The World Channel
[Dungeon: The Wizard's Abandoned Testing Ground -- Challenge failed]
[Progress: 40%]
[Overall evaluation: Trash]
Teleported out of the Dungeon, Su Luo was immediately drawn to a burly figure resting against some rubble nearby.
The moment Su Luo appeared, the figure jolted awake like a lurking tiger sensing a disturbance. He sprang to his feet, his sharp gaze locking onto Su Luo.
Their eyes met.
A glint of recognition flashed in Song Shige's eyes. He strode forward, a hearty smile spreading across his face, and held out a broad hand.
"Consultant Su! Hello, hello!"
"Hello, hello!"
Su Luo looked calm, but he was even more excited than Song Shige. He had been in this godforsaken place for over ten days, and this was the first living person he had seen.
"Comrade Song, I've heard much about you."
The two exchanged pleasantries, then fell silent for a few seconds.
Neither of them was particularly good at dealing with people, after all.
Song Shige suddenly remembered something and brought over a large box from nearby.
"Consultant Su, this is a small token from our Mutual Aid Association. Minister Qin specifically told me to make sure it reached you."
Song Shige rummaged through the box and pulled out a pile of things.
"This batch consists of the rare resources our organization has collected so far that can permanently increase attributes. Please see which ones are useful to you. I'll take the rest back and turn them in."
"These pieces are equipment: two of excellent quality and one Fine. They're the best items suited to a spellcaster that we could currently find."
"There are also some pure elemental crystals and special materials. I thought you might be able to use them for... research and experiments."
Finally, Song Shige took out five vouchers and several sets of clothes.
"These are a personal gift from Minister Qin Lang. He said you'd definitely find them useful."
Su Luo remained calm as his gaze swept over the equipment and materials, but when he saw the five [Food Voucher of Choice], genuine surprise finally appeared in his eyes.
"[Food Voucher of Choice]. That was thoughtful of Minister Qin."
The two talked for a while longer about the Dungeon, the monsters' strength, and other matters. Then Song Shige cupped his fists in farewell, turned, and strode resolutely into the Dungeon's orb of light to fight for his [Class Change Certificate].
Su Luo, meanwhile, looked over the equipment.
[Mischief Ghost Cloak (Excellent)] [When equipped, greatly increases your defense and grants the effect: Mischief Mischief: When activated, delivers a Psychic Shock to a designated target.]
Good stuff.
There was no shame in stacking defense.
Su Luo draped it over his apprentice robe.
Next was a simple, antique-looking ring that felt cool to the touch.
[Magic Ring (Excellent)] [When equipped, slightly increases your Mana recovery speed, slightly reduces your Mana consumption, and grants the effect: Storage Storage: You may store 30% of your maximum Mana in the ring in advance and draw on it instantly when needed.]
"Oh? This one's even stronger!"
An extra Mana pool could turn the tide of battle at a critical moment.
[Frost Talisman (Fine)]
[When used, it can block one instance of fatal damage for you.]
After looking at the remaining item, Su Luo understood.
It belonged to a series of items that included the Nature Talisman, Lava Talisman, Frost Talisman, and others.
For most people, the description of such an item read: When used, it can block three instances of fatal damage for you.
But as their strength grew, these items gradually stopped keeping up with the strongest survivors.
For example, if Song Shige looked at one after activating his Talent, the description might read: When used, it can block one instance of damage for you.
After taking stock of the equipment, Su Luo stuffed the elemental crystals and scarce materials into an iron box.
Then he turned his attention to the rare resources that could directly increase his attributes. Most of them were food.
[Sand Fruit]
[When eaten, constitution +0.1]
[Golden Cloud Gauze]
[When eaten, strength +0.1, constitution +0.1]
[Void Fruit]
[No effect when eaten.]
Su Luo picked out things to eat or use until everything showed that it would no longer increase his attributes. Only then did he stop.
"I ate nearly a third..."
Su Luo's expression was odd. Resources that increased attributes were already incredibly precious, and at Survivor Plaza, they were practically impossible to buy at any price.
It seemed more as though the Mutual Aid Association had brought all their stock.
"They... really have some nerve!"
"I owe them a huge favor."
Everything was left unsaid.
Su Luo sighed and used the Skill Experience Stone from the fifth day's settlement on the [Diamond Sutra].
[Diamond Sutra (Green) Level 19 (200/1900)]
[Constitution: 12.4 (↑1.3)]
[Strength: 11.1 (↑3.4)]
He looked at his full attribute panel.
[Su Luo: Alive] [Age: 22] [Level: 4 (89%)] [Strength: 11.1] [Spirit: 12.6] [Constitution: 12.4] ------ [Mana: 27] [Free attribute points: 4] [Survival Coins: 72,000] [Talent: Learning Gains: Effect one: Guaranteed minimum gains during learning Effect two: Your concentration while learning is significantly improved] [Skills: Omitted]
"Hiss... terrifying!"
Su Luo was sure that if he faced the [Earthshaking Boulder] again, he would no longer be unable to hurt him!
Across Zone 76, everyone was going about their own business.
Su Luo was using a Spell Recording Crystal to refine his new spell model.
Song Shige was hacking viciously at monsters with a greatsword.
Ye Xu was anxiously trying to learn the basics of [Flame Attachment] to strengthen his combat power.
Gao Fu was still sleeping...
Amid all this activity, the interface of a channel that had never shown any activity before, the [World Channel], suddenly lit up faintly. A lone message appeared after a hesitant refresh.
[Anonymous: Anyone here? Am I the first?]
Soon, a second message appeared.
[Ye Fan: Not the first, noob.]
After ten minutes of silence, another message appeared.
[Ye Zizhen: Attention, all survivors. Before your main attribute reaches 11, try not to spend your free attribute points. Otherwise, you won't be able to beat the Dungeon or undergo Class Change.]
Another half hour passed.
[Qing Yunnan: Did you all undergo Class Change that way?]
As Su Luo continued modifying his spell model, he also quietly kept an eye on the sporadic messages appearing in the World Channel.
By the time Song Shige came out of the Dungeon three hours later, Su Luo had already gathered a great deal of information.
Becoming a class holder was a prerequisite for unlocking permission to speak in the World Channel, but messages were limited to one per day.
Using a [Class Change Certificate] did not directly grant a class. Instead, the user would be transported to a special "Trial Instance," where the system would offer three class options based on their performance.
Time flowed differently in the Trial Instance than in the Land of Darkness. No matter how long a person spent inside, only 120 hours, or five days, would pass in the Land of Darkness.
In other words, everyone speaking in the World Channel now was an exceptional survivor who had completed a Dungeon challenge as soon as the Monster Tide ended, obtained a certificate, and successfully passed the trial.
It really was... outrageous.