Naga Fissure, located northwest of Tattens Hills.
Jiang Chen followed the map toward the Naga Fissure. Along the way, he encountered many Heroes heading in the same direction, as well as some students still in their novice period who were leveling up nearby. They cooperated to kill Demonic Beings, sharing the experience.
Jiang Chen didn't stop for a moment, still wearing simple gear. Equipment of Bronze grade or higher displayed a colored aura; Bronze grade equipment was red. Black Iron grade equipment was orange. Silver-grade equipment was also red. These colors followed the order of the rainbow: red, orange, red, green, cyan, blue, and purple. As for Mythical grade, it emitted a seven-colored light.
Jiang Chen had concealed the color emitted by his Black Iron grade equipment. To outsiders, it appeared as plain white gear, indistinguishable from ordinary items. It was inevitable he'd encounter people with malicious intent. If they saw someone clad in orange gear, they might try to rob them. So, Jiang Chen simply concealed his equipment's color, making it appear as plain white gear to outsiders.
A rift appeared ahead.
Jiang Chen followed the other Heroes into it and witnessed a new world, completely unlike the one before. It was a dark world. A red moon hung in the sky, looking particularly sinister, and the entire landscape was gray.
There was also a small town within the Naga Fissure, named Naga Town.
Like Tattens Hills Village, the entire town was built from bluestone. It bustled with people and was no smaller than Tattens Hills Village.
Moreover, all the Heroes here were Level 20 or higher. There were no novices to be found.
In this area, the monsters were also Level 20 or higher, with significantly more HP than those around Tattens Hills Village—at least 10,000 HP to start. Such Demonic Beings could slay a novice student in a single blow.
"Looking for a Level 20 Priest, we're about to set off!"
"Need a Level 30 Magician, a Fire attribute Mage would be best!"
"Looking for a Tank Class—warriors or Knights are fine, Level 20 and above. Swordsmen, get lost!.."
Jiang Chen touched his nose. This guy... does he have some misunderstanding about Swordsmen?
Swordsmen weren't like Knights or warriors. Warriors and Knights could wield a weapon in their right hand and a Shield in their left, allowing them to block attacks. Swordsmen couldn't equip Shields; even if they somehow did, they wouldn't gain any Shield-related attributes. There was even a joke about a Swordsman carrying a Shield...
Jiang Chen walked through the main street.
"Friend, looking to team up?" A warrior blocked Jiang Chen's path.
Jiang Chen shook his head. "No need."
"Our team has a powerful Priest, a Light-series Priest, who can boost combat power by 10%! You're guaranteed not to lose out if you team up with us. Plus, she's very beautiful."
Jiang Chen glanced at the Priest. She smiled back at him and even gave him a flirtatious wink. He had to admit, the Priest was indeed quite beautiful.
Jiang Chen shook his head again. "No need. I prefer to work alone."
"Alright then, we won't bother you."
Jiang Chen ignored them and headed alone to the outskirts of Naga Town, searching for a secluded place to begin his day's hunt. He kept walking, heading in a direction where few people trod.
Jiang Chen stopped and turned to look at several figures. So, they were targeting me, he thought with a cold, inward laugh. The ones after him were the same people who had asked him to team up back in Naga Town. Clearly, he had been marked as prey the moment he entered the Naga Fissure.
Jiang Chen asked, "Gentlemen, why are you following me?"
"Kid, what makes you say we're following you?"
"It's a public road; people go where they please. We just happen to be heading in the same direction. It's a coincidence, that's all."
"Just a coincidence, friend. No need to be nervous."
Jiang Chen smiled to himself. A coincidence? Was it really just a coincidence?
When Jiang Chen first entered Naga Town, someone had asked him to team up. That was normal; teaming up offered more security and efficiency. The problem was, the team leader hadn't even asked for his class. That was suspicious. Teaming up was all about synergistic cooperation to gain experience. How could you form a team without knowing your prospective teammate's class? It was clearly a trap.
Jiang Chen hadn't pieced it all together earlier. But after leaving Naga Town and realizing he was being followed, he understood he'd been targeted from the start.
But why would they target me? Jiang Chen wondered. I'm alone, dressed in plain gear, and clearly don't look wealthy.
The group's leader approached, smiling as he addressed Jiang Chen, "My good sir, this is all a misunderstanding. We just wanted to team up with you, nothing more."
Jiang Chen's nerves tensed. Drawing his Blood Sword, he warned, "Take one more step, and I won't be so polite."
Jiang Chen could tell from the leader's gear—a great sword in his right hand, a Shield in his left, and full armor—that he was a Melee Class, either a warrior or a Knight.
Still smiling, the leader said, "My name is Li Chengyun. And we... attack!"
WHOOSH!
An arrow shot out from behind the leader, aimed at Jiang Chen. The Archer had made their move.
Jiang Chen swiftly dodged the arrow and activated his Magic Shield State.
"How does he have a Magic Shield? Is he a Mage?"
"Even if he's a Mage, there's nothing to fear! His equipment is clearly a set and must be very valuable."
"Priest, buff our attack and defense! Let's kill this guy together!"
The Priest began a short chant. Several beams of light struck her companions, and they instantly glowed with power.
Two warriors charged at Jiang Chen. Seeing them approach, Jiang Chen casually swung his sword.
CRACK!
A wave of Sword Qi cleaved the leader in two. Guts spilled onto the ground, blood splattered everywhere, and the warrior next to him froze, completely stunned.
How could this happen? Who is this guy? Could he be a First-Stage Class? Impossible! He's so young, like a fresh graduate. How could he possibly be a First-Stage Class?
The others were equally stunned. What kind of Skill is that? Mages have Magic Shields, but why does he have Sword Qi? If he's not a Mage, why does he have a Magic Shield?
Jiang Chen struck again. Another warrior was sliced in half, guts spilling onto the ground. The remaining two—the Archer and the Priest—were dumbfounded.
The Archer nocked an arrow, aiming at Jiang Chen.
Since they had attacked first, Jiang Chen wouldn't hold back. He charged directly at the Archer, his right hand flashing out with his sword aimed to kill.
Another wave of Sword Qi... CRACK!
The Archer was killed instantly.
The Priest, terrified, had fallen to the ground. She stared at Jiang Chen in horror. "What... what class are you?"
The Priest had seen Mages and Swordsmen before, but Jiang Chen was like neither. He was something far beyond her understanding.
Jiang Chen raised his Blood Sword.
The Priest scrambled to her knees, begging, "Please don't kill me! I was forced to do this! I'll do anything you ask, I swear! I won't resist!"
Jiang Chen said coldly, "Get up. I don't kill women."
The Priest was overjoyed. "Thank you! They forced me, really! They would have killed me if I hadn't gone along with it!"
"You can go."
Clutching her staff, the Priest turned and fled, thinking to herself, This kid is so gullible...
Just as that thought crossed her mind, her body split in two, and she collapsed, dead.
Jiang Chen sighed. "I did say I don't kill women. But you're a Priest, and in my book, that doesn't quite count. A pity such a beautiful woman had to die like this."
Jiang Chen surveyed their dropped equipment. He collected it all into his Storage Space. He kept the good pieces and tossed the bad ones aside.
CLAP. CLAP. CLAP.
A round of applause suddenly rang out.
Jiang Chen's eyebrows furrowed.