[Attributes: Constitution (8/10), Intelligence (8/10), Agility (8/10), Defense (7/10)]
[Equipment: Leather Wallet Set (Defense +1), Iron Axe (Attack +1), Shadow Boots (Agility +1), Anti-black backpack (Backpack slots +2)]
Staring at the data above, Zhou Bai froze on the spot.
After a fierce battle last night, plus double experience for slaying the Dark Demon Wolf, she went from Level 5 to Level 8, and just now, after killing several Blood-toothed Demon Pigs, according to her calculations, her experience points increased by more than a hundred. As expected, she was just a step away from Level 10.
But no one expected that once she hit Level 10, the upgrade pattern wouldn't be the same as before.
The experience requirement, which had been 1000, suddenly jumped more than fourfold to 4500.
Sighing, Zhou Bai just wanted to curse out the Doomsday game system for being so damn tricky.
Getting promoted to Level 10 really wasn't that easy.
Thinking about it, it actually made sense.
They'd only been in the game for three days. Even if the goal was for them to quickly adapt to this game world, there was no way they'd be allowed to complete profession unlock so fast.
Still, some things had changed. She'd collected so many times before, never triggering the Identification Skill, but now, after leveling up, gathering resources could trigger it.
Maybe the path to professions opens up as you gradually acquire skills?
Suddenly, Zhou Bai thought of the residents who'd come out excitedly today. They must have noticed it too by now?
She quickly tossed aside that thought for the time being. Zhou Bai continued to sweep through Demon Beasts and resources at another location; even if she couldn't get promoted, she was still going to hoard supplies like crazy.
**
On the other side, in Cloud Mist Forest.
At this moment, dozens of people were gathered here.
At first, it was only Zhou Zhengping and Li Xingteng leading twenty-some people, but because of their stellar performance last night—plus seeing that territory residents who followed them weren't expelled—more and more teams got closer to them.
In this situation, the team only kept growing!
Larger teams also brought advantages—their safety improved a lot.
Pretty much every Demon Beast that met them was dealt with by an axe or a gun in no time.
Even more importantly, because there were so many people, Demon Beasts around them were drawn their way; everyone followed their squad configuration to divert the monsters, bravely fighting. Occasionally, Demon Beasts trying to escape their fierce assault weren't able to slip past the encirclement.
In just a short while, nearly everyone had gained something—especially all the new resources, which sent many people into a frenzy of joy.
The people leading the teams, like Zhou Zhengping and Li Xingteng, saw their levels shoot up rapidly.
Among them, Li Xingteng advanced even faster—after all, he deliberately picked the highest-level Demon Beasts.
Everyone knew Li Xingteng wanted to rush to Level 10 as soon as possible.
Who on site didn't want that?
But Li Xingteng had already gained the upper hand early on.
The only one who could rival Li Xingteng now was Zhou Bai.
But in their minds, Zhou Bai was still in the territory, and her promotion speed shouldn't be as fast as Li Xingteng's.
Li Xingteng thought so too.
After confirming he had reached Level 9, he targeted two Level 5 Demon Beasts in succession.
Right after defeating the second one, Li Xingteng immediately checked his control panel, ready to unlock his profession at Level 10.
The people around him were excitedly waiting as well.
But the moment Li Xingteng saw his control panel, his expression froze.
"What's wrong? Did you unlock your profession?" Zhou Zhengping asked. He didn't care who promoted first—in fact, deep down he hoped Li Xingteng would go first.
Shoot the bird that sticks its head out. He was still worried too much attention might go to Xiao Bai and accidentally expose her identity.
Li Xingteng snapped back to reality at Zhou Zhengping's words, then said helplessly: "I do have 1000 experience points, but I haven't advanced."
"Why not?"
"Because Level 10 requires 4500 experience points, not 1000!"
That statement shocked everyone.
Zhou Zhengping was a bit surprised too, frowning: "How did it suddenly change?"
Li Xingteng had already recovered from the disappointment. "Maybe it's not a sudden change, but it's always been this way. I just did some quick calculations—turns out, the total experience needed for Level 10 is the sum of what's required for every previous level. Like we thought, the game wants us to treat this world as real. Everything must be earned. Our level is the same—once we finally gather enough experience to reach Level 10, our strength should see a significant boost, so unlocking our profession then will make the most sense."
Li Xingteng's words were heard not only by Zhou Zhengping, but all the residents present—they couldn't help exchanging bewildered looks.
What does it mean to treat this world as real?
Seeing their confusion, Li Xingteng spoke up loudly: "Everyone should have noticed, after this morning, the environment around us changed. You also know it's because our territory passed the test and entered the rankings. That means our territory is truly integrated into this game world now. Even though it's a game world, it's not a game as we know it—if you die, there's no respawn. We have to treat it as real and survive by the game world's rules."
Listening to Li Xingteng, the residents all fell silent, one by one.
After a moment, people began responding, one after another: "We understand."
Right then, everyone's minds became incredibly clear.
If it were the first day, they might have wanted to give up.
But after going through a series of disasters, they had already gotten used to it—and gained the courage to face it.
So what if advancing to Level 10 is a bit late? Who cares?
Seeing the determined expressions on their faces, Li Xingteng felt a bit moved, but stayed steady: "Everyone, keep sweeping the area for Demon Beasts and resources."
"Yes."
Since they couldn't unlock professions at Level 10 right away, they'd focus on collecting resources, earning copper coins, and making life better.
Just like that, everyone focused on killing Demon Beasts and gathering resources.
Soon, someone started to notice something unusual.
[Congratulations, Host, you've acquired Basic Identification Skill after 100 collections.]
[Congratulations, Host, you've acquired Chain Attack Skill after 100 kills.]
[Congratulations, Host, you've acquired Movement Skill after 100 evasions.]
[...]
"I think I just got a skill."
"Me too—I got Dash Skill, and it gives Agility +2 when used! It must be because I've been luring monsters."
"I got Stealth—monsters ignore me for three seconds."
"So Captain Li was right, professions don't unlock all at once."
"..."
Zhou Zhengping and Li Xingteng, having accumulated enough actions, also obtained several skills one after another. The more diligent someone was, the more skills they got—the two of them now had a good sense of it.
With the excitement of getting new skills, everyone on site became even more energetic, constantly experimenting with their new abilities.
By nightfall, everyone's backpacks were almost completely stuffed, and the group finally prepared to return to the territory.
On the way back, there were no monsters left after their sweep. Their trip home was smooth; occasionally, they ran into other returning groups, exchanged banter about their gains and skills, faces beaming with happiness.
Unknowingly, they had already adapted to this world.