Chapter 66: Iron-Skinned Hand [Thunder]

To this end, Lu Yang purchased the recipes for low-quality copper-cased bombs and crude gunpowder, and then headed to the auction house to buy the corresponding materials.

The prices of bronze bars and iron bars were relatively high, and Lu Yang's success rate was not very high to begin with. As a result, by the time he raised his Engineering proficiency to Level 200, he was left with only 40 silver coins.

Fortunately, the materials for making iron-plated grenades and mechanical dummies were just high-explosive charges and bronze tubes. As long as he could buy more bronze bars, iron bars, wool cloth, and silk, he would be able to craft them.

Crafting a single iron-plated grenade required 3 high-explosive charges, 2 iron bars, and 2 silk. After more than 30 attempts, Lu Yang managed to successfully craft 5 iron-plated grenades.

Iron-Plated Grenade
Type: Thrown
Range: 30 yards
Cooldown: 2 minutes
Description: Throws an iron-plated grenade at the target, dealing 131 Fire damage to enemies within a 5-yard radius and incapacitating the target for 5 seconds. Any damage will break this effect. The effect is greatly diminished when used against targets above Level 30.

Lu Yang clenched his fist. With these grenades, he had gained another valuable asset for future PvP encounters.

After placing the five grenades into his inventory, Lu Yang took out the bronze tubes, bronze bars, and wool cloth to begin crafting the mechanical dummies.

The mechanical dummy was a half-meter-tall bronze-cased robot, and it was very easy to make. According to the instructions on the blueprint, after failing twice, Lu Yang successfully crafted a bronze robot on his third attempt.

Mechanical Dummy
Type: Defensive
Range: Melee
Health: 300
Cooldown: 2 minutes
Description: Places a mechanical dummy on the ground. Once placed, the mechanical dummy automatically casts the Taunt skill, drawing the attacks of surrounding monsters for 3 minutes.

Although this health pool could not withstand a single normal attack from any boss, and Lu Yang himself could instantly obliterate it with a single move, placing a mechanical dummy on the ground when cornered by enemies could buy a significant amount of time for escape.

Lu Yang organized the remaining materials in his inventory and crafted 5 more mechanical dummies, exhausting all his supplies. At that moment, Xiao Liang called him.

Lu Yang pressed the answer button and asked, "What's up?"

"Boss, I'm logging off to get some rest," Xiao Liang said.

Lu Yang checked the time and realized another night had passed. He said, "Alright, I'm logging off too."

Opening the game menu, Lu Yang selected to log out.

Meanwhile.

Xia Yuwei and her group were still farming wild oxen at the bug spot in the Wild Ox Zone. Over the course of a day and a night, the dozen or so people grinding together had all reached Level 5.

Xia Yuwei checked the time and exchanged glances with Zhang Zibo.

"Let's log off and get some rest," Xia Yuwei said.

"Okay, I'm sleepy too," Lan Yu chimed in.

"Alright then, let's log off for now. I'll call you guys to log back in tomorrow," Xia Yuwei said.

"Got it, we're logging off too," Ban Shi Chenguang and the others said.

Xia Yuwei nodded and was the first to exit the game.

After organizing her inventory, Lan Yu also logged out of the game. However, the moment she stepped out of her gaming pod, a curvaceous woman was staring at her with an angry expression.

"Sister Yuwei, why are you looking at me like that?" Lan Yu asked with a guilty conscience.

In real life, Xia Yuwei was a college junior with a stunning figure and a breathtaking, peerless appearance.

"You ask me why? What do you think?" Xia Yuwei said, placing her hands on her hips in displeasure.

Lan Yu instantly realized that Xia Yuwei must be complaining about her failure to mention earlier that Lu Yang was the exact same "ordinary person" they had met by the moat.

"Ah, um, I don't know what you're talking about," Lan Yu feigned ignorance and acted cute.

"Still refusing to confess? See if I don't tickle you till you talk!" Xia Yuwei revealed her inner prankster, extending her slender fingers toward Lan Yu's waist.

"Ah, well, I really didn't know!" Lan Yu shivered. Whenever Xia Yuwei wore that look, it meant she was about to face bad luck.

"Since you won't talk, don't blame your big sister for being merciless," Xia Yuwei said vengefully as she lunged to grab the ticklish spots on Lan Yu's waist.

"You brat! You knew Lu Yang's identity and didn't tell me sooner, making me completely embarrass myself yesterday. See how I deal with you!"

"Ah~~ Help~~" Lan Yu suffered a brutal assault, being chased all around the dormitory. Unfortunately, the dorm room was only so big. She wanted to run outside, but another beauty who shared the room had already locked the door—and that beauty happened to be the guild's female Warlock.

With nowhere left to run and caught in a pincer attack by the two women, Lan Yu had no choice but to spill everything about Lu Yang.

"Sisters, that's really all I know! Please spare me!" Lan Yu pleaded, looking at the two beauties with wide, innocent, and sparkling eyes.

"Is that really all?"

"There's truly only that much! I honestly don't know his real-life identity," Lan Yu said.

"Fine. I'll spare you since you seem somewhat sincere. But you should keep an eye on that Lu Yang; he seems quite interested in you," Xia Yuwei said.

"No way." Lan Yu's face flushed slightly. She did harbor some fondness for Lu Yang, but just a little.

Xia Yuwei and the female Warlock were entirely preoccupied with thoughts of Lu Yang and failed to notice Lan Yu's expression.

Elsewhere, Lu Yang, who was in the middle of a workout, couldn't help but sneeze. He rubbed his nose and muttered, "Did I catch a cold? That shouldn't be right."

After finishing his workout, Lu Yang returned to his bed to continue sleeping, logging back into the game by the afternoon.

He checked his current stats. Including the bonuses from the Arsonist's Staff, Crispy Roasted Eel, God of War's Heart, and everything else, his attributes had increased significantly.

Lu Yang
Level: 10
Endurance: 23
Strength: 21
Intelligence: 153
Agility: 23
Constitution: 37
Health: 592
Mana: 1836
Physical Damage: 26–30
Spell Damage: 242
Defense: 33–39
Physical Critical Strike Chance: 0%
Magical Critical Strike Chance: 28.3%
Mana Regeneration: 5 points / 5 seconds

Having these stats at this level was enough to let Lu Yang look down upon the entire game. Even if Black Blood gathered people to gank him, he could single-handedly dismantle Black Blood's entire guild.

"Black Blood, it won't be long before I wipe out your guild first," Lu Yang thought to himself.

Although he could go exact his revenge right now, Lu Yang temporarily lacked the time. Once players reached Level 10, the game's playability expanded vastly, featuring many enjoyable mini-games.

Completing these mini-games could yield numerous special items, and there was a mini-game right now that Lu Yang could complete within the city.

Near the east gate market, there was the Darkmoon Circus, which arrived to perform here in the middle of every month.

Originally, players were all busy leveling up outside, and no one came to the circus to watch the performances. In his past life, it wasn't until two months after the game's release that casual players wandering in to watch the show accidentally triggered a hidden quest, thereby bringing this quest to light.