Also, a humble request from me, if possible, could you guys not bash on Icarus’ translations, I’d rather not see the majority of the comments be negative instead of positive. Thanks!
A turbulent night passes.
The next morning, the entire school was abuzz like one large frying pan. There were rumors circulating around. The gist was that last night, “Handsome Liu” the spoiled rich kid, was caught passing the night with a prostitute and arrested by cops. His actions had disgraced his entire family.
Even though I triggered last night’s events, I didn’t speak a single word of what happened and kept a low profile. My revenge was carried out without a hitch, and no one could connect Liu Ying’s fall to me. Probably in the eyes of the Liu Hua University students, I, Li Xiao Yao, was a weakling who did not dare raise a hand against the person who trampled over his dignity. But, that doesn’t matter; how others look at me is of no significance; rather, what concerns me is…. today, September 1st; classes start today!
……
Looking at today’s class outline, I scratched my head. Why did I choose to enroll in the Chinese Department, I wonder?
The 2 classes in the morning required us to look over the [Complete Library of the Four Treasures] (The largest collection of books in Chinese history) and selections from Mencius. Reading these 2 books, It’s all Greek for me; , I can’t even finish a single page before my eyelids start to droop ! How will I survive these classes? I hate Mencius now…
On a small path in the school garden, hauling a small mountain of books, I’m walking next to Wan Er and Cheng Yue. A sweet fragrance of osmanthus flowers invades my nose. The environment in the school garden is refreshing to say the least, and the amount of pretty girls in the university is as plentiful as the clouds. But then again, students who come to this university are usually very well off, so they would have the time and money for makeup, and would generally have a better beauty sense. Compared to the company women that I met, they look like heavenly angels. (Chapter 1 – Company Girls)
First period was about the [Complete Library of The Four Treasures]. The class took place in a huge classroom, with a few hundred people all having class together. Wan Er and Cheng Yue were both straight A students, like a dutiful body guard, I braced myself and sat with them in the first row. At soon as they sat down in the first, huge shuffling sounds came from behind, apparently a lot of boys forced themselves forward, hoping to get a glimpse Liu Hua University’s number 1 and 2 beauties.
I feel a chill down my spine, the result of envious stares behind my back. But, the professor was smiling merrily, thinking that his teaching was what caused the class to be overflowed with students, but little did he know that it was the power of the two beauties, or else this boring class would never have over 100 students participating…
I propped up my face with my hand, and I started to doze off, looking forward to the afternoon when I can play [Destiny] again. I haven’t logged on for a while, hopefully the level gaps didn’t get too big….
Bangbang…
Amidst the muffled sounds, Wan Er nudges me with her elbows a few times, and smiles sweetly at me while the professor says, “This student in the front row, can you tell me what are the four books that are in the [Complete Library of the Four Treasures]?”
I jump up, and with full confidence, answer, “Is it Guqin, chess, books, and paintings? (Four Arts)”
The professor froze for a moment there.
Wan Er clenched her teeth, and muttered under her breath, “Idiot, it’s politics, history, philosophy, and writings!”
I suddenly understood what the books I was reading were about, and shamefully I sit back down with my cheeks burning red. Then after a few more minutes I fall asleep again.
……
After painfully enduring the painful morning classes , I quickly ate something for lunch, and returned to the dorms, it was game time!
Sha!
I appear back in Ba Huang City, and look at my level. It’s still level 22, and the player who is at the top of the Ba Huang City leaderboard, Yan Zhao Warrior, had already risen to level 27. That crazy guy, he probably wants to rush to level 40, and become the first person to be promoted the second time. I’ve heard rumors that if you get to level 40, every occupation can learn a new damage skill. It is a clear divider for players, so it doesn’t matter how good equipment a level 39 has, their potential can’t be compared with a level 40 who has been promoted. Or so the rumors say.
Looking at the pet window, I can see the Bee Overlord sleeping peacefully, waiting for me to summon him. Hm, if I hunt strong monsters now now, there shouldn’t be too many problems, at least my damage output isn’t be too bad, and with this 97% excellence Super Saiyan bee helping me, my damage output has to be way higher than any swordsman who is the same level as me!
……
I repair all of my equipment, and pack dozens of potions in my inventory, enough to last me through a couple hours of intense monster hunting. Hmmm I need a goal when I start hunting, I can’t mindlessly kill monsters, that’d be stupid. Okay, let’s go find the level 4 herbs! I can already make level 4 potions and pills. Level 3 [Seven-Star] pills can only recover 200 mana, while the level 4[Chilling Wind Pill] can restore 300 mana, so there’s quite a big difference.
Most of the players right now are over level 20. For mages, their level 20 AOE spell——[Rock Spikes] costs 30 mana at level 1, and 90 mana at level 3. Even if one uses it meaningfully, one [Rock Spikes] spell costs 90 mana. Looking at the consumption rate, in order to maintain a careful use of [Rock Spikes], one would have to use the [Chilling Wind Pill], which recovers 300 mana, or else there’s a chance that a mage’s mana pool will be completely depleted, and a mage that can’t use spells is a sitting duck..
Opening my ability window, I check the recipe for the level 4 pill——
[Chilling Wind Pill] – Recovers 300 MP. Chilling Wind Herb x3, Seven-Star Herb x1, Alchemy Furnace x2.
……
Hmm, I still have quite a bit of Seven-Star Herbs left, so I just need the Chilling Wind Herbs instead of the Seven-Star Herbs. I open up the forums, and seek their whereabouts. After searching for 10 minutes or so, I got a hit; a wandering level 22 assassin found traces of the Herb growing in a forest north of Ba Huang. However, he didn’t have the picking skill and returned empty handed. The forest, called “Chilling Wind Forrest”, has snow along its borders.
I checked the minimap, though I knew the forest’s general direction is north, I couldn’t pinpoint its exact location. I guessing it’ll be an hour from Ba Huang by foot. So after considering it for a while, I clench my teeth and buy a Ba Huang City return scroll, to save an hour of walking on my return.With my level 4 alchemy, I can definitely earn 1 gold coin in an hour!
Preparations are finished, time to go!
Holding my Bramble Thorn Sword, I walk out Ba Huang City’s bloodstained entrance. It seems that like the name city, it’s inhabitant are filled with bloodlust. There are plenty of players with dark classes such as Barbarians, Moon spirits, Undeads, etc., and almost every moment, someone gets PKed in the vicinity of Ba Huang. The competition between the many guilds is ferocious. But for me, an lone player, my only goal is only to quickly level up and train my skills.
Stepping on the grass, I reached a forest outside of Ba Huang City. I didn’t pay any attention to the weak monsters under level 20, and entered the forest by myself. After walking for almost half an hour, I suddenly entered a blood-red area in the map. Going further ahead, there are monsters that have levels exceeding my own, which explained why the system set the area ahead as a blood-red color; to warn me that the following area is not recommended for me, and that I will most likely die there.
Raising my hand, a golden hexagram appears beneath my hand, and Baby Bobo comes flying out flapping his wings. The level 15 Bee Overlord, with 291 attack damage, the system definitely didn’t factor that in!
Bobo spins around, and looks excited, without a worry in the world.
Continuing on, there is a damp and dark shrubbery area. Looking further ahead, I see an undead soldier loitering about, wearing a beat-up broken chain armor holding a rusted crossbow, and making some heavy breathing sounds. Was it wailing?
I inch myself forward, but that zombie was 5 levels higher than me, so I couldn’t check its attributes.
[Undead Hunter] (Normal Monster)
Level: 27
Attack: ???
Defense: ???
HP: ???
Abilities: ???
Description: An undead hunter, occupying the cold forest in the wilderness. They are humans that lost their life, relying on the weak-minded dead spirits to hang on to life. They will slaughter any intruder that steps into their territory mercilessly. Ba Hang City has posted numerous bounty posters, but no one has dared to collect their heads…
……
It’s quite the problem charging in without knowing its attack and defense, and disadvantages with the level gap is quite big. Seems like tackling this will be an headache. But, according to rumors, killing a monster that is at least 5 levels above you grants increased drop rates and extra experience gain, but only applies if you solo it, like me; a party wouldn’t receive an experience bonus.
Seeing Bobo dancing and flying on my shoulder, I smile a bit. Yep, I’ll use this guy to hunt this zombie while training my own his level, If all goes well, there will be no problem at all.
“Charge!”
I point with my sword, and with a Sha sound Bobo rushes forward, as quick as lightning. Damn, that’s the result of 4.5 agility and 97% excellence. The beauty of high agi