I was so scared that I put all my points into health.

Although the dried fruit and jerky Wang Xiaoyi offered were delicious, in the heart of the Elf Dragon King (parrot form), they couldn't compare to the freshly made dishes by Raine's mother. Raine's mother's cooking was truly exceptional; every dish seemed to contain boundless love and warmth—the taste was simply unforgettable. The Elf Dragon King (parrot form) greeted Wang Xiaoyi, then flapped its wings and soared quickly towards its destination, with only one thought in its mind: to clear out the nearby pests (monsters) and hurry home.

While clearing out monsters, the Elf Dragon King (parrot form)'s keen eyes immediately caught a dangerous signal. A massive wave of monsters, like a black tide, densely packed together, was marching towards another bustling human city.

The Elf Dragon King knew all too well the terror of these monsters; wherever they went, death and destruction were inevitable. Although each city had its own defenses, the Elf Dragon King (in parrot form) wasn't sure if they could withstand such a massive number of monsters. While human adventurers were a force to be reckoned with in this world—brave, fearless, and possessing diverse skills and courage—they often fought independently, each with their own agenda. They wouldn't spontaneously organize to hunt such a large horde of monsters, as the risk was too great. Only when a guild issued a quest with clearly defined rewards, and after weighing the pros and cons, would they take action. After all, in the adult human world, self-interest was often the primary factor in decision-making; everyone hoped their efforts would be adequately rewarded.

However, the Elf Dragon King is different from humans; it is the most selfless and compassionate being on this continent. It lacks the complex self-interests of humans, its heart filled only with love and a desire to protect this land and all its creatures. Seeing the monsters advancing towards the city, it unhesitatingly changed course, flying rapidly towards the horde, ready to use its power to stop the impending disaster.

With plenty of time to spare, Wang Xiaoyi and his group decided to make the most of their free time to improve their skills. The three of them enthusiastically entered the weapon shop of this renowned trading city. The shop displayed a dazzling array of weapons and armor, each piece gleaming with a cold light and exuding a unique charm.

Their eyes were first drawn to an exquisite sword and shield set. The sword gleamed with a cold light, its blade incredibly sharp, while the shield was thick and sturdy, engraved with intricate patterns. The shopkeeper explained, "This sword and shield set requires level 50 to use, and it costs 20 gold coins." Wang Xiaoyi shook his head helplessly; they didn't even have a single gold coin.

Next, they came to a row of armor. Alpha took a fancy to a magic cloak that increased magic defense, but it required level 25 to equip and was quite expensive. Allen, on the other hand, was interested in a pair of boots that increased movement speed, but were also pricey. The shopkeeper, noticing their predicament, enthusiastically suggested, "If you don't have currency, you can exchange them for monster materials." This was exactly what Wang Xiaoyi and his companions wanted. They had accumulated quite a few monster materials from their previous quests, so they took them out to show the merchant.

After some evaluation, the merchants offered a satisfactory exchange plan. Alpha's materials could be exchanged for a level 20 magic dagger. This dagger was sharp, its blade gleaming with a cold light. It not only possessed extremely high attack power but also had magical effects, releasing chilling magical energy upon attacking, dealing additional damage to enemies.

Allen, in return, received a level 20 longsword. He was currently level 18 and only needed to level up two more times to use it. The longsword gleamed with a cold light, its hilt inlaid with gems, and it felt heavy in his hand. It possessed extremely high attack power and durability, enabling it to unleash formidable power in battle.

Wang Xiaoyi stood inside the weapon shop, his gaze sweeping over the various weapons and armor on display, calculating how to use his existing silver coins and materials to acquire a suitable piece of equipment. His eyes finally settled on a holy hammer that emitted a faint glow. For him, weapon attack bonuses were crucial, as his attribute points could only be allocated to health, and leveling up didn't increase any other attribute values. Although this holy hammer only slightly increased attack power, in the heat of battle, even a small increase in damage output could be the key to turning the tide of battle.

Despite his laid-back and easygoing personality, Wang Xiaoyi harbors a deep-seated dream of becoming a warrior. He longs to wield a sword of stars, clad in magnificent armor, and dominate the battlefield, wreaking havoc on all sides. He even imagines himself being photographed and interviewed by reporters, his dashing appearance sure to become the center of attention.

However, fate played a cruel joke on him, forcing him to become a priest through the system. This sudden blow shattered his dreams, but he did not lose heart. He knew that even on the path of a priest, he would not lose his fighting spirit and would persevere in striving to make his path extraordinary.

Wang Xiaoyi understood that while a priest's primary responsibility was healing and protecting teammates, there were also offensive specializations like the Violent Priest and the Monk. He decided to strive in that direction, improving his damage output through continuous training and learning. This way, in future battles, he wouldn't just be passively taking hits and relying solely on passive skills to increase his damage.

He took a deep breath, preparing to ask the weapon shop owner to exchange his weapon for the sacred hammer, when suddenly, a strange feeling welled up inside him. His long-dormant Cowardice skill activated without warning at this crucial moment. A system notification sounded in his mind: "Ding, Cowardice skill activated, exchange for a shield."

Wang Xiaoyi was stunned for a moment, then felt a wave of dizziness. When he regained his senses, he found himself holding a small, rusty shield. The shield had a simple design, its surface covered with rust. Originally, it was engraved with mysterious runes, but over the years, those runes had become blurred and almost unrecognizable.

The weapon shop owner stared in surprise at the shield in Wang Xiaoyi's hand. It turned out that a female wizard had left the shield there, saying she was waiting for someone to buy it. At first, the shop owner thought the request was ridiculous—who would want such a piece of junk? But the wizard offered three gold coins as payment, so the shop owner had no choice but to agree. Unexpectedly, someone actually bought this seemingly worthless item, and he even made a profit of 50 copper coins.

Wang Xiaoyi felt a pang of bitterness. He had exchanged 50 copper coins for this seemingly dilapidated thing. He could only console himself, "Well, there must be a reason for it." He reached out and gently stroked the rusty little shield.

The shield's edges were worn, showing it had weathered many storms. However, despite the rust covering its surface, the shield's overall structure remained sturdy, its weight instilling a sense of reliability. Wang Xiaoyi's fingertips traced the shield's surface, faintly sensing the indistinct, mysterious runes. These runes seemed like ancient codes forgotten by time, as if telling a story of a long-forgotten history.

He closed his eyes, trying to sense the power contained within the shield. Although it seemed unremarkable now, Wang Xiaoyi believed that this shield must have something unique about it. Perhaps one day in the future, it would become his strongest defensive barrier, helping him overcome difficulties.

After saying goodbye to the weapon shop owner, Wang Xiaoyi and his group headed to the prop shop with great enthusiasm. Upon entering, they were immediately captivated by the dazzling array of props, feeling overwhelmed by the sheer variety.

The prop shop was filled with all sorts of strange items, from magic scrolls that shimmered with a mysterious light to magical potions that could instantly restore stamina, and rare gems that could enhance abilities—each item exuding an alluring aura. Ancient scrolls hung on the walls, while cabinets neatly displayed colorful crystal balls and various quirky trinkets.

Wang Xiaoyi and his companions strolled slowly along the shelves, their eyes lingering on each item. Alpha pointed to a bottle of potion emitting a blue glow and asked, "What's this? It looks amazing." The shopkeeper smiled and explained, "That's an instant recovery potion. It can restore a large amount of your stamina in a short time, making it perfect for use in battle."

Allen's gaze was drawn to a gem that shimmered with golden light. He asked curiously, "What is this gem used for?" The shopkeeper patiently explained, "This is the Stone of Power. Wearing it can significantly enhance your strength attribute, but you need to reach a certain level to activate its full effect."

They browsed the prop shop for a long time, each prop filling them with novelty and excitement. However, they were somewhat taken aback when they saw the price tags. Many props were shockingly expensive, exceeding their budget.

Nevertheless, they still selected some cost-effective items, such as recovery potions and attribute-enhancing gems. Wang Xiaoyi and his companions knew that these items would play a crucial role in their future adventures in this fantasy world full of unknowns and challenges. The three returned laden with their loot, their hearts filled with joy and anticipation. They decided to find a place to stay in the city, get a good night's rest, and prepare for their next adventure.

After purchasing some necessary props from the prop shop, Wang Xiaoyi and his group were still preoccupied with the mysterious man. They had no idea where he was, what he was doing, or even whether he could truly keep his promise.

Wang Xiaoyi and his group hurried along. Suddenly, a figure appeared from the side of the road—a nobleman dressed in magnificent but slightly disheveled clothes. He looked flustered, his eyes filled with anxiety, and he rushed towards them.

When the nobleman saw Wang Xiaoyi and his group of adventurers, a glimmer of hope flashed in his eyes. He stepped forward urgently, panting, and said, "Greetings, brave adventurers. I have an extremely urgent mission for you. Just recently, we received news that a powerful and ferocious army of monsters is marching towards our neighboring country. The scene is like a dark tide, leaving devastation in its wake. The situation is extremely critical; someone must immediately travel to our neighboring country to deliver this message so that they can prepare their defenses in advance."

The nobleman paused, then said with a helpless expression, "Due to the unusual activity of monsters recently, all the messengers from Elparan City have been dispatched to various places to carry out missions, so I can only place my hopes on you. I have prepared several fast horses for you; you can ride them tonight and deliver the letter to the embassy of the neighboring country."

Wang Xiaoyi and his companions nodded in agreement without hesitation. However, in order to travel as quickly as possible, Wang Xiaoyi, Alpha, and Alan did not choose to ride horses. Wang Xiaoyi summoned his wolf cub, a tall and powerful creature with sharp eyes, its silver-gray fur fluttering slightly in the wind. Alpha summoned his bird mount, a huge black bird with a wingspan of two or three meters, exuding a mysterious aura.

Allen looked somewhat embarrassed; he didn't have a mount at the moment. His gaze swept back and forth between Wang Xiaoyi's wolf cub and Alpha's bird mount. After hesitating for a moment, he looked up at Wang Xiaoyi and said, "I'm afraid of heights. How about I squeeze in with you on this wolf cub?" Wang Xiaoyi smiled and said, "No problem."

Just then, a system notification sounded in their minds: "Ding, time-limited mission, tip-off. Mission objective: Deliver this urgent letter to the neighboring country's embassy as quickly as possible, informing them of the monster army's advance and instructing the neighboring country to prepare accordingly. Every second counts."

Wang Xiaoyi and his companions gripped the letters tightly and set off swiftly. Wang Xiaoyi mounted the wolf cub, with Alan sitting carefully behind him, clutching his clothes tightly. Alpha rode a bird, following closely beside them.

They moved with incredible speed, like a gust of wind cutting through the road. Meanwhile, in a hidden corner outside the city, a group of outlaws who had planned to ambush Wang Xiaoyi and his companions were watching intently. But when they saw Wang Xiaoyi and his group, they discovered that their speed far exceeded their expectations.

The group hurriedly got up and gave chase, but no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't keep up with Wang Xiaoyi and his companions. Seeing their target getting further and further away, the group finally stopped in a huff, cursing and slinking away.

Perhaps it was thanks to Lord Elf Dragon (parrot form), but they truly did not encounter any monster attacks along the way. Wang Xiaoyi and his group successfully completed their mission and arrived at the embassy of the neighboring country.

When the embassy staff member on duty received the letter and opened it, his expression changed drastically, a hint of panic and seriousness flashing in his eyes. Without a word, he turned and hurriedly ran towards the depths of the embassy, ​​presumably to report this urgent news to the city lord immediately.

Wang Xiaoyi and his group stood outside the embassy, ​​watching the staff members walk away. They understood that what was about to happen was beyond their scope of duties; it was something that officials from the neighboring country needed to consider and deal with. The system notification sounded, and the mission reward was received.

Night had already fallen. Wang Xiaoyi looked at the sky, then at his companions, and said, "It's getting late, and it's too late for us to get back to Elparan City. Let's just spend the night here."

Alpha nodded and said, "Alright, this is a good opportunity for us to rest for a bit and continue our journey tomorrow."

Allen agreed, stretching and saying, "Today was truly a thrilling day. I hope everything goes well tomorrow."

So, they started looking for a suitable hotel nearby. After walking for a while, they finally found a small hotel that looked quite nice. The hotel owner warmly welcomed them and arranged rooms for them.

After entering the room, Wang Xiaoyi sat on the edge of the bed, reflecting on the day's experiences, which were truly rich and fulfilling.

Alpha was fiddling with his weapon, seemingly checking for any damage.

Allen lay in bed and quickly fell asleep, emitting soft snoring.

Wang Xiaoyi and Alpha gradually relaxed. They lay on their respective beds, closed their eyes, and drifted into a sweet dream in this unfamiliar neighboring city, looking forward to a new adventure tomorrow.