Chapter 118: The Looming Move

When a person meets a happy event, spirits are high; after grinding for several days, Ji Ming's all‑out effort finally paid off.

The knife hanging over AdaiEr's head was removed, and she shared the secret of the demonic armor with me.

The abundant side quests were completed, and in one go I vaulted straight to level 13.

Even the game's public‑opinion issue I never cared about was inexplicably turned around with textbook‑level success.

Thinking carefully, other games' marketing—from hard ads to soft ads to public‑opinion control—must invest at least several times the production budget.

As for me, I spent not a single cent, just letting the little boss casually push a few spam ads, and I became a top industry stream.

Sigh, life really is lonely as snow.

Back at the Clinic, he carefully stored AdaiEr's arm guard and opened his current panel.

【Level: 13 (40/240)】

【Class: Apprentice Alchemist】

Watching drama is fun, but after the fun ends you still have to live.

【Free Skill Points: 5】

【Intelligence: 23】

Following in one's father's trade and retiring home are predictable outcomes; Ji Ming offered no comment.

"Old Bo Er is preparing to retire; after all these years he's saved a sum, and if he trims expenses a bit, he should be able to enjoy his twilight years in Inner City."

Those lucky enough to slip into an adventurers' party find a way to coax an honest soul out for marriage.

【Free Attribute Points: 55】

But Si Tong's next sentence caught his attention.

Fine, what they said doesn't seem wrong.

At this point, he could only take out two more bottles of Fourth‑Generation Rejuvenation, and after thinking, added a small bottle of SpiritGathering Liquid.

The Business Union appears to be expanding, but is actually contracting its influence.

"I don't mind; at worst I could return to my old trade. What about you? Any plans?"

Thus they grind monsters, train, fish… everyone is actively preparing for tomorrow's all‑out assault on the kobold cave.

And each level‑up in the Alchemist class raises Intelligence and Charisma by two points.

…

So to maintain leveling efficiency, class users must constantly seek new monster types.

Sure enough, the Iron Rope Squad disbanded.

"It was just announced this morning; because of my combat merit, I was promoted to Tax Collector."

That is also one of the fundamental reasons the Alchemist class is considered low‑tier.

Combine that with Ku Po, who hasn't said it outright, but the increasingly frequent berserk creature incidents are evident.

"Right, everything in the game feels real; we're now training in advance for tomorrow's operation."

Ji Ming was about to go back to his room to keep watching the drama when he saw Si Tong, who hadn't been seen for days, appear across the street.

"Charlie and Bei Li are preparing to become blacksmith apprentices for Mo Dun, learning a trade so that whether they partner up or go solo they can fill their bellies."

No, how can you put that so logically!

Besides lacking reliable, feasible potion formulas, other alchemists don't have Ji Ming's cheat‑like "commission rewards"; to level up they must shamelessly beg companions for wild monsters to grind.

If all points go into Agility, you'd be the apprentice's supersonic one‑shot.

Ji Ming shook his head, driving the strange thought out of his mind.

"Hey hey, hello everyone, friends from other planes."

"Why does it feel like déjà vu?"

After a long while, he finally lifted his head.

Ji Ming wanted to advise, but not everyone can be like Huo Ke, whose lips meet and instantly follow others into a dungeon with no "living people" for sheer fun.

... No wonder Ku Po is urging me so frantically; is everything really this chaotic?

Ji Ming realized and chased after, but the somewhat desolate Si Tong had already vanished at the intersection.

Why does every time I look at the screen it's filled with "WAAAGH!"?

【By the way, we've taken down the Thunder‑Peach combo; can the kobolds have any good juice left?】

【Charisma: 23】

Si Tong's eyes reddened instantly, and he couldn't utter a complete sentence for ages.

Although hearing that the City Lord's mansion announced city‑wide martial law and will strictly limit entry and exit, one could guess this.

Those with bad luck can only sit in the club counting how many more years they can eat "youth rice."

Moreover, after knowing each other for so many days we've become familiar, and even several villagers from Dog Village have joined the training squads.

In the background, hundreds of people marched grandly, making the whole square bustling.

And money only counts when it's in your hand, points are the same.

Huo Ke was startled the first time he saw this thing, but now he's accustomed and can even cheerfully wave.

Anyway, each has its own advantages.

If all points go into HP, you'd be the apprentice's humanoid T‑rex.

"I've saved your lives twice; promise me you won't sneakily die somewhere, okay?"

In the afternoon I kept munching on the streamer's collapse drama, but over in Yangyue World things aren't static either.

"This is a crisis, but also an opportunity; since you've decided, you must be careful."

If all points go into Intelligence, you'd be the apprentice's Zhuge Kongming.

Anyway I'm an exception; my panel now shows a full 55 free attribute points.

And as the overall level rises, giving monsters to a pharmacist who is not good at combat becomes increasingly difficult, and the chance of a mishap grows larger.

Thus, in the later stages the pharmacist is either begging for help or constantly on the road of seeking help.

And the fantasy world ultimately speaks with fists; since you fundamentally rely on other professions to earn a living, no matter how high your intellect and charm, or how slick you are, it still matters little.

Nodding, Ji Ming glanced at Ku Po's chest and suddenly noticed his badge had turned from red to blue.

With such calculation, doesn't that create the possibility of gaining the upper hand or even defeating the enemy in a single move?

Thinking of this, Ji Ming asked.

Veteran debt handlers are all moving up toward Inner City, while Outer City is mass‑recruiting new debt handlers.

The players are more excited than he imagined; they were clearing and spamming on the internet with various netizens this afternoon, and now they're all in the game.

【Let's get ready tonight, and tomorrow we'll reclaim the in‑game arena!】

Even though it's only 7 p. m., the instructor troupe led by Huo Ke has already begun training in the arena.

He looked at both sides of the street; night had fallen, pedestrians hurried by like headless flies.

So that's why.

But there is one thing he truly cannot understand…

【HP: 9】

【Too excited, so awesome, brothers, I feel dizzy, my head heavy and my feet light】

No matter how he puts it, he is the Gold‑medal debt handler of the Business Union, and his connections in Inner City are certainly broader than his own, so Ji Ming gave him full authority.

Each player was full of drive; Ji Ming almost suspected the last time they were this diligent was back in senior year.

He could only shake his head and close the Clinic's door.

【Agility: 6】

After hearing that Ji Ming planned to move to Inner City, Ku Po voluntarily took on a series of chores such as finding a storefront and preparing the move.

"Since that's the case, I'll entrust AdaiEr's matter to you; may we meet again if fate allows."

What does 'entrust to me' mean?

Having said that, he turned and walked toward the exit.

And the cost is that after reaching level 12, the experience needed per level increases from +10 to +20.

Si Tong clicked his fingers.

A daytime victory is undoubtedly a shot of adrenaline.

Are you kidding me, is this my livestream or Huo Ke's? Why are all the viewers tonight here just wanting to see the big green skin?

Even more deadly, this world has repeat monster spawns and a penalty that reduces experience gain when high‑level players grind low‑level foes.

But learning this information still left him somewhat disappointed.

Seeing that he had noticed, Ku Po let out a light cough and straightened his shirt.

If everything is added to charm, I'd be the male charm among apprentices…

"Doctor, the storefront has been found; Outer City has been unstable these past days, and last night… perhaps you could move tomorrow."

However, earlier in the beta testing group, a player mentioned that adding a bit of HP during combat can temporarily compensate and even unleash extra power.

Because another wave of green bullet comments started flooding the screen, and the audience kept shouting to see the orcs.

When reaching level 11, the profession changes from 【Apprentice】 to 【Probationary】.

Since the officials only dabbled and then vanished, the hype naturally fell onto a few player‑bloggers.

Recall all trusted combat power to the core, then temporarily hire a group of cannon fodder with money to face the raging beasts.

Ji Ming, of course, went with the flow and said he would pack everything overnight.

Thus, after five consecutive level‑ups, Ji Ming's intellect and charm broke through the twentieth barrier.

Now imagine, during a duel, the opponent believes they have gauged your strength and is ready to deliver a killing blow.

That's actually a good thing; connections not only need to be numerous, but the thicker the better.

Having no choice, he turned the floating camera toward Huo Ke's side.

Picking a few questions from the bullet comments to answer, Zhao Jun's smile stiffened.

The squad is full of good people worth developing, what a pity…

After handling dinner alone, Ji Ming glanced at the time and headed to the dungeon.

……

Since the current four‑dimensional stats are still sufficient, he decided not to act rashly; better not to scramble later when needed, so he simply closed the panel.

After a brief polite exchange, Ku Po strode out of the Clinic.

"Doctor, I'm here to tell you something…"

But at the crucial moment, you suddenly boosted the four‑dimensional values a bit, making the next move's power and speed a few points faster.

Consequently, under the nearly paralyzing private‑message pressure, Zhao Jun, who intended to stop training, still started a livestream.

Cough.

He stroked his stubble, a hint of bitterness on his face.

"Thanks for your effort."

But the now‑popular "Code: Sun Month" will undoubtedly be the biggest hype engine for the coming period.

You can't just stop letting the little girl do apprentice work just because the Iron Chain squad is gone, can you?

"The Business Union is recruiting new debt handlers in Outer City these two days; Anna and I plan to try our luck—if we pass, it'll be a secure job."

—Even the internet streamers who could barely beat a pure headwind have been knocked down by us; facing the kobolds that can be defeated in the game settings, there's no reason to lose!

Since that's the case, this large pool of free points can itself be stored as a reserve.

"Alright, alright, tomorrow at dawn I'll bring a cargo cart over."

Even in this age that loves the new and despises the old, an internet celebrity's lifespan may be as short as a month.

Sitting in the hall, listening quietly for a moment, Ji Ming sighed.