Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Beastmaster

Wei Weilong
Profession: Beast Warrior
Level: 30
Vitality: 2000
Mana: 1500
Attack: 515 (Base 180 + Ruyi Staff 300 + Fate 35)
Defense: 402 (Base 100 + Heavenly Forge 200 + Shadow Stepper 30 + Black Feather 22 + Wind & Thunder 50)
Reputation: 10
Luck: 1 (Fate 1)
Summoned Beasts: Hurricane Wolf King, Giant Horned Lizard, Mud Python.

These attributes are truly formidable—a qualitative leap! The only downside is that all the experience I earned through quests when I hit level 30 has vanished, undoubtedly consumed to activate this skill. What a bizarre activation requirement.

Next, I checked my skills. The Beast Warrior has ten in total: two melee martial arts, one ranged magic, two support buffs, five passive skills, and a passive skill shared by all advanced summoners called "Ultimate Summoning." Mastering this skill enables one to summon five beasts simultaneously—a complete game-changer compared to before the class advancement.

With my current stats, I’m on par with a warrior now. I feel utterly transformed, power coursing through every movement.

Exiting the sanctuary, I remembered I still had two skill books left to learn, so I took them out to have a look.

[True and False Motions]: Consumes 50 mana, enters stealth for 2 seconds, leaving behind an uncontrollable decoy that explodes after 2 seconds, dealing 70 magic damage. Cooldown: 1 minute. Usable by all classes.

[Cloud Dash Assault]: Consumes 300 mana, dashes forward rapidly, damaging up to three targets in front. After hitting, increases the user's movement speed by 5% for 3 seconds. Cooldown: 1 minute. Usable by all classes.

These are perfect hit-and-run skills! Combined with my Smash Strike and Energy Explosion, using these together will leave any enemy under immense pressure.

“When did you get back? I didn’t expect you to have advanced your class already. With your stats, you could probably solo a boss now,” a voice sounded behind me.

I turned around to see Xin Yue. I replied, “Yeah, just lucky, that’s all. Heh.”

“You’re too modest,” Xin Yue said.

“Either way, you were part of that quest. You deserve a share of the boss drops, but…” I scratched my head.

Xin Yue shook her head. “You did all the work defeating the boss. I was just cannon fodder, instantly wiped out. I don’t deserve any loot.”

“Don’t say that. Even if you didn’t get the kill, you did your part. Here, take this.” I traded her the Boots of Silent Step.

Xin Yue hesitated for a moment. “I... I really shouldn’t…”

“It’s fine, just take it as a thank you for helping with the quest,” I insisted.

“Well, alright, I’ll accept. And in return, I’ll tell you a bit of news. The top 8 in this PK tournament will get level and equipment rewards. The top 3 even have a chance at gold-tier or higher equipment,” Xin Yue said.

“Gold-tier or higher?!” Damn! After green comes silver—already a huge leap. If someone gets the top-tier dark-gold equipment, that would be insane! I’d have missed out if they hadn’t mentioned it.

“With your strength, you should easily make the top 8,” Xin Yue added.

Like it’s that easy. My goal is the championship, but the top two on the Heavenly Ranking—Phantom Moon and Blade Alone—are both stronger than me. Especially Phantom Moon, who has a hidden class. Who knows what powerful skills she might have? Beating them won’t be easy.

“If we meet during the tournament, go easy on me,” Xin Yue said with a smile.

A priest in a PK tournament? What’s she going to do, spam Magic Missiles for a few dozen points of damage? That seems unlikely. “I’m off to find my friends. Until next time!”

“Alright, see you soon.” We added each other as friends and I watched her leave.

I went to register for the tournament and messaged Ye Shuang and Xiao Xi to sign up too. With their current equipment, breaking into the top 8 should be doable.

Tonight, I’ll train all night, sleep in the morning, have lunch, and then join the tournament in the afternoon. That’s the plan.

Leaving Tianlong City, I knew leveling up again right now was impossible, so I just hunted some monsters. Meanwhile, my Mud Snake had evolved into a Mud Python. Time to check its stats.

Name: Mud Python
Type: Beast
Race: Reptile
Quality: Mid-tier
Evolution: Possible
Life: 200
Attack: 110
Defense: 57
Skills: Acid Spray, Burrow, Poison Bomb

Description: The Mud Python is the evolved form of the Mud Snake. Not only does it retain the Mud Snake’s skills, but it can also spit highly toxic poison bombs from its mouth, inflicting excruciating pain on its enemies.

Its body is now two meters long, with a thick trunk like a barrel, inky black skin, and a triangular head—indistinguishable from a regular giant python. I made my way to a swamp. To be honest, the area around the Death Forest is full of such places. Soon, a group of blue-skinned lizards appeared before me.

Blue-skinned Lizard, Level 30, Common Beast. I struck one on the head with my staff, and it staggered back two steps in pain—945 damage floating above its head. The monster bit back, taking away about sixty health, but I finished it off with another blow. Each one gave just over 200 experience—not much, not little.

They also dropped a few copper coins. Stingy creatures.

Checking my friends list, Ye Shuang and the others were still online. Looks like they want to gain a few more levels before the tournament.

I started wondering—what if I have to face them in tomorrow’s match? A bit of a dilemma, since the tournament is single elimination. It would be troublesome to go up against them.

As for Phantom Moon, I have no clue—already level 33. Without a full set of powerful gear, there’s no way to level up that fast. That person must be kitted out in silver gear, maybe even a full set. No wonder they’re so fast.

The others, at best, have a full set of purple gear. Without the skill bonuses from green gear, they’re just not on the same level.

I kept grinding monsters until morning, then logged off and collapsed into bed, falling asleep instantly. I didn’t wake until after noon when Long Xin called me for lunch.

“What level are you now, bro?” Long Xin asked.

“Just hit 30. I advanced my class yesterday, so I’ll have a slight edge in the tournament,” I replied.

“Really? I advanced my class this morning too. You two siblings are really neck and neck,” Feng Xiaoyue said, smiling.

I was shocked. “That fast?”

“Yeah, we were farming level 35 elite monsters in a spot near the Blood Wasteland this morning. The place is at the base of a hill. Xiao Xi lured a huge mob over, including a boss. Then Long Xin’s fireball missed, hit the hillside, and caused a landslide that buried all the monsters. We got a flood of experience,” Feng Xiaoyue explained.

“Wow, that’s incredible luck! You must have made a fortune in drops,” I exclaimed.

“You’re clueless. The system said there are rare micro-probability events in the Second World—basically, random incidents outside the normal rules. Like today, when Long Xin accidentally triggered a landslide with a fireball, wiping out a huge group of monsters. The odds of that happening are extremely low, but not impossible. The system usually rules in favor of players on such things, so you get to share the unexpected experience bonus. But, for balance, those monsters don’t drop any loot, and similar things won’t happen again. It’s a one-off,” Xiao Ai said proudly.

Damn, Long Xin has such luck.

I struggled for days, risking my life to reach level 30 and complete my second class change, while they leveled up safely in a few days and caught up to me. Especially Long Xin—her luck is infuriating. Looks like I’ll have to stick with them for leveling in the future.

Next up was logging in to join the tournament. This time it’s a knockout competition, no time limit, several groups playing simultaneously. Today’s rounds will decide the top 16, and from then on, matches will be held in the professional arena in Tianlong City. All players will be able to watch the matches through the system’s player.

At exactly two o’clock, the system prompted: “The tournament has officially begun. You have successfully registered and are assigned to Group 44. Do you wish to enter the arena?”