Healing to Kill

9:30 AM.

After battling in Black Mist Canyon for over half an hour, Jiang Chen's experience had increased by nearly 30%, reaching Level 9 at 35%.

Meanwhile, Tao Xiaoyao had also leveled up from Level 7 to Level 8.

"Boss, Sister Qing Ying said she's almost here," Tao Xiaoyao said just as Qing Ying, wielding a longsword and shield, hurried over and joined the team.

"Morning!" Qing Ying greeted.

"You're here early. We still have more than two hours until lunch," Jiang Chen remarked while farming mobs.

Uh...

Sensing the teasing in Jiang Chen's words, Qing Ying felt a bit embarrassed. "I didn't fall asleep until 3 AM last night. I checked the forums when I woke up this morning."

Seeing that Jiang Chen didn't respond, Tao Xiaoyao covered her mouth and giggled.

To ease the awkwardness, Qing Ying quickly added, "Did you know? Those top players who leveled up to 10 overnight are all stuck in the Ancient Mystic Realm."

"Ancient Mystic Realm?" Tao Xiaoyao's interest was piqued.

"Yeah, players can go to the main city after reaching Level 10, but someone has to clear the Ancient Mystic Realm first to unlock the path."

"So, all the top guilds and elite players rushed to Level 10 overnight, but they're all stuck there. The official forums are in an uproar," Qing Ying said with a hint of schadenfreude.

"The Ancient Mystic Realm is the gateway dungeon for the Level 10 main city," Jiang Chen added. He knew that players needed to clear the Ancient Mystic Realm to open the main city's gates.

In his previous life, the first clear of this "gateway dungeon" happened around midnight tonight.

In other words, it would take another 14 hours for Level 10 players to enter the main city.

"But this time, it'll be earlier," Jiang Chen muttered to himself as he quickly resumed farming mobs.

Qing Ying and Tao Xiaoyao didn't idle either. Their teamwork had improved significantly. Although it was tough to kill Level 10 mobs, they could at least help with aggro pulling.

Whenever a mob in front of Jiang Chen died, the two women would pull another one over to fill the gap, increasing their farming efficiency.

An hour and a half later, three armored zombies fell in front of Jiang Chen.

He finally leveled up!

Qing Ying and Tao Xiaoyao had also reached Level 9.

【Your level has increased to: Level 10!】

【Your four attributes +1 point, and you gain 4 free attribute points.】

After allocating his points, Jiang Chen's stats improved again.

Constitution: 19 (↑1)

Strength: 19 (↑1)

Agility: 19 (↑1)

Intelligence: 80 (↑5)

Spell Power: 230 (↑10)

Most importantly, he noticed changes in his skills!

Healing Spell used to be: 【Reduces the target's Health Points by 30 + (150% Spell Power).】

Now it was: 【Reduces the target's Health Points by 40 + (200% Spell Power)!】

Similarly, Healing Ray's effect: 【Reduces the target's Health Points by 150% Spell Power per second.】

Had become: 【Reduces the target's Health Points by 200% Spell Power per second!】

There was also a small line of text under the skills:

【Under the effect of Yin-Yang Reversal: Current skill strength increases by 100%, and after Level 20, skill strength increases by 150%!】

"Previously, it was a 50% increase. Now at Level 10, it's 100%, and it can increase even more later!"

Wow, this is incredible!

Jiang Chen was overjoyed.

With 230 Spell Power, a single Healing Spell could now deal 500 damage!

"How much experience do you have at Level 9?" Jiang Chen asked Qing Ying and Tao Xiaoyao.

Qing Ying: "Level 9, 15%."

Tao Xiaoyao: "Level 9, 21%."

"In about two hours, you should both reach Level 10."

Jiang Chen pondered for a moment and quickly said, "Let's pull some more mobs. Once we're all Level 10, we'll head to the Ancient Mystic Realm!"

With that, he walked towards the nearby mobs.

To the Ancient Mystic Realm?

Qing Ying and Tao Xiaoyao were stunned but quickly regained their composure.

Especially Qing Ying, who was both surprised and excited!

She eagerly ran off to help pull mobs.

"The boss's damage has increased a lot again!"

Watching Jiang Chen farm mobs, Tao Xiaoyao was amazed.

...

Just an hour and a half later, Qing Ying and Tao Xiaoyao both reached Level 10!

Jiang Chen checked his intimacy levels with the two women.

【Current intimacy with Qing Ying: 823/】

【Current intimacy with Tao Xiaoyao: 836/】

Jiang Chen had killed over 500 mobs!

These mobs had also dropped two pieces of Level 10 bronze equipment.

The drop rate was so low it could make anyone cry!

"Brother Mortal World, are we heading to the Ancient Mystic Realm now? I saw on the forums that the dungeon is just west of Black Mist Canyon," Qing Ying asked.

"It's not far, but we need to go back to the Village Chief to get the quest, or we can't enter the dungeon."

Jiang Chen thought for a moment and said, "You go get the quest. I'll make you the party leader. Once the leader gets the quest, all members can enter the dungeon."

Qing Ying pouted slightly and said softly, "Alright, I'll go."

Tao Xiaoyao: "I'll go with you."

"Only one person can go. The other needs to stay and keep leveling."

Jiang Chen shook his head.

If both went, Venus' Blessing would be lost.

As for who went, he didn't care.

Qing Ying then returned to the Beginner's Village to get the quest.

Jiang Chen continued leveling in Black Mist Canyon with Tao Xiaoyao.

Forty minutes later.

Qing Ying returned after getting the quest.

"It's already 1:30 PM. If anyone's hungry, they can go grab lunch first," Jiang Chen said after checking the time.

Both women shook their heads simultaneously.

They were too excited to eat.

"Alright, let's head to the Ancient Mystic Realm!"

"By the way, Brother Mortal World, the Village Chief said we need four people to open the Ancient Mystic Realm's gate," Qing Ying said. "Do we need to find another member?"

"No need."

Jiang Chen shook his head and walked straight towards the Ancient Mystic Realm.

"Okay."

Qing Ying didn't ask further and obediently followed with Tao Xiaoyao.

Meanwhile.

In a clearing in the forest west of Black Mist Canyon.

A gray-white vortex gate stood on the ground.

In front of this gate, which seemed to lead to another world, stood many players.

This was the entrance to the Ancient Mystic Realm.

Most of the players here were just spectating.

Of course, a small number of Level 10 players were here to attempt the dungeon.

However, they hesitated to enter the vortex gate.

Several teams had already perished inside.

"Our Beginner's Village doesn't have any top guild members. We'll have to wait for other villages to clear it."

"This dungeon has been blocking players for half a day. Does anyone know the progress of top guilds like 'Kingdom of Heaven,' 'Immortal Legend,' 'Royal Dynasty,' and 'Heavenly Court'?"

"Latest news, 'Royal Dynasty' guild's seventh team has been wiped out."

...

A group of players discussed.

Suddenly.

"Isn't that the pretty-boy Priest?"

A burly warrior spotted a figure approaching and narrowed his eyes.

The burly warrior's ID was "War Breaks the Sky."

Standing next to him were two others, "Stab Breaks the Sky" and "Heal Breaks the Sky."

They were the "Sky" brothers who had been instantly killed by Jiang Chen before.

The person they were looking at was Jiang Chen, who had just arrived.

"Is he here for the dungeon?" Heal Breaks the Sky asked, staring at Jiang Chen.

"Should we...?" Stab Breaks the Sky made a throat-slitting gesture.

"Don't!"

War Breaks the Sky exclaimed, pointing behind Jiang Chen. "Look behind him!"

"It's her!"

"The female knight!"

Heal Breaks the Sky and Stab Breaks the Sky froze, their faces turning pale.

They remembered the scene of being instantly killed yesterday and still felt a lingering fear.

Then.

Jiang Chen arrived at the vortex gate.

Almost everyone's eyes were on him.

When Qing Ying walked over, Jiang Chen nodded slightly and said, "Let's go in."

"Okay."

Qing Ying stepped into the vortex.

Jiang Chen and Tao Xiaoyao followed.

"What are they doing?"

"What's the point of three people going in?"

"Are they noobs?"

"Probably not. Have you seen any noobs reach Level 10 by now?"

"Who are these people? They're so bold."

The place buzzed with chatter.

"I'm telling you, that female knight is terrifying!" War Breaks the Sky's voice rang out.