Mu Lan sighed inwardly as he thought about the archer's greatest early-game problem: arrow scarcity.
New archers started with only 100 arrows in their quiver. Buying more in town was prohibitively expensive—1,000 arrows cost 10 copper coins, an absurd price for beginners. Most players ran out within hours and were forced to grind endlessly just to afford basic ammo.
But Mu Lan already had a solution:
After finishing training, I'll craft a quiver that generates arrows endlessly.
Ignoring the crowd around him, he walked straight to the nearest trainer. The plaza buzzed with activity—dozens of NPCs stood ready to teach everything from basic combat to monster-hunting tactics. Each trainer offered a unique challenge, and each completed trial granted +1 bonus stat point.
Every starting city had 10 beginner trainers. Advanced masters resided only in major capitals—and rumors spoke of hidden trainers scattered across the world, their locations known only to legends.
Mu Lan didn't care about myths right now. He cared about every single point of power he could gain.
He approached the first trainer and spoke respectfully. In Defying the God, NPCs weren't mindless scripts—they were powered by AI nearly indistinguishable from human intelligence. Trying to deceive them was pointless; players who attempted it earned "negative reputation," causing NPCs to treat them with cold disdain on future visits.
So Mu Lan played it straight.
The trainer, a stern woman named Lei Lei, eyed him critically.
"So… you've come for my training? Don't expect it to be easy. But if you succeed, I won't withhold your reward."
A quest window popped up before him:
[Training Quest: Lei Lei's Trial]
Using the bow and arrows provided by Trainer Lei Lei, strike the training dummy continuously for 1 full hour.
Most players grow bored and leave to hunt monsters—but Lei Lei wants to see your perseverance with her own eyes. Prove your resolve, and earn your reward.
[Reward]
+1 Stat Point
Without hesitation, Mu Lan grabbed the bow and arrows and headed to the practice yard. A handful of other players were also hammering dummies—but the vast majority had already rushed out of town to hunt monsters for XP.
To them, 1 stat point wasn't worth an hour of monotony.
But Mu Lan knew better. In a game this brutal, every point mattered. And more than that—this was a test of will. He would pass it.
This was his first time playing an Archer. In his past life, he'd been an Assassin—but after witnessing archers in action, he'd often wondered: Why didn't I choose this class? Their grace, precision, and battlefield dominance had always impressed him. This life, he wouldn't make the same mistake.
He nocked an arrow. The moment he drew the bowstring, a new arrow materialized in his quiver—a standard beginner feature. He aimed at the dummy and released.
Thwack!
–2
Only 2 damage. His archery skill was still Novice-level, just like any new player. But while his bow hand was untrained, his instincts—honed from years as an Assassin—were razor-sharp. No one alive could match his dagger mastery… but archery? That would take work.
He kept shooting.
10 minutes…
20 minutes…
40 minutes…
60 minutes…
Ding!
[Quest Completed! +1 Stat Point Awarded.]
Mu Lan immediately allocated the point into Agility—bringing him to 12 total. Faster movement. Better evasion. Higher critical chance. Perfect for a glass-cannon archer backed by an unbreakable tank.
He moved on to the next trainer.
The second instructor, a wiry man named Zuo Yarsen, smirked when he saw Mu Lan.
"Ho ho! So you passed Lei Lei's test? Good. But my trial is far harder. Let's see if your resolve holds."
[Training Quest: Zuo Yarsen's Trial]
Hit 100 moving targets within 1 hour. The targets will accelerate over time.
[Reward]
+1 Stat Point
Mu Lan actually smiled. After an hour of static dummy practice, this was a welcome change. He was already more comfortable with the bow—and this drill would sharpen his aim against real combat scenarios.
He rushed to the range. The "monsters" here weren't real—they were wooden rabbit dummies, animated by AI to hop erratically like live prey. No HP, no drops—just pure target practice.
He drew, aimed, and fired.
Thwack!
[Quest Progress: 1/100 | Time Remaining: 59:40]
20 seconds for the first hit.
Then the second.
Then the third.
His rhythm improved with every shot. By the 30-minute mark, he'd already hit all 100 targets.
Ding!
[Quest Completed! +1 Stat Point Awarded.]
He dumped the point into Agility again—now at 13.
One by one, Mu Lan completed all 10 beginner trainer quests. Each was harder than the last—testing endurance, precision, reflexes, and tactical awareness. But thanks to his past-life experience and ironclad discipline, he finished them all in record time.
His rewards?
+10 Stat Points (all into Agility → Agility: 21)1 Fame PointA City Teleport Ticket (one-time free teleport to any starting city)
Fame Points were rare—usually earned through world events or heroic deeds. Gaining one this early gave him priority access to city services, exclusive vendors, and reputation bonuses. Most players wouldn't see their first Fame Point for weeks.
Mu Lan was already miles ahead.
He opened his whisper menu and messaged Beng Zeng:
"Beng, how's your training going? Done yet?"
Beng replied almost instantly:
"Mu, these quests keep getting harder. I'll probably need 3–4 more hours. What about you? Finished?"
"Yeah. I'm wrapping up some city tasks while I wait. When you arrive, we'll start leveling together. Oh—and I've got a special gift for you."
"Hurry up and finish. I'll be ready."
"Got it," Beng replied, then returned to his trials.
Mu Lan turned his attention to his next goal:
Crafting an infinite-arrow quiver.
With no money for ammo, this wasn't just convenient—it was essential. And thanks to his future knowledge, he knew exactly where to find the recipe… and how to make it before anyone else even knew it existed.
The game had only just begun.
But Mu Lan was already building his legend.