While Lin Mo's name, under the guise of "Anonymous," echoed throughout the entire epoch server, he himself was standing beside a devastated Corrosion poison pool, breathing heavily, completely oblivious to the storm raging outside.
His mind had just emerged from a half-hour-long game of extreme wits, and exhaustion, like a persistent ailment, was corroding every inch of his nerves. But his eyes were fixed intently on the brilliant light ahead, which had burst forth after the death of the King Venomous Toad, shining alarmingly bright.
Three items.
A pile of silver coins, a skill book, and an ancient, simple ring.
This was the reward he had risked his Life to obtain!
The commotion outside was irrelevant to him; the shock and pursuit of the entire server could not distract him. At this moment, Lin Mo only had eyes for the loot within arm's reach. He knew these items would be the true beginning of him changing his destiny!
He suppressed the excitement in his heart, walked forward, and first picked up the clinking pile of silver coins.
[Obtained Silver Coins x 3]
"Three silver coins!"
Lin Mo's pupils suddenly contracted, and his heart began beating faster involuntarily.
In the early stages of the epoch server, gold coins had not yet been produced, making silver coins the highest-level circulating currency. Based on the current terrifying exchange rate in the black market—around 1:100, and often unavailable even at that price—these three silver coins meant three hundred units of real-world currency!
Three hundred units!
This was almost the amount of hard-earned money he used to make washing dishes in the cafeteria kitchen for a week or handing out flyers all day under the scorching sun! And now, he had obtained it simply by killing a monster in the game!
At this moment, Lin Mo truly realized the terrifying energy and opportunities contained within this game, hailed as the "Second World." It really could change lives!
This money would at least ensure he wouldn't have to eat steamed buns and pickles for every meal for the next half month.
A strong sense of satisfaction and security surged through him. He carefully put away the silver coins, as if they were not virtual data but weighty, real gold and silver.
Next, his gaze turned to the skill book emitting a faint green light.
[Skill Book: Venom Spray]
[Quality: Bronze]
[Learning Requirement: Level 3]
[Skill Effect: Sprays a stream of venom from the mouth, dealing (15 + Magic Attack x10%) Poison Damage to a single target within 8 meters, and immediately applies one stack of the 'Poisoned' effect to the target. Cooldown: 10 seconds.]
"An active attack skill!"
Lin Mo's breathing quickened slightly.
Since entering the game, his only method of attack had been punching, which not only dealt pitiful damage but was also inefficient.
And this [Venom Spray] perfectly solved his immediate problem!
Although the base damage was only 15 points, and the Magic Attack bonus was virtually nonexistent, its core value lay in its ability to "immediately apply one stack of the Poisoned effect"!
This meant he could stack the maximum number of [Endless Poison Source] layers on a target faster, elevating his damage output efficiency by a level! This skill would play a decisive role when dealing with certain small monsters that required quick handling.
"Learn it!"
Lin Mo chose to learn it without hesitation. The skill book transformed into a green light and instantly merged into his body. In his skill bar, a dark green venom icon lit up, finally no longer empty.
After doing all this, Lin Mo finally turned his attention to the last piece of loot, and the one he was most anticipating—the ancient ring shimmering with a bronze luster.
As the First Kill reward for an Elite Boss, the value of this ring definitely far exceeded the silver coins and the Bronze skill book!
With a trace of pilgrimage-like reverence, he carefully picked it up. The ring felt cold in his hand, with a slightly slick texture, as if it had been tanned from toad skin, and its surface was engraved with strange and abstract patterns.
He impatiently opened the ring's attribute panel.
[toad's protection]
[Quality: Bronze]
[Equipment Requirement: Level 3]
[Attribute: Constitution + 1]
[Special Effect ①: Poison Immunity — Immune to all Poison Damage of level 10 and below (inclusive).]
[Special Effect ②: Poison Absorption — When you become immune to a Poison Damage instance due to 'Poison Immunity', there is a 50% chance to absorb this Poison Damage and convert it into your own experience points.]
[Description: It was once the King Venomous Toad's most precious treasure; now, it belongs to you.]
When Lin Mo read the full attributes of the ring word by word, his breathing completely stopped at that moment.
The world seemed to have been muted.
He stared intently at the two lines describing the "Special Effects" on the attribute panel, his pupils contracting violently due to extreme shock, shrinking almost to pinpricks. His brain went blank for several seconds due to the impact of the information.
Constitution + 1, increasing Life by 10 points—better than nothing.
But... but these two Special Effects, what the hell are they?!
Immune to all Poison Damage below Level 10?!
Absorbing Poison Damage and converting it into experience points?!
"Is this... a joke?"
Lin Mo muttered to himself. He even pinched himself hard, and the sharp pain told him this was not an illusion!
For any other class of player, this ring might only be considered a 'counter card' that works only in specific environments, perhaps even useless. After all, in the vast world of epoch, poisoned monsters were ultimately a minority. Sacrificing gear that boosts core attributes like attack, defense, or agility for a minor poison immunity effect would definitely not be worth the trade-off.
But for Lin Mo... for him, who possessed the unique Divine-level Talent [Endless Poison Source]... this ring could no longer be described merely as a "Divine Artifact"!
This was a BUG! This was a cheat! This was a supreme treasure tailor-made specifically for him!
What did having it mean?
It meant that this Highly Poisonous Swamp, which caused all players to pale in fear and die upon contact, would no longer be forbidden territory, but would completely transform into his personal backyard! His exclusive sacred leveling ground!
He would no longer need to risk his Life playing extreme kite maneuvers as he did before.
He could even... stand directly in this Corrosion poison pool, leisurely soaking in a "Venom Hot Spring" while watching his experience bar skyrocket!
Leveling efficiency would increase by more than ten or even a hundred times!
"A Divine Artifact... This is absolutely a Heaven-defying Divine Artifact!"
Lin Mo was so excited that his body began to tremble slightly. He used a nearly shaking hand to place the [toad's protection] onto his index finger.
The moment the ring touched his skin, a cool and refreshing sensation spread throughout his body.
Immediately following, a miracle occurred!
The surrounding purple miasma, which had been constantly eroding his Life and forcing him to stay constantly vigilant, instantly lost all effect on him, as if it had encountered its natural enemy.
The constantly flashing negative status icon for [Deadly Poison Miasma] in his status bar completely vanished!
In its place were rows upon rows of exhilarating green experience point notifications, cascading like a waterfall across his system log!
['Poison Immunity' effect triggered. You are immune to the damage from 'Deadly Poison Miasma'.]
['Poison Absorption' effect triggered. You absorbed 'Deadly Poison Miasma'. Experience + 10!]
['Poison Immunity' effect triggered. You are immune to the damage from 'Deadly Poison Miasma'.]
['Poison Absorption' effect triggered. You absorbed 'Deadly Poison Miasma'. Experience + 10!]
... Lin Mo stood stunned, watching his experience bar, which had been largely depleted from the previous level-up, slowly but steadily increase at a visible rate.
He wasn't doing anything; he was just standing here breathing, and the experience points were going up on their own!
What an outrageous experience this was!
"Hahaha... Hahahahahaha!"
The uncontrollable ecstasy finally erupted into a hearty burst of laughter, echoing throughout the silent Death Swamp.
In this moment, all the previous exhaustion, all the danger, all the forbearance and calculation, were worth it!
He knew that starting from the moment he acquired this ring, his Life, and his fate in this game, would usher in a true turning point!
Those who had mocked and scorned him, those lofty major guilds, those so-called "Chosen Ones," would all be left far behind him!
Lin Mo slowly raised his head, his gaze sweeping over this boundless swamp filled with poisonous mist.
In his eyes, this was no longer a sinister and terrifying forbidden land, but a massive, untapped treasury, a golden staircase leading to the peak.
And he was the sole owner of this treasury.
"In that case..."
The corner of his mouth curved into a cold, confident arc.
"From now on, this place is mine to command!"