house, he casually sipped from a wine flask, occasionally reciting poetry. There was an air of elegance and freedom about him. Ye Qiu activated Heavenly Eye to inspect the NPC. [Name: Elder Xu] [Class: Village Chief] [Subclass: Brewer] [Level: 10] Upon hearing Ye Qiu¡¯s voice, Elder Xu glanced at him through half-lidded, slightly intoxicated eyes. A strange glint flickered within them. Muttering under his breath, he said, ¡°The Undying Clan has arrived¡­¡± A moment of silence passed. Then, Elder Xu straightened up and said casually, ¡°My wine is almost gone. I need to brew a new batch. This wine is a rare tonic, and I have nearly all the necessary ingredients. However, I¡¯m missing one crucial component, tiger whips.¡± At the same time, the system notification appeared in Ye Qiu¡¯s mind. [Elder Xu has given you a quest: Obtain 20 tiger whips and deliver them to him. Do you accept?] ¡°Of course!¡± Ye Qiu answered immediately. But he didn¡¯t leave. Elder Xu raised an eyebrow. ¡°Is there something else?¡± Recalling a strategy he had read in his past life¡¯s forums, Ye Qiu took a deep breath. Then, keeping his expression solemn, he spoke in a slow, deliberate tone. Chapter 4 - I, as a Reincarnator, Have My Own Strategy! Chapter 4: I, as a Reincarnator, Have My Own Strategy! ¡°The anomalies and demons of this world have awakened. A storm of bloodshed is about to engulf everything! ¡°If no one stands up now, if we don¡¯t grow stronger as quickly as possible, then in the future, humanity will be completely wiped out! ¡°Elder Xu, though I am still weak, I am willing to step forward and face the impending dangers! For the future of humanity, for a peaceful world, for personal honor, I, One Leaf Knows Autumn, am willing to lay down my life, to give everything I have, and fight against these anomalies and demons until my last drop of blood is shed!¡± His voice was passionate and resolute. His expression was serious and unyielding. He seemed to be surrounded by a radiant aura, exuding a presence that commanded respect. These words, normally, they would only be encountered after leaving the novice village and heading to the larger cities. In his past life, a player from the novice village had exploited this information gap, thriving in the village, reaping countless benefits. Eventually, others caught on, and soon, a flood of players began imitating him. The novice villages across the game were thrown into chaos. Ye Qiu remembered it vividly because he had tried it himself back then. Unfortunately, by the time he attempted it, it was already too late. The trick had been overused, and the NPCs no longer believed it. The intelligence of these NPCs was no different from real people. They weren¡¯t fools. ¡°I¡­ only wish to do my small part for humanity, to contribute what I can,¡± Ye Qiu added, his tone sorrowful yet firm. At first, Elder Xu had remained indifferent, casually sipping his wine. But as Ye Qiu¡¯s stirring words filled the air, the elder suddenly sat up straighter. His wine flask slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground. Finally, he stood up completely, his sharp eyes locking onto Ye Qiu. For a long moment, he simply stared. Then, he reached out and patted Ye Qiu¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Young man, though you are still weak, I can see a fire burning within you, blazing like the sun itself. Not bad, not bad¡­¡± [Elder Xu¡¯s favorability towards you has increased.] At the same time, Elder Xu pulled something out from his sleeve and solemnly handed it to Ye Qiu. ¡°This world is on the verge of collapse. We old folks can no longer set things right. The future¡­ will depend on young people like you!¡± Ye Qiu swiftly snatched the item from Elder Xu¡¯s hands before he could react. With tears in his eyes, Ye Qiu nodded firmly. ¡°Rest assured, Elder Xu. In the face of disaster, it is my duty to act!¡± Elder Xu felt something was slightly off, but upon seeing the emotion in Ye Qiu¡¯s eyes, he dismissed the thought. Instead, he simply urged Ye Qiu to grow stronger as soon as possible. Ye Qiu glanced at the item in his hands. [Novice Village Golden Pass (Special Item): Grants unrestricted access to all areas within the novice village and increases favorability with NPCs. (Note: Special items cannot be traded, dropped, or destroyed.)] ¡°Holy crap! A golden pass?!¡± Ye Qiu¡¯s breathing quickened. The novice village passes came in three types: Wooden Pass (Lowest Tier): Single-use, only for entering and exiting the village gate. Silver Pass (Mid-Tier): Usable ten times, grants access to most areas of the village but does not increase NPC favorability. Golden Pass (Highest Tier): Unlimited use, grants free access anywhere in the village, and boosts NPC favorability. NPC favorability was no trivial matter. With high favorability, one could receive high-level quests, special missions, and even hidden tasks. Moreover, interactions with NPCs could lead to unexpected developments. It was common knowledge that players were forbidden from easily touching NPCs. Violating this rule could trigger divine punishment ¡ª a lightning strike reducing them to ashes. Although players could resurrect, each death resulted in experience and equipment loss. Once experience dropped to zero, the system would automatically delete the account. When the game eventually shut down and its reality merged with the real world, such players would be utterly powerless. They were worse off than casual players, with the highest likelihood of dying. In his past life, some ill-mannered players had treated the game like any other, believing they could do whatever they pleased. In the end, most met a tragic fate. Those who survived often wished they hadn¡¯t. Additionally, each novice village only had one golden pass, making it incredibly rare and valuable. Ye Qiu clipped the golden pass to his waist and confidently walked into the village. The village paths were wide, with houses lined neatly on either side. Some villagers were even engaged in business, such as the blacksmith shop near the entrance. Ye Qiu headed straight for it. The blacksmith was a burly man with a muscular frame. Every time he hammered the metal, the muscles on his bronze-colored body rippled like waves. Not only did he exude overwhelming power, but his movements also carried an artistic elegance. Ye Qiu activated Heavenly Eye to inspect him. [Character: Zhang Tie (Blacksmith)] [Class: None] [Subclass: Forgemaster] [Level: 10¡¿ ¡°Uncle, do you need any help?¡± Ye Qiu eagerly approached, feeling the heat of the forge wash over him. This game had 100% realism. Zhang Tie, the blacksmith, paused his work and glanced at Ye Qiu. He was initially surprised, wondering how Ye Qiu had entered the village. But upon noticing the golden pass at his waist, his doubts vanished. The villagers trusted Elder Xu completely. If Elder Xu granted someone the golden pass, it meant unquestionable approval. [Blacksmith Zhang Tie¡¯s favorability towards you has increased.] ¡°Heh, kid, you¡¯re still too weak to help with much, but¡­¡± Zhang Tie began. Before he could finish, a system notification appeared. [Blacksmith Zhang Tie has issued a quest: Mine 10 iron ores and deliver them to Zhang Tie. Accept?] ¡°Accept!¡± The moment Ye Qiu accepted, another notification popped up. [Your favorability with Blacksmith Zhang Tie has reached 70. You have triggered a hidden reward.] [Blacksmith Zhang Tie has taught you the Mining Skill. Would you like to learn it?] ¡°Yes!¡± Ye Qiu was overjoyed. He knew that aside from favorability, the biggest factor behind these special rewards was his exceptional Luck stat. Of course, Mining wasn¡¯t exactly a rare skill. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Most players would learn it before leaving the novice village. But right now, the game had only been running for a little over ten minutes! Being one step ahead meant always staying ahead. And this seemingly ordinary quest¡­ held deeper secrets. As a reincarnator, Ye Qiu was already well-versed in the hidden mechanics. This time, he would not miss a single opportunity! Chapter 5 - Widening the Gap Against Billions of Players Chapter 5: Widening the Gap Against Billions of Players At the moment when Ye Qiu accepted the quest, other players who had ¡°entered the game¡± had now been assigned to various novice villages one after another. ¡°So after all that suspense, the countdown in my mind was actually for a game?¡± ¡°Damn it! I spent all my savings building an underground shelter and stockpiling supplies to last for years. Now it¡¯s all for nothing!¡± ¡°Hahaha, I told you nothing was going to happen. Some people just love fear-mongering and making a fuss over nothing!¡± ¡°You¡¯re lucky. I really thought the apocalypse was coming, so I gathered my courage and killed my neighbor¡¯s annoying barking poodle. No time to chat, there¡¯s a police car outside¡­¡± ¡°Even though nothing bad happened, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s still pretty weird that a virtual game suddenly appeared in our minds?¡± ¡°What¡¯s so weird about it? I was eating Yunnan mushrooms while listening to you guys talk, and I even saw subtitles.¡± ¡°Yeah, what¡¯s the big deal?¡± ¡°Could people from centuries ago have imagined the internet, which lets us know everything without leaving home? This might just be a secret chip implanted by world leaders, allowing everyone to play games. Or maybe it¡¯s a special virus, like poisonous mushrooms, causing mass hallucinations!¡± Although most people had entered the game, a good number of them quickly logged out, returning to reality. After all, a game was just a game. Reality still demand living. So, offline discussions began spreading across major forums and websites, where people debated and analyzed the sudden emergence of the game in their minds. Inside the game, there was also an in-game forum. Players could control it through their thoughts or use voice commands, gestures, and other movements within the game to interact with it. On the in-game forums, besides discussing the mysterious appearance of the game in their minds, most players were talking about the game¡¯s actual content. ¡°What the hell kind of game is this? NPCs can only serve one player at a time! And you have to line up! If you don¡¯t, they¡¯ll literally kick you out, and your reputation with them drops! If your reputation is too low, you won¡¯t be able to take on quests at all!¡± ¡°These monsters are ridiculously strong!¡± ¡°Tell me about it!¡± ¡°I actually got bitten to death by a rabbit. Can you believe it?!¡± ¡°Ahhh, this is so frustrating! There¡¯s an old NPC by the village entrance, but you need to be level 5 and have a pass just to get in!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting in line for three hours!¡± ¡°How many people are in a single nocive village?¡± ¡°Not sure about other countries, but a friend of mine who analyzes data estimated that there are 3,000 novice villages in our country. That means each village has nearly 500,000 players!¡± ¡°Ughhh¡­ If I escape the country in-game, people won¡¯t call me a traitor, right?¡± ¡°Forget it. Foreign forums are also complaining. They have fewer novice villages, so each one still has about 500,000 players.¡± ¡°What about the smaller countries? Their total population isn¡¯t even that high!¡± ¡°Haha, smaller countries were automatically merged into nearby nations. All of Europe is counted as a single country in the game.¡± ¡°Okay, I won¡¯t escape then. That actually makes me feel better.¡± ¡°Here¡¯s a fun fact: This game has nearly 100% realism. Why not just enjoy life as a casual player?¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah¡­ Hehe, I was just with my girlfriend in the game¡­ Hehe¡­¡± ¡°Screw these stupid quests, I¡¯m done!¡± ¡°Huh? I just saw a player walk out from inside the novice village?!¡± ¡°You must be seeing things. You need to be at least level 5 and have a pass to enter and exit the village. The game has only been live for a few hours, no way someone got out already.¡± ¡°Maybe I imagined it¡­¡± ¡ª Novice Village No. 0001. Ye Qiu walked out of the village, completely satisfied. Fortunately, there were too many people. Some might have noticed him leaving the village, but because of the crowd, they just assumed they were mistaken. After all, the game had just launched. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Everyone was still wearing basic white gear and stuck at level 0! How could someone have already widened the gap between themselves and tens of billions of players in such a short time? After leaving, Ye Qiu checked his quests. [Village Chief¡¯s Quest: Obtain 20 tiger whips and deliver them to Village Chief Xu Laobo. (Level 1¨C5, Normal Quest)] [Blacksmith Zhang Tie¡¯s Quest: Mine 10 pieces of iron ore and deliver them to Blacksmith Zhang Tie. (Level 1¨C5, Normal Quest)] [Herbalist Shopkeeper¡¯s Quest: Collect 10 stalks of Breathroot and deliver them to the Herbalist Shopkeeper. (Level 1¨C5, Normal Quest)] By accepting the third quest, Ye Qiu also learned the ¡°Gathering¡± skill. Additionally, it was worth mentioning that each of these quests had a level range and a classification as a ¡°Normal Quest.¡± The level range was self-explanatory. Higher-level quests gave better rewards but also came with greater difficulty. For example, a level 1¨C5 quest would typically involve fighting level 1¨C5 monsters. If a player tried to take on a higher-level quest without being strong enough, the failure rate would skyrocket! Then there was the ¡°Normal Quest¡± label, which indicated the grade of the quest. As a reincarnated player and someone who had lived through a full lifetime, Ye Qiu knew this system inside out. Quests were divided into four tiers. The lowest, first tier ¡ª Normal Quests. The second tier ¡ª Rare Quests. The third tier ¡ª Epic Quests. The fourth and highest tier ¡ª Legendary Quests! This was what truly determined a quest¡¯s difficulty! Of course, there were also Special Quests. But those were rare occurrences, so they weren¡¯t worth mentioning for now. ¡°These may seem like three Normal Quests, but in reality, two of them are actually Rare Quests!¡± Ye Qiu recalled information from his past life. Because he had entered the novice village so early, he had interacted with Blacksmith Zhang Tie and the Herbalist Shopkeeper ahead of others. These two were no ordinary NPCs! In his previous life, a player who maxed out their reputation with them became sworn brothers with Zhang Tie and was recognized as a sibling by the Herbalist Shopkeeper. At last, that player was able to receive Rare Quests! One required finding the black iron Zhang Tie had lost. The other required recovering the stolen herbal recipe of the Herbalist Shopkeeper. Normally, with Ye Qiu¡¯s current reputation with them, he wouldn¡¯t have been eligible for these Rare Quests. But, the game¡¯s realism allowed a unique approach. You could complete a quest before even accepting it! In his past life, the player who maxed out reputation never actually completed the quests. Instead, two casual players had stumbled upon the black iron and herbal recipe while wandering around. They proudly shared their experience on the in-game forum. ¡°This time, I¡¯ll seize every single opportunity to grow stronger!¡± Ye Qiu murmured to himself. Chapter 6 - I’m Not That Idiot Chapter 6: I¡¯m Not That Idiot Ye Qiu arrived in the wilderness. Then, he saw it. A dense crowd of players surrounding the novice village, especially in areas where monsters spawned, completely occupied! However¡­ ¡°Damn! That hurts like hell!¡± ¡°Ah! I¡¯m gonna die!¡± ¡°Shit, shit, shit! This game is insane! Limbs can actually get severed, and I can even smell the blood!¡± ¡°This is way too hard!¡± ¡°Anyone want to team up? We need a group to take down a single rabbit! One-on-one is hopeless!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll team up! Let¡¯s at least hit level five first!¡± ¡°Team up my ass! I haven¡¯t even seen a monster yet, and someone already stole my kill!¡± There were too many players, too few monsters, and the battles were downright terrifying! Limbs flying! Blood splattering! Even scenes of players being devoured! ¡°I quit! I¡¯m done with this!¡± ¡°This game isn¡¯t meant for humans!¡± ¡°It¡¯s disgusting!¡± Some players started logging off. Not everyone could handle a game this brutal. The realism was just too intense! Even the pain was replicated at a 1:1 ratio with real life! The only difference was that death in the game meant you could respawn! Watching players log out, Ye Qiu felt a sense of familiarity. In his past life, he had been the same. One scratch from a monster, and a chunk of flesh was gone! The pain was truly excruciating! As a result, he developed a fear of combat, resolving to be a casual player instead. Now that he thought about it, this game might have been designed to train people: to adapt to pain, to overcome fear, and to prepare for the impending apocalypse! But only a select few had the courage to face this challenge! Ye Qiu glanced at a nearby rabbit. It bared its fangs, Revealing a set of razor-sharp teeth like a beast! [Common Monster: Little Demon Rabbit] [Level: 1] [HP: 100] [Preference: Various vegetables] His Heavenly Eye skill provided real-time monster info. At that moment, three players rushed at the rabbit. The Little Demon Rabbit kicked off the ground, leaping two meters into the air! Then, it dove straight for one player¡¯s face. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°AHHHH!!¡± With a blood-curdling scream, the player¡¯s face was shredded beyond recognition! The other two players were terrified and immediately fled! Ye Qiu watched from afar. This game didn¡¯t just test strength, it tested courage. It tested mentality. The three of them could have easily killed the rabbit, but fear led to one dying and two retreating! Regaining his focus, Ye Qiu didn¡¯t linger. First, the area was too crowded. If he stayed, he wouldn¡¯t even get a chance to fight monsters. Second, None of his three quests had anything to do with the Little Demon Rabbit. Lastly, according to his past life¡¯s memory, the item needed for a hidden quest¡­ was located further out! Without hesitation, he set off. On the way, he encountered many other players. Men and women alike, especially young ones. But before long, screams rang out. Those players were slaughtered by monsters. [Level 2 Pine Tree Monster¡­ Level 2 Field Mouse Monster¡­ Level 3¡­] As he walked, Ye Qiu constantly used Heavenly Eye to check monster details. This was his unique advantage! [Level 5 Lynx] Suddenly, he spotted something. He halted his steps. ¡°This is the place!¡± His gaze locked onto a nearby hillside. There, a dozen lynxes roamed about. Some lay lazily. Some stretched. Others jumped around like house cats. However, this was just a facade! Ye Qiu cautiously approached. Following his past-life strategy, ¡°I need to lure these lynxes away first. ¡°At the top of the hill, under that big tree, there¡¯s a buried treasure chest! ¡°And inside¡­ ¡°Lies the missing prescription from the Herbalist Shopkeeper!¡± Taking a deep breath, Ye Qiu carefully advanced. There were fewer players in this area, but still some scattered around. One of them, a sharp-eyed female player, noticed Ye Qiu and exclaimed, ¡°That guy is insane! So many player corpses up there, and he¡¯s still going?! Alone?!¡± Beside her, her boyfriend scoffed and said knowingly, ¡°Get used to it. I¡¯ve played hundreds of games, and I¡¯ve seen tons of dumbasses like him. Reckless, brainless idiots who don¡¯t know when to quit.¡± The girl blinked. ¡°But he¡¯s so brave. Everyone else teams up, but he¡¯s going solo.¡± The guy frowned. ¡°Brave? He¡¯s just a dumbass trying to show off. Watch, in a minute, he¡¯ll get mauled and scream like a baby!¡± Just as he finished speaking, his expression froze. Around them, more gasps of astonishment echoed. Dozens of players had locked their eyes on Ye Qiu, waiting to see him get torn apart. They just wanted a good laugh. After all, dying in the game wasn¡¯t permanent. Watching others suffer was entertaining. Some timid players covered their eyes. They peeked through their fingers, afraid to witness the gore. However, the expected scene never happened. Instead, Ye Qiu moved like a slippery eel, dodging lynx attacks with near-impossible precision. And then, something bizarre occurred. Behind him, a dozen lynxes chased relentlessly, as if he were their leader! ¡°Holy shit! What the hell is this?!¡± ¡°He¡¯s kiting Level 5 monsters?¡± ¡°Is this Temple Run?!¡± ¡°Amazing!¡± Players watching were stunned. They had no idea what he was trying to do, but visually, it was exhilarating! It was absolutely shocking! ¡°You see? I told you he¡¯s awesome! He¡¯s not dumb at all!¡± the female player excitedly said. Her boyfriend was frustrated. Grumbling, he muttered, ¡°Fine, I admit he¡¯s brave. But he¡¯s still an idiot. Kiting a bunch of Level 5 monsters? What else could he be?¡± The girl wanted to argue, but suddenly, her boyfriend made a move. Running toward the hillside, he grinned. ¡°This dumbass lured the monsters away. Now¡¯s the perfect time to loot whatever¡¯s up there!¡± ¡°Be careful,¡± the girl warned. ¡°Relax! I¡¯m not an idiot! The monsters are gone, so it¡¯s totally safe!¡± Just as he spoke¡­ The once-quiet hillside suddenly erupted. A lynx emerged, towering at over three meters tall! Standing on two legs, Its monstrous face grinned menacingly, fixating on the approaching player. ¡°Uh¡­ Ahhh!¡± The guy barely had time to scream before the lynx swiped its massive claw. [-100] A bright red number floated above his head. At the same time, his skull exploded like a watermelon! Chapter 7 - Using Slide to Kill the FIrst BOSS! Chapter 7: Using Slide to Kill the FIrst BOSS! Ye Qiu relied on his knowledge from his previous life¡¯s strategy guide. He exploited the weakness of the Lynx Monster ¡ª its fear of water. Time and time again, he waded into the waterways, dodging attacks, and successfully lured the lynx monsters away. There was a rule in the Trial City: If a monster wasn¡¯t killed, then no new monsters would respawn in its original territory for the rest of the day! Before long, Ye Qiu returned to the hillside where the lynx monsters had originally roamed. At a glance, he saw several freshly slain player corpses lying on the ground. Player corpses also required a full day to despawn. Sometimes, players would even find multiple instances of their own bodies in one place! Of course, if a corpse was eaten by a monster, then nothing would be left behind. Ye Qiu chuckled. ¡°These players¡­ Did they really think that just because I lured away the lynx monsters, this hillside would be completely safe?¡± His gaze shifted up the slope. A massive lynx monster was baring its fangs and gnawing on a player¡¯s corpse! With a quick use of Heavenly Eye, its information appeared: [BOSS-Level Monster: Giant Lynx King] [Level: 10] [HP: 1000] [Skill: Dominant Body Attack] [Preference: All kinds of meat] Ye Qiu didn¡¯t act recklessly. He first observed his surroundings and noticed that the player group, originally numbering over ten, had dwindled to just a few stragglers. Players weren¡¯t fools. They knew this was already a high-level monster zone. Rather than throwing themselves to their deaths, it was better to find lower-level monsters to fight. Casual players? They wouldn¡¯t even consider staying here. There was nothing scenic about this place anyway. After about half an hour, when no other players were in sight, Ye Qiu crouched low and made his move. His palm was drenched in sweat as he gripped his longsword. His mind raced, recalling the strategy guide from his past life about the Giant Lynx King. ¡°In my previous life, a player did solo-kill this BOSS¡­ but that player was already Level 5. Meanwhile, I¡¯m still a total noob with zero gear!¡± He hesitated. ¡°Maybe¡­ I should level up first?¡± But then, he clenched his teeth. Fortune favors the bold! If a Level 5 player could kill a Level 10 BOSS, then clearly, level didn¡¯t matter! What mattered was terrain, the lynx¡¯s weakness, and a bit of luck! S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Finally, Ye Qiu arrived before the Giant Lynx King. The Giant Lynx King froze for a moment. Then, it flew into a rage! A mere human dared to charge straight at it? Courting death! The next moment, golden light shimmered across the lynx¡¯s entire body. A glowing aura enveloped it. This was its skill: Dominant Body Attack! This skill granted it an invincible state, unable to be stunned, knocked back, grabbed, or toppled! Even when attacked, it would not flinch, nor would its attacks be interrupted! A truly overpowered skill! At the same time, Ye Qiu sprang into action. ¡°Now¡¯s my chance!¡± It seemed like he had deliberately waited for the lynx to activate its skill. Ye Qiu dashed forward. Just as he was about to collide with the lynx, he dropped low and slid forward! A slide attack! Yes, a slide attack! He perfectly executed the same technique used by the player in his past-life strategy guide! The lynx had already committed to a leaping pounce. One human, one beast. One above, one below. They narrowly passed by each other! After landing, Ye Qiu exhaled in excitement. Meanwhile, atop the lynx king¡¯s head, a damage number appeared. [-12] On its underside, a fresh sword wound was visible! The lynx king was furious! The lynx¡¯s golden aura burned even brighter. But Ye Qiu just grinned. ¡°Looks like this BOSS isn¡¯t too bright. ¡°Makes sense. If it were smarter, it wouldn¡¯t have been tortured to death by a Level 5 player in my past life.¡± From his memories, he recalled a major flaw in the lynx king¡¯s skill. While in Dominant Body mode, the lynx couldn¡¯t alter an attack once it started. For example, once it began pouncing, it couldn¡¯t change direction mid-air! Even if it noticed Ye Qiu¡¯s slide attack in time, it couldn¡¯t dodge because it had already committed to the leap! In other words, its so-called invincibility also made it unable to control itself! The lynx king lunged again! Ye Qiu? He slid again! Once, twice, three times¡­ The lynx king had a massive 1000 HP. Fortunately, its defense was average, and this slope terrain was perfect for his strategy! He had no idea how long he kept attacking, but, like giving it a slow but relentless shave, he left countless sword wounds across the lynx¡¯s body. Finally¡­ With a sorrowful wail, the lynx king¡¯s HP dropped to zero. It collapsed, utterly humiliated, at Ye Qiu¡¯s feet! To think that this was a high-ranking Level 10 BOSS, a monster that dominated this world after descending into reality. And yet, it died such a pitiful death! Upon its demise, a pile of loot burst forth! Ye Qiu didn¡¯t even stop to catch his breath. He grabbed everything in one swift motion, stuffing it all into his inventory! He refused to make the same mistake as that player from his past life. The one who had killed the Giant Lynx King fought hard, only to be ambushed and robbed immediately after! Thankfully, the game had just launched. Most players were still low-level. This area was filled with high-level monsters, so few players ventured here. Then¡­ [Your level has increased by 1. HP increased, attributes increased, and you¡¯ve received fixed attribute points.] [Your level has increased by 1¡­] [Your level has increased by 1¡­] After five consecutive level-ups, Ye Qiu had jumped from Level 0 to Level 5! And that wasn¡¯t all! [Congratulations on slaying the BOSS ¡°Giant Lynx King.¡± You have earned 10 Reputation Points.] [You are the first player in Trial City to slay a BOSS, earning an additional 100 Reputation Points and 10 Gold Coins.] [As the first player to kill a BOSS, you have the right to announce this achievement three times to the entire Trial City. Would you like to broadcast your glory to all players?] Chapter 8 - Can I Receive Game Equipment in Reality?! Chapter 8: Can I Receive Game Equipment in Reality?! Hanxia Nation¡­ In an antique-style study, several elderly men sat at the head of a long table. Below them, a group of middle-aged men sat in formal attire ¡ª some in traditional Zhongshan suits, others in Western business suits, and a few in military uniforms. Regardless of their clothing, they all had one thing in common: they were at least forty years old. One of the elderly men spoke first, ¡°The countdown has reached zero. I assume everyone has experienced that world by now. Let¡¯s hear your thoughts.¡± A man in a business suit immediately responded, ¡°At first, I believed this was a doomsday countdown, so I proposed the construction of underground cities. However, after experiencing that world, it seems I was overly paranoid. To put it simply, it¡¯s just a game. Nothing more. There¡¯s no need to focus all our attention on it. We should move on to more important matters and put this behind us.¡± A middle-aged man in a camouflage uniform, his expression stern, shook his head. ¡°I personally entered the game with two junior officers¡­ and we died. Yes, we hunted monsters, and we were killed. The pain, the sheer despair of being in the middle of it, it was like stepping onto a real battlefield for the first time! If nothing else, the level of realism alone makes it a valuable resource. It could be developed into a training simulation for real combat scenarios, especially since death isn¡¯t permanent in that world.¡± The man in the business suit frowned. ¡°Even if that¡¯s the case, is it really necessary to dedicate all our resources to it? No matter how realistic it is, it¡¯s still just a simulation. If soldiers experience death too often, it could have irreversible psychological effects. I stand by my point. We should move on and focus on more pressing matters.¡± The military officer¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Do you not find it bizarre that billions of people across the world suddenly have access to a game with near-perfect realism? Any rational person can see that this is no small matter. How can you dismiss it so lightly?¡± The businessman took a sip of water, his tone calm. ¡°I think you misunderstand me. I¡¯m not saying we should ignore it entirely. I¡¯m saying that its level of priority should be adjusted. Ever since the countdown appeared, every department and organization has been fixated on it, while other important matters have been neglected.¡± The discussion escalated into a heated debate, with more people joining in, each presenting their own arguments. ¡°I agree with Mr. Liang. We need to shift our focus to other concerns. The countdown itself caused mass panic, leading to suicides worldwide. Addressing that should be our priority!¡± ¡°I actually support Vice Commander Zhao¡¯s proposal. This game could have military applications, and developing it wouldn¡¯t necessarily mean excessive attention or publicity. As for the psychological impact on soldiers, if we can establish proper limits, it could be beneficial rather than harmful. The world may seem peaceful now, but who knows when the next war will break out?¡± ¡°This so-called game is far too realistic. Something about it doesn¡¯t sit right with me. We can¡¯t afford to take this lightly.¡± ¡°We should invest in further research. If experts from all fields get involved, we might even be looking at a technological leap into a new era.¡± ¡°Different countries have different perspectives on this. We need to find a balanced approach, neither ignoring it nor overreacting.¡± ¡°This game includes real-time communication, live news updates, and requires no cell towers, no internet cables, no data plans¡­ In other words, the telecommunications industry is obsolete!¡± The meeting dragged on for hours. Until¡­ [Congratulations to anonymous player ¡°xxxx¡± for becoming the first to kill a BOSS-level monster! This achievement will be announced three times to all players in Trial City to honor their accomplishment!] [Congratulations to anonymous player¡­] [Congratulations to anonymous player¡­] The mechanical voice echoed in everyone¡¯s minds. The conference room fell silent. People exchanged looks of shock and disbelief. After a long pause, someone gulped and muttered in astonishment, ¡°Even while outside the game, where time flows differently, we can still receive in-game notifications?¡± The shock was universal, especially among those who had previously downplayed the game¡¯s significance. Many were at a loss for words. But soon, the businessman from earlier spoke up again. ¡°Now I¡¯m even more convinced that this is the work of extraterrestrials. Their goal is to disrupt human society, hinder our progress, and use this virtual world to sedate us, making us complacent and weak!¡± Several others immediately nodded in agreement. After all, aside from its advanced communication functions, the game itself seemed to serve no real purpose. It was just a game. What was the point? At that moment, the elders at the head of the room finally reacted. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. One of them spoke slowly, ¡°We cannot afford to be careless. Find out which country this anonymous player belongs to. Based on our current understanding, this game is extremely difficult. Even a group of players struggles to take down a single Level 1 monster, let alone a BOSS. That player must have a secret.¡± Under normal circumstances, high-ranking officials discussing ¡°games¡± and ¡°BOSS monsters¡± in a formal meeting would have seemed ridiculous ¡ª comical, even. But right now, everyone was dead serious. Another elder, wearing glasses, added, ¡°Vice Commander Zhao, take a team of willing soldiers and begin systematic training in the game. Do not rush things.¡± ¡°Mr. Liang, you cannot afford to dismiss this so easily. If extraterrestrials are involved, we must take this matter seriously.¡± ¡°Lastly, every department should designate personnel to establish teams in various starting zones. Have them focus solely on leveling up. The goal is to reach the game¡¯s level cap as soon as possible!¡± ¡ª Allied Federation¡­ Inside a high-security military base, hundreds of physically fit soldiers lay inside specialized immersion pods. Two officers stood nearby, accompanied by scientists and medical personnel, monitoring the soldiers through surveillance screens. One of the scientists explained, ¡°Colonel Charlie, with these immersion pods, soldiers can remain in the game 24/7. The pods provide necessary nutrients, allowing continuous play for up to 30 days¡­¡± Before he could finish¡­ [Congratulations to anonymous player ¡°xxxx¡± for becoming the first to kill a BOSS-level monster! This achievement will be announced three times to all players in Trial City to honor their accomplishment!] [Congratulations to anonymous player¡­] [Congratulations to anonymous player¡­] The sudden system notification rang through everyone¡¯s minds. A stunned silence filled the room. Then, one of the officers burst into laughter. ¡°This anonymous player must be from the Allied Federation! Our billions in military funding for these immersion pods weren¡¯t wasted after all!¡± Another officer nodded confidently. ¡°This game is definitely not as simple as it seems. We¡¯ll see the real truth once someone reaches the level cap!¡± Chapter 9 - Blue Equipment, Orange Loot… Great Harvest! Chapter 9: Blue Equipment, Orange Loot¡­ Great Harvest! Across the world ¡ª Bread Country, the Royal Empire, Sun Country, Morning Country, the Dessert Country, and Tropical Isles ¡ª every country heard the announcement in Trial City! Immediately, forums, websites, and news outlets erupted with discussions. ¡°Oh my god! Who is this anonymous player?!¡± S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I think it¡¯s someone from Morning Country!¡± ¡°Pfft! A tiny country like yours always fantasizes that the entire universe revolves around you!¡± ¡°Based on probability, it¡¯s most likely a Spice Country player. Spice Country has the largest population, so statistically, it makes sense!¡± ¡°Hanxia Country also has a huge population, you know.¡± ¡°But we from Spice Country already conquered the Allied Federation server! Given that, this anonymous player must be one of us!¡± ¡°Enough arguing!¡± ¡°By the way, what level are you guys now?¡± ¡°You should ask if anyone has even leveled up yet!¡± ¡°Haha, so we¡¯re all still Level 0?¡± ¡°Obviously! Have you seen how terrifying the monsters are?¡± ¡°In that case, this anonymous player must be insanely powerful!¡± ¡°Nah, they probably got lucky and used some kind of trick to kill the boss. Otherwise, forget boss-level monsters, no one can even handle a regular Level 1 monster yet!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve decided to become a casual player. In this game, I can finally do things I wouldn¡¯t dare to do in real life!¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to be a merchant!¡± ¡°The game just launched, and you¡¯re already going into business?¡± ¡°Opportunities always go to those who act first!¡± ¡ª Trial City ¨C Novice Village 0001 Under the shade of a large tree, Ye Qiu leaned against the trunk. Like everyone else, he had just heard the system announcement. At first, he had wanted to reject the global broadcast. Having lived a second life, he no longer felt the need to show off. His only goal was to survive and grow stronger in silence. But the system had given him no choice. Reject the announcement, and he would forfeit the extra rewards. Left with no choice, Ye Qiu accepted. Fortunately, the announcement was anonymous, which suited his desire to avoid unnecessary trouble. Now, he could finally focus on what really mattered ¡ª checking the loot from the boss battle. Ye Qiu opened his inventory and frowned. ¡°This is way too stingy.¡± The Giant Lynx King had only dropped three items and five gold coins. The first item was a ring. [Lynx Bone Ring (Blue ¨C Advanced)] [Requirement: Level 5] [+5 Agility, +5 Defense] ¡°Not bad.¡± Ye Qiu equipped it immediately, feeling an instant lightness in his movements and an increase in physical stability. He paused, momentarily surprised by the sensation, but brushed it off as his imagination. Next, he looked at the second item. ¡°Holy crap!¡± His eyes widened in shock. His breathing quickened. An Orange-grade Epic Item! In the game, equipment was ranked as follows: White (Common) ¡ú Blue (Advanced) ¡ú Purple (Rare) ¡ú Pink (Spirit) ¡ú Orange (Epic) ¡ú Gold (Legendary). Rumors spoke of gear even beyond Legendary, but Ye Qiu had never seen such items in his past life. Even Epic-tier equipment was a rarity, something only the top-level players could obtain. Even then, it was far from common! And now, right before his eyes¡­ [Coward¡¯s Cloak (Orange ¨C Epic)] [Status: Unidentified] Ye Qiu suppressed his excitement. If his level wasn¡¯t high enough, he would have to visit an NPC for appraisal, or wait until he learned the Identification skill. Finally, he checked the third item. [Lynx Kingdom Ruins: Unidentified] ¡°A treasure map?¡± It looked like a beast-hide parchment with faded markings. Since it was unidentified, the details were too blurred to decipher. Ye Qiu set the items aside and turned his attention to his next task. Beneath the tree, a treasure chest lay buried. ¡°This chest contains the Herbalist Shopkeeper¡¯s missing prescription!¡± Ye Qiu began digging. As he worked¡­ [You have obtained 1 Iron Ore.] [You have obtained¡­] He smiled. The blacksmith, Zhang Tie, had given him a quest to collect iron ore. Completing two tasks at once was always a bonus. After nearly thirty minutes of digging, a two-meter-deep hole appeared before him. A pile of dirt lay beside it. ¡°Finally!¡± Ye Qiu wiped his sweat, chuckling to himself. ¡°Who the hell even discovered this chest in my previous life? They must¡¯ve been insanely bored to spend half an hour digging!¡± Regardless, he heaved the chest out of the ground and began unlocking it. [Unlocking chest¡­ Progress: 10%¡­ 30%¡­] But just as he was about to open it, a group of lynx monsters suddenly returned! Ye Qiu¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Behind them, a swarm of players was chasing after the beasts. ¡°Shit, don¡¯t come this way!¡± He clenched his fists, praying they wouldn¡¯t take this path. If he moved now, the chest would reset, erasing all his progress. His heart pounded. He watched the players out of the corner of his eye, barely breathing. Slowly, his nerves eased. The players and lynx monsters veered in another direction. [Chest unlocked. Time elapsed: 50 seconds.] Ye Qiu exhaled deeply and reached inside. He pulled out several items, including [Herbalist Shopkeeper¡¯s Lost Prescription: Unidentified. Quest Item. Cannot be dropped upon death.] ¡°This is it!¡± He grinned. Alongside the prescription, the chest contained equipment: [Steel Sword (Blue ¨C Advanced)] [Requirement: Level 5] [+20 Attack, +5 Strength] [Steel Chestplate (Blue ¨C Advanced)] [Requirement: Level 5] [+10 Defense, +5 Constitution] [Steel Pants (Blue ¨C Advanced)] [Requirement: Level 5] [+10 Defense, +5 Constitution] [Steel Boots (Blue ¨C Advanced)] [Requirement: Level 5] [+10 Defense, +5 Agility] ¡°A full blue-tier set!¡± Ye Qiu was delighted. Equipping a full set granted additional bonuses, making it even more powerful than a mix of higher-tiered items. Without hesitation, he equipped everything. The moment he donned the gear, Ye Qiu felt a rush of energy. His body felt lighter. His stance felt stronger. This wasn¡¯t an illusion. He had felt this exact sensation in his past life, but it had only happened ten days later, when the game merged with reality! ¡°Wait¡­¡± A chilling realization hit him. ¡°Did it happen early this time?!¡± Without hesitation, Ye Qiu logged out of the game. He had to confirm this for himself. Chapter 10 - The Game Comes to Reality Ahead of Time?! Chapter 10: The Game Comes to Reality Ahead of Time?! Ye Qiu opened his eyes and sat up in bed. Instinctively, he clenched his fist. ¡°This¡­ this¡­¡± He took a sharp breath. To his shock, he was wearing the same blue equipment set he had just obtained from the treasure chest in the game! The steel jacket, steel pants, steel boots, and even the steel sword placed beside him. ¡°What¡¯s going on?! ¡°Wasn¡¯t the game supposed to merge with reality in ten days? ¡°What¡¯s happening to me?!¡± Ye Qiu was utterly confused. He clearly remembered that in his previous life, even after reaching level 5 in the game and obtaining several white-grade equipment along with a single blue-grade item, none of it had carried over into the real world within those ten days. But now, everything had changed! Before he could fully process his shock, a data panel appeared before his eyes: [Character: One Leaf Knows Autumn] [Class: Swordsman] [Subclass: None] [Level: 5] [HP: 3,500] [MP: 3,500] [Attack: 70] [Defense: 75] [Agility: 35] Attributes: [Strength: 35] [Constitution: 35] [Agility: 40] [Spirit: 35] [Luck: 60 (Special Attribute)] [Reputation: 110] Equipment: [Steel Sword] [Steel Jacket] [Steel Pants] [Steel Boots] [Lynx Bone Ring] Inventory: [Coward¡¯s Cloak (Unidentified)] [Lynx Kingdom Ruins (Unidentified)] [Herbalist Shopkeeper¡¯s Lost Prescription (Quest Item)] Active Skills: [Slash (Lv.1): 2/500 EXP ¨C Increases attack by 10 when used.] [Heavenly Eye (Lv.1): 13/5000 EXP ¨C Reveals information about all visible objects, detects hidden traps, uncovers secrets, and reveals concealed entities.] [Special Skills: None] [Pets: None] [Guild: None] [Fixed Stat Points: 50] [Unassigned Stat Points: 50] Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°This is¡­¡± Ye Qiu was stunned. ¡°This is my in-game character¡¯s data?!¡± His mind was in chaos. He could have misremembered other things, but he would never mistake the timing of the game¡¯s integration with reality! In his past life, this only happened ten days after the game servers shut down. That was when everything from the game began to descend upon reality. But now¡­ it had all happened early?! Ye Qiu immediately turned on the TV and checked the internet. However, aside from discussions about the ¡°brain-implanted game¡±, there was no mention of ¡°game items appearing in reality.¡± Taking a deep breath, he murmured, ¡°Am I the only one who experienced this early? No¡­ there¡¯s another possibility. Other players are still low-level, with barely any equipment, so they haven¡¯t noticed the change yet.¡± Regardless of the reason, this was an anomaly. Just then, his phone lit up with several missed calls from unknown numbers. Ye Qiu frowned. Checking the caller ID, he saw they were all from his city. Which meant¡­ they were likely people he knew. But he didn¡¯t return the calls. Instead, he opened his messaging app. Instantly, multiple notification sounds popped up. Aside from a few class group chats, he saw one particularly familiar name: ¡°Born Cute.¡± The sender had a female gender tag and had bombarded him with ten messages: 8 hours ago ¨C Born Cute: ¡°What do you mean by that?!¡± 8 hours ago ¨C Born Cute: ¡°Ye Qiu, explain yourself clearly!¡± 6 hours ago ¨C Born Cute: ¡°Where are you? Hiding like a coward?!¡± 6 hours ago ¨C Born Cute: ¡°Come out!!!¡± 5 hours ago ¨C Born Cute: ¡°I heard about your family situation from classmates, but that doesn¡¯t mean you can just say whatever you want.¡± 3 hours ago ¨C Born Cute: ¡°Are you mentally stressed because of the countdown? Is that why you¡¯re talking nonsense?¡± 2 hours ago ¨C Born Cute: ¡°As class president, I should support my classmates. Are you facing some kind of trouble?¡± 30 minutes ago ¨C Born Cute: ¡°The countdown ended. It¡¯s just a game, not the end of the world. No need to be so anxious!¡± 10 minutes ago ¨C Born Cute: ¡°Say something! Are you okay?¡± 5 minutes ago ¨C Born Cute: ¡°I asked a classmate for your number and called over ten times, but you¡¯re not picking up. If you don¡¯t reply, I¡¯ll come find you myself!¡± Ye Qiu paused. It was clear now. This ¡°Born Cute¡± was Su Xintong, his high school class president. His memory of her was vague, mainly because they had barely interacted. In three years of high school, they had exchanged less than three sentences. His impression of her boiled down to three things: Proud, beautiful, and nosy. Of course, his strongest memory of her was that scene in his past life. The moment when Su Xintong was impaled by a Giant Hornet¡¯s venomous stinger, pinned to a wall¡­ After a moment of reflection, Ye Qiu¡¯s heart felt an unfamiliar warmth. Two lifetimes¡­ and he had rarely experienced genuine concern from others. After hesitating, he finally replied with two words, ¡°Thank you.¡± Almost immediately, a reply came: [Born Cute: I thought something happened to you! You scared me!][Born Cute: If you have any problems, just say it! We¡¯re classmates, we should help each other! And as class president, it¡¯s my duty!][Born Cute: Alright, since you¡¯re fine, I won¡¯t nag anymore.] Ye Qiu exhaled. Then, he typed back: [Class president, listen to me. You need to level up as quickly as possible in the game. Remember, you only have ten days.] He had been monitoring the news for hours. Everything was still calm, which meant that, so far, he was the only one who had brought in-game stats into reality! ¡ª Somewhere else in a girls¡¯ dormitory¡­ Inside a spacious dormitory, several bunk beds were occupied by sleeping students. A lone girl sat on her bed, scrolling through her phone. She looked about 17 or 18 years old, but her features carried an air of mature elegance. With large, bright eyes, flawless fair skin, and a silky white hoodie that accentuated her snow-white complexion, she looked like a princess straight out of a fairytale. Her figure was tall and slender, her waist delicate, exuding a mix of elegance and seduction. Yet, at this moment, her pouting lips added a touch of adorable innocence. She was none other than Su Xintong. As she stared at Ye Qiu¡¯s last message, her delicate brows furrowed¡­ then relaxed¡­ then furrowed again. Her expression was conflicted. ¡°Is he crazy again?¡± she muttered, ¡°All that concern for nothing. Now he¡¯s back to talking nonsense.¡± This time, she didn¡¯t bother replying. Nor did she get angry. Instead¡­ she felt a little sorry for him. She had asked around about his background. Ye Qiu¡¯s parents had died in an accident three years ago. Since then¡­ he had been an orphan. No wonder he was so withdrawn at school. As for his latest message? She didn¡¯t take it seriously. She had zero interest in games, especially this one where pain felt real. She hated pain. Glancing around the dorm at her sleeping roommates, Su Xintong sighed. ¡°Are they really this obsessed with the game?¡± Chapter 11 - You Can Bring Real Items Into the Game? Chapter 11: You Can Bring Real Items Into the Game? The time ratio between reality and the game was 1:10. Ye Qiu logged out for half an hour. He confirmed that he was the only one who had obtained game data in reality ahead of time. ¡°Why is this happening?¡± Ye Qiu casually crushed a macadamia nut. He popped the kernel into his mouth, chewing on it. He really couldn¡¯t figure it out, so he stopped thinking about it. Rather than wasting time pondering, it was better to seize every second and become stronger! Ten days in reality, a hundred days in the game. Then the apocalypse would arrive! At that moment, the Earth would rapidly expand. This was due to the fusion of the Trial City with Earth. The Trial City was simply too massive! It was the size of dozens of Earths! After the fusion, due to Earth¡¯s expansion, all existing buildings, roads, rivers, and seas would be shattered! All of human civilization would be destroyed! In the end, people would have to follow the rules of the Trial City! ¡°Right!¡± Ye Qiu suddenly thought of something. He quickly opened his inventory. Sure enough, the game inventory was accessible! The items inside could be taken out freely! Ye Qiu grabbed his phone, remote control, dried fruit, keychain¡­ In short, everything he could reach. He stuffed them all into his game inventory! Then, he logged back in. He entered the game! ¡°Holy shit!!!¡± As soon as he entered the game, Ye Qiu immediately checked his inventory and was shocked to discover that the items he had stored from the real world had actually been transferred into the game! This was something that had never happened in his previous life! And it shouldn¡¯t have been possible! Ye Qiu¡¯s breathing quickened. A bold idea emerged in his mind! Since Ye Qiu had stayed in reality for half an hour, that meant about five hours had passed in the game. The sky had dimmed slightly. At night, monsters could be hunted and unique nocturnal creatures would appear! Of course, the difficulty would increase significantly! It would be much harder than during the day! Ye Qiu wasted no time. He first ran to an herb-gathering area. There weren¡¯t many players around since the server had just launched. Even though nearly a full day had passed, very few players had been able to accept gathering quests or learn Gathering. The herb-gathering quest went smoothly. The Breathroot in this area was a common medicinal herb. In no time at all, Ye Qiu collected ten stalks of Breathroot and completed the quest. ¡°Next, I need to complete the village chief¡¯s quest to collect twenty tiger whips, as well as the blacksmith Zhang Tie¡¯s lost ¡®Mysterious Iron¡¯ quest. Especially the latter since that¡¯s a rare quest!¡± Relying on his past life¡¯s memories, Ye Qiu headed toward the area where tiger monsters gathered. Upon arrival, he saw at least hundreds of players gathered together and fighting against a group of tiger monsters! The battle was intense! Roars and screams echoed nonstop! The scene was brutal! It was extremely bloody! ¡°Heavenly Eye!¡± Ye Qiu scanned the tiger monsters as well as the players leading the fight. [Common Monster: Green-Eyed Tiger] [Level: 10] [HP: 800] [Preference: Various meats.] ¨D¨D [Player: Thousand Faces Gentleman] [Class: Mage] [Level: 4] [HP: 2500] ¨D¨D [Player: Alley Bully] [Class: Warrior] [Level: 3] [HP: 2400] ¨D¨D [Player: Adorable Sunny Moon] [Class: Priest] [Level: 3] [HP: 2000] ¡­¡­ ¡°Thousand Faces Gentleman?¡± Ye Qiu focused on a young man wearing a light blue mage robe. The name seemed familiar. Oh. He remembered! One of the legendary ¡°Mage Gods¡± from his past life! He had once single-handedly taken on three level 50 epic bosses and fought relentlessly for seven days and seven nights until he finally fell! Ye Qiu had great admiration for such people. Even though his past life had been filled with darkness and human cruelty, there were still moments of heroism and glory! Many human heroes had emerged! And Thousand Faces Gentleman was definitely one of them! ¡° what a loss!¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman looked at the battlefield littered with corpses. Player bodies were piled up, but only three Green-Eyed Tigers had been killed. The gap was too large! ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s not waste any more money.¡± The player named ¡°Adorable Sunny Moon¡± was a girl, familiar with Thousand Faces Gentleman, and tried to persuade him. These hundreds of players had all been recruited through a forum post by Thousand Faces Gentleman. Each person earned 100 credits per hour. For every death, they received an extra 100 credits. As for equipment, that was calculated separately. The costs would be split among all participants. The recruitment goal was to have them attack the Green-Eyed Tigers. Once the monsters were low on health, Thousand Faces Gentleman would land the final hit. Thanks to this strategy, his level had already reached 4 and he had several blue-quality pieces of gear! Money, no matter when or where, was always powerful! ¡°Is it really a waste of money?¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman shook his head and said, ¡°When the countdown in our minds reached zero, and when everyone saw this game appear, every investment made in this game became worth it!¡± Adorable Sunny Moon sighed helplessly. ¡°Aside from being a virtual game, I don¡¯t see how this is any different from the other MMOs you play.¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman chuckled. ¡°The difference is huge! At the very least, with current human technology, even in another fifty years, we wouldn¡¯t be able to create a virtual game with this level of realism! ¡°Plus, this game has been implanted in the minds of everyone worldwide, even newborn babies. That alone makes it unbeatable! ¡°That¡¯s why smart people have already seized the opportunity. Not just me, other wealthy individuals are also exploring the game¡¯s potential and business opportunities!¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman never denied that he was rich. In other MMOs, he was often called the ¡°Ultimate Big Spender¡± because he threw money around recklessly in games. Sometimes, just out of spite, he would spend several times the normal price to buy something completely useless! ¡°Alright, I don¡¯t really understand this stuff. But since you¡¯re determined, I¡¯ll support you!¡± Adorable Sunny Moon smiled sweetly. Thousand Faces Gentleman also smiled and was about to reply. Suddenly¡­ The ground trembled violently. In an instant, every player in the area froze. In their eyes, a colossal figure was reflected! A massive creature was stomping toward them with terrifying speed! ¡°Shit! Run!¡± A player immediately reacted. Backing away quickly, Thousand Faces Gentleman¡¯s face turned pale. He hurriedly called for everyone to retreat! Some players tried logging out, hoping to escape the imminent danger. But the game¡¯s rules did not allow it. Once the system deemed a player to be in combat, logging out wouldn¡¯t make their character disappear. Instead, they would just stand there! And after dying, both experience and equipment would drop at double the normal rate! ¡°Shit! It¡¯s actually¡­!¡± Ye Qiu also saw the massive creature. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, he turned around ready to flee! Chapter 12 - The Tiger Demon Massacre Chapter 12: The Tiger Demon Massacre ¡°Heavenly Eye!¡± Ye Qiu activated Heavenly Eye. Almost immediately, information about the massive creature appeared before his eyes. [Rare BOSS ¨C Deep Mountain Tiger Demon] [Level: 15] S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [HP: 12,000] [Skills: Tiger¡¯s Roar Shakes the Forest, Poisonous Miasma Ground] [Preference: Various meats] ¡°So it¡¯s this thing!¡± Ye Qiu instantly remembered. In his past life, right after the game launched, a major event had occurred ¡ª the Tiger Demon Apocalypse incident! A single Level 15 Rare BOSS had fought against a thousand players. And in the end, the Deep Mountain Tiger Demon remained unscathed, while all one thousand players perished on Tiger Mountain! There was nothing they could do. The players were simply too weak at this stage. Even if tens of thousands of players at their current levels gathered together, they wouldn¡¯t be able to break through the Deep Mountain Tiger Demon¡¯s defense. At that time, Ye Qiu had been in a different novice village, so he hadn¡¯t witnessed it firsthand. But the event was such a huge sensation that he had seen it all over the forums. ¡°Run!¡± Ye Qiu took off at full speed. A person should know their limits. Previously, he had only managed to kill the Level 10 Giant Lynx King BOSS because he had known its weakness and taken advantage of the terrain. That was the only reason he had slowly worn it down to death! As for the Deep Mountain Tiger Demon in front of him, that was a Rare BOSS! In the game¡¯s hierarchy, BOSS ranks from lowest to highest were: Normal BOSS ¡ú Rare BOSS ¡ú Epic BOSS ¡ú Legendary BOSS! And the difference between each rank was huge! To put it simply, a single Rare BOSS like the Deep Mountain Tiger Demon was equivalent to 50 Normal BOSSes like the Giant Lynx King! That was not an exaggeration. Level differences also played a huge role in the power gap. It was completely unreasonable! Ye Qiu kept his distance at the outskirts of Tiger Mountain, watching from afar just like the other spectators. He had high Agility and could run fast, but not all players were that lucky, especially those caught in the center of Tiger Mountain, including Thousand Faces Gentleman and his team. They had nowhere to run! ¡ª The Deep Mountain Tiger Demon unleashed its skill, Tiger¡¯s Roar Shakes the Forest! A thunderous roar erupted, deafening, overwhelming! Every player froze in place! This was a unique sonic attack of the Tiger Demon! The damage wasn¡¯t particularly high, but at this stage, it was enough to one-shot most low-level players. The worst part was the skill¡¯s ¡°Daze¡± effect! Even enemies of the same level would be stunned. If their Spirit attribute was even slightly too low, they would be completely paralyzed! Unable to move! Immediately after, the Tiger Demon used another skill, Poisonous Miasma Ground! In the blink of an eye, dark purple gas spewed from its mouth and body. ¡°AAAHHH!¡± Some players, just beginning to recover, touched the poison gas and immediately screamed in agony! ¡°Shit!¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman was among them. He only had time to curse before the purple miasma engulfed him. His skin broke out in festering sores, and he died a gruesome death on the spot! The slaughter lasted less than ten minutes. All across Tiger Mountain, even in some parts of the outer area, player corpses were everywhere! Thousands of them! Mixed in with all the dropped equipment, it was a dense, horrific sight! Some players didn¡¯t even get the chance to drop items, they were simply eaten alive by the Tiger Demon. Three to four at a time! As for the dropped gear, no one dared to pick it up. Right now, anyone who approached would be throwing their life away! Before long, Thousand Faces Gentleman and his group respawned and rushed back. ¡°My blue gear!!¡± ¡°Thousand Faces Gentleman, you better take responsibility for this!¡± ¡°I worked so hard to reach Level 1, and now I¡¯m back to Level 0!¡± ¡°Pay up! Pay up!!!¡± The recruited players surrounded Thousand Faces Gentleman, demanding compensation. He quickly reassured them, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this death still counts for payment. If your dropped equipment was damaged, I¡¯ll reimburse you at market price!¡± Immediately, the other players clamored. ¡°Thousand Faces Gentleman is the real deal!¡± ¡°Rich guy, you¡¯re awesome!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sticking with you from now on!¡± The players instantly went from angry to overjoyed. However, Thousand Faces Gentleman felt a deep ache in his heart but not because of the money. In the early stages of the game, everything was cheap. This amount was nothing to him. What hurt was that he had died once! He had lost a ton of EXP. From Level 4, he was back down to Level 3! Now he would have to put in extra time and effort just to catch up to other players at his original level. As for the spectators who got caught in the crossfire? They could only grit their teeth in frustration! Next time, they wouldn¡¯t casually watch a fight again! ¡ª By the time Ye Qiu got back to the village, the sky had turned completely dark. At the village entrance, there was still an endless line of players. It was a queue so long you couldn¡¯t see the end of it. Ye Qiu couldn¡¯t help but sigh. It reminded him of his past life. Back then, he had been just like these players, waiting in line for hours just to receive quests! In the end, he got so frustrated that he gave up and became a casual player instead. Now, Ye Qiu pulled out the Coward¡¯s Cloak and draped it over his head, concealing his face. This orange-tier Epic gear hadn¡¯t been appraised yet, so for now, it only functioned as normal clothing. Then, under the shocked gazes of the queuing players, Ye Qiu walked straight to the front and spoke first to Elder Xu. ¡°Elder Xu, can you appraise this item?¡± Before Elder Xu could respond, the players in line burst out laughing! Some were amused. Others were mocking. Because according to game rules, if a player cut in line, they would be struck by divine lightning as punishment! And their NPC favorability would plummet! From that moment on, they would never be able to receive any quests again! In some cases, the punishment was even harsher. One mother-daughter duo, after too many violations, had their accounts permanently deleted! ¡°This guy must be a newbie.¡± ¡°Just wait. The NPC is about to curse him out!¡± ¡°If he doesn¡¯t leave, the system will strike him down with divine punishment!¡± ¡°If he gets hit three times, his account will be erased forever!¡± No one warned Ye Qiu. In real life, if someone cut in line, people would explode in anger, maybe even start a fight. But in the game, the system handled it. Players were happy to watch someone get punished! However, what happened next left everyone stunned. Elder Xu looked at the hooded player, and instead of scolding him, he smiled warmly! The players were dumbfounded. They had waited in line for so long but never had they seen Elder Xu smile at anyone! Some had even prayed for him to just not be angry. After all, this game¡¯s NPCs had real personalities. They behaved like real people! But now¡­ Chapter 13 - Appraisal Requires 1000 Gold Coins?! Chapter 13: Appraisal Requires 1000 Gold Coins?! ¡°What¡¯s this? Did you get a rare piece of equipment?¡± Elder Xu chuckled as he asked. Even though Ye Qiu was wearing a cloak, the village chief recognized him at a glance because hanging from Ye Qiu¡¯s waist was a ¡°Golden Pass.¡± This item was one of a kind in Newbie Village 0001, non-tradable, non-giftable, and could not be dropped. Ye Qiu nodded and pointed at the cloak on his head, saying, ¡°Besides this cloak, I also have a treasure map that needs appraisal.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Only now did Elder Xu turn his attention to the cloak Ye Qiu was wearing. But the moment he got a good look, his expression changed drastically! Originally seated, Elder Xu suddenly shot to his feet! Then, his face showed utter shock as he stared at Ye Qiu¡¯s cloak, stammering, ¡°T-This is¡­ the Coward¡¯s Cloak?!¡± Ye Qiu was delighted. ¡°You recognize it? That¡¯s the name, indeed! Can you appraise it?¡± In his past life, he never obtained any high-level equipment. He had never encountered an ¡°unidentified¡± piece of gear before. He had only seen others showing off high-level, appraisal-needed gear on the forums. Elder Xu took a deep breath, suppressing his shock. After a long pause, he finally said, ¡°I never expected you to obtain this item¡­ You must be incredibly lucky. But as for appraising it. I can¡¯t do it.¡± ¡°Huh?!¡± Ye Qiu was instantly disappointed. Everyone knew that village chiefs were the strongest figures in novice villages. They had the greatest strength, the most profound abilities, and the highest authority. That was why they were the guardians of the village, respected by all other NPCs. So, if even Elder Xu couldn¡¯t appraise it, that meant Ye Qiu had no choice but to wait until level 10 and travel to a major city to find a stronger NPC for the appraisal. Fortunately, Elder Xu continued after a short pause, ¡°While I personally cannot appraise it, I do have several ¡®High-Level Appraisal Scrolls¡¯ on hand. With these, the process will be easy.¡± As he spoke, he had already taken out a scroll. Ye Qiu immediately used Heavenly Eye to check its details. [Item: High-Level Appraisal Scroll] [Effect: Can appraise equipment or special items up to 10 levels above the user. (Excludes Legendary Equipment.)] Below that, there was a price tag. [¡ªSold by Newbie Village¡¯s Elder Xu. Price: 1000 Gold.] ¡°A thousand gold?!¡± Ye Qiu quickly checked his inventory. He barely had a dozen gold coins to his name. In his past life, even a high-level blue-tier weapon only sold for a few dozen gold. A purple rare-tier weapon was worth about a thousand gold at most. And yet, a single appraisal scroll cost 1000 gold?! Elder Xu cleared his throat and said, ¡°That¡¯s the pricing in Novice Village. If you think it¡¯s too expensive, you can wait until level 10, travel to a major city, and find an appraiser there. The cost will be much lower.¡± His expression clearly said: ¡°Take it or leave it.¡± Ye Qiu felt helpless. Without another word, he turned and left. Appraisal was a must. But first, He needed to make some money. After Ye Qiu left, Elder Xu glanced at the sky and waved his hand. ¡°It¡¯s late. Everyone, come back tomorrow.¡± After that, he turned and walked back into the village. A magical barrier protected the entrance. Any player who tried to force their way in would die instantly. ¡°Damn it! I waited in line for five hours, and now you¡¯re just telling me to leave?!¡± ¡°Why could that guy cut in line, but we have to wait?¡± ¡°Yeah, what gives?!¡± ¡°Why wasn¡¯t that player kicked out? Why didn¡¯t the system punish him? This is weird!¡± ¡°Could he not be a player? Maybe he¡¯s an NPC?¡± ¡°Definitely an NPC!¡± ¡°Yeah, this game is way too fair for there to be favoritism!¡± Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Quick! Follow that NPC! He might have a quest!¡± Many players started complaining. When the topic shifted to Ye Qiu, a lot of them began speculating that he wasn¡¯t actually a player. After all, the game had just launched. Everyone started from the same point. There was no reason for any player to get special treatment! Meanwhile, Ye Qiu had arrived near Tiger Mountain. The Rare BOSS Deep Mountain Tiger Demon had already finished its rampage. The sky had grown completely dark. As a result, there were hardly any players left in the area. However, Thousand Faces Gentleman was still there. Beside him was his companion, Adorable Sunny. The two of them were chatting. ¡°I just found out that Zhao Mingyuan¡¯s group is already level 5!¡± Adorable Sunny said. ¡°What the hell?!¡± Hearing that, Thousand Faces Gentleman was furious, then let out a sigh. ¡°If that damn BOSS hadn¡¯t shown up, even if I hadn¡¯t hit level 5, I wouldn¡¯t have lost a level! Now the gap is just getting bigger!¡± Adorable Sunny quickly comforted him. ¡°Don¡¯t be discouraged! I heard they¡¯ve already spent millions on leveling up!¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman was stunned. ¡°Millions?! Why so much?¡± He had recruited hundreds of players to power-level him, but he had only spent a few hundred thousand so far. He already thought spending that much on the first day was insane. But now, he realized, some people had gone even crazier. Adorable Sunny explained, ¡°Apparently, they found a new method involving NPCs. They¡¯re using NPCs to help them level up.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°What method?¡± Adorable Sunny shook her head in frustration. ¡°I couldn¡¯t find out¡­ Their secrecy is airtight. But by tomorrow, someone will probably leak it.¡± ¡°Tomorrow¡­¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman sighed. ¡°One step behind, and I¡¯ll keep falling further. By tomorrow, the gap will only widen.¡± He was already thinking about giving up. But just then, a voice interrupted, ¡°I know the method they¡¯re using.¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman and Adorable Sunny turned their heads. They saw a figure ¡ª a player wearing a hooded cloak ¡ª slowly approaching. Chapter 14 - Only 5000 gold? Chapter 14: Only 5000 gold? ¡°Who Are You?¡± As the cloaked player approached, Thousand Faces Gentleman and Adorable Sunny became slightly wary. Even though this was just a game, conflicts could arise easily. Competing players often sabotaged each other, sending people to interfere with their rivals. Given the dark night and the mysterious figure hiding their identity under a hood, it was hard not to be suspicious. However, Thousand Faces Gentleman wasn¡¯t too concerned. Even though he had been demoted to level 3, he was still among the top players in this novice village. Moreover, there were two of them and only one of the cloaked player. ¡°Want to Cooperate?¡± Ye Qiu stopped three meters away from them and spoke calmly, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who I am. The real question is, do you want to cooperate?¡± Since other players didn¡¯t have the Heavenly Eye skill like him, as long as he wore the cloak, no one could identify him. Before Thousand Faces Gentleman could respond, Adorable Sunny sneered, ¡°Who do you think you are? Do you even qualify to talk about cooperation with us?¡± Her tone was arrogant. In reality, she and Thousand Faces Gentleman held privileged backgrounds. Ye Qiu only spared her a glance. She looked decent, but her words were sharp and mean. In his past life, he had no memory of this woman being by Thousand Faces Gentleman¡¯s side. That probably meant she didn¡¯t last long. Ignoring her, Ye Qiu continued, ¡°I¡¯m not talking to you. I¡¯m offering cooperation to Thousand Faces Gentleman alone.¡± ¡°You!¡± Adorable Sunny glared at him, about to retort, but Thousand Faces Gentleman raised his hand, signaling her to stop. He turned to Ye Qiu with a faint smile. ¡°Friend, cooperation isn¡¯t something that can be established with just a few words. We need to see what each of us brings to the table.¡± In his mind, he wasn¡¯t taking this mysterious player seriously. The game had just launched, and countless people ¡ª both in-game and in real life ¡ª had already tried to partner with him. Many even begged to follow him. Adorable Sunny immediately added, ¡°Exactly! We¡¯re busy. We don¡¯t have time for just anyone to come and waste it.¡± Ye Qiu ignored her and stated, ¡°I know how those players are power-leveling so quickly. I can share the method with you. Is that enough sincerity?¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman paused for a moment before asking, ¡°How do I know you¡¯re not lying?¡± Adorable Sunny nodded in agreement, ¡°Exactly! Even I couldn¡¯t find out, so how would you know? You must be a scammer.¡± Ye Qiu smirked. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Not only will I tell you the real method, but I¡¯ll also help you regain level 4 tonight. You might even reach level 5.¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman fell silent, contemplating the credibility of Ye Qiu¡¯s words. Meanwhile, Adorable Sunny scoffed, ¡°Oh please, if such a method really exists, why aren¡¯t you using it yourself? Why are you so generous to share it? Are you some kind of saint?¡± Ye Qiu finally looked her in the eye and explained, ¡°This method involves NPCs and requires a lot of effort and money. I need money, and you have it. So, I¡¯m offering a trade.¡± Adorable Sunny snorted in disdain, clearly thinking Ye Qiu was just a fraud. Seeing Thousand Faces Gentleman still hesitating, Ye Qiu added, ¡°You¡¯re not the only one in this village trying to level up fast. If you don¡¯t want to work with me, I¡¯ll just find someone else.¡± With that, he turned to leave. Ye Qiu had approached Thousand Faces Gentleman first because, in his past life, this man had a great reputation. He had even sacrificed himself for humanity, making him a true hero. Naturally, someone like that was an ideal first choice for cooperation. As Ye Qiu was about to walk away, Thousand Faces Gentleman finally snapped out of his thoughts. ¡°Wait a moment!¡± Ye Qiu paused and turned back. Thousand Faces Gentleman asked, ¡°How much do you want?¡± Ye Qiu replied, ¡°5000 gold coins.¡± He had two items that needed appraisal. With 5000 coins, he could buy three extra High-Level Appraisla Scrolls for future needs. ¡°5000 Gold Coins?¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman was surprised. ¡°You mean in-game currency?¡± Ye Qiu nodded. ¡°Yes, only in-game currency.¡± That intrigued Thousand Faces Gentleman. Most players only cared about exchanging game currency for real money. It was rare to see someone asking for gold coins so early in the game. At this stage, the currency exchange rate was unstable. Some people traded at 1:10, while others went as high as 1:100. For Thousand Faces Gentleman, 5000 gold coins was a trivial amount. However, for Ye Qiu, it wasn¡¯t easy to obtain. The game had just launched, and many players didn¡¯t even have a single gold coin. But someone with extensive player resources, like Thousand Faces Gentleman, could gather the money easily. Meanwhile, Adorable Sunny looked at Ye Qiu as if he were an idiot. Fortunately, Ye Qiu clarified, ¡°5000 gold coins is just for this method. If you want more, there will be additional costs.¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman smiled confidently. ¡°I just need the method.¡± As long as he had the method, everything else could be managed. He then instructed Adorable Sunny to recruit players and exchange real money for in-game gold. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With only Ye Qiu and Thousand Faces Gentleman left, Ye Qiu finally revealed the secret. ¡°The method is simple. Gain favorability with NPCs. Once their goodwill reaches a certain threshold, you have a chance to invite them to form a party.¡± Hearing this, Thousand Faces Gentleman¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°So that¡¯s how they did it¡­¡± Chapter 15 - Coward’s Cloak Incredible Ability Chapter 15:Coward¡¯s Cloak Incredible Ability ¡°So that¡¯s how it is¡­¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman muttered to himself, ¡°No wonder Zhao Mingyuan and the others are leveling up so fast!¡± But soon, he asked, ¡°Then how do we improve our favorability with NPCs? So far, we¡¯ve only encountered the village chief, and the other NPCs are all inside the village. We can¡¯t even get in right now, so how are we supposed to interact with them?¡± Hearing this, Ye Qiu chuckled. ¡°That information will cost extra.¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman was momentarily stunned. He suddenly realized that he had just said he only needed the method. Everything else, he could figure out himself. It seemed he had overestimated himself. Sometimes, money wasn¡¯t everything. ¡°Then¡ª¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman was about to say something when Adorable Sunny, who had gone to exchange game currency, returned. ¡°Brother, it¡¯s done.¡± Ye Qiu glanced at the two of them. In this game, appearances were exactly the same as in reality. Of course, only natural looks counted. Even cosmetic surgery or injections would be nullified, returning people to their original appearance. When the game fully descended into reality, this rule would apply to everyone. Those who were disfigured were restored. Those who were disabled were healed. Those who were terminally ill were cured. This game was far from being just a game. The moment it truly arrived, everyone would realize it. But by then¡­ it would be too late. Thousand Faces Gentleman completed his transaction with Adorable Sunny and then sent a trade request to Ye Qiu. Ye Qiu received a system notification: [Player ¡°Thousand Faces Gentleman¡± has initiated a trade request with you. Accept?] Ye Qiu responded, ¡°Anonymous trade.¡± The trade interface opened. With a soft ding, Ye Qiu¡¯s gold count increased by 5,000 coins. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Thanks.¡± He waved at the siblings, preparing to leave. However, Thousand Faces Gentleman sent a friend request. Ye Qiu didn¡¯t refuse and added him anonymously. In this game, adding a friend only meant adding their nickname. Everything else depended on personal notes. If the other person remained anonymous, even the nickname had to be manually noted. Thousand Faces Gentleman labeled him as ¡°Mysterious Partner.¡± When he closed the interface, he realized Ye Qiu had already disappeared. ¡°Brother, what did he tell you?¡± Adorable Sunny, noticing her brother¡¯s puzzled expression, asked curiously. Thousand Faces Gentleman repeated Ye Qiu¡¯s words. After listening, Adorable Sunny nodded in realization. ¡°Right, I also heard rumors that leveling up fast is related to NPCs, but I didn¡¯t know the exact method. So, it¡¯s about increasing favorability with NPCs to form parties with them. That¡¯s an interesting strategy. Seems like he¡¯s not a scammer after all.¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman smiled wryly. ¡°He¡¯s not a scammer, but how do we improve NPC favorability? How do we even reach other NPCs? These are still problems.¡± Adorable Sunny froze. She had just realized that they could only interact with one NPC right now: the village chief, Elder Xu. As for the other NPCs, they were locked inside the village. And on top of that, even accessing the chief required waiting in line! No matter how rich or powerful they were in reality, in this game, they had to follow the rules. If they tried to cut in line, they¡¯d suffer the same consequences as anyone else. In this world, real-life status meant nothing. ¡°Now I see why he only asked for 5,000 gold coins! What a scammer!¡± Adorable Sunny gritted her teeth in frustration. However, there was nothing she could do. Thousand Faces Gentleman sighed, ¡°Let¡¯s try getting inside the village first or see if we can find NPCs wandering outside. If we can¡¯t, then we¡¯ll contact that mysterious player. I already added him as a friend.¡± ¡ª At that moment, Ye Qiu was heading straight for the village. The village chief, Elder Xu, was no longer at the entrance. But the players were still lined up, many of them sitting on the ground. They had no choice. Some had been waiting for hours. If they left now, all their effort would be wasted. If they came back tomorrow, they¡¯d have to start from scratch. Luckily, time in the game moved at a 1:10 ratio compared to reality. Even waiting in-game for an entire day only amounted to two hours in the real world. It wouldn¡¯t interfere too much with real-life activities. As Ye Qiu, still wearing his hooded cloak, casually walked past the line and into the village, ¡°See! I told you! That guy in the cloak is an NPC!¡± ¡°Only NPCs can bypass the line and enter freely!¡± ¡°Dammit! We should¡¯ve stopped him! He probably has a hidden quest!¡± ¡°Forget it, just keep waiting. Who knows when that damn village chief will come back out?¡± The players sighed and continued waiting. Thankfully, the game had an in-built forum. They could pass the time by browsing player discussions. Inside the village, Ye Qiu found Elder Xu washing his feet. Without hesitation, he initiated a trade for the 5,000 gold. In return, he received five High-Level Appraisal Scrolls. As Ye Qiu was about to leave, the village chief gave him a parting message, ¡°This cloak is special. Use it wisely.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Ye Qiu immediately sensed a hidden quest opportunity. He was about to probe further, but before he could say another word, Elder Xu dumped his foot-washing water and rushed back inside, slamming the door shut. It was as if he was afraid Ye Qiu would barge in after him. Ye Qiu rolled his eyes, then he took off his cloak. He unfurled one of the High-Level Appraisal Scrolls. As the two items merged, a glowing light engulfed the cloak. In an instant, the appraisal scroll vanished and the cloak in Ye Qiu¡¯s hands radiated a dazzling orange glow. He checked the item stats immediately. [Coward¡¯s Cloak (Orange Epic)]: No equipment requirement. Agility +100. Skill: ¡°Tactical Retreat¡±¡ªImmediately disengage from battle and teleport a short distance away.] ¡°Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit!¡± Ye Qiu¡¯s eyes widened in shock. His breath almost stopped. He remembered this item! On the forums, players once ranked the strongest equipment. Among all the orange-tier items, this cloak had dominated the rankings. At the time, no one knew its name, only its stats. It was rumored that the player who owned it deliberately hid its details. Back then, many doubted its existence. The ability seemed too overpowered, possibly fabricated. Because this gear was simply too broken. With this cloak and its bonuses, unless facing an opponent multiple levels higher, he was practically invincible. No matter how dangerous the situation, as long as he wasn¡¯t completely suppressed, he could always escape with Tactical Retreat. Now, holding the real thing in his hands, Ye Qiu still felt like he was dreaming. ¡°Just the +100 agility is already ridiculous. But combined with this absurd skill, this is even more valuable than some legendary-tier equipment!¡± Ye Qiu took a deep breath. He put the cloak back on. Instantly, a wave of lightness surged through his body. Chapter 16 - This NPC is Really Awesome! Chapter 16: This NPC is Really Awesome! Ye Qiu tried running a lap along the village path. Goodness! His movement speed was practically taking off! A normal person could run about 400 meters in a minute. But right now, Ye Qiu felt like he could cover 4000 meters in the same time without breaking a sweat! It was like he had transformed into a full-throttle race car! ¡°No, this is still too weak¡­¡± Ye Qiu calmed his excitement. Thinking back to his previous life, there had been sonic-speed monsters, light-speed demons, and other terrifying beings! Compared to them, he was still incredibly weak! Then, he took out the treasure map labeled Lynx Kingdom Ruin. He used a High-Level Appraisal Scroll to identify it. Soon, a warm glow radiated from the treasure map. The information was revealed. [Lynx Kingdom Ruin (Epic Treasure Map): A map leading to the Ruins of the Lynx Kingdom.] ¡°An epic-grade treasure map?!¡± Ye Qiu was stunned. It wasn¡¯t surprising that he felt this way. Even in his previous life, twenty years later, there had never been any records of an epic-grade treasure map on the forums. Ye Qiu examined the map carefully. Unfortunately, it only displayed a small section of the route. In other words, unless he was near the Lynx Kingdom Ruins, this map was as good as useless! But Ye Qiu wasn¡¯t disappointed. He was self-aware enough to know that with his current level, even if he could reach the Lynx Kingdom Ruins right now, it would be a wasted effort! Because he wasn¡¯t strong enough! Moreover, in this game, treasure maps were akin to keys. Most of the time, they could only be used once! If he died at the destination, he¡¯d have to find a new treasure map to enter again. And who knew? This might be the only Lynx Kingdom Ruins map in existence! After all, he had never even heard of it in his previous life! Maybe the player who originally obtained it did manage to reach the destination, but in the end, perished there. After the game descended upon Earth, players only had one life! If they died, there was no coming back. Without lingering further, Ye Qiu made his way out of the novice village. ¡ª Village entrance¡­ Thousand Faces Gentleman and Adorable Sunny stood off to the side, staring at the endless line of players and could only sigh in frustration. ¡°Let¡¯s just stick to our original leveling method,¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman said bitterly. The original method was recruiting other players. But now, they had learned a new method yet they couldn¡¯t use it. It was like having a fishbone stuck in their throat, unbearably frustrating! Adorable Sunny huffed angrily. ¡°What if I go find Zhao Mingyuan in the real world and ask him how to contact NPCs?¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman knocked his sister on the head and said, ¡°Are you crazy?! That¡¯s walking right into the tiger¡¯s den! You know exactly what kind of person Zhao Mingyuan is! And this is just a virtual game. It¡¯s not worth sucking up to that guy.¡± Adorable Sunny rubbed her head and then muttered in a downcast tone, ¡°I heard¡­ Dad already made a deal with the Zhao family¡­ He¡¯s going to marry me off to them. A family alliance.¡± At that moment, Thousand Faces Gentleman¡¯s expression changed drastically. He wanted to say something, but in the end, he fell silent. Born into a prestigious family like theirs, neither men nor women had the freedom to choose their marriage partners. He had always known this, but he was powerless to change it! Soon, Adorable Sunny forced a smile, trying to appear carefree. ¡°Actually, marrying Zhao Mingyuan isn¡¯t that bad. We grew up in the same compound, so at least I know what kind of person he is¡­¡± Before she could finish, Thousand Faces Gentleman interrupted anxiously, ¡°But he has an STD! He sleeps with a different girl every day of the year!¡± Adorable Sunny just chuckled softly. ¡°And? I already know that. Can I change it?¡± The siblings were still talking when a commotion broke out among the players in line. They instinctively turned to look and saw a familiar figure casually walking out of the novice village! ¡°I-It¡¯s him!¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman¡¯s eyes narrowed. Adorable Sunny also looked stunned. The figure walking out was none other than the mysterious player who had briefly ¡°collaborated¡± with them and shared the method for leveling up quickly! He wore that iconic cloak. There was no way they could mistake him! ¡°Big bro! Do you have any quests?!¡± ¡°NPC daddy, please give us a mission!¡± ¡°NPC grandpa, can you take us into the village?!¡± ¡­ Dozens, no, hundreds of players swarmed Ye Qiu and blocked his way! Ye Qiu was dumbfounded. However, he didn¡¯t dwell on it. Instead, he decided to test something. ¡°Tactical Retreat!¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In an instant, Ye Qiu¡¯s figure vanished from the crowd! ¡°Holy crap! He disappeared?!¡± ¡°Damn, this NPC is amazing!¡± ¡°He must be a super high-level NPC!¡± ¡°Ugh, too bad he won¡¯t give us any quests¡­¡± ¡°Damn it! You stole my spot in line!¡± ¡°Well, you left, so it¡¯s mine now!¡± ¡°Screw you!¡± A bolt of black lightning struck down. The arguing player screamed in agony before turning into a charred corpse. Meanwhile, Thousand Faces Gentleman and Adorable Sunny weren¡¯t paying attention to the brawl. Instead, they stared at each other. Both saw the shock and confusion in the other¡¯s eyes. ¡°Bro¡­ That guy¡­ Is he really an NPC?¡± Adorable Sunny asked hesitantly. Thousand Faces Gentleman shook his head firmly. ¡°No! He¡¯s definitely a player! He HAS to be a player!¡± Despite his words, there was an unmistakable hint of doubt in his eyes. Hurriedly, he opened his friends list. He found the contact labeled ¡°Mysterious Partner¡± and sent a voice message. Meanwhile, Ye Qiu had reappeared on a hillside about 100 meters away from the novice village. ¡°Damn, that¡¯s awesome!¡± He had just tested Tactical Retreat and it was seriously overpowered! After activating it, he was given a map view of the battlefield. Then, by focusing his thoughts on a chosen location, he would instantly teleport there! Of course the skill had a cooldown. It could only be used three times per day. However, unused charges could carry over. Meaning if he didn¡¯t use it today, tomorrow, he¡¯d have six uses. Insane! Just then¡­ [Your friend ¡°Thousand Faces Gentleman¡± has sent you a voice message. Accept?] Ye Qiu tapped ¡°Accept.¡± Chapter 17 - Purchase Items in Real Life and Bring Them into the Game! Chapter 17: Purchase Items in Real Life and Bring Them into the Game! Thousand Faces Gentleman (Voice Message): ¡°Brother, are you really a player?¡± Ye Qiu thought for a moment and then replied with a voice message: ¡°I¡¯m both a player and not a player.¡± That statement wasn¡¯t wrong. At this point, he could already bring everything he obtained in the game into the real world. Could he still be considered just a player? Not to mention, he was a reborn individual who knew what was going to happen in the future. Ten days from now, all players would lose their status as ¡°players¡±! They would become just like normal people in reality. Death would be true and permanent! As for Thousand Faces Gentleman, Ye Qiu wanted to cooperate with him. The main goal was to make money! As well as to develop some connections. In the future, Thousand Faces Gentleman would wield considerable influence in the real world. When the apocalypse arrived, countless people would be displaced, human civilization would be in ruins, and there would hardly be a safe place to live! Only the strong could establish relatively stable sanctuaries. Thousand Faces Gentleman was one of those strong individuals. He even built a shelter of his own. Previously, Ye Qiu had voluntarily told Thousand Faces Gentleman about a new leveling method. That was to establish a foundation for future cooperation between them. However, this information wasn¡¯t particularly valuable. Because, in his past life, the same method became widely known just one day later. For that reason, 5,000 gold coins was a reasonable price. Of course, that was just an appetizer! Ye Qiu was confident that soon enough, Thousand Faces Gentleman would be chasing after him, actively seeking further collaboration! ¡ª Meanwhile, Thousand Faces Gentleman listened to Ye Qiu¡¯s voice message. He froze on the spot. ¡°Brother, what did he say?¡± Beside him, Adorable Sunny quickly asked. Thousand Faces Gentleman snapped out of his daze and repeated Ye Qiu¡¯s words, ¡°I asked if he was a player, and he replied, ¡®I am a player, and I am not a player.''¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Adorable Sunny blurted out. Then, the two of them, having played many games before, quickly understood what he meant. Thousand Faces Gentleman nodded and said, ¡°Most likely, he¡¯s a player. After all, we still don¡¯t know whether NPCs can add friends.¡± Adorable Sunny asked, ¡°So what should we do next?¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman thought for a moment before answering, ¡°That guy can enter and leave the village freely. He must have a special method. I plan to seek his help. Right now, we need to use every second to level up, or we¡¯ll fall too far behind the others in power leveling!¡± ¡ª Meanwhile, Ye Qiu suddenly logged out. His main reason for logging in earlier was to test something ¡ª to see if real-world objects could be brought into the game. The results proved that it was possible! So, Ye Qiu began preparing. Recalling past strategies from his previous life, after the game merged with reality, certain real-world items could also be equipped to fight monsters! Guns, of course, were the best option. But, right now, there was no way for Ye Qiu to get his hands on one. So¡­ Ye Qiu glanced toward his kitchen. ¡°There are two big guys in there. In the low-level novice village, they¡¯ll be pretty useful.¡± He refocused. Then, he got up and left the house, heading straight for the biggest supermarket in the city. He chose to walk. On the way, Ye Qiu truly felt it. His light, agile steps were like he was walking on clouds. If he moved a little faster, it almost felt like he could fly! Just like in the game, but the sensation was completely different! However, after walking for a while, once he reached a crowded area, he took off his cloak and stored it in his in-game inventory. When he arrived at the supermarket, it was almost empty. Ever since the countdown in his mind reached zero and the world didn¡¯t end, places like supermarkets and shopping malls had become eerily deserted. ¡°Lightning rods, gas masks, insulated suits, fire blankets, flame-resistant clothing, night vision goggles¡­¡± Ye Qiu had already compiled a long shopping list. These were all items that could be bought directly! While crossbows weren¡¯t nearly as powerful as guns, they were still far superior to the starting bows in the game! In the game, there was an Archer class. But their starting equipment was just a basic wooden bow with wooden arrows. That thing, forget about killing high-level monsters, even shooting an ordinary Magic Rabbit took over ten shots! As for fighting a boss, they couldn¡¯t even break through its defense! The only advantage of the Archer class was their long attack range. Using bows or crossbows granted a slight bonus. But their attack power was the lowest among all classes! It was almost equivalent to a mage using basic attacks. After buying everything, Ye Qiu checked his inventory. ¡°Too bad. Inventory slots can store an unlimited amount of one type of item but they can¡¯t store two different items in the same slot.¡± For example, one slot could hold several tons of rice. But it couldn¡¯t hold a single grain of rice and a single grain of wheat together. Different types of items would each take up separate slots. Each player started with 20 inventory slots. Equipped items didn¡¯t take up inventory space. Back home, Ye Qiu went to the kitchen and stored the two big guys inside his inventory. Then, he re-entered the game. Less than an hour had passed in the real world. But in the game, dawn had already arrived. [Your friend ¡°Thousand Faces Gentleman¡± has sent a voice message. Accept?] Several notifications came in. Ye Qiu checked and all were voice messages from Thousand Faces Gentleman. Thousand Faces Gentleman (Voice Message): ¡°We can continue cooperating.¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman (Voice Message): ¡°Can you take me into the village? Price is negotiable.¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman (Voice Message): ¡°Do you know how to increase favorability with NPCs? If you do, I¡¯m willing to pay a high price for that information!¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman (Voice Message): ¡°You¡¯re not online? If you see this, please reply. I¡¯m online almost 24/7.¡± After hearing the messages, Ye Qiu smiled slightly. He knew Thousand Faces Gentleman was finally getting anxious. So he replied with a voice message, ¡°We can cooperate. Meet at the usual spot.¡± Immediately¡­ Thousand Faces Gentleman (Voice Message): ¡°Ok, ok! I¡¯ll be there in a minute!¡± Ye Qiu raised an eyebrow. At Tiger Mountain, Ye Qiu met Thousand Faces Gentleman again. This time, he was alone. His sister, Adorable Sunny, wasn¡¯t with him. After meeting up, Thousand Faces Gentleman got straight to the point, ¡°Brother, can you take me into the village?¡± Ye Qiu nodded. ¡°I can.¡± Hearing that, Thousand Faces Gentleman was both shocked and overjoyed. Since last night, he had tried everything to get into the village but failed every time! At that moment, he realized that money wasn¡¯t all-powerful! At least in this game. It couldn¡¯t buy absolute freedom! Asking Ye Qiu was just a long shot. But unexpectedly, it was possible! Ye Qiu didn¡¯t hesitate to name his price, ¡°Taking you into the village costs 50,000 gold coins.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman was stunned. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It wasn¡¯t exactly expensive but it definitely wasn¡¯t cheap! Chapter 18 - Cooperate Again Chapter 18: Cooperate Again ¡°I only want in-game gold coins.¡± Ye Qiu said calmly. In the future, the real-world currency system will completely collapse. Or rather, it would cease to exist entirely! With the game merging into reality, even the NPCs from the game will appear in the real world, living and breathing just like real people! By then, the Trial City would dominate everything! And the original human inhabitants of Earth would have no choice but to submit. One by one, they would begin using game currency. Ye Qiu could never forget what happened when the game merged with reality, when the financial system crumbled, when monsters roamed unchecked. At that moment, countless people wept in despair. Countless others screamed in agony. And far too many chose to end their lives. On that very day, they committed suicide. When a person reached the point of collapse, they lose all hope for life, grow weary of existence. Only death could grant them release. ¡°Just in-game gold coins?¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman was immediately troubled, his face full of hesitation. At this moment, he truly couldn¡¯t produce that much. Fortunately, Ye Qiu continued, ¡°You don¡¯t have to provide it all in one day. Just gather it within three days, according to in-game time.¡± Hearing this, Thousand Faces Gentleman let out a sigh of relief and nodded repeatedly. ¡°Okay! Three days later, I promise to have 50,000 gold for you!¡± In any game, as long as enough players were active, the economy would change rapidly, day by day! Three in-game days would be more than enough for players to accumulate additional gold in their accounts! Ye Qiu nodded in agreement before shifting the topic, ¡°Besides the gold, I need you to do something else for me.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman was intrigued. ¡°Go on.¡± Ye Qiu spoke slowly, ¡°Recruit some players. Have them go to Tiger Mountain and dig a pit at the summit, about the size of a soccer field.¡± ¡°A soccer-field-sized pit?!¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman was stunned. That was a massive task even in the game! Ye Qiu added, ¡°The edges can be shallow, but the center should be deep.¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman weighed the pros and cons, then finally nodded. ¡°Alright, should I deliver it in three days as well?¡± Ye Qiu replied, ¡°The sooner, the better. Ideally, finish it within a day.¡± ¡ª At the entrance of the Novice Village¡­ Just like yesterday, the line of players stretched endlessly into the horizon. ¡°Can we really get inside?¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman was feeling anxious. At this moment, the two of them had already reached the village gate. ¡°NPC bro!¡± ¡°Hey!¡± ¡°Why did you disappear last night?¡± ¡°NPC grandpa, I¡¯m begging you, please give me a quest!¡± The moment Ye Qiu, wearing his cloak, appeared, a group of players immediately swarmed around him, their voices filled with flattery and pleading. Ye Qiu ignored them. Leading Thousand Faces Gentleman, he walked straight to the village chief, Elder Xu. ¡°Elder Xu, I¡¯m bringing someone inside. That¡¯s fine, right?¡± As he spoke, he straightened his posture slightly. At his waist hung the Golden Pass. Based on his memories, even a regular wooden pass allowed one additional player inside. A Golden Pass would, of course, be even more effective! As expected, Village Chief Xu nodded. ¡°You may bring up to ten people in and out of the village at a time. However, if any of them break the village rules, I have the right to revoke your pass.¡± After saying this, he waved a hand at Ye Qiu, granting them entry. Ye Qiu gave a quick ¡°Thanks.¡± Then, with the still-stunned Thousand Faces Gentleman, he stepped into Novice Village. ¡°Holy crap! That NPC just brought a player inside!¡± ¡°What the hell?! Why him?!¡± ¡°That guy is called Thousand Faces Gentleman, right? He¡¯s pretty rich in real life!¡± ¡°Can you bribe NPCs in this game?!¡± ¡°I wanna go in too! I don¡¯t wanna wait in line anymore!¡± A wave of uproar spread through the waiting players. Inside Novice Village, Ye Qiu gave some advice, ¡°This place is massive, almost the size of a real-world county. So, there are tons of NPCs. Pick one to befriend. Once you build rapport, they might party up with you and help you level up.¡± This was knowledge from his past life. However, Thousand Faces Gentleman was still in a daze. He still couldn¡¯t believe it. He had actually made it inside the village! And so effortlessly! After snapping back to reality, he looked at Ye Qiu and made up his mind. He had to cling to this expert¡¯s leg! To Thousand Faces Gentleman, Ye Qiu had already become a mysterious god-tier player! ¡°But I suggest,¡± Ye Qiu continued, ¡°that you prioritize NPCs who look strong or wield weapons. Once you pick one, maintain a good relationship. If their favorability drops, all your previous efforts will be wasted. It¡¯s much harder to regain favorability than to build it from scratch.¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman quickly took notes. As he wrote, he asked, ¡°If I ask you for help, could you guarantee I¡¯ll team up with an NPC?¡± Ye Qiu neither nodded nor shook his head. He simply smiled. ¡°Nothing in the world is 100% certain. Besides, if you want me to handle it, the cost will be far more than 50,000 gold.¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman sighed in defeat. ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll have to try on my own first.¡± However, he wasn¡¯t too disappointed. Gold could be gathered over time. Eventually, he¡¯d be able to afford Ye Qiu¡¯s assistance! And now that he was inside the village, he could finally interact with NPCs! He could finally accept quests! Since launch, he hadn¡¯t been able to take on a single one! ¡°I¡¯ll be off now. Message me if you need anything.¡± Ye Qiu waved. Then, his figure vanished into thin air. The Coward¡¯s Cloak¡¯s ability acted as a short-range teleport! ¡°H-how did he do that?!¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman stood frozen, watching Ye Qiu disappear. His mind was filled with shock and confusion. It had only been one day since launch! He looked at Ye Qiu, then looked at himself. This¡­ was the difference in skill! ¡°Wait¡­ ¡°Why isn¡¯t he looking for an NPC to help him level up? ¡°Could it be¡­ he¡¯s already found one?¡± Doubt crept into Thousand Faces Gentleman¡¯s mind. ¡ª Meanwhile, at Wolf Head Ridge¡­ This was the hunting ground of the Black Wolf Monsters. Ye Qiu had come here to grind levels! S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In his past life, this place was widely recognized as the most efficient grinding spot. Black Wolf Monsters lived in packs of Level: 7. Each kill had a high chance of dropping gear, and the experience gain was substantial! Ye Qiu activated Heavenly Eye! [Normal Monster: Black Wolf Monster] [Level: 7] [HP: 600] [Preference: Nighttime, Moonlight, All Types of Meat] At this stage, players were still low-level. And so, almost no one was farming here. But Ye Qiu rushed forward. With the Coward¡¯s Cloak¡¯s 100 agility bonus, he moved like the wind. Even though he was only level 5 facing these level 7 Black Wolf Monsters, he was already untouchable! The Black Wolf Monster howled, calling its pack. Ye Qiu grinned. ¡°Perfect. Let¡¯s put you to the test!¡± Chapter 19 - Sister-in-Law Chapter 19: Sister-in-Law On Tiger Mountain, Adorable Sunny was leading a group of recruited players. Following the instructions of Thousand Faces Gentleman, they started digging! ¡°I can¡¯t believe my brother actually got taken into the village?¡± Adorable Sunny had just logged in when she received a voice message from her brother, Thousand Faces Gentleman. She learned that he had already been brought into the village by a certain ¡°Mysterious Partner.¡± And he had also told her one thing, the condition for his cooperation with the Mysterious Partner. Besides paying 50,000 gold coins, they also had to dig a pit the size of a soccer field at the top of Tiger Mountain! The edges could be shallow, but the center had to be deep. Although Adorable Sunny was confused, she had no choice but to comply. As she was digging, suddenly, a voice rang out from behind her, ¡°Sister-in-law Qingyue, why did you bring so many people to the top of Tiger Mountain? And you¡¯re not even fighting monsters, what are you digging? Mining?¡± The voice was laced with charm. Adorable Sunny was momentarily stunned, then she immediately turned around. She saw a mature and alluring woman standing with a large group of people behind her, all of them staring with predatory eyes. Adorable Sunny seemed to recognize this seductive woman. She furrowed her brows before saying, ¡°None of your business.¡± The woman covered her mouth and laughed softly. ¡°How could it not be my business? Before long, you¡¯ll be marrying into the Zhao family to become my brother¡¯s wife. We¡¯ll be sisters-in-law. As your future sister-in-law, isn¡¯t it natural for me to show some concern?¡± This seductive woman was none other than Zhao Hanyan, the younger sister of Adorable Sunny¡¯s so-called fianc¨¦, Zhao Mingyuan. Her in-game name was ¡°Smoky Clouds Fade.¡± Hearing Zhao Hanyan say this, Adorable Sunny¡¯s expression instantly turned cold. Zhao Hanyan, however, acted as if she didn¡¯t notice and continued, ¡°Is there some kind of treasure here? Just tell me the truth, big sis. Maybe I can even help you¡­¡± Before she could finish speaking, Adorable Sunny cut her off coldly, ¡°If you get lost from here, that would be the best help you could give me.¡± Zhao Hanyan giggled, ¡°You¡¯re still as hot-tempered as ever. But that¡¯s fine. Once you marry into the Zhao family, we¡¯ll teach you how to behave properly.¡± Hearing her bring up marriage again and again, Adorable Sunny felt a surge of anger! However, she had no way to refute it. In a family like hers, arranged marriages were unavoidable. They couldn¡¯t be changed. They could only be accepted. From the moment she was born, her fate had already been decided. Zhao Hanyan then pointed smugly to the person beside her and said, ¡°By the way, you and your brother should already know about the fast leveling method, right? Look, like the one standing next to me.¡± Beside her stood a burly young man. Unlike regular players, he carried himself differently, his expression was serious. His sharp eyes constantly scanned the surroundings, Always maintaining peak vigilance. ¡°An NPC?¡± Adorable Sunny guessed. Zhao Hanyan confirmed it, ¡°It¡¯s not really a secret anymore. This here is an NPC. My brother used this method to level up so quickly and rise to the top of the server! So, what do you think? Want me to tell you how to get in touch with NPCs?¡± Adorable Sunny, however, scoffed disdainfully, ¡°No need. I don¡¯t need you to tell me.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Hearing this, Zhao Hanyan was momentarily surprised. ¡°You guys already know how to contact NPCs?¡± This time, it was Adorable Sunny¡¯s turn to look smug. ¡°My brother is already inside the village, where there are tens of thousands of NPCs!¡± ¡°What?!¡± Zhao Hanyan¡¯s expression changed drastically. She couldn¡¯t believe it. Truth be told, she had come to find Adorable Sunny today because her brother, Zhao Mingyuan, had asked her to. After all, Adorable Sunny was going to marry into the Zhao family in the future. And her brother, Zhao Mingyuan, had always admired Adorable Sunny. He knew that both she and her brother, Thousand Faces Gentleman, were obsessed with leveling up. As such, he wanted to extend an olive branch. But since they weren¡¯t in the same novice village, he had no choice but to send his sister, Zhao Hanyan, who was in Newbie Village 0001, to do it on his behalf. However, she never expected that things would turn out like this! Seeing Zhao Hanyan¡¯s change in expression, Adorable Sunny became even more delighted. Then, her eyes flickered with mischief as she clicked her tongue and said, ¡°Do you know why we¡¯re digging at the top of Tiger Mountain? Do you know what we¡¯re digging for?¡± Zhao Hanyan simply squinted her eyes, listening. Adorable Sunny continued, ¡°My brother met an NPC, and that NPC told him¡ª¡± Halfway through her sentence, Adorable Sunny suddenly stopped speaking. She refused to continue. This made Zhao Hanyan frown deeply. Then, she waved her hand. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A player stepped forward, ¡°Big Sis, what¡¯s up?¡± Zhao Hanyan instructed, ¡°Find out everything about Thousand Faces Gentleman.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The player immediately opened their friend list. The Zhao family had already established a network in this novice village, specializing in gathering intelligence. Soon, the player reported back to Zhao Hanyan, ¡°Big Sis, our people guarding the village entrance spotted Thousand Faces Gentleman being led inside by an NPC. Someone even recorded it and posted it on the forum!¡± As he spoke, he shared the forum video. Zhao Hanyan took a glance, And sure enough, Thousand Faces Gentleman was following a hooded figure, casually strolling into the village. ¡°Damn it!¡± Zhao Hanyan gritted her teeth. She had come here intending to flaunt her superiority and build rapport. But instead, the other party had already made it into the village! She knew that, even though they had discovered a method to level up quickly, the NPCs they had access to were only outside the village, waiting for players to find them. As for those inside the village, they couldn¡¯t even enter! ¡°That bastard Thousand Faces Gentleman has such good luck.¡± Zhao Hanyan was filled with envy and resentment. Then, her eyes suddenly gleamed. She looked at Adorable Sunny, who was still directing her recruited players to dig. ¡°Hmph, if I can¡¯t make peace, then I¡¯ll just take it by force!¡± Zhao Hanyan was not the type to accept defeat. She hated losing the most. At that moment, she waved her hand grandly and declared, ¡°This place now belongs to the Zhao family!¡± Her voice echoed. Adorable Sunny immediately frowned, ¡°Zhao Hanyan, what do you mean?!¡± Even as she spoke, the players Zhao Hanyan had brought had already surrounded the area and began driving away the players recruited by Adorable Sunny! Since they were just here to dig, the players Adorable Sunny had recruited were all low-level. Most of them were even Level 0. They didn¡¯t dare to resist. Although death in the game meant respawning, the pain was real due to the 100% realism setting! They were only hired to dig a hole, not to get beaten up or killed. ¡°Oh, nothing much.¡± Zhao Hanyan shrugged playfully, ¡°We heard there¡¯s a treasure at the top of Tiger Mountain, so we came here to dig as well. That¡¯s all.¡± Adorable Sunny said coldly, ¡°But we were here first!¡± Zhao Hanyan¡¯s smile didn¡¯t fade, ¡°Hey, this is a game. It has its own rules. And this place doesn¡¯t have your Ning family¡¯s name on it. So whoever is stronger owns it!¡± Adorable Sunny remained expressionless. ¡°According to the game rules, players can¡¯t kill each other. If you attack us, you¡¯ll be marked as a red-name criminal! Once you¡¯re red-named, forget about taking quests or contacting NPCs!¡± She said this, but deep down, she was struggling to hold back her laughter. It was because Zhao Hanyan¡¯s players had already started digging! Chapter 20 - NPC With Terrifying Strength Chapter 20: NPC With Terrifying Strength ¡°Red Name for Killing?¡± Zhao Hanyan chuckled. ¡°I won¡¯t need to dirty my hands. Just a few words from me, and countless players will charge forward without hesitation, acting on my behalf. ¡°Besides¡­ You probably don¡¯t know this, but in this game, NPCs can kill players!¡± As she spoke, she gestured to the burly young man beside her with a hooked finger. The burly young man immediately stepped forward, standing in front of Zhao Hanyan. In a deep, booming voice, he declared, ¡°I know you Undying players can revive after death, so if anyone is unwilling to accept this, feel free to come at me. Killing you won¡¯t bother me in the slightest!¡± Adorable Sunny glanced at the smug Zhao Hanyan, then at the imposing NPC. She was puzzled. How did Zhao Hanyan manage to find such an obedient NPC? Of course, she had no idea what would happen if an NPC killed a player. Nor did she know what would happen if a player killed an NPC. Regardless, the fish had already taken the bait. Adorable Sunny turned to the players she had recruited and instructed, ¡°You¡¯ll still get paid as usual. We¡¯re done digging for today. Let¡¯s call it a day.¡± As she spoke, she shot Zhao Hanyan a look filled with indignation. ¡°We¡¯ll see about that!¡± With an angry expression, she threw out this final remark before turning to leave. Just then, a Level 10 tiger monster appeared, baring its fangs and claws as it lunged at Zhao Hanyan and her group. Adorable Sunny stopped in her tracks to watch the show. But the next moment, her expression changed dramatically. She saw the burly NPC beside Zhao Hanyan react instantly to the sudden attack. With a thunderous roar, he shouted, ¡°Courting death!¡± With a swift sidestep, he positioned himself in front of Zhao Hanyan. Raising both hands, he caught the tiger monster¡¯s front limbs with precision. Then, amidst the tiger¡¯s pained wails, a sickening tear echoed in the air! That Level 10 tiger monster, more than three times the size of a human, was ripped apart on the spot! Blood and entrails splattered across the ground! All around, players stared, dumbfounded. For a long moment, they couldn¡¯t recover from the shock. Terrifying! This NPC was unbelievably powerful! With his bare hands, he had instantly obliterated a Level 10 tiger monster?! Adorable Sunny was just as stunned. Her heart pounded in disbelief. ¡°No, I need to tell my brother immediately!¡± She hurriedly left. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She had to report this to her brother, Thousand Faces Gentleman, and make sure he found a strong NPC of his own! She wasn¡¯t aiming for the strongest NPC in the game, she just needed one as powerful as the one beside Zhao Hanyan! As Adorable Sunny departed, she remained unaware of what happened next. After killing the tiger monster, the burly NPC turned to Zhao Hanyan and said, ¡°We agreed. You¡¯d arrange a woman for me in exchange for killing a Level 10 tiger.¡± Zhao Hanyan found him repulsive but kept a smiling face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there are plenty of women.¡± Teaming up with NPCs didn¡¯t necessarily require raising their favorability. One just needed to fulfill certain conditions. And the quickest way? Find an NPC greedy for money or lust! That was human nature. Few people weren¡¯t motivated by wealth or desire. This game had an incredibly high level of realism. As a result, the NPCs behaved just like real people. Zhao Hanyan beckoned to a subordinate player and instructed, ¡°Go offline and recruit a hostess from a club. Offer a generous payment. Oh, and make sure she¡¯s from Novice Village 0001. Once you find her, notify me.¡± ¡°Understood, Boss!¡± The subordinate immediately logged off to make the arrangements. ¡ª Wolf Head Ridge¡­ Night had fallen. Few players roamed the area. The primary reason was the Black Wolf Monsters that inhabited it. These creatures moved in packs. When one wolf stirred, a thousand wolves would rise! In some cases, they were even harder to deal with than a high-level boss! Thus, most players avoided this area when leveling up. But now, the vast Wolf Head Ridge was littered with the corpses of Black Wolf Monsters! Countless bodies, many sliced cleanly in half! Scattered around were numerous dropped items! At the highest point of Wolf Head Ridge, a lone swordsman stood still, eyes closed. That player was none other than Ye Qiu! He had been slaughtering monsters for so long, even the respawn rate of the creatures couldn¡¯t keep up with his kills! Nine Styles of Slashing! ¡°Horizontal Cut.¡± ¡°Piercing Thrust.¡± ¡°Straight Stab.¡± ¡°Side Slash.¡± ¡°Diagonal Strike¡±¡­ Ye Qiu was deep in comprehension. In his previous life, many players had pushed their understanding and mastery of skills to the absolute limit! This was largely thanks to NPC demonstrations. For example, take the basic swordsman skill Slash. When used by a player, it was nothing more than an ordinary skill that consumed mana. But in the hands of an NPC from the Trial City, it could be performed in countless ways! Take, for instance, the ¡°Nine Styles of Slashing¡± that Ye Qiu was currently grasping. It was an advanced version of ¡°Slash¡±! In his past life, a player had learned it from an NPC and later shared it on the forums. For a time, countless players began experimenting with skill development. From then on, skills flourished in diversity! Beyond the ¡°Nine Styles of Slashing,¡± there was an even more advanced ¡°Thirteen Styles of Slashing¡±! In short, even a simple skill, if mastered in its advanced form, could multiply in power several times over, depending on the user¡¯s proficiency. [Nine Styles of Slashing (Lv.1): 322/2000. Each style increases attack power by 10 points. (Note: This skill is an advanced form of the basic ¡°Slash.¡± It consumes a large amount of mana.)] Suddenly, Ye Qiu moved. In his right hand, he wielded a high-grade blue weapon, the Refined Steel Sword! First Style ¡ª Horizontal Cut! The long sword swept across just as a freshly spawned Black Wolf Monster lunged toward him. In a single instant, The wolf was cleaved in half! Its body split cleanly apart! The motion was fluid and effortless, as smooth as melting chocolate. Second Style ¡ª Piercing Thrust! Third Style¡­ Fourth Style¡­ ¡­ Sixth Style ¡ª Scarlet Point! The sword in Ye Qiu¡¯s hand trembled violently. He stopped, panting heavily. ¡°With my current mana, I can only execute up to the Sixth Style.¡± Even so, Ye Qiu was thrilled. After all, In his previous life, despite surviving until the apocalypse, he had only mastered a handful of advanced skills. The ¡°Nine Styles of Slashing¡± was one of them. Until his death, he had never managed to comprehend the ¡°Thirteen Styles of Slashing¡±! Yet in this life, in less than two days, he had already mastered six out of the nine styles! His heart pounded with excitement. Snapping back to reality, Ye Qiu finally checked his system notifications. [Your level has increased by 1. HP and attributes have increased, and you have received fixed attribute points.] [Your level has increased by 1¡­] [Your level has increased by 1¡­] He had leveled up three times in a row! Ye Qiu was now Level 8! Not bad. Early in the game, leveling up was fast. But the higher he climbed, the slower it would become. Ye Qiu had no intention of teaming up with NPCs to level up. There was a massive downside to doing so. a fatal flaw. One that players would only gradually discover later on. Just then¡­ [Player ¡°Thousand Faces Gentleman¡± has sent a voice request. Accept?] Chapter 21 - There’s Items Everywhere But Nowhere to Put Them Chapter 21: There¡¯s Items Everywhere But Nowhere to Put Them ¡°Answer.¡± Ye Qiu accepted the voice message. Thousand Faces Gentleman (Voice Message): ¡°The pit on Tiger Mountain has been dug.¡± Ye Qiu was startled and replied via voice message, ¡°So fast?¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman (Voice Message): ¡°Hehe, I had some help.¡± Ye Qiu sent another voice message in response: ¡°I¡¯m heading over right now. Also, recruit a few players and have them come to Wolf Head Ridge. I¡¯ve got some equipment, but my backpack is full.¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman (Voice Message): ¡°A lot?¡± Ye Qiu glanced around and replied, ¡°Quite a bit.¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman hesitated for a moment before sending another message. ¡°If there¡¯s anything you don¡¯t need or any extras, sell them to me. I¡¯ll pay you market price.¡± At the early stage of the game, even a plain white-tier piece of equipment was rare and valuable! ¡°Alright.¡± Ye Qiu nodded. He was planning to sell them anyway. After hanging up the voice call, Ye Qiu checked the loot scattered across the ground. For white gear, he didn¡¯t even bother looking. Instead, he picked up gold coins, crafting materials, red and blue potions, a few visually appealing blue-tier items, and a single purple-tier items. [Wolf Fang Crescent Staff (Purple Rare Weapon)]: [Requirement: Level 5] [Stats: +100 MP, +10 Spirit, +5 Agility] [Passive Skill: Restores 5 MP per second when equipped.] ¡°This is a great item!¡± Ye Qiu praised it. But at the same time, he felt a little disappointed. It wasn¡¯t for swordsmen. ¡°Oh, right. Thousand Faces Gentleman is a mage, and his sister, Adorable Sunny, is a priest. I can sell it to them!¡± Ye Qiu had already made up his mind. While purple-tier rare items were valuable, he no longer cared much for them. After all, with the god-tier Coward¡¯s Cloak in his possession, everything else paled in comparison. Any equipment, if its attributes weren¡¯t significantly better than the Coward¡¯s Cloak, then it was just trash! Besides, purple rare items still had level restrictions. Which meant that they were only useful in the early game. Before long, they would be obsolete! Orange-tier Epic Equipment, however, had no level restrictions. Even at level 100. it would still be useful! Soon, two players sent by Thousand Faces Gentleman arrived. When they saw the sheer amount of loot scattered across the area, their eyes widened in shock. They gasped! ¡°What¡­ what the hell happened here?!¡± The two players exchanged glances. They could see the disbelief in each other¡¯s eyes. Then, Ye Qiu walked over and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why did only two of you come?¡± Each player started with 20 backpack slots. Clearly, two players alone wouldn¡¯t be able to carry all this loot. ¡°Are you that NPC?!¡± When the two players saw Ye Qiu, who was wearing a hooded cloak, their eyes lit up. NPCs in this game were incredibly rare encounters! However, they didn¡¯t try to interact with Ye Qiu. After all, they were here to run errands for wealthy players, not to play the game themselves. Leveling up and questing? That was not their priority! ¡°We have more people nearby,¡± one of the players said as he opened his friend list and called in reinforcements. Before long, five players arrived and filled their backpacks to the brim. Only then was Wolf Head Ridge finally cleared out. No wonder this area was the most cost-effective grinding spot in the game! High drop rates, high experience, and monsters with obvious weaknesses! But only for low-level players. ¡ª At the summit of Tiger Mountain¡­ The sky was starting to darken. ¡°You damn Ning Qingyue, are you messing with me?!¡± Zhao Hanyan shouted at Adorable Sunny in frustration. Adorable Sunny¡¯s real name was Ning Qingyue. Hearing this, she smiled playfully, looked at Zhao Hanyan like she was a fool, and giggled. ¡°You were the one being greedy and foolish. How is that my fault?¡± Zhao Hanyan fumed, ¡°How is it not your fault?! You said there was treasure buried here! We wasted our time, exhausted ourselves, digging pits and holes all day for nothing!¡± Hearing this baseless accusation, Ning Qingyue just curled her lips and snorted. ¡°Think carefully. Did I ever say there was treasure buried here?¡± ¡°You¡ª!¡± Zhao Hanyan thought back. She realized that Ning Qingyue had never actually said anything about buried treasure. She had only mentioned that an NPC asked them to dig. ¡°Then what the hell does the NPC want us to dig here for?!¡± Zhao Hanyan was furious. The entire day, she and her team had done nothing but dig. They had practically dug up the entire mountain top! Especially the center, where they had even dug a 5-meter-deep pit! And in the end? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. ¡°This has nothing to do with you, does it?¡± Ning Qingyue smirked mockingly. Zhao Hanyan was speechless. It was true. But¡­ why did it feel so damn annoying?! She just couldn¡¯t let it go! At that moment¡­ ¡°Zhao Hanyan, you¡¯ve been bullying people in real life all the time. Now you¡¯re doing the same thing in a game?¡± Everyone turned toward the voice. Two figures were approaching from the base of Tiger Mountain. One of them had a refined and composed demeanor. ¡°Brother!¡± Ning Qingyue¡¯s eyes lit up as she ran over. The elegant man was Thousand Faces Gentleman. His real name was Ning Qianjun. However, everyone¡¯s attention was drawn to the person standing beside him. It was a middle-aged man with average build and holding a machete in one hand and in the other, a vine rope. Attached to the rope were the corpses of several Green-Eyed Tiger monsters! It was both bloody and intimidating! ¡°NPC!¡± Many people immediately recognized it. At this stage of the game, only an NPC could effortlessly kill level 10 Green-Eyed Tigers! Players, on the other hand, needed dozens or even hundreds of people to surround them. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even then, they would suffer heavy casualties before killing a single one! ¡°Oh? So you¡¯ve got an NPC helping you now too?¡± Zhao Hanyan sneered, her voice laced with jealousy. Ning Qingyue whispered, ¡°Brother, did it work?¡± Ning Qianjun smiled and nodded. ¡°Thanks to that Mysterious Partner, I managed to enter the village and found this swordsman.¡± It had taken quite a bit of effort. He had raised the NPC¡¯s favorability a little, but not enough to form a party with him. So, he had to rely on other means instead. Regardless, Ning Qianjun revealed his level. Above his head, ¡°Level 5¡± appeared. ¡°Brother, you leveled up so fast?!¡± Ning Qingyue was excited. After the Deep Mountain Tiger Demon incident, Ning Qianjun¡¯s level had dropped to 3. Now, not only had he recovered, he had even reached level 5! That was insanely fast! Ning Qianjun smiled. ¡°I¡¯ve been grinding with the swordsman. Since the Green-Eyed Tigers are level 10, the EXP is great.¡± But as he spoke, his face showed a hint of regret. Ning Qingyue was about to ask why, when suddenly, Zhao Hanyan¡¯s voice rang out, ¡°Perfect timing. I¡¯ve got an NPC too. Let¡¯s see whose is stronger!¡± With that, a burly young man beside her stepped forward, face cold. His fists were covered with knuckle dusters. ¡°Been itching for a fight. Let¡¯s go.¡± The burly NPC locked eyes with Ning Qianjun¡¯s swordsman NPC and issued a challenge. Chapter 22 - The Death of an NPC, the Consequences are Serious! Chapter 22: The Death of an NPC, the Consequences are Serious! Under normal circumstances, players could not directly command NPCs to do this or that. In fact, just now, it was the burly young man who voluntarily stepped forward to fight. Zhao Hanyan had been looking for a chance to turn things around, eager to shake off the frustration from before. So when the burly young man offered to fight, she naturally raised both hands and feet in approval! And thus, the current scene unfolded. Facing the provocation of the burly young man, the middle-aged man with a blade only frowned slightly before responding in a cold voice, ¡°You¡¯re just a kid, yet you talk big.¡± The burly young man grinned. ¡°I despise people who pull rank just because they¡¯re older. Hmph!¡± With that, he charged forward. The middle-aged swordsman remained calm and composed, extending his blade in a measured arc. The blade sliced through the air, sounding as if it were cutting the wind itself, producing a sharp whistling noise! ¡°Nice!¡± The burly young man dodged, but instead of retreating, he laughed heartily. The two NPCs began their fierce battle, while a crowd of players stood around, watching in awe. ¡°Holy crap! So this is the strength of NPCs? They¡¯re insane!¡± ¡°Look at that guy with the blade! Every swing makes a sonic boom, and when he strikes a tree, it splits cleanly into several pieces!¡± ¡°When will we ever be that strong?¡± ¡°Honestly¡­ even if we reach the same level as these NPCs, I don¡¯t think we could beat them.¡± S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Does anyone know how to recruit NPCs?¡± ¡°Hey, are there female NPCs we can recruit?¡± ¡°There are! I met one before, and she¡¯s super gorgeous! That face¡­ tsk tsk¡­ that figure¡­ tsk tsk¡­¡± None of the players dared to get too close. The shockwaves from the fight alone were enough to make them tremble in fear! ¡°Brother, do you think the swordsman can win?¡± Ning Qingyue asked in a low voice, eyes fixed on the battle. Hearing this, Ning Qianjun¡¯s once-confident expression faltered. He hesitated before answering, ¡°He should be able to win¡­ right?¡± In truth, he had never wanted his hard-earned recruited NPC to get dragged into battles like this. If anything happened to him, that would be a huge loss! However, as players, with such low levels, they had no way of controlling what an NPC did. They couldn¡¯t even stop an NPC from acting on its own. Simply put, players had no authority over NPCs! NPCs only agreed to join them because of the ¡°benefits¡± they could gain. Otherwise, why would they even bother? ¡°Please don¡¯t let anything go wrong¡­¡± Ning Qianjun prayed silently. He had never recruited an NPC before, so he hadn¡¯t known how things worked. But now that he had, he was starting to understand the dynamics between players and NPCs. For example, in a pure recruitment, without a foundation of goodwill, there was always a risk that the NPC could leave at any moment! Additionally, during a party, players only received one-tenth of the experience from monster kills. Even if the NPC did most of the damage, and the player landed the final blow, the result was still the same! To make things worse, when teamed up with an NPC, no loot would drop from defeated monsters! Naturally, if a quest was involved, it wouldn¡¯t count either. But Ning Qianjun had already accepted it. As long as he could level up quickly, that was fine! He was lost in thought when¡­ A sudden sound made everyone snap their heads toward the battlefield. One of the NPCs, the middle-aged swordsman, was sent flying backward! Midair, he coughed up blood violently. His chest was a mangled mess of flesh and blood! At that moment, a system notification echoed in Ning Qianjun¡¯s mind. [The NPC in your party has suffered severe injuries. Their goodwill toward you has dropped to 0. The party has been automatically disbanded.] ¡°What?!¡± Ning Qianjun¡¯s expression changed drastically. He rushed over to the fallen NPC. The moment the swordsman hit the ground, he was already on the verge of death. ¡°I¡¯m level 10, you¡¯re level 9. And your sword skills are far too weak!¡± The burly young NPC withdrew his hand, gazing coldly at the dying swordsman. ¡°You should just go home and farm instead.¡± The middle-aged swordsman coughed up another mouthful of blood. Then, his eyes shut. And he stopped breathing altogether. [The NPC you recruited has died. Your reputation has dropped by 100 points. For the next 10 days, you cannot recruit NPCs, accept quests, enter the novice village, or receive full experience and loot from monster kills.] Another system notification rang in Ning Qianjun¡¯s head. His face darkened instantly. Unlike players, NPCs don¡¯t respawn. Once they die, they¡¯re gone for good! And the worst part? Losing his NPC also meant losing access to quests, his monster EXP was halved, and the loot drop rate was reduced! Ning Qianjun was about to break down. ¡°Hehehe¡­¡± Just then, a light chuckle came from Zhao Hanyan¡¯s direction. ¡°Looks like the NPC you recruited wasn¡¯t as strong as mine, huh? Tsk, and now he¡¯s dead, too.¡± Her mocking tone made every muscle in Ning Qianjun¡¯s body tense. He wanted to log out immediately, hunt Zhao Hanyan down in real life, and beat her up! This was too much! She had provoked this whole fight. And yet he was the one paying the price! In real life, the Zhao family already bullied his family enough. And now, even in the game, he was being crushed by them! It was absolutely infuriating! However, he could only swallow his anger. His family was simply weaker than the Zhao family. And since this was just a game conflict, there was no way to get revenge outside of it. His family wouldn¡¯t intervene over something like this. ¡°Zhao Hanyan¡­ I¡¯ll remember this!¡± Ning Qianjun gritted his teeth. That was the only thing he could say before turning away. Ning Qingyue was also furious, but this was the first time she had ever seen her brother so enraged. She still didn¡¯t know the consequences of losing a recruited NPC. Meanwhile, Zhao Hanyan laughed. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be so angry! We¡¯re all family now. We¡¯ll be seeing each other often, so why make things so tense?¡± She still didn¡¯t realize just how much trouble Ning Qianjun was in. But just as she finished speaking, the burly young NPC beside her suddenly said, ¡°By the way, I expect some compensation for this.¡± His tone was firm and non-negotiable. Zhao Hanyan, still in a good mood, waved her hand dismissively. ¡°Relax. The woman I promised you has already been arranged.¡± But the burly young NPC licked his lips, his eyes burning as he stared at Zhao Hanyan. ¡°Actually¡­ you¡¯re not bad yourself. If you agree to spend the night with me, I¡¯ll help you kill monsters for free. I know your Undead race can gain levels that way.¡± Zhao Hanyan¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Don¡¯t push your luck. If you cross the line, you won¡¯t get anything I promised.¡± Before she could say more, Ning Qianjun and Ning Qingyue, who had been fuming moments ago, suddenly looked ecstatic. ¡°Brother! You¡¯re finally here!¡± At the foot of Tiger Mountain, a cloaked figure slowly ascended the path. Chapter 23 - Challenged by an NPC! Chapter 23: Challenged by an NPC! ¡°So many people?¡± The newcomer was none other than Ye Qiu. Seeing at least a hundred players gathered, he frowned slightly. Heavenly Eye! He activated his ability to inspect the leading figures. [Player: Smokey Clouds Fade] [Class: Warlock] [Level: 4] [HP: 2300] [Character: Shi Jian] [Class: Martial Artist] [Subclass: None] [Level: 10] ¡°A brawny young man¡­ an NPC?¡± Ye Qiu took a closer look at the tall, muscular youth named ¡°Shi Jian.¡± While he was observing others, they were also observing him. ¡°That¡¯s the NPC who can freely enter and leave the newbie village!¡± ¡°Thousand Faces Gentleman latched onto this NPC, which allowed him to enter the village and successfully recruit other NPCs!¡± ¡°Is he really an NPC?¡± ¡°Of course! If he weren¡¯t an NPC, would he be a player? The game just launched, so how could a player freely enter and leave the novice village?¡± ¡°This NPC seems to have a good relationship with Thousand Faces Gentleman.¡± ¡°Hah, what¡¯s the use of that? Didn¡¯t another NPC just die? Now this one shows up, he¡¯s probably doomed too!¡± The players whispered among themselves, pointing at Ye Qiu. In most of their eyes, Ye Qiu had already become an NPC of Novice Village 0001. Even Zhao Hanyan thought so. Her eyes were locked onto Ye Qiu, as if she wanted to discern something. ¡°You¡¯re here!¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman, Ning Qianjun, quickly approached Ye Qiu with his adorable younger sister, Ning Qingyue, by his side. Ning Qianjun was carrying a corpse. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Ye Qiu¡¯s expression was one of surprise as he saw the body in Ning Qianjun¡¯s arms. Ning Qianjun hurriedly recounted what had just happened. After finishing, his face was filled with frustration, and he let out a heavy sigh. Upon hearing the explanation, Ye Qiu immediately understood. This was the downside of recruiting NPCs and forming teams with them! To prevent an NPC from leaving or betraying them, players had to maintain their favorability, which meant offering benefits, spending time, and even investing money. But most importantly, they must not let the NPC die! If an NPC died while in a player¡¯s party, the player would suffer penalties. For example: Reduced XP gain from monsters, lower item drop rates, inability to accept quests, and restricted access to NPC areas. However, these weren¡¯t even the most severe consequences. Ye Qiu remembered something from his past life. There was once a player who recruited an NPC, but that NPC died unexpectedly. When the NPC¡¯s family and friends found out, they hunted that player down! Even though players could respawn after death, the NPCs didn¡¯t care. They killed the player over and over again, camping at the respawn point. In the end, that player was slain repeatedly, from Level 15 all the way down to Level 0. Until they deleted their account and were permanently unable to log in. Only then did the NPCs finally stop! This was exactly why Ye Qiu never recruited NPCs or teamed up with them for leveling. He simply didn¡¯t have the time or patience to manage relationships with NPCs. For this situation, Ye Qiu had no intention of intervening. He only gave one piece of advice, ¡°Do more good deeds. It will increase your reputation and reduce the duration of negative debuffs.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Ning Qianjun smiled bitterly and nodded. Even if he could reduce the duration of the debuff, it had already wasted his leveling time. Now, the gap between him and the top players would widen, and there would be no way to catch up. Ye Qiu had no intention of solving Ning Qianjun¡¯s problems. Instead, he asked, ¡°You mentioned the pit is ready. Where is it?¡± Ning Qianjun snapped out of his thoughts. He stopped dwelling on the problem and was about to lead Ye Qiu to inspect the progress. Ironically, he had to thank Zhao Hanyan. After she arrived, she had led a large group of players to tirelessly dig trenches and pits. That¡¯s why it was completed so quickly. But just as they were about to leave, someone blocked their way. ¡°No rush to leave.¡± Zhao Hanyan smiled mischievously at Ning Qianjun, then glanced at Ye Qiu. ¡°The NPC I recruited says he wants another sparring match with you.¡± ¡°You¡ª!¡± Ning Qianjun was furious. He put down the corpse of the middle-aged swordsman NPC. Pointing at Zhao Hanyan, he cursed, ¡°Zhao Hanyan, don¡¯t push your luck! If you keep causing trouble, I¡¯ll log off right now and come find you at your house to settle this in person!¡± Ning Qingyue also glared at Zhao Hanyan and shouted, ¡°Zhao Hanyan, don¡¯t be so arrogant! This game¡¯s realism is nearly 100%, and pain is just like in real life. Here in Novice Village 0001, my Ning family has more influence than your Zhao family. Don¡¯t think I won¡¯t recruit players to camp you at the respawn point every day!¡± Hearing this, Zhao Hanyan¡¯s playful smile finally faded. She clicked her tongue and said, ¡°Tsk, no need to get so mad. This isn¡¯t my decision. It¡¯s what my NPC wants. I¡¯m just passing along the message. It has nothing to do with me!¡± She wasn¡¯t lying. Just now, that burly NPC had insisted on a fight again. Zhao Hanyan had no control over her NPC¡¯s actions. She could only let it happen! She was just as frustrated! According to her older brother Zhao Mingyuan, she was supposed to be on friendly terms with the Ning family in Novice Village 0001. After all, their families had already arranged a marriage. In the future, Ning Qingyue was supposed to marry into their Zhao family. Avoiding conflict would have been ideal! But now, because the NPC she recruited was a battle maniac¡­ He had just killed an NPC that Ning Qianjun recruited, and now, he wanted to kill a second one! Absolutely ridiculous! Yet, there was nothing she could do about it! At this moment, the brawny NPC, Shi Jian, stepped in front of Ye Qiu. He grinned and said, ¡°I sense a strong scent of blood on you¡­ You¡¯ve just killed a lot of living things, haven¡¯t you?¡± Ye Qiu raised an eyebrow, puzzled by the NPC¡¯s words. ¡°And what does that have to do with you?¡± Others might not know, but Ye Qiu ¡ª who had lived through two lifetimes ¡ª understood very well. The NPCs in this game were real people. They had their own thoughts. Shi Jian chuckled, ¡°I enjoy battle, but I rarely find a worthy opponent. What do you say? Wanna fight?¡± Ye Qiu remained unmoved. He was Level 8, while this NPC was Level 10. Anyone with common sense wouldn¡¯t accept this fight! Ning Qianjun hurriedly grabbed Ye Qiu¡¯s arm and said, ¡°Don¡¯t fight him! This NPC doesn¡¯t hold back. He fights to kill!¡± To him, Ye Qiu was a golden lifeline. He couldn¡¯t let anything happen to him! Besides, he still wasn¡¯t sure whether Ye Qiu was a player or an NPC. If Ye Qiu was a player, then how could he have entered and left the novice village so easily on the first day? If Ye Qiu was an NPC, then how could he add friends and send private messages? Regardless, he would not allow Ye Qiu to be dragged into this mess! S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, things didn¡¯t go as he wished. Shi Jian had already raised his hands, On his knuckle dusters, razor-sharp blades gleamed. [NPC Shi Jian has issued you a challenge!] [For the next hour, all counterattacks will be considered self-defense. No crime points, no reputation loss, no red name status.] [Since NPC Shi Jian is in a party, attacking any of them will still count as self-defense!] The system¡¯s voice echoed in Ye Qiu¡¯s mind. Chapter 24 - Destroy the NPC Chapter 24: Destroy the NPC ¡°Haha! Today, I¡¯m going to have a good fight!¡± The NPC, Shi Jian, let out a wild laugh. Then, he stepped forward. His burly and towering figure loomed over Ye Qiu, making him seem half the size in comparison! He extended his fist was as large as a child¡¯s head, massive beyond belief! His fist, wrapped in brass knuckles, came crashing forward. The wind howled with its force! Watching the terrifying punch rush toward him, Ye Qiu remained still. At the very moment the fist was about to strike, he raised the steel sword in his hand. Metal clashed. The air vibrated. Ye Qiu only took half a step back. ¡°Hmm?!¡± Shi Jian froze. Then, his heart filled with shock. ¡°This guy actually took my punch head-on?!¡± As thoughts raced through his mind, he instantly switched moves. Raising one hand, he formed a knife-hand stance. Then, he slashed down with force! However, Ye Qiu¡¯s figure suddenly disappeared from Shi Jian¡¯s sight. His heart skipped a beat. But before he could react, a chilling killing intent gathered behind him! ¡°Sixth Slash ¡ª Scarlet Point!¡± A faint, muffled sound rang out. Then, Shi Jian¡¯s massive body stiffened in place. He remained completely motionless. Three seconds later, everyone gasped in shock as they saw a small red spot appear in the center of Shi Jian¡¯s forehead. The blood deepened in color and the wound widened. Until finally, with a sudden burst, his skull split open! Blood and brain matter splattered in all directions! His corpse collapsed stiffly to the ground! At that moment, every player present had wide eyes and faces full of utter disbelief! The towering youth who had once torn apart a Level 10 Green-Eyed Tiger with his bare hands, The same one who slaughtered armed NPCs was now¡­ dead?! In just a few seconds?! To the crowd, it was nothing but a one-sided massacre! But only Ye Qiu, the one who delivered the fatal blow, knew that it was all thanks to his Coward¡¯s Cloak! If it had been a pure contest of strength, as a Level 8 player, there was no way he could have killed this Level 10 NPC! Not to mention, NPCs were usually much stronger than monsters of the same level! In his past life, a common saying circulated: ¡°Better to fight a horde of demons than to provoke a humanoid monster!¡± Humanoid monsters (including humanoid NPCs) all had unique combat skills and techniques! They couldn¡¯t be countered by mere experience or information gaps! However, his opponent was Ye Qiu. Someone with over 100 points in Agility! Even a normal Level 20 player might not reach such speed! ¡°This¡­ He really killed him?!¡± ¡°So fast!¡± ¡°NPC battles are terrifying!¡± ¡°If I had fought him, I¡¯d have been killed instantly!¡± ¡°There¡¯s always someone stronger out there!¡± ¡°I thought that burly NPC was unbeatable, but the cloaked NPC is even more insane!¡± ¡°Thousand-Faced Lord is seriously lucky as hell!¡± ¡°Yeah, if I met an NPC like that, I¡¯d call him ¡®Dad¡¯ and cling to his thigh!¡± The murmurs of the crowd grew louder. At that moment, Ning Qianjun and his sister, Ning Qingyue, snapped out of their daze. They exchanged looks. ¡°So strong!¡± The siblings were shocked by their mysterious ally¡¯s power. At the same time, they were completely bewildered. Before this, they leaned toward the belief that Ye Qiu was a player. They were almost certain of it! But now, they were confused! Could a player kill a Level 10 NPC? Absolutely not! At least, from what they knew, the highest-leveled players right now were only around Level 6 or 7! Besides, that burly NPC had previously displayed the ability to tear apart a Level 10 Green-Eyed Tiger with his bare hands! What player could possibly achieve that?! Meanwhile, Zhao Hanyan finally recovered from her shock. In her mind, The system notification rang. [The NPC you recruited has died. Your reputation has decreased by 100 points. For the next 10 days, you cannot recruit another NPC, accept any quests, enter the Novice Village, or gain full EXP and drop rates from monsters.] At that moment, Zhao Hanyan finally understood why Ning Qianjun, who was always calm and elegant, had been so furious earlier! Her heart ached. She had spent a lot to recruit that burly NPC! She didn¡¯t even get a chance to train or kill monsters! And now, he was dead! Of course, she felt no sympathy for the NPC wor was she upset about his death. In fact, she felt a little satisfied! She even wanted to say, ¡°Serves him right!¡± After all, that burly NPC had previously tried to take advantage of her! He had harassed her! If this had happened in real life, he would have been beaten up already! But in the game, she had been powerless to do anything! ¡°What a pity¡­¡± Zhao Hanyan sighed as she glanced at the burly NPC¡¯s corpse. Then, her eyes shifted to Ye Qiu. A gleam of interest flickered in her gaze. She stepped forward gracefully. ¡°This big brother, are you interested in working for me?¡± Zhao Hanyan intercepted Ye Qiu before Ning Qianjun and his sister could get close, her eyes flirtatious, her voice sultry. When she recruited the burly NPC, she had used this exact method! The first thing she always did was to use her beauty trap! She was confident! Her looks, even in real life, rivaled the glamorous stars on television! And in the game, she was even more stunning! Since the game stripped away makeup and artificial enhancements, naturally beautiful women like Zhao Hanyan, stood out even more! However, Ye Qiu¡¯s response was¡­ A cold light flashed. His steel sword slashed across Zhao Hanyan¡¯s throat. She didn¡¯t even have time to scream. She collapsed instantly. Dead! Beside her, an item dropped. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ye Qiu immediately picked it up. ¡°Huh? Another treasure map?¡± It was a parchment covered in route markings. Since she had initiated the battle, both NPC Shi Jian and player Zhao Hanyan¡¯s deaths were considered self-defense! There would be no penalties! ¡°Holy crap! He actually killed the Big Sister?!¡± ¡°This guy¡¯s finished! The Zhao family is powerful! They¡¯ll definitely get revenge!¡± ¡°Pfft! This is a game, not real life. Why would an NPC fear the Zhao family¡¯s revenge?¡± ¡°True¡­¡± ¡°Fair point!¡± ¡°This NPC is badass! I¡¯m about to become his fan!¡± The crowd was dumbfounded by Ye Qiu¡¯s ruthlessness. It was pure cold-bloodedness! Ning Qianjun had a complicated expression when he saw Ye Qiu kill Zhao Hanyan without hesitation. As for Ning Qingyue, she blinked her big, bright eyes. She glanced at Ye Qiu, then at Zhao Hanyan¡¯s corpse. A grin spread across her lips. Her frustration from earlier vanished! She was overjoyed! Her gaze toward Ye Qiu grew warmer. Finally! She had always hated that woman! But she had been helpless to do anything! Who would have thought that in the game, an NPC would help her take revenge?! Chapter 25 - Ye Qiu’s Goal — the BOSS! Chapter 25: Ye Qiu¡¯s Goal ¡ª the BOSS! Novice Village¡­ At the respawn point stood a massive altar. The altar was engraved with incomprehensible runes. At its core was a humanoid crystal, glowing faintly. At that moment, flashes of white light flickered. One by one, figures appeared. They were players resurrecting after death and mmong them was Zhao Hanyan. She had just revived and was still in a dazed state. ¡°I¡­ I actually got killed?!¡± she muttered, her eye twitching, her face flushed with anger. She, the eldest daughter of the Zhao family, was actually slain in a game! And it wasn¡¯t even by a monster, it was by an NPC! For the first time ever! After taking a deep breath to calm herself, she regained her usual composure. Her lips curled slightly as she muttered, ¡°This grudge must be settled! When has this lady ever suffered such a loss?!¡± At that moment¡­ [Your friend ¡®Empire Overlord¡¯ has sent a voice message request. Accept?] ¡°Brother?¡± She accepted the call. ¡®Empire Overlord¡¯ was none other than her older brother, Zhao Mingyuan, the future head of the Zhao family. Empire Overlord (Voice Message): ¡°Someone recorded a video of Tiger Mountain. I watched it. Check your inventory now and see if you lost anything.¡± The moment the call connected, that was the first thing she heard. Zhao Hanyan was briefly stunned but quickly snapped back to reality. She immediately opened her inventory. A moment later¡­ ¡°Ah!!!¡± a sharp scream escaped her lips. It took a while before she, voice trembling and gritted teeth, responded through voice chat, ¡°Brother, I lost the Secret Realm Map!¡± In the game, when a player was killed, there¡¯s a chance of dropping an item from their inventory. Unfortunately, she had dropped one and it was incredibly valuable. Empire Overlord (Voice Message): ¡°What?!¡± Almost crying, Zhao Hanyan explained, ¡°I dug up a treasure chest while mining. Inside, I found that map. I even spent 1,000 gold coins to buy a High-Level Appraisal Scroll, and it confirmed that it was a ¡®Secret Realm Map.¡¯ When used, it teleports the player to an independent space, which could contain monsters or treasures¡­ I was saving it to bring to the big city and gift it to you for your birthday as a surprise¡­ but now¡­¡± The Novice Village was an isolated area, but the big city was a massive open-world region. Soon, all 7 to 8 billion players worldwide would be able to interact in real time. Empire Overlord (Voice Message): ¡°I appreciate the thought, but if you lost it, you lost it. From now on, stay away from the Ning siblings. Don¡¯t provoke them.¡± Zhao Hanyan was dumbfounded. She had just lost such a precious item, something she had planned to gift him! And not only did he not console her, but he also told her to avoid trouble?! As if she was some troublemaker constantly picking fights?! Taking a deep breath, she coldly replied, ¡°Got it. One of the Nings is your future wife, huh?¡± Then, she hung up the call. ¡°Hmph! She¡¯s not even married in yet, and he¡¯s already siding with her. If she actually marries in, won¡¯t I have even less status?! ¡°Ugh! So frustrating!¡± She stomped her foot in anger. Despite her alluring, mature appearance, she was actually a year younger than Ning Qingyue. She was only 17 this year. ¡ª In-Game ¡ª Nightfall¡­ At the peak of Tiger Mountain, Ye Qiu had already sent the siblings and other players down the mountain. He also asked them to guard the mountain pass. As for himself, he retrieved some items from his inventory. [Special Items: Gas Canisters, Firecrackers, Fuel, Lighter¡­] All of these were things he had brought in from the real world, especially the two gas canisters. Muttering to himself, Ye Qiu said, ¡°If I remember correctly, the Black Iron that Zhang Tie lost is inside one of the Green-Eyed Tiger monsters on this mountain. Killing it should drop the item.¡± With that in mind, he carried the two gas canisters and buried them deep in the central pit. He then spread firecrackers over them, doused them in fuel, and connected a fuse. Finally, he covered it all with dirt, leading the fuse to an exposed area. He didn¡¯t light it immediately. Instead, he went to lure the monsters. One by one, Green-Eyed Tiger monsters emerged from their dens, chasing after him relentlessly. One, two, three¡­ In no time, at least 20 tigers were on his tail! Luckily, his Coward¡¯s Cloak granted him a +100 Agility boost. Thanks to that, he could effortlessly maintain a lead while strategically retreating. He didn¡¯t know how long he had been running, when suddenly¡­ S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A deafening, unparalleled roar echoed through the air! The ground trembled. Even the air rippled from the sheer force! Heavenly Eye! [Rare Boss ¨C Deep Mountain Tiger Demon] [Level: 15] [HP: 12,000] [Skills: Tiger¡¯s Roar Shakes the Forest, Poisonous Miasma Ground] [Preference: Meat] ¡°It finally appeared!¡± Ye Qiu held his breath, suppressing his nerves. At last, he reached the end of the fuse. He struck the lighter! The fuse crackled, releasing a faint gunpowder scent. At the same time¡­ The Deep Mountain Tiger Demon used Tiger¡¯s Roar Shakes the Forest! All lower-level creatures were instantly stunned by the terrifying sound. However, Ye Qiu was an exception. His body stiffened momentarily but quickly returned to normal. If one looked closely, they would notice something in his ears. Earplugs! He had prepared them in advance. And before the Rare Boss could use its second skill Poisonous Miasma Ground, he had already donned a Gas Mask purchased from the in-game shop! Everything was in place. His goal was to slay this Rare Boss! Could he succeed? To be honest, he wasn¡¯t sure himself. In his past life, no player had ever been able to kill the Deep Mountain Tiger Demon at this stage of the game. It wasn¡¯t until players reached Level 50 that they came back and crushed it through sheer power! So, past-life strategies were useless now. After all, back then, players had only beaten it through brute force. But now, Ye Qiu was only Level 8, while the Deep Mountain Tiger Demon was Level 15. And not just any monster, it was a Rare Boss! Its strength was leagues above normal bosses of the same level. However, in this lifetime, Ye Qiu had a game-breaking advantage ¡ª the ability to bring real-world items into the game! Because of that, everything was about to change! The Level 10 Green-Eyed Tigers howled furiously, eager to tear Ye Qiu apart. It was their first time encountering a human who could run so well! Meanwhile, the Rare Boss finally used its second skill, Poisonous Miasma Ground! A massive purple cloud spread out. All plants it touched instantly withered and died. Even trees turned yellow and decayed into dust! Meanwhile, Ye Qiu¡­ [You are affected by Poisonous Miasma.] A system notification popped up. Above his head, damage numbers appeared: -3, -5, -2¡­ ¡°It works!¡± His gas mask was proving effective! Normally, a Level 15 Rare Boss¡¯s attack would deal hundreds of damage per tick! And it would be continuous! But now, the damage was negligible! Finally, the fuse reached its end! And Ye Qiu had successfully lured all the tigers, including the Rare Boss, into the deep pit! Chapter 26 - Explosion! Chapter 26: Explosion! Gas Cylinder was absolutely a deadly weapon! Living in Hanxia, getting hold of firearms was incredibly difficult and extremely troublesome! But a gas cylinder was easy to get! Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Don¡¯t underestimate it. Even in modern warfare, some countries still use these as makeshift bombs! Someone once tested a fully loaded gas cylinder¡¯s explosion power and found that it was equivalent to 145 kilograms of TNT! That¡¯s about three thousand grenades! Absolutely terrifying! And now It¡¯s time to unleash its power! Ye Qiu sprinted toward the center of the crater. Then, he suddenly stopped moving! From all directions, Green-Eyed Tigers lunged at him! Even more terrifying was the Rare Boss Deep Mountain Tiger Demon, charging at him with overwhelming force! The sound was deafening! The ground trembled! In the blink of an eye, Ye Qiu was completely surrounded by the beasts! But then he suddenly smiled. ¡°Bye-bye!¡± Ye Qiu raised a hand and waved at the Deep Mountain Tiger Demon. Then under its human-like expression of shock his figure vanished in an instant! This was the effect of the Coward¡¯s Cloak skill: Tactical Retreat! A towering inferno! A deafening explosion! The sound shattered the silence! At that moment, the ground shook violently! Flames coiled like dragons! The beasts wailed in agony! Atop Tiger Mountain was like the end of the world! At the base of Tiger Mountain, Ning Qianjun and his younger sister, Ning Qingyue, stood guarding the entrance, preventing other players from going up. ¡°Brother, do you think that guy is really an NPC?¡± Ning Qingyue still couldn¡¯t shake off the images from earlier. That brawny NPC, which was overwhelmingly strong, had been instantly killed! It was absurd! She had seen it with her own eyes. That same NPC had torn apart a Green-Eyed Tiger with his bare hands! That dominant figure had been deeply imprinted in her mind. But now, before even a day had passed, he was gone! All because an even more terrifying and powerful existence had appeared. The mysterious person who had teamed up with them! Ning Qianjun frowned, murmuring, ¡°Maybe¡­ But why would an NPC actively seek me out for cooperation?¡± Ning Qingyue blinked, glancing toward Tiger Mountain. Then she guessed, ¡°Brother, do you remember? He first approached us right near Tiger Mountain!¡± Ning Qianjun¡¯s eyes lit up. Realization dawned. ¡°You¡¯re right! That mysterious NPC must have come specifically for Tiger Mountain. We just got lucky, standing in the right place at the right time. And all the tasks he gave us were related to Tiger Mountain!¡± Ning Qingyue giggled, ¡°If I knew our luck was this good, I should¡¯ve logged off and bought a lottery ticket!¡± They attributed everything to luck. From the top of Tiger Mountain, the Green-Eyed Tiger Beasts¡¯ howls echoed downward! Ning Qianjun, Ning Qingyue, and the surrounding players all looked up. But Tiger Mountain was too tall, and the dense trees blocked their view. ¡°What exactly is this NPC trying to do?¡± Ning Qingyue muttered in confusion, ¡°Digging holes on the mountaintop, making us guard the entrance, keeping other players out so mysterious¡­¡± Ning Qianjun chuckled, ¡°Does it matter? We just need to cooperate, cling to this golden thigh, and level up to 10 within two weeks to leave the Novice Village!¡± Ning Qingyue nodded but soon hesitated, ¡°Brother, that NPC killed Zhao Hanyan once. With Zhao Hanyan¡¯s vengeful personality, he will definitely retaliate if he gets the chance. That NPC might be in danger later!¡± Ning Qianjun pondered, then nodded slightly. ¡°That¡¯s true. NPCs and players are different. Players just need time to grind and level up, but NPCs don¡¯t. At this rate, it won¡¯t be long before Zhao Hanyan outlevels that mysterious NPC.¡± The two of them grew worried about Ye Qiu¡¯s future. Right now, NPCs were stronger than players. But in just a few days, the top players¡¯ levels would skyrocket. At that point the balance of power in the Novice Village would completely flip. Just as they spoke a massive explosion shook them to their core! The ground trembled. The siblings nearly lost their footing! Other nearby players looked up in horror. In the pitch-black night, atop Tiger Mountain, a mushroom cloud of flames erupted! Huge boulders tumbled down! Trees were blown away! A wave of scorching heat swept over them, even from a hundred meters away! ¡°What the hell just happened?!¡± The few players around at night stared in shock. Many of them hurriedly used the game¡¯s recording function to capture the scene! ¡°Holy shit¡­¡± Ning Qianjun and Ning Qingyue watched the spectacle in absolute disbelief. They turned to each other, gulped, and exchanged stunned glances. They knew this had to be related to that mysterious NPC! ¡ª Meanwhile, halfway up Tiger Mountain and behind a massive boulder, Ye Qiu reappeared. [Your level has increased by 1.] [Your HP and attributes have improved.] [Your level has increased by 1¡­] [Your level has increased by 1¡­] In an instant, Ye Qiu¡¯s level shot from 8 to 11! And that wasn¡¯t all. [Congratulations on killing the Rare BOSS ¡°Deep Mountain Tiger Demon.¡±] [You have gained 15 Reputation Points.] [You are the first player in Trial City to kill a Rare BOSS.] [You receive an additional 300 Reputation Points and 50 Gold Coins.] [As the first player to kill a Rare BOSS, you may send three global announcements to inform all players of your achievement. Would you like to broadcast your name?] ¡°Same as last time with an anonymous announcement.¡± Ye Qiu was covered in dust and soot, but his face was filled with ecstasy. Ye Qiu¡¯s breathing quickened. If he could get a nuclear bomb, wouldn¡¯t he be able to ¡°peacefully¡± conquer the Novice Village?! Maybe even hit Level 50 instantly?! But then he quickly shook his head. In his past life, when the game merged with reality, some of Earth¡¯s most powerful weapons still existed. And one day someone actually used a nuke! The result? Countless NPCs and players were wiped out. The user themselves was gravely wounded and instantly red-named. In the end, they were struck down by divine punishment, obliterated by the system itself! Ye Qiu took a deep breath. That path was not an option. Even worse some NPCs were over Level 100 and could literally crush a nuke with one hand! Chapter 27 - Mysterious Ancient Horn Chapter 27: Mysterious Ancient Horn [Congratulations to anonymous player ¡®xxxx¡¯ for being the first to kill a Rare Boss monster! This achievement will be announced three times to all players in the City of Trials as a mark of honor!] [Congratulations to anonymous player¡­] [Congratulations to anonymous player¡­] At that moment, the same mechanical voice echoed in everyone¡¯s minds. ¡°Damn! Another anonymous player?!¡± ¡°Could it be the same person?¡± ¡°No way! Absolutely impossible!¡± ¡°Who the hell is it?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a video on the forums! Looks like it¡¯s from Novice Village 0001!¡± ¡°I saw it! There was a massive explosion on Tiger Mountain!¡± ¡°Could it be¡­ that the rare-grade BOSS¡¯s death is related to this?!¡± Once again, everyone was in shock. The main reason? The game had only been open for less than a day in real-world time. Even in-game, only two days had passed! And yet, during this period, most players hadn¡¯t even managed to kill a single normal monster! But now, someone had already taken down a BOSS. Not just one, but multiple! The contrast was just too brutal! ¡ª Novice Village 0001¡­ Zhao Hanyan was just about to log off when, suddenly, a thunderous explosion echoed from afar! It seemed to be coming from Tiger Mountain! She could even see flames rising into the sky! Before Zhao Hanyan could figure out what was happening, the system¡¯s three announcements rang in her mind! It was just like last time. But, last time, the player had killed an ordinary BOSS. This time, the target was a rare-grade BOSS! ¡°What the hell?! What just happened? ¡°Who is this anonymous player? ¡°Could it be¡­ related to the explosion from Tiger Mountain? ¡°Or even¡­ to that NPC who killed me?!¡± Zhao Hanyan¡¯s mind was filled with suspicion and shock. A series of questions surfaced. Very quickly, a hint of jealousy flashed across her face. She assumed that the anonymous player was Thousand Faces Gentleman Ning Qianjun. She believed that he had taken down the rare-grade Boss, Deep Mountain Tiger Demon, with the help of that hooded NPC! That¡¯s why there was such a commotion! That¡¯s why the system made an announcement! ¡°This Ning family duo has such insane luck, meeting such an overpowered NPC! ¡°No way! I need to figure out a way to make that NPC betray them and follow me instead!¡± Her eyes flickered with calculation. A plan had already formed in her mind. The corners of her lips curled into a sly smile. ¡ª Tiger Mountain summit¡­ Ye Qiu, now Level 11, had an unusual pale blue circular light mark appearing on his forehead. Others might not know what it was. But Ye Qiu, who had lived two lifetimes, knew exactly what it meant! ¡°The Job Change Mark has appeared¡­¡± Ye Qiu recalled his past life. Every player, upon reaching Level 10, would develop this mark on their forehead. It was called the Job Change Mark. After switching jobs, the mark would transform from a simple circular glow into a unique symbol representing the player¡¯s new class! It was a symbol of power and proof of advancement. ¡°I need to go to a big city for the job change. It can¡¯t be done in a novice village.¡± However, Ye Qiu wasn¡¯t planning to leave just yet. Because in this novice village, there were still many quests, rewards, and treasures left to be claimed! Without hesitation Ye Qiu suppressed the glow of his Job Change Mark. At this point, most players were still stuck at Level 2 or 3. A few had reached Level 4 or 5. An extremely small number made it to Level 6. The number of Level 7 players could probably be counted on one hand. As for Level 8? Maybe some existed. Maybe not. But Ye Qiu? He was a complete outlier! As the flames on the mountain summit subsided, Ye Qiu caught the scent of scorched flesh mixed with the aroma of cooked meat. Looking over the battlefield, the remains of Green-Eyed Tigers were scattered everywhere. Some were blown to bits. Some were burnt to a crisp. At the very center, a massive crater held the gigantic corpse of the Rare Boss Deep Mountain Tiger Demon! Perhaps because of its high level and rare-grade status, its corpse remained relatively intact. ¡°Too bad¡­ The distance was too far, and since I killed it using external means, the drop rate was extremely low.¡± Ye Qiu scanned the battlefield. The loot was sparse. Even so, he was already satisfied. After all, he had gained three whole levels in one go! And, he had taken down a Rare Boss! Stepping forward, Ye Qiu began picking up the dropped items and examining them one by one. The first item immediately caught his eye! [Expansion Orb (Rare): Doubles the initial inventory capacity upon use.] ¡°Great item!¡± Ye Qiu grinned and used it without hesitation. In-game, orbs came in four tiers: Normal, Rare, Epic, and Legendary. Unlike equipment, they worked more like permanent buffs. However, they were not interchangeable. For example, the Expansion Orb could only be used to upgrade inventories. Other orbs included Weapon Orbs, Skill Orbs, Pet Orbs, Armor Orbs, and Accessory Orbs¡­ There were many types. The second item was: [Ancient Horn (Unknown): Cannot be identified, traded, dropped, gifted, reforged, or destroyed¡­ Insufficient level to use.] ¡°???¡± Ye Qiu was dumbfounded. He stared at the strange horn crafted from an unknown beast¡¯s material. Its surface was covered in intricate patterns that faintly shimmered with colorful light. ¡°Looks valuable?¡± Ye Qiu strained his memory, trying to recall if he had seen this item in his past life. But¡­ nothing. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His recollection was crystal clear since his rebirth. If he had seen this before, he would¡¯ve remembered it! Since he didn¡¯t understand it, he simply stored it away. Maybe when his level increased, he¡¯d be able to use it. The third item: [Silver Moon ¨C Tiger Demon Hairpin (Pink-Grade Spirit Equipment)] [Level Requirement: 10. ] [+500 HP.] [Passive Skill: When using a healing skill, gain a shield equal to 5% of your max HP for 3 seconds. (Effect cannot stack.)] ¡°A pink-grade spirit item?!¡± Ye Qiu was surprised. However, it was clearly a healer¡¯s gear. It was not suitable for him. Besides Pink-grade spirit items were usually part of a set. Since only one piece dropped here, the 500 HP bonus was nice, but the passive skill was useless unless someone played a tanky healer build. The trade-off was not worth it. No one would be dumb enough to build pure HP just for one item! The fourth item: [Skill Orb (Rare): Instantly increases a skill¡¯s proficiency by 2000 points.] ¡°Another orb?!¡± Ye Qiu was thrilled. He used it immediately. [Nine Style of Slash (Lv.2): 322/5000. Each slash increases attack by 30. (Note: This skill is an advanced version of the basic ¡°Slash¡± and consumes excessive stamina.)] Instantly Ye Qiu felt a rush of new insights flood his mind. Pausing for a moment, he turned his attention to the fifth item. And the moment he saw it, his face showed pure shock. Chapter 28 - Can Copy Other People’s Skills! Chapter 28: Can Copy Other People¡¯s Skills! The fifth item: [Skill Book ¨C Apprentice¡¯s Will (Special Skill): Upon learning and using this skill, you can copy one ability from another person. Each level-up grants an additional copy opportunity.] ¡°A skill book?! ¡°And not just any skill, it¡¯s that legendary special skill!!!¡± Ye Qiu¡¯s eyes widened in shock. His heart pounded wildly. For a long moment, he simply stood there, trying to process the enormity of what he had just found. After finally calming himself, he took a deep breath. Then, deep within, a wave of overwhelming joy surged through him! In his past life, this special skill had once shaken the entire Trial City. Its effect? It wasn¡¯t just limited to copying player skills. It could be used on NPCs as well! And even more shockingly, it could also be used on pets, monsters, and demons! Furthermore, special skills had a unique trait. They were one of a kind. Once someone learned it, no one else could obtain it! S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Suppressing his excitement, Ye Qiu wasted no time and immediately chose to learn the skill. In the next instant, his personal interface updated. Under the section for special skills, a new entry appeared: [Apprentice¡¯s Will]. This skill had the potential to be incredibly powerful or completely useless. Everything depended on the strength of the user. In his previous life, a certain player had obtained this skill. However, that player was too weak. Even though they eventually copied dozens of abilities from others, all of them remained at Level 1. They had no ability to upgrade so many skills! Spreading oneself too thin often led to ruin. That player became the ultimate example of this lesson. In the end, they were defeated. They were killed by an ordinary player of the same level, who had no special skills at all. It was a tragic ending. ¡°There are no useless skills, only useless players.¡± Ye Qiu had now completely regained his composure. He would not repeat the mistakes of that failed player. Afterward, he scanned through the rest of the loot. Most of it consisted of common and blue-grade equipment, along with various materials. Ye Qiu only kept the materials. He also stored the Rare Boss Deep Mountain Tiger Demon¡¯s corpse into his backpack. These items, they were all tied to quests from his past life. ¡°Found it!¡± Soon, from within the pile of items, Ye Qiu discovered what he was looking for. [The Lost Black Iron of Blacksmith Zhang¡¯s: Unidentified. Quest Item. Cannot be dropped upon death.] Finally, three standard quests and two hidden quests. At this moment, all of them were complete! With nothing else left to gather, Ye Qiu turned to leave the mountain. However, perhaps because the night was too dark, Ye Qiu failed to notice something. In the crater at the heart of the explosion, the soil had collapsed slightly inward. And in that depression, there was an object whose shape was almost identical to something Ye Qiu had just obtained. It was¡­ the Ancient Horn. This item had not dropped from the Rare Boss Deep Mountain Tiger Demon. Instead, it had always been buried deep beneath the Tiger Mountain summit over ten meters underground. The explosion had merely deepened the crater, Finally exposing what had been hidden for so long. Of course, even if Ye Qiu had noticed it, he wouldn¡¯t have paid it much attention. After all, he had no idea what it was. Even with Heavenly Eye, he couldn¡¯t see any additional details. It couldn¡¯t be identified. Its true effects would only become apparent once he reached a certain level. But the most crucial detail was that the item was now in his inventory. It could not be dropped, gifted, traded, or destroyed. From this moment on, it belonged to Ye Qiu alone. Unless he died permanently, without any chance of resurrection, this item would remain bound to him forever. ¡ª At the base of the mountain¡­ A large group of people had gathered at the entrance to Tiger Mountain. Many were clamoring to go up, and some had already begun making their way forward! Ning Qianjun and Ning Qingyue exchanged helpless looks. Among the players present, there were even official personnel. If it were just ordinary players trying to force their way in, they could ignore them or even take action to stop them. But now that the officials were involved, no matter how strong they were, they had no choice but to step aside. ¡°I can¡¯t believe even the officials have been alerted?!¡± Ning Qianjun and Ning Qingyue watched as several figures ascended the mountain, deep in thought. When the game had just launched, Ning Qianjun had already wondered if this was truly just a simple virtual game? It boasted 1:1 realism, With NPCs that acted just like real people, possessing independent thoughts. Yet beyond that, it still seemed to contain only the usual game mechanics. But now, with the officials making an appearance, he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that this brain-implanted game was far from ordinary. Due to the official intervention, the other players who had wanted to go up the mountain had no choice but to back down reluctantly. After all, for now, this was still just a game. And in the real world, they were all just ordinary people. ¡°Brother, could that NPC have already teamed up with another player? Is that why there was such a huge commotion?¡± Ning Qingyue asked, instinctively assuming Ye Qiu was an NPC. ¡°That¡­ shouldn¡¯t be the case.¡± Ning Qianjun was reluctant to accept that theory. He reasoned, ¡°We¡¯ve been watching that NPC all this time, and we¡¯ve never seen any other player near him.¡± In truth, deep down, he wanted that hooded, possibly-player-possibly-NPC individual to keep working for them. ¡°But¡­ what about the explosion just now? And the system-wide announcement in the Trial City?¡± Ning Qingyue frowned, lost in thought. ¡°The explosion happened here in our novice village,¡± Ning Qianjun reasoned. ¡°But the announcement likely came from another novice village, where a player killed a rare boss.¡± ¡°Why do you think that? Isn¡¯t that too much of a coincidence?¡± Ning Qingyue still wasn¡¯t convinced. ¡°Think about it. Where are we?¡± ¡°¡­Tiger Mountain.¡± ¡°And what kind of monsters spawn here?¡± ¡°The Level 10 Green-Eyed Tigers, of course. And because they¡¯re so strong, the whole surrounding area has no other monsters.¡± Ning Qianjun smiled. ¡°Actually, there¡¯s one more monster here.¡± Ning Qingyue blinked. Then, suddenly realizing, she exclaimed, ¡°Besides the Level 10 Green-Eyed Tigers¡­ there¡¯s also the Level 15 Rare Boss, Deep Mountain Tiger Demon!¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Ning Qianjun nodded. ¡°Now tell me, who in this beginner village, NPCs included, could possibly kill that monster?¡± Ning Qingyue hesitated, then shook her head. She didn¡¯t know, but she understood her brother¡¯s point. The hooded NPC was strong but not strong enough to take down a Level 15 Rare Boss! Considering the system-wide announcement, the most logical explanation was that it had been another novice village¡¯s player who had killed a low-level Rare Boss. That was the only thing that made sense. After all¡­ Tiger Mountain had no other monsters. It was impossible to believe that hooded NPC had actually slain the Deep Mountain Tiger Demon! Others might not understand how terrifying that monster was. But the two of them had personally encountered it before. That overwhelming power, none could withstand it! Just a single roar froze every player in fear. Just a single poisonous miasma wiped out everyone instantly! Who could possibly fight against that?! No one. At least, not unless they were Level 30 or higher, with a well-coordinated team of at least five skilled players. Just as the siblings were discussing this, a deep voice spoke beside them. ¡°Why were you two guarding the entrance to Tiger Mountain, stopping other players from going up?¡± Chapter 29 - Ye Qiu’s Character Sheet Chapter 29: Ye Qiu¡¯s Character Sheet ¡°Who are you?¡± Ning Qianjun and Ning Qingyue looked at the middle-aged man in front of them, cautiously asking. They remembered him. He was one of the officials among the group. The middle-aged man thought for a moment before answering, ¡°National Security.¡± Ning Qianjun and Ning Qingyue exchanged glances. ¡°¡­?¡± Recovering from his shock, Ning Qianjun quickly explained, ¡°We accepted a quest from an NPC to guard the entrance to Tiger Mountain.¡± ¡°An NPC quest?¡± The middle-aged man paused for a moment, then asked, ¡°Do you know the cause of the explosion?¡± The siblings didn¡¯t even need to think. They shook their heads immediately. They were just as baffled! What exactly happened up there? How did such a massive explosion occur?! Seeing that they had no answers, the middle-aged man was about to ask something else when his earpiece buzzed with an incoming message. It was a voice transmission from the team that had gone up Tiger Mountain, along with a video. ¡°Captain, there was indeed a huge explosion up here. There are also many burned monster corpses!¡± the team member reported. The middle-aged man played the video. On the screen, the peak of Tiger Mountain was in ruins. Not a single patch of ground remained intact. The middle-aged man asked through the voice channel, ¡°Did you find anyone? NPCs or players?¡± The team member replied, ¡°No one. Even the unique Level 10 monsters of Tiger Mountain, the Green-Eyed Tigers, seem to have fled due to the explosion.¡± The middle-aged man frowned. Just as he was lost in thought, another message came through. ¡°Captain, we also found some blue and white equipment scattered around!¡± Hearing this, the middle-aged man¡¯s eyes lit up before his expression turned pensive. After a while, he looked at Ning Qianjun and Ning Qingyue again and asked, ¡°Do NPCs drop equipment when they kill monsters?¡± Ning Qianjun thought about it before answering, ¡°Not sure. I¡¯ve only ever partied with NPCs before, but during that time, no equipment ever dropped.¡± The middle-aged man nodded slowly. ¡°Got it.¡± With that, he turned to leave, issuing a new order over the voice channel, ¡°Pick up all the unclaimed blue and white equipment and store it in your inventory. We¡¯re pulling out. We will meet offline.¡± ¡ª Meanwhile, Ye Qiu had already logged off. He opened his character panel: [Character: One Leaf Knows Autumn] [Class: Swordsman [Subclass: None [Level: 11 [HP: 6500 [MP: 6500 [Attack: 130 [Defense: 130 [Movement Speed: 170 Attributes [Strength: 65 [Constitution: 65 [Agility: 170 [Spirit: 65 [Luck: 60 (Special Attribute) [Fame: 425 Equipment [Steel Sword [Steel Chestplate [Steel Pants [Steel Boots [Lynx Bone Ring [Coward¡¯s Cloak Inventory [Lynx Kingdom Ruins [Herbalist Shopkeeper¡¯s Prescription (Quest Item) [Blacksmith Zhang Tie¡¯s Lost Black Iron [Secret Realm Treasure Map [Ancient Horn [Wolf Fang Crescent Staff (Purple Rare Weapon) [Silver Moon ¡ª Tiger Demon Hairpin (Pink Spirit Artifact) S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Lighter [Gas Mask [Lightning Rod [Various Materials Active Skills [Slash (Level 1): 176/500 EXP ¨C Increases attack by 10 upon use. [Nine Styles of Slash (Level 2): 322/5000 EXP ¨C Each form increases attack by 30 upon use. Heavenly Eye (Level 1): 355/5000 EXP ¨C Allows the user to analyze all objects within their field of vision, detect hidden traps, uncover unknown mysteries, and reveal concealed figures. Special Skills [Apprentice¡¯s Will: Allows the user to copy one skill from another person. Gains one additional copy chance per level. (Current Charges: 11/11)] [Pets: None] [Guild: None] Stat Points [Fixed Stat Points: 120] [Free Stat Points: 50] Ye Qiu had yet to allocate his earned stat points. ¡°Strength, Constitution, Agility, and Spirit each gets 30 points,¡± he decided. Fixed attribute points could only be distributed among the four core stats. With the new allocations, his stats updated: [Strength: 95] [Constitution: 95] [Agility: 200] [Spirit: 95] [HP: 9500] [MP: 9500] [Attack: 190] [Defense: 190] [Movement Speed: 200] Ye Qiu immediately felt an unprecedented sense of power. In his past life, when the game merged with reality, he had only been Level 5. He barely survived for over a year, constantly hiding and struggling before he could finally complete his job advancement. But now? He was leagues ahead of schedule. Looking outside, it was already evening in the real world. Two days had passed in the game. Yet in reality, only half a day had gone by. He picked up his phone. Su Xintong, his class president, hadn¡¯t sent any new messages. But in his group chats, the once-quiet atmosphere had turned rowdy again. Every group had ¡°99+¡± unread messages. He casually clicked into one of them. ¡°I finally hit Level 3!¡± ¡°Nice!¡± ¡°Carry me, please!¡± ¡°I¡¯m still stuck in line waiting for a quest!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t take quests! Total waste of time!¡± ¡°Huh? Why?¡± ¡°The damn village chief gives out quests that are nightmare difficulty!¡± ¡°Yeah, my quest requires me to collect 20 tiger whips! I checked and tiger whips drop from Green-Eyed Tigers. But those things are Level 10!!!¡± ¡°Same here!¡± ¡°Same +1!¡± ¡°My quest is a bit easier, just killing 20 Black Wolves¡­¡± ¡°Pfft! Black Wolves are Level 7!¡± ¡°Level 3 dude here, looking for a girl to carry~¡± ¡°Thirsty much? Get lost!¡± ¡°Bruh, are people really this desperate? Since when can Level 3s carry others?¡± ¡°Easy for you to say. Bet you don¡¯t even play much.¡± ¡°Too busy working 996, no time for games!¡± ¡°My boss is hiding in his office playing, while we workers have to slave away!¡± ¡°Our company was supposed to give us a day off, but because of that damn countdown in our heads, everyone freaked out thinking it was the end of the world. When they found out it was just a game, they called us right back in.¡± ¡°Damn capitalists!¡± ¡°By the way, what¡¯s the highest level right now?¡± ¡°Since only half a day has passed in real life, and two days in-game, the highest should be around Level 7.¡± ¡°Holy crap, someone¡¯s already Level 7?!¡± ¡°Must be whales (TL note: big game spenders)!¡± ¡°You can spend money in this game?¡± ¡°Duh! Rich players hire others to be cannon fodder, then land the finishing blow for free XP. That¡¯s one way.¡± ¡°There¡¯s an even better way, recruiting NPCs! But it¡¯s super expensive.¡± ¡°I saw on the forums that something exploded in Novice Village 0001. Even the real-world government is involved. What happened?¡± ¡°Not sure.¡± ¡°Wait, why is the real-world government getting involved with a game? That¡¯s never happened before!¡± ¡°Could it be that this game¡­ isn¡¯t just a game?¡± ¡°Obviously! Something appearing in your head isn¡¯t normal!¡± ¡°But¡­ it¡¯s still just a game, right¡­?¡± Chapter 30 - Buy Something More Powerful! Chapter 30: Buy Something More Powerful! After quickly eating something, Ye Qiu hurried out the door. Since the gas tank had performed so well in battle and the first attempt was a success, he naturally had to keep up the momentum. He needed to prepare more powerful items, but they also had to be easily obtainable. For example, more gas tanks. And¡­ Molotov cocktails. The former could be purchased directly from the gas company. As for the latter, he could make them himself. Gasoline as a base, rubber for thickening, sugar for fuel, concentrated sulfuric acid as an ignition source, and finally, an empty glass bottle to hold it all together. If necessary, he could also use liquid alcohol, something that had burned more than a few people to death. ¡°Uncle Su, do you know where I can buy a large amount of gasoline? Yes, in barrels and bottles, not for refueling a car¡­ Alright¡­ If you can drive over now, I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± Ye Qiu rarely called people. On the other end of the line was one of the few people he knew, though they weren¡¯t exactly close. Back when his parents had their accident and needed to be rushed to the hospital, no one was willing to take them. In the end, it was ¡°Uncle Su¡± who carried Ye Qiu¡¯s unconscious and injured parents into his car and drove at full speed to the hospital. Uncle Su was a taxi driver. Even though his parents ultimately didn¡¯t survive their injuries, Ye Qiu had always been deeply grateful to him. Even after twenty years in his past life, now that he had been reborn, he still remembered. Within just a few minutes, Uncle Su arrived. Ye Qiu stepped out, locked the door, and walked over to the taxi. He opened the front passenger door and got in. As soon as he sat down, Uncle Su asked curiously, ¡°Xiao Ye, why do you need to buy gasoline? Stocking up before getting a car? If that¡¯s the case, let me give you some advice¡­¡± The moment cars were brought up, Uncle Su became a chatterbox. He could talk endlessly. Ye Qiu just listened quietly. The middle-aged man whom he hadn¡¯t seen for twenty years was still in good health and didn¡¯t look too old. However, the wrinkles on his face were deep, and the gray hairs at his temples were more prominent. Ye Qiu recalled his past life. After the countdown in his mind had nearly reached zero, he had stayed at school with his classmates. The last time he saw Uncle Su was also at school. That day, when the game descended into reality, many students lost their lives. It seemed that Uncle Su¡¯s child was among them. Ye Qiu remembered clearly. That day, Uncle Su had looked lost, wandering around like a soulless husk, almost like a walking corpse. Ye Qiu had wanted to offer some words of comfort but hesitated, afraid that it would come off as hypocritical or insincere. The last thing a grieving person needed was empty condolences. So, in the end, he turned back and returned to his dorm. Out of sight, out of mind. After that day, Ye Qiu never saw Uncle Su again. That was until now. Once Uncle Su finished talking, Ye Qiu finally said, ¡°I don¡¯t need too much, just a standard barrel, so around 150 to 200 liters.¡± Uncle Su nodded. ¡°That¡¯s not much. An old buddy of mine owns a gas station. I¡¯ll take you there and get it sorted.¡± Ye Qiu immediately responded, ¡°Thanks, Uncle Su.¡± Uncle Su waved it off. ¡°No need to thank me. It¡¯s just a small favor. By the way, if you need a barrel, they¡¯ll charge extra. But I¡¯ll see if I can talk them into giving you one for free.¡± Ye Qiu shook his head. ¡°Barrels aren¡¯t cheap, a few hundred bucks each. No need to take advantage. I can afford it.¡± He really wasn¡¯t short on money. He had borrowed from every available loan platform. Even mortgaged his house to take out high-interest loans. Though a small house wasn¡¯t worth much, he still had at least a few hundred thousand in cash on hand. It was enough to buy what he needed. As for gasoline, he didn¡¯t need too much. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Only low-level monsters were afraid of Molotovs. By the time he reached level 20, many monsters would have resistance to specific elements. For instance, fire-resistant monsters. If a Molotov¡¯s power was lower than their resistance, not only would it fail to kill them, but it could even heal them! Gas tanks were slightly better. But even they would only be useful up to level 25 or 30 monsters. And that wasn¡¯t even counting bosses. A level 20 regular boss could potentially withstand a gas tank explosion and still survive. And if the monsters weren¡¯t instantly killed, they would go into a frenzy. Inside the car, Uncle Su started talking about the game that had appeared in everyone¡¯s minds. He said that at his age, if he had to have something extra in his brain, he¡¯d prefer it to be something useful and not some inexplicable game. ¡°This thing is for young people and kids,¡± he said, shaking his head with a chuckle. ¡°Uncle Su, did you log into the game?¡± Ye Qiu asked. ¡°I did. It asked me to bind my DNA and create an account¡­ but I didn¡¯t bother. I just asked around, found out it was just a game, and stopped paying attention to it.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ actually, you should create an account,¡± Ye Qiu suggested. In his past life, many people never created accounts. This was especially true for children under 3 and elderly people over 70. It made sense for children since they were too young to understand. But for older people, most simply weren¡¯t interested in games. And those who didn¡¯t create an account ended up remaining as ordinary people. Because in ten days, when the game would descend into reality, new accounts could no longer be created. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it when I have time,¡± Uncle Su sighed. ¡°There¡¯s enough real-world trouble already. Where would I find the mood to play a game?¡± Ye Qiu didn¡¯t press further. Other people¡¯s private matters weren¡¯t his to meddle with. As for the game in their minds, everything would happen as fate allowed. Even high-level players struggled to survive after the game merged with reality. As they talked, the car arrived at a gas station. Uncle Su found the owner, and since the two were acquainted, they only exchanged a few pleasantries before completing the purchase. The gasoline was divided into several small metal containers to fit into the trunk. Once it was packed, Ye Qiu paid, and they left. On the way back, Uncle Su received a phone call. After hanging up, he looked slightly apologetic and said, ¡°Something came up. I might be delayed for half an hour before I can take you back.¡± Ye Qiu replied, ¡°It¡¯s fine, Uncle Su. I¡¯ll just nap in the car.¡± Uncle Su nodded. ¡°Alright, take a rest. I¡¯ll wake you up when I¡¯m ready to drive you home.¡± The car then turned a corner and stopped at a nearby auto shop. Meanwhile, Ye Qiu had already logged into the game. ¡ª Inside the game world, the sun had fully risen. [Your friend ¡®Thousand Faces Gentleman¡¯ has sent you a voice message. Would you like to accept?] The moment he logged in, a system prompt popped up. He glanced at his inbox. Thousand Faces Gentleman had sent him multiple voice messages. Chapter 31 - Who is Showing Off? Chapter 31: Who is Showing Off? At the Foot of Tiger Mountain¡­ A large group of players gathered in the area. Some were going up. Some were coming down. It was all because of last night¡¯s events. The players believed there must be some kind of treasure at the peak of Tiger Mountain! However, as they reached the summit, they realized that apart from a mess of destruction, there was absolutely nothing else! Some players were even killed by the respawned Green-Eyed Tigers! ¡°Brother, has that NPC replied yet?¡± Ning Qingyue sat directly on the ground, looking utterly bored. From last night to this moment, it was already close to noon. The siblings had been waiting here for the cloaked NPC the entire time. They didn¡¯t dare leave. Ning Qianjun kept staring at his friends list. Hearing his sister¡¯s question, he could only shake his head with a wry smile. ¡°No reply.¡± Ning Qingyue pouted, exhaled in frustration, and muttered, ¡°What kind of NPC is this? Gives a quest but no system notification. That¡¯s fine, but now he¡¯s completely missing too!¡± Ning Qianjun replied, ¡°Let¡¯s wait a little longer. If we can latch onto this golden thigh, wasting a day or two is nothing!¡± Ning Qingyue glanced at her brother and couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°Brother, this is the first time I¡¯ve seen you so invested in a game!¡± Ning Qianjun pondered for a moment before saying, ¡°Qingyue, I feel like the appearance of this game is foreshadowing something. And last night, even the officials got alarmed!¡± Ning Qingyue blinked, deep in thought. Just then, a playful yet mocking laugh echoed. ¡°Oh? You two are still here playing guard dogs?¡± The siblings immediately frowned and looked over. Then, they saw a familiar figure leading a group of players toward them. That familiar figure was none other than Zhao Hanyan! After what happened yesterda, both sides saw each other as eyesores, especially Zhao Hanyan. Her losses yesterday were massive! She lost experience from dying, dropped a secret realm treasure map, and was even warned by her brother not to mess with the Ning siblings! Either way, she was furious! Of course, despite her anger, she never stopped keeping tabs on the Ning siblings. She had players monitoring them. Any news and she wanted to be notified immediately! ¡°Watch your mouth!¡± Ning Qingyue huffed coldly. ¡°Tsk tsk, don¡¯t be so quick to take it personally. I didn¡¯t even say your names. Looks like the stone hit the dog, huh? Too sensitive.¡± Zhao Hanyan sneered. ¡°You¡ª!¡± Ning Qingyue was so furious she couldn¡¯t find the words. She could only retort, ¡°You¡¯re just running your mouth! Did you forget how you got killed yesterday? Want to die again?¡± Zhao Hanyan¡¯s expression stiffened slightly. She quickly glanced around then realized something and scoffed, ¡°I think your mouth runs even wilder than mine. That NPC has already run off, leaving you two here like guards, yet you¡¯re still grinning about it. So dedicated. I almost want to hire you both to work for me!¡± Ning Qingyue said coldly, ¡°We¡¯re happy to wait. What¡¯s it to you?¡± Zhao Hanyan, putting on a friendly facade, said, ¡°I¡¯m just giving you a heads-up, considering we might be family in the future. In this game, NPCs are smart. None of them are fools. Some even trick players, like giving impossible quests or refusing to hand out rewards even after the mission is completed¡­¡± Before she could finish, Ning Qingyue¡¯s expression changed slightly. Zhao Hanyan caught the reaction immediately. Her grin widened. ¡°Oh? Did I hit the nail on the head?¡± Ning Qingyue was about to say something, but this time, Ning Qianjun spoke first. ¡°The NPC I know isn¡¯t like the others. Just yesterday, he even told me to go to Wolf Head Ridge to pick up loot!¡± As he spoke, he opened his inventory and shared his screen. Zhao Hanyan immediately saw that Ning Qianjun¡¯s 20 inventory slots were filled with equipment! ¡°I have some too!¡± Ning Qingyue quickly followed suit, sharing her inventory screen as well. Likewise, her 20 inventory slots were completely stacked with gear! Zhao Hanyan¡¯s eyelid twitched. After a moment, she scoffed, forcing an indifferent look. ¡°Pfft, all just blue and white gear, worthless. That NPC is so stingy!¡± Ning Qianjun chuckled. ¡°Besides these two inventory bags, we have several others filled with gear too.¡± Zhao Hanyan¡¯s eyelid twitched even harder. Ning Qianjun continued, ¡°At this stage of the game, even a common white piece of gear is worth a fortune. I don¡¯t know how you can call this ¡®worthless.¡¯¡± Zhao Hanyan suddenly smiled. Seemingly unintentionally, she pulled an item from her inventory and waved it around. It was a dagger with a faint pink glow. The siblings, who had been brimming with confidence were now completely stunned. In the game, equipment had tiers. From low to high: White (Common), Blue (Advanced), Purple (Rare), Pink (Spirit), Orange (Epic), and Gold (Legendary)! White gear was the most common. The drop rate was high. Blue gear was rarer. But with enough grinding, players could get two or three pieces a day! Purple gear, however, had an extremely low drop rate! According to forum statistics, each novice village had no more than ten pieces of purple gear in total! That¡¯s how rare it was! And pink-tier spirit weapons? Even rarer! So rare that this was the first time Ning Qianjun and Ning Qingyue had ever seen one! S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After a long moment Ning Qingyue muttered sourly, ¡°Tch, an assassin¡¯s weapon. What use is it to you, a sorcerer?¡± She just couldn¡¯t understand it. They all started on the same playing field. Yet somehow, Zhao Hanyan¡¯s luck was always a step ahead! Recruiting NPCs, she beat them to it. Now in terms of equipmen, even though the siblings had plenty of blue and white gear, it still couldn¡¯t compare to one pink-tier spirit weapon! ¡°Haha, I never said it was for me.¡± Zhao Hanyan grinned smugly, flaunting the dagger. ¡°Tell me, how many inventory bags of blue and white gear do you think this pink-tier spirit weapon is worth?¡± The siblings fell silent. A pink-tier spirit weapon, at this stage, was priceless! Even if they offered ten or twenty inventory bags of gear, they wouldn¡¯t get it. ¡°Well, you two keep waiting. I¡¯m off to level up!¡± Zhao Hanyan smirked, flashing the pink-tier weapon again as she turned to leave. But just before she could take a step, Ning Qingyue suddenly noticed something. She quickly waved and called out, ¡°Big Brother, you¡¯re finally here!¡± Ning Qianjun saw it too. A smile immediately spread across his face. Zhao Hanyan instinctively turned and saw a hooded figure slowly approaching. ¡°Protect me!¡± The moment she recognized the figure, Zhao Hanyan¡¯s face paled slightly and shouted for protection. The players accompanying her quickly surrounded her defensively. The newcomer Was Ye Qiu, the very NPC who had killed her yesterday at Tiger Mountain! Ye Qiu, however, paid her no attention. He walked straight past her and stopped in front of Ning Qianjun and Ning Qingyue. Looking at the siblings, he spoke apologetically, ¡°Sorry, I was busy with other things last night and forgot to notify you.¡± Ning Qianjun quickly waved his hand. ¡°Big brother, you¡¯re too polite! It¡¯s nothing, not a problem at all! Anyway, as Undying, even if we go without sleep for days, we¡¯re totally fine!¡± In the game, NPCs referred to players as the ¡°Undying.¡± Besides, Ning Qianjun had already decided. He was going to cling tightly to Ye Qiu¡¯s golden thigh! Never mind waiting just one night, even if he had to wait for days, he wouldn¡¯t complain! Ye Qiu nodded. ¡°The tasks I¡¯ve given you so far, you¡¯ve done well. But last night, I told you to guard the entrance to Tiger Mountain and prevent others from entering. In the end, you still let people through.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Ning Qianjun was speechless. That was true. They hadn¡¯t been able to hold the line. He wanted to explain but didn¡¯t know how. Should he tell Ye Qiu that those who went up the mountain were officials from the real world? Would an NPC even understand that? And even if he did understand, would it change anything? Fortunately, Ye Qiu continued, ¡°Still, you deserve your reward.¡± As he spoke, he took out a staff and handed it to Ning Qianjun. Ning Qianjun instinctively took it and checked the item. [Wolf Fang Crescent Staff (Purple Rare Weapon)] [Level Requirement: Level 5] [Stats: +100 MP, +10 Spirit, +5 Agility] [Passive Skill: Restores 5 MP per second when equipped.] ¡°A purple item with a built-in skill?!¡± Ning Qianjun was first shocked, then overjoyed. At this stage Purple equipment was still extremely rare! Up until now, he had only owned one piece. And its stats were garbage! The most frustrating part? It was warrior gear! Neither he nor Ning Qingyue could even use it! If a player¡¯s class didn¡¯t match the equipment, they could still equip it but they wouldn¡¯t be able to use its full effects! Despite his excitement, Ning Qianjun gritted his teeth and handed the staff to his sister. ¡°Qingyue, you take this staff.¡± Ning Qingyue shook her head. ¡°No, big brother, you should keep it. Mages consume more MP, and this staff¡¯s passive skill restores MP. It suits you better!¡± The siblings continued to bicker over who should take the staff. Meanwhile Zhao Hanyan, who had been enjoying the drama from the sidelines, was utterly stunned when she saw Ye Qiu pull out a purple rare weapon and it was a staff that both mages and priests could use! Her brother, Zhao Mingyuan, had once taken a quest at another novice village. It was a mission from the village chief ¡°Collect 20 Tiger Whips.¡± The quest was incredibly difficult! Her brother had to recruit NPC teammates just to complete it! And in the end, his reward? Just a few skill points and some experience! That was it! Chapter 32 - You Talk as if You Can Get Pink Equipment Easily Chapter 32: You Talk as if You Can Get Pink Equipment Easily ¡°Ah, why did Miss Zhao¡¯s face suddenly turn so ugly?¡± Ning Qingyue¡¯s voice suddenly rang in Zhao Hanyan¡¯s ears. Her tone was filled with amusement. Zhao Hanyan snapped back to reality. She scoffed, ¡°It¡¯s just a purple rare item, look at you acting all smug. Someone who didn¡¯t know better would think you got a pink spirit weapon!¡± As she spoke, she waved her pink spirit weapon dagger in front of Ning Qingyue¡¯s face. Ning Qingyue was at a loss for words. There was nothing she could do. A pink spirit weapon was simply that powerful! Even if it were a mage or priest-exclusive staff. In front of a pink spirit weapon, it would still pale in comparison! ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡± Zhao Hanyan grinned. ¡°Believe it or not, if I put this pink spirit weapon up on the forums, within a minute, thousands of people would be willing to pay a fortune for it. Tell me, how many purple rare items do you think I could exchange it for?¡± Ning Qingyue huffed, ¡°Don¡¯t get too cocky. It¡¯s just a pink spirit weapon. Sooner or later, we¡¯ll have one too, and it¡¯ll be class-exclusive!¡± Hearing this, Zhao Hanyan clicked her tongue. ¡°Oh, oh, oh¡­ ¡®Just¡¯ a pink weapon? ¡®Just¡¯ a class-exclusive weapon? Tsk tsk, you¡¯re talking as if you could get one right this second!¡± She was absolutely delighted. The moment she obtained this pink spirit weapon, she rushed over just to show off in front of Ning Qianjun and Ning Qingyue. She wanted to wash away the frustration from yesterday! And right now, the effect was outstanding! Zhao Hanyan felt completely refreshed! S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Especially when she saw Ning Qingyue¡¯s face, filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment. She almost burst out laughing! Just as Zhao Hanyan was brimming with joy, out of the corner of her eye. She caught sight of something. Her entire face instantly froze. Her eyes reflected a faint pink glow! ¡°By the way, there¡¯s one more reward.¡± The hooded Ye Qiu pulled out another piece of equipment and handed it to the siblings. It was a delicate and intricately designed hairpin. It was pure white in color, yet around it, a soft pink glow radiated! ¡°Holy shit!¡± Even the usually refined and gentle Ning Qianjun, the moment he saw this piece of equipment, had his eyes widened in shock. A curse slipped out instinctively! His sister, Ning Qingyue, was just as stunned! Her small cherry lips parted slightly. Her heartbeat suddenly quickened! Her bright almond-shaped eyes shimmered. She was speechless for a long while! After a moment, realizing his loss of composure, Ning Qianjun Trembling slightly With a face full of disbelief Turned to Ye Qiu. Swallowing hard, he asked, ¡°T-This¡­ This is really our reward?!¡± This was the first time he had ever asked such a question in a game! But there was no helping it. This was a pink spirit weapon! They had checked the forums. Across the entire server, only a handful of novice villages had reported pink spirit weapons dropping! But now, that incredibly rare treasure was right before their eyes! And even more so right in their hands! It all felt¡­ unreal! Ye Qiu spoke up, ¡°Take it. If you help me, I won¡¯t treat you unfairly. Also, this piece is for priests. It allows shared vision. Check the equipment stats.¡± Ning Qianjun quickly did as he was told. Ning Qingyue, on the other hand, was brimming with excitement and anticipation! A priest¡¯s exclusive equipment! The information appeared. [Silver Moon ¨C Tiger Demon Hairpin (Pink Spirit Weapon)] [Level Requirement: Level 10] [+500 HP] [Passive Skill: When casting healing skills, grants a shield equal to 5% of the user¡¯s max HP, lasting for 3 seconds. (Effect cannot stack.)] ¡°So strong!!!¡± Ning Qianjun, being well-versed in equipment, immediately saw the ¡°+500 HP¡± stat and gasped! As expected of a pink spirit weapon! Simple, yet overwhelmingly powerful! Not to mention the passive skill! A single skill could define an entire playstyle! A tank healer build was now viable! Ning Qingyue¡¯s eyes sparkled with joy! Until now, she didn¡¯t even have a decent priest weapon! But now, not only did she get one, she got a hairpin that was perfect for female players! The siblings couldn¡¯t stop smiling. Ning Qianjun quickly handed the hairpin to his sister, urging her to try it on. Though it had a level requirement, that didn¡¯t stop them from checking how it looked first! Girls love beauty. Ning Qingyue was no exception. After putting it on, she activated the ¡°Mirror¡± function. Staring at her reflection, the more she looked, the happier she felt! So beautiful! It suited her perfectly! ¡°From now on, if I need anything, I¡¯ll contact you. We¡¯ll meet at the usual spot,¡± Ye Qiu said, breaking the siblings¡¯ joyful moment. They quickly nodded. Before leaving, Ning Qingyue suddenly turned to Ye Qiu and sincerely asked, ¡°By the way, how should we address you?¡± ¡°Yes, yes¡­¡± Ning Qianjun also nodded. They still thought Ye Qiu was an NPC, yet they had no idea what to call him! Ye Qiu thought for a moment and then said, ¡°You can call me¡­ ¡®Mystery.¡¯¡± ¡°Mystery?¡± the siblings repeated. But when they looked again Ye Qiu had already vanished! As expected of a ¡®Mystery¡¯ NPC! The siblings were in awe! After a long pause, Ning Qingyue suddenly thought of something. Her gaze quickly shifted to the side, only to find Zhao Hanyan was gone too. ¡°Qingyue, put the equipment into your backup inventory. Once you reach the level requirement, then equip it,¡± Ning Qianjun reminded. ¡°I know,¡± Ning Qingyue responded sensibly. ¡°Zhao Hanyan was right here just now. She saw Mystery NPC give us two pieces of equipment, especially the pink spirit weapon. If other players find out, they might try to kill us for it!¡± Ning Qianjun nodded. ¡°Ordinary players aren¡¯t a big concern. It¡¯s Zhao Hanyan we need to watch out for! That woman is vengeful and petty, she will try something!¡± Ning Qingyue huffed, ¡°Let her try! In reality, sure, the Zhao family is powerful, but this is a game! I refuse to believe she can do whatever she wants here! Besides, we have Mystery NPC as our golden ticket!¡± Her last sentence was filled with smugness! She couldn¡¯t help but reach up, touching the hairpin on her head. She was absolutely thrilled! Ning Qianjun, however, furrowed his brows slightly. He had a feeling that things weren¡¯t going to be that simple. ¡ª Meanwhile¡­ ¡°AAAAAHHHH!!!¡± In an open area Zhao Hanyan was furious! She stomped her foot. Her face filled with envy, jealousy, and frustration! ¡°Why?! ¡°Why are those siblings so lucky? How did they meet such an overpowered and generous NPC?! ¡°I went through so much just to get my pink spirit weapon, and they¡ª ¡°All they had to do was play watchdogs, and they got a pink spirit weapon as a reward?! ¡°IT¡¯S NOT FAIR!!!¡± She kicked a tree furiously. She was on a voice call with someone. Soon, a voice came through, ¡°What¡¯s the NPC¡¯s name? I¡¯ll see if my novice village has one too.¡± Most novice villages had identical NPCs. Village chiefs at the entrance. Dozens of NPCs scattered inside. Occasionally, a random NPC might also leave the village. Zhao Hanyan thought for a moment and replied, ¡°The NPC wore a hood, face hidden, medium height, male, carrying a sword¡­¡± Chapter 33 - Everyone has a Weakness! Chapter 33: Everyone has a Weakness! ¡°Are you sure he was wearing a cloak?¡± The voice on the other end belonged to Zhao Mingyuan, Zhao Hanyan¡¯s older brother. Zhao Hanyan confirmed, ¡°Yes. He never took it off. There are videos of him on the forum, you can check them out. Oh, and that explosion at the top of Tiger Mountain yesterday? It seems like he was involved in that too!¡± Zhao Mingyuan replied calmly, ¡°I know. Apparently, the officials have gotten involved, which is a bit surprising.¡± Zhao Hanyan didn¡¯t care about any of that. She just asked, ¡°Brother, I¡¯m not convinced! Why are those two so lucky? At this rate, the Ning siblings will surpass my level in less than two days! What should I do?¡± That was just her personality and her competitors happened to be the Ning siblings, especially Ning Qingyue! The two had been competing since childhood. When they were younger, they compared grades, academic performance, and who was more well-behaved. As they grew older, they started comparing looks, family background, and talents. In terms of appearance and family, Zhao Hanyan had never felt inferior to Ning Qingyue. In fact, her family was even more prestigious! Her only shortcoming was talent, though just slightly. Now, a new battlefield had emerged: this game. Even their families seemed to take it seriously, further fueling her competitive drive. No matter what, she couldn¡¯t afford to lose to Ning Qingyue! Zhao Mingyuan paused for a moment before sending a voice message. ¡°Just like I taught you before about recruiting NPCs, humans have emotions and desires. The NPCs in this game are highly intelligent, almost indistinguishable from real people. That means they have weaknesses. As long as you can exploit their weaknesses and offer them benefits, they will willingly work for you.¡± Zhao Hanyan nodded, half-understanding. She had already considered this before. Now, with her brother¡¯s advice, she was even more certain that this plan would work! ¡ª Novice Village¡­ Ye Qiu first went to find the village chief, Elder Xu. ¡°The mission is complete.¡± Ye Qiu handed over 20 tiger whips. Elder Xu was stunned. ¡°You¡¯re already level 11?!¡± Ye Qiu grinned. ¡°Got lucky. Killed a boss and leveled up a few times.¡± Elder Xu snapped out of his shock and gave Ye Qiu a long, appraising look. Then, he got up and turned to the players waiting in line. ¡°That¡¯s all for today. Come back tomorrow.¡± With that, he grabbed Ye Qiu by the arm and led him inside. As for the other players They groaned and cursed, but there was nothing they could do. Some were already used to it. One player even pulled out a makeshift wooden stool and sat down on the spot, ready to wait. ¡ª Inside the village, Elder Xu handed Ye Qiu his mission rewards. [Congratulations! You have completed the village chief¡¯s mission and received: 20 gold coins, 20 reputation points, 20 skill attribute points, 4 fixed attribute points, and 1 free attribute point.] In his past life, Ye Qiu had almost never done quests. Now, getting actual rewards for completing one made him quite satisfied, even though there was no high-level gear or powerful skills! Especially that 1 free attribute point. It was incredibly valuable! There were different types of attribute point. Free attribute points: Can be assigned to any stat, including strength, agility, intelligence, skills, and even luck. Fixed attribute points: Can only be used on the four primary stats ¡ª strength, stamina, intelligence, and agility. Skill Attribute Points: These can only be used to enhance skills. Elder Xu then spoke in a solemn tone, ¡°You are the first Undying in all three thousand Novice Villages of the Eastern Continent to reach level 10.¡± Ye Qiu listened carefully. Having lived two lives, he knew many secrets about the game. For example: Why were all the NPCs in the Novice Village capped at level 10? Why did Elder Xu have such high prestige? Why were there monsters outside the village that were level 10, 20, or even higher, yet none dared to step into the village? The truth was Novice Villages were special. Or rather, all except Newbie Village 0001 were merely shadows of the real thing. The different Novice Villages each held fragments of the real Elder Xu¡¯s power. That¡¯s why NPCs appeared to be capped at level 10. But in reality, once the other Newbie Villages vanished and merged together, that was when the true power of the NPCs would be revealed! sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°A few hundred years ago,¡± Elder Xu began, his tone heavy, ¡°extraterrestrial demons attempted to break through the Heaven-Guarding Array of the Novice Village. They launched attack after attack. ¡°But the Heaven-Guarding Array was set up by an Ancient Supreme Deity. The more powerful and evil a creature is, the more impossible it is for them to break through. ¡°But the extraterrestrial demons were cunning. Over hundreds of years, they discovered a method. ¡°They¡­ They nurtured newborn demons outside the Heaven-Guarding Array, allowing them to absorb its energy daily. Their goal? To make the array accept them as part of itself. ¡°Now, those newborn demons have hatched. They have already broken through the boundary between the array and the secret realm outside. ¡°If they break through the next barrier and connect the secret realm to the Novice Village, then the entire Novice Village will be overrun by extraterrestrial demons. ¡°At that point¡­ the Novice Village will be destroyed, and every living being inside will be annihilated.¡± Elder Xu¡¯s expression was grim. Ye Qiu, meanwhile, was lost in thought. From the faint sorrow in Elder Xu¡¯s voice, he could feel the weight of this crisis. He tried to recall. In his past life, when the game merged with reality, the Novice Village still existed at first. But then, it completely fused into one single Novice Village! That was when everyone finally realized that the Novice Village was not ordinary. At that time, Elder Xu and the once level-10 NPCs Became level-100 NPCs! Especially Elder Xu. One hand holding a sword, the other gripping a wine jug, standing high above the heavens! For the sake of all living beings, he swung his sword one final time. That single slash tore through the skies, and the Ancient Gods descended! That was the moment the Novice Village ceased to exist! It seemed that demons had invaded from within the Novice Village. Under a pincer attack, even the Heaven-Guarding Array could no longer hold¡­ Chapter 34 - The Only Legendary Quest Chapter 34: The Only Legendary Quest ¡°Because the inner secret realm was created by the outer demons, native lifeforms cannot enter. However, you Undying are also outer beings and can enter. Child¡­ will you enter the inner secret realm and slay the parasitic demon for the future of the Novice Village?¡± The village elder, Elder Xu, looked at him eagerly, filled with hope. At the same time¡­ Ding! [The village chief has issued a quest: Enter the inner secret realm of the novice village and slay the outer parasitic demon!] [(Level Requirement: Unknown, Unique Legendary Quest)] Ye Qiu took a sharp breath, eyes widening. Everyone knew that quests were divided into four tiers: Common, Rare, Epic, and Legendary. Within each tier, there were also quests marked ¡°Unique.¡± This meant that out of all three thousand Novice Villages on the Eastern Continent, there was only one of this quest! Not only was this quest absent from his own novice village, but none of the shadow novice villages had it either! In other words, only Novice Village 0001 had its inner secret realm created by the outer demons. This event was not mirrored in any of the shadow villages. Which meant that if a player wasn¡¯t in Novice Village 0001, they would never receive this quest! However, Ye Qiu hesitated, because another system notification rang in his ears. [Warning: If you fail this quest, your level will be reset to 0.] Upon hearing this, Ye Qiu¡¯s expression remained unchanged. This was expected. Certain high-tier and special quests always had penalties upon failure. ¡°It¡¯s worth it!¡± After careful consideration, Ye Qiu realized that this punishment was nothing to him! With the knowledge, equipment, and skills he possessed now, returning from Level 0 to Level 11 would take just one in-game day! ¡°Elder Xu, may I ask what species the parasitic demon in the inner secret realm belongs to?¡± Ye Qiu asked the most crucial question. outer demons. These four words were all too familiar to him! In his past life when the village chief slashed open the sky, the ancient gods descended one by one. At the same time, the outer demons emerged, wreaking havoc across the land! These creatures were far more terrifying than native monsters. They came in many different species, each possessing unique racial abilities that made them incredibly difficult to deal with! More importantly, no one in his past life had ever discovered this unique legendary quest, so no one knew about it! Ye Qiu¡¯s only advantage was his knowledge of outer demons! As long as he could determine what kind of demon was in the secret realm, he would have a strategy to deal with it! The village chief nodded. He raised his hand, and suddenly, a holographic image appeared in front of Ye Qiu. The image showed a dimly lit underground chamber. At the far end, a huge, grotesque, transparent creature lay dormant. As if sensing something, it suddenly opened its eyes. Its pupils burned red. Its mouth gaped open. ¡°So it¡¯s this thing!¡± The moment Ye Qiu saw the image of the outer demon, he immediately understood because he had encountered this creature in his past life! ¡°Split Demon!¡± He blurted out its name. The village elder was visibly shocked. ¡°You recognize this outer demon?!¡± Ye Qiu casually made up an excuse. ¡°We had similar creatures in my world.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± The village chief didn¡¯t press further. Instead, he continued, ¡°If you can preserve its blood and bring it back in a container after slaying it, there will be an additional reward.¡± The system notification followed immediately. [The village elder has issued a side quest: Collect the blood of the outer demon ¡®Split Demon.¡¯ (Epic-tier Side Quest)] ¡°Accept!¡± ¡°Accept!¡± Ye Qiu took on both quests without hesitation. At this moment He was brimming with confidence! Because in his past life, out of the very few outer demons he had personally encountered and slain, one of them was the Split Demon! ¡°This is the key to the inner secret realm.¡± Seeing Ye Qiu accept the quest, the village elder finally let out a sigh of relief and handed him an item. Ye Qiu took it and examined it. [Secret Realm Map (Legendary): Directs to the novice village¡¯s inner secret realm.] ¡°Huh?¡± Looking at the item description, Ye Qiu suddenly thought of something. Earlier, when he looted the body of the female player Smoky Clouds Fade, he had found something very similar. He checked [Secret Realm Map (Common): Directs to the Nether Spring Eye.] One was Legendary, the other was Common. At that moment, the village elder gave an important warning. ¡°The inner secret realm where the Split Demon resides can only be entered by players between Level 10 and Level 15. Remember, do not exceed Level 15. If you do, the quest will automatically fail.¡± Ye Qiu nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Elder Xu. I¡¯ll make sure to take care of that monster before I leave the novice village!¡± The village elder didn¡¯t seem too convinced, merely sighing. ¡°Let¡¯s hope so¡­¡± After all, that was an outer demon! Back in ancient times, these creatures had caused the deaths of countless gods! Now, in front of him was merely an Level 11 Undying. The only advantage the Undying had was their ability to revive. However, some demons could bypass this ability entirely. As long as they destroyed the soul, even the Undying would perish completely! After bidding farewell to the village chief, Ye Qiu visited both the blacksmith Zhang Tie and the Herbalist Shopkeeper. Two regular quests were completed. [Congratulations, you have completed the blacksmith Zhang Tie¡¯s quest. Reward: 5 gold coins, 5 reputation points, 5 skill attribute points.] [Congratulations, you have completed the Herbalist Shopkeeper¡¯s quest. Reward: 10 gold coins, 2 health potions, 2 mana potions.] Then, he turned in two special items. First, he handed the ¡°Lost Mysterious Iron¡± to the blacksmith. Zhang Tie, who had been hammering away at his forge, suddenly froze. He stared at the iron Ye Qiu handed over. For a long time, he remained stunned. Then, his eyes glowed as he looked at Ye Qiu. He asked, ¡°Do you want to learn blacksmithing?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Ye Qiu was about to say something, but Zhang Tie didn¡¯t give him a chance. Before he could react Zhang Tie pressed his palm against Ye Qiu¡¯s forehead. [You have learned the ¡®Blacksmithing¡¯ skill!] S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [You have unlocked the subclass ¡®Blacksmith!¡¯] Ye Qiu¡¯s eyes lit up. A subclass! That was highly valuable! In his past life, some lucky casual players who didn¡¯t focus on leveling up ended up mastering subclasses instead. Classes like blacksmithing, alchemy, talisman crafting, and spirit infusion. Later, when they reached major cities, they were sought after by countless NPCs! Royalty, sect leaders, hidden masters, they all wanted to recruit these players! These lucky individuals spent the next twenty years living comfortably and luxuriously! Chapter 35 - Master’s Wife Fell in Love With Me? Chapter 35: Master¡¯s Wife Fell in Love With Me? The difficulty of unlocking a secondary class was incredibly high! At least, in his previous life¡­ Among the 7 to 8 billion players worldwide, only around ten thousand had ever unlocked a secondary class. That was a probability of just one in hundreds of thousands! ¡°You truly have the makings of a blacksmith!¡± Zhang Tie withdrew his hand and praised him with a cheerful smile. Then, he continued, ¡°I assume the village chief has already told you about the disaster looming over the Novice Village?¡± Ye Qiu snapped back to reality. Hearing this, he nodded and said, ¡°Yes, the village chief told me that an Outer Demon has created a hidden realm and allowed newborn demons to parasitize within. They¡¯re gradually assimilating the Heaven-Guarding Array, preparing to establish a spatial passage to the village. Once that happens, they¡¯ll launch a full-scale invasion!¡± Zhang Tie sighed and said, ¡°The Novice Village is the first line of defense for the Trial City. If this barrier is breached, the entire city will face the rampage and slaughter of the Outer Demons. Less than one in ten will survive!¡± Ye Qiu listened quietly. After a while, Zhang Tie finished his lament and spoke again, ¡°Since the village chief believes in you, then all of us in the Novice Village will support you. If you need any equipment, I can help.¡± Ye Qiu¡¯s eyes lit up immediately. ¡°Can you reforge this cloak for me?¡± As he spoke, he removed his cloak. Zhang Tie took the cloak and examined it for a moment before nodding. ¡°An orange epic-grade item? I can reforge this. If it was a higher-tier, I wouldn¡¯t be able to.¡± Ye Qiu was overjoyed! Equipment could undergo secondary, tertiary, or even multiple reforging processes! In his past life, there was a player who reforged a single piece of equipment thirteen times! Unfortunately, it was just a purple rare item and wasn¡¯t even high-level. Of course, reforging came with risks. If the reforging failed, a downgrade was the best-case scenario. With worse luck, the equipment could be permanently destroyed! Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Tie began reforging. Ye Qiu watched intently, feeling anxious. He was afraid something might go wrong! If it was any other equipment, he wouldn¡¯t mind. But this Coward¡¯s Cloak was his most valuable piece of gear! ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Zhang Tie noticed Ye Qiu¡¯s concern and reassured him with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m a Level 70 Blacksmith. The first reforging of an item is guaranteed to succeed.¡± ¡°Who- Who said I was worried?¡± Ye Qiu argued stubbornly, ¡°I was just studying your reforging technique!¡± Zhang Tie continued hammering and said, ¡°Raising a secondary class is no easy feat. It takes a lot of practice. For me to reach Level 70 in Blacksmithing, the number of failed reforges I¡¯ve had¡­ might not be in the millions, but it¡¯s at least several hundred thousand!¡± Ye Qiu was shocked. ¡°You failed that many times?!¡± Zhang Tie chuckled. ¡°Without failure, how would I succeed? And it¡¯s not just Blacksmithing. Other classs are even more brutal! Take the apothecary next door, for example. Her Alchemy level is similar to mine, but the amount of wasted potions and materials she¡¯s burned through¡­ could probably buy the entire village!¡± Ye Qiu was stunned. It seemed that the road of secondary class was even harder than he imagined! No wonder so few players managed to unlock them! High-level secondary class players ¡ª let alone NPCs ¡ª were even rarer! As they spoke, Zhang Tie had already completed the reforging. He handed the reforged Coward¡¯s Cloak back to Ye Qiu. Ye Qiu immediately inspected it. [Coward¡¯s Cloak +1 (Orange Epic)] [No equipment requirements] [Agility +100] [First reforging attribute: Agility +10] [Skill: Tactical Retreat ¡ª Use to immediately exit combat and retreat a short distance.] ¡°Just the first reforging added 10 agility?!¡± Ye Qiu was stunned. He began to imagine that if he reforged it over ten times, would his agility reach the speed of light?! Of course, that was just a fantasy. The more times an item was reforged, the greater the chance of failure, and the lower the success rate! Before leaving the smithy, Zhang Tie added one last remark. ¡°If you do manage to kill the Outer Demon in the hidden realm, be sure to collect its blood.¡± ¡°No problem!¡± Ye Qiu immediately agreed. Both the village chief and Zhang Tie had emphasized collecting the Split Demon¡¯s blood. Clearly, this side quest was no simple task! After that, Ye Qiu headed to the Herbalist Shopkeeper. He returned the ¡°Stolen Recipe¡± to the owner. Compared to Zhang Tie¡¯s astonishment upon receiving the ¡°Lost Black Iron¡±, the Herbalist¡¯s reaction was much calmer. Her eyes, however, held a hint of nostalgia. The Herbalist looked around forty years old. She wore luxurious attire, adorned with precious jewelry, making her seem like a woman in her early twenties. Her face was expressionless. Like Zhang Tie, she didn¡¯t waste words. She simply raised her hand and touched Ye Qiu¡¯s forehead. The next second¡­ [You have learned the ¡°Alchemy¡± skill!] [You have unlocked the secondary class ¡°Alchemist¡±!] Ye Qiu had already gotten used to this. His expression remained calm. The Herbalist withdrew her hand and spoke softly, ¡°In truth, I deliberately hid that recipe.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Ye Qiu was confused. The Herbalist continued in an indifferent tone, ¡°My husband and I developed this formula together. However, we had differing ideals. He chose to leave, while I chose to stay in this village. Over time, every time I saw the formula, I was reminded of him. To sever my lingering thoughts, I locked it in a box¡­ and buried it beneath the large tree on the Lynx Monster Hill.¡± Ye Qiu: ¡°¡­¡± Every family had its own struggles. He understood. So, he wouldn¡¯t say much. Unlike other players, to him, these NPCs were real people! After a pause, the Herbalist looked at Ye Qiu. ¡°You were able to retrieve this recipe. That means you have a connection with my husband. I shall take you as my disciple in his stead and guide you on the path of Alchemy. May you carry forward this class in the future.¡± Ye Qiu immediately nodded. ¡°I won¡¯t disappoint Master and¡­ Master¡¯s Wife¡¯s expectations!¡± Upon hearing his words, a faint blush appeared on the apothecary¡¯s cold face. Then, she spoke in a serious tone. ¡°Are you married?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Ye Qiu froze. He looked up at the Herbalist in shock. Chapter 36 - Copying… Martial Arts?! Chapter 36: Copying¡­ Martial Arts?! To be honest, the fact that the Herbalist Shopkeeper accepted Ye Qiu as a disciple on behalf of her husband was already surprising enough. Now, with this unexpected question, Ye Qiu was completely caught off guard! However, he still answered truthfully, ¡°I¡¯m single. I haven¡¯t married or been in a relationship.¡± As he spoke, memories from his past life surfaced in his mind. In the future, he had once met a woman who was willing to spend her life with him. But from beginning to end, there had never been any real feelings between them. They were simply two unfortunate souls clinging to each other in the apocalyptic world, just struggling to survive one more day. He had also encountered a woman he fell in love with at first sight. However, the cruel environment and the ever-present danger had torn them apart. Since then, Ye Qiu had stopped believing in love. The Herbalist Shopkeeper¡¯s voice pulled him back to reality. ¡°I have a daughter about your age. However¡­¡± She paused before continuing, ¡°The village chief has already told me that you¡¯re planning to enter the inner secret realm to fight the outer demon. This journey is filled with uncertainty¡­ Let¡¯s not talk about this for now.¡± Ye Qiu couldn¡¯t help but smile bitterly at her words. Of course, he knew about the Herbalist Shopkeeper¡¯s daughter. In his past life, there was a discussion on the forums where bored players ranked the most beautiful female NPCs. The Herbalist Shopkeeper¡¯s daughter was on the list! Many players had tried everything to raise their favorability with the Herbalist Shopkeeper. And their goal? Her daughter! Yet, despite their efforts, not a single player had ever managed to win her favor. Let alone develop any relationship with her daughter. Hearing the Herbalist Shopkeeper mention her daughter now, Ye Qiu simply dismissed it. As a reborn player, he knew this woman¡¯s routine too well. She always used her daughter as bait to ¡°trick¡± players into helping her. But in the end, they never got anything in return! Because of this, Ye Qiu had learned to be cautious. Some NPCs were even more dangerous than monsters and outer demons! ¡°By the way, if you really manage to kill the outer demon, remember to bring back its blood,¡± the Herbalist Shopkeeper reminded him again. Ye Qiu nodded immediately. Three NPCs had all mentioned the importance of the demon¡¯s blood! It was clear this was an extremely crucial matter. Before he left, the Herbalist Shopkeeper gave him some potions to restore health and mana. A small contribution to help him fight the outer demon. Ye Qiu gladly accepted without hesitation! After saying goodbye, Ye Qiu sought out Village Chief Xu Laobo again. Not for anything else, but for the ability Apprentice¡¯s Will! [Apprentice¡¯s Will: Allows you to copy one skill from another person. You gain one copying opportunity per level-up. (Current stored uses: 10/11)] Without hesitation, Ye Qiu activated the skill, consuming one of his stored uses. After some thought, he decided that the strongest person in the novice village had to be Village Chief Xu Laobo! After all, he had personally witnessed the village chief¡¯s incredible power. In his past life, he still vividly remembered Xu Laobo standing in mid-air, sword in one hand and a gourd in the other. He took a sip of wine. Then, with a single slash of his sword, the vast sky split open! That scene¡­ Even if Ye Qiu were to be reborn a hundred times, he would never forget it! [You have used the special skill ¡°Apprentice¡¯s Will.¡±] [You have successfully copied the technique ¡°Primordial Scripture¡± from Village Chief Xu Laobo.] ¡°Huh?¡± Ye Qiu checked his status panel and was stunned. A new category had appeared ¡ª Cultivation Techniques! [Cultivation Technique ¡ª Primordial Scripture (Level 1): 1/1000. Each time this technique levels up, all four base attributes increase by 10. (Maximum level: 30)] ¡°???¡± ¡°!!!¡± At first, Ye Qiu was completely dumbfounded. Then, his face filled with shock. He racked his brain, searching his past-life memories but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t recall any information about ¡°cultivation techniques¡±! ¡°Little one, why are you back again?¡± Village Chief Xu Laobo¡¯s voice remained gentle. Since Ye Qiu had accepted the mission to slay the outer demon, the village chief¡¯s attitude had become much more friendly. His favorability had almost reached the maximum. Even the other NPCs had shown increased favorability towards him. Ye Qiu collected his thoughts and casually asked, ¡°Elder Xu, do you know what a cultivation technique is?¡± To his surprise, Village Chief Xu Laobo¡¯s face instantly changed, and he quickly shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about that.¡± ¡°¡­Oh.¡± Ye Qiu found it odd. The village chief clearly knew something. Why would he lie? Unable to make sense of it, he chose not to dwell on it. Originally, he had hoped to copy a powerful sword technique. Perhaps even the one that could slice through the sky! Yet, instead of that, he ended up copying something called a cultivation technique. And somehow, his status panel had been altered! This was something he had never seen or experienced in his past life. Fortunately, this technique was absolutely overpowered! It granted him an extra stat category that no one else had. Every level-up would boost all four base attributes by 10 points. With a max level of 30, that meant a total increase of 300 points to all attributes! That was beyond broken! That was absolutely terrifying! ¡ª Exiting the novice village, the world outside was just as lively as ever. Some players were still queuing up. Others were chatting idly. Some had even crafted makeshift playing cards and were enjoying a casual game together. But Ye Qiu suddenly had a new thought. Other players couldn¡¯t bring real-world items into the game. But could he? Could he smuggle in real-world goods and sell them in the game? However, he quickly dismissed the idea. First, it was unnecessary. It would be a waste of time and energy. Second, it would be too risky. If someone started asking questions, how would he explain it? That would only bring a whole lot of trouble! As he pondered these things, a large crowd of players had already gathered around him. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°NPC grandpa, do you have any quests?¡± ¡°I heard you rewarded two players with purple-grade and pink-grade gear. I¡¯m not greedy, I¡¯d be happy with a blue-grade item!¡± ¡°I¡¯d even take a white-grade one!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll work for free!¡± ¡°Damn, you guys are so competitive!¡± ¡°Please, just give me a quest!¡± These players were truly desperate. This was the first game they had ever played where they had to queue for quests, where the difficulty was insanely high, and where the monsters were unbelievably strong. Many of them were still stuck at Level 0! ¡°Tactical Retreat!¡± Ye Qiu hurriedly activated his Cowards¡¯ Cloak¡¯s ability. His figure instantly teleported to a quiet, secluded hillside. Then, he pulled out the Secret Realm Map (Common) that he had looted from Zhao Hanyan. Now was the time to use it. He had to reach Level 15 before entering the inner secret realm. Every bit of strength counted in the battle against the outer demon! [You have used ¡°Secret Realm Map (Common).¡± You will be teleported to the Nether Spring Eye. Would you like to proceed? (Reminder: The map will disappear once used.)] Chapter 37 - Comprehending the Seventh Style Chapter 37: Comprehending the Seventh Style ¡°Teleport!¡± Ye Qiu did not hesitate in the slightest. The Secret Realm Map was a valuable item. Upon use, it would transport him to an independent space. Inside, he might encounter monsters, treasure, or something else entirely! At worst, the only possible outcome¡­ was death! The scene shifted rapidly. Ye Qiu¡¯s figure appeared deep within a desolate canyon. Darkness surrounded him. At the very center, there was a man-made pool. Water continuously spouted from within. Those¡­ were Nether Spring Eyes! [You have discovered the Nether Spring Eye. Reputation +100, Free Attribute Points +10.] Ye Qiu remained cautious, carefully observing his surroundings. The introduction on the Secret Realm Map had mentioned that once inside, he had to remain for at least one hour before he could leave. Of course, there was always the option of suicide to exit. ¡°This pool of water¡­¡± Ye Qiu approached the man-made pool. Activating his Heavenly Eye, information appeared before him. [Polluted Immortal Spring: The original water possessed mystical properties, suitable for both internal and external use, slightly enhancing attributes. However, after being polluted, drinking or bathing in it will result in a slight decrease in attributes.] ¡°What a pity.¡± Ye Qiu had originally intended to take a bath in it. Luckily, he had Heavenly Eye. Otherwise, he would have suffered a major loss! He quickly backed away, distancing himself from the pool. ¡°Kekekeke¡­¡± Just then, a sharp, eerie laugh echoed through the air. Ye Qiu swiftly turned his gaze. There, at the very center of the pool, a shadowy figure slowly rose from the water. Finally, it stood atop the surface. Its hair hung in disarray. Its eyes glowed red. A chilling malice radiated from its gaze, locking onto Ye Qiu. ¡°A¡­ living human¡­¡± The figure¡¯s voice was hoarse and grating. Ye Qiu immediately used Heavenly Eye to inspect it. [Humanoid Common Boss: Human Demon] [Level: 15] [HP: 2000] [Skills: Thunder Strike (Five Hits), Thunder Strike (Ten Hits), Self-Destruct.] [Note: A polluted Human Immortal whose power has severely declined. Proficient in lightning abilities. Will self-destruct.] Unexpectedly, Heavenly Eye also provided a note. ¡°Lightning? Self-destruct?¡± Catching this key information, Ye Qiu immediately pulled out two prepared items from his inventory: a lightning rod and an insulated suit. He quickly suited up! Just as he finished putting on the insulated suit, a bright light flashed beneath his feet. Before he could react¡­ A bolt of lightning struck down from the sky! [You have been struck by lightning.] Above Ye Qiu¡¯s head A damage number floated: ¡°-90¡±. His whole body tingled with numbness! ¡°It works!¡± Ye Qiu was delighted. The insulated suit and lightning rod had mitigated the damage. His HP was nearly ten thousand, but his lightning resistance was practically nonexistent. Under normal circumstances, that lightning strike alone could have instantly killed a level 11 player! But for Ye Qiu, who was properly equipped, the damage was significantly reduced! The Human Demon froze for a moment. It seemed puzzled. The Human Demon activated its skill. Five bolts of lightning struck down in succession! Beneath Ye Qiu¡¯s feet, five light indicators flashed! Now experienced, Ye Qiu swiftly repositioned himself. In the end, he successfully dodged four strikes. Only one connected. -252 A damage number floated above his head. ¡°I need to finish this quickly!¡± The insulated suit and lightning rod could only withstand a few more hits. After that, their effectiveness would gradually wear off! The enemy¡¯s attacks were escalating! ¡°Nine Style of Slashing ¡ª Horizontal Cut!¡± Ye Qiu charged forward. The Human Demon rasped, its voice full of malice, ¡°Seeking death!¡± Its hands transformed into steel claws. Their weapons clashed, sparks flying! In an instant Ye Qiu unleashed six consecutive sword strikes. When they finally parted, the Human Demon had sustained wounds to its waist, heart, and wrists! Its expression momentarily regained some humanity. Its eyes widened in shock. ¡°You¡­ You¡¯re only level 11, yet you can wound me?!¡± Ye Qiu stood firm, sword in hand. He narrowed his eyes. ¡°And you¡¯re only level 15. Killing you is as easy as chopping vegetables!¡± With that, he leaped forward. His steel sword sliced through the pool¡¯s surface. Water sprayed into the air! In the dim environment It looked particularly eerie! At that moment, Ye Qiu felt himself touching upon the Seventh Style of the Nine Style of Slashing! ¡°Damn brat!¡± The Human Demon roared in fury. It spread its arms wide. ¡°Thunder Strike¡ªTen Hits!¡± The canyon erupted with violent winds. The scene was terrifying! The ground flashed with multiple light indicators, covering the entire canyon floor! Ye Qiu¡¯s protective gear and lightning rod were blown away by the gusts. Torn to shreds! After all, those items were made of ordinary materials. Though effective for lightning resistance, their durability was pitifully weak! ¡°This time, you will die!¡± The Human Demon sneered, its intelligence evident. Lightning carried destruction. It had a chance to instantly kill weaker lifeforms! However, Ye Qiu seemed oblivious. He remained immersed in his sword intent. Until¡­ A lightning bolt descended. At that moment, Ye Qiu¡¯s steel sword moved. The blade absorbed the lightning. Energy conducted through the metal, his sword instantly resembled a lightsaber from Star Wars! S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lightning crackled along its edge! ¡°Seventh Form ¡ª Power Borrowing!¡± This strike was fully charged, infused with lightning power. As the sword thrust forward, the scene was breathtaking! All the lightning seemed to be redirected toward the Human Demon! ¡°No¡­ Impossible! That¡¯s my lightning!¡± The Human Demon¡¯s face twisted in terror. It tried to retreat, but it was too late. The sword pierced its heart. Lightning crackled violently around its body! -1723 A massive damage number floated above its head. Coupled with previous injuries, it was left with a sliver of health! The Human Demon collapsed! Meanwhile, above Ye Qiu ¡°-2988¡± A devastating number flashed. Without his insulated gear, the raw power of lightning was terrifying! If not for his high HP, he would have died instantly! On the ground, the Human Demon lay dying. Ye Qiu stepped forward. Without hesitation, he plunged his sword into its skull! He hadn¡¯t forgotten that this boss still had the Self-Destruct skill! With his past life¡¯s experience, Ye Qiu knew one thing: Never leave an enemy even the slightest chance! Or the one to die¡­ would be him! After the Human Demon perished, a few items dropped beside its corpse. Ye Qiu picked them up, one by one, to inspect them. Chapter 38 - Orange Epic Ring of Human Immortal Chapter 38: Orange Epic Ring of Human Immortal Two pieces of blue equipment. A pair of shoes and a top. Both were Level 10. Their attributes were better than his current individual pieces of equipment. But compared to a full set, they were still lacking. Ye Qiu ignored them and moved on to the real loot! The first item was a longbow. [Breaking Sky (Purple Rare): Unidentified] ¡°Damn, what a letdown!¡± Not only was it not a swordsman¡¯s weapon, but it also required identification?! Ye Qiu dismissed it outright! Even though he had purchased several High-Level Appraisal Scrolls earlier, he definitely wouldn¡¯t waste one on this purple longbow. It wasn¡¯t even for his class! The second item was a ring. [Human Immortal Ring (Orange Epic): Unidentified] ¡°An orange epic?! Now this is good!¡± Ye Qiu was thrilled. This time, he didn¡¯t hesitate. He immediately pulled out a High-Grade Appraisal Scroll and used it on the Human Immortal Ring. Very quickly, the information appeared. [Human Immortal Ring (Orange Epic)] [No equipment requirements] [+30 Spirit] [Increases inventory slots by 5x] [Skill ¨C Invigorated (Passive): Once every 10 hours, you can use a skill without consuming any resources (including equipment skills, pet skills, and special skills).] ¡°Amazing!¡± After reading the attributes, Ye Qiu was even more delighted. While the base stat boost wasn¡¯t as high as his Coward¡¯s Cloak, the other two effects completely made up for it! First of all, the inventory slot increase! A fivefold expansion meant he now had 100 backpack slots! And with the Expansion Orb, which doubled the capacity, his total slots now reached 120! That was equivalent to the combined inventory space of six players! There was no more worrying about running out of inventory space! As for the passive skill Invigorated, it could be seen as weak. But it could also be seen as incredibly powerful. It was weak in comparison to the current state of most players. But for Ye Qiu, it was insanely strong! Right now, most players were low-level. They only had their starting class skills, such as: [Slash] for Swordsmen[Block] for Warriors[Fireball] for Mages[Heal] for Priests Some players had obtained stronger skills. But overall, their skill consumption wasn¡¯t too demanding. Ye Qiu was different. In addition to his initial class skill, he had already mastered Nine Types of Slashing, which had massive energy consumption. He also had the Tactical Retreat skill from his equipment. But most importantly, he had Heavenly Eye and the special skill Apprentice¡¯s Will! One had to be used frequently. The other consumed level energy storage, completely different from normal skills! Now, with the Human Immortal Ring, he could freely use Apprentice¡¯s Will without holding back! Of course, this was just a guess. He wasn¡¯t sure yet. A completely different resource! ¡°I¡¯ll test it once I leave the secret realm.¡± Ye Qiu put all the items into his backpack. He checked the time. It was still 30 minutes left before he could leave. He was able to defeat the Human Demon largely due to luck. First, his insulated suit and lightning rod had bought him time and drained the enemy¡¯s energy. Second, at the critical moment, he had comprehended the seventh style of Nine Style of Slashing ¨C Borrowing Power! This caught the Human Demon off guard! The enemy was struck by its own summoned lightning. Paralyzed, unable to use its self-destruct ability! All things considered, if any other player had entered this secret realm, they would¡¯ve been instantly killed! The lightning damage was just too high! It even had a destruction effect, meaning there was a chance of instant death! Ye Qiu stopped thinking about it. He activated Heavenly Eye and began scanning the surroundings. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡ª Meanwhile, outside the secret realm. On the same hillside where Ye Qiu had disappeared, Zhao Hanyan had arrived. ¡°Are you sure this is the place?¡± she asked the player beside her. The player quickly nodded. ¡°Yes, Miss Zhao! My vision is perfect, 5.0 sharp! I definitely didn¡¯t see wrong! ¡°That mysterious NPC appeared right here out of nowhere! ¡°As soon as I saw him, I immediately reported it to you. But before I even finished, he pulled something out, and then, poof! He disappeared again!¡± Zhao Hanyan fell into deep thought. After her conversation with her older brother, she had made up her mind. She had to steal this mysterious NPC away from the Ning siblings! By any means necessary! Just as she was lost in thought, a man¡¯s voice called out, ¡°Hanyan, don¡¯t run so fast! I¡¯m only Level 1, I can¡¯t keep up¡­¡± A young man, gasping for breath, ran up to her. This game was too realistic! Hunger, exhaustion, fatigue, illness, every physical and mental state was reflected in the game! The man looked to be in his early twenties. His appearance was average, though little on the chubby side. Also, his skin was fair. Behind him followed a group of players, like his personal entourage. Zhao Hanyan¡¯s eyes flashed with disgust. But on the surface, she maintained her signature charming smile. ¡°Brother Wenyuan, why is your level so low?¡± She was puzzled. Why was this Zhou guy and his men still such low levels? And why were they in Novice Village 0001? The man¡¯s name was Zhou Wenyuan. Hearing her question, he sighed helplessly. ¡°I created my character right away, but before I could even play, my dad called me. He made me deal with some company matters, so I just barely got back online. ¡°But I never expected you to be in the same Novice Village as me! This must be fate, Hanyan!¡± His eyes were filled with infatuation. Zhao Hanyan felt sick. Looking at Zhou Wenyuan¡¯s fat, round face and perverted expression, she wanted to vomit. But considering his real-life status, she forced a smile and said, ¡°Then, Brother Wenyuan, you should hurry up and level up!¡± Zhou Wenyuan immediately said, ¡°I came to find you so we could level together! That way, we won¡¯t be bored!¡± Zhao Hanyan¡¯s eye twitched. Her smile stiffened. She frantically waved her hands and said, ¡°No, no! I¡¯m Level 6, and you¡¯re Level 1. We can¡¯t form a party.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Zhou Wenyuan looked confused. Zhao Hanyan quickly said, ¡°Brother Wenyuan, hurry and level up! Once we¡¯re the same level, we¡¯ll team up and hunt monsters together!¡± Zhou Wenyuan brightened up and nodded excitedly. ¡°Alright, alright! I¡¯ll go level up now!¡± Just as he turned to leave, there was flash of white light! A figure appeared out of thin air! This person wore a hooded cloak and held a steel longsword. Chapter 39 - Cloaked Big Brother Chapter 39: Cloaked Big Brother One hour later, Ye Qiu emerged from the secret realm. However, his brows were tightly furrowed. After killing the Human Demon, he had put on the diving suit he had prepared in advance, along with an oxygen tank, and dived into the Polluted Immortal Spring. Then, he saw a scene that made his scalp tingle with horror! At the bottom of the pool, numerous metal cages were submerged. Inside each cage was a corpse! Yes, a corpse! There were no signs of decay nor did the water make them swell. They looked as if they had just died. Their skin was pale, devoid of any color of life! There were both men and women. They were completely naked. Their bodies were covered in strange markings, carved into their flesh with a blade! Ye Qiu gritted his teeth. He stuffed the cages along with the corpses into his backpack! Fortunately, each cage, including its corpse, only occupied one inventory slot. There was a total of eighteen cages and corpses. After surfacing, he also found some bottles and jars. He collected samples of the polluted spring water. By the time he was done, exactly one hour had passed. It was time to leave! Ye Qiu had no intention of lingering. Without hesitation, he teleported out of the secret realm! As soon as he emerged, before he could even gather his thoughts, a sickly sweet voice reached his ears. ¡°Cloaked big brother, little sister has been waiting for you so patiently! You¡¯ve finally come out!¡± The voice was laced with flirtation. Overly delicate, downright nauseating! Ye Qiu rubbed his forehead. Looking over, he saw the female player Smoky Cloud Fades, whom he had previously slain with a single sword strike, approaching with a beaming smile. Not far away, Zhou Wenyuan, who had been about to leave, suddenly halted at the sound of Zhao Hanyan¡¯s sickly sweet voice. Then, in disbelief, he turned to look. And what he saw was the goddess he had been pursuing for so long, Zhao Hanyan, who always treated him with indifference, was now acting¡­ so intimately with another man?! And for the first time ever, he saw her wearing a flattering smile! Yes! A smile of fawning! She had lowered her status completely! ¡°Unbelievable!¡± Zhou Wenyuan was furious. He turned to his subordinates and demanded, ¡°Who the hell is that cloaked guy?! Which family does he belong to? Doesn¡¯t he know that I¡¯ve been pursuing Zhao Hanyan? How dare he steal my woman?!¡± One of his subordinates quickly replied, ¡°Young Master Zhou, please don¡¯t be angry. That cloaked guy is actually an NPC in the game!¡± ¡°Huh?!¡± Zhou Wenyuan¡¯s anger vanished instantly. Instead, he was left stunned and confused. His subordinate explained, ¡°The NPCs in this game have intelligence comparable to real people and possess independent thoughts and actions. Recently, players have discovered that the fastest way to level up is by befriending and recruiting NPCs into their parties to hunt monsters together. It provides immense benefits!¡± Zhou Wenyuan had been busy with company matters. It was only recently that he had begun experiencing this immersive game. Now that it was explained to him, he understood. ¡°No wonder Zhao Mingyuan, Jiang Xinghe, and Ding Yuan leveled up so fast. So, this is their trick!¡± Zhou Wenyuan muttered. His subordinate added, ¡°Building a good relationship with NPCs doesn¡¯t just help with leveling up. It also grants access to the inner village of the starting area! The most enviable part is receiving quests from NPCs other than the village chief! For example, the Ning siblings, Ning Qianjun and Ning Qingyue, managed to befriend that cloaked NPC, and in return, they received a purple rare equipment and a pink spirit artifact! There¡¯s a video on the forum. Young Master Zhou, you should take a look!¡± Zhou Wenyuan was no stranger to games. He immediately grasped the significance in it. Opening the game forum, he saw the top trending post. The title read: ¡°The Luckiest Players in Novice Village 0001 ¡ª A Pair of Siblings!¡± Clicking into the post, it detailed how Ning Qianjun and Ning Qingyue had met the mysterious NPC. How they helped him. And most importantly, the rewards they received! A purple rare equipment! A pink spirit artifact! There was even a video! The comment section was filled with envious players! ¡°I see¡­¡± Zhou Wenyuan closed the forum. Then, he waved to his subordinates. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go support my dear Yan¡¯er!¡± With that, the group of players rushed toward Zhao Hanyan¡¯s location. Meanwhile, Zhao Hanyan reached out and offered several thousand gold coins! ¡°Cloaked big brother, do you need money? This is for you to buy some drinks!¡± She sent a trade request. ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t need money.¡± Ye Qiu rejected it outright. Then, he turned to leave. As for this female player, Ye Qiu had no strong impression of her. In his past life, there were many famous players. He had met quite a few, but Smoky Clouds Fade wasn¡¯t among them. Either she had died early on or, like most others, she had merely struggled to survive, remaining unknown. Zhao Hanyan saw Ye Qiu leaving and instinctively stepped forward to block him. However, she didn¡¯t know what to say! Just as she was about to speak, a cold glint flashed! Ye Qiu¡¯s steel sword was already resting against Zhao Hanyan¡¯s neck! ¡°Do you want to die again?¡± Ye Qiu¡¯s voice was calm. Inside, however, he was eager to try. After all, the last time he killed Zhao Hanyan, she had dropped a Secret Realm Map! That meant she was loaded! If he killed her again, perhaps she would drop something even better! Of course, Ye Qiu understood the game mechanics. Whoever initiated an attack first, whether they killed or got killed, would bear the risk of getting a red name! As such, he wouldn¡¯t be foolish enough to make the first move! Zhao Hanyan¡¯s heart trembled in fear and unpleasant memories surfaced. Even if it was just a game, the experience of being killed was horrifying! At that moment, Zhou Wenyuan and his group arrived just in time to see this scene. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His eyes widened in fury! Even if this was just a game Zhou Wenyuan would never allow anyone to treat his beloved Yan¡¯er like that! ¡°F*ck!¡± He exploded with a string of curses. Then, he roared, ¡°All of you, get him! Kill that damn NPC for me!¡± Chapter 40 - Let’s Kill Them Together Chapter 40: Let¡¯s Kill Them Together [Player ¡®Modern Aristocrat¡¯ has challenged you!] [Any counterattack you make within the next hour will be considered self-defense. No crime value will be added, no reputation points will be deducted, and you will not be flagged as a red-name player.] [Detected that Player ¡®Modern Aristocrat¡¯ is in a party with others. The system has deemed the entire party as a single entity. Any attack on any member of this party within the next hour will also be considered self-defense!] The system notification echoed in Ye Qiu¡¯s mind. ¡°Hmm?¡± His gaze shifted toward a group of players approaching him quickly. At the forefront was a plump, fair-skinned man with a vicious expression. He held a longbow, and an arrow had already been loosed. Its target was none other than Ye Qiu! However, the aim was poor. The arrow missed and landed in the ground nearby. Even though it failed to hit him, the system had still deemed it an ¡°attack challenge.¡± ¡°What are you doing, Zhou Wenyuan?!¡± a startled voice came from the side. Zhao Hanyan, shocked, immediately shouted at him. Zhou Wenyuan, whose in-game name was ¡°Modern Aristocrat,¡± was momentarily taken aback by her reprimand before responding, ¡°Yan¡¯er, this NPC actually dared to hold a sword to your neck! He¡¯s asking for death! I¡¯m just teaching him a lesson for you!¡± His mindset toward the game was still stuck in the logic of traditional online games. No matter how realistic it was, in his eyes, players were players, and NPCs were nothing more than lines of code. Killing them was no big deal. ¡°Get lost right now!¡± Zhao Hanyan snapped, furious. She had been trying her best to win over this mysterious NPC, only for Zhou Wenyuan to barge in and ruin the atmosphere! ¡°You¡¯re telling me to get lost?!¡± Zhou Wenyuan froze for a moment, then his expression darkened. ¡°He was the one bullying you! I stepped in to help, and now you¡¯re scolding me instead?!¡± He was fuming, though he couldn¡¯t fully vent his frustration on Zhao Hanyan. So, he fixed his glare on Ye Qiu instead and growled, ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re an NPC, huh? Pretty advanced AI, huh? Well, I¡¯m pissed off now, and it¡¯s all your fault!¡± With a wave of his hand, he commanded his followers, ¡°What are you waiting for? Kill him!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The group of players he had brought immediately rushed toward Ye Qiu. ¡°I dare anyone to lay a hand on him!¡± Zhao Hanyan stepped forward without hesitation, blocking their path. Ye Qiu raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. This female player named Smoky Clouds Fade was certainly unpredictable, but it seemed like she wasn¡¯t inherently bad. On the other hand, Heavenly Eye! A white glow flickered in Ye Qiu¡¯s vision as information about the plump player appeared before him: [Player: Modern Aristocrat] [Class: Archer] [Level: 1] [HP: 250] ¡°So, he¡¯s a rich second-generation kid,¡± Ye Qiu mused. Slowly, he raised the refined steel sword in his hand. By now, many other players had gathered around, watching the commotion. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°That fat guy brought a whole group to attack the mysterious NPC!¡± ¡°Will they even stand a chance?¡± ¡°Hard to say.¡± ¡°That guy is apparently the heir of Tianfei Group! He¡¯s been preparing for this game for a while now!¡± ¡°Some of his teammates are already level 7!¡± ¡°Then the outcome is uncertain!¡± ¡°The mysterious NPC might be in danger!¡± ¡°If a player dies, they can respawn. But if an NPC dies, that¡¯s it!¡± As the spectators murmured amongst themselves, Zhou Wenyuan tilted his chin up smugly. ¡°Yan¡¯er, step aside. This is between me and this NPC. It has nothing to do with you.¡± He was giving her an out. However, even though Zhao Hanyan understood this, she still refused to move. She frowned and said, ¡°Zhou Wenyuan, stop messing around. This game is nothing like the ones you usually play!¡± Zhou Wenyuan¡¯s face twisted with anger. ¡°Zhao Hanyan, enough! I¡¯ve been helping you this whole time, yet instead of being grateful, you keep siding with someone else and scolding me?! You¡¯re shameless!¡± ¡°You¡ª!¡± Zhao Hanyan had never been humiliated like this before, especially not in public! Fury flared within her as she retaliated, ¡°Zhou Wenyuan, don¡¯t think that just because you¡¯re the heir of Tianfei Group, everyone has to fear you or give way to you! People have just been tolerating you out of courtesy!¡± Despite her words, she truly didn¡¯t want to escalate the conflict. Though the Zhao family was powerful, they were still a notch below Tianfei Group. She was only stopping Zhou Wenyuan because she was genuinely worried that if his group attacked, the mysterious NPC might get hurt or worse. After all, some of Zhou Wenyuan¡¯s teammates were high-level players, with one even reaching level 8! They were well-equipped, and while she had no doubt that none of them could take on the mysterious NPC one-on-one, an all-out siege was a different story. But Zhou Wenyuan was already too enraged to back down. ¡°Kill them all,¡± he ordered coldly. ¡°Players can always respawn anyway!¡± With that, his impatient followers sprang into action, charging forward! Many bystanders had already started recording. The game had an inbuilt recording function. The attacking players had their faces twisted in excitement as they lunged like wild beasts. The spectators, eyes wide, eagerly awaited the outcome. Although the game had only been online for three in-game days, players had advanced rapidly, while NPCs had remained stagnant. Some had even begun planning to storm the Novice Village and kill the village chief once they hit level 10. Players thrived on freedom. ¡°You¡ª!¡± Zhao Hanyan was panicked, but there was nothing she could do. She sighed and closed her eyes. If she died, so be it. It was a shame, though. She had just taken an interest in this mysterious NPC and wanted to recruit him. Now, that was no longer an option. But the pain she expected¡­ never came. Instead, a low voice whispered in her ear: ¡°Seventh Slash ¡ª Borrowing Power!¡± The wind stirred. A gentle breeze, natural and unassuming, suddenly turned fierce and violent! Dust swirled in the air. ¡°Whoa! These high-level players are insane! Who used a wind-element skill?! That was amazing!¡± a player¡¯s excited exclamation rang out. But it seemed out of place, because everyone else was silent. Even Zhou Wenyuan and his elite team. The player who had spoken quickly shut up, then, just like everyone else, froze in shock. Before them, Zhou Wenyuan and over a dozen high-level players were splitting apart. Blood sprayed into the air. Finally, screams erupted. One after another, the high-level players collapsed. Some died instantly. Others twitched for a moment before succumbing. Ye Qiu, now standing in front of Zhao Hanyan, still held his sword. A faint wind curled around the blade. Not a drop of blood had stained it. With a flick of his wrist, the breeze dissipated entirely. Silence. A deathly silence. All the onlookers were dumbfounded. They stared at Ye Qiu, then at the corpses of Zhou Wenyuan and his followers. For a long moment, no one could process what had just happened. One strike. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just one, and over a dozen high-level players were annihilated. Many players rubbed their eyes, unable to believe what they had just witnessed. But reality was undeniable. Zhao Hanyan slowly opened her eyes. When she saw the bodies, she was utterly stunned. Her hands flew to her mouth in shock. Chapter 41 - That Bitch Zhao Hanyan Chapter 41: That Bitch Zhao Hanyan ¡°Th-this¡­¡± Zhao Hanyan stood in shock, her eyes fixed on the scene before her ¡ª bodies strewn across the ground. Among the corpses were several well-known top players, names she was all too familiar with. And yet, at this very moment, they had all been slain! Her gaze shifted to the figure standing before her, Ye Qiu. Her expression changed as if she were staring at a monster. She had considered many possible outcomes, including the mysterious NPC emerging victorious. But never had she imagined this. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. An entire group of elite players had been instantly slaughtered in a single strike by an NPC! Yet in the next moment, shock turned to exhilaration. The stronger this mysterious NPC was, the greater the benefits she could gain if she managed to pull him to her side! Ye Qiu walked forward casually, picking up the items that had dropped from the fallen players. Then, without even looking at her, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll be giving you a few tasks later.¡± Hearing this, Zhao Hanyan snapped out of her daze. Excitement flashed across her face as she nodded eagerly. ¡°Whatever tasks you have, just leave them to me! I¡¯ll get them all done!¡± She had done it! At the very least, she had managed to receive a quest! She knew this was undoubtedly related to what had just happened, how she had stepped in to block Zhou Wenyuan and his men. At this moment, she actually felt a bit grateful to Zhou Wenyuan. With that, Ye Qiu led Zhao Hanyan away. As soon as they left, the area erupted into a frenzy of discussions. ¡°Holy shit! Just one strike?! A dozen top players got wiped out in an instant?!¡± ¡°Looks like we¡¯ve all underestimated the strength of NPCs!¡± ¡°These players were famous! The forums are full of their monster-slaying and leveling-up videos. Who would¡¯ve thought they¡¯d be this weak compared to an NPC?!¡± ¡°Damn, I was still dreaming about reaching Level 10 and forming a party to challenge the novice village¡­ Now, I see that is pure fantasy!¡± ¡°Maybe¡­ it¡¯s just this mysterious NPC that¡¯s ridiculously strong?¡± ¡°If I could get on this NPC¡¯s good side, I bet I¡¯d hit Level 10 in three days!¡± ¡°Unbelievable¡­¡± At this moment, the players were all convinced that the hooded figure was indeed an NPC. After all, the server had only been live for a few days. Could any player possibly be this overpowered? Absolutely not. It had to be an NPC. A short while later, Zhou Wenyuan returned with his surviving elite players. Seeing the bodies still lying on the ground, their faces darkened as if they had swallowed a dead rat. In this game, death didn¡¯t just mean losing experience and dropping equipment. It also came with pain ¡ª real, tangible pain, just like in reality! The veteran players could endure it. They had died before while fighting monsters, suffering serious injuries along the way. They were already accustomed to pain. But Zhou Wenyuan¡­ His face was pale. This was his first real taste of the game¡¯s ¡°100% realism.¡± ¡°This game¡­ is definitely different.¡± Zhou Wenyuan gritted his teeth. ¡ª Meanwhile, on the forums, a video of the mysterious NPC one-shotting a group of elite players had already gone viral. After watching the footage, the entire community was left in stunned silence. ¡°That¡¯s not an NPC, that¡¯s a freaking raid boss!¡± ¡°Damn! That was insane!¡± ¡°I wanna learn that move!¡± ¡°I regret picking Mage¡­ should¡¯ve gone with a swordsman!¡± ¡°Too bad you can¡¯t delete your account and start over in this game.¡± ¡°Wait a second, why did the NPC drop loot when killing players?¡± ¡°Huh???¡± ¡°No clue.¡± ¡°What, you think that hooded figure is a player?¡± ¡°Pfft, haha¡­ No way. The game¡¯s only been live for three days. The highest-leveled players are only around Level 8 or 9. Even if someone¡¯s reached Level 10, who would dare say they could pull off what we saw in the video?!¡± ¡°Forget what we saw in the video. Just being able to take on two players at once is already impressive. This was one vs. a dozen, and it was an instant kill!¡± ¡°Everyone¡¯s still new to the game and doesn¡¯t fully understand its mechanics yet. But actually, teaming up with NPCs does allow for item drops. It¡¯s just that the drop rate is ridiculously low, which is why most players assumed it wasn¡¯t possible.¡± ¡°Oh, that makes sense¡­ Thanks for the clarification!¡± ¡°But this time, the ones who died were players!¡± ¡°Are you blind? Look at the video! There was a female player standing next to the mysterious NPC. They were clearly in a party. That¡¯s why killing players triggered item drops, just like killing monsters!¡± ¡ª Novice Village 0001, a Level 5 monster area¡­ Ning Qianjun was using the traditional method, recruiting players to farm monsters and level up. He let out a sigh. ¡°Ugh¡­ Monster kill XP and drop rates are halved for the first ten days. This sucks¡­¡± As he continued grinding, he couldn¡¯t help but grumble. At this moment, he was only Level 7. He had originally been among the top-tier players. But now, a flood of hardcore players had surpassed him in level. Still, not everything was bad. At the very least, he and his younger sister, Ning Qingyue, had successfully latched onto the mysterious NPC¡¯s golden thigh! That alone put them ahead of most players. A small consolation, perhaps. He glanced at the rare purple-grade weapon in his hands ¡ª the Wolf Fang Crescent Staff ¡ª and smiled. He was confident. Soon, he would obtain even more and even better items from the mysterious NPC. Just then¡­ ¡°Brother! Something¡¯s wrong!¡± a panicked female voice called out in the distance. Ning Qianjun turned to see his sister, Ning Qingyue, running toward him in a hurry. By the time she reached him, she was gasping for breath. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?!¡± Ning Qianjun asked, confused. His expression turned serious. ¡°Something happened in the real world?!¡± Ning Qingyue quickly shook her head, still catching her breath. ¡°N-no¡­ Not real life¡­ It¡¯s the game¡­¡± Hearing this, Ning Qianjun let out a sigh of relief and rolled his eyes. ¡°You scared me over a game? What happened?¡± He chuckled. His sister was usually so composed. Finally, Ning Qingyue caught her breath and exclaimed, ¡°Brother! Check the forums! There¡¯s a new video about the mysterious NPC!¡± Ning Qianjun instinctively pulled up his game panel and opened the forums. The moment he did, he immediately spotted the trending video post. As he clicked on it, Ning Qingyue grumbled beside him, ¡°That bitch Zhao Hanyan went and seduced the mysterious NPC! And now it looks like he even gave her a quest!¡± Chapter 42 - Uncle Su is Beaten! Chapter 42: Uncle Su is Beaten! Ye Qiu made a list and handed it to Zhao Hanyan. The list contained various task objectives he had noted down ¡ª collecting five fish pearls, ten bottles of wild fox monster fluid, ten pieces of ironwood gel, and more. There were many tasks, and they were all quite tedious. Ye Qiu didn¡¯t have the time or energy to complete them himself. So, he planned to have Zhao Hanyan gather the required materials and then hand them over to him. He would use them to complete the quests and, in return, reward Zhao Hanyan with equipment and items he didn¡¯t need. It was a win-win situation! On Zhao Hanyan¡¯s side, she was genuinely grateful that Ye Qiu was willing to assign her tasks at all. After sending Zhao Hanyan off, the sky darkened slightly. Ye Qiu prepared to log out. He needed to start working on some powerful tools to deal with the outer demons, specifically, the Split Demon! For example, Molotov cocktails! As soon as Ye Qiu logged out, a commotion filled his ears. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the moment, he was still seated in Uncle Su¡¯s car. Looking out the window, he saw Uncle Su arguing heatedly with a group of security guards from the dealership. Not far away, a reporter and a cameraman were observing from a distance, hesitant to approach. ¡°Stop filming! Keep recording, and I¡¯ll smash your camera!¡± one of the security guards threatened, brandishing a metal baton. ¡°We are legitimate reporters from a news station. You can¡¯t¡ª¡± The reporter, a young woman who looked like she had just graduated and was still an intern, spoke timidly, her voice laced with fear. Before she could finish her sentence¡­ A security guard snatched the camera and violently smashed it to the ground. The device shattered into pieces! ¡°You¡­ You¡­¡± The female reporter was on the verge of tears. The cameraman, both furious and alarmed, hurriedly picked up the broken camera. Luckily, the camera was well-built and still functional. Uncle Su, seeing the situation escalate, quickly stepped forward, grabbing the security guards and saying loudly, ¡°This is between us! It has nothing to do with the reporters!¡± At this moment, a man in a suit ¡ª presumably the dealership manager ¡ª stepped forward. He lifted his chin arrogantly, looking at Uncle Su with utter disdain. ¡°Hah! Mr. Su, this is your fault. If this is just a disagreement between us, why did you call the reporters?¡± Uncle Su¡¯s face flushed with anger. ¡°Do you think I wanted to? It¡¯s been a year! A whole year since I paid in full for my car, and I haven¡¯t even seen it yet!¡± The manager responded nonchalantly, ¡°Haven¡¯t I explained? The car is still en route. It¡¯s being shipped overseas, and we ran into some delays. That¡¯s perfectly normal.¡± ¡°A year ago, you told me the same thing!¡± Uncle Su clenched his fists. ¡°I spent 500 to 600 thousand on that car! And all I¡¯ve heard from you is the same excuse over and over! Now that I¡¯m asking for a refund, you won¡¯t even return my money? This is nothing short of robbery!¡± The manager sneered. He had clearly dealt with cases like this before. ¡°Careful what you say, Mr. Su. Accusations like that could get you sued for defamation. We run a legitimate business!¡± ¡°You¡ª!¡± Uncle Su was dumbfounded. He had never met someone this shameless before! ¡°What? What about me?¡± The manager, now emboldened, sneered even more. ¡°Either leave now, or we¡¯ll have to take action!¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± Uncle Su was livid. The manager smirked. ¡°Oh? You spent 500 to 600 thousand on a car, right? What do you think would happen if I gave that money to these security guards instead? Do you think they¡¯d hesitate to beat you up?¡± One of the guards immediately chimed in, ¡°Manager Wang, I¡¯m not scared! Let me at him! Worst case, I get locked up for fifteen days!¡± The others were equally eager, ready to strike at any moment. This was routine for them. Beating people up and pocketing a hefty sum in return? The price was just a few days behind bars, nothing new. ¡°You¡­ You¡­¡± Uncle Su was both furious and terrified. He hadn¡¯t come here for a fight. He just wanted the news to expose the situation and force the dealership to refund his money. But these people were completely unreasonable! Instead of admitting their wrongdoing, they were even threatening violence! Just then¡­ A BMW suddenly pulled up nearby. The car door swung open. Out stepped a young man, around 24 or 25 years old. ¡°Manager Wang, what the hell is going on?! Why are you still wasting time with this low-class nobody?¡± The young man frowned in displeasure, his tone dripping with arrogance. ¡°Young Master Chen¡­¡± Manager Wang¡¯s demeanor changed instantly. He hurried over, nodding and bowing obsequiously. Young Master Chen snorted. ¡°When dealing with situations like this, you need to be ruthless. The more you drag things out, the more bystanders gather, and that¡¯s bad for business!¡± Manager Wang nodded repeatedly, as if receiving sage advice. Meanwhile, Young Master Chen strode toward Uncle Su. Before even reaching him, he raised his foot and viciously kicked! Uncle Su cried out in pain as he fell to the ground, clutching his stomach in agony. ¡°Beat them up! And get the reporter and cameraman too!¡± Young Master Chen ordered coldly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the consequences, I have plenty of money!¡± He shot Uncle Su a look of utter disdain. He came from a wealthy family. The elite and powerful always treated them with respect. But these low-class nobodies? They had no sense of their place. They were constantly coming here to cause trouble. ¡°Yes, Young Master Chen!¡± The security guards, already itching for a fight, no longer hesitated. One group charged at Uncle Su. The others rushed toward the reporter and cameraman. However¡­ A loud noise rang out! Everyone on the scene froze! Their movements halted instantly! They turned their heads. The first security guard, a burly man weighing nearly 200 pounds, had been sent flying through the air! He soared five or six meters before crashing down, right onto Young Master Chen¡¯s BMW! The car¡¯s windshield caved in! The other guards recoiled in shock, hastily retreating! Uncle Su, who had closed his eyes in despair, suddenly opened them. And then, he saw a young man standing tall in front of him. ¡°Xiao¡­ Xiao Ye?¡± Chapter 43 - First Experience of Game Data in Reality! Chapter 43: First Experience of Game Data in Reality! The one who struck was none other than Ye Qiu. If it were someone else getting beaten up, he might have ignored it. But this time, it was Uncle Su! The very person who had driven his gravely ill parents to the hospital, paid the medical bills, and stayed with a young, helpless Ye Qiu, waiting for the surgery results. Now that he had been reborn, many people in his memories had become blurry. But Uncle Su¡¯s image remained vivid! ¡°Who are you?!¡± Young Master Chen was startled, instinctively hiding behind a group of security guards as he glared at Ye Qiu with fear. Despite his panic, he knew they had the numbers advantage. Ye Qiu locked eyes with Young Master Chen and said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to escalate things, so please return the money Uncle Su paid.¡± In reality, there were only nine days left. The game would soon descend! At that time, everything in the real world would be completely overturned. Ye Qiu had no intention of getting caught up in unnecessary trouble in these final days. He only wanted to focus on playing the game, leveling up, and ensuring that when the game merged with reality, he would at least have the power to protect himself. ¡°Haha¡­ Hahaha¡­¡± Young Master Chen laughed, his voice laced with contempt. ¡°You¡¯re good at fighting? So what? In this world, it¡¯s all about power and connections!¡± As he spoke, several more cars arrived. When the doors opened, a group of thugs wielding metal pipes and weapons stepped out. This was the source of Young Master Chen¡¯s confidence. Once business expanded, there were always connections on both sides of the law. These men were the car dealership¡¯s enforcers. They had handled plenty of trouble before. ¡°Xiao¡­ Xiao Ye, run!¡± Uncle Su¡¯s face turned pale with fear, his voice trembling. He never expected things to escalate like this! But Ye Qiu remained calm, standing motionless. To outsiders, it seemed as if he was frozen in fear. ¡°Kid, what now?¡± Young Master Chen swaggered toward Ye Qiu, a smug and arrogant grin on his face. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Their numbers had increased. With more people, he felt completely secure. This¡­ This was the power and status that wealth and influence brought! And it felt amazing! But then¡­ The moment Young Master Chen got close, Ye Qiu suddenly moved. In an instant, he seized Young Master Chen by the throat! ¡°Young Master Chen!¡± ¡°You brat¡ª¡± ¡°Let him go!¡± The security guards and thugs reacted in alarm. But Ye Qiu ignored them. He only focused on the man struggling in his grip. He realized that with just a slight squeeze, he could snap Young Master Chen¡¯s neck! Ever since game data had merged with reality, everything had changed. These ordinary people, in Ye Qiu¡¯s eyes, were nothing more than slightly stronger ants. Now, Ye Qiu repeated the same words back to Young Master Chen. ¡°What now?¡± Young Master Chen couldn¡¯t answer, because he couldn¡¯t breathe. He was suffocating! After a long struggle, his voice barely escaped in broken gasps. ¡°Guh¡­ You¡­ let¡­ me¡­ go¡­¡± His face had turned purple from lack of oxygen! Ye Qiu was experienced in controlling his strength. In his past life, after 20 years, he had reached level 50. He loosened his grip slightly. Young Master Chen gasped, desperately sucking in fresh air. Finally, he managed to speak properly. ¡°You¡­ you played dirty! If you have guts, let me go and fight my men! If you win, I¡¯ll refund the money and let you leave unharmed!¡± Ye Qiu chuckled at this. He responded coldly, ¡°If I don¡¯t let you go, we¡¯ll still leave unharmed.¡± Saying this, he tightened his grip on Young Master Chen¡¯s neck and moved. With his free hand, he clenched his fist and charged toward the nearest three men. Before the punch even landed, they felt the wind pressure from his speed! ¡°So fast!¡± A security guard barely had time to react before¡­ Ye Qiu¡¯s fist struck his chest, sending him flying! He crashed onto the ground, immediately coughing up blood. The rest of the thugs stood in stunned silence. They hadn¡¯t even seen his punch clearly! Ye Qiu¡¯s expression remained indifferent. He was holding back. Otherwise, at full power, his fist would have punched clean through their bodies! ¡°Get him!¡± ¡°All of us at once!¡± The remaining security guards, gangsters, and enforcers charged at Ye Qiu. Ye Qiu moved like a shadow. Even without his Coward¡¯s Cloak, his agility had already surpassed 100. Easily dodging their attacks, he jumped into the air, then spun his body into a sweeping kick! ¡°AHH!¡± Four or five men collapsed from a single strike! ¡°My¡­ my arm is broken!¡± ¡°It hurts!¡± The fallen men screamed in agony. Ye Qiu didn¡¯t stop moving. Still gripping Young Master Chen like a ragdoll, he weaved through the chaos. Everywhere he went, people fell like dominoes! At this moment, he was like an unstoppable war god! At first, the security guards and thugs had been fearless. But after two or three dozen men had collapsed, they were completely terrified! ¡°Is¡­ is he even human?!¡± The last few remaining men trembled uncontrollably. Weapons slipped from their hands, clattering to the ground. The crowd of onlookers was equally dumbfounded. Expressions of shock filled their faces. ¡°This¡­ This has to be a movie scene, right?!¡± ¡°But there¡¯s only one cameraman¡­ and a reporter¡­ It doesn¡¯t look staged¡­¡± ¡°Holy crap! Bruce Lee reborn?!¡± People murmured in awe. Then¡­ In the distance, the sound of police sirens echoed closer. Chapter 44 - Such a Big Scene, Are They Here to Catch Me?! Chapter 44: Such a Big Scene, Are They Here to Catch Me?! Ye Qiu tossed Young Master Chen to the ground like a dead dog. His body was limp, and he had lost control of his bowels. His face was pale, and he trembled uncontrollably. He was terrified. The man in front of him wasn¡¯t human, he was a demon. His head throbbed, his throat filled with blood, and even a light cough sent a mouthful of crimson spilling out. Lying on the ground, Young Master Chen whimpered through tears and snot, ¡°B-brother¡­ If I knew you could fight like this, I would¡¯ve backed down earlier¡­¡± He had never experienced such despair, such fear. For a man who had seen his fair share of big scenes, this moment broke him completely. ¡°Cut the nonsense!¡± Ye Qiu interrupted coldly. ¡°Hurry up and return the money!¡± He had no time to waste in the real world. Ten days. No, only nine days left! Every second counted. He had to grow stronger. Young Master Chen, too frightened to stall any longer, scrambled to pull out his phone, half-crawling toward Uncle Su. Meanwhile, Uncle Su stood frozen, his mind reeling from what had just happened. His gaze swept over the groaning bodies on the ground, then back to Young Master Chen, who was crawling toward him, covered in filth. It felt like a dream. He had been to this dealership countless times. And every time, he had been either brushed off, threatened, or outright thrown out. The people here were untouchable. Even calling the police never helped. But now, the tides had turned. Especially with Young Master Chen, who had once been so arrogant, untouchable. Now, all Uncle Su saw was a man filled with fear, forcing out a smile, eyes pleading for mercy. ¡°Mr. Su¡­¡± Young Master Chen¡¯s voice was meek, ingratiating. ¡°Should I scan you, or will you scan me? I¡¯ll return the money right now!¡± Uncle Su snapped out of his daze and glanced at Ye Qiu. Receiving a nod of approval, he took out his phone and opened Alipay. Just as the transaction was in progress¡­ The distant wail of police sirens grew closer. Ye Qiu exhaled slowly. As expected, the commotion had been too loud. The police were bound to show up, but he didn¡¯t care. Jail, detention, even prison didn¡¯t matter to him as long as it didn¡¯t delay his leveling up in the game. ¡°Xiao Ye!¡± Uncle Su had completed the transfer and also heard the sirens. He rushed to Ye Qiu and said, ¡°Let me handle this! When the police arrive, don¡¯t say anything!¡± He was ready to take the blame. Ye Qiu waved his hand and chuckled. ¡°Uncle Su, it¡¯s fine. These guys only bully the weak. You can¡¯t reason with them. You have to fight fire with fire. Even if the police understand the situation, the worst they¡¯ll do is hold me for a day or two.¡± Then, he turned to Young Master Chen. ¡°So, what do you say? Am I right?¡± Young Master Chen shuddered and nodded like a pecking chicken. ¡°Y-yes! You¡¯re absolutely right! If the police ask, we¡¯ll just say it was an internal dispute! Nothing to do with you!¡± Ye Qiu nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Good. That¡¯s for the best.¡± However, the surrounding crowd had recorded everything. Not far away, a journalist and cameraman had filmed the entire event. Ye Qiu¡¯s gaze swept over the crowd. A hush fell over them. Some who had been recording hurriedly put away their phones. Their eyes were filled with awe, fear, admiration, and curiosity. Then, someone spoke up. ¡°Hero!¡± ¡°That was amazing!¡± ¡°Well done!¡± One after another, praises rang out. Ye Qiu smiled wryly. By then, the sirens had reached the scene. Ye Qiu could already see them. Far in the distance, twenty or thirty police cars sped toward them. Traffic police led the way. SWAT officers followed. More police vehicles trailed behind. And at the very end, a military truck. Armed soldiers stood inside, their faces cold and expressionless. Even Ye Qiu swallowed nervously. As Ye Qiu¡¯s mind raced, the convoy roared past. They didn¡¯t even stop. Instead, they sped straight ahead. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Ye Qiu blinked in confusion. The nearby crowd was already buzzing with speculation. ¡°Have you heard?¡± someone whispered. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Strange creatures are appearing all over the country, attacking people! Many have already died!¡± ¡°Hiss¡­ I just heard about it too!¡± ¡°They say there¡¯s a monster near the outskirts of Anlong City. Green-skinned, walks on two legs, carrying a club. They are smashing people¡¯s heads in on sight! It¡¯s terrifying!¡± ¡°Stop making up stories!¡± ¡°Yeah, that sounds fake as hell!¡± ¡°Believe what you want!¡± ¡°Is there a video?¡± ¡°There was, but they¡¯ve all been deleted!¡± Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Tch.¡± ¡°Then tell me, if it¡¯s not true, what else would warrant that level of police response?¡± People chattered in hushed voices. Ye Qiu withdrew his gaze, brows furrowing. A bad feeling rose in his chest. He racked his brain. Then suddenly, a realization struck him. Chapter 45 - The Game Arrives Early?! Chapter 45: The Game Arrives Early?! Upon arriving home, Ye Qiu wasted no time and immediately started making Molotov cocktails. He had a vague idea of what was happening. Although the game data would be granted to everyone in ten days, the monsters from the game might have already started appearing ahead of schedule. This had happened in his previous life. Some people had managed to record blurry, long-distance footage. In the video, there was a barrage of gunfire, explosions lighting up the sky, and massive figures emerging. However, the official explanation at the time was that it was a joint military and police exercise. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Experts on the internet debunked the rumors, claiming the video was edited with special effects. As a result, the general public didn¡¯t pay much attention to it. After all, there were no similar reports from foreign sources. Just as Ye Qiu was focused on making Molotovs, his phone rang. He answered casually. A pleasant voice came from the other end: ¡°Ye Qiu, the school just notified us that classes will resume as normal tomorrow. I tagged the whole class in the group chat, but you¡¯re the only one who hasn¡¯t responded.¡± It was Su Xintong, the class president. Ye Qiu replied offhandedly, ¡°Get me a leave of absence for half a month.¡± Su Xintong was momentarily stunned before saying, ¡°For long-term leave, you need to come to school and talk to the teachers in person¡ª¡± Before she could finish, Ye Qiu interrupted, ¡°I don¡¯t have time. Not going.¡± With that, he hung up and powered off his phone. ¡ª In a small apartment in the old district of Anlong City, Su Xintong stared at her phone, feeling frustrated. ¡°Ugh! What kind of person is that?¡± School had announced that classes would resume as usual the next day, and students were allowed to go home freely. Su Xintong had come home just to pack some things before heading back to school. The college entrance exams were approaching, and she needed to focus on her studies. Beside her, another girl about the same age was scrolling through her phone, occasionally complaining, ¡°Ugh, social media is so boring these days. It¡¯s all about that brain-game thing!¡± The girl was quite pretty, just as attractive as Su Xintong. The only difference was their temperament. Su Xintong huffed, ¡°There¡¯s this one classmate who¡¯s just impossible to deal with!¡± The girl giggled, ¡°Come on, Xintong, you¡¯re the class monitor, but you don¡¯t have to care about every single student, do you?¡± Then, she added with a smirk, ¡°Ever heard this phrase before? ¡®Let go of your savior complex and respect other people¡¯s fate.¡¯¡± ¡°But¡­ his family situation is special,¡± Su Xintong argued. The girl put her phone down, looking puzzled. ¡°Special how? Business tycoons? Government officials?¡± Su Xintong sighed. ¡°He¡¯s an orphan. His parents passed away in an accident before he came of age.¡± The girl scoffed, unimpressed. ¡°Oh, just an orphan? That¡¯s it?¡± Su Xintong was momentarily speechless. Her friend, Qin Sisi, came from a privileged background. Her father was a minor official, but their home was always bustling with influential guests, and people constantly brought gifts. She wasn¡¯t a bad person. She was just someone who had grown up in an environment that shaped her into being a bit realistic and prideful. Qin Sisi went on, ¡°He¡¯s an orphan and still refuses to fit in? He¡¯s bringing this on himself. Why do you care? People like him won¡¯t achieve anything in life. Instead of wasting energy on him, you should focus on yourself, make valuable connections, and secure a bright future for yourself and your family!¡± Su Xintong couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at her friend¡¯s straightforwardness. She knew Qin Sisi meant well, but she still said, ¡°My dad always told me to never look down on anyone around you. Someone who seems ordinary today might become extraordinary tomorrow.¡± Qin Sisi gave her a sideways glance before rolling her eyes. ¡°That¡¯s probably why your dad is still just a taxi driver.¡± Su Xintong: ¡°¡­¡± That ticked her off. Realizing she might have gone too far, Qin Sisi quickly tried to smooth things over. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean you or your dad specifically. It¡¯s just that people love to say things like ¡®Don¡¯t underestimate the young,¡¯ but most of the time, those kids still end up being nobodies.¡± Su Xintong stayed silent. Qin Sisi then switched the topic. ¡°Alright, alright, let¡¯s talk about something fun. Have you played that brain-game thing yet? Everyone¡¯s talking about it!¡± Su Xintong nodded at first, then shook her head. ¡°I made a character, but as soon as I saw people killing small animals¡­ and the animals fighting back¡­ It was too gruesome, so I quit right away.¡± Qin Sisi instantly felt like she found a kindred spirit. She hugged Su Xintong excitedly, nodding. ¡°Exactly! It¡¯s bloody and disgusting! And the pain level is supposedly 100% real! Who in their right mind would play that?¡± But Su Xintong had a different view. ¡°Since it¡¯s in our brains, it might impact the real world in the future. I plan to get used to it and give it another shot later.¡± Qin Sisi immediately let go of her, looking exasperated. ¡°Xintong, even you think this game will change the world?¡± After a brief hesitation, Su Xintong nodded lightly. Qin Sisi sighed. ¡°My dad and my boyfriend say the same thing. They keep telling me to take it seriously and level up in the game.¡± Hearing that, Su Xintong suddenly thought of Ye Qiu. During their call earlier, he had also urged her to level up as soon as possible. Qin Sisi continued, ¡°I just don¡¯t get it. It¡¯s just a game. How is it supposed to change anything? My family already has everything, and my boyfriend¡¯s family is even more powerful. Once I graduate and marry him, I¡¯ll be set for life¡­¡± Su Xintong listened quietly, already familiar with Qin Sisi¡¯s circumstances. Her boyfriend, Cao Fan, came from a family in real estate ¡ª one of the world¡¯s top 500 companies. He was good-looking and from an influential family. Their parents had arranged their marriage early on, and as soon as Qin Sisi graduated high school, they would start planning the wedding. Education could wait until after she got married and had children. That was normal in their circles. Qin Sisi finished her rant and turned to Su Xintong with a playful grin. ¡°Enough about me. What about you? Got a crush on anyone?¡± Chapter 46 - This Child Has a Good Face, I Like Him! Chapter 46: This Child Has a Good Face, I Like Him! ¡°Ah?¡± Caught off guard by the sudden question about her love life, Su Xintong¡¯s face immediately flushed red. She hurriedly replied, ¡°I¡­ I just turned 18!¡± Qin Sisi rolled her eyes. ¡°Like I¡¯m not 18 too?¡± Su Xintong said, ¡°I¡¯ve never thought about that kind of thing. My focus is entirely on my studies.¡± Hearing this, Qin Sisi chuckled. ¡°You really are so pure. ¡°In today¡¯s society, competition is so fierce. You come from a small city, and your family background isn¡¯t great. How are you supposed to compete with people from big cities? ¡°Take academics, for example. The best you can hope for is getting into an average university. But those rich kids? They can pull a few strings and easily get into the same school as you! ¡°While you¡¯re working hard, trying to get good grades, their job positions are already secured! ¡°The finish line you¡¯re striving for is just their starting point!¡± As her words settled, Su Xintong was momentarily stunned, lost in thought. Qin Sisi, however, was on a roll. She grabbed Su Xintong¡¯s phone and continued, ¡°There¡¯s a guy in your class named Chen Ziheng. He¡¯s not bad. My boyfriend¡¯s family does business with his family¡¯s car dealership. One time, when his older brother was negotiating a deal, Chen Ziheng was there too. He¡¯s quite handsome¡­¡± Su Xintong sighed helplessly. ¡°Enough, Sisi. Right now, I only care about the college entrance exams. I¡¯m not even considering dating.¡± Her tone was firm. People grow up in different environments, so naturally, their perspectives differ. There was no right or wrong. Su Xintong could understand Qin Sisi. Growing up in a family like hers, maintaining power and status required strategic marriages. In a way, she even pitied her. Because every time Qin Sisi talked about her fianc¨¦, Cao Fan, her demeanor was excessively cautious, almost submissive. She always seemed afraid of saying the wrong thing, afraid of making a mistake that would upset him. Su Xintong, on the other hand, felt lucky. Even though her family was ordinary, her father never forced her into anything she didn¡¯t want. Qin Sisi smirked. ¡°You should start preparing ahead of time. I¡¯m going to show Chen Ziheng¡¯s picture to your dad. He¡¯s definitely going to approve!¡± ¡°Sisi¡­¡± Su Xintong was exasperated. ¡°Oh, by the way,¡± Qin Sisi suddenly asked, ¡°who was that guy on the phone earlier? The one who made you so mad and doesn¡¯t fit in?¡± She was still holding Su Xintong¡¯s phone, which contained a class group photo. It was a tradition before the college entrance exams. Su Xintong glanced at the picture, reached out, and pointed to a boy standing at the far edge. His hair was long, and he looked a little unremarkable at first glance. But if you looked closely, you¡¯d realize he was actually quite handsome, though a bit scruffy. He seemed like someone who didn¡¯t care about his appearance. ¡°What¡¯s his name?¡± Qin Sisi asked casually. ¡°Ye Qiu,¡± Su Xintong replied just as casually. ¡°That¡¯s a delicate name,¡± Qin Sisi chuckled. ¡°He¡¯s not bad-looking either. But these days, good looks mean nothing. Anyone can dress up or get plastic surgery! Now look at Chen Ziheng. He¡¯s not only handsome but also comes from a wealthy family that owns a car dealership. Rich, influential, and he¡¯s interested in you! If I weren¡¯t already engaged, I¡¯d be competing with you for him!¡± ¡°Then go ahead and take him,¡± Su Xintong replied indifferently. She had no feelings for Chen Ziheng. In fact, she had no feelings for any guy. She had never thought about dating. Her only goal was to study hard. To achieve something in life. To land a good job. To buy a big house for her father. To thank him for raising her. She was from a single-parent family. Her father had worked tirelessly to bring her up. Just then, a middle-aged man¡¯s voice came from outside the room., ¡°Xintong¡­¡± Su Xintong snapped out of her thoughts. She quickly said, ¡°My dad¡¯s home!¡± Qin Sisi put down the phone, surprised. ¡°So early today?¡± S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Normally, Su Xintong¡¯s father drove his taxi until late at night before coming home. The two girls stepped out of the bedroom and saw a middle-aged man, with graying hair but a sturdy build, carrying bags of groceries and smiling warmly as he walked in. It was Su Xintong¡¯s father, Su Huarui. He was a taxi driver by profession. ¡°Sisi¡¯s here too?¡± Su Huarui set down the bags and greeted her. Qin Sisi and Su Xintong had been online friends for years before finally meeting in person and becoming best friends. Since Qin Sisi was outgoing, she often visited Anlong City to hang out with Su Xintong. Sometimes, she even stayed over. They were just young girls. Su Huarui was happy his daughter had a close friend. ¡°Hello, Uncle Su!¡± Qin Sisi greeted politely. She might have a sharp tongue behind people¡¯s backs, but in front of them, she always behaved appropriately. ¡°Wow, Dad! What¡¯s the occasion? You bought so much food!¡± Su Xintong peeked into the bags. Meat, vegetables, seafood and even alcohol! Her father never bought this much at once! Su Huarui had originally planned to tell her about getting his money back from the dealership, but he didn¡¯t want her to worry. So he just smiled and said, ¡°I made some good money! Can¡¯t I treat myself a little? We¡¯re having hotpot tonight!¡± ¡°Yay! I love hotpot!¡± Su Xintong cheered. ¡ª At the dinner table, the hotpot bubbled away. Plates of meat, vegetables, and seafood were neatly arranged. The three of them ate happily. Su Huarui even let his daughter have a small sip of alcohol. Midway through the meal Qin Sisi suddenly spoke up. ¡°Uncle Su, there¡¯s a boy who likes Xintong. He asked me to set them up. You wouldn¡¯t object, would you?¡± Su Huarui had always been lenient with his daughter. As long as it wasn¡¯t illegal or morally wrong, he rarely interfered. Hearing this He just chuckled. ¡°As long as Xintong likes him, it¡¯s fine. But she should focus on her exams first. After the college entrance exams, she can bring him home if she wants.¡± Su Xintong¡¯s face turned bright red. ¡°Dad! Don¡¯t listen to Sisi¡¯s nonsense!¡± Qin Sisi, however, pulled out her phone and showed a picture of the class group. ¡°I¡¯m not making it up! Look, Uncle Su, this tall guy!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Su Huarui glanced at the photo. But immediately, his brows furrowed. Because the boy Qin Sisi pointed at looked way too similar to that arrogant young master from the car dealership. Even though he knew they weren¡¯t the same person Just looking at him felt off-putting. So he simply said, ¡°This one¡­ doesn¡¯t have a good face.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Qin Sisi was dumbfounded. Su Xintong, meanwhile, burst into laughter. She remembered how Qin Sisi confidently claimed her dad would love Chen Ziheng only to be proven completely wrong. Of course, she figured her father just didn¡¯t want her dating so soon, so he made up an excuse. But then¡­ ¡°Wait¡­¡± Su Huarui¡¯s eyes scanned the photo again. And suddenly, his eyes lit up. He pointed at another boy and said, ¡°This one! Yes, this kid! He¡¯s got a good face! I like him!¡± ¡°Huh?!¡± Now, it was Su Xintong¡¯s turn to be completely stunned. Chapter 47 - Bring Ye Qiu to Our House for Dinner! Chapter 47: Bring Ye Qiu to Our House for Dinner! Su Huarui was usually busy with work and rarely paid attention to his daughter¡¯s school affairs. At this moment, however, he noticed a familiar figure in the class group photo. It was Xiao Ye¡­ Ye Qiu! ¡°I never expected Xiao Ye to be in the same class as Tongtong!¡± Su Huarui sighed at the coincidence. Beside him, Qin Sisi frowned and said, ¡°Uncle Su, you¡¯re being too superstitious. How can you judge people based on their ¡®appearance¡¯ alone?¡± She had another purpose for visiting Su Xintong this time ¡ª to set her up with Chen Ziheng. Her boyfriend, Cao Fan, had business dealings with Chen Ziheng¡¯s family¡¯s car dealership. Over time, they got to know each other. When Chen Ziheng learned that Qin Sisi and Su Xintong were best friends, he asked her for help in speaking well of him in front of Su Xintong. If she succeeded in matchmaking them, he even promised to gift her the red Porsche Cayenne she had been dreaming of! But now, things weren¡¯t going as planned. ¡°Appearance reflects the heart. That¡¯s wisdom passed down from the older generations, not superstition,¡± Su Huarui coughed lightly. Some things were better left unsaid. Qin Sisi quickly added, ¡°Uncle Su, judging people by looks alone is unscientific! Besides, you might not know these two very well. That tall, lean boy is named Chen Ziheng. His family is very wealthy!¡± ¡°His surname is also Chen?¡± Su Huarui¡¯s expression darkened, and he snorted coldly. ¡°So what if he¡¯s rich? Our family isn¡¯t starving. Whether he has money or not has nothing to do with us!¡± Qin Sisi was stunned. Su Xintong was also surprised. Though she had no romantic feelings for Chen Ziheng, he was considered one of the best boys in their class ¡ª good-looking, academically excellent, and even the class representative. But the boy her father pointed out? His grades were average. He was unsociable. He frequently skipped school. Clearly, appearance alone wasn¡¯t a reliable way to judge people! Qin Sisi protested, ¡°Uncle Su, I understand if you don¡¯t like Chen Ziheng, but the other boy you pointed at is much worse!¡± Su Huarui, however, no longer looked stubborn. Instead, he smiled in satisfaction and pointed at Ye Qiu¡¯s photo. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him? He¡¯s a handsome young man! He looks pleasing to the eye!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Qin Sisi was dumbfounded. She blurted out, ¡°Uncle Su, this guy¡¯s name is¡­ Ye Qiu, yes, Ye Qiu! He just made Xintong angry earlier!¡± ¡°Earlier? But just now, I was¡ª¡± Su Huarui instinctively wanted to say something but stopped himself, fearing it would worry his daughter. Instead, he said, ¡°It must have been a misunderstanding. Besides, Tongtong is the class president. She should be more tolerant of her classmates.¡± Now, even Su Xintong was stunned, staring wide-eyed at her father. ¡°Uncle Su, but¡­ but he¡¯s an orphan! And he¡¯s poor!¡± Qin Sisi blurted out in frustration, speaking without thinking. At that, Su Huarui frowned and cut her off sharply. ¡°So what if he¡¯s an orphan? So what if he¡¯s poor? Tongtong is from a single-parent household too. She should make friends with people who have shared experiences!¡± With that, he stood up and added, ¡°Tongtong, invite this boy over for dinner sometime.¡± Then, he turned and walked back to his bedroom. Qin Sisi¡¯s face darkened. Su Xintong sighed. ¡°Sisi, please watch what you say. My dad hates it when people bring up others¡¯ painful pasts.¡± Qin Sisi glanced at Su Xintong and said, ¡°You really should talk some sense into your dad. It¡¯s the modern age, yet he¡¯s still so superstitious! No wonder he¡¯s just a taxi driver, he doesn¡¯t even know how to network! How could he tell you to befriend some poor orphan? I have nothing more to say!¡± She was frustrated. After speaking, she gathered her things and left. Su Xintong sat at the table, feeling helpless. She was also a bit annoyed with Qin Sisi. ¡ª Back in her room, Su Xintong picked up her phone and started scrolling. But the more she scrolled, the more bored she felt. Right now, the news, short videos, and forums were all flooded with discussions about a brain-implant game. She wasn¡¯t interested in any of it. After that, she opened the group chat. As expected, they were talking about games. However¡­ It was a local chat group. ¡°Damn! A real-life martial arts master!¡± ¡°One person taking on twenty or thirty guys!¡± ¡°Incredible!¡± ¡°Thought it was a movie scene, but it turned out to be real!¡± Someone in the group sent a video. Suddenly, the game discussion shifted to the video content. Out of curiosity, Su Xintong clicked on the video. Then¡­ ¡°Dad?!¡± Her eyes widened in shock. Because in the video, the familiar figure was none other than her father, Su Huarui! She saw her father accompanied by a reporter and a cameraman, arriving at a car dealership and engaging in a heated argument. At that moment, a memory surfaced: Her father had mentioned wanting to buy a car. He had already prepared the money! Yet, until now, she hadn¡¯t seen any new car. As the video continued, she watched in horror as the people at the dealership surrounded her father, wielding metal batons and making vicious threats. Her father¡¯s helpless figure made her heart ache! If she hadn¡¯t already seen her father safely return home, she might have broken down in tears on the spot! But then, Su Xintong clamped her hand over her mouth, her eyes turning red, tears streaming down uncontrollably. In the video, a BMW arrived. A man who looked strikingly similar to Chen Ziheng stepped out of the car. Then, he walked straight up to her fatheraAnd kicked him to the ground! That man, arrogant and aggressive, led a gang of thugs, seemingly intent on doing serious harm to her father! ¡°Dad!¡± Su Xintong gasped and sat upright in shock. She held her breath. Her eyes remained glued to the screen. She couldn¡¯t understand how her father managed to escape unharmed from such a terrifying situation. A chilling thought crossed her mind. What if¡­ What if her father had actually died? What if the one who came home earlier was just his ghost?! Just as a thug raised his baton, about to strike her father, the scene shifted. A familiar figure appeared on the screen. ¡°Ye¡­ Ye Qiu?!¡± She saw Ye Qiu kicking the thug away, shielding her father. However, more and more enemies gathered. There were at least twenty or thirty men! But what shocked Su Xintong even more was that Ye Qiu fought like a superhero. All by himself, he took down the entire gang! He even forced that so-called ¡°Young Master Chen¡± to return the money her father had been struggling to get back for over a year! When the video ended, Su Xintong sat there in a daze. It took a while before she wiped her tears. Then, she rushed out of her room. She saw her father, calmly tidying up the dishes outside. Hearing her approach, Su Huarui turned his head. With an apologetic expression, he said, ¡°Tongtong, I was too harsh earlier and upset your friend¡­¡± ¡°Dad!¡± Su Xintong ran forward and hugged him tightly. She couldn¡¯t hold back her sobs. Her father was always like this, never telling her about the hardships he faced in life. He didn¡¯t want her to worry. But this time, Su Xintong was truly scared! Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If not for Ye Qiu¡¯s appearance, she¡­ She might have lost her only family forever! Seeing his daughter¡¯s reaction, Su Huarui immediately understood. She must have found out about what happened at the car dealership. So he chuckled and reassured her, ¡°See? I¡¯m fine. Look, I can lift you up with one hand!¡± As he spoke, he playfully grabbed her arm and lifted her slightly off the ground. But within seconds, his strength gave out, and he put her down. ¡°Huh, strange. Ye Qiu looks so skinny, yet he lifted that Young Master Chen like a ragdoll. Tongtong, has he put on weight lately?¡± he joked. Finally, Su Xintong burst into laughter through her tears. Now, she understood why her father disliked Chen Ziheng so much and why he had taken such a strong liking to Ye Qiu. ¡°Dad, I¡­ I¡¯ll find Ye Qiu tomorrow and invite him over for dinner!¡± she declared seriously. This was their family¡¯s savior! Su Huarui nodded approvingly. ¡°We must repay kindness. I¡¯ve known Xiao Ye for a long time. He¡¯s a good kid, very kind¡­ and very unfortunate.¡± In her mind, Su Xintong pictured Ye Qiu¡¯s vague silhouette. To be honest, after three years in high school, she had a good understanding of all her classmates, except for Ye Qiu. She barely had any impression of him! But she couldn¡¯t be blamed for that. Ye Qiu had always been average in everything. His personality was reclusive. He never fit in. During class activities, he was always the one others ignored. ¡ª At this moment, Ye Qiu had already logged into the game. He brought all the materials into the game world and started crafting Molotov cocktails. This way, he wouldn¡¯t waste time! ¡°Finally done!¡± Ye Qiu stretched. Then, he headed to the novice village. He first found the Herbalist Shopkeeper. Then, he took out the Polluted Spring Water ¡°Huh? Immortal Spring Water?¡± The Herbalist Shopkeeper¡¯s expression changed in shock upon seeing it. Ye Qiu asked, ¡°Madam, can this water be purified?¡± He hadn¡¯t forgotten what his Heavenly Eye had revealed information about the Polluted Spring Water. Before contamination, drinking or applying it externally could increase a character¡¯s attributes slightly! Even a small boost was still a boost! The Herbalist Shopkeeper regained her composure, nodded, and said, ¡°You¡¯re lucky. If you had found this water any later, it would have been too contaminated to purify.¡± Ye Qiu raised an eyebrow. The purification process took about half an hour. Once completed, the information about the Polluted Spring Water changed¡­ Chapter 48 - Potions That Increase Permanent Attributes Chapter 48: Potions That Increase Permanent Attributes [Purified Immortal Spring Water (Rare)] [Effect: [External application: +50 Defense [Internal consumption: +50 Attack [(Note: Only effective on first use.)] ¡°A rare potion! And the effect is permanent!¡± Ye Qiu¡¯s face lit up with joy. Without hesitation, he used it immediately. Since both external and internal applications counted as a single use, his defense increased by 50 points, and his attack also rose by 50 points. As for the usage limit, Ye Qiu could understand why it existed. If there were no restrictions, this wouldn¡¯t just be classified as a ¡°rare¡± potion, it would be legendary. In his previous life, the game forums had listed various potions and pills with permanent effects, but all of them were incredibly valuable. In fact, a rare potion like the one in his hands could be traded for a pink spirit weapon! Yes, it was that exaggerated. Because once the potion was consumed, the boost became a permanent part of the character¡¯s stats. Weapons, on the other hand, could be lost, dropped, or stolen. That¡¯s why this kind of potion was far more valuable than even high-tier equipment. Of course, this only applied to permanent attribute-boosting potions. Other potions weren¡¯t nearly as expensive. Just then¡­ [Your friend ¡°Smoky Clouds Fade¡± has sent you a voice message. Accept?] ¡°Accept.¡± Ye Qiu answered the call. Smoky Clouds Fade (voice message): ¡°Cloak Brother, the task you assigned me is basically complete!¡± Ye Qiu replied, ¡°Meet me at the foot of Tiger Mountain.¡± After saying that, he bid farewell to the apothecary and headed out. ¡ª At the Foot of Tiger Mountain¡­ Zhao Hanyan had arrived early. Her face was practically glowing with excitement, because Ning Qianjun and Ning Qingyue were standing nearby. ¡°Shameless!¡± The moment Ning Qingyue spotted Zhao Hanyan, she didn¡¯t hesitate to curse. Ning Qianjun also wore a dark expression. Zhao Hanyan, however, simply giggled. ¡°Oh my, someone¡¯s upset¡­ Look, NPCs don¡¯t automatically favor anyone. As players, we have to earn their trust with skill. You can¡¯t blame me just because I¡¯m better at it than you, can you?¡± ¡°You¡¯re shameless!¡± Ning Qingyue snapped. ¡°We were the ones who approached the mysterious NPC first! You¡¯re just an outsider who butted in!¡± She was furious. The siblings had almost secured the NPC¡¯s favor. One of them had even obtained a purple rare staff, while the other had received a pink spirit hairpin. These rewards were unprecedented, so much so that the gaming forums were filled with envious players. But now, Zhao Hanyan had swooped in and stolen their thunder. It was infuriating. ¡°Oh, please,¡± Zhao Hanyan scoffed. ¡°You make it sound like that NPC is your boyfriend or something. Calling me an ¡®outsider¡¯¡­ That¡¯s hilarious!¡± ¡°You¡ª!¡± Ning Qingyue was so angry she couldn¡¯t even respond. At that moment, Ning Qianjun, who had been silent, spoke, ¡°Zhao Hanyan, since you claim that winning over NPCs is all about skill, I hope you¡¯ll continue proving yourself with real ability. Let¡¯s see who¡¯s truly better.¡± Zhao Hanyan¡¯s smile faded. ¡°Oh? And what exactly do you mean by that, Mr. Ning?¡± Ning Qianjun didn¡¯t answer. Instead, Ning Qingyue sneered, ¡°Hiring NPCs with money is one thing, but some people prefer to seduce them instead.¡± Zhao Hanyan spat in disgust. ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense! I¡¯m not that kind of person!¡± Just then, a figure approached. Zhao Hanyan was the first to notice him. Her face instantly lit up with a sultry smile as she rushed forward. In a sugary-sweet voice, she cooed, ¡°Cloak Brother, you¡¯re finally here~!¡± She practically threw herself at him. It was Ye Qiu. His gaze swept across the Ning siblings. He hadn¡¯t expected to run into them here. But there were more important matters to attend to, so he ignored them. ¡°Where¡¯s the stuff?¡± he asked Zhao Hanyan coldly, his tone distant. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Realizing that her flirtation wasn¡¯t working, Zhao Hanyan didn¡¯t let it faze her. She immediately opened the trading interface with Ye Qiu. [Fish Pearls, Fox Monster¡¯s Bodily Fluids, Ironwood Gel, Half-Ripe Wild Pineapple¡­] These were all quest items. Gathering them wasn¡¯t particularly difficult, but it was time-consuming and tedious. ¡°Not bad,¡± Ye Qiu nodded approvingly. Then, he took out two bottles of Purified Immortal Spring Water (Rare) and handed them to Zhao Hanyan. ¡°This is your reward,¡± he said. Zhao Hanyan checked the items. [Purified Ancient Immortal Pool Water (Rare) [Effects: [External application: +50 Defense. [Internal consumption: +50 Attack. [(Note: Only effective on first use.)] After reading the effects, her breath quickened. Her alluring face flushed with excitement and shock. ¡°A permanent potion?!¡± By now, it was already the fourth afternoon since the game had launched. Zhao Hanyan had become familiar with the game¡¯s item system. Among the most common potions were health potions and mana potions, which were dirt cheap. But¡­ More advanced potions, like Berserk Potions, Freeze Potions, and Corruption Potions, were far more expensive. A single Berserk Potion, even without any special tier, could be traded for a high-grade blue weapon. As for the rare potion in her hands, which permanently increased stats, its value was simply immeasurable! ¡°Cloak Brother¡­¡± Zhao Hanyan snapped out of her daze. She was just about to express her loyalty, but Ye Qiu was already gone. Only the Ning siblings remained, staring enviously at her. ¡°Cloak Brother~~¡± Ning Qingyue mocked, her tone dripping with jealousy. Zhao Hanyan wasn¡¯t mad. Instead, she smirked and held up the two potion bottles. With a look of pure smugness, she asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to know what the mysterious NPC gave me?¡± Ning Qianjun said nothing. Ning Qingyue snorted, ¡°Hmph! Like I care!¡± Zhao Hanyan grinned and shared the potion¡¯s details. The moment the Ning siblings read the stats, their faces froze in shock. For a brief moment, Ning Qianjun was overcome with jealousy. Ning Qingyue, meanwhile, suddenly felt like her pink spirit hairpin wasn¡¯t so special anymore. After all, equipment was just an external tool. Eventually, it would be replaced by better gear. But a potion that permanently boosted one¡¯s stats? That was on a whole other level. ¡°Name your price!¡± Ning Qianjun said bluntly. Zhao Hanyan scoffed. ¡°You think you can buy this with money?¡± Ning Qianjun: ¡°¡­¡± Then, under the siblings¡¯ frustrated gazes, Zhao Hanyan used both potions. One internally. One externally. Afterward, she smugly turned and walked away, leaving behind the Ning siblings, who stood there fuming in frustration. ¡°I¡¯m so pissed off!¡± Ning Qingyue stomped her foot repeatedly. Ning Qianjun sighed. ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do. This NPC is different from normal ones. There¡¯s no visible favorability system, and since he¡¯s an NPC, we can¡¯t force anything.¡± Ning Qingyue pouted. ¡°I¡¯m mad at that shameless Zhao Hanyan! Did you see how she was acting all seductive?! Disgusting!¡± Ning Qianjun chuckled. ¡°Honestly, that¡¯s a pretty common tactic. Some players even take it further and they got banned for it.¡± ¡°Hmph! Idiots. If you¡¯re gonna do something shameless, at least don¡¯t post it on the forums!¡± Even as she spoke, her eyes gleamed with mischief¡­ She was clearly plotting something. Chapter 49 - Preparing for the Decisive Battle Against the Split Demon Chapter 49: Preparing for the Decisive Battle Against the Split Demon At this moment Inside the Novice Village. [You have completed the ¡°Physician¡¯s Quest¡± and received the following rewards: +200 EXP, +20 Gold.] [You have completed the ¡°Pawnbroker¡¯s Quest¡± and received the following rewards: +200 EXP, +10 Fixed Attribute Points.] [You have completed the ¡°Tutor¡¯s Quest¡± and received the following rewards: +500 EXP, +100 Skill Attribute Points.] [You have completed the ¡°Cook Zhang Aguai¡¯s Quest¡± and received the following rewards: +1000 EXP, +100 Gold, +10 Roasted Meats.] ¡­ Ye Qiu tirelessly handed in all the quest items to the designated NPCs. Then, his experience bar skyrocketed! Until¡­ [You have leveled up! Your HP has increased, attributes have improved, and you have received additional fixed attribute points.] ¡°About damn time!¡± Ye Qiu couldn¡¯t help but complain. In his past life, these quests alone could take a Level 0 player straight to Level 10! But now, they barely got his Level 11 self to Level 12! And only just barely at that! If he had missed even one quest, he wouldn¡¯t have leveled up! ¡°Level 12 now¡­ and I got quite a few attribute points.¡± Ye Qiu took a deep breath. ¡°Time to face the Split Demon!¡± Being under Level 15 made no difference in front of a demon. Whether Level 12 or Level 15, it was all the same! Hell, even a Level 20 player would still be nothing more than a snack in the eyes of a demon! Because Demons weren¡¯t just monsters! Some of them were even more intelligent than humans! Ye Qiu pulled out the Secret Realm Map. [Secret Realm Map (Legendary): Leads directly to the secret realm inside the Novice Village.] He crushed it. A brilliant light enveloped him. The space around him began to distort. Ye Qiu¡¯s vision turned black, and then, he knew nothing. His body vanished from the spot! Not long after he disappeared, several figures appeared at the location where he once stood. The village chief, Elder Xu. The blacksmith, Zhang Tie. The Herbalist Shopowner, the cook Zhang Aguai, and several others. ¡°I wonder if he¡¯ll succeed this time¡­¡± The village chief, Elder Xu, murmured before taking a swig from his wine flask. A scholarly NPC sighed pessimistically, ¡°That thing is an Outer Demon! How many young talents have we trained over the years? And yet¡­ they all perished, never returning from the inner secret realm!¡± No one argued because it was the truth. And demons grow stronger over time! A few years ago, that Split Demon was already Level 15! And now? Its level could only be higher! ¡°A mere Level 12 Undying executing this mission? This is a joke!¡± Cook Zhang Aguai snorted in dissatisfaction. ¡°Level 12 isn¡¯t the problem! Back then, when Brother Xu cleaved the sky with a single strike, he was only Level 5!¡± A younger NPC rebutted. ¡°You¡¯re twisting the facts! Brother Xu had only dropped to Level 5 because of an injury! His realm was still intact! That¡¯s completely different from this Undying!¡± Zhang Aguai corrected. The ¡°Brother Xu¡± they referred to was none other than the village chief, Elder Xu! The Herbalist Shopkeeper swayed her enchanting figure as she snatched the flask from Elder Xu, frowning. ¡°You were the one who gave my disciple the map. Shouldn¡¯t you say something now?¡± Elder Xu was momentarily stunned, then chuckled. ¡°You actually took him as your disciple? What are you trying to use him for?¡± The Herbalist Shopkeeper was instantly annoyed. ¡°Use him?! Do you think I¡¯m that kind of person?! I took him in as my apprentice fair and square! There¡¯s no ¡®using¡¯ involved!¡± The other NPCs exchanged looks, they clearly didn¡¯t believe her. They seemed to know her all too well. Elder Xu, however, grinned and said, ¡°This time, I believe you. After all, this Undying boy has incredible luck. He even obtained the equipment left behind by that person, ¡®The Coward¡¯s Cloak.¡¯ ¡°Perhaps¡­ choosing him is fate¡¯s will.¡± Zhang Aguai was stunned. ¡°Brother Xu, you actually have that much faith in this Undying kid?¡± Elder Xu neither nodded nor shook his head. He simply said, ¡°We have¡­ no other options left. If fate has chosen that blue planet, then we must follow fate¡¯s will and continue selecting accordingly. Perhaps¡­ there¡¯s a sliver of hope.¡± Silence fell. Yes, they were at a dead end. With time, the Outer Demons within the inner secret realm had grown to the point where the talents they nurtured couldn¡¯t even stand before them! Let alone defeat them! Now, this was their last chance! Elder Xu sighed. ¡°Among the 3,000 villages on the Eastern Continent, only this Undying boy named ¡®One Leaf Knows Autumn¡¯ meets the requirements. The others¡­ are far too lacking. ¡°This¡­ is why I chose him.¡± But just as he finished speaking, his expression suddenly changed! His wine flask shattered into pieces! Wine splattered everywhere. The others were equally shocked. ¡°T-The Heaven¡¯s Fate Gourd broke?!¡± Someone exclaimed. Elder Xu¡¯s face turned grim. He hurriedly performed a divination. A few moments later, Elder Xu coughed up a mouthful of blood! His body aged visibly. ¡°Brother Xu!¡± ¡°Elder Xu!¡± ¡°Master!¡± The NPCs panicked, rushing to support him. Elder Xu steadied himself. Then, his face darkened. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Great Misfortune!¡± The others froze. Then, he spoke again. ¡°The Outer Demon¡­ has consumed human blood and evolved!¡± As soon as the words fell, some NPCs started crying. It was over! Completely over! They had sent people to kill the demon only for them to become its food! A demon that could scheme?! That was the most terrifying thing of all! ¡ª Novice Village, Inner Secret Realm. The dizziness faded. Ye Qiu gradually regained consciousness. The world stopped spinning. Looking around, he found himself in a paradise. Lush forests. Leaves drifting with the wind. Fresh air. Warm sunlight filtering through the trees. ¡°A place like this¡­ has demons?¡± [You have discovered the ¡®Inner Secret Realm of the Novice Village¡¯. +100 Fame.] Ye Qiu took out his compass. He chose a direction and started walking. If he reached a dead end, he¡¯d pick another. Until¡­ ¡°This is the way!¡± Ye Qiu continued north. At last, he emerged from the forest. The scenery changed instantly. The sky darkened. Drizzling rain began to fall. In the distance, a massive stone fortress loomed! It had only one arched gate. Ye Qiu approached. A terrifying aura began to press down on him. Without hesitation, he put on bulletproof armor, an insulating suit, a lightning rod, a helmet¡­ Equipping himself fully! Finally, he pulled out a bottle with a cloth strip hanging from the opening and inside was a half a bottle of liquid. A Molotov cocktail. Ye Qiu kicked the wooden gate It crashed open! A musty, rotten stench filled the air! As he stepped inside, a ghostly figure suddenly appeared. It looked fifteen or sixteen years old. Pale. Lifeless eyes. ¡°HOLY SH*T! A GHOST?!¡± Ye Qiu nearly threw the Molotov! The phantom quickly spoke. ¡°I am human, not the Split Demon¡­¡± Chapter 50 - A Split Demon So Terrifying! Evolving to Legendary?! Chapter 50: A Split Demon So Terrifying! Evolving to Legendary?! [Character: Xie Zhongyuan (Deceased)] [Status: Spirit Form] [Class: Sword Cultivator] [Subclass: Alchemist] [Level: 15] Staring at the information of the illusory figure, Ye Qiu froze for a moment. Just then, the other person began to speak. ¡°Friend, my name is Xie Zhongyuan. I was the personal disciple of Elder Xu, the village chief. He personally taught me since I was a child, and I cultivated diligently. Eventually, by the time I was 13, I reached level 15! ¡°People like me are born with a mission ¡ª to eliminate the Outer Demon parasitizing the secret realm within this Novice Village! ¡°That day¡­ it was my turn. I was terrified, but I couldn¡¯t retreat. I couldn¡¯t let down my elders¡¯ expectations or let the sacrifices of our predecessors be in vain. I had to face the Outer Demon! ¡°But¡­ ¡°It was too strong! Far too strong! ¡°Even though I had inherited my master¡¯s true techniques, I was torn apart and drained of blood by the Split Demon the moment we clashed!¡± As Xie Zhongyuan recounted, a look of sheer terror appeared on his face. Finally, he rushed in front of Ye Qiu, wide-eyed and crying out repeatedly, ¡°You have to run! ¡°Anyone who enters will die for sure! ¡°That Outer Demon cannot be killed! ¡°If you make it out, tell my master, Elder Xu, to evacuate the village immediately!¡± After speaking, he began to cry silently. Ye Qiu remained silent for a moment, then solemnly said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Leave the rest to me.¡± With that, he walked straight through Xie Zhongyuan¡¯s spirit and ventured deeper into the secret realm. Xie Zhongyuan was stunned at first, then quickly caught up, shouting from behind, ¡°Don¡¯t be foolish! That¡¯s an Outer Demon! I died instantly at level 15, what can you do?!¡± To enter this Novice Village secret realm, the requirements were: below level 15, and a bone age under 20. When he was alive, Xie Zhongyuan had been praised by all elders as a ¡°once-in-a-millennium genius.¡± Elder Xu even made an exception and accepted him as a personal disciple, teaching him directly. Everyone had pinned their hopes on him. And he hadn¡¯t disappointed. At just 13, he had reached level 15 and mastered Elder Xu¡¯s sword techniques to perfection. He was confident that no one of the same level could defeat him. Yet, such a prodigy was instantly killed by the alien Split Demon. ¡°Shhh!¡± Ye Qiu made a silencing gesture, his face growing serious. Not far ahead, a thunderous snoring echoed from within a dark underground chamber. As he drew closer, a massive figure came into view. Its body sprawled across the entire fortress interior like a small mountain. Seeing it, Xie Zhongyuan¡¯s face was filled with horror, and he cried out, ¡°It¡­ it¡¯s grown even bigger!¡± Thankfully, as a spirit, the demon couldn¡¯t hear him. Heavenly Eye! Ye Qiu examined the demon¡¯s stats. [Rare-Class Outer Demon: Split Demon] [Level: 20] [HP: 23,000] [Skills: Split Cells, Light Shield, Blood Drain, Symbiotic Incubation, Ultimate Evolution.] ¡°Holy crap!!! ¡°Five skills?! ¡°That¡¯s different from my previous life!¡± Ye Qiu took a deep breath. He lit a Molotov cocktail and hurled it. It smashed onto the Split Demon, initiating first strike! The sleeping demon groaned in pain and immediately opened its eyes, unleashing a chilling howl. Next to him, Xie Zhongyuan was both terrified and stunned. Not just at the Split Demon, but also at the item Ye Qiu had thrown. After the bottle exploded on the demon, flames continued burning across its body! The Split Demon instantly activated Light Shield. [Light Shield: Blocks one incoming attack.] But such a powerful skill was immediately¡­ shattered like a bubble. ¡°You dare challenge me, human?! You seek death!¡± The Split Demon could now speak human language. As it rose, a pile of human bones was revealed nearby, eerie and unsettling. ¡°Run!¡± shouted Xie Zhongyuan, who, even as a spirit, couldn¡¯t hide his fear. He quickly backed away and hid. Ye Qiu, on the other hand, remained calm and composed. Memories from his past life surfaced clearly in his mind. The Split Demon was a type of Outer Demon. Its rank system was similar to monsters: Common, Rare, Epic, and Legendary. However, under normal circumstances, a demon of the same rank was significantly stronger than a monster. ¡°The Split Demon¡¯s most core and dangerous skill is Split Cells! ¡°Each time the demon is killed, its body splits into a new clone. Same size, same level, nearly identical in all stats! ¡°The clone is real. The only difference is, killing the real body causes another split, but killing the clone strengthens the real body! ¡°So if you kill the wrong one, the Split Demon grows stronger, and you¡¯re just wasting resources. Eventually, you¡¯ll die from attrition.¡± In his past life, the Split Demon Ye Qiu encountered had only two skills: Split Cells and Light Shield. It didn¡¯t have the other three. He guessed this one had undergone some kind of enhanced mutation among the demon race, making it far stronger and giving it more abilities. But as long as the core mechanics were the same, Ye Qiu wasn¡¯t worried at all. In an instant, Ye Qiu charged forward with sword in hand. ¡°Ninth Sword Style, Sixth Form ¡ª Scarlet Point!¡± He aimed directly for the demon¡¯s heart. To kill a Split Demon, you had to destroy its heart. Attacking other areas wouldn¡¯t work, it would only trigger other actions. At that moment, the demon swung its arm, and countless rice-grain-sized ¡°flesh eggs¡± flew toward him! This was the Split Demon¡¯s skill: Symbiotic Incubation. Ye Qiu didn¡¯t dodge. Clad in full gear, he wasn¡¯t afraid. Sure enough, the flesh eggs slid off his body upon contact and dropped to the ground, dead on impact. He had coated his protective suit in a type of insect repellent strong enough to kill cockroaches and these fragile eggs weren¡¯t even as tough as ordinary larvae! Against the repellent, they died instantly. Ye Qiu¡¯s steel sword pierced directly into the demon¡¯s heart. [-23000!] [Ding! You¡¯ve struck the demon¡¯s vital point. Instant kill effect triggered!] Green blood sprayed everywhere. ¡°Agh! It hurts!¡± The demon howled in agony as its massive body collapsed to the ground. Moments later, it stopped moving entirely. Hidden in the shadows, Xie Zhongyuan had been watching and was completely stunned. He stared wide-eyed in disbelief. That unstoppable demon, the one that had instantly killed him was just slain like that?! ¡°Big bro, you¡¯re amazing!!¡± Xie Zhongyuan immediately floated over. But before he reached Ye Qiu, Ye Qiu suddenly said, ¡°It¡¯s not dead yet.¡± And with that, turning around, his vision blurred for a moment. Just now, the delighted and fast-approaching Xie Zhongyuan had suddenly darted back into hiding. He moved so quickly that even Ye Qiu was caught off guard! Ye Qiu couldn¡¯t help but shake his head. No wonder all the others who had come to slay the Split Demon had perished here. Turns out, they didn¡¯t even understand the demon¡¯s abilities! But thinking it over, it made sense. In his past life, the full-scale invasion of Outer Demons only began when the Novice Village was on the verge of falling. According to players, that was the ¡°Version 2.0¡± update. Right now, it was still Version 1.0. In this version, demons were still considered legendary beings. Players had no real contact with them. As for the NPCs, they too were still in the early stages of researching demons. It wasn¡¯t until the ¡°Arrival of the Old Gods¡± update in Version 3.0 that people began to understand demon abilities in detail. Ye Qiu took a few steps back, pulled out another Molotov cocktail, and fixed his eyes on the corpse of the Split Demon. The body was now tearing itself apart down the middle, quickly forming two identical copies! During the split, ripples of spatial energy twisted the surrounding air. This was the power of laws, an innate ability of many demons. It couldn¡¯t be controlled at will, but during the splitting process, any outside attack would be completely annihilated by the space distortion, rendering the demon immune. ¡°Heavenly Eye!¡± As soon as the splitting finished, Ye Qiu used Heavenly Eye to examine both figures. The main reason he dared take on this mission was precisely because of this skill. Left side: [Rare-Class Outer Demon (Main Body): Split Demon] [Level: 20] [HP: 21,500] [Skills: Split Cells, Light Shield, Blood Drain, Symbiotic Incubation, Ultimate Evolution.] Right side: [Rare-Class Outer Demon (Clone): Split Demon] [Level: 20] [HP: 21,500] [Skills: Split Cells, Light Shield, Blood Drain, Symbiotic Incubation, Ultimate Evolution.] ¡°Found you!¡± Ye Qiu hurled the lit Molotov at the one on the left. The bottle shattered on impact, spreading flames. Both demons immediately activated their Light Shield skill to block one attack, but against the Molotov ¡ª essentially a game-breaking item ¡ª it was useless. Ye Qiu charged again. He pierced the Split Demon¡¯s heart. [-11,500!] [Ding! You struck the demon¡¯s vital point and triggered an instant-kill effect!] S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The just-revived Split Demon died once more. The clone flew into a rage and charged at Ye Qiu. Though Ye Qiu wasn¡¯t the strongest in every stat, his agility surpassed even players in their 30s or 40s. He followed Xie Zhongyuan¡¯s example and instantly hid. ¡°You¡­ can¡¯t you hide somewhere else?¡± came a voice from nearby. Peeking over, Ye Qiu saw Xie Zhongyuan¡¯s spirit squeezing his head into a wall, his butt sticking out awkwardly. Ye Qiu rolled his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re already dead. What the hell are you still afraid of?¡± The Split Demon clone was wreaking havoc all around, making the fortress tremble. Xie Zhongyuan peeked out, suddenly enlightened. ¡°Oh right! I am already dead. What the hell am I afraid of?!¡± Ye Qiu instructed him, ¡°Go out and keep watch. When the Split Demon is about to finish splitting again, give me a heads-up.¡± Xie Zhongyuan hesitated, then gritted his teeth and nodded hard before floating away. Before long, he returned with a fearful look. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s alive again!¡± Ye Qiu remained calm as he got up. Based on what he knew of the Split Demon¡¯s mechanics and past life strategies: Common Split Demons split 3 times. Rare-Class Split Demons split 6 times. Holding his steel sword in one hand and another Molotov in the other, Ye Qiu stood tall and strode out without hesitation. Behind him, Xie Zhongyuan watched Ye Qiu¡¯s back. For a moment, he saw the figures of all the brave souls who had once entered this inner dungeon before. They all knew they would likely die, but still, they charged forward without turning back, hoping to snatch the tiniest sliver of hope. Born in the Novice Village, their only goal was to protect their home and the people who lived in it. Outside, Ye Qiu activated Heavenly Eye once more and quickly identified the real body among the three new demons. The third split reduced its HP again, down to 7,666, but its strength remained unchanged. Of course, now that he knew the weak point was the heart, even a higher HP wouldn¡¯t matter. One strike was all it took. As before, Ye Qiu shattered the main body¡¯s Light Shield, dodged the attacks from all three demons, and waited for his chance. When it came¡­ He pierced its heart again. Just like that, he continued the process. Finally, the Split Demon reached its sixth and final split, the maximum allowed for a Rare-Class version. ¡°Not bad. This wasn¡¯t as hard as I expected,¡± Ye Qiu thought. The main reasons it felt easy was that the demon had a clear weak spot ¡ª its heart. Ye Qiu had come well-prepared, especially with the Molotovs. Most importantly, he had Heavenly Eye, the ultimate counter to Split Demons, allowing him to instantly spot the main body and avoid strengthening the clones by mistake. Just as Ye Qiu was pondering what rare loot this special Split Demon might drop¡­ the ground began to quake! The sixth split had finished, but something felt off. Ye Qiu¡¯s eyes widened as he saw the newly formed Split Demon swell in size. Its body grew significantly larger and was still expanding! Meanwhile, the clone demons suddenly froze in place, standing motionless. Only the main body continued to change, golden light beginning to seep out from its skin. Startled, Ye Qiu quickly used Heavenly Eye again: [Legendary-Class Outer Demon: Ultimate Split Demon] [Level: ???] [HP: ???] [Skills: ???] [Status: Unstable] ¡°Holy shit!!!¡± Ye Qiu¡¯s eyes flew wide open. Chapter 51 Chapter 51: You Truly Deserve to Die!!! The Split Demon had transformed. Its current form was massive, towering like a mountain. It smashed through the fortress walls! Its body looked like a fusion of a bull and a horse, coated in golden paint. Two sharp horns protruded from its head, and its eyes glowed with a blood-red light. ¡°Human¡­ You truly deserve to die!!!¡± The Split Demon, consumed by pain and rage, spoke in a guttural voice. ¡°My Demon Race has spent a million years planning our grand migration, and yet you, a mere level 12 human, have ruined it all!!! ¡°You¡­ don¡¯t deserve to live!!! ¡°I¡¯ll drain your blood dry!!! Tear your flesh apart!!! Annihilate your soul!!!!!!¡± Below, Ye Qiu swallowed hard. Sure, he had expected something was up. He always remembered that one of the Split Demon¡¯s skills was called [Ultimate Evolution]¡­ But this? This was insane! Completely beyond reason! ¡°It¡¯s over¡­ all over¡­¡± In the distance, Xie Zhongyuan turned pale with despair. Even a fool could see it. The Split Demon had undergone a terrifying transformation. Its aura was so overwhelming that even Xie Zhongyuan, now just a spiritual entity, couldn¡¯t stop trembling. He was nearly torn apart! The Ultimate Split Demon moved. Its mountainous body thundered forward, each step shaking the earth. Despite its size, it was shockingly fast! In just the blink of an eye, it appeared right in front of Ye Qiu! ¡°Shit!¡± Ye Qiu flinched and quickly activated his Coward¡¯s Cloak¡¯s skill: ¡°Tactical Retreat!¡± Just as the Ultimate Split Demon struck, Ye Qiu vanished. The demon froze in surprise, then erupted in fury! It charged around madly, trying to sniff out Ye Qiu¡¯s presence. The ground trembled, mountains collapsed, rivers flowed backward! This¡­ This was the horrifying power of the Ultimate Split Demon! Beneath a towering tree, Ye Qiu clutched his chest, trying to calm his breathing. ¡°That was too damn close! ¡°Thank god for the Coward¡¯s Cloak! ¡°No wonder everyone who entered the inner secret realm to kill this thing ended up dead!¡± ¡°How is this a fair fight?! Only those below level 15 are allowed in here. This whole thing was clearly a trap to feed the demon!¡± Muttering to himself, Ye Qiu¡¯s eyes darted quickly, searching for a plan. Then¡­ ¡°Found you!!!¡± A doomsday-like roar boomed in his ears, nearly bursting his eardrums! ¡°Sixth Slashing Style ¨C Scarlet Point!¡± Ye Qiu launched an attack, targeting the demon¡¯s heart! Even with its evolved form, the heart was likely still a weak point. It was the essence of its species! His steel sword stabbed at the demon¡¯s chest, But it felt like stabbing the hardest metal known to man! [-10.] A measly number floated above the demon¡¯s head. ¡°Emmmm¡­¡± Ye Qiu stared, dumbfounded. ¡°Holy sh*t¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t even pierce its defense! ¡°Tactical Retreat!¡± He quickly vanished again. The Coward¡¯s Cloak¡¯s skill could be used three times per day, and unused uses could stack. Ye Qiu checked. He still had eight uses remaining! Once safe, Ye Qiu began hurling Molotovs. A faint glowing shield around the demon shattered instantly. ¡°Still the most useful item ever!¡± The Split Demon had a skill, Light Shield, which could block any single attack, even a nuclear blast. But the Molotov¡¯s burn-over-time effect nearly neutralized it entirely! ¡°Seventh Slashing Style ¨C Borrowing Power!¡± Ye Qiu began to feel the wind, and the fire burning on the Split Demon¡¯s body. Wind fueled fire. Fire rode the wind and transformed into a dragon! He was trying to replicate a move he once saw in a video. A Sword Master player had mastered the Thirteen Styles of Slashing, and the seventh form was all about borrowing force. Borrowing external power and merging it within! Then, the eighth form could be unleashed. At this moment, the wind howled. The flames surged toward him, wrapping around his sword. As the wind grew more violent, as the fire grew more intense, the elements combined into a Fire Dragon! A distant dragon¡¯s cry echoed in the air. ¡°Eight Slashing Style ¨C Heaven¡¯s Line: Wind-Fire Dragon!¡± Ye Qiu finally unleashed the attack! He closed in, aiming straight for the demon¡¯s heart! But this attack came with a price. It sacrificed evasion for unmatched power. If he dodged or hesitated, the entire technique would collapse before hitting. ¡°You¡¯re courting death!¡± The demon lifted a hand as large as a basketball court and slammed down! ¡°Bro!!!¡± from afar, Xie Zhongyuan cried out in despair. If that hit landed, Ye Qiu would be smashed into pulp! But, in the next second, Xie Zhongyuan¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. Shock filled his face. Not just him. Even the Ultimate Split Demon looked stunned and confused. Because a glowing shield had suddenly appeared around Ye Qiu¡¯s body! It was the demon¡¯s own skill, Light Shield! The shield absorbed the blow, causing the demon to briefly freeze. In that moment, Ye Qiu¡¯s flaming steel sword pierced straight through its heart! [-32,000!!!] A monstrous number floated above the demon¡¯s head! [Ding! Critical hit to vital spot: Severe Injury, Armor Break, Bleed, Weakened status inflicted.] ¡°Wasn¡¯t that supposed to be an instant kill?¡± Ye Qiu took a deep breath, then grinned. ¡°Let me show you one more badass move¡­¡± S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Suddenly, Ye Qiu¡¯s body began to split apart! ¡°You¡­ You¡­¡± The demon¡¯s entire body stiffened, like it had been filled with lead. It was paralyzed, skin frozen, unable to move. While the demon stood stunned¡­ A fuse on the ground reached its end. The stench of gas filled the air. Over twenty gas canisters, all pre-buried by Ye Qiu, exploded in succession! The explosion engulfed the entire newbie village secret realm. Everything was completely annihilated. But in his split state, Ye Qiu was protected by the same rule-bending energy the demon used during its own splits. A twisted, invulnerable space surrounded him. ¡ª Time passed¡­ The flames died down, and the explosions ceased. Ye Qiu stood there, covered in soot, looking like a rat. Before him lay the charred corpse of the Ultimate Split Demon. He looked like an ant next to an elephant. ¡°You¡­¡± The demon still wasn¡¯t dead! Ye Qiu rushed up. His steel sword, now like a knife through tofu, slid straight into the demon¡¯s brain. The heart and the brain. Both were its weak points. Before, the brain had been too heavily defended. Now, with its status weakened, it might as well have been paper! ¡°Looks like gas canisters only get me this far,¡± Ye Qiu muttered. Even such overwhelming force, against a practically undefended opponent, still didn¡¯t kill it outright! Heavenly Eye! Ye Qiu checked its status: [Legendary-Class Outer Demon: Ultimate Split Demon] [Level: 40] [HP: 388 (Bleeding¡­)] [Skills: ???] [Status: Near Death] A few seconds later¡­ [Ding! Level up! HP increased, stats boosted, attribute points gained.] [Ding! Level up¡­] [Ding! Level up¡­] ¡­ Eight consecutive level-ups! Ye Qiu rose from Level 12 to Level 20!!! And it wasn¡¯t over! [Ding! Congratulations for killing the Legendary Demon: Ultimate Split Demon. You have gained 10,000 Fame Points.] [Ding! You are the first player in the Trial City to kill a Legendary Demon. You gain an additional 10,000 Fame and 100,000 Gold.] [Ding! As the first player to kill a Legendary Demon, you are granted three World Announcements in Trial City. Would you like to notify all players of your achievement?] Chapter 52 Chapter 52: A Legendary Item Dropped?! ¡°Same as always, anonymous.¡± Ye Qiu plopped down onto the ground, gasping for breath. He was utterly exhausted, mostly mentally. Slaying the Ultimate Split Demon had wrung out everything he had. First were all the real-world items he¡¯d used ¡ª gas tanks, Molotovs, and the like. Then came the Coward¡¯s Cloak and its skill, which gave him enough breathing room to think and regroup. Most importantly, there was his special skill: [Apprentice¡¯s Will: After activation, you may copy one target skill. Gain one use per level. (Current charges: 17/20)]. Ye Qiu had used this skill multiple times during close encounters with the Split Demon and successfully acquired two skills: [Light Shield (Lv.1): 1/5000. Upon use, creates a barrier around the user that blocks one incoming attack. Cooldown: 10 minutes.]. [Split Cell (Lv.1): 1/10000. Enters a split state, creating one clone with equal stats. Personal stats are divided between the two. If the clone dies, the original regains full stats and receives a 3-minute buff. Usable once. Cooldown: 10 days. (Note: Using this skill resets the cooldown of all other skills.)]. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Of course, he couldn¡¯t forget the help of Heavenly Eye either! Next, Ye Qiu began looting the battlefield. The first thing he saw were three glowing orbs: [Equipment Orb (Rare): Enhances gear upon use.]. [Pet Orb (Rare): Enhances pet attributes upon use.]. [Universal Orb (Epic): Can increase the level of a character, skill, pet, or piece of equipment by 1.]. The first two were nice, but the last one had Ye Qiu sucking in a breath of cold air. ¡°One word, savage!¡± An Epic-class orb! He thought about using it right away, but decided to stash it instead. The higher the level of what you¡¯re upgrading, the better the return. For instance, leveling up from 0 to 1 might take just 100 XP, but leveling from 99 to 100 could take billions. Same for gear: from +0 to +1 is easy, but from +12 to +13, even a supreme blacksmith has a super low success rate. Yet the Universal Orb guarantees a 100% upgrade instantly. The second item was a suit of armor: [Split Demon Armor (Pink Spirit Gear): Requirements¡ªLevel 20, Strength 100. This armor is made from the Split Demon¡¯s natural flesh. Upon death, it detaches and becomes wearable. ]. [Due to its weight, those lacking sufficient Strength will suffer penalties. +300 Defense, +30 Strength, +40 Vitality, +20 Stun Resistance.]. ¡°A Spirit-grade item!¡± Ye Qiu was overjoyed. He quickly swapped out his old steel armor and donned the new Split Demon Armor. Perfect fit! He was level 20 now, and his Strength had long surpassed 100. Most players probably couldn¡¯t even wear it. Once equipped, a feeling of comfort and security washed over him. He turned his attention to the third item, a skill book. [Skill Book: Teleport (Special Skill): Learn to teleport to a preset location. (Note: Cannot be used in combat.)]. ¡°Learn!¡± Ye Qiu was thrilled. This skill was famous! While it didn¡¯t have the same notoriety as Heavenly Eye, it was still considered a god-tier utility skill. The Trial City world was vast. Even just the Novice Village was the size of a real-world county, and that¡¯s not counting the wilderness. Once players hit Level 10 and enter the cities, the scale becomes insane. Each city could rival an entire province in size. Monster zones? Unmeasurable! If a player didn¡¯t have high Agility, a long-endurance mount, or the money to pay for a sky ferry, they might be stuck in the same city forever. In his past life, Ye Qiu had only made it to three cities. Some quests required travel across massive zones, taking ten days or more just for one round trip. Most of the time was wasted on traveling! Once learned, the skill read: [Teleport (Special Skill): When not in combat, teleport instantly to a preset location. You can change the location at will. Max preset points: 20 (increases with level).]. ¡°Let¡¯s try it!¡± Ye Qiu closed his eyes and set the Novice Village Secret Realm as his teleport point. Somewhere deep within, a mark was left behind. From now on, a mere thought could instantly bring him back here. After playing around with teleportation for a bit, Ye Qiu checked the fourth item, a giant bell: [Outer Realm Demon Bell (Legendary Gold): Unknown. Requires appraisal.]. ¡°What the hell!!!¡± Ye Qiu jumped to his feet. He laughed like a fool, then pinched his thigh hard. In his past life, Legendary gold-tier items were the stuff of myth. They were discussed, dreamed about, obsessed over. And now, he had one in his hands! The feeling was surreal, like a dream. Ye Qiu stood there stunned for a long while before finally collecting himself. This was no time to be excited or relaxed. He remembered that others in his past life had found gold-tier items too¡­ and still died to demons. No matter how powerful the item, it wasn¡¯t true invincibility. Only personal strength, power beyond any item, was true invincibility! After calming down, Ye Qiu pulled out an High-Level Appraisal Scroll. But! [Ding! Scroll level too low. Unable to appraise!]. ¡°Damn it!¡± Ye Qiu twitched in frustration. He really was a countryside bumpkin. His first time seeing a Legendary item, and his scroll couldn¡¯t even appraise it! Left with no choice, he stowed it away safely. Then, Ye Qiu¡¯s eyes drifted to the massive corpse of the Ultimate Split Demon. He hadn¡¯t forgotten about the Epic-tier side quest, which was bring back blood from an Outer Demon! ¡°¡­How do I even draw blood from this thing?¡± He was stumped. No way he could log off now and go find a syringe. Just then¡­ ¡°Big bro!¡± a voice called out nearby. Ye Qiu looked over to see Xie Zhongyuan crouching and cowering, too afraid to approach. But he called out with trembling excitement: ¡°Big bro¡­ did¡­ did you really kill it?¡± His voice quivered, mixing fear with deep anticipation, and his eyes were filled with utter shock. Chapter 53 Chapter 53: He Actually Came Out Alive!!! ¡°It¡¯s dead.¡± Ye Qiu¡¯s voice rang out. For a moment, everything was silent. Then, Xie Zhongyuan began to sob softly. He cried for quite a while, then slowly approached. In his spirit form, Xie Zhongyuan knelt directly in front of Ye Qiu. ¡°Big bro¡­ no, my benefactor¡­¡± He kowtowed to Ye Qiu. After that, his eyes locked onto the corpse of the Ultimate Split Demon, as if he wanted to devour its flesh and peel its skin. He gritted his teeth and growled, ¡°Damn it! It deserved to die! ¡°It¡¯s finally dead! ¡°Our predecessors have been avenged! ¡°The village¡¯s crisis is resolved! ¡°I¡­ I can finally rest in peace!¡± As he spoke, Xie Zhongyuan raised his hand and gently touched Ye Qiu. A faint smile finally appeared on his face. ¡°Benefactor, I don¡¯t have anything to offer you. So let me pass on my Grandmaster-level ¡®Harvesting Technique.¡¯ The blood of this Outer Demon is incredibly precious. With this skill, you can harvest all of its blood!¡± As he spoke¡­ [Ding! You have obtained the Grandmaster-level Harvesting Technique from ¡®Xie Zhongyuan.¡¯] [Harvesting Technique (Grandmaster): 0/100000. A sub-profession skill that can harvest blood and resources from legendary creatures.] Ye Qiu was both surprised and delighted. He was just about to speak, but then, he froze. He watched as the spirit-form Xie Zhongyuan¡¯s body began to crystallize bit by bit. A gentle breeze swept through. His crystallized figure began to scatter with the wind. Among the drifting crystals, a single glowing shard of light flew into Ye Qiu¡¯s forehead. [Ding! You have obtained the ¡®Mark of the Sword.¡¯] [Mark of the Sword: Effect unknown. Cannot be traded or dropped. Every swordsmanship prodigy is recognized by the Sword Dao from birth and carries this mark. To unlock its power, seek out the ultimate swordmaster ¡ª Lu Gucheng ¡ª and inherit his legacy!] ¡°Benefactor! The will to protect humanity is now in your hands!¡± With a peaceful smile, Xie Zhongyuan¡¯s voice echoed. Then, he completely vanished from the world, as if he had never existed. Ye Qiu touched the center of his forehead. A strange sense of melancholy welled up. This Xie Zhongyuan seemed to be only thirteen years old. Besides him, all the others who entered the secret realm probably weren¡¯t much older. Yet none of them had flinched. They all died to protect the Novice Village and defend humanity. In the end, they all perished here. Collecting his thoughts¡­ Ye Qiu began using the Harvesting Technique on the Ultimate Split Demon¡¯s corpse. [Ding! Congratulations, you¡¯ve harvested 1 drop of Outer Demon Blood.] [Ding! Congratulations, you¡¯ve harvested¡­] [Ding! Congratulations, you¡¯ve harvested¡­] ¡­ In total, he harvested 9 drops of Outer Demon Blood. The rest was just bones and such. Ye Qiu checked the demon blood, wanting to understand what made it so irresistible to the village NPCs. Heavenly Eye! Information appeared: [Outer Demon Blood (Split Demon): Born from an unknown realm, the blood of these demons contains a unique substance. Consuming 1 drop will permanently increase all base stats by 100 points.] ¡°This¡­ this¡­¡± Ye Qiu was utterly stunned. To be honest, Ye Qiu was seriously tempted to keep it all for himself. Right now, he had 9 drops of Outer Demon Blood in his hand! sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If he drank them all, that would mean a 900-point boost to all his base stats! That¡¯s like gaining multiple levels instantly! But¡­ In the end, he held himself back. 900 points was extremely enticing. But at times like these, you have to be cautious! This could be a test from the NPCs. In his previous life, those NPCs often used rare treasures to tempt and test players. Very few ever passed such trials. So, he stored the blood carefully. Then closed his eyes, preparing to leave the secret realm. ¡ª Novice Village¡­ On the massive village square, all the NPCs had gathered. At the center sat Elder Xu, cross-legged with a sword in his lap. Before him was a Bagua chart. His fingers were flying rapidly, as if calculating something. The surrounding NPCs watched tensely. Many had hopeless expressions, faces pale as ash. An ominous omen. The outcome was already foretold. Everything¡­ Everything had been part of the Outer Demon¡¯s scheme! It had lured one human genius after another into the inner secret realm, pretending to be vulnerable. But in truth, those who entered became nothing more than food for the demon! By devouring the blood of the prodigies, it grew stronger and stronger by the day! ¡°It¡¯s already been a full day and night¡­¡± An old NPC, the eldest of them all, slowly walked toward the square with the help of several younger NPCs. Though aged, his voice was clear and unwavering. Everyone heard him loud and clear. Silence fell. Blacksmith Zhang Tie muttered, ¡°Based on past experience, once someone stays in the inner realm longer than a day, they¡¯re usually declared dead. And now, it¡¯s been a full day and a night¡­¡± The herbalist lady frowned, ¡°What a load of crap. Just talk, talk, talk!¡± Beside her stood a stunningly beautiful girl. She tugged her mother¡¯s hand and whispered, ¡°Mom, that boy is from the Undying Clan. Even if he dies, he can come back.¡± The apothecary glanced at her daughter, then sighed bitterly. ¡°The Undying Clan can only revive using ancient altars¡­ but the inner secret realm isn¡¯t actually part of the Novice Village. If he dies there, he really might be gone forever.¡± ¡°What?!¡± The girl was stunned, quickly covering her mouth. The herbalist sighed again. ¡°Even with ancient altars, the Undying Clan can still be killed. Just destroy their soul with a special method. Their body becomes a mindless shell, which is no different from death.¡± The girl fell silent, staring blankly. Just then, Elder Xu, who had been divining with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them. Everyone rushed over. ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± To their surprise, Elder Xu suddenly looked to the sky and laughed wildly, like he had gone mad! ¡°E-Elder Xu?¡± A nearby NPC jumped in alarm, calling out, but afraid to get too close. Disturbing someone mid-divination was a serious taboo! ¡°What¡¯s wrong with the village chief?¡± ¡°Maybe¡­ he lost it¡­¡± ¡°Sigh¡­ I said it before. That demon can¡¯t be defeated. Only by opening the Heavenly Gate and summoning an ancient god can we survive!¡± ¡°Summoning an ancient god? Hah, ignorant fool! Many ancient gods are evil beyond belief!¡± ¡°Yeah, evil gods are even scarier than the demon!¡± ¡°Could it be¡­ our human race is truly finished?!¡± ¡°Sigh, we should just live one more day while we can¡­¡± The NPCs were consumed with despair. Young ones cried. The elderly could barely stand. The herbalist¡¯s daughter buried her face in her mother¡¯s arms, quietly sobbing. Despair was the most terrifying thing of all. Then, Elder Xu suddenly stopped laughing. He stood up. Took a deep breath. Then declared loudly, ¡°The Outer Demon in the inner secret realm¡ª¡± he paused, ¡°¡­has no signs of life remaining!¡± Silence. A dead silence. Blacksmith Zhang Tie froze, then looked completely shocked! Anyone else, he might not believe. But this was Elder Xu. His words were absolute truth. He alone still held ancient godly power! Zhang Aguai, who was just about to prepare a farewell banquet for the fallen Undying ¡°hero,¡± stopped in his tracks. He was utterly shaken. This news was beyond belief, utterly mind-boggling! Anyone else saying it would just make people laugh, but Elder Xu said it. The one who had mastered the divine arts of 3,000 paths! Even the herbalist lady stared in shock, unable to speak for a long time. Only her heavy breathing betrayed her inner turmoil. That¡­ that was an Outer Demon! So many prodigies had entered to slay it over the years and not a single one had ever returned! Yet its presence only grew stronger year after year. Even the most faithful believers in Elder Xu felt dazed and disoriented now. Before long, the entire square erupted! ¡°Village chief, are you going senile?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m over 300 years old! Don¡¯t mess with me like this!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe it! That Undying kid was only Level 12!¡± ¡°He hadn¡¯t even reached Level 15! How could he possibly beat the demon?!¡± ¡°Maybe it was mutual destruction?¡± ¡°No way! Level 12 trying to go out with a demon? Get real!¡± ¡°If even that wasn¡¯t possible, then slaying the demon is pure fantasy!¡± ¡°It always was fantasy!¡± ¡°They sent genius after genius in, all for nothing!¡± ¡°The demon just grew stronger with every kill!¡± ¡°This is just a trick to calm the villagers!¡± ¡°No life signs doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s dead! Stop treating us like fools!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just migrate already!¡± ¡°This village isn¡¯t worth staying in!¡± Doubt and outrage spread among the NPCs. Until¡­ The space in the middle of the square rippled. A figure slowly appeared, cloaked in a glowing hood, wearing a demonic suit of armor. It was the Undying Clan youth who entered the inner realm!!! He had come out alive!!! How is that possible?! Chapter 54 Chapter 54: Turned Into an NPC? ¡°Huh?¡± Ye Qiu had just stepped out of the Inner Secret Realm only to see the area swarmed with NPCs. He was naturally introverted. Being stared at by so many people made his social anxiety spike. ¡°H-hi¡­¡± He raised a hand in greeting. The very next second¡­ ¡°Hero!¡± ¡°Hero!¡± ¡°Hero!¡± Voices filled with excitement and reverence rang out one after another. The eyes of the crowd, all fixed on Ye Qiu, were brimming with admiration and awe! Someone started applauding, and the rest followed suit in unison. The atmosphere made Ye Qiu feel like he was back in high school at an awards ceremony! Back then, he had always been the one sitting in the audience, clapping for the students receiving awards on stage. Now, the roles had reversed. He was the one standing on the stage! And he could feel it the excitement from these NPCs came from the heart. They truly saw him as a hero! A level 12 weakling, venturing alone into a Secret Realm within the Novice Village a place from which no living person had ever returned. He had faced an unbelievably terrifying, near-invincible Outer Demon and came out alive! What¡¯s more, Elder Xu had even said the demon inside was now completely lifeless! How could such a legendary figure not be hailed as a hero? If Ye Qiu wasn¡¯t a hero, then who was? So, the title of ¡°Hero¡± was his, without a doubt! In the crowd, the herbalist stared at Ye Qiu with growing satisfaction. She was reminded of her late husband also once a passionate, fearless young man who charged into danger without hesitation, treating life and death with indifference. It was that very quality that had drawn her to him. Beside her, her daughter¡¯s beautiful eyes stayed locked on Ye Qiu. A soft smile curled her lips, tinged with shy admiration. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, every girl loved a hero. And Ye Qiu was exactly that. The crisis of the Outer Demon had loomed over the novice village for a long, long time. Every villager had lived in fear never a single peaceful day. They¡¯d tried everything to destroy that monster, swearing to eliminate it no matter the cost. But hopes were just that, hopes. All they could do was dream about it. Because that demon was like a massive sword hanging over the entire Trial City ready to fall at any moment. And they were like helpless ants beneath it, constantly watching the skies, knowing that if it dropped, the entire village and city would be gone. Human life would be wiped from history. Until now. That sword was finally removed by a hero. Their cheers, their admiration were from the bottom of their hearts. Only someone like Ye Qiu deserved it. ¡°Hero! Hero!¡­¡± The crowd showed no signs of quieting down. Ye Qiu, honestly, was a little embarrassed. It all felt a bit much. ¡°I just killed a demon, that¡¯s all¡­¡± he thought. In his past life, he¡¯d slain many such monsters. Other players had too! But actually it really wasn¡¯t an exaggeration. That Outer Demon in the Inner Secret Realm was a boss that would later trigger the game¡¯s Version 2.0! It was different from normal monsters! ¡°Everyone, please quiet down!¡± Finally, it was Elder Xu, the village chief, who stepped forward. His loud voice slowly calmed the crowd. ¡°Let our little hero say a few words!¡± Elder Xu was all smiles, his joy washing away the shadow of dread that had lingered before. A miracle had truly occurred! Ye Qiu was still socially anxious. Thankfully, his hooded cloak hid his blushing face. ¡°Actually, we¡¯re all heroes,¡± he said softly. With that first sentence, his anxiety began to fade. His voice grew steadier. ¡°I met someone in the Inner Secret Realm¡­ or rather, someone who had already passed. His name was¡­ Xie Zhongyuan.¡± As soon as the name left his mouth Elder Xu beside him visibly trembled. Grief flickered across his face. He opened and closed his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, stayed silent, listening. The other NPCs also recognized the name. Xie Zhongyuan had been the last person chosen to enter the Inner Secret Realm. He had never returned. Now, hearing Ye Qiu¡¯s words, everyone fell silent. So it was true those who entered before had all died. ¡°That child was only 13 when he died,¡± Ye Qiu said, enunciating each word. ¡°Not everyone can be fearless and charge forward. ¡°In fact¡­ normal people, real people, will be afraid. We all are. ¡°Xie Zhongyuan was no exception. Neither am I. All those chosen before us were the same. ¡°They were scared. They hesitated. They feared death. But still they faced it anyway. ¡°They did it for one reason: conviction. Behind them were their loved ones. The village they grew up in. The people who share their blood, the human race. ¡°That conviction¡­ had already become a part of their souls. ¡°So¡­ they were heroes too. ¡°We mustn¡¯t forget. We can¡¯t forget.¡± As he spoke, Ye Qiu took out a pile of skeletal remains from his inventory. His Heavenly Eye skill allowed him to identify them. ¡°This is hero¡­ Chen Ruoxu. ¡°This is hero¡­ Zhou Min. ¡°This is hero¡­ Xie Zhongyuan. ¡°This is¡­¡± Over thirty skeletons, most incomplete. Some had been reduced to dust by demonic forces, scattered across every inch of the secret realm. As Ye Qiu read each name aloud, sobs echoed through the crowd. Because each of these fallen heroes had family. [Ding! You have reached max favorability with all NPCs in Novice Village 0001!] [Ding! You have completed the unique Legendary Hidden Quest of the Novice Village!] [Ding! Congratulations! You have received the unique Legendary Hidden Reward: Deputy Village Chief of Novice Village.] Ye Qiu: ¡°!!!¡± From the stage, all the NPCs looked at him with infinite warmth. Some girls, eyes glowing with admiration, watched the figure who spoke with grace and carried himself with such dignity. Even the herbalist¡¯s daughter¡¯s eyes fixed on him was a little lost in a daze. As for Ye Qiu¡­ ¡°Bro, who even gets this? I¡¯ve actually become an NPC now!¡± Chapter 55 Chapter 55: Being Village Chief Means Spending Tax Money?! [Novice Village Deputy Village Chief (Title): Grants citizenship within Trial City. Allows issuing quests, distributing rewards, and teaching skills to players as an NPC. (Gains more permissions as personal strength increases.)] Ye Qiu read over his newly acquired reward. His expression turned¡­ odd. ¡°I really became an NPC?!¡± He had just been speaking casually before. He never expected it to actually trigger a Legendary Hidden Quest! ¡°Looks like increasing Luck really pays off!¡± Unfortunately, free attribute points were extremely rare. And gear that boosted Luck was even harder to find. They were rarer than even Legendary equipment! Before long, the crowd dispersed. Elder Xu led Ye Qiu to his own courtyard. The old man gazed at Ye Qiu with his weathered, wise eyes for a long time, then slowly nodded. ¡°I was right about you. You¡­ have brought hope to this village and prevented a catastrophe.¡± Ye Qiu listened seriously. But deep down, he didn¡¯t quite agree. Even with his rebirth, even though he had preemptively slain the Outer Demon in the Novice Village¡¯s Inner Secret Realm, some fates were still nearly impossible to change! For instance, the Version 2.0 update, when the demons would invade Trial City, they would swarm in from every direction! And the Novice Village? It was just one of many invasion routes. That said, Ye Qiu had indeed saved the village. At the very least, for the next few years, they wouldn¡¯t have to immediately face a demon invasion. There was no longer a need to open the Heavenly Gate, summon ancient gods, and trigger the Version 3.0 update! And for Ye Qiu himself, this meant more time to grow stronger! His mind was filled with strategies and hidden secrets. If he could follow through on all of them, maybe¡­ No¡ª he would definitely surpass the Ancient Gods! At Level 100, there was even a quest involving the Chaos God, Pangu! Ye Qiu¡¯s thoughts wandered off¡­ Meanwhile, Elder Xu sighed. ¡°I¡¯ve only ever taken three disciples in my life,¡± he said. ¡°Xie Zhongyuan was my last. Originally¡­ I had considered taking you as well.¡± Ye Qiu¡¯s eyes lit up. He immediately blurted out, ¡°You still can! I don¡¯t mind having more than one master!¡± Elder Xu continued, ¡°But all three of my disciples¡­ have died.¡± Ye Qiu¡¯s expression stiffened. He let out an awkward laugh and quickly said, ¡°Uh¡­ well¡­ actually, I already consider the herbalist my master¡¯s wife¡­ so my master should be her husband, right? Sigh, I guess we¡¯re just not fated to be master and disciple.¡± Elder Xu chuckled and shook his head. ¡°Alright then. From now on, you are the Deputy Chief of the Novice Village. You may manage village affairs and will receive daily tax revenue. This revenue can be invested. The more you invest, the more you can earn.¡± Ye Qiu blinked. ¡°What if I fail the investment? Do I just get nothing?¡± Elder Xu shook his head. ¡°In reality, this tax revenue doesn¡¯t belong to you. If you don¡¯t use it in time, the rules of this world will reclaim it. ¡°So, as soon as you receive it, spend it immediately. Calling it an ¡®investment¡¯ just sounds nicer.¡± After speaking, Elder Xu shot Ye Qiu a knowing look. ¡°Elder Xu, how much tax revenue do I get per day?¡± Ye Qiu asked eagerly, rubbing his hands together. ¡°That¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡± Elder Xu shook his head. ¡°Huh? You¡¯re the village chief and even you don¡¯t know?!¡± Ye Qiu was confused. ¡°The village chief¡¯s position is tiny, barely worth mentioning.¡± Elder Xu explained, ¡°Before the Undying Clan arrived in Trial City, the tax revenue I received was just a small portion of the villagers¡¯ income. But ever since you Undying arrived, my tax revenue now includes yours as well. And that number? Completely unpredictable. Since you Undying earn gold from killing monsters and completing quests, some days it¡¯s a lot. Other days, I don¡¯t even see half a coin.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Ye Qiu nodded. Afterward, he pulled out the Outer Demon Blood. ¡°Elder Xu, here¡¯s the demon blood you asked for!¡± With a pained expression, he reluctantly handed over all 9 drops. The moment Ye Qiu took out the blood, Elder Xu¡¯s face turned serious. His eyes fixated on the 9 drops of blood. After a long silence, he finally sighed. ¡°So many lives¡­ were lost for this blood.¡± Ye Qiu was surprised. Ye Qiu was full of anticipation, but then¡­ Elder Xu took the blood and said, ¡°Go inform Blacksmith Zhang Tie, Herbalist Lady, Chef Zhang Aguai, and the village monk¡­¡± [Ding! Elder Xu has issued the quest: ¡®Daily Duties of the Deputy Chief.¡¯ Please personally summon the named NPCs to Elder Xu¡¯s house. Accept the quest?] ¡°Accept.¡± Ye Qiu took the quest, then stared at Elder Xu. Seeing that Ye Qiu hadn¡¯t left yet, Elder Xu raised an eyebrow. ¡°Deputy Chief, is there something else?¡± Ye Qiu blinked. ¡°¡­Haven¡¯t I finished the mission?¡± Elder Xu nodded approvingly. ¡°You¡¯ve done very well, both in slaying the demon and in collecting the blood.¡± Ye Qiu stretched out his hand. ¡°Then where¡¯s my reward?¡± Elder Xu slapped his forehead and chuckled. ¡°Ah! I almost forgot!¡± ¡°Hah? You almost forgot?!¡± Ye Qiu wanted to grab him by the collar and yell, ¡°How the hell do you forget something like this?!¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Ding! You have completed the ¡®Slay the Outer Demon¡¯ quest. Reward: +100 Free Attribute Points, Martial Art ¡®Primordial Scripturer¡¯ +1 Level.] [Ding! You have completed the ¡®Collect Outer Demon Blood¡¯ quest. Reward: Mysterious Elixir 1.] ¡°100 free attribute points?!¡± Ye Qiu was ecstatic. He had been worrying about how to increase his Luck stat, and here it was! On top of that, his martial art technique leveled up! Each level granted +10 to all four base stats! But¡­ ¡°Elder Xu, what¡¯s this Mysterious Elixir?¡± Ye Qiu checked his inventory but didn¡¯t see any new potions. Elder Xu replied, ¡°It¡¯s related to the Outer Demon Blood.¡± Ye Qiu finally understood. No wonder Elder Xu wanted those NPCs gathered. They were preparing for something big! ¡°Got it!¡± Ye Qiu immediately set off to inform the others. His first stop: Blacksmith Zhang Tie. Next, he went to his ¡®Master¡¯s Wife¡¯, the Herbalist. Since he was closest to these two, he visited them first. ¡°You¡¯re here, my dear disciple?¡± The herbalist lady swayed her enchanting figure, pulling Ye Qiu inside the moment he reached the doorway. She was extremely warm and welcoming! Ye Qiu felt embarrassed. ¡°Uh, Master¡¯s Wife, Elder Xu wants you to come to his place.¡± The herbalist paused. ¡°Is this about the Outer Demon Blood?¡± Ye Qiu nodded. ¡°Yes, I collected 9 drops in total.¡± He made sure to mention his achievements to everyone. [Ding! You have received a reward from Blacksmith Zhang Tie: +10 Skill Attribute Points.] Not a lot, but a pleasant surprise! And sure enough¡­ [Ding! You have received a reward from the Herbalist Shopkeeper: +50 Skill Attribute Points.] ¡°Haha! My Master¡¯s Wife is the best!¡± Just as Ye Qiu was about to leave, she walked out and said, ¡°I¡¯ll notify the others. You stay here and watch the shop and make sure my daughter focuses on her alchemy practice!¡± [Ding! New quest: ¡®Watch the Herbalist Shop & Supervise Alchemy Practice.¡¯ Accept?] ¡°¡­Guess I have no choice.¡± With the quest accepted, Ye Qiu finally had some free time to check the forums and review his Level 20 stats! Chapter 56 Chapter 56: Ye Qiu¡¯s Level 20 Personal Stats Panel! ¡°Through completing quests, killing monsters, and leveling up, I¡¯ve earned 155 skill attribute points, 154 fixed attribute points, and 131 freely allocatable attribute points. ¡°All the free attribute points went into Luck. ¡°The fixed attribute points were evenly distributed among the four basic stats. ¡°All skill points went into the skill Heavenly Eye.¡± Ye Qiu looked over his personal stats panel, which detailed all his attribute acquisitions and relevant data. After distributing his points, he checked the rest of his data. ¡°Coward¡¯s Cloak leveled up by 1, adding +10 Agility. ¡°The cultivation method Primordial Scripture increased to level 2, giving +20 to each basic stat. ¡°Human Immortal Ring adds +30 Spirit. Replacing the Bone Ring removed 5 Agility and 5 Defense. ¡°Split Demon Armor grants +300 Defense, +30 Strength, +40 Constitution, at the cost of 10 Defense and 10 Constitution from Steel Shirt.¡± Ye Qiu¡¯s Level 20 Stats: [Name: One Leaf Knows Autumn] [Class: Swordsman] [Sub-classes: Alchemist, Blacksmith] [Special Titles: Newbie Village Deputy Chief, Sword Mark Inheritor (Locked)] [Level: 20] [HP: 25,400] [MP: 25,400] [Attack: 558] [Defense: 843] [Movement Speed: 333] [Attributes:] [Strength: 254] [Constitution: 254] [Agility: 333] [Spirit: 243] [Luck: 191 (Special Attribute)] [Reputation: 20,545] [Equipment:] [Steel Sword, Split Demon Armor (Pink Spirit Tool), Steel Pants, Steel Boots, Human Immortal Ring (Orange Epic), Coward¡¯s Cloak (Orange Epic)] [Items:] [Lynx Kingdom Ruins (Treasure Map), Ancestral Horn (Unknown), Lighter, Gas Mask, Lightning Rod, Outer Demon Bell (Unknown), Universal Gem, Ancient Human-Immortal Pool Water¡­] [Special State:] [Mark of the Sword (Locked)] [Various materials¡­] [Cultivation Method:] [Primordial Scripture (Level 2): 1/1000 EXP. Increases all four base stats by +10 per level. (Max Level: 30)] [Active Skills:] [Slash (Level 1): 233/500 EXP. Increases attack by 10.] [Nine Styles of Slashing (Level 2): 517/5000 EXP. Each form increases attack by 30.] [Heavenly Eye (Level 1): 2800/5000 EXP. Reveals details of everything in sight, detects hidden traps, secrets, stealth.] [Light Shield (Level 1): 1/5000 EXP. Creates a one-time damage-absorbing shield. Cooldown: 10 mins.] [Cell Split (Level 1): 1/10,000 EXP. Splits into a clone with shared stats. Clone death returns original stats and grants a 3-minute buff. Current: 1 split. Cooldown: 10 days. (Note: Also resets other skill cooldowns.)] [Special Skills:] [Apprentice¡¯s Will: Copy one skill from a target. One copy per level. (Current Charges: 17/20)] [Teleport: Can teleport to preset points outside of combat. Up to 20 points currently. (More slots unlocked as level increases)] [Pet: None] [Guild: None] [Unspent Points:] [Fixed: 0] [Skill: 0] [Free: 0] After reviewing his stats, Ye Qiu was incredibly pleased. With a character panel like this, even in a horde of monsters or among demonic tribes, he¡¯d be considered a powerhouse among his peers. He was practically a walking boss! Add to that his strange and powerful skills, and even a human cultivation method? Two words summed it up: Absolutely Unstoppable! Excited and a bit hot-headed, Ye Qiu seriously considered leaving the Newbie Village immediately and heading straight for a big city to take on some terrifying high-tier threats. But that heat only lasted a moment before he calmed down. ¡°Stay low-key! Must stay low-key! ¡°Ye Qiu, don¡¯t forget. Those ancient gods from the previous life were the scariest of them all! ¡°Especially in the end¡­ when one of the evil gods advanced to a Chaos God and squeezed the entire Trial City into dust with one palm!¡± He sternly reminded himself. The horrors of his past life were still fresh in his mind. Once those ancient gods descended, both native NPCs and players were relegated to the sidelines. They couldn¡¯t even participate in those endgame events. Even at Level 100, 200, 300 ¡ª hell, even higher levels ¡ª they were still like ants to those gods. And Chaos Gods? A mere thought could probably wipe out a hundred Level 100 players! Ye Qiu then opened the forums. This life, he barely wasted time there. After all, in his previous life, he had already gotten sick of browsing forums. The moment the page loaded, a huge headline caught his eye: [Breaking! Another anonymous player has been announced server-wide. Who could this mysterious figure be?!] This post had tens of millions of views from real users! The comment count? In the millions! And this was just on the Hanxia Nation¡¯s national forum! ¡°Damn, that¡¯s insane! But¡­ what exactly is a Legendary Demon?¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just another name for a boss.¡± ¡°No way, probably some weak trash!¡± Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Come on, we all know how terrifying bosses are. Just look at that Young Master from Longwei Corp who led 10,000 men to fight Tiger Mountain¡¯s Tiger Demon and got wiped!¡± ¡°That video¡¯s been viewed over a hundred million times! Everyone who¡¯s seen it is traumatized by boss-level monsters.¡± ¡°Totally out of our league!¡± The comments were mostly updates from different Newbie Villages: ¡°Village 0987: all quiet.¡± ¡°Village 2443: nothing happening.¡± ¡°Village 0001: smooth sailing.¡± At this point in the game, attacking a boss usually came with massive noise. If something had gone down, at least some local buzz would exist. But there was nothing. ¡°So¡­ it wasn¡¯t one of our domestic players¡­¡± ¡°Foreigners are this OP? What happens when the national wars begin?¡± ¡°There were three server-wide announcements in total. At least one of them has to be from Hanxia, right?¡± ¡°No one¡¯s claimed them yet though.¡± ¡°It¡¯s driving me nuts, I need to know who this anonymous player is!¡± ¡°Three announcements, three players¡­ or maybe they¡¯re all the same person?¡± ¡°Pfft! What a joke!¡± ¡°Get outta here!¡± ¡°No chance!¡± ¡°Killing one boss is already legendary. Taking down three? That¡¯s like winning the lottery.¡± ¡°Haha, funny you say that, I¡¯ve actually won before!¡± ¡°How much?¡± ¡°Ten bucks!¡± Chapter 57 Chapter 57: Aside from living beings, all civilizations shall vanish! Ye Qiu was scrolling through the forums. Most of the posts were about the ¡°anonymous¡± player, with a few discussing a so-called ¡°mysterious NPC.¡± Ye Qiu was curious. In his past life, he didn¡¯t remember any such figure in the Novice Village. He clicked into a few threads and watched some videos. And then, he was speechless. He was eating melon seeds (watching drama), only to realize the drama was about him! Just then, a villager came by to purchase some bruise medicine. Ye Qiu was just helping watch over the medicine shop. But when it came to the pricing of the medicine inside? He knew absolutely nothing! Luckily, a young girl NPC in a light blue dress walked out from the back room. ¡°Madam Zhang, is it the same medicine as before?¡± The girl seemed familiar with everyone in the village. As soon as she came out, Madam Zhang beamed. ¡°Yes, your family¡¯s bruise medicine works best. My old man was bedridden half a month ago, couldn¡¯t move at all. Now he¡¯s already walking!¡± The girl smiled back. ¡°As long as it helps. I hope Uncle Zhang recovers soon. That¡¯ll be 3 gold coins.¡± Madam Zhang paid, then gave Ye Qiu a side glance. She winked at the girl and whispered, ¡°He¡¯s our Deputy Village Chief and a big hero. You better hold on to him!¡± The girl¡¯s bright and cheerful face instantly turned shy and red, like a ripened apple, very enticing! ¡°Madam Zhang, don¡¯t say nonsense!¡± The girl pouted coyly, but her beautiful eyes kept sneaking glances at Ye Qiu. Yet Ye Qiu was sitting there, eyes closed, doing who knows what. After Madam Zhang left, the girl hesitated, then nervously walked up to Ye Qiu. Biting her lip and gathering her courage, she asked, ¡°Hero, I don¡¯t even know your name yet?¡± Ye Qiu was just finishing up a voice reply. It was from Ning Qianjun, who said he had something important and wanted to meet Ye Qiu at the usual spot ¡ª below Tiger Mountain. Ye Qiu agreed. At this moment, hearing the girl¡¯s voice, he finally opened his eyes. In front of him stood a pure and beautiful girl, with glowing skin and bright eyes. She nervously held the hem of her blue skirt, watching him shyly. He activated Heavenly Eye! [Name: Ji Yun] [Subclass: Alchemist] [Level: 10] [Favorability: 95] ¡°Huh?¡± Ye Qiu was stunned. He had definitely heard of the herbalist shopkeeper¡¯s daughter. She was very famous. In his previous life, a player had made a ranking list of the most beautiful female NPCs in Trial City. Both the herbalist shopkeeper and her daughter made the list. And Ji Yun, the daughter, was near the very top! Now that he saw her in person, her reputation was well-deserved. No wonder many players had dubbed her the ¡°goddess of their dreams.¡± As for the 95 favorability? Ye Qiu figured it must be because of slaying the Outer Demon and being the Deputy Village Chief. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I¡¯m Ye Qiu,¡± he said. He didn¡¯t feel the need to hide his identity from NPCs. The reason he hid it from players was to avoid unnecessary trouble. After all, the game hadn¡¯t merged with the real world yet, but he already had access to his in-game stats in real life! Not to mention the three global announcements from Trial City, and that terrifying stat panel of his! If people found out, he¡¯d definitely be taken away for ¡°a nice little interrogation.¡± ¡°Ye Qiu¡­ One Leaf Knows Autumn¡­¡± Ji Yun repeated his name, smiling. ¡°I¡¯m Ji Yun, my mother¡¯s first apprentice!¡± Ye Qiu immediately understood. He went along with it. ¡°Senior Sister.¡± Ji Yun¡¯s face lit up with a bright smile. That one address seemed to bring them closer. She sat down beside him, blinking curiously. ¡°Grandpa Village Chief said you Undying come from a blue planet. What¡¯s it like? Is it anything like the Trial City?¡± Good thing Ye Qiu had lived a second life. Any other player, hearing an NPC mention ¡°Blue Star,¡± would¡¯ve probably jumped in shock. Right now, to most players, this was still just a game. But Ye Qiu knew better. TheTrial City was actually a drifting continent in the universe. According to legend, it had ties to the Ancient Primordial Continent, and was one of its shattered fragments. Of course, Ye Qiu had only heard the rumors. He never got deep into that part of the game, so he didn¡¯t know if any of it was true. As for Earth¡¯s fusion with Trial City, that was one of the city¡¯s features. During its endless cosmic drift, any planet it collided with would be absorbed and assimilated! In short, Earth just got unlucky! It happened to get smacked by Trial City! ¡°We called our blue star ¡®Earth.¡¯¡± Ye Qiu sighed. ¡°It was a beautiful planet, with a way of life totally different from the Trial City. Everyone was just regular flesh-and-blood beings. There were no levels, no stats, no terrifying monsters or demons¡­¡± As he spoke, Ji Yun leaned on her arms, listening with rapt attention, but she could hear the sadness in his voice. ¡°Junior Brother, you sound really sad.¡± she tilted her head and asked gently. Ye Qiu was the first Undying, first player, she¡¯d ever met. But she knew not all Undying were like Ye Qiu. ¡°Our homeland will soon be gone,¡± Ye Qiu smiled bitterly. Ji Yun quickly reassured him, ¡°No way! The Trial City just fuses with other worlds. It doesn¡¯t completely destroy them! My father was from another planet too. After he assimilated, he married my mom!¡± After she said that, she realized it sounded a little ambiguous. Her cheeks flushed again. Ye Qiu didn¡¯t read too much into it. He simply replied, ¡°It¡¯s not the same. Earth is way too small compared to Trial City, so small it¡¯s not even worth mentioning. After the fusion, aside from living beings¡­ all civilizations will vanish without a trace.¡± Chapter 58 Chapter 58: Mysterious Potion! Demon Inheritance! As the two were chatting, Ji Yun¡¯s stomach suddenly let out a rumble. Her cheeks flushed red. Ye Qiu, seeming to understand, pulled out two cups of instant noodles from his backpack ¡ª old altar sauerkraut flavor. ¡°I spent a whole day and night in the Inner Secret Realm without eating much. I¡¯m a bit hungry. You don¡¯t mind if I eat something here, right?¡± Ye Qiu smiled. ¡°N-no, I don¡¯t mind!¡± Ji Yun quickly said, her voice as soft as a mosquito¡¯s. Truthfully, she was starving too. Over the past day and night, the villagers had been in a state of tense waiting. Those near the plaza gathered around Village Chief Xu to hear any news from the Inner Secret Realm. In the rush, most had barely eaten. ¡°Here, you should try some too. It¡¯s a specialty from our civilization,¡± Ye Qiu said, handing her a cup. Ji Yun stared, surprised, before shyly accepting it and studying it carefully. As an alchemist, she¡¯d seen many strange items, but nothing like this light, jar-like object. She glanced at Ye Qiu and imitated his movements, peeling off the lid. Inside was a curled-up block of dry noodles and several small packets of seasonings. ¡°Do you have any hot drinking water at home?¡± Ye Qiu asked. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Yes!¡± Ji Yun quickly went into the back room and returned with a clay pot filled with hot water. ¡°We use hot water during alchemy. It¡¯s safe to drink,¡± she explained. Ye Qiu poured the hot water into the noodle cups after adding the seasoning packets, covered them, and weighed them down. Ji Yun watched wide-eyed. ¡°Wait¡­ you just soak the noodle cake with hot water? Won¡¯t it turn into noodle soup?¡± Ye Qiu smiled sadly. ¡°After today, it¡¯ll be hard to eat these again.¡± In his previous life, when the game descended into reality, Earth¡¯s civilization collapsed. All industrial equipment was crushed and destroyed during the merging. Even with blueprints and engineers, survival came first. There was no time, no environment, no chance to rebuild industry. Over time, Earth¡¯s civilization faded from memory, and in just a few years, it was completely assimilated into the Trial City. After three to five minutes, Ye Qiu came back to his senses. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s ready.¡± He lifted the lid, releasing a burst of steam carrying a rich, savory aroma that filled the room. Ye Qiu was used to it, but Ji Yun¡¯s eyes widened. Unable to resist, she swallowed hard. To someone eating it for the first time, instant noodles were a delicacy. Ye Qiu ate heartily with a plastic fork. Ji Yun, following suit, nibbled carefully and lady-like. Soon, her forehead glistened with a sheen of fragrant sweat. While stealing glances at Ye Qiu, Ji Yun grew even more curious about him and about the ¡°Earth civilization¡± he spoke of. After they finished eating, Ji Yun begged Ye Qiu to tell her more stories about Earth. Ye Qiu spoke until his mouth went dry, but Ji Yun still wasn¡¯t satisfied. Finally, urged by Ye Qiu, she reluctantly returned to the back to continue refining medicine. Around three hours later, the shopowner, her mother, returned, carrying something in her hand. As soon as she entered, she handed it to Ye Qiu with a smile. ¡°Good disciple, it¡¯s been successfully crafted.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Ye Qiu looked curious. Though her tone was calm, her face showed exhaustion, and her eyes gleamed with relief. [Mysterious Potion (Legendary Grade): After drinking, increases all four basic stats by 100. Has a small chance of inheriting an Outer Demon bloodline and receiving their legacy. If successful, favorability with all demons +50. Made from demon blood containing racial heritage, racial fire seeds, and racial transmission ¡ª extremely precious.] ¡°What the hell?!¡± Ye Qiu was stunned, mouth agape, speechless. In his past life, rumors of ¡°bloodlines¡± and ¡°inheritances¡± were rampant among players. Indeed, a few players managed to inherit the bloodline of a single monster, but usually it was incomplete and practically useless. Yet now, this ¡°Mysterious Potion¡± offered a shot at inheriting an entire race¡¯s bloodline and guaranteed receiving their inheritance if successful! It was completely on another level! Of course, it was just a ¡°small chance,¡± and likely very, very low. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t just be a ¡°Legendary-grade¡± potion. ¡°It¡¯s just a shame,¡± the shopowner sighed, ¡°we have too little demon blood. If we had several million drops, the success rate would rise to over 90%!¡± ¡°Uhh¡­¡± Ye Qiu smiled bitterly. If he had millions of demon blood drops, he would have long since consumed them himself to ascend to a god-like level! Why bother refining a potion? After all, one drop permanently increased four basic attributes by 100! Millions of drops would make him an Ancient God-level being already! ¡°And, Master, what¡¯s the success chance of this potion now?¡± Ye Qiu asked. ¡°One in ten thousand,¡± she replied. Ye Qiu brightened. ¡°That¡¯s not too bad!¡± She added, ¡°One in ten thousand¡­ of one in ten thousand.¡± Ye Qiu: ¡°¡­¡± If it was truly one in ten thousand, Ye Qiu could consider buffing his luck stat to give it a shot. But one in a hundred million? Basically zero chance! Still, Ye Qiu wasn¡¯t too disappointed. Even without inheriting the bloodline, just the basic effect alone ¡ª boosting all four basic stats by 100 ¡ª was already a massive gain! After carefully storing the Mysterious Potion, Ye Qiu said his goodbyes and left the pharmacy. He was heading to meet Ning Qianjun at their old meeting place ¡ª beneath Tiger Mountain. Apparently, the meeting was requested by other players. Ye Qiu was curious. The Ning family, where Ning Qianjun belonged, held a certain status even in the real world. Though Ning Qianjun seemed refined and gentle on the surface, deep down he was fiercely proud and rebellious. For him to willingly follow others¡¯ request? Ye Qiu was very interested to find out. At the same time, he also planned to find a way to increase the success rate of using the Mysterious Potion! Chapter 59 Chapter 59: Monsters¡­ Appear in Reality!!! At the foot of Tiger Mountain, Ning Qianjun stood there looking helpless and listless. Beside him were three others. Leading them was an elderly man with a sharp, penetrating gaze. Despite the erosion of time, his posture remained upright and firm. He wore simple white clothing, and his level didn¡¯t seem particularly high. At his side were two young men, fully equipped and clearly high-level. Facing the elderly man, they showed utmost respect and seriousness. ¡°Xiao Ning, has he still not arrived?¡± The old man, who had already been waiting for nearly three hours, finally spoke, his voice calm and without the slightest trace of impatience. Hearing this, Ning Qianjun quickly approached and carefully replied, ¡°Senior Xin, the NPCs in this game are highly intelligent and have their own will. He¡¯ll come, definitely, but as for when exactly, I can¡¯t say.¡± The old man chuckled softly. ¡°You still think he¡¯s just an NPC?¡± Ning Qianjun froze for a moment, then forced a bitter smile. ¡°I did suspect he might be a player¡­ but I¡¯m only just about to reach level 10, and yet that mysterious NPC already killed a level 10 NPC days ago! He even tore apart a level 10 monster ¡ª a Blue-Eyed Tiger Beast ¡ª with his bare hands!¡± Just thinking about it again, Ning Qianjun couldn¡¯t believe that mysterious figure was a player. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was simply impossible! Moreover, the ¡°NPC¡± was incredibly generous, handing out Purple Rare staffs, Pink Spirit hairpins, and even permanent attribute-boosting rare potions to others! No player could possibly afford to do that! After listening, the old man pondered for a moment, then slowly said, ¡°After the Tiger Mountain incident, some staff went up there. They found equipment scattered everywhere, but¡­ according to what we know, NPCs killing monsters shouldn¡¯t cause equipment to drop.¡± Ning Qianjun was stunned. He wasn¡¯t aware of that. He only knew that a few officials had climbed Tiger Mountain that day and found no sign of anyone. ¡°NPCs not dropping loot is just a current theory,¡± Ning Qianjun argued, stubbornly believing that One Leaf Knows Autumn was an NPC. ¡°Maybe the rules are different. Like, maybe if players party with NPCs and their level is higher, loot drops; or NPCs alone might occasionally cause loot to drop too¡­ Otherwise, where would all those NPC reward items come from?¡± But even as he said this, he felt his reasoning was full of holes. If NPCs really did drop loot normally, wild monster areas would¡¯ve already been completely occupied by them! Maybe¡­ he had guessed wrong? Maybe that mysterious cloaked figure was a player after all? Still, it was too far-fetched. Even the strongest players were barely level 10 now, and killing a Blue-Eyed Tiger Beast solo was practically impossible! After a long pause, Ning Qianjun lowered his voice and asked cautiously, ¡°Senior Xin, why are you so concerned about this? Even if he¡¯s a player, isn¡¯t it just¡­ a game?¡± While speaking, he stared intently at the old man¡¯s face, trying to glean any hint of information, but failed. The old man seemed like a master sage: completely unreadable. The old man smiled slightly and said, ¡°Trying to fish for information, are you?¡± Ning Qianjun quickly tried to deny it. He wouldn¡¯t dare speculate on someone of such power! But before he could even open his mouth, the old man spoke again, ¡°No need to be so tense. Your family and others have already been informed. After you log off, your elders will summon you to a meeting. You¡¯ll hear everything then.¡± Ning Qianjun froze. A heavy sense of unease gripped him. The old man continued calmly, ¡°Might as well tell you in advance. In the real world¡­ monsters have appeared.¡± As soon as he said those words, Ning Qianjun¡¯s eyes widened in shock. His face was filled with disbelief, even a subconscious refusal to accept it. The old man¡¯s voice remained steady. ¡°Not just here. Monsters have appeared in several places abroad too. And they match monsters we encounter in the game. ¡°For instance, outside the capital city, a few Lynx Beasts were found. Fortunately, the army arrived in time and eliminated them using heavy firepower. Some were even captured alive. ¡°And¡­ when these monsters were killed¡­ they dropped loot!¡± ¡°Just like in the game! ¡°The only difference is¡­ humans don¡¯t gain experience by killing monsters, and if you¡¯re killed by a monster, you cannot revive.¡± Ning Qianjun¡¯s head buzzed violently, his mind going blank. He almost stumbled and fell! The old man, for once, showed a rare trace of sorrow on his face. ¡°None of this has been made public. Governments worldwide are working together, trying to suppress it quietly with military force, to avoid mass panic. ¡°This world¡­ needs stability, peace, and normalcy. ¡°But if monsters continue appearing¡­ weaker nations will collapse first. ¡°And World War III¡­ might even break out because of this.¡± As someone from the upper echelons, the old man knew much more than ordinary people and could see the grim future ahead. Finally, Ning Qianjun swallowed nervously and stammered, ¡°S-Senior Xin¡­ you¡¯re not joking, right?¡± He hoped desperately it was just a joke. But this was not April Fool¡¯s Day. And Senior Xin was not a man who joked. ¡°Xiao Ning,¡± The old man patted his shoulder, revealing a rare fatigue. ¡°You and your family hold most of this country¡¯s resources. In the future¡­ if chaos really does break out, I hope you¡¯ll stay true to your heart and protect our suffering nation.¡± Chapter 60 Chapter 60: Confirmed Without a Doubt ¡ª He¡¯s an NPC! While Ning Qianjun was still dazed by the old man¡¯s words, a figure approached from the distance. ¡°Looking for me?¡± The newcomer, wearing a cloak over his head, was none other than Ye Qiu! As he walked over, Ye Qiu saw the three people standing beside Ning Qianjun, especially the old man, who gave him a vague sense of familiarity, like he had seen him somewhere before. ¡°Big bro, you¡¯re finally here!¡± Ning Qianjun¡¯s face lit up with joy at Ye Qiu¡¯s arrival, speaking with an especially friendly tone. Whether Ye Qiu was an NPC or a player, Ning Qianjun had made up his mind. He would hold tightly onto this golden opportunity! After a brief pause, Ning Qianjun quickly introduced, ¡°This is¡­ one of my elders. He wants to take a quest from you, big bro!¡± He pointed at the old man as he spoke. This had been prearranged: they would use a quest request to determine whether Ye Qiu was truly an NPC. Normally, NPCs issuing quests would trigger a quest prompt. However, Ning Qianjun had informed the old man that, until now, the few quests he¡¯d taken from Ye Qiu never had a visible quest prompt. He hadn¡¯t paid much attention to it before, assuming it was just a special trait of this mysterious NPC. ¡°But I currently don¡¯t have any quests that need completing,¡± Ye Qiu replied simply. At the same time, he finally recalled the old man¡¯s identity. A wave of emotion and deep respect rising inside him. It was an instinctive, almost subconscious reaction. In his previous life, this elder had personally organized the evacuation of fellow countrymen to safe zones. Then, he had led a group to lure away a horde of monsters¡­ In the end, he detonated a hidden nuclear device, sacrificing himself to destroy the monster horde. Ye Qiu could already guess why the old man was seeking him out now. They wanted to confirm if he was a player or an NPC. And coincidentally, he had just obtained the title of Deputy Village Chief of the Novice Village, giving him the authority to issue quests and distribute rewards to players! S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The old man spoke kindly, ¡°Young man, it doesn¡¯t need to be anything difficult. Just a simple chore quest like carrying water will do. As you know, we come from another dimension and are called the ¡®Undying Clan¡¯ here. This old man is experiencing this world for the first time and wants to try some fresh experiences.¡± Ning Qianjun looked nervously between Ye Qiu and the old man. He wasn¡¯t sure whether he should speak up or stay silent, afraid that causing trouble would annoy this mysterious NPC. After all, Ye Qiu must have his own important matters, and now they were asking him to create a quest just to satisfy an old man¡¯s curiosity? It was a pretty weak excuse! Yet Ye Qiu wasn¡¯t upset. Beneath his cloak, a faint smile appeared. ¡°Alright. I¡¯m quite interested in your Undying Clan¡¯s world. I¡¯ll ask a few questions. Answer them all, and the quest will be complete,¡± he said. As he spoke, a virtual panel appeared before Ye Qiu, invisible to others. The panel displayed the elder¡¯s profile and several options: Favorability, Quest Issuance, Reward Distribution, Party Formation, and more. Ye Qiu chose ¡°Issue Quest.¡± [Ding! Please edit the content of the quest you want to issue.] Controlling it with his thoughts, Ye Qiu quickly edited the quest. Meanwhile, the old man, who had been smiling knowingly, already half-convinced Ye Qiu was an NPC, suddenly froze. [Ding! Newbie Village Deputy Village Chief has issued a quest: Answer Questions. Answer all the questions from the Deputy Village Chief to complete the quest. Accept?] The old man¡¯s smile stiffened. He stood there, stunned. ¡°Accept!¡± The old man, after his initial shock, quickly regained his composure and accepted the quest. On the side, Ning Qianjun, watching the elder¡¯s rare stunned reaction, already knew the result. The cloaked figure before them was 100% an NPC. It was confirmed at last! Ye Qiu then asked his first question, ¡°I have a secondary profession as an alchemist. I¡¯d like to ask: in your Undying Clan¡¯s world, how can liquid potions be absorbed more effectively?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± The old man immediately opened his friends list. He had an old acquaintance who was a medical master and quickly relayed the question. The friend responded swiftly, and the old man repeated the answer, ¡°Liquid potions are categorized into three types: oral, injectable, and intravenous. Among these, injections and IV drips allow for the greatest absorption efficiency.¡± Ye Qiu¡¯s eyes gleamed with interest at the response. He then asked a few more pharmacy-related questions. After receiving satisfactory answers, he ended the dialogue. The virtual panel popped up again. Ye Qiu selected ¡°Distribute Rewards.¡± Inside, he could assign experience points, attribute points, equipment, and other items. Ye Qiu chose to gift a piece of Purple Rare equipment that was useless to him. A second later, the reward appeared in the old man¡¯s inventory. He instinctively pulled it out. A faint purple glow shimmered over the equipment. Beside him, Ning Qianjun wasn¡¯t even surprised anymore, though he still looked on with envy. As for the two young men accompanying the elder, they were completely stunned. They had grinded countless monsters to level up, yet were still decked out in nothing but blue and white equipment. Purple equipment? That was a luxury they didn¡¯t even dare dream about. It was too expensive to afford! And now, here someone was, handing it out for free after a casual Q&A session? ¡°Ahem¡­¡± The two young men immediately started nudging Ning Qianjun with their elbows. Ning Qianjun acted like he didn¡¯t notice a thing, ignoring them completely. Even when nearly knocked over, he kept a straight face and didn¡¯t so much as glance their way! Helping Elder Xin was one thing. He had no choice. But others? Forget it. He wasn¡¯t about to embarrass himself begging the mysterious NPC for favors! ¡°Thank you,¡± the old man said sincerely, knowing that a Purple Rare item was extremely valuable at this early stage. Ye Qiu simply nodded. Then, after bidding them farewell, he left quickly. He was in a hurry. He needed to log off immediately and start preparing based on the medical information he had just gathered. He had to maximize the success rate of his Mysterious Potion! Chapter 61 Chapter 61: Xiao Qiu, Want a Girlfriend? I¡¯ll Introduce My Daughter to You! In the real world, it was already the next morning. Ye Qiu picked up his phone. There was a string of missed calls, all from Su Xintong. He ignored them and instead called Uncle Su, asking if he was free to take him to a hospital or a pharmacy. While waiting for Uncle Su to arrive, Ye Qiu closed his eyes and whispered, ¡°Teleport!¡± Currently, he had two teleportation points set: One was the ¡°Novice Village Secret Realm,¡± The other was the ¡°Novice Village.¡± Ye Qiu wanted to test the teleportation skill to see what would happen if he used it in the real world. The next moment, his eyes widened. First, his entire body became weightless, as if his flesh and bones had disappeared, leaving only a thin layer of skin or even lighter! Instinctively, Ye Qiu opened his eyes. To his shock, his body looked like it was crystallizing, similar to when Xie Zhongyuan¡¯s spirit body had disintegrated! ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Ye Qiu was confused. Other than this slight crystallization, nothing else happened. He was still in his bedroom at home he hadn¡¯t teleported to the Trial City! Until¡­ [Ding! Detected a chaotic force blocking teleportation¡ª teleportation failed.] [Ding¡­] [Ding¡­] Three system messages chimed in succession. Immediately after, Ye Qiu¡¯s body returned to normal. ¡°Chaotic force blocking me?¡± He was stunned. In his past life, the term ¡°Chaos¡± had only appeared near the end of Version 4.0 an era known by players as ¡°Ragnar?k.¡± Back then, even invincible Old Gods and undefeated Evil Gods were all suppressed by a mysterious force. This force, at the end of Version 4.0, was finally named: Chaos. ¡°Could it be¡­ Earth itself hides some huge secret?¡± Ye Qiu speculated. He didn¡¯t know how long he spent in thought, until his phone rang Uncle Su had arrived and notified him. Ye Qiu snapped back to reality, went out the door, and got into the car. As soon as he sat down, Uncle Su asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t go to school today?¡± Ye Qiu froze, subconsciously guilty, ¡°I¡¯m sick. I asked the class monitor for leave.¡± But then he quickly composed himself. He had been reborn! Why the hell would he still waste time going to school?! Time to switch mindsets! ¡°Your class monitor agreed?¡± Uncle Su looked surprised. ¡°Yeah, she agreed,¡± Ye Qiu said without blinking. Uncle Su, however, had a strange expression. He remembered clearly his daughter had just called earlier to complain. She said she didn¡¯t approve Ye Qiu¡¯s leave request, and that Ye Qiu just vanished early in the morning, turning his phone off! Thinking for a moment, Uncle Su said, ¡°How about coming to my house for a meal later?¡± Ye Qiu hurriedly shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m really sick. I called you earlier to take me to the hospital or a pharmacy to buy some medicine.¡± Uncle Su said warmly, ¡°If you¡¯re sick, it¡¯s even more important for someone to look after you. If something serious happens while you¡¯re home alone, and you can¡¯t move, what then?¡± His words were full of genuine concern. In Uncle Su¡¯s eyes, Ye Qiu was a kind, pitiful, lonely child. ¡°Uncle Su, let¡¯s just go buy medicine first,¡± Ye Qiu insisted he really didn¡¯t have time for a social visit. Uncle Su added, ¡°Yesterday you helped me get my money back, and even saved my old bones. You¡¯re my savior. I just want to treat you to a meal. And since you¡¯re alone without any family here, why not move into my house? ¡°At least you¡¯d have company.¡± Ye Qiu: ¡°¡­¡± Uncle Su continued, ¡°By the way, Xiao Qiu, do you have a girlfriend?¡± Ye Qiu leaned back against the seat, finally relaxing a little. He answered, ¡°Don¡¯t have time for a girlfriend. Not interested either.¡± If he didn¡¯t know the apocalypse was eight days away, maybe he¡¯d consider it. But now, after living a second life, Ye Qiu¡¯s priorities had completely shifted. In the future, finding girlfriends, falling in love, and everything related those would be the easiest, cheapest things! S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the apocalypse, even the most unattractive people would have admirers throwing themselves at them. There was no shortage of partners for men or women! ¡°You don¡¯t want a girlfriend?¡± Uncle Su paused, then said meaningfully, ¡°A wounded heart is more dangerous than illness. Ordinary medicine can¡¯t treat that you need healing from the root.¡± Ye Qiu was stunned. He was just pretending to be sick¡­ but Uncle Su talked as if he¡¯d diagnosed some deep emotional trauma! Ye Qiu didn¡¯t interrupt. Uncle Su went on, ¡°Actually, Xiao Qiu, I have a daughter, around your age, and quite pretty too. Maybe¡­¡± He seemed conflicted. After all, one side was his daughter, the other was his lifesaver! He really wanted to set them up, but he couldn¡¯t be too forceful, so he took the indirect route hoping they could start as friends. After the college entrance exams, if they liked each other, great! If not, then just move on. Uncle Su considered himself an open-minded parent. As long as it wasn¡¯t that Chen guy or someone way older, he would support whoever his daughter liked. As for personality, morals, abilities, those could be evaluated later. Life had to be taken step by step. But honestly, Uncle Su was very satisfied with Ye Qiu! Mainly because Ye Qiu had no family ties. That way, he could easily live with them without any drama. And Ye Qiu was truly a good person kind-hearted, skilled, and capable! A dream son-in-law! Of course, he would still respect his daughter¡¯s wishes. If it worked out, great. If not, no hard feelings. Ye Qiu, unaware of Uncle Su¡¯s scheming, interrupted him helplessly, ¡°Uncle Su, you don¡¯t need to worry about that kind of thing.¡± Still, Ye Qiu couldn¡¯t help but glance at Uncle Su¡¯s appearance. Ye Qiu quickly shut his eyes, preparing to nap for a while. These past few days, he had been bouncing between the game and reality, without sleeping a single second! Sure, in the game, constant activity was like resting but mental exhaustion couldn¡¯t be easily replenished. Closing his eyes, he immediately recalled the scene of fighting the Split Demon in the Novice Village Secret Realm. It had seemed short but in fact, he had fought for a full day and night! Seeing that Ye Qiu appeared ¡°asleep,¡± Uncle Su slowed the car down, pulled out his phone, found the contact labeled ¡°Daughter,¡± and began typing a message¡­ Chapter 62 Chapter 62: Injecting the Mysterious Potion! In the afternoon, Ye Qiu had finally managed to buy all the medicines he needed ¡ª things like isotonic regulators, solubilizers, human hemoglobin, and so on. These were all items he had learned about from that old Mr. Xin in the game. After politely declining Uncle Su¡¯s invitation, Ye Qiu returned home. Then he immediately began preparing the IV drip. ¡°Hope this works!¡± he muttered to himself. Although he kept his expectations low, throughout the entire process he was filled with anticipation and silent prayers. As for the effects of demon bloodlines or demon inheritances, Ye Qiu wasn¡¯t exactly sure whether they were powerful, whether they could increase strength. He honestly had no idea. But when it came to the species of ¡°demons,¡± Ye Qiu knew them all too well. Demons were divided into Outer Demons and Native Demons. Yet in truth, both shared the same ancestral bloodline and system. And demons were terrifyingly strong. In the early stages of Version 3.0, before the Old Gods descended, demons held absolute dominance. They shrouded the entire Trial City in terror and despair! Even after the Old Gods descended, demons still had their final moment of brilliance: they slew gods. Yes, during that time, humanity was on the fringe, completely unable to participate in the storyline. Whether player or NPC, everyone was simply too weak! Meanwhile, the demons could still go toe-to-toe with the Old Gods and Evil Gods! Finally, Ye Qiu finished preparing the IV. He took out the ¡°Mysterious Potion,¡± drew all the liquid into a syringe, and injected it into the IV bag. Setting up a coat hanger as a makeshift IV stand, he inserted the rubber tubing. ¡°Uh¡­ I think I don¡¯t know how to insert the needle?¡± When it came to the final step ¡ª actually injecting the IV ¡ª Ye Qiu froze. He had alcohol, cotton swabs, a needle¡­ everything was ready. All that was left was actually sticking the needle in, but he didn¡¯t know how! Just then¡­ From outside, there came the sound of knocking. Ye Qiu walked over to the door and peered through the crack and saw a familiar yet unfamiliar figure standing gracefully outside. ¡°Su Xintong?!¡± Ye Qiu was stunned. Seeing her again, Ye Qiu felt a little dazed. After all, in his past life, the first time he saw someone die, and die right in front of him, it was Su Xintong. A giant hornet¡¯s stinger had pierced her delicate body. Her beautiful eyes had remained open, filled with terror, despair, and pain¡­ In the end, it was Ye Qiu who had braved his fear to collect her body, dress her properly, and give her a bit of dignity. Most of the other students had already fled or died. That day, many parents came to the school to claim their children¡¯s bodies. Some classmates, however, remained unclaimed. Since that day, the world had completely fallen into chaos and changed forever. ¡°Ye Qiu!¡± Su Xintong was still knocking. ¡°I know you¡¯re home! If you don¡¯t open up, I¡¯ll tell the teacher!¡± She threatened to use her ultimate move. In the past, whenever students refused to listen, Su Xintong would threaten to tell teachers or parents. It worked surprisingly well. Although she knew this method seemed a little lame, sometimes there was just no other choice. At first, she had tried reasoning patiently, but some classmates would just bully her, taking advantage of her being a pretty, seemingly weak girl. In the end, her father had advised her: ¡°Don¡¯t worry about what others say. If you can¡¯t control them, go straight to the teacher or their parents! If that doesn¡¯t work, just let it go. It¡¯s not your problem!¡± Following her father¡¯s advice, Su Xintong became an increasingly capable class monitor. At this moment, the door opened. The two stared at each other silently, wide-eyed. Ye Qiu stared at Su Xintong, and she at him. Honestly, Su Xintong didn¡¯t know Ye Qiu very well. It was only these past few days that she started paying attention to him, after hearing about his family situation, mostly out of sympathy. Still, sympathy only went so far. Normally, if a student was uncooperative, she would remind them two or three times and then stop caring. After all, the college entrance exam was just around the corner. Soon, everyone would part ways. They wouldn¡¯t even know each other afterward. Besides, she and Ye Qiu weren¡¯t really friends. But yesterday, after learning that Ye Qiu had saved her father, her attitude changed. First was gratitude. Then, gratitude mixed with sympathy made her determined to help Ye Qiu focus on studying for the final stretch to maybe change his fate. While examining him, Su Xintong found herself thinking, Normally, Ye Qiu kept his hair long and messy and stayed low-profile, so nobody paid him much attention. Most only had a vague memory of his name and face. ¡°Can you do injections?¡± Ye Qiu suddenly broke the silence. ¡°Huh?¡± Su Xintong snapped out of her thoughts. ¡°Come in,¡± Ye Qiu said with an unquestionable tone as he turned and walked inside. Su Xintong instinctively followed. By the time she realized, she was already inside. The room was dim, but clean. It was not unpleasant at all. Despite his sloppy appearance, Ye Qiu clearly cared about hygiene. Soft light filtered through the drawn curtains, casting a warm orange glow on Su Xintong¡¯s pale skin, making her look even more delicate and youthful, like an unripe apple. Though they were the same age, Su Xintong¡¯s features were softer, her eyes clear, lashes long, and she carried an almost classical beauty. ¡°Ye¡­¡± Su Xintong began awkwardly. It was her first time visiting a boy¡¯s house, especially one who was alone. Now there were two of them, it made things even more awkward! Just as she was about to speak, Ye Qiu interrupted her, ¡°I¡¯m really sick. Look, the IV¡¯s ready.¡± Without giving her a chance to react, he slipped off his shoes and lay down on the bed. ¡°I remember you once helped a classmate get an IV in the school infirmary. Help me too?¡± He had wanted to do it himself, but worried that he might miss the vein and waste the precious ¡°Mysterious Potion.¡± Su Xintong had come at just the right time. ¡°You¡­ why aren¡¯t you at the hospital?¡± Su Xintong asked as she walked over, puzzled. ¡°Don¡¯t like hospitals,¡± Ye Qiu replied simply. Su Xintong froze, suddenly understanding. Last night, her father had mentioned something. Years ago, after Ye Qiu¡¯s parents had an accident, it was her father who had rushed them to the hospital. But in the end, they had still died there. Maybe that¡¯s why Ye Qiu hated hospitals so much. ¡°What illness do you have?¡± Su Xintong asked while preparing the needle. Strangely enough, she didn¡¯t even remember helping anyone with an IV before. ¡°Maybe just a fever,¡± Ye Qiu replied casually. ¡°Maybe?¡± Su Xintong was baffled. As they talked, the needle punctured the vein on the back of Ye Qiu¡¯s hand. But in the next second¡­ A faint crack was heard. Su Xintong stared in shock. The moment the needle touched Ye Qiu¡¯s skin, it actually broke! Ye Qiu reacted too. He had forgotten that with his level 20 attributes now, his body was practically invulnerable! Quickly, he relaxed his muscles to soften his skin. ¡°Uh¡­ Medical supplies these days are just poor quality,¡± Ye Qiu said awkwardly, grabbing a spare needle from the bedside and handing it to Su Xintong. Luckily, he had bought extras. ¡°No way¡­ Even needles have quality issues?¡± Su Xintong muttered blankly. ¡°Accidents happen. Maybe I¡¯m just unlucky,¡± Ye Qiu brushed it off. Fortunately, with the new needle, everything went smoothly. The IV fluid began to drip into Ye Qiu¡¯s body. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The next moment¡­ [Ding! You have used the ¡°Mysterious Potion.¡± Your stats are changing.] [Ding! All four base attributes +120 points.] [Ding! Special effect triggered: Demon Inheritance Activation.] [Current Activation Progress: 0.01%¡­] [Current Activation Progress: 0.02%¡­] ¡°It¡­ it worked?!¡± Ye Qiu was both shocked and thrilled. Yet he remained nervous, terrified that the process might suddenly be interrupted. That would be a disaster! Chapter 63 Chapter 63: In the beginning, no one paid attention to this disaster¡­ Ye Qiu closed his eyes, as if he was simply resting. This left Su Xintong standing there, unsure what to do. , she thought. As she was thinking, her phone buzzed. She pulled it out and saw a text from her father, Su Huarui: ¡°Are you at Xiao Qiu¡¯s house yet? Talk to him more, and try to invite him over to our house for a meal!¡± Su Xintong suddenly remembered. Earlier, her father had texted her with an address, telling her to find someone after school. That person was Ye Qiu! He had even stressed that she must persuade Ye Qiu to come over for dinner, to properly thank him. But when she first arrived, trying to find a casual topic to start a conversation, she had only asked why he hadn¡¯t gone to school. She hadn¡¯t even gotten around to inviting him yet! And now here she was, a guest, standing awkwardly in someone else¡¯s house. Meanwhile, the owner, Ye Qiu, was lying in bed looking like he was asleep, and she had no idea what to do. Feeling speechless, Su Xintong quickly texted her dad: ¡°He really seems sick. I just helped him set up an IV drip.¡± Immediately, her father replied: ¡°Then stay there and take care of him. Once the IV is done, text me, and I¡¯ll come pick you both up.¡± ¡°Huh?!¡± Su Xintong froze. She hurriedly started typing a reply, but before she could send it, another text came in: ¡°Enough, I have to keep driving to take more jobs. I won¡¯t be able to check my phone until after 9 PM. Just take good care of him. After all, he did us a huge favor, and now that he¡¯s sick and alone, he needs someone to look after him!¡± Su Xintong immediately fired back: ¡°Dad! What are you even talking about! Come pick me up right now! Otherwise, I¡¯m walking home myself!¡± However, after that, there was no more response from her father. Su Xintong was both angry and helpless. At that moment, Ye Qiu suddenly opened his eyes and said, ¡°Huh? You¡¯re still here?¡± Seeing Su Xintong still standing there, Ye Qiu spoke up. He was hesitating whether to log into the game or not. He was worried that doing so might affect the Mysterious Potion he had just taken, so he was caught in a dilemma. ¡°I, I¡­¡± Su Xintong fidgeted a little, then summoned her courage and said, ¡°I wanted to invite you to my house for a meal.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Ye Qiu looked surprised, staring at her in disbelief. ¡°Class monitor, are you sick too?¡± he asked. Su Xintong quickly explained, ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand! It¡¯s because of my dad¡­¡± Just as she was speaking, a sudden commotion rose from the street outside. There were even police sirens. The next second, a loudspeaker blared: ¡°Attention all citizens, attention all citizens, attention all citizens¡­¡± The announcement repeated three times, the volume so loud it could wake even those in deep sleep. Then it continued: ¡°An unidentified creature has attacked people in the city. Several citizens have been bitten, and there is already one confirmed death! For your safety, please avoid going outside. If there is an emergency, please call the designated hotline¡­¡± The broadcast repeated again and again for a long time. Su Xintong panicked and quickly tried to call her father. But no matter how many times she called, it kept showing ¡°no answer.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going outside to check!¡± she said, hurrying toward the door. But as soon as she opened it, she saw that the street was already blocked off! People were allowed in, but not out. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Half an hour later, Su Xintong returned to Ye Qiu¡¯s house, looking flustered. ¡°Is it martial law?¡± Ye Qiu asked right away. In his previous life, there had indeed been a ¡°three-day lockdown¡± incident. At that time, he and his classmates were staying in school dorms, so the event hadn¡¯t made much of an impact on them. Besides, it only lasted three days, after which everything returned to normal. Su Xintong nodded, then stood to the side and said, frustrated, ¡°As soon as I tried to leave, the neighborhood security stopped me. They said no one can leave until further notice. I told them I don¡¯t live here, but they demanded proof!¡± Ye Qiu stayed lying down, afraid that any movement might affect the potion¡¯s effectiveness. Hearing this, he reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll take you out tonight.¡± Su Xintong gripped her phone tightly, her face full of worry. ¡°My dad¡¯s phone suddenly can¡¯t get through.¡± Ye Qiu recalled the event vaguely. If he remembered right, there were casualties. Maybe three, maybe five? He hadn¡¯t paid much attention at the time, so his memory was a bit hazy. Now, living again, Ye Qiu couldn¡¯t help but recall a line from a movie: ¡°In the beginning, no one paid attention to this disaster. It was just seen as a random animal attack¡­¡± However, the truth was likely much worse. It seemed that monsters had already begun appearing early, accidentally slipping into the city. ¡°Try calling again,¡± Ye Qiu suggested. He couldn¡¯t guarantee that Su Xintong¡¯s father wasn¡¯t among the victims. Su Xintong silently kept dialing, over and over again, but no one picked up. In her anxiety, tears started to fall. Ye Qiu didn¡¯t know how to comfort her. In his previous life, he had witnessed far too many tragedies: Parents burying their children. Newborn babies lying next to the corpses of their parents. Monsters gnawing at family members¡¯ bodies outside, while survivors cowered inside, not even daring to cry aloud. Trying to shift the topic, Ye Qiu said, ¡°By the way, earlier you mentioned inviting me to your house for dinner? What was that about?¡± Ye Qiu thought back carefully. In his memories, this situation hadn¡¯t happened in his previous life. Back then, he and Su Xintong were little more than classmates who barely exchanged five sentences. They were practically strangers. Su Xintong lowered her head, quickly wiping away her tears before whispering, ¡°You saved my dad. He asked me to invite you over for a meal, to thank you for saving his life.¡± ¡°Your dad?¡± Ye Qiu was startled, then seemed to realize something and blurted out. ¡°Uncle Su is your dad?! You¡¯re Uncle Su¡¯s daughter?!¡± ¡°Uncle Su? My dad¡¯s name is Su Huarui. He drives a taxi. It¡¯s about what happened yesterday, getting a refund at the taxi company.¡± Su Xintong lifted her head, her eyes red from crying. She was so anxious now, terrified that something bad had happened to her father. The sudden lockdown, the announcement about an unknown creature attack, and confirmed deaths. Plus, her father often drove around the city for work¡­ What if something really happened? As she spiraled into anxious thoughts, Ye Qiu suddenly smiled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, your dad will be fine.¡± Su Xintong looked at him, sniffling, and asked, ¡°How can you be so sure?¡± Ye Qiu awkwardly paused. He couldn¡¯t exactly tell her: ¡°In a few days, monsters will appear. You¡¯ll be killed by a monster with a stinger, and your dad will end up having to claim your body at the school.¡± If he said that, she would surely react the same way people had when he first warned them after being reborn, they simply wouldn¡¯t believe him. Thinking about it, he realized it was understandable. If someone suddenly told him: ¡°Don¡¯t shower at school in a few days or you¡¯ll die,¡± he wouldn¡¯t have believed it either! ¡°Anyway, your dad will be fine. Believe it or not,¡± Ye Qiu said lazily, not bothering to explain further. With that, he closed his eyes, intending to log into the game and check the situation. After all, game time passed at a ratio of 1:10 compared to reality. He didn¡¯t want to waste real-world time idly. Just as he was about to shut his eyes completely, his phone suddenly rang. Chapter 64 Chapter 64: A Boy and a Girl Alone Together¡­ I Don¡¯t Even Dare to Imagine! Ye Qiu picked up his phone and glanced at the caller ID. It was an unfamiliar number. He instinctively answered. Immediately, a familiar voice came through the phone. ¡°Xiao Qiu, it¡¯s me¡­¡± It was indeed Uncle Su¡¯s voice on the line! Before Ye Qiu could say anything, Uncle Su hurriedly continued, ¡°Don¡¯t put it on speaker, don¡¯t let Tongtong ¡ª my daughter, Su Xintong ¡ª hear this!¡± Ye Qiu looked over at Su Xintong standing not far away. She was still gripping her phone, calling again and again. ¡°Mm, she¡¯s been trying to call you this whole time,¡± Ye Qiu said in a lowered voice. A heavy sigh came through the phone. ¡°I¡¯m at the police station right now, using someone else¡¯s phone to call you.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Ye Qiu was stunned. ¡°Uncle Su, don¡¯t tell me you got caught¡­ at a foot massage place? Need me to come bail you out?¡± In his mind, he was already imagining such a scenario! Uncle Su immediately spat a few times, and then said, ¡°It¡¯s because of the gasoline incident! That old friend of mine from the gas station reported me, so the police tracked me down!¡± Ye Qiu froze for a moment, then quickly said, ¡°It¡¯s my fault, Uncle Su. I¡¯ll call the police and explain everything. They should come after me!¡± Yesterday, Ye Qiu had asked Uncle Su for help to buy some gasoline at an old friend¡¯s gas station, planning to use it for making Molotov cocktails. He thought it wouldn¡¯t cause any trouble, but clearly, he had been wrong. Uncle Su, however, spoke in a relaxed tone, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be out by tonight at the earliest, and no later than three days. No need for two people to get dragged into this. Plus, you¡¯re a student without a car. It would be hard to explain why you needed gasoline. It could leave a record and seriously affect your future.¡± Ye Qiu was touched but insisted, ¡°But I can¡¯t let you take the fall for me! I¡¯ll go turn myself in. Maybe they¡¯ll lighten the punishment.¡± He wasn¡¯t afraid of getting a criminal record. After all, in just eight days, the game world would start merging with reality. Crimes, criminal records, all of it would become meaningless. Everyone would enter a brand-new era. ¡°Makes no difference!¡± Uncle Su said firmly. ¡°Even if you turn yourself in, I¡¯ll still be implicated. I took you there myself, remember? Besides, you must have needed the gasoline for something important. I won¡¯t ask what. You just stay home, look after my daughter, and leave everything else to me!¡± Ye Qiu was speechless. Uncle Su went on, ¡°If I don¡¯t get out today, just let Tongtong stay with you for the time being.¡± ¡°Huh?!¡± Ye Qiu blurted out. ¡°What are you huh-ing for?!¡± Uncle Su scolded, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare get any funny ideas! Just focus on the upcoming exams. After the exams, you kids can do whatever you want!¡± Ye Qiu didn¡¯t even know how to respond anymore. He was about to say something when Uncle Su hurriedly added, ¡°Alright, I have to come up with an excuse to text Tongtong. I¡¯ll hang up now!¡± And with that, the call ended. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ye Qiu stared at his phone, utterly speechless. He glanced again at Su Xintong. She seemed to have seen a new message and was now staring at her phone, her face much calmer, even letting out a breath of relief. ¡ª Meanwhile, somewhere in Anlong City¡­ On a street outside a foot massage parlor, a young officer in uniform looked at a middle-aged man and sighed, ¡°Finished your call?¡± The man scratched his head awkwardly, handing the phone back. It was Uncle Su, Su Huari! If Ye Qiu and Su Xintong had been here, they would¡¯ve been stunned. The young officer, Officer Liu, was familiar with Uncle Su since he often rode in Uncle Su¡¯s taxi. ¡°So how long are you locking me up this time?¡± Uncle Su asked sheepishly. ¡°At least three days!¡± Officer Liu replied. ¡°Three days? That long?!¡± Uncle Su¡¯s face fell. Normally, it was just a fine or a single day¡¯s detention. Three days sounded serious! Officer Liu said, ¡°Because of the unidentified creature attacks today, the city is enforcing a three-day lockdown. Everyone involved in disturbances will be held.¡± Hearing this, Uncle Su was shocked. ¡°The whole city¡¯s under lockdown?¡± Officer Liu nodded. Uncle Su immediately thought about his daughter and Ye Qiu. Two young people, boy and girl, left alone for three days?! He didn¡¯t even dare imagine what might happen! He had just been worrying about how to convince his daughter to stay with Ye Qiu. Now he was worried they might get too close! Looking around the lobby of the massage parlor, Uncle Su saw a bunch of men and women huddled together, many barely covered with sheets. Among them was his old ¡°acquaintance¡± ¡ª Cuicui. After his divorce, Uncle Su hadn¡¯t remarried. Being a man with natural needs, he often came to such places. But today, of all days, disaster had struck. He got caught! He sighed, shaking his head. ¡°Whatever! Why worry so much? When I was in middle school, I already had a girlfriend. These two kids are almost about to graduate high school. What¡¯s there to be afraid of?¡± Still, he couldn¡¯t help but mutter, ¡°Just¡­ just don¡¯t let her get pregnant!¡± His standards kept lowering. After all, the boy with his daughter was his family¡¯s lifesaver. If it were anyone else, he wouldn¡¯t have been this lenient! ¡ª Back at the residential neighborhood¡­ Ye Qiu saw that Su Xintong had calmed down and asked, ¡°Did your dad text you?¡± Su Xintong finally smiled and nodded. ¡°Thanks to your good luck, he¡¯s fine. He said he ran into an old friend and went to their house. Then the lockdown started¡­¡± She trailed off mid-sentence, realizing she was now in basically the same situation. She immediately fell silent. Ye Qiu, still lying on the bed, waved and said, ¡°Relax. I know Uncle Su really well. Since you¡¯re his daughter, you¡¯re basically my¡­ well, my friend too. Just treat this place like your own home. Make yourself comfortable.¡± After all, Uncle Su was taking the fall for him. The least he could do was look after his daughter properly. ¡°At least¡­ at least help me get home tonight,¡± Su Xintong said, still looking a little uncomfortable. But after some hesitation, she finally sat down on a nearby chair. ¡°Sure,¡± Ye Qiu agreed readily. Then he remembered something and asked, ¡°By the way, what level are you now? Did you reach level 10 yet?¡± Chapter 65 Chapter 65: The System Gives Away Over a Million Gold Coins Every Day?! ¡°Level 10? What¡¯s that?¡± Su Xintong tilted her little head in confusion, radiating a pure and innocent beauty. Ye Qiu was stunned. ¡°Big sis, don¡¯t tell me you haven¡¯t even entered the game yet?¡± This time, Su Xintong understood and replied, ¡°The countdown just ended, and I entered the game world in my mind. But¡­ I don¡¯t really like playing games. Plus, this game feels way too real. I¡­ I can¡¯t really handle it¡­¡± Ye Qiu said helplessly, ¡°Don¡¯t you find it strange that everyone suddenly has a hyper-realistic game appear in their minds?¡± Su Xintong nodded matter-of-factly. ¡°Of course I do. But¡­ what can we do about it?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Ye Qiu was surprised. Su Xintong continued, ¡°At the end of the day, we still live in the real world. We still need to eat, drink, and take care of daily life. Plus, the college entrance exam is coming up. I have to use the little time left to study hard and get a good score. After the exam, when I have more free time, I¡¯ll play the game a little.¡± Ye Qiu didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry. But he couldn¡¯t refute her words. Because, in his previous life, he thought the same way. In fact, most people did. It wasn¡¯t that they didn¡¯t take the game seriously, but reality always seemed more important. Life, survival, they mattered more. Besides, most people found it hard to adapt to the game environment. They were too ordinary and mediocre inside the game. No matter how seriously they took it, it didn¡¯t change anything. In the end, they just lowered their expectations. Su Xintong was still talking. ¡°It¡¯s just like when I first entered high school. Everyone had a cellphone, but I didn¡¯t. I really envied them and wished I had one just to listen to music. ¡°But our family wasn¡¯t rich, and I didn¡¯t want to ask my dad for something like that. He was still using an old Nokia that could crack walnuts back then. ¡°Still, I¡¯m glad I didn¡¯t get a phone during my first two years of high school. It helped me build a solid academic foundation.¡± Listening to Su Xintong talk, Ye Qiu felt an odd sense of comfort. It reminded him of lying next to his mom as a child, listening to her stories about her own childhood. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A strong drowsiness crept over him. [Current game entry progress: 19.06%¡­] The next second, Ye Qiu appeared inside the Trial City, the game world. He couldn¡¯t afford to fall asleep in the real world! As soon as he logged in: [Ding! Your friend ¡°Thousand Faces Gentleman¡± has sent you a voice message. Accept?] [Ding! Your friend ¡°Smoky Clouds Fade¡± has sent you a voice message. Accept?] ¡°Accept!¡± Ye Qiu said, checking the in-game time. It had already been 15 days since the game launched! Most players had leveled up significantly by now. Early levels were easy to climb, gaining experience was simple. But once your level got higher, it flipped. Experience requirements became insane. For example, reaching Level 11 after hitting Level 10 would require as much experience as going from Level 1 to Level 10 combined! At that moment, the voice messages played: Thousand Faces Gentleman (voice): ¡°Big bro, I¡¯m Level 10 now. Can I do anything to help you?¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman (voice): ¡°Big bro, I¡¯m planning to move into a big city.¡± Thousand Faces Gentleman (voice): ¡°Big bro, I¡¯m scared that once I move, I¡¯ll never return to the Novice Village and never see you again. I¡¯ve decided! I won¡¯t go yet. I¡¯ll wait for you in the Novice Village!¡± These were all from Ning Qianjun. Then came messages from Zhao Hanyan (Smoky Clouds Fade): Smoky Clouds Fade (voice): ¡°Brother Cloak~ I¡¯ve reached Level 10! Is there anything I can do for you?¡± Smoky Clouds Fade (voice): ¡°Brother Cloak~ my family wants me to transfer to a big city¡­ I¡¯ll miss you so much¡­ I can¡¯t even say goodbye properly¡­ sobs¡­¡± Ye Qiu shuddered all over. He didn¡¯t have much impression of her from his previous life. She wasn¡¯t anywhere near as famous as Ning Qianjun. Curious, Ye Qiu checked some other information and found something interesting. He clicked on the ¡°Deputy Village Chief¡± title tab: [Ding! You received 1.69 million gold coins in taxes.] [Ding! You didn¡¯t use your tax income today. It has been automatically turned over to the National Treasury.] [Ding! You received 1.88 million gold coins in taxes.] [Ding! You didn¡¯t use your tax income today. It has been automatically turned over to the National Treasury.] [Ding! You received 1.74 million gold coins in taxes.] In total, he had accumulated over two and a half days¡¯ worth of tax money. Since time in reality moved ten times slower than in the game, Ye Qiu had spent about five hours in the real world, which translated to two days and two nights in-game. ¡°So this is the tax Elder Xu mentioned?¡± Ye Qiu finally understood. This tax income refreshed daily. But if you didn¡¯t use it in time, the system would automatically collect it and send it to the Heavenly Summer Empire (the in-game nation belonging to Hanxia players). ¡°Today¡¯s tax is 1.74 million¡­ I¡¯m rich!!!¡± Ye Qiu immediately tried to transfer the gold to his inventory. However¡­ [Ding! Taxes cannot be withdrawn, cannot be used for shopping, and cannot be traded. They can only be used for investment. Moreover, investment amounts must be reasonable and comply with regulations.] [Ding! Any profits gained from investments will belong entirely to the investor.] Hearing the system prompt, Ye Qiu deflated. Still, he wasn¡¯t too disappointed. He had expected something like this. Even though he had been reborn and blessed with extraordinary luck, there was no way the system would just hand him over a million gold coins a day for nothing. At least he could invest! And if he played it smart¡­ the profits would still be his! Thinking about this, Ye Qiu grinned foolishly. After calming down, he quickly sent a voice message to Ning Qianjun: ¡°If you haven¡¯t gone to the city yet, wait for me at the foot of Tiger Mountain.¡± Only a few seconds later, he received a reply: Thousand Faces Gentleman (voice): ¡°Big bro! You finally replied! I¡¯ll be at Tiger Mountain within three minutes!¡± On a small path, two players were rushing toward Tiger Mountain. They were Ning Qianjun and his sister, Ning Qingyue. Ning Qianjun was excited. ¡°See? I told you the mysterious NPC would reply eventually!¡± Ning Qingyue smiled, ¡°Hard work pays off. We didn¡¯t wait in vain!¡± Ning Qianjun now wore half a set of rare purple-grade gear, wielding the rare purple staff that Ye Qiu had once given him. As for Ning Qingyue, she had finally reached Level 10 and could now equip her Pink Spirit-grade hairpin. Her figure looked nimble yet sturdy. A ¡°Tank Healer¡± build, entirely focused on maximizing HP to complement the hairpin¡¯s passive skills. ¡°Brother,¡± Ning Qingyue said a little sadly, ¡°This might be the last time we see the mysterious NPC. I heard from players who¡¯ve transferred to the cities that to come back here, you¡¯d need to be at least Level 100 and pay one million spirit stones. I¡¯ve never even heard of spirit stones before. They must be a higher-grade currency than gold!¡± Ning Qianjun knew this too and could only sigh regretfully, ¡°We already got a ton of benefits from the mysterious NPC ¡ª backpacks full of rare gear, a purple rare item, and even a pink spirit weapon¡­ Stuff that most players can only dream about. I¡¯m already satisfied.¡± Their real reason for staying behind was simple: to say goodbye. Of course, if they could squeeze a few more rewards out of Ye Qiu¡­ that would be even better! As they talked, the two finally reached the foot of Tiger Mountain, and there they saw him. The figure wearing a hooded cloak! Chapter 66 Chapter 66: In the Big City, the Most Important Thing Isn¡¯t Level, It¡¯s¡­ Gold Coins! ¡°Big Brother, we¡¯re here!¡± as soon as they got close, Ning Qianjun excitedly called out, and Ning Qingyue hurried to catch up. In their eyes, among everyone in the Novice Village, only Mystery truly resembled the NPCs they knew from past games. Not to mention anything else, just the rewards from Mystery alone completely outclassed what other NPCs could offer! Ye Qiu nodded at the two and asked, ¡°When are you planning to teleport to the big city?¡± Ning Qianjun was about to respond, but before he could, his sister Ning Qingyue quickly interjected, ¡°We didn¡¯t rush to the big city because we were waiting for you! We hoped you could guide us. When do you think it¡¯s best for us to head over? Also, is there anything we need to watch out for once we¡¯re there? Any taboos?¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Ning Qianjun quickly sent his sister a private message with a ¡°thumbs up.jpg,¡± praising her for her quick thinking. His sister really knew how to talk! However, Ye Qiu was no ordinary NPC. The siblings¡¯ little tricks didn¡¯t fool him one bit. Still, he went along and said, ¡°When going to the big city, your level doesn¡¯t matter.¡± The siblings immediately straightened up and listened carefully. Ye Qiu continued, ¡°What matters the most is gold coins.¡± ¡°Gold coins?¡± The two exchanged glances. They weren¡¯t exactly short on money. In fact, compared to other players, they were actually quite wealthy! As time passed, the gold coin exchange system had become more stable. Currently, it was a 1:1 rate. Of course, this was the rate for Hanxia Country. Other nations had different rates. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Ye Qiu nodded. ¡°In the big city, everything costs money ¡ª changing classes, learning skills, picking up quests, even entering and exiting the city gates. Everything requires gold!¡± This wasn¡¯t exactly a secret anymore. Players who had already made it to the big city had started spreading the word, and soon the whole forum and gaming community would know. ¡°We have 140,000 gold coins right now!¡± Ning Qingyue said, with a bit of pride in her voice. Ye Qiu only smiled faintly. 140,000 gold coins sounded like a lot, but¡­ it was barely enough to cover some basic entrance costs. They didn¡¯t even have enough to change classes! ¡°More gold coins are always better,¡± Ye Qiu said simply. Just as the two were still processing his words, suddenly¡­ [Ding! The Deputy Village Chief has issued an investment mission: Acquire 500,000 gold coins and reach Level 15 within three days. If the mission fails, twice the amount of gold coins will be deducted. Accept?] This system prompt rang simultaneously in both of their minds. ¡°W-what?!¡± The siblings¡¯ eyes widened in disbelief, their faces full of shock! 500,000 gold coins! They had been grinding diligently for half a month since the server opened, barely taking a break. And in real life, they weren¡¯t ordinary people either. They had a strong ability to accumulate wealth. Yet, even after half a month, they had only managed to gather 140,000 gold coins between them. Combined, that was it. The two of them were already considered the richest players in the Novice Village! But now, each of them was being offered an investment mission requiring 500,000 gold coins! And this investment mission was different from ordinary quests. Normal missions only rewarded you after completing them. This investment mission gave you the gold coins immediately upon acceptance! As for failing the mission? They weren¡¯t worried at all. With 500,000 gold coins, they could easily invest elsewhere, like speculating in the gold market, and quickly recoup the money. Even if they lost, at most they¡¯d have to repay 1 million gold coins. For them, that wasn¡¯t a big deal! ¡°Accept!¡± ¡°Accept!¡± S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The two only exchanged a glance and instantly made their decision! In perfect sync, they accepted the investment mission. In the next second, each of their money pouches gained an extra 500,000 gold coins. Together, they now had an additional 1 million gold coins! It happened in just the blink of an eye. If they hadn¡¯t experienced it themselves, they wouldn¡¯t have believed it, even if beaten to death! ¡°You can choose to keep leveling up in the Novice Village or go to the big city to level up. The mission won¡¯t fail based on where you are,¡± Ye Qiu explained. ¡°We understand!¡± The siblings were both ecstatic and incredibly nervous! While failing the mission wouldn¡¯t be devastating for them, if they could succeed, why would they want to fail?! They deeply bowed to Ye Qiu in gratitude as a farewell gesture, then hurried back to the Novice Village to find Village Chief Elder Xu and use the teleportation array to head for the big city. After they left, Ye Qiu muttered to himself, ¡°You two better not let me down.¡± Before him, a panel displaying the siblings¡¯ status appeared. Among the stats, there was a new one ¡ª Intimacy. It was similar to Favorability, but fundamentally different. Favorability showed how much someone liked you, and it was one-sided. Intimacy, however, reflected mutual trust, relationship strength, and mutual recognition, with both sides sharing the same value. For example, Ye Qiu¡¯s intimacy with Ning Qianjun was 70 points, and with Ning Qingyue it was 50 points. Also, there was a rule for issuing investment missions, you couldn¡¯t issue them to anyone with intimacy over 90 points. Ye Qiu fully understood why: it was to prevent ¡°money laundering.¡± The higher the intimacy, the higher the potential investment amount. Right now, with their intimacy levels, the maximum investment he could give the siblings ranged from 0 to 5 million gold coins. If their intimacy ever rose above 80 points, investment amounts could reach hundreds of millions, and they could even be given spirit stones, a higher-tier currency! At this moment, Ning Qianjun and Ning Qingyue, after each paying 1,000 gold coins, stood upon a massive teleportation array. Ancient and mysterious, the teleportation array was covered in countless intricate runes they couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°Brother, leveling up 5 levels in three days¡­ sounds pretty tough,¡± Ning Qingyue said, a bit regretfully. At this moment, the two of them were carefully going over the investment task they had just accepted from Mystery. They discovered that investment tasks couldn¡¯t be completed as a team! Of course, they could still hire other players to help kill monsters like before, but it definitely wouldn¡¯t be as fast as recruiting NPCs. Ning Qianjun, however, wore a bright smile and said, ¡°Have you ever seen an investment mission before?¡± Ning Qingyue shook her head firmly. ¡°Not only have I never seen one, I¡¯ve never even heard of it. I even searched the forums earlier, and there weren¡¯t any posts mentioning anything like it!¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly it,¡± Ning Qianjun said. ¡°We¡¯re lucky. We might have stumbled onto a hidden quest!¡± Ning Qingyue was stunned for a moment. Ning Qianjun continued, ¡°This is 500,000 gold coins we¡¯re talking about! That¡¯s enough to directly buy a piece of ordinary Orange Epic equipment!¡± At the current exchange rate, in reality, 500,000 gold coins were equivalent to 500,000 yuan, not a small sum at all! Buying an orange epic equipment item with average stats was entirely possible. Ning Qingyue nodded in agreement but added hesitantly, ¡°But¡­ the teleportation array only cost 1,000 gold coins. And Mystery said that in the big city, gold is everything, that everything costs money. He even implied that the 140,000 gold we originally had wasn¡¯t enough. Don¡¯t you think he might be exaggerating a bit?¡± Looking around, although half a month had passed since the game launched, there still weren¡¯t that many players at level 10. But that didn¡¯t stop everyone from crowding around. Ever since yesterday, when the first level 10 player used the teleportation array to leave, this place had been bustling! ¡°1,000 gold coins just for teleportation?! What a rip-off!¡± ¡°Damn it, I might be stuck in the Novice Village for life!¡± ¡°I¡¯m level 8 now, and I only have 196 gold coins¡­¡± ¡°I hit level 10 yesterday, but I still haven¡¯t earned enough to teleport! So frustrating!¡± ¡°Rich people have it good. Just cash out in real life and buy gold in-game!¡± ¡°The Novice Village is pretty nice anyway. I don¡¯t wanna leave.¡± The other players were filled with envy and resentment toward the two siblings inside the teleportation array. Across all the Novice Villages, not many players had yet been able to afford teleporting to the big city. The cost was just too high! For rich players, 1,000 gold coins was nothing. But for the average player, it was a massive hurdle. A burst of dazzling light flared from the teleportation array. In the next instant, the siblings¡¯ figures vanished. [Ding! Congratulations, players, for arriving at Heavenly Summer Empire ¡ª Zhouxing City.] The light faded from their eyes, revealing an enormous, majestic plaza. All around them were intricate stone sculptures, guarded by hundreds of NPC soldiers. A man wearing heavy armor, towering at nearly three meters tall with an imposing aura and a friendly smile, approached them. He looked like an officer. ¡°Welcome, two foreign humans, to Zhouxing City!¡± he said warmly. ¡°Uh, you are?¡± Ning Qianjun asked politely. Just arriving in this unfamiliar big city, the siblings were still a bit dazed. Ning Qingyue, however, had already caught sight of something shocking. Her face froze in disbelief. Not far away, a group of players ¡ª clearly identifiable by their appearances ¡ª were shirtless, sweating under the scorching sun, hauling heavy stone slabs. They looked miserable, like ancient laborers building the Great Wall, battered and wounded. Some of the players spotted Ning Qianjun and Ning Qingyue and tried to wave at them. A nearby NPC soldier immediately whipped one of the players hard! ¡°Ow¡ª!¡± ¡°F*ck!¡± The player screamed in pain. The whip had salt water on it, making the wounds burn horribly. The pain felt just as real as in real life! The siblings were left dumbfounded. Still smiling, the officer extended a hand toward them and said, ¡°I am the Gatekeeper of Zhouxing City. If you wish to enter, you must pay a fee of 100,000 gold coins.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Ning Qingyue¡¯s beautiful eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°You¡ª!¡± Ning Qingyue was about to lose her temper, but Ning Qianjun quickly stopped her and asked politely, ¡°May I ask why the fee is so high?¡± Remaining calm to avoid unnecessary trouble, he waited for an answer. The gatekeeper explained, ¡°You are foreign humans, not native to our lands. The 100,000 gold fee covers the cost of creating your identity cards. Furthermore, once you become official residents of Zhouxing City, you¡¯ll enjoy absolute safety within the city. There¡¯s no need to fear monsters or raiders from the outside.¡± Ning Qingyue frowned. ¡°What if we don¡¯t have enough money?¡± The gatekeeper¡¯s smile faded slightly. ¡°Then you must surrender all your equipment and stay at least 10 li away from the city. You are not permitted to approach.¡± Ning Qingyue was so angry she almost started cursing. ¡°We probably can¡¯t win against them,¡± Ning Qianjun quickly whispered to her in private chat. ¡°These soldiers must be way higher level than us. And that officer, don¡¯t even think about it. If we provoke them and get killed, we¡¯ll lose our gear, experience, and even reputation with NPCs. It¡¯ll ruin our chances in the game!¡± ¡°But what are we supposed to do? Just fork over 100,000 gold?!¡± Ning Qingyue replied angrily. Ning Qianjun thought for a moment, then asked the officer, ¡°What about those players over there?¡± He pointed to the exhausted players laboring away like ancient slaves. One of them was actually a famous player from their own Novice Village ¡ª No. 0001 ¡ª who had left for the big city just yesterday. And now he was here, hauling bricks?! Chapter 67 Chapter 67: The Novice Village Actually Has Two Teleportation Arrays! ¡°They?¡± The city guard followed Ning Qianjun¡¯s gesture and looked over. Seeing the few bare-chested foreign human players, he smiled and said, ¡°They¡¯re just like you, outsiders. However, they didn¡¯t pay the entry fee. Without identity cards, they were stripped of their equipment and driven out of Zhouxing City. They were then killed by monsters outside, revived at the city¡¯s altar, and captured again. Now, they¡¯ve been relegated to laborers, building the city walls.¡± ¡°This, this¡­¡± Ning Qianjun and Ning Qingyue exchanged glances, both at a loss for words. Even in reality, they had never seen something so brutal. Before they could speak, the city guard continued, ¡°Some outsiders disappeared without a trace, but their criminal records remain. When they reappear, they¡¯ll be dragged back to continue their labor until they¡¯ve earned 100,000 gold coins and obtained an identity card. Only then can they leave and live normally.¡± The siblings quickly understood. Those who disappeared must have logged off. But unless they stayed offline forever, once they came back online, they would be recaptured to continue hard labor. The city guard¡¯s tone hardened, ¡°Since you two are outsiders, I¡¯ve wasted so much breath explaining things. If you refuse to cooperate, the man will stay to do labor, and the woman will be taken into the city to serve as a slave!¡± ¡°Wait! We¡¯ll pay!¡± Seeing the soldiers growing restless, Ning Qianjun hurriedly paid the entry fee. Each had to pay 100,000 gold coins, In an instant, 200,000 gold coins vanished from their wallets. Ning Qianjun¡¯s heart ached terribly, while Ning Qingyue fumed in frustration but was helpless. Who would¡¯ve thought a game could bully players like this? It was outrageous! On the other side, the guard¡¯s face immediately brightened with a warm, friendly smile after receiving the money. His tone completely flipped as he chuckled, ¡°Since you could each come up with 100,000 coins, you must be extraordinary. Once you truly settle into Zhouxing City, you¡¯ll find that this 100,000 gold was well spent.¡± He then handed them their identity cards. Upon inspection: [Identity Card (Common)] [Name: Ning Qianjun] S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Status: Civilian] [Rights: None] [Privileges: One free entry/exit to Zhouxing City per day.] [Identity Card (Common)] [Name: Ning Qingyue] [Status: Civilian] [Rights: None] [Privileges: One free entry/exit to Zhouxing City per day.] ¡°Just this?¡± The siblings were deeply disappointed. Just then, as they were about to enter the city, two more level 10 players teleported over from another Novice Village. Both were female players. Their situation was similar to Ning Qianjun and Ning Qingyue, but the two girls clearly couldn¡¯t afford the 100,000 gold coins. The city guard approached to collect the fee, but the girls scoffed and refused. ¡°You touch me and see what happens!¡± ¡°My boyfriend¡¯s a top player, decked out in Purple Rare gear! He¡¯s bringing his guild soon to smash down your stupid gates!¡± ¡°Stay away from us, you dumb NPCs!¡± When the soldiers moved closer, the two girls even fought back, scratching and clawing at them. In the next instant¡­ ¡°Kill them!¡± the guard barked coldly. In the blink of an eye, the two girls were decapitated, their heads rolling across the ground, blood spurting everywhere. Their bodies collapsed with a thud. The city guard then ordered, ¡°They can revive for now. Let them revive at the altar. Once they¡¯re back, capture them again and send them into the city as slaves.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The soldiers complied. Witnessing this scene left Ning Qianjun and Ning Qingyue shaken. If they had tried to resist just now, their fate would¡¯ve been the same! In front of these NPCs, even level 10 players were like ants, completely powerless to fight back. Without daring to delay further, the siblings quickly entered the city. They followed the guidance to find the appropriate guilds to join and undergo their job advancement: Ning Qianjun, being a mage, needed to join the Mage Association. Ning Qingyue, a priest, needed to join the Holy Church. As they entered the city, they were instantly captivated by the bustling scenery. It was as if they had traveled through time into a dazzlingly prosperous and romantic new world. Zhouxing City¡¯s streets stretched in all directions, filled with carriages, noble lords, commoners, wandering swordsmen, and even exotic foreigners. The city buzzed with life. By afternoon, under the setting sun and glowing clouds, Zhouxing City looked like it was wrapped in a fiery canopy. The trees along the roads swayed, flowers bloomed in riotous colors, and birds sang as they flew, filling the city with vitality and energy. ¡°This¡­ this is really a game?¡± Ning Qingyue stared, wide-eyed and breathless, utterly shocked. Meanwhile, Ning Qianjun felt a growing unease. He suddenly recalled meeting an old man surnamed Xin in the game. That man had mentioned a frightening thing: monsters from the game had started appearing in reality. His family elders clearly knew about it, but they hadn¡¯t publicized it widely. It seemed they were hiding something. Game? Reality? Ning Qianjun took a deep breath and said to his sister, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s find where we can change classes.¡± ¡ª Meanwhile, back in the Novice Village¡­ Ye Qiu, unaware of what the Ning siblings were experiencing, had already anticipated all this. In his previous life, many players had posted about similar experiences on various forums. Including Ye Qiu himself, who had gone through it once! The Heavenly Summer Empire under which Zhouxing City was located had nine major cities. Zhouxing City was simply the first city most players would be teleported to and the most prosperous one. However, players didn¡¯t have to go to Zhouxing City exclusively. Each city had different rules: Some allowed free entry once players reached level 15. Some cities had no defenses at night. Some coexisted with monsters. Some were slum zones where players could still live normally and take on quests. As for Ye Qiu, he hadn¡¯t rushed to use the teleportation array to leave the Novice Village because the Novice Village actually had two teleportation arrays! One led to Zhouxing City. The other¡­ Chapter 68 Chapter 68: The Hidden Third Continent! Ye Qiu had lived an entire lifetime before. Because of that, he had a deeper understanding of the Trial City. The whole Trial City was divided into two continents ¡ª East and West ¡ª comprising over a hundred kingdoms and empires. These were the main areas where players operated. However, it wasn¡¯t until version 2.0 that players and even the NPCs on both the Eastern and Western continents learned of a third continent that existed within the vast land of trials ¡ª the Central Continent! This continent was circular in shape, connecting the East and West, but was hidden away by a mysterious and powerful force. Not even NPCs above level 100 could detect or enter it. In fact, within the entire Novice Village, only the village chief, Elder Xu, knew this secret, and he hadn¡¯t told a single soul! It wasn¡¯t until the invasion of Outer Demons that the Central Continent gradually began to open. And the place Ye Qiu was heading to was exactly this Central Continent. In this land, NPCs were unaware of the existence of ¡°players.¡± There were no concepts such as the ¡°Undying Clan¡± or ¡°Outer Human Clan.¡± Yet, players could still receive quests there, and upon completion, the rewards in experience and attribute points were significantly greater than those offered by NPCs in the outside world! It was completely different from the Eastern and Western Continents. Only after version 2.0 launched and players set foot on the Central Continent did the average player level leap significantly. Even Ye Qiu had gained ten to twenty levels on the Central Continent! If the Eastern and Western Continents were the main storyline, then the Central Continent was like a dungeon questline, designed specifically to provide players with experience and attribute points. At the Novice Village, Elder Xu was busy handling players who had just reached level 10 and needed to be teleported to a major city. ¡°First, pay the 1,000 gold coins to activate the teleportation array. Then line up in pairs and enter the formation¡­¡± he used a magical voice amplification charm to repeat these instructions to the crowd of players. Meanwhile, he himself was sitting in a chair, sipping on wine and leisurely watching the level 10 players teleport away. Each time the teleportation array flashed, a pair of players would be teleported. That¡¯s 2,000 gold coins in the bag every 5 seconds. A truly lucrative business! Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Grandpa Village Chief~!¡± At that moment, Ye Qiu approached. Elder Xu had already noticed Ye Qiu but didn¡¯t even lift his eyelids, casually saying, ¡°What, you leaving the Novice Village too and heading to the city?¡± Ye Qiu¡¯s appearance caught the attention of many players. In this Novice Village #0001, aside from the Elder Xu, Ye Qiu was the most discussed ¡°NPC¡± among players! On the forums, there were countless threads titled things like ¡°Mysterious NPC¡± to attract clicks and traffic. Other Novice Villages even started events to find similar ¡°mysterious NPCs.¡± Some rich players even offered 100,000 yuan as a reward for finding one in their own village. However, it seemed that only Novice Village #0001 had this cloaked mysterious NPC appearing occasionally. No other villages had anyone like him. Ye Qiu ignored the players¡¯ stares and whispered to Elder Xu, ¡°What kind of wine do you like? Sauce-fragrance? Strong-fragrance? Light? How about some grape wine?¡± At this, Elder Xu finally opened his eyes, gave Ye Qiu a glance, and said, ¡°Don¡¯t just talk, where¡¯s the wine?¡± Ye Qiu pulled out a small glass of white liquor. 46% ABV Niulanshan Erguotou, costing only 14 yuan. Elder Xu had initially looked indifferent, but the moment the wine was brought out, his nose twitched and his eyes lit up. He immediately snatched it, took a deep breath, and downed it in one gulp! Elder Xu not only liked alcohol, he was obsessed with it. In Ye Qiu¡¯s previous life, after the game merged with the real world, some clever players used modern Earth-made wines to curry favor with NPCs. And it worked! Some players struck it big that way. After finishing the drink, Elder Xu smacked his lips, savoring the taste. ¡°Just average,¡± he said, ¡°Slightly stronger than my own brew.¡± ¡°You want more?¡± Ye Qiu quickly followed up and handed him another cup. This time something a little better. Elder Xu looked a bit surprised but drank it anyway. This time, a subtle change came over his expression. ¡°What¡¯s this wine called?¡± he asked casually. Ye Qiu grinned. ¡°Green Bottle Xifeng.¡± That one cost over 50 yuan. Elder Xu sat up straighter. ¡°Got anything better? Bring it all out, stop being stingy!¡± Ye Qiu just laughed and said, ¡°I do have better ones. Lots, actually. But¡­ they¡¯re hard to come by, even for me.¡± Elder Xu seemed to see through Ye Qiu¡¯s game and said bluntly, ¡°Say it. What do you want from me?¡± He licked his lips, still reminiscing about the taste of the wine. Ye Qiu chuckled internally. ¡°I want to go to the Central Continent¡­¡± Ye Qiu lowered his voice. But before he could finish the sentence, Elder Xu suddenly shot up from his chair and stared at him intensely. His gaze was sharp and terrifying, like countless swords ready to pierce him. Ye Qiu gulped nervously. That look was intimidating. Fortunately, Elder Xu didn¡¯t act further and calmly said, ¡°Follow me.¡± He then turned and walked deeper into the village. Ye Qiu obediently followed. With the two of them gone, the nearby players couldn¡¯t help but gossip. ¡°Hey, what do you think that mysterious NPC wanted from the village chief? Maybe we can trigger a hidden quest if we follow them!¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you try?¡± ¡°Haha¡­ no thanks.¡± ¡°Coward!¡± ¡°Hey, if an NPC gets mad, they really kill without blinking. Plenty of players have already died at the hands of the village chief!¡± ¡°By the way, I heard people who got teleported to the big cities are having a hard time!¡± ¡°What kind of trouble?¡± ¡°Some were forced to build city walls, others were enslaved to serve nobles, and a few accidentally joined vagrant groups and became bandits. Honestly¡­ I kinda don¡¯t want to go to the cities now!¡± ¡°Well, I heard a different version.¡± ¡°What version?¡± ¡°Just check the forums. Someone posted a video of a city called ¡®Zhouxing City.¡¯ It blew me away!¡± ¡°No way, this is a game?!¡± ¡°So breathtaking! It¡¯s like traveling back to the golden age of the Tang Dynasty!¡± ¡°It¡¯s like the second hometown I never knew I had!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t wait to go to the cities now!¡± The players¡¯ attention quickly shifted to the forum, captivated by a video showing the interior of Zhouxing City. Meanwhile, Elder Xu led Ye Qiu to a secluded clearing. He raised his hand and formed a magical gesture. A barrier of light surrounded the two of them. Then, he took out several talisman scrolls and placed them around the barrier to completely isolate them from the outside world. Only then did he turn to Ye Qiu and ask seriously, ¡°How do you know about the Central Continent?¡± Ye Qiu had already prepared his excuse and response for this question¡­ Chapter 69 Chapter 69: Elder Xu¡¯s Warning! The Evolution of the Trial City! And¡­ To Go or Not to Go? ¡°I had a dream,¡± Ye Qiu began slowly. ¡°After taking the Mysterious Potion, a set of memories that didn¡¯t belong to me suddenly appeared in my mind. Every time I close my eyes, they surface. In my dreams, I turn into a demon, listening to other demons talk. I can vaguely understand their language. ¡°In those dreams, the demons mentioned the words Central Continent. They said that after failing to invade the Novice Village, they were preparing to initiate a second plan ¡ª to invade the Central Continent.¡± These were all pre-planned words Ye Qiu had prepared. As soon as he finished, Elder Xu¡¯s expression changed drastically. He grabbed Ye Qiu¡¯s arm and asked urgently, ¡°Are you certain? These memories appeared only after taking the Mysterious Potion? And you frequently dream of demons conversing?¡± Ye Qiu nodded naturally, unbothered by the possibility of flaws in his story. Because in the future, the Outer Demons would indeed invade the Central Continent. That alone made his claim highly credible. Of course, others might still harbor some doubts. But the one in front of him now was Elder Xu, the village chief of the Novice Village! A being who knew almost everything, from the plans of the Outer Demons to the true nature of the Central Continent. Other NPCs couldn¡¯t compare. After a moment of silence, Elder Xu held out his hand and sighed, ¡°Bring out the good wine.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Ye Qiu was briefly confused. Elder Xu gave him a side glance and said, ¡°You want to go to the Central Continent, don¡¯t you?¡± Realizing what he meant, Ye Qiu immediately smiled and took several bottles out of his backpack. They were carefully re-bottled versions of Sky Blue, Jin Jiannan K6, and Luzhou Laojiao Blue Porcelain. The modern packaging had been replaced with plain clay flasks. These were all mid-range liquors. As for top-tier ones like Maotai and Wuliangye, Ye Qiu had already obtained them too, but he was saving them for later. It was best not to show all your cards at once. ¡°Where did you get so much liquor?¡± Elder Xu asked in surprise. ¡°Heh, brewed it myself,¡± Ye Qiu replied offhandedly. Elder Xu didn¡¯t buy it, but didn¡¯t press. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He opened a flask of Sky Blue, took a large swig, then let out a satisfied sigh. ¡°Good wine! Smooth, fragrant, mellow¡­ with an unforgettable aftertaste!¡± he exclaimed. Ye Qiu felt relieved. [Ding! Elder Xu¡¯s favorability towards you has reached 110.] Over 100 points! Ye Qiu was overjoyed. It was well-known that 100 favorability points signified the maximum ¡ª full trust and affinity. Previously, Ye Qiu had completed the mission to kill an Outer Demon, earning him the title of ¡°Hero¡± of the Novice Village, and thus maximum favorability with all NPCs there. But going beyond 100? That was no longer just trust, it was a bond akin to family. And now, Elder Xu asked solemnly, ¡°Child, are you certain you want to go to the Central Continent?¡± ¡°Absolutely!¡± Ye Qiu nodded without hesitation. To level up quickly¡­ To gain more bonus attribute points¡­ He had to go to the Central Continent! Only there could he reach level 100 in the shortest time possible and gain the ability to protect himself. Yes, level 100 was just the bare minimum for self-preservation. And that was only in the Version 1.0 of the game. Once Version 2.0 hit, even players at level 100 could die at any moment. This world was far from as safe and stable as it seemed. Seeing Ye Qiu¡¯s resolute expression, Elder Xu began to speak slowly, ¡°In the beginning, this world had no so-called Eastern and Western Continents, nor any Central Continent. The entire Trial City was originally one whole landmass. ¡°Until¡­ the ancient gods sealed this world. But over time, remnants of their power leaked out from the seal and spread across the land. Ambitious people used it to begin their rule and domination. ¡°A thousand years ago, the Human Emperor emerged. With absolute strength, he ruled all under heaven. He drew upon the power of the ancient gods and split the continent in two. forming the Eastern and Western Continents. ¡°As for the Central Continent, it was a region fully shrouded by divine power, a forbidden zone.¡± As Elder Xu spoke, Ye Qiu finally began to understand. The Human Emperor would later appear in version 3.0 of the game, along with a ¡°Human Emperor Quest.¡± Completing that would grant access to the Human Emperor¡¯s Legacy. Of course, that was far into the future. Ye Qiu¡¯s current level was nowhere near high enough for that content. Elder Xu continued, ¡°After the Human Emperor¡¯s death, the seals over Trial City began to weaken. This led to the entire Trial City drifting through the vast cosmos, carried by the fragmented powers of the ancient seal. ¡°Wherever the Trial City passes, all planets, lands, and lifeforms merge into it. ¡°Newly merged lifeforms, we call them the Undying or the Outer Human Race. ¡°After a while, the Undying¡¯s ability to resurrect fades, and the resurrection altars fall silent again, waiting for the next arrival. ¡°Cycle after cycle, era after era. Until now, it is your Blue Star¡¯s turn.¡± Elder Xu turned to look at Ye Qiu again, but was startled. Because he saw no surprise on Ye Qiu¡¯s face, only calm, as if he¡¯d already known all this. And indeed, Ye Qiu had known all of it. Having been reborn, hearing these things now brought a strange sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. It was like looking at the world from another life. There was sorrow in his heart. Blue Star was Earth. His home. Even with all its problems, its unfairness and hardships, it was still better than being devoured by the Trial City. Right now, reality still hadn¡¯t been affected by the game. Everything still looked beautiful. People were still enjoying the game as entertainment. But in just 8 more days, everyone would come to understand what true terror meant. What true despair really was. ¡°Oh, by the way,¡± Elder Xu added with a serious tone. ¡°The Central Continent has no resurrection altar. It is a zone completely cut off from the outside world. If you die in there, your soul dies with you. That is true death!¡± He gave Ye Qiu a sharp look. ¡°Child, one last time, I ask you: Are you still determined to go to the Central Continent?¡± Chapter 70 Chapter 70: The Village Chief¡¯s Legendary Gift! ¡°I¡¯m going! I must go!¡± Ye Qiu didn¡¯t hesitate even for half a second before nodding resolutely. Elder Xu was momentarily stunned. He hadn¡¯t expected such a firm and immediate response from Ye Qiu. So he emphasized again, ¡°As I just said, the Central Continent is completely cut off from the outside world. There are no resurrection altars there. If you die in the Central Continent, you will truly die!¡± Ye Qiu silently rehearsed the lines he had prepared in advance. Now that the timing felt right, he put on an expression of righteous sacrifice and declared with fervor, ¡°Elder Xu, I know you¡¯re worried about my safety, but¡­ I am not afraid! ¡°Because I am the man hailed as a ¡®hero¡¯ in this Novice Village ¡°If I could slay the Outer Demon once here, I can do it again in the Central Continent! ¡°I want to save not only the people of our Novice Village, but also those of the human race living in other regions! ¡°Our human race may be inherently weak, but the reason we¡¯ve survived until now is thanks to great heroes like the Human Emperor¡­ and like you, Village Chief! ¡°With such fearless predecessors as my example, how could I cower in fear and cling to life?¡± This passionate and stirring speech left Elder Xu stunned for a long while. It had been a long time since he¡¯d heard ¡ª or seen ¡ª a young man speak with such valor and conviction. His mind involuntarily drifted to the era of the Human Emperor¡­ S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A time when the powerful humans fought against the heavens, against other races, against the demonic monsters of the world ¡ª battle after battle, life and death! All just to win a place for the human race to survive, to have a homeland, free from constant wandering and fear. Elder Xu¡¯s vision blurred for a moment. From Ye Qiu¡­ he seemed to glimpse a shadow of the Human Emperor. Rubbing his eyes gently, he gave a bitter smile. ¡°I¡¯m getting old¡­ so old¡­¡± Then, he extended a hand and took out a circular formation plate, slowly handing it to Ye Qiu. ¡°This is the teleportation array disc to reach the Central Continent.¡± Ye Qiu held back his excitement and carefully accepted it. Truthfully, he was indeed afraid of death. Who wouldn¡¯t be? But after everything he¡¯d experienced, including the resurrection altars failing in his past life and countless brushes with death, he had come to terms with it. Besides, who said the Central Continent really had no means of revival? There were still many other revival methods in the Trial City ¡ª items, skills, inheritances ¡ª and Ye Qiu had plans to obtain them all! He immediately checked the item. [Trial City Teleportation Disc (Legendary ¨C Damaged)] [After use, automatically sets up a teleportation array, allowing travel to the altar site in the Central Continent. (Current uses: 1) ¡°One use is enough!¡± Ye Qiu took a deep breath. After all, he had a teleportation skill of his own. Elder Xu then gave a stern warning, ¡°Child, remember this well. The Central Continent is unlike the outside world. They don¡¯t know about the Outer Humans nor the Outer Demons. They don¡¯t even know there¡¯s an Eastern and Western Continent outside. They live in a realm surrounded by the ancient gods¡¯ power and have their own way of life. ¡°Never try to break their understanding of the world, and absolutely avoid conflicts with them. Otherwise, it could mean your death! ¡°Thank you, Village Chief, for your concern. I¡¯ll remember: keep a low profile, act with purpose, slay Outer Demons, and restore peace to humanity!¡± Ye Qiu stood tall, voice filled with devotion to the human cause. The more Elder Xu looked at him, the more satisfied he felt. It was precisely because he cared so much that he had asked again and again, reminding Ye Qiu not to act carelessly or make the wrong choices. After a moment of thought, Elder Xu suddenly raised his hand and pressed it to Ye Qiu¡¯s forehead. ¡°I¡¯m old now, and I don¡¯t have anything else to give. So I¡¯ll give you a strand of mysterious sword intent I obtained thousands of years ago. I hope you can comprehend your own sword technique from it.¡± A system notification immediately chimed. [Ding! You have received a gift from the Village Chief Elder Xu: A strand of Mysterious Sword Intent.] ¡°Huh?¡± Ye Qiu blinked. He quickly checked the details. [Strand of Mysterious Sword Intent (Legendary)]: [Viewing this daily grants 1000 exclusive skill points in Sword Techniques.] ¡°Holy crap!¡± Ye Qiu was overjoyed. Although it could only be applied to sword skills, it was already far more valuable than most other legendary equipment. Even more precious than legendary elixirs that permanently increase attributes! Why? Because artistic intent was rare beyond imagination. Even ancient gods rarely left it behind! And ¡°Sword Intent¡± within that realm¡­ was the rarest of all! Ye Qiu couldn¡¯t wait. He already wanted to start meditating and comprehending it. If he could master something like the Thirteen Styles of Slashing, he¡¯d hit the jackpot! Chapter 71 Chapter 71: The Only Hidden Quest ¡ª Marry My Daughter! After bidding farewell to Elder Xu, the village chief, Ye Qiu went to visit the herbalist shopkeeper, his master¡¯s wife. He also brought some snacks for Ji Yun: instant noodles, chips, soda, candy¡­ Even though most of them were junk food, they were tasty! ¡°You¡¯re leaving?¡± His master¡¯s wife looked at Ye Qiu, hesitating as if she wanted to say something. Ye Qiu nodded. ¡°I need to go to the big city to complete my class change. But don¡¯t worry, Master¡¯s wife, I¡¯ll come back and visit you often.¡± He didn¡¯t have deep feelings for this ¡°discounted¡± master¡¯s wife, but he could sense that she genuinely cared about him, even if there were some self-interests mixed in. She nodded, saying, ¡°I know you¡¯re capable. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll find your way back. But once you¡¯re in the city, focus on leveling up. Don¡¯t waste time running around.¡± Ye Qiu nodded and asked, ¡°Is there anything you need me to do?¡± She hesitated again, clearly conflicted. But now that Ye Qiu asked directly, she no longer kept it hidden. ¡°I want you to marry my daughter!¡± ¡°Huh?!!!¡± Ye Qiu almost spat out his drink. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the same time¡­ The herbalist shopkeeper has issued a quest. [Marry her daughter, Ji Yun.] [Quest type: Unique Hidden Quest] [Accept?] She seemed to expect this reaction, letting out a helpless sigh. ¡°To tell you the truth¡­ Ji Yun isn¡¯t fully human.¡± ¡°???¡± Ye Qiu was stunned again. She continued, ¡°Her father is actually a half-demon from beyond this realm. Because he had some human blood, he could take on human form. ¡°Half-demons are unique beings ¡ª part human, part demon. They¡¯re naturally strong¡­ but also short-lived. ¡°Ji Yun¡¯s father left the Novice Village to find a way to extend his life. His time was almost up.¡± Her expression carried emotions of nostalgia, happiness, sorrow, anger, and helplessness. Ye Qiu asked, ¡°Then what about Ji Yun? How long can she live? And why the need for marriage?¡± Looking toward the back room, her face filled with affection and pity. ¡°Ji Yun is sixteen. She only has two years left to live. The offspring of a half-demon and a human are even more unstable, especially in lifespan. Almost none of them live past eighteen! ¡°And as for the marriage¡­ It¡¯s not just necessary, it must be with you!¡± Ye Qiu was dumbfounded. He scratched his head awkwardly. ¡°I mean, I guess I look okay, but I¡¯m sure there are people out there better looking than me?¡± He was realistic about himself. While he was undeniably handsome ¡ª even compared to celebrity-level looks ¡ª he wasn¡¯t the ultimate. Even against top-tier stars like Edison Chen at his peak, Ye Qiu might have to step aside. His master¡¯s wife shook her head with a laugh. ¡°It¡¯s not about looks!¡± Ye Qiu checked himself. What was it then? She explained, ¡°You¡¯ve taken the Mysterious Potion, haven¡¯t you?¡± Ye Qiu nodded instinctively. ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± she continued. ¡°If the potion takes full effect, you¡¯ll have a chance to inherit demon blood.¡± Now Ye Qiu was the one half-laughing, half-crying. ¡°Master¡¯s wife, you know how low the success rate is for that. It¡¯s practically zero!¡± He glanced at his progress: 42.77%. But even a minor failure could reset it all to zero. Even Ye Qiu himself couldn¡¯t guarantee success. She sighed. ¡°Yes, the success rate is about the same as a new ¡®Human Emperor¡¯ appearing in this world. Nearly impossible. ¡°But¡­ there are no other options. And time is running out. ¡°Demon blood is too rare. Native demons only have one drop of pure blood in their bodies. Outer Demons might have more, but they¡¯re nearly impossible to find. ¡°My daughter only has two years left. We have no choice but to take this desperate shot.¡± She looked at Ye Qiu with hope in her eyes, waiting for his response. But Ye Qiu hesitated. Others might still treat this Trial City like a game, thinking of NPCs as just code. But not him. He knew these ¡°NPCs¡± were real people. Things in the Trial City ¡ª like marriage¡­ or pregnancy ¡ª were as real as in the real world! He shook his head to clear those indecent thoughts. Then he asked, ¡°Does Ji Yun know about this?¡± She nodded. ¡°She¡¯s known for a long time. And she¡­ doesn¡¯t object. She¡¯s willing to marry you.¡± Ye Qiu blinked. He pictured Ji Yun ¡ª that sweet and beautiful young girl. In his past life, Ji Yun was considered one of the most beautiful characters by many players. Honestly, who could resist a beauty so readily available? ¡°What do I need to do after the marriage to extend her life?¡± he asked. This was a crucial question. Was it dual cultivation? If so¡­ well, he could stock up on some health supplements. His master¡¯s wife coughed lightly, leaned in close, and whispered in his ear. Even with two lifetimes of experience, Ye Qiu blushed instantly. ¡°This¡­ this doesn¡¯t seem right¡­¡± She gave a bitter smile. ¡°If you don¡¯t agree, I won¡¯t force you.¡± Ye Qiu was about to refuse. This kind of quest¡­ maybe it was better not to take it at all! Then she added, ¡°If you help, I¡¯ll reward you with a Legendary-grade elixir.¡± ¡°I accept.¡± Ye Qiu took the quest immediately, afraid she¡¯d change her mind. Seeing him accept, she finally smiled, her tone softening. ¡°Then once you fully fuse with the potion and inherit the bloodline, come and marry my daughter.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Ye Qiu gritted his teeth and nodded. He took one last glance at the tall, slim-waisted master¡¯s wife and quickly turned to leave. As he walked away, a flash of red gleamed in her eyes, alluring and dangerous. ¡ª Inside the house¡­ ¡°Mom, was that my junior brother just now?¡± A pure-looking girl ran in from the back, her face still a little smudged with ash, likely from refining medicine. Her mother returned to her usual demeanor and pulled her daughter close, smiling. ¡°Why do you call him both ¡®junior brother¡¯ and ¡®big brother¡¯?¡± Ji Yun giggled. ¡°Well, I¡¯m your daughter and your eldest disciple. Ye Qiu is your youngest disciple. So I¡¯m his senior sister. But since he¡¯s older than me, I call him big brother too~¡± Her mother chuckled. Though Ji Yun seemed mature, her mental development was a bit behind kids her age. A natural flaw of being half-demon. Normally she appeared fine, but spend enough time with her, and you¡¯d notice it. ¡°Oh? What are these colorful little packages?¡± Ji Yun spotted the large bag on the table and looked curious. Her mother opened it and said gently, ¡°These are snacks your junior brother brought for you. He said they¡¯re for you to try.¡± ¡°Instant noodles!¡± Ji Yun spotted something familiar, instantly pulling it out. It was the same noodles she¡¯d eaten with Ye Qiu before. ¡°So yummy! ¡°Mom, you have to try them later. They¡¯re really delicious!¡± She eagerly explained how to prepare the noodles, like it was the most exciting thing in the world. Her mother smiled and listened attentively. But at the corner of her lips, a faint trail of blood appeared. Purple blood. Chapter 72 Chapter 72: Heading to the Big City, A New Chapter Begins! ¡°So strange!¡± The moment Ye Qiu stepped out of his ,aster¡¯s shop, his entire state of mind shifted. The earlier heat and restlessness vanished completely. ¡°I consider myself morally upright, like Liu Xiahui who remained composed with a woman in his lap. So why was I just now constantly sneaking glances at master¡¯s wife? ¡°And more than that¡­ why was I thinking those kinds of thoughts? ¡°That¡¯s not who I am!¡± Ye Qiu believed himself to be a gentleman, someone who looked down on indulgence in beauty. Yet just now, he¡¯d felt an inexplicable urge to get close to master¡¯s wife¡­ and had even entertained impure thoughts! ¡°No, no! I¡¯ve got to stop thinking like that!¡± Ye Qiu calmed his mind and took one last deep glance at the pharmacy behind him. He had the strong feeling that this Novice Village still held many secrets and hidden quests yet to be uncovered. But now, it was time to head to Zhouxing City. At the teleportation array, Ye Qiu paid 1,000 gold coins and stood on the formation alongside another player. A flash of light enveloped them, and in the next instant, their surroundings changed completely. They had left the Novice Village. ¡°That fast?!¡± the female player beside Ye Qiu exclaimed in surprise, looking around with wide eyes, amazed by everything she saw. And when she turned around to see the massive, towering city walls behind them, her eyes practically popped out of her head. ¡°This game is incredible! I thought the Novice Village was realistic, but the big city is even more stunning!¡± She was a level 10 player. Female, with an average appearance: chubby cheeks, a round face with freckles near her nose. Her class was actually Warrior, and she carried a massive battle axe on her back. Given her gender and build, she was a rare sight among warrior players. Ye Qiu, on the other hand, remained calm. But in his eyes, there was a flicker of long-lost emotion. ¡°Zhouxing City¡­ we meet again.¡± he murmured in his heart. At that moment, a city guard approached with several soldiers in tow. Heavenly Eye! Information about the guard and soldiers appeared: [Name: Wang Dayong] [Role: City Guard] [Level: 51] [Name: Li Jieyue] [Role: City Soldier] [Level: 34] Other soldiers were around level 30. ¡°Welcome, you two. You should already know the rules, right?¡± Wang Dayong said with a smiling face that looked warm and approachable. But Ye Qiu knew better. This guy was a classic smiling tiger. So long as you obeyed the rules, even if you were level 0, he¡¯d treat you like an old friend. But if you broke the rules and weren¡¯t stronger than him, he¡¯d kill you without hesitation. In his past life, many players were slaughtered here by this very man¡¯s order for not following the rules. One time, an entire group of players clashed with the city guards. All the players were wiped out, three guards died, and Wang Dayong was only lightly wounded. The attacking players were all marked as red names by the system, unable to enter the city until they cleansed their status. Most players couldn¡¯t adapt to the world of Trial City at the beginning. It wasn¡¯t until the game merged with reality and the resurrection altars stopped working that people started taking the game seriously. ¡°What rules?¡± the round-faced girl asked, completely lost. Ye Qiu reminded her, ¡°Check the forum.¡± She immediately pulled it up and found several pinned threads about Zhouxing City. One in particular detailed that players who arrive in the city must pay 100,000 gold coins to obtain an identity token, which grants them a legal status inside the city. Without it, they¡¯d have to unequip all gear and stay far away. ¡°Ah?!¡± After reading, the girl¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°I worked so hard just to save up 1,000 coins! And now I need 100,000?! Might as well just kill me!¡± Wang Dayong¡¯s expression changed at her words, his smile fading into a stern frown. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± The girl quickly grabbed his arm and began shaking it. ¡°Come on, NPC uncle! I¡¯m broke, okay? Can¡¯t you cut me a break? I¡¯ll pay you back as soon as I earn it!¡± She even twisted her chubby body seductively. Wang Dayong immediately looked disgusted. With a cold face, he said, ¡°Either pay, or take off your gear and be exiled from Zhouxing City!¡± The girl asked, ¡°Is there no other way?¡± Wang Dayong pointed not far off, where several players were laboring. ¡°See them? The men who can¡¯t pay work as laborers, hauling bricks and rebuilding city walls. That¡¯s how they earn money. ¡°As for the women¡­ they either haul bricks like the men, or¡­ well, you will be hauling bricks.¡± He glanced her up and down, then added that final sentence with a look that pierced straight through the heart. But the round-faced girl held her head high. ¡°Don¡¯t look down on me! I put all my stat points into stamina. I¡¯m stronger than most male players!¡± In real life, she may not match up to men. But in the game, she had no reason to be inferior. ¡°You better be,¡± Wang Dayong replied dryly, then had the soldiers lead her off to work. Then he turned to Ye Qiu. ¡°And you?¡± But before he could finish his sentence, his expression brightened again. Ye Qiu had already handed over 100,000 gold coins in a trade. From killing the Split Demon, he¡¯d received a system reward of 100,000 coins. ¡°Young man, welcome to Zhouxing City!¡± Wang Dayong grinned and threw an arm over Ye Qiu¡¯s shoulder, suddenly treating him like a VIP. He handed over a wooden identity tag. [Identity Tag (Common)] [Name: Ye Qiu] [Status: Civilian] [Authority: None] [Permissions: One free entry/exit from Zhouxing City per day.] Just then, more players arrived via teleportation. Wang Dayong was about to welcome them, but¡­ ¡°Just a common wooden tag?¡± Ye Qiu suddenly spoke up, stopping him. Wang Dayong paused, smile still on his face, and looked back. ¡°Young man, everyone who first joins Zhouxing City gets a common tag. If you want a higher-level tag, you¡¯ll need to make contributions. Once you earn enough, we¡¯ll upgrade your tag.¡± Ye Qiu didn¡¯t respond. He raised the tag in his hand and¡­ With a firm squeeze, the wooden tag shattered into splinters in his palm! ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this, kid?¡± Wang Dayong¡¯s smile vanished. His eyes turned cold and murderous as he placed a hand on the hilt of his blade. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The nearby soldiers also shifted aggressively, eyes sharp and ready to strike at any moment.