Sheng Sheng logged out to eat, converted the silver coins she'd earned into real money through the official channel, then slept soundly until the next morning before logging back in.
Now that her level had finally caught up to, and even slightly surpassed, the main player crowd, she didn't need to push herself so hard anymore.
Sheng Sheng: Life is important. Life is important.
Most people who like playing games are night owls, so even at six in the morning, Kaedelin City was still filled with a steady stream of players.
With a task on her hands, Sheng Sheng hurried toward Frostwind Forest.
But for some reason, she felt that along the way, some players were looking at her strangely.
After being stared at for so long, Sheng Sheng couldn't take it anymore and casually stopped someone to ask.
The player was straightforward and said bluntly, "You've been on the forum, right? That super-popular PK video. Even though the game ID was censored, your face is way too recognizable!"
Following his directions, Sheng Sheng finally found the post on the forum.
Sheng Sheng: …
Sheng Sheng: Never thought someone would smile and trade equipment with me on the surface, then turn around and hang me on the forum.
Just from the camera angle, it was obvious the video had been recorded by one of the players who'd been watching at the time.
The post was extremely popular.
She skimmed through it. The first few hundred replies could basically be summed up as: this female priest definitely used hacks, report her.
Then, at last, the GM showed up with an official response.
GM0303: "After verification, this player complies with game rules and has not engaged in any violations. The game does not encourage player combat. Please play in a civilized manner…"
The players following the thread immediately collapsed.
"So this isn't hacking? A priest killing an archer in two skills, and you're telling me this isn't hacking?!"
"Why do I feel like we're not even playing the same class?"
"Wake up. She's obviously not a traditional priest. Can your priest shoot lightning? At most you can spam Holy Light Ball."
"Fine, then I feel like we're not even playing the same game."
"This is a hidden class, right? Why is my class so ordinary while hers is so flashy?!"
"The difference between African luck and European luck is really huge. *lights cigarette, sighs*"
"This game discriminates against Africans! Severe psychological discomfort! Reported!"
…
Sheng Sheng skimmed through the post. After confirming that no one accused her of hacking anymore once the GM responded, she closed the page.
Only then did she fully understand why people had been giving her strange looks.
Sheng Sheng: Probably the envious gaze of unlucky players toward a lucky one.
—
Frostwind Forest lay directly east of Kaedelin City, far from Ashen Forest.
However, the scenery of the two forests was quite similar, even the monster levels weren't very different.
Sheng Sheng looked at the task prompt.
The quest didn't give a direct coordinate, only something like a compass that kept guiding her direction.
Moving alone through the forest, Sheng Sheng had to carefully avoid monster aggro ranges. Pulling even one would waste a lot of time killing it.
Although the monsters here gave decent experience, solo efficiency was low, making it not worth it.
Luckily, after searching for a bit over half an hour, she found the target location.
It really was an altar.
A circular altar, not very large, no more than five meters in diameter. It had three tiers, each not very tall, with steps thoughtfully placed on all four sides.
Judging only by that, the altar was completely ordinary.
However, floating in midair at its center was a massive blue diamond-shaped crystal that was obviously extraordinary. The forest lighting was dim, making its glow even more striking.
There were no small monsters nearby. Sheng Sheng stepped onto the altar.
System: Dark Altar discovered. Dark source detected. Enter dungeon?
The task description warned that the dungeon difficulty was high and recommended forming a party.
After thinking for a moment, Sheng Sheng still chose to enter solo.
She had no acquaintances in the game—where would she suddenly find someone to run it with?
Besides, the dungeon had no entry limit. She could try it solo first.
Sheng Sheng confirmed.
System: Abandoned Peolis Research Institute discovered.
System: Peolis Research Institute has been corroded by dark power for many years. Dark energy permeates the area. All player attributes reduced by 20% inside the dungeon.
She hadn't even finished taking in her surroundings before these two messages appeared.
Looking at her now-red attribute panel—
Sheng Sheng: …
Since she was already here, she could only grit her teeth and try.
According to the system, Peolis Research Institute had been abandoned for many years. Looking ahead, Sheng Sheng saw a plant-covered path leading to a mostly collapsed two-story building. Unknown plants had overgrown the ruins. Combined with the lack of sunlight in the dungeon, the sky was as gray as Frostwind Forest.
The entire dungeon felt gloomy and oppressive.
As for the quest targets—the bats—there was no sign of them yet.
After thinking briefly, Sheng Sheng headed toward the building.
The path wasn't long, but halfway through, she heard a strange sound. Before she could react, a mass of black shadows suddenly appeared at the end of the path.
After seeing what the shadows were—
Sheng Sheng: …
Sheng Sheng: "Damn."
She turned and ran.
But the dungeon had very limited space. The bats had flown out of the building, and who knew how many more were inside—going back was impossible. The path was blocked by steep mountains on both sides, clearly marked as "no entry."
Sheng Sheng tried to kite them in circles, but with a priest's short legs and a 20% speed reduction, how could she outrun flying monsters?
System: You were killed by Dark Bat. Equipment durability reduced.
PS: This is a special dungeon. Players do not lose experience or items upon death.
Sheng Sheng: …
She lay on the ground, staring at the gray sky, feeling like she'd died with grievances.
—
Three minutes later…
On the steps of the Dark Altar in Frostwind Forest, Sheng Sheng sat cross-legged, looking utterly lifeless.
She'd wanted to solo the dungeon, but reality proved that the system's recommendation to bring a teammate was not baseless.
This dungeon simply couldn't be cleared solo.
Sheng Sheng: Where am I supposed to find a teammate?
Monsters in special dungeons gave no experience and dropped no equipment. Most players were grinding levels—unless they were life-and-death friends, who would help with a high-difficulty, no-reward dungeon?
A lifelong solo player, Sheng Sheng finally felt Earth Online's malice.
After thinking for a few minutes, she stood up and left Frostwind Forest.
At this stage, most players wouldn't enter Frostwind Forest with its higher-level monsters. Most were grinding near Kaedelin City.
At Blazing Sun Farm near the city, Sheng Sheng indeed found large groups of players.
But most had fixed parties—no one would suddenly leave to run a dungeon with a stranger.
As for the few solo players left…
Sheng Sheng: "Could you help me run a dungeon?"
"Whoa! Aren't you that person from the forum? I heard you're a hidden class! What skills do you have? How did you get it? Don't be stingy, tell us!"
Sheng Sheng: …
After asking more than ten players, aside from two who rejected her immediately after hearing there were no rewards, the rest kept pestering her about her "hidden class."
Sheng Sheng: Sorry. Goodbye.
Exhausted, Sheng Sheng even considered hiring a studio.
It would cost money, but at least studio players were efficient and didn't talk nonsense.
Avoiding the players still trying to surround her, Sheng Sheng quickened her pace toward Kaedelin City.
But just as she reached the city gates, someone called her name.
—Not her game ID. Her real name.
"Sheng Sheng?"
Sheng Sheng: …
Her first reaction was to look around.
Luckily, most people were grinding, and there weren't many players at the gate. The voice wasn't loud either—probably no one heard her name.
Turning around, she saw a very recognizable handsome face.
Sheng Sheng: "…Ling Yu?"
"It's me," Ling Yu nodded. "What a coincidence."
Sheng Sheng glanced at the game ID above his head—[Yu Ling].
Sheng Sheng: Looks familiar.
Curious, she asked, "You're playing this game too?"
—Shouldn't rich people like him be insanely busy, making millions every minute? Why was he playing games?
Ling Yu paused, then said, "I'm injured."
Sheng Sheng nodded in sudden realization. Internally, she thought: As expected of a novel world—anything unreasonable can be justified.
Ling Yu suddenly asked, "Are you heading back to the city to turn in a quest?"
Sheng Sheng replied casually, "No, I've got something else to do in the city."
Wait.
Sheng Sheng suddenly looked up, glanced at Ling Yu's newbie assassin gear, then at her quest list.
Sheng Sheng: !
"Bro!" Sheng Sheng said solemnly, voice filled with emotion. "Got time to help me with something?!"
Ling Yu: "…Say it."
Sheng Sheng: "This all started with a bat…"