63: Chapter 63 Hidden Job Advancement Conditions—Isn't this just making me a killing machine?

The City Lord's Manor, Secret Chamber.

A faint scent of ambergris permeated the air, and magical runes visible to the naked eye flowed across the surrounding walls, cutting off all forms of detection.

Situ Ji sat in the main seat, staring deeply at Qin Ji. He watched for a full ten minutes, his gaze seemingly trying to strip out Qin Ji's data code and recompile it.

"Old man, have you seen enough?" Qin Ji felt a bit creeped out by the stare. He casually picked up the top-grade spiritual tea on the table and took a gulp. "I'll start charging if you keep looking—one thousand gold coins per glance."

Situ Ji's mouth twitched slightly as he withdrew his gaze and spoke slowly, "To reach Level 20 in such a short time and even subdue that Abyss War Fortress... it seems your class is not as simple as a common Mage."

Qin Ji's heart stirred.

As expected, an NPC of this level had extremely high intelligence and had already noticed something was off. However, his expression remained unchanged, and he even crossed his legs. "Just good luck, I picked up a hidden class advancement book. What, is the City Lord planning to give me a certificate of merit?"

"No certificate, but I do have a word of advice."

Situ Ji set down his teacup, his expression turning exceptionally solemn. "Your class is very strong—strong enough to make even this old man feel a sense of dread. But the more powerful a class is, the higher the difficulty of advancement. Level 20 is a threshold, the so-called 'First Awakening.' Only by breaking through this Bottleneck can you truly master this power."

"What are the advancement conditions?" Qin Ji went straight to the point. Although his current attributes were high, his level was locked at 20, and he had millions of overflowing experience points. He indeed needed to resolve the advancement issue as soon as possible.

Situ Ji gave him a deep look and uttered a shocking sentence:

"Kill people."

Qin Ji raised an eyebrow. "Kill people?"

"That's right. Not killing those wild monsters generated by data, but killing intelligent life forms that possess a 'Soul.'" Situ Ji's voice echoed in the secret chamber, carrying a piercing chill. "In other words, what you call NPCs, or other Descendants (Players)."

"If your class wants to advance, it must be watered with enough Soul Fire. Killing monsters is of no help to you. Only by killing people—killing a large number of people—can you pave your path to promotion!"

Hearing this, Qin Ji froze for a second, then his mouth curled up wildly into a smile that made even Situ Ji feel a chill down his spine.

"There's such a good thing?"

Qin Ji almost laughed out loud. He had thought it would be some tricky task, like going to the Abyss to pick Fire Lotuses or something. It turned out to be killing people?

In this world where everyone looked like an eyesore, where red-named monsters were everywhere, and players would use any means necessary to snatch kills, letting him go out and kill people was like throwing a mouse into a rice bin!

"It seems you aren't repulsed by it." A strange look flashed in Situ Ji's eyes. He then waved his hand, and a magical projection appeared in mid-air.

It was a mysterious merchant clad in black robes with a sinister face.

"This person is named Gray. He is a black market merchant who wanders between the borders of various nations. He has a treasure called the [Soul Prism] in his possession, which is the key item for your advancement."

Situ Ji flipped his wrist, and a wax-sealed letter along with a parchment scroll flew toward Qin Ji.

"Find him, give him the letter, and he will give you the item. In exchange, this parchment scroll contains clues to a set of [Death Dominator] class-exclusive divine equipment; I'll give that to you as well."

[Ding! You have triggered an Epic Hidden Quest: Prelude to Slaughter.]

[Quest Objective: Find the black market merchant Gray and obtain the Soul Prism.]

[Quest Rewards: Level cap unlocked, Class advancement, Clues to exclusive divine equipment.]

"Deal."

Qin Ji grabbed the letter and parchment, standing up to leave. "Thanks, old man. When I've gathered my divine set, I'll come back and treat you to a drink."

Watching Qin Ji's nonchalant departing figure, Situ Ji's eyes flickered as he murmured softly, "In this chaotic era, perhaps only a madman like this can truly ascend to the throne of God..."

...

After leaving Donghai City, Qin Ji was in no hurry to find that black market merchant.

According to the map, the area Gray frequented was near "Black Water Lake," which happened to be a gathering place for Level 30-35 monsters.

"Just as well, I'll go grind some Water Attribute resistance."

Qin Ji rode his Bone Dragon Turtle, traveling like a bolt of lightning.

Half an hour later, a massive lake as black as ink, emitting a foul stench, appeared in his field of vision.

[Black Water Lake (LV.35 Danger Zone)]

The lake's surface shimmered, and one could faintly see massive turtle shells bobbing in the water.

[Bloodback Mystic Turtle (LV.35)]

[Description: Extremely high defense, the dorsal shell is equipped with damage-reflecting spikes.]

"You'll do."

A golden light flashed in Qin Ji's eyes. His [Greedy Grasp] was currently lacking defense-type attribute affixes.

Plop!

He stowed away the Dragon Turtle and dove into Black Water Lake like a cannonball. The icy lake water instantly enveloped his body, but the [black god set] he wore automatically emitted a faint, eerie glow, completely isolating the water pressure.

Just as Qin Ji had dived underwater and was preparing to start a slaughter—

BOOM!!

The water surface above suddenly exploded. A terrifying shockwave wrapped in a white air current smashed down like a depth charge!

"Again?"

Qin Ji frowned and raised the [Black God · Shield of Sighs] in his hand.

THUD!!!

A long spear burning with silver flames slammed heavily against the shield.

-349,580!

A seemingly terrifying damage number floated up. But for Qin Ji, whose health had long since surpassed five million, this was merely a scratch.

He looked up to see a middle-aged man in even more magnificent silver armor standing atop the waves, his eyes filled with venomous hatred.

[Silver Commander · Valxun (LV.60 · Lord BOSS)]

[Description: Kyle's elder brother, a court guard commander of the Star Kingdom, possessing dual mechanisms of 'Berserk' and 'Sure-Kill'.]

"Are you the adventurer who killed my brother?" Valxun roared, his voice causing the lake water to boil. "Today, I will tear you into ten thousand pieces!"

"After the young one is beaten, the old one shows up. Does your Family sell these in bulk?"

Qin Ji picked his ear impatiently. Right now, he only wanted to grind the Mystic Turtles and had no time for this boss who could only rage impotently.

"Since you want to play in the water, then come down and play."

Qin Ji's figure blurred. Instead of floating up to meet the challenge, he accelerated toward the bottom of the lake.

"Trying to run?!"

Valxun thought Qin Ji was afraid and immediately grinned savagely, waving his spear. "All Bronze Guards, follow me into the water! Activate the Water-Warding Formation and trap him at the bottom of the lake!"

Splash! Splash!

Nineteen fully armed Bronze Guards followed him and jumped into the lake.

However, once underwater, Valxun realized something was wrong.

The fellow named 'Hidden Name' wasn't running at all; he was currently weaving leisurely through a group of Bloodback Mystic Turtles.

The staff in Qin Ji's hand (now transformed into a black dagger) was as fast as lightning. With every swing, a Bloodback Mystic Turtle turned into white light.

[Ding! Killed Bloodback Mystic Turtle, plundered attribute: Physical Defense +50.]

[Ding! Killed Bloodback Mystic Turtle, plundered attribute: Water Element Resistance +1%.]

[Ding! ...]

In just a dozen seconds, Qin Ji had already slaughtered over a dozen turtles.

"Bastard! How dare you ignore me!"

Valxun felt greatly insulted. He, a dignified Silver Commander, was actually less attractive than a bunch of turtles?

"Die for me! Berserk Unyielding Body!"

Valxun's muscles swelled, his silver armor cracked, and his entire being turned into a red afterimage. His spear, carrying a sure-kill momentum, carved a vacuum channel through the water, stabbing directly at Qin Ji's heart from behind.

For an ordinary player, this strike would mean certain death.

But it was as if Qin Ji had eyes in the back of his head.

The moment the spear tip was about to touch him, he had just finished killing the last Mystic Turtle.

"Defense is stacked enough."

Qin Ji suddenly turned around.

In the murky depths of the lake, his eyes lit up with an eerie purple-gold light, like two ghost fires ignited in the abyss.

"Since you're in such a hurry to see your brother, I'll grant your wish."

Qin Ji didn't use any flashy skills.

He simply extended his right hand and made a grasping motion toward the charging Valxun through the void.

[Divine Skill · Spatial Collapse (Pseudo)]!

This was a small trick he had learned after maxing out his [Spatial Affinity].

Crack!

Valxun's charging figure came to a sudden halt.

He discovered to his horror that the lake water around him had suddenly become harder than steel. Immediately following that, an irresistible, terrifying crushing force attacked from all directions.

"No... what power is this?!"

Valxun struggled frantically, but the red light of his unyielding body was as fragile as a sheet of window paper before the absolute Law of Space.

"Goodbye."

Qin Ji snapped his fingers.

BANG!!!

A muffled explosion erupted at the bottom of the lake.

There was no scene of flesh and blood flying, because in that instant, Valxun along with the nineteen Bronze Guards behind him were directly crushed by the collapsing space into a meatball only the size of a fist, which was then washed away without a trace by the turbulent currents.

[Ding! You have killed Silver Commander Valxun.]

[Ding! Triggered Greedy Grasp, plundered skill: Sure-Kill Strike (Passive).]

[Sure-Kill Strike: When attacking, there is a 1% chance to directly insta-kill enemies whose Rank is not higher than your own (Effective against BOSSes).]

"Oh? A drop?"

Qin Ji whistled as he looked at the newly added passive skill on his panel.

Although it was only 1%, this was an insta-kill mechanism. Combined with his attack speed of dozens of strikes per second, this was practically a divine skill.

With a casual wave, he sucked all the equipment and Materials dropped by Valxun into his backpack, then kicked his legs and breached the water like a black dragon.

...

Meanwhile.

Star Kingdom, Royal Palace, Rain Listening Hall.

Under the luxurious crystal chandelier, Queen Fiodingyu looked at the intelligence in her hand, her beautiful face turning so dark it seemed ready to drip water.

"Valxun is dead?"

"Yes, Queen." A hunchbacked old woman holding a skull staff stood in the shadows, her voice raspy like a Night Owl. "Not even a corpse was found. It's highly probable that 'Red-Named Demon' destroyed all evidence."

"Useless!"

Fiodingyu slammed the crystal cup in her hand onto the floor. "A Silver Commander, leading a team of elites, actually couldn't kill an adventurer who just arrived two days ago?"

"Calm your anger, Queen." The old woman smiled sinisterly. "Actually, this might not be a bad thing. The stronger that adventurer is, the more valuable he is to us. Now that the struggle for the throne is imminent, we need such a sharp blade."

"You mean... recruit him?"

"Exactly. As long as the price is high enough, these greedy adventurers would even dare to betray the gods." A calculating light shone in the old woman's eyes. "This old one is willing to personally go and contact him."

...

By the banks of Black Water Lake.

Qin Ji stood on the shore, taking stock of his recent gains.

Besides the [Sure-Kill Strike] passive, Valxun had also contributed 500 Strength points and a Berserker skill book.

"Better than nothing."

Qin Ji shook his head, preparing to summon the Dragon Turtle to leave.

Suddenly.

His movements paused slightly, and his gaze seemingly casually swept toward a withered tree to his left rear.

No one was there, only a few crows cawing randomly.

But in the vision of Qin Ji's [Eye of True Sight], a semi-transparent figure was crouching on a branch, clutching a poisoned dagger, eyes locked dead onto his neck.

It was a player in Stealth—an Assassin.

"A scout from the Dream Chasing Guild?"

Qin Ji sneered in his heart.

He had intentionally lingered on the shore for so long because he had sensed that faint, lingering feeling of being watched.

At this moment, inside the guild channel:

The Assassin player reported excitedly: "Guild Leader, confirmed! That red-name is Snow Emperor! He just soloed a Silver BOSS, and all his skills are on cooldown now. He's in a weakened state! Coordinates (238, 455), come quickly!"

"Very good," Dream Chaser in the Mist's cold voice came through. "Hold him for one minute, the main force will arrive shortly. We're claiming the bounty on Devil King Grelorlinssen!"

The Assassin player closed the chat box, a cruel curve hooking his lips.

Strike while he's down!

His figure slid from the tree like a ghost, his dagger glowing with a faint green light as he silently crept toward Qin Ji's back.

Ten meters.

Five meters.

Three meters!

Bloodthirsty ecstasy erupted in the Assassin's eyes. At this distance, in this game, no Mage could ever dodge his Backstab!

"Die, Great God!"

The dagger stabbed down fiercely.

However.

In the next second, his smile froze on his face.

Because Qin Ji, who was originally facing away from him, had turned around at some unknown moment.

There was no panic in those purple-gold pupils, only a kind of playfulness as if looking at a dead man.

Qin Ji didn't dodge, and he didn't even open a shield. He merely raised his right hand slightly, his index finger gently pointing at the Assassin's inevitable path of attack.

"Do you think you're being funny?"

Pfft.

There were no skill light effects.

A bloody hole suddenly appeared in the Assassin player's forehead.

His body stiffened in mid-air, the dagger slipped powerlessly from his hand, and that expression of terror, which had not yet dissipated, froze on his face.

The setting sun was like blood, dyeing Black Water Lake a dark red. Qin Ji stood with one hand in his pocket, casually flicking away the drop of warm blood from his fingertip. Those purple-gold pupils shone brilliantly in the twilight, like a primordial Vicious Beast that had just finished a feast, coldly watching the thousands of troops and horses rapidly approaching in the distant forest.