Locke: I rely on intelligence to dominate the world and ensure the survival of my nation.

System Rules: The intelligence database refreshes daily at 00:00. Intelligence points can be used to exchange for various intelligence related to the fate of the nation.

The higher the intelligence level, the more intelligence points are required. Some special intelligence requires specific conditions to be met before redemption is unlocked.

"Refresh the first redeemable information—"

Looking at the panel in front of him, Lin Chen did not hesitate at all.

The cries of those around them still echoed.

Lin Chen's eyes narrowed.

"Consume intelligence points to exchange for white-grade ordinary intelligence!"

【Ding! 】

[Consume 1 intelligence point to exchange for white ordinary intelligence]

[Coordinates of the Hidden Treasure Chest in the Starting Village]

Lin Chen wasted no time.

He brought up the system interface, and the information about the hidden treasure chest was still floating in the upper right corner of his field of vision.

The exchange consumed 1 intelligence point, leaving a balance of 9 points.

The coordinates point to the pet park in the southeast direction.

He walked through the bushes, avoiding the scattered crowds along the way, for about ten minutes. The surroundings gradually quieted down, with only the rustling of the wind through the grass.

An abandoned stone well appeared ahead.

The well walls were covered with moss, and there was a deep welt on the well rim.

Lin Chen peered down—it was pitch black, but the intelligence couldn't be wrong.

He used both his hands and feet to climb down the grooves in the well wall. Spark squatted on the edge of the well, the flames above providing him with a faint light.

After descending three or four meters, my feet touched solid ground.

At the bottom of the well, behind a stone slab, a wooden box lay quietly on the rubble.

Lin Chen opened the box.

"Received: 200 Rock Bays"

"Received: 3 Normal Gulu Balls"

"Received: Basic HP Potion x5"

200 Rocky Dollars, three Google Balls, and five bottles of Red Potion.

That's enough basic resources for the early stages of clearing the land!

Lin Chen packed up his things and climbed back out of the well. He didn't rush to leave, but looked around—the intelligence report not only marked the coordinates of the treasure chest, but also a safe leveling spot with level 1 monsters.

It's in that patch of grass just ahead.

"Spark, come out."

A flash of red light streaked past, and sparks landed at his feet. The flames above his head flickered twice, emitting a faint "whooshing" sound.

A rustling sound came from the grass. A round, green creature rolled out—a round-eyed spider, level 1, insect-type, the weakest leveling monster.

"Spark, use spark impact."

The bullets struck precisely. The round-eyed spider screamed in agony, instantly losing its ability to fight.

"Ding! Defeat the round-eyed spider and gain 12 experience points."

The experience bar jumped a little.

Lin Chen did not stop.

He used the Fire type's advantage over the Bug type to fight continuously with extremely high efficiency.

One after another, round-eyed spiders fell in the flames, and Spark's experience bar increased at a visible rate.

Level 5.

Level 8.

Level 11.

Level 13.

With each upgrade, Spark's size slowly increases, and the flames above its head burn even more intensely.

Lin Chen was completely absorbed in the rhythm of leveling up. He didn't notice the passage of time, nor did he notice the few players who started passing by—when they saw his spark, their eyes flashed with complex emotions, but no one stopped to talk to him.

Level 15.

The experience bar is almost full.

As yet another round-eyed spider fell in the flames, a dazzling crimson light burst forth from Spark's body.

"Ding! Your pet 'Spark' has met the evolution requirements!"

The light dyed the surrounding area, which was several meters wide, fiery red.

Spark's body stretched and expanded rapidly in the light, the flames on its head split into two clusters, and its limbs became long and powerful.

The whole process took less than five seconds.

When the light faded, a brand new pet stood before Lin Chen.

Fireworks.

It was twice the size of Spark, with dark red lines faintly visible on its fiery red skin, and two clusters of flames on its head swaying in the wind.

"Evolution complete: Spark → Firework. Current level: 16."

New skills: Flame Vortex, Fire Blade.

Lin Chen glanced at the time—exactly one hour had passed since he entered the territory.

He became the first player in all of China to evolve his initial pet to its second form.

I heard hurried footsteps behind me.

Lin Chen turned around and placed his hand on the pet badge.

A young man with messy hair, a white T-shirt covered in mud, emerged from the bushes, panting and with red eyes.

"Brother Chen!"

Wang Hao. Lin Chen's childhood friend, a brother he grew up with.

"I fucking finally found you!" Wang Hao practically pounced on him. "Do you know how long I've been looking? Almost an hour!"

Lin Chen patted him on the shoulder: "Take your time."

Wang Hao took a few deep breaths and explained the situation.

He was sent to another area of ​​the territory, where things were in complete chaos.

He chose Water Blue as his initial pet, but after fighting a few monsters, he almost got killed. His prosperity level remained at zero, and he had no idea what to do.

"Most people over there have pets that are only level three or four, the highest level seems to be only level six," Wang Hao said. "Brother Chen, what about you over here—"

His words came to an abrupt halt the moment he saw the fireworks.

"This...this is..."

"Fireworks. The evolved form of Spark at level sixteen." Lin Chen said calmly.

Wang Hao's mouth gaped open in an "O" shape: "Level 16?! And it's only been an hour!"

Lin Chen didn't explain the intelligence system. He simply patted Wang Hao on the shoulder, his tone calm but undeniable: "Do you want to catch up in rank?"

Wang Hao nodded frantically.

"Keep up."

Lin Chen turned and walked towards the leveling spot.

Fireworks followed at his feet, and the flames above his head shone brightly in the twilight.

Teaming up with two people makes them more efficient.

Lin Chen used fireworks to clear the way, while Wang Hao and Shui Lanlan followed behind, gaining experience points.

Although sharing experience might slow things down a bit, Wang Hao is someone he trusts. In this unfamiliar world, having a reliable teammate is more important than anything else.

"Ding! Meow Meow has leveled up to level 8."

"Ding! Meow Meow has leveled up to level 9."

Wang Hao's experience bar jumped rapidly. A smile finally appeared on his face, and the panic and confusion he had been looking at gradually disappeared.

In the distance, at the border of the territory, the transparent barrier reflected a faint golden light under the setting sun.

The countdown is still ticking.

21:47:33.

While helping Wang Hao level up, Lin Chen opened the system interface. His intelligence points balance was still 9, and the system notification indicated that the intelligence database would refresh daily at midnight.

That means there are less than two hours until the next refresh.

What new intelligence could it be?

His gaze unconsciously drifted deeper into the territory—an area shrouded in mist, unmarked on the map, and the information system had not yet unlocked it.

But Lin Chen could sense that something was sleeping in that mist.

With each tick of the countdown, that thing gets one step closer to waking up.