Chapter 24
Chapter 24
Leaving Qingshui Town far behind, Zhou Ming passed through several crowded leveling areas and arrived at a barren stretch of rocky desert.
The lifeless landscape extended as far as he could see. Beneath the fierce, merciless sun, heat shimmered above the earth.
“Ding!”
[System: You have entered [Ochre Gobi]!]
Zhou Ming ventured deeper, leaving a long trail of footprints behind him.
Rustle…
Several minutes later, he entered a monster’s combat range. Yellow sand shifted across the ground, revealing a black venomous scorpion. Its body measured more than half a meter long. Large, hard pincers guarded its front, while a venomous stinger hung from its tail. It was obviously no harmless creature.
[Gobi Venom Scorpion] (Normal Monster)
[Level: 35]
[HP: 6,000]
[Attack: 550-580]
[Defense: 400-430]
[Skills: Venomous Sting, Crushing Pinch]
[Description: Terrifying venomous scorpions native to Ochre Gobi. Their enormous pincers particularly enjoy attacking an enemy’s vulnerable parts, so exercise extreme caution.]
…
As expected of a Level 35 monster, its attributes were impressive across the board.
Fortunately, equipped items in *Destiny* did not lose their effects when a player’s level suddenly dropped, so long as the player did not remove them. Without the Blackwind Sword, Zhou Ming would have struggled even to break through this creature’s Defense.
“Krrk!”
The scorpion rasped and scuttled toward Zhou Ming on six legs. Its huge pincers opened and closed like shears as it aimed for his weak point.
“Ding!”
[System: The Gobi Venom Scorpion has used [Crushing Pinch]. If its next attack strikes a vital area, it will deal Critical Hit damage!]
“What kind of twisted developer designed this?” Zhou Ming’s expression changed as he immediately answered with Fallen Sword.
Rip!
A fiery crimson greatsword descended the next instant, pinning the venomous scorpion in place like a nail and foiling its sinister plan.
-1,002!
Four-digit damage floated into the air, tearing away one-sixth of the scorpion’s HP!
Its attributes might be formidable, but with the Radiant Blackwind Sword equipped, Zhou Ming’s Attack had reached 755. That was more than enough to break through its Defense by a wide margin.
Seizing the opportunity, Zhou Ming slashed and sent the creature flying, taking control of the fight.
After suffering repeated setbacks, the scorpion only grew more aggressive. It charged again. When its pincers missed, its tail stinger snapped forward without warning, leaving him no time to react.
“Ding!”
[System: You were struck by the Gobi Venom Scorpion’s [Venomous Sting], losing 358 HP. You will also lose 20 HP per second for 10 seconds!]
“These monsters’ attack patterns are getting more troublesome!”
Zhou Ming frowned and quickly followed up with Rending Slash. Then he gulped down a potion, opened the distance, and raised his left hand as fire elements rapidly gathered.
Greater Fireball!
Boom!
After a brief cast, a massive ball of flame the size of a water tank roared from Zhou Ming’s palm and smashed into the Gobi Venom Scorpion. The creature hopped frantically in place, thoroughly scorched.
-525!
As Fireball’s advanced form, Greater Fireball dealt 150% damage and had a chance to inflict Burn. Its power was quite respectable.
After nearly ninety seconds of back-and-forth fighting, the Gobi Venom Scorpion finally collapsed.
“Ding!”
[System: Congratulations! You have killed a [Gobi Venom Scorpion]. Current Level EXP +55.4%!]
The sixteen-level gap made the monster’s EXP extremely generous. Two kills were essentially enough for one level.
“I still need to speed this up!”
Rather than immediately seek another target, Zhou Ming paused to think. Then he took out the most valuable item he possessed besides the God-Demon Orb.
[Limitless Scroll] (Rare S-Rank Item)
[Description: Human potential knows no limit, nor do the means by which it may be wielded.]
[Item Effect: Raises the rank of one designated skill by 1.]
[Required Fame: 1,000]
[Required Level: 25]
[Note: After enhancement, the selected skill cannot exceed this item’s rank.]
…
There could be no question about the strength of an item rewarded for the first Silver boss kill.
Zhou Ming had originally considered saving the Limitless Scroll for a while, but the Trial of the Seven Sins took priority over everything else. If he failed it, no number of Limitless Scrolls could make up for the price he would pay.
There was no point saving it for some distant future. He might as well convert it into combat power now.
Besides, using it to enhance a Rare A-Rank skill would hardly be a waste.
Zhou Ming opened his skill list and looked between Rending Slash and Fallen Sword.
“Qianying, which skill do you think I should enhance?”
“I believe you already know the answer,” Qianying replied directly.
“Then I won’t ask any further.”
Zhou Ming nodded and tore open the Limitless Scroll.
Golden radiance immediately flowed into his chest, bringing an indescribable warmth.
“Ding!”
[System: Select the skill you wish to enhance!]
“…Fallen Sword!”
Zhou Ming made his choice.
Rending Slash was undeniably powerful and inflicted continuous percentage-based HP loss. Fallen Sword’s explosive damage and attached crowd control, however, gave him a far greater margin for error.
Whoosh!
The Fallen Sword icon on his skill list instantly erupted with rich golden light. Even the icon itself underwent a subtle transformation.
What kind of effect would it gain?
Zhou Ming’s heart pounded with anticipation.
An S-Rank skill!
It would undoubtedly become one of his sharpest weapons in tomorrow’s battle.
After more than ten anxious seconds, Fallen Sword finally completed its advancement.
“Ding!”
[System: You used the Limitless Scroll, successfully advancing [Fallen Sword] (Rare A Rank) into [Annihilation Sword] (S Rank)!]
Annihilation Sword?
The name sounded pretty good!
Zhou Ming hurriedly opened his skill list. Before he could inspect it, brilliant flames suddenly began dancing across Annihilation Sword’s icon. The skill unexpectedly transformed a second time.
“Ding!”
[System: Because [Flame Demon Lord]’s fire-element affinity has no upper limit, your learned skill [Annihilation Sword] (S Rank) has transformed into [Blazing Heaven Sword] (Rare S Rank)!]
…
“Holy shit!”
Zhou Ming’s face lit up as surprise followed surprise. “As expected of an exclusive SSS-Rank hidden class. It never stops finding new ways to amaze me.”
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Just as he prepared to inspect the skill’s effects, an abrupt round of applause rang out.
“!?”
Zhou Ming’s heart tightened. He immediately looked up and saw a burly man in black walking toward him from across the distant desert.
The man’s features were rugged, and a broad black greatsword rested across his back. Despite appearing to walk, he crossed the distance like someone teleporting, rapidly closing in from far away.
An overwhelming sense of pressure rolled toward Zhou Ming.
Whoosh!
Ignoring her injuries, Qianying materialized at once and faced the newcomer like a mortal enemy.
“Another god-tier expert?” Zhou Ming asked quietly.
Qianying nodded. “More precisely, a Demon God from the Dark Faction.”
A Demon God?!
Zhou Ming’s heart trembled.
An existence of that caliber should only have encountered players during the late game.
“Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Cangxuan.” The man was exceptionally courteous, showing none of the superiority Zhou Ming expected.
“Zhouyou Shijie.”
Since the other party had offered no insults, Zhou Ming naturally responded in kind.
“Your name has already reached the Abyss,” Cangxuan said with a smile. “To win a wager against the gods of the Light Faction, your cleverness and courage deserve praise.”
He paused, then added meaningfully, “Judging by what I happened to witness just now, however, I may still have underestimated you.”
Zhou Ming’s terrifying potential had forcibly transformed a skill, making it more suitable for him.
Cangxuan had never heard of such a thing.
“Ding!”
[System: You have earned the admiration of [Abyssal Sword Demon ยท Cangxuan]. Fame +200!]
“You flatter me. It was only luck,” Zhou Ming replied without betraying any emotion. “Since you came here specifically to find me and did not attack immediately, I assume you have business to discuss?”
He was nearly certain this Demon God had not come to fight. That did not mean Cangxuan lacked an agenda.
“Correct!”
Cangxuan’s expression grew solemn as he turned to the matter at hand. “To tell you the truth, I wish to…”
…