https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-229-Cangling-Debate-of-Swords-37-/13547451/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-231-Cangling-Debate-of-Swords-39-/13547453/
Chapter 230: Cangling Debate of Swords (Thirty-Eight)
Chapter 230: Cangling Debate of Swords (Thirty-Eight)
As the new main quest notification chimed, Xiao Tan and Bei Ling were still navigating the underground cave system, searching for an exit.
Though the stone had claimed they could escape within a day and a night before ascending, its calculations clearly had flaws. Its "day and a night" likely meant twenty-four hours of nonstop movement without rest.
Xiao Tan and Bei Ling couldn’t sustain that pace. Bound by stamina value consumption, they had to pause periodically to recover. Both were level 7, with 1,700 stamina points at full capacity. Even being reckless, they needed to maintain at least a quarter of their stamina reserves—otherwise, encountering an emergency with empty stamina would be disastrous.
While the cave’s monsters and puzzles weren’t like Pokémon’s endless random encounters, the sheer number of flagged events made progress unavoidable. Occasionally, these trials rewarded them with items, like a sweet treat after a slap to the face…
Thus, they fell into a rhythm akin to playing a classic Rpg: exploring, triggering events, collecting rewards, resting, then repeating. Unbeknownst to Bu Jue, their explored map expanded steadily. Without knowing the exit’s location, they even ventured into side paths whenever possible.
By the time they finally found the exit, midnight of the second day had passed. Nearly thirty-five hours had elapsed since their fall into the cave.
Terrifying Paradise’s long-term scenarios created a strange fatigue in later stages. While players’ bodies slept inside Gaming Pods, their minds operated in a controllable dreamlike state.
When such a "dream" lasted over a day—or two—their sense of time warped. Though less intense within the scenario, the real impact emerged upon exiting the Gaming Pod. Players would feel like they’d pulled an all-nighter, though their bodies remained rested—their minds alone sensed exhaustion.
"Should be here, right?" Xiao Tan removed and stored his miner’s helmet.
Bei Ling switched off her flashlight, lifting her gaze to follow Xiao Tan’s upward glance. "Judging by sight, we’re higher than where we fell."
Bei Ling had already replaced her flashlight batteries twice. She hadn’t anticipated needing prolonged illumination, bringing only four spare batteries—now all depleted. After speaking with the stone, she realized future battery scarcity would hamper their light source. Without illumination, their movements would become exponentially harder and more dangerous. Thus, she proposed they alternate light usage and turn off devices during rest periods to conserve power.
Thankfully, they found the exit before total darkness.
This cave resembled their entry point—a ceilingless chamber with a passage above. Unlike the inverted funnel shape before, this was a standard cylindrical shaft. A pond occupied the cave floor, while thick, gnarled yellow vines covered the walls like natural climbing ladders. These tangled tendrils, reminiscent of Diablo’s demon vines, spiraled upward to the top.
At the shaft’s summit, moonlight filtered through dense vegetation, casting a canopy-like cover. Looking up from the dark depths, the light shimmered faintly through leaves—a scene not spectacular, but pleasing.
"Alright, I’ll go first?" Xiao Tan asked. "Oh, should we tie ourselves together with a rope? Like climbers use for safety?"
"You occasionally come up with good ideas", Bei Ling replied—a rare compliment.
Xiao Tan simply smiled, offering no further reply. His easygoing nature contrasted Feng Bu Jue, who’d surely boast endlessly if praised.
Bei Ling’s satchel held a climbing rope with safety buckles—a pricey but reliable store-bought item. They secured the rope around their shoulders and waists, leaving seven or eight meters between them. This allowed free movement while ensuring the other could absorb impact if one slipped. Of course, this was a precaution—both might still tumble together.
Before climbing, they rested to restore stamina, avoiding mid-climb exhaustion. Xiao Tan led the ascent.
Climbing was a basic skill for assassins, as innate as breathing. Though not an assassin himself, Xiao Tan wore the classic Assassin’s Creed attire, prioritizing agility. His martial arts and scouting proficiencies made the climb effortless. The wall brimmed with handholds, and the vines proved remarkably sturdy—no risk of slipping.
Bei Ling, though less physically conditioned, climbed easily due to her light weight. With Xiao Tan ahead and the rope securing her, she relaxed, matching his rhythm. Halfway up, she glanced down—blackness below, only the pond’s faint ripple audible. Above, moonlight grew brighter.
After twenty minutes of climbing, they neared the exit. The joy of imminent escape dulled their accumulated fatigue. Memories of endless tunnels, sudden monsters, roadblock puzzles, and unexpected terrors faded. This moment felt as refreshing as gulping chilled milk after a bath.
"Finally out!" They collapsed onto grass under the starlit sky, exhaling deeply.
Moonlight bathed the forested terrain in daylight clarity. Sparse trees covered the gently sloped ground—no immediate danger in sight.
"Is this already the third day’s dawn?" Xiao Tan asked.
"Correct", Bei Ling replied. "The duel’s tonight. About thirteen hours remain."
"From the main quest, Feng Bu Jue should still be at Lingzhong Realm, right?"
Bei Ling’s expression shifted. "Right! How did helping Su Nüxia breakthrough end up?"
Xiao Tan frowned slightly. "Well, Ji Bu’s not dead according to the team interface…"
(End of Chapter)
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