I heard she's very radiant!

Chen Ming looked at the potion in his hand, his eyes lighting up.

Although the [Toxin Amplification Potion] was only silver grade, its effect was even more useful to him than many gold or even Platinum-grade potions.

Thinking of this, Chen Ming decisively activated his talent to enhance it.

[Ding! You have activated your Forbidden Talent on the target [Toxin Amplification Potion], obtaining a Tier 2 enhancement.]

[Congratulations, you have obtained the item: Toxin Frenzy Potion (Platinum-grade).]

[Ding! You have activated your Forbidden Talent on the target [Toxin Amplification Potion], successfully adding a purple Enchantment affix: Buff Conversion.]

[Toxin Frenzy Potion]

[Quality: Platinum-grade.]

[Effect: After consumption, all toxin damage you deal to enemies is increased by 20%, and the duration is extended by 300%.]

[Potion duration: 25 minutes.]

[Additional affix: Buff Conversion (Purple): After consumption, the potion's effect is converted into a permanent buff.]

[Description: The toxins are starting to become frenzied.]

...

The original [Toxin Frenzy Potion] had a duration of 25 minutes.

However, with the affix bonus, once consumed, it could be directly converted into a permanent buff.

This was a perfect match for the [Source of All Evil].

A smile played on Chen Ming's lips as he decisively opened the potion and drank it in one gulp.

It tasted slightly sweet with a faint fishy smell.

[Ding! You have consumed the [Toxin Frenzy Potion]. Congratulations, you have obtained a permanent buff—Toxin Frenzy.]

[Toxin Frenzy Buff: All your toxin damage +20%, duration extended by 300%.]

"Sweet!"

With this buff's bonus, the damage from the fully stacked Source of All Evil increased directly to 99,264 points, and its duration increased from 10 seconds to 30 seconds.

After putting all the items into his backpack, Chen Ming walked quickly to the large crimson tree and spoke to Ed, who was up above.

"The venomous snakes have all been dealt with. You can come down now."

Ed poked his head out, and after confirming there wasn't a single trace of a snake below, he slowly climbed down from the tree.

"Young man, if it weren't for you, I don't know how much longer I would have been trapped by those damned snakes."

"I really can't thank you enough."

Ed waved to Chen Ming and turned to walk toward the exit.

Chen Ming took a step ahead and blocked the only exit.

"Old man, what about the promised reward?"

"I worked hard to save your life; you aren't trying to cheat me, are you?"

As he spoke, Chen Ming pulled out an arrow, nocked it, and aimed straight at Ed.

"Hahaha, sorry about that, little brother, I forgot." Ed paused, then laughed heartily, though he looked a bit embarrassed.

After saying that, he fumbled around in his robes before handing a black ring to Chen Ming with a pained expression.

"Little brother, this is a family heirloom left to me by my grandfather. It's the most precious thing I have."

Chen Ming glanced at the ring.

It was a common-grade ring with zero durability, the kind that no one would even bother picking up if it were lying on the ground.

Chen Ming wasn't angry either; he casually put the ring into his backpack.

Seeing this, Ed's face lit up with joy, and he immediately prepared to leave.

But just then, Chen Ming's voice drifted from behind him.

"Lord Ed, if I remember correctly, you should have a granddaughter. I heard she's... very juicy!"

Ed stopped in his tracks and whipped his head around to look at Chen Ming. "You've investigated me..."

"Who exactly are you? What is your goal?"

"Who I am isn't important!" Chen Ming smiled faintly. To deal with someone like Ed, one had to use different methods. "I only want the reward that belongs to me."

"For example... that [second profession book] in your hands."

Panic clearly flashed in Ed's eyes. "What [second profession book]? I don't know what you're talking about."

He did indeed have a [second profession book], which he had accidentally obtained in this Dark Valley.

What puzzled him was how this kid knew about it.

"Since you don't understand, then forget it. I'll just go find your granddaughter. I'll bring her some lollipops... or take her to see some little goldfish."

A wicked smile curled at the corners of Chen Ming's mouth.

"You beast! My granddaughter is still a minor!" Ed was furious.

"That's why I said she's very... juicy."

Chen Ming's words were like a sharp knife stabbing into Old Ed's heart; he was a notorious granddaughter-doter.

"You bastard!" Old Ed glared at Chen Ming, his expression contorted. Finally, he said resentfully, "Kid, you win. This thing is yours."

Old Ed pulled a yellowed book from his robes.

[second profession book]

[Quality: Epic-grade.]

[Effect: After use, a second profession can be unlocked.]

[Description: A book containing mysterious power.]

...

"Kid, I can give this to you."

"However, you must agree to help me with one more thing."

"If you can help me complete it, not only will this book be yours, but I also have an extremely rare potion recipe that I can give to you as well."

Old Ed stared at Chen Ming and suddenly spoke.

As his voice fell, a prompt popped up in front of Chen Ming.

[Ding! You have triggered the quest: Old Aides Request.]

[Old Aides Request]

[Quest Details: Old Ed's granddaughter is suffering from an illness and needs the venom sac and heart of a Dark Mutated Three-Headed Serpent to craft a medicine.]

[Help Old Ed kill the Dark Mutated Three-Headed Serpent (Level 35 silver grade boss), take its venom sac, and deliver it to Old Ed.]

[Quest Reward: Experience Points +50,000, second profession book.]

[Failure Penalty: Old Ed's Favorability -50 points.]

[Time Limit: 12 hours.]

...

Looking at the prompt, Chen Ming was a bit surprised; he hadn't expected such an unexpected windfall.

"Sure, I agree!"

Chen Ming nodded immediately.

"Are you sure you can kill the Dark Mutated Three-Headed Serpent?" Old Ed hadn't expected Chen Ming to be so decisive.

"Of course." Chen Ming nodded.

"Fine, I'll take you there now." Old Ed took a deep breath and led Chen Ming out of the valley.

Half an hour later,

The two arrived outside a cave.

"The beast is inside."

Old Ed said, pointing at the cave.

Chen Ming didn't waste any words. He summoned both the Ice Emperor Wolf King and the Undead Lord and strode quickly into the cave.

However, to his surprise, as soon as he entered the cave, he heard a clamor of voices.

"Dammit!!"

"The boss has entered a Berserk state."

"It's over, retreat quickly."

Immediately after, a series of hurried footsteps rang out.

Chen Ming looked up and saw a group of people running toward him.

The leader was none other than the Dwarf he had refused to let join his party earlier.

At that moment, the Dwarf also noticed Chen Ming and hurriedly shouted, "Kid, run! The boss inside has evolved."

Seeing him standing there in a daze, the Dwarf Warrior gritted his teeth and grabbed Chen Ming's hand, intending to drag him away by force.

But once he grabbed him, he found that he couldn't budge Chen Ming no matter what.

Dwarf Warrior: ???

Wait, I'm a Level 40 warrior-class player, yet I can't move a little Ranger who just entered the main city?

Does this make sense?

While he was dazed, Chen Ming easily pulled his hand back and asked nonchalantly, "You guys don't want this boss anymore, right?"