Lone Star City

"You don't want it?"

A flicker of surprise appeared in Yi Qing's eyes as she looked at Li Xunsheng's calm expression.

We're just strangers we met by chance, and he trusts me this much?

As the first person in the village to save up two Silver Coins, Yi Qing never thought this man in front of her was simple.

"Yeah, I don't use daggers. You can take it for now."

Li Xunsheng waved away the dagger, saying only this.

Since the money's already spent, I have to put on a good show of winning people over... According to the information from the Eye of God, this woman is a decent person, not the type to betray others.

"Let's add each other as friends, so I can chase you for the money back."

"Mm... Thank you."

Yi Qing quickly put away the dagger in her hand and accepted Li Xunsheng's friend request.

"We're both from the same novice village, why don't we add each other as friends too..."

Seeing Li Xunsheng and Yi Qing connect, Zhao Jun spoke up with a suggestion.

However, Yi Qing seemed dazed. Closing her eyes, she sat down in a spot closer to Li Xunsheng, appearing exhausted, likely from excessive bleeding.

"Don't worry. Once we get to the main city, find the church inside. All the gods have ways to heal, and there won't be any after-effects."

This remarkable woman who fought her way to this point earned even the carriage driver's respect. Seeing her injured arm, he took the initiative to remind her.

Zhao Jun, ignored by everyone, felt a bit awkward. He only felt somewhat relieved when Li Xunsheng pulled him along to add him as a friend.

"Do you have any fire?"

Yi Qing couldn't do much about the bleeding from her wound. She had already bandaged it professionally, but the bleeding effect from that wild boar seemed persistent.

"What?"

The sudden, strange question from her traveling companion caught Zhao Jun off guard.

"No fire, but want some peanuts?"

Li Xunsheng, having "borrowed" some dishes from an enraged Tavern Owner, took out a plate of peanuts.

"?"

Zhao Jun, sitting beside them, was baffled.

What are these two big shots talking about? I don't understand a single word!

Zhao Jun, accustomed to following instructions, was completely bewildered by the two players with their wild ideas, taking a long time to snap out of it.

Wait, could it be...

"Thank you, I don't..."

[Exquisite Fried Red-Skin Peanuts (LV.1): Consuming these will slowly heal wounds. Only effective in non-combat situations. +10 Fullness]

"I won't be polite then!"

Quickly changing her tone, Yi Qing gave her friend a grateful smile with her pale face. She placed the plate on her lap and began putting the peanuts into her mouth one by one with her remaining left hand.

"How about it? Want some?"

Seeing that she had accepted his kindness, Li Xunsheng, thinking there was no harm in offering, took out another plate and looked at the stunned Zhao Jun.

[Red Destiny, this child has someone in his heart, he is considerate of consequences, and needs to face a tribulation. Only after breaking through will he achieve greatness.]

Looking at it this way, it's not bad...

"Ah... Thank you."

In this world where fullness was necessary for survival, Zhao Jun would naturally not refuse food.

However, when he saw the attributes that came with the food, his heart couldn't help but tremble.

Then, he suddenly understood.

So that's why the woman asked for fire earlier – she wanted to cauterize the wound. I kind of guessed that... But...

Stopping bleeding by burning it? Is that something a human can do?!

And the other big shot understood immediately! He even gave her his own healing item!

Hiss...

Zhao Jun, who had initially thought Li Xunsheng had earned his Silver Coins purely by luck, now felt a sense of awe towards this player who always wore a smile...

Indeed, those who can board the carriage through their own abilities are no simple individuals...

Carefully putting away the peanuts, Zhao Jun took out the dried rations he had prepared earlier and began to replenish his fullness.

"Why be so frugal?"

Since he had fried them himself, Li Xunsheng felt no heartache at all. He picked up the plate and poured the peanuts into his mouth.

His plan was to go to the main city first and use his Golden Shovel talent to find a job as a chef, so he wouldn't starve to death.

Then, his strength improvement would rely on the so-called 'Divine Spark' talent...

Hope everything goes smoothly.

The game has just begun...

Even at the last second before departure, no one could scrape together another Silver Coin.

Carrying only three people, the coachman mercilessly whipped his horse, urging the carriage away from the small village.

The next time they returned would be a week later...

[Congratulations on leaving the Novice Village, please choose your game nickname]

His mind fell into chaos. The game system's voice rang out from his mind, clearing Xuan Sheng's head... A few blurry memories flashed by, but they only made it harder for him to make a decision...

If I really called myself that, it would be too much, wouldn't it... So, it's better to choose a more low-key nickname.

"Hmm... Name... I'll call myself Golden Shovel."

[Nickname: Golden Shovel, confirm?]

"Yes!"

[Your character has been created]

[Now, a notice is being issued]

[All players who arrive at the city first must reach level ten before the second batch of players arrive, within one week!]

[Otherwise, you will be annihilated!]

[Now, enjoy your game...]

The creaking carriage slowly came to a halt before the enormous city gates. After a day of travel, they had finally reached their destination.

Lone Star City!

This was a city forged from steel and blood, the first line of defense for the Human Race on the Chenxing Continent where it bordered the Demon Race!

These magnificent city gates had witnessed countless heroes spill their blood and seen endless demons meet their end.

To this day, Lone Star City still stood, at the very forefront of the human faction.

The black city gate bricks were stained their current color by countless drops of blood, and the formation patterns engraved within supported this unyielding, strong city.

"Wake up, everyone, we've arrived."

The coachman turned his head and spoke to the three people inside the carriage.

"Mmm..."

Opening his eyes, Li Xunsheng looked out the window. On this side of the majestic city, countless carriages were lined up neatly.

However, inside each carriage were only one or two people, some even none, with a maximum of three or four.

These were all players from various Novice Villages who had managed to save up one Silver Coin within twenty-four hours, truly the cream of the crop! The chosen ones!

Although the number of people didn't seem much less than in the Novice Village, this huge city could easily accommodate this many outsiders. Within this city, Li Xunsheng probably wouldn't have to worry about quests anymore.

"I'm going to the church, so I'll be leaving first. I'll remember your help."

Yi Qing, whose bleeding had stopped, regained her usual cold expression. After nodding to Li Xunsheng, she walked into the city alone.

"Golden Shovel... Big Brother, what are your plans?"

Now that he had truly arrived in this city ahead of his comrades, Zhao Jun felt a bit lost.

As a pioneer, what could he do?

"Me? I'm going to find a restaurant to work at. As for you, I suggest you reach level ten as soon as possible, prepare for your job change, and it's best to look around and see if you can trigger any good quests."

Leaping off the carriage, Li Xunsheng showed no intention of chatting further and quickly walked towards the city gates.

"In short, keep up the good work. I won't be grinding monsters with you."

"Huh?"