Strange Beasts! Tier 1 Crystal!

When others encounter a sudden situation, they prioritize vigilance, defensive maneuvers, and ensuring their own safety above all else.

Chen Ming, however, strikes first.

[-1!]

[-55!]

After the exchange, both sides put some distance between them.

Chen Ming focused his gaze, only then realizing it was a peculiar creature.

It seemed to lack a fixed form, its body constantly twisting in mid-air.

Overall, it looked rather comical.

It resembled a tattered rag fluttering aimlessly in the wind.

[Wind Demon]

[Level: lv.7]

[Ability: Howling Yin Wind]

[Description: An extremely troublesome "Tricky Beast" that commands powerful wind elemental abilities.]

Seeing a dungeon monster appear did not surprise Chen Ming in the slightest.

This was a Treasure Hunt and challenge dungeon.

Furthermore, the dungeon's clearance conditions included killing monsters.

In this light, this Wind Demon was clearly the so-called "treasure-guarding beast."

"A Tricky Beast?"

Chen Ming narrowed his eyes.

He had heard of this designation before.

They were not a single species, but a collective term for certain specific monsters.

Generally speaking, people liked to bestow special names upon particularly ferocious and powerful beasts.

For instance, Fierce Beasts, Tricky Beasts, and the like...

Clearly, the strength of this Wind Demon was not to be underestimated.

This was evident from the sneak attack it had just launched.

Given Chen Ming's mental fortitude, an ordinary level 7 monster would never be able to ambush him.

"Hee--!"

At that moment, a sharp, ear-piercing shriek struck.

The Wind Demon let out a wail that sounded like ghosts crying and wolves howling.

Accompanied by a flurry of wind, blades of air, nearly condensed into solid form, surged toward Chen Ming.

[-1!][-1!]...[-1!]

A rare look of surprise crossed Chen Ming's face.

The Wind Demon's attack frequency was incredibly fast and difficult to dodge.

Even at the same level 7, it was significantly stronger than the monsters in the forest outside.

However, it was only slightly stronger.

To Chen Ming, it was of no real consequence.

The piercing whistle echoed through the canyon once more as the Wind Demon activated its ability.

It suddenly accelerated, its blurred form instantly stretching into an invisible afterimage.

The air emitted a brief, explosive crack.

Transparent needles condensed in the air and shot forward.

Wherever they passed, vegetation snapped in response.

At the same time, the sound of the wind was laced with eerie weeping.

It was enough to unsettle anyone's mind.

Had Chen Ming's mental power not been so formidable, he likely would have fallen for it.

Even so, he was slightly affected, his movements slowing by a fraction.

[-1!][-1!]...[-1!]

[-55!]

"The strength of this Wind Demon is likely on par with a level 9 monster."

It truly lives up to the name "Tricky Beast."

If anyone else had come here, even a Level 8 class-advancer would likely have met their end.

Sure enough, places with good loot are always accompanied by even greater danger.

Inside the canyon.

Gusts of sinister wind rose from all directions, with wind blades swirling wildly through the air.

The Wind Demon was incredibly fast, dancing within the gale as its figure swayed unpredictably.

Chen Ming faced the countless wind blades head-on, his gaze locked onto the Wind Demon from start to finish, ignoring the attacks striking his body as if he didn't feel them at all.

[-1!][-1!]...

After equipping the [Feather Boots], his Agility stat had reached 66 points.

This speed was already faster than some A-rank assassins of the same level.

However, when facing this Wind Demon, he still couldn't quite keep up.

If he didn't have the luxury of ignoring defense and simply waiting for an opening to strike, he feared he would have been tortured to death by the creature.

Suddenly, Chen Ming's eyes lit up, his focus narrowing sharply onto the Wind Demon.

The next moment, a stream of light ignited around his legs, forming a swirling vortex.

[Swift Dash]!

The enchantment on the [Feather Boots] increased the wearer's Agility stat by 100% for one minute. Cooldown: one hour.

Chen Ming's Agility stat instantly surged to 132!

His figure shot forward in a blur, as if riding the gale itself.

As he flickered through the air, his long blade slashed out several times.

[-55!][-55!][-55!][-55!]

After the strike, Chen Ming did not stop.

He landed on the rock wall, pivoted his body, and charged at the Wind Demon once more with the speed of a hurricane.

Half a minute later.

[-55!]

[Wind Demon (lv.7) killed, EXP +150!]

Chen Ming let out a long sigh of relief.

"This Strange Beast is too hard to kill."

Until the battle ended, he hadn't found a single weakness on the Wind Demon.

He had simply worn it down until it died.

He couldn't tell if the Wind Demon truly had no weaknesses at all.

[Obtained: Wind Demon-Beast Core (lv.7)]

[Obtained: Agility Rune Stone *2]

[Obtained: Tier 1 Crystal *1]

"Hm?"

Chen Ming's expression shifted, a look of joy appearing in his eyes.

This Wind Demon dropped so much loot?

Not only was the EXP for the kill higher than a normal Level 7 exotic beast, but the drops were different as well.

It didn't just drop two Agility Rune Stones; it even dropped a Tier 1 Crystal!

Crystals were treasures that could upgrade equipment, and they were often even more valuable than certain rare resources.

Generally speaking, crystals could only be obtained through dungeon rewards.

He hadn't expected to be able to loot one from an exotic beast.

He wondered if this dungeon was special, or if it was because of the 'Strange Beast' classification.

With this crystal, Chen Ming could have his Tier 1 equipment upgraded to Tier 2 by the guild.

He would only need to pay a processing fee.

However, he obviously couldn't do that right now.

Tier 2 equipment could only be worn by class-advancers who were Level 10 or higher.

Chen Ming applied the two Agility Rune Stones he had obtained to his gear.

[Feather Boots, Agility +18!]

Only then did he take down the Wind-Breath Orchid, placing it into his spiritual space alongside the Tier 1 Crystal.

The Wind-Breath Orchid contained wind elemental energy.

This was not within Chen Ming's considerations for the time being, so he was in no rush to absorb it.

After finishing everything, he glanced at the dungeon information.

[Clear Conditions]

[2. Challenge: Successfully kill 5 or more Treasure-Guarding Exotic Beasts!]

[Progress: 1/5]

If I go by this progress, I can harvest at least five more waves.

Furthermore, he felt that this dungeon was highly likely to be much more than just that.

He just didn't know if the subsequent Treasure-Guarding Exotic Beasts would all be special ones capable of dropping good loot for him.

Chen Ming was full of fighting spirit as he continued to venture deeper into the canyon.

Today was destined to be a sleepless night.

After breaking through the 20% threshold, his mental power had seen a massive increase.

Even if he didn't rest for several days and nights, it wouldn't be a problem at all.

Therefore, he had no intention of heading back today.

Just as Chen Ming was frantically harvesting rare resources in the Cloud Hidden Ravine dungeon.

On the other side.

Cloud Sea City, on the outskirts of the urban area.

The sky had gradually grown dim.

Class-changers were returning from the safe zones one after another.

After the first day of adaptation.

Everyone had become much more proficient at leveling up on the second day.

"Haha, I finally leveled up today!"

"The feeling of being Level 2 is so great; I feel like my whole body is brimming with power, I could kill a cow with one punch!"

"Sigh, we're all lagging behind; only reaching Level 2 on the second day. The real geniuses might have already hit Level 4 by now."

"I'm so envious, Level 4... once you level up one more time, you can challenge dungeons and get all sorts of rewards."