Chapter Thirty: Reaching Level Four

"But I'm only level four."

Based on needing ten times as much experience for each level, he would need 1,000,000,000 Core Power to reach level ten!

With all those zeroes, perhaps only Chengdu had that much.

Xiao Fan found it hard to imagine how long it would take him to earn that much Core Power at a hundred points a day.

"Could there be another way to earn Core Power in this game?"

The more Xiao Fan thought about it, the less reasonable the game seemed.

"After level five, the experience required doesn't increase tenfold."

Wind Snow Traveler seemed to know what Xiao Fan was thinking and answered without being asked.

Xiao Fan breathed a sigh of relief, though not a very big one.

After all, reaching level five already required ten thousand experience. Even without a tenfold increase after that, ten thousand would be the minimum.

"It's a shame that players in the Novice Zone can't trade large amounts of Core Power at once. Otherwise, I could lend you some."

Wind Snow Traveler sounded regretful.

He hadn't been able to level up all these years, so he had accumulated plenty of Core Power from hunting.

But the Game System had safeguards for new players. They couldn't trade more than 1,000 Core Power in a month.

Otherwise, he really would have lent Xiao Fan the Core Power to level up, so they could tackle a Trial Dungeon together.

Xiao Fan felt a little regretful too. He'd had a chance to avoid working so hard.

But on second thought, the restriction was also there to protect people from families like his. Without limits on Core Power trading, players from wealthy families wouldn't need to stay in the Novice Zone at all.

That made Xiao Fan feel a little better, in a strange way.

"By the way, Village Chief, do you know if there's anywhere near Zone 18 where I can get a lot of Core Power?"

"There is, but it's dangerous."

Xiao Fan's eyes lit up. "There really is a place like that?"

"How dangerous?" Xiao Fan asked.

"Even my team has only been there once."

Xiao Fan's expression immediately fell. If even a level-ten Wind Snow Traveler had only gone once, the place must be incredibly dangerous.

He had to keep his team safe. They couldn't go somewhere like that...

"We each got 1,000 Core Power that time."

Xiao Fan: "Let's go! Dangerous is exactly where we're going!"

A thousand Core Power per person in one trip! If it wasn't dangerous, would it be worth that much?

Wind Snow Traveler could tell from Xiao Fan's expression that he was definitely going there. He sighed inwardly.

Was this what it meant to have a Heaven-Tier Skill? Xiao Fan really did have more confidence.

Then Wind Snow Traveler told Xiao Fan everything he knew about the place.

According to him, it was a small secret realm.

There were three Bosses and countless little monsters inside.

The little monsters weren't high-level, but there were so many of them.

Even now, Wind Snow Traveler shuddered at the memory.

"If we hadn't been high-level and had such high stats, those little monsters would've worn us down to nothing."

"Couldn't you kill the little monsters separately?" Xiao Fan asked.

Wind Snow Traveler stared at him, stunned.

Back in the secret realm, they'd seen that the little monsters were low-level and charged right in. But the more they fought, the more monsters appeared, until the creatures had surrounded them in layer upon layer.

At the time, they'd been too busy fighting for their lives to think about anything else.

Now that Xiao Fan had asked, Wind Snow Traveler felt as if he'd realized something.

If the little monsters really could be killed separately...

Then what had it meant that they'd nearly been surrounded and killed?

"Please, go on," Xiao Fan said, not pressing the question.

He already had his answer. These people had never played games before, and their skills were limited in scope, so they tended to fight monsters in a straightforward way. Especially ordinary people.

Wind Snow Traveler fell silent for a moment, then began telling him about the three Bosses.

"All three Bosses are level five. We were high-level, so the first and second weren't difficult to kill."

"The third Boss was the hard one..."

The eastern sky began to pale, and the ink-dark night gradually thinned. The distant mountains came into focus, like an ink painting slowly spreading in clear water.

The first ray of morning light pierced the clouds, tinting the horizon a pale gold and red.

The two of them had talked all night. When the sky grew light, Wind Snow Traveler stood up.

"I understand why you want to go to that secret realm, but I still have to remind you: with your talent, as long as you stay alive, your future is boundless."

Wind Snow Traveler still didn't want to see Xiao Fan take a risk. After all, Xiao Fan was the first player in four years to make him feel hopeful again.

"Thanks for the warning."

Wind Snow Traveler was momentarily stunned by the determination in Xiao Fan's eyes.

"Good luck."

As Wind Snow Traveler left, Xiao Fan sighed inwardly.

If talent really mattered, would he still be stuck in Zone 18?

His uncle's illness, his impoverished family, and...

The Chen Family's humiliation!

All of it lingered in his mind.

He had no choice but to fight with everything he had!

Still, he wouldn't risk his life recklessly.

They would go to the secret realm, but only after Garfield Without Fat and the other three reached level four.

He also needed to save up some Core Power.

After reaching level four, he could upgrade his Gift of the Saint skill again, but it would cost 1,000 Core Power.

He also needed to save some Core Power for emergencies.

And there was Halo of the Saint. He needed to farm a little more mana.

"Brother Chen, you were up all night yesterday. Why not take the day off and rest?" Garfield Without Fat suggested.

Xiao Fan shook his head. His Spirit was already high, and he didn't feel too tired after a sleepless night. He could just activate a skill while hunting and get his energy back.

"No need. Let's go. There's something I need to tell you."

On the way, Xiao Fan told them he planned to take them to the secret realm, provided everyone reached level four first.

"That secret realm sounds awesome," Zai Zai said, eyes shining.

"A thousand Core Power each? I'm in!" Garfield Without Fat raised his hand and let out an excited whoop.

Swift as Wind and Han the Person looked just as eager.

Over the next few days, they hunted Fierce Beasts as hard as they could, trying to reach level four as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, the other two teams encountered two Wild Bosses.

Those players had reached level two as well, but they still didn't dare enter the level-two Fierce Beast area in the Northwest Forest.

Whenever they ran into a Boss, they called on the Xiao Fan Team for help.

Thinking that even a small gain was still a gain, the Xiao Fan Team went over and dealt with them whenever they were nearby.

After seven days of effort, the entire Xiao Fan Team finally reached level two.

Xiao Fan spent 1,000 Core Power to upgrade Gift of the Saint.

Skill Name: Gift of the Saint 4 (Upgradeable)

Skill Rank: Heaven Rank

Skill Description: Upon activation, consumes 80 mana and unfolds a pure Radiant Domain centered on the caster. All allied units within range immediately gain 80 [Holy Light Shield], have their movement speed increased by 65%, and have all negative effects removed. They also receive [Gift] for 15 seconds: restores 15 health per second.

Cooldown: 90 seconds.

Creation Attributes: Intelligence 10 (+) Spirit 10 (+) Constitution 10 (+)

Creation Trait: Saint (Unique)

Great, the effects had improved and the cooldown had decreased.

But spending 1,000 Core Power really hurt.