The original plan was to take Lin Youwei on a high-level quest first, help her reach level 20, and then venture into the Nether Ghost Tower.
However, Lu Ming discovered that the Soul Set Qing Yan just gave him wasn't for level 20, but for level 10!
The Soul Set is divided into five tiers: level 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50.
Clearly, Qing Yan had thought it through, knowing that with Lin Youwei's current level, she was only suited for the level 10 Soul Set!
With this, Lin Youwei could put on the Soul Set and immediately join Lu Ming in the Nether Ghost Tower, without having to wait until level 20!
So, Lu Ming immediately changed his plan.
He took Lin Youwei directly to the Nether Ghost Tower!
"The one million borrowed for buying a house hasn't been repaid, and now I owe for a Soul Set."
"Based on the market price, a level 10 Bronze Soul Set costs about five hundred thousand..."
Lu Ming frowned slightly.
Unknowingly, he had accumulated so much debt!
And this was just the debt owed to Qing Yan.
Additionally, when he bought the house, it cost six million, with only a 20% down payment, leaving over five million in loans from the bank!
He sure could rack up debt...
In his previous life, such a massive debt would have been a death sentence for Lu Ming, something he'd never be able to repay even if he worked himself to the bone for a lifetime.
But now, Lu Ming had a plan.
"Within a week, I'll pay off the debt to Qing Yan first!"
Soon, Lu Ming and Lin Youwei arrived at the Nether Ghost Tower.
According to today's battle report, the Godslayer Squad had conquered the eighth plane of the Nether Ghost Tower.
However, thanks to Qin Churan's orders, no one from the Godslayer Squad dared to stop Lu Ming, respectfully making way for him.
[Ding~ You have entered the eighth plane of the Nether Ghost Tower: Shadow Nest!]
Whoosh!
Two beams of white light descended as Lu Ming and Lin Youwei found themselves in a dark realm.
All around them, massive fortress-like nests were scattered across the land.
Countless armored undead emissaries, with eyes gleaming coldly, emerged from those nests.
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Meanwhile, numerous player teams were hunting these undead monsters within the vast map.
As the highest plane of the Nether Ghost Tower, the undead monsters in the Shadow Nest ranged from level 46 to 50!
Therefore, players grinding here were also between levels 46 and 50.
When a level 20 Trickster and an 18-level Mage appeared in this domain, it undoubtedly drew the skepticism of onlookers.
"Holy crap! How did that level 20 Trickster get into the eighth plane? And there's an 18-level Mage with him, what the hell?"
"Look, they have Soul Sets on. It's the effect of the Soul Set, allowing them to ignore the level restrictions of the Nether Ghost Tower map and enter any plane at will!"
"Most people use Soul Sets to farm lower planes! But these two, wearing Soul Sets, are running to such a high plane. What are they doing in the eighth plane at level 20? They must have a death wish!"
"They probably entered the wrong plane, right? Shh, let's not warn them. If they get wiped out by the monsters, maybe they'll drop a couple of Soul Set items, each worth tens of thousands!"
So, some nearby players, hoping to pick up the spoils, even paused their monster hunting to keep an eye on Lu Ming and Lin Youwei, waiting for them to get wiped out.
After all, picking up even one piece of Soul Set equipment could equal their annual income!
Just then, in front of them.
From a massive, pockmarked nest that seemed to have countless eyes, a silver-armored undead general, exuding a regal aura, emerged, riding a skeletal warhorse!
"Holy crap! The first one they encountered is an Elite Monster?"
"Even a regular monster could easily crush them, and now an Elite Monster shows up? They're really being overestimated!"
"It looks like this doomed couple is in for a rough time!"
As the crowd buzzed with chatter, they were ready to rush in and grab the loot at any moment.
Lu Ming, however, calmly cast a Reconnaissance skill on the undead general.
[Undead General] (Lv48 Physical Type · Elite Monster)
[Physical Attack: 9800]
[Armor: 6600]
[Magic Resistance: 5800]
[Speed: 4980]
[Health Points: 558000]
[Skills: Charge (D-level), Ice Thrust (D-level)...]
[Description: As a major general under the command of the Death Lord, Gaea, the Undead General guards the Nether Ghost Tower under Gaea's orders, swearing to lead the undead legion to crush all humans who dare to enter the Shadow Nest...]
Seeing the monster data automatically shared in the team channel, Lin Youwei, standing behind Lu Ming, couldn't help but grip her staff tightly, her eyes filled with tension and fear.
Judging by the attributes alone, the strength of this Undead General exceeded hers by dozens of times!
Moreover, the highest-level monster she had faced before, following Lu Ming, was only a level 30 scorpion in the Wasteland.
Now, they were jumping 18 levels higher!
For Lin Youwei, who was only level 18, this was a leap of 30 levels!!
In contrast, Lu Ming remained calm and composed.
As if everything was under his control.
"Arrogant humans, how dare you step into the Nether Ghost Tower and disturb Lord Gaea's peace!"
"Die!"
With a roar.
The Undead General charged at Lu Ming, riding his skeletal warhorse!
Lu Ming remained unhurried.
He waited for the Undead General to enter his attack range.
His right hand, already resting on the hilt of his sword, quietly drew the blade.
Swish!
A sharp sword shadow flashed through the Undead General's body.
-181822!
The Undead General's health bar instantly dropped by a third!
At the same time, under Lu Ming's mental control, hundreds of tier-3 Death Lords tore through space, stepping out from the summoning barrier!
Lu Ming planted his longsword into the ground.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
War Tread—
Life Barrier—
With a thirtyfold enhancement, a massive formation with a radius of 1500 yards instantly spread from Lu Ming's feet, covering the entire Shadow Nest!
Buzz!
Dozens of blood-red marks appeared on the Undead General's chest simultaneously.
The next second.
Swish, swish, swish, swish!
Dozens of Death Lords simultaneously activated Soul Shatter, instantly closing in on the Undead General from dozens of yards away.
Their longswords, burning with fierce flames, slashed down.
-15498!
-15498!
-15498!
...
Under Lu Ming's mental control, the first wave of Death Lords quickly withdrew from the attack range after executing Soul Shatter, making room for the second wave to unleash Soul Shatter.
Following the same pattern, after three consecutive rounds of Soul Shatter, the Undead General's long health bar was instantly drained!
Boom!
With a loud crash, the heavily armored Undead General fell from his horse, crashing to the ground.
[Ding~ You have slain a level 48 Elite Monster, Undead General, Experience Points +300000!]
"The experience from a level 48 Elite Monster almost matches that of a level 30 Silver BOSS!"
Watching the experience bar rise by a visible 10%, Lu Ming couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.
Meanwhile, the surrounding players, who had been waiting for Lu Ming to be killed so they could loot, were left dumbfounded.
The entire process was seamless and fluid; they hadn't even seen how the Undead General died.
All they knew was that this level 20 Trickster had single-handedly slain a level 48 Elite Monster, crossing a gap of 28 levels...
Such terrifying strength left the players in awe, and they quietly returned to their own tasks, not daring to harbor any thoughts of taking advantage of Lu Ming.
Lu Ming, full of anticipation, approached the Undead General's corpse.
With Lu Ming's Comprehensive Amplification talent upgraded to Lv3, Lin Youwei's monster drop rate bonus effect had also increased from 200% to 300%!
"Let's see how valuable a level 48 Elite Monster with a fourfold drop rate really is!"
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