"Wuwuwu~~~~"
In the pine forest south of the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, a Flame Thorn Porcupine charged through like a little train, its noisy progress accompanied by the repeated sound of someone being knocked down. Indeed, this was the 190th death since awakening the "Life and Death Indifferent" skill. At this point, the accumulated bonuses to attack, defense, and resistance had boosted his true stats to 20 times his base attributes.
In the forest graveyard, Lin Zhao, in his soul form, rose with a frown. He estimated that it was about time. 20 times his attributes was more than enough to wreak havoc in the新手村 (newbie village). Any more might attract unwanted attention, leading to a report. After all, even when farming monsters with a bug, one shouldn't be too ostentatious. Being low-key was always beneficial.
Thus, he chose to return to his birthplace for resurrection instead of reviving in the graveyard.
"Swish!"
Bathed in a white light, Lin Zhao, clad only in shorts and carrying a ancient sword on his back, reappeared in Luoxia Village. His sword-like brows lifted, and he exuded an imposing presence. Now, he was ready to unleash his might.
"Huh?!"
Outside, Ding Chi's voice was heard, "Ah Zhao, you're back? Your online location on my friend list shows you're in the newbie village. Da Jun and I are already level 18. Should we come team up and help you level?"
"No need."
Lin Zhao shook his head. "You two keep leveling. I'll try solo training."
"Not eating?"
Zhang Jun asked, "You haven't eaten a bite since noon. Are you really not logging off?"
"Yeah..."
Ding Chi chuckled, "We're just using ordinary game pods. Not like the nutrient ecological pods you were in when you were unconscious. Doesn't it bother you not to eat or drink?"
"It does bother me..."
Lin Zhao touched his stomach and gave a wry smile. "My stomach's been rumbling for a while, but there's nothing I can do. I have to keep going online. I have a buff on me. I'll worry about it once I catch up in level!"
"Okay, alright!"
...
It was already 9 PM on the first day of the server launch. Ding Chi and Zhang Jun were both level 18. Today, someone was bound to reach level 20 and leave the newbie village. Perhaps some groups would even attempt to challenge the newbie village's final boss. But these were not Lin Zhao's immediate concerns. His priority was to reach level 10 and boost his attributes, so that the 20x attack and defense buff would become truly effective!
Therefore, he borrowed 100g from Ding Chi and went directly to the newbie village's blacksmith shop. After speaking with the blacksmith, he purchased three level 1 equipment pieces. The attributes of these items were meager, but they were exactly what Lin Zhao needed at this moment:
[Rusty Iron Sword] (Damaged)
Attack: 3-5
Required Level: 1
[Rusty Armor] (Damaged)
Type: Armor
Defense: 4
Required Level: 1
[Rusty Greaves] (Damaged)
Defense: 2
Required Level: 1
...
He equipped all of them with a "咔咔咔" sound. These items now represented his entire fortune. With the equipment on, his attributes naturally increased significantly:
[White Clothes] (Apprentice Swordsman)
Level: 1
Attack: 4-9
Defense: 9
Health: 100
Critical Hit: 0
Lifesteal: 0
Intelligence: 99
Charisma: 0
Combat Power: 6
...
He was now a novice with a combat power of 6. However, these were just the displayed stats. His hidden attributes were further amplified by the 20x buff. In reality, Lin Zhao's current stats were an attack power of 80-180 and a defense of 180. This was a level that allowed him to walk through the newbie village with impunity.
Time to head out and level up!
Excitedly, he rushed out of the newbie village, ancient sword on his back. His gaze was arrogant; the swarms of level 1 wild chickens outside were beneath his notice, killing them would be a waste of time. He headed straight for the deeper maps. Along the way, as he was attacked by small monsters, "-1" would continuously float above his head. He was only taking 1 point of mandatory damage. These stats were too dominant!
Not long after, he arrived at a lush forest. The sound of "zhi zhi" emanated from within – it was a group of green mantises wielding dual blades. Lin Zhao's level was too low to see their levels, but he felt an arrogant confidence. Looking at the swarm of mantises, he felt they were merely waiting to be slaughtered. With his iron sword, he charged at a green mantis and swung.
"Swoosh!"
"152!"
The large damage number was a pleasing sight. The HP of a level 12 monster was not much. This single strike from Lin Zhao had already depleted nearly 50% of the green mantis's health. As the green mantis shrieked and raised its dual blades, Lin Zhao's second sword strike was already out, instantly piercing its body. The blade was covered in green ichor. At the same time, a shower of golden light descended upon him, warming him from head to toe. He had leveled up!
Furthermore, he had instantly jumped to level 3, gaining 20 free attribute points to allocate.
Allocation was also a matter of consideration.
Lin Zhao already had a plan in mind. As a swordsman, he prioritized attack. Defense was not something he needed to worry about adding. He would primarily add to attack. However, a swordsman who only focused on attack wouldn't be ideal, as it could make him seem clumsy. He wasn't a berserker, a profession known for brute strength and simple minds. Therefore, a swordsman should also add some agility. After all, his senior brother had once said, "We swordsmen must draw our swords swiftly." Without adding agility, how could he draw his sword quickly? Besides, swordsmen would inevitably have control skills in the late game. With an advantage in agility, they could gain the first strike against heavy armor professions like berserkers and paladins.
Thus, Lin Zhao's plan was to maintain a 4:1 ratio. For every 10 attribute points gained per level, he would add 8 points to attack and 2 points to agility. He would then reconsider adding some health to beef up his HP in the mid-game. Other stats were not important.
With a few swift movements, he allocated the points. Adding 16 points to attack instantly increased Lin Zhao's base attack power by 8-16 points, making his entire being reborn.
Currently, level 3 Lin Zhao had a base attack power of 12-25. With the 20x buff, this translated to 240-500. In the newbie zone, who would dare to challenge him!
He continued. This time, swinging his sword was like slicing through vegetables. In the blink of an eye, he had defeated a group of mantises and leveled up to 6. The experience gained for further kills would be minimal. According to the rules previously announced by "Tian Xia," players who killed monsters of a higher level gained more experience, and the increase was geometric. Of course, this was under the condition that the player's output was the primary factor, otherwise, it would be considered "power leveling," and the experience gain would be significantly reduced.
He ventured deeper into the forest. Level 15 wild wolves were no longer worth his attention. Lin Zhao, iron sword in hand, headed for the deepest part, arriving at a forest filled with small golden flowers. Further ahead were a group of level 20 Hungry Gray Wolves. These wolves had silver-white fur and large heads, their scarlet eyes fixed on the level 5 swordsman who had just entered the area.
Fighting level 20 monsters should be fine.
But Lin Zhao remained cautious. He approached from the edge, carefully triggering the aggro of only one Hungry Gray Wolf. As he got within approximately 20 yards, the Hungry Gray Wolf suddenly lifted its head, its fur bristling. It stared warily at the sneaking figure, then sprang up and charged, performing an aerial pounce.
Lin Zhao's expression sharpened, yet he didn't panic. He felt a strange, inexplicable sensation. It was as if he still retained the foundation of an eighth-level martial artist, his agility and perception seamlessly transforming into in-game movement and awareness. His left leg suddenly pushed back, bracing his weight. He raised both hands, using his iron sword to block the Hungry Gray Wolf's pounce!
"Clang~~~"
Sharp teeth bit onto the sword blade, sparks flying. This block was only half successful. Lin Zhao only felt a slight sting, his health dropping by 22 points. It was still manageable. For his 600 HP, this was merely a scratch.
"That's good."
Lin Zhao confirmed that fighting level 20 monsters was feasible. He immediately relaxed, sidestepping and fiercely slicing the Hungry Gray Wolf's neck. A damage number of 487 erupted. The total HP of a level 20 Hungry Gray Wolf was about 500. One more strike would finish it. Killing monsters of a higher level yielded a great deal of experience. Instantly, another shower of golden light descended. He was level 7!
Simultaneously, with the demise of the Hungry Gray Wolf, a "clink" sound was heard. Besides a few copper coins, a pair of white greaves also dropped. Picking them up, he checked their stats – they were quite decent:
[Hungry Gray Wolf Greaves] (White Gear)
Type: Armor
Defense: 12
Required Level: 10
...
Armor greaves with 12 defense, and they were white. They were much better than the damaged greaves with a pitiful 2 defense that he had bought in the newbie village. Currently, Lin Zhao's attribute points were all invested in attack and agility, so defense had to rely on equipment. This pair of greaves had arrived very timely!
He continued. Another 3 levels and he could equip them.
Lin Zhao began to sweep through the forest with his sword, defeating the Hungry Gray Wolves in the woods two at a time. He absorbed a large amount of experience. The highest-level monsters in this newbie village were level 20. But it was the first day of the server launch, and the maps with various low-level monsters in the newbie village were already overcrowded, causing the leveling progress of players in the entire Huaxia region to be very slow. Therefore, by 9 PM, the highest-level player in the newbie village was only level 18, and they were just starting to attempt level 20 monsters. Lin Zhao's overtakes were happening far too quickly.
A few minutes later, accompanied by continuous showers of golden light, Lin Zhao successfully reached level 10!
With a "clink," he put on the white gear, the Hungry Gray Wolf Greaves. His defense power surged, and his attack power became even more terrifying:
[White Clothes] (Apprentice Swordsman)
Level: 10
Attack: 40-81
Defense: 28
Health: 1000
Critical Hit: 0
Lifesteal: 0
Intelligence: 99
Charisma: 0
Combat Power: 21
...
At this point, Lin Zhao's true stats were an attack power of 800-1620 and a defense of 560. The level 20 Hungry Gray Wolves could no longer "touch" him.
It was at this moment that Lin Zhao, iron sword in hand, lightly raised his eyebrows and looked towards the mountain forest ahead. He suddenly felt a surge of "wickedness." If he remembered correctly, he had passed through this area before, on his way to the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool. And somewhere within this mountain forest, there lay a wolf king with a tuft of golden fur on its head.
He held his sword and strode forward.
Let's go, hunt the wolf king!