Volume 1, Chapter 28: Sub-class: Phantom Spirit Master (Purple)!

[Pandora’s Box: Capable of yielding up to Purple-tier items or high-level curses! No key required. (The gifts of fate have long been marked with a price in the shadows. Hehehehe.)]

No wonder the original owner could resist the temptation of opening it and traded it away; it turns out there was a negative side effect.

Interesting. I’ll take it!

Among the many players, he chose that backpack expansion gem and this Pandora’s Box. After posting a message in the channel that the keys had been sold, Li Chuan initiated trade requests with the two players.

The keys vanished from his inventory, replaced by a gem and a colorful, sinister-looking chest that practically radiated toxicity.

[Backpack Expansion Gem: Increases backpack capacity by 100% upon use. Use now?]

That was a no-brainer. Yes!

Li Chuan then took out the Pandora’s Box and placed it on the ground.

[23%—44%]

Numbers did indeed appear on the chest, but unlike a standard treasure chest, this one displayed two, one white and one black. The meaning was clear; Li Chuan understood instantly and began to watch the numbers flicker.

[63%—14%]
[34%—24%]
...
[97%—2%]

"Open!"

Li Chuan’s eyes were strained, but he had finally waited for his ideal outcome. The chest burst open instantly, and a purple light, the likes of which he had never seen before, spilled onto the ground.

Before he could even rejoice, a system prompt made him go blank.

[Ding! You have been inflicted with the curse: 'Peach Blossom Fog Curse.']

It was at two percent—how was there still a curse?

[Li Chuan (Cold-Blooded): Human] (Status: Peach Blossom Fog Curse)

[Peach Blossom Fog Curse: A low-level curse. The afflicted must expel their vital essence within six hours, or they will fall into a state of severe injury.]

This! This! Isn't this just... aphrodisiac?

Well, at least it’s just an aphrodisiac.

The name of the curse was chilling, but the method to lift it wasn’t difficult. Li Chuan believed that once he secured another key, he would have his pick of the female players here, if not quite a free selection, then close enough.

Having cast aside his fear, Li Chuan looked at the purple item he had obtained.

It was a scroll!

[Sub-class Transfer Scroll: Purple]

[Upon opening, you may choose one sub-class: Phantom Master, Mechanist, or Apothecary. (Note: Each player can only use this type of transfer scroll once. Choose carefully.)]

A sub-class transfer scroll, and of Purple rarity at that!

Li Chuan clicked on the details for each sub-class. The Apothecary was easy to understand—a rare Purple-tier class capable of crafting beneficial potions and lethal toxins. It was highly useful, but its drawback remained the drain on time and energy. The Mechanist could manufacture mechanical monsters with various attributes, but that, too, was a massive sink for time, energy, and resources.

After careful consideration, Li Chuan felt the Phantom Master was the most suitable sub-class for him. It was a specialized sub-class, an offshoot of the Array Master class; it possessed almost no production capabilities, focusing entirely on combat support. Its level cap was eighty, and in the later stages, it could summon spirits of the five elements to aid in battle. It could defend and attack, with the only required resource being mana.

"That's the one!"

Li Chuan made his decision. This Purple sub-class scroll had changed his mind about putting off sub-classes for the time being.

[Ding! Player has successfully transferred to the Level 1 sub-class 'Phantom Master' and learned the initial skill: Fire Element Enchantment.]

[Fire Element Enchantment: White]
[Proficiency: Novice 0/10]
[Enchants a weapon with the fire element, adding a burning effect for one minute.]
[Skill Cost: 1 Mana]
[Cooldown: 2 minutes]
[Evaluation: A basic damage skill for a Phantom Master!]

Enchantment?

Li Chuan pulled out his standard-issue longsword and whispered, "Fire Element Enchantment!"

*Whoosh.*

A scorching, fiery red flame wrapped around the entire blade, instantly making the already stifling tent even hotter. Little Green’s massive flower bud, which had been affectionately leaning against Li Chuan, was startled by the sudden appearance of the flaming sword.

"Why do I suddenly feel like I have an itch to fight?"

Li Chuan licked his lips and checked the game time. 3:40 PM.

It was nearly 4:00 PM, the time when the twin suns were about to set. The temperature would be much lower than at noon. Perhaps he should head back into the Forbidden Land to search for more keys—if only to lift this unspeakable curse.

After organizing his backpack and eating some bread, Li Chuan stepped out of the tent and strode back into the withered woods.

...

In the regional chat channel, the buzz over Li Chuan selling the Golden Key had yet to subside. Everyone was speculating about which two lucky souls had traded for the essential keys, and wondering how that "Cold-Blooded" guy was so strong—what method he used to survive in the eerie, withered woods and secure multiple keys.

Some were envious, some jealous, and others harbored ulterior motives.

In the player gathering area, within the territory of the Three Heroes Association and under the shade of the War Hammer Great Tree, Zheng Dekai squinted at Li Chuan’s retreating back.

"Boss, what do we do? That kid has absolutely no intention of cooperating."

Hua Mingze narrowed his eyes. "He’s really getting a bit too big for his boots. Even when you personally offered a trade, he didn't hand over a single key."

"If you ask me," Xu Fengyun narrowed his eyes, "someone this strong and eccentric, who’s impossible to control, should be killed sooner rather than later!"

"Killing him now offers us too little benefit," Xu Fengyun replied. "His greatest value right now is his ability to safely navigate those eerie, withered woods."

Hua Mingze: "So, Boss, what do you mean?"

Xu Fengyun scanned the gathering area. "Zheng, take a few assassins and follow him. Make sure you find out how he avoids those deadly traps. If you succeed in getting the method, finish him off! We’ll stay here to hold the fort and, in the meantime, study whether we can control his plant spirit."

"Understood, Boss."
"Brilliant, Boss."

...

[Black and White Statue: Green]
[HP: 500/500]
[LV10. An eerie, cursed statue that attacks any colorful creature within its range!]
[Attack Range: 5-meter radius. Attack Method: Ground Spikes. Trigger Time: 3 seconds. Weakness marked!]

"Another unavoidable statue! But luckily, its attack range is very short. I can kill it from a distance with the hand crossbow."

Fire Element Enchantment!
Stun Arrow!
Locked Shot!

*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!*

Sharp arrows flew toward the statue one after another. However, for a statue, the burning and stunning effects were almost useless; only raw damage mattered.

-39 -40
-40 -80!
...
[Ding! Killed LV10 Black and White Statue (Elite) *1. Experience +20.]

Aside from its mysterious, unpredictable trigger effect, this statue was uniquely weak. Li Chuan jogged over and picked up the contaminated energy core and the Golden Key that had been pinned beneath the statue.

Another gain. Moving on.

This was the third Golden Key Li Chuan had found in the hour since he had set out.

"Guild Leader, that blind killer must be around here somewhere. I saw him enter this forest earlier, and I just heard the sound of a fight..."

As Li Chuan was cautiously searching for his next target in the withered woods, he vaguely heard voices in the distance.