(TN/AN) Hey, everyone. I hope you're doing well. I'm dedicated to bringing this beautiful novel to you, but lately, I've been feeling a bit down. Can you guess why? It's because I haven't been seeing much support from you all.
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As Chu You approached, the emission of red aura indicated the availability of red-tier equipment. At first glance, it was evident that this wasn't just any equipment; it was a weapon.
Chu You swiftly approached and picked up the high-level weapon before collecting the remaining equipment one by one.
The drop rate of the wild BOSS guaranteed a near 100% success rate, eliminating the risk of walking away empty-handed.
You've acquired the following weapon: Sorceress's Samurai Sword, a one-handed, red-tier weapon. It boasts an attack power of +29, a hit bonus of +5, a critical strike chance increase of +10, a critical strike damage bonus of +10%, and a +5 boost to attack speed. Notably, this weapon also extends the attack range by 1.5 meters. It's exclusively for warriors and requires a minimum level of 5.
In the novice period, the most sought-after equipment is the red-tier, as higher-tier gear becomes accessible only after changing professions.
Chu You pondered that it might be due to soloing a monster instead of teaming up with multiple players for a raid.
As Chu You examined the weapon, a gentle expression crossed his stoic face. It resembled a compact, telescopic weapon, enhancing a soldier's attack range from the standard 2 meters to an impressive 3.5 meters when equipped.
In his past experiences, any weapon that extended attack range was incredibly valuable and fetched a high price.
When wielded by skilled players, this weapon's effectiveness would be even more pronounced.
Without hesitation, Chu You carefully stowed his white sword in his backpack and then replaced it with the latest red-tier weapon.
To his astonishment, this weapon was exceptionally long!
Typically, a weapon's size adjusts to the player's physique, preserving its original proportions. But what happened when an already long weapon met a tall and slender player?
This weapon featured a slender, sharp-tipped blade that matched Chu You's 2-meter height. Its total length reached 1.9 meters, with a 40 cm handle and a 1.5-meter blade. It resembled an extended version of the Miao sword.
Equipped with this weapon, Chu You found it impossible to sheathe it diagonally around his waist due to the absence of a scabbard.
So, what was the solution?
Carrying it! He raised his right hand to hold the elongated handle, with the slender blade resting on his right shoulder and extending towards the rear on his left side. This design was a deliberate feature of Chu You's character, allowing him to tuck away his arms.
And when he needed both hands for specific actions, the weapon would automatically return to his backpack.
Chu You swung the Red Tier Samurai Sword a few times with just one hand, finding it surprisingly light, almost weightless. He couldn't be more satisfied.
Next, Chu You inspected some other equipment.
Sorcerer's Leggings, classified as Green Tier level gear, granted him +5 intelligence, +2 magic attack power, +12 physical defense, and an additional +80 HP. These leggings were designed for mages and required a minimum level of 5.
As for the Warrior's Combat Boots, also of Green Tier level, they provided a +3 strength boost, +7 physical defense, +60 health, and a +3 increase in movement speed. These boots were tailored for warriors and had a minimum level requirement of 5.
In addition to these items, Chu You acquired the Heart of Qianling and advanced materials for crafting weapons.
He also gained 100 gold coins and received a hefty 12,000 experience points, resulting in a 30% increase in his experience. His attack power had now reached 91, with an attack speed of 19.
Chu You's only disappointment was the absence of a suitable breastplate. He had discarded his novice coat earlier, leaving him without upper body attire.
After a quick look around, the ground revealed nothing, and Chu You glanced at his bare upper body, a faint smile playing on his lips.
In the world of Tian Shi, players were not permitted to reveal their naked bodies, not even their upper torsos. Unless their equipment was damaged and they had no suitable replacements in their backpacks, they remained clothed.
"In such situations, if no replacement gear was at hand, how could players both remove their current equipment and don new gear?"
"If you remove your current gear to don new gear, the system will automatically make sure you're wearing innerwear to stay covered."
In his previous experiences, some players had gone to great lengths to achieve the look of a bare upper body. They devised a strategy that entailed intentionally damaging their equipment, although this shortcut came with its fair share of frustrations.
The challenge was rooted in the fact that there was only a limited chance for one's gear to break when it reached 0 durability, and this low probability proved to be quite frustrating.
Moreover, to achieve the desired effect of equipment breaking, the player needed to deal an exceptionally high level of damage. This frequently led to an awkward situation where the equipment remained intact, while the player ended up dead.
If someone strolled through the streets with a bare upper body, there was a high likelihood that at least 90% of people would give them a second look, considering how eye-catching they would be.
Chu You smiled as he reminisced about those times. However, he was no exhibitionist. If there were any gear or clothing that could be used as equipment, he would certainly wear it.
As he bent his body, Chu You emerged from the cave. What struck him as unusual was that even 1.5 meters beyond the cave's threshold, the tip of his sword hadn't yet left the cave...
Outside, it was already noon. In the game world of "Tian Shi," there was a day and night cycle, and daytime lasted longer, with 32 hours in the daytime state. Chu You had spent most of the night and morning inside the cave.
A quick glance at the real-time clock revealed it was already 6 o'clock in the morning.
At that moment, Chu You suddenly remembered something and promptly opened the communication panel to find Lin Luoer was still online.
In an instant, a profound concern weighed on Chu You. He stood amidst the bamboo forest, his gaze lost in the distance.
"Is she still traveling? How far is she from my location?"
If, as it appeared, she had started her journey after 11 o'clock in the evening, it had already been 7 hours of continuous travel in a game where time sped by. Did she genuinely possess such unwavering determination?
The issue was pressing. That's why, he needed to ask her right away.
Chu You quickly sent a voice message to Lin Luoer.
"Lin Luoer, what's your current status or activity?"
After a minute, Chu You gazed at the sky.
Two minutes passed, and he looked around out of boredom.
After three minutes, he contemplated the little demon pig not far away, wondering if he should kill it.
"I'm almost there!" Lin Luoer's voice finally reached him.
Chu You's surprise was evident in his voice. "You're on your way here?"
Lin Luoer's reply was swift, "Yes, that's right. What's the matter?"
Chu You hesitated and then asked, "So, where did you begin your journey from?"
Lin Luoer responded, "I started in Luohua Village, in Pangshan City."
Chu You immediately started searching the map for the place name.
After choosing a destination in the local area, the result was clear: it would take 4 hours of in-game time to reach the location. Seeing this, Chu You wasn't surprised at all. He relied on his increased movement speed and physical strength, whereas Lin Luoer had no such advantage, so her journey would naturally take longer.
"It's quite the trek..." Chu You muttered to himself in the bamboo forest. As he knew well, promising to meet Lin Luoer so far away wasn't something he'd readily commit to. After all, a player's physical strength had its limits; one couldn't run indefinitely.
"Okay, when you arrive, please let me know. I'll be waiting here."
"Alright!"
Now that Lin Luoer was en route, Chu You couldn't leave, so he took a casual glance around before heading toward a lower-level monster area.
Approximately half an hour later in the game, Chu You's communication device rang.
"Chu You, I've reached Xinshou Village. Where are you?"
"Um, once you exit the village, just find an unoccupied level 1 monster area to wait for me, and then send me the coordinates." Chu You was still a "red name," and showing up in Xinshou Village would only invite unnecessary trouble.
Although Lin Luoer found Chu You's request a bit peculiar, she didn't question it. She simply ran off to find a suitable spot.
"I'm at coordinates 131,874,658."
Upon hearing Lin Luoer's voice, Chu You had already reached a level 4 area and was closing in on a level 3 area.
"Great, I'll be there shortly."
Chu You rapidly descended the sloping mountainside.
During his journey, Chu You encountered several other players. Under their surprised gazes, the tall and slender Chu You swiftly passed by, leaving behind a faint trail of red smoke, as well as his unique "style" and, of course, his eye-catching weapon.
Finally nearing his destination, Chu You's stamina bar had dwindled to zero, so he had to switch to walking.
As he approached the meeting point, excitement welled up in Chu You's heart. Yet, mixed with that excitement was a touch of perplexity. He couldn't quite fathom this unusual excitement. Was it possible that the female classmate's words were true, and he truly harbored a secret crush on her?
"How is this possible, I almost forgot her, and it must be her other identity that attracted me, Luo Shuihui Ye!" Chu You definitely thought of it, because when he thought of someone he liked, Chu You thought of another person.
Thinking of that special girl, Chu You smiled fondly.
When he had some free time, he should visit her at the Youyou Orphanage to reminisce about their past and see how she was doing.
After taking a few steps, Chu You suddenly turned around to see three players standing 100 meters away, their expressions filled with astonishment. Chu You's high level left a deep impression on them, and his distinctive fashion sense didn't go unnoticed.
"Come any closer, and I won't hesitate to take you down," Chu You's voice was not loud, but it was loud enough for the players on the opposite side to hear. Observing the players who had paused but were now resuming their steps, Chu You turned back to continue his journey towards the destination. However, he glanced back once more and noticed that they had indeed refrained from following him.
Chu You arrived at a mountain forest and double-checked the coordinates. The route was correct.
Continuing his journey... As he overcame a challenging terrain, he spotted a figure in priest's robes.
A smile started to form, but soon, Chu You masked it with a neutral expression.
At this moment, Chu You's demeanor suddenly shifted, and he continued on with a cold countenance.
"You're not even going to tell me your name?" One of the level 2 players, Mo Yun, wore a rather displeased expression. Surrounding him were five players with various professions. They had cornered a female player, who happened to be Lin Luoer.
"Is it really that difficult to add you as a friend? Is something bothering you?" another player asked, displaying his frustration. He wasn't particularly interested in women, but he had to stay if his leader remained.
At first sight of Lin Luoer's appearance, Mo Yun was utterly captivated by her beauty. Despite being aware that the game allowed players to alter their appearances, he couldn't help but be drawn to her elegance.
In the midst of the crowd, she was the one who truly stood out!
At a single glance, Mo Yun was smitten, and he decided to approach her. At the very least, he wanted to add her as a friend first, with the possibility of more in the future. However, to his surprise, this beautiful girl completely ignored him.
He had showered her with compliments, but she simply disregarded them, causing Mo Yun's expression to darken gradually.
As both sides maintained their standoff, a cold, robotic voice interrupted them.
System Alert: A hostile red player is nearby. Stay vigilant and eliminate them as soon as possible!
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