A Comprehensive Network: An Endless Adventure Begins as a Wanderer

Cheng Yi's fingertips tightened slightly.

Charging head-on would be a foolish move. He's just a level 1 wanderer with mediocre physique; even a single blow would be enough to hurt him, let alone that rusty weapon. If he were to get slashed, the consequences would be unimaginable.

He took a deep breath, his gaze darkening slightly. The next second, the sorcerer's hand silently slid to the ground, picked up a small pebble, and hovered it in mid-air.

Instead of throwing immediately, he slowly moved behind the bushes on the right and flicked the dry branches gently.

"Shh..." The faint sound was particularly clear in the quiet forest.

The two goblins instantly became alert, abruptly turning their heads towards the source of the sound, letting out short, sharp growls, and gripping their short sticks tightly. One of them, slightly bolder, crouched low and slowly crept towards the sound. The other also moved slowly behind the bushes, but it remained somewhat wary, still glancing behind it with its peripheral vision.

The opportunity had arrived. Cheng Yi crouched low, sliding out along the ground like a shadow. With the aura of intimacy bestowed upon him, he seemed to blend into his surroundings, even his breathing becoming as soft as it could be.

Closer, closer still.

The moment the goblin turned around completely, Cheng Yi suddenly exerted his strength and leaped close!

The sorcerer's hand acted first, gripping the goblin's ankle tightly.

The goblin tripped and lost his balance, staggering forward and falling to the ground.

Without the slightest hesitation, Cheng Yi lunged forward, and the kitchen knife fell swiftly.

With a single slash, he pierced the goblin's throat straight through!

The last goblin, seeing this, was terrified and screamed as it swung its short club wildly at him, the iron nails whistling through the air.

Cheng Yi had anticipated this and dodged sharply to the side.

But the mage's consistently high precision left Cheng Yi somewhat dizzy. He couldn't completely dodge this blow.

The short stick swept past his back with a strong wind, the rough edge of the nails cutting a gash, and a searing pain instantly erupted.

Cheng Yi staggered forward, his back feeling as if it had been scraped by a red-hot piece of iron, and a sharp pain shot through his head.

He groaned, and everything went black before his eyes. The dizziness from continuously and intensely manipulating the Trickster's Hand completely erupted the moment he was injured.

The wound on my back burned with pain, and every breath made my muscles tremble. Cold sweat soaked through my clothes.

The goblin, seeing that it had finally hit him, let out a sharp, ecstatic screech and raised its short club studded with rusty iron nails again, bringing it down hard on the back of his head—if this hit landed, he would be half-dead even if he didn't lose consciousness.

Cheng Yi's mind was buzzing; his body was moving faster than his consciousness.

Almost instinctively, he lunged forward and rolled on the ground, narrowly avoiding a fatal blow.

At the same time, he placed all his remaining chances of winning on the sorcerer.

Cheng Yi turned around abruptly, and an invisible hand instantly reached down to the goblin's crotch, twisting it hard in the opposite direction.

A heart-wrenching scream, so piercing it seemed to break the eardrums, exploded out instantly.

The goblin's body convulsed violently, and the short club he had been holding high crashed to the ground with a "bang." He hunched over and collapsed, his limbs kicking wildly, unable to utter a complete cry.

Cheng Yi lay on the ground, panting heavily. His vision blurred, and the pain from the wound on his back made his teeth chatter.

Just now, he used the forbidden technique "High-Level Player Twist" that his friends had been talking about, almost entirely relying on muscle memory and the ruthlessness he displayed in a desperate situation.

Is this contrary to the laws of nature?

Is it against the principles of Heaven?

Go to tomato.

All he knew was that if he had been half a second slower, he would have been the one with his head smashed by the nail.

The goblin convulsed on the ground. Cheng Yi crawled over and ended its agonizing life with a single stroke.

The four goblins that had been lying in ambush were now all wiped out.

Cheng Yi lay sprawled in the weeds, struggling even to move a single finger. A burning pain surged through his back, cold sweat mixed with dust clinging to his skin, causing both itchiness and pain. His mana was completely depleted, his mind felt utterly empty, and even lifting a finger was a struggle.

【HP: 40%】

He took a full half minute to recover before he could barely sit up. When he strained his back, another sharp pain shot through him.

"...That's ruthless." He muttered under his breath, not knowing whether he was cursing the goblin or himself for his ruthless act.

Cheng Yi didn't dare to delay any longer. He forced himself to check the area and made sure there were no survivors or ambushes before dragging his heavy legs to the carriage.

He searched the guard's body, finding a few copper coins and half a crumpled, blood-soaked note. He could barely make out a few fragmented words: "...Not a wild boar...Be careful..."

You have triggered the dungeon story quest: The Carriage Mystery

Cheng Yi's heart skipped a beat.

He stuffed the copper coins and the note into his pocket, and the pain in his back became increasingly pronounced.

Cheng Yi dared not linger any longer. Looking at the newly triggered quest, there was more to the story in the dungeon. If he stayed any longer, and something else happened, he wouldn't even be able to escape in his current state.

Cheng Yi no longer hesitated, gritted his teeth, and strode quickly along the path.

Not far ahead, a faint film of light appeared.

He almost stumbled as he stepped inside.

Everything went black again, and a wave of dizziness washed over me. When I opened my eyes again, I was back in my old house, the curtains drawn tightly, and the room was as quiet as ever.

You have killed 4 goblin minions and gained 60 general experience points.

[Goblin minions have been added to your adventure log]

[Dungeon clear requirements met, data being compiled]

Your assessment of this instance is: A half-hearted assassination attempt.

You have gained an additional 100 Universal Experience Points and 100 Crossnet Disaster Coins.

You have obtained a Beginner's Trial Chest *1

You have received a basic reward of 50 general experience points.

[You have received the following rewards for this dungeon run: 150 Universal Experience Points and 100 Disaster Coins]

[New player trial completed; other features unlocked]

Cheng Yi slumped onto the sofa with a thud and let out a long breath.

His back was still aching and his arms were shaking, but he couldn't help but chuckle softly.

No roll. No 12 ones. No wipe.

This time, he didn't rely on luck. It was the shadows, stealth, the hand of a sorcerer, and the ruthlessness to use forbidden techniques in dire straits.

He raised his hand and touched his back, feeling the sticky bloodstains even through his clothes, and couldn't help but grimace.

"Next time... try to avoid using the Twist spell."

"It's too mentally taxing, and it's also too... immoral."

As his health points slowly recovered over time, Cheng Yi breathed a sigh of relief and laughed out loud.

Data, kid!

He caught his breath and, with a thought, looked at the newbie trial treasure chest he had just obtained in his backpack.

[Newbie's Trial Chest]

Origin: Three Pigs Trail (Easy Difficulty)

Quality: White

Treasure Chest Related Keywords: Newcomer, Trial, Adventure Begins

Description: A trial gift prepared for newcomers embarking on their adventure, containing all the adventure items suitable for starting their journey. With a bit of luck, you can obtain useful supplies and equipment. However, due to quality limitations, you cannot obtain extraordinary treasures.

P.S.: A reliable source of first-time earnings for newcomers to the crossover world. —Genius Trainer Gan

[Do/Do not open the beginner's trial chest (white)]