Demonic Energy Villager (Elite!)

"Mm..."

The twentieth Demonic Energy Villager fell, and a crisp notification sound rang out. Li Xunsheng leveled up again.

[Copper Coin +10 Experience +20]

[LV up!]

[Current Level Lv.4 Experience: 12/410]

"Hmm... still going with the previous stat distribution... Wait, what dropped?"

After distributing his stats in a three-to-two ratio of Strength to Agility, the young man's attention was drawn to a strange necklace on the ground.

He had already defeated twenty Demonic Energy Villagers. Besides dropping two common hoes and common cleavers, he had received about 170 Copper Coins. These low-level monsters, let alone blue-grade equipment, hadn't even dropped any consumable recovery items. They were truly stingy.

If it weren't for the generous experience points, which allowed him to level up three times in a short while, Xunsheng would have considered moving elsewhere to see if there was something wrong with this spot.

However, after the twentieth Demonic Energy Villager fell, a shimmering piece of jewelry miraculously appeared on the ground for the first time...

[Someone's Necklace, specific information can be obtained after appraisal]

This was the introduction given by the game system. However, Xunsheng, possessing the Eye of God, paid no mind to it and simply stared at the accessory.

[Linke's Necklace (Quest Item): Perhaps clues can be found in a certain temple in Lone Star City?]

'Quest Item?'

Considering that these Demonic Energy Villagers were once healthy members of the Human Race... perhaps this necklace was related to their normal lives before the demonic energy infection.

After putting the necklace away, Li Xunsheng glanced at the demonic energy-polluted field and prepared to leave.

Now that he had reached level four, these monsters, which used to provide over twenty experience points each, now only gave about ten experience points. It was too little for grinding levels.

However, just as the young man turned, a flash of white light streaked past, and a villager clad in light armor, wielding a Refined Longsword, spawned not far away.

[Demonic Energy Corrupted Villager (Elite!) Once a retired warrior from the village, even after being corrupted by demonic energy, he possesses combat abilities beyond those of ordinary villagers.]

[Lv.7 Attack Power 80-100 Defense 30 HP 1500/1500 MP 0/0 Strength 30 Agility 20...]

[Charged Slash: Slashes forward with the longsword in hand, dealing damage equal to Attack Power + Strength * 3]

"Heh... an Elite monster."

Seeing this special Demonic Energy Villager, Li Xunsheng instantly recalled the Elite Wild Boar in the novice village that had wreaked so much havoc.

It was that level five Elite Wild Boar that had dropped the level five blue-grade item [Tusk].

This meant that if he got lucky, Li Xunsheng could also get a blue-grade item from this elite monster!

However... its attack and defense were more than double that of ordinary monsters, its HP reached five times as much, and it even had a burst skill...

Xunsheng was currently level four. Besides the HP and Constitution increases from leveling up, he had no defensive buffs.

With his current stats, his HP was only 280, defense 8, and constitution 8.

If he were unlucky and took a direct hit from this monster's skill and a normal attack, he would likely be on the verge of death, triggering his invincibility.

But since it was the last fight of the day, triggering invincibility didn't seem so bad.

Raising his small round shield and wielding his dagger, Li Xunsheng quickly attracted the attention of this elite monster.

This villager was different from the others. His beard was already white, he wore chainmail-like light armor, and a leather helmet on his head. Only his legs and neck were unprotected, clearly indicating weak points.

"Hmph!"

Noticing the provocative youth, the demonic old man strode forward, letting out a grunt to vent his angry displeasure.

His gleaming longsword was raised high and then swung down in an instant, its speed more than thirty percent faster than that of an ordinary Demonic Energy Villager!

If Li Xunsheng were still level one, facing an attack of this speed, even with [See Through], it would have been difficult to handle.

However, Li Xunsheng, whose Agility had now reached 15 points, had significantly improved his physical mobility. He raised his round shield, sank his body, and then suddenly rose up, blocking with his shield!

[Perfect Block!]

His gray dagger, like a striking viper, instantly struck the elite monster's weak point.

[-77!]

Even though the opponent's defense was as high as thirty, the simple and brutal weak point damage bypassed their armor, easily dealing a considerable amount of damage.

The old man adjusted his stance and was about to swing his weapon again, but Xunsheng pressed forward, hitting his right arm with a shield bash beforehand.

"Again!"

A strange power surged from within him, making his already swift dagger even more ferocious!

[Critical Hit! -116!]

Crimson numbers popped up, and the elite monster's health bar instantly shortened.

"Hoo..."

The red light in the old man's dark eyes flashed intensely. He raised his sword with both hands, and all his strength began to gather...

"Goodbye!"

As soon as the opponent raised their hand, Li Xunsheng had already detected the skill activation.

When the opponent's strength was greater than his own, he probably wouldn't be able to interrupt the charged skill, nor could he achieve a perfect block.

However, with his decent agility, he could quickly retreat before the opponent finished charging!

"Heh!"

A powerful, heavy blow was swung down, only to stir up mournful wails in the air...

"Tsk, tsk, what a shame."

While the opponent's momentum was still waning, Xunsheng charged forward again. The Gray Dagger slashed across, leaving a trail of damage numbers.

The 1500 health points weren't as effective as expected.

The final, merciless strike landed. The old man's body toppled forward, turning into dust that scattered in the wind...

However, the longsword clutched in the old man's hand did not dissipate along with the chainmail. Instead, it shimmered with a blue glow, left behind on the grass.

[Copper Coin +80 Experience +200!]

[Acquired Weapon: Refined Longsword!]

[Refined Longsword: Advanced (Blue) Attack +100 Strength +8 Required Level: Lv.7 Durability: 90/90]

A simple and unadorned panel, yet it possessed nearly double the attack power of the Gray Dagger.

Picking up the longsword from the ground, Xunsheng couldn't suppress the smile on his face.

His biggest worry was not having a suitable one-handed weapon to continue leveling up quickly after the Gray Dagger's durability ran out, but now, that problem seemed to be solved.

[Congratulations on being the first to flawlessly defeat an elite monster above your level without taking damage. An achievement has been triggered and will be announced across the continent. Do you wish to conceal your nickname?]

"Huh?"

The smiling youth froze for a moment, then blinked.

He hadn't really thought about it when choosing his game nickname. His talent was the Golden Shovel, so he subconsciously took that name.

It probably wouldn't matter if it got out... He used his real name normally anyway. The only people who knew he was called Golden Shovel were Yi Qing, since they were game friends...

Oh, right. And Zhao Jun.

"Announce it. It's fine."