Quest Reward

After logging in, Su Jiang appeared at the resurrection point in the newbie village.

It was still bustling with activity.

The gloomy anomaly seen on the forum had dissipated, and newbie village 13 had returned to peace.

Moreover, Su Jiang saw that a few scattered players had already reached level ten. Some had learned new skills, some had acquired new equipment, and they had left the newbie village, heading towards the main city.

Generally, after reaching level ten, most players would choose to go to the main city, except for those who had received the quest [Prelude to the Anomaly].

In fact, even if they didn't receive this quest, other players could help those who did complete it and still receive rewards, with a chance to obtain the [Talent Enhancement Chest] item.

However, this was a matter of opinion.

Leveling up was also a crucial step. If one were to get bogged down by [Prelude to the Anomaly] and fail to complete the quest, it would be a disadvantage.

If you're not confident about clearing a dungeon, heading to the main city to level up is also a wise choice.

"Ding—"

The game system suddenly chimed.

Why was there a prompt right after logging in?

Su Jiang frowned and opened the system's information panel.

"System Prompt: The Fear Deity knows you are immortal, so it has left a curse within your body. You have acquired a debuff: [Gaze of Fear]!"

Damn it!

Killing me once wasn't enough, and now you want to give me a debuff?!

Su Jiang quickly saw a small ghost icon appear on his passive status bar.

[Gaze of Fear] (Debuff)

Quality: Legendary

Level: Lv.1

Effect: Your body has been eroded by the power of fear. Every day, your four basic attributes will decrease by 3% until all attributes become 0. Before this happens, if you do not surrender to the Fear Deity, you will die. If you surrender, this status will change to a daily increase of 3% to your four basic attributes, up to a maximum of 1000%, and your race will become Ghost.

Damn you, Fear Deity...

Are you forcing me to surrender and become a ghost?

Su Jiang frowned. This thing was a huge blow to his nascent gaming life. After a month, his four basic attributes would become 0, and he might as well delete his account and quit the game.

Although the buff after surrendering to fear was tempting, the Ghost race was enough to make Su Jiang hesitate.

Becoming a ghost might grant longevity, but if you can't smell or taste, what's the point of living forever?

Su Jiang opened his attribute panel.

His main body's four basic attributes had indeed decreased by 3%.

His current level was 10. Based on normal life level growth, each level grants 10 points. Currently, each basic attribute should be 100.

However...

Attributes (Balanced Development): Strength 97, Intelligence 97, Constitution 97, Spirit 97. (Attributes reduced by 3% due to the [Gaze of Fear] buff.)

This is a rip-off...

Su Jiang wailed internally, then glanced at Kurumi's avatar's attribute panel.

Huh?

Attributes (Balanced Development): Strength 209, Intelligence 209, Constitution 209, Spirit 209. (Third Bullet passive +10%)

Su Jiang rubbed his eyes. Kurumi's avatar's panel was unaffected by the debuff!

Kurumi's avatar was level 10. Each level granted 19 attribute points per stat, so her four basic attributes were 190. Adding the passive from Third Bullet, it was indeed 209!

Great!

Su Jiang felt a surge of relief and couldn't help but retort, "Looks like this Deity isn't all that great, only weakening the main body's attributes."

Weaken me, go ahead and weaken me.

As long as it doesn't affect the avatar's attributes, Su Jiang doesn't care. At most, he won't transform into his main body later. He didn't really transform much in his previous life anyway.

Besides, Su Jiang never intended to develop his main body's attributes. If he doesn't use his avatar to fight others, is he just missing out on a talent for no reason? He's not stupid.

Let any Deity do whatever they want.

Su Jiang headed straight for the Adventurer's Guild.

The receptionist at the Adventurer's Guild was overjoyed to see Su Jiang and walked towards him.

"Great adventurer Su, the Adventurer's Guild welcomes your arrival. May I ask if you would like to claim your quest rewards now?"

The players crowding around the quest board to pick up quests were stunned. This NPC was so indifferent when facing them. They thought this NPC's setting was like this, but they didn't expect it was just that she hadn't met the right person!

She had never left the service desk before, but as soon as this player appeared, she eagerly rushed over to greet him.

This preferential treatment is too obvious!

"Damn, this NPC is a simp!"

"What quest did he complete to raise the Adventurer's Guild's reputation?"

"This is too real..."

"Did he donate a large amount of copper coins to the Adventurer's Guild? It's only just launched, there's no way he could have raised their reputation to the point where NPCs are this subservient, right?"

Seeing the NPCs like this, the players couldn't help but complain in the chat channel, all curious to see what this player had actually done.

The NPC led Su Jiang into the guild hall, and they could no longer see them.

Su Jiang arrived at the guild hall's conference room.

The president of the Adventurer's Guild and several people from the Holy Grace Divine Cult were all there.

Sister Allison ran over with a look of pleasant surprise and said, "I knew it, the Holy One would definitely protect his hero. Su, I prayed for you for a whole day, and you've finally returned safely!"

"Heh heh, we are immortal. Sister Allison need not worry."

Hearing this, Sister Allison breathed a huge sigh of relief and then her eyes sparkled with adoration.

The president of the Adventurer's Guild was a short, fat man with white beard and hair, wearing the uniform of a senior member of the Adventurer's Guild. If Su Jiang hadn't known from his profile that he was human, he would have suspected him of being a dwarf.

His round body jumped down from his chair.

"I've wanted to meet you since you became an Elite Adventurer. I didn't expect that by the time I met you, you would have excellently completed another quest. Truly, the younger generation is formidable!"

"This is my duty as a member of the guild," Su Jiang said humbly.

The system instantly chimed: "Ding, your favorability with the Adventurer's Guild +5, current total favorability: 10."

The president of the Adventurer's Guild came to Su Jiang's side and said, "No need to be humble. Your achievements are undeniable. These are the rewards we, the guild, have for you..."

"Ding—"

"Congratulations on completing the rare quest [Prelude to the Anomaly] and successfully defeating the evil boss hidden underground. Settlement rewards (Elite Badge +20%): 6 gold coins, experience x, 2 [Talent Enhancement Chest] (an extra reward for first clear), a set of rare standard equipment from the Adventurer's Guild (Lv.10). For subsequent quests, please explore the main city."

"System notification: Congratulations on completing the rare quest [Prelude to the Anomaly]. The Adventurer's Guild's trust in your strength has increased. Your reputation has spread within the guild, Reputation +1000, current total Adventurer's Guild Reputation: 1300 (Slightly Famous)."

"System notification: You have killed an ancient Ghost hidden underground and survived the Gaze of Fear from the Fear Deity. Your reputation has spread throughout the Carron Empire, Reputation +200, current total Carron Empire Reputation: 300 (Slightly Heard Of)."