10: The Story of Grandma Liu and the Blacksmith

[Item]: Refined Steel Saber

[Level]: Level 5

[Quality]: Grade F (Common)

[Special Effect]: 1. Blade hardness increased by 20%

[Description]: A standard-issue weapon crafted by an ordinary blacksmith.

The Refined Steel Saber's level wasn't high, but it was a huge help to Lin Du at the moment.

The short sword Lin Du had used before wasn't even graded. Although the Refined Steel Saber dropped by the Ghost Face Centipede was only a Grade F weapon, its sharpness and hardness were more than ten times that of the short sword.

After this significant upgrade, Lin Du's speed in killing Ghost Face Centipedes increased drastically.

"Rapid Triple Strike!"

"Clown Slash!!"

Lin Du brandished the Refined Steel Saber, using his newly acquired class skills to hack at the Ghost Face Centipedes' heads with all his might.

Pfft—

Splurt—

The Refined Steel Saber sank into the Ghost Face Centipedes' heads as if cutting through tofu. Before the Ghost Face Centipedes could even understand what was happening, they met their end one after another... [Kill: Ghost Face Centipede Lv. 6]

[Obtained: experience value +179, lifespan value +0.09 hours]

[heart of the goddess of luck triggered, rewards doubled!!]

The trigger rate of the heart of the goddess of luck was much higher than Lin Du had imagined. In just this short while, it had already triggered three times, providing double rewards for three Ghost Face Centipede kills.

As his level increased, the experience value required to level up also grew.

After spending forty minutes, Lin Du cleared out all the Ghost Face Centipedes inside the tree hollow, and his level successfully reached Level 6.

[Player]: Night Ember

[Level]: Level 6

[Sequence Class]: Clown (Sequence 999)

[Active Skills]: Rapid Triple Strike (Grade F), Clown Slash (Grade F)

[Passive Skill]: heart of the goddess of luck (Grade SSS)

Reaching Level 6 in less than an hour was an incredibly fast leveling speed.

Unfortunately, the lifespan value dropped by the Ghost Face Centipedes was very low. After killing so many, only a total of 1.23 hours of lifespan value had dropped... Having finished exploiting the minor bug with the Ghost Face Centipedes, Lin Du headed back the way he came, rushing toward Old Mrs. Liu's small courtyard.

It was time to return and turn in the quest.

When he reached the Wild Wolf Forest, many players nearby who were grinding monsters to level up noticed Lin Du's returning figure.

"Holy crap! That clown isn't dead yet! How did he survive the Venomous Bee Swarm?"

"Look, look! His level actually reached Level 6. It's only been less than an hour, how is that possible!"

"What a freak! We've been sweating for an hour killing wild wolves just to go up two levels. Give us a break!"

"Is this guy some hidden big shot? This leveling speed is faster than a rocket..."

When Lin Du passed by that pair of sisters from before, both of them were stunned.

The two sisters glanced at each other, their beautiful eyes filled with deep disbelief.

"Sister, did he just go and flatten the Venomous Bee Forest? How did he level up so fast?"

"I don't know either. I've never heard of any leveling shortcuts in the Novice Village..."

...Inside the small courtyard.

Lin Du threw several Ghost Face Centipede heads he had just collected onto the ground. "Granny Liu, I have successfully completed the mission. These culprits who were eating your White Silkworms have all been dealt with."

"From today onwards, your silk production will no longer be affected!"

Old Mrs. Liu was momentarily stunned by Lin Du's words, then she looked at the Ghost Face Centipede heads on the ground in confusion.

"You mean these monsters were the ones eating my White Silkworms?"

Lin Du nodded. "There is a Redwood Tree about a kilometer from your home. A nest of Ghost Face Centipedes lives inside it. They sleep during the day and come out at night. The White Silkworms on the mulberry trees are their favorite food."

Hearing this, a look of anger appeared on Old Mrs. Liu's wrinkled face.

"I was wondering why I always saw dark shadows sneaking around the mulberry trees when I got up in the middle of the night to use the restroom. It turns out it was these beasts!"

"Thank you, young man. You've solved a big problem for this old lady. What reward do you want? I will do my best to satisfy you!"

The moment to receive the quest reward had arrived.

This hidden quest was relatively open-ended, so there was no fixed reward, which was quite a nice touch.

Lin Du approached Old Mrs. Liu, rubbing his hands excitedly and smiling flatteringly. "Granny Liu, how about you give me 9 years of lifespan value as a reward?"

As soon as Lin Du said this, Old Mrs. Liu's expression instantly changed.

"Even if I sold my small courtyard, it wouldn't be worth 9 years of lifespan value! What kind of pipe dream are you having, kid!"

Old Mrs. Liu seemed to realize that her tone was a bit inappropriate.

After a moment of silence, her gaze fell upon the clown mask on Lin Du's face.

"The craftsmanship of this mask is too crude. I'll help you refine it properly as your reward."

Before Lin Du could speak, Old Mrs. Liu waved her hand, and the clown mask landed in her palm.

[Ding!]

[You have completed Liu Hongmei's hidden quest: Finding the Secret of the Missing Silk]

[Reward: experience value +1688, lifespan value +2.85 hours, your clown mask's attributes have changed]

[heart of the goddess of luck triggered, rewards doubled!!]

"Even this can be doubled?" Lin Du's face lit up with joy.

Before his voice had even faded, a burst of dazzling golden light suddenly emerged from within him. With the experience value doubled, Lin Du's level successfully reached Level 7.

At that moment, the refinement of the clown mask was complete, and it flew back onto Lin Du's face.

The clown mask refined by Old Mrs. Liu fit Lin Du's face more snugly and comfortably. Under the double reward from the heart of the goddess of luck, the mask's attributes exceeded Lin Du's imagination.

[Item]: clown mask (Special Item)

[Level]: None

[Quality]: None

[Special Effect]: 1. Isolates detection from divine sense-type skills, conceals facial features.

2. Superb flexibility, indestructible.

[Description]: A masterpiece by the old tailor Liu Hongmei, imbued with the blessing of the goddess of luck.

Lin Du had entered universe ol behind the Ning family members' backs; his biggest concern was his identity being exposed.

With these two special effects from the clown mask, the problem of hiding his identity was perfectly solved, allowing him to keep a low profile... "Granny Liu, I heard you have a blacksmith friend who's been having some trouble lately and needs help. I wonder if you could introduce me?" Lin Du began plotting for another hidden quest.

"Young man, I admit you're capable, but you're too weak to help that stinking blacksmith!"

Lin Du smiled; there was no way he'd let such a juicy prize slip away.

"Granny Liu, don't be so absolute. I've heard that you and that blacksmith seem to share some unknown secret. You wouldn't want the relationship between the two of you to be known by the villagers, would you?"

...