Chapter 2: Strengthening the Iron Sword, Poison Effect
After closing the [Chat Channel],
Zhou Han prepared to see what his talent actually did.
But right now, he had nothing on him—nothing that could be strengthened.
Just a set of school uniform.
He obviously wasn't going to waste a strengthening opportunity on ordinary clothes.
[System Prompt: As a beginner, please go to the blacksmith shop in Azure Thunder City to claim your starter weapon!]
"Having an assist system really is nice!" Zhou Han sighed. Otherwise, figuring everything out on his own would take too much time.
"System, where's the blacksmith shop? Is there a map?"
[Immoral Map is loading…]
[Load complete. Blacksmith shop successfully located. Optimal route has been planned. Please check!]
Zhou Han took a look. All the locations in Azure Thunder City were displayed on the [Map].
Following the planned route, he arrived after a few minutes at the [Blacksmith Shop] in the northern part of the city.
At the entrance stood a burly man, bare-chested, hammering iron. He was a native of this world.
"Here to claim a weapon?"
"Show me your voucher!" The burly man noticed Zhou Han approaching, stopped working, wiped his sweat, and spoke.
Zhou Han quickly took out the [Beginner Voucher] from his inventory. Every player received one upon arriving in this world.
"Take this rusty iron sword for now." The blacksmith took the voucher and handed over the weapon with a businesslike attitude.
"Isn't there anything better?" Zhou Han felt a bit speechless. Could this thing even deal damage?
"Kid, your body's too weak. You can't handle better weapons!"
"Oh right, here's also a skill book. It'll help with your adventures outside!"
[System Prompt: You obtained one 'Rusty Iron Sword'.]
[You obtained one skill book. Learn it?]
"Learn." Zhou Han nodded. This was probably a beginner benefit too.
[Congratulations, you have successfully learned the skill 'Appraisal'!]
[Appraisal]
[Grade: Common]
[Description: The most basic identification skill. Can identify a small portion of objects' attributes.]
[Effect: Detects a target's attributes, quality, level, equipment, etc., and provides some analysis. (Cannot be used on players)]
After reading it, Zhou Han roughly understood.
He immediately used Appraisal on the [Iron Sword] in his hand.
[System Prompt: You used 'Appraisal'. Attribute data generated. Please check!]
Soon, the sword's data appeared in his mind panel.
[Rusty Iron Sword]
[Grade: Common]
[Attribute: Attack +5]
[Description: A completely ordinary iron sword, covered in rust. Nothing worth mentioning.]
From the system's introduction, Zhou Han learned the equipment grading system in this world.
Common, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Star, King, Emperor, and so on.
So this [Rusty Iron Sword] was basically trash-tier.
"Perfect, the system gave me one free strengthening chance!"
"I'll use it on the iron sword!" Zhou Han muttered.
Right now, the only things he could strengthen were the [Rusty Iron Sword] and [Appraisal].
After thinking it over, he chose to strengthen the sword.
After all, it was a weapon—strengthening it should increase his attack power, which he needed most.
"I wonder what effect it'll have after strengthening!" Zhou Han felt a bit excited.
He found a quiet corner and muttered inwardly, "Strengthen the iron sword!"
He used up the one free strengthening chance.
[System Prompt: You used Talent · Infinite Enhancement. 'Rusty Iron Sword' has been successfully strengthened once. New attributes have been updated. Please check!]
Hearing this, Zhou Han quickly opened the attribute panel.
[Rusty Iron Sword +1]
[Grade: Common]
[Type: Longsword]
[Attribute: Attack +30]
[Special Effect: Attacks have a 50% chance to inflict tetanus infection. While infected, the target loses 100 HP per second for 10 seconds.]
[Description: Looks ordinary, but is somewhat unique.]
The grade didn't change—it was still Common—but the attack jumped by 25 points to 30.
"Holy shit! That's insane!"
"It even gained a special effect!" Zhou Han's eyebrows lifted in delight. He never expected such a powerful result from a single enhancement.
The tetanus effect fit the rusty sword perfectly.
And it was extremely strong.
Losing 100 HP per second meant that as long as the target had less than 1000 HP,
he could kill it outright.
Looking at the plain-looking sword in his hand, Zhou Han was very satisfied.
As expected of an SSS-level talent—even Bronze weapons couldn't match this effect. (Don't ask how he knows Bronze weapon stats—there's an encyclopedia that shows them.)
If one enhancement was this strong, what about two?
Zhou Han felt excited—but he didn't have any enhancement points right now.
The most direct way to get them was by farming monsters.
"Looks like I need to go outside the city and grind some mobs."
However, Zhou Han didn't rush out recklessly. All monsters were outside the city, and he didn't know the situation out there yet.
Even though the enhanced [Rusty Iron Sword] had strong output,
Zhou Han only had 100 HP. If multiple monsters ganged up on him, he wouldn't be able to handle it.
"Let's see how other players are doing first."
Zhou Han entered the chat channel,
hoping to gather useful information.
The moment he entered, he saw hundreds of death notifications.
He opened them to take a look.
[Player Ye Chen was killed by Lv.1 Spiked Worm.]
[Player Ye Fan was killed by Lv.1 Big Black Dog.]
[Player Long Aotian was killed by Lv.1 Water Arrow Frog.]
…
"What the hell? So many deaths already?"
Zhou Han had a deep impression of Ye Chen.
Because he had been talking big in the public chat earlier, acting very domineering.
And he had awakened a B-rank talent: Burning Blood.
Zhou Han had already considered him a potential rival.
But he didn't expect him to get instantly killed by a level 1 monster.
"Looks like this world is even more dangerous than I thought!"
The chat channel was in panic.
The strength of wild monsters far exceeded their expectations.
"Terrifying! Even someone with a B-rank talent got one-shot. I don't even dare leave the city!"
"Are we supposed to die? If we don't go out and earn gold, we're dead in three days anyway!"
"Why did I get dragged into this hellhole? Thinking about it now, my 996 office job was actually great… too bad I can't go back!"
"Don't be so pessimistic. Even if we can't beat monsters alone, we can team up!"
"The guy above is right! I, Chen Beixuan, B-rank talent, recruiting teammates with C-rank or above!"
"Boss, I'm D-rank, please carry me! Save me a spot!"
…
Soon, the chat became lively again.
Everyone was looking for teammates, trying to cling to stronger players. After all, their lives were on the line.
"Hmm? Monster stats screenshots?"
"Only 300 to 500 HP?"
Soon, some players posted level 1 monster stats.
After checking them, Zhou Han felt relieved.
With his enhanced [Rusty Iron Sword], he had nothing to fear.
"System, which map should I go to?" Zhou Han asked.
[System Prompt: Based on your current strength, only 'Mist Forest' is available. Route has been planned.]
Soon, Zhou Han arrived at the entrance of the [Mist Forest].
It was even more crowded here.
"Need one E-rank talent player, 3=1!"
"Only recruiting D-rank strength-enhancement talents. Building a strength squad!"
"Anyone with speed talent? We're running a hit-and-run strategy!"
"Any big boss willing to carry? I'm rich! I'll pay 1 million per run!"
Everyone burst out laughing.
"Who the hell needs your money here?"
"This isn't Earth anymore, idiot!"
"Rich brat with no brain—he won't last a day."
The entrance was packed and lively.
It felt like forming dungeon parties in an online game.
"Hey handsome, want to team up? Join us!"
Suddenly, a gentle and mature female voice came from behind Zhou Han.
He turned around and was stunned.
She was wearing a professional OL outfit with black stockings, probably transported here while working.
Tall and well-proportioned, with a slim waist and stunning beauty.
She looked like a CEO heroine straight out of a modern novel.
"Sorry, I don't need a team." Zhou Han refused decisively.
It wasn't that he didn't like beautiful women—he did.
But this world was full of unknown dangers.
Surviving and becoming stronger was his priority.
Everything else could wait.
Besides, teaming up would split experience. He would never choose that.
"What? He rejected me?" Han Qinxue pouted unhappily as she watched him leave.
If not for his good looks, she wouldn't have even invited him.
"Hehe, sis, looks like your charm is fading!" Han Xiangning teased.
"Enough. This isn't the time for that. Form a team quickly and earn gold—that's what matters," Han Qinxue said irritably.