The First Class Advancer

Coordinates: Storm Abyss - "Dawn" Fortress Resurrection Plaza.

"Connecting neural signals... Synchronization rate 100%."

"Resurrection countdown complete."

A white light flashed.

Feng Xing Tian Xia's figure re-materialized on the resurrection plaza. The sense of void from having his soul extracted had just faded, replaced by the familiar, noisy clamor.

"Brother Feng, you're finally online!"

Dali Chu Qiji, who had resurrected a step earlier, hurried over with a bitter expression: "We lost so much in that last wave. I lost half my experience dying once, and now I have to run all the way back to retrieve my shield."

"That is the price of challenging higher-level enemies."

Feng Xing Tian Xia's face was grim as he checked his status.

Although he had resurrected in a safe zone, he was afflicted with a 30-minute [Weakened] status, reducing all attributes by 10%.

"That Flame Poison Golem..." Dali Chu Qiji said, still shaken, "That thing is impossible to fight. The aura damage is too high; it's not something you can compensate for with skill."

"That thing is likely meant for the late game."

Feng Xing Tian Xia was not discouraged. As a professional gamer, he had seen plenty of situations where players accidentally wandered into high-level zones.

Opening the system interface, Feng Xing Tian Xia's gaze locked firmly onto the very bottom of the [Gene Shop].

The special item named [Titan Blood (Diluted Version)] was still lying there quietly, priced at 3000 bio-energy.

The most crucial part was the red-text unlock condition:

[Unlocked after the first player on the server completes a class advancement]

[Available for purchase after the first class advancement]

[Limited quantity]

Thinking of his previous hypothesis, Feng Xing Tian Xia's heart couldn't help but accelerate slightly.

"Since we can't beat it, we'll get stronger and then go back."

Feng Xing Tian Xia closed the interface, his voice cold, "Da Qiang, how much money do you have left?"

"Huh? I lost quite a bit during the resurrection, I've only got two hundred left."

"Buy [Town Portal Scroll]s and potions with everything."

Mentioning the [Town Portal Scroll], this was an item the system had secretly updated just yesterday. Although it cost a steep 50 bio-energy per scroll, its appearance had drastically changed the pace of the game—no longer did they have to waste time on tedious travel.

"I'm not sleeping anymore."

Feng Xing Tian Xia drew the spare bone blade at his waist, pointing it toward the boundless sea of monsters outside the fortress.

"The others can take turns logging off to rest; I'll lead the team. As long as I don't fall, we keep grinding."

"I want to hit level 10 within 24 hours. Then, I'm going to test this item."

Dali Chu Qiji froze for a moment, then grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth: "Done! You're the boss, you call the shots! I'll go crazy with you! I also want to see what kind of godly item that so-called 'Titan Blood' really is."

Blue Star time, the ninth day after the second beta test began.

The entire Titan server fell into a strange, fanatical frenzy.

Players who were originally keen on building infrastructure and sightseeing suddenly discovered that the aloof top-ranked player, Feng Xing Tian Xia, had gone mad.

He was like an indefatigable killing machine, leading his elite squad to clear monsters on the outskirts of the Storm Abyss day and night.

Influenced by this, the leveling atmosphere across the entire server was pushed to the extreme.

"Even God Feng is rushing to level 10, what are we waiting for?"

"The first class advancement has special rewards!"

"Get grinding! For the class advancement!"

The monsters of the Storm Abyss suffered. It used to be monsters besieging players, but now it had turned into players camping spawn points. A Flame Poison Golem had barely appeared near the fortress before it could even let out a roar, only to be surrounded by dozens of men and instantly hacked into rubble.

In-game time, 22nd hour.

Storm Abyss, E7 area, a high-risk grinding spot known as the "Rotting Canyon."

Squelch!

The bone blade in Feng Xing Tian Xia's hand was now covered in cracks.

One final sidestep, a slide, and a backstab.

The LV.8 elite Crawler in front of him let out a hiss of resentment before collapsing into a pool of black blood.

A golden pillar of light shot into the sky within this abyss filled with gloom and toxic gas.

[Congratulations!]

[Level up: LV.9 -> LV.10 (Class cap reached).]

[All attributes +2, gained 5 free attribute points.]

[System Prompt: You have reached the limit of your initial form, and your experience pool is now locked. Please head to the Sighing Corridor to find the mentor Watcher Zero to initiate your class advancement trial.]

"Finally..."

Feng Xing Tian Xia looked at the experience bar that had finally filled up, his entire body leaning against the rock as if drained of all strength.

"Brother Feng! Awesome!" Dali Chu Qiji (LV.9) roared from the side, "Quick! Use the Town Portal Scroll! Go do your advancement quest! Don't let anyone else beat you to it!"

Feng Xing Tian Xia did not hesitate for a second, tearing apart the expensive piece of parchment in his hand.

Space distorted.

His figure vanished from the Storm Abyss, instantly appearing at that white starting point—the Sighing Corridor.

Coordinates: Sighing Corridor - Watcher Garrison.

The three-meter-tall golden giant NPC, Watcher Zero, still stood alone on the high ground.

When Feng Xing Tian Xia walked up to him, this NPC, who usually only issued "digging silt" quests, finally had a golden exclamation mark light up above his head.

Zero slowly lowered his head, his pair of ghostly blue soul-fires fixed upon Feng Xing Tian Xia.

"You... have touched the limits of this shell."

Zero's voice was hoarse, carrying a hint of majesty, "But for this long war, you are still as fragile as an ant."

"If you wish to obtain greater power, you must prove your worth."

[Triggered Key Quest: Advanced Trial.]

[Please select your evolution path:]

Two cards popped up in front of Feng Xing Tian Xia:

1. [Ghost Blade]

Difficulty: Hard

Description: Merge with the shadows and become an invisible reaper.

2. [Venom Ranger]

Difficulty: Normal

Description: Master corrosion and become a hunter on the battlefield.

(Note: Hidden classes require special triggers and are currently unavailable.)

Hidden classes were rare and elusive; so far, players had only unlocked the advancement for the Titan Divine Guard.

"I choose Ghost Blade."

[Triggered Class Advancement Quest: Blade in the Shadows.]

[Quest Description: Deep within the Fold Canyon of the Storm Abyss, a group of cunning Stinger Assassins (LV.10) are lurking. They are attempting to sabotage our supply lines.]

[Advancement Condition (Ghost Blade): Within 5 minutes, stealthily enter the canyon and assassinate 10 Stinger Assassins.]

[Restriction: If you kill without being in a stealth state, or if you are discovered by the enemy, the quest fails.]

Feng Xing Tian Xia's eyes narrowed.

This quest... is hardcore!

It tests not only damage output but also operation and awareness.

For the Titan behind the scenes, these Stinger Assassins hiding in the folds of the alveoli were extremely troublesome, hidden lesions. Sending players skilled in stealth to deal with them was the perfect use of resources.

"I accept." Feng Xing Tian Xia accepted the quest.

Coordinates: Storm Abyss - Fold Canyon.

This was an area with extremely complex terrain, filled everywhere with layers upon layers of fleshy folds.

Feng Xing Tian Xia activated the temporary skill [Shadow Camouflage] provided by the system, his entire body seemingly melting into the air.

Five meters ahead, a transparent monster covered in poisonous stingers was patrolling.

Hoo...

His real-life breathing control was brought into the game.

Feng Xing Tian Xia slowed his pace, placing every step on the nodes where the wind noise was loudest to mask the sound of his footsteps.

Closer, and closer still.

Just as the monster turned around.

Explode into action!

His bone blade precisely severed the monster's vocal organs before stabbing into its core.

[Killed Stinger Assassin (1/10).]

[No alarm triggered.]

"Nine more."

Over the next four minutes, Feng Xing Tian Xia displayed the terrifying dominance of a former professional gaming god.

He wove through the canyon like a ghost.

There were no wasted movements, not a hint of hesitation.

When the final monster fell, there were still 30 seconds left on the countdown.

[Trial passed.]

[Congratulations to player "Feng Xing Tian Xia" for completing the class advancement!]

[Class changed: Hunter -> Ghost Blade]

[All attributes significantly increased!]

[Learned core skills: [Shadow Step] (instant teleportation backstab), [Execution] (increased execute threshold)]

[Server-wide system announcement:]

[Congratulations to player "Feng Xing Tian Xia" for becoming the first player on the server to change classes!]

[Gene Shop LV.2 access unlocked.]

Feng Xing Tian Xia ignored the barrage of messages exploding on the world channel.

He opened the Gene Shop immediately.

The item that had once been gray was now emitting an alluring golden light.

[Titan Blood (Diluted Version)]

[Purchase conditions: Met]

[Price: 3,000 Bio-energy]

Feng Xing Tian Xia glanced at his balance: 3,050 points.

This was his entire life savings, scraped together over 22 hours of sleepless grinding, where he hadn't even dared to drink an extra potion.

"Exchange."

[Purchase successful.]

[Item has been sent to your inventory.]

He looked at the crystal vial in his inventory, filled with a pale golden liquid, as a system prompt popped up:

[Usage instructions: This item is a soul-bound prop; please consume it directly within the game. The effects will penetrate the neural link and provide feedback to your "Source Consciousness."]

"Source Consciousness..."

Feng Xing Tian Xia took a deep breath.

Standing on the cliff edge of the Sighing Corridor, he tilted his head back and downed the golden liquid in the vial in one gulp.

The moment the liquid touched his throat, it turned into a stream of molten lava!

Boom!

Feng Xing Tian Xia felt a roar echo through his brain. The heat did not enter his game character's stomach; instead, it flowed directly up his neural network, as if piercing through the barriers of dimensions to strike deep into his soul.

"Argh--!"

He couldn't help but let out a low growl as the game screen before him began to twist and blur violently.

[System prompt: Drug absorption in progress... Detected damage to Source Consciousness (nervous system), performing primary repairs...]

Blue Star, Magic City.

Chen Feng jolted awake from his life-support pod.

"Haa... haa..."

He gasped for air, drenched in sweat as if he had been pulled out of water. The burning sensation of his soul being baptized by lava still lingered in his mind, leaving him with a splitting headache.

"What's going on?"

Chen Feng instinctively reached up to wipe away the sweat.

However, the moment he moved his hand, he froze.

The movement, which usually carried a sense of heaviness and required his brain to consciously issue commands, was now incredibly fluid.

There was no sluggishness.

There was no trembling.

His hand moved with his intent.

Chen Feng remained frozen in place, staring intently at his right hand. He attempted to perform the most basic finger exercises of a professional player.

Section one, agility.

Section two, extreme speed.

Section three, perfection.

He whipped his head around, looking at the Jenga blocks sitting on the table.

That was his daily rehabilitation test; usually, reaching the fifth level was his limit, and his hands would shake violently.

Chen Feng climbed out of the pod and walked to the table.

Deep breath.

Reach out.

Pick up, place down.

Pick up, place down.

Swish, swish, swish!

In just one minute, a thirty-level tower of blocks stood steadily on the table, without the slightest tilt.

Even when he pulled his hand back, there wasn't a trace of excess tremor in his fingertips.

"Clang."

The last block was crushed by his grip.

It wasn't because he lost control, but because he was too excited and couldn't contain his strength.

Chen Feng looked at the tower, his entire body feeling as if it had been drained of strength, and he slumped into his chair.

"It's real..."

"It's all... real."

This wasn't just his hand injury being healed; he even felt that his five senses had become sharper than before. He could clearly track a bird flying hundreds of meters outside his window.

I'm afraid this isn't some holographic game at all.

This is a supernatural miracle.

He glanced at the "Application for Reinstatement" on the wall that he had intended to mail out; it was his final struggle to return to a professional team as a substitute.

Rip!

Chen Feng grabbed the application and tore it to shreds.

"Why bother with the professional league anymore..."

Chen Feng looked at the night sky outside the window, his eyes burning with unprecedented ambition.

In that world called Titan, there was power that could allow him to transcend and become a saint. Even a single drop of blood from that world could create miracles in reality.

If he could obtain more...

His hand trembling, he opened the game's built-in voice channel.

It was his private channel with his squad members.

At this moment, Dali Chu Qiji and Yun Zhong You were still waiting for him in the game.

"Hello? Brother Feng? Why did you suddenly log off?" Dali's voice came through. "What did that potion taste like? Was it good?"

Chen Feng took a deep breath, trying hard to keep his voice calm, but the trembling at the end of his words betrayed him.

"Da Qiang, Youzi, and also Fa Wang, Kuang Ren."

"Listen closely, I will only say this once."

"No matter what you are doing right now, no matter how much money you have on hand."

"It would be best to liquidate all your assets in reality immediately, buy nutrient solution, and buy the best life-support pods."

"Trade with other players for Bio-Energy, then throw yourselves into the game and grind until you drop!"

The channel was silent for a few seconds.

Dali Chu Qiji was a bit bewildered: "Brother Feng, are you okay? Why are you suddenly so serious?"

Chen Feng looked at his right hand, which was as steady as a rock, and said word by word:

"Remember what I said before, about me having Synaptic Response Delay Syndrome."

"That Titan Blood, it fed back directly into reality."

"It healed my hand."

"Completely healed it."

There was a deathly silence in the channel.

Only the sound of Yun Zhong You's rapid breathing came through clearly, transmitted through the electrical currents.