Skills with no cooldown? I become the Undead Scourge! - Chapter 10

North District, Liang Residence

Liang Shaoyu’s father, Liang Tai, was—like Qin Lie—a member of the Celestial Alliance.

However, while Qin Lie held the position of High Steward of the Blackflame City branch, Liang Tai was merely a rank-and-file member.

Among ordinary people, his status was lofty. But in front of Qin Lie? He had no choice but to grovel.

Still, thanks to Liang Tai’s position and abilities, the Liang family had prospered under his leadership.

“Level 8…” Liang Tai murmured, lifting a teacup to his lips before frowning at its lukewarm temperature and setting it down.

A maid at his side immediately understood—she swiftly prepared a fresh brew.

“It’s true. He’s Level 8. The rookie rankings don’t lie,” Liang Shaoyu spat through gritted teeth.

The humiliation of mocking Lu Ran, only to be utterly crushed, still burned in his chest.

Instead of focusing on leveling up, he’d rushed straight to his father to vent—embellishing the day’s events for dramatic effect.

“Qin Lie has spent years looking down on me in the Alliance. And now his daughter is cozying up to Lu Ran… This isn’t good,” Liang Tai muttered, his brow furrowed.

“Father, are you saying Qin Wuyao is trying to recruit him?”

“No. A mere Necromancer—a rookie at that—isn’t worth our concern. If Qin Lie sent his daughter to approach Lu Ran, there’s only one possible reason.” Liang Tai’s eyes gleamed. “He must possess a certain piece of equipment.”

Equipment?

Liang Shaoyu blinked. “But Lu Ran’s from the slums! How could he own anything valuable?”

Liang Tai shot his son a dismissive glance.

*”Reaching Level 8 in a single day is impossible—no matter the method. Even with a perfectly optimized four-man carry team and premium party contracts to mitigate experience penalties, Level 6 is the absolute limit. Unless…”* He paused deliberately.

“Unless Lu Ran has an item that boosts experience gain. That’s the only explanation.”

To Liang Tai, Lu Ran himself was irrelevant. It was the hypothetical gear that mattered.

Nothing else could justify such absurd leveling speed.

“But he’s not even Level 10!” Liang Shaoyu protested. “Experience-boosting gear is astronomically expensive, and most have level restrictions!”

“Unless,” Liang Tai said coldly, “it’s level-free.”

A gulp traveled down Liang Shaoyu’s throat.

The market price for experience-boosting equipment was already stratospheric. But if Lu Ran’s version had no level requirement?

Such an item—though unheard of—would be priceless.

Any faction that acquired it could mass-produce elite rookies with terrifying efficiency.

“Father, we can’t just sit back! If Qin Lie gets his hands on that gear—whether he hands it to the Alliance or keeps it for the Qin family—we’ll never catch up!”

“My thoughts exactly. But we still have time.” A flicker of murderous intent passed through Liang Tai’s eyes.

“What’s the plan?”

“Leave it to me. We kill him. That equipment will belong to the Liang family.”

As the family patriarch, Liang Tai was far more decisive—and ruthless—than his incompetent son.

“Yes! Kill him!” Liang Shaoyu’s face lit up.

(Not for the gear, of course. He just really wanted Lu Ran dead.)

…..

One Hour Later
Outskirts – Temple King Village

The ruins of a pre-global-digitization settlement stretched before them. After the world’s transformation, monsters overran such places, forcing survivors into system-generated cities like Blackflame—complete with dungeons, teleportation arrays, and other digital infrastructure.

Now, abandoned villages like this were little more than hunting grounds.

“We’re already in Level 13 Phantom Monarch Butterfly territory. If we go further…” Qin Wuyao’s face paled as she scanned their surroundings.

Gigantic, iridescent butterfly monsters the size of wagon wheels drifted lazily among the rubble.

Phantom Monarch Butterflies had a 15-meter aggro radius. Qin Wuyao had meticulously navigated past them, avoiding combat at all costs.

At Level 5 (her) and Level 8 (Lu Ran), fighting even one would be a struggle. Accidentally pulling multiple? Suicide.

She was starting to regret this impulsive expedition.

Was a rift dungeon—one they might not even clear—worth this risk?

Lu Ran, however, remained calm.

Gripping his Frostwolf Scepter, he murmured, “It’s close. Should be within fifty meters.”

According to the Rift Contract, the dungeon’s entrance was near. Once they pinpointed the exact location, the system would prompt them to activate it.

But just then—

Three figures materialized like ghosts from the shadows.

Assassins.

Both tensed as the newcomers grinned.

“We thought this job would be tricky. Newbies usually stick to safe zones or Level 5 dungeons. But you? You walked right out here.” The leader chuckled. “Couldn’t have made it easier for us.”

They advanced, blades glinting.

“What’s this about?” Lu Ran demanded, raising his scepter.

The lead assassin glanced around, confirming no witnesses, then shrugged.

“Might as well tell you. The Liang family wants a certain piece of equipment on you. Our payday says we kill you and take it. Nothing personal—just business.”

Daggers flashed as they fanned out.

Lu Ran’s mind raced.

The Liang family? Liang Shaoyu’s doing? Their schoolyard feud wasn’t kill-worthy.

And this “equipment” they mentioned—

He glanced at his Frostwolf Scepter (Purple-Rare). While decent for his level, it wasn’t Liang-family-covet-worthy.

Hell, they could afford dozens of these without breaking a sweat.

The rest of his gear? Blue-quality trash.

Yet here they were.

Confusion aside, one thing was clear:

They want me dead.

Fine.

If they came to kill—

He’d kill them first.