Chapter 30: The First Kill Is Mine, Chu

Jin Baiyan shattered the life link between him and Han Ying, his expression dark and uncertain.

As a reserve-level Dimensional Adept who had endured seven trials, he prioritized strengthening strength and constitution, raising both attributes to 9 points.

Yet even against that summon, he was still no match—its strength attribute likely reached the maximum limit of 10.

So he decided to back down and show sufficient sincerity.

“What kind of talk is that, friend? Han Ying has only just completed his reserve trial—he’s still naive, please bear with him.” Jin Baiyan reluctantly pulled out a weak Energy Recovery Potion.

Healing Potions and Energy Recovery Potions were the two most popular recovery consumables in the Paradise, crafted by Life Adepts and flooded in such massive quantities that they drove down the prices of all other recovery items.

And they sold at only a ten percent profit margin, with the Paradise regulating prices, so the weak variant of the former hovered around 150 Paradise Points, the latter around 400.

For Jin Baiyan, offering one weak Healing Potion and one weak Energy Recovery Potion was already a sincere gesture.

He himself had very few recovery items left.

“Won’t you show some gesture too?” Chu Danqing’s gaze fell on Han Ying.

Jin Baiyan giving was only expected—his intent was clearly to play the good cop while the bad cop, leveraging the Long Hu Alliance’s influence to downplay the matter.

Han Ying, whose own strength was low, grimaced as he pulled out a weak Healing Potion.

His situation was worse—he had only two bottles total, and now he had to give one to Chu Danqing.

Da Bao slowly reined in his ferocity, took the items, and returned to Chu Danqing’s side.

Chu Danqing recognized the weak Energy Recovery Potion at once as something valuable—he’d seen it before, priced at 410 Paradise Points.

And it was the cheapest energy-recovery consumable available.

【Weak Energy Recovery Potion】

【Type: Consumable】

【Quality: Common】

【Effect: Fully consumed, instantly restores 20 Energy Points; may be consumed in portions for proportional recovery】

Expensive, but worth it—its effect far surpassed the weak Healing Potion.

After stowing the items, Chu Danqing ignored Jin Baiyan and the others, his gaze fixed beyond the protective barrier.

The countdown was about to end, and the earlier commotion was drawing closer.

Screams, roars—everything confirmed the snowstorm’s situation was far from favorable.

The others were preparing to flee.

Chu Danqing was different—he was preparing to act, to save lives.

He didn’t believe this situation had arisen randomly; the Paradise had placed them here for a reason.

Just like his reserve trial, where a strong start ensured everything afterward went smoothly.

Da Bao’s base attribute was 9, but with Summoning Mastery Level 5, it rose to 10.

With Chu Danqing providing support, their success rate in rescuing and killing was far from low.

The countdown ended; snow and wind surged forward, along with several figures heading toward them.

Many bore wounds.

Jin Baiyan and the Long Hu Alliance members immediately fled backward.

The bald young man didn’t leave—he seemed to have other plans.

But soon, he saw the number of pursuers: at least twenty combined. After weighing his odds, he withdrew.

Most importantly, his Recon Shu revealed the leader’s strength was no weaker than his own—he carried a broadaxe and, despite the freezing cold, was bare-chested.

Only Chu Danqing and Da Bao remained.

If Jin Baiyan had stayed, the three of them plus other Adepts could have crushed them with high odds.

Now, Chu Danqing still had confidence he could win.

He activated Recon Shu —the leader’s data instantly appeared.

【Qingya Village Chief】

【Attributes】

【HP: 100%】

【MP: 60】

【Strength: 7】

【Agility: 6】

【Constitution: 7】

【Spirit: 6】

【Perception: 6】

【Skills】

【White Tiger Refining Scripture LV.1】

【Soldier Formation: Goose Flight LV.1】

His attributes were indeed significantly higher than average, especially strength and constitution—but his resistance to cold wasn’t due to attributes.

From the skill descriptions, Chu Danqing deduced the leader’s identity: either disguised soldiers or escaped conscripts.

Kexi Chu Danqing’s Recon Shu and attributes weren’t high enough to reveal more.

“Da Bao, you take the small ones, I’ll take the big one.” As Chu Danqing spoke, Da Bao immediately activated Tearing Claws.

A roar erupted as he lunged into the bandits.

“Where did this brat come from, daring to—” Before the Qingya Village Chief could finish, five chain-like objects pierced his body.

Instantly, he felt nearly a third of his MP drain away; before he could react, the chains shattered.

“You little brat—you did this? Die!” The Qingya Village Chief’s eyes bulged with rage; he charged forward, raising his broadaxe to cleave Chu Danqing’s skull.

A man stepped out from behind Chu Danqing—wearing leather armor, three bulging quivers at his waist, a short knife, and holding a repeating crossbow.

In the Qingya Village Chief’s terrified gaze, the crossbow fired a dense hail of arrows.

“Tiger Leaps the Ravine!” The Qingya Village Chief swung his broadaxe; his MP plummeted to zero as a phantom white tiger materialized.

It leapt like a beast crossing a gorge, intercepting the arrows and sparing him from becoming a pincushion.

The crossbowman’s magazine emptied; the Qingya Village Chief seized the opening to strike.

But before he could move, Chu Danqing acted first—five life links attached themselves to the Qingya Village Chief.

Seeing the unfamiliar chains, the Qingya Village Chief felt unease.

He saw Chu Danqing draw a short knife and slash his own throat.

Instantly, the cut opened—but no blood spurted.

【You inflicted 3 lethal damage upon yourself, transferring 97 damage to your life-linked target】

The next moment, Chu Danqing severed the life links and swiftly shoved a medicinal steamed bun into his mouth, chewed twice, and swallowed; the superficial wound on his neck began healing.

【You killed the Qingya Village Chief】

The Qingya Village Chief never understood what happened—his HP hit zero and he died instantly.

It looked as if Chu Danqing had cursed him to death.

“Help Da Bao.” Chu Danqing spoke; the crossbowman began reloading and fired precise single shots.

Each arrow struck an enemy’s vital point—no surprise, these were elite troops.

The coordination between ranged and close combat vastly outperformed their earlier efficiency.

As expected, the remaining bandits wouldn’t last three minutes; remembering the need to eradicate evil thoroughly, Chu Danqing instructed Da Bao and the crossbowman.

“Leave a few alive—I need them.”

After speaking, Chu Danqing calmly opened the crossbowman’s attribute panel to inspect it.

Once he saw it, he realized he’d gotten an incredible deal.

(End of Chapter)