Zhou Heng settled into the temporary lodgings Little Bird Village had built for players. It was a dormitory, with ten people to a room.
"Bro, how did it go? What level did you reach today?"
"I'm level three!"
"Holy shit, bro, are you cheating? It's only been a little over half a day, and you're level three?"
"My older brother's a player in the Black Bear Guild~"
"Man, I'm jealous, bro. I worked my ass off today and only gained one level. Not only are people fighting over monsters, but the monsters are hard to kill, too."
Zhou Heng quietly made his bed without joining the conversation in the dormitory.
The textbooks had mentioned that most socializing in the early stages was pointless. Once players reached the required level and left the village, they would discover that their so-called connections were worthless in the face of the vast lands and powerful populations of living beings. Rather than waste time socializing like this, it was better to rest early and think about how to level up tomorrow.
Of course, he could also follow the example of some of the people chatting and become a lackey for a player with connections, starting with groveling and flattery.
The night passed quietly. At first light the next morning, Zhou Heng got up early and headed to the farm. From far away, he could already see the old woman tilling the fields.
"Granny, I'm here~" Zhou Heng approached and greeted her respectfully.
The old woman glanced sideways at Zhou Heng and chuckled. "You're here quite early, young man. At this hour, I thought you players would still be asleep. Go on, the sickle's in the corner. Walk two hundred meters straight ahead from here to reach the fields. The two plots are next to each other."
Zhou Heng nodded at her words, then went to the corner to get the Spiritglow Sickle.
"Young man, if you can harvest all the Pasture Grass in both fields today, hmm... before nine tonight, let's say, come see me once you're done." Just as Zhou Heng was about to leave, he heard the old woman's rather meaningful request.
Zhou Heng thought for a moment before agreeing. "All right, Granny. I'll do everything I can."
Leaving the old woman, Zhou Heng took the Spiritglow Sickle to the two Pasture Grass fields. Either of these fields on its own was a little larger than yesterday's plot.
"Finishing two fields this size before nine tonight will probably be quite difficult. But it isn't impossible!"
Zhou Heng guessed that this was the old woman NPC testing his patience and perseverance. If he could finish harvesting both Pasture Grass fields before nine tonight, he would definitely trigger something.
Clearing his mind of distractions, Zhou Heng bent down and began harvesting Pasture Grass...
[You harvested one bundle of Pasture Grass.] [You harvested one bundle of Pasture Grass.]
[Spiritglow Sickle effect triggered.] [Attack permanently +1.]
Although the chance of triggering a permanent boost was tiny, each time it happened, it was like a shot in the arm for Zhou Heng, filling him with motivation. Soon, it was around eight fifty in the evening.
"Phew~ Done. Finally finished harvesting!"
A faint smile lifted the corners of Zhou Heng's mouth. His gains today had been enormous.
Today's trigger rate was about the same as yesterday's. The two fields had given him 10 points of permanent attack and 40 points each of permanent health and mana.
This increase was already far greater than what ordinary players gained by reaching level 10.
"Time to see Granny~" Zhou Heng checked the time on his personal panel and hurried straight to the shabby wooden hut where the old woman was.
"Granny, I've finished harvesting, and I've put away the Pasture Grass for you." Zhou Heng did not enter, speaking respectfully from outside the door.
"Mm~ Not bad. Come in." Only after receiving the old woman's permission did Zhou Heng carefully push open the wooden door and enter the hut.
The interior was very simple, containing only basic things such as a table, chairs, and a wooden bed. The only thing worth noting was a badge hanging on the wooden wall.
The badge's design consisted of a pure white tree of light and two crossed blades piercing through it.
"Young man, what do you think of the Sakas Empire?" The old woman straightened the badge, then slowly spoke as she rose from her chair and looked at Zhou Heng.
[You have only just arrived. Rather than saying you know next to nothing about the Sakas Empire, it would be more accurate to say you know absolutely nothing. Thus, you cannot answer this question very precisely. You face a choice presented by fate. Different choices will lead you to entirely different lives.] [Fate offers you a hint.] [Fate Hint 1: The Sakas Empire was founded over three hundred years ago. Though it has broken the three-hundred-year curse of nations, rampant brutal officials and fangs lurking in the shadows are all eroding and corrupting this enormous empire. Answer "Sakas has rotted" to earn the questioner's approval.] [Fate Hint 2: Answer "The Sakas Empire isn't bad. At the very least, it can last another three hundred years" to disappoint the questioner.]
As he looked at the Fate Hints that suddenly appeared on his retinas, Zhou Heng's gaze sharpened slightly. After a brief moment of thought, he made up his mind.
"Granny, although I've only just arrived and don't know much about the Sakas Empire, from some of what I saw and heard last night, I feel that the Sakas Empire isn't as good as I imagined.
"There's a saying in our world: few nations make it past the three-hundred-year mark.
"Since you're asking me this, there must be a deeper meaning behind it... I think the Sakas Empire has probably already begun to rot from the top down."
Zhou Heng had simply and clearly expanded on the Fate Hint's words, adding a few things of his own.
The old woman smiled softly, a trace of satisfaction in her eyes.
He had not let the Black Bear Guild lead him around by the nose when he first spawned. That showed caution.
Two and a half days of harvesting, with little time to spare, yet he had still completed it meticulously. That showed perseverance.
Now, faced with the unfamiliar Sakas, he could still make an accurate judgment. That showed wisdom.
A promising youngster like this was worth looking forward to, but there was one more test: fate...
At this thought, the old woman spoke bluntly. "Young man, I remember you said earlier that your name was Zhou Heng. Which Zhou, and which Heng?"
Zhou Heng said, "Granny, Zhou as in 'thorough,' and Heng as in 'eternal.'"
The old woman said, "A good name. I have high hopes for your future. As it happens, I have a quest here. I wonder if you dare accept it?"
Zhou Heng's heart tightened, and he immediately said, "I'm willing to be of service, Granny."
The old woman nodded and patted the wooden wall, signaling for Zhou Heng to look at the badge.
"It has been 302 years since Sakas was founded. The emperor is muddleheaded, and the council is greedy, leaving the people destitute and all manner of fiends running rampant.
"I need you to take this badge to Deepwater Cave outside town within three days and hand it to the level 10 boss, the Deepwater Flood Dragon Worm."
[The gears of fate begin turning at this moment. You are about to face a challenge from death.] [Fate offers you a hint.] [Fate Hint 1: The Black Bear Guild is gathering Blackwater Grass to prepare blackwater pus gel, plotting to contaminate the Deepwater Flood Dragon Worm with it, causing it to darken and evolve while swallowing up all of Little Bird Town. This is a trial of life and death, blood and fire, wit and strategy. Are three days truly enough for you to reach Deepwater Cave? Accept the quest and find a way to deliver the badge into the hands of the Deepwater Flood Dragon Worm within three days.] [Fate Hint 2: No one will tell you that this is an enormous pitfall. There is simply no way you can deliver the badge into the hands of the Deepwater Flood Dragon Worm within three days, because the moment you approach, the Black Bear Guild and even the organization behind it will instantly eliminate you, burying you forever. This is no delivery quest at all, but a test of fate. Interestingly, for you, who possess the Unique-Level Talent "Fate Hint," it seems to have little meaning. Pretend to accept the quest, then leave it alone and wait for an opportunity.]
Looking at the two Fate Hints before him, Zhou Heng fell silent.
Boundless Endless, whose servers had been running for ten thousand years, was even more terrifying and extreme than this new player had learned from his "textbooks." It truly demanded caution at every step. The slightest misstep could leave him beyond redemption.
Fortunately, he was lucky. He had the Unique-Level Talent, Fate Hint.
Without the slightest hesitation, Zhou Heng accepted the quest...
Before you continue