Apocalypse: Everyone Levels Up, I Return to the Time Before the Server Opened-Chapter 89

Chapter 89: Here, Pick Any Skill You Want!

“Hi, elders!”

As soon as Ye Qiu logged in, he sensed something was off.

Why were all the elders staring at him so intently?

They looked like they were about to kidnap him!

“Child, hurry over and greet your master,” Elder Huang Tai’s voice rang out.

Ye Qiu looked in the direction Elder Huang was pointing.

There stood Elder Han Wenqing… forcing out a very awkward smile.

Ye Qiu was both shocked and delighted.

What?! Elder Han Wenqing wants to take me as his disciple?!

In his past life, there were very few NPCs whom players genuinely praised and respected.

But Elder Han Wenqing of the Sword Sect was one of them, a legend.

Back then, when players faced grave danger, Elder Han, an NPC, had stepped forward to protect them, ultimately sacrificing himself to save countless lives.

“Master!” Ye Qiu didn’t hesitate at all.

Calling someone “Master” might usually be done for show or personal gain, but in this moment, calling Elder Han “Master” was from the heart — pure and sincere. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Elder Han seemed to sense the authenticity and reverence in Ye Qiu’s voice.

His typically icy face contorted into an even stiffer smile.

Combined with his three eyes, the smile looked more monstrous than friendly. It was probably enough to make children cry!

“Good… good…” Han Wenqing’s heart was genuinely joyful.

He had always lived freely, alone. He had no family, let alone a disciple.

Ye Qiu, this young outsider, was his very first disciple.

The feeling… was strange, yet moving.

The other elders smiled and congratulated Elder Han warmly.

Han Wenqing took Ye Qiu’s hand and said, “Come with me.”

“Okay.” Ye Qiu followed obediently, feeling like he was in a dream.

This was the same Elder Han who was admired by players and NPCs alike — famous, powerful, and unapproachable.

In Ye Qiu’s past life, the closest he ever got to Elder Han was during his second visit to the tower to buy skill books.

Back then, Han Wenqing had advised all players, “Mastery is better than quantity.”

The next time Ye Qiu saw him, it was from afar. He watched Elder Han, alone with his sword, fend off a horde of terrifying monsters.

The players survived, but Han Wenqing perished.

Now, this legendary figure was his master.

Ye Qiu still found it hard to believe.

On the way, Han Wenqing asked, “Your name is Ye Qiu?”

Ye Qiu snapped out of his thoughts and nodded quickly. “Yes, that’s my real name. My character nickname is ‘One Leaf Knows Autumn.’ I’m currently level 20.”

Han Wenqing asked with curiosity, “Did you intentionally stop at level 20?”

Ye Qiu didn’t hide anything. His face turned serious as he replied, “I heard that after the Human Emperor sealed the Heavenly Demon, he left behind a clone to guard the place. I wanted to witness the Human Emperor up close. He’s a true hero of the human race. It’s always been my dream to become someone like him. Even if I can only achieve a ten-thousandth of what he did, I would be content!”

Han Wenqing’s gaze softened with every word Ye Qiu spoke.

In the end, he sighed and said, “Very few people still know about the Human Emperor’s clone guarding that place. That you know this shows your deep affinity with our Sword Sect… or perhaps, the Human Emperor himself has chosen you.”

[Ding! Favorability with Sword Sect Elder Han Wenqing is now maxed out.]

Ye Qiu’s eyes lit up, but inwardly, he was nervous.

Yes, this was his real goal: to see the Human Emperor’s clone so he could use his special skill, Apprentice’s Will, to copy the Human Emperor’s abilities!

This skill could only be used a limited number of times. It had to be used wisely and not wasted!

Even with a powerful level 120 third-tier boss like Han Wenqing standing right beside him, Ye Qiu resisted the urge to use it.

In this second life, he knew there were beings out there far stronger — level 500, level 1000 and beyond!

Of course, if it were an Outer Demon or a forbidden species, he wouldn’t hesitate to use the skill.

But against humanoid NPCs or monsters, the cost-effectiveness just wasn’t there.

“That place can indeed only be entered at level 20 or lower, and the entrant must be no older than 20,” Han Wenqing said. “This rule is to prevent demons from using tricks to infiltrate and destroy the seal.”

Ye Qiu nodded in understanding.

In his past life, players had uncovered this part of the storyline too.

Some players, influenced by local demons, even joined the Sword Sect and tried to sabotage the seal to release the Heavenly Demon.

One time, they nearly succeeded!

Thankfully, the Human Emperor’s clone was there to stop the catastrophe.

However, from then on, the clone’s existence was exposed.

“We’ll wait until tomorrow,” Han Wenqing finally said. “The sealed area hasn’t been opened in centuries. The miasma inside is thick, your level-20 body won’t survive long. I’ll craft a Miasma Resistance Pill for you today. Take it, and you’ll be fine.”

“Thank you, Master!” Ye Qiu let out a breath of relief, overwhelmed with excitement.

But on his face, he only showed a calm and composed smile.

While walking, the two arrived at a new area.

There were rows of wooden bookshelves lined up, each filled with skill books.

The books were organized by level.

Near the entrance were level 1–5 swordsman skills and some special skills for other professions.

A few steps deeper were level 5–10 swordsman skills and more special profession skills.

The further inside, the higher the skill level, and only players of matching levels could enter.

When a player reached for a book, the system would prompt them to pay.

Ye Qiu glanced at a level 15 swordsman skill book: [Earthsplitter Sword], priced at 230,000 gold.

“No wonder they called this place the Bloodsucker’s Den,” Ye Qiu chuckled.

In his past life, players called this skill area the “Bloodsucker’s Den.”

No matter how much gold you brought, you’d leave with an empty wallet!

The skills were just too good, too tempting!

It was like shopping on Taobao: everything looked worth buying, and before you knew it, your bank account was drained.

“Pick anything you like!” Han Wenqing suddenly waved his hand generously.

This was his first time having a disciple, so he had been wondering how masters typically treated their apprentices.

He recalled Elder Zhu Yanhong, who also took disciples.

Usually, the first thing she did was offer a welcome gift. It was not too extravagant, but also not too stingy.

After thinking about it, gifting a skill seemed like the best choice!