C14 Rich Reward

However, it seems that Lin Tian's strength is intrinsically linked to Bai Li. In plain terms, Lin Tian's power boost relies entirely on external players hunting monsters. Bai Li is in the same boat, meaning that as Lin Tian grows stronger, so does Bai Li.

Does this mean Lin Tian will never be able to outpace Bai Li in his lifetime?

This thought cast a shadow over Lin Tian's mood, but the little girl paid no mind to these concerns. After dispatching their prey, they both hurried back, eager to tackle the dungeon Lin Tian had mentioned.

Having defeated a Fire Elf en route, Lin Tian decided to elevate the game's very first dungeon to a more sophisticated level. He aimed to create a dungeon featuring a Boss, with the final challenge being the Fire Elf they had previously encountered.

Typically, a Fire Elf's power ranges from Level 10 to Level 13. The one Lin Tian had bested was a Level 10 Fire Elf, the weakest of its kind. Nevertheless, it would likely take a team of players at Level 10 or higher to defeat it, given the Fire Elf's unique nature. It attacks the soul and, being made of energy, is impervious to physical attacks.

Crafting a dungeon around such a unique monster was sure to be a huge draw.

Deep within a secluded forest near Beginner Village, Lin Tian set up the inaugural Player Invading dungeon.

Gazing at the ethereal gateway before him, Lin Tian nodded in approval. This dungeon would surely increase the players' zeal for monster hunting, which in turn would accelerate his own rise in strength.

Shortly after, Lin Tian broadcasted an announcement within the game:

"Dungeon Alert: The game's first dungeon is now live! Located in the enigmatic forest west of Beginner Village, the dungeon, dubbed 'Mystery Realm,' awaits challengers. First Clear Reward: A random Blue Treasure (with a chance to obtain a rare treasure). Completion Reward: One piece of Green Equipment! Boss Drop: One piece of Blue Equipment!"

With the release of the announcement, the players were abuzz with excitement. They had anticipated a long wait for a dungeon, never expecting it to launch so soon. The presence of a Boss within the dungeon only heightened the thrill.

With the presence of a Boss in the dungeon, securing the first clear was imperative. The first clear, achieved by the team that conquers the dungeon before anyone else, comes with additional rewards. These victors are also commemorated within the dungeon for future players to look up to.

What's more, the first clear reward includes a blue treasure, an item that has never been seen before, with a chance of being an even rarer treasure. The player who manages to secure this blue treasure ahead of the entire server will undoubtedly surge ahead of the competition. The immense power of the blue treasure will provide a significant boost to all players, at least until the release of the second map.

The standard rewards for completing the dungeon are also quite appealing, offering green equipment, while the Boss may drop blue equipment. Such a dungeon is a rarity in Beginner Village.

Lin Tian hadn't intended for the dungeon to be this opulent. However, upon acquiring a Fire Elf by chance, it was incorporated into the game. The greater the benefits provided to the players, the quicker Lin Tian's own power grows. After all, there's no point in being frugal with one's own resources.

"Damn, damn, damn, the dungeon is out! Did you see? The dungeon is out!"

At that moment, in the midst of the Wasteland, Beiming Xue's team had just vanquished a Lava Elite Monster when Lin Tian's announcement caught their attention. Learning of the dungeon's lavish rewards, they were instantly enticed and set out to tackle it.

Simultaneously, they accessed the Merchant Shop. An NPC had previously mentioned that two new treasures would be available there, though their nature was unknown.

With the dungeon now unveiled, it was likely that the Merchant Shop's new treasures had also been released.

"Lava Armor — Green, 200 Reincarnation Coins."

"Devil Energy Crystal Stone — Green, 500 Reincarnation Coins."

Upon seeing these two treasures, Beiming Xue inhaled sharply. As a healer, these newly released items seemed tailor-made for her, promising to enhance her survivability. The Devil Energy Crystal Stone, in particular, was exactly what she needed most for her magic.

The price of the Devil Energy Crystal Stone was giving her a headache—it was outrageously expensive at 500 Reincarnation Coins. So far, the game hadn't introduced a way to purchase coins, so the only way to earn them was by slaying monsters.

Despite her efforts in defeating countless monsters, Beiming Xue was on the verge of reaching Level 6, yet she only had 400 Reincarnation Coins—still short of the 500 needed. She couldn't even afford the most basic Devil Energy Crystal Stone. It felt like a rip-off.

Driven by curiosity, Beiming Xue checked the detailed information about the Devil Energy Crystal Stone.

"Devil Energy Crystal Stone, crafted from the core of a formidable Lava Monster, possesses the mysterious power to store Magic Value. It can hold up to 1000 Magic Value and automatically recharges over 4 hours."

Even though Beiming Xue's face remained impassive, the subtle swallow betrayed her excitement about the item.

As a nearly Level 6 mage, her Magic Value was a substantial 300.

That might seem like a lot, but in practice, it wouldn't last long. The Devil Energy Crystal Stone, despite being classified as green equipment, could store an impressive 1000 Magic Energy and was available for absorption at any moment. What's more, it recharged automatically, ready for reuse within four hours after being depleted.

It was no surprise that such a treasure cost a hefty 500 Reincarnation Coins. Honestly, it seemed like a fair price, and by Beiming Xue's gaming experience, it was practically a bargain.

Beiming Xue was starting to lose her grasp on the game's logic. What was the developer's goal? They provided players with such generous perks without a way to spend real money. Was it possible that making a profit wasn't their objective?

Indeed, Beiming Xue's hunch was spot on. Lin Tian hadn't created the game for financial gain. Of course, even with her suspicions, Beiming Xue could never imagine that Lin Tian's true purpose was to prepare for a defense against invaders from other worlds threatening Earth.

"Chung Tianya, hand over your Reincarnation Coins to me," she said decisively. "I need to buy this Devil Energy Crystal Stone, and I don't have enough on my own."

Beiming Xue was unflappable, her expression calm and her heart steady as she directly addressed Chung Tianya, inquiring about the Reincarnation Coins. With no means to recharge at present, she had no choice but to make the request.