Generally, low-grade equipment increases some defense, Qi and blood, and mana, but the additions are not much.
Some seasoned players who've been around for years have their flying sword and magical treasure slots completely filled, yet they might only have a few pieces equipped in other slots, most of which are special function equipment.
For example, a storage belt or storage ring that increases personal space.
Or a ring or accessory that increases the number of flying sword and magical treasure slots.
Or a magical robe with special effects and strong defense, and so on.
At least Su Yu has no equipment on him at the moment.
After finishing his meal, the night had already fallen, and the city lights were lit up. Most players had returned by the evening, and the hustle and bustle of the city was no less lively than a modern metropolis at night. However, Su Yu had no intention of exploring the night market; he went straight to his room to sleep.
Alone, nothing more to say for the night.
The next morning, he got up early and saw a message in his communication device. The signature below indicated it was from the guild's head newbie instructor, Lu Yongyuan. The content seemed like a mass message:
"The guild's newbie training policy states that all newcomers in their first year have no mandatory guild tasks or activities, allowing everyone to freely enhance their strength."
"However, to help newcomers better integrate into the guild, the newbie division coordinates with the personnel department to permit internal guild teams and independent squads to recruit newcomers early. Once both parties agree, newcomers can join any team in advance."
"The recruitment location is the central square of the residential area, lasting for a week. Those not joining a team after a week can submit a written application to independent squads."
"Finally, I wish you all the best on your journey to hone your skills!"
"Hmm! Not bad."
After reading the message, Su Yu closed the communication panel, had a simple breakfast, and then rode up on a paper crane, soaring leisurely into the sky.
Many like him were early risers; along the way, he saw people coming out, mostly guild veterans flying with sword control or riding mounts, while those flying slowly on paper cranes like him were mostly newcomers.
Outside the residential area, there was a large square surrounded by stone pillars, already gathering quite a crowd.
A large number of newcomers flew over on paper cranes, occasionally seeing swift sword lights flying from afar or flying ships coming from a direction within the city to land in the square.
The paper crane paused on the square, and Su Yu noticed that where people gathered, many tables were set up with one or two people sitting behind them, reminiscent of a campus recruitment fair.
With his keen eyesight, he saw signs on these tables, which read:
"Guild's Seventh Independent Squad recruiting newcomers, requirements: obedient and follows commands, nothing else."
Looking at another nearby, it had a similar sign:
"Guild's Ninth Independent Squad recruiting newcomers, requirements: obedient and follows commands, nothing else."
All other tables were almost the same, recruiting for various independent squads of the guild.
He didn't see recruitment for the main force groups of the guild, which Su Yu knew the reason for.
The guild's military structure is generally composed of several main force groups and many independent squads. The independent squads are developed from small teams within the guild, led by core members of the guild.
The main force groups are the core military power of the guild, directly under guild management.
So, the development of independent squads requires self-reliance, whereas the main force groups don't need it; they get direct allocations from the guild.
Every year, a batch of people retire from the guild either due to old age or having too many deaths with nearing lifespan limits. Each year, a large number of newcomers are recruited, with some of these newcomers being taken by independent squads, others forming their own teams or acting solo, and more than half being transferred to the various main force groups after a year.
Su Yu didn't plan to join an independent squad; he glanced at them and urged his paper crane to leave.
Joining a team provides protection, but it limits freedom.
There are issues like seniority, cliques, and social dealings within most teams. No matter how well you perform, if you can't gain the leader's favor or offend veteran members, it's easy to be suppressed, affecting your growth rate severely.
After all, once you join a team, it's not easy to leave.
Instead of wasting time and energy, it's better to start being self-reliant early on.
The wobbly paper crane flew toward the west of the city, arriving at the banks of the Chensha River, flying upstream along the river.
The guild's newbie strategy states that the riverside of the Chensha River is the preferred area for newbie leveling. The water spirit monsters along the riverside are only about level ten, significantly lower in difficulty and danger compared to the riverside of the Yuanjiang River, where monsters are over level twenty.
At this time, many newcomers were already choosing this riverside to level, either alone or in groups.
A giant boat over a hundred meters long was anchored on the river's surface, with a Divine Thunder Tower erected on it. They used Demon-Attracting Incense to lure many spirits, gathering to bombard them with Great Flame Divine Thunder, causing flames and thunder to boil on the river's surface.
This boat, marked as belonging to the guild, though uncertain to which independent squad, costs 90 silver in experience for a day's stay on the boat, very expensive and unaffordable for most people.
Su Yu didn't fly too far, stopping in mid-air over a riverside mudflat about fifty kilometers from Thousand Feather City.
This vast marshland over a dozen kilometers long was submerged in water, with few grasses visible, many places submerged by river water. Numerous fish spirits, shrimp spirits, crab monsters, and other water spirits of levels 10-15 were swimming within it.
He wasn't the only one near the marshland; several little teams, mostly in groups of three or five, were present. Some were veterans leading newcomers, and some were all-newcomer teams, all in Thousand Feather Guild attire.
Su Yu's arrival didn't draw their attention; this marshland was large enough for them all to use.
The paper crane descended; Su Yu jumped off, recalling the paper crane with a motion, his gaze falling on a more than two-meter-long green-backed grass fish spirit in the water over forty meters away, immediately triggering a display of basic information before him.
Grass Fish Spirit (Trash): Level 12, Aquatic Race, Spirit-transformed Grass Fish.
Attributes: Qi and Blood 200, Demonic Power 60, Attack 50, Speed 22 km/h, Skills: Water Arrow.
In the Other Shore Realm, spirits have grades, from low to high: Trash, Common, Elite, Terrifying, Unparalleled, Legendary, Mythical.
The higher the grade, the stronger their wisdom and power.
Trash is just pure experience points fodder.
Without hesitation, Su Yu reached out with an empty hand, and a scarlet feather fan appeared in his grasp. With mana injected, the feather fan blazed, and with a raise of his hand, burning flames flew out, forming three head-sized Fireballs in succession, which he then waved toward the Grass Fish Spirit.
"Bang, bang, bang..."
The three Fireballs exploded one after another, inflicting high damage scores of 200 each, shattering the Grass Fish Spirit into pieces on the spot.
"Not bad!"
Su Yu was not surprised, fully aware of his power.
The base damage of the Three Yang Fan is 100, and as a third-tier magical treasure, it adds a 20% magic damage bonus. He currently has a mana damage bonus of 400 from his tenth-layer Purple Essence Qi Refining Skill, with an additional 80 from the 20% bonus.
With his tenth-layer Fire Element True Understanding providing a 20% fire magic bonus, the base power of 100 gets an additional damage of 20.
Finally, each Fireball's damage totals 200 points, perfectly enough to kill this Grass Fish Spirit.
"If it's like this..."
Su Yu's gaze shifted to a small group of level 11 and 12 Carp Spirits near the Grass Fish Spirit, once again channeling mana to set the Three Yang Fan ablaze, then lightly swiping with the fire fan, mentally controlling three head-sized Fireballs to fly in different directions.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
Three fiery blasts occurred, but only two hit the Grass Fish Spirits, with the last bomb missing its mark.
"Not quite there."
"Try again."
He wasn't discouraged, ignoring the startled Black Fish Spirit that came lunging, he re-targeted two new objectives, proceeding to channel mana and summon three fiery blasts again.
-200
-200
-200
All three fireballs hit, taking down a Grass Fish Spirit, a Black Fish Spirit, and a Carp Spirit in explosions.
"YES!"
He clenched his fist in excitement, quickly switching targets to a group of Carp Spirits by the river, continuing to wield his magical treasure to hurl three fiery Fireballs.
The startled fish school turned to charge at him, with the fastest ones leaping from the water to shoot arm-thick crystalline water arrows from their mouths.
Su Yu flipped his left hand, summoning a palm-sized Profound Iron Bell to his palm, spraying it with mana. The bronze bell lit up with spiritual patterns, quickly brightening, and he flung it upwards, where it hovered above, emanating a semi-transparent protective barrier around him.
A dozen water arrows hit the barrier, creating ripples across its surface.