Lin Chen was having an obsessive-compulsive episode; he just wanted to quickly make up for the missing experience.
He returned to his Treehouse, quickly restored his mana, then packed the saplings at the door into a bamboo basket on Old Yellow Ox's back.
Leading Old Yellow Ox out, it was the same old route as yesterday.
Perhaps all the surrounding zombies had been attracted by the midday wave, Lin Chen didn't encounter any danger on the way, and was even faster than yesterday.
Out of the forest, he first went to the old couple's house from yesterday and got a large bag of rice, and also pulled some vegetables from their field.
He didn't even go far, just by the gravel road, he found a relatively flat piece of wasteland, dug pits, and planted the saplings he brought, one by one.
The only troublesome issue was watering.
Lin Chen searched the house but couldn't find a tap.
There was only an empty hole above the sink, which looked like it once had a tap, so perhaps the water supply system had disappeared, just like mobile phones.
Lin Chen only found half a tank of water in the kitchen's water vat, which was enough to water a few small saplings. "It seems I need to learn Create Water quickly!"
To ensure the survival rate of the saplings, he added some spring of recovery to the water, and finally used Sense Nature to regulate the Nature power within the saplings.
[You have completed a professional practice, gaining profession experience × 1]
[You have completed a professional practice, gaining profession experience × 2]
[You have completed a professional practice, gaining profession experience × 2]
[You have completed a professional practice, gaining profession experience × 2, you have reached the level 1 experience cap, 1 point of profession experience overflowed]
[You have reached the upgrade standard, please prepare and upgrade as soon as possible]
The harvest from planting trees was indeed significant; Lin Chen's experience points quickly filled up, and the excess experience could not be stored. Upgrading also didn't seem to happen in an instant.
He suppressed the urge to upgrade immediately, deciding it was better to be cautious and do it once he returned to camp.
Even if he couldn't gain any more experience, Lin Chen planted all the saplings he had on hand. Protecting Nature wasn't just for leveling up; he genuinely loved Nature and hoped it could be better.
He also collected some branches on the way back. After arriving home, he used Druidcraft to encourage them to root and sprout, temporarily raising them by his doorstep.
Hurriedly, he sorted through the saplings he had previously set aside and, along with the rice he brought back today, delivered them to Oak Grocery.
This time, Wu Ya Ya directly received the items, and he didn't get to see Grandpa Xiao Mu, but at least he finally paid off part of his debt for the rare Spell.
With the last task completed, Lin Chen felt like running, quickly climbed into his Treehouse, and disappeared inside the door.
"Hey, do you think he's in a hurry to go back and upgrade? I saw his progress on the level ranking is 100%!"
"Definitely, I'm so envious! How are Druids so powerful?!"
"Bullshit, is it because Druids are powerful? It's because he's powerful. Otherwise, with two leaderboards, 100 people on each, how come he's the only Druid on it?"
"That's true. First on the level ranking, and he also made it onto the combat power ranking after that wave at noon today, though his rank is very low. But looking at him fighting zombies, if he spent more time on fighting zombies, he definitely wouldn't have just this much achievement..."
Lin Chen was oblivious to the discussions outside. He was enveloped by the power of Nature, immersed within it.
[After the baptism of Nature, you have become a Level 2 Druid]
[Based on your Druid level, you gain the profession skill: Woodland Stride]
[Based on your Druid level, your Health Points have increased to 160]
[Based on your Druid level, your Mana Points have increased to 80]
[No new Spells unlocked at this level]
The changes from upgrading to Level 2 were actually not significant. Besides the new profession skill, only his Health Points and Mana Points increased slightly. However, during the upgrade, the feeling of Nature power was the clearest, which brought him closer to Nature.
Woodland Stride allows a Druid to move at normal speed through thorny plants, dense thickets, or similar terrain without taking any damage. It's a convenient skill for Druids to move through woodlands.
Not unlocking higher-level Spells actually made Lin Chen breathe a sigh of relief. He still hadn't learned many 0-ring and 1-ring Spells. If a whole new batch of Spells appeared, he might never escape the fear of never finishing his Spell studies.
After the aftershocks of the upgrade passed, Lin Chen opened his player handbook to check his attribute panel.
[Name: Lin Chen]
[Race: Half-Elf]
[Profession: Druid Lv2 (0/300)]
(Note: At this level, a maximum of 40% of kill experience can be used)
[Health Points: 160/160]
[Mana Points: 80/80]
[Attributes: Strength 8, Constitution 10, Dexterity 11, Intelligence 12, Perception 15+1, Charisma 11]
[Languages: common tongue, Elvish, druidic]
[Skills: Sense Nature, Wild Empathy, Animal Companion, Woodland Stride]
[Spells: (0-ring) Druidcraft, Light; (1-ring) Shillelagh, Entangle, Healing Word]
[Free Attribute Points: 1]
Lin Chen immediately noticed the experience value after the level, it had tripled! And the upper limit for using kill experience had decreased again, only 40% could be used as kill experience.
Many people might cry, as profession experience is not easy for many to obtain.
However, Lin Chen always felt that profession experience was more authentic, accumulated through genuine cultivation. Though slow, it was solid and brought peace of mind.
Additionally, his Health Points and Mana Points also increased.
Although he had always been quite cautious, deeply engraving the words 'self-preservation' into his soul, and hadn't been injured so far, the increase in Health Points meant he was more resilient, giving him the illusion that his life had been extended.
Mana Points, of course, were always insufficient. An extra 10 points was still good; it meant he could cast two more 1-ring Spells, making him more enduring.
He scooped Yuan Gun Gun into his arms and went out feeling refreshed.
The technique of Woodland Stride was deeply imprinted in his mind. Although there was still some distance between applying the knowledge in his mind to practice, it was simpler than learning Spells.
He tried for a while and initially mastered the key.
The chaotic terrain and intricate thorny bushes in the forest could no longer stop him. Facing him, they either softened or actively made way for him.
This feeling was ineffable, as if he had been accepted by the entire forest. The forest would not harm him, and his actions would not damage the forest. This harmonious relationship and the feeling of being treated kindly deeply touched him.
He ran freely through the forest, like a fish in water, as if in an uninhabited land, feeling incredibly uninhibited.
He ran an unknown distance in one breath, then stopped, panting, happily rubbing the furball in his arms, and excitedly shouted, "From now on, I, Lin Chen, will no longer take the usual path in the forest, haha!"
Yuan Gun Gun silently shifted his body, burying his head in Lin Chen's embrace, only revealing his round bottom.
Today's owner was too strange, rubbing him like he was dough. He was a little worried that the fur on his head would be plucked bald. Alas, life is not easy, says the panda with a sigh!