In Lu Ming's backpack, there were three E-level Trickster skill scrolls stored—
Prison of Earth: Reduces all enemy armor;
Revival of All Things: Increases all allies' health regeneration;
Swift Wind: Increases all allies' speed;
There was currently no skill to enhance allies' defense, and the trading house was out of stock.
So, among these three options, Lu Ming chose the first one—
[Ding~ Congratulations, you have mastered the E-level Trickster skill: Prison of Earth!]
[Prison of Earth] (Trickster Skill Lv22)
[Quality: E-level]
[Skill Description: Releases a circular formation with a 50-yard radius, reducing the armor of all enemies within the formation by (20% Trickster Armor + 138) points for 15 seconds]
[Skill Cost: Consumes 98 Mana Points to activate, and 11 Mana Points per second thereafter]
[Cooldown Time: 60 seconds]
"With my Comprehensive Amplification talent, which enhances thirtyfold, that's a 600% armor + 4140 armor reduction."
Lu Ming opened the status panel and analyzed, "With my 265 armor, the total armor reduction effect equals 5730 points!"
This calculation result made Lu Ming very satisfied.
Because even the highest-level ordinary undead in the Shadow Nest, at level 50, only had over 5000 armor.
This meant that after the Prison of Earth reduction, their armor would be directly nullified, allowing the Death Lords to deal higher damage!
All the Trickster's skill enhancement effects are closely related to their own attributes.
Therefore, to give the Undead Legion a greater boost, Lu Ming's own strength must not fall behind!
It was still early for dinner, so Lu Ming and Lin Youwei left the city again.
Following the map's guidance, they headed towards the direction of the [Black Market].
Currently, Lu Ming had accumulated a total of 10 gold coins in his bag!
"That should be enough to buy quite a few good things at the black market."
Just as Lu Ming was thinking this.
Ding ding!
A WeChat message notification sounded.
Lu Ming opened it to find a message from Qin Churan: "I recruited a new team and want them to join us. Can you come over and help me evaluate them?"
Lu Ming had just read the message.
The next second.
[The other party retracted a message]
Since Qin Churan retracted it, Lu Ming simply closed WeChat, pretending he hadn't seen it.
After all, his relationship with Qin Churan was purely to use her to get back at Qin Feng and Ye Ling'er.
He wasn't going to be Qin Churan's ever-obliging simp.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
However, fate had other plans for Lu Ming.
Coincidentally, on the way to the black market, Lu Ming ran into Qin Churan!
In an open area, a virtual arena was in full bloom.
The audience below was a sea of people.
On stage, two teams of players were engaged in a 5v5 team PK match.
One side was the unremarkable miscellaneous team [Excellence], while the other was the renowned Great Xia's seventh team [God Slayer]!
Leading the God Slayer team was the level 33 Assassin, Qin Churan.
The other four were also in their 30s with fourth-tier strength.
The opposing [Excellence] team had players of similar level configurations.
When Lu Ming arrived, a match was just beginning.
Whoosh!
As the battle commenced.
Qin Churan launched the first attack.
Her strategy was clear, her target precise, directly aiming for the most threatening level 34 Mage [Excellence Little Wolf].
With the cover of her teammates, she bypassed the opposing Warrior and Knight, feigning an attack on the Archer [Excellence Little Eagle].
Just as Excellence Little Eagle dodged the attack.
Qin Churan suddenly turned to attack the Mage Excellence Little Wolf!
Swish swish swish!
Qin Churan's speed and sudden attack left Excellence Little Wolf with almost no time to react, unable to even cast a blink, and was easily taken down by Qin Churan's feint!
A true heroine.
Qin Churan's awareness and skill were so strong that even Lu Ming couldn't underestimate her.
But, no matter how strong she was alone, it was useless.
After all, this was a team competition.
Just as Qin Churan took down the opposing Mage.
Her own Archer and Priest were ambushed by two Assassins from the opposing team, both falling!
The remaining two Warriors managed an extreme two-for-one, taking down one of the opposing Assassins.
In the blink of an eye, the 5v5 turned into a 1v3!
In the end, Qin Churan fought valiantly against three, taking down two, but narrowly lost to the level 35 Warrior [Excellence Little Tiger]!
[Ding~ In this best-of-five PK match, Excellence team wins, current score Excellence 2: God Slayer 1!]
At this moment, the audience was in shock.
"What the heck! What's going on with God Slayer? The seventh top team in the Great Xia server can't even beat a small miscellaneous studio? How embarrassing!"
"Yeah, they've lost two rounds already! Is this really the seventh in the server?"
"So weak! I could do better with my feet!"
Amidst the crowd, Lu Ming revealed a knowing smile.
To the untrained eye, it seemed like a hard-fought match.
But he could see at a glance that, aside from Qin Churan, the other four on the God Slayer side were clearly holding back!
They deliberately lost to Excellence.
At first, Lu Ming didn't understand why they would do this.
Until during the intermission, the leader of the Excellence team, the Warrior youth [Excellence Little Tiger], mocked Qin Churan:
"Sis, lose one more, and you'll be defeated! Remember the rules? If you lose, you have to join our Excellence team and work for me for a week!"
Qin Churan's gaze was intense, her spirit unyielding: "It's not over yet!"
Though she said this, Qin Churan was somewhat anxious inside.
"Alright." Excellence Little Tiger gently stroked his flaming longsword, his gaze on Qin Churan filled with possessiveness: "Let's continue then!"
As soon as he finished speaking.
A voice suddenly came from below the stage: "God Slayer requests a substitution!"
Everyone turned towards the source of the voice: a young Trickster.
When Qin Churan saw Lu Ming, her heart was filled with joy.
It was as if she saw a ray of hope in the darkness.
"Nether!!"
"Why is he here? Did he see the message I sent him?"
"But I clearly retracted it, and I didn't mention the location…"
While Qin Churan was both happy and puzzled.
Excellence Little Tiger, upon hearing the request for a mid-match substitution, was naturally displeased.
After all, with the current situation, they were sure to win.
"According to the rules, substitutions require both parties' consent! And the substitute must be of comparable level!"
Lu Ming stepped onto the stage, standing beside Qin Churan.
He addressed the five players of the opposing Excellence team: "My level should meet the requirements, right?"
Only then did the players of Excellence team take a closer look at Lu Ming.
When they saw that Lu Ming was only a level 22 Trickster, their attitudes did a complete 180!
Excellence Little Tiger suppressed his excitement and asked, "Are you sure about the substitution?"
"In the interest of fairness, I'll give you another step."
Lu Ming calmly said, "I'll take on four."
This statement left all the players on and off the stage in doubt.
"Wow! Where does this guy get his confidence? A level 22 Trickster taking on a level 30 arena, and a four-for-one??"
"Is he here to be funny?"
"What a show-off! But I'm actually looking forward to seeing how he gets humiliated!"
While the crowd below speculated.
Excellence Little Tiger didn't care about fairness.
Since the substitution was requested by the other party, he had no objections.
Afraid that Lu Ming would regret it a second later, he immediately agreed: "Alright, we agree to the substitution!"
Thus, after Lu Ming joined the team, Qin Churan didn't hesitate to kick out her original four teammates!
Others might not know Lu Ming or understand his strength.
But Qin Churan knew, and that was enough!
If possible, she would even kick herself out!
Because she knew, to Lu Ming, she was just a burden.
[Ding~ The match is about to begin, players on both sides, please prepare!]
As the system entered a 10-second countdown.
Qin Churan glanced back at Lu Ming, playfully sticking out her tongue and whispered, "Why do you always show up so timely? Like you're my destined savior!"
Lu Ming kept his eyes straight ahead.
He said, "I won't make a move, you go."
"Huh?"
Before Qin Churan could react.
The countdown had already reached zero.
The match began!
The players of Excellence team didn't underestimate their opponents, even though they were down three players and the new addition was a level 22 support Trickster.
As soon as the match started, they launched a full-scale attack!
Clearly, the allure of having the sister of the God Slayer team's captain join their no-name studio and work for Excellence was too great!
So they were determined to win the match by any means.
At this moment, Qin Churan looked back and found that Lu Ming really hadn't moved!
"You're not here to see me fail, are you?"
Thinking this, Qin Churan had no choice but to charge forward alone.
At this moment, Lu Ming deactivated the [Sword Draw] skill.
He lifted his sword.
Swish!
Planted his longsword into the ground.
War Tread—
Life Barrier—
Prison of Earth—
Swish swish swish!
Three massive formations instantly covered the entire arena.
Under the formation's enhancement, Qin Churan's attack power increased significantly. Holding her dagger, she swiftly charged into the enemy ranks.
Swish swish swish swish!
With each strike.
Every enemy was hit.
-33652!
-32169!
-31999!
……
[Ding~ In this best-of-five match, God Slayer team wins! Current score: Excellence 2: God Slayer 2!]
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