Modifying the Progress Bar

Congratulations, player! You defeated Zhao Laoqi and gained 330 Experience Points.

This was the notification that had popped up when he defeated Zhao Laoqi.

After Fan Lang had walked some distance away, he glanced at the notification window. It seemed that defeating someone also granted Experience Points; killing them was not strictly necessary.

330 Experience Points was quite a lot, bringing Fan Lang one step closer to the next level.

"Consider that fight some post-meal exercise. Time to head back and figure out how to modify the progress bar!"

After beating someone up, Fan Lang was in high spirits. Humming a little tune, he returned to the Registered Male Servants' dormitory.

This was considered the worst housing in the City Lord's Mansion. One building stood right beside another, plain and unadorned.

Fan Lang lived under the same roof as Monkey, and he saw him the moment he entered.

"Lang Ge, I was worried about you. Zhao Laoqi didn't do anything to you, did he?" Monkey hurriedly asked.

"Relax. With his little skills, he couldn't handle me. It'd be more accurate to say I handled him," Fan Lang said casually.

"You handled him? Stop bragging! Among all these Registered Servants, Zhao Laoqi is one of the strongest. He's a whole major realm above us. How could you possibly be his match?"

"Believe it or not. I've got things to do, so I don't have time to bother with you."

Fan Lang waved his hand, entered his room, and flopped onto the bed.

Monkey rolled his eyes at Fan Lang. The hell kind of business was that? He was obviously just bored out of his mind!

Actually, Monkey had wronged Fan Lang. He really was busy now, with no time to spare for anything else.

At that moment, Fan Lang's mind was filled with all kinds of data. To an outsider, it would have been incomprehensible gibberish, but to him, none of it held any secrets.

It was precisely this data that made up a complete system, with every string serving its own purpose.

Fan Lang searched through the vast ocean of data for the part he needed and quickly locked onto his target.

"This is it! If I tamper with this, I can change the progress bar's speed!"

Fan Lang was ecstatic, as if he had won the lottery.

He gave it everything he had and began cutting into the system. After failing many times, he finally succeeded.

Double speed activated!

Skills that previously took eight hours to learn could now be mastered in just four, saving half the time.

"Ha ha, this feels amazing! All I have to do is sleep soundly, and I can learn these skills. Easy and enjoyable."

A smile curved Fan Lang's lips.

Being able to learn skills simply by sleeping was incredibly awesome.

That night, before going to sleep, Monkey pulled Fan Lang into a chat. The two of them rambled about all sorts of things as they gazed at the starry sky outside the window.

"Lang Ge, are you still thinking about Miss Luo?" Monkey asked in a lowered voice.

"In one word: I haven't given up," Fan Lang said with a grin.

"Good! Just as expected of Lang Ge. You won't turn back until you hit the south wall!"

"Even if I hit the south wall, I still won't turn back. Mark my words: someday, Luo Hongyan will beg me to take her in!"

"You're exaggerating a bit. I've noticed that you've really loved bragging today."

"Brag my ass. I'm not bragging," Fan Lang said irritably.

The two then talked about something else, something much more realistic that directly concerned their future lives.

"Lang Ge, the Entry Examination is the day after tomorrow. Whether we Registered Servants can officially join the City Lord's Mansion depends entirely on this. If we can squeeze into the City Lord's Mansion, even becoming servants would be worth it. I'm just afraid the two of us won't be able to beat the others and will get thrown out of the City Lord's Mansion. Then we'll be finished."

Monkey looked deeply worried.

The so-called Entry Examination was a challenge. Only by passing could one obtain official status and live permanently in the City Lord's Mansion. There were limited spots in the mansion, and only some people could stay.

The examination results would also determine the status of those lucky people.

Those at the bottom in terms of strength could only become servants and handle miscellaneous chores.

Those who were somewhat stronger would be assigned to the Guardian Guard, responsible for patrolling and keeping watch. Their treatment was far better than that of ordinary servants.

If someone could stand out and demonstrate extraordinary strength, they would soar to success. They could receive the City Lord's Mansion's focused training, obtain a higher position, and stand above all but one.

For the many Registered Servants, this was an examination that would decide their fates.

"Heavens protect me, gods and Buddhas protect me, ancestors protect me. I hope I can pass the examination!" Monkey prayed fervently.

"Instead of asking them to protect you, you might as well ask me. With me here, I'll definitely make sure you join the City Lord's Mansion."

Fan Lang patted Monkey on the shoulder.

Unfortunately, Monkey did not appreciate it. In his eyes, Fan Lang was still the same old Fan Lang, with strength not much different from his own. How could someone like that protect him?

Early the next morning, sunlight blanketed the earth.

Fan Lang rose early. The first thing he did upon opening his eyes was activate the system and check the learning progress of those skills.

Player has learned the new skill Blazing Triple Wave.

Player has learned the new skill Light Splitting Sword Technique.

Player has learned the new skill Life Reaping Steps.

Player has learned the new skill Spring Return Art.

All four skills had been successfully learned! And it had taken only one night!

Others had to work themselves to the bone to learn skills, while Fan Lang only needed to sleep until the progress bar finished. The difference was like heaven and earth. If word got out, people would be jealous to death.

"Blazing Triple Wave can serve as an area-of-effect killing move, the Light Splitting Sword Technique can work with my iron sword, Life Reaping Steps are a movement technique that can increase my speed, and the Spring Return Art can heal injuries. Each of these four skills has its own use. Together, they're simply perfect!"

Magic Martial Era had been created by Fan Lang himself. It was like his child. Even without reading the skill descriptions, he knew what effects these skills had and how powerful they were.

All four new skills had been carefully selected by him and were perfectly suited to his current Mystic Soldier stage.

"Tomorrow is the Entry Examination. This is my first step toward putting down roots in the City Lord's Mansion. I'll head out today and gain a few more levels!"

With the mindset of a hunter, Fan Lang carried his iron sword and slipped out of the City Lord's Mansion. His strength had improved tremendously, completely different from yesterday, so naturally he had to change his hunting grounds.

The place he was going today not only had many monsters worth high Experience Points, but also hidden cards! As long as he went there, he could obtain them!

Not long after Fan Lang left, Monkey also got up and stumbled groggily out of the room. He happened to run into Zhao Laoqi as he was heading out and saw that Zhao Laoqi had been beaten black and blue, with white bandages wrapped around his body. He looked utterly miserable.

The sight greatly shocked Monkey and reminded him of what Fan Lang had said yesterday.

Fan Lang had said that he had given Zhao Laoqi a beating.

At the time, Monkey had assumed it was just bragging. But now that he saw Zhao Laoqi covered in injuries, he began to doubt himself.

"Could Lang Ge have beaten Zhao Laoqi into this state? No way! Lang Ge is only a Mystic Apprentice, while Zhao Laoqi is a Mystic Soldier!"

Monkey's eyes widened, but he still found it hard to believe.