Chapter 168-4: Player Corridor, Faith Divinity (4) |
The cave entrance was jagged with strange rocks and interlocking teeth, like the gaping maw of a giant beast, carrying a hint of eeriness.
Stepping into the cave, a chilly wind rushed his face. The air carried a faint earthy tang and dampness.
The light inside was dim. Only a few weak rays of sunlight struggled in through the entrance and cracks in the ceiling, forming irregular spots on the ground that barely outlined the cave’s interior.
The farther in he went, the stranger the wind became.
Wind from who knew where collided and merged here, sharp as blades, cutting his cheeks with pain.
Taking advantage of the faint light to probe inward, he turned a corner, and the anticipation in Tong Xin’s eyes dissipated.
The secret manual did not appear. What presented itself was a ferocious giant beast.
Its form was massive as a small mountain. Though lying on the ground, it almost occupied most of the cave’s space.
Its head was like a fortress piled of boulders, broad and flat. A pair of huge horns curved from both sides of the crown, their surfaces covered in gully-like lines, the horn tips flashing with a bloody light that exuded endless ferocity and bloodlust.
On the beast’s face, a bloody maw took up most of it.
Inside, razor-sharp fangs arranged like daggers expanded and contracted with each breath.
The cold wind he had felt earlier was exactly the breath blown from the beast’s mouth.
At this moment, the beast’s eyes were closed. It was in deep sleep, bringing a strong visual shock to Tong Xin.
Even knowing this was only a game, he still felt a slight flutter of fear.
He subconsciously activated Analysis.
[Evil Eye (Fourth-Generation Primordial)]:
Hunt Level: 189
Target Introduction: A Primordial Monster that grasps the Evil Eye ability. It can mark a target with an Evil Eye curse brand through its gaze, continuously deducting the target’s vitality and mental power.
Bad news, the opportunity is too big to swallow.
After reading the analysis, Tong Xin decisively turned around and tiptoed toward the cave exit.
He had picked the wrong script. There was no surprise in the cave he had expected, only fright.
Carefully walking out of the cave, Tong Xin immediately took off running to open distance from it.
After running for a stretch and confirming safety, he finally let out a breath.
This was a life saved by five potions. He could not lose it lightly.
Glancing at the towering cliffs overhead, it seemed the return trip only offered a ticket to death unless the brothers were willing to jump down to accompany him in exploring and hunting here.
But as far as he knew them, those beasts would only laugh at his bad luck and rub salt in the wound.
Returning to where he had landed earlier, he uprooted the wild spirit plants growing nearby and put them into his spatial pack.
There were a total of 8 spirit plants.
Four level 1 spirit plants, three level 2 spirit plants, and one level 3 spirit plant. He called up the sacrifice panel to check the sacrifice value. The total value was 867 sacrificial power.
If listed on the Trading House, the price should be just over 900.
This was undoubtedly an unexpected windfall. Perhaps there were other wild spirit plants in this valley waiting to be discovered.
His mood instantly turned cheerful.
The potion money was recovered. Tong Xin strode with arrogance and began to explore the valley.
Before long, he found two more wild spirit plants.
This made Tong Xin blossom with joy.
Although there was no heaven-defying, fate-changing great opportunity, the continuous small gains were also good.
“The ancients truly did not deceive me. Having escaped a great disaster, blessings follow.”
During exploration along the way, Tong Xin found that this valley most likely had no intelligent force entrenched.
The profuse growth of wild spirit plants was clear proof.
Just then, Guide hovering by his side suddenly spoke.
[Your two o’clock direction.]
Hearing Guide speak, Tong Xin was stunned.
All forum players knew Guide’s aloofness.
Unless the player took the initiative to ask, Guide normally would not engage in any conversation. Faced with foolish questions, it would even show contempt and respond perfunctorily.
“Guide, what did you discover?”
A pensive expression appeared on Guide’s water orb. It did not directly answer.
[Go take a look.]
Filled with curiosity, under Guide’s guidance, Tong Xin moved forward along the path.
Before long, a 3-meter-tall monster statue appeared in his field of view.
The statue stood silently, its surface crawling with the marks of time, like an aged elder forgotten by the years in this silent place.
Weeds grew rampant all around, winding up from the base as if to devour the statue entirely. The slender grass stems were like green ropes, wrapped around the statue’s legs, with fluffy grass tassels swaying in the breeze.
At this moment, Tong Xin activated Analysis, and the statue’s information poured into his mind.
[Divinity (Seventh-Generation Primordial)]
Target Hunt Level: 52 (near death, divine power lost)
Primordial Introduction: A Primordial lifeform that grasps the Divinity trait can obtain Faith Power through believers. Faith Power can be bestowed, or used to strengthen the body tempering level.
“Hiss.”
Seeing the analysis information, Tong Xin was dumbfounded.
Seventh-Generation Primordial.
Since Monster World opened, the highest generational level had been Sixth-Generation Primordial.
He never expected to encounter a Seventh-Generation Primordial in a near-death state in this valley.
“Struck it rich, struck it rich.”
After removing the surrounding weeds, the statue’s form became clear. Its feet were like hooves, the tips embedded in the ground, leaving cracked traces in the surrounding soil. Following the thick legs upward, the monster’s body bulged with muscle, its lines hard. Scales were carved densely on the skin, each scale irregular in shape, its edges sharp as a blade.
It was covered in cracks of various sizes.
“Guide, is this Divinity Inherited soul strong?” Tong Xin asked, eyes shining as he sized up the statue.
[Strong, but it depends on how you use it. If you have believers, then the Divinity statue will grant you powerful Faith Power. If you have no believers, then the power the Divinity trait brings you is zero.]
“Believers? Where do I find believers?”
[Do not know.] Guide replied, utterly uninterested.
“Can my good brothers work? What counts as a believer?”
[Those who hold you in awe and regard you as the sustenance and support of their spirit.]
Hearing Guide’s explanation, the crafty smiles of the Kindergarten brothers surfaced in Tong Xin’s mind.
It was certain that good brothers could not possibly believe in him.
They could be a father and son without blood relation, but becoming faith clearly crossed the line.
[Do not overthink it. Try to contain it first.]
“Alright.”
Tong Xin’s spirits rose again. He condensed Rock Shield and slammed it toward the statue.
Bang.
At the instant the shield collided with the statue, sparks flew, but the statue did not budge.
Unconvinced, Tong Xin mustered his strength and began hammering wildly.
Huff, huff, huff.
After a series of heavy blows, he was panting hard.
“Guide, did I break through the defense or not?”
[Do not ask. Use your eyes to see.]
Looking up at the statue with not a trace of damage, the cracks upon it were just as they had been.
Realizing he had not broken the defense, he gritted his teeth and struck again.
But the Stone Statue build already dealt low damage, and with the statue at hunt level 52, he simply could not break its defense no matter how he tried.
Realizing he could not handle it on his own, he immediately opened the Trading House and bought three Sixth-Generation psionic bombs produced by the Arms Dealers Guild.
Before long, a loud explosion sounded.
Returning to the front, the cracks on the statue had obviously increased this time.
But his sacrificial power was running out. Though there were unsold spirit plants in his pack, selling them would take time.
Thinking of this, he decisively spoke up on the guild voice channel.
“Your stepdad is in trouble. Hurry up and send me money.”
Little Class Iron Hammer: Asking for money and still so arrogant. Principal, what are you trying to do?
Kindergarten Principal: Buy bombs and do something big. You will know in a moment.
Little Class Cute Baby: The Principal is clearly driven mad and is preparing to perish together with the Thorn Beast using psionic bombs. My suggestion is to just die. That is cheaper. But as a brother, I support you. (red packet: 1,000 sacrificial power)
Little Class Drunken Milk: Poor Principal, out of options, preparing for a flesh bomb charge. See you in an hour. I saved barbecue for you. (red packet: 1,000 sacrificial power)
Kindergarten Principal: What about the other godsons? Hurry and send the support money. Your father will scare you to death in a moment.
With laughter, though the Kindergarten brothers did not know what the Principal was doing, they still sent sacrificial power red packets one after another.
With sacrificial power in hand, Tong Xin immediately felt confident.
Ten Sixth-Generation psionic bombs to start.
Before long, explosions resounded through the valley. The nearby trees were buffeted by a powerful shockwave. Thick ancient trees shook violently. Leaves fell like snowflakes. Some slender branches, unable to bear the strain, snapped with a crack, and fragments danced with the blast.
Billowing smoke followed close behind, and the air was filled with an acrid scent released by some elemental energy.
After one strike, the kill prompt still did not appear.
So Tong Xin bought ten more Sixth-Generation psionic bombs and came to the statue.
By now the statue was covered in cracks. The damage was evident.
He stuck the psionic bombs onto the statue one by one and set the timer. Tong Xin turned and ran.
Reaching a safe distance, he turned to look. A powerful shockwave suddenly rolled out, followed by a thunderous roar from the cave behind.
The awakened giant beast thrust its massive head out of the cave.
“It is over.”
Just as Tong Xin was preparing to buy more psionic bombs and launch a death charge to complete the kill before the giant beast attacked, the Challenger Notification resounded through all channels.
[Challenger Notification (All Channels): Congratulations to player ‘Kindergarten Principal’ for successfully killing the Seventh-Generation Primordial Monster: Divinity, and obtaining a reward of 200,000 sacrificial power, plus an additional special Inherited soul: Divinity (tradable)]
[Divinity (Seventh-Generation Primordial)]
Primordial Trait Introduction: You can draw Faith Power through devout believers. Faith Power is a plastic energy that can be used to increase strength, and can also be listed on the Trading House for sale.
Inherited soul price: Special Inherited soul, purchase not yet open.
The sudden full-channel prompt instantly blew up the chat channels in every region.
All players were asking which beast was so lucky as to pick up the last hit on a Seventh-Generation Primordial, and why they were not sending red packets in the all channel yet.
Friend requests then sounded in succession in Tong Xin’s mind.
For the vast majority of players, a Seventh-Generation Inherited soul was an unattainable goal.
What was more, this was a special Inherited soul that could not be purchased. All players lamented why this luck had not fallen to them.
The reward of 200,000 sacrificial power made the Guild Leaders of major guilds green with envy. They wanted to add the Principal as a friend and try to DM a purchase.
At this moment, the Kindergarten Guild’s chat channel was flooded with question marks.
Tong Xin turned to glance at the giant beast that had already thrust its way out of the cave and was roaring as it charged toward him. He then spoke calmly on the voice channel.
“Stay calm. A mere Seventh-Generation Inherited soul is in the bag.” (120,000 sacrificial power red packet)
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