Chapter 2: Three Ten-Star Talents, The Super-Divine Array Trickster!

Lu Ming regained his composure.

Upon discovering that his login location was in Newbie Village No. 1947 of the Abyss World, known as "Moonfall Town," he instantly realized something was amiss. He opened his status panel, and sure enough, he found the problem...

【Player: Nether】
【Account Quality: Ten-Star】
【Class: None】
【Level: 1】
【Strength: 3】 (Strength affects physical attack; 1 Strength = 1 Physical Attack)
【Agility: 1】 (1 Agility = 1 Speed)
【Stamina: 1】 (1 Stamina = 1 Armor + 1 Magic Resistance)
【Spirit: 1】 (1 Spirit = 10 Mana + 0.1 Mana regeneration per second)
【Constitution: 1】 (1 Constitution = 10 HP + 1 HP regeneration per second)
【Physical Attack: 3】
【Armor: 1】
【Magic Resistance: 1】
【Speed: 1】
【Mana: 20】 (Base + Spirit bonus)
【HP: 60】 (Base + Constitution bonus)
【Skill: Scout (F-Rank, consumes 1 Mana, can view data of monsters no more than 3 levels higher than self, no cooldown)】
【Experience: 0/100】
【Description: A raw recruit newly arrived in the Abyss. Remember the law of this world: the weak are meat, the strong eat; the fittest survive...】

"How did I become Level 1?!"
Lu Ming frowned slightly. Could it be that when he was reborn, he only brought his brain and left his body behind?

Of course, it wasn't unacceptable. After all, the account itself was what mattered most. Starting over could actually allow him to make up for many permanent stat gains he missed in his past life due to insufficient strength, thereby raising his maximum potential! Moreover, with this ten-star account in hand, Lu Ming was confident he could reach the 200-level height that took him five years in his previous life within a single year—perhaps even sooner!

Just then, the system’s voice rang out:
【Ding~ Based on your account's innate characteristics, the system recommends the Mage class for you!】

Lu Ming couldn't help but shake his head. Playing a Mage with such overpowered talents? That would be like feeding caviar to a stray dog! Consequently, Lu Ming decisively made his choice from the eight major classes—Mage, Summoner, Priest, Array Trickster, Archer, Assassin, Knight, and Warrior:

"Array Trickster!"

The specialty of an Array Trickster is creating formations to buff allies within range or debuff enemies. It was, indeed, a support class that lacked damage, lacked tankiness, was extremely dependent on teammates, had a historical employment rate of only 0.71%, and was famously known as a class "not even a dog would play."

If he only possessed the "Total Amplification" talent, which increased skill effects tenfold, his top-tier choice would undoubtedly have been a Mage. But! The "Soul Severing" talent instantly elevated the status of this bottom-tier class to T0!

What would it look like to apply a tenfold-amplified skill to an army of undead warriors? It was unimaginable!

After selecting the Array Trickster class, Lu Ming opened the Abyss Trading House. He realized that even with the world's number one ten-star account, starting without gear or skills would be extremely difficult. After a search, his gaze locked onto an F-Rank "Array Trickster Skill Scroll." Priced at 1,999, it was the cheapest skill scroll in the market.

Lu Ming’s WeChat balance stood at 2,112.8 yuan. This was the salary the original owner had just received from working at a cafe, originally intended for the three months of overdue rent. But now, it was a necessity. Lu Ming bought the skill scroll and spent another 100 yuan on a Level 1 Array Trickster weapon.

After filling in the delivery details, he soon received two messages. He retrieved the items:

【War Stomp】 (Array Trickster F-Rank Skill Scroll)
【Introduction: After use, learn War Stomp Lv1 (Releases a ring-shaped war formation with a 50-yard radius, granting all friendly targets within the formation an attack bonus equal to 10% of the Array Trickster's attack + 3, lasting for 15 seconds)】
【Mana Cost: 3 to activate, 1 per second thereafter】
【Cooldown: 50 seconds】
【Note: Effects of the same type of formation do not stack.】

Lu Ming immediately crushed the scroll to learn the skill. Under the tenfold amplification of his "Total Amplification" talent, the skill’s effective range expanded from a 50-yard radius to 500 yards! The attack bonus granted to allies increased from 10% of his attack + 3 to 100% of his attack + 30! The duration also extended from 15 seconds to 150 seconds, perfectly covering the 50-second cooldown! This meant that as long as he had enough mana, Lu Ming could keep War Stomp active permanently!

Next, Lu Ming looked at the weapon he had bought for 100 yuan.

【Rusty Iron Sword】 (White/Common)
【Physical Attack: +3】
【Class Requirement: Array Trickster, Warrior】
【Level Requirement: 1】
【Durability: 7/10】
【Introduction: Though it looks tattered, it can still add some lethality...】

If not for the worn-down durability, he wouldn't have been able to buy any weapon for 100 yuan in the Abyss, not even a Level 1 common item! He immediately equipped the sword, raising his attack from 3 to 6.

Looking at his remaining WeChat balance of 13.8 yuan, Lu Ming sighed in relief: "At least it's enough for a bowl of roast duck noodles!"

As the saying goes, one must spend money to make money. Although the Abyss World was fraught with danger, it was also paved with gold. With this ten-star account, money would no longer be a distant dream; it would be something Lu Ming could easily grasp!

Having been poor for half his life in his previous existence, Lu Ming was truly afraid of poverty. He never wanted to sleep in a 300-yuan-a-month rental room the size of a bathroom again! He never wanted to live on two plain buns for breakfast, bread for lunch, and instant noodles without even a sausage for dinner!

He had to make money! He had to live well!

Of course, as someone who had lived twice, Lu Ming knew better: in the Abyss World, strength was more important than money! In his past life, it was precisely because he had neither money nor power that he was manipulated by Ye Ling'er. At that moment, he had no power to resist and could only roar in impotence.

In this life, "Power, money, status—I want it all!"

Lu Ming knew full well that with his current level and strength, he could not stand against Ye Ling'er, who was already over Level 180. Not to mention the "him" behind Ye Ling'er—the one who coerced her into betraying him and attempted to seize the Scroll of Conferred Gods. Based on Ye Ling'er's implications, this person must be immensely powerful, holding a high position in the Great Xia.

Therefore, to seek revenge, Lu Ming had to grow stronger first! He could use this period of hidden strength to track down who was truly pulling the strings behind the catastrophe that took his life.

Finding his way around Moonfall Town, Lu Ming accepted a quest from Dick, the bar bouncer:

【Who Stole the Ring?】 (Common Quest)
【Difficulty: 10】
【Description: A damn spider stole the ring Dick spent half a year's wages on to propose to his girlfriend; Dick is depressed. Go to the Shadow Forest, hunt Jungle Spiders (0/10), and retrieve the ring for Dick (0/1).】
【Time Limit: 9 hours 59 minutes】
【Rewards: Experience +50, Copper Coins +5, very small chance for a Common item +1】

Following the map's guidance, he headed toward the Shadow Forest, a Level 1-5 wilderness area north of Moonfall Town. When passing through the north gate, he saw a large crowd of players—men, women, young, and old—gathered there. Among them were Level 1 rookies who had just registered, as well as veterans who were already in their teens.

Shouts and calls filled the air:
"Ten-year veteran guild, City Ninth Team 'Heavenly Palace' recruiting! One-star quality players get a 5,000 base salary + commission + benefits! Easy to make over 10,000 a month!"
"Need power leveling? Level 10 second-turn Warrior with full Black Iron gear! Rookie discount, only 50 yuan an hour, guaranteed Level 4 in one day! Discounts for referrals and girls!"
"Any newbies want to team up for the Level 2 Poison Scorpion quest? We need one more front-liner, leaving immediately!"
"LFG for Level 8-10 dungeon 'Bloody Forbidden Zone'! Level 8 Archer looking for a group, have Black Iron weapon!"

Because this was a world of real death, those veterans targeted rookies who didn't have a fixed team, playing on their fear of adventuring alone to scam them. As Lu Ming reached the gate, several veterans surrounded him, trying to sell their services—it almost felt like stepping out of a train station and facing a swarm of touts.

Of course, while the average rookie was easy to fool, they couldn't deceive Lu Ming, a veteran who had spent five years crawling through the Abyss.

Emerging from the bustling crowds of Moonfall Town, Lu Ming stepped into the wilderness alone.