C25 The Harvest Was Full.

This time around, the swarm of Vine Demons outnumbered the Stone Demons they had encountered the day before by several fold.

Yet, Zhou Yan's haul was equally impressive.

"Collected five One-star wood."

"Collected five One-star wood."

"Collected two Two-star wood."

Zhou Yan spotted a vine lashing out at him, but it missed its mark. Thanks to Diaochan's vigilant protection, she swiftly parried the vine with her sword.

"Thanks," Zhou Yan expressed his gratitude.

"Look, it's that creature," Diaochan noted, eyeing a vine resembling a sapling.

Monster: Vine Demon

Quality: Leader

Level: Level 8

Special: Resource Monster

Description: An exceedingly rare Resource Monster. As a Leader with a Crystal Core, its strength is formidable. Should a Lord defeat it, they stand to receive substantial rewards.

Resource Monsters are scarce and yield an abundance of additional resources.

Moreover, this Vine Demon, being of Leader Level, is especially valuable.

"So it's a Level Eight Leader! That explains why it nearly got me."

Zhou Yan turned to Diaochan and said, "Chan, I'll handle the lesser creatures. The Leader is yours to take down."

"Consider it done!"

Diaochan's true power was well beyond that of the Level Eight Leader Vine Demon, so she faced it without fear.

Her movements were lightning-fast, her swordplay exceptional. She faced the encroaching vines, her sword dancing through the air, slicing each one cleanly in half.

The monster couldn't land a single blow on Diaochan. Instead, she was the one severing vine after vine.

Diaochan closed in on the Leader monster, which unleashed a barrage of vines in her direction.

With the Lotus Sword Technique, Diaochan sliced through the onslaught, leaving a tangle of severed vines in her wake. Her attack speed matched the quickness of her footwork.

After several precise thrusts, Diaochan vanquished the Leader. The ground was littered with materials, glittering with a golden sheen, much to Zhou Yan's delight.

His gains were substantial this time.

"You have slain a Level 8 Leader Vine Demon. You've earned an extra 240 Soul Coins, 240 spirit coins, and a Basic Architecture Treasure Chest."

Zhou Yan was pleasantly surprised.

Defeating a wild Leader Level monster had netted him an unexpected construction bonus!

This was Zhou Yan's first encounter with such an occurrence. He was uncertain if it had ever happened before.

For newcomers, venturing into the wild was a formidable challenge, especially when it came to slaying a Leader Level beast.

Such an accomplishment was a reward in itself.

The Newbie Trial offered limitless possibilities, with personal effort determining the extent of one's rewards.

With the assistance of a superhero like Diaochan, it was almost inevitable for Zhou Yan to grow stronger.

"We'll open the treasure chest once we're back in our territory."

Zhou Yan was in no rush. His immediate task was to eliminate all the Vine Demons in the vicinity.

After dispatching the lesser creatures surrounding the Leader, Zhou Yan set about collecting the materials that emerged upon the Leader's defeat.

"Collect ten Three-star Wood."

"Collect eight Vine Demon Seeds."

"Collect a One-star Wood Crystal Core."

"Collect 100 One-star Wood."

"Collect 50 Two-star Wood."

"A Bronze Treasure Chest has been obtained."

The bounty following the fall of a Leader monster was plentiful.

Most items were self-explanatory, but one in particular caught his attention.

"What's a Vine Demon Seed?" Zhou Yan examined the item's properties.

Item: Vine Demon Seed

Quality: D

Description: There's a minuscule chance that a Vine Demon Leader will transform into a seed upon death. This seed can be planted within a territory to aid in repelling invasions. Its maximum growth potential is Level 10.

Such an item was a revelation!

Zhou Yan was taken aback by his fortune.

Had Diaochan not struck the killing blow, the seed might never have materialized.

It was as if his territory had gained eight additional guards.

However, the Vine Demon's growth potential was limited to Level 10.

While it could prove beneficial in the early stages, it would have little impact later on.

Still, it was better to have it than not.

Zhou Yan wasn't overly concerned about this.

His Thorny Vine Fence needed a Wood Crystal Core to upgrade, but a One-star Core offered limited benefits.

Nonetheless, such items always had their uses.

They spent a considerable amount of time clearing out the remaining Vine Demons.

This time, the number of treasure chests they found far exceeded that of the previous day.

Upon reaching that spot, they trekked quite a distance further and encountered only a handful of level six and seven Wailing Wild Boars.

Having dispatched them, they decided to head back through the uncharted Fog Zone.

Their journey was uneventful, their formidable strength ensuring safety, especially since no monsters above level 10 crossed their path, allowing them to proceed with ease.

They roamed the wilderness until dusk before finally returning to their Territory.

"Today really took it out of me," Zhou Yan admitted, a mix of contentment and exhaustion in his voice.

Back at the Spirit Vein Bamboo House, surges of potent spiritual energy flooded his body, fortifying his physical condition.

A new message awaited him. Qin Yao was the only one who messaged him.

So engrossed was he in monster hunting that day, he nearly forgot about her.

Opening his messages, he saw dozens waiting.

He checked the most recent one.

Qin Yao: "Are you there?"

Zhou Yan responded promptly: "Yes!"

"I was starting to worry something terrible had happened to you," Qin Yao replied.

Zhou Yan reassured her: "I just can't afford distractions during combat, which is why I haven't been in touch."

"That makes sense," Qin Yao conceded, realizing her impatience.

Zhou Yan initiated a trade, and Qin Yao accepted without hesitation, unaware of the extent of his monster slaying.

As Zhou Yan filled the trade window with a mountain of monster carcasses, Qin Yao's jaw dropped.

She had anticipated Zhou Yan would have a significant haul, but the reality far exceeded her estimations.

"How many monsters did he take down?" she wondered, rubbing her eyes, confirming the sight before her wasn't an illusion.

At this stage, how was it possible for him to have defeated so many?

Is this guy even human?

These are Level 7 Wailing Wild Boars, aren't they?

His prowess is undeniable; he's already capable of taking down such formidable creatures!

Qin Yao remained in awe for quite some time. It took several inquiries from Zhou Yan before she snapped back to reality.

"Why haven't you told me your real name?"

Qin Yao's curiosity about Zhou Yan was piqued, but with his name still a mystery, she planned to investigate him once the newbie trial concluded.

With so many Lords across the nation, she pondered how to track down this enigmatic Lord.

Around the world, there are many individuals who possess the ability to awaken magic, and numerous groups and families don't require formal schooling to hone their skills.

She had no chance of locating the enigmatic Lord.

"Let's focus on our business dealings. When it comes to personal questions, it's best to refrain from asking. Even if I were to give you a false name, it would serve no purpose."

Zhou Yan was determined to keep his real identity hidden from Qin Yao.

Within the confines of the Overlord Space, unless he chose to disclose his personal details, Qin Yao would find it quite challenging to track him down.