Crackle! Crackle!
Energy-infused lightning crackled incessantly atop a crimson abyss. I looked over the edge and toward the end of the spatial rift where my final destination lay, the Immortal Realm! It was the terrifying seventh floor of the Purgatory and the plane guarded by the Purgatory Ruler, Lin Na himself. I doubted that there was any player in the entire world who would willingly[1] enter this plane. Forget dropping the Divine Armament Starlight from Lin Na, they would be insanely lucky to just escape from him alive.
I pulled my clothes closer and confirmed the bindings around Uldan. Then, I raised the Xuanyuan Sword and jumped into the abyss like a meteor.
Whoosh whoosh…
The wind howled loudly beside my ears as I activated Battle Astral Wind. I didn’t fall for long before Frost Spirits appeared in my path and fired icicles at me!
“Get lost!”
I retaliated with Burning Blade Slash that destroyed much of the Frost Spirits, but some of their attacks passed between the gaps and struck my Scarlet Dragon Armor. I had no choice but to raise the Dihai Shield and tank the attacks by force. Thankfully, the Dihai Shield was immeasurably powerful, and it blocked much of the incoming damage. In fact, I was able to preserve about 70% of my HP after a while. There was nothing I could do about the Purgatory winds cutting my body, however. They didn’t do damage, but they certainly hurt like a bitch.
……
Swhoosh!
Ten full minutes of flight later, we abruptly exited the spatial rift and arrived at a bright place. The scent of flowers tickled my nostrils.
I was shocked when I saw the scenery around me. I saw rivers and mountains joining together to form a picturesque scene. I saw impossibly tall trees carrying fragrant fruits stretching all the way into the clouds. There were even birds and pink flowers flying between the wind and clouds. Purgatory? I would’ve mistaken this place as a paradise if I didn’t know better!
Behind me, Uldan wriggled a little before saying in a small voice, “Don’t worry. This is definitely the Immortal Realm, the legendary plane where only gods are allowed to reside. You may think of it as the Heaven Domain of Ghost Region and the underground paradise Lin Na had created with his own hands. Since ancient times, countless experts who had passed away for one reason or another had come to stay in this paradise. Of course, the price they paid was submission to Lin Na’s rule, and the eternal responsibility of guarding the Immortal Realm. That is why you must be careful. Everyone here potentially wields the power to kill us both!”
I shivered involuntarily when I heard this. If what she said was true, then I would need to be on my toes every step of the way.
I tightened my grip around the Xuanyuan Sword a little. I had just arrived on this plane, so it would be unwise to seek out Lin Na immediately. After all, I was here to rescue Xinran, not to duel Lin Na and determine a winner between us. Also, I needed to find someone who could tell me Xinran’s whereabouts, and while Lin Na would definitely know where she was, he was more likely to spill my guts than spill the beans.
……
A dark light washed over my pupils as I scanned my surroundings with Dark Pupils. Unfortunately, I failed to glean any information whatsoever. There were traditional-looking pavilions between the lush mountains, and it was probably where the “residents” Uldan spoke of lived. There was a touch of black at the heart of the map. I had no doubt that it was where Lin Na lived.
I quickly chose a deep blue-colored courtyard and flew toward it. Hopefully, the residents of the courtyard will be able to tell me something!
I quickly landed amid a dense forest. There was also a lush bamboo forest nearby.
Rustle rustle…
The sound of rustling grass soothed my nerves a little, but a familiar noise quickly shattered that illusion. It was the sound of a Corpse Eater. I pulled down a couple of bamboo leaves, looked, and was surprised to find a hidden necropolis within the bamboo forest. A group of super high-level Corpse Eaters were carrying a bunch of dead bodies somewhere. The smell was revolting as a matter of course.
I should’ve expected this, to be honest. The residents of the seventh floor might be insanely powerful, but they were still undead. Without bodies to feed on from time to time, it was only a matter of time before they starved to death…
I summoned the Phantom Wolf King, and after a whine, it immediately hid behind with its tail between its legs. What a coward! It had sensed the dangers of this map immediately and resolved itself to use me as its shield, not the other way around!
I stepped toward the blue courtyard until I was standing in front of a double-door gate. I thought to myself: Should I knock, or should I kick the door open?
I very quickly decided to do the latter, and for a very simple reason too. No one on this floor was a friend of mine, nor could become one!
Bang!
A cyclone spun around the Rising Cloud, and I kicked the gate with all my strength. In fact, I overdid it and caused the iron gate to collapse inward. As I stepped over the metal and walked inside, I suddenly heard a hissing noise from the side. A huge crimson snake was coiled up right inside the courtyard!
“I wasn’t expecting a boss so soon…”
I hurriedly unsheathed my sword and scanned the boss with Dark Pupils. It was a Level 332 Ancient Immortal Rank boss called the Crimson Python. Its level was super high, but it was only of the Ancient Immortal Rank, so it wasn’t really a huge threat. Moreover, the level penalty wasn’t too high since I was now Level 270, and my stats were absolutely superior to the boss’s. There was no reason for me to lose this fight.
“Hiss hiss…”
The python’s stance was as obvious as its appearance. It opened its bloody mouth and attempted to swallow me whole!
Instead of dodging, I raised my left arm in front of me and caused the Dihai Shield to grow twice as big as normal. Right now, it looked more like a mini fortress than a shield. I was able to force it into the python’s mouth and stop it from being able to close its mouth. While it was struggling to break free, I executed a lightning-fast Burning Blade Slash + Universe Break combo that dealt nearly a million damage per hit. As expected, Ancient Immortal Rank bosses were beneath me now.
“Hiss hiss…”
The python hissed in pain and shuddered like a leaf. Head and tail shaking, it thrust its tail toward me like a sword!
I rotated quickly and kicked out with my boot!
Bang!
As the snake’s tail was kicked harmlessly to the side, Uldan praised me from behind my back, “Well done!”
I let out a chuckle, but didn’t manage to get a word before the python suddenly spat out a jet of venom. My entire body turned numb in an instant—
Beep!
Combat Log: You have been poisoned by the Crimson Python’s venom. You will lose 5% HP per second for 45 seconds!
……
A venomous python? This is absolute bullshit!
I rushed forward and planted a foot on the midsection of the python’s body. Then, I pulled out Li Chengfeng’s Cyan Peak Halberd, nailed its tail to the ground, and pushed until the weapon was about halfway into the ground[2]. Now, this python wasn’t going anywhere.
After that, I hacked away with the Xuanyuan Sword and quickly absorbed all the HP I lost from the venom. It wasn’t long before its HP dropped to just 10% or so. To my surprise, the python actually bowed its head and hissed in apology after seemingly noticing that I was a divine expert.
“You think an apology can save your life? Dream on…”
I rolled my eyes and renewed my attack. An ancient boss should give me at least 1% experience, and I wasn’t one to waste free experience…
Right before I landed the killing blow though, an elderly voice suddenly came from the main hall to the front—
“Why must you kill my docile Little Red, youngster?”
The main door opened, and an old man carrying a snake-like scepter stepped into the open. He shot me a warning look and said, “Let go of my Little Red now, or I promise that your death will be ugly…”
I scanned him. The true boss had emerged, I see—
Hundred Beast Elder (Quasi-Divine Rank Boss)
Level: 334
Attack: ???
Defense: ???
HP: ???
Introduction: The Hundred Beast Elder is an old man who has lived in the Immortal Realm for tens of thousands of years. It is said that he can communicate with wild animals via thought, and that he has tamed countless wild animals throughout his life. He can summon any creature from anywhere, and not even a giant dragon is beyond his ability to summon. It is why even the Purgatory Ruler, Lin Na doesn’t dare to slight him.
……
I licked my lips. On the surface, the old man was just a Quasi-Divine Rank boss. In reality, Suren was proof that even a Quasi-Divine Rank boss might possess the power to play me like an instrument. Moreover, I no longer had Uldan to support me, so I could only rely on myself to overcome all the obstacles standing in my path.
Thud!
I pulled out the Cyan Peak Halberd and released the Crimson Python. At the same time, I said with a smile, “I’m not sure we share the same definition of docile, old man. Your ‘Little Red’ nearly ate me, you know?”
The Hundred Beast Elder chuckled with narrowed eyes. “If you were eaten by Little Red, it simply means that you deserved to die for your weakness. Obviously, that isn’t the case. You are here on the seventh floor of the Purgatory after all. In fact, I dare say that you are the youngster who made an absolute mess of the Life Shatter Realm, right? Hehe! If I were to take you down here, I bet that Lin Na would trade me 10,000 catties of precious herbs as a reward. Don’t you agree?”
I raised the Xuanyuan Sword and declared, “Come at me then!”
“Patience. Before we fight, I must ask you a question: Why have you come to the Immortal Realm? I must know so you can’t tell me that your death is undeserved later!”
I sucked in a deep breath before replying, “I’m here to find a person.”
“You’re here… to find someone?” The Hundred Beast Elder laughed so hard that he nearly shed tears. He pointed a trembling finger at me and said, “That is the funniest joke I have heard in my life bar none! I cannot believe someone would come to the seventh floor to find someone, hahahaha… Who is this person you’re looking for?”
“Wind Singer, Xinran!” I gripped my fists and declared solemnly.
“What?!”
The smile on the Hundred Beast Elder’s face disappeared like it was never there. As a shiver coursed through his body, he asked, “Who… who is the Wind Singer to you? Why… why have you come all the way here to find Wind Singer Xinran? Who are you?”
I answered honestly, “Xinran is my younger sister, and she had fallen into the Purgatory with Lin Na not long ago. I am here to take her home.”
“Take her home, you say?” the Hundred Beast Elder repeated with narrowed eyes.
I asked urgently, “You must know where she is, right? Tell me now! Where is Xinran?”
“If you want me to answer your question, then you must endure five attacks from me!” A malicious grin crossed the old man’s features.
……
Rustle rustle…
I backed a dozen or so steps away from the old man and brought my sword and shield to bear. “Come on then! Forget five attacks, I’ll endure even fifty if you’ll answer my question[3]!”
1. T/N: of course there is. People risk their lives to climb deadly mountains, dive impossible depths and fly into space, and this is just a game. If there’s a chance for a player to skulk around a map no one has ever been to before, you can bet there will be someone who’ll risk everything to get there ☜
2. T/N: THIS is bullshit ☜
3. T/N: don’t tempt fate, you idiot… ☜
