15: Chapter 15 His close-combat attacks were like a high-speed train speeding by.

Zhao Feng's face instantly turned the color of pig liver, his breathing as heavy as a bellows. He had been a local tyrant in Dongjiang City for so many years, always the one throwing money at people. Today, he was actually humiliated by a 'nobody' in such a nouveau riche fashion?

It was like driving a Ferrari to show off on the streets, only for a Wuling Hongguang next to you to suddenly take flight—and at supersonic speeds, no less.

"You..." Shamed into rage, a cold light flashed in Zhao Feng's hand as a poisoned dagger slid into his palm, killing intent surging instantly.

*Cough.*

An aged cough struck Zhao Feng's heart like a heavy hammer.

From the shadows in the corner, two terrifying auras instantly locked onto him. Those were the Black Market's hidden sentries, experts of at least Level 30. Killing a rich second-generation brat like him was as easy as slaughtering a chicken.

"Young Master Zhao," Old Hei hummed without looking up as he happily packed away the pile of skill books, "This shop is a small business. If you want to act wild, turn left at the door. If you break something, the Mad Lion Guild might be able to afford the compensation, but your life might not be enough to pay for it."

A chill ran down Zhao Feng's spine, and he forced himself to put the dagger away.

This was the underground Black Market, a lawless zone where even the military didn't dare set foot lightly. He couldn't afford to offend the faction behind this old man.

"Good, very good."

Zhao Feng stared fixedly at the black-robed figure wearing the ridiculous smiley-face mask, his eyes as poisonous as a snake's. "Got money, do you? I hope you live long enough to spend it."

With a violent wave of his hand, he turned and left with his two bodyguards. Before stepping out, he made an undisguised throat-slitting gesture toward the bodyguards beside him.

Jiang Feng watched this scene through his mask, his heart completely unperturbed—he even felt a little like laughing.

He had seen this classic 'don't leave after school' trope hundreds of times in novels; he hadn't expected it would be his turn to be the protagonist today.

"Boss, here are your goods. Want to check them?" Old Hei pushed a large bag of skill books over, his wrinkled old face smiling like a blooming chrysanthemum. "Little brother, that was a grand gesture. This ring will be a freebie for you to play with."

Old Hei fished out a dusty iron ring from a junk box under the counter.

It was just a low-level Strength Ring, Strength +2. Even a dog wouldn't bother picking it up if it were thrown in the street.

Jiang Feng didn't look down on it; even mosquito legs are meat. He reached out to take it.

The moment his fingertips touched the ring...

[Unsealing the ring's seal...]

[Detected host's extremely high Luck (2725 points). Triggering 'Touch of Midas' mechanism!]

*Hum!*

A brilliant golden light flashed in the depths of Jiang Feng's eyes, visible only to him.

The grime on the surface of the originally rust-covered iron ring instantly peeled away, revealing a deep, dark-gold material beneath that looked like the starry sky.

[Obtained Equipment: ring of starfall (Unique · Growth Type)]

[Quality: Dark Gold]

[Attributes: All Attributes +10%]

[Special Effect: Lucky Strike (1% chance to deal 10x Critical Damage when attacking)]

...

Jiang Feng's eyes behind the mask snapped wide open.

All Attributes +10%?

What did that mean? As his level increased and his base attributes grew higher, this ring would become more and more insane.

And it even had 10x Critical Damage?

This wasn't a freebie; this was clearly the foundation of a divine artifact!

He wondered if it could stack with his own Luck attribute. If it could, it would probably be even more powerful than a divine artifact.

If Old Hei knew he had casually given away the equivalent of a luxury villa... no, half of Dongjiang City, he would probably find a data cable and hang himself at the door on the spot.

"Thanks."

Jiang Feng put the ring on. Feeling all his attributes surge once more, he was in a great mood.

He swept the pile of priceless skill books into his backpack and turned to leave.

...

Currently, 1:00 AM, deep in a dark alley.

This was a blind spot for surveillance. Sewage flowed across the ground, emitting a rotten stench. It was indeed a good place for murder and robbery.

Jiang Feng had only walked a hundred meters when his footsteps paused. The alleyway ahead and behind had been blocked off.

"Run. Why aren't you running anymore?"

Zhao Feng stepped out from the shadows, playing with the blue-glowing dagger in his hand. A cruel, cat-and-mouse smile hung on his face. "Kid, weren't you acting all tough in the shop? Throwing a million at me? Once I slaughter you, that money will be enough for me to buy a full set of top-tier Red equipment. This trip is a huge profit."

Two bodyguards stood one in front and one behind—one was a Shield Warrior (Lv16) holding a giant shield, and the other was a Berserker (Lv15) wielding dual blades.

Against this lineup, any ordinary Mage would be meat on a chopping block.

"Take off the mask, kneel down and kowtow three times, then hand over your backpack." Zhao Feng licked his lips, his eyes greedy. "I might consider only breaking your legs and leaving you alive to beg for food."

Jiang Feng stood in place, neither moving nor speaking.

What was he doing?

He was allocating skill points.

[Learned: Savage Charge Lv1]

[Learned: Repulse Fire Ring Lv1]

[Learned: Heavy Armor Mastery Lv1]

...

As the large number of skill books turned into points of light and vanished, Jiang Feng felt a tyrannical power fill his entire body. It was an impulse to crush every obstacle in front of him.

"Scared witless?"

The Berserker bodyguard behind him sneered, his eyes disdainful. "Young Master, don't waste words with him. The longer we wait, the more things can go wrong. I'll take care of him!"

Before his voice even faded, the Berserker kicked off the ground, charging at Jiang Feng's back like a cannonball.

A Mage? Once you got close, they were just thin paper that could be pierced with a single poke!

However.

The black-robed man they saw as a lamb for the slaughter suddenly moved.

He didn't chant an incantation, nor did he move back to kite them.

Jiang Feng spun around violently. He gripped the expensive crimson flame magic staff in both hands across his chest, holding it like a common fire poker.

The next second.

*Boom!*

The concrete ground beneath Jiang Feng's feet instantly shattered, spiderweb-like cracks spreading wildly in all directions.

Skill activated—Savage Charge!

With 310 base Strength, plus 925 Intelligence, plus 560 Constitution, multiplied by the 5% All Attribute bonus (Title) and the 10% All Attribute bonus (ring of starfall), and the True Damage converted by the hidden class Ancient War Titan...

Jiang Feng transformed into a black afterimage. Instead of retreating, he advanced, charging head-on into the Berserker!

Was this the legendary... egg hitting a stone? No, this was meeting violence with even greater violence!

"Seeking death!" A hint of contempt flashed in the Berserker's eyes. A Mage dared to charge a Berserker? He must be tired of living!

The two figures collided violently in the narrow alley.

The expected scene of the Mage being sent flying did not occur.

There was only a tooth-aching, muffled thud, like a watermelon bursting.

*Crack—!*

"AAAHHH!!!"

The Berserker's scream was cut short almost as soon as it began.

The moment they made contact, he felt as if he had run into a high-speed train. The dual blades in his hands snapped instantly, and he was sent flying backward at twice the speed he had come, smashing hard into the alley wall.

*Rumble!*

The wall collapsed, and dust filled the air.

That Level 15 Berserker was embedded in the wall, his chest caved in significantly. Blood sprayed from his mouth and nose, and he was clearly drawing more breaths out than in.

"Wh... What?!"

Zhao Feng, who had been waiting for a good show, had his smile freeze on his face, his eyes nearly popping out of his head.