Chapter 225: Chapter 219: Patrolling Mobs
With Dong Changsheng as a human mine detector, Lin Qingfeng’s group advanced with astonishing efficiency.
But Dong Changsheng no longer wanted to lead the way.
He had finally figured it out. No matter how he used an "expert’s mindset" to analyze the situation, no matter which "wide, open road" he pointed to, the end result was always the same: he’d be thrown like a rock to get a firsthand taste of what it meant to "lead the charge."
But did it matter if he didn’t want to lead the way?
It didn’t.
The leash around his neck was a fate he could not resist.
"Dong Changsheng, that path on the left looks good. Go give it a try."
CRACK! The leash snapped through the air.
"AHHH—!" Dong Changsheng, the treasure-detector, launched!
A violent explosion and his heart-wrenching wails erupted from up ahead. A moment later, all was quiet.
[Guixi Secret Realm Channel (Team)]
[Lin Qingfeng]: The left path is safe now. There were a few exploding fruits, but Dong Changsheng is barely hurt, again. Pick up all the scraps you can find.
"Dong Changsheng, there seems to be a light in that cave on the right. Go take a look."
CRACK!
"AHHH—! My back!"
The loud sounds of tearing claws and crumbling rock erupted from the cave, accompanied by Dong Changsheng’s bloodcurdling scream as his bones were dislocated.
[Guixi Secret Realm Channel (Team)]
[Lin Qingfeng]: There were a few lurking gargoyles in the cave. When I threw him, Dong Changsheng crashed into some stalactites, which fell and triggered a warding crystal core mechanism that dealt with the monsters. Grab all those warding crystal cores!
Along the way, Lin Qingfeng threw Dong Changsheng into one dangerous area after another at all sorts of incredible angles and in bizarre positions.
And every time, just when it seemed he was on the brink of death, he would manage to escape by the skin of his teeth through some bizarre coincidence, wiping out both the traps and the monsters in the process.
Su Ling’er, following at the rear of the party, watched with her heart in her throat. She felt as if her entire worldview was being repeatedly updated, shattered, rebuilt, and then shattered all over again.
’What kind of dark art is this?!’
’Can it be that Senior Brother not only schemes against people, but can also manipulate the very fate and coincidences of the world as if they were toys in his hand?’
’Every one of his throws, seemingly random, triggered some kind of chain reaction that I couldn’t comprehend.’
’And without exception, the end result was always the same!’
’Mr. Dong survives, the danger is neutralized, and the site even drops decent materials...’
’It’s terrifying! This is beyond what a normal Cultivator can do!’
Su Ling’er looked at Lin Qingfeng’s calm profile, a bone-deep chill rising in her heart.
’He’s treating this entire secret realm like his personal chessboard, and all living beings, fate, even life and death, are just pieces for him to play with!’
Soon, they arrived at a relatively flat, open platform.
In the center of the platform grew a patch of colorful flowers, and a strange fragrance filled the air.
Several figures were there: treants with bodies of vine and bark, holding wooden pitchforks, and flower sprites wearing giant petals around their waists.
These monsters scanned the area ahead, patrolling back and forth along the edge of the flower patch as if they were guarding something.
However, bizarrely, they seemed to be completely oblivious to Lin Qingfeng’s group.
They weren’t close, but they weren’t that far either. And surely the monsters should have seen a group this large.
This shocked all four of the undercover agents.
’Wh-what... What’s going on?’
’We’re so close. Haven’t those treants noticed us?’
’Are they blind? Or do they just have poor eyesight?’
Su Ling’er was also stunned.
’This whole big group of us is standing right here, and they haven’t reacted at all?’
She could clearly sense that the auras emanating from those monsters were not weak; they were at least at the level of Mid-stage Foundation Establishment.
In a direct confrontation, she felt that she would probably have difficulty winning with her Techniques alone.
’And that larger treant... I might even need to use the "I Have a Situation to Report" in my hand, which has reverted to its Wooden Sword form, or perhaps even transform it into its "Sword Control Skill" form to have a chance of winning.’
Lin Qingfeng, however, understood perfectly as he watched the scene.
’Isn’t this just the most common monster aggro-range mechanic from games?’
’As long as you don’t step into their invisible aggro radius, the monsters won’t attack.’
But he also remained extremely cautious.
’God knows what event stepping in there might trigger. What if this flower patch is a teleportation circle that drops us right in front of a mob of Core Formation Stage greater demons? That would be a real party.’
’Better safe than sorry.’
Lin Qingfeng silently took a step back, maneuvering Dong Changsheng in front of him as he and the others retreated beyond the estimated "event trigger circle."
’This kind of scouting work should be left to the professionals.’
He tightened his grip on the leash in his hand.
"Dong Changsheng, go on. It’s time to scout the path!"
CRACK!
Lin Qingfeng flicked the leash.
Dong Changsheng didn’t even have time to utter a protest before his entire body flew in a parabola and plunged headfirst into the center of the sea of flowers.
...
「Meanwhile, on a similar platform at the other end of the secret realm.」
"Captain, it’s like these mobs can’t see us!"
A scout player reported in a low voice on the team channel.
The captain, "Ximen Chuiling," was experienced and immediately gave an order:
"Don’t get careless! These are mobs with special mechanics! Body Cultivators and the main tank, get ready to hold the front. Ranged classes, prepare your area-of-effect attacks. On my command, we pull!"
A well-coordinated team of players carefully crept towards the patrolling flower sprites and treants.
However, just as they were about to enter attack range, the shadows beneath their feet suddenly twisted and warped!
SHINK! SHINK! SHINK!
Dozens of claws made of pure shadow shot out from the ground, instantly piercing the bodies of several unprepared Alchemy Masters in the back row!
"It’s [Shadow Ambush]! Alchemist healers, watch out—!" Ximen Chuiling’s warning was cut short.
The team’s formation fell into chaos.
The Body Cultivators and main tank in the front row, trying to dodge the shadow claws at their feet, instinctively stepped back and walked right into the range of the [Phantom Flowers].
BUZZ—
Invisible spores spread instantly, invading their Divine Sense.
"Holy crap! Why are you all red-named?!"
"No, wait, I can’t control my body!"
Several main tanks roared, their eyes turning crimson, and then they raised their great hammers and smashed them down on their nearby teammates.
"Are you crazy?! It’s us!"
"I can’t help it! The system prompted that I’m in a ’Confused’ state! If that’s the case, then it’s time to test your Cultivation! Let’s fight!"
The entire squad instantly fell into infighting, and was ultimately slaughtered by the patrolling monsters and the endless shadow claws, nearly resulting in a team wipe.
...
「Returning to the present.」
Dong Changsheng was thrown into the center of the [Phantom Flowers].
The expected spore attack didn’t trigger immediately. As he fell, a treant just so happened to be turning back in the middle of its patrol route, passing directly beneath him.
THUD!
With a muffled thud, Dong Changsheng landed squarely on the treant’s head!
Dong Changsheng: "?"
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