Chapter 35: Final Quest
A new day had arrived. Zhang Yang went online at 8.30 am and did a Hardcore Mode Bangar
Crypt run with Crimson Fire and his party as per yesterday’s arrangement and went straight to
Tranquil Lake after that to resume his endless farming of [Python Gall]s.
It was around 3 pm when Zhang Yang’s body flashed a golden ray after he killed yet another
Gold Venomous Python.
‘Ding! Congratulations! You have achieved Level 13. All attributes +1. Obtained 5 SP!’
‘Ding! Your level has fulfilled the conditions to enter the Player Level Ranking. Would you like
to be enlisted in the ranking?’
Zhang Yang had not expected that there was an additional option other than the usual level up
system notification.
“I can be enlisted?” Zhang Yang was stumped, he did not realize that he had been gaining
experience so quickly as he had been focused on killing the pythons! Then again, it was
expected. Zhang Yang’s high attack power was undeniable and nothing else was on his mind as
he had been grinding the whole day, thus his level had risen so quickly!
He checked the Player Level Ranking and saw that all top 9 places were Level 13 while the tenth
spot was a Level 12. If he had selected to be enlisted, he would then replace Folk Stories, a
Templar.
In his previous life, Zhang Yang had entered the game 2 years too late, consequently he had
never gotten the chance to be enlisted on the Player Level Ranking. That was why he did not
know he had a choice in being enlisted on the ranking.
He contemplated and eventually selected ‘Reject’. Right now, it would be better for him to stay
out of the limelight while he accumulated his wealth!
After Level 10, Zhang Yang had changed his way of assigning his AP, investing all of them into
Vitality. Before this, he had been completely equipped with White-Wood equipment which had
then required him to assign his AP to increase his attack and maintain aggro. Now that he had
Green-Copper gear, his damage output had significantly increased which subsequently
required him to invest into his HP instead as monsters and bosses in Level 20 dungeons were
all ferocious beasts. Furthermore, some of the bosses were magic-based and their skills would
have been unavoidable with evasion or <Block>! If he had not invested in his Vitality, he would
be in a tight spot!
Since he had gained a level, his farming speed had also increased. Just in a single day, he had
submitted [Python Gall]s for the Repeatable Quest 15 times.
On the third day, Zhang Yang made it to Level 14 and completed the [Python Gall] quest 14
times.
On the fourth day, just as he entered the dungeon, Zhang Yang had heard Crimson Fire say,
“Zhan Yu, you’ve gotta slow down your leveling speed. We still want to break the dungeon speed
record. If you zoom your way to Level 16 then our results won’t qualify!”
Zhang Yang took a glance, noticing that everyone in the party was either Level 12 or 13. In
comparison, his leveling speed was indeed a little fast.
“Right now, leveling is the most important aspect of the game. Don’t put all your efforts into
dungeon raids!” said Zhang Yang. He had suffered enough in his previous life for leveling
slower than everyone else. Moreover, the reward for obtaining the Hardcore Mode’s first
clearance was SP while rewards for Hardcore Mode’s fastest clearance ranking were only runes
and gems. The difference between these two rewards was too much!
However valuable runes and gems were, there were just as many ways to obtain them. Zhang
Yang did not value them as much! If he had delayed his leveling for these gems and missed the
following first dungeon clearance, that would be his biggest loss!
“Ahh! Please don’t!” Crimson Fire tried to persuade him. Although Absolute Defense’s
equipment had been beefed up in the past two days and had the capabilities to tank Hardcore
Mode now, ultimately he was still thousands of miles away from Zhang Yang’s survivability,
offense, and aggro control! Plus, they key to speed clearing Hardcore Mode was time and a
tank’s capabilities would directly affect the efficiency in clearing the dungeon. It was only
understandable that Crimson Fire did not want to let such a strong player like Zhang Yang off
his grasp as he hurriedly turned to Silky Snow and signaled her to persuade him as well.
Silky Snow laughed depreciatingly. For the past few days, even though she had become closer to
Zhang Yang, their relationship was not any different from the others, what difference could she
make in persuading him?
Crimson Fire persuaded Zhang Yang once more but seeing that he had steeled his desire to
maintain his current leveling speed, he could only give up. As a guildmaster, it was naturally his
duty to prioritize the advertising effect of the red server announcement spam! As of now, Lost
Paradise was the only guild that has cleared Hardcore Mode Bangar Crypt. He had to maintain
this status quo and take it a step further by ranking in the Fastest Hardcore Clearance Ranking!
Now that Zhang Yang could not be depended upon anymore, Crimson Fire had to find another
solution!
After clearing the current Hardcore Mode, Crimson Fire had stopped asking Zhang Yang to
reserve his dungeon entrance count for the next day but had assigned Absolute Defense to be
the main tank, training the teamwork of the new party.
Even though Zhang Yang felt that losing the 1,000 gold coins of income each day was a pity, he
did however earn 4,000 gold coins in the past 4 days and with the 10,000 gold coins that
Crimson Fire had owed him earlier, he almost had enough funds to initiate his plans!
Returning to Tranquil Lake, he resumed his endless farming of [Python Gall]s. Once again, he
had managed to unlock another chest but he had only obtained another [Treasure Map Piece]
with no [Beginner Anti-Shadow Potion] recipe in sight. He would have to wait for another three
days.
From the fifth day onwards, there were an increasing number of players present for the quest.
While there were still not that many players around, Zhang Yang’s crisis awareness had still
rang. He was not afraid that they would take up all the monsters, but it was them stumbling
upon the Gray-Silver Chest and looting it that he was afraid of!
Moreover, this chest would spawn at random places. The only thing quelling his worries was
the fact that there would always be 4 Gold Venomous Pythons guarding the chest when it had
spawned so random players could never take on the monsters alone!
It was lucky that the poison effect of these pythons was utterly annoying and underwater
maneuverability was tough, so most players would just leave the place once they had completed
Exactly what level would this Golden Venomous Python King be?!
Zhang Yang went to his Friend List and was about to invite Fatty Han to slay this boss together
when to his surprise, found that the guy was not online!
“Oh well, let’s try it once. If I fail, then I’ll find someone for help!” Zhang Yang thought and
headed west.
A few players were killing pythons by the bank. When Zhang Yang traveled passed them, they
did not pay him any attention.
The west of Tranquil Lake was a thick bush. At first glance, it did not look anything like a King’s
Nest.
Zhang Yang dived into the water to examine the bush closer. After 10 minutes or so, he finally
found a hidden cave.
Was this the Python King’s Nest? It looked nothing like one!
Zhang Yang went into the cave and slowly swam inwards. The cave was very narrow and after
several meters deep, it was completely dark. Even with his eyes wide open, he could not see
anything and all he could do was follow his gut feeling and continued swimming forward.
After a while, Zhang Yang could obviously tell that the water level was decreasing from his head
to his chest, then to his stomach and knees. Finally he had stepped on land. Since it was a game,
once his character left the water, his clothes and equipment dried immediately.
Turning around the corner, a wide swathe of plains greeted his eyes. Zhang Yang found himself
exiting a hollow trunk of a huge fallen old tree!
He checked the mini-map and found that he was still in Tranquil Lake but this place clearly did
not resemble anything like the lake. How did the game developers design this place?
Not far away, a huge python was coiling its body. Its girth was thick as a bucket but its length
could not be determined since it was coiled. A rough guess would estimate the length of the
python to be at least 10 meters long! Resting peacefully beside the python was a Gray-Silver
Chest.
“The chest!” Zhang Yang’s eyes glinted. No wonder he could not find the chest after a whole day
today. It seems like it had spawned hidden in such a secluded place!
Highlighting the python, the huge beast’s information window hovered in front of Zhang Yang.
[Golden Venomous Python King] (Green-Copper Boss)
Level: 20
HP: 60,000
Zhang Yang was filled with anticipation. He knew that he would get a handsome reward if he
could beat this boss. However, high returns meant high risks! Even though this boss’ HP was
not as dreadful as a Hardcore Mode’s boss, he did have a party of 10 players in Hardcore Mode!
“Let’s just try it first!” Zhang Yang decided and unsheathed his sword, using <Charge> on the
boss.
“-110!”
Such strong defense! Zhang Yang was surprised. His current attack power could have dealt 143 –
151 damage but he had only managed to deal around 100 damage on the boss. It was evident
that the boss had a strong defense – probably 40 points or so!
The higher a monster’s level, the shorter it would take to recover from being stunned. The
Python King had recovered in no more than 1 second and shot towards Zhang Yang with a hiss.
“<Block>!”
‘-58!’ <Block> reflect damage.
‘-156!’ <Shield Bash>.
The Python King did not manage to land any of its attacks so it had quickly whipped its tail
about in an attempt to coil Zhang Yang.
Zhang Yang hurriedly withdrew, evading the attack while simultaneously brandishing his
sword to counterattack.
‘-103!’
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