[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-monsters-are-coming":3,"chapter-the-monsters-are-coming-monsters-are-coming-chapter-61":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Monsters Are Coming",{"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},2249910,4069,"Chapter 61: NPC Favorability","monsters-are-coming-chapter-61",61,"\u003Cp>\"High cash price purchasing Body-Tempering Battle Techniques; transfer upon completion of trade and logout, no deception of young or old.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who has an unused Body-Tempering Battle Technique? Do not fear I lack funds; if you are willing to sell, name any price you wish.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Xiao's good fortune reignited the player community's fervor to seek out the God of Wealth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Furthermore, the request post for Body-Tempering Battle Techniques published by a heavy-spending player on the forum further ignited player enthusiasm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The price for one Body-Tempering Battle Technique on the forum had already been bid up to four million cash, yet it remained available in name only; apart from Zhou Xiao, no other player had obtained one yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although some bidders were merely shouting prices blindly on the forum, the Body-Tempering Battle Technique still held immense temptation for ordinary players, signifying that obtaining one could make them overnight millionaires.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bloodstained Plains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A ten-player squad was engaged in fierce combat against a group of monsters called Rage Horns, which resembled goats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Flame, heed my call; appear!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Accompanied by a shout brimming with chuunibyou energy, a player in the squad ignited two clumps of ink-black flame in his hands, which rapidly spread across his body; his flesh and blood vanished under the forging flames, revealing stark white bones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Switching to Bone Flame Form, the player raised his hand to condense several fireballs and fired them at the Rage Horn horde.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I grant you the fate of becoming mutton skewers!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three Rage Horns struck by the fireballs were instantly engulfed in roaring ink-black flames, emitting mournful cries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey Chi Tu, can you stop being so chuunibyou while eating dirt? You're giving me goosebumps; try some serious lines, will you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing these words, Chi Tu, currently in Bone Flame Form, flipped off Sha Xin Dong with his middle finger:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pah! Isn't your little snake constricting technique awkward too?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's a great snake, yours is the little snake...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While hunting monsters, banter flowed incessantly within the squad's voice channel, creating a joyful atmosphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, Chi Tu suddenly noticed a familiar figure in the distance; he immediately switched to Eagle-Head Demon Form to get a better look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the enhancement of Eagle Eye, the distant figure became clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Li, it's the God of Wealth!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Chi Tu's shout, Li Zheng, who had transformed into a great snake over ten meters long ahead, felt a jolt in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pah!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spat out the Rage Horn, which resembled a goat and was dangling from his mouth, to the side, then raised his massive head to look in the direction Chi Tu indicated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His vertical pupils contracted sharply as his vision zoomed in; indeed, he saw a familiar figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The figure stood about 1.65 meters tall, with pale blue hair and an expressionless Iron Face resembling an exquisite doll; he was currently sitting cross-legged on a twisted tree, eyes closed in meditation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hiss, isn't good fortune arriving right now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Li Zheng spoke, his form twisted and rapidly shrank, switching to human form, where a black cloth robe automatically appeared on his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After grinding hard for several days in the Gloomy Cave and completing the Purification Mission, his contribution ranked first, and the rewards brought his Body-Tempering level to 3; however, when facing low-level monsters he could easily kill, he still habitually preferred fighting in Black Armored Snake Form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His current Black Armored Snake Form had grown to level 22, with a body length of 11 meters; his formidable physical qualities allowed him to easily crush a tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had truly reached the realm of Great Snake Constriction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon discovering the God of Wealth's whereabouts, Li Zheng and his brothers from the Grind God Group appeared extremely excited and decisively rushed toward Duan Xing's location.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Duan Xing, not far away, sensed figures approaching; he opened his pure white eyes and looked toward Li Zheng and the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, he did not choose to leave, curious in his heart about what these lifeforms calling themselves the Player Race wanted with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Li Zheng and the others approached, he leaped down from the tree trunk and landed steadily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"God of Wealth, we finally meet; hurry up and proceed with the routine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"God of Wealth, I want a Body-Tempering Battle Technique too; there are ten of us here, give one to each person.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"God of Wealth, do you have a hidden mall function here? Can we buy good items not available in the ordinary mall?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duan Xing: ......\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This series of questions left Duan Xing stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Duan Xing standing there dumbfounded, Li Zheng and the other Grind God Group players immediately grew somewhat worried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Members of the Grind God Squad began speaking in the squad voice channel:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Family Share Godfather: Brother Li, maybe we're approaching this wrong; we can't ask directly, we need to be subtle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leopard Head Zero Charge: Don't rush; progress is too fast. I saw posts the other day where others chatted for a long time before receiving the Body-Tempering Battle Technique red packet; we must chat slowly too, waiting for the right moment when the God of Wealth offers it himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Poor Enough to Eat Dirt: Is there a possibility that the prerequisite for asking the God of Wealth for a red packet is accumulating sufficient personal favorability? Last time, the special event of saving the God of Wealth changed his favorability toward our player faction from hostile to friendly, which is why he didn't attack on sight; but his personal favorability toward us individuals is zero, so asking for items directly certainly won't work. We must proceed step by step; based on my years of gaming experience, gift-giving is the simplest way to raise favorability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Xin Dong: Right, raise favorability first before directly asking for items; this is too impolite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I do not understand what you are saying; what exactly do you want from me?\" Looking at Li Zheng and the others standing there dazed, Duan Xing asked in a deep voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After communicating via the voice channel, Li Zheng and the other Grind God Group players decisively changed their strategy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They took out canned food of various flavors from their spatial bags and offered them to Duan Xing with ingratiating expressions:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Have some?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Zheng and the others suddenly produce a pile of items from thin air, Duan Xing's expression became incredibly complex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He realized one thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These fellows actually carried spatial items on their persons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could he not know the value of such things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Currently, he was merely a reserve warrior and could not be equipped with spatial items.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if promoted to a formal warrior of the Nitchao Legion, equipping spatial items would require exchanging a large amount of war merit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet these fellows, who called themselves the Player Race, each possessed one of such precious items.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But upon careful thought, Duan Xing could not help shaking his head internally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spatial items require a physical vessel; previously, he had killed many members of the Player Race, and upon their death, they all dissolved into black mist without dropping any items, which did not align with the characteristics of spatial items.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be a unique bodily structure, with a space for storing items existing within their bodies?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duan Xing then thought of another possibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the Nitchao Legion, there was a racial faction called the \"Void Race\"; members of this race possessed a special racial skill where, upon adulthood, their stomachs underwent a miraculous transformation, forming a spatial pocket capable of storing items.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He suspected members of the Player Race likely mastered a similar ability, forming a small storage space within their bodies by altering their physical structure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But upon careful consideration, this explanation still failed to clarify why no items dropped when they dissolved into black mist upon death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing the food offered by Li Zheng and the others, Duan Xing did not refuse; he reached out and accepted it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He planned to chat properly with these Player Race members next, probing into their race's internal situation and the origin of their special abilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sitting on the ground, Duan Xing violently twisted open the can lid; after tasting a mouthful of the food, he could not help frowning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This food contained not a shred of energy; it was purely for satisfying hunger, utterly worthless, and less efficient than directly absorbing heavenly and earthly energy to replenish bodily consumption.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to gather intelligence, he still patiently ate in small bites, seeking an opportunity to ask questions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Li Zheng and the others also sat down before Duan Xing; watching him eat, they automatically imagined floating text prompts popping up above the God of Wealth's head:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Favorability +1\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Favorability +1\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a good start, they only needed to wait for favorability to reach the threshold to receive the God of Wealth's gift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the subsequent conversation, Duan Xing asked about the origins of the Player Race.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although he had already asked Zhou Xiao this question, he intended to delve deeper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing the inquiry, Li Zheng's thoughts differed completely from Zhou Xiao's.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Xiao thought to say whatever came to mind, hiding nothing, never considering the potential consequences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Zheng was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a veteran player, he knew that NPCs in the game world were actually intelligent AIs created by the Eclipse Race; from their birth, they were implanted with memories corresponding to the game world's background, unaware they were NPCs, believing themselves to be living beings, and even less aware that their purpose for existence was to create game content for players.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, bluntly explaining that one is a player essentially breaks the game rules, providing content the NPC cannot comprehend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Li Zheng's view, such behavior was shameful; in severe cases, NPCs who learned the truth might be reclaimed by the Eclipse Race for initialization processing, preventing them from doubting their own positioning and developing thoughts beyond their designated roles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a player, Li Zheng felt he must immerse himself in the player's background role when interacting with NPCs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was also a method to enhance one's own sense of immersion in the game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, when introducing the Player Race, he used the Guiding Introduction background as a reference for his description.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stated that he was formerly a member of the Player Race who believed in Di Zhao; after the Black Black Tide descended, the Player Race fell into slumber until recently awakening, wishing to rekindle the fire of Di Zhao and reclaim territories swallowed by the Black Black Tide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During this, Li Zheng also introduced the land beneath their feet to Duan Xing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stated that this was the Di Zhao Mountain Range region, the place where Di Zhao was once buried, and also the borderland of the Monster World.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But unlike Zhou Xiao, Li Zheng did not mention Di Zhao Village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the novice village was the player respawn point, which in Li Zheng's view would obviously be difficult for an NPC to understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This exchange went very smoothly, with no issues of content being blocked or muting occurring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After collecting this intelligence, Duan Xing's desire to recruit the Player Race grew even stronger in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the problem lay in the fact that the Player Race was an ancient race; they still worshipped the ancient creator god Di Zhao, their thinking was outdated, and they seemed unwilling to join the Nitchao Legion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After chatting for a long time and finding that Duan Xing still had not proposed giving a red packet, Li Zheng could not wait any longer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a brick-moving player, time was money in his eyes; they could not waste any more time like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"God of Wealth, we of the Player Race have a saying called 'courtesy demands reciprocity,' meaning that after a friend gives a gift, one ought to return a gift; this is a very polite manifestation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing these words, Duan Xing couldn't help but pause, then lowered his head to look at the can of food he had already finished in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zheng's meaning was clear enough; obviously, he hoped Duan Xing would reciprocate with a gift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of the Player Clan's life-saving grace, Duan Xing did not haggle over the value of the food. After a brief moment of thought, he retrieved a purple crystal from his bracer and handed it to Li Zheng:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is a Violet Soul Crystal, my return gift.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking the Violet Soul Crystal and seeing the analysis information indicate it was a Grade 7 spiritual ore, Li Zheng beamed with joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After chatting for so long, he had finally gained something; indeed, one had to build rapport first before unlocking the subsequent red envelope phase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after accepting the crystal, he couldn't resist asking:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"God of Wealth, do you have any Body-Tempering Combat Techniques to give away?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the blue veins on Duan Xing's forehead throbbed; he realized that the news of him previously gifting the Player Clan a Body-Tempering Combat Technique had clearly spread within the player community.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soliciting a Body-Tempering Combat Technique was their main purpose for approaching him this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No more; I only carried one copy of a Body-Tempering Combat Technique on me.\" Duan Xing decisively shook his head in refusal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duan Xing's answer left Li Zheng and the others somewhat disappointed, and the squad's voice channel immediately began analyzing the situation:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Li, it might be that our favorability isn't high enough, or perhaps the God of Wealth's inventory hasn't refreshed a Body-Tempering Combat Technique yet; let's come back next time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What a pity; we finally ran into the God of Wealth, only to find the stock of Body-Tempering Combat Techniques already cleared out; we can only wait for the next refresh.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Trading a food can worth 1 point of Sacrificial Power for a Grade 7 ore is already a huge profit; brothers, don't be so greedy, it's time to retreat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the conversation ended, Li Zheng and the others rose to take their leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what Duan Xing did not know was that precisely because of his friendly demeanor toward the Player Clan, a wave of constant harassment was about to follow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after Li Zheng departed, he posted a strategy guide on the forum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[The Correct Way to Open the God of Wealth: A Hidden Attribute in the Game: NPC Intimacy.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Poster: Game Brick-Mover.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Content:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I've learned a lot from the strategy guides posted by my brothers on the forum; today, I finally have a practical guide to give back to everyone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's get straight to the point. Recently, everyone has been searching for the God of Wealth, believing that finding him will yield gifts. This idea is actually wrong, because I've discovered that the game actually contains a hidden attribute: Favorability.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The three words 'Favorability' probably don't need explanation; any brother who has played games understands.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In other games, an NPC's favorability can be directly viewed via the attribute panel; reaching a certain level of favorability with an NPC grants service conveniences, discounted goods, or purchasing permissions for special items.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But in this game, favorability is a hidden attribute; although it cannot be seen on the attribute panel or elsewhere, it truly exists...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The strategy guide Li Zheng posted recounted how he gifted the God of Wealth a present and received a red envelope in return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Grade 7 quality spiritual ore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The popularity of this post rapidly climbed on the forum, with many players replying to express their gratitude, stating they had learned the correct way to approach the God of Wealth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Zheng's success reinforced the players' impression of Duan Xing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They believed the God of Wealth was a special mechanism within the game; encountering him meant a chance to make a small fortune, and if luck was good and a Body-Tempering Combat Technique happened to refresh in the God of Wealth's spatial inventory, they would strike it rich in one go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This sparked a frenzy of trading scrap metal for treasures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every player wanted to use cheap items purchased from the Mall to exchange for high-value Body-Tempering Combat Techniques or high-quality spiritual ores from the God of Wealth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the completely unaware Duan Xing was still pondering whether to investigate the Player Clan more deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, locating their clan grounds and secretly observing them to gather information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, when he eventually had the opportunity to return to his homeland, he would report the Player Clan's intelligence and attempt to recruit them into the Niche Black Tide Legion, making them one of the racial factions serving the Niche Black Tide Legion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Little did he know that a wave of \"harassment operations\" aimed at grinding favorability was about to descend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2797,"2026-06-19T09:20:35.554Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","2b35a0cd3321baed0008bd25f4d73db70ff4a44501bbb74abb5076598140c7f9","monsters-are-coming-chapter-62","monsters-are-coming-chapter-60",393,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmonsters-are-coming-cover.jpg"]