Counting Spoils of War, Strength Soars!

Looking around, Xiao Wen saw piles of loot. He first put the few pieces of equipment dropped by Yang Lu into his backpack.

[Lost Bow]

Usage Level: 5

Grade: Green

Attack Power: 40-50

Attack Speed: 5%

Description: A bow and arrow once used by elves of the first generation, lost for unknown reasons. It's a decent bow for practice.

[Exquisite Iron Armor]

Usage Level: 5

Quality: Green

Defense: 30-40

Constitution: 10

Description: A failed product casually crafted by legendary dwarven artisans, possessing decent defensive capabilities.

[Ice Magic Staff]

Usage Level: 5

Quality: Green

Magic Attack: 35-40

Ice Attribute Strength: 1%

Description: A profound crystal staff crafted from ten-thousand-year-old ice crystals, it provides a certain amplification effect for affinity with ice and snow elements.

While Xiao Wen was inventorying the spoils of war, the outside world had exploded.

"What? Someone actually took down a Level 7 Lord BOSS?"

"Holy crap! Is this a BUG? Our boss, Flame Emperor, has only taken down a Level 5 Lord BOSS."

"Exactly! Even King-tier combinations like the Ice Snow Three Gods only took down a Level 5 Lord BOSS. Just who is this Halfway Through the Mortal World?"

"Why haven't I heard of such a person among the Emperor-tier and King-tier experts? Could this be a newly emerged expert in the Kyushu server?"

"It's broad daylight, are you dreaming? Do you think King-tier experts are like cabbage on the street, available everywhere! Get lost, I need to go report this news."

A group of people started chattering, one after another, arguing incessantly.

On a hill in the Red Rock zone of another beginner village, a man with fiery red hair and a broadsword slung over his shoulder walked leisurely, followed by seven players from different professions.

He was none other than one of Kyushu's recognized Four Emperors – the Flame Emperor! Tianyan Jiulong!

Below the hill, Crimson Flame Mountain-Piercing Beasts with crimson scales coiled around.

"Flame Emperor, this is it. If the strategist's deduction is correct, this place must be inhabited by a Level 7 Lord BOSS – the Crimson Flame King Armor Beast!" a subordinate behind him spoke.

Tianyan Jiulong nodded, "Prepare to act, clear out the mobs, and lure out the BOSS. This time, my Flame Dragon Guild must seize all the first-kill BOSS rewards!"

Ding! Kyushu Server Announcement: Congratulations to player Halfway Through the Mortal World for defeating the Level 7 Lord BOSS. Reward: One purple-grade accessory.

"..." Tianyan Jiulong's mouth twitched.

A slap in the face!

This was a blatant slap in the face.

Just as he finished speaking, the Level 7 Lord BOSS had already been defeated.

His temper was already fiery, and at this moment, his face turned even more somber.

"Halfway Through the Mortal World, who is this kid? Where is he from? Go investigate, see if my old friends have changed their names," Tianyan Jiulong said coldly.

Among the people following him, Yan Feng, the rogue responsible for intelligence, quickly nodded, a few beads of sweat subtly appearing on his forehead.

"Don't worry, Flame Emperor, I'll go investigate right away."

After saying that, Yan Feng turned and ran back, his speed astonishingly fast. With a few leaps over the exposed sharp stones, he disappeared.

Faintly, the sound of exhaling relief could still be heard drifting through the air.

"What are you all standing around for? Hurry up and get to work! If this second BOSS is also snatched away, I..."

Ding! Kyushu Server Announcement: Congratulations to player Feng Luoqing for defeating the Level 7 Lord BOSS. Reward: One purple-grade weapon.

Tianyan Jiulong's expression froze. Instead of getting angry, he laughed coldly and said, "Feng Luoqing, this kid is finally making a move. Hiding for so long, was he planning to snatch the first spot before me? He got snatched too. His title of Kyushu's number one isn't that impressive after all! Hahaha..."

"You guys, what are you still waiting for, get to work!"

"Yes..."

In another beginner village, the wind and snow remained, and by the side of a frozen, snow-covered canyon, an ice crystal serpent lay on the ground. Standing over its corpse was a person holding a long sword, clad in a black cloak.

This was Feng Luoqing, one of the Four Emperors of Kyushu who had left countless legends – the Wind Emperor!

"Halfway Through the Mortal World? I've never heard that name before. When did such a person appear in Kyushu? No, wait… Mortal World… Could it be him?"

Suddenly, a petite figure appeared in Feng Luoqing's mind.

"It's been five years. He should be unsealed by now. Could it really be him, that former legend of Kyushu, the only man who could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with gods, who has returned?"

Feng Luoqing murmured, collected the loot from the ground, and turned to walk back to the beginner village.

At the same time, Xiao Wen placed the last piece of equipment from the battlefield into his backpack, a look of pleasant surprise on his face.

Killing the Rhino Lord had dropped a green-grade item and three white-grade items. Besides that, over a hundred gold coins had dropped, and including various potions, the income from this encounter was almost several times what he had earned yesterday.

Moreover, although the item dropped by the Rhino Lord was green-grade, it was an extremely rare accessory that boosted stats.

[Ring of Mountain's Might]

Equip Level: 5

Grade: Green

Strength Boost: 10%

Description: A ring imbued with the aura of Titan gods, used to enhance strength.

More importantly, accessories were different from ordinary equipment and could be worn by Xiao Wen.

With this, his already terrifying attack power became even more monstrous, bringing him one step closer to becoming a destructive Summoner.

After equipping the Ring of Mountain's Might, Xiao Wen's gaze fell upon a glowing orb in his backpack.

It was the purple-grade accessory reward granted by the system.

Opening the reward, the light dissipated, revealing a jade pendant that was emerald green all over. Etched onto the pendant was a creature with a bird's head and a human's body – it was Dijiang, the ancestral witch beast from Kyushu mythology!

[Phantom Spirit Jade Pendant]

Equip Level: 5

Grade: Purple

Effect: Spatial Leap (within ten meters).

Cooldown: 12 hours.

Description: A mysterious jade pendant containing spatial power, capable of spatial leaps. Legend has it that the pendant holds a trace of Dijiang, the ancestral witch's divine power.

"Holy cow, is my luck really bursting lately? I got two such precious accessories right off the bat?"

Xiao Wen blinked, looking at the jade pendant and the ring with utter shock. His trembling heart could not calm down for a long time.

Either of these two accessories, if taken out individually, could be sold for an exorbitant price. If Xiao Wen wished, he could become a millionaire overnight!

This was the charm of "Phantom Gods."

However, money was just enough to get by.

Equipment that was useful to him should be kept, after all, this game had only just begun.

"Let's keep leveling up."

Equipping the two accessories and allocating all his level-up stat points to Strength, Xiao Wen stood tall and walked further away.

The level seven Ironback Rhino could no longer satisfy Xiao Wen; he needed to find stronger monsters.

Ding! Warning, you are about to enter the Nightmare Forest and will be actively attacked by monsters level ten and above!

"Level ten? They should be able to take a hit, right?"