[Warning, this is not a game, this is not a game!]
[The number of living beings in the galaxy has reached trillions, about to merge into the world of gods and demons!]
[The Milky Way is beginning to digitize, and the Blue Star Plane is about to form!]
[Please make sure to survive and contribute to protecting the cosmic starry sky.]
***
Two hundred years ago, the Starry Age began, and countless fierce beasts and monsters flooded into Earth.
Within a year, the living beings on Blue Star were reduced by ninety percent.
Even as batches of Awakened from various races emerged, the decline of Blue Star's life forms couldn't be halted.
Five years later, the Blue Star Alliance was established, with all races barely surviving by relying on a hundred Main Cities.
On July 16th, Starry Calendar year 288, an ordinary day.
In the Red Star Orphanage in Tiannan City, a young boy holding a broom suddenly froze in place.
The boy was not tall, his appearance unremarkable, but his youthful face showed determination.
[Xiao Chen, Human Race, you have turned sixteen and are about to start a new life.]
[Talent Awakening begins.]
[Xiao Chen, Human Race, awakened as an Archer, profession level E.]
[Any talent can have a bright future, please make sure to persevere.]
[Character Panel generating.]
[Xiao Chen: LV1 (100) (100 experience needed to level up).]
[Profession: Archer.]
[Level: E]
[Health: 100 Mana: 100]
[Base Attack: 10 Attack Range: 10 meters, Attack Speed: 0.2]
[Strength: 5 (related to physical attack power)]
[Constitution: 5 (related to health and defense)]
[Spirit: 5 (related to burst and control)]
[Agility: 5 (related to attack power and attack speed)]
[Intelligence: 5 (related to mana and magic attack)]
[Profession Skill: Triple Shot]
[Character Talent: One in a Million, Level: F (Upgradeable)]
[Initial Backpack: 10]
[Each time the character level increases by one, base attributes +1, free attribute points +5.]
[Ding, you have obtained an initial weapon.]
[Worn Wooden Bow: Attack +8, Agility +2]
Xiao Chen stood in place for a while, then let out a long breath: "Finally awakened, turns out, today is my birthday."
What he focused on first was actually his birthday, not his awakened profession.
Most of the children in the orphanage only learn their birthdays on the day of their awakening.
"The children's talents in the orphanage are quite ordinary."
In over a decade, Xiao Chen saw many Awakened in the orphanage, but only one managed to awaken a D-level profession talent.
Without expectations, there wouldn't be much disappointment.
"E-level profession, F-level character talent, it's normal. At least it's a combat talent."
Xiao Chen's mindset was quite good, as he was just an ordinary person.
Profession talent is extremely important to every Awakened, an A-level profession's initial attributes exceed ten, twice that of Xiao Chen's.
Higher-tier professionals gain significantly more attributes with each level up.
Once a character reaches level five or six, the difference becomes substantial.
"But what does it mean that this character talent is upgradeable? I've never heard of talents being upgradeable before."
Xiao Chen looked at his talent description in detail:
[One in a Million: For every ten thousand monsters killed, a random attribute point can be obtained.]
"Damn, what kind of garbage is this."
Even with Xiao Chen's good temper, he couldn't help but curse when he saw this talent.
Killing ten thousand monsters for just one attribute point, how long would that take?
If not for the three words "can be upgraded" giving him a bit of hope, he would really want to just do nothing.
Becoming a miner, earning three thousand copper coins a month, he could still survive.
"Sixteen years old now, I can't stay in this orphanage anymore."
Looking at this familiar place, Xiao Chen felt a wave of sadness.
He had watched batch after batch leave, and today it was his turn.
Having awakened, he now had to contribute to society, to the Human Race.
Tiannan City wasn't large, yet it housed seventy to eighty million people.
There were no rampant monsters within the city, but competition was still incredibly fierce, and most people struggled to survive.
"Since I've successfully awakened, I need to think about the days ahead.
If I want to stay in Tiannan City, I'll need to spend a hundred copper coins every day."
Everything had to rely on himself.
Before awakening, he could stay in the safe zone as he pleased, but after awakening, it cost money.
If he ran out of money, he would be directly teleported to the wild.
However, he only had eight copper coins on him, earned from cleaning the orphanage.
[Ding, detecting that you have awakened a profession, the Plane Treasury has issued you initial funds.]
[We hope you can grow quickly and become a powerful professional.]
[Ding, Silver Coins +3!]
Receiving this message suddenly, Xiao Chen was overjoyed:"What is the Plane Treasury?
It doesn't matter what it is, anyone who gives money is definitely a good person."
Three silver coins, converted to copper coins, that's three thousand, equivalent to a month's income for a low-level professional.
With startup funds in hand, Xiao Chen instantly felt at ease.
At least, he wouldn't be immediately teleported out of the city to face endless monsters.
As long as he had time to grow and develop, everything would be fine.
"I don't have anything to take, just say goodbye to the director and leave.
If I have money in the future, I'll donate some silver coins to the orphanage."
Xiao Chen knew that he was unlikely to have money.
More likely, in a few years, he would become food for some fierce beast.
None of the children who left the orphanage ever returned.
This was the fate of most people, and Xiao Chen didn't think he was someone favored by destiny.
"The skill is Triple Shot, a common skill for Archers."
Currently, Xiao Chen's attack power wasn't high, and Triple Shot wasn't very useful, barely scratching level one monsters.
"One in a Million, huh?"
This talent was indeed trash, but perhaps it was just right for Xiao Chen.
Xiao Chen wasn't particularly skilled at anything, but he was particularly hardworking.
He now only had three silver coins and a worn wooden bow, nothing else.
"All I can do is put in more effort. Isn't it just killing ten thousand monsters? Slowly, I'll reach that number."
For now, Xiao Chen could only comfort himself this way.
"E-level profession talent, each level up grants five free attribute points.
It's said that D-level talent grants seven points per level."
Those B-level and C-level geniuses, there's no need to even mention them.
Becoming a professional meant entering a whole new world, with many functions on the character panel becoming available.
Xiao Chen opened the panel and looked at the friends list, finding not a single friend.
He did have friends, but most of them had left the orphanage after awakening.
Before leaving, they left their identity numbers, and now he could add them as friends.
There were too many things he didn't understand, and he needed to find someone to ask.
The older orphans usually took good care of him, and now Xiao Chen could finally contact them.
Excitedly, Xiao Chen entered each number, but the prompts he saw left him heartbroken.
[Lin Feng, ID: 874569, deceased!]
[Hu Xiao, ID: 745895, deceased for over half a year, identity canceled.]
[Jiang Ping, deceased.]
[Liu Qing, no such person found.]
Xiao Chen added several friends in a row, all with the same conclusion.
This result sent chills down Xiao Chen's spine.
There were a few more numbers, but Xiao Chen didn't dare to enter them.
As long as he didn't look, there was still some possibility.
He still wasn't ready to face these realities, holding onto a sliver of hope was better.
After a while, Xiao Chen finally calmed down.
The mortality rate for low-level professionals was indeed very high.
"In that case, mining might be a better option."
A bit of hardship and toil, but at least he could stay alive.
"However, it's really not satisfying. Besides, the mortality rate for miners seems to be high too."
Who wouldn't want to become a powerful Awakened?
Everyone wants to live with dignity in this world.
"Even if I have to become a miner, I'll spend these three silver coins first."
Three silver coins, enough to have a good meal at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.
Of course, that would be too extravagant.
Xiao Chen honestly opened the Marketplace to see if he could buy some useful supplies.
Starting from such a low point, he needed to improve his strength.
The Game Descent had been around for hundreds of years, and the production of low-level items was abundant.
Those before him might have risked their lives for a single herb, but now it could be bought with some money.
The mortality rate for professionals was still high, but it was much better than hundreds of years ago.
Everything was improving, and naturally, it would continue to get better.
Xiao Chen opened the Marketplace, only looking at low-level items.
"Beginner Strength Potion, each increases strength by one point, maximum of ten per person.
Beginner Potion, 3 silver coins per bottle.
Beginner Agility Potion, each increases agility by one point, maximum of ten per person.
Beginner Beast Meat, consuming increases constitution."
Xiao Chen looked at some enhancement items and found he couldn't afford any of them.
Some children from wealthy families could consume large amounts of precious potions and rare ingredients as soon as they changed professions.
With only a few basic attribute points at level one, they could often use various treasures and precious equipment to stack their total attributes to several hundred points.
There were suitable items everywhere, but none that he could afford.
"Only 3 silver coins in total, better not spend it yet."
To stay in Tiannan City, he would be charged every day.
If he ran out of money and got teleported out, Xiao Chen doubted he could survive an hour.
"Better equip the weapon first."
[Ding, Attack +8, Agility +2]
Not too much, not too little, Xiao Chen's total attack power was now exactly 20.
"I need to level up a few times first."
Each level up would increase his basic attributes by one, and if he put all five free attribute points into strength.
This way, each level up would increase his attack power by 12.
***
Two hours later, Xiao Chen finally reached his destination.
City Plaza, the teleportation point for various dungeons.
Even though it was nearing evening, the place was still bustling with people.
The lower the level of the dungeon, the more people there were.
"Looking for DPS for level one dungeon, attack over 100 required."
"Shield Guardian with 1000 HP looking for team, can run ten times in a row."
"Newbie dungeon run, only one silver coin per run."
Various messages were overwhelming, all looking for teammates.
With Tiannan City's large population, over a hundred thousand professionals might awaken daily.
Xiao Chen inquired with several teams in a row, only to be ruthlessly rejected.
Even low-level dungeons needed to be approached with caution.
One wrong move, and it could be deadly.
[Wang Fang rejected your team application.]
[Li Hao rejected your team application.]
[Jiang Feng rejected your application.]
[You joined Li Xin's team.]
Indeed, there were still good people in this world.
[You were kicked out of the team.]
Xiao Chen didn't have many advantages, but he had patience and perseverance.
Others might give up after waiting for half an hour, but Xiao Chen waited for five or six hours.
He didn't even know how many times he had been rejected until it was completely dark, and Xiao Chen finally gave up.
"Everything still depends on strength!"
Others indeed had no reason to take him, a level one weakling, but Xiao Chen really had no other choice.
"This starting point is just too difficult."
As Xiao Chen was lamenting, he heard the sound he least wanted to hear:
[Ding, a new day has arrived, 100 copper coins deducted.]
The voice suddenly appearing in his mind made Xiao Chen feel irritated.
He really wanted to curse, and the people around him had already started cursing.
"Damn it, the copper coins I saved from killing monsters all day in the Beginner Trial Grounds, all gone in an instant."
"Newbies also need time to grow, I can't even afford a whiteboard equipment."
Hearing these curses, Xiao Chen's eyes lit up.
"Beginner Trial Grounds?"
It was the first time Xiao Chen heard this term, and he was about to ask the chubby guy who was cursing.
"Already level three, did you level up in that Beginner Trial Zone?"
The chubby guy was sharp, immediately sensing Xiao Chen's gaze: "What are you looking at, what's there to see?
You're only level one and want to take advantage here?
You don't even have a piece of whiteboard equipment, you're only fit for the Beginner Trial Grounds."
After being scolded, Xiao Chen was actually quite happy.
Finally, someone pointed him in the right direction.
"Thank you, Brother Fat, for the guidance, I'll head there right away."
Xiao Chen's attitude was very sincere.
After being thanked by Xiao Chen, the chubby guy felt a bit embarrassed.
"Anyway, you should grind to level three or four before coming, you need to show some sincerity if you want someone to take you."
The chubby guy actually started giving Xiao Chen advice.
"The experience in the Beginner Trial Grounds is minimal, but it's free."
"It's free there, you mean entering these dungeons costs money?"
"My god, you're a newbie, but how can you not even know the basics?
Even the lowest-level dungeon requires a ten silver coin entry fee.
Even if split among five people, that's two silver coins per person."
Xiao Chen was now certain, he really didn't belong here.
Starting a dungeon required two silver coins, damn, that's really steep.
If he had known about the Beginner Trial Grounds earlier, he definitely wouldn't have come here.
"Thanks for the advice, brother."
Xiao Chen was genuinely grateful, his tone very sincere.
"Alright, let's add each other as friends.
My name is Zhang Fan, a Summoner, when I'm higher level, I'll help you level up."
It was clear that Zhang Fan might have a bit of a temper, but he was a good person.
Xiao Chen was naturally very happy to add a friend, he could ask for advice when he didn't understand something.
In the orphanage, no one would tell him about these things.
This world was full of orphans, having enough to eat and not starving was already good, who had time to care for more?
Killing monsters needed to be done early, even though it was already late at night, Xiao Chen was wide awake.
"Just right, there's no place to sleep, this free grinding spot suits me perfectly."
Xiao Chen hurriedly bid farewell to Zhang Fan, ready to start his monster-killing career.
What better monsters to kill than those in the Beginner Trial Grounds?
One in a Million, he had to earn that attribute point first.
Xiao Chen immediately squeezed out of the crowd, jogging towards the Beginner Trial Grounds.
"Who needs to team up for dungeons, I want to be a lone wolf."
There are two types of lone wolves, one is incredibly strong, able to solo dungeons.
The other is incredibly weak, unable to keep up with the team.
The Game Descent had been on Blue Star for hundreds of years, after generations of exploration, everyone could quickly find their most efficient leveling path.
For someone like Xiao Chen, entering the Beginner Trial Grounds was the best option.
There were many Beginner Trial Grounds, each area was large, and the monsters were very dense.
You could say, there were endless low-level monsters to kill here.
You could say, this was Xiao Chen's ideal place.
There were still many diligent people, even in the middle of the night, people were coming and going from the Beginner Trial Grounds.
***
[Beginner Trial Grounds, professionals below level five can enter freely.]
[You have entered Trial Ground 5115.]
Stepping out of the Teleportation Array, Xiao Chen saw a vast, boundless grassland.
The grass was real, and the monsters on the grassland were naturally real too.
[Long-haired Rabbit:]
[LV: 0]
[Attack: 8]
[Defense: 2]
[Health: 32]
Xiao Chen's current attack power was 20 points, two arrows could take down a Long-haired Rabbit.
"Long-haired Rabbits are gentle by nature, they won't attack people actively.
But if attacked, a rabbit in a hurry will bite."
The grassland was filled with Long-haired Rabbits, and Xiao Chen easily found an unoccupied leveling spot.
"This is simply my monster-killing paradise!"
For his first hunt, Xiao Chen was very excited.
"Sorry, rabbit brothers, don't blame me for being ruthless.
If you want to blame, blame your bad luck."
For each hunt, Xiao Chen even took a picture of himself.
"No matter how weak, a sense of ceremony is necessary."
A young boy in coarse cloth, carrying a worn wooden bow, with a bright smile.
"Let's do this."
Xiao Chen drew the wooden bow to its full extent, with a whoosh, three arrows shot out simultaneously.
The arrows traced a beautiful arc in the air, then plunged straight into the ground.
"Almost hit, missed by less than a meter!"
But the Long-haired Rabbit stopped grazing, looking at Xiao Chen suspiciously.
"Missed!"
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The attack power was enough, but the accuracy was lacking, even Triple Shot couldn't save him.
If he were a Mage, throwing a fireball might hit three targets at once.
"The downside of being an Archer, I need to practice my archery."
Xiao Chen shot several arrows in a row, but still couldn't succeed.
"Damn it, I'm just not suited to be an Archer!"
Xiao Chen was very frustrated, his first monster hunt left him with a great sense of failure.
"If only I were a Melee Class, one slash per rabbit. Yes, I shouldn't use arrows like this!"
His archery wasn't good, yet he was shooting from such a distance.
He needed to think of himself as a warrior.
"Get closer before shooting, I refuse to believe I can't hit."
Changing his tactics, the results were indeed different.
Xiao Chen got up close and shot two arrows at a Long-haired Rabbit, finally achieving his first kill.
Of course, he got bitten twice, losing over ten health points.
"With a hundred health, it's not a big problem."
After killing a few Long-haired Rabbits, he had to recover his health before continuing to fight.
[Killed Long-haired Rabbit, experience +1, copper coin +1.]
[Killed Long-haired Rabbit, experience +0, copper coin +1.]
Zero-level monsters could even give zero experience, which was really unfair.
Fortunately, Xiao Chen wasn't concerned about experience right now, he wanted copper coins and kill count.
In fact, the less experience, the better.
"No matter how little I earn, at least I've started."
One copper coin, that was a hope.
Even if he was bitten and in pain, Xiao Chen was still full of motivation.
"To level up to level two, I need a hundred experience, which means killing two or three hundred Long-haired Rabbits."
The experience was very little, but Xiao Chen didn't mind at all.
The less, the better, so he could slowly level up to five.
"With a place to kill monsters, I don't need to think about anything else, just grind.
Every day, aside from meal times, I can sleep three to four hours.
Sleeping less won't kill me, but not earning copper coins definitely will.
From now on, I don't need to go out for meals, buying some dry food won't starve me.
My path to becoming a master archer starts with these Long-haired Rabbits."
In the following days, Xiao Chen, the Archer, engaged in close combat with Long-haired Rabbits.
Later on, as he increased the distance, he was able to hit the target.
[Experience +1, Copper coin +1.]
The system's notifications were undoubtedly very pleasant, every copper coin was precious to Xiao Chen.
***
After two whole days, and countless bites, Xiao Chen finally heard the sweet sound:
[Ding, level +1, all attributes +1, free attribute points +5.]
"Finally leveled up, two days per level, not too fast, not too slow, just right."
Upon leveling up, Xiao Chen put all his free attributes into strength.
"Total Attributes: 37 Attack: 32"
After adding the attribute points, Xiao Chen felt he could take down eighty percent of a Long-haired Rabbit's health with one arrow.
"One more level, and I can kill one with a single arrow.
If my accuracy improves, one arrow for three rabbits isn't impossible."
"Attack speed is still too slow, I need to increase agility."
Later, the efficiency of attracting and killing monsters would improve significantly.
"To level up from two to three, I need three hundred experience."
That meant killing five to six hundred Long-haired Rabbits.
"It can't be done in a day or two!"
Once the attack power increased, the speed of killing would go up.
Another day passed, after killing Long-haired Rabbits all day, Xiao Chen felt sore all over, unable to lift his arms.
***
Exhausted, he slept for two hours, then continued to charge at the Long-haired Rabbit herd.
"Today, I killed 167 monsters, earned 167 copper coins, quite decent."
At this rate, it was enough to cover his daily expenses in Tiannan City.
Of course, saving up copper coins was out of the question.
In his most difficult times, the Beginner Trial Grounds became his best refuge.
"Unfortunately, zero-level Long-haired Rabbits don't drop equipment. Getting money and experience, I shouldn't ask for more."
This was much better than being a miner, with no danger at all.
Unfortunately, he could only stay here until level five.
In the following time, Xiao Chen's days were monotonous, killing monsters, recovering, and killing again.
***
After ten days, Xiao Chen didn't feel bored, instead, he was full of energy.
Every day, the number of kills increased.
"Ding, a new day has arrived, 100 copper coins deducted."
As his proficiency increased, his efficiency in killing monsters improved, and he was earning dozens of copper coins a day.
He had almost no other expenses.
"At this rate, I can save one or two silver coins a month."
Thinking of this number, Xiao Chen felt he was getting richer.
"Now that I'm earning, should I celebrate with some meat?
Forget it, I need to hold back, can't get carried away so easily."
Having some income every day was undoubtedly a very happy thing.
***
In the next month, Xiao Chen went out early and returned late every day.
It took him two and a half days to level up from one to two.
From two to three, it took Xiao Chen six days.
Reaching level four took half a month.
Initially, leveling up required only a hundred experience, but by level four, it had increased to twelve hundred.
[Xiao Chen:
LV: 4
Total Attributes: 52 Defense: 10
Attack: 56, Attack Speed: 0.2]
After so much training, Xiao Chen's accuracy with Spirit Arrow had improved.
As long as he wasn't too far, he had about a fifty percent chance of hitting.
Later, the number of monsters he killed became more stable.
"To level up to five, I need two thousand experience."
That meant he could still get four to five thousand kills in the Beginner Trial Grounds.
"Still, dungeons are better, no level limit, can be farmed infinitely."
But entering a dungeon cost so much, if unlucky, it could be a loss.
"In the Beginner Trial Grounds, I can get eight thousand kills."
He was still a bit short of meeting the One in a Million requirement.
"Earning this one attribute point is so damn hard."
Moreover, the randomly gained attribute point wasn't very useful.
"I need to level up to five quickly."
Spending an extra day meant spending an extra hundred copper coins, too costly.
***
After grinding for twenty-nine days, Xiao Chen finally heard the system's broadcast:
[Killed Long-haired Rabbit, experience +1, copper coin +1.]
[Ding, level +1, all attributes +1, free attribute points +5.]
[You have reached level five, you will be teleported out of the Beginner Trial Zone.]
Finally level five, he had to leave the Beginner Trial Zone, but he was still a complete novice.
Xiao Chen was very reluctant to leave, but he couldn't change anything.
"Goodbye, rabbit brothers."
Xiao Chen waved goodbye, disappearing into the grassland.
[Ding, you killed eight thousand Long-haired Rabbits in a month, reached level five, and earned the achievement: Diligence Makes Up for Clumsiness!
All attributes +1, Silver Coins +2.]
Hearing this broadcast suddenly, Xiao Chen was so happy he jumped up.
"Wow, there's an achievement for this?"
Killing eight thousand Long-haired Rabbits in a month was indeed challenging.
Xiao Chen hadn't had a good night's sleep, killing monsters day and night, to reach level five in a month.
Apparently, only experience gained in the Beginner Trial Grounds counted towards this achievement.
Eight thousand Long-haired Rabbits, totaling four thousand experience points.
Most people left the Beginner Trial Zone at level three or four, and the remaining people usually took thirty to forty days to kill all these monsters.
After a month of hard work, Xiao Chen's wealth had grown significantly.
"0 Gold 6 Silver 21 Copper!"
Seeing this number, Xiao Chen couldn't help but smile.
"Unfortunately, this money is barely enough to buy a piece of ordinary whiteboard equipment."
Naturally, he couldn't buy equipment, that would be too extravagant.
When short on money, he had to spend it wisely.
Otherwise, if he ran out of money and got teleported to the wild, it would be a disaster.
"Being a professional really costs money everywhere!"
Outside the Beginner Trial Grounds, Xiao Chen carefully reviewed his current attributes.
Having reached level five, his strength was indeed much greater than before.
"Total Attributes: 81, Attack: 72."
He had put all his free attributes into strength, but his attack was still far from a hundred.
"With this strength, I'll still be rejected in dungeons.
What else can I do? I have to keep moving forward.
The gap in strength can only be compensated with my thick skin."
Resting was not an option, it was only noon.
The next goal, clearing a level one dungeon.
Xiao Chen returned to the dungeon teleportation point.
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