Chapter 575
Chapter 575
After his teammates finished drinking the raw sheep’s blood, Feng Bu Jue grabbed his cleaver and, with practiced knife skills, dismembered the wild mountain goat.
He removed the organs and bones, leaving only the meaty steaks and goat legs. He divided these cuts into a dozen portions, handing them out to the three people present. Feng Bu Jue took three portions for himself, placing them into his satchel.
“Alright, let’s move out,” Feng Bu Jue said after finishing, sheathing his cleaver and prompting his teammates to resume their journey.
“Hey… you’ve been pushing nonstop like this… aren’t you even tired?” This time, even Tian Ma Xing Kong was surprised.
While Feng Bu Jue was cutting the meat, Brother Horse and the others had been resting on-site, recovering some of their stamina value. However, in such a short time, their recovery was barely ten points at best.
By contrast, Feng Bu Jue hadn’t stopped moving since entering the corridor. He’d led the group through the passageway, fought the Blade Butterfly Queen in combat, rescued people from the silk web, fled, turned back, then led the way again. Now, he’d wrestled an entire wild mountain goat and played butcher.
After doing so much, he showed no sign of wanting to rest even a little. Anyone would find it hard to believe.
“It’s fine. I can keep going,” Feng Bu Jue replied casually.
He offered no further explanation. His reasons were the same as before—he didn’t want to reveal the details of Hate Furnace’s title ability.
His teammates didn’t know that during his “struggle” with the wild mountain goat, Feng Bu Jue had used Hate Furnace to recover some stamina. Of course, the damage from Spirit Sense Body Technique - Modified hadn’t counted—this wasn’t considered effective “hostile damage.” However, the stamina value he’d lost fighting the wild mountain goat had been converted back proportionally.
Thus, Feng Bu Jue’s stamina was now restored to nearly 20%. As long as he gritted his teeth, he could even use the Southern Dipper Flying Dragon Fist again.
“You don’t need to worry about this guy,” Hong Hu, walking at the rear, suddenly spoke. “Don’t forget, when the combat power leaderboard was still active, his rank was on par with Shiva. Even top-tier players like Zui Wo Chang Ran, Fei Chai Shu, and Xiao Wen Cang Tian were ranked below him.” He paused. “Players at this level can’t be judged by normal standards. If he said he had a passive skill that doubled his stamina value cap, I wouldn’t be surprised.”
“Ah… I almost forgot,” Ji Bu murmured. “This guy’s capabilities are truly genuine.”
“Speaking of that…” Tian Ma Xing Kong chimed in weakly, “After the version update, I completely disappeared from the new Player Comprehensive Strength Ranking.” He paused briefly. “Plus, the new leaderboard displays a full thirty spots!”
“That’s normal,” Hong Hu squinted skeptically. “Even making it into the top twenty before the update felt like a miracle.”
“Hmph! Yulong, you’re just jealous,” Brother Horse turned his thick-browed, broad-eyed face toward Hong Hu.
“Jealous? Of you?” Hong Hu snapped, clearly annoyed. “I’m just stating facts! For a player of your type, if you fight one-on-one, someone could easily come up with a counter-strategy. Just pit you against a mid-tier shooting proficiency user with a proper plan, and they’d take you down.”
“I’ll agree with that,” Feng Bu Jue added. “I can think of forty-seven strategies off the top of my head to beat Tian Ma Xing Kong in a duel.”
“Don’t you think that sentence was both disgusting and self-deprecating?” Ji Bu retorted.
Feng Bu Jue ignored him, continuing, “By the way, Brother Horse, there’s something puzzling me. I’d like to ask, but if it’s inconvenient, you don’t have to answer.” He turned, giving Tian Ma Xing Kong a meaningful look. “After receiving the mysterious gift from the Summit Confrontation’s first place, your capabilities should’ve increased significantly, right?”
This question immediately tightened the air between them.
Without question, this was a “taboo” topic.
Although the Summit Confrontation was over, speculation about the mysterious gift had never ceased. Almost all players, including Hong Hu and Ji Bu, were intensely curious about the prize’s nature.
The problem was—no one knew the answer.
Only three groups held the truth: Dream Corporation’s upper management, Stars Studio’s executives, and the recipient himself—Tian Ma Xing Kong.
None of these groups would leak it. Dream Corporation was obvious; anyone leaking information might face worse than just getting fired. Stars Studio’s executives were equally tight-lipped. For them, the mysterious gift’s contents were an intangible bargaining chip—its value lay in remaining unrevealed.
Thus, the only remaining way to find out seemed to be asking Tian Ma Xing Kong directly.
But who would dare? In the gaming world, this was essentially corporate espionage. Unless the studio authorized disclosure, Tian Ma Xing Kong had no right to speak. Asking him was practically putting him in an impossible position.
“Hmm… let me think…” Tian Ma Xing Kong pondered for a full minute before replying. “Aren’t you asking the obvious? Since I’ve dropped off the top thirty of the Comprehensive Strength Ranking, obviously my capabilities haven’t improved. Why ask?”
“Hmph… figured you’d say that…” Feng Bu Jue chuckled. “I was hoping you’d spill the beans on the prize itself.”
“Oh~ So that’s what you wanted to know…” Brother Horse laughed. “No problem. I can tell you.”
“What?!” Both Hong Hu and Ji Bu gasped. “So it’s not a secret after all?”
“Well…” Brother Horse scratched his head as they walked. “I think… telling you isn’t a big deal. Of course, the studio did tell me to keep it confidential.”
“Then maybe you shouldn’t say it,” Feng Bu Jue advised. “I was just curious. I don’t want you getting fired or sued over this.”
“Heh, you’re overthinking it,” Tian Ma Xing Kong smiled. “Back then, I was part of the newbie group nobody really believed in, so I signed a ‘blue-collar player’ contract. My contract barely mentioned anything about game competition prizes. There was only an addendum clause—players have full autonomy over prize distribution.” He spread his hands. “Even star players’ contracts rarely include confidentiality clauses about competition prizes.”
“That’s true,” Ji Bu nodded. “Normally, game companies use competition prizes as marketing tools. Dream Corporation keeping it under wraps is rare.”
“In other words…” Hong Hu added. “This part isn’t protected by the confidentiality agreement.”
“Exactly,” Tian Ma Xing Kong grinned. “Call it a loophole in the contract.”
“But that still doesn’t explain why you’d willingly reveal the prize,” Feng Bu Jue mused thoughtfully. He gave Brother Horse a sideways glance. “I think I’ve already guessed… That ‘mysterious gift’ is probably something… that even if you told everyone, no one would believe it.”
“Haha! You’re amazing!” Tian Ma Xing Kong roared. “Alright, I’ll tell you! The prize was a life-sized Saint Seiya Pegasus Gold Cloth replica!”
“What?!” Hong Hu nearly dropped his glasses.
Ji Bu looked equally stunned: “You know… even I can’t bring myself to believe that.”
“Hahaha…” Feng Bu Jue laughed, muttering under his breath, “Tailored to the person… customized… Hmph… sounds exactly like that guy’s style…”
"What?" Tian Ma Xing Kong thought Feng Bu Jue was addressing him and immediately asked.
"Oh, I was just saying", Feng Bu Jue raised his voice slightly and declared with a flourish, "that's exactly your style, isn't it?"
"You're telling me!" Tian Ma Xing Kong snorted, laughing heartily. "The moment I heard about this, I was absolutely thrilled! When I received the package, I got so worked up the cardboard box and foam packing practically shredded in my hands."
"Hmm... don't you think the prize you received has somewhat low value?" Ji Bu mused. "After all, it's just a collectible figure-type item. Setting aside the skill points reward, the second and third place winners - Zui Wo Chang Ran and Yama - both received Legendary-Level Equipment. Even though bound items can't be sold, according to current market prices, Legendary-Level Equipment is worth at least several ten thousand Rmb."
"How do you know it's not valuable?" Feng Bu Jue replied with a calm smile. "If I were Tian Ma Xing Kong, I'd certainly prefer the Holy Cloak over any legendary-grade equipment." He exhaled deeply, gazing at the sky with melancholy. "You must understand... something worthless to one person might be priceless to another."
"True... treasures in this game are ultimately virtual", Hong Hu added. "Eventually, Terrifying Paradise will shut down servers like other games, and everything here will fade away... but real-world memorabilia can last forever."
"Hey, why are you all acting like I got scammed?" Tian Ma Xing Kong interjected. "The letter Dream Corporation sent with the prize said this Holy Cloak was worth ten chests of 'Tetradrachms' (an ancient Greek silver coin)!"
"Hehe... what kind of currency is that?" Hong Hu scoffed. "And measuring it in 'chests'? Sounds like Vietnamese Dong to me!"
Ji Bu chimed in, "The prize organizers definitely exaggerated the value."
"No, I actually think it's reasonable", Tian Ma Xing Kong defended. "I tried it on... the craftsmanship is incredibly detailed. Though heavy, it allows full mobility without any discomfort. The engravings on its surface are exquisite - not a single scratch, with subtle reflective qualities." He paused. "Also... when worn, you can feel surging power within your body..."
Feng Bu Jue's unease grew as he listened. A terrible hypothesis formed in his mind. "Let me ask... when you tried it on, did you attempt striking walls or activating Tianma Liuxing Fist?"
"Huh? No way", Brother Horse replied. "This isn't a game. Who actually does that in real life? Are you twelve?"
"You're the least qualified to say that", Feng Bu Jue muttered sarcastically.
The four continued walking at an unrelenting pace. In fact, Feng Bu Jue had consciously accelerated their speed.
After hydrating earlier, their thirst had completely disappeared, with stamina consumption returning to normal. Under these conditions, even while walking, their stamina values gradually regenerated.
Feng Bu Jue had already noticed this phenomenon. He quickly deduced that within this scenario, as long as "hunger and thirst" weren't factors, stamina depletion remained at standard rates. Any "fatigue" was merely a bodily sensation manifesting during low stamina periods, easily alleviated with brief rest.
Of course, one factor still required consideration: temperature.
Fortunately, this wasn't yet a concern. The Crystal Labyrinth maintained a cool temperature around ten degrees Celsius - comfortably cold rather than freezing or sweltering.
... ...
After covering more ground, everyone's physical energy had recovered to at least twenty percent. They now approached their destination - the Fear Leaf.
"Hong Hu", Feng Bu Jue suddenly stopped, alertly scanning ahead. "You still have power left on that Infrared Lamp?"
Without hesitation, Hong Hu retrieved the egg-shaped metal lamp from his satchel and stepped forward. "Half charge left." He activated the Infrared Lamp.
Instantly, the area was bathed in red rays. Within this illumination, the silk webbing became fully visible...
Everyone looked ahead. Five or six meters forward loomed a Silk Wall.
"Got it right", Feng Bu Jue remarked. "Like those leeches before, these silk threads also glow under infrared."
Speaking of which... how did you know there were webs ahead?" Hong Hu asked suspiciously. "You were walking fast the whole way, but suddenly made me activate infrared here."
"Careful observation reveals patterns", Feng Bu Jue pointed upward. "Ninety percent of the crystal pillars here are over twelve meters tall, rarely exceeding fifteen. Can Mu's web-weaving averages above ten meters." He gestured toward a nearby pillar. "Take ten meters as the boundary. Turn off the infrared and examine where the silk adheres to crystal."
Hong Hu complied, observing for a moment before responding, "The crystal's surface seems slightly blurred?"
"Exactly", Feng Bu Jue laughed. "It's like drawing a line on a lightbulb with transparent glue."
"Right... if these crystal pillars didn't glow naturally, we'd never see anything", Ji Bu added.
"Turn it back on", Feng Bu Jue instructed Hong Hu, then turned to Ji Bu. "Ji Bu, use the fan to clear the path."
Within ten seconds, both were ready. One raised the light, the other brandished his giant fan, clearing obstacles ahead.
"I hate taking orders", Hong Hu grumbled.
"Ugh... when did Bu Jue become that guy giving commands?" Ji Bu muttered.
"Don't make faces behind my back!" Feng Bu Jue shouted. "Companions shouldn't quarrel! Have you forgotten Wokol's dying words before our mission even started?"
"You chopped him into pieces before he could say anything!" Ji Bu yelled.
"If I had to add lines", Hong Hu mused dramatically, "it'd probably be... 'I really don't taste good... yamete kudasai!'"
As they spoke, Ji Bu had already fanned away several silk webs. Once fallen, the webs posed no threat, clearing their path.
The four continued forward into an area thickly covered with pale white physical matter. Here, crystal pillars grew taller and denser, the ground paths narrowing with countless twists and turns - like entering an insect's nest.
"We must be close", Hong Hu remained vigilant, scanning the surroundings. "We should formulate a battle plan first. While our physical condition has improved since exiting the corridor, defeating that boss still seems challenging."
"Hmm, that caterpillar really is powerful", Tian Ma Xing Kong agreed. "My Meteor Strike Fist barely left a mark."
Speaking of natural science, Ji Bu swung his fan while addressing Feng Bu Jue sideways, "You should know what moths fear, right?"
"Cold air blasts, scorching sun exposure, water-fire spices..." Feng Bu Jue summarized concisely before dousing enthusiasm. "Actually, moths are quite fragile creatures. Unfortunately, even if Can Mu possesses these weaknesses, we can't exploit them. Her scale is simply too massive. Unless someone among us can activate a technique like Daigoro's Ice Chariot Wheel, she wouldn't even feel it."
Before he finished, Ji Bu suddenly declared, "Why didn't you say so earlier? I can do that!"
"Huh?" Feng Bu Jue froze again - Ji Bu had surprised him twice now.
Hong Hu and Tian Ma Xing Kong remained calm. Their attitude was typical: "Ji Bu, you're amazing as always - Hiei Studio's true boss."
"You're saying you actually have such a powerful technique?" Feng Bu Jue confirmed skeptically.
"Relax, I've got the ultimate move!" Ji Bu grinned without hesitation, happy to reveal skill names since it was a One-Time Consumption Technique. "Legendary's [Ice Wheel Slashing Skies Long], sounds mighty just from the name, right?"
(End of Chapter)
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