Chapter 63-2: Territory Node: Cloud Field (2) |
[Challenger Notification: Territory Node ‘Cloud Field’ discovered.]
As the Challenger Notification sounded, a patch of fog at the center of the Gray Mist Forest on the map was dispersed, and the location of the Corrosion Core was marked with a black tumor icon.
The two players focused their gaze on the spirit field ahead, and more detailed information appeared in their minds.
[Cloud Field]
Territory Type: Resource
Territory Trait: Accelerated Growth
Trait Description: Greatly accelerates the growth speed of spiritual plants planted within the coverage area of the node. Level 1 spiritual plants can mature within 3 to 5 days.
Territory Status: Corrosion Core Entanglement
—
But they hadn’t expected their guess to actually come true.
There was indeed an uncontained Territory Node here.
“Monkey, if we destroy the Corrosion Core, the two of us can split the purification rewards. We might really strike it rich this time!” One player said excitedly.
“Don’t get carried away. There’s definitely danger near a Corrosion Core. Don’t go throwing your life away,” the player called Monkey said cautiously.
“There’s no Cursed Soldiers here. Fortune favors the bold! You’re too cowardly for a game. Let’s do it!”
As he spoke, the leading player decisively stepped into the spirit field.
Monkey, seeing this, had no choice but to follow.
Although deep down he believed it would be impossible to destroy the Corrosion Core so easily and that danger was imminent, he still chose to follow his brother’s lead.
The two advanced slowly, gradually approaching the Corrosion Core.
When they were less than a hundred meters away, the lead player spoke in the voice channel.
“Monkey, Monster Form.”
As his words fell, both players shifted into their Monster Forms, their bodies twisting as they transformed into Gargoyle Form and Bonefire Form, respectively.
Lifting his hands, the leading player’s palms ignited with inky flames, rapidly consuming his mental power to condense a large fireball one meter in diameter.
But he did not immediately attack.
“Monkey, you go up first and tank, I’ll follow up with damage.”
Monkey sighed inwardly but still charged toward the Corrosion Core. At the same time, the leading player launched the fireball directly at the Corrosion Core.
This was their usual hunting tactic: one took the hits, the other dealt the damage.
But just as the black fireball was about to strike the Corrosion Core, the black tumor suddenly contracted, and a large amount of black mist spewed from its top, rapidly forming a barrier.
The fireball hit the mist, causing it to churn violently, but it failed to break through the defense.
Then, a tendril burst from the tumor, growing rapidly and whipping the charging player, sending him flying.
The once dormant Corrosion Core was now fully activated under external threat.
What followed stunned the two players.
The previously dormant land seemed to become an opened abyssal gate, as countless black, rotting plants shot up from cracks in the earth like awakened demons, releasing an evil aura.
The stems of these plants twisted like snakes, their leaves black as ink, covered in sticky corrosive fluid, growing in a frenzied, chaotic rhythm, intertwining into dense black webs that completely devoured the already dim light.
The air filled with a nauseating stench of mold and decay, and the whispering sounds from the rapidly growing plants resembled demonic murmurs.
The demonic, chaotic scene delivered a powerful visual shock to the two players.
Before they could even react and escape, they were tightly ensnared by the corrupted plants, their vision swallowed by darkness.
—
Primordial Altar.
Watching the two players die, Qi Sheng was not surprised.
Every Corrosion Core possessed a strong territorial instinct and would actively attack any life form outside the Black Tide system.
These two players alone had no chance of purifying this Territory Node.
But since the Territory had already been discovered, Qi Sheng decided to issue a new purification task to all players.
This time, he adjusted the task rewards according to the Territory Trait of the spirit field.
Although Cloud Field was a resource-type territory, it was quite different from Shadowed Cavern.
This Territory Node required planting spiritual plants to produce resources, so after containment, it couldn’t be fully opened to all players.
Otherwise, there would inevitably be disputes over the ownership of spiritual plants and field usage rights.
Therefore, for this purification task, he directly used the spirit field as the reward chip and issued the latest purification mission.
A global notification immediately sounded in all players’ minds.
[Challenger Notification (Global): Territory Node ‘Cloud Field’ discovered. Occupying the Territory Node will yield generous rewards.]
Task Objective: Contain the Cloud Field Territory Node
Task Reward: Spirit Field Usage Rights
Detailed Description: This purification task will distribute rewards based on contribution value rankings. The top 1,000 players will each receive a small plot of land within Cloud Field, which can be used to plant and cultivate spiritual plants (spiritual plant seeds can be purchased from the Item Shop function panel).
Spirit Field Trait Description: Significantly increases the growth speed of spiritual plants.
Task Duration: Unlimited (until the node is occupied)
—
Once the purification task was released, it immediately drew massive attention from players.
Players enthusiastically discussed it on the forums and regional voice channels.
“Eh? Only the top 1,000 contributors get rewards? Looks like a weakling like me has no chance. Discrimination based on strength, huh? (God of Wealth enraged.jpg)”
“See? This is why you shouldn’t sell sacrificial power early on. You need it to boost your strength. Now it’s payback time! Charge! I need at least one plot in that Spirit Field, it’s a permanent reward!”
“Damn, this Spirit Field is amazing. Once I get a plot, I can just farm and produce spiritual plants while lying flat. Farming players rejoice! I’m a college student, I’m reserving a plot!”
“Bro, even if you’re a college student, without strength, you’re nothing but livestock. You won’t get a plot either. (Mystic Butterfly contemptuous glare.jpg)”
“I’m not going. I’ve only been in the game a few days. I can’t even beat Blood Corpses yet. I’ll stick to teaming up to farm Blood Corpses and find a strong guild willing to carry newbies.”
—
Player opinions on this purification task were highly polarized.
Strong players were ecstatic, believing the task would yield substantial returns for them.
Weaker players, upon reading the task details, knew they stood no chance and had no intention of participating.
During this period, major guilds quickly mobilized teams to head for the new map area ‘Gray Forest’ to farm purification task contributions.
However, once players reached the depths of Gray Forest and witnessed the demonic chaos atop Cloud Field, their enthusiasm was instantly extinguished.
The reason was simple.
Cloud Field, controlled by the Corrosion Core, was filled with large numbers of corrupted plants at hunt levels 30-45, which far exceeded the players’ current capabilities.
Some guilds attempted to use psionic bombs, but while these could damage the corrupted plants, they were far less effective than expected. The corrupted plants possessed powerful regeneration, rendering the war-of-attrition strategy with psionic bombs useless.
Only absolute overwhelming strength could contain the Cloud Field Territory Node.
Thus, all major guilds chose to temporarily withdraw.
Yet the potential rewards of Cloud Field sparked many powerful players to pursue leveling up and growing stronger.