Breath of Flowing Sound

The training methods at the recruit camp were somewhat different from what Chen Yi had imagined. The players were not split up but trained collectively in the form of guilds.

Noxus taught the players how to fight, while the players helped Noxus achieve its goals.

"Is that even fighting? My grandma handles a blade better than you do."

"Pah! You call yourself a mage? I'd chop you to death before you even cast a spell. Are you planning to stand there and wait to die?"

"Hm? Priest, holy servant? You've been standing there so long, you must be tired. Come have some water. Well, I have a friend..."

"Firearms? Sure, sure. If you want to buy bullets, go find the new Quartermaster."

Once training began, the recruit camp was filled with nothing but the roars of Noxians.

However, they treated healers and Gunners very well.

Healers could save them a few trips to the hospital and help them save money.

Gunners needed to keep buying bullets, which made them money.

Even Chen Yi had someone come over to sell him something.

"Centurion Yi, take a look at your staff. It's neither impressive nor refined, not smooth in the slightest. It completely fails to match the status of an important figure like you."

Usama, so thin that he was little more than a skeleton, smiled ingratiatingly.

"Take a look at the Explosive Staff newly developed by our Merchant Guild. Not only does it conduct mana exceptionally well, but it is also reasonably priced. It is perfect for a powerful mage like you."

Explosive Staff

Quality: Blue

Physical Attack: 15-22

Magic Attack: 50-57

Durability: 6/16

Effect: Fire Elemental attacks have a chance to trigger an explosion.

Level: 20

Evaluation: A mass-produced item, but it does have some noteworthy qualities.

It really was much stronger than the staff in Chen Yi's hand.

However, no matter how much Usama talked, Chen Yi remained expressionless and revealed nothing.

Seeing Chen Yi's lack of interest, Usama suddenly recalled the rumors about him.

If Chen Yi's true strength went far beyond what he had shown before, then it was perfectly normal for him to look down on this staff.

As for why he was using that Trash Staff, perhaps it was simply his hobby?

Usama pretended to slap his own mouth. "Oh, look at me. How could Centurion Yi possibly fancy this sort of trash? It is this lowly one's mistake."

As he spoke, he put the Explosive Staff away.

Chen Yi raised an eyebrow.

Oh? Space storage equipment. This guy is really rich.

Usama took out another staff. Judging solely from the gleam reflected from it, Chen Yi could tell that it was the work of a master.

"Centurion Yi, look at this staff—the Breath of Flowing Sound! This is the proud work of a Grandmaster blacksmith."

Breath of Flowing Sound

Quality: Purple

Physical Attack: 27-33

Magic Attack: 95-101

Durability: 19/19

Flowing Sound: Reduces spellcasting consumption to a certain extent. Mana recovery +2 per minute.

Fluorescent Stone: Reduces the equipment level requirement by 5.

Level: 25

Evaluation: It is not perfect, but it is definitely better than the trash in your hand.

"Not 50,000 Copper Coins, not 40,000 Copper Coins. Centurion Yi only needs 32,000 to take it away."

Even Chen Yi was somewhat tempted, but some mysterious force compelled him to stay calm.

Usama was convinced now.

As expected of an important figure. His composure was truly remarkable; even a masterwork like this could not move him.

But what Usama did not know was that the important figure in his eyes—Chen Yi—was currently nothing more than a pauper, with fewer than 1,000 Copper Coins on him!

Even if a Gold Quality staff were placed before Chen Yi now, his expression would not change.

He could not afford it. Looking at it would be pointless.

Still, if it really were a Gold Quality staff, taking a risk might not be impossible. Chen Yi glanced at the cloth sack of his Space Backpack.

The risks and rewards were not proportional. Better forget it.

After the Game World arrived in Runeterra, the mainstream currency of this world had become Copper Coins.

That was because Copper Coins not only held their value, but also possessed considerable value in themselves.

Whether in alchemical experiments or the construction of Magic Arrays, Copper Coins could directly replace certain materials without affecting the result. They were a universal medium.

Countless people in Runeterra had once wanted to exploit the Game World's bugs to obtain Copper Coins.

But... none of them succeeded.

Thus, the residents of Runeterra actually welcomed players spending Copper Coins.

Out of options, Usama respectfully handed Chen Yi a Business Card and said that if he needed anything, he could visit the Wuyan Merchant Guild. He would do his utmost to satisfy Centurion Yi's needs.

After Usama left, Chen Yi was the only one remaining in the tent.

This was a centurion's privilege: a private tent of his own, without needing to squeeze in with other players.

Once the surroundings fell quiet, Chen Yi began considering what path he should take next.

The mission was the first thing he needed to consider.

He still did not know whether the recruit camp would be sent on the cleansing mission, so he needed to ask around and avoid failing the mission.

Then there was his own improvement.

This world possessed a type of power known as runes.

However, they were basically kept by the Wandering Mage—Ryze.

That guy was absurdly powerful. Chen Yi could not beat him, so there was no need to think about that for now.

Still, he could study Runeterra's magic and see how it differed from his own.

Lastly, there was the question of how much he needed to show during this mission.

Runeterra had an enormous gap between its upper and lower limits. At the bottom were ordinary people; at the top was Aurelion Sol, the dragon god who created worlds.

An inconspicuous passerby by the road might turn out to be some sage or elder.

Acting rashly carried great risks!

But this was Noxus. Only by proving his strength could he survive better here.

At noon, Chen Yi found the Thousand Commander Ethan. "I wonder if Thousand Commander Ethan has a moment?"

Ethan had been about to say something, but when he saw that it was Chen Yi, he immediately broke into a smile. "I'm free, I'm free. What can I do for you, Brother Yi?"

Chen Yi wore a bitter smile. "To be honest, I have something I would like to ask Mr. Ethan about."

Being addressed as "Mr." by a powerful mage, Ethan's face immediately split into a grin, even causing the scar on his forehead to bunch up.

"Hehehe... easy! Easy! If your big brother knows it, I'll definitely help you."

Chen Yi explained his purpose bitterly. "To be honest, I have spent every last coin researching magic and am now completely broke. Someone from the Wuyan Merchant Guild just came to my door, and I could only watch their goods with envy. I wonder if Mr. Ethan knows of any quick way to earn War Merit."

As he spoke, Chen Yi waved the Trash Staff in his hand to prove that he was telling the truth.

War Merit could be exchanged for many things in Noxus. Wealth, status, and power were all within its exchange range.

Even the famous Hand of Noxus—Darius—had relied on his outstanding performance in war to climb step by step from a Beggar to the Tri-Force Council, the pinnacle of Noxian power.

Although Ethan was not a mage, he could still tell that the staff in Chen Yi's hand was no fine item.

There were plenty of mages like this in Noxus.

He had heard that researching magic was extremely expensive. For the first time, Ethan felt fortunate that he was not a mage.

He pondered for a moment before saying, "In Noxus, the best way to earn War Merit is through war!"

"However... the Empire has not officially gone to war with any other nation recently."

The arrival of the players had caused Noxus and the other nations to engage in nothing more than minor skirmishes lately, and those fighting were only players.

Such battles could not be tied to land or glory at all, so the Empire generally granted little to no War Merit for them.

Chen Yi did not stay with Ethan for long before leaving with regret.

Although he had not achieved his goal in one go, it was enough that he had left Ethan with the impression that he needed War Merit.