The real world, evening.
"Swish!"
A sword light trailed across the Nine Zhang Plains. Lin Zhao stood on his flying sword, Hong Ye, sweeping over the heads of the monster horde. With each sword slash, brilliant sword energies erupted, dealing AoE damage with splash effects. Every strike cleared a wide area. Below, a Fiery Magic Wolf continuously chased Lin Zhao's figure, swirling with fiery vortexes around its body, already assisting its master in farming monsters.
Before long, the group of demon soldiers turned into experience points and gold coins, along with other dropped items. Lin Zhao leaped off his flying sword and began to collect them one by one. It was all money, and he couldn't bear to waste any. At this moment, the Fiery Magic Wolf had already reached level 97. After three days of relentless grinding, its level had skyrocketed. After clearing the dropped items, Lin Zhao glanced at the Fiery Magic Wolf's attributes, narrowed his eyes, and felt a sense of contentment.
[Fiery Magic Wolf] (Earth-grade Boss) Da Feng Novel Network
Level: 97
Attack: 9700-14550
Defense: 11640
HP: 97000
Skills: [Bite] [Combo] [Phantom Armor] [Blazing Vortex]
Growth Rate: 1.275
...
As a boss-level phantom beast with a growth rate of 1.275, the Fiery Magic Wolf's attribute increases were indeed heaven-defying. As Lin Zhao raised his hand to activate the Phantom Armor ability again, the already formidable Fiery Magic Wolf let out a wolf howl. Its body began to dissolve into wisps of flame energy that flew towards Lin Zhao, donning him in a fiery red armor. He appeared even more menacing, radiating killing intent. Simultaneously, the stacked buff effects appeared one after another, drawing considerable attention—
Attack Power +2425-3637.5
Defense +2910
Max HP +24250
Damage Reduction +1.2%
Critical Hit Rate +0.71%
Lifesteal +2.1%
Magic Resistance +5.5%
Anti-Critical Rate +6.8%
...
In his Phantom Armor form, Lin Zhao was practically invincible, especially with the significant increase in his base attack power, which boosted his attack by a staggering 50%. It was outrageous. Furthermore, his max HP after equipping the Phantom Armor reached over 90,000. With the 20% effect of the Golden Core realm added, his true HP had surpassed 110,000. How terrifying!
"Phew..."
He took a deep breath and checked the time. It was almost dinner time. However, he wasn't eating dinner at the studio today. This morning, he had reserved a small private room at Songhe Tower, a famous restaurant in Sucheng. It was just for three people: himself, Luo Man, and Mo Chenxue. He had to treat them to a meal; otherwise, it wouldn't be right. Shen Xingchen and Chen Xue didn't find anything inappropriate about this, considering it was only right. After all, with the Fiery Magic Wolf's explosive attributes, it was a profit even if they had a hundred meals, let alone one. Moreover, the two young girls had spent over two hours just fighting one boss, showing immense sincerity.
Logging off.
Lin Zhao clasped his fists towards Shen Xingchen and said with a smile, "Uh... could I borrow some transportation?"
"???"
Shen Xingchen looked speechless. He was taking a girl out to eat and needed her car? Was there anyone more shameless? Still, she took out her car keys and tossed them to him, saying, "Be back soon. Those two are the main controller and main tank. The guild has a boss-攻略 activity tonight, and their absence would be problematic."
"Understood."
Lin Zhao nodded.
Chen Xue added, "Lin Zhao, as the esteemed leader of the Scarlet Moon Knights, shouldn't you have your own car by now?"
"Alright."
Lin Zhao replied, "Since you manage the finances at the studio, take a look and buy a suitable car later. It can be a shared studio vehicle. We can't always borrow Xingchen's car; it's truly embarrassing."
Shen Xingchen stood at the top of the stairs with her arms crossed, looking down at him, and smiled, "How come I don't see any embarrassment on your face?"
Lin Zhao's face flushed slightly. He got into the car with Luo Man and Mo Chenxue, and the sports car lifted into the air and sped off.
...
Sucheng, Central Business District.
In fact, the entire city was destroyed during the great war a hundred years ago. Countless precious ancient sites, buildings, and gardens turned to dust. That was the horror of war. Today's Sucheng was largely rebuilt. The central business district was indeed bustling. After getting out of the car, Luo Man and Mo Chenxue's eyes widened in amazement.
Luo Man used to work in Xicheng and was accustomed to the dazzling lights and prosperity of nightlife. However, like Chen Xue, she only earned her regular salary and didn't dare to hope for more, so her life wasn't particularly affluent. The prices in this central business district were exorbitant. Designer clothes cost tens of thousands of general coins each, and a meal at a century-old renowned restaurant would cost at least five to six thousand general coins, nearly a month's salary for her.
Mo Chenxue had certainly never seen such a scene. She grew up in the slums and worked in an electronics factory. Her life had been confined to old neighborhoods and dilapidated alleys. The clothes she bought before only cost twenty to thirty general coins each. She lived a very frugal life, which made her appear even purer than Luo Man.
Luo Man, on the other hand, was young and beautiful, with a lively personality that made her likable.
"Brother!"
Luo Man looked at a giant holographic advertisement ahead and said with a smile, "After dinner, shall we go watch a holographic movie?"
"Ah!?"
Lin Zhao exclaimed, "Watch what movie! Chen Xue and Xingchen both told me that there's a guild activity tonight, and you two main players can't be absent. Don't even think about it. We'll rest after dinner and head back."
"Oh."
Luo Man pursed her red lips, her pretty face slightly flushed, "Then, which hotel should we go to for a rest?"
"You little brat!"
Lin Zhao raised his fist to hit her, but Luo Man dodged, running away with a melodious laugh. Mo Chenxue beside her smiled faintly, her dimples showing. She was gradually adapting to this pace of life.
Songhe Tower, a century-old establishment.
Lin Zhao led the two girls into the private room and let them order. Mo Chenxue only ordered a vegetarian dish, feeling shy about ordering too much. Luo Man was more ambitious and ordered a Taihu fish delicacy. Lin Zhao added a few more dishes, enough to fill the table without being too wasteful. Looking at the price, it was a little over 3,000 general coins. Not expensive, but not cheap either.
So, he said, "If we finish eating early, you can stroll around nearby and buy a couple of outfits. It's on me."
"Really?"
Luo Man's beautiful eyes widened.
"Yes!"
Lin Zhao smiled and said, "That Fiery Magic Wolf you gave me is so handy. After it transforms into Phantom Armor, the added attributes are immense. I am truly grateful to both of you, so spending some money is not a problem. Our studio has money now, and my pockets as the leader are also quite full."
"Mmm."
Mo Chenxue smiled gently.
Soon after, after eating their fill, Lin Zhao took the two girls for a stroll in the mall. He bought Luo Man and Mo Chenxue two to three outfits each, spending less than 70,000 general coins in total. However, Mo Chenxue was already very anxious, repeatedly telling Lin Zhao that it was more than enough and that she couldn't buy any more, or her mental state would be shattered.
Lin Zhao couldn't help but chuckle. It was rare to see Mo Chenxue make a joke, but he didn't say much more, directly driving the two girls back to the studio.
Tonight, with nothing else to do, he would continue grinding monsters to level up the Fiery Magic Wolf!
...
Early morning. A mountain range south of the Demon Ancestor Mountain was shrouded in mist. This mountain was pitch black and was named Wuzhui Mountain on the topographical maps created by the demon cultivators of the Demon Ancestor Mountain.
A group of players had disturbed the tranquility here. The "All Evil" guild, with over 200 members, had set out, but only a little over 120 remained by now. The monsters here were already quite high level, and many no longer displayed their levels. Many had even resorted to corpse runs, a truly bleak situation. The matter of becoming a disciple was still uncertain, and the losses were already substantial.
In the morning mist, the guild leader Ding Chunqiu rode his horse at the forefront, his sword in hand. His brow was furrowed. This six-realm sword cultivator seemed to have sensed something amiss. He quickly dismounted and raised his hand, signaling his guild members not to panic. He then stepped forward and clasped his fists towards the depths of the mist, saying, "I, the human sword cultivator Ding Chunqiu, am traveling north visiting famous mountains. May I know if Senior would grant me an audience?"
"Cough..."
A cough echoed from within the mist, followed by a cyan figure emerging from the rugged mountain path. It was a middle-aged cultivator dressed in a cyan long gown, enveloped in a dense aura of demonic energy. This was Lu Xiuyuan, a great demon who had his head severed by Lin Wanhua's sword, causing him to drop in realm to the eleventh level. A sinister grin played on his lips. "A human sword cultivator, wandering into the demon realm to seek death? Boy, are you tired of living?"
Ding Chunqiu frowned and said, "Although I am a sword cultivator from the human realm, my origins are not something I can choose. If I had a choice, I would definitely choose to be born into the demon race."
"Oh?"
Lu Xiuyuan sneered and said, "Why do you say that?"
"It's nothing much."
Ding Chunqiu frowned and said, "The human realm has too many formalities and rules, and I've always hated these rules since birth. As a sword cultivator, one should break free from shackles and pursue true freedom. Compared to the human way of doing things, I prefer the demon way of doing things. Anyone who displeases me in this world should be killed. Does that require a reason?"
Lu Xiuyuan was taken aback. This kid possessed a true demon dao clarity of mind, an innate ability that many demon cultivators lacked. This kid had potential; his future cultivation path was promising.
"Hmph!"
Lu Xiuyuan coldly said, "What you say and what you do are two different things. If you don't do something, it's hard for me to believe your words, and even harder to accept you as my disciple."
Ding Chunqiu clasped his fists and bowed, saying solemnly, "Please be direct, Immortal Master. What must I do to be worthy of becoming your disciple?"
"Sever all ties with the human race."
Lu Xiuyuan pointed south and said, "Go immediately to the vicinity of Xueyu Tianchi and kill one hundred people. Bring their heads to me, and I will believe your sincerity. After all, once you become my disciple, Lu Xiuyuan, you will no longer be a human but a member of the demon realm."
"Yes!"
Ding Chunqiu frowned slightly and said, "Please wait a moment, Immortal Master. I will head south immediately and will not disappoint Immortal Master!"
"Go."
Lu Xiuyuan said, "I will cultivate on this Wuzhui Mountain. You can come back with the heads."
"Yes!"
...
Ding Chunqiu turned around and said solemnly to everyone in the team channel, "Players' corpses disappear after being killed, so beheading them is useless. Using PK to kill a hundred people won't work. We have no choice but to intercept those patrolling NPCs. Immediately assemble all members of the All Evil guild. Let everyone who can come to Xueyu Tianchi gather here. We will kill the NPCs there. Once we collect 100 heads, my brothers and I will achieve great success!"
Saying this, his face was full of ambition. "Lu Xiuyuan was a twelfth-realm great demon before. Although he is now eleventh-realm, it won't take long for him to return to the twelfth realm."
Everyone smiled. The two vice-leaders, Jumou Zhi and Qiu Qianren, also laughed and said, "Introduce us to become disciples too then, Senior Brother Ding!"