The Shenxia Empire Exchange was a privilege only available to its citizens, and while Lin Moyu had access, his permission level was minimal—just the lowest, Level 1. To gain more authority and better access to its resources, he would need to increase his contributions to the empire. For now, though, that was a distant concern.
Lin Moyu scanned the items on sale at the exchange: weapons, armor, jewelry, and materials of every kind. But the prices were steep. With only 100 gold coins, he couldn't even afford the cheapest black iron weapon. The more coveted bronze and silver-grade items were far beyond his reach.
He noted the prices of low-level materials, realizing he would need to focus on gathering them to earn money. Shifting his attention to the task board, Lin Moyu began reviewing the available missions.
The monsters around Xihai City ranged from levels 10 to 20, a low-level zone compared to more dangerous areas. Most tasks here involved collecting materials, ideal for life professions like alchemists and blacksmiths who needed resources to hone their craft.
One task caught his eye:
[Unlimited recycling of green sprout grass – 50 gold coins per unit]
[Unlimited recycling of black wolf fur – 20 gold coins per unit]
[Unlimited recycling of animal bones – 30 gold coins per unit]
These tasks were straightforward—ideal for someone in need of quick money. Life professions like alchemists, blacksmiths, and enchanters constantly sought these materials, turning them into valuable items for resale. This formed a cycle of growth for both adventurers and craftsmen, providing economic balance and opportunity.
Then something else on the board stood out:
[Strategy task: Clear the level 14 Xihai Mine dungeon. Objective: Obtain the crystal nucleus of the Goblin King.]
[Note: Only bosses on Nightmare difficulty or above will drop the crystal nucleus.]
The reward was a staggering 100,000 gold coins—an eye-popping amount that indicated the difficulty of the task. The Xihai Mine lay just 50 kilometers south of the city, but Lin Moyu quickly dismissed it. The dungeon required a minimum level of 10, and at level 7, he wasn't ready. Besides, the dungeon difficulties—Normal, Nightmare, and Hell—varied greatly. Nightmare was said to be several times harder than Normal, and without a strong team, tackling it was impossible. Hell-level dungeons, meanwhile, were a death trap for all but the most elite professionals.
After browsing for a while, Lin Moyu left the exchange and made his way to the city gates.
"Lin Moyu, level 7, necromancer?" The gate guards looked over his exit permit, clearly surprised.
It was unusual for a student of his level to be granted permission to venture outside. After all, the monsters beyond the city walls started at level 10, and the three-level gap posed a significant danger.
Despite their concerns, the permit was valid, and the guards quickly processed it.
"Your exit pass is in effect," one of the guards said. "You're free to come and go from the major cities of the Shenxia Empire, but be careful. The monsters outside are dangerous, especially at night. If things go south, don't hesitate to retreat. Losing face is fine, losing your life isn't."
Lin Moyu nodded, appreciative of the guard's advice. "Thank you. I'll be cautious."
As he stepped beyond the gates, a cold wind hit his face, and the sky seemed to darken. The atmosphere outside the city was tense, oppressive, as if the very air carried the scent of blood. The divide between the safe confines of the city and the dangerous wilderness beyond was palpable.
"This city wall... it's not just for show," Lin Moyu muttered as he gazed up at its towering presence, separating two starkly different worlds.
Without wasting time, Lin Moyu moved forward, disappearing into the wilderness. The sense of foreboding grew with every step. From the distance, the roars of beasts echoed, and occasionally, Lin Moyu spotted adventurers battling monsters, all of them above level 10.
The city wall had long vanished behind him, obscured by a light mist. With a thought, Lin Moyu summoned one of his skeleton warriors. He now had 28 warriors in his summoning space, having summoned four more after a night of meditation to restore his mental energy.
Spotting a monster about 20 meters away, Lin Moyu gave the command: "Go. Kill the monster ahead."
The skeleton warrior immediately set off, its bones clattering as it moved. At the same time, Lin Moyu cast a detection spell.
[Goblin Patrol]
[Level: 10]
[Strength: 120]
[Agility: 50]
[Spirit: 50]
[Physique: 120]
[Skills: None]
The goblin patrol, with its savage appearance and mace in hand, was mostly a brute relying on physical strength. Its agility and spirit were low, but it had a decent physique, meaning it could take a hit. However, none of its stats compared to Lin Moyu's skeleton warrior, whose four-dimensional attributes reached 750.
The goblin spotted the approaching skeleton and swung its mace with a deafening whoosh. The weapon collided with the skeleton, making a resounding crack. The sheer force caused the skeleton to tremble, but that was all. The skeleton warrior swiftly countered, raising its worn sword and slashing at the goblin with ruthless precision.