19: Chapter 19 cleared with an S-rank! Excellent-grade upgradeable weapon crafting recipe obtained!

The amount of Sword Qi was gradually decreasing.

However,

this didn't stump Zhang Jian.

He only needed to disengage from the battle with the BOSS,

find another minor mob, and land one strike to reactivate [Sword Qi Absorption].

Relying on this tactic of fighting while recovering, he regained the initiative in the battle.

Although the BOSS's HP was high, his [Sword Qi Slash] now dealt True Damage, unaffected by the opponent's resistances.

With every strike, he could basically deal over 2,000 points of damage.

Whenever the Critical Hit affix gauge was full, he would deal over 30,000 points of accumulated damage.

Zhang Jian was in no hurry.

Instead, while ensuring his own safety, he continuously wore down the BOSS's HP.

Finally, he seized an opportunity and cut it down.

"You have gained 3,360 (+16,800) Experience Points."

"You have successfully used [Sword Qi Slash] to kill a BOSS monster 10 levels higher than yourself; your kill progress has increased by 10,240 points!"

"[I Only Hit the Elite] kill progress has increased by 5,120 points."

"[King of Solo] kill progress has increased by 10 points."

As a BOSS 10 levels higher than himself,

the increase in experience and affix progress alone made Zhang Jian incredibly satisfied.

[King of Solo] (excellence)

When fighting a BOSS, Critical Hit Rate increases by 10%, Evasion Rate increases by 10%; when fighting alone, the effect doubles.

(To upgrade affix quality: kill 9/10 BOSS-level monsters no lower than your own level using this affix)

Although the progress for this affix didn't increase as exaggeratedly as the others,

killing a BOSS 10 levels higher was only equivalent to killing 10 BOSSes.

But it still upgraded from rare to excellence grade.

What's more, it was only one step away from the next upgrade.

As for the other affixes, the effects were even more obvious.

[Sword Qi Slash] (excellence) (+6)

LV 0/5 (0/20,000)

When using sword-type weapons for basic attacks, there is a 100% chance to trigger seven additional instances of damage, dealing 300% of the original attack as Sword Qi True Damage.

(To upgrade the number of Sword Qi: kill 113/1,000,000 monsters using this affix)

(To upgrade affix quality: 3 legendary rank Attack Skill Books)

Sword Qi Slash had upgraded once again.

The requirement for the next level had reached a full one million!

Meanwhile, the progress for [I Only Hit the Elite] was only short by a bit over 5,000 points.

He estimated it would upgrade after clearing the next wave of normal monsters.

The System prompts continued.

"You have completed the tenth wave of attacks, Points +60."

"The number of party members is greater than 1 but less than 5; Points are increased by an additional 100%."

"All party members are challenging above their level; Points are increased by an additional 100%."

"You have accumulated 180 Points."

"You have passed the 10th wave; Normal Difficulty completion is 100%."

"No casualties, evaluation increased."

"Clear time is within two hours, evaluation increased."

"Upon exiting, you will receive an S-Rank evaluation, an additional 10,000 Experience Points, and you may choose one specific piece of loot for quantity or quality amplification."

Zhang Jian's eyes lit up.

There's such a good deal?

He called out to Wang Fei, who was crawling out from behind the furnace, and they picked up the several glows in front of the BOSS one by one.

[heart of the machine]

Quality: excellence

A rare material that can be used to refine weapons; weapons crafted with this recipe are guaranteed to be of excellence quality.

[Mechanical Battle Armor]

Quality: excellence

Level Requirement: 5

Defense +88

HP +1000

Damage Absorption +10%

[Endless Devourer Crafting Recipe]

Quality: rare

Can be used to craft the growth weapon [endless devourer], uses remaining: 5/5.

The BOSS only dropped three items, but without exception, they were all top-tier.

Although the armor's stats were magnificent and surely worth a fortune,

what Zhang Jian favored most was actually that weapon crafting recipe.

This was a growth weapon!

Even at rare grade, it could rival excellence grade.

Especially since...

He could use the dungeon evaluation to amplify it...

The more he thought about it, the more excited he became.

However, the task at hand was to rest up and continue clearing the stages.

According to his estimation, he shouldn't think about the 20th wave for now.

But doing another four or five waves shouldn't be much of a problem.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

At that moment, Wang Fei began to cough violently.

Zhang Jian also felt an irresistible fatigue spreading through his body.

Only then did he notice a notification.

"You have stayed in the dungeon for over two hours; Stamina depletion rate increased by 50%."

He suddenly snapped back to reality.

This wasn't playing a game; this was the real world!

Even if he could use one skill to insta-kill a group of monsters,

or use one Sword Qi Slash to kill a thick-skinned BOSS,

and it seemed very easy,

after clearing so many waves, his body was being consumed every second.

Especially since neither he nor Wang Fei were high-level; the physical enhancement from their base stats was very limited.

Being able to persist until now was already supported by the drive from the various bountiful harvests.

Now that their stamina could barely hold out, the consumption would only intensify further on.

If he insisted on pushing forward, an uncontrollable situation could arise at any moment.

Even with the dungeon's health warning, an accident might happen at any time before they could stop.

Thinking of this, Zhang Jian made a decisive choice.

"Let's stop here for today!"

"Let's get some good rest and come back tomorrow!"

Although Wang Fei felt it was a bit of a pity, he still expressed his agreement.

There were a full 5 minutes before the next wave arrived.

Zhang Jian and Wang Fei first spent all their accumulated points.

He had used 600 points earlier, and now he had 550 points left.

He exchanged them for one rare-grade skill book, two fine-grade skill books, and one bottle each of HP Potion and Mana Potion, exactly using them all up.

Only this time, he didn't have his previous luck.

The three skill books were common goods and not very valuable.

Wang Fei had 750 points and followed the same strategy.

Two rare-grade, one fine-grade—three skill books in total.

Plus two potions.

Only this time, his luck exploded.

He exchanged for a [Minor Recovery].

It was known as a must-learn recovery skill for Priest-type classes before level 20.

After joyfully pocketing all their gains, Zhang Jian chose to exit the dungeon.

The System prompt to amplify a piece of loot appeared.

Zhang Jian placed the weapon crafting recipe into the slot.

With a flash of golden light, it returned to his backpack.

[Endless Devourer Crafting Recipe]

Quality: excellence

Can be used to craft the growth weapon [endless devourer], uses remaining: 10/10.

excellence Grade!

Zhang Jian clenched his fist in excitement.

This reward could only be used once per party; since Zhang Jian handled it, there was nothing for Wang Fei to do.

The vision of both men went dark simultaneously as they left the dungeon.

...

In front of the gate, Wang Dong was already getting a bit anxious.

It had been two hours and they hadn't come out yet. Are these two really that powerful?

Could they have been controlled by some Elite-type monster's skill and fallen into a desperate situation?

Brother Hu was also full of confusion.

"It shouldn't be!"

"Elite monsters only appear in the ninth wave."

"Even if a two-person party is strong, it's unlikely they've reached that stage yet."

"But if it's just the earlier waves, Leader-level monsters don't have such powerful control skills!"

Wang Dong sighed.

"Then what do you think is going on?"

"It's not possible that they're still fighting and want to clear even more waves, is it?"

Brother Hu shook his head frantically.

"That's even more impossible!"

"The Elites in the ninth wave are already Level 14 monsters, and the 10th wave has a Level 15 BOSS."

"Previously, a full party of Level 15s, including three rare classes and full sets of rare-grade gear, couldn't clear the 10th wave and had to exit hastily."

"No matter how much of a Genius those two kids are, it's impossible for them to reach that point!"

As they spoke, a flash of light appeared in front of the dungeon, and the two men emerged.

Wang Dong finally breathed a sigh of relief and rushed over.

"Are you guys okay?"

Wang Fei nodded, his expression excited.

"More than okay, Brother, you have no idea..."

He was about to boast loudly about Zhang Jian's heroic performance in the dungeon and the various bountiful harvests.

But he was given a subtle glance by Zhang Jian.

He suddenly reacted, glanced at Brother Hu not far away, and shut his mouth.