"Not at all, not at all, calm down, just keep a normal mindset."

"Alright, what should we eat tonight?"

"Haven't made a single cent, let's just have instant noodles."

"OK!"

Since we're heading for the decisive battle at the Storm Platform, we need to prepare more. Besides the Asura Secret Tome, I have two innate advantages—the other two items in my inventory.

I took out the pitch-black bracelet. The moment I confirmed equipping it, a chime sounded in my ear—

"Ding!"

System prompt: Once this item is bound, it cannot be dropped or removed. Do you wish to use it?

Cannot be removed?

My heart skipped a beat. This is tricky. If it turns out to be trash, and I can never take it off, wouldn't my account be permanently missing a bracelet slot compared to others? That's a natural disadvantage!

But if I don't put it on, I can't help but feel unwilling. After all, the server just opened, and the forums are full of complaints about low drop rates. Even white gear doesn't drop, let alone anything else. Having a bracelet like this at this stage is definitely ahead of the curve. Besides, from my extensive gaming experience, equipment that requires binding and can't be dropped is usually high-tier.

I'll take the gamble!

Confirm, equip!

The moment I put on the bracelet, with a "ding," a deep blue ripple blossomed from its surface. Its ancient and worn appearance changed slightly, with fine engravings appearing on the surface, glowing with a bronze luster. And, the stats actually appeared!

[Ancient Bracelet] (Excellent Grade)

Defense: +15

Strength: +9

Trait: Evolvable

Special Effect: Bound to owner

……

"Buzz~~~"

My mind went blank again. This is a huge win—it's excellent-grade equipment, the name is displayed in deep green. What a score!

In Huanyue, equipment grades are as follows: gray equipment, white equipment—these are the two lowest grades. Then there's sturdy grade and excellent grade, both with green names, collectively called green equipment. After that comes rare and super rare, which are blue equipment. Then there's purple for precious and treasure grades, and orange for peerless and legendary grades. Equipment in Huanyue is classified by color. At this stage, with the newbie village just opened, excellent-grade equipment in deep blue is practically a divine artifact, and it's evolvable—what a treasure!

For a moment, I couldn't help but kiss the bracelet, feeling utterly delighted.

Next, I took out the third "creation"—the All-Achievement Manual—and tried to activate it. Instantly, a chime sounded in my ear—

"Ding!"

System prompt: Please note, activation conditions not met!

But it didn't say what the conditions were. Nothing I can do but keep "grinding" in the Valley of Reincarnation.

……

So, I grinded for another two hours, and finally, my contribution reached 3 points.

After eating instant noodles, I logged back in. Not long after, "ding"—a chime sounded in my ear—

System prompt: Please note, the Storm Platform is about to open. Do you wish to participate?

Confirm, participate!

With the ancient bracelet to protect me, I fear nothing!

Chapter 5: Storm Platform

"Whoosh!"

My body was instantly pulled away. The next moment, wrapped in a blood-red radiance, I shot skyward, bursting out of the Valley of Reincarnation. Looking back, I saw the vast valley below, densely packed with at least ten thousand Soul Refining Furnaces, all blazing fiercely. Countless recombined souls soared into the sky, heading to newbie villages everywhere to form new monsters.

This place is basically a super workshop for soul transformation!

The next second, my body plunged straight down into the forest on one side of the Valley of Reincarnation. With a loud "boom," I landed on a clearing halfway up the mountain. Not far ahead stood a massive battle platform, surrounded by death totems, exuding a murderous aura, as if at any moment thousands of troops could charge out from the platform.

The Storm Platform, one of the five pavilions outside the Black Castle.

"Swish, swish, swish~~~"

It wasn't just me—figures kept descending all around, along with wild beasts, undead, and other beings being teleported in, all distributed around the Storm Platform, each looking quite excited.

"The Storm Platform is finally open!"

Less than ten meters from me, a Wild Lion in rotting armor with an ugly face opened its mouth and spoke human words. Above its head floated a striking name—Inferno Lion, with the level shown as "???", which I couldn't see for now. This Wild Lion looked extremely fierce, but its armor was tattered, and it wasn't even wearing pants. It was a male lion, with two round things swaying beneath it.

Jeez, how indecent!

I held my forehead and sighed.

At this moment, not far away, a blob-like monster resembling snot slowly raised its body. Its bloated form tried hard to stand but failed, managing to form a clenched fist, and said in a muffled voice, "This time, our Slime clan will rise in the Black Castle. The glory of our ancestor Golden Slime will be carried forward by me!"

"Bah!"

Farther away, a Big-Eared Rabbit shrouded in a deathly aura sneered and said, "Slime, you think you're worthy of stepping onto the Storm Platform?"