I am the Arcane Archer, and all my skills are self-created.

[Ding! The talent 'Soul Devourer' has been successfully triggered!]

[You have successfully absorbed the life energy released by the highly venomous Hydra. Luck +0.12, Intelligence +0.12]

[Server-wide announcement for Area 21: Congratulations to player 'Seeing Flowers in the Mist' and 'Searching for Mist' from the No. 101 starting village team for successfully achieving the server-wide first kill of the level 15 wilderness boss [Venomous Hydra]!]

[As a first-kill reward, players 'Seeing Flowers in the Mist' and 'Searching for Mist Among Flowers' will receive +1 level and +100 reputation.]

The crisp system notification sound rang three times in a row in the ears of all players in District 21.

The various newbie villages, which had just been buzzing with excitement over the first kill of the [Shadow Lake Island] dungeon, were in an uproar once again.

Beginner Village #102, Blazing Canyon.

Zhao Tianyu and his elite team had just emerged from the lava lizard's cave, looking disheveled and exhausted.

We were distracted by the region-wide announcement, which led to a team coordination error. Not only did we fail to defeat the low-health BOSS, but we also lost two team members.

He listened to his subordinate's report with a dark expression, plotting how to regain the face he had lost.

Just then, that curse-like system announcement rang out once again.

"A highly venomous hydra? A level 15 wilderness boss?"

"Is it 'seeing flowers through the fog' and 'searching for fog among flowers' again?!"

Upon hearing those two names, Zhao Tianyu felt a surge of anger rush to his head, and the muscles on his face contorted with rage.

His henchmen looked at each other, their expressions even more unpleasant than if they had swallowed flies.

"Brother Yu... what kind of monsters are these two? We're having so much trouble even with level 10 elite monsters, and they've already killed a level 15 world boss?"

"And it's the first kill! Another first kill!"

"Level +1, Reputation +100... Damn it, how can this Origin Realm be so unfair! We grind monsters all day and our experience bar barely moves, while others kill a boss and level up instantly!"

These comments were like needles, piercing Zhao Tianyu's heart.

He slammed his foot into the rock beside him with a loud thud, which made his leg go numb.

"Shut the hell up, all of you!" he roared at his men, his eyes bloodshot. "A bunch of useless trash! What's the point of gossiping about others? Instead of wasting time, you should be thinking about how to get my gear upgraded!"

Standing at the back of the crowd, Li Qiuyue listened to everything silently, her head down, making it impossible to see the expression on her face.

Seeing flowers through the mist... Searching for mist among flowers...

It's them again.

She is completely numb now.

From initial shock to later jealousy, and now to helplessness, she felt that the gap between herself and those two names had become so large that it could not be measured by reason.

She even began to doubt whether abandoning Li Wu and choosing Zhao Tianyu was the right decision.

Although Zhao Tianyu could provide her with equipment and money, making her appear superior to ordinary players.

However, whenever those two names resounded throughout the server, her little sense of superiority would be shattered.

She suddenly wanted to know who this person called "Seeing Flowers Through the Fog" really was.

If... if that person was Li Wu...

No, it's impossible.

Li Qiuyue immediately shook her head, banishing the absurd thought from her mind.

Li Wu is just a poor kid who awakened a useless profession; how could he possibly do such a thing?

I must be overthinking it.

……

In the misty swamp, at the center of the poisonous pool.

Two soft golden beams of light descended from the sky, enveloping Li Wu and Hua Zitong.

The warm energy washed away all their fatigue, and their level successfully increased from LV13 to LV14.

"We're on TV again." Li Wu looked at the poisonous fog around her that was slowly dissipating because of the BOSS's death, and there was a hint of a smile in her tone that she herself did not realize.

"Hmm." Hua Zitong's reaction remained indifferent.

"What are you spacing out for? Hurry up and see what good stuff you got." Hua Zitong's voice pulled him back from his ecstasy.

So Li Wu stepped forward and began to count the spoils on the ground.

This time, although the drop wasn't as spectacular as the last time I opened a treasure chest, it was still definitely a huge success.

There was a pile of shiny silver coins, a total of 10.

A skill book that glows with a purple light.

And three pieces of equipment.

Li Wu first picked up the silver coins and skillfully stuffed them into his waist pouch.

"The team's public funds have increased again," he said seriously.

Hua Zitong ignored this money-grubber and focused her attention directly on the three pieces of equipment.

The first item was a huge, metallic purple shield, its surface engraved with nine ferocious snake heads, giving it an imposing appearance.

【Hydra Bulwark (Rare)】

Type: Shield

[Level Requirement: LV15]

[Class Requirements: Warrior, Knight]

[Attributes: Constitution +25, Strength +15, Physical Defense +120, Magic Defense +80]

[Special Effect 1: Poison Resistance (Passive) - Reduces all poison damage you take by 50% and reduces the duration of poison by 50%.]

【Special Effect 2: Serpent Head Counterattack (Active): After activation, the next successful block will summon a highly venomous serpent head to fight for you, lasting for 10 seconds. The serpent head's attacks inflict a venomous effect. (Cooldown: 5 minutes)】

"A rare-grade shield!"

When Hua Zitong, who was well-informed, saw the attributes of this shield, she couldn't help but gasp.

This attribute is too strong!

Not only are its base stats incredibly high, but its two special effects are practically divine!

In particular, the [Snake Head Counterattack] skill can summon a helper if you successfully block, which can play an unexpected role in battle.

"Yours." Li Wu readily handed over the right to distribute the shield to Hua Zitong.

Hua Zitong didn't say anything and simply put it away. There was no need for formalities between the two of them now.

The second piece of equipment was a leather leggings, also of excellent quality.

Swamp Walker Leggings (Fine)

Type: Leggings (Leather Armor)

[Level Requirement: LV15]

[Job Requirements: None]

[Attributes: Agility +12, Constitution +8, Physical Defense +40]

[Special Effect: Your attacks have a chance to inflict "Slowing Poison," reducing the target's movement speed by 15% for 3 seconds.]

This piece of equipment perfectly suited Li Wu's needs, and he accepted it without hesitation.

The last item was a necklace that shimmered with a ghostly green light.

【Tears of the Serpent King (Fine)】

[Type: Necklace]

[Level Requirement: LV15]

[Attributes: Spirit +15, Intelligence +10]

[Special Effect: Your healing skills are increased in effectiveness by 20%.]

"A healing necklace?" Li Wu was taken aback.

This attribute is a perfect match for him, a "part-time nanny".

Although he now possesses the [Insightful Purification Arrow], the [Healing Arrow] remains a life-saving skill in crucial moments.

A 20% increase in treatment effectiveness means that each heal can restore dozens of points of health.

Finally, there was that skill book.

Breath of Hydra

[Type: Skill Book (Rare)]

[Learning Requirements: Intelligence 80 or above]

[Skill Effect: Spits a highly toxic breath in a cone-shaped area in front of the user, dealing continuous poison damage to all enemies within the area and inflicting the 'Poisonous Corrosion' effect, reducing their armor.]

"A group attack skill book, for mages." Hua Zitong glanced at it and commented, "Requires 80 intelligence points. There probably aren't many mages who can learn it right now. It should fetch a good price."

"Okay." Li Wu nodded and put the skill book away.

After dividing the spoils, the two rested briefly before preparing to leave the uncomfortable swamp.

"Where to next?" Li Wu asked, now used to following Hua Zitong's arrangements.

"Let's go back to the village to resupply first," Hua Zitong said. "Then, I'll take you to a good place to fight an even more powerful BOSS."

"Still grinding?" Li Wu asked, somewhat surprised. "Aren't you going to level up?"

"Killing bosses is the best way to level up." Hua Zitong's answer was full of undeniable domineering confidence.