Transmigration with Cheat Codes Chapter 3.2: Map Threat Level

—Although she had been traversing paths with low threat levels all along, it was evident that there were still wild monsters lurking in this forest.

While observing the increasingly dense vegetation around her, Meng Jintang decided to tie up her skirt, ensuring it wouldn't get caught on branches every few steps.

This secluded place, rarely visited by outsiders, allowed the flowers, grass, and trees to grow in wild abandon.

Multiple times, what appeared to be a path ahead was completely obstructed by tangled vines and branches. If she hadn't brought a sickle and a short sword, making any progress would have been nearly impossible.

The content in the "Basic Qinggong" manual was quite simple, consisting of only three movements for leaping and jumping. Meng Jintang estimated that in the state of practicing qinggong, her movement speed would increase by at least 100%.

However, her internal energy would gradually decrease over time. To be on the safe side, she would take a break once her internal energy was reduced to about one-fifth of its total capacity.

Four hours later.

This time, the chosen spot for meditation in the wilderness happened to be beside a fruit tree. Its branches were burdened with ripe fruits, hanging low.

Meng Jintang examined them and identified them as Tang Pears. In reality, this fruit typically ripened during autumn. However, in the game, it served as a low-level wild fruit that could be found all year round.

During the early stages of the game, these fruits were a reliable and frequently replenished source of sustenance.

As Meng Jintang reached out to pluck a fruit, she suddenly heard a bone-chilling hissing sound coming from behind. Being in motion, she had neglected to close the map.

Although the red shade on the map for this area wasn't overly intense, it still indicated potential danger. In that fleeting moment of hearing the sound, she swiftly channeled her internal energy and leaped forward.

Suspended mid-air, she cast a quick glance backward and caught sight of a swiftly moving emerald figure. Acting without hesitation, she swiftly swung her hand backward, employing the "Liao" flicking technique from the "Basic Sword Art."

The copper sword sliced through the emerald figure, accompanied by a light crack sound, and the severed halves of the Small Green Snake fell to the ground.

[System: Successfully killed the Small Green Snake. Earned 20 experience points and obtained 1 Small Green Snake Gallbladder.]

The Small Green Snake was a Level 3 monster, highly agile but with a thin health bar. Coupled with the setting that critical hits dealt double damage, it was defeated by a single strike from Meng Jintang's basic attack.

[Small Green Snake Gallbladder: A commonly used medicinal ingredient. It has properties that enhance mental clarity and visual acuity. It possesses a mild level of toxicity and can be held in the mouth to provide protection against the toxic effects of the forest's miasma.]

The toxic effects…of the forest's miasma.

In the game, items always had a purpose; they often contained undiscovered details and hidden potential.

Taking into account the ease of obtaining the Small Green Snake Gallbladder and its explicit mention of providing protection against the toxic effects of the forest miasma, Meng Jintang had no doubt that certain areas within the forest would indeed be affected by miasma.

As evening descended, a white mist gradually enveloped the forest. Meng Jintang quietly placed the acquired spoils into her mouth, sensing a faintly fishy and bitter flavor.

Her personal interface now showed a persistent debuff labeled [Mild Snake Venom], resulting in a gradual decline of her health bar.

However, as she ventured deeper into the misty area, the [Mild Snake Venom] was nullified by the [Toxin Counteraction] effect, and her health bar stopped decreasing.

The frequent sightings of the Small Green Snake granted Meng Jintang valuable chances to hone her swordsmanship, expanding her skills beyond tree-cutting. As her proficiency grew, she had already amassed 23 Small Green Snake Gallbladders from her successful kills.

She had also leveled up twice. Upon closer examination, Meng Jintang discovered that the gallbladders had a drop rate of around 70% instead of a guaranteed 100%. Each gallbladder provided roughly half an hour of protection against the miasma's effects.

With her level up, Meng Jintang's vitality surged, her maximum health soaring from 130 to 150. Her energy stat increased from 220 to 240. Yet, there was more to this momentous occasion.

She had gained two free attribute points. Contemplating her future growth, Meng Jintang deliberated carefully and allocated each point to her Innate Constitution and her Aptitude.

…

The young girl in coarse garments leaned against the tree trunk, breathing slightly heavily.

In the game, recovering internal energy was relatively convenient, but restoring energy required sleep. However, once a player's internal skills reached a certain level, they would no longer be bound by these limitations.

Unfortunately, Meng Jintang was currently a beginner with limited martial arts skills. Since it was already late in the day, she needed to find a place to rest for the night. Otherwise, if her energy level dropped to zero, she would fall into a state of [Mental Fatigue], experiencing weakness, and there was even a possibility of permanent reduction in her attribute points.

—She strongly suspected that the developers of "Martial Arts Ascension" harbored a deep hatred for staying up late and had incorporated this distaste into the game's design.

There were no nearby accommodations for Meng Jintang to seek shelter. While she could have temporarily settled for sleeping in a tree, this area was known for its population of wild monsters.

As someone who had recently mastered the "Basic Qinggong", she had confidence in her tree-climbing abilities. However, when it came to climbing trees, she couldn't help but feel that snakes and monster species were superior climbers compared to her…

Before Meng Jintang could formulate a suitable plan, the familiar hissing sound returned, even swifter this time.

Originally, Meng Jintang intended to confront the new monster using the same approach as before. But her instincts kicked in. Swiftly, she harnessed her inner strength, sprinting a few steps ahead.

She then found refuge among one of the many towering trees in the forest. Finally, she found a gap to turn around and observe.

It was a snake.

An imposing creature with a glistening green body, far larger and more menacing than the Small Green Snake she encountered earlier.

This snake was remarkably agile, its body defying gravity, making it impossible for Meng Jintang to reach it with her bronze sword. What's more, the serpent could maneuver in mid-air. At that very moment, it swung its tail, landing a powerful blow on her wrist.

Meng Jintang's wrist throbbed with pain, causing her to lose her grip on the short sword.

In the blink of an eye, the emerald serpent closed in from the side, its gaping jaws poised to strike.

In the nick of time, Meng Jintang summoned her internal energy and pushed her basic qinggong to the limit, emphasizing the "leap" movement.

The emerald serpent, having been in mid-air for too long, was no longer as agile as it had been initially. In a heart-stopping moment, she narrowly avoided its deadly strike.

Even though Meng Jintang had dodged the serpent's bite, she didn't immediately start to flee, nor did she stoop to retrieve her fallen bronze short sword. Instead, she thrust both palms forward, channeling her full internal energy, striking forcefully at the serpent's vital point.

With the last reserves of energy drained from her Dantian, Meng Jintang's face turned an ashen hue. Shortly after, two sounds echoed: the first was the bronze sword finally making contact with the ground, and the second was the emerald serpent's body collapsing onto the soft forest soil.

[System: Successfully killed the Small Green Snake King, gaining 200 experience points and 1 Small Green Snake King's Gallbladder.]

[Small Green Snake King's Gallbladder: A rare medicinal ingredient with inherent detoxifying properties. Consuming it can increase the maximum internal energy and permanently enhance night vision ability.

Note: Carrying a fresh Small Green Snake King's Gallbladder can significantly reduce the probability of snake-like monster's initiating attacks. This effect will last for six hours.]

[System: Meng Jintang recalled her encounter with the Small Green Snake King and felt a sense of enlightenment...

Note: Player will gain a special sense of understanding towards soft weapon within a year.]

Meng Jintang looked at the description of the Small Green Snake King's Gallbladder, particularly the words "significantly reduce the probability of snake-like monster's initiating attacks," and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

With this item in her possession, she should be able to sleep in the trees without the immediate threat of wild creatures attacking the moment she closes her eyes.

In the depths of the misty forest filled with miasma, a slender and pale young girl sat beneath a large tree to recover her inner strength.

Once her condition improved slightly, she found a pair of trees closely intertwined. She carefully climbed up the branches, selecting a spot that was less likely to result in a fall, and haphazardly rested on the tree limbs for the night.