### Chapter 9: The Drop of the Sheep Boss, [Ice Shield]
In addition to experience points, the drop from the sheep boss was the most enticing part of the encounter. Su Yu stepped forward to inspect the remains of the defeated creature. As a level 4 boss and the first kill on the entire server, the loot was sure to be rich!
He opened the sheep boss's body and marveled at the treasures within:
- **Rock Cutting Sword (Excellent) lv4**
- **Linen Gloves (Excellent) lv4**
- **Skill Scroll [Mortal Strike (Excellent)]**
- **Skill Scroll [Ice Shield (Normal)]**
- **Hillside Sheep Leader's Horns (Excellent) x1**
"A skill scroll has appeared again! This one's even better for warriors, like [Death Strike]!" Su Yu's eyes lit up with excitement as he examined the scroll.
**[Death Strike (Excellent)]**: Use your weapon to deliver a furious strike to the target, causing physical damage equal to 170% of your attack power. The lower the target's HP, the higher the damage, up to a maximum of 340%.
- Cooldown: 3 seconds
- Rage Cost: 10 points
- Learning Level: lv1
**[Death Strike]** was a crucial skill for warriors at this stage, particularly for tackling field bosses and dungeon encounters. Any warrior who could learn it would certainly catch the eye of the top five guilds in the country, making it a coveted target for aspiring players.
Unfortunately, as a mage, Su Yu couldn't use the skill. He sighed, tossing the scroll into his backpack for later sale. Even though he wasn't short on cash, selling it would save him time and hassle.
The sheep boss had also dropped another skill scroll.
**[Ice Shield (Normal)]**: Use the power of frost to create a shield around you, absorbing 200% of your spell power in damage. While the Ice Shield is active, melee attackers will have their attack and movement speed reduced by 20% for 5 seconds.
- Instant Cast
- Duration: 60 seconds
- Cooldown: 60 seconds
- Mana Cost: 10 points
- Learning Level: lv1
**[Ice Shield]** was an essential skill for ice-type mages, particularly useful in solo practice. It could absorb 2-3 melee hits from monsters and slow down aggressive melee foes, making it invaluable for kiting.
In his previous life, Su Yu had saved up psionic currency to purchase the [Ice Shield] skill scroll from the novice village warehouse, similar to an auction house, and had relied on it heavily in his early days.
Familiar with the skill, he wasted no time clicking to learn it, spending 1100 psionic coins to upgrade [Ice Shield] to a blue rare quality.
**[Ice Shield (Rare)]**: Use the power of frost to form a shield around you, absorbing 400% of your spell power in damage. During the duration of the Ice Shield, melee attackers will have their attack and movement speed reduced by 40% for 5 seconds.
- Instant Cast
- Duration: 60 seconds
- Cooldown: 60 seconds
- Mana Cost: 30 points
Once he learned the new skill, Su Yu waved his hand, releasing the [Ice Shield].
Frost magic coalesced around him, forming an eggshell-shaped shield made of transparent ice crystals. Su Yu couldn't help but feel a rush of nostalgia looking at the familiar shield.
"Finally, I have some self-protection!" he thought, though he noted the high mana consumption of 30 points. "I'll need to find some gear that boosts my mana capacity!"
Currently, his maximum mana was 140, and the **Primary Mana Recovery Potion** could restore 100 mana. During his leveling session and the boss fight, he had consumed a significant number of potions. Now, he felt the bitter aftertaste of overindulgence.
To minimize reliance on potions, he resolved to acquire equipment that would increase his mana cap. "I remember there's a hidden quest in Novice Village that rewards an excellent quality accessory, which can significantly boost my maximum mana. That would be perfect for me right now," he thought.
As he rummaged through his backpack, he noticed it was filled with various equipment materials, leaving him with only 37 **Primary Mana Recovery Potions**.
"Forget it. Time to head back to town for supplies and to complete that accessory quest before leveling up more," he decided.
A few minutes later, Su Yu returned to **Nolan Village**, the novice hub. The village buzzed with life, players milling about, some grinding experience, while others enjoyed the scenery like it was a "travel simulator."
As he approached the village entrance, players noticed the level above Su Yu's head, and gasps erupted around him.
"Oh my God! Level 3! There's actually a Level 3 boss in our novice village!"
"Sweetheart, come see this! It's amazing!"
"Big brother, how did you level up so fast? Any tips?"
"Hey, boss! Want to join our guild, 'Emperor Blood Kills the Sky'?"
Before long, Su Yu found himself surrounded by a crowd, their eyes brimming with envy and admiration.
This scene was all too familiar; in his past life, he was often the center of attention. But this time, it was a bunch of burly players rather than the beautiful women who usually sought him out, making him feel a bit uncomfortable.
In desperation, he decided to hide his name and level, saying to the crowd, "There's no need to envy me; I just got lucky with a hidden quest that gave me a lot of experience points. If you keep exploring, you'll all find something similar eventually!"
With that, he maneuvered through the least crowded part of the gathering, hoping to escape.
The players, hearing his words, began to believe him. As Su Yu slipped away, they turned to discuss finding hidden missions of their own.
However, a few persistent players continued to follow him, calling out questions.
"Hey, where did you get that hidden mission?"
"Want to join our guild?"
"Leveling is tough—can you take us with you? We'll make it worth your while!"
The last plea came from a girl who looked decent enough.
But Su Yu didn't even glance back, quickening his pace as he dashed into the streets of the novice village. His enhanced shoes gave him a speed advantage over the other players.
He weaved through the village, successfully losing his unwanted followers after circling the area twice.
"Sigh! It looks like I'll have to hide my level from now on. Otherwise, I'll attract onlookers everywhere I go, which will be too much of a hassle," he mused.
Finally, he headed toward the novice village warehouse. He was ready to auction off the drops from the two bosses.
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**(End of this chapter)**