Ye Chen earned the reward of planting a second plant during battle after completing the "100-match Win Streak" Mission. There were no surprises here, this was a household fact within the community of Botanists. However, Ye Chen had never expected to be rewarded with the Durian Bomb Tree after his 100-match winning streak.
Durian Bomb Tree was an uber-rare skill within the Boundless World. Across the countless Botanists, Ye Chen had only seen one adventurer own this skill. He never expected that this skill was an exclusive reward of the "100-match Win Streak" Mission!
During his research into this profession, Ye Chen had poured countless nights and energy into researching the source of the Durian Bomb Tree. As long as a Botanist possessed this skill, their tumultuous and arduous training process would ease, and their leveling speed boosted by leaps and bounds. With this skill, the Botanist could become even more potent than Mages! Without a doubt, this skill was Ye Chen's most coveted skill!
Unfortunately, despite the astronomical time he had shed for this, he could not discover its origins. After all, he had only seen this Durian Bomb Tree used by one man. Its presence and fame within the game were close to non-existent. Even the Botanists had trouble finding out the source, much less him, who was still an assassin.
He never expected this ultimate beginner skill, which he craved would appear in his hands at this time and location!
"HAHAHA! What a windfall!"
After an extended daze, the reality of the blessing finally sunk in. Joy and excitement burst within Ye Chen's heart as he leaped and skipped about in elation.
It was always the most unexpected occasions that brought the greatest happiness. Now, Ye Chen felt joy comparable to when he collected the 999 fragments of the Stone of Eternity after three long years of grueling resilience and torture. Surging with excitement, Ye Chen's fingers tapped rapidly, preparing to learn this fantastic skill.
[System Notice: You have yet to finish the Botanist Apprentice Trial. You are unable to learn more skills.]
Like the skies open their floodgates above him, the system immediately doused the raging flames of adrenaline in his heart.
"Huh. As I thought, I can't learn this. I need to quickly finish this damn trial mission."
Somewhere deep down, Ye Chen knew this was going to happen. Still, inevitable disappointment lingered in his mind.
The Botanist's Apprentice Trial was to kill 1000 Kobolds (Humanoid Dogs) in the Kobold Forest right outside of Titan Megacity. Additionally, collect 100 pieces of Kobold Bones. Even if Ye Chen had received Ed's guidance and could now utilize two plants in combat, finishing this trial with the pathetic DPS of the Iron-Armoured Willow will take some time. If only he could use the Durian Bomb Tree, blasting 1000 of these dogs would be easier than walking in the park.
However, Ed's rewards did not stop at just the skills. Ed also gifted him with some seeds and the opportunity to exchange for more. Being able to exchange the Arena Points for more seeds was a seriously valuable benefit.
"Oh right, here are 50 Durian Bomb Tree seeds. It's a gift. It would be impossible to plant trees without seeds, after all. Should you need more in the future, just come to me. You can change your arena points for these seeds."
[System Notice: You have received 50 Durian Bomb Tree seeds.]
The seeds that the Botanists required were easily attainable in the General Store or Botanist Guild in the early stages. However, from the mid-stage to the later stages, the rarity and value of the higher-tier seeds skyrocketed. The better the skill, the rarer the seeds. In fact, a vast majority of the seeds were only produced by a high-level Landscaper. Even if the Botanist had remarkable and lethal skills, he was worthless without the required seeds. This was another main reason which caused the Botanist to be infamous as a torturous profession.
As Ye Chen's eyes gazed at Ed, he laughed wryly. A Durian Bomb Tree seed would come at a sky-high cost of 50 Arena points. The Arena points were only attainable through battles in the Arena. A victory would award the adventurer with 3 points, and a loss would deduct 1 point. With the points as currency, exclusive items and equipment were available for trade with Ed. Despite the rarity of the items, little adventurers choose to grind their hours in the Arena for them. With simple calculations, most could tell that the time wasted in the Arena was nowhere justified by the quality of equipment obtained.
In terms of the Durian Bomb Tree seed, one seed was equivalent to Ye Chen's 17 victories in the Arena. In other words, close to an hour's effort. With his 5 hour effort, he clinched 100 consecutive wins. While it sounded like much, that miraculous deed would only bring him 6 seeds.
Moreover, 6 seeds were possible only because of his speedy victories and 100% win rate. For regular adventurers, a seed would have taken them up to 3 hours in the Arena. Even if the Durian Bomb Tree brought about easier leveling, its efficiency was highly discounted.
The astronomical amount of time required in the Arena was not sustainable even for Ye Chen.
What's more, the regular Arena Battles were practically useless for Ye Chen's leveling at this point in time. Like today, he would not have fooled around for 2 to 3 hours in this place if not to increase the number of plants that could be planted,
"Mr. Ed, may I know where the cultivation method for the Durian Bomb Tree seed could be obtained?"
The cultivation method of the Durian Bomb Tree seeds was critical. It would be sustenance as he progressed up the levels.
Alas, life would never be so easy. Mr. Ed shook his head and said, "My seeds are provided by the producers. I also do not know the full cultivation details."
Ye Chen nodded in understanding. He was only trying his luck and knew that it was impossible to get the method from Ed. There was no way the system would allow him to get the cultivation method with such ease. Otherwise, the seeds sold by Mr. Ed would practically be a mere display.
...
The outskirts of Titan Megacity, by the east of Kobold Forest.
The Kobolds regularly spawned here. Being only Level 13, they were perfect fodder for beginner Level 10 adventurers. This was especially so as within the Boundless World, Level Suppression existed. Within 3 levels, the suppression was minimal. However, from 4 levels and wider, the stronger opponent would gain a 10% evasion bonus for every level difference!
When an adventurer was 4 levels higher than his opponent, he would gain an additional 10% bonus on top of his basic evasion. Should the gap extend to 10 levels, the higher level adventurer, relative to the low-level adventurer, would be able to attain the highest 80% evasion rate. When faced with those high-level Boss, the evasion rate formed by level suppression could even reach an astounding 95%!
After the calculations, most adventurers would not fight monsters that were more than 3 levels above them even if they were farming for experience. Weighing the HP and DPS, together with the Level Suppression, the most efficient and effective method for gaining experience would be to kill monsters within a 3 level difference.
Not only that, but the Kobold Forest was also the location of a majority of beginner missions. Coupled with the ideal level of their experience points fodder, adventurers were hustling about every corner of the region. When Ye Chen arrived, countless were already around, chasing and hunting for their prey.
The Kobolds had an appearance akin to that of an Orc. They, too, wielded their weapons, which skillfully crafted from bones. The most significant difference was their heads. Kobolds had the head of a dog. However, they had the same ghastly appearance, foul to the core.
The sun's rays were peeking through the thick foliage above Ye Chen as he strolled into the Kobold Forest. He did not stop on the outsides of the forest. Instead, he stepped on the yellowed rustling carpet and swerved between the tall yellowing trees and headed in a beeline into the depths of the woods.
There were too many parties in the outer areas sharing the limited numbers of monsters. While he could control two plants at a go now, the limitations of immobile plants were still huge. Before Ye Chen learned Group Transplantation and could coordinate with the Single Transplantation, fighting with other adventurers for monsters would be a considerable difficulty.
Needless to say, the fastest way to complete the trial was by joining a party. When capitalizing on the multiplied combined DPS, more monsters could be killed in a shorter amount of time. The newbies were scorned and ostracized against the profession of a Botanist, and Ye Chen knew that fact too well. Although he was confident that his DPS would not be lower than any player here, he could not be bothered to attempt to join a party. He would only get eyes of contempt in return. Anyway, the night was still young. He just had to spend more time, and the trial task could be completed.
As he approached the depths of the forest, the density of adventurers gradually decreased. Once he got in further, he would begin the trial.
"Brother! Over here! Do you want to team up? Our party happens to have one man offline."
Ye Chen passed by another party on his right. One of the Warriors saw Ye Chen and greeted him.
"Botanist? They don't even have any damage! No, thanks!" However, another adventurer burst out immediately after recognizing Ye Chen's profession. This somewhat handsome young mage, Chu Bailong's face curled up with contempt.
"What's the matter? Bringing him along would not kill us, right? Also, Botanists do have damage, just slightly lower for now. Moreover, we are this deep in, how are we gonna fight anyone else?" Ridges formed on the Warrior's forehead.
This Chu Bailong is really, really narrow-minded.
"I called another friend. He's coming now," Chu Bailong insisted. Whether or not it was true, no one knew.
"Thanks, but I think I won't trouble you guys." Politely, Ye Chen thanked them and continued moving deeper. He had no intention of joining such a boisterous party.
"Hey! HEY! Xiao Ai! Why did you quit suddenly?"
Not long after Ye Chen turned away, the Warrior suddenly shouted as he turned to the silent and shy priestess.