Chu You frantically searched for targets in the third-level area, achieving an impressive 100% hit rate. With the added attribute bonuses, his efficiency in dispatching monsters was remarkably swift.
While on the hunt, he remained vigilant for other players, as some preferred to take unconventional routes in the hopes of discovering hidden treasures.
Before long, a radiant glow enveloped Chu You, signifying his successful upgrade!
It took Chu You half an hour to achieve this feat. With no one competing for monster spawns and the advantage of dispatching third-level monsters in less than a minute, Chu You managed to progress from level 0 to level 1.
This illustrates the significant challenge of leveling up in the game.
Chu You allocated all five of his free attribute points from the upgrade into his strength, resulting in a significant boost to his attack power, which now stood at 32.
As Chu You ventured deeper into the game world, he knew that over time, more players would follow suit, some of them embarking on quests given by intelligent NPCs.
Navigating his way through the thick forest, Chu You moved swiftly, his tall and agile character gracefully sweeping fallen leaves off the ground.
Despite his extensive gameplay and the countless monsters he had defeated, Chu You couldn't help but feel a twinge of frustration. He had yet to come across any rare or powerful equipment, and this disappointment gnawed at him.
Chu You was well aware that the chances of finding coveted "Tianshi" gear were exceedingly low, almost cruelly so. Furthermore, even if he did manage to stumble upon such equipment, the abysmal purchase prices offered by in-game merchants made it far more lucrative to sell items directly to other players. This disparity in pricing underscored the immense value of in-game currency.
For now, he decided to put aside these thoughts and focus on reaching level 10 before contemplating a job change. The early levels, from 0 to 10, served as a transitional period, allowing players to adapt to the game's mechanics.
Chu You understood that the true essence of the game lay beyond this initial phase, promising a world of excitement and challenges once he unlocked the ability to change his character's profession.
Chu You ventured into the level 4 area to face a new breed of monsters. These creatures had evolved to exhibit aggressive behavior, unlike the level 3 monsters he was accustomed to.
Here, species like wolves were especially dangerous. Regardless of how far away you were, as long as you remained within the level 4 zone, catching their attention was ill-advised. Once in their line of sight, they'd slowly close in on you, often surprising solo players with a sudden ambush by one or more wolves.
Typically, this situation was reserved for maps beyond the 10th-level transition, and novices didn't encounter it in their starting zones. However, exceptions existed, as the system had hinted that these areas weren't suitable for inexperienced players. Consequently, some challenging rules normally absent in novice zones had emerged.
Chu You had already adapted to the game's unique rules and approached each location with the vigilance of a seasoned hunter.
Dealing with these monsters was a delicate balance. If there were only one or two, he could handle them, but when the pack exceeded three, retreat became the only option. Although novices didn't lose experience during the transition period, fleeing consumed valuable time that could have been better spent progressing further in the game.
Furthermore, there was a significant consequence to repeated deaths in the game, the more you die: the longer the automatic resurrection interval became.
Chu You vividly recalled an unfortunate player from his past life who had suffered a single death and endured a staggering two-day wait before the automatic resurrection process kicked in. During that time, no priest had come to perform a resurrection ritual, leaving the player's lifeless body stranded on a desolate beach for the entire duration.
This harsh penalty seemed cruel and unforgiving.
Thankfully, the situation changed drastically if a priest with resurrection abilities intervened. When resurrected by a cleric, a player would return to life on the spot with a portion of their health restored, bypassing any waiting period.
As Chu You pressed forward, he noticed a gray wolf ahead, and the wolf had likewise spotted him.
The creature before him was a level 4 gray wolf, while Chu You was still at level 1.
The wolf bared its fangs, emitting a low, threatening growl, and fixed Chu You with an ominous gaze. If it were a regular person, the wolf's menacing demeanor would indeed be terrifying.
Chu You calmly drew his novice sword, his gaze unwavering.
The gray wolf crouched into an attack stance, its powerful limbs propelling it forward. With a burst of speed, it closed the gap, charging at Chu You from a distance of twenty meters.
Approaching within three meters of Chu You, the gray wolf leaped, baring its fangs in preparation to bite.
Quick on his feet, Chu You sidestepped, narrowly evading the wolf's attack. With a swift sword thrust, he inflicted -21 damage on the gray wolf. Chu You promptly retreated a couple of steps, positioning himself for a follow-up strike as the gray wolf landed.
Chu You's agile movements allowed him to avoid the gray wolf's counterattack, and he capitalized on the opportunity with another well-aimed sword strike.
Faced with this lower-level monster, Chu You emerged unscathed. He sheathed his sword, leaving the lifeless body of the gray wolf behind.
Turning away, Chu You resumed his search for more targets.
When confronting wolves above level three, their higher attributes compared to flower snakes resulted in slightly reduced damage from Chu You's attacks. Although he didn't suffer from embarrassing misses, his attacks were less likely to yield critical hits.
Just as Chu You contemplated returning to the flower snake area, he unexpectedly encountered another wolf.
As he navigated a narrow path, the unexpected happened – while he was engaged with one gray wolf, another emerged from behind a nearby rock.
Chu You let out a sigh, realizing that the concealed path was not the best choice. The newly arrived gray wolf had spotted him as well and cautiously closed the distance, step by step.
When the fresh threat was about 20 yards away, the wolf suddenly assumed an attack posture.
Fortunately, the gray wolf that Chu You had been battling with was already heavily wounded, and the new arrival launched an assault.
It became a challenging two-on-one situation, with both gray wolves surpassing the third level. However, Chu You remained remarkably composed, displaying an unwavering calmness in the face of danger. In his previous gaming experiences, he had encountered countless perilous situations, even more treacherous than this.
Though his skills weren't flawless, Chu You managed to navigate the complex dance of combat against higher-level foes. In the early stages of the game, he could still maintain his confidence.
During this confrontation, Chu You suffered his first injury since starting the game. It happened because he had to make a deliberate effort to sustain the wound while he focused on dispatching one gray wolf, knowing that once it was dealt with, he could tackle the second with confidence.
A mournful howl echoed through the forest as one of the gray wolves fell. In an instant, Chu You pivoted, sword poised defensively across his chest, his gaze locked onto the remaining gray wolf.
To Chu You's surprise, instead of charging at him, the gray wolf abruptly turned and fled, halting about ten meters away. It raised its head and emitted a resounding howl that echoed through the forest.
It was signaling for its packmates to come to its aid!
Sure enough, as another gray wolf materialized, the first wolf pivoted and led the charge against Chu You.
Chu You couldn't help but smile a little when the next gray wolf joined the fray.
"This gray wolf is serving me free experience," Chu You thought, appreciating the efficiency of this unexpected encounter.
Before long, the second gray wolf fell, and the pattern repeated as the third gray wolf arrived.
However, this time, the appearance of the third wolf was slightly delayed. Chu You surmised that the population of gray wolves in this area might not be particularly abundant.
With this in mind, Chu You greeted the gray wolf as he continued his gradual advance deeper into the forest.
During this period, Chu You accumulated experience and had become adept at handling two gray wolves simultaneously. After dispatching one of the gray wolves, Chu You paused and offered a wry smile to the remaining wolf, seemingly inviting it to call for reinforcements once more.
Chu You couldn't help but feel that this place was custom-made for his cultivation. It highlighted the significance of selecting the right starting location in the game.
Unbeknownst to him, Chu You had leveled up once more, reaching level 2. This upgrade granted him a slight overall attribute boost of +1, with his strength increasing by 2 points and his endurance by 2 points.
Allocating all five of his free attribute points to strength, Chu You's attack power had now risen to an impressive 41.
As long as he maintained his pace and didn't aggro three gray wolves simultaneously, Chu You could continue steadily accumulating experience without interruption.
With a sense of relaxation and happiness, Chu You's gameplay improved even further.
Continuing deeper into the forest, Chu You eventually entered the fifth-level creature zone. He vanquished one gray wolf and noticed that the remaining wolf didn't behave as expected by calling for reinforcements; instead, it continued to engage Chu You.
It appeared that this particular gameplay style was reaching its conclusion, leaving Chu You with a hint of regret.
As he prepared to deal with the last gray wolf and take a well-deserved break, a voice calling for help echoed from nearby.
Chu You's spirits lifted instantly, recognizing that he had stumbled upon a random mission.
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