Chapter 17

The deep and dark mine tunnel.

Two skeleton soldiers carrying pickaxes were standing in front of a statue that was handsome to the point of being cool, touching their jawbones and commenting.

"This statue... has it changed?"

【Zhu Tou Ren Qi】 vaguely remembered that when he was online last night, this statue didn't look like this, right?

The 【Niu Tou Ren Zhan Shi】 beside him shook his head.

"I didn't even notice this thing... by the way, what is this statue for?"

"Don't know, forget it, it's ugly! Smash it!" Zhu Tou Ren Qi would never admit that he was jealous.

However, just as he raised his pickaxe, intending to be mischievous, a green light hit his forehead, popping his soul directly out of the skeleton's body.

"Holy crap?!"

Looking at the skeleton lying on the ground in a daze, 【Zhu Tou Ren Qi】, floating in the air in soul form, was shocked.

"How did I become a corpse?!"

Ye Zhiqiu, who had also just logged on, walked up to him, stared at him carefully for a while, and then looked at the statue in front.

"I guess... you touched something you shouldn't have."

Although curious about what was strange about the statue, the cautionary tale was right there, so he didn't dare to get any closer.

Zhu Tou Ren Qi was so anxious he was about to cry.

"Holy crap, there wasn't even a sign on it... wait, how do I get back into my body?!"

Ye Zhiqiu: "Open your operation interface and take a look, see if there's anything abnormal in the status bar?"

Every player can choose to hide or open the operation interface.

Through the operation interface, one can check the attribute panel, current status, and health bar, as well as see the quest log, etc.

Sure enough.

Zhu Tou soon discovered the abnormality in the status bar; a line of small text was written on the upper right of the demon icon.

【Demon King's Absolute Punishment: 59 minutes 21 seconds.】

"Holy crap... soul separation for an hour?! And must stay online?!"

"It's an in-game skill, so there's no saving it," Ye Zhiqiu shook his head and walked away from him, "I'll have to put up a sign here later... since you've already stepped on a landmine, just spectate for now."

"Damn it!"

In soul state, players cannot leave the core of the Demon King's territory too far and can only move nearby.

Looking at the pitiful Zhu Tou, a group of silly players laughed heartlessly.

But thanks to this, a consensus formed in the hearts of all players—

The Demon King's statue seems untouchable.

Standing not far away, observing the players' actions, especially that guy named Ye Zhiqiu, Luo Yan suddenly spoke to the air beside him.

"Hearing You You, is that guy your alt account?"

Although there was no mirror here, Luo Yan discovered not long ago that not being able to see didn't hinder their communication.

Hearing You You replied with a wry smile.

"What are you talking about, Demon King? How is that possible?"

"Fine, I just think he's a bit too smart for his own good... never mind."

Attacking the core of the Demon King's territory results in being forcibly kicked out of the character for an hour.

The second time would be intentional sabotage, starting directly at twenty-four hours.

Luo Yan originally intended to find a sign to put up nearby later to remind everyone not to attack the respawn point, but he didn't expect a mischievous little unlucky guy to appear so quickly, which was also beyond his expectations.

It seems a warning sign isn't enough; I'd better hide this statue that draws aggro as soon as possible.

This is human territory after all; who knows when adventurers will come.

Staring at the handsome and heroic figure, Luo Yan examined it for a long time, and finally couldn't help but sigh.

"Hearing You You... you've really caused me a lot of trouble."

Seeming to feel a bit embarrassed, Hearing You You comforted him in a guilty, low voice.

"It's okay, Demon King! Look... isn't this statue quite handsome!"

"It's not a question of whether it's handsome or not... I'm in big trouble."

Luo Yan shook his head, looking at the dome of the mine tunnel, not wanting to speak.

First of all, he can't mooch off the Demon God's faith anymore.

Every human knows the Demon God's name is Bayeli, and they know what He looks like.

As for Luo Yan...

What kind of thing is that?

Another thing is the attitude from Hell, and this is what Luo Yan is most wary of right now.

Perhaps as Hearing You You said, the Demon God cannot sense such a remote territory, but once the situation here stabilizes, Hell will inevitably send people to take a look.

If they discover that he replaced the Demon God statue with himself without authorization...

He couldn't even imagine that scene.

"I have to go to Lei Ming City and find a craftsman who can make statues."

Come to think of it, can you really find a craftsman willing to make a Demon God statue in a free city that believes in Sheng Xisi?

Maybe I should just kidnap one...

"Demon King, you don't actually have to worry about that for now. Even if people from Hell want to come over, it will take some time, right?" Worried that Luo Yan would forget the important business, Hearing You You whispered and encouraged him, "Shouldn't we hurry up and do the real work?"

"Got it."

Knowing what this creature was hinting at, Luo Yan, standing in the mine tunnel, looked around and saw that many skeletons were still standing foolishly by the wall, clearly not online.

As one-in-a-million closed beta players, these guys are so lazy.

This won't do!

"Hearing You You, go to the official website and post an official update... notify the players about the Nether Coins."

Luo Yan suddenly remembered something else and continued.

"By the way, not just the currency system, but also contribution... you can get contribution points by completing quests. Contribution points can be used for 'Soul Ascension' and 'Job Change'."

Faith Value isn't just for his own use; it can also be used on the soul mirrors controlled by the players.

Currently, the players' soul levels are all 'Common,' and the level cap is only level 3, equivalent to ordinary people without supernatural powers. Only after rising to 'Black Iron' will the level cap unlock to level 10, then 'Bronze' is level 30, 'Fine Steel' is level 50... and so on.

Raising a Common-level soul to Black Iron only costs 100 Faith Value, which isn't much compared to the cost of upgrading from Bronze to Fine Steel.

If these players can create enough value for him, he wouldn't mind upgrading their game experience, like letting them be a high-tier demon for once.

Of course.

Since he is also short on Faith Value, the exchange rate between contribution points and Faith Value will be set at 10:1 for now.

Whoever gathers 1000 contribution points first will be the first big shot to break the LV3 level cap! Go ahead and grind!

Luo Yan, who wouldn't lose out no matter what, curled his lips into a wicked smile.

He found himself becoming more and more like a Demon King.

Seeing that the respected Demon King had finally started doing real work, Hearing You You also got motivated and replied with great momentum.

"Received!"

At the same time, a pinned post appeared on the official forum of "Disaster OL."

【a. 0.1 Version Update Announcement: New Currency System! Dear players, to improve your game experience, this non-downtime announcement specially introduces the "Nether Coin" and "Contribution Point" systems! As the only currency circulating in the Great Graveyard, Nether Coins can be used to purchase equipment and props from NPC shops or the system mall! However, since the mall system is still under development, it will take some time to go online, so please be patient! In addition, it is especially necessary to explain the contribution point system: players can obtain contribution points by completing the Demon King's quests. Accumulating contribution points can increase your soul level, unlock higher LV caps, and allow you to reincarnate into other cooler species in the future! Only with a higher soul level can you control higher-level monsters and even demons.

Including, but not limited to, the succubus you are all looking forward to~】

Luo Yan took a moment to glance at the official website.

He was originally worried that Hearing You You wouldn't understand his meaning, but he didn't expect this creature to be unexpectedly capable, even drawing a pie for him at the end.

Without any surprise, the animals squatting on the forum spamming and not working instantly boiled over.

"Holy crap?!"

"Does the development team not sleep?!"

"The suggestion was just made yesterday, and it was updated at dawn!!"

"Got it! As long as I save enough contribution points, I can get rid of this skeleton frame!!"

"See you later, brothers! I'm going to grind progress! 'Bro! Borrow the succubus for me to use when you become one...'"

"Get lost! What can you do with your pathetic self besides getting ash all over me?"

"Damn it! Stupid developers, don't just focus on updating, issue more accounts!!! (Frantic)"

"Damn! I'm not going to this crappy job anymore! I gave my boss a day off!!!"

"..."

The poor little leeks have already been hooked.

In just one minute, one hundred skeleton soldiers returned online in unison! Before Luo Yan could speak, the fanatical creaking sounds had already surrounded him.

"Demon King! Who are we hacking today?"

"Invasion! I want to invade the surface fiercely!!!"

"I feel like I'm super awesome now! I can take on ten Chosen Ones!!!"

"..."

Facing the noisy dancing of the demons, Luo Yan pinched his throat and said in a solemn and dignified voice.

"Quiet! Listen to me!"

The players who were in the middle of excitement certainly couldn't be that obedient, but he hadn't counted on it anyway.

Using the power of authority to seal everyone's actions, he continued in a calm tone.

"The Demon King's territory needs development, not just fighting... you can contribute your strength to the Great Graveyard in any way you are good at!"

"As for the quests, I have updated them in your quest list. You can check them through the quest bar of the operation interface..."

After speaking, Luo Yan released the authority that sealed the players' actions and stood there with his hands behind his back, indicating that the cutscene was over.

Noisy sounds filled the entire mine tunnel again, but this time it wasn't as chaotic as before; it was orderly in the chaos.

Ye Zhiqiu quickly opened the quest bar, and saw a long string of pop-up windows listed on it.

【Daily Quest 1: Clear the Spider Nest! Description: Recapturing the fallen labyrinth is imminent!

Reward: For every cave spider killed and its corpse brought back, you can exchange it for 1000 Nether Coins and 10 contribution points!】

【Daily Quest 2: Annihilate the Rat-Man Rebels! Description: The rat-men betrayed Hell! They are hiding in every corner of the Beifeng mine tunnel! These cowardly things don't deserve to live! Kill them all! Reward: One rat-man tail can be exchanged for 100 Nether Coins! (Handing in 20 tails on the same day can get 50 contribution points!)】

【Daily Quest 3: Mining! Description: The iron ore and coal in the Beifeng mine tunnel are the key to our rebuilding of the Demon King's army!

Reward: One jin of coal or iron ore can be exchanged for 1 Nether Coin! (Handing in 1000 jin of coal on the same day can get 50 contribution points!)】

【Quest 4: Capture adventurers...】

【Quest 5: Explore unknown landmarks...】

【Quest 6: Complete equipment production orders...】

【Quest 7: Collect cave spider eggs...】

There are many types of quests, which can be roughly divided into combat quests and life quests.

Compared with yesterday, the quests released today not only have more specific requirements but also have corresponding rewards written on them.

Ye Zhiqiu glanced around.

He was surprised to find that after this "big update," the surrounding players were clearly more motivated than before.

It seems that even in a sandbox game, you have to give players some motivation to play.

"So that's it... soul level determines the LV cap. I was wondering what this thing was for before."

【Gai Shi Ying Xiong】, touching his jawbone, muttered to himself at the attribute panel, while 【Xiao Wan Chi Bu Bao】 not far away sighed sadly.

"I... I'd better dig coal. Rats and spiders are too hard for me. Call me when there are more normal monsters."

【Zhi Shi Xue Bao】 said with a grin.

"Digging coal is good! One jin of coal can be exchanged for one Nether Coin. I'm going to dig this mine vein until it explodes!"

【Cun Kou Lao Da Ye】 couldn't help but roll his eyes when he heard this, and complained seriously.

"Keep bragging... with this kind of pickaxe, digging 3000 jin a day is the limit."

Zhi Shi Xue Bao: "Not necessarily, you won't get tired in the game! 3000 jin in 8 hours, 9000 jin in 24 hours!"

Wan Bu Qi: "Holy crap? Are you trying to kill yourself?!"

"..."

Luo Yan, who was eavesdropping on the players' chat, was also shocked.

Good heavens.

Can they dig so much in a day?! Will the profit from mining be too high...

Unlike the players who were chatting, Ye Zhiqiu just thought quietly about the quest bar, playing the role of a maverick skeleton as always.

At this time, a skeleton soldier carrying a one-handed shield and a short spear walked up to him and said to him.

"Team up?"

Ye Zhiqiu looked at the person; it was an ID he didn't recognize, and he didn't remember chatting with him on the official website, so he asked curiously.

"I can, but... why pick me?"

"Need you ask? You look more reliable," the voice replied helplessly, and the skeleton reached out his hand, "Hu Wan."

Players can see each other's IDs.

But out of politeness, Ye Zhiqiu still shook his hand and introduced himself just like him.

"Ye Zhiqiu."

Hu Wan grinned.

"Happy cooperation!"

The players in the "Quality Square" dispersed one after another, leaving only 【Zhu Tou Ren Qi】, a ghost, wailing pitifully in front of the Demon King statue.

"Damn! Wait for me! I want to go to the mine too! I'll be unsealed in 40 minutes!"

Watching the departing backs, Luo Yan, who had eaten his fill of gossip, showed a happy expression on his face.

How nice.

His little players are all so proactive, which saved him a lot of trouble.

Maybe he could even be lazy and take a vacation in the human world.

Looking at the Demon King commanding the skeletons, Kelis, Amu, and the Grey Dog group squatting in the stone prison trembled.

These skeletons' actions made them understand less and less.

Seeing several prisoners wake up, Luo Yan opened his suitcase, took out some dry rations, and threw them to them. After they finished eating, he raised the ring in his hand again, and amidst their begging for mercy, he sucked them one by one until they were half-dry.

【Faith Value +13】

Tsk.

Too little! Looking at the few broken-looking adventurers, Luo Yan felt that he was becoming less and less human.

"By the way, Hearing You You, add a team function in the next update."

Hearing You You: "Got it, Master! Should I arrange it now?"

"No need to be so urgent."

Facing the invisible Hearing You You, Luo Yan continued slowly.

"Updating too fast will make players think that our updates are easy. You can't get fat in one bite; you have to wait for them to raise problems, and then we solve them..."

Hearing You You, who suddenly realized, sighed with admiration.

"As expected of the Demon King, truly... truly unfathomable."

Luo Yan smiled slightly, accepting the heartfelt worship.

Pity...

Stepping on the left foot with the right foot can't get to heaven; no matter how much his divinity admires him, it can't contribute faith power.

"Low profile."

"Just basic operations."

(End of Chapter)