65: Gain experience

The smooth completion of the first main quest, along with the sense of exhilaration and generous rewards from teamwork, greatly boosted the five players' morale. That one free attribute point was like sweet rain nourishing their bodies, making their core more solid and refining their control over their abilities.

However, before they could savor the joy of growth, the 24-hour cooldown of the [Return to City] skill had just ended when the system notification rang out heartlessly once more—

[Main Quest (Chapter One, Abyss): Clear the Abyssal Forces in Linshui City (II)]

[Quest Description: After your first encounter with the tracker, you should have felt the corruption and threat of the Abyssal power firsthand. The Superpower Association on the side of order has also noticed its existence. Strike while it is still unstable, keep it exhausted and on the run, leaving it no time to carry out deeper conspiracies. Remember, only continuous battle is the shortcut to becoming powerful.]

[Quest Requirement: Find and engage the B-rank Abyssal Kin "Blood Shadow Tracker" again; the battle must last over 5 minutes and you must successfully retreat.]

[Quest Reward: free attribute point x1, system silver coin x1.]

[Failure Penalty: None.]

[Note: Tactical repetition, but effective.]

Far away on his balcony, leisurely sunbathing, Lu Guangming felt the belief fluctuations in the [belief furnace] slowly gathering again due to the release of the new quest, and he narrowed his eyes comfortably.

He was like a master chess player, and the players were the most potential-filled pieces on his board, constantly being pushed to their limits to squeeze out the maximum value.

"Good efficiency," he calculated in his mind. "Five people completing the quest means the system spends 5 points of source energy as rewards, but the belief generated from their battles and growth, combined with the progress toward the macro goal of 'clearing the abyss,' yields a net profit of 10 points. Hmm, this is a profitable deal."

On the other side, the players, who had just finished resting, felt complicated as they looked at the newly refreshed quest, which was almost identical in content.

"Again?" Liao Jianfeng (Charging City) clenched his fists. Although his fighting spirit was high, he felt the system was a bit... inhumane.

"It seems the system intends for us to 'squeeze dry' the value of this B-rank Kin," Lu Qinghe (Star Pupil) sent via the regional channel chat. This was a new feature from when the system updated the party function; although it cost 1 copper coin per message, his tone was calm and devoid of ripples.

"It's cruel, but realistic. This is indeed the most suitable whetstone we can find right now."

"Then... let's fight again!" Zhang Deming (Bedrock) said deeply to himself, his eyes as firm as ever. Protection was never just empty words, but he didn't use the regional chat, unwilling to spend 1 copper coin.

Guan Xin (Dark Blade) didn't speak, silently checking his pliers and the state of [Deep Stealth].

Feng Chengcheng (Spirit Wind) took a deep breath and sent: "I will provide the best support for everyone."

It was still that same abandoned factory area; or rather, the Blood Shadow Tracker seemed to have made this place its temporary nest.

When the five players wearing Shielding Masks appeared again, the Blood Shadow Tracker's body, composed of blood, fluctuated noticeably, transmitting intense anger and... a trace of hard-to-detect frustration.

It remembered these damn rats! Last time it was them; they hit and ran, and used a strange method to interfere with its tracking!

Without any nonsense, the battle erupted again.

With the previous experience, the players' coordination became more proficient. Zhang Deming's shield timing was more precise, Feng Chengcheng's buffs always landed on the most critical person, and Liao Jianfeng's charges were no longer blind but had a clear purpose—to break the opponent's attack rhythm or block its positioning.

Guan Xin's harassment became even more elusive, while Lu Qinghe's command was like the most precise navigation, always providing the optimal solution at critical moments.

As soon as five minutes were up, without giving the Blood Shadow Tracker any chance to entangle them, the team immediately followed another retreat route pre-set by Lu Qinghe, vanishing under the cover of [Energy Interference].

[Ding! Main Quest (Chapter One, Abyss) - Clear the Abyssal Forces in Linshui City (II) Completed!]

[Rewards have been distributed.]

The Blood Shadow Tracker roared impotently at the empty ruins, its crimson blood body churning violently, corroding the surrounding rubble with a sizzling sound.

However, the nightmare had only just begun.

Over the next three days, whenever the [Return to City] skill finished its cooldown, these five persistent players would appear on time, using the exact same tactics: engage for five minutes, then decisively retreat.

They were like the most patient hunters, and also like the most annoying sticky candy, using the exact same strategy to torment this poor B-rank Kin over and over again.

On the first day, the Blood Shadow Tracker was angry.

On the second day, it felt exhausted and irritable, and its energy recovery speed seemed to slow down.

By the third day, when it felt those familiar energy fluctuations with shielding effects approaching again, it almost broke down. A deep sense of powerlessness and the humiliation of being toyed with replaced its initial rage. It even began to subconsciously avoid them, unwilling to clash again with these "rats" who couldn't be killed, couldn't be shaken off, and grew stronger with every fight.

But it had no choice. Guided by the system quest, the players could always accurately find its hiding place.

Three runs! Three whole rounds of frustrating battle!

These three days of high-intensity (referring specifically to mental torture) confrontation brought immense gains. The accumulation of [free attribute point] from five main quests (including the first one), combined with the insights and coordination gained during battle, finally produced a qualitative change.

[Ding! Season Quest (II) Completed!]

[Settling rewards...]

[free attribute point +3! Skill Upgrade Scroll (Basic) x1! system silver coin x1!]

Almost simultaneously, four energy fluctuations of varying strengths but fundamentally different natures rose from the five players!

Zhang Deming felt his Physique and Willpower become more integrated, and the duration and damage absorption of [Life Shield] were significantly improved.

Guan Xin's figure became even more blurred in the shadows, [Deep Stealth] had fewer flaws, and its duration was longer.

Feng Chengcheng's perception and control of energy became more refined, and the effect and duration of [Almighty Boost] were also enhanced.

Liao Jianfeng's muscular strength and control reached a new level, and the activation speed and Impact of [Bull Charge] were incomparable to before.

As for Lu Qinghe, his Spirit Sensing attribute, as high as 18 points, made him feel as if he had a small energy radar centered on himself, and the range and effect of [Energy Interference] were also greatly enhanced.

All five of them, through these three days of what could be called "hellish training" loop quests, had all stepped across the threshold to become C-rank Ability Users!

In the team channel, after a brief silence, there was uncontrollable excitement.

"We... seem to have become much stronger!" Feng Chengcheng felt the power surging within her, her tone filled with pleasant surprise.

"Nonsense, after being used like pack animals, it would be against heaven's law if we didn't level up." Liao Jianfeng complained, but his eagerness could not be hidden.

"C-rank... finally, there's a real possibility of protecting." Zhang Deming clenched his fist, feeling that heavy power.

Guan Xin was concise: "We can try a direct hunt now."

Lu Qinghe pushed his non-existent glasses (blocked by the mask), his calm voice interrupting everyone's excitement: "Everyone, the system has issued a new quest."

Everyone's hearts tightened as they looked at the system interface.

[——Main Quest Chapter One (Abyss): Clear the Abyssal Forces in Linshui City (Final)——]

[Quest Description: Continuous harassment has left the target physically and mentally exhausted, and consumed by rage. Its vigilance has dropped to its lowest point, while your blades have been sharpened. Tonight, there is no need to retreat; end this hunt! Uproot this tumor for Linshui City!]

[Quest Requirement: Completely eliminate the B-rank Abyssal Kin "Blood Shadow Tracker."]

[Quest Reward: free attribute point x2, system silver coin x2, Random Basic Skill Upgrade Scroll x1.]

[Failure Penalty: None (but if failed, the target will go into complete hiding, and all previous efforts will be wasted).]

The final quest!

The five spirits were lifted, and a sharp light burst from their eyes simultaneously. The previous frustration and fatigue turned into boiling battle intent at this moment.

C-rank against B-rank, theoretically there was still a gap.

But there were five of them! They were a team that had gone through multiple rounds of coordination, possessing system skills and perfect communication!

"Everyone," Lu Qinghe (Star Pupil) posted in the regional chat, sending words directly without blinking despite the cost, his tone carrying a hint of killing intent, "Tonight, let's hunt to our hearts' content!"

Under the cover of night, the five newly promoted C-rank players, like five arrows released from a bow, shot toward the abandoned factory area once more. And this time, their goal was no longer to entangle, but to—hunt!

Far away, Lu Guangming felt the belief energy brought by the players' breakthroughs, far more majestic than before, as well as their unwavering determination to hunt, and he nodded with satisfaction.

[source energy: 68/100]

"The leeks... oh no, the players have grown. It's time to look forward to a wave of harvest." He whispered to himself, his gaze seemingly piercing through space, landing on the imminent, decisive battle.