Chapter 265: The Painful Experience Consumption Penalty: Blue Maggots vs. Ogres

This is possible too?

Tang Zheng looked at the job information that had reappeared on his attribute panel, unsure if this counted as an unexpected surprise.

The situation regarding job loss was not complicated.

Aside from the normal level drop and the disappearance of the job, the increased attributes and passives would also vanish.

"Is the skill retention due to the special nature of this otherworld?" Tang Zheng mused.

Natives of this otherworld possess the ability to acquire skills first and jobs later, which is why the skills remained even after the job disappeared.

"Ninja Art: Detection!"

Tang Zheng raised his eyelids, activated the ninja skill, and observed for a moment, a smile appearing on his face: "The effect of the skill was not affected."

The fact that "passive abilities" disappeared along with the job left Tang Zheng somewhat disappointed, as this meant he couldn't acquire a large number of passives by grinding jobs.

"Passive abilities are the core of a job; high-tier jobs cannot be lost lightly."

Another matter worthy of Tang Zheng's concern was the issue of skills. Now that it was confirmed skills would not be affected, skill points became the next priority.

"Next is to determine the issue of acquiring 'skill points' when leveling up again." Tang Zheng looked at the 【Ninja】 job information prompted on the attribute panel.

He had originally thought that after the Ninja job disappeared, he would need to find Tina and Tia again to acquire it, but he hadn't expected the skills to be retained, allowing him to re-acquire the job through the skills.

"Take the job."

Tang Zheng muttered inwardly.

【Comprehensive Level: 46→47lv】

【Skill Points: 66→60→63】

Tang Zheng's eyes lit up, and a smile appeared on his face: "I can re-acquire skill points, but taking a high-tier job requires a consumption of 6 skill points; currently, I've actually lost three skill points."

Although it was a loss, the situation before him undoubtedly proved that through the method of de-leveling, it was possible to re-acquire skill points.

This completely resolved his worries about insufficient skill points.

"Since skills can be retained, the two jobs 【Shaman Mentor】 and 【Sword Saint】 can be eliminated."

"This process will consume quite a bit of experience to compensate for the penalty of de-leveling."

Tang Zheng stared at the two mid-tier jobs on the panel and sighed inwardly.

The passives of these two jobs—one being "10% increased slashing damage" and the other "can see souls"—were both passive abilities Tang Zheng could afford to discard.

Being unable to see souls would not affect the use and acquisition of "Totem Possession," and even if he needed it in the future, he could re-acquire the job through skills.

"The key is de-leveling."

"Consuming hundreds of thousands of experience points is too massive. The ways to acquire experience are already pitifully few; consuming it like this is truly a waste."

Tang Zheng couldn't help but feel distressed. The hundreds of thousands of experience points consumed just to drop the Ninja job by two levels were enough to make his heart ache.

Especially since, when using the "Experience Conversion Technique" during the de-leveling process, the experience in the previous level's experience bar would also be cleared, leaving only a tiny bit of experience value.

This meant that to level back up, Tang Zheng would have to re-acquire a large amount of experience to make up for it; it would be strange if his heart didn't ache.

Fortunately.

Tang Zheng's current comprehensive level was not too high, and he could still support the experience consumption penalty for leveling up.

If he waited until his level was higher to perform a job reset, the experience consumption would be terrifying; just thinking about it made his scalp tingle.

"It counts as a good thing, too. Now, it's time for business." Tang Zheng's gaze returned to calm as he flicked his red robe.

His figure flashed and disappeared.

With the experience Tang Zheng currently possessed, using the "Transcendence Technique" for experience-based spellcasting was simply not suitable as a primary means of attack.

The region inhabited by the Blue Maggot clan was called the "Natural Sinkhole."

On the surface, it appeared to be a somewhat desolate hilly area, but in reality, there were a large number of karst caves and other caverns underground.

It was as intricate and complex as a natural labyrinth.

The Blue Maggot clan possessed an extremely strong reproductive ability; as long as one royal and a female existed, the clan would not go extinct, and they fed on the body fluids of organisms (regardless of whether they were dead or alive).

In Tang Zheng's view, in terms of habits alone, they were indeed very similar to certain maggots from his past life.

At this moment.

On the edge of the Blue Maggot clan's territory.

Led by the White Mist Witch, three heroes with domain powers, Ge Jin and two elemental ogres, led 100 ordinary ogres into this territory.

Such a large commotion.

Was immediately learned of by the Blue Maggot clan.

"General, the number of ogres invading the territory is around one hundred. Shall we drive them out?"

"How did these stupid guys end up in our territory? Why don't we just slaughter them all? They'll serve as food."

Several Blue Maggots made sounds without their eel-like mouths showing any signs of opening; this was a unique racial technique.

The technique of reading people by their expressions, which humans use to analyze others, was likely ineffective on the Blue Maggot clan.

These few Blue Maggots were surrounding a relatively sturdier Blue Maggot as they spoke, and all these voices were female.

This was because the entire Blue Maggot clan currently had only two males: one was the current King, and the other was the Prince.

And this Blue Maggot, surrounded in the center and almost indistinguishable in appearance from the others, was the current General of the Blue Maggot clan, named—Beibeibei!

"Idiots!"

"At this time, how could the appearance of over 100 ogres be a coincidence?" Beibeibei spoke in a human female voice, her tone laced with anger.

These compatriots and subordinates were not taking this enemy seriously at all.

Three days ago, the territory suffered an attack from a strange human powerhouse, resulting in the deaths and injuries of several compatriots; this matter naturally alarmed the King.

Especially that human, who had demanded that their Blue Maggot clan submit—this had made the King exceptionally furious, leading to the order to capture that arrogant human. A human actually dared to appear in the hills?

Being so arrogant, did they have some kind of trump card?

Although they were not the most powerful race in the hills, they were one of the twelve most prosperous races. To want them to submit and to give prior notice—the opponent was either a madman or had a certain degree of certainty.

This situation of having absolutely no intelligence.

Made Beibeibei feel somewhat uneasy inside, so, even though the intelligence stated there was only one opponent, she had prepared fully.

Facing the suddenly angry Beibeibei.

The surrounding Blue Maggots dared not breathe loudly, each of them shrinking their heads.

Gurgle~

In a nearby underground cave, a Blue Maggot soldier scurried out in a panic and whispered to a Blue Maggot on the periphery.

Upon hearing the intelligence relayed by this soldier.

"Ah?"

The Blue Maggot, who had been somewhat composed, let out a sound of astonishment.

!

"What is it?" Beibeibei turned her head and spoke in a low voice.

That Blue Maggot hurriedly stepped forward, its voice trembling: "According to reports from front-line soldiers, among the group of ogres invading the territory, those leading them are the famous Water Elemental Ogre and Earth Elemental Ogre."

"And there is another one, speculated to be the powerhouse who challenged various races a while ago, known as the 'Great Troll'."

"What!"

"How is this possible!"

"The Water Elemental Ogre and Earth Elemental Ogre, these two powerhouses, have always been at odds with each other."

"What are these three guys trying to do!"

Sounds of astonishment and shock rang out one after another.

If it were just an ordinary ogre invasion, it wouldn't be worth making a fuss about for the Blue Maggot clan, but the appearance of three ogre powerhouses leading a hundred ogres.

This matter was not simple.

"Prepare for battle!" Beibeibei did not wait for the others to recover, her serious voice ringing out as she issued the command.

An open area covered in weeds and shrubs.

The two great races met.

The White Mist Witch, Ge Jin, and the others stopped their pace, looking toward the front at the numerous Blue Maggot troops blocking the way.

At a glance.

The number alone was around five hundred; their military strength was 5 times that of the ogre side.

Figures with blue worm lower bodies, eel-like upper bodies, and thick blue hair hanging down from long, slender blue necks gathered together.

This made Ge Jin, who was seeing the Blue Maggot race for the first time, unable to help but frown, subconsciously withdrawing his gaze.

Although he had been in the hilly region for some time, this was his first time seeing the Blue Maggot clan.

"Is this really a demi-human race?" Ge Jin muttered to himself.

He had once heard that the Blue Maggot clan was a demi-human race, but what part of their appearance had anything to do with the word "human"?

The White Mist Witch widened her bright yellow eyes and let out an appreciative laugh: "Hee hee, is this a Blue Maggot? It really is blue, and it looks a bit cute with its slippery body."

Ge Jin subconsciously glanced at the White Mist Witch, then withdrew his gaze again, his mouth twitching.

"Not tasty meat."

The Water Elemental Ogre let out a buzzing sound of disgust.

The other Earth Elemental Ogre, having had its tongue cut off, could only open its mouth and make "Awoo" sounds.

As a superior species of ogre, the elemental ogres' recovery ability was naturally not as good as a troll's, but they still possessed decent recovery capabilities.

The injury from having its tongue cut off was not considered serious and could slowly recover over time, but for the short term, the Earth Elemental Ogre would be unable to speak.

The two armies faced off in a brief silence.

In the Blue Maggot troops, a Blue Maggot slithered its body, walked to the front, raised its long, slender neck, and stared at the group of ogres opposite with eel-like eyes.

"This is the territory of our Blue Maggot tribe."

"Get out of here, you ogres!" A somewhat stiff, cold voice came through.

It seemed to have been enhanced by magic; although the two sides were still a distance apart, it could be clearly heard by all the ogres.

An unceremonious expulsion.

They looked soft and squishy on the outside, but they were not a weak tribe.

The Abelion Hills never lacked death and strife; any tribe that wanted to survive here had to have gone through countless wars.

Relying on compromise to survive in the hilly region was impossible.

"Hee hee hee, that's not possible." The White Mist Witch moved her feet and drifted lightly in front of Ge Jin and the others.

That Blue Maggot was stunned, not because of the White Mist Witch's answer, but because it was actually the White Mist Witch who had spoken first.

Ge Jin and the two Elemental Ogres had sturdy, three-meter-tall physiques, and all three of them had quite a reputation in the hilly region.

This made that Blue Maggot subconsciously assume that the three of them were the leaders, never expecting it to be the inconspicuous demi-human, the White Mist Witch.

Surprise was surprise.

This Blue Maggot quickly calmed down: "Since you will not leave, then let us go to war, ogres!"

"Even if a powerhouse of the Ten Greats arrives, if they dare to invade our territory, they will surely pay the price of death!"

The cold voice rang out through the air.

(End of chapter)