Guotong Mansion.
Everyone was waiting around Li Rui. The flow of time in the Secret Realm dungeon is different from outside; even if they spent a few hours there, it might be just a few minutes in reality, so they put aside their tasks and prepared to leave after seeing the outcome.
"Leader Wen, before, when you asked about the Demon Wind Temple, were you looking for your cousin at the Profound Spirit Association?"
"Yes, a distant relative. We used to visit often when I was younger, but they moved north later, so we didn't have much contact anymore, only meeting occasionally during family elders' birthdays."
Wang Ba nodded: "Ah, if he could have persisted a bit more back then, it would have been better."
Wen Yan didn't respond; she just looked worriedly at the mark on Li Rui's hand.
Just then, Wu Bing suddenly said: "It changed."
Everyone also noticed simultaneously that one of the ten white stars was gradually being dyed black, and all felt a sinking feeling in their hearts.
"Don't panic; it's just one star. It's still within the controllable range." Although Wang Ba usually seemed indecent, he was quite reliable at critical moments.
Wu Sun said: "Leader Hu mentioned that as long as the star count is kept below five stars, there's still a chance."
Wang Ba sighed again: "That's not true; he deliberately said that to make Li Rui try to relax. According to our discussion, only with fewer than three black stars is there a chance, after all, it's a ten-star dungeon, and Li Rui is just level 1."
"....."
The crowd fell silent once again.
...
North of Dragon Country, headquarters of the Profound Spirit Association.
Four Secret Realm agents, looking about thirty, were scratching their heads, pondering how to write their attendance reports.
These few people were the ones who entered the Demon Wind Temple dungeon eight years ago. Their luck was both good and bad; although they stumbled into that ten-star dungeon at level 2, it was just a coincidental event. Subsequent lucky draws gained them several high value-for-money dungeons that were simple with decent rewards.
Now, eight years later, they have all grown into independent Secret Realm agents, reaching over level 20, with one even becoming a team leader.
"I really can't write it. Leader, how about spending five hundred to find someone online to do it for us?"
"Nonsense, are you going to tell outsiders about confidential projects?"
The bald team leader rolled his eyes, "Stop whining, if you can't write it, take a rest, but you'll have to write it sooner or later, no discussion on this."
"So annoying, the report has a word count requirement, and I just can't squeeze it out."
The previous man leaned back in his chair, truly taking a break. His eyes rolled, and he suddenly said, "Hey, leader, didn't you say your distant cousin asked about the Demon Wind Temple before?"
Upon hearing this long-lost name, several people felt a bit nostalgic.
"Yes, unfortunately, I have nothing to tell her."
The bald team leader said, "At the time, we had no experience whatsoever, still thinking about squatting at the starting point for five hours, but in the end, hey."
Everyone recalled the memories of being pierced by ground spikes, all feeling a headache.
"Leader, you must have heard, right? The record-breaking rookie drew that dungeon."
The bald leader sneered and put down the keyboard to rest: "He broke the record by hitting the admin using dubious means. Anyone can do that, but who dares bear the subsequent consequences? As for Demon Wind Temple, going there alone, I bet he won't get past the first level."
"Hey, that's not necessarily true."
The complainer chuckled, "You see, he dared to hit the admin, surely he's that kind of troublemaker. Maybe he'll run around in the monastery? As long as he leaves the courtyard at the entrance, he'll bypass the first level."
The bald leader nodded: "There's some logic to it, but it's still difficult later. Do you remember what we saw in the temple at the door before we died?"
"What? Oh, the snake-headed Demon Monk, right? You even had nightmares for several days then."
"Yeah, that thing has level 2 strength and is adept at hiding. How could a complete rookie possibly survive?"
The bald man waved his hand speechlessly, pulled out a pack of cigarettes from the drawer, stuffed one in his mouth, and got up to walk towards the smoking room, "Stop thinking about it; that kid is already done for. I'm not cursing him, but offending the admin spells disaster."
...
Li Rui had just entered the Demon Wind Temple and hadn't settled any experience points yet, so he was still a level 1 Secret Realm agent.
However, his level 1 was different from others because he had twelve attribute points, along with talents and skills, and equipment.
Other people generally acquire 4 to 5 attribute points in the novice space, without any initial bonuses. Later, every level advancement grants 3 attribute points, but before the profession transfer at level 10, encountering random or hidden events that grant talents and skills, or encountering NPCs that can teach these abilities is very rare.
So normally, an average Secret Realm agent at level 3 would have about 10 points of attributes.
And that's it.
But Li Rui at level 1 already possessed 12 attribute points, all focused on combat-specific Spirit and physique, and while the fierce naga currently had limited combat effectiveness, the Great Vortex was a solid combat skill. Furthermore, the admin's jacket offered defensive attributes.
Thus, Li Rui ostensibly seemed like a level 1 but was actually a top-configured level 3. Facing these level 2 snake-headed Demon Monks, he could fight ruthlessly and prevail. Even if the opponent used numbers and stealth traits to ambush him, he could still utilize the admin's coat to mitigate damage.
When all eight Demon Monks were lying in pools of black blood, Li Rui received a new Secret Realm prompt.
[All targets are dead, random event complete, temple killing grounds settlement begins.]
[Experience points +200.]
[You have new attribute points.]
[Received ordinary Spirit Recovery Potion x1.]
It takes only 300 experience points to level up from level 1 to level 2. Solving this single event pushed him up more than half a level; it was a significant gain, especially for a single event, not to mention awarding attribute points.
This is primarily because the snake-headed Demon Monk is a level 2 enemy, quite dangerous for level 1 players, almost guaranteeing death, so awarding lots of experience proportional to the risk is reasonable.
The only variable is, Li Rui, as a level 1 Secret Realm agent, was impressively formidable, thus casually resolving the event.
As for the ordinary Spirit Recovery Potion, it's evident it's just a common small blue bottle, useful but surely not rare. This was anticipated, given it's a randomly acquired item, and with his unlucky traits, good stuff wouldn't likely be forthcoming.
But it doesn't matter; the attribute points and experience points are tangible. For most Secret Realm agents, attributes, skills, and talents acquired outside leveling are crucially important, almost determining the gap among peers.
Li Rui rubbed his hands eagerly, wanting to know if he could truly clear the Demon Wind Temple under ten black stars, how many levels he could advance, how many attribute points he might get, and whether new skills and talents would emerge.