“Ding-dong, congratulations to player Stone City for discovering the Black Rock Tower, gaining 2000 experience and 20 reputation.”
With the system notification, the scenery before my eyes suddenly changed dramatically.
Just moments ago it was blue sky, white clouds, and green grass, now it turned into a gloomy gray sandy ground, with a blood-red sky and a bleak scene that made one feel extremely uncomfortable.
The entrance to the Black Rock Tower was beneath a prominent boulder on the sandy ground, with huge skull-shaped stone carvings on both sides exuding an endless sense of mystery, accompanied by an occasional “woo-woo” sound.
Right at the entrance of the Black Rock Tower, five or six skeleton soldiers wielding black long swords wandered back and forth, producing a “creak, creak” sound of bones clashing as they moved.
With one Inspect look：
Skeleton soldier： Level 18, 1000 HP, skill： Heavy Strike. The bones of those who died on the battlefield, tainted by demonic energy, formed mindless and thoughtless bloodthirsty monsters that enjoy making “creak” sounds.
The monsters in Black Rock Tower were quite tough. The weakest skeleton soldiers at the entrance were Level 18, so without certain strength, one certainly wouldn’t dare to provoke them easily.
Although I’m a freak, I was still wearing level 5 gear, so I had no idea how deep the water was. I had to carefully approach a skeleton soldier to test my blade on it first.
-150, -170, using “Heavy Strike,” two swift slashes landed, and numbers appeared above the skeleton soldier’s head. However, the skeleton soldier reacted quickly and immediately turned to attack me.
Haha, no wonder I’m a knight, my defense is really strong.
Damage of -25 and -30 appeared above my head. The skeleton soldier’s attacks didn’t seem like much; I could easily withstand them. Plus, my attack speed was twice as fast as the skeleton soldier’s, so at the cost of less than 100 HP, I easily took it down.
“Ding-dong, congratulations to player Stone City for obtaining bone ash. Your gathering skill proficiency has increased.”
Bone Ashes： Bones with demonic energy, can be used to brew toxicity potions.
Defense is decent, but the attack is a bit low. If I had a level 10 blue weapon, these skeleton soldiers would be no big deal. Still, my current state is passable—taking them on one-on-one isn't too strenuous.
Taking on higher-level monsters is fast experience. Just dispatching a few skeleton soldiers at the entrance of Blackstone Tower, and my EXP rose by 3%.
Blackstone Tower has been sealed—monsters should not be able to get out in theory. But now there are skeleton soldiers active at the tower's entrance. Something's off. I'll go scout it out.
Just as I was about to teleport into Blackstone Tower, the system sent a prompt：
“Ding-dong, Stone City, you've been in the game for 9 hours. Please take a break and protect your health. If you stay online for 10 consecutive hours, the system will forcibly log you out.”
Ugh, seriously. I was just getting into the groove, and the system throws out a reminder. But no matter what, good rest is the key to success. It is time to rest.
Of course, I don't worry about other players catching up to me. Because when I rest, others rest too. Our gameplay time is the same.
Logged out of the game. Checked the time—it's already midnight. Time to sleep.
Took a hot shower, lay down in bed, and The Divine Emperor Code inside me started operating rapidly on its own.
The Divine Emperor Code is an ancient secret manual I stumbled upon while traveling before graduating as a senior. After a year of cultivation, I've already made considerable progress.
The Divine Emperor Code is divided into four realms: Foundation Establishment, Domineering, Kingly, and Divine. Each realm has five levels. I'm currently at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment.
To be honest, when I first started cultivating The Divine Emperor Code, since it was my first contact with martial arts, progress was very slow. I kept hitting dead ends and saw little effect.
But after I kept at it relentlessly for half a year, The Divine Emperor Code finally entered the first level of Foundation Establishment, and my progress took off as if it were only natural. In five months, I reached the fourth level of Foundation Establishment.
But just as the 'Emperor God Art' reached Foundation Establishment Stage, Level 4, I ran into problems with my cultivation. The true energy in my body stopped increasing entirely, with no progress at all. No matter how hard I tried, there was little effect, as if my cultivation had hit a bottleneck.
Despite my utmost effort and having studied the 'Emperor God Art' extensively for a long time, there was still no effect. There was no choice but to let it be and let nature take its course.
The 'Emperor God Art' is definitely no ordinary martial art, and its power is immense—of this I am now very certain.
Although my current cultivation is only at Foundation Establishment Stage, Level 4, which can be described as just stepping through the threshold of the 'Emperor God Art,' I can now channel my internal energy to leap five meters into the air, cut through steel with my hands, shatter giant rocks with my fists, and even remotely control a basketball within ten meters. I'm really as formidable as those martial arts masters you see on TV shows.
I often marvel that even the lowest Foundation Establishment realm of the 'Emperor God Art' can produce such results—so if I were to cultivate to the higher realms of the 'Emperor God Art,' I'd probably be as immensely powerful and resourceful as those legendary immortals.
I lay down on the bed and soon drifted off to sleep.
The familiar 'Emperor God Art' immediately began circulating unceasingly through my meridians. Although it no longer increased my true energy or improved my power, the effect it brought me was that one hour of sleep was equivalent to three hours of sleep for an ordinary person.
The next day, I woke up early, went for a half-hour morning run at Huaxia University, came back to take a shower, then logged into the game to continue my conquests.
My house is right next to Huaxia University, only about a ten-minute walk away. As a nationally key educational institution, Huaxia University's campus is beautifully and naturally designed, making it a nationally renowned garden university and arts university. My morning run has become an indispensable part of my daily life.
Entering the game, a flash of light appeared, and I found myself at the entrance of the Blackstone Tower where I logged off yesterday. I drew my steel blade, equipped my shield, and advanced toward Blackstone Tower, bold and high-spirited.
'Ding-dong, Stone City, this is the first level of Blackstone Tower. Do you wish to enter?'
'Yes.'
With a flash, I entered the first level of Blackstone Tower.
The black marble and dim light, coupled with the occasional creaking creaking sounds from ahead, really made people feel a bit oppressed. Fortunately, some oil lamps on the stone walls lit the passage, or else no one would dare to go forward.
The Blackrock Tower was very simple. After passing through a few corridors, there were three flat halls filled with creaking creaking skeleton soldiers, swaying and wandering mechanically like puppets.
"What a great place to level up！" I couldn't help but exclaim, and immediately rushed toward the skeleton soldiers in the left hall.
Skeleton soldiers that don't attack first are truly my fat and delicious lunch. Swish swish swish, I put down the skeleton soldiers one by one. Watching the soaring experience from level-skipping kills, is there anything more exciting than this？
After clearing the skeleton soldiers in the left hall, I came to the middle hall. Just after killing two skeleton soldiers, I saw a tall skeleton with a halo under its feet and a large sword in both hands, looking different from the others, actively charging at me.
What's that thing? Looks pretty cool.
Using "Inspect", I looked：
Skeleton Captain： Level 23 Normal BOSS, 2000 HP, Skills： Bone Spike (can reflect attacks), Heavy Slash (with stun effect), Leader of skeleton soldiers, likes black stones.
Isn't this the skeleton captain that the merchant Wang Wu said stole his Kuidong Necklace？ Looks like he's the boss of Blackrock Tower's first floor.
"Kill!" I shouted loudly, charging toward the skeleton captain.
When I was level 9, I didn't even put the level 20, 5000 HP Silver BOSS Black Bear Chala in my eyes, and even killed the over level 30 Golden BOSS Golden War Bear Chala （evolved from Black Bear Chala, albeit a weakened one）. So why would I be afraid of this little BOSS? Besides, I've already changed class now, and my abilities have greatly improved.
Using the skill "Heavy Strike," -120 and -100 damage floated above the Skeleton Captain's head, while the Skeleton Captain could only deal 40-something damage to me.
The attack was still a bit low, but my attack speed wasn't slow—thanks to the attack speed bonus from high agility, plus Dudu Rabbit's mask and the "Quick Hands" skill bonus, and the high critical hits and stun effects driven by my insane luck. After a back-and-forth exchange of slashing and killing, at the cost of 3 medium health potions, the level 23 Skeleton Captain helplessly fell before the battle blade of level 13 knight Stone City, dropping two pieces of equipment.
"Ding-dong, congratulations to player Stone City for leveling up. You are now level 14, with 10 HP increased, 10 MP increased, and 5 attribute points to assign."
Heh, leveled up again. The Skeleton Captain gives a ton of experience. Continue adding to Strength and Constitution in a 3：2 ratio.
"Ding-dong, congratulations to player Stone City for killing the Skeleton Captain. Fame increased by 30."
I used "Looting" on the Skeleton Captain's corpse—I always make the most of everything, never waste any resources.
"Ding-dong, congratulations to player Stone City for obtaining a Black Crystal. Looting skill proficiency increased."
Black Crystal： Intermediate material, versatile uses.
Then I checked the two pieces of equipment that dropped. Haha, so happy—there's actually a gold-tier item：
Skull Helmet： Gold equipment, Requirement： Level 20, Effect unknown, cannot be equipped.
I need to be level 20 to use it. I'll get it appraised then, but thinking about the hefty appraisal fee makes my heart tremble a bit.
The other item wasn't simple either—though it was blue equipment, it turned out to be a ring.
Rings, necklaces, and accessories are all hard-to-find items.
Black Crystal Ring: Blue equipment, Requirement: Level 15, Attack 10, damage from undead monsters reduced by 5, Bonus: Defense 10.
The Black Crystal Ring is definitely a great item. Damage reduction of 5 means if an undead monster deals 10 damage to you, wearing the Black Crystal Ring reduces it to 5 damage.
Just imagine wearing four Black Crystal Rings – you could probably dominate the Blackstone Tower.
Too bad you need to be level 15 to use it. I'm only level 14 now, so I need to level up one more time. Alright, time to grind！