Chapter 93: Feats and Job Requirements

"Bang."

The headless corpse of the Hobgoblin fell forward onto the ground, making a dull sound.

Xia Nan shook off the blood staining the sword blade.

He glanced at the corpse in front, his face showing no extra expression.

The pressure this Hobgoblin brought him was far less than the one that had almost wiped out the "Stinky Fish and Rotten Shrimp" squad back then.

The reason was partly the improvement in his own combat ability and experience.

On the other hand, it was also because Fugang had already helped him break one of the opponent's arms, causing its combat power to plummet.

He was even supervising the battle from the side.

Just the high-pressure aura on the Barbarian that was enough to make ordinary Goblins faint made the Hobgoblin's strength drop by more than one level.

This made Xia Nan appear much more relaxed.

It was just right.

This kind of opponent, neither too strong nor too weak, was convenient for him to hone his combat techniques.

After one actual battle, it only took a few rounds.

He felt that the degree of his improvement was much more than practicing against the air for a whole day.

After the battle ended, it was naturally necessary to clean up the battlefield.

But the Goblin cave...

It could only be said that there really wasn't anything valuable.

Let alone magic items with special effects, even ordinary equipment that could be properly sold to grocery stores or blacksmith shops to earn a little money was basically non-existent.

Including the large green-skin nest from two days ago, Xia Nan's total harvest was only six small, shiny stones of various sizes.

He didn't know how much money they could sell for.

And it was only until now that he finally realized how lucky he was to be able to get the green-tier ring 【Deathline】 from a Hobgoblin right after transmigrating.

He wasn't in a hurry to sheath his sword.

Xia Nan held the sword hilt and carried it effortlessly on his shoulder.

In the corner of the cave ahead, Fugang stood motionless.

Cold wind suddenly emerged around his body.

One could vaguely see a transparent, illusory Winter Wolf gradually taking shape amidst the whistling ice crystals.

Its translucent claws stepped lightly, drifting and wandering in the cave.

It seemed to be searching for something.

There was no discovery.

A few seconds later, it returned to the Barbarian's side, affectionately rubbing its forehead, which emitted cold air, against Fugang's arm, and slowly dissipated.

Xia Nan also withdrew his gaze.

He had already seen the same scene once two days ago.

Although he was puzzled, he didn't ask much.

After all, the other hadn't come to River Valley Town specifically for the commission, and teaching him combat techniques was just a side task.

He himself should be investigating something.

It had nothing to do with him, and trouble involving the transcendent level was definitely not something he could touch for now.

The cold air melted, and the temperature in the cave gradually rose.

Xia Nan didn't leave directly.

Instead, he carried his greatsword and patiently and meticulously finished off the Goblins lying in a large patch on the ground one by one.

Although because of the rotting and foul smell, he, who predicted he would still need to stay in the forest for many days, couldn't bring these "trophies" back to exchange for bounties.

But since he was already here, naturally he couldn't let these green-skinned bastards still be alive and wake up.

"Squelch."

Without mercy, the sharp sword tip pierced the fragile skin outside the throat.

The Goblin's dry, twig-like neck was pierced instantly.

Deep in a coma due to mental deterrence, even the intense pain that was enough to be fatal could only make these small, weak monsters' bodies tremble slightly, and then they died quietly.

Xia Nan's movements were very clean.

One sword per creature; in just a few minutes, he sent all nearly thirty Goblins on their way.

Yet, he felt it was meaningless in his heart.

He couldn't hear the Goblins' wails and screams before death, nor could he see the panic and fear of death in their eyes.

It was as if something was missing.

There was no feedback at all when slaughtering them, and he felt uncomfortable all over.

The strange feeling even made Xia Nan wonder if something was wrong with his own psychology.

"I wonder if there is a profession like a psychologist in this world; if not, maybe I should find a church to pray at when I get back?"

Chaotic thoughts flashed through his mind.

He took out gauze from his bosom and wiped the blood stains off the sword blade.

He intended to leave the cave, but his face showed a trace of reluctance.

More than twenty Goblins, plus one Hobgoblin.

Even without other harvests in terms of equipment, the bounty for them alone added up to a decent income.

It was just a pity that he didn't have the conditions to bring them back, otherwise his small treasury could grow a bit more.

Speaking of which, if he were thicker-skinned, perhaps he could ask Fugang to help him freeze these trophies, so he could bring them back...

"No, no, no."

Seeing the other's cold, ice-like face in his mind, Xia Nan shook his head fiercely.

"Better not."

Two days were not enough to fully see through a person's character.

His relationship with the Barbarian was far from the point where he could wantonly ask for help.

Distinguishing primary from secondary, and following the other to get 【Tooth Hunt】 to the entry level, was the most important thing now.

As for everything else, it was just incidental.

He couldn't lose the big for the small.

He put away his greatsword.

His peripheral vision suddenly caught a flash of ice light.

He shifted his gaze and saw that not far from his side, six or seven feet away from the headless corpse.

The Hobgoblin's head, which had been cut off by Xia Nan, was covered in a layer of frost at some point.

The left ear area was particularly obvious, almost forming a small piece of ice crystal.

A look of surprise appeared on his face, and then he heard a blurred, hoarse voice from in front:

"A hunter with blood on his blade will not let himself go hungry."

"This is the rule of the snowfield."

Night fell.

Thick mist drifted gloomily through the air.

Firelight flickered, and the forest was silent.

Xia Nan sat by the campfire, holding a beast leg that was emitting a charred fragrance.

It seemed to have just been taken off the fire; the meat juices were overflowing, and it was delicious and hot, making him pant with heat.

The Barbarian hadn't prepared any supplies before leaving; he had originally considered whether he should share some of the food he brought with the other.

He didn't expect that on the way back to the camp, Fugang just glanced at a bush by the side of the road where there was movement.

A giant wild boar, nearly half a person tall, staggered out as if drunk.

Then, in Xia Nan's gaze, it fell directly in front of the two with a "thump."

It was like a pre-ordered takeout, delivered to his door.

And don't even say,

it was quite fragrant.

As for drinking water, it was even more convenient for Fugang.

He didn't need any obvious movements; he just sat on the ground silently, and the cold wind emitting chill poured into the water bottle in front of him, and then obediently turned into clear ice water under the burning of the flames.

It was to be expected.

With strength at their level, no matter how they were doing, they wouldn't starve to death.

Xia Nan watched from the side, feeling vaguely envious.

He didn't know when he would be able to reach this level of strength, where he could easily deter enemies just by the power of his aura.

But thinking that the 【Spinning Slash】 he had already maxed out might be wasted, and that to become a professional, he might need to learn two more combat techniques, he couldn't help but feel a headache.

While distressed, he seemed to remember something and his eyes lit up.

He asked Fugang, who was sitting opposite the campfire:

"You say, is it possible..."

"【Spinning Slash】 and 【Tooth Hunt】, plus the third combat technique I learn later, just happen to meet the advancement conditions for a certain class?"

In this way, he would save himself the trouble of finding an extra combat technique.

But as soon as he finished speaking, Xia Nan felt like he had said something redundant.

Not very realistic.

There were so many combat techniques in this world, and many niche, unpopular classes even required special inauguration ceremonies.

If he really managed to guess three in a row like this...

Then he could only suspect that the Lady of Smiles in the God Kingdom had taken a fancy to him.

Rather than considering such unrealistic fantasies, it would be better to pray that his current 【Spinning Slash】 was actually a combat technique under the "Warrior" category.

Feeling the hope was slim, he didn't hold any expectations for it.

But what he didn't expect was that the Barbarian, who was always silent as ice, nodded slightly in response to Xia Nan's question.

Huh?

There's a chance!?

"The day you 'Mastered' the combat technique, did you have any special feelings?"

Ice-blue eyes reflected the orange-red firelight in front of him, and Fugang said slowly.

"Feelings?" Xia Nan frowned, seeming to recall the scene at that time. "Strength increased a bit, body became lighter?"

Of course, he couldn't directly explain to the other that the lv5 【Spinning Slash】 had directly provided him with two attribute points in "Strength" and "Agility."

So he summarized his experience when leveling up a bit vaguely.

But regarding this point, the half-elf and the others had mentioned it to him before; it was common knowledge for adventurers in this world that physical fitness would be strengthened after honing a combat technique to the "Mastered" level.

It seemed... nothing special?

"No." Fugang held the short axe made of obsidian in his hand, and the pitch-black, smooth axe surface reflected his rugged and cold face. "It's something else."

"Talent, technique, Covenant Gift, Awakening Mark..."

"It has many names, but in essence, they are all the same type of thing."

"—Directional enhancement of combat, magic, survival instincts, and class characteristics can also be seen as a concrete manifestation of your past experiences."

【Feat】!?

In just a second, Xia Nan connected the content described by the other with the 【Feat】 on the system panel.

Thinking back carefully, wasn't his first feat in this world, 【Slashing Expert】, obtained right after 【Spinning Slash】 was maxed out?

"But what does this have to do with obtaining a professional level?"

In the camp, which was warm with flames, a cold wind suddenly blew.

Visible ice crystals condensed rapidly in the air and turned into a tangible micro-snowstorm, circling and swirling around the obsidian hand-axe.

Countless tiny snow gravels rubbed and collided with the axe surface, making a crisp and dense sound.

The already sharp axe blade, under the scouring of ice and snow, emitted a cold light that seemed capable of splitting the night.

He was sharpening his axe.

"This kind of special technique is not as superficial as the physical fitness you improved; it's like the ice crystals covered by deep snow on the plateau. Many people don't even realize their talent in a certain area for their whole lives."

"And in the vast majority of cases, unless it's bloodline inheritance or some rare special experience, to obtain this ability, one can only increase the probability by honing combat techniques to the 'Mastered' level through day-after-day arduous training."

Simply put, if you compare a "class" to the necklace on a Barbarian's chest.

Then the three combat techniques required to obtain a professional level are the chains that make up the main body of the necklace, linked head to tail.

And a "feat" is the pendant decorated between the necklace links.

In the vast majority of cases, even if it's just a bare chain without any pendants.

It doesn't affect its integrity.

It just looks a bit ugly, but the necklace itself still exists.

—"Class" does not require "Feats."

Conversely, if you only have a few exquisite pendants in your hand, but no chain links to string them together.

Then it cannot be called a necklace.

—"Feats" are not a prerequisite for obtaining a professional level.

Under these circumstances, if you want to glue three combat techniques from different branches together to form a brand-new class that is completely different from their categories.

It's like forcibly buckling different parts of three necklaces together.

Even if it barely succeeds, the connection points of the chains will often be distorted and deformed due to the different sizes and thicknesses of the links, making an invisible, great power from the outside world, known as "Rules," unable to resist tearing them apart.

With this as a premise, if you happen to possess a few good "pendant" feats.

Interspersing them to cover up the ugly parts of those connection points.

Then, no matter how strange your necklace looks, even if it's half a gold chain and half a bone chain, with a leaf hanging in the middle.

As long as it doesn't have any obvious flaws in appearance.

Then no one will take the initiative to come over and tear your chain.

It will work.

In summary,

"Talent feats can significantly increase the probability of obtaining a professional level."

But the specific type of class obtained is just like that necklace, pieced together and relying on pendants to barely take shape.

"Depends on your feats."

Xia Nan sat by the campfire, the roasted meat in his hand already cold under the blowing cold air.

He quickly digested the advanced knowledge he had just heard in his mind.

Yet, the expression on his face gradually became strange.

For people in this world, he, who possessed a system panel, could clearly see his attribute and skill information.

And because of a few fortuitous encounters, he had obtained multiple feats.

But if it was as Fugang had just said, that feats, while increasing the success rate of inauguration, also largely influenced the class category...

【Slashing Expert】 was fine; it was a proper melee feat, and it could probably be linked to a basic class like "Warrior";

【Light-Bather】 was a bit troublesome; although light damage reduction was also part of constitution-type resistance, if it were like the existence in its note, giving him an evil alignment and requiring corresponding means to upgrade to a niche class, then he was afraid he would have to embark on a crooked path;

As for 【Strong Toughness】...

Xia Nan couldn't imagine,

when this feat, which was clearly from another world and had never appeared in this world, became part of the inauguration conditions.

And combined with the other two feats that were completely unrelated to it, and then combined with 【Spinning Slash】 and 【Tooth Hunt】...

What kind of thing would be kneaded out.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 94 =====