Going Into the Catacombs

Zhang Tao jumped off the hospital bed and stretched. "Sorry about the commotion. I startled you!"

Nan Yunping looked at Zhang Tao with a complicated expression, then shook her head. "It's fine. By the way, are you healed?" Zhang Tao had been badly injured when he came in, yet now he was full of energy. Not only that, he'd even broken through. None of it made sense.

"Zhang Tao, did you use Life Essence?" Nan Yunyue asked suspiciously.

Zhang Tao chuckled. Life Essence had long since been turned over and stored away. There was no way they'd use it for an injury like his.

When Zhang Tao ignored her, Nan Yunyue gritted her teeth. Damn that rascal—he had the luck of a dog!

"Sis Ping, I've got something to take care of, so I'll be going!" Zhang Tao called out before leaving. Nan Yunping said nothing. Zhang Tao really did have something to do.

This was the Capital City. Zhang Tao first went back to his home, a small two-story villa. His parents had died when he was young, so he'd lived alone for many years.

He'd come home to get his equipment and weapons.

He put on armor made from the hide of a Rank 6 monster beast, took an A-grade Alloy broadsword, packed a few pills, and grabbed a Snake-skin Pouch that could block energy. Then Zhang Tao hurried off to the Catacombs.

Although they'd suffered heavy losses this time, they'd also discovered a Small Mineral Vein. The Rank 7 monster beast guarding it was probably dead or badly wounded, so Zhang Tao decided to take a look. If he could, he'd claim that fortune for himself.

"Huh, Zhang Tao? What are you doing in the Catacombs?" The registrar, a middle-aged man with a thick beard, asked in surprise when he saw Zhang Tao. Zhang Tao had been carried out just yesterday, and now he was back already. That was quick.

"Brother Li, hurry up! I've got something urgent!" Zhang Tao urged him.

The bearded middle-aged man called Brother Li sighed. "All right, go on in. And don't get reckless, kid. You're—"

Before he could finish, Zhang Tao was already gone. Brother Li shook his head with a wry smile. Young people these days really were bursting with energy.

Zhang Tao hurried through the city. Plenty of people greeted him. After all, he was one of humanity's rising stars, and he had a wide circle of friends. Quite a few people knew him.

After giving them perfunctory replies, Zhang Tao left through the city gates and sprinted east.

Guo Weicheng, the Great Grandmaster guarding the city, looked just as astonished. He'd watched Zhang Tao get carried out yesterday, and now the boy was full of energy again. More importantly, where was he going in such a hurry?

Before long, Zhang Tao disappeared from sight. Guo Weicheng had no choice but to withdraw his mental energy and sigh. "Those youngsters are so wild. They've actually ventured deep into the Catacombs."

Zhang Tao had no idea that someone was watching him with their mental energy. He simply followed the place he remembered, making his way there cautiously. He encountered several groups of Catacomb Inhabitants along the way, but avoided them in advance. He didn't want to get into a fight with the Catacomb Inhabitants right now.

Soon, he arrived at a mountain range. After looking around, Zhang Tao took out his A-grade Alloy broadsword and started digging.

He wasn't the Zhang Tao he used to be. What if he got himself killed by acting recklessly?

So Zhang Tao dug his way forward. Before long, he reached the mineral vein and became even more cautious. He had no idea whether the Rank 7 monster beast was dead.

When he reached the center of the vein, he saw the Rank 7 monster beast lying dead. It had actually managed to make it back to the center of the vein, but its injuries had been too severe, and it hadn't survived.

This was what he'd come for. A few days ago, the original Zhang Tao had discovered this place—and the Rank 7 monster beast too. He'd come up with a bold plan to let the snipe and clam fight while he, the fisherman, reaped the benefits.

But things hadn't gone according to plan. A Rank 7 High-stage expert had unexpectedly shown up, and Zhang Tao and the others had fled all the way here. Even so, they'd suffered heavy casualties. He was the only one who'd survived.

"My brothers died because of you. I'll take your Heart Core and Brain Core as compensation!" Zhang Tao went up to the monster beast and used his A-grade Alloy broadsword to dig out its Heart Core and Brain Core. He put them in the Snake-skin Pouch, then hurriedly looked around. He shoved every Energy Fruit and high-quality Energy Stone he could find into the pouch.

The Snake-skin Pouch was soon full. Seeing that there was still a Small Mineral Vein, Zhang Tao decided to return and report it to the city's guardian, so they could mine it and take it back.

Carrying the Snake-skin Pouch, Zhang Tao headed back through the tunnel he'd dug. But soon, he heard what sounded like voices above him, and his expression darkened. Had the Catacomb Inhabitants found this place too?

Fortunately, he'd made it back first. Otherwise, there probably wouldn't have been a thing left.

He listened carefully to the footsteps above. There seemed to be dozens of people. Zhang Tao sighed. What a shame. The mineral vein was probably out of reach now. He quickened his pace. If those people discovered that the monster beast's Heart Core and Brain Core were missing, and that he'd taken the good ore too, they'd probably hunt him down relentlessly.

This was already deep in the Catacombs. If the Catacomb Inhabitants pursued him and caused a commotion, Zhang Tao would be done for.

After Zhang Tao emerged from the tunnel and ran a short distance, he heard an angry roar behind him. Without a word, he ran even faster.

The Snake-skin Pouch contained crystals that blocked energy. As long as he didn't act recklessly or get into a fight, he'd usually be safe. Zhang Tao had prepared it a long time ago.

He wasn't some young kid like Fang Ping who knew nothing.

With that, he made it back to the Forbidden City without incident. When Guo Weicheng, who was guarding the city, saw Zhang Tao, he breathed a little easier. Zhang Tao was one of humanity's rising stars. He couldn't afford to let anything happen to him.

"Guardian, I have something to report!" Zhang Tao went straight to Guo Weicheng when he got inside. Guo Weicheng smiled. "What is it?"

Zhang Tao immediately explained everything and opened his Snake-skin Pouch. When Guo Weicheng heard about the Small Mineral Vein, his eyes lit up. Humanity was so poor. An unclaimed Small Mineral Vein—how could he not be tempted?

"Zhang Tao, were any of those dozens of people high-ranked?" Guo Weicheng asked at once.

Zhang Tao shook his head. "I don't know, but I imagine they had a Rank 7 among them."

Guo Weicheng paced around in circles, unsure whether to take the risk. It was a Small Mineral Vein, after all. If they got it, they could live more comfortably for a while. But the risk was real too, especially this deep in the Catacombs.