Bai Xiaodu decisively shook his head.
“Not trustworthy.”
“How about we call a few more people to block the entrance, just in case?”
Lingxin nodded.
“My thoughts exactly.”
After arranging these matters, the two of them formally stepped into the Secret Realm.
...
Sunlight, streets, and a stream of pedestrians flowing past the Adventurers Association.
Clutching his head, Bai Xiaodu stood up and looked around in confusion, only for a quest sheet to be slapped onto his face.
A blue-haired, blue-eyed girl standing behind the counter lifted her chin and spoke haughtily.
“Hey, rookie, this is your final quest to promote to an official adventurer. Make sure you do a good job.”
She then handed over a brand-new, black knight's two-handed greatsword. Bai Xiaodu caught it instinctively.
It had some weight to it, and the grip felt good.
The system popped up an introduction. It was White quality with a Sharpness effect.
If he were still at the Apprentice rank, this would indeed be a decent weapon.
Though he wasn't sure what was going on, Bai Xiaodu politely said, “Thank you.”
The blue-haired girl tilted her head back even higher.
“Don't get cocky, dummy hero. I'm not giving this to you for free. You only get to keep it after you complete the quest and return.”
...Isn't that still giving it to me?
If I don't make it back, she can't get the sword back anyway. If I do, it's mine.
Bai Xiaodu chuckled.
What a tsundere.
He put away the greatsword and patiently looked at the yellowed quest sheet in his hand.
“Help Old Jack, the blacksmith at the east end of the village, collect five kilograms of silver crystal ore. Reward: EXP, gold coins, and an Elite-grade leather boot.”
The map location was marked on the sheet, labeled as a Lv.5 Slime Nest.
Heh, just level five trash.
Just then, a red-bearded dwarf nearby, who was chugging ale, bellowed drunkenly at him.
“Hey, kid from the west side of town! I watched you grow up from a bare-bottomed brat. To think I'm about to retire soon... When you get back, I'll forge you my masterpiece. I guarantee you'll love it!”
With that, the mage beside him covered her nose with her sleeve to block the smell of alcohol, glaring at the red-haired dwarf with disgust before offering Bai Xiaodu a gentle smile.
“Take these magic potions I brewed for you. Good luck, child. Make sure you return safely. Your younger siblings have been bragging to all the other kids about how amazing their big brother is.”
Bai Xiaodu was speechless.
Why are these people constantly raising death flags for me?
Bai Xiaodu stood up. Lingxin was already waiting outside the Adventurers Association.
She waved the quest sheet in her hand.
Since they had the same quest, they naturally chose to party up.
Along the way, Lingxin took the opportunity to explain.
“Slimes are a well-known type of gelatinous monster. They like to attack by hopping around. The stronger ones can possess elements and spit fire or water arrows from a distance.”
“They're pitifully weak and can be found everywhere.”
Bai Xiaodu shrugged.
For transcendents like them, that was indeed the case.
The hardest part of this quest would probably be finding and pulling the mobs.
Bai Xiaodu simply activated his Roaming Dragon Technique, pulling Lingxin along as they flew rapidly.
The Slime Nest.
What came into view was a vast expanse of dead leaves and withered branches, draped with various colors of gelatinous slime.
Sensing the decaying stench permeating the air, Bai Xiaodu frowned and stopped at the entrance of a massive earthen cave.
The entrance was about two meters high, with a tunnel extending inward.
Lingxin stepped forward, inspected it carefully, and nodded.
“This game is actually quite realistic. The cave structure is fully simulated. I've cleared a few of these before, and they almost all look like this.”
Then there should be no problem.
As soon as they stepped into the cave, a few small green slimes hopped toward them.
Their speed was laughably slow. Bai Xiaodu swung his sword.
Pop! Pop!
Like a bunch of green balloons, they all popped.
EXP +3
EXP +3
Feeling an extremely faint trace of energy flow into his body, Bai Xiaodu was somewhat surprised.
It seemed that leveling up in this Secret Realm could also increase his strength in reality.
...
After slashing for a while, Bai Xiaodu grew bored. He simply formed a spell rune again.
“Roaming Dragon Technique!”
Bluish-white wind blades swirled around him as he streaked through the air, leaving a trail of silver-white afterimages.
Boom!
He rampaged through the tunnel, directly crushing and popping every slime in his path.
“Missed that one in my blind spot.”
“Sorry, I thought that was a speed bump.”
Lingxin simply strolled behind him with elegant steps, occasionally waving her hand to fire a Fire Arrow to clean up any stragglers.
Their clearing speed was incredibly fast. Within just a few minutes, Bai Xiaodu had already dealt with the slightly stronger slime guards.
In truth, he had simply gathered them with the wind and obliterated them with a single Multi-Ray.
Clang!
A large golden treasure chest dropped, and alongside it appeared a gorgeous silver greatsword.
It was thrust straight into the ground, its blade shimmering with a sharp, brilliant light that was impossible to look away from.
Bai Xiaodu casually kicked the treasure chest aside, then summoned the system to scan the sword.
【Silver Hero's Sword】
【Quality: Blue】
【Type: Weapon】
【Description: The hero's sword capable of slaying the demon king in stories. Increases damage to undead, demonic, and evil creatures by 50%. Comes with Level 2 Sharpness and Level 2 Cutting effects.】
【Note: And you, my friend, you are the real hero.】
What's the deal?
Giving me a Blue-quality item right off the bat?
Naturally, Bai Xiaodu didn't reach for it. Instead, he took a cautious step back.
“Sister Lingxin, help me sense if there are any powerful monsters nearby.”
Though she didn't know why Bai Xiaodu asked, Lingxin quickly complied.
“There is no need.”
Bai Xiaodu instantly whipped his head toward the source of the voice, only to see two faint, eerie blue lights appear.
As he came to a halt, his pupils contracted.
It was none other than the blue-haired girl who had handed him the quest at the Adventurers Association!
She stared intently at Bai Xiaodu, a faint smile playing on her lips.
“You can see the Hero's Sword, can't you?”
However, before she could finish her sentence—
A six-colored dazzling ray roared forth, instantly swallowing her body!
Lingxin reacted with lightning speed as well. With a wave of her hand, six elemental arrows of different colors shot out in rapid succession.
Boom!
A massive explosion erupted in the depths of the cave, sending flames soaring into the air.
Keeping his left hand in a firing posture, Bai Xiaodu's right hand quickly drew Kalugar's sword.
Channeling a spell slot into it, he shouted:
“Help me, Mr. Kalugar!”
With a loud boom, a streak of armored light shot out from the blade, and Kalugar's massive figure blocked the path in front of Bai Xiaodu.
Wielding his two-handed greatsword, he charged forward with a roar.
Boom!
The blade swept through the air like a crescent moon, letting out a sharp, piercing howl.
The blue-haired girl, who had just emerged from the flames, was instantly sliced in half at the waist. Her body split in two and crashed heavily to the ground.
“As expected of the Silver Hero. You certainly have some tricks up your sleeve.”
With that, the blue-haired girl's body rapidly dissolved, expanding and churning amidst the flames.
The two halves of her body quickly fused back together, transforming into a colossal Slime King.
Kalugar slashed several more times, each strike dealing solid damage.
Yet, no matter how many wounds he inflicted, her jelly-like body would rapidly regenerate.
Bai Xiaodu and Lingxin's expressions finally turned grave.
This is going to be trouble.
And above her head, a bright red 'Lv. 100' popped up.
A question mark popped up above Bai Xiaodu's head.
Wait, so the level of the Slime Nest was just the average level?!
Seemingly satisfied with their expressions, the blue-haired girl—or rather, the slime—spoke in a muffled, bizarre voice.
“Hello. I am the Demon King.”
Bai Xiaodu rapidly thought of a counterstrategy, but then...
Ding!
The system's prompt rang out!
Bai Xiaodu couldn't help but widen his eyes as he stared at the round, plump blue ball that almost filled the entire cave.
Oh, my god.
Humans can't... at least, they shouldn't...
Rate on N.U.
