Chapter 6: Preparation Work

He was about to proceed with his second step of leveling-up plan. However, this plan required twenty copper coins!

It would be more cost-effective to level up quickly while earning money. Nian Yan thought for a moment and then ran toward Trak Town.

Coordinates 309.289.221 in Trak Town: NPC Hunter Klaus, task: collect twenty Silver-Gray Giant Rat skulls; Coordinates 290.231.256: NPC Farmer Ender, task: kill fifty Silver-Gray Giant Rats. Suburbs of Trak Town at coordinates 350.220.389: hidden NPC Alchemist Or, task: collect twenty-one Silver-Gray Giant Rat tails…

Nian Yan found two regular NPCs and three hidden NPCs who offered tasks related to killing Silver-Gray Giant Rats. The coordinates of those three hidden NPCs were provided by game guides from his past life, a summary of countless players’ experiences. Without knowing their locations, it would be extremely difficult to find them.

After accepting five tasks, he arrived at the area outside Trak Town where giant rats spawned. Silver-Gray Giant Rats were enormous silver-gray rats, each larger than a water buffalo, moving like small hills. However, they were slow and had low attack power.

Silver-Gray Giant Rat: Level 1, HP 100/100.

The game had been open for over a week. Most players had reached levels two or three and moved to higher-level monster zones. This level 1 monster area only had a few scattered players leveling up.

Spotting a Silver-Gray Giant Rat, Nian Yan moved while stabbing several times at its back.

-21, -20, -21—three damage numbers floated above the rat’s head.

The rat turned to attack Nian Yan, who immediately launched a critical strike, piercing the rat’s eye.

System: Critical strike completed, attack position offset by 5%, causing additional damage bonus.

-38, a damage number floated above the rat’s head, and the Silver-Gray Giant Rat shrieked and fell down.

The critical strike was effective. Nian Yan picked up the rat’s skull.

The cooldown for the critical strike was thirty seconds, giving Nian Yan ample time to find another Silver-Gray Giant Rat.

Finding a spot where Silver-Gray Giant Rats respawned quickly, Nian Yan began camping and grinding. One by one, the rats fell.

Experience started to rise slowly: 1%, 2%, 10%… After about two hours, Nian Yan had killed over two hundred Silver-Gray Giant Rats, reaching approximately 15% experience.

He collected a large number of rat tails and skulls, and obtained three copper coins.

Coin drop rates were extremely low; only some dungeons had slightly higher rates, making coins highly valuable in Faith.

Nian Yan launched a critical strike, killing a rat. Under its body, something was gleaming. His heart raced as he bent down and picked it up.

Flexible Leather Leggings (White): Level requirement 0.

Attributes: Defense 3-5.

Weight: 3 pounds.

Restricted to: Warriors, any faction.

In Faith, equipment was rare, mostly found in high-difficulty dungeons. Nian Yan clearly remembered that many players above level ten had to wear level-five gear because they couldn’t find level-ten gear.

This Flexible Leather Leggings, being a warrior item, could fetch at least seven copper coins at auction.

Nian Yan stored the Flexible Leather Leggings in his backpack. The basic backpack had only twenty slots, and after carrying so many items, only eleven slots remained.

The backpack was a dimensional space, not adding to the player’s weight.

Player weight only referred to the equipment they wore.

Previously, he obtained three copper coins. Adding the proceeds from selling the Flexible Leather Leggings, he could raise ten copper coins. Completing tasks would bring more rewards, exceeding twenty copper coins.

Nian Yan checked his backpack and found all five tasks completed. He stopped grinding and headed back to Trak Town.

He was racing against time, first closing the level gap with others, then leveraging his rebirth knowledge to gradually expand his advantage.

Returning to Trak Town, Nian Yan completed all five tasks, earning over six hundred experience points, bringing his current level to 55%. Additionally, he received thirty-four copper coins, far exceeding his expectations. The three hidden NPCs offered monetary and experience rewards several times higher than regular NPCs. Besides coins and experience, he also obtained three basic instant health potions.

Nian Yan listed the Flexible Leather Leggings on the auction house and headed to the weapon shop.

Arriving at the weapon shop, a narrow storefront, it was surprisingly spacious inside, roughly 5×10 yards.

Both side walls displayed weapons for various classes, while the back wall held universal equipment for all classes, including crossbows, small daggers, etc.

Everywhere was filled with equipment, dazzling and varied.

The shop owner was a muscular blacksmith in his forties.

“In the entire Western Prairie region, my weapons are the best. Esteemed adventurer, what can I offer you?” the blacksmith greeted with a booming voice.

“Crossbows.”

“What specifications do you require? My items can meet all needs for adventurers below level five.”

“Usable at level 0, attack bonus +3 or higher, speed 12 or higher.” Nian Yan added, “Under thirty copper coins.”

Originally, Nian Yan planned to gather twenty copper coins for a basic crossbow. Unexpectedly, he exceeded his target, earning thirty-seven copper coins. After selling the Flexible Leather Leggings, he would have over forty copper coins, allowing him to buy a better crossbow.

“I have three crossbows meeting your requirements. The first is the Swift Shortbow, attack bonus +3, speed 13, accuracy deviation 11%, range 20 yards, priced at seven copper coins.” The blacksmith demonstrated a shortbow.

“Any better options? Preferably higher accuracy.”

He had something important to do. Although this Swift Shortbow was sufficient, a better crossbow would save significant time.

“The second is the Swift Longbow, attack bonus +5, speed 12, deviation 9%, range 30 yards, priced at fifteen copper coins.” The blacksmith showed a longbow, then presented an elegant one-handed crossbow loaded with five bolts, aiming carefully. “The third is my masterpiece, the Mini Swift Repeater, with Triple Shot effect, attack bonus +5, speed 8. Due to the Repeater effect, each bolt’s speed check is 15, deviation 5%, range 30 yards, priced at twenty-eight copper coins.”

“I’ll take it. Also, nine tubes of low-quality crossbow bolts.” Nian Yan said. Each tube contained a thousand bolts, more than enough.

Exactly spending all thirty-seven copper coins, not a single coin left. Nian Yan stored the newly purchased crossbow and nine tubes of bolts in his backpack.

“Welcome again, esteemed adventurer. May your journey be safe.”

When Nian Yan first entered the game, he was amazed by NPCs having simple artificial intelligence, but later became accustomed to it.

As Nian Yan stepped out of the weapon shop, a system notification appeared.

System: Your Flexible Leather Leggings have been sold, earning eight copper coins.

Sold, not bad. With eight copper coins in his backpack, he was finally not broke.

Nian Yan left Trak Town, heading toward the area where level 8 Buffalo monsters spawned. Buffalo monsters were more dangerous than wild cats, possessing strong attack power and faster movement, over three times Nian Yan’s speed. Fighting them would almost certainly result in death.

Currently, no player dared to face level 8 monsters, not even the top-ranked player.