41 - Dungeon Growth Log

Relentless, knowing only combat. Xia Ge felt as if she had become a puppet. The soul-snatching technique was ineffective against the array puppets since they had no soul; even when demonized, it was merely an enhancement of their physical bodies. They were entirely "mechanical." To deal with them, apart from disrupting the formation on the ground, one had to fight them to the death to exhaust their spiritual energy. No fatigue. "Host, you've been fighting them for a whole day!" The system was anxious, "It's too much!!" Xia Ge didn't feel tired at all. With the Crimson Blood Fasting Pill, she felt like a wound-up mechanical doll, fueled by boundless energy, in an unprecedented peak state. Not tired, but extremely annoyed. Although she'd cut off the array that supplied these puppets with spiritual energy, the previous surges had already charged them up sufficiently. The black vines were poisoned, and every time she tried to cut through the luminous night-pearls on the wall, countless vines and array puppets would swarm to protect them. Very anxious. Incredibly anxious. Achan had been poisoned—his fate uncertain—and she couldn't rescue him. All she could do was tangle with these things. "I must... break through." Severing the head of an advancing puppet, Xia Ge leapt into the air and swung her leg, knocking down another from behind. With the momentum, countless black vines shot towards her, attempting to restrict her movements. Xia Ge understood clearly: she couldn't get poisoned or injured. Only by maintaining this peak condition, avoiding poison and injury, could she hope to defeat the multitude of array puppets. If she got poisoned— While the puppets wouldn't tire, her peak state via the Crimson Blood Fasting Pill would only last for three days. Poisoned, both she and Achan would be doomed. Her earlier tactics ensured she remained unscathed while defeating the maximum number of enemies. But this method was too slow, consuming too much time and effort. The black, poisoned vines constantly hindered her from reaching Achan and the night-pearls—she barely made any progress. One more day. She had eliminated most of the puppets. Perhaps she could gamble. Seeing the vines closing in from all sides, Xia Ge's eyes flashed with sharp determination. Instead of retreating, she advanced! The system panicked, "Host! What are you doing? They're poisoned, retreat!!!" Ignoring the system, as the sharp thorns of the vines approached her body, Xia Ge's black scythe flashed pure and dark, ruthless and silent, slicing through them effortlessly. "Slash—" In the blink of an eye, the vines shattered into countless pieces. The system fell silent in shock—such speed! But in the next moment, Xia Ge's night-black outfit also crumbled into shreds, revealing snow-white undergarments and slender arms and shoulders covered in scratches from the vines. "Little puppet." Xia Ge lightly stepped on a puppet's head, using the momentum to dash towards the night-pearls. Once again, vines rushed forth, but Xia Ge's scythe cut through them with deadly precision—clearly fighting with a do-or-die attitude! "Host!!!" The system's voice was sharp, "This will poison you and kill you!!!" "No destruction, no creation." The black scythe drew a fatal arc in the air. Amidst the wails of the puppets, Xia Ge's voice was raspy, "Sometimes... I don't like leaving myself a way out." Outside, they were likely holding the entry competition for Sword Peak. Tomorrow would be the entry competition for Pill Peak. Though she said she wouldn’t leave herself a way out, she truly had none. The system was momentarily speechless. Gifting Achan the fasting gold pill that could sustain her for a year while leaving herself only the three-day Crimson Blood Fasting Pill. The system belatedly realized. This person was always very clear-headed. Clear-headed to the point of fear. She had always known the competition was starting and she was running out of time. The reason she gave Achan the gold pill without hesitation was because she knew, besides making herself retreat out of fear, it had no other purpose. "Whoosh—" Xia Ge's desperate attacks tore through the dense vines, slashing through the gleaming night-pearls on the walls, which shattered with a resounding crash. For a moment, the black vines retreated, allowing Xia Ge to spring towards Achan! Her voice hoarse, "Little puppet, the black vine poison takes three hours to paralyze—enough time!!" "And then what!! Besides, strenuous activity will speed up the poison! You still have the competition!" The system was on the brink of madness, "Are you out of your mind!!!" "Little puppet, if I can't do the first step right—" The fierce blade quickly slashed at the vines surrounding Achan. Xia Ge, her light black hair fluttering, finally revealed a vulnerable and youthful figure. Her black-haired and wilful blade relentlessly freed Achan while she prepared to jump again, but her body suddenly stiffened! Paralysis hit abruptly. Xia Ge's pupils contracted slightly. Missing her footing, she was about to fall like a broken kite— The wind whistled— Xia Ge murmured, "Then how can I even think of the second step." Do everything now in her power, never giving up on any possibilities. Achan, eyes closed, felt the slim arms embracing him tightly and the raspy voice beside his ear. He said, "Enough." With the paralysis passing, Xia Ge stomped onto a raging puppet below, propelling herself upward again. She swiftly opened the point exchange store, deftly searching for the desired item! [Potential Gun] Suchan opened her eyes slightly, looking at the ragged youth before her. His torn clothes revealed a slender neck and delicate collarbones, his body still entangled with vines. With her cheek pressed against the youth’s chest from his tight embrace, Suchan could taste the faintly sweet blood from the thorns piercing into him. A sweet scent of blood. And... the bones of this youth. Suchan's pure black pupils reflected the lights from the shattered night-pearls, a hint of danger stirring within. This youth… seemed to be a girl. Unfazed, Xia Ge focused entirely on the last array puppet guarding the platform! Success or failure boiled down to this moment. [Warning!! Enemy overpowering! Retreat now!] The vines surged again. Xia Ge, holding the scythe in one hand and Achan in the other, had no defenses against the onslaught! Ignoring the system's bloody red warning, she shielded Achan, turned her back to the vines, and charged towards the platform without hesitation. Holding the scythe and embracing the girl, her left hand negotiated the Potential Gun, quickly pulling the trigger! "Bang—" [Potential Gun] 10 points Effect: triggers immense potential for one minute after being shot. Amidst the excruciating pain, a surge of strength exploded within Xia Ge, feeling like she was burning as every drop of her blood ignited! "Trust me." Suchan, in the frail embrace of the girl, lifted her head, her eyes meeting Xia Ge's. Those black eyes burned with an indomitable flame, filled with passion, anger, confidence, and a desperate gamble. And... a rare tenderness Suchan had only seen in one other person. She saw the torn black attire, the clean, fair neck, a smooth line from chin to collarbone. Though his voice had matured, there was no hint of an Adam's apple, and that frail embrace exuded warmth beyond belief. Suchan thought. This was indeed just a slender... girl. "Trust me—" Suchan heard the raspy voice in the wind, "I... will definitely save you!" Her unguarded back bore the brunt of the ripping vines. Suchan watched the black, flame-filled eyes contract momentarily in pain, as the hands holding her never loosened, grasping tightly. Surrounded by a storm of vines, Suchan remained untouched. Those black eyes, burning as they were, were mesmerizing. So assuring. And beautiful... beyond comprehension. Suchan smiled faintly. Her pale face bloomed like an enchanting flower, her voice carrying a low, subtle resonance. Unbelievably, as the leader of the Thousand Souls Sect, she found solace in a child. ... perhaps, it wasn't so bad after all. She heard her own voice say. "Yes, I believe in you... my hero." —Let her see how far this child could go. Xia Ge no longer had the mind to pay attention to the strange sounds and smiles from the person in her arms. Despite the excruciating pain in her back, the Potential Gun made her feel brimming with unstoppable strength! ——This strategy of wounding a thousand enemies while harming eight hundred of her own was always something she'd considered foolish, but now, she had no other choice. The Potential Gun gave her only one minute. She had to kill that B-class puppet and grab the teleportation stone within that minute!! Breaking through the layers of vines, her vision suddenly cleared. The glassy B-class puppet raised its eyes, meeting her gaze! Xia Ge swiftly threw the expended Potential Gun at its head, her eyes flashing green— [Perfect Aim]! With a thunderous crash, the Potential Gun, thrown with a powerful gust, smashed the head of the glassy puppet trying to evade it! Numerous lower-class array puppets rushed over, and Xia Ge transferred the scythe to her left hand, the blade breaking into three segments with a series of sharp sounds, and she hurled them towards the headless B-class puppet! "Slash—" "Perfect aim—" Suchan overheard the girl's raspy incantation. The scythe’s blade, terrifyingly swift, swept through the air, shattering puppets in its path unchallenged! “Slice—” The fierce scythe cleaved the glassy puppet in half! The teleportation stone stored within its torso flew out due to the violent impact! “Clink, clink, clink” The scythe reverted to its original form. Xia Ge, with Achan in her right arm and the scythe tightly gripped in her left, still had time within the minute. Fixing her gaze on the flying teleportation stone, she wanted to stow the scythe into her fluid silver ring to free her hand, but— The ring showed no response. Malfunction?! Xia Ge's pupils contracted slightly in shock! [Fluid Silver]: Occasionally malfunctions and fails to store or retrieve items. Of all times, now! A puppet spewing icy mist lunged at her, Xia Ge threw her scythe, decapitating it mid-air. Ignoring the discarded scythe, she activated her ghostly skill, stepping on puppet heads mid-air, charging towards the teleportation stone! She must get that teleportation stone! However, just as her hand was about to seize it— She could feel the cold sting of the stone at her fingertips. Her body suddenly, completely froze. The minute given by the Potential Gun had just expired. Combined with her recent intense exertion, the poison from the black vines spread rapidly— The teleportation stone slipped past her fingers. ...Missed. Failure. ——If only the Fluid Silver hadn't malfunctioned. ——If only she had just thrown the scythe away instead of bothering to stow it away that split second. If she— No matter what, now, being one step behind meant total defeat. Unreconciled. So much regret!! Xia Ge's foot slipped, and she was about to fall from the air like a kite with a broken string— The wind whistled. "—Sir, you've gone to such lengths to save me." The voice in her arms was enchanting, seductive. "Achan is deeply grateful." Feeling the stiff and weakening arms around her, Suchan looked at the slightly hollow eyes of the girl, laughing softly. Just as Xia Ge was in despair, a delicate hand hooked the teleportation stone on her behalf. Xia Ge's eyes widened. In the air, the red-dressed girl holding the teleportation stone reversed the embrace, holding the now stiff Xia Ge in return. "Don't cry, my little hero." No longer using the mature, gentle voice from before, the girl's tone carried a seductive huskiness. She gently lifted Xia Ge's chin, her forehead jewel shimmering, her eyes captivatingly seductive, an unforgettable allure. She softly praised, "You've done very well." The stiff body was suddenly embraced. The red-clad figure twirled like a beautiful illusion before Xia Ge's eyes. The seemingly dying bride from the black vines transformed into an enchanting demon, smiling at her tenderly, like a dream. “……” The two descended together as the puppets below lunged frantically. However, the captivating demon before her merely smiled lightly, waving her torn sleeve as if discarding trash. The remaining night-pearls shattered into countless pieces. The black vines vanished entirely, and the puppets turned to ashes. The vast stone chamber became astonishingly spacious, the golden array on the ground illuminating everything brightly. So clear and pristine that everything seemed like a dream. Her smile was gentle, yet dangerously enchanting. "You're truly a loveable little girl." Author's Note: Xia Ge's true identity was revealed so abruptly. Unexpected, right? LOL Second update still at 11:30 p.m. = = Thanks to the readers who threw grenades and donated nutrients! Love you all! = = Reader "任遗随塌", donated nutrient solution +5, 2018-06-07 08:53:01 Reader "芸芸众生", donated nutrient solution +10, 2018-06-07 06:14:15 Reader "鹤笙", donated nutrient solution +5, 2018-06-07 01:10:01 Reader "猫", donated nutrient solution +10, 2018-06-06 23:57:25 Reader "果果", donated nutrient solution +5, 2018-06-06 23:52:36 Thanks to all for the nutrient solutions! Love you!