"Sophi!"
Xia Donovan's voice pulled Sophia back to her senses.
"Dad, what are you doing here?" Sophia walked over to Xia Donovan, calling out obediently. The usual haughtiness was entirely absent from her demeanor now.
Xia Donovan's eyes held affection. "Let's go, we're heading home." He had come by car, so they didn't need to take the school bus back.
Sophia followed her father into the car, but her eyes kept drifting back towards Morintis. She really wanted to see through him, to understand just how he had reached Level 7.
Xia Donovan noticed his daughter's gaze. "Are you competing with Morintis?"
Sophia deflated like a punctured balloon. "Yes... I lost again. That guy is just too infuriating."
Xia Donovan laughed heartily. "Do you want your old dad to handle..."
"No!" Sophia cut him off decisively before he could finish. "I'll handle my own matters. I won't keep losing to that blockhead." She snorted, the fighting spirit blazing fiercely in her eyes.
Xia Donovan laughed even more joyfully.
"Good! Then your old dad won't interfere. But I should tell you, Morintis actually came out after just ten hours. And he came out after killing all the Level 8 monsters in the starter dungeon."
Sophia was stunned once more...
Killed all the Level 8 monsters...
She thought about how she had only just reached the area with Level 7 monsters; she hadn't even seen what the Level 8 monsters looked like.
She felt achieving Level 5 and being able to solo Level 7 monsters was already quite impressive.
She never imagined Morintis had wiped out the Level 8 monsters and left two hours early. So, if there had been more Level 8 monsters, that guy might have even reached Level 8 directly.
"Is the gap between us really that big?" Even with her competitive spirit, Sophia felt a bit disheartened now.
Xia Donovan said, "Every class has its own peculiarities.
Some are powerful at low levels, others only show their strength later.
A temporary victory or loss doesn't mean much. Compared to him, you have an advantage."
Sophia understood the meaning behind her father's words.
Her advantage was her family background—enough money, enough resources.
She wouldn't lack for gear, equipment, skills, or items. Someone like Morintis, with no money or influence, would later lack funds, equipment, skills, and items.
"Anyway, I won't admit defeat! Even if you're ahead now, I'll surpass you later!"
After just two minutes of dejection, Sophia's fighting spirit was reignited. Xia Donovan was very satisfied; this was how his daughter should be.
On the school bus, Leo deliberately sat next to Morintis. "I'm already Level 4! Pretty good, right? Leveling with a girl is way more fun than soloing. Much more interesting than your solo grind."
Morintis looked at this goofball. Wouldn't he be happy anywhere?
"Whoa! I didn't notice earlier! You're Level 7! How did you level?"
"Did you clear out all the monsters in the dungeon?"
"I struggled desperately just to reach Level 4. How did you get to Level 7? Are you some kind of god?"
Leo's voice was especially loud, audible throughout the entire bus.
Only then did everyone notice that Morintis had indeed reached Level 7.
While most were around Level 3, and Level 4 was considered impressive, Morintis was already Level 7. The bus instantly became noisy.
Although many were still afraid of Morintis and the Skeleton Warriors he summoned, the desire to get close to the strong was also a common instinct.
Some thought about talking to Morintis, building a classmate rapport. But Morintis's silent demeanor, combined with the terror of the Skeleton Warriors, still made them hesitate.
"Quiet!" Victor Stone's low command instantly silenced the bus that had just erupted in chatter.
Leo scratched his head. "Got too excited just now. Boss, can you power-level me sometime?"
Morintis said, "If the opportunity arises, sure."
Leo was overjoyed. "Then it's settled!"
Early the next morning, Leo couldn't find Morintis anywhere at the school gate.
"Teacher Stone, why isn't Morintis here?"
Stone replied, "He's gone to the Westsea City outskirts."
Huh?
Only then did Leo realize Morintis had tricked him—no wonder he agreed so readily yesterday. He couldn't help but let out a wail, "Morintis, you screwed me over!"
"My heart was set on the bright moon, but alas, the moon shines on the gutter! I'm not done with you! I challenge you to a duel!"
Morintis had already taken a vehicle to the southern part of Westsea City.
A tall city wall stood here, separating the human living areas from the monster zones.
Leaving the wall meant entering the wild monster areas, where the weakest monsters started from Level 10.
Compared to the monsters in the starter dungeon, the creatures here were far stronger.
Similarly, killing monsters here yielded more experience and various materials. With a bit of luck, some monsters might even drop weapons and equipment. These items could be used personally or sold for money.
The street leading to the city wall exit was lined with numerous shops: blacksmiths, weapon shops, jewelry stores, armor shops, etc.
Among them, the most important was the Divine Xia Empire Exchange.
The Exchange was officially established by the Divine Xia Empire, with branches in large, medium, and small cities across the nation.
At the Exchange, one could freely buy and sell equipment, materials, and all sorts of items. You could sell items directly to the Exchange or use it as a platform for consignment sales. Beyond trading equipment, the Exchange also allowed users to accept various quests.
This was Morintis's first time at the Exchange; he had only seen it in books before.
Inside the Divine Dragon Empire Exchange, hundreds of waist-high stone pillars stood.
Each pillar was topped with an embedded mana crystal.
All the Exchange's functions could be accessed through these mana crystals. The Exchange was often regarded as the highest achievement of divine-level alchemical art.
Morintis found an unoccupied spot and placed his hand on a mana crystal.
[Initiating Identity Verification.]
[Verification Successful. Citizen of the Divine Xia Empire: Morintis.]
[Access to the Divine Xia Empire Exchange Granted.]
[Contribution Points: 0]
[Access Level: 1]