On the way back to Cloudside Town, Lin Mo nearly gave in several times and spent his exactly 100 reputation points to advance his talent, Soulfire!
Soulfire's first effect, [Equipment Incineration], was simply too powerful!
Thanks entirely to Equipment Incineration, Lin Mo had climbed to the top of the beginner village rankings!
He had soloed a boss monster!
He had cleared a hidden quest all by himself!
He could hardly wait to discover what Soulfire's second effect would be!
Yet Lin Mo didn't dare take the plunge.
Because...
"Making the ring later will cost 30 reputation points. If I upgrade my talent, I won't have enough reputation left to make the equipment!"
He couldn't have it both ways.
"This is torture!"
And so, Lin Mo agonized over the choice all the way back to Cloudside Town.
Even when he arrived at the Blacksmith Shop, saw Master Li Li, and prepared to hand over the materials, he was still hesitating.
Without the 70 reputation points awarded by the hidden quest and his two achievements, the rewards from ordinary quests and boss monsters would only have just brought Lin Mo to 30 reputation points by now.
Once he sank 30 reputation points into the equipment, there was no way he could scrape together another 100 to upgrade his talent anytime soon!
The talent or the equipment?
Just as Lin Mo was weighing his options, unable to decide...
A voice suddenly sounded beside him. "Short on reputation for making equipment?"
Hearing that familiar voice...
Lin Mo turned and saw Ling Xiao approaching with his two lackeys, [Skinny Monkey] and [Pang Dahai].
Ling Xiao said to Lin Mo, "I've killed quite a few boss monsters, so I've got plenty of reputation now. I'll help you make the equipment."
"Will 35 points be enough?"
Lin Mo saw straight through Ling Xiao's intentions. "What's the condition? You still want me to get you to level 10?"
But Ling Xiao's answer caught Lin Mo somewhat off guard.
"No conditions. I'll help you make it for free."
"I don't like owing people. Consider this repayment for saving my life in the woods earlier."
"But I've only got the reputation. You'll have to provide the other materials."
Lin Mo studied the utterly serious Ling Xiao and thought, Is this guy really that generous?
He's not trying to scam me out of my materials, is he?
As if he had noticed Lin Mo's concerns...
Ling Xiao held up three fingers and solemnly swore, "I stake my integrity on this: first, I won't steal your materials; second, I won't steal your equipment!"
"My name is Ling Xiao. I'm a sophomore at Ning'an University in Jiang Province. I live at apartment 2303, building 4, Dragon Court Garden, Tianxing District, Ning'an City. My ID number is 330203..."
Lin Mo took one gold coin from his bag and handed it to Ling Xiao, along with all the materials-the flame gem, flame soul, and silver iron-and the equipment blueprint for the [Flame Ring].
"I'll trust you this once."
"Add me as a friend. Let me know when the equipment's ready."
With that, Lin Mo turned and left.
Once Lin Mo was far away...
Pang Dahai scratched his head, his eyes shining with pure, unadulterated stupidity. "Xiao, that guy's so full of himself. Why are you helping him make equipment? He didn't even thank you! It's like he thinks you owe him!"
"What do you know?" Skinny Monkey spoke before Ling Xiao could answer. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend!"
"Wang Junjie might be a big shot in real life, but isn't Mo Shou Cheng Gui still kicking his ass in Oracle? If Xiao wants to beat Wang Junjie, his only option is to get on good terms with Mo Shou Cheng Gui!"
"Even if Mo Shou Cheng Gui won't help us, we absolutely can't become his enemies! Otherwise, we'll end up just like Wang Junjie, getting hunted down and killed by Mo Shou Cheng Gui. Even the beginner protection period won't fucking save you!"
Ling Xiao's gaze was resolute.
"If Wanwan falls into the hands of that scumbag Wang Junjie, her life will be ruined!"
"I will never let that happen!"
Meanwhile...
With the equipment issue settled...
Lin Mo headed straight for Cloudside Town's Class Advancement Hall.
He knew, Making the equipment will take some time. I can use that time to finish my class advancement quest!
Naturally, Lin Mo hadn't chosen to trust Ling Xiao because of his oath and personal information.
Although Lin Mo hadn't paid much attention to Ling Xiao in his previous life, he had heard a little about him.
After all, in his previous life, Ling Xiao had completed Cloudside Town's hidden quest and been the first to reach level 10, becoming the top player on the Heaven Ranking.
In this life, Lin Mo had simply snatched the hidden quest first, disrupting Ling Xiao's original path to "godhood."
Lin Mo vaguely remembered that he and Ling Xiao had later happened to end up in the same Level 3 Main City in his previous life.
Three months later, when Oracle swallowed reality and calamity struck, Ling Xiao had perished together with a powerful tier 11 Corpse Emperor boss to protect his girlfriend.
Lin Mo had happened to witness it.
At the time, he had been rather puzzled about how the guy had managed to blow up a Corpse Emperor.
Only now did he understand: Ling Xiao had used his A-rank talent, Mutual Destruction!
Someone willing to sacrifice himself to protect the person he loves can't be all that bad, right?
If you really dare steal my equipment, I'll kill you ten thousand times if that's what it takes to make you cough it up!
Soon, Lin Mo arrived at the Class Advancement Hall.
Inside the vast hall, several instructors stood with their hands behind their backs, seemingly waiting for adventurers to arrive!
Oracle World's seven basic classes were warrior, knight, archer, assassin, mage, priest, and wizard.
Of course, just like races...
Beyond the basic classes, Oracle World also had many powerful hidden classes that players had to discover for themselves.
Following the route he had planned in advance...
Lin Mo accepted a class advancement quest from the archer instructor, Silina, whose skin was snowy and smooth, her figure alluring, and her face stunningly beautiful.
Of course, Lin Mo swore that he absolutely hadn't chosen the archer class because of Silina's looks!
[Archery Assessment] (archer-exclusive class advancement quest): Difficulty rating: 100 Quest description: Head into the wilderness and kill 30 monsters above level 10 to prove your strength to Instructor Silina... Quest progress: 0/30 Time limit: 6 hours Quest rewards: archer class advancement eligibility, basic archer skill book +1, skill slot +1, Silina's favorability +1
Once I finish this quest, I can advance my class and collect the hundred-thousand cash prize!
And I'll get three prize draws. I wonder what good stuff I'll win?
Lin Mo couldn't help brimming with anticipation.
He left the Class Advancement Hall.
On his way into the wilderness, Lin Mo opened his talent panel.
With his class advancement almost complete and skills soon to become available, Lin Mo wanted only one thing right now.
Spirits of heaven, spirits of earth, dear devs, please give me Skill Incineration!
Turn the whole game around!
"Unlock!!!"
With his heart pounding and his hand trembling...
Lin Mo clicked the "Advance" option beside his talent.
[Ding! 100 reputation points consumed. Congratulations! Your SSS-rank talent, Soulfire, has advanced to stage two! Second talent effect unlocked: Skill Incineration!]
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