城市猎人：系统升级之王

Chapter 32: Leveling Up, Skills, and the Shop

"I want you to assassinate the current crown prince. Can you do it?"
These shocking words sounded like a joke to Yuexi, who rolled her eyes. "Big Brother, I'm being serious here! This joke isn't funny at all."
Li Nianlong sighed inwardly and replied calmly, "What I'm planning to do is as difficult as killing the crown prince. Since you can't do it, don't ask anymore."
"I could kill him, but there's a small problem." Yuexi sounded frustrated. "He's the crown prince, guarded by experts, and with hundreds of elite warriors clearing the area within a kilometer radius. Even if I manage a one-hit kill, I'd be torn to pieces in the next moment. I'm young and vibrant with a lot of life to live; I can't afford to perish with him."
"Yeah!" Li Nianlong understood the challenge well. Killing Long Zongheng wasn't the issue; escaping afterwards was. He wasn't afraid to die and would sacrifice himself if necessary, but he couldn't ask others to do the same for him. Moreover, he couldn't perish with Long Zongheng—he had promised Uncle Guan to bring his remains back to his hometown and use Long Zongheng's head as an offering to Uncle Guan. If he died alongside Long Zongheng, how could he fulfill these promises?
"So don't ask. I won't tell."
"Oh." Perhaps realizing her previous response had disappointed Li Nianlong, Yuexi seemed a bit downcast, but her naturally optimistic nature soon took over, and she chatted lightheartedly with him again.
As they neared home, Yuexi suddenly said, "Big Brother, I'll give you my abilities!"
"Oh?" Li Nianlong turned to her. "Now?"
"Yeah." Yuexi giggled. "While I can't assist with what you're planning, if you want abilities, I can help." She shot him a flirty glance. "So, are you touched?"
"Yeah, very touched." Li Nianlong chuckled softly, thinking to himself that he was gaining more experience points, which was touching indeed.
"Then catch it!" Yuexi lifted her left hand, placing her delicate index finger against Li Nianlong's lips, her face tinged with blush. "Big Brother, suck."
Suck?
With the girl's finger inches from his lips, to suck or not to suck? It was not even a question.
Li Nianlong opened his mouth and sucked on Yuexi's finger, taking a strong pull.
"Mmm..." Yuexi let out a sultry moan as Li Nianlong suddenly felt a surge of fiery energy coursing through his body, warming him up.
"Abnormal energy detected within host's body, preliminarily identified as flame energy. System automatically initiating energy breakdown... Breakdown complete, converting energy to experience points... Conversion complete, experience points merging... Merge complete, congratulations Host, you have gained 50,000 experience points, experience bar full, leveling up, leveling up, congratulations, you are now level 10, skill 'Stealth' acquired, privileges upgraded, level 1 privilege unlocked - Shop. Leveling up, leveling up, congratulations, you are now level 12."
"Yuexi, you..." Li Nianlong was stunned, 50,000 experience points? That meant...
Yuexi's face was pale, yet she wore a satisfied smile. "Big Brother, this is a month's worth of my abilities. Unlike Chang'e, I don't need sleep to quickly cultivate or recover, but for the next month, I'll be in a weakened state. You must protect me and ensure I'm not harmed."
Li Nianlong's heart surged with emotion, unable to believe that Yuexi, this mischievous girl, would give him her abilities, amounting to a whopping 50,000 experience points. At that moment, he was at a loss for words and impulsively hugged Yuexi, pressing a kiss onto her forehead.
"Eek, what are you doing?!" Yuexi's face flushed red as she hastily pushed him away, covering her chest with her hands, her eyes shimmering with moisture, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "Don't even think about taking advantage of me while I'm weak. Let me tell you, my future man must be tall, handsome, invincible, with a spirit that swallows rivers and oceans, and above all, treats me well. Come back and pursue me when you meet these criteria. Maybe I'll consider giving you a chance."
Yuexi used 'this lady' six times in a row, which amused Li Nianlong.
"What are you laughing at? Stop it!" Yuexi was so embarrassed she was almost furious. "Ah! You're still laughing! You're still laughing! I can't live, I'm going to perish with you!"
"Don't fool around, I'm driving!" Li Nianlong dared not laugh any longer. Yuexi was a bit light-headed, her face flushed as she fidgeted uncontrollably, her behavior unpredictable. Li Nianlong didn't want to court disaster from joy.
Under Li Nianlong's distraction, Yuexi took a few deep breaths, her complexion and emotions gradually stabilizing. Thinking about her previous actions, her face warmed again, and not wanting Li Nianlong to see, she hastily turned her face away. "Hmph! I won't stoop to your level."
The wild girl's girlish demeanor held an irresistibly disruptive charm, and Li Nianlong couldn't help but feel his heart flutter, patting Yuexi's head affectionately.
"Meow..." Yuexi let out a kitten-like purr, her expression as adorable as a little cat.
"..."
As if discovering Yuexi's weakness, Li Nianlong continued to stroke her head all the way home, with Yuexi enjoying the attention like a kitten. However, the moment the car stopped at the house, and he released his hand, Yuexi snapped back to her senses, yelping, her face flushed red as she stumbled out of the car and rushed into the villa.
Nalan Ruyue, who was pruning flowers in the front yard of the villa, blinked and approached Li Nianlong as he stepped out of the car, signing with her hands: Brother, why are you back at noon? What happened to Yuexi?
"I sent Xi Xi back; she was embarrassed because I caught her off guard," Li Nianlong smiled lightly. Every time he saw Nalan Ruyue, his mood would calm, as if he was in the presence of a celestial being who was gentle and considerate, truly an incredible girl.
Weakness?
Nalan Ruyue was puzzled.
"Don't think about it," Li Nianlong looked at the pruning shears in Nalan Ruyue's hands, his gaze gentle. "Ruyue, you've worked hard."
Nalan Ruyue's starry eyes twinkled, and her smile was bright like summer sunshine.
Li Nianlong didn't enter the house but exchanged a few words with Nalan Ruyue before returning to the construction site. He didn't check his status on the way, fearing distraction might lead to an accident. Once back at the site, he dismissed his coworkers like pesky flies and resumed lifting bags of cement, using the time to enhance his professional proficiency further and checked his current status.
The 50,000 experience points propelled Li Nianlong four levels up, significantly enhancing his attributes, and he gained 40 additional assignable points. Moreover, his privilege upgrade unlocked the shop.
Most importantly, another skill slot that had been empty except for the 'Random Fist' now featured a new skill — 'Stealth'.
'Stealth' (Initial Level 0%): Upon activation, enters invisible state, reduces speed by 50%, automatically cancels upon disturbance, lasts 1 minute, cooldown 10 minutes, consumes 20 Qi points per use.
"Whew..." After reading the Stealth skill's attributes, Li Nianlong couldn't help but gasp. This skill... was incredibly powerful!
Being able to turn invisible for a full minute, with only a 10-minute cooldown and a mere 20 Qi point cost per use, even with a 50% speed reduction and automatic deactivation upon disturbance, was more than enough. And this was just the initial level — what about Intermediate, Advanced, Master, or even Perfection levels?
Terrifying! Too terrifying! With this skill, Li Nianlong could escape unscathed after a lethal attack. He had been pondering how to avoid dying alongside Long Zongheng, and it seemed fate had delivered him a solution.
Suppressing his excitement, Li Nianlong, seeing the 40 remaining assignable points, immediately allocated them all to Qi. Looking at his current stats, he found himself formidable.
Li Nianlong: Level 12 (13420/15600)
Strength: 85
Speed: 70
Qi: 151
Intelligence: 90
Remaining Points: 0
Talent: Auspicious Avoidance: Innately possesses the power to perceive fortune and misfortune, easily avoiding calamity.
Skills: Random Fist (Initial Level 32%): Beats the master with random punches, disorienting enemies with no pattern, increasing strength by 10% and speed by 10%, lasts 30 seconds, no cooldown, consumes 5 Qi points per use.
Stealth (Initial Level 0%): See above.
Money: 19925
Equipment: Omitted...
Life Professions: Architect (Advanced 13%): Proficient in constructing any building below six stories.
Acupoint Specialist (Initial Level 0%): Relaxes the body and relieves ailments through acupressure, akin to a top-tier masseur.
Privilege: Level 1 - Shop.