Zhou Yan's soul coins hit 100 swiftly—a testament to the trial's rewards, amplified by Diao Chan's prowess. "I wonder what my stats will look like after upgrading," he mused, initiating the process.
[Soul Coins -100. Lord Zhou Yan's level rises from 0 to 1.]
A territory alert followed: "New lord chat group and trading hall activated." Every novice reaching level 1 unlocked these features worldwide. Higher levels enriched territorial data, akin to a server upgrade—the loftier the rank, the sharper the system. Each year, post-trial rankings judged lords by daily evaluations, a critical scorecard. High marks earned school bonuses, coveted by ordinary lords for their lavish prizes. Rankings split into global and national lists, visible to all after the trial. New lords had seven days post-awakening to join, their scores tallied within that window. Missing it meant exclusion. None forfeited this chance, entering their domains within that timeframe.
Zhou Yan skipped the chat and trading hall, eager for his attribute panel.
[Territory Name: Unnamed]
[Lord: Zhou Yan (details)]
[Quality: Color]
[Territory Talent: Special Items +10%]
[Level: 0]
[Area: 500 square meters]
[Buildings: King Crystal (Level 1), Spiritual Bamboo House (Level 1), Bronze Sparrow Terrace (Level 1), Mystery Store (Level 1)]
[Villager: 1]
[Resources: Soul Coins: 0, Spirit Coins: 172, One-Star Stones: 7, Two-Star Stones: 1]
[Name: Zhou Yan]
[Sex: Male]
[Age: 18]
[Race: Human]
[Nationality: Dragon Kingdom]
[Level: 1]
[Charm: 2]
[Luck: 2]
[Strength: 1.5]
[Physique: 1.5]
[Agility: 3]
[Spirit: 6]
[Free Attribute Points: 10]
[Talent: None]
[Skill: None]
[Cultivation Method: None]
[Boundary: None]
[Equipment: Novice Sword]
Shock gripped him. Ten free attribute points—triple the standard 3 for other lords—stared back. Even more startling, his charm and luck had jumped by 1 each. Typically, these rose by a mere 0.1 per level for others, making his gains tenfold greater. Early on, the disparity seemed minor, but over time, it'd widen dramatically. Like Diao Chan, he'd gain 12 points per level—10 free plus 2 fixed—a terrifying edge.
The colorful lord space's gifts astounded him. Exposure risked envy and ruin; secrecy was paramount. Pondering his 10 points, he assigned 4 to strength, 3 to physique, and 3 to agility. His spirit, already robust, needed no boost yet. Power flooded his frame—aches vanished, vigor surged. He felt unstoppable, as if he could wrestle ten foes at once.
His panel fleshed out, though the 100-soul-coin cost—ten times the norm—matched its lavish returns. Watching Diao Chan dispatch stone spirits and gather stones, Zhou Yan thrilled at each reward chime. The trial indeed offered ordinary lords a shot at greatness. His enhanced stats now rivaled these foes; Diao Chan's vigilance became a luxury, not a necessity.
Soon, his soul coins reached 200. He opted to level up again.
[Soul Coins -200. Lord Zhou Yan's level rises from 1 to 2.]
Another 10 free points arrived, charm and luck ticking up by 1 each. Excitement pulsed through him. Mirroring his prior split, he added 4 to strength, 3 to physique, and 3 to agility. Now, his strength hit 9.5, physique 7.5, and agility 9—a leap that begged for a fist to shatter a monster. Or, he grinned inwardly, to spar with Diao Chan for hours.
Their monster-slaying pace quickened. Diao Chan's next upgrade followed.
[Soul Coins -200. Hero Diao Chan's level rises from 1 to 2.]
Her stats climbed by 2 across the board, her balanced growth evident. Efficiency soared. Hours passed clearing the area, a task eased by Zhou Yan's bolstered stamina—without it, collecting loot would've drained him.
His haul swelled:
Soul Coins: 1620
Spirit Coins: 1438
One-Star Stones: 2240
Two-Star Stones: 117
Three-Star Stones: 28
Gazing at the stone bounty, Zhou Yan chuckled. The trial could indeed catapult the humble to riches. Countless stone spirits fell—hundreds, their absence clearing the zone—thanks to Diao Chan's might. Over 600 treasure chests piled up, including dozens of black iron ones, her luck shining through. They'd slain nearly 600 foes.
"Chan'er, let's head back," he said.
She nodded, unfazed by the marathon. "Alright." Her stats neared his, but her talents and heroism left him in the dust.
Their return avoided fierce threats, though they bagged several level 2 roosters—dinner secured. Inside the Spiritual Bamboo House, aura washed over them, easing fatigue. Zhou Yan sensed his body strengthen further. He checked his stats.
[Name: Zhou Yan]
[Sex: Male]
[Age: 18]
[Race: Human]
[Nationality: Dragon Kingdom]
[Level: 2]
[Charm: 3]
[Luck: 3]
[Strength: 9.6]
[Physique: 7.6]
[Agility: 9.1]
[Spirit: 6]
[Free Attribute Points: 0]
[Talent: None]
[Skill: None]
[Cultivation Method: None]
[Boundary: None]
[Equipment: Novice Sword]