Chapitre 18: Chapter 18: The Gaming Tycoon and the Novice: A Virtual Odyssey
(AN/TN) Hello everyone, I apologize for the delay in updating the story over the past few days. Our festival was in full swing, and I had to work some extra hours due to budget constraints. Now that the festival has concluded, I can resume uploading chapters on schedule. Thank you for your understanding.
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Chu You observed the level 0-1 players with an air of indifference. The level 0 players were in a state of panic as they noticed that Chu You's level display showed nothing but a question mark.
This mysterious "?" level was significantly higher than their own modest level 0-1. Could someone have genuinely reached level 5 or higher within the 48 hours since the game's commencement? This thought stirred excitement among the lower-level players.
In the distance, other players rushed over to witness the commotion. Chu You furrowed his brow slightly and delivered a chilling message to the surrounding players, "If you follow me, it's a path to death, and if you wish to face that fate, I won't stop you." With those words hanging in the air, Chu You turned and walked away in the direction he had come from.
Even while walking, Chu's pace remained swift.
After a quick check of his energy levels, Chu hastened his steps.
After navigating several consecutive corners and successfully distancing himself from those players who had considered following, Chu once again arrived at the spot where he had met Lin Luoer.
As Chu You approached, Lin Luoer's eyes held a complex expression. She noticed a significant shift in Chu You's demeanor. Take, for instance, the recent incident. There was no hint of discord, no need for questions—Chu You immediately took the initiative to confront the opposing player, as if he had known she was being harassed.
Chu joined Lin Luoer's side, a faint smile in his eyes and a trace of apology on his lips.
"Now, we encounter each other in different circumstances."
Lin Luoer nodded in gratitude and said, "Thank you." Regardless of the specifics of the incident, Chu You's actions were clearly driven by the intent to assist her, prompting Lin Luoer's expression of thanks.
Chu You shook his head. "Why did you rush all the way from such a distant location, my dear? I believed you were much closer." It seemed as though he had let go of the earlier incident.
"I'm already here now. Do you want me to leave?"
"Speaking of which, have you set your respawn point in our village?" Chu raised this question, as it was essential. If Lin Luoer hadn't designated this location as her respawn point, she would return to her initial spawn point upon death, which could be quite inconvenient.
Lin Luoer nodded, "Yes, I've set my respawn point in Xinshou Village."
Lin Luoer raised her gaze to meet Chu's, who was noticeably taller, and said, "So, will you guide me to level up next?"
Upon hearing this, Chu felt an unusual sensation in his heart.
In his past life, had Lin Luoer been this relentless? She hadn't rested last night, and the in-game time progression was sluggish. Had she spent 14 hours on long-distance traveling solely for the sake of leveling up? Would she seize every opportunity, no matter the cost?
"You've been awake all night; aren't you tired?"
Lin Luoer shook her head, offering a strained smile. "I feel great right now. This game is so captivating; I don't even feel tired."
Should Chu You delve into what he knew about Lin Luoer's personal life? He hesitated, aware of the other's strong sense of self-worth. Such inquiries might change the nature of their relationship.
When facing such a situation, Chu You felt a bit overwhelmed. Never mind, he thought, it's essential to establish a good relationship between the two first. The rest can be discussed later.
"Well, let's move on. We'll head to the level 5 area, and I'll help you level up," Chu You declared, then turned and began walking.
However, Chu You failed to notice that as he turned, his unusually long sword almost brushed against Lin Luoer. Fortunately, Lin Luoer reacted in time and immediately crouched down.
"What's wrong?" Chu You questioned Lin Luoer suspiciously upon hearing the movement behind him.
"Nothing, really. I thought I heard another player mention a dungeon when I arrived. Shall we check it out for leveling?" Lin Luoer had risen from her squatting position and offered no explanation for Chu You's doubts.
"A dungeon?" Chu You's eyes widened. He had missed out on such crucial information.
It wasn't entirely Chu You's fault. His location was simply not in the direction of the dungeon. Furthermore, the area was vast, and finding a dungeon entrance was no easy task. Since leaving Xinshou Village, Chu You hadn't returned, which caused him to miss out on important updates.
It appeared that, after logging off, he would need to assemble a team. Even if only for gathering information and discovering critical details, having a group could prove invaluable.
"You didn't know?" Lin Luoer looked puzzled.
"Well, I genuinely didn't come across it. Could you guide me there?" Chu You responded.
"How could I possibly know the location of the dungeon? I'm just going by what I've heard."
"That's okay. Here's the plan: you keep a close eye on Xinshou Village. If you spot a high-level player heading in a specific direction, follow them. You should be able to locate it quickly and then send me the coordinates," Chu You suggested, his tone serious as he assessed the situation.
Lin Luoer nodded, thinking that Chu You's idea was practical. "Alright, I'll start monitoring now." As Lin Luoer was about to head back toward Xinshou Village, Chu You stopped her.
"Wait a moment," Chu You said, realizing that using the player's real name might not be appropriate. "Hui Ye, hold on." Chu You thought it would be better to address the other player by their in-game name, as using real names like Lin and Luoer might be too intimate, and he wasn't sure if Lin Luoer preferred it that way.
Lin Luoer turned to face Chu You, her expression marked with curiosity, awaiting his next move.
Chu You approached and initiated a trade with Lin Luoer.
"Player Silent Nocturne has sent you a trade request. Would you like to accept it?" the message prompted.
"Accept it. I have something for you," Chu You stated in a commanding tone.
Lin Luoer chose to accept the trade, and Chu You placed the "Rapid Heal" general skill book into her hands. Lin Luoer appeared mildly surprised upon seeing the skill book but made no gesture other than reaching out to accept it.
"You can start practicing it once you reach level 5. Alright, give it a go."
"Thank you, Chu You... or rather Silent Nocturne," Lin Luoer expressed her gratitude while keeping her real name concealed.
"Off you go!"
As Lin Luoer dashed back toward Xinshou Village, Chu You couldn't help but feel a hint of sympathy.
"This girl is quite hard on herself. No wonder Lin Luoer achieved so much in his previous life. From this perspective, it's evident that Chu You deeply feels attached to her."
So, Chu You waited in the forest, convinced that recruiting a group of players was necessary. Even though creating a guild would be essential after changing jobs, it didn't stop Chu You from enlisting players who could gather intelligence and share information directly through friend communication.
Moreover, when it came to forming the guild, Chu You had specific criteria in mind; not everyone would be eligible.
Half an hour into the game, Lin Luoer messaged, "Silent Nocturne, I've found it, and I'm heading towards the right side of Xinshou Village. The coordinates for the dungeon entrance are 874, 541, 113."
"Alright, I'm on my way," Chu You replied.
"Are you sure it's safe? You have a red name, and there are many players on that route," Lin Luoer expressed her concern.
"It's fine, let's team up now." Chu You then sent a team request to Lin Luoer.
Lin Luoer immediately received the team request from Silent Nocturne and accepted it.
At this moment, Chu You could pinpoint Lin Luoer's exact location on the map. After a quick glance and closing the map, Chu You calmed down and began to navigate towards the entrance of the dungeon, attempting to avoid other players and minimize unnecessary encounters.
While a large number of players, including Lin Luoer, entered the dungeon entrance in a straight line, Chu You took a more indirect route. Gradually, Chu You arrived at the level 5 area again.
Since the dungeon entrance was located in a specific spot within the expansive level 4 area, Chu You's path led them from the top to the bottom of the level 5 zone.
In a short span of time, Chu You could see a group of players gathered not too far away. Upon a visual estimate, there were around 200 players. Most of these players were at level 2 or 3, considered high-level by ordinary player standards.
Of course, there were some level 1 players and even level 0 players. The lowest-level players were merely hoping to find a shortcut for rapid leveling up.
However, reality was harsh. Players who had reached level 2 had already grasped some of the game's mechanics and understood that forming a party with the lowest-level players was not a good idea.
"Are you there?" Chu You sat down in a concealed location to regain their strength.
"I'm here, and it's pretty crowded," Lin Luoer replied, the noise in the background audible, and Chu You smiled.
"What's the situation inside the dungeon? Let's discuss... actually, never mind, just go directly into the dungeon and choose the nightmare mode," Chu You instructed Lin Luoer and immediately appointed her as the captain.
"There are three dungeons here, and I'm not sure which one to choose."
"What? Three dungeons? Right next to each other?" Chu You sat up with surprise, as this was unusual.
"Yes, there are three dungeons. Which one should I choose? Oh, by the way, there's an NPC up ahead. I'll go ask." Lin Luoer spotted an NPC in the midst of the crowd and made her way towards them.
System: You have entered Elder Yetan's perception range and can communicate with him.
Elder Yetan: Girl, looking at your qualifications, they aren't very impressive. You might want to leave.
Lin Luoer, currently at level 0 with a physique level R, chose to ignore the criticism. "Old man, I have a strong teammate with me."
Elder Yetan: Oh? Well, since you are determined, I have a task for you. Do you see the three dungeons behind me? Each one is different. If you can pass through them and obtain what I need, I have a generous reward waiting for you.
System prompt: Do you accept Elder Yetan's test?
Lin Luoer immediately accepted.
Elder Yetan: Very well, girl. You can go in now.
Lin Luoer was pulled out of the mental communication by the system and saw the task interface. She quickly informed Chu You of the news.
"Chu You, I've received a task. It requires completing three dungeons."
"You really got a task?" Chu You had suspected it all along, but as he looked at the crowd in the distance, he secretly shook his head, not wanting to take the task.
But never mind, let's focus on leveling up. Even if the nightmare-level dungeons have no missions, the experience gain will be substantial.
"Yes, each dungeon will have mission items, and if you collect them, you can complete the task."
"Alright, let's start with the one on the far left. You're the captain. Enter the dungeon first, and I'll wait here. Remember!" Chu You paused for a moment and then said very seriously, "Remember, you must choose the most difficult, the nightmare level, got it?"
"The most difficult? Alright... Okay." Lin Luoer's heart skipped a beat, but she had seen Chu You's invincible statee in the previous battle, and she chose to trust him.
Lin Luoer went to the far left, pointed at the entrance, and initiated the dungeon start progress.
Starting the dungeon... 10%... 40%...
"Hey, did you see that? A level 0 player is entering the dungeon!" A player behind her exclaimed.
"ZiZi... Her teammates are in trouble. You'll see, they'll be in for a tough time."
"That priest doesn't have much effect in this dungeon. She's only at level 0, so she's in for a rough ride."
As the players behind Lin Luoer commented, her heart was filled with worry. What if they were right?
The dungeon opened with options for Normal, Difficult, and Nightmare difficulty levels. Lin Luoer hesitated, staring at Normal mode for a moment.
Chu You's voice came through the communication, "Have you entered the dungeon? Did you choose nightmare mode?"
Without a second thought, Lin Luoer selected nightmare mode. She closed her eyes, and in the blink of an eye, her body morphed into pixelated light, disappearing at the entrance of the dungeon.
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(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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