Murong Yi looked at Jiang Chen. "You've just successfully changed your Class?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you team up with the school's teachers? I remember that graduates all have Support teachers to help you upgrade your Level and get through the novice period."
"I wanted to come out and experience things on my own."
Murong Yi nodded. This was what she had thought.
Young people are all the same, thinking that once they've successfully changed their Class, they're incredible and can go out to face monsters alone, but many are so scared that they shrink back. Some are even scared to the point of wetting their pants. That's still the simple part. Some novices directly lose their lives. Every year there are students like that, too proud and arrogant to listen to anyone, ultimately falling to death.
Murong Yi asked with a smile, "What Class are you?"
"Swordsman."
Murong Yi was astonished. She had thought he must have an A-grade Class, or at the very least a B-grade Class, but he just had a D-grade Swordsman Class. Who gave him the courage to come out and train on his own?
Murong Yi couldn't bear the thought of it. "How about this: you follow us. I'll take you to see the monsters outside, to prevent you from being killed by them. If you get scared, you can just go back."
Jiang Chen shook his head. "Thank you, but I have the ability to protect myself."
After Jiang Chen finished speaking, he strode off...
"This kid really doesn't know his limits, thinking he's so great."
"A D-level Swordsman? With such a trash Class, he dares to go out alone?"
"It's quite likely that this guy will die out there."
"Captain, let's not bother with him."
Murong Yi shook her head with a sigh. It's a pity he's so handsome!
Jiang Chen walked out of the Teleportation Altar.
「Tattens Hills.」
This was a small town built of bluestone, where many Class had gathered, mostly forming teams in twos and threes.
"Looking for a Level 10 Priest, heading to Tattens Hills Secretland!"
"Looking for a Tank Class, Warrior or Knight are both fine. Swordsmen, get lost!"
"Looking for a Magician, preferably an Ice Mage. Level requirement 20 and above!"
Jiang Chen glanced at them. These were all independent Class who chose to band together for safety and team up for training when entering the battlefield; these independent Class had no permanent teams and thus no foundation of trust among them. It was highly likely that disputes would break out over any dropped equipment mid-expedition.
Jiang Chen walked east.
The surroundings of Tattens Hills were filled with Level 1 to 10 monsters, well-suited for Jiang Chen to upgrade his Level. He took a deep breath and left Tattens Hills Village.
Jiang Chen soon encountered five people.
These five looked like new students, just like Jiang Chen, as they hadn't participated in the school's training. A Priest was assisting them from the side.
"Knight, activate your defense shield and take the front!"
"Priest, cast your skills from the back—defensive skills, combat skills, healing skills!"
"Magician, cast Fireball from the back!"
"Be quick, no dilly-dallying! You need to coordinate with each other!"
Jiang Chen looked at the monster.
[Demonized Scarecrow]
[Level: 1]
[HP: 91/100]
[Physical Attack Power: 10-25]
[Physical Defense: 2-12]
[Magic Defense: 0-6]
[Description: Don't be fooled by its scarecrow appearance; its Offensive Power is quite strong. Its only true weakness is Fire.]
The Demonized Scarecrow was humanoid, radiating a dark aura. Its soulless eyes made it look utterly terrifying.
Jiang Chen gasped. This Demonized Scarecrow's Physical Attack Power is very high. Even at Level 1, its Physical Attack Power can reach up to 25, enough to kill me in two or three hits.
A fireball spell was cast.
-23...
The Magician exclaimed excitedly, "I hit it!"
"Keep attacking! Don't stop! Knight, stand firm and don't let it attack the Magician! You're the tank; you must protect your teammates!" the Priest commanded from the side.
A Hero nearby looked at Jiang Chen. It seems this is another student fresh out of school. But why is there no powerful Class guarding him? He looks like a new student with no backing, wanting to train alone.
Jiang Chen turned and left.
Jiang Chen understood. These new students either had backing or money to hire protection until they got through the novice period.
In the Novice Base, many new students quarreled, usually over kill-stealing.
Jiang Chen smiled, turned around, and left. He didn't want to compete with these new students for monsters, so he found a secluded path and left.
Soon, there were fewer and fewer Class around.
Jiang Chen continued walking and finally found a monster.
[Demonized Scarecrow]
[Level: 1]
[HP: 100/100]
[Physical Attack Power: 10-25]
[Physical Defense: 2-12]
[Magic Defense: 0-6]
Well then, let's test my skills on you.
Jiang Chen took a deep breath and walked towards the scarecrow.
100 meters...
70 meters...
30 meters...
Jiang Chen stopped in his tracks and looked at the Demonized Scarecrow. According to online records, the safe engagement distance for a Demonized Scarecrow is 10 meters. Once within ten meters, it would detect one's presence, thereby triggering the scarecrow to attack.
Jiang Chen gripped the Short Sword in his right hand.
He casually struck out.
SLASH!
A beam of sword light shot out from the Short Sword, and with a flash of white light, the scarecrow was split in two. Countless streams of black qi erupted from its body.
[Experience +10]
Jiang Chen was astonished.
A one-hit kill... Slain with a single sword strike... This is the effect of the Hundred Times Amplification: not only was the range increased a hundredfold, but so was the Offensive Power! This feeling is too exhilarating. Too strong! Who could have thought a Demonized Scarecrow, requiring a five-person team to kill, could be slain in one hit by a D-level Swordsman, and from a distance of thirty meters? This isn't a Melee Class; it's clearly a Long-ranged Class!
Even Magicians have a range limit when casting spells, generally within fifteen meters. This means that beyond fifteen meters, their Magic offensive attacks become ineffective. The Hundred Times Amplification had turned a Melee Class into a Long-ranged Class.
That last sword strike had consumed a bit of his spiritual power. However, it replenished in the blink of an eye.
Jiang Chen looked at his status panel.
[Name: Jiang Chen]
[Occupation: Swordsman]
[Level: 0]
[Experience: 10/100]
[Constitution: 5]
[Strength: 5]
[Spirit: 6]
[Agility: 5]
[Equipment: Short Sword (White)]
[Space: 5]
[Skills:
Basic Swordsmanship: Condenses all internal power to unleash a beam of Sword Qi forward, attacking the enemy. Attack range: 40 meters. Condensation time: 0.3 seconds. MP Cost: 1.
Basic Footwork: Temporarily upgrades Agility to dodge enemy attacks. Duration: 500 seconds. MP Cost: 1.
Sword Qi Surging: Conjures one hundred Sword Auras that revolve around the caster and actively attack enemies. Duration: 100 minutes. Attack frequency: 0.1 seconds. MP Cost: 2.
Passive Skill Meditation: Standing still for 0.1 seconds allows slow recovery of spiritual power. Recovery Value: 1 point.]
His experience points increased by 10.
If I kill nine more scarecrows, I can upgrade my Level. In a five-person team, we would only share 2 experience points each, and it would take killing fifty scarecrows to upgrade a Level. Killing solo now is not only faster, but the experience gained is also much greater.
Jiang Chen pondered for a moment, then continued hunting monsters to test out his new skills.
Let's try Basic Footwork.
WHOOSH.
A figure flickered past, rapidly moving ahead.