After a short while, Zhou Bai put on her gear, grabbed her weapon, and left the territory.
Not far outside, she immediately noticed the changed environment.
The former villa area was gone, replaced by dense forest. The original gardens and small woods were now covered by tall, thick trees, looking like a primeval forest.
The world had changed!
At that moment, Zhou Bai’s perception was clearer than ever.
From a lord’s perspective, this was good news.
The environment had become more primitive, and resources had increased.
On the map, various marked resource spots appeared: misty forests, bushes, waterfalls, bamboo groves, hills, rocky forests, caves, lakes… countless.
Unsurprisingly, these would be future resource gathering points for the territory’s residents.
But resources weren’t easy to gather; dangerous magical beasts roamed nearby.
Following the lord’s map, Zhou Bai headed to a bushy area with fewer monsters and no other people.
Upon arrival, she noticed bright red berries hanging on some plants.
She picked one, and the system notified:
【Congratulations, host obtained Wild Berry *1, Experience *1】
Reading the description, she saw it was edible and took a bite. The sour-sweet taste instantly spread in her mouth.
Delicious!
Her eyes lit up. Her mother would love this.
She quickly picked the rest of the berries.
After clearing them, Zhou Bai explored more plants, many unfamiliar, but she still tried picking them.
【Congratulations, host obtained Useless Weed *1, Experience *1】
【Congratulations, host obtained Vine *1, Experience *1】
【Congratulations, host obtained Herb Stonewood *1, Experience *1】
【Congratulations, host obtained Useless Weed *1】
【Congratulations, host obtained Useless Weed *1】
【Congratulations, host obtained Thatch *1, Experience *1】
…
Zhou Bai happily gathered useful items and discarded useless ones.
After some time, the system notified again:
【Congratulations, host unlocked Basic Identification Skill after 100 collections.】
Now Zhou Bai could clearly identify useful plants around the bushes.
Her eyes brightened.
The refreshed world brought more dangers but also more treasures!
Fighting wasn’t the only option for residents.
Good!
Just as Zhou Bai planned to continue testing her identification skill, noises came from the bushes—whimpering sounds.
She immediately became alert.
Soon, a monster burst out: a Bloodfang Boar.
Seeing it, Zhou Bai’s eyes gleamed.
Pork!
Before it reached her, she charged with her iron axe.
【Congratulations, host killed lv.5 Bloodfang Boar, obtained Sweet Potato *, Pork *5, Boar Tusk *5, Experience *50, Copper Coins *50.】
Pork secured!
Too bad the game only gave generic pork cuts, no trotters, belly, intestines, or ribs—the real delicacies!
After a brief sigh, Zhou Bai continued clearing the area.
Since level 5 monsters here were mini-bosses, this was their territory. After killing a few lower-level Bloodfang Boars, she met no more monsters.
After nearly clearing the bushes’ resources, Zhou Bai moved on.
She realized resource spots seemed limited and might not refresh.
Using the lord’s map, she cautiously explored nearby areas, occasionally killing lone monsters.
Feeling her experience might be enough, Zhou Bai opened her personal panel:
【Character: Zhou Bai】
【Race: Human】
【Level: 9 (961/4500)】
【Identity: Hope Village Lord, Resident】
【HP: 855/900】
【Attributes: Constitution (8/10), Intelligence (8/10), Agility (8/10), Defense (7/10)】
【Equipment: Leather Set (+1 Defense), Iron Axe (+1 Attack), Shadow Boots (+1 Agility), Anti-Black Backpack (+2 Slots)】
She froze.
After last night’s fierce battle and double experience from killing the Dark Wolf, she jumped from level 5 to 8. Killing the Bloodfang Boars just now gave her over 100 experience, putting her close to level 10.
But no one expected the level 10 experience requirement to suddenly quadruple—from 1000 to 4500.
Sighing, Zhou Bai cursed the apocalypse game system’s trickery.
Reaching level 10 wouldn’t be easy.
It made sense.
They had only been in the game three days. Even if the system wanted them to adapt quickly, it couldn’t let them job change so soon.
Still, some things changed. Before, her many collections never triggered the identification skill, but now after leveling up, it did.
Maybe the career path opened gradually by gaining skills?
Suddenly, Zhou Bai thought of the excited residents who went out today. They must have noticed too.
Putting the thought aside, she continued clearing monsters and gathering resources. Even if she couldn’t level up, she’d keep stocking up.
**
Meanwhile, in the Misty Forest, dozens gathered.
Initially, only Zhou Zhengping and Li Xingteng led twenty people, but after their outstanding performance last night and seeing residents follow them without being rejected, more teams joined.
The group grew larger.
A bigger team meant more safety.
Monsters were quickly killed upon encounter.
More importantly, monsters gathered around them, and everyone split into squads to fight bravely. Even monsters trying to flee were caught.
Soon, everyone gained loot, especially new resources that thrilled many.
Leaders Zhou Zhengping and Li Xingteng’s levels rose rapidly.
Li Xingteng leveled faster, targeting high-level monsters.
Everyone wanted to reach level 10 quickly.
Only Li Xingteng and Zhou Bai could compete, but Zhou Bai was still in the territory, so Li Xingteng expected to level faster.
After reaching level 9, Li Xingteng killed two level 5 monsters.
After the second, he checked his panel, waiting to job change at level 10.
The crowd eagerly awaited.
But Li Xingteng’s expression froze upon seeing his panel.
“What’s wrong? Can you job change?” Zhou Zhengping asked, not caring who leveled first but hoping Li Xingteng would.
Li Xingteng snapped out of it and said helplessly, “I have 1000 experience, but no level up.”
“Why?”
“Because level 10 requires 4500 experience, not 1000!”
The crowd gasped.
Zhou Zhengping frowned, surprised. “Why the sudden change?”
Li Xingteng recovered and explained, “Maybe it wasn’t sudden. I calculated that level 10’s total experience equals the sum of all previous levels’ experience. The game wants us to treat this world as real. Everything requires effort, including leveling. When we truly reach level 10, our strength will improve significantly, and job change will be appropriate.”
Not only Zhou Zhengping but all residents heard this, exchanging looks.
Treating this world as real?
Seeing their confusion, Li Xingteng raised his voice:
“You all noticed the environment changed this morning. Our territory passed the trial and entered the rankings, meaning we truly merged into this game world. Though it’s a game, it’s not like the games we know. Death is permanent. We must treat it as real and survive by its rules.”
The residents fell silent.
After a moment, some responded one after another, “We understand.”
At this moment, everyone’s minds cleared.
If it were day one, they might have given up.
But after so many disasters, they were used to it and had courage.
Just a delayed level 10? No big deal.
Seeing their determined faces, Li Xingteng felt emotional but remained resolute.
“Keep clearing monsters and gathering resources.”
“Yes.”
Since they couldn’t job change yet, they’d collect resources and earn copper coins to improve their lives.
Everyone focused on killing monsters and gathering materials.
Gradually, some noticed something new:
【Congratulations, host unlocked Basic Identification Skill after 100 collections.】
【Congratulations, host unlocked Chain Attack Skill after 100 kills.】
【Congratulations, host unlocked Displacement Skill after 100 dodges.】
【…】
“I think I got a skill.”
“Me too! I got Sprint, +2 Agility when used! Must be from my aggro drawing.”
“I got Stealth, letting monsters ignore me for 3 seconds.”
“Li team leader was right, job change doesn’t unlock all at once.”
…
Zhou Zhengping and Li Xingteng also gained many skills after enough effort.
The harder you worked, the more skills you gained.
They were confident now.
With skills motivating them, everyone became more active, trying out their new abilities.
Until nightfall, backpacks nearly full, the group prepared to return.
Monsters were cleared from their path, and the journey back was smooth.
They met other returning teams, joking about loot and skills, faces bright with joy.
Unconsciously, they had grown accustomed to this world.
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