The town only had the most basic buildings, such as the pharmacy, low-level equipment shop, and personal warehouse. There were only a few NPCs, most of whom offered low-level tasks, such as collecting various items, hunting certain animals, gathering animal pelts, herbs, or ores. The rewards for completing these tasks were usually experience points or money.
Nie Yan went to the pharmacy and bought three bottles of low-grade instant health potions, each restoring thirty health points for one copper coin. The shop only sold low-grade health potions; mid-grade and higher potions could only be crafted by alchemists.
After buying three potions, he had one copper coin left.
Nie Yan walked outside the town and sprinted toward the treasure chest’s spawn point, carefully avoiding monsters from a distance.
He was heading to a level-five monster zone. At his current level, it was extremely dangerous. However, his experience bar was at 0%, so even if he died, he wouldn’t lose any experience.
Passing two level-one monster zones, a level-three zone, and a level-four zone, it took Nie Yan more than ten minutes to finally arrive at the level-five wildcat spawn area.
He observed the surroundings. It was a dense grassland with waist-high grass. In the distance, there was a tall willow tree standing out in the open field.
He was getting close to the silver treasure chest and started to feel nervous.
This area was inhabited by level-five wildcats, which were far beyond Nie Yan’s current level.
Occasionally, a wildcat passed by, and Nie Yan quickly hid.
Thieves had a passive class talent that enhanced their hiding ability, making them less likely to be detected by other creatures.
Additionally, Nie Yan could use the stealth ability.
He calculated the safe distance between himself and the wildcats using the stealth level difference formula. After stealth, the safe distance was two yards. If he approached within two yards, he would be detected. Between two and three yards was a buffer zone where detection was possible. Beyond three yards, he would be completely safe.
Nie Yan had played a thief for ten years in his previous life, mastering the skills thoroughly. Estimating distances with his eyes posed no difficulty.
Suddenly, the grass in the distance rustled. Nie Yan’s expression changed, and he immediately activated stealth.
A wildcat the size of a wolfhound emerged from the grass, scanning the surroundings with sharp eyes. Finding nothing unusual, it crossed the open area ahead and disappeared into another patch of grass.
After confirming the wildcat was far away, Nie Yan cautiously continued forward.
Under the willow tree was a clearing of about a dozen yards in diameter. A silver-white treasure chest sat quietly beneath the tree. There were six or seven wildcats roaming the clearing.
These level-five wildcats would require at least a team of twenty level-three players to clear.
Obtaining this treasure chest was no easy task.
Nie Yan observed the wildcats’ movement patterns from the grass, trying to find a safe path to the willow tree.
The wildcats followed a certain route.
After observing for a while, Nie Yan packed away all his equipment and changed into beginner’s clothes with no defense. These beginner’s clothes were worthless, selling for zero copper to NPCs and not worth picking up if dropped.
In Faith, the penalty for death was losing a level and randomly dropping an item. It would be a huge loss if he dropped the newly purchased equipment. However, the beginner’s clothes were expendable; wearing them was merely for modesty.
Nie Yan stealthily moved toward the willow tree. After about ten seconds, he stopped, holding his breath as a wildcat passed two yards ahead, another to the left, and another behind.
He remained still for six seconds before continuing forward, carefully maintaining a safe distance from each wildcat.
Inch by inch, he drew closer to the chest.
Nie Yan’s heartbeat quickened slightly. He understood that obtaining this skill book at level zero would be crucial for his future development.
Two more wildcats approached Nie Yan’s direction.
Nie Yan quickly stopped. The two wildcats passed nearby, brushing past at about two yards away, making him break into a cold sweat.
The stealth ability lasted for two minutes. As time ticked away, Nie Yan started to feel anxious with only thirty-two seconds remaining.
He was running out of time. Nie Yan slightly increased his pace.
A wildcat not far away suddenly moved, sensing Nie Yan’s presence. It fixed its gaze on him, baring its sharp teeth and letting out a hoarse growl.
Bad, he had been discovered!
The wildcat leaped toward Nie Yan.
The wildcat was fast, and Nie Yan’s movement speed couldn’t keep up. However, relying on his reflexes honed in his previous life, he sidestepped.
Basic character movements included sidestepping, rolling, and jumping. Players could use these actions within the system’s framework to evade attacks.
The wildcat’s sharp claws narrowly missed Nie Yan’s throat by less than an inch, leaving it empty-handed.
As Nie Yan dodged, two more wildcats lunged from the side. One slashed him from behind while another bit his arm.
It was over.
In this situation, using a health potion would be useless.
-68, -32—two damage numbers floated above Nie Yan’s head. His health dropped to zero, and he collapsed.
The scene changed, and Nie Yan resurrected at the cemetery of Trak town.
Activating the stealth ability too early and becoming impatient near the end of its duration caused him to expose his position, leading to his failure.
Nie Yan reviewed the lessons learned from his failure, checking his equipment. His handguards had dropped, but they were beginner’s gear, so it wasn’t a big deal. As for experience, he was still at 0%.
He had come to the level-five monster zone fully prepared to die.
Nie Yan set out again, leaving Trak town and heading back to the wildcat spawn point.
Upon reaching the outskirts of the clearing again, Nie Yan noticed changes in the wildcats’ movement routes. They had gathered near the treasure chest after he aggroed them, making it even harder to obtain the silver chest.
The wildcats continuously switched activity areas. An idea struck Nie Yan—he could risk drawing the wildcats away and then return after resurrection to stealthily open the chest.
At about three yards from the wildcats, he ended his stealth ability, and his figure gradually reappeared.
Five wildcats nearby simultaneously noticed Nie Yan and chased after him.
Nie Yan sprinted outward, but his movement speed was far inferior to the wildcats’. Soon, a wildcat leaped and tackled him to the ground. The others joined in, killing Nie Yan.
A flash of white light, and Nie Yan returned to the cemetery of Trak town, having lost a pair of leggings.
After resurrection, he left the town again, heading toward the area. More than ten minutes later, he arrived at the clearing’s edge.
The wildcats were slightly farther from the chest now. Calculating the route, Nie Yan’s eyes lit up. This time, it should be manageable.
Activating stealth, he approached the silver chest. After twenty seconds of movement, he stopped as two wildcats passed behind him and gradually moved away.
All wildcats were at a relatively safe distance of about five yards. Finally safe, he quickened his pace and reached the silver chest with thirty-six seconds of stealth remaining—six seconds more than expected.
Nie Yan crouched down and started opening the chest. The stealth state could be maintained while opening the chest.
System: Chest opening in progress, completion 20%… 50%…
A wildcat nearby approached, stopping at a distance of more than two yards from Nie Yan.
Nie Yan’s heartbeat involuntarily quickened. Stay calm, he reminded himself repeatedly, gradually calming his nerves.
The wildcat looked around but noticed nothing and turned away.
Nie Yan exhaled in relief.
System: Chest opening completed, time taken: twenty-seven seconds.
Nie Yan opened the chest and reached inside, grabbing a paper book. His heart leaped—it was exactly what he came for!
He took it out and examined it.
Skill Book: Critical Strike.
Skill Description: Thieves can cause additional damage by attacking enemies’ vital points.
Execution Requirements: Action (requires a weapon).
Skill Properties: Gains a +5 bonus to attack rolls when hitting a vital point. Damage is reduced if the strike misses the intended target.
Skill Cooldown: Thirty seconds.
User Restrictions: Thieves, warriors, and paladins of any faction can use this skill.
It was indeed Critical Strike, a top-tier skill that could be learned at level zero! This was the goal of his journey. Nie Yan activated the skill book, enveloping it in a white glow.
He checked his skill list, where a new skill, Critical Strike, had appeared!
After retrieving the Critical Strike skill book, the silver chest gradually faded and disappeared.
“Mission accomplished. Time to use that free recall home,” Nie Yan thought.
As his stealth duration ended, his figure slowly reappeared. The nearby wildcats noticed him and pounced.
Since he wouldn’t lose experience, dying would be perfect for returning to town. Nie Yan calmly awaited his fate.
Nie Yan died again, returning to the cemetery of Trak town. His beginner’s cloth armor also dropped, but compared to the Critical Strike skill book, it was insignificant. With Critical Strike, his leveling speed would significantly increase.
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