After tasting the rewards of efficient "quest grinding," Luo Li had turned into a full-blown guild quest fanatic.
He no longer limited himself to any particular type of quest. Instead, he used the versatility of his [Spacetime] Path to pick quests that offered high contribution point returns or extra loot, and suited his abilities.
[Clear mutant giant rats from the sewers (D-rank)]?
-With [Time Retardation] activated, Enma's flashing blade cut them down like grass, matching the efficiency of a small extermination squad.
[Collect "glowshrooms" from a designated area of the "Weeping Blood Forest" outside the city (C-rank phantom cat demons present)]?
-[Space Folding] took him straight to the gathering site, [Causal Tracing] let him precisely avoid or instantly kill the prowling cat demons, and he returned with his [Portable Space] fully loaded.
[Investigate abnormal psychic fluctuations in an abandoned subway tunnel (suspected B-minus-rank source of psychic contamination)]?
-[Existence Anchoring] made him immune to most psychic interference, and [Future Preview] let him avoid traps in advance. After locating the source, he combined [Remembrance Weaving] with Enma's [Demon Breaking] property to forcibly reveal the intangible contamination source's true form and cut it down.
Word of Luo Li's quest completion speed and success rate soon began spreading among a small circle of junior guild staff and the low-rank ability users who frequented the place.
"Did you hear? That new guy, 'Brother Bug,' soloed another B-minus-rank investigation quest yesterday!"
"Seriously? Isn't his ability some support-type information perception thing?"
"Who knows? Maybe his ability mutated, or he's been hiding his strength? Whatever it is, he turns in quests ridiculously fast. His contribution points are shooting up."
"Comparisons really are infuriating... Our squad works our asses off for half a day and still earns less than he does in one trip alone."
Luo Li ignored all the chatter.
His daily life became extremely regular: he got up early and had breakfast with Castorice, then went to the guild to pick up quests and completed them efficiently throughout the morning and afternoon. He came home on time at dusk and shared the day's gains with Castorice. At night, he either cultivated to consolidate his strength, watched the romance movies she liked with her, or watched her type away, clumsy but earnest.
This fulfilling, purposeful life made him feel more grounded than ever before.
That day, Luo Li came to the guild hall again, planning to see whether any new "cash cow" quests were available.
He had barely entered the hall when he heard a familiar booming voice.
"Li Zi! Finally caught you!"
Luo Li turned and saw Yang Shan striding over in casual clothes. He slapped Luo Li's shoulder with considerable force.
"Shan Zai? Aren't you on patrol?" Luo Li rubbed his shoulder.
"My turn for a day off!" Yang Shan grinned, then looked Luo Li up and down, his eyes full of curiosity and scrutiny.
"Not bad, you little punk! You're making quite a name for yourself around the guild! 'Brother Bug,' huh? I hear you work faster alone than an entire squad of ours?"
Luo Li tensed inwardly, but his expression remained unchanged. "Just lucky. The quests I've taken have all suited my abilities."
"Oh, cut it out!" Yang Shan leaned closer and lowered his voice.
"Tell your buddy the truth. Did your ability evolve? Or have you been hiding your strength all along? Just so you could play the pig to eat the tiger in front of that 'cousin' of yours?"
Luo Li: "..."
Buddy, your imagination's a little too good.
He was still trying to think of a way to bluff his way through when Yang Shan continued on his own, wearing a suggestive, knowing smile. "All right, all right. If you don't want to tell me, forget it.
"But I've got to remind you: the tallest tree catches the wind. Your efficiency lately has already caught some people's attention.
"The guild higher-ups might call you in for a talk, too, to assess your actual rank and abilities."
Luo Li frowned. That was indeed a problem.
He had been operating as a C-plus-rank user of [Deep Information Perception and Traceback], but the difficulty of the quests he had completed recently clearly exceeded that range.
"Got it. Thanks for the warning."
"What are friends for?"
Yang Shan gave him another pat, then waggled his eyebrows. "Oh, right. When are you bringing that 'distant cousin' of yours out for another meal with us? We barely got to know her last time."
The corner of Luo Li's mouth twitched. "...We'll see. She's pretty shy around strangers."
After finally getting rid of Yang Shan and his burning thirst for gossip, Luo Li walked over to the quest board. A newly posted quest caught his eye.
[Quest number: A-009 (Regional defense assistance)] [Type: Temporary defense and elite decapitation] [Location: Outer defense line of the Third District, "Iron Curtain" outpost] [Details: Vampire activity along the Third District's outer perimeter has been unusually frequent recently. A high-rank individual (estimated at least B-plus-rank; A-rank cannot be ruled out) is suspected of commanding from the rear, driving large numbers of low- and mid-rank vampires to assault the defense line. Ability users specializing in defense, area attacks, or elite decapitation are needed to assist the garrison in holding the defense line, and seek opportunities to locate and eliminate the command core. (Note: This quest carries a degree of danger. Applicants must have at least a B-rank rating, or a recommendation and guarantee from an A-rank ability user.)] [Reward: Base defense assistance contribution points: 500/day. Successfully identifying the command core and submitting actionable intelligence grants an additional 1,000 contribution points. Independently completing or leading the decapitation operation grants 3,000-8,000 contribution points depending on the target's rank, plus access to special supply exchanges.]
An A-series quest! Even if it was only defense assistance, the rewards were incredibly generous! The base defense assistance alone paid 500 a day. If he could complete the decapitation...
Luo Li's heart began racing despite himself.
Danger? He had his [Spacetime] Path and Enma. Even if he couldn't win, he was still confident he could survive and escape.
Opportunity? This was a great chance to quickly amass contribution points, and even obtain special resources!
With almost no hesitation, Luo Li walked straight to the high-level quest reception window.
"Hello. I'd like to take quest A-009."
The staff member behind the window was a stern-looking middle-aged woman. She glanced at Luo Li's ID card and immediately frowned. "C-plus-rank? Sorry, this quest requires at least a B-rank rating or an A-rank guarantor."
"My ability recently made a breakthrough. My actual combat strength should meet B-rank standards."
Luo Li stated this calmly.
"Also, my ability, [Deep Information Perception and Traceback], might be particularly effective at identifying a hidden command core."
The staff member shook her head, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Rules are rules. Without B-rank certification or an A-rank guarantor, you cannot accept an A-series quest.
"This is for your own safety."
Luo Li pressed his lips together, knowing he couldn't force the issue. After a moment's thought, he asked, "Then could you tell me how to get my rank reassessed quickly?"
"Submit records of recently completed high-difficulty quests and obtain recommendations from at least two ability users ranked B or above, or undergo a practical combat assessment directly with an A-rank guild adviser."
The staff member answered mechanically.
Luo Li thanked her and turned to leave.
It looked like he would have to find a way to raise his officially recognized rank first.
After some thought, he took out his phone and found a contact saved as "Yu the Skinflint"-his older cousin, Yu Qian.
"Hello? My dearest cousin~"
Luo Li spoke in a tone that even he found sickeningly sweet.
There were two seconds of silence before Yu Qian's wary voice came through. "...Luo Li? Have you lost your mind? Or is your mom pressuring you to get married again, and you want me to be your shield?"
"Of course not! I just missed you and wanted to see how you were doing."
"Talk like a human."
"...Fine. I wanted to ask a favor. You've got lots of connections. Do you know any A-rank big shots at the guild? Could you introduce me? I want to get my rank reassessed."
Yu Qian's teasing voice came from the other end. "Oh? Our family's little trash streamer finally can't stand being overlooked and wants to soar to the heavens? Which 'distant cousin' are you working so hard for?"
Luo Li: "..."
"It's for myself! And... my future happiness!"
Luo Li gritted his teeth.
"All right. Considering your streams have been pretty entertaining lately and given me plenty of editing material."
Yu Qian seemed to be in a good mood.
"I do know an A-rank senior. His personality is a little... unusual.
"I'll give you his contact information. Get in touch with him yourself.
"But don't tell him I sent you. Just say you came because of his reputation."
"Unusual? In what way?"
"You'll find out when you get there."
After that, Yu Qian sent him a number and address, then promptly hung up.
Luo Li looked at the information on his phone. The address was a... martial arts school on the edge of the old district?
Full of questions, Luo Li followed the address.
It was a traditional martial arts school that looked rather old. A weathered plaque hung above the entrance, bearing the name "Zhenhuan" in two bold, vigorous characters.
Before he even entered, he heard powerful shouts from inside, along with the sounds of fists and feet cutting through the air.
He pushed the door open, and a mixture of sweat and old wood hit him.
Inside the spacious training hall, a dozen or so young people in training uniforms were practicing, their movements perfectly synchronized and full of vigor.
At the center of the hall, a burly middle-aged man in fitted black martial clothes stood with his back to the entrance, supervising his students. He had a buzz cut and a resolute face.
Simply standing there, he exuded a steady, oppressive presence like a mountain.
"Excuse me..."
Luo Li had only just spoken.
As though he had eyes in the back of his head, the middle-aged man abruptly turned around. His hawk-sharp eyes instantly locked onto Luo Li.
"You're the kid that Yu girl mentioned? The one who wants his rank reassessed?"
His voice boomed like a bell, making Luo Li's eardrums buzz.
"Yes, sir. My name is Luo Li."
Luo Li hurriedly answered respectfully.
The middle-aged man strode up to Luo Li, nearly pressing face-to-face with him, and looked him up and down. His gaze felt almost tangible, as if he intended to see right through him, inside and out.
"Hmm. Decent foundation, but a little weak! Your eyes are bright enough, though!"
He suddenly slapped Luo Li's shoulder so hard that Luo Li nearly stumbled.
"My surname's Lei. Lei Zhen! Master of the Zhenhuan Martial Arts School and nominal A-rank adviser to the guild!"
"You want me to assess you? Fine! First, let me see your 'spirit'!"
He pointed at a corner piled with stone training locks and barbells. "Go! Pick the heaviest one and lift it! Run ten laps around the hall! Shout 'I want to get stronger' while you run!"
Luo Li: "???"
What the hell kind of test was this? Wasn't this supposed to be an ability assessment? How had it turned into a fitness test?
Looking at Lei Zhen's uncompromising gaze and the sympathetic, slightly gleeful looks from the surrounding students, Luo Li's mouth twitched.
He took a deep breath and walked to the corner.
The heaviest stone lock? That thing looked like it weighed at least 150 to 200 kilograms.
In the past, he definitely couldn't have lifted it.
But now...
He drew on the physical strength that his [Spacetime] Path had gradually enhanced, bent down, gripped the stone lock's handle, and, with a low shout, hoisted it overhead!
His form wasn't particularly proper, but he had indeed lifted the heavy stone lock steadily.
A low chorus of gasps rose around him.
The students clearly hadn't expected this somewhat slender-looking young man to possess such strength.
A flicker of surprise crossed Lei Zhen's eyes, too, but it soon gave way to even greater excitement.
"Good! You've got some strength! Start running! Start shouting!"
He waved his large hand.
Holding the heavy stone lock overhead, Luo Li began running around the hall. Each step made the floor tremble slightly.
He felt a little embarrassed, but faced with Lei Zhen's "encouraging" (?) gaze, he steeled himself and shouted at the top of his lungs:
"I want to get stronger!!"
His voice echoed through the training hall.
"Haven't you eaten? I can't hear you!!!"
Lei Zhen was dissatisfied.
"I want to get stronger!!!" Throwing caution to the wind, Luo Li raised his voice another notch.
"Good! That's the spirit!"
Lei Zhen finally nodded in satisfaction, a downright "ferocious" smile spreading across his face.
"Kid! You pass! I like young people with drive like yours!"
"Be here at six tomorrow morning, on the dot! I'll personally give you a practical combat assessment!"
"If you're late... heh, heh!"
Luo Li: "..."
He thought he understood what his cousin had meant by "particularly likes spirited young people."
This wasn't an A-rank adviser. This was a demon drill instructor!
But... for the A-rank quest, for contribution points, for his future with Castorice...
He'd go all out!
Luo Li set down the stone lock, panting heavily, but his gaze had grown even firmer.
"Yes, Senior Lei! I'll be here on time tomorrow!"