Chapter 2: Ant Nest

Ever since he had obtained that phone, Zhou Wen had spent nearly
every moment grinding on it with a game. In turn, he received all kinds
of dimensional crystals.

In the past, his Strength was 7, Speed was 4, Constitution was 7, and
Primordial Energy was 1. After receiving the dimensional crystals from
grinding, he had raised all these values in slightly more than a month.
If it were in the past, it might have taken him years to develop so
quickly.

After using large numbers of dimensional crystals, Zhou Wen realized

a set of rules. No matter which dimensional crystal it was, as long as
its value was higher than his, using it would result in his stats directly
rising to the same value as the said dimensional crystal.

But if the dimensional crystal’s value was lower or the same as his, it
could only replenish some of his energy. Then, by cultivating the
Primordial Energy Art, he could raise his own stats instead of a direct
raise.

This also meant that the higher the dimensional crystal’s value was,
the better. Its effects on Zhou Wen would also be amplified. However,
having killed so many Vigor Ants in the Ant Nest, the highest Strength
Crystal he had seen was a 9. The highest Constitution Crystal was
only an 8. Speed Crystals were all low in value. Primordial Energy
Crystals were extremely rare. The 5 he had received today were the
highest valued he had seen to date.

Zhou Wen had considered the possibility that it had something to do

with the Vigor Ants’ natural makeup. They were outstanding when it
came to their Strength and Constitution, but their Speed was lacking.
This was also why the Strength Crystals that he received were
relatively high in value, while Speed Crystals weren’t much to speak
of.

However, even low-valued dimensional crystals could be used as

energy supplements, allowing Zhou Wen to quickly cultivate Ascetic
Meditation; thus, it wasn’t completely useless.
The only regret was that the crystals that dropped in the game were
directly absorbed upon contact with the blood-colored avatar. They
couldn’t be brought to the real world; otherwise, just the sale of the
low-valued crystals he had no use for would be enough to make him
quite a wealthy person.

There were many ants in the Ant Nest, and whenever they discovered
Zhou Wen’s blood-colored avatar, the number that gathered only
increased.

After killing over a hundred Vigor Ants, another dimensional crystal

dropped. Unfortunately, it was a Strength Crystal 3 and could only be
used for energy replenishment.

The drop rate of dimensional crystals wasn’t high, and most of them
were valued at 3 or lower. The higher-valued ones had extremely low
drop rates, so Zhou Wen could only rely on massive amounts of
grinding to raise the chances of him getting them.

This was also the reason he often slept in class and stopped
cultivating—apart from classes, he spent the rest of his time grinding,
even at night. He didn’t have the time or energy to cultivate or pay
attention in class.

Even so, the rate at which he strengthened himself was incomparable

to the past. If he had only cultivated Ascetic Meditation like before, the
time it took to raise his Primordial Energy to 5 would have been
several times or even dozens of times longer.

As the number of Vigor Ants increased, Zhou Wen was beginning to

feel overwhelmed. Before long, the blood-colored avatar was
inundated by Vigor Ants, and the screen went black.

Zhou Wen had no choice but to restart the game by dripping a drop of
blood onto the game’s screen. His blood was akin to a 1-Up in games
—one drop of blood was a life.

With the game launched, he embarked on his grinding again, killing

one Vigor Ant after another. However, Zhou Wen wasn’t too lucky this
time. Not a single dimensional crystal dropped despite killing over a
hundred Vigor Ants.
Since Zhou Wen was a sedate person and not quick-tempered, he
continued to patiently grind in the Ant Nest.

Suddenly, he saw a somewhat special Vigor Ant amidst the hordes.

This Vigor Ant was blood-red in color as though it was completely

covered in blood. It stood out among the other black Vigor Ants, and
its head was slightly bigger. Zhou Wen noticed it immediately.

Upon noticing the red Vigor Ant gearing for a charge, Zhou Wen
cautiously probed it and found its Strength and Speed was far greater
than other black Vigor Ants. However, it was still manageable for him.

After positioning the blood-colored avatar several times, it managed to

hit the red Vigor Ant, but only dealt minor damage to it. He had failed
to slay it.

However, there was still clear progress—the red Vigor Ant’s health
bar was slowly dropping. Perhaps about a hundred strikes were
needed to slay it.

Thankfully, the red Vigor Ant was only slightly faster than the typical
black Vigor Ant. The blood-colored avatar had enough time to position
itself and dodge, so killing it was only a matter of time.

However, the black Vigor Ants were increasing in number. The

development worried Zhou Wen because, at this speed, he might be
swarmed by the ant horde before he successfully killed the red Vigor
Ant.

However, no idea came to mind for the time being. Zhou Wen could
only do his best to control the blood-colored avatar’s speed to deal
damage to the red Vigor Ant.

Just as the red Vigor Ant’s health bar almost depleted to zero, the
surrounding Vigor Ants increased, giving the blood-colored avatar no
space to circle around the former.

Crack!

The blood-colored avatar failed to dodge in time and was bitten by a

black Vigor Ant. Instantly, its health bar was almost halved.
Zhou Wen knew that he was at the end of the rope. All he could do
was to use the blood-colored avatar to deliver one final strike with all
its might at the red Vigor Ant.

Boom!

When the punch landed, the red Vigor Ant’s vital spot was struck. Its
final bit of health was depleted and its red carapace instantly
exploded. Two crystals burst out from its carcass.

Zhou Wen didn’t have the luxury to see what type of dimensional
crystals they were. His blood-colored avatar was in a critical state as
the two crystals were picked up.

Moments after the blood-colored avatar picked up the two

dimensional crystals, it was swarmed by the Vigor Ant horde, and
before long, the screen went black.

Zhou Wen looked at the two notifications that appeared on the screen.
He heaved a deep sigh of relief for he had had similar experiences.
As long as he could pick up a dimensional crystal before dying, the
effects would be applied.

“Killed Mortal creature, Vigor Ant. Discovered Primordial Energy

Crystal.”

“Killed Mortal creature, Vigor Ant. Discovered Vigor Ant Crystal.”

Upon seeing the two notifications on the screen, Zhou Wen couldn’t
help but be taken aback. He had seen a Primordial Energy Crystal
drop plenty of times, but a dimensional crystal named after Vigor Ants
was a first.

After a brief pause, Zhou Wen reacted. Although he had never seen
such dimensional crystals, he had heard of their existence. In
textbooks and videos on the Internet, people had used similar
crystals. However, they weren’t Vigor Ant Crystals, but crystals of
other dimensional creatures.

Could it be that this is one of those legendary dimensional

crystals? While Zhou Wen was feeling exhilarated, he felt a strange
force from his phone spread through his body.