Chapter 74: Chapter 55: Leveling Up Beyond Limits, and Even Advancing to a Higher Tier
The Stone Monster with a broken leg laying on the ground was completely defenseless. Chun struck it with his hoe twice, smashing it completely. However, it didn’t drop any crystal cores.
A mere level 10 Stone Monster not dropping anything is normal. Let’s try a more formidable level 20 one.
Another Stone Monster was lured over, and another simultaneous attack from both sides, but Chun’s attack speed was still faster than the clumsy Stone Monster. He struck its leg root first—Weakness Strike -57! Shattering Strike!
Once again, it collapsed with a clatter, successfully dropping a small crystal core.
Holy shit, the level 20 Stone Monster is the same!!
Chun was overjoyed. Where’s the hell in this? It’s obviously a master miner’s leveling paradise! So, does this mean it was prepared for the consortium?
Then, what about the level 30?
At the sight of the level 30 one whose walking even shook the ground, Chun instantly dismissed the idea of challenging it. It obviously has some magic and special skills. Even if he didn’t die, it’d be tough to come out unscathed, wasting time instead. It’s better to steadily farm the level 20 ones.
Chun quickly became addicted to the sensation of smashing away with his hoe!
From the open beta till now, Chun’s been on the mining task path, hardly even fighting monsters. The top player on the first floor had said, if you want to get rich fighting monsters, either you need to be a top player who can take down those high-value bosses, or you’re a gold farming studio. But the gold farming in this game is all about mining.
Fighting monsters is just traditional entertainment. Looking at it now, it’s actually quite fun.
As yet another Stone Monster fell — system notification: Congratulations! You’ve consistently delivered Shattering Strike effect 10 times in a row and obtained information on the skill "Shattering Strike".
Holy shit, is this going to reward me with a folk skill?! An effect and a skill are two different things. Without a skill, you can only smash it against this particular monster. With a skill, you can smash it against any monster!
So, this place is for leveling miners, and even skills are organized here. The key to obtaining them is clearly "consecutively" without making mistakes.
Chun got fired up and concentrated fully to respond with all his might.
...
An hour passed, and after continuously slaying several dozen, earning dozens of crystal cores, his experience soared rapidly to level 20, yet he still couldn’t grasp the Shattering Strike skill.
What’s missing? Does it need hitting level 30?
In a state of bewilderment, it’s inevitable to lose morale, and Chun felt tired and hungry.
That’s right, it’s almost 6 PM, time to have dinner. Normally, he would go offline, go out to eat, and come back after wandering around until midnight. But now, he couldn’t leave at all and could only cope with instant noodles.
Thinking about being reported and wanted, and now being too busy to go downstairs, what would those top players on the first floor think? It’s clearly a big task being triggered, once word gets out, the professional players on the third floor will know, then the big consortium will know... oh...
Screw it, no liver like the young folks, let’s take a risk and try the level 30!
The level 30 Stone Monster definitely has skills, and Chun has a tactic thought out that he used when luring the giant lizard before, that’s to throw the hoe for an attack hit — if the Flying Hoe could cause the Shattering effect... Holy shit maybe even the advanced Throwing skill could upgrade to expert!
Since we’re using the Flying Hoe, let’s also synergize the expert-level Module Combination, and maybe sync it further, such as activating the Magical Pet’s Treasure Hunting skill. The reason Chun could instantly kill the Slime Monsters was that Aileen’s Treasure Hunting discovered the core...
With the tactic settled, Chun began choosing the grounds, that is, this area where the surrounding Stone Monsters have been mostly cleared, and threw a large stone to lure over a level 30 giant Stone Monster.
As expected, when the Stone Monster Charged, tremors with a few meters diameter were at its feet, enough to prevent him from getting close for an attack. Of course, a professional could probably seize the right moment for it.
Then, activate Treasure Hunting!
In Treasure Hunting mode, the whole body of the Stone Monster appeared mundane.
Forget it, let’s smash the leg root with Flying Hoe!
But Chun didn’t throw it wildly, instead aiming precisely for the moment one of its feet hit the ground with a thud while the other was about to lift in a step — because at that moment, the entire upper body weight of the Stone Monster was on that one leg.
Flying Hoe!
The hoe whistled as it spun and flew out, with a snap nailing into that supporting leg — damage immune!
Holy shit this is the prowess of a level 30! No damage and no weakness to hit, with no Shattering effect, and crucially the hoe stayed nailed!
No matter, there’s another hoe!
As soon as these are gone, I’ll escape back to the Volcano Mine to retrieve some! In the moment of quick thinking, Chun aimed at the other foot of the Stone Monster — Flying Hoe!
With a snap once again it was nailed with no damage!
Holy shit, time to run back for some hoes.
Chun accelerated with all his might, the Stone Monster also accelerated with a thunderous boom, taking huge strides catching up with Chun’s steps, even expert-level couldn’t outrun it!
Holy shit, holy shit, level 30 is this fierce? Chun made an instant decision, still jumping back into the Magma Lake, can’t believe it’ll chase into the lake as an Earth Element.
Just as Chun sharply turned, the Stone Monster also abruptly turned — and at that moment, two crisp cracking sounds occurred!
Chun glanced back and suddenly discovered its massive body out of balance, a leg shattered to pieces!
Holy shit, got it! No need for me to smash it, its massive shock impact will self-trigger the wound to explode!
With a rumbling giant crash of the stone boulder collapsing, Chun who had been awaiting such news finally received:
—— System Notification: Congratulations! You successfully comprehended the skill "Shattering Strike".
Shattering Strike: Has a certain chance to cause a shattering effect on the target area, can stack with the Warrior Skill "Disabling Strike" effect.
—— System Notification: Your expert-level Module Combination skill successfully synergized with advanced Throwing, and expert-level running linked effects, enhancing each skill’s proficiency.
...
Done!
Chun let out a sigh of relief, this was just a regular monster but felt like a nerve-wracking Boss fight. But this is the legendary way to battle across levels, even the experience points for leveling up have been arranged, so gladly receive them!
The legless Stone Monster was not too different from the previous two, Chun picked up the Iron Shovel and took it out, gaining a load of experience and a much larger Crystal Core.
Next is tactical copying, lure in another Level 30.
The difference this time, the Flying Hoe struck its leg root directly, causing a crushing effect, but didn’t break on the spot, indeed having a skill is quite different. Then in the ensuing chase, it ran and broke its own leg.
So, Chun indulged, one after another vanquishing, his level soared rapidly to 21, 22, 23...
The feeling of grinding monsters is so satisfying! And even more satisfying is leveling across monsters, hahahaha~~~
As another Stone Monster fell, this time the system prompt appeared differently——System Notice: Your Expert Level Module Combination Skill successfully combined with Advanced Throwing, Expert Level Running achieving linkage effect, you have acquired the combo skill "Moving Shooting" skill information.
Holy Shit! Last time it was Advanced Swimming, Artistic Swimming, Underwater Mining combined into "Underwater Construction"!
Must comprehend it!
Chun felt the urgency of time, after an hour passed, Chun reached level 28, but no more level 30 monsters were around!
Holy Shit no monsters left! Looking at the harvest again, the Crystal Cores exceeded by a hundred or more, the task was overly accomplished.
But Chun wasn’t in the mood to turn in the task, so he had to use the remaining level 10 and 20 monsters to practice the Flying Hoe, directly striking weak points for crushing and leg-breaking effects was incredible!
Chun anxious with no interest, randomly slaughtering everywhere, still no effect and the experience wasn’t much.
Forget it, probably need to fight a Boss to comprehend, such a big scenario must have a Stone Monster Boss, right? If I return to the Volcano Mine first and gather dozens of iron shovels placing them around the battlefield, picking them up to fling hoely might have some fun, right?
Chun had to return to the lake bottom to turn in the task first.
The Volcano Dragon greeted from afar: "Welcome back, Master!"
Who can resist being called Master, in a player’s ears it’s probably more enchanting than a beauty’s coquettish laugh.
Chun entered its exhaust domain, handed over all the Crystal Cores: "Prepared dozens of extra for you!"
The Dragon was touched and swallowed them in one gulp, exploding with a booming sound from its belly: "Master is so generous, once I recover I will surely repay you."
Talking about repaying kindness, I just hope you can stick your neck out and fight the Boss!
Chun asked: "Do you know where the strongest Earth Element is?"
The Dragon answered without hesitation: "I know, I know! I can take you there right now. You can ride on my back and grab the ridge on my back."
As it spoke, the Dragon slowly turned and flipped its body.
Chun was stunned: "Aren’t you not recovered yet?"
The Dragon said: "But I can move now!"
Uh, not really... I just wanted to ask, you’re actually leaving at a moment’s notice?
Clearly triggered an event. Chun confirmed first: "I’m just going to take a look, didn’t say to fight."
The Dragon replied: "In my current state, I don’t have the ability to help you fight anyway."
But it has the awareness to help me fight!
Chun climbed onto its dragon back and held tight: "I’m ready."
"Let’s go!"
The moment the words left its mouth, the Dragon’s belly shook, and its tail flicked, a large surge of flame gas spurted out, and the Dragon along with its exhaust domain started moving towards the depths of the magma pit.
Holy Shit, it really has built-in gas propulsion?
Then the speed got faster and faster, going deeper and deeper! The domain was compressed by the magma, getting smaller and smaller, like a burning and melting glass, it felt just like a spacecraft re-entering the atmosphere!
Chun felt something was wrong: "Where is this?"
"It’s one of the volcanic magma channels erupting from the earth, leading to the world beneath the volcano, but the pressure is enormous, only with a domain can one withstand the pressure and dive in."
Holy Shit the mantle?!
The Dragon continued: "Master, there’s a vortex ahead, the pressure is tremendous, you must hold on tight with all your strength!"
Holy Shit Holy Shit is this just the second layer?
Chun also exerted full strength to prop up the Flame Barrier, everything around was spinning crazily, Chun felt like he was swirling down a flushed toilet...
Finally, the scene stabilized.
——System Notice: Warning! You have reached the 7th layer of the Trial Ground! The difficulty of this scene far exceeds your current strength, proceed with extreme caution.
Chun was incredulous: "The 7th layer!!! How could this be?"
The Dragon replied: "Because you wanted to find the strongest Earth Element, there’s the strongest one here, you can go take a look. I’m too big and easily discovered so I don’t dare float up, I’ll just recover at the lake bottom, the magma energy here is much better."
Holy Shit are you sure you’re not intentionally screwing me over?