Hunting the Demon God

 After reaching level 3, Jiang Han's defense increased to 5 points, making him almost impervious to the slimes' attacks. This significantly improved his monster-hunting efficiency. However, he noticed that the experience gained from killing monsters decreased from the initial 10 points at level 1 to 5 points, a direct halving.

"No equipment drops, no copper coins, and now reduced experience..." Jiang Han took a deep breath, contemplating the challenge of facing higher difficulty monsters. After a moment of hesitation, he decided to continue hunting slimes.

It's not that the novice village only had slimes. In fact, in the distant grasslands, he spotted many black wild buffalo roaming freely. The issue, however, lay in the formidable attributes of the buffalo. If kicked to death by a hoof, it would be comical.

[Wild Buffalo] (Normal Monster)

Level: 6

Health: 500

Attack: 12-15

Defense: 10

Skill: [Tough Hide]

Introduction: Although a wild buffalo, it has been tainted by death energy, making it much fiercer than before. Not something a group of adventurers who can't even handle villagers can match...

Jiang Han shook his head. The game designer seemed to have an odd sense, giving buffalo both high attack and defense. With Jiang Han's current attributes, breaking through their defense would be problematic. Even if he managed to defeat them, the efficiency would be much slower than dealing with slimes. It seemed like a losing proposition.

After enduring the agony and grinding slimes for another two hours, Jiang Han calculated that he was still a bit short on experience points. He quickly returned to the novice village, finding the elderly man who initially didn't give him a warm welcome and calmly said, "Old man, I've proven my strength!"

"Evidence?" The old man retorted, "Words alone are not enough!"

"This is the evidence." Jiang Han took out a blue tattered cloth from his backpack, the "corpse" left by the slime after its death. The liquid inside had burst and seeped into the ground, rendering it impossible to bring back.

You cunning old man, good thing I was prepared!

Anticipating that the old man might be difficult, Jiang Han secretly rejoiced. Even though the task didn't require bringing back anything, he decided to be cautious to avoid any unexpected complications.

Having learned from experience, Jiang Han had somewhat grasped the "entertainment" value of this game.

The old man looked at Jiang Han with some surprise, hmphed, and said, "Seems like there are still a few adventurers with intelligence barely reaching the level of indigenous people."

"Ding!~"

System prompt: Congratulations on completing the quest [Strength Proof], gaining 20 experience points!

"Swish!"

Golden light scattered, and Jiang Han felt a warm sensation all over, as if bathing in a hot spring. Excellent, leveled up again!

"Old man, any more quests?" Jiang Han had no favorable impression of the old man, who showed a lack of respect. He directly and straightforwardly inquired.

Actually, he couldn't quite understand why the game designer deliberately set the favorability of indigenous people towards adventurers so low. It could almost be described as hostile.

"Yes."

The old man gave him a disdainful glance, feeling displeased. "I want you to hunt down ten Demon Gods. Do you dare?"

"Ding!~"

System prompt: Do you accept the quest [Hunt the Demon Gods] (Difficulty: SSS)?

[Hunt the Demon Gods] (Difficulty: SSS)

Introduction: The Tianheng Continent is divided into the Light Camp and the Dark Camp. Within the Dark Camp, the strongest ten entities are known as the Ten Demon Gods. Hunting them will bring you unparalleled glory and the treatment of a savior!

Rewards: The old man's mysterious family heirloom!

Deadline: One week!

Failure Penalty: Light Camp Reputation -100000, Level -50, and submit ten thousand gold coins to the old man as a fine!

"..."

Looking at the newly appeared quest, Jiang Han was speechless. "Old man, are you really overestimating me!"

If there were no time limit or if it was within one or two years, he might consider it. But hunting the so-called Demon Gods within a week? Was this old man serious?

Are you asking for my face? Not even a trace of dignity?

"Brave adventurers should march forward without hesitation. How can mere Demon Gods obstruct the footsteps of the valiant?" The old man declared with confidence, "In the end, it's your cowardice holding you back!"

"Oh?"

Jiang Han couldn't help but sneer, pointing at himself, "Me, cowardly?"

"Isn't that the case?" The old man wore an expression of knowingly asking.

"Hehe..."

Jiang Han chuckled, looking at the ten thousand gold coins in the quest penalty. Suddenly, he had an idea and decided to turn the tables, "If you want me to accept this quest, you must first give me your mysterious family heirloom!"

Debts are burdensome!

Since these indigenous people like to deceive others, he might as well fulfill their wishes.

"Why?" The old man immediately shook his head in opposition, "Do you really think I'm foolish?"

"Generous indigenous people should wholeheartedly assist adventurers from behind, ensuring they have no worries and can boldly move forward." Jiang Han stated with a sense of righteousness, "In the end, you're just being stingy!"

In theory, one shouldn't offend indigenous people. But Jiang Han didn't play games to be played by them. He couldn't tolerate the bad temper of the indigenous people!

"I'm stingy?" The old man didn't expect the adventurer in front of him to be so foolish, knowingly jumping into a trap. With a disdainful tone, he said, "Fine, if you want to die, I'll indulge you. Take it!"

He took out a scroll from his backpack.

"Ding!~"

System prompt: You have obtained one of the old man's mysterious family heirlooms, the fire-type forbidden spell scroll [Wrath of the Fire God]!

"Ding!~"

System prompt: You have successfully accepted the quest [Hunt the Demon Gods], with a deadline of one week. Please be mindful of your time!

[Wrath of the Fire God] (S-rank item)

Introduction: Unleash the fire-type low-level forbidden spell by tearing open the scroll.

Effect: Deals 5,000,000 fixed damage to all enemy units within a range of 200 meters in front.

Uses: 1/1

"Your mysterious family heirloom is just a disposable scroll?" Jiang Han felt a bit disappointed. He thought it might be a divine artifact or something. After all, hunting Demon Gods should come with substantial rewards.

The old man's expression remained unchanged as he indifferently stated, "Rest assured, this is an advance payment for part of the reward. Complete the quest, bring me the heads of the Demon Gods, and I'll grant you a combat profession unattainable by ordinary adventurers."

"!!"

Jiang Han was genuinely stunned.

A combat profession unattainable by ordinary adventurers? Wasn't that the legendary hidden class?

The small novice village's old man surprisingly had such a rich background?

"Get lost

, I want to see how you'll defeat the Ten Demon Gods that have dominated the Tianheng Continent for thousands of years within a week." The old man waved his hand impatiently, showing complete impatience.

In his eyes, this adventurer with some skills was already a dead man. Those Demon Gods were formidable figures that had dominated the land for countless millennia. Squeezing an adventurer who hadn't even left the novice village to death would probably be easier than squashing an ant.

Seeing that he couldn't be bothered, Jiang Han also didn't want to be boring. He turned around calmly, aiming for the wild buffalo. "Watch closely. One week later, I'll make a splash!"