40 attribute points.
Skill - Magic Shadow Step.
As expected of an SSS-grade evaluation, it's almost comparable to the extra reward for a first clear.
The only pity is that the growth value is full.
Zhou Li looked at the negative effects after reaching max growth, his expression helpless, but this was understandable.
If the rewards remained unchanged, at his current efficiency in clearing instances, he could farm a large number of attribute crystals in a very short time, completely draining the Bosses.
The speed at which his breathing grew stronger was far slower than this.
Thinking of this, Zhou Li felt more balanced, then looked at the newly dropped skill.
【Magic Shadow Step】
【Quality: Excellent】
【Type: Active Skill】
【Your figure becomes unpredictable, speed increases by 30%】
"Another Excellent-grade skill."
Zhou Li's face showed joy; with this footwork, his speed would be even faster.
He had long understood that to have powerful strength, relying solely on basic attributes was not enough; one also needed to pair them with various skills and equipment.
Like the Ruffian Boss, when his attributes were just comprehensively surpassed by Zhou Li, he could still easily beat him, making it impossible for Zhou Li to escape, relying on his demonic arts and treasured sword.
Two consecutive skills were Excellent-grade; the Ruffian was truly a good person.
After using all the attribute crystals and skills, just like when he learned Swordplay Proficiency, the next moment, countless memories of practicing Magic Shadow Step flooded into his mind, as if a long time had passed, yet also seemingly in an instant, his footwork became strange and unpredictable, his speed instantly increasing dramatically.
By the time Zhou Li finished absorbing, he had completely mastered this skill.
【Skills: Swordplay Proficiency Lv0, Magic Shadow Step Lv0】
Unlike Swordplay Proficiency, Magic Shadow Step is an active skill and requires consuming a certain amount of True Qi when used.
Zhou Li naturally didn't have any True Qi, nor did he need it.
There was no health or mana on the attribute panel; unless you had resurrection ability, you would die if hit in a vital spot.
Supernatural powers like magic, True Qi, and demonic energy were all classified as energy.
The quantity and recovery of energy depended on Spirit.
The higher the Spirit value, the more energy one possessed and the faster it recovered.
Magic Shadow Step had no cooldown; as long as energy was sufficient, it could be maintained continuously.
Zhou Li believed that with his Spirit value, he could fully use Magic Shadow Step for one or two hours.
However, now was not the time to test skills.
Zhou Li withdrew his thoughts and looked at the four people.
"Which instance should we clear next? Do you have any suggestions?"
Hearing this, Gao Qiang and the others' eyes immediately lit up: "Brother Zhou Li, do you mean you'll take us to get the first clear?"
"Yes."
Zhou Li nodded.
The four exchanged glances, all suppressing their excitement and ecstasy.
At this moment, they were all incredibly fortunate to have latched onto Zhou Li's super powerful leg, and even more fortunate that Zhou Li didn't dwell on their verbal offenses and was still willing to lead them to clear the instance, and a first clear at that.
This was a first clear! It was incomparable to an Ordinary clear.
"Brother, charging 500,000 per person is really too cheap. How about you charge a bit more? Otherwise, I won't feel at ease."
Yu Xiaobo immediately stated.
Gao Qiang and Yan Wu nodded repeatedly, agreeing wholeheartedly.
He Yuqing, however, looked troubled.
"No need, 500,000 is enough."
Zhou Li shook his head.
"Does Brother care about that 500,000? He just doesn't want people to freeload."
Gao Qiang understood.
Zhou Li said: "Let's talk about the next instance."
He hadn't spent much time on the forums and wasn't very clear about many developments.
"I'll go first."
He Yuqing voluntarily stepped forward.
She had been immersed in the forums and paid close attention to their developments.
The information about attribute crystals selling for one million was provided by her to Zhou Li, and the fact that Zhou Li didn't charge her made He Yuqing feel uneasy, eager to perform well.
"There are ten Trial Instances, each being tackled by strong teams.
Some, like the Fenglei Team, publicly announce their progress, while others don't, but the instance difficulty is similar, so I think they are not far from clearing them.
If we want to grab the first clear, we have to be quick."
Hearing this, Zhou Li nodded slightly.
He couldn't count on the rewards for a normal clear now; only the first clear reward was worth considering.
The difficulty of Advancement Instances would definitely be higher than Trial Instances.
If he wanted to get the first clear for Advancement Instances, then getting the first clear for several Trial Instances was very important.
Zhou Li asked: "Which instances are we most likely to get the first clear for?"
"Currently, three instances have been cleared, leaving seven.
Among them, two have relatively complex mechanics, which will take a lot of time even with sufficient strength.
Our probability of clearing them before the other teams is very low.
Therefore, there are actually only five instances we can choose from: Braving Black Wind Fortress, Goblin Forest, Bloody Graveyard, Shogunate Mutiny, and Sunset Encirclement Battle."
The three instances already cleared were Blood Battle Lin Family Fortress and two similar ones, all cleared by 'Old Sixes' who survived until the end with the lowest evaluation.
Zhou Li had received a World Announcement when he was forming his team.
"Five instances, huh? Which teams are tackling them?"
Zhou Li asked.
Only after asking did he know that different countries on Blue Star were focusing on different instances.
For example, Xia Country was mainly focusing on Blood Battle Lin Family Fortress and Braving Black Wind Fortress.
The first clear for Blood Battle Lin Family Fortress had already been taken by Zhou Li.
Zhou Li thought for a moment and decided to put Braving Black Wind Fortress last.
If the first clear for Braving Black Wind Fortress was still available after he took the first clears for the other four instances, he wouldn't be polite.
"It's decided, the next instance will be Shogunate Mutiny."
Zhou Li glanced at He Yuqing and said: "I'll give you three minutes to prepare."
These three minutes were for them to sell their attribute crystals, as the price was highest right now.
"Thank you, Brother Zhou Li."
He Yuqing was overjoyed.
After clearing an instance, one could stay inside for ten minutes.
Seeing that the discussion was finished, Zhou Li no longer hesitated and chose to exit the instance.
Three minutes later, Zhou Li clicked on the instance again.
【You have selected the Trial Instance: Shogunate Mutiny. Do you wish to enter?】
"Enter."
【Entering instance: Ten, Nine...】
The five entered the instance.
【Trial Instance: Shogunate Mutiny】
【Rank: Zero】
【Difficulty: Ordinary】
【Mission: Escape the Shogunate while surrounded by rebels】
【Content: The Shogun levies heavy taxes...】
Zhou Li quickly scanned the instance information; as for the content, he naturally skipped it directly.
"Brother Zhou Li, Shogunate Mutiny is the instance mainly tackled by Sakura Country.
They were very high-profile on the forums, claiming they would be the first country to clear an instance.
After Brother Zhou Li took the first clear, their faces were swollen, hehe."
He Yuqing was in a good mood.
She said with a smile: "Sakura Country is very arrogant.
They published all the instance information they collected on the forums, thinking no one could surpass them.
If we take the first clear before them, I wonder what expression they will have."
"The difficulty of this instance lies in how to break out from the heavy encirclement.
There are thousands of rebels surrounding the Shogunate.
The stats of the regular soldiers are between 10-20, elite monsters 30-40, and the Boss around 50.
In terms of individual strength, they are far inferior to the Boss in Blood Battle Lin Family Fortress, but their numbers are simply too great.
No matter which direction you choose to break out, you have to face thousands of people and at least two elite monsters, and the Boss and others will quickly reinforce."
"Do all five people have to escape the Shogunate to count as a clear, or does one person leaving count?"
Zhou Li raised an eyebrow.
"If all five people have to escape the Shogunate to count as a clear, then the difficulty of this instance is too exaggerated.
Even the top teams in Sakura Country couldn't break out with even one person.
Whether they split up to break through or combined forces, they couldn't break the rebel encirclement."
He Yuqing said.
"Sakura Country tried various methods, including others attracting the rebels' attention to let Awakeners with stealth Talents secretly cross the line, as well as an S-grade Awakener with space Talent directly using space jump to try and leave the Shogunate."
"They all failed."
"The Boss of this instance has a dog-type Shikigami that can easily find hidden Awakeners, as for that Awakener with space Talent, he overestimated his own ability..."
Zhou Li understood.
Just an S-grade, even with space Talent, how strong could they be, let alone that the Awakeners were all Zero-rank now?
If it were broad daylight, there might still be a possibility of success, but the time in the instance was late night; once they space jumped directly onto the Boss's face...
His gaze swept around, taking in everything before him.
Their entry point was on the second floor of a pavilion, behind which were over a dozen fully armed armored soldiers, guarding a richly dressed Man.
At this moment, the countdown ended, and they officially entered the instance.
Shouts, battle cries, and the sound of weapons clashing came from outside the pavilion, extremely noisy.
The Man's face was panicked.
Seeing Zhou Li and the others appear out of thin air, he didn't show shock, but just pointed at them and started shouting gibberish.
"What is this idiot saying?"
Gao Qiang scratched his head: "Does any of you understand Sakura language?"
Yan Wu and Yu Xiaobo both shook their heads; their understanding of Sakura language was limited to the common phrases used by teachers of noble character and artistic skill.
"The instance actually doesn't have a translation function, no wonder everyone prioritizes instances with their own country's background."
He Yuqing's expression was a bit grim: "He's ordering us, telling us to take him and fight our way out."
"Our identity in this instance is the strongest guards under the Shogun."
Awakeners didn't appear out of thin air in the instance background; they all had identities.
For example, in Blood Battle Lin Family Fortress, they were members of Lin Family Fortress, enemies whom the Ruffian wanted to kill quickly.
"He is the Shogun?"
Zhou Li glanced at the Man with a face full of anger.
"Yes."
"The mission didn't require us to take him out, right?"
He Yuqing said without hesitation: "Absolutely not."
"That's good."
Zhou Li said lightly.
As soon as his voice fell, his figure suddenly disappeared, and only a crisp clang was heard.
The next moment, a large head flew into the air, and a column of blood shot up.
The world became quiet.
