[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-starting-unlimited-evolution-from-grinding":3,"chapter-starting-unlimited-evolution-from-grinding-starting-unlimited-evolution-from-grinding-chapter-196":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Starting Unlimited Evolution from Grinding",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},682800,915,"Chapter 196: Undead Appear, Behira the City Lord's Hidden Move","starting-unlimited-evolution-from-grinding-chapter-196",196,"\u003Cp>\"Humans... don't even think about escaping!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Silver Goblin spellcaster held a staff that shone entirely silver—clearly forged from mithril!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As it raised the staff, a powerful fire elemental instantly began to condense, forming a beam-like line of flame that shot straight toward Lin Mo and Sherfilia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The \"beam\" skimmed past Lin Mo's side, almost hitting him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How can he see us?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo was stunned. He and Sherfilia had both activated their assassin-class stealth skills and vanished from sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be these surrounding goblins?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were currently deep within the goblin horde—either they squeezed through or literally walked over goblin heads to move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this Silver Goblin had a way to communicate broadly with its kin—or even share perception and instantly read information—then it could indeed know their positions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This situation exceeded Lin Mo's expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another fire \"beam\" came. Sherfilia scooped Lin Mo up at the waist and darted aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One beam could be a coincidence, but twice—then more beams continuing the same way—meant Lin Mo's suspicion was right: stealth skills were useless here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Held in front by Sherfilia, Lin Mo turned his head and watched the direction the beams were coming from. The instant he saw a flash of red, he warned her. Sherfilia dove aside in time, barely avoiding it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That magic—so fast!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo's pupils constricted. From the moment he saw the red to the beam passing their side, less than a second had elapsed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Left!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another fire \"beam\" flew in the next moment. Even with Lin Mo's warning, Sherfilia couldn't fully evade this time. She turned to shield Lin Mo;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the scorching beam grazed her left shoulder with a sizzling sound. Sherfilia groaned and trembled but quickly regained balance and kept running.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the red beams kept coming—one after another with almost no pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heat burned both their bodies red;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>even without direct hits, their skin was singed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo downed his last basic mana potion and, with the recovered mana, cast a Greater Healing Art on Sherfilia while continuing to call out the beams' directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Left!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Right!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were gradually widening the distance. If they could put enough ground between them, the caster's magic should no longer reach them...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet as Lin Mo thought this, several Bronze Goblins suddenly leapt out at Sherfilia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their target wasn't Lin Mo but Sherfilia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo frowned and formed a roaring ball of flame in his palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fireball!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given his current state, using low-level spells wasn't ideal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Fireball would suffice. The scorching orb hit and instantly killed one Bronze Goblin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then an ice spike flew from his other hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ice Spike!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>......\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Leave these guys to me... left!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sherfilia nodded and darted right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo's mana was nearly gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Repeated use of Flash earlier had drained a lot of mana—its cost was high, even more than some excellent-grade skills—he'd almost used up all his mana potions. R̃ἁ₦ŏBΕ𝐬\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he still had a hidden reserve...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Flame Ring on his hand could store fire elemental mana—enough to cast eight excellent-grade skills, equivalent to thirty-two normal spells—more than enough for the current crisis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fireballs kept launching, slaughtering the goblins that dared ambush them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, they escaped the Silver Goblin spellcaster;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the continuous beams stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo breathed out. Sherfilia's stamina had reached the limit. She set him down, collapsed to her knees, bracing her hands on the ground, breathing erratically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had fought for a long time and didn't have Lin Mo's constitution;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>her endurance had been drained. In truth, she'd been operating on willpower alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that danger had passed, her taut nerves loosened and she completely lost mobility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo still had some stamina and immediately rose to clear goblins approaching them—one swing could fell many.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the moment he swung his sword again, his pupils suddenly shrank as he looked to the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sensed an elemental fluctuation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, an ice spear was flying at Sherfilia at incredible speed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sherfilia was utterly exhausted;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>her consciousness was fogging and she had no strength to dodge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo rushed forward and tackled her;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the ice spear struck down onto his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sherfilia froze, then finally realized what had happened and panicked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A crisp shattering sounded behind Lin Mo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no mana left to cast Frost Guard, but he still had a means to defend against the ice spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes—the Flame Ring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Equip Skill: Flame Barrier—triggers automatically when receiving a powerful attack, forming a flame barrier that blocks damage for 30 seconds. Long cooldown after use (12 hours).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Buying this Flame Ring with extra money had indeed been the right choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Sherfilia's trembling eyes, Lin Mo quickly scooped her up. \"This isn't a good place to stay. We move now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attacker who tried to ambush them had likely been a level-5 Bronze Goblin spellcaster. Annoying, but Lin Mo couldn't afford to linger in the enemy ranks right then—he let it go for the moment and vowed to avenge it later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He activated Swiftness and rapidly withdrew toward the rear defensive line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the way they were repeatedly attacked by Bronze Goblins and Giant Goblins—clearly ordered by that Silver Goblin spellcaster, the goblin leader, to chase them down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo cradled Sherfilia's small frame with one arm and held the Steel-Cleaving Sword in the other, cutting down any who dared approach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mana was depleted, but his qi and blood still had reserves—enough to use normal and excellent-grade skills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Consecutive Thrusts!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swift Rushing Punch!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gripping the sword, he delivered a punch so fierce it sent a Giant Goblin flying;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>its sternum shattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn't bother to finish it off and kept fleeing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>.....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sherfilia was wrapped under his mage robes. Lin Mo held her tightly;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>her cheek pressed against his chest. The warmth made her feel faint for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The strong metallic tang of blood reminded her she was still on a battlefield, but she lacked the strength to feel anxious—her body went limp, her mind blank, expression vacant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when Lin Mo set her down did Ellie rush over, her face full of worry, and Sherfilia snapped back to awareness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where's Finnie?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo looked around. They were now at the rear of the front line. Ellie had pulled back because she was wounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Miss Finnie forcefully healed me and then passed out...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ellie pressed a half-bandaged wound, feeling low. \"I still can't do much to help.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo ruffled her hair as consolation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then took a mid-level Life Potion from his Spatial Ring, gave Sherfilia a big gulp, then some to Ellie, and drank the remainder himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The burn on Sherfilia's shoulder had been half-healed by Lin Mo's Greater Healing Art;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>combined with the potion, it was mostly recovered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ellie's wounds, treated by Finnie, weren't severe. Sherfilia had protected Lin Mo well—he'd taken little real damage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wounds gradually closed, but stamina still needed time to recover.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo turned to survey the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even from a distance he could see faint points of extinguished light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chairman Vic seemed to be entangled with that Silver Goblin spellcaster, holding it back so it couldn't massacre ordinary soldiers and adventurers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the defensive line still looked terrible—collapse seemed likely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This battle, as anticipated before it began, was harsh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo walked up to the watchtower. Commander Joel, who coordinated defenses, stood there looking very strained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They should be arriving soon...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He too was badly wounded, sipping a Life Potion while watching the battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo asked in confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Look over there...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Joel pointed to the flank of the battlefield. Not long after he spoke, faint black mist began to spread from the horizon on both sides!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo's face darkened. He knew this aura well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Undead creatures!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes—recently, besides goblins, undead had often appeared near Silverstream City, posing a significant threat to adventurers entering the forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course these creatures had colluded with the goblins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So when goblins besieged the city, the undead came to assist...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for this scenario, Lin Mo thought Lady Behira would likely have foreseen it and prepared contingencies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, as the undead gathered on the battlefield flanks trying to smash the defenses, a squad in bright silver armor suddenly appeared on one side. On the right side came a team clad in black cloth armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo had heard of two elite units in Silverstream City—the Silverplate Guard and the Shadow Squad. These must be them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But would just these two elite squads be enough?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Commander Joel's tense expression, probably not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, another wave of personnel joined the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They looked like adventurers—more precisely, large-scale adventuring companies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sizable group of a couple hundred arrived;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>if their formation weren't loose and broken into small teams, Lin Mo might have mistaken them for hidden city troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most Silverstream City adventurers should already be fighting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo glanced sideways and saw Joel's previously tense face relax into elation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Great, they finally made it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who are they?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo asked curiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They were hired at great expense by the City Lord and Chairman Vic through the Adventurers' Association—two mercenary guilds: the Falcon Adventuring Company and the Lion Adventuring Company! They traveled all the way from Fargard City hundreds of miles away. With them here, those undead shouldn't be much of a threat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I see...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo nodded. Besides the forces the city could muster, it was natural to seek outside help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he was puzzled: for such a major goblin siege, why had the Kingdom sent no support? It seemed left to Lady Behira, the city lord, to hire adventuring companies herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also, the goblin populations in Roland Forest had clearly been deliberately allowed to grow. Could they be intended solely to trouble Silverstream City? That seemed too risky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could some vested interests—some vested interests—be behind this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Were they deliberately letting goblins multiply to achieve some gain?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although uncertain now, if Lin Mo's suspicions were true, this whole affair would be a shameless tragedy born of greed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He furrowed his brow—he had seriously underestimated how low some nobles would stoop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flank battle was too far to see details, but Joel's confidence suggested these adventuring companies were powerful and could handle the undead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo had no energy to run that far, but he could still help the front lines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at his status panel. Compared to other professions, his Knight level was indeed a bit low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Constitution is usually not needed, but when it is, it's crucial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Notably, during the recent fight, his Fortitude skill had finally leveled up and gained substantial proficiency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Skill Fortitude Lv5 (180\u002F180) upgraded!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Current Skill Fortitude Lv6 (31\u002F300)\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, intense battles increased skill proficiency faster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he still needed over two hundred points of proficiency to fully evolve it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the Knight skill Earth-Rending Slam was both useful and easy to train for the current situation.\u003C\u002Fp>",1809,"2026-06-02T08:44:24.853Z",1,"novelbin.me","e2d8d102610cbed63e3cf1ed05555452ef6c4fdab596c2a66454473ac5a897f2","starting-unlimited-evolution-from-grinding-chapter-197","starting-unlimited-evolution-from-grinding-chapter-195",349,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstarting-unlimited-evolution-from-grinding-cover.jpg"]