Chapter 6: The Treasure of Courage

The drop rate for weapons in "Echoes of the Gods" was astonishingly low; otherwise, Lu Kuan would not still be using the novice wooden bow provided by the system. Against ordinary level 5 monsters, a single arrow dealt only three or four points of damage. The inefficiency of killing monsters was so disheartening it almost moved one to tears.

After such a slow and intermittent journey, half an hour later, Lu Kuan finally arrived at his destination. He was now near the foothills of the Black Mountains. Looking up, not far ahead stood a barren cliff. The cliff was about fifty meters high, nearly a hundred meters wide, with lush vegetation flanking both sides, but this section was utterly devoid of grass. The gray-white rock stood out starkly.

A dozen figures clung to the cliff face, struggling to climb, the highest already halfway up. He hadn’t logged in for two days, and many players had already reached level 10 and begun exploring wild maps. Lu Kuan quickened his pace.

Within a hundred meters of the cliff, two lines of silent prompts appeared in Lu Kuan’s field of vision:

“You have discovered the Cliff of Courage. You gain 1 experience point.”

“This is an ancient site of trial. Warriors of old tested their courage and perseverance here. Remember, adventurer, the strength of will far exceeds your imagination.”

This was the place!

At the cliff’s summit lay a hidden beginner’s treasure.

In the game, treasures were ranked by rarity from D to A, with some unique or long-refresh treasures rated S or higher. As there was no level requirement, the treasure atop this cliff was one of the must-not-miss spots early in the game.

Lu Kuan stripped off all his equipment and stuffed it into his backpack, leaving only a pair of novice cloth shorts, not even wearing shoes. After a brief stretch, he began climbing the rock face.

Players nearby soon noticed Lu Kuan climbing “bare,” their gazes a mix of curiosity and amusement.

“Another fool’s here to climb the mountain.”

“Hey, buddy, sounds like you know something. Why are so many people climbing?”

“Of course. Every player who comes here sees the system prompt. Obviously, there’s a secret on this cliff. But people scramble to climb, hundreds have fallen to their deaths, and those who make it up find nothing but wild grass!”

“Is that so? Then why are so many still climbing?”

“Taking their chances. Maybe the treasure hasn't respawned or something. After all, it’s a treasure—worth the effort. There’s even a forum betting pool now, wagering on whether there’s actually treasure up there. If you’re interested, you can join…”

…

In "Echoes of the Gods," aside from a handful of rare treasures, most provided hints to players—such as legends passed down, a sudden dead giant tree in the woods, areas unusually dense with monsters, or solitary islands at sea.

Of course, players would gradually learn that to obtain high-level treasures, overcoming complex terrain was only the beginning.

Lu Kuan ignored the discussions, focusing solely on his climb.

This cliff was nearly vertical; just a glance sapped one's courage to reach the top. Players instinctively tried to leverage their class advantages—the fastest climber, a mage, had already reached the summit, his figure vanishing amid the rocks and grass.

Lu Kuan was not in the least hurried, climbing methodically. To the onlookers below, he often bypassed obvious footholds, insisting on sidestepping to another area, wasting time and strength, it seemed.

Only Lu Kuan knew the unique nature of this treasure.

Players could not rely on any external aid when climbing—not class skills nor equipment. Otherwise, upon reaching the summit, they’d find only wild grass and dead trees.

To reach the top unaided, ten points of agility were required. Lu Kuan currently had 9.9, and after removing all equipment to reduce weight, just met the minimum.

“Huff… huff…”

Halfway up, Lu Kuan was already exhausted, sweat streaming down, forcing him to rest on a protruding rock. His hands were blistered and torn, and every so often a "-1" would pop up above his head, leaving him speechless.

Had he not previously chosen the "Enduring Stamina" specialty, things would have been worse—bare-handed climbing would have been impossible.

“Bang!”

As Lu Kuan watched his stamina bar slowly recover, a muffled explosion suddenly erupted nearby. Hot air mixed with debris swept toward him. He instinctively shielded his face and pressed close to the wall.

A few seconds later, wind scattered the dust, revealing a large charred area on the rock beside him.

Thankfully, Lu Kuan had chosen a hidden foothold and avoided being blown off the cliff by the blast. The other nearby players weren’t so lucky.

At least three lost their balance, shrieking as they tumbled down. With several dull thumps, their screams abruptly ceased.

What was happening?

Lu Kuan leaned out to look, seeing a group of players at the base, two of whom maintained casting poses—clearly, the fireball spells had come from them.

The leader, a monk player, was gesturing toward Lu Kuan’s position, and Lu Kuan could faintly hear shouts like “Aim carefully!”

Damn it, malicious PK?

But Lu Kuan soon realized something was off. Five or six rogue players stepped forward, moving in unison, and began… stripping off their gear?

Not good…

Lu Kuan frowned, thinking there were always clever people around; seeing him climb lightly, they immediately caught on.

The mages below continued lobbing fireballs upward, indiscriminately affecting everyone. Explosions and screams echoed one after another. Many cursed vehemently before hitting the ground, while flashes of white light flickered at the cliff’s base, creating quite a spectacle.

“Ah… bang!”

“Glory Guild, damn your ancestors… bang!”

“Curse your whole family, Glory Guild! May every member die and their mouths fester… bang!”

From such height, anyone falling would be twisted beyond recognition. Lu Kuan glanced down, shivering with disgust.

The players below were now stripped bare, climbing with hands and feet. Several fully equipped mages and rogues, using their gear and spells, were quickly ascending, clearly intent on intercepting Lu Kuan.

Seeing this, Lu Kuan cursed inwardly, hurriedly drank a potion restoring 10% stamina, emerged from his hiding spot, and climbed swiftly upward.