Six in the morning, online player count started rising again.
Because it was the weekend, many players got up early to grind levels.
There were also plenty of office workers who still had to work on weekends. They took advantage of the two hours before clocking in at eight, got up early, logged into the game, and had some fun.
So the number of players online was quite high.
Outside Yunbian Town, in a level 10 wilderness area.
Slash!
Slash!
Slash!
Four of the strongest players from the Chaotic World Guild, all of them possessing rare C-grade talents, went all out to cripple the monsters, then handed them over to Wang Junjie to land the final blow.
As one monster after another was easily cut down, Wang Junjie's experience bar climbed step by step at an extremely fast pace.
Shua!
With a raise of his sword and a clean swing, Wang Junjie killed a demonized toad in one strike. He opened his status panel, looked at his level 9, 85% experience bar, and felt smug.
"Hmph! Ling Xiao. Even if I give you a chance, you're still useless."
"I really want to see what you'll use to surpass me, to reach level 10 before me!"
Just as Wang Junjie finished speaking.
Above them, a loud system announcement suddenly rang out—
[System Announcement (Yunbian Town): "Ding~ Congratulations to player Wind Whistling for completing a class change. As the second player in Yunbian Town, Novice Village No. 116 of the Dragon Nation server, to reach level 10 and complete a class change, you receive the second place leveling reward: cash reward of 90,000. Lottery chances +2! Reputation +90 points! You obtain the title [Leveling Maniac]!"]
"What?"
Hearing this announcement, the smug smile on Wang Junjie's face froze instantly.
"Impossible!"
"This is impossible!"
"He was clearly still one level lower than me just now. How could he suddenly reach level 10 before me and even complete a class change?"
Just as Wang Junjie was completely baffled, several more announcements descended one after another—
[System Announcement (Yunbian Town): "Ding~ Congratulations to player Skinny Monkey for being the third to reach level 10 and complete a class change, receiving rewards…"]
[System Announcement (Yunbian Town): "Ding~ Congratulations to player Fat Dahai for being the fourth to reach level 10 and complete a class change, receiving rewards…"]
[System Announcement (Yunbian Town): "Ding~ Congratulations to player Gentle Evening Breeze for being the fourth to reach level 10 and complete a class change, receiving rewards…"]
Buzz!
Wang Junjie felt as if he had been struck by lightning.
He staggered back several steps, almost falling flat on his butt.
"Your mom!"
"Did they use cheats?"
"I've got four C-grade talent powerhouses helping me level up. How could they be faster than me? Huh? They must be cheating!"
Beside him, the strategist Chaotic World Zhuge pushed up his glasses with his index finger and analyzed the level rankings, "The ID Rulebound is still on the leaderboard, which means he hasn't left the novice village to head to a tier-three main city."
"And his level has been steadily rising too, which means one thing."
"It was Rulebound who carried them to level 10."
"Rulebound! Fack your mom! You stole my boss and ruined my plans!", Wang Junjie was so angry his face turned red, his whole body trembling.
"You really want to die! I'll Facking kill you!"
As he spoke, Wang Junjie opened WeChat and sent Su Yingxia a message, [Fack! You bitch! How dare you betray me!]
———
On the other side.
Su Yingxia, who had just woken up, happened to see Wang Junjie's message and casually replied, [You told me to find a way to stall Lin Mo for an hour and a half. I did exactly what you asked.]
[It's your own fault for making such a big scene that the whole of Ning'an City knows about it. How could he not know?]
[Don't give me that crap!], Wang Junjie roared in fury, [I don't care what method you use. Kill him for me! Once it's done, I'll give you ten million!]
[No need,] Su Yingxia said, [The money you already gave me is enough. I don't need more.]
After saying that, Su Yingxia tapped on Wang Junjie's profile picture. Blocked.
Just a simple move.
———
On the other side.
When Wang Junjie realized he had been blocked, he clutched his head with both hands and clawed at his hair in rage.
"I'm going to die of anger!"
"Fack! This is pissing me off!"
"Su Yingxia! Rulebound! You adulterous pair! If I don't kill the two of you, I swear I'm not human!"
"AHHHH!"
So furious that his brain was deprived of oxygen, Wang Junjie collapsed to the ground, his body stiffening as he convulsed.
"The boss fainted again!"
"Boss! Wake up, boss!"
———
[Yunbian Town, Class Change Hall]
To match his talent, Ling Xiao changed class to a tank role: Knight, planning to go full defense and become a nuclear-explosion tank.
As for Xia Wanwan, she changed class to Mage. Her D-grade talent Icebound Heaven (increases ice-type skill damage by 10%) destined her to walk the path of an ice mage in the future.
Skinny Monkey became an Assassin.
Fat Dahai changed class to healer: Priest.
The moment they completed their class changes and received official system recognition, Ling Xiao and Xia Wanwan, overwhelmed with joy, tightly embraced each other and burst into tears.
"We did it!"
"We really did it!"
Watching this pair of star-crossed lovers who had endured countless hardships and finally managed to be together again, Lin Mo could not help but feel deeply moved.
It turned out that while Lin Mo was carrying them through levels, Ling Xiao had already confessed everything to him: He and Xia Wanwan had known each other since childhood. They were together from kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, high school, all the way through university. They were true childhood sweethearts.
But after reaching university, an accident struck.
One weekend, the two went out to have fun. On their way back at night, Xia Wanwan's stunning looks attracted the attention of a group of thugs.
To protect Xia Wanwan and draw their fire, Ling Xiao was surrounded and beaten by several hooligans.
To save Ling Xiao, Xia Wanwan used the eyebrow pencil knife she carried with her to slash one thug's neck.
The two were so terrified and panicked that they fled the scene.
Later on, those thugs somehow tracked them down to Ning'an University, claiming first-degree injury and saying they would call the police to send Xia Wanwan to prison.
Unfortunately, there were no surveillance cameras at the scene that night.
The thugs insisted that Xia Wanwan struck first and intentionally injured someone.
Just when Ling Xiao and Xia Wanwan were at their wits' end.
Wang Junjie stepped in. With just a few words, he settled the matter. Those thugs even called him Brother Jie and showed him great respect.
After that, Wang Junjie used this as leverage, demanding that Xia Wanwan become his girlfriend. If she refused, he would have the thugs report her to the police.
Xia Wanwan would rather die than comply.
Wang Junjie did not truly want to send Xia Wanwan to jail. He just wanted to sleep with her.
And so, the bet on the confession wall came to be. Xia Wanwan declared that among all Ning'an university student players, whoever reached level 10 first would become her boyfriend.
In Ling Xiao's words, "Games are my area of expertise."
"This is my only chance to defeat Wang Junjie."
And Wang Junjie also agreed. If he lost, the matter with the thugs would be dropped, and he would never bother Xia Wanwan again.
As for why Lin Mo felt such a deep connection to this story.
It was because he once had a similar experience.
A year ago, on a weekend just before graduating from university, Lin Mo and Su Yingxia went out together to see the sea.
But on their way back to the hotel that night, they ran into a group of thugs.
To protect Su Yingxia, Lin Mo picked up a stone and seriously injured one of them.
That was the bravest moment of Lin Mo's life.
At that time, Lin Mo was cowardly and timid.
But if anyone dared to bully Su Yingxia, he would risk his life for her.
Yet, ironically, just one week after that incident, Su Yingxia proposed breaking up with Lin Mo.
"Heh! Heh!", Thinking back on it now, Lin Mo felt utterly disheartened.
At that moment, Ling Xiao walked up to Lin Mo and said gratefully, "Thank you, Rulebound!"
"As agreed, I'll give you my leveling reward. On top of the original seventy percent, I'll add another thirty percent. One hundred percent."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xia Wanwan added, "I'll give you all of my rewards too."
Only Skinny Monkey and Fat Dahai were left, looking a bit conflicted.
"Brother Turtle, can I keep thirty percent?"
"Or even twenty percent would be fine…"
Lin Mo smiled calmly.
And said generously, "Deal."
Thus, Lin Mo instantly gained 274,000 in cash.
And seven lottery chances.
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