To Nie Yan’s perspective, most players had not yet reached the appropriate level, and few had arrived here, so his actions were highly secretive.
However, not far from Nie Yan’s cliff at the Vermilion Dream Plains, a group of ten players was focused on killing monsters. They were targeting level seven lions. Due to the high level of these monsters, the group’s levels ranged from a maximum of six to a minimum of four. Still, they dared not venture deeper into the Vermilion Dream Plains.
Although these level seven lions offered a 300% experience bonus for being higher level, the experience gained per person was minimal. If not for the recent drop of a Lion Shield and some lion pelts, making the rewards decent, they would have stopped killing these tough, bloodthick monsters long ago, as potion consumption was too rapid. Simply blood vials and other consumables constituted a significant expense.
“Dao Guang, let’s stay for another two hours, we’re almost done collecting lion pelts,” a priest at the back said to the level six shield warrior at the front.
The shield warrior called Dao Guang blocked an attacking lion with his shield, performed a Heroic Strike with his sword, and slowly retreated. When the lion’s health was nearly depleted by the mage behind him, he executed a Frenzy Blade Strike, killing the lion.
“Alright, let’s stay for another hour. Since we got the Lion Shield, it’d be perfect if we could also get the Lion Armor,” Cui Can Dao Guang nodded and calmly collected the loot dropped by the lion.
“The official website mentioned that the drop rate for Lion Armor is only 0.2%. With such a low drop rate, it’s practically impossible,” an elemental mage beside Cui Can Dao Guang remarked. He and Cui Can Dao Guang were the only two in the group who had reached level six.
This elemental mage, named Hei Zhuo, was a renowned expert like Cui Can Dao Guang. Though they were friends, neither acknowledged the other’s superiority. In terms of skill, Cui Can Dao Guang was clearly superior. However, Hei Zhuo had used both of their names to establish the guild Zong Heng Tian Xia, which had since become stable and somewhat famous under his management. Cui Can Dao Guang had no interest in managing teams and lacked Hei Zhuo’s authority within the guild.
“The drop rate for the Lion Shield was only 0.1%, but we still managed to get one,” Cui Can Dao Guang countered.
“That was just luck,” Hei Zhuo replied somewhat unhappily, his expression shifting slightly.
“If we also get the Lion Armor, my defense will be unbeatable,” Cui Can Dao Guang said confidently.
What an arrogant guy, Hei Zhuo thought disdainfully but remained outwardly calm. In player-versus-player matches, Hei Zhuo could barely win two out of ten matches against Cui Can Dao Guang. Cui Can Dao Guang had a great reputation and exceptional skills, earning him considerable respect among several professional players. Zong Heng Tian Xia had been built upon Cui Can Dao Guang’s name, so Hei Zhuo had to rely on him. However, as Zong Heng Tian Xia expanded, Cui Can Dao Guang had gradually been pushed out of the management team by Hei Zhuo.
Cui Can Dao Guang looked into the distance and suddenly noticed a player falling from the distant cliff opposite them. He thought to himself, “Nowadays, strange things happen even in games. Someone actually jumped off a cliff. This guy must really be desperate.” However, to his surprise, the player’s falling speed was getting slower and slower. At this rate, even upon hitting the ground, the player wouldn’t die.
“Look at the cliff across from us!” Cui Can Dao Guang exclaimed in astonishment.
“What’s going on?” Hei Zhuo asked, glancing casually in that direction. But then, his gaze froze as he spotted Nie Yan. At that moment, Nie Yan shot something from his hand, which hooked onto the cliff, suspending him midair. In his other hand, he held a crossbow, shooting downward.
“What is he doing?” the other team members were stunned.
“Incredible! He came up with such a clever method. Don’t you see? He’s grinding monsters!” Dao Guang stood upright, his interest in the player on the opposite cliff piqued. Coming up with such an unconventional way to grind monsters in such a place was no ordinary feat.
“That item in his left hand must be the Weaver’s Ring!” Hei Zhuo, who was intimately familiar with all kinds of equipment, immediately recognized it.
“If we had the Weaver’s Ring, couldn’t we also grind monsters like him?”
“Even with the Weaver’s Ring, it wouldn’t work. The force of falling from such a height would snap the Weaver’s Ring unless, like him, you also had a Feather Falling Device,” Dao Guang explained. The Weaver’s Ring was a rare and valuable item, not easily obtained, and the Feather Falling Device was even more so. These two items couldn’t necessarily be purchased with money. For this guy to go through the trouble of acquiring both the Weaver’s Ring and Feather Falling Device just to grind monsters, who exactly was he?
“Damn, grinding monsters like this must be amazing. No need to worry about monster attacks, just keep shooting arrows. You could level up several levels in no time.”
“Not necessarily. The area he can attack is limited. Such a small area means the grinding speed won’t be fast. With him grinding monsters like this, the server’s respawn rate probably can’t keep up. After killing some monsters, he’ll have to go back,” one of the more experienced team members pointed out.
Hearing the team members’ discussion, Hei Zhuo remained silent. They dared not go deeper. The closer they got to the cliff, the more monsters there were, and they simply didn’t dare to enter. They had no idea what kind of monster that rogue was grinding.
Roar! A deafening sound came from below the cliff, causing the team members to change expressions and look at each other in fear.
A powerful male lion leaped up, jumping about five yards high, and landed on the cliff wall. It attacked fiercely, its powerful impact causing the rock face to tremble. However, the lion’s jump still fell far short of Nie Yan’s position. It couldn’t stay on the cliff wall and fell back down. Nie Yan, however, remained steadfast on the cliff, continuously shooting arrows.
“It’s an elite Lion King!” Hei Zhuo said gravely.
The team members exchanged stunned glances. Even if they formed a twenty-player squad now, they wouldn’t be able to defeat this level seven elite Lion King. Yet here was a lone player, suspended midair, steadily whittling it down to death. A surge of unwillingness—or perhaps more accurately, envy—rose in their hearts.
“Can we charge in and grab his gear after he takes down the Lion King?” one team member asked.
“Impossible. We can’t even get there now. Unless President Hei Zhuo brings a large group, but the cost and gain wouldn’t be worth it.”
“Sigh, forget it.”
As Dao Guang, Hei Zhuo, and others were deep in thought, the ground shook violently, as if many creatures were approaching. They all changed expressions and looked into the distance. A group of hundreds of lions was coming their way, drawn by the Lion King’s roar.
“It’s over, quickly retreat!” Hei Zhuo exclaimed in alarm, but it was already too late. The lion pack had spotted them, and what awaited them was an impending disaster.
Dao Guang seemed unlikely to escape. He raised his shield and prepared to fight.
On the opposite cliff, Nie Yan was quite relaxed. He didn’t need to exert much effort, just maintain his shooting speed. One arrow after another flew out, each carrying additional damage. Even the level seven Lion King only had a little over 5,000 hit points. Under his continuous attacks, its health quickly dropped to a small fraction.
The Lion King’s hatred was entirely focused on Nie Yan, but it couldn’t reach him. It could only perform physical attacks, all of which increased physical damage. Even at its highest jump, it could only reach six or seven yards. Nie Yan, however, was suspended twenty yards up on the cliff wall.
With arrows carrying additional damage, killing higher-level monsters was naturally much easier. Each arrow dealt real, solid damage.
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