Chapter 16: Level Up

[Based on the Gambler profession, your attribute increases are: Strength 2, Constitution 2, Agility 3, Mental Strength 3.]

[Triggering "Double Up" effect. Attribute increase corrected: Strength 4, Constitution 4, Agility 6, Mental Strength 6.]

[Current Attributes: Strength 8, Constitution 12, Agility 18, Mental Strength 18.]

[Unlocking Gambler profession skill "Ghost Hand." Gamblers always train their techniques to strive for precision and mastery.]

[Level 1 Ghost Hand - Flying Cards: Increases throwing accuracy by 30%, penetration effect by 20%. When using card-type items (system item cards excluded), accuracy increases by 100%, penetration effect increases by 200%. During use, stamina and mental strength consumption increase by 100%.]

[Reaching Level 10 and equipping the Ghost Hand skill book allows learning Level 2 Ghost Hand.]

[Talent "Double Up" triggers. Unlocking the second profession skill.]

[Unlocking Gambler profession skill "Ghost Eye." To remain undefeated, a Gambler must possess extraordinary observational skills.]

[Level 1 Ghost Eye - Focus: Enhances visual tracking of moving targets by 50%. During use, mental strength consumption increases by 100%.]

[Reaching Level 10 and equipping the Ghost Eye skill book allows learning Level 2 Ghost Eye.]

Jiang Kai immediately glanced at his wristwatch. The data changes just now had already been recorded by it.

The effects of leveling up and changing professions are different. The first profession change doubles basic attributes, while leveling up provides fixed attribute points.

All professions gain 10 total attribute points per level-up, which are distributed among the four primary attributes in varying proportions based on the profession's characteristics.

Under the blessing of his talent, Jiang Kai's attributes had increased by 20 points.

His Level 2 attributes were equivalent to others' Level 3 attributes.

Not only that, but he also unlocked profession skills.

And not just one skill—two skills.

While there are many general skills available to all professions (like Su Nuannuan making snake venom poison, which Jiang Kai could replicate after watching her), the key difference lies in success rates and effectiveness.

But profession skills are unique—others cannot acquire them.

For example, while anyone can throw objects, their throws won't have the precision and penetration of "Ghost Hand - Flying Cards"!

Moreover, "Ghost Hand - Flying Cards" provides an insane bonus when using card-type items.

As the skill's name suggests, it seems specifically tailored for throwing cards. However, upon mastering the technique, it also slightly enhances the throwing effects of other objects.

What excited Jiang Kai the most was that, at Level 2, he already had an additional profession skill compared to others.

His observational skills were already sharp, and now they had improved by 50%.

These two skills combined immediately made Jiang Kai realize that his Gambler profession wasn't entirely incapable of combat. At the very least, he now possessed some long-range attack capabilities.

Venomous spikes could be used as projectiles, but the problem was he only had one spike at hand. And where could he find card-type weapons?

Although he held a bunch of Ground Snake cards, the skill description clearly stated that system item cards couldn't be used as weapons.

'Item cards lack attack power and cannot harm players or other monsters, so they can't be used as weapons.' Jiang Kai figured this out and shook his head in resignation.

If he needed to fight in the future, it would be best to find a weapon compatible with his skills.

"Kai, how's it going? Did you level up?" Zhuzi rushed over, asking eagerly.

Jiang Kai nodded. "Yeah, I leveled up."

He shared his post-upgrade attributes with Zhuzi and Nuannuan, leaving the two utterly shocked.

"Holy crap, others gain 10 points per level-up, but you get 20. That's insane!" Zhuzi exclaimed.

Fortunately, both Zhuzi and Nuannuan knew that Jiang Kai's Gambler profession came with both greater rewards and higher risks.

After all, many talents in professions also involve losing attributes.

With this in mind, Jiang Kai's godlike advantage might not necessarily be all good.

Nuannuan wanted to ask about Jiang Kai's profession skills, but in professional settings, talents and skills were considered private information.

At this moment, Jiang Kai suddenly spoke. "It seems like my profession skills have some combat potential… I'm good at throwing cards."

Jiang Kai voluntarily shared his skill, which touched Su Nuannuan—this meant he considered her one of his own.

However, his skills were quite peculiar.

"Throwing cards?" Su Nuannuan and Yuan Zhu looked at each other, utterly baffled.

'What the hell is throwing cards? Could this skill even be used in combat?'

It seemed like it could… but maybe it couldn't.

Considering the sheer power of monsters in professions, throwing cards might barely be a scratch.

Su Nuannuan looked at Jiang Kai sympathetically. A non-combat professional still clinging to the dream of fighting—it earned her a sliver of respect for his determination.

Regardless, the trio had achieved their first goal.

Even if Jiang Kai's profession skills weren't ideal, it wasn't entirely unexpected. At least his current attributes were overwhelming.

In terms of Agility alone, he surpassed the strongest individual predator in the area—the Ghost Star Panther.

This significantly boosted their team's combat potential.

"So, what's next? Continue hunting snake nests?" Zhuzi asked.

Jiang Kai thought for a moment, then shook his head.

"Let's go find Venomous Wild Boars. We need more steel spikes."

The Ground Snake's experience points were too low. Ultimately, they needed to leave the trial zone and face larger beasts. It was time to accelerate their leveling pace.

———

[Day 2 of the Newcomer Trials: Data Research Facility, Gate 18]

A large screen displayed in the hall showed that by the second day, half of the newcomers had already been eliminated.

In the early days, eliminations often occurred rapidly, weeding out the weaker participants.

The remaining ones were undoubtedly stronger.

Su Lanlan stared at the screen, momentarily speechless.

Her sister and that Jiang Kai had been acting as a team for two days, and somehow, they were still alive.

Su Nuannuan's wristwatch hadn't transmitted any beast-related data on the second day, 'Had she avoided encounters with beasts? Such luck?'

She, of course, didn't know that with the anti-toxin potion in their possession, Su Nuannuan and her team didn't need to use their wristwatches to evaluate the attributes of the Ground Snake, so naturally, no data was transmitted back.

At this moment, a staff member quickly walked over from their post and whispered a few words into Professor Li's ear.

When Su Lanlan looked at Professor Li again, she noticed his expression had turned a bit grim.

"Uncle Li, what's wrong?"

"Some trainees wanted to avoid the main group to reduce their chances of encountering wild beasts, so they moved very slowly during the first two days. This was originally a good idea, but just now, it was discovered that in the northwestern and western parts of the trial zone, twelve newcomers were eliminated consecutively, and all their wristwatch information disappeared—it's possible their devices were shut off."

Su Lanlan narrowed her eyes slightly. As a coach with extensive experience leading newcomers in trials, she already understood what had happened.

"They've come. Northwest, west side… Nuannuan and her group are in that vicinity."

"Yes, Nuannuan and her group are indeed in great danger." Professor Li nodded. "It takes time for smugglers to infiltrate, and there may be more of them entering the trial zone. Judging from the scope and speed of their invasion, the scale of this incursion is highly unusual."

Su Lanlan snorted coldly. "It's because they think our Huaxia doesn't have any professions capable of entering their trial zones, so they act so recklessly, isn't it?"

Professor Li sighed. "This matter needs to be reported to the commander, and we also need to talk to the newcomers who have been eliminated to gather information."

"Uncle Li, I'll go right away." Before leaving, Su Lanlan glanced at the screen again.

'Nuannuan…'

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