With the sun about to set, Xiao Fan planted the last flower and only then reluctantly stood up.
Nights in the wilderness were dangerous. He didn't want to take any chances.
Check character information.
ID: Jiu Chen Level: 2 (0/100) HP: 210/210 MP: 786/786 (+551) Strength: 10 Intelligence: 10 Spirit: 10 Agility: 10 Constitution: 10 Trait: Saint Skills: Halo of the Saint, Gift of the Saint 2 Equipment: None Core Power: 620
"I actually farmed 520 MP in one afternoon."
"That's already as much MP as a level-seven player."
Xiao Fan wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling that all his hard work that afternoon had been worth it.
By the time he returned to Novice Village, the sun had set, and a lamp had been lit at the village entrance.
After Xiao Fan entered the village, some players blocked off the entrance, adding one last bit of defense to the dilapidated settlement.
Wind Snow Traveler was there too. He glanced at Xiao Fan but didn't ask where he had been.
"There's something I need to tell you. Two people have to patrol the village entrance every night, so the twenty of you can make ten pairs."
"While you were away today, they already sorted out the pairs. You're with Purple Charm."
At that, Xiao Fan frowned.
He didn't mind patrolling at night, but it was one thing for them to pair off without waiting for him. Wasn't it a bit much to assign him a teammate at random?
He vaguely remembered Purple Charm as the only new female player who'd arrived today. She had long black hair, was short, and looked rather frail.
"They paired off two by two, and Purple Charm was the only one left. You could only be teamed up with her," Wind Snow Traveler explained.
Xiao Fan was at a loss for words. He didn't know any of the other nineteen players, and they weren't obligated to wait for him to come back before pairing up.
Xiao Fan nodded, accepting the arrangement. It was only a night patrol, so it didn't matter who he went with.
"Someone's on patrol tonight, so head back and get some rest. Try not to go out alone from now on. The area around the mountains is still pretty dangerous."
Wind Snow Traveler had a good impression of Xiao Fan, so he offered a friendly warning.
"Thanks, Brother Feng." Xiao Fan said goodbye and returned to his thatched hut.
After spending the entire afternoon planting flowers, Xiao Fan was so tired that he fell asleep as soon as he lay down.
He slept without a dream.
"Jiu Chen, are you there?"
Early the next morning, while Xiao Fan was still half-asleep, he heard someone outside calling his game ID.
He rubbed his bleary eyes, got up, and opened the door. Standing outside were the nineteen new players who had entered the game with him the day before.
"Do you need something?" Xiao Fan frowned.
A young man with the ID Han the Person stepped out of the crowd.
"Jiu Chen, we're planning to form a team and hunt Fierce Beasts in the forest to the southwest. Want to come with us? There are twenty of us, so we can make four squads."
"I'm in! Give me a moment."
Xiao Fan hurried back inside to grab his backpack.
He'd been worrying about not having anyone to team up with. After all, he didn't have a weapon or any damage-dealing skills.
When Xiao Fan came out with a huge pack on his back, the others looked a little confused.
"Jiu Chen, we're going to hunt Fierce Beasts. Why are you carrying such a big pack?" asked a player whose ID was Garfield Without Fat.
"Oh." Xiao Fan tapped his forehead. "I forgot to tell you—I'm a Healer Class player. This pack has medicine and bandages in it."
The other nineteen players' eyes lit up as soon as they heard Xiao Fan was a Healer Class player.
At their current levels, having a Healer Class player with them would undoubtedly give them an extra measure of safety.
For a moment, everyone looked at Xiao Fan a little more warmly.
Healers were extremely rare in Cloud Sea. Their ability to protect themselves was too poor: when danger came, they couldn't escape, and if they got hurt, they couldn't heal themselves. It was a high-risk Profession.
"All right, let's get going."
On the way, the twenty players sorted themselves into teams.
Xiao Fan, Han the Person, Garfield Without Fat, Swift as Wind, and Zai Zai made up one squad.
Along the way, the four of them introduced their Skill Chains.
"I learned the Yellow Rank saber technique's Skill Chain, fatal strike." Han the Person rested a white greatsword on his shoulder as he introduced himself.
"I learned the Yellow Rank sword technique's Skill Chain, Gale Slash." Swift as Wind gripped the longsword at his waist.
"I learned the Yellow Rank archery technique's Skill Chain, Aim Shot." Garfield Without Fat pointed to the white bow on his back.
"I learned the Yellow Rank spear technique's Skill Chain, Overlord Spear." Zai Zai swung his spear.
Without exception, all four had learned Yellow Rank Skill Chains.
Anyone who had learned a higher-rank Skill Chain wouldn't have ended up in Zone 18.
"This lineup's actually pretty good. We've got both ranged and close-combat fighters, and with me healing, we'll have no trouble leveling up early on."
Xiao Fan was in a good mood. With reliable teammates, he'd be able to level up faster.
It didn't take long for Xiao Fan to understand why his four teammates had appeared in the new-player village of Zone 18.
The twenty players soon arrived at the forest Xiao Fan had visited the day before.
"Let's split up here. If any squad runs into trouble, the others should help if they can. There aren't many people in Zone 18, after all. We'll have to stick together if we want to get far in Cloud Sea."
With that final reminder from Han the Person, the four squads split up and headed in different directions.
Xiao Fan spotted a Seven-Colored Flower by the roadside and couldn't resist the urge to pick it.
"I'll have plenty of chances to farm MP later. Right now, the most important thing is to earn Core Power and level up."
Xiao Fan's Spirit stat of ten gave him exceptionally keen senses. He could detect any Fierce Beast within a hundred meters.
"Be careful. There's a Fierce Beast nearby."
Xiao Fan sensed movement and quickly warned the others.
"No way. It's so quiet here—how could there be a Fierce Beast? Jiu Chen, are you joking?" Zai Zai looked around, spear in hand.
Xiao Fan: ...
He didn't even know what to say.
"I'm not joking. That Fierce Beast is getting close."
Seeing Xiao Fan's serious expression, the others realized he wasn't lying. They quickly assumed defensive stances and warily watched their surroundings.
The Fierce Beast drew closer and closer. Finally—
"There!"
Xiao Fan pointed to the right.
Everyone turned and saw a white rabbit staring at them with blood-red eyes.
The rabbit was nearly as big as an average dog, its ears an estimated half a meter long, and its eyes red as blood.
Name: Red-Eyed Rabbit
Level: 1
HP: 120/120
"Archer, shoot it!" Xiao Fan pointed toward the Red-Eyed Rabbit and gave the order.
"Huh?" Garfield Without Fat froze for a moment before realizing Xiao Fan was directing him.
"Okay, okay!"
Garfield Without Fat fumbled to ready his bow. Since the distance was too great, he chose to use the skill Charge.
With a sharp whistle, Garfield Without Fat's arrow shot through the air and landed...
In the dirt in front of the Red-Eyed Rabbit.
Xiao Fan's vision went dark.
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