novelraw Chapter 63: Strength Level 1
Chapter 63: Strength Level 1
The sky was overcast with a light drizzle falling.
Three days later, at Moonstone City's harbor.
Chen Qi placed both hands on his undulating abdomen, feeling the process of inhalation, exhalation, and spiritual energy flowing through his body.
During these three days, he hadn't stirred up trouble but instead devoted himself to caring for the Ghostfire Fish while practicing the White Mist Breathing Technique and Blade Body Forging Technique.
However, contrary to his expectations, the Black Rabbit Gang—who should have been causing chaos—only bothered him with verbal threats despite numerous encounters.
It felt like the calm before a storm.
Facing both the Black Rabbit Gang and unknown threats from the sea, only formidable strength could ensure his safety.
Breathing and forging techniques were prerequisites for many skills and equipment, serving as crucial benchmarks for a first-tier player's combat capability.
"Haa..."
Chen Qi slowly exhaled, feeling waves of heat spread throughout his body.Thump! Thump!
His heart pounded with powerful beats.
An invisible layer of energy now enveloped his entire being!
"I did it!"
Chen Qi was overjoyed.
[You have fully mastered the Blade Body Forging Technique. Constitution +5. Minor defense boost.]
[You have mastered the White Mist Breathing Technique. Agility +2.]
[You have mastered Strength (White Mist Type). You can now reinforce your body with strength or imbue it into your weapons.]
After days of training, he had finally fully digested both forging and breathing techniques.
Next, Chen Qi instructed the Deepsea Water Spirits to bring two apples and toss them into the air.
He gripped his black blade, leaned forward, and assumed a drawing stance.
A flash of steel!
The black blade produced a sharp whistling sound as it cut through the air.
Without even touching the apples, the blade's energy cleanly sliced both fruits in half.
Invisible strength had coated the weapon, transforming into blade energy during the swing that severed anything near its edge.
Strength could be used for both offense and defense—a comprehensive enhancement for any first-tier transcendent!
Now, his constitution had reached 23 points, and his agility stood at 22.
At this level, even being slashed by blades or shot by ordinary bullets wouldn't be a serious concern!
However, he had only mastered the most basic applications of strength and couldn't yet produce those astonishingly large blade energies.
Regardless, he now possessed the power to clear ordinary D-grade dimensional rifts.
Chen Qi promptly removed his shirt and examined himself in a newly purchased small mirror.
His formerly frail body had transformed—defined muscles now shaped his frame into that lean-but-toned physique that looks slender clothed but reveals solid muscle when bare.
Moreover, enhanced by his new musculature, the blue spider-sea-beast tattoo on his back appeared even more terrifying!
"Whew... Not easy. Mastering forging and breathing techniques finally brings me to the average first-tier level that newbies discuss on player forums."
Chen Qi sighed as he put his shirt back on.
Though merely "average" by player standards, mastering these techniques already placed him above most first-tier transcendents in the New Dawn World.
Even the most acclaimed academy-style starts among players would struggle to achieve such robust progress in such a short time.
Yet on the talent-packed New Dawn game forums, he'd probably just receive comments like:
"Worse than a gym bro."
"That's it?"
"Need more training."
"Can you slide-tackle a tiger?"
Still room for improvement.
Chen Qi stored his black blade in the Backpack Card, then walked to the storage chest inside his boat house to inspect newly purchased fishing nets and fish feed.
Recently, by capturing Ghostfire Fish at White Tree Territory, he'd accumulated three barrels of Ghostfire Oil.
He'd sold one barrel in batches across various weapon shops for a whopping 800,000 Shell Coins!
He refrained from selling two barrels to avoid alarming shop owners with excessive quantities and drawing suspicion.
Ghostfire Fish were relatively rare transcendent creatures. Unintentionally, he'd nearly harvested them all from White Tree Territory.
Now, the area no longer hosted terrifying Ghostfire Fish legends—only small algae-eating fish remained.
To help the Ghostfire Fish regenerate their precious oil and restore their former glory, Chen Qi bought special feed as a reward.
He also planned to revisit White Tree Territory with the Deepsea Water Spirits to practice the advanced "water running" skill—an upgrade from "water walking."
After setting these goals, Chen Qi exited the boat house and gazed at a large ship in the distance.
Lately, a black steam-powered ironclad had appeared at the harbor.
Moreover, its crew frequently glared at him with hostile eyes.
Chen Qi wasn't one to wait passively.
He'd spent money gathering intelligence about the Black Rabbit Gang.
The gang was preparing intensively for a sea voyage.
This black ironclad was their expensive new vessel!
Within the gang, more members wanted him dead, convinced he'd killed Scarface Rabbit.
A flash of fierce hostility crossed Chen Qi's eyes.
Though generally mild-mannered, he had his limits.
He already disliked gangs that bullied the weak with numbers.
Add their constant threats leveraging their manpower, and his patience wore thin.
"If they want war, they'll get war! These endless threats are beyond annoying!"
Gripping the Collector at his waist, Chen Qi contemplated stealth assassination.
Unfortunately, they were still an established city gang.
No matter how chaotic Moonstone City was, it maintained some order.
The city's law enforcement included powerful Scale Phase transcendents.
The Scale Phase symbolized rules, order, balance, and law.
To these enforcers, Moonstone City's order was inviolable.
Acting recklessly in the city might land him in a Beiguo prison—where criminals were just as depraved as Earth's worst.
From current developments, the gang would eventually set sail.
And that would be his opportunity!
Rumble!
Returning to his small houseboat, Chen Qi started the engine and headed toward White Tree Territory in dangerous waters.
The boat gradually left the harbor.
Soon, however, steam-powered roars sounded behind him.
Peering cautiously through a porthole, he saw a massive ironclad plowing through waves like a steel fortress cutting across the sea.
The steam engine's thunderous noise accompanied spray kicked up by the hull, as if clearing a hunting path.
The Black Rabbit Gang's ironclad!
"Coming for me?"
Chen Qi's heart raced as his pupils dilated.
He'd seen large ships before—but never one pursuing him!
On the vast ocean, the Black Rabbit resembled a ferocious rhinoceros chasing a helpless rubber duck.
Activating Hunter's Eye, Chen Qi squinted at the distant ironclad.
There, a tattooed bald man made a throat-slitting gesture toward him.
"Chasing me at sea?"
Chen Qi blinked, then smirked.
The Black Rabbit Gang actually mobilized an entire ironclad full of members just to kill him!
Since arriving in the New Dawn World, he'd never battled large vessels.
Yet strangely, facing this ironclad and an entire gang's pursuit, he felt no fear.
Instead—an intense excitement surged within him!
A burning desire to make them... to make this brand-new ironclad experience true oceanic terror!
Wordlessly turning back, Chen Qi entered the boat house and activated the small vessel's overclock mode.