"Mom... I think I'm in love."
"Woman, don't even think about corrupting my Dao heart!"
"If we have a kid in the future, let's go with her surname..."
Kuang Xin had an unconscious smile on his lips as if he was falling in love while chopping down trees.
The sound of rushing wind suddenly came from beside his ear, and without thinking, Kuang Xin reflexively swung his axe back in response.
[Using a heavy weapon to attack and hit the target, Heavy Weapon Mastery experience +1, Bullying Physique (Locked) unlock progress 13%.]
[Current Heavy Weapon Mastery experience 77/100, mastery of "Level 1 Heavy Weapon Specialization" available at 100 points.]
[Hit the target, causing 3 points of damage!]
[Plague Rat (Mutated): Health 18/21; Defensive Power 5; Mobility 92%; Attack Power (Type: Piercing) 3~5; Traits: Tiny Size, Utter Madness...]
Slow on the uptake, Kuang Xin learned from the panel what had just sneak-attacked him.
However, when he turned around, he could no longer see even a shadow.
Didn't attract wolves, but instead attracted a rat?
I'm just here chopping a tree, who did I provoke?
Bet, once I finish chopping these trees, I'll roast your entire clan, arrgh!
As for now... no time to chase.
Killing a rat only yields two or three combat experience points, and they're not easy to kill. Obviously, it's a loss without a quest.
Don't come anywhere near me!
Carrying his increasingly worn-down axe, Kuang Xin pressed on with his struggle.
All the other players were striving in unknown corners; he absolutely couldn't fall behind.
"Heave-ho!"
"Heave-ho!"
[Your abilities have been honed after a long time of woodcutting, physical stamina +0.1.]
...
[Your abilities have been honed after a long time of woodcutting, physical stamina +0.1.]
With the deep use of physical strength, the "joy" that emerged from the deepest part of his body and soul whenever he neared his physical limit had Kuang Xin utterly hooked.
The game's sensory experience was almost no different from the real world. Exerting too much energy caused muscle soreness, yet oddly, this soreness didn't make him want to slack off like in the real world. Instead, it made him feel "happy" and desirous of chasing after that feeling.
Especially after exceeding limits and the sudden boost in attributes that followed felt like a wave of vigorous ecstasy.
In this world, labor itself seemed to be a pleasure.
If such a world really existed, then surely it must be heaven?
Engrossed in random thoughts and dripping with sweat, Kuang Xin piled up the section of log he cradled in his arms with difficulty.
Behind him, the repetitive actions had carved a shallow rut in the ground.
Dusting off his hands, Kuang Xin placed his hands on his hips and looked at his creation before him with a touch of smug satisfaction.
Twenty logs, mission accomplished!
[Would you like to submit the task?]
Do I even have to say it?
[Submit!]
[Task has been submitted, awaiting verification...]
Waiting...
Waiting...
Kuang Xin waited expectantly for a strong man to descend from the sky.
Waiting...
Waiting...
Where the heck are you?
Shouldn't you have dropped down from the sky the moment I submitted the task?
"Eh? So you're here?"
An excited voice came from the direction of the forest, and following the trail on the ground, two figures approached from afar.
Hearing the familiar voice, Kuang Xin's heart skipped a beat, and only then did he notice that behind Gong Yan followed another... man?
"Still haven't finished chopping... Do you need help?"
Kuang Xin shook his head and casually waved his hand, "No need, it's already done."
While talking, Kuang Xin made eye contact with the man who had come with Gong Yan, smiled and nodded as a greeting.
The other party's face was calm, and when Kuang Xin greeted them, they responded with a slight purse of the lips.
Gong Yan's eyes swept over both of their faces and introduced them cheerfully.
"Meet my friend, Dai."
"This is Kuang Xin."
Kuang Xin looked puzzled at the other person, "Dai?"
Dai kept a cold expression, maintaining the persona of a cool and aloof handsome guy, "I'm a powerleveler."
"There's powerleveling in this game?"
"...Previously."
Galaxy Online accounts were tied to individuals upon log-in, and the enhancement of abilities also required personal training.
Both logging in from different locations and playing on behalf of others were difficult, effectively killing off the powerleveling industry.
But there was no choice, the game squeezed out all other games on the market as soon as it appeared; what else could be done if not taking the opportunity to play the game?
Putting aside the identity as a powerleveler, Dai Lian, himself, was also an avid game enthusiast.
He had the skills and the strategy, and with strategy came skill.
"I told him about the task you received, he's quite interested."
Gong Yan explained with a smiley face at the side.
"Does Powerleveler Bro have any insights?"
"No insights, your task has a pretty good reward, I think it's a high priority."
"Priority?"
Dai Lian, with his arms crossed, remembered what Gong Yan, that kind-hearted fool, said about taking care of an even bigger fool in the game, and he started to detail his thoughts carefully.
"I've taken many tasks and analyzed the difficulty compared to the rewards. I've found that the game's quest system is too rich, leaving us to make our own choices – not all tasks are necessary to undertake. Some tasks' rewards don't match their difficulty; it's best to just delete them. But some tasks are highly valuable, like the one you're currently undertaking…"
Kuang Xin was somewhat surprised by the other's professionalism and muttered, "There's always a time when a task is completed... it's not wrong to keep accepting them."
Dai Lian explained calmly, "It's uncertain, but there is a limit to the number of tasks you can accept at the same time; taking on too many low-priority tasks can prevent you from accepting new ones, and if by chance you come across a fleeting opportunity, it's easy to miss out."
"How do you delete tasks?"
Kuang Xin pulled up his panel to try and experiment with Hans's task, but he found that there was no option to delete a task.
"You need to find the NPC who assigned the task and formally refuse it in person. It's quite troublesome. So in the future, you should apply your own judgment when accepting tasks."
"I see…"
Kuang Xin nodded, feeling as though he had learned something new.
He then reacted, "But I went through a lot of effort to take on this task; of course, it's a good one."
Dai Lian looked at Kuang Xin's disheveled state and nodded sincerely, "I can tell."
Gong Yan, who had been quiet until now, asked softly, "So right now you are..."
Dai quickly replied, "Waiting for the NPC to come and check."
?
Kuang Xin looked at Dai Lian in surprise, realizing that Powerleveler Bro really knew his stuff.
Dai Lian frowned, touching the wood in front of him, "The realism of this game is overdone, actually not so great for our gaming experience..."
Kuang Xin, who had been bored of waiting, instinctively countered, "I think it's okay... it's quite interesting, and it's a good chance to take a break."
Gong Yan also nodded in agreement, "Occasional waiting can be nice, too."
"..."
Dai Lian's gaze swept over the two of them, and a hint of resignation flashed in his eyes.
Wasting time.
But... foolishness is kind of cute, too.
He'll just wait with them then...
…
[Reward from the commission: Your physical strength +0.2.]
[Reward from the commission: Heavy Weapon Specialization experience +5.]
[Current Heavy Weapon Specialization experience is 23/300. When it reaches 300 points, you can master "Level 2 Heavy Weapon Specialization".]
[Reward from the commission: Logging experience +15.]
[Current Logging experience is 27/100. When it reaches 100 points, you can master "Level 1 Logging".]
…
[The commission you posted — "Materials Needed for Repairs" has been submitted, please proceed to the inspection as soon as possible.]