The wealthy Drowned Ghost

His struggles grew weaker and weaker, and the kicks aimed at Zhang Yao's chest slowed until he finally stopped resisting altogether.

"Killed an elite Drowned Ghost. Gained 2,000 experience."

"Items obtained: Sharp Water Ghost Dagger, Sturdy Water Ghost Leather Armor, Concealment Technique."

"Character level increased. Reached level 4. All attributes increased by 1."

The familiar warmth surged through his entire body again, replenishing his stamina and making his injuries vanish without a trace.

"Two thousand experience? Level 4? Character attributes." Zhang Yao froze when he heard the notifications. He was astonished by the generous experience reward from the so-called Drowned Ghost he had drowned. He had never imagined the fellow would be worth so much. At the same time, he was puzzled that he had only reached level 4. Earlier, he had killed four navy men and two pirates. Each navy man had been worth 100 experience, and although the pirates were worth slightly less, each had still given him 75.

That added up to 550 experience. Zhang Yao had needed 300 to advance from level 2 to level 3, while advancing from level 3 to level 4 required only 400. Subtracting the 300 spent reaching level 3, his experience before killing the Drowned Ghost had been level 3, 250/400. Now he had received 2,000 experience all at once. Based on the previous progression, surely that should have taken him to level 7 or 8! Yet he had only reached level 4. How could he not be puzzled?

Still bewildered, Zhang Yao stared at the character Attribute Panel that appeared before him and froze.

Zhang Yao: Level 4, 1850/3000.

Attributes: Strength 11, agility 11, constitution 15, mental power 12.

Health (red bar): 190 (health = constitution × 10; each level adds 10 health).

True Qi (blue bar): 80 (does not increase with level).

Skills: Fetal Breath Technique (self-taught).

Items: Gemstone Ring, Sharp Water Ghost Dagger, Sturdy Water Ghost Leather Armor, Concealment Technique.

Talent: Nine Netherworlds (first layer).

Zhang Yao rubbed his eyes and looked again. It really was 3,000. His excitement instantly deflated. Why did the experience needed to level up suddenly increase almost tenfold? Is this some kind of joke? How much effort will it take to gain even one level from now on? he wailed inwardly. The easy levels he had gained just now had felt incredibly satisfying, but the sudden jump in the experience requirement left him feeling utterly drained.

Zhang Yao knew his rapid advancement so far had been entirely down to luck and coincidence. If the two sides had not been fighting, if he had not happened to comprehend the Fetal Breath Technique, and if he had not specifically targeted wounded stragglers, there was no way he could have gained several levels within a day of entering Rodos. Now that the experience requirement had risen so sharply, picking off battered survivors would no longer work!

Most of those knocked into the sea were already dead. Only a few still had a breath left, giving Zhang Yao a chance to finish them off. With the experience requirement now so high, even killing every wounded man floating on the surface would not be enough for another level. Unless another Drowned Ghost fell into the water for him to kill-but how could he expect such good fortune? After all this scavenging, he had encountered only one. Besides, luck had played a major part in killing that Drowned Ghost. Those desperate final kicks had been no joke. A few more, and Zhang Yao would probably have been the one to die. So even if another Drowned Ghost fell into the sea now, he would have to think carefully before attacking. No matter how much experience was on offer, he had to survive to claim it!

→

Forget it. This is already pretty good! That Drowned Ghost even gave me several pieces of equipment. I should be grateful for what I have! Haha, either nothing drops at all, or several things drop at once! Nice! Zhang Yao kept comforting himself as he shifted his attention to the equipment the Drowned Ghost had dropped.

"Sharp Water Ghost Dagger: High-grade blue equipment. Damage: 10-25. Special effects: Increases attack speed by 10%; 5% chance to inflict a torn wound. (Torn wound: Causes continuous health loss and prevents natural healing. Health loss: 2/second for 30 seconds.) Description: A special weapon made for the Water Ghost Unit from superior materials by a master smith personally sought out by Captain Sea Wolf. Requirements: Strength 8, agility 10. Can be exchanged for 500 Gold Coins."

"Sturdy Water Ghost Leather Armor: Mid-grade blue equipment. Defense: 30. Special effects: Absorbs 10% of ranged attack damage; strength +1, constitution +1. Description: Special armor made for the Water Ghost Unit from superior materials by a master smith personally sought out by Captain Sea Wolf. Requirements: Strength 10, constitution 10. Can be exchanged for 800 Gold Coins."

"Concealment Technique: Rank D support skill, a basic thief skill. Conceals the user's body in shadows. Requirements: Agility 10, constitution 10, mental power 8. Can be exchanged for 300 Gold Coins."

"Haha, nice! Very nice!" Zhang Yao was delighted by the item descriptions, especially when he saw that one of the items was a Skill Book.

Equipment in Rodos World was classified as white, blue, gold, dark gold, and purple. There were also green equipment sets, and each color was further divided into low, middle, and high grades. The Gemstone Ring Zhang Yao had obtained earlier was classified as a luxury item. It could only be exchanged for Gold Coins, not equipped. Besides equipment and luxury items, there were also consumables, such as red and blue potions. (That is roughly how items in Rodos World are classified. Tuifei will explain any special items as they appear.)

Skills in Rodos World were divided into six ranks, from highest to lowest: S, A, B, C, D, and E. These included combat skills, support skills, and special skills. They could be taught by others, learned through Skill Books, or comprehended independently. Every Chosen One had ten skill slots upon entering Rodos World.

Although learning from others or comprehending skills independently did not occupy skill slots, it required considerable time and effort. Learning directly from a Skill Book, however, made a skill available for immediate use. Once learned, it could be used. But skills learned through Skill Books occupied skill slots. Every Chosen One had ten skill slots, meaning they could learn only ten skills through Skill Books. Once all ten slots were filled, they could only learn from others or comprehend skills independently.

When Zhang Yao had read this information, he had felt that Rodos World was restricting the Chosen Ones even as it strengthened them. If every Chosen One had unlimited skill slots, then as long as they had Skill Books, they could become invincible in no time. After all, people native to Rodos World had to put in endless effort and sweat to learn a skill or acquire an ability. Sometimes, they even had to risk their lives. They could not simply click "learn" like the Chosen Ones.

(PS: Today's third update~~~~ Keep supporting Tuifei, brothers~~~~ Your support is my motivation~~)