PFC Chapter 14 Zhang Village, Conflict
Chapter 14 Zhang Village, Conflict
A figure appeared at the village entrance.
It was Lin Tian who had returned from the Bluestone Plain.
By the time Lin Tian arrived at the simple wooden fence gate of the beginner village, night had completely fallen.
Unlike the hustle and bustle during the day, the village entrance area becomes the liveliest place at night.
—A player-run open-air market has taken shape.
"Level 0 plain leather armor, +3 defense, only 50 copper coins! 20 copper coins cheaper than the general store!"
"Buying three-eyed spider venom glands, 1 silver coin per set! Bulk discounts available!"
"Our level 2 team needs a reliable healer, preferably with healing talents of rank B or higher! Hurry!"
"Freshly forged Level 2 Iron Sword, Physical Attack +8! Selling at a loss, only 2 silver coins!"
Lin Tian slowed his pace and scanned the stalls with great interest.
Most of the equipment sold is level 0-2 blank or low-quality items with pitifully low additional attributes.
Compared to the equipment he was wearing, it was far inferior.
Most players are currently hovering around level 1-2. Occasionally, you can see one or two level 3 players hurrying by, their faces showing fatigue or the joy of a successful day, clearly having just returned from a day of hard work.
Lin Tian had no interest in these low-level equipment. He was much more interested in skill books!
After grinding monsters for so long, all I got were copper coins and materials; I didn't see a single skill book. The drop rate was ridiculously low.
99 gold coins lay quietly in his backpack (the amount he had earned through his talent upgrade).
He automatically filtered out the gray/white junk equipment that dropped without even looking at it. His backpack space was precious, so he only picked up some copper coins. When he needed money, he could use his talent to upgrade it.
Just as he was feeling slightly disappointed and preparing to cross the market back to his humble rented hut in the corner of the village to rest, a large group of people gathered in front of a stall caught his attention.
A burst of exclamations and heated bargaining erupted from the center of the crowd.
"Holy crap! It's a skill book! And a passive one at that!"
"An E-grade 'Enlightenment'? A permanent increase to Intelligence? This thing is practically a godsend for mages in the early game!"
"Boss, can you give me a discount? How about two silver coins? That's all the money I have left!"
"Dude, I'll pay you 3 silver coins! Sell it to me! I'll trade right away!"
"Damn it, stop fighting over it! Boss, give me three silver coins too!"
Lin Tian's heart skipped a beat, and he pushed through the crowd.
Behind the stall sat a level 2 warrior player with an excited yet slightly apprehensive expression.
On the stall in front of him was a skill book with a light blue brain-shaped circuit pattern on the cover and slightly worn paper!
[Item: Skill Book - Inspiration]
[Rank: E]
[Type: Passive Skill]
[Effect: After learning, permanently increases Intelligence attribute by 5 points.]
[Study Requirements: Mage, Priest]
[Description: A basic spiritual training method that can subtly enhance one's perception of elements and knowledge; it is one of the introductory texts for aspiring mage disciples.]
Price: 50 silver coins
"Permanently adds 5 points to Intelligence!" Lin Tian's eyes lit up.
Although it's only E-rank and doesn't add many attributes, the passive skill doesn't consume mana and is permanent, making it a huge boost for any magic-based class in the early game!
Moreover... this is precisely the core attribute he needs most!
More importantly, he has the talent for [improvement]!
In his hands, this E-level book is a divine skill!
Lin Tian stepped forward: "I'll take this skill book. Let's make a trade."
"Whoa—!" The crowd erupted in chaos.
"Holy crap! That's a real pro! He didn't even blink at 50 silver coins!"
"Wow, this guy's rich! Where did he get so much money?"
"It's over, it's hopeless, the big boss has made his move..."
"I spent all day grinding monsters and I only got less than 1 silver coin."
The stall owner, a warrior player, was so excited when he saw the real 50 silver coins in the trade window that his hands trembled.
"Deal... Deal! Boss, you're so generous!" Afraid that Lin Tian would change his mind, he immediately clicked to confirm.
The moment the transaction completion notification lit up in Lin Tian's system panel, a voice filled with obvious displeasure and arrogance rang out from the edge of the crowd:
"Wait! Our 'Peerless' team wants that skill book!"
The crowd was roughly parted, and a five-man squad, clearly much better equipped and looking menacing, squeezed in.
Leading the group was a young mage dressed in brand-new apprentice robes, holding a staff with a cheap sapphire inlaid at the top. The ID [Ye Shen - Level 3 Mage] above his head gleamed, and his face carried an undeniable arrogance.
Behind him followed two burly warriors, a sharp-eyed archer, and an indifferent-looking priest, all level 2, with disdainful eyes and an air of superiority that kept strangers at bay.
This team, composed of top talents (led by an A-level mage, with the rest being B-level), is undoubtedly a top-tier fighting force in the newbie village.
Ye Shen's greedy gaze was first fixed on the blue-glowing book "Enlightenment" in Lin Tian's hand, as if it were already his.
Then, his gaze shifted to Lin Tian.
Because Lin Tian concealed his level, they assumed that Lin Tian's level was too low and therefore he did not reveal it.
In Ye Shen's understanding, those who can currently reach level 3 are all top experts, so who would hide their level?
The person in front of me is most likely a level 1 or 2 newbie who got lucky and found money or has a special talent for making money.
One of his henchmen immediately stepped forward, pointing at the stall owner and Lin Tian, his tone forceful:
A soldier with the ID "Zhang Hong" immediately stepped forward, pointed at the stall owner and Lin Tian, and spoke in a tone that was almost commanding:
"Hey, bookseller! And you! Listen up! Our Brother Shen has his eye on this book! Be smart and cancel the deal, let it go! Our Brother Shen will... he'll buy it for 45 silver coins!"
The stall owner warrior's face turned deathly pale, and he shrank back in fear. But the heavy 50 silver coins in his bag gave him a sliver of courage, and his voice trembled as he said, "But...but, sir, the transaction is already...already completed..."
Ye Shen frowned, clearly very dissatisfied with his underling's price and the stall owner's "lack of appreciation".
He stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Lin Tian like a hawk's, his voice deliberately low, carrying a hypocritical tone of "reasoning," but in reality filled with undeniable pressure:
"Friend, give me some face. This skill book is very important to me; it's related to our team's progress tomorrow. Here's the deal: you bought it for 50 silver, but I won't let you lose out. All our team's earnings for today are here—45 silver coins. You can have it."
He paused, his tone carrying a hint of charity and an implicit threat:
"Let's be friends. From now on, in the newbie village, just mention my name 'Ye Shen' or the name of our 'Aoshi' team, and no one will dare to mess with you. How about it?"
That being said, the charity and the underlying threat in his eyes were undisguised.
The four teammates behind him also stepped forward in coordination, creating a sense of pressure.
The surrounding players immediately fell silent, not daring to utter a sound.
Everyone could see that this "Peerless" team was well-equipped, had a higher level, and was definitely not to be trifled with. The player who bought the book was probably in for some bad luck.
Looking at the scene before him, Lin Tian glanced down at the E-grade skill book emitting a faint blue light in his hand, then looked up at the arrogant Ye Shen and his teammates who were just taking advantage of his position, and suddenly laughed.
That smile held a hint of amusement, a hint of coldness, and a hint of... pity, as if looking at a clown jumping around.
He slowly brought the skill book to his eyes, and just as Ye Shen thought he was about to give in and hand it over, a smug smile appeared on his lips—
Lin Tian's finger lightly tapped the cover of the skill book.
[Should I learn Skill - Inspiration (Level E)?]
"Confirm learning".
Om-!
The skill book instantly transformed into a soft blue stream of light and entered Lin Tian's body.
[Ding! Congratulations on learning the passive skill "Enlightenment" (Rank E)! Intelligence permanently increased by 5 points!]
[Current Intelligence: 42 → 47!]
[Current spell damage: 124 → 134!]
Lin Tian raised his head, meeting Ye Shen's gaze, which froze instantly before turning to astonishment and rage, and the gasps of the surrounding players. He shrugged, his tone as calm as if stating a simple fact:
"Sorry, I was too quick and learned it. You guys... are a step too late."
The air seemed to freeze.
The market's clamor fell eerily silent at that moment. Only Ye Shen's heavy breathing, fueled by extreme anger, and the fury that seemed to be spitting from his eyes remained.
The precious skill book he had painstakingly searched for and was about to obtain... was actually learned on the spot by this unknown, seemingly ordinary guy?!
This isn't just a slap in the face; it's trampling his dignity into the ground and crushing it several times!
"You...you're courting death!" Ye Shen's face turned a deep purplish-red, his teeth grinding together, the sapphire at the tip of his staff flashing with a dangerous light, and his magical power began to fluctuate uncontrollably.
The team members behind him instantly revealed their murderous intent, their hands resting on their weapons.
However, Lin Tian seemed oblivious to the tense scene. He merely turned his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over Ye Shen and his group of teammates who looked like they were facing a formidable enemy. The cold smile on his lips seemed to deepen slightly.
"Hmph! You ignorant fool!"
Zhang Hong roared, his voice trembling with fear, in an attempt to regain his composure:
"You should be thankful this is a safe zone! If we were out in the wild, I'd have killed you back to level 0 in a heartbeat! You'd better not leave the village again!"
Upon hearing this, Lin Tian not only did not get angry, but instead shook his head gently as if he had heard an interesting joke.
He didn't look at the group again, turned around, and strode towards his residence.
Just before he was about to blend into the shadows of the crowd, a clear, calm, yet seemingly heavy-handed voice struck Ye Shen and the others like an ice bead:
"You are the ones who should be thankful to be in the safe zone."
As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Tian's figure disappeared into the crowd of people in the market, leaving behind only a desolate stall behind him, and Ye Shen and his Aoshi Squad, their faces ashen and their eyes burning with humiliation and rage.