A God-tier Counter-damage Priest, I am the Master!

11: A demon-level white ape!Bai Tian happily accepted the quest.

— (Ding-dong!)

(Quest accepted successfully! Please find food, water, and the medicinal herb [A Dot of Green] for treating external injuries within 30 minutes.)

What?

A time-limited quest too?

Makes sense. A Niu is so badly injured; any later and he’d likely die from the pain or die of hunger first.

Just then, his Close Friend’s voice rang out in the dorm room.

”Bai Tian, you’re working so hard, kid. Still haven’t logged off yet?”

”Hurry up and get ready to log off. Let’s have some instant noodles together.”

Wearing his helmet, Bai Tian responded, ”I just got a time-limited quest. You eat first; I’ll log off a bit later.”

Hearing that Bai Tian had received a time-limited quest, his Close Friend was momentarily stunned, then looked pleasantly surprised.

As a gaming veteran, he naturally knew what this meant.

”Not bad, kid!”

”Then keep at it! I’ll prepare your noodles after I finish mine. Log off and eat as soon as you’re done.”

At this point, a countdown timer had appeared on the quest interface.

Water and food were easy to find. There was a pond nearby, along with the crocodile carcasses Bai Tian had killed that hadn’t Refreshed yet.

Bai Tian quickly walked back to the nearest pond and harvested a large chunk of crocodile meat, putting it into his bag.

As for the water, there was no rush. Once he found the herbs, he could just use a large leaf to carry some back.

Bai Tian opened the quest interface and received a hint: there would be clues for the medicinal herb [A Dot of Green] one kilometer to the west.

After passing through a forest, the view ahead cleared into a depression.

In the very center of the depression stood a piece of rotten wood dozens of meters high.

Near the rotten wood lived a group of Xiao-type monsters that walked upright, with black fur, wide mouths, and long arms and legs.

— [Black Xiao]!

(Master-grade Monster)

Level: 10

HP: 3600

Attack: 452

Physical Defense: 220

Magic Defense: 210

Skill: Berserk

(Black Xiao, a ferocious beast that can prey on tigers and leopards. Extremely dangerous.)

Holy crap!

A Level 10 Master-grade common monster?

Bai Tian was slightly startled.

Around the rotten wood were over thirty fierce Black Xiaos, each robust and ferocious, nearly two meters tall.

Suddenly, Bai Tian spotted a long-haired White Xiao standing on a withered branch of the rotten wood, clutching a bone staff.

— [White Xiao]!

(Demon-grade Monster)

Level: 11

HP: 10000

Magic Attack: 650

Physical Defense: 280

Magic Defense: 300

Skills: Fireball, Healing Chain.

(This is a mutated White Xiao that has lived for a hundred years. It has gained magical abilities and will burn any outsider who dares covet the [A Dot of Green] to a crisp.)

Dammit, a common Demon-grade monster’s stats are almost higher than the Crocodile King BOSS.

Moreover, this White Xiao is a long-range magic-type monster.

Bai Tian currently only had 20 Magic Defense. A basic attack from this White Xiao could deal 630 damage to him. If it cast a Fireball, it would likely easily exceed a thousand.

The thirty-plus Master-grade Black Xiaos around could also hit him for about 425 HP each.

If his Mana hadn’t increased to 3,185 points, even with his Rebound Talent, this wouldn’t be easy.

To be safe, Bai Tian converted 2,000 Mana into HP on the spot, bringing his total HP to 2,360.

This way, things were much more secure.

Bai Tian took a deep breath and prepared to act.

Bai Tian positioned himself at his current maximum range, attacking a Black Xiao from over 20 yards away.

At Level 0, his initial attack range was only 15 yards, but after reaching Level 8, his range had improved slightly.

However, hitting a Black Xiao from over 20 yards away didn’t guarantee accuracy.

Bai Tian used basic attacks four times before finally hitting a Black Xiao on the very edge.

Damage: -122!

— ”Roar!”

The attacked Black Xiao leaped suddenly, its eyes gleaming with ferocity and its fangs bared, its aura extremely intimidating.

Bai Tian’s intention was to pull the monsters in batches and eliminate them.

As it turned out, after he attacked one Black Xiao, the thirty-plus surrounding Black Xiaos shared a common enemy, all of them charging at Bai Tian with their black fur standing on end.

Holy crap!

The Black Xiaos are this united?

Bai Tian was shaken and immediately turned to flee.

But the Master-grade Black Xiaos moved fast. In just four seconds, five of them had caught up and attacked Bai Tian.

Damage: -426, -427, -428, -425, -428!

In an instant, they took away 2,134 of Bai Tian’s HP, leaving him with only 226.

However, under the 20x Rebound, these five Black Xiaos died instantly.

But just then, another four Black Xiaos rushed over.

Bai Tian didn’t dare hesitate, decisively burning 480 Mana at once to heal himself.

HP Recovered: +3200!

His health was instantly restored to full.

The Cold Abyss Great Shaman’s [Level 1 Conversion] not only converted Mana to HP at a 1:1 ratio, but when burning multiple units of Mana, all of Bai Tian’s skill effects would increase proportionally.

While topping off his health, Bai Tian quickly consumed a Low-grade Mana Potion. Mana Recovered: +80!

But then, the four pursuing Black Xiaos attacked Bai Tian fiercely.

They instantly harvested over 1,700 of Bai Tian’s HP, and his health bar dropped into the danger zone again.

Dammit!

Master-grade monsters are way too brutal.

Bai Tian cursed under his breath. Not daring to look back, he bolted, not forgetting to consume a Low-grade Health Potion. HP Recovered: +100!

Even though it wasn’t much, every bit counted.

Finally, as the third wave of Black Xiaos caught up, Bai Tian consumed another Low-grade Mana Potion and Health Potion.

At the same time, he burned 240 Mana to cast a Healing Spell on himself.

HP Recovered: +1600!

He finally managed to restore his health to full just before this wave of Black Xiaos hit him.

Yet, the five Black Xiaos fiercely brought Bai Tian’s full health back down to the critical line in an instant.

But under the 20x Rebound, these five Black Xiaos also fell with miserable cries.

By now, Bai Tian had fled to a location with a massive rock. Using the terrain to kite them, he led the remaining dozen or so Black Xiaos in circles around the rock.

With the help of the terrain, he managed to eliminate all the Black Xiaos without further incident.

Holy crap!

These Master-grade monsters are too fierce.

If he weren’t a Cold Abyss Great Shaman with a hidden class capable of bursting out incredible amounts of healing in a short time...

...he definitely would have died just now.

This also made Bai Tian realize the shortcoming in his current defense.

Although the process was perilous, the rewards were substantial.

The thirty-two Master-grade Black Xiaos provided Bai Tian with a generous 6,400 EXP.

He was now only a little over 1,000 EXP away from reaching Level 9.

Furthermore, each Black Xiao dropped no less than 20 copper coins, instantly netting him 6.4 silver.

Although the Black Xiaos didn’t drop any equipment, there were two City Return Talismans on the ground—those were good items.

They weren’t even sold in the Beginner Village shops.

Once his status was fully restored, Bai Tian finally walked toward the rotten wood.

The White Xiao’s lackeys had all been harvested by Bai Tian. Now, it stood alone as a commander without an army on a withered branch of the rotten wood.

Bai Tian triggered its aggro when he was less than 30 yards away.

The White Xiao was a creature of action, not words. It raised its hand, waving its staff and chanting an incantation. The air instantly grew hot, and then a washbasin-sized Fireball whistled through the air, exploding against Bai Tian’s body.

Actually, Bai Tian could have dodged it; the Fireball’s trajectory was very obvious.

But relying on the 20x Rebound, he couldn’t really dodge even if he could. He had to take the hit like a masochist.

— Sss!

When the Fireball exploded on him, it felt like being splashed with a basin of hot oil. The pain made Bai Tian grimace.

Damage: -1890!

20x Rebound: -37800!

Under the unreasonable Rebound Talent, the White Xiao—as fierce as a BOSS—fell screaming from the withered branch after casting only a single Fireball.

— (Ding-dong!)

(You have killed a Demon-grade White Xiao. For killing a monster 3 levels higher than you, you gain EXP: +3000, and bonus EXP: +300!)

(Congratulations on reaching Level 9. All attributes +1, Freedom Attribute Points: 10.)

The pleasant notification rang out; he had finally leveled up.

But what made Bai Tian even happier was that the White Xiao that fell from the withered tree had dropped two pieces of equipment.

Truly worthy of a Demon-grade monster; the drop rate is comparable to a BOSS.

Bai Tian excitedly ran over.

The White Xiao dropped a total of 89 copper coins, two intermediate mana potions, a pair of bracers, and a belt.

— [intermediate mana potion]!

Restores 200 Mana upon consumption.

CD: 5 seconds.

— [Xiao-Pattern Bracers]!

White Grade: ... — [Xiao-Hide Belt]!

White Grade: ... Both pieces of equipment were White quality, but they were both cloth armor, which Bai Tian could use.

Bai Tian quickly equipped them, instantly gaining a boost of +9 to both defenses and +50 to HP.

Bai Tian had clearly felt his squishiness and slow movement twice now. For these 10 attribute points, he chose to add 5 to Agility and 5 to Constitution.

This was a small way to make up for it.

Immediately, his attributes changed as follows:

Character Name: Brilliant

Class: Cold Abyss Great Shaman

Level: 9 (1952/102400)

HP: 470

MP: 3228

Magic Attack: 345

Physical Defense: 41

Magic Defense: 31

Luck: 1

Prestige: 100

After closing the panel, Bai Tian checked the quest completion notification. There were only 11 minutes left.

Bai Tian didn’t dare waste any more time. He quickly climbed the rotten wood and finally found the required herb—[A Dot of Green].

After gathering the herb growing on the rotten wood, Bai Tian rushed back as fast as he could.

With 3 minutes remaining, he successfully reached the dying A Niu.

After eating the raw crocodile meat and water Bai Tian brought and having the herbs applied, A Niu’s complexion finally looked much better.

”Brave adventurer, thank you for helping me.”

— (Ding-dong!)

(You have completed the quest. Rewards: EXP +3500, Silver Coins +3.)

(A Niu’s Trust in you: +20!)

Although the quest rewards were low, Bai Tian had gained many benefits from killing the Black Xiaos and White Xiao, so he didn’t mind.

”Brave adventurer, I would like to request your help again. I hope you can lend a hand.”

The follow-up quest finally appeared.

Bai Tian was waiting for this: ”Please speak. I will not refuse.”

”Several of my childhood companions are still trapped in the Demon Cave Mine, suffering greatly.”

”If you can rescue my companions from their misery, I will reward you handsomely.”

— (Ding-dong!)

(A Niu requests that you go to the Demon Cave Mine and rescue his three companions.)

(Special Note! If you refuse this quest, the D-rank hidden quest you have already accepted will automatically fail.)

Damn, is the system doing bundled sales now?!

Bai Tian complained inwardly.

It seemed the remains of the Village Chief’s younger brother were very likely in that Demon Cave Mine.

Bai Tian immediately chose to accept the quest.

”Warrior! I leave everything to you.”

Seeing Bai Tian accept the quest, A Niu even changed how he addressed him and gave him a deep bow.

Bai Tian patted his chest. ”Don’t worry, I’ll give it my all.”

It was almost 10 PM in the real world, and Bai Tian’s stomach was growling.

After accepting the quest, he logged off immediately.

But as Bai Tian logged off, a pair of eyes hiding in the shadows in the distance flickered with an intimidating cold light.

”That bastard Brilliant!”

”We really do keep running into each other on this narrow path.”

”Now that I’ve found where you log off, it’ll be time for me to avenge my previous humiliation when you log back on...”