Chapter 142: [Professional Level]: 1

It was difficult to describe Xia Nan's feelings at this moment in words.

To a certain extent, as his blade slashed down on the Gravity Core and invisible ripples erupted and spread,

His consciousness detached from reality and entered a certain microscopic world.

Everything before his eyes—the green of the meadow, the gray of the clouds, the scarlet of the blood... were all replaced by simple and primordial black and white.

Everything in his vision was left with only blurred outlines.

And, the gravity ripples that filled every corner like air.

The entire world, the space he was in, felt at this moment as if it had become a three-dimensional and abstract water surface.

Allowing every object wrapped within the space to stir up layers of fine ripples on the "water surface."

Xia Nan could not see the raindrops falling continuously like silver curtains in the air, and even the cold sensation of water droplets splashing on his skin had diminished.

But he could clearly feel, from another perspective he had never seen before, the gravity ripples that followed the falling raindrops, rippling and spreading in circles around him.

Fallen leaves, grass clippings, the corpse of the enemy slowly falling backward... the ripples they stirred up on the "water surface" collided and overlapped, turning into countless chaotic yet orderly, complex lines containing certain laws, entangling and pulling at each other.

At this moment, Xia Nan felt he had seen the essence of the world.

If the progress he had made while attempting to practice 【Gravity Solidification】 according to the Wild Mage's notes earlier was a glimpse of the tip of the iceberg,

Then he was now like someone who had climbed to the top of the iceberg, seeing the vast, boundless ice field below, and witnessing the vast, cold sky above.

Xia Nan tried to use his simple and shallow knowledge and techniques to analyze and study the strange scene he was seeing.

But just by thinking slightly, the massive amount of information that flooded into his brain instantly swallowed his consciousness.

If it were anyone else in this world, such an encounter would at most be considered an eye-opener, an extra topic for bragging in a tavern.

But Xia Nan was different.

Coming from a modern technological world, nearly twenty years of schooling naturally gave him a scientific perspective distinct from the natives of this world.

Although he didn't know the specific principles and had never studied them in depth.

But the red apple from the textbook that smashed onto the man's head had always been imprinted deep in his memory, along with his beautiful childhood life.

Planetary revolution, tides, and gravity... even if they had never been of any use in his many years of workplace life afterward, this basic knowledge had long since been deeply engraved in his mind along with countless test questions and exhausted ink.

Added to that was the slight, insignificant little experience from practicing 【Gravity Solidification】.

The massive amount of information that washed through his brain passively allowed him to absorb a small portion of it.

And it remained in Xia Nan's body forever in a different way.

"Ding!"

"Proficiency +1"

"【Gravity Solidification】 (Simplified Version) -> 【Gravity Control】 Lv1: (1/100)"

"Detected that three combat techniques have been mastered: 【Spinning Slash】 Lv5 (max), 【Tooth Hunt】 Lv3, 【Gravity Control】 Lv1."

"Job requirements met, automatically searching for a suitable profession..."

"Search complete!"

1. 【Warrior】

Compatibility: 73.33%

Guiding Core: 【Spinning Slash】, 【Slashing Expert】

Elements: Martial Arts, Constitution, Shield & Armor Mastery

2. 【Dawn Ranger】

Compatibility: 26.17%

Guiding Core: 【Tooth Hunt】, 【Light-Bather】

Elements: Holy Light, Frozen Forest, Light-footedness

3. 【Iron-Cast Strongman】

Compatibility: 16.6%

Guiding Core: 【Copper Tendons and Iron Bones】, Gourd Vine Drop (Hidden)

Elements: Defense, Spirit Demon, Longevity

4. 【Meteor Blade Ranger】

Compatibility: 120%

Guiding Core: 【Spinning Slash】, 【Tooth Hunt】, 【Gravity Control】, 【Slashing Expert】...

Elements: Gravity, Shuttle, Burst, Mobility

"Ding!"

"Perfect compatibility option detected."

"Locked!"

"Automatically taking the job..."

"Bang."

Scarlet blood, emitting heat, continued to spray outward from the wound.

Under the impact of the gravity wave erupted when the blade collided with the silver-white iron ball, the Bugbear's corpse, its head shattered, slowly fell backward, colliding with the ground with a heavy thud.

In the air before him, the faint distortion after the spacetime wonder-hole vanished still remained.

Centered on Xia Nan's body, the ground within a radius of fifty feet had been ground into a bare, flat plain by the erupted gravity turbulence in the most standard circular shape.

Only dark brown, damp soil and shredded plant stems remained.

The iron-gray decapitation longsword was deeply embedded in the ground, firmly supporting its user.

This longsword, from the dust-covered corner of the blacksmith shop, was a "failed product" in the eyes of the forger.

On the day before it was to be sent into the furnace for re-smelting as scrap, it met Xia Nan, who had just finished his first mission in this world and was strapped for cash, urgently seeking a handy weapon.

Through the attribute panel, he noticed its uniqueness.

He bought it.

And it had accompanied him ever since.

The 50% durability bonus had earned this longsword the "Sturdy" prefix on the attribute panel.

Even though it had been used by its master with all his strength to collide violently with the Gravity Core that had leaped out of the spacetime turbulence.

At a distance closer than the Bugbear, it had borne the impact of the gravity ripples head-on.

It had still "luckily" maintained the integrity of the sword body while the Fate Coin had not yet fully landed.

It was foreseeable that it would continue to accompany its black-haired user through a second, third... and many more hundred days.

Xia Nan had no time to check if his main weapon had suffered any damage.

He didn't even pay attention to the enemy that had almost driven him into a desperate situation, only confirming with his peripheral vision that it was thoroughly dead and had no possibility of resurrection.

Waves of warm current, like hot springs, were continuously washing over and strengthening his body.

His body expanded and compressed; there didn't seem to be any major changes to his overall appearance.

But inside the body covered by his clothing and armor, his muscles were firmer, his bones were becoming denser, and even his heartbeat seemed to have become much more powerful, with surging hot blood flowing through his body.

At this moment, if someone could walk closer, enter the circular ground ground flat by gravity, and come nearby.

They would be surprised to find that the weight of their own body would slowly decrease as they approached, as if they could jump into the sky with a light leap.

The rain continued.

The gray, heavy rain shrouded the entire world, and the air was filled with rich water vapor.

Xia Nan held the sword hilt with both hands, using the longsword to support his body.

The damp black hair on his forehead moved without wind.

Gravel, mud spots, grass seeds, and even the raindrops that should have fallen on him.

At this moment, they seemed to be isolated from his skin by some invisible force.

Compared to the violent, heavy rain outside, in a way that created a strong contrast.

They hung suspended in mid-air.

Like a cosmic celestial system, they orbited stably and slowly, centered on Xia Nan's body.

In his pitch-black eyes, after a pause of a few breaths, translucent characters continued to flash.

"Ding!"

"Job successful!"

"Professional level obtained!"

"—【Meteor Blade Ranger】 Lv1"

"Strength +1"

"Agility +1"

"Perception +2"

"Specialty: 【Tidal Shaping】, 【Heart-Drawing Vision】 obtained!"

"Combat Technique: 【Gravity Etching】 loaded!"

The intensity of his panting gradually decreased under the effect of the strengthening power surging within his body, and his pitch-black eyes, which had been somewhat dazed under the impact of the ripples, also regained their focus.

"Professional level '1'..."

"I've become a professional?"

Xia Nan murmured in his heart.

On his face, which was streaming with rain, a look of deep disbelief appeared.

He hadn't even seen a shadow of the third combat technique required to obtain a professional level, and his practice of 【Gravity Solidification】 had only been with the mindset of trying it out and exercising his perception ability, with no expectations at all.

He had originally planned to save up more money, hire a professional mentor in the relevant field, and then, based on the 【Tooth Hunt】 taught by the Barbarian Fugang, head toward the "Warrior" or "Barbarian" path.

But he hadn't expected that just a regular Goblin extermination mission, aimed at improving combat technique proficiency and earning a little extra money,

Would encounter so many twists and turns, and...

Harvests far beyond expectations.

Xia Nan's attention suddenly concentrated, and amidst the rain and grass clippings circling around him, he stared at the reflection on the sword blade in his hand.

He called up the attribute panel:

【Name】: Xia Nan

【Profession】:

Meteor Blade Ranger Lv1

【Attributes】:

Strength: 7

Agility: 8

Constitution: 8

Intelligence: 5

Perception: 7

Charisma: 5

【Specialties】:

Slashing Expert, Copper Tendons and Iron Bones, Light-Bather, Tidal Shaping, Heart-Drawing Vision

【Skills】:

Spinning Slash Lv5 (Max), Tooth Hunt Lv3 (3/100), Gravity Control Lv1 (1/100), Gravity Etching Lv1 (0/100)

【Equipment/Items】:

Deathline, Sturdy Decapitation Longsword, Green Pine, Fate Coin (Uses: 2), Snake Scale Arm Shield (Temporary)

Xia Nan's gaze swept over the attribute panel, lingering especially on the "Attributes," "Specialties," and "Skills" columns.

Compared to the long string of "5"s that followed his physical attributes when he first crossed over.

Now, his six-dimensional attributes had undoubtedly undergone earth-shaking changes.

And the successful job taking of 【Meteor Blade Ranger】 had directly provided him with a total of "4" attribute points, two specialties, and one combat technique.

It was only at this moment, feeling his body, which was incomparably light and filled with power,

That Xia Nan truly understood the reason why those bottom-tier adventurers who talked loudly in taverns always had expressions of envy and longing whenever they discussed the topic of "professionals."

Flowing in his heart was an unparalleled sense of achievement.

But before he could savor it,

As his consciousness returned to reality, the screams and roars of the villagers in the surrounding village also flooded back into his ears from the cold air.

His thoughts stalled instantly.

"Screech."

He pulled the decapitation longsword out of the muddy ground soaked by the rain with force, bringing up a few spots of mud.

The tiny objects that had been orbiting his body like satellites also fell one after another.

The cold sensation of raindrops returned to the surface of his skin.

His gaze lowered, and he glanced at the Bugbear lying on the ground ahead, its head shattered and thoroughly dead.

Xia Nan turned around abruptly and ran toward the edge of the battlefield.

Adeline had suffered heavy injuries, and her life or death was unknown; he had to go and confirm the situation of his captain.

As long as she wasn't dead, he still had an unopened bottle of Healing Potion in his pocket.

Keeping her alive shouldn't be a problem.

It was fortunate.

The three fire oil bombs Xia Nan had thrown had been highly effective against the Bugbear, which had dense fur, and it hadn't pursued them under the burning flames.

And his warning had also given Adeline a certain amount of reaction time, allowing her to urgently hold her two single-handed hammers in front of her.

This meant that although she had been hit head-on by the Bugbear's pale bone club, she hadn't died on the spot.

At this moment, she was leaning against a charred remnant of a wooden house, lying on the ground in a rather disheveled state.

She was panting with a pale face, blood stains remained at the corners of her mouth, and one hand was resting lightly on her shattered chest armor.

At her feet lay two single-handed hammers with broken handles, twisted hammer faces, and severe damage.

It was clear that they needed major repairs or replacement.

Having just regained consciousness from a heavily injured state, let alone the distant battlefield, Adeline had leaned against the wall and squinted for quite a while before she even recognized Xia Nan as he approached.

"You..."

Her lips parted, and a weak, hoarse voice squeezed out from between her blood-stained lips.

But just after spitting out one word.

On Adeline's pale, bloodless face, a very urgent expression appeared.

"What about it? That Bugbear?"

"Did it retreat, or..."

With many years of adventuring experience, she knew the personality of creatures like Bugbears very well.

Usually, they might appear lazy and indolent, not even leaving their dens much, just letting their Goblin underlings hunt to provide food.

But if they truly identified prey, or even engaged in battle with it, it was a fight to the death.

Now that Xia Nan had run back from the battlefield alive, and there was no Bugbear chasing behind him, it was clear that the battle had ended.

Considering Red Mane's strange performance facing the forest during the melee earlier, it should be that seeing it couldn't take down the opponent in a short time, it...

"Dead."

Xia Nan frowned, his left hand reaching toward his waist pouch while carefully examining the other's injuries.

"It's good that it ran, you hurry to the village to help..."

"De... dead!?"

Adeline said to herself, but just halfway through, she suddenly reacted, her expression stalling, and she asked in surprise.

Without replying, Xia Nan just turned his body to the side, allowing the other to see the hulking, blood-soaked corpse on the distant battlefield.

At the same time, he took out the Healing Potion from his waist pouch and handed it to her.

"Don't worry about that for now, how are your injuries, can you still hold on?"

A bottle of Healing Potion cost 50 gold, which was completely affordable for Xia Nan, who currently had triple-digit savings.

Although he usually seemed sensitive about "gold coins," if it was used on a heavily injured teammate.

He felt there was nothing to hesitate about.

What's more, given Adeline's personality, after returning to town, even if he refused, she would forcibly stuff those fifty gold coins into his pocket.

The crystal-clear red liquid swayed and collided in the glass test tube, emitting a faint glow.

Adeline, however, did not reach out to take it.

Those eyes, which had regained their luster, stared at the Bugbear's corpse in the distance, paused for a few seconds, and then returned to Xia Nan.

On her face bloomed a brilliant expression that Xia Nan had never seen since he joined the squad.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 143 =====