I am the Arcane Archer, and all my skills are self-created.

[Server-wide Announcement for Area 21: Congratulations to players 'Seeing Flowers in the Mist' and 'Searching for Mist' in the 101st starting village for being the first to reach level 20! As pioneers leading the way, the starting village's trial dungeon, [Tower of the Lost], is officially open!]

[Server-wide Announcement for Area 21: All players who have reached level 20 and have accumulated enough experience can now proceed to the Awakening Plaza in their respective starting villages to activate the teleportation array and enter the Trial Dungeon!]

[Announcement for all servers in Area 21: The leaderboard system is coming soon! The gates of the town are open to all warriors! A new era is about to begin!]

……

The grand and authoritative announcement, like a thunderclap, resounded three times in a row in the ears of all players in District 21.

This time, the entire 21st district, whether players were killing monsters, setting up stalls, or just spacing out, fell into a long, deathly silence.

It's them again.

These two names again.

Another server-wide announcement.

From the first kill of a level 10 dungeon, to the double kill of a level 15 world boss, to the one-shot kill of a hundred people in Blackrock Mountain, and finally, it was them again who were the first to reach level 20!

Every time these two names appear, it signifies a new record being set or a major event occurring.

At first, people will be shocked, jealous, and resentful.

But now, when these two names once again reign supreme over the entire server with an unparalleled presence, everyone's heart is filled with only one emotion.

numbness.

And, a touch of heartfelt...reverence.

Humans cannot contend with gods.

In the minds of most ordinary players, "Seeing Flowers Through the Fog" and "Searching for Fog Among Flowers" are no longer the same "players" as them.

They are living legends in the Realm of Origin, beings that cannot be surpassed and can only be looked up to.

Beginner Village #102, Resurrection Point.

With a flash of light, Zhao Tianyu walked out expressionlessly.

Just now, he led his newly regrouped elite squad, full of confidence, to challenge a level 18 wild elite, the "Stone Armored Rhino," but due to a mistake by the main tank, the entire team was wiped out once again.

He had lost count of how many times he had been forced to respawn.

Listening to the echoing announcement in the sky, he couldn't even muster the slightest surprise or jealousy.

He finally came to terms with reality.

"Perhaps, we were never in the same world from the very beginning," he murmured to himself.

Beside him, Li Qiuyue's beautiful face no longer held the bewilderment and resentment of before; instead, it was filled with a fanatical devotion that bordered on worship.

"They... are really amazing!" she said softly, gazing up at the sky.

……

The atmosphere at the temporary headquarters of the major guilds was rather somber.

【Sword and Rose】Guild Channel.

"Guild leader, those two are already level 20, while the highest level on our side is only level 18. The gap is getting bigger and bigger."

"The trials outside the village have begun, and the ranking system will be available soon. We must speed things up, otherwise, once we reach the town, a single step behind will lead to a series of setbacks, and we might be completely left behind by the leading group!"

"The problem is how to speed it up? Right now, the high-level monster zones are basically monopolized by a few of our big guilds, which is already the fastest leveling speed."

The guild leader, a female knight named "Sword Pointing at Roses," frowned as she looked at the anxious discussions in the chat channel.

She knew that what her subordinates said was true.

The appearance of "Seeing Flowers Through the Fog" and "Searching for Fog Among Flowers" was like two fierce catfish, completely stirring up the originally calm waters of Area 21.

They disrupted the rhythm of all the guilds.

Everyone was forced to join this frantic arms race.

"Pass on my orders." After a long silence, Sword Pointing at Rose finally spoke, "All elite squads, cancel rest days, level up 24/7! Logistics team, regardless of cost, provide unlimited potions and scrolls! Even if we have to sacrifice lives, we must catch up in level as quickly as possible!"

"Also, try to contact the Flower Language Guild and sound them out. I want to know what their relationship is with those two people."

……

Inside the Howling Cave.

Li Wu turned off the incessantly ringing announcements and opened his experience bar.

[Level: LV20 (0/20000)]

Twenty thousand.

Upon seeing this number, Li Wu's brows furrowed slightly.

It takes 1,900 experience points to level up from level 19 to level 20.

And from level 20 to level 21, the number of points jumped directly to 20,000.

This growth rate is a bit exaggerated.

Even with their current monster-killing efficiency, if they grind non-stop for eighteen hours a day, they can only gain a maximum of three to four thousand experience points.

It will take at least five days to accumulate 20,000 experience points.

"The Trial of Leaving the Village instance requires a maximum of 100 experience points to enter."

Just as Li Wu was calculating the time, Hua Zitong, who was beside him, suddenly spoke up.

Her voice was calm, but her words made Li Wu's heart sink.

"What do you mean?" He turned to look at Hua Zitong. "You mean we have to grind for 20,000 experience points before we can even attempt that trial dungeon?"

"Yes." Hua Zitong nodded, confirming his guess.

Li Wu's brows furrowed even deeper.

What kind of setting is this?

Once you reach level 20, shouldn't you be able to immediately take on the quest to leave the village and then head to a larger town?

Why add a "maximum experience points" limit?

This is not reasonable.

This is like saying that after you've finished the college entrance exam, you still have to work as a bricklayer for three days before you can receive your college acceptance letter—it's full of malice and illogicality.

"So, we'll have to stay in this newbie village for at least another five days?" Li Wu's tone was tinged with frustration.

He was already getting tired of this small, restrictive starting village.

He longed to go to the town, to see a wider world, and to challenge more powerful enemies.

"No."

However, Hua Zitong shook her head.

For the first time, a solemn and worried expression appeared on her face—an expression Li Wu had never seen before.

She looked at Li Wu and said, word by word.

"We can't wait five days."

"We only have three days."