After exiting the northwest gate of the starting town and crossing the vast grasslands, and then walking through a labyrinth of paths in the lush forest, Kirito and Li Xiang came to a village called "Horuka".

Although the village is small, it is still a "circle" (i.e., a safe area where players will not lose health) and has facilities such as hotels, weapon shops, and item shops, which are large enough to be used as a hunting base. In the forests around the village, monsters with dangerous skills such as paralyzing toxins or equipment destruction will not emerge, making them an ideal upgrade point for newcomers.

"It's 6:50 p.m., and if we've been fighting monsters around the village tonight until tomorrow morning, we'll probably be able to get ahead of the others and get to level 5 or so, and then we'll move on to the next stronghold."

Kirito explained his plan to Li Xiang.

"Understood, now we must sprint with all our strength to widen the gap between the level and equipment of other players as much as possible."

Li Xiang expressed his understanding, he was also a high-level player, and when he first played online games, he also didn't sleep for a few days and nights when he first started the service.

According to the realm of cultivating immortals,

Sleeping at 0 o'clock belongs to the refining period, 1 point of refining qi, 2 points of foundation building, 3 points of Jindan, 4 points of Yuan Infant, 5 points of transformation of gods, 6 points of cave void, 7 points of tribulation, 8 points of Mahayana, 9 points of ascension, and he Li Xiang used to be an otherworldly Da Luo Jin Immortal!

"We're going to buy armor first, and after changing our equipment, we'll go hunting and doing missions."

"In Sword Art Online, players who are proficient in different types of weapons will have different paths. But basically, everyone's progress in the game is about the same.

In the village of Horuka, it is possible to obtain a weapon that can be used on the third floor by doing quests.

One-handed sword users are tasked with collecting rare materials, while two-handed sword users seem to be collecting ordinary materials, but materials are in high demand.

I'll do my quest first, and then I'll take you to farm the materials you need for the two-handed sword after I've changed my weapon. ”

While talking, Kirito took Li Xiang to the only small equipment store in Horuka Village.

There are many types of weapons and armor for sale in the equipment shop. Due to the fact that some boars had been hunted on the outskirts of the Novice Village, both of them had some boar hides and other drops and a small amount of koll (coins in the game world) in their hands. After selling all the unnecessary items, both of them had some money to spare.

"Saber, you'd better use the money you have to buy armor. The bronze sword, bronze scimitar and other bronze series equipment provided here, although the attributes are stronger than the novice weapons in our hands, but the durability is too fast. We're going to be hunting all night, so it's better to buy armor and medicine. ”

Kirito's opinion is very pragmatic, and now the two of them are still level 1 players, and the resources at hand are very limited, so it is necessary to use each of them carefully at this time

However, I just like to say NO to those who think they are NB!

Li Xiang did not hesitate to buy a bronze long sword.

"Saber, what are you doing?"

Seeing Li Xiang's wise operation, Kirito almost screamed.

"Don't worry, trust me. This wave of me seems to be panicked, but in fact, it is stable and skinny. ”

Unlike Kirito's agitated reaction, Li Xiang, the perpetrator, himself looked very confident.

"I think with my operation, the attacks of those monsters will be difficult to hit me, instead of buying armor that will be replaced soon, it is better to buy an extra sword, and I can fight a few more monsters tonight before the durability runs out."

"You...... Have you forgotten what Akihiko Kayaba said? Sword Art Online is no longer a game. If you make a mistake and get killed by a monster, you'll die! ”

Li wanted to hear Kirito's words, and almost wanted to say, "You don't know anything about intuition A", but the remaining reason in his brain stopped him.

At this moment, the AI, which had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke in Li Xiang's mind:

"Host, Kirito is the son of luck in this world, and if he can obtain the worship of Kirito, he will gain a lot of faith power. If you befriend Kirito, your chances of getting "The Seed" will be greatly increased. “

Li Xiang paused, rolled his eyes, and said:

"Kirito-kun, why do you think the brave man we played in the game was able to defeat the powerful demon king?"

Kirito was stunned for a moment, and subconsciously replied:

"Because we're playing games."

"No, I don't think so,

I think the reason why we were able to defeat the Demon King in the game is because we are brave people, really brave people, we are not afraid of death, but use all our strength to challenge difficulties.

Kayaba Akihiko said that the Sword Art Online he made was a world that belonged to him,

But Sword Art Online is just a game in the end, and beyond the dome composed of countless signals and data, the reality with the singing of birds and flowers, the stars and the sun and the moon is our real world.

I must go back to the real world, even if it is not very good.

To do this, I have to break through this hundred-story labyrinth. Now that I've set such a goal that seems like crazy, what's the point of being crazy? ”

Kirito froze, and after a few minutes, he smiled helplessly.

"I was just thinking about how to survive before, but I didn't expect you, a novice, to think about such a great thing. I've lost to you. ”

Kirito turned around and bought a complete set of leather armor from the owner of the equipment shop.

"But I still stick to my opinion, there is a higher margin of error when buying armor and medicines. Later, we'll team up to fight monsters, don't blow your cowhide. ”

"Che, I thought you would be so moved by my ambition that you would bow down."

Li Xiang rolled his eyes, turned around and left.

Looking at the girl's petite but high-chested back, the corners of Kirito's mouth couldn't help but rise.

The strong and brave girl in front of him, who would not change her face even in the face of imminent death, reminded him of his sister who practiced kendo.

"Hey, you're wrong, the monster level you spawned in the direction you're going is 5, and you can't beat it at all."

Hearing Kirito's words, Saber turned back with an embarrassed expression.

"Poof—ha......"

Li Xiang is embarrassed now, and he has the feeling that he just bragged to his classmates that he never did his homework, but the head teacher was behind him.

"Hey, what are you laughing at? Isn't it just going the wrong way, what's so funny?

Can a novice gamer's mistake be called a mistake? ”

Then came a lot of words that others didn't understand, what European origin, what game experience, etc., and the village was suddenly filled with happy air.