Preparations for the Hunt

Li Qingyan and Bai Muxi don't need sleep, but Xu Yuan does.

After a simple arrangement, the three of them rested along the landslide area.

Sitting around the fire, the leaping flames cast the shadows of the three people onto the empty passageway, making them look like giant beasts.

Taking advantage of the leisure before sleep, Xu Yuan sat in the center and calmly described his plan to hunt the Ink Snake to the two women.

I don't know how long it has been,

As he finished speaking, his gaze swept over the two women, and he asked softly:

Do you have any objections to my plan?

"."

A moment of silence,

Bai Muxi's bright eyes flickered, a hint of hesitation in her heart, but her answer was decisive:

"Reporting to Young Master, Mu Xi did not."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan turned to look at the expressionless, chest-bound princess:

"Qingyan, what about you?"

"This Empress?"

Li Qingyan wasn't as obedient as Little White, but after giving a cryptic chuckle, she still sighed, "I've said it before, as long as I'm still in this Underground Palace, I will carry out all your orders."

Speaking of this,

She paused for a moment, her narrow phoenix eyes fixed on Xu Yuan, then gradually narrowed:

"But Changtian, do you know what you're saying?"

She found that ever since entering this Dead Silence Underground Palace, she had gradually become unable to figure out what her future husband was thinking.

Hunt down that Mortal Shedding Strange Ghost?

According to the information this dead man obtained from who-knows-where, this serpentine, Mortal Shedding Strange Ghost, although lacking intelligence, is now nearly as powerful as any ordinary Mortal Shedding.

She, along with a half-baked Origin Beginning and a burden, are going to kill the Mortal Shedding Strange Ghost?

How to kill him? By head?

Based on her understanding, there might be a terrifying Mortal Shedding lurking nearby, Strange Ghost the best solution now would be to leave this area as soon as possible.

We could even consider turning back to the cave Underground City to reconsider our options.

After all, according to Bai Muxi, these Strange Ghost are unable to leave the Blood Demon Cave except during the Blood Nest uprising.

"."

Looking at Li Qingyan's eyes, Xu Yuan was not surprised at all by the princess's reaction.

Her keeping her promise wouldn't affect her internal doubts about his decision.

Therefore, Xu Yuan replied quite readily:

"Of course I know what I'm talking about."

Seeing the determination in his eyes, Li Qingyan pondered for a moment and said:

"Changtian, you just said that the life or death of these Mortal Shedding Strange Ghost will not affect our escape from this Underground Palace. In that case, all we need to consider is..."

"But how do we successfully escape?" Xu Yuan interrupted Li Qingyan.

Even though he was interrupted, Li Qingyan wasn't angry. He nodded and whispered, "..."

"If you intend to obtain some treasures from this Mortal Shedding Strange Ghost by killing it, you can simply wait until we return to the capital and report to your Lord Xu or Father Emperor, and have them send powerful individuals to thoroughly clean up this place. There's absolutely no need for you to take the risk yourself."

"."

Xu Yuan was slightly speechless.

For others, including some Mortal Shedding experts at the pinnacle of the Great Yan Empire, this Dead Silence Underground Palace, though dangerous, also fortuitous opportunity.

Whether it's the Black Death Fungal Armor, the Demon Crystal that drop from high-ranking Strange Ghost, or the viscous, unidentified substance deep within the Blood Nest, they are all assets that can enhance one's strength.

If a Mortal Shedding expert were to learn of the benefits contained within this Dead Silence Underground Palace, even if the dangers were immense, they would most likely not report it and would instead explore it on their own.

At most, I'd invite two or three friends to "run a dungeon" together.

While reporting to the top levels ensures safety, most of the fortuitous opportunity here will be divided up by the top echelons of the power structure.

Those who discovered the fortuitous opportunity could only get scraps.

But that applies to those people.

For him and Li Qingyan, there was only danger here.

Given their status, as long as they survive, they can have whatever they want inside.

Even if those "high-level henchmen" who risked their lives to cleanse the Strange Ghost wanted the treasures inside, the Prime Minister's Mansion and the royal family would "forcibly take" them from them in other forms of compensation.

Xu Yuan stared blankly at the fire in front of him.

Li Qingyan's words actually make a lot of sense. Now that we've accidentally entered a dangerous place like the Blood Demon Cave, the most important thing is to get out alive.

In Cangyuan, being attacked by a high-level Strange Ghost has a chance to result in an incurable and persistent state of severe injury.

Looking back now, that state was most likely what it meant to become Strange Ghost.

The fire had subsided slightly, Xu Yuan casually took out some special oil from his Sumeru Ring and rekindled it.

"Actually, my motive for hunting that Ink Snake is quite simple: to add an extra layer of insurance for our survival. I don't want to act alone on this matter; if no one else is willing, we can discuss it further."

The added kerosene was ignited, and a faint flame rose again.

Li Qingyan stared at his profile, illuminated by the firelight, for a long time, then sighed.

Tell me what kind of insurance it is.

Xu Yuan didn't turn around, staring at the firelight before him:

"Just as the Demon Race has demon cores, we humans have Dantian and sea of consciousness, and the Strange Ghost also have something called Demon Crystal inside their bodies."

"Demon Crystal?"

Bai Muxi Mu Xi slightly before speaking, "But in the past twenty years, I have never seen anything like crystals inside that Strange Ghost being, not even the Strange Ghost that Princess just killed."

"This one?"

Xu Yuan grinned and said:

"I have no idea."

"." Li Qingyan.

"." Bai Muxi.

Meeting the gazes of the two women, Xu Yuan calmly took out a military- Grain Avoidance Pill from his Sumeru Ring and swallowed it to fill his stomach. For the first time, he missed Old Man Luo a little.

If this old codger who survived the Strange Ghost were alive, all the questions about the Strange Ghost would probably be easily answered.

Unfortunately, it seems the old man found a new love for the man.

However, after a moment's thought, Xu Yuan managed to offer a fabricated reason:

"Perhaps the Demon Crystal disappeared because of the passage of ten thousand years, but I'm quite certain that the Ink Snake had Demon Crystal inside it."

"So what exactly can Demon Crystal do?" Li Qingyan's words still went straight to the point.

"This Demon Crystal has so many uses; I know of at least four."

Xu Yuan smiled slightly, counting on his fingers as he said with a laugh:

"If one cultivates the corresponding Cultivation Method, the Demon Crystal can directly enhance one's cultivation level. Even without absorbing its internal essence through Cultivation Method, it can continuously strengthen one's physique and improve physical recovery. Consuming it directly has an even greater effect, as the Demon Crystal contains the life force of the Strange Ghost origin, which can cause one's physique to increase dramatically in a short period of time."

"Of course, everything comes at a price. Direct consumption will damage the body's meridians. You can think of Qingyan as a high-level 'Violent Qi Powder'."

Li Qingyan listened silently, his expression unchanged.

"While these three benefits are tempting, they're not enough to warrant Changtian taking the risk. What's the fourth benefit?"

"Ah, Qingyan, you understand me best."

Xu Yuan chuckled, his eyes appearing slightly vacant.

"Consuming the Demon Crystal can temporarily reverse the process of becoming Strange Ghost being."

"."

The words were spoken, then silence.

Li Qingyan frowned slightly.

A look of disbelief flashed in Bai Muxi's eyes, and her tranquil voice rose slightly:

"Young master, ancient texts record that once someone is transformed, the process of becoming Strange Ghost is irreversible."

"I know." Xu Yuan raised his hand to signal her not to rush.

Realizing her lapse in composure, Bai Muxi immediately composed herself and whispered:

"Young master, is your information reliable?"

Xu Yuan sat cross-legged on the ground, his fingers interlaced on his lap, making up stories half-truths and half-lies:

"Mu Xi, your Underground City was probably built ten thousand years ago by the Heavenly Oversight Pavilion and some large sects at the time as a nest for researching Strange Ghost. My information comes from a Saint Venerable of the Heavenly Oversight Pavilion ten thousand years ago."

Bai Muxi lowered her head, carefully observing Xu Yuan's expression, and said:

"Yes, Mu Xi was too talkative; she shouldn't have questioned the young master."

Xu Yuan waved his hand to indicate that it was alright, and looked at Li Qingyan.

Bai Muxi's opinion is unimportant; what matters is the princess who will be the main character.

Li Qingyan did not speak immediately, pondering his words.

After a while,

She whispered, "A temporary reversal?"

Xu Yuan nodded. "Becoming Strange Ghost is an incurable disease. The Demon Crystal of the Mortal Shedding Strange Ghost can only prolong the process, allowing the original consciousness of the transformed person to be maintained for longer."

A glint of shrewdness flashed in Li Qingyan's phoenix eyes:

"I remember Changtian when you entered the Underground Palace, you told me that even if I were turned into Strange Ghost, you would have a way to save me. You weren't just boasting, were you?"

Xu Yuan squinted and grinned:

"Of course not, but the antidote to Strange Ghost transformation is located at the deepest part of the Underground Palace. We need to get there first to obtain it."

There is an antidote for the Strange Ghost ' transformation.

Xu Yuan didn't know how the antidote was created in the real world, but as a game, Cangyuan couldn't possibly have an incurable, permanent poisoning effect.

The 2.5D game style means that even the best players will find it difficult to play without taking damage.

Moreover, there are so many Strange Ghost in this Dead Silence Underground Palace, and they like to gang up on players, so even a skilled player like Xu Yuan has to be extremely careful.

If an average player is unlucky enough to get scratched by a mob as soon as they enter a dungeon and immediately enter the "Strange Ghost" poison effect, does that mean they have to restart the game?

Cangyuan needs to consider gameplay and player feedback.

Therefore, the Cangyuan's developers designed a rather urgent, time-limited way to clear the level.

If you are poisoned, kill an elite boss to get Demon Crystal. Use the Demon Crystal to temporarily delay the poisoning effect and survive. Quickly go deeper into the Underground Palace, then kill another elite boss and use the Demon Crystal to survive until you enter the boss room and get the antidote.

However, the sleeping Strange Ghost is most likely already hunting down the Barbarian King. The Underground Palace is so large that they can probably take this opportunity to sneak into the Blood Nest and teleport away.

With these thoughts in mind, Xu Yuan looked at Li Qingyan and asked:

"So, my princess, what do you wish to choose?"

"."

Li Qingyan lowered her beautiful eyes, her slender fingertips habitually stroking the Sumeru Ring, and suddenly said:

"I agree to your plan."

Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow and chuckled:

"So quick? Won't you reconsider? This is about hunting Mortal Shedding Strange Ghost."

"I am still able to sort out the pros and cons."

Li Qingyan scoffed and rolled her eyes at him. "If we don't follow your plan, we can only resign ourselves to fate and pray that we don't encounter any Mortal Shedding- level Otherworldly Strange Ghost on the road ahead."

As he spoke,

A touch of Princess Wu Yuan's noble and dashing spirit appeared in her eyes and brows, her red lips slightly curved:

"Rather than leaving things to fate, I prefer to take control of the variables myself."

Having explained this, she had roughly deduced the man's general plan.

Risking their lives to kill the Strange Ghost Mortal Shedding obtain the Demon Crystal within its body is both insurance and their trump card to continue their journey deeper into the Blood Nest.

If she can kill the Strange Ghost Mortal Shedding obtain the Demon Crystal within its body, and if she encounters an invincible being on her path, she can willingly become Strange Ghost herself, consuming the Demon Crystal to slow down the Strange Ghost transformation while gaining even greater power.

Walking a tightrope.

If an accident were to occur at any of these locations, they would most likely perish there. But in such a desperate situation, what path is there without taking risks?

Thinking of this,

A hint of excited laughter flickered in Li Qingyan's fiery red phoenix eyes:

"It's risky, but I like it very much."

"."

Xu Yuan felt that the princess must have been thinking about some random things, but seeing that she agreed, he didn't say anything more and whispered:

"In that case, Qingyan, do as I just instructed. As for Mu Xi, you..."

As he spoke,

Xu Yuan glanced at Bai Muxi beside him, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes.

Seeing that hint of hesitation, Bai Muxi seemed to realize something, pursed her lips, and said softly and gently:

"Young Master, whatever you say, Mu Xi will do. I only ask that when you return to the Dynasty, you do not forget the Underground City."

"I never said I'd use you as bait."

Xu Yuan immediately realized that this woman probably thought he was going to use her as bait, and waved his hand with a smile, saying, "You just need to protect me. Once a fight breaks out, with my cultivation level, I probably won't be able to keep up with Qingyan and the others' speed. If that Strange Ghost attacks me, I will activate a teleportation spell in advance. You Source Qi to penetrate my body and help me activate it."

After a pause, Xu Yuan pondered for a moment, then suddenly took out a storage box from his Sumeru Ring, and then took out a Sumeru Ring from the box.

Then,

"Boom--"

With a tremor, a crossbow with array patterns, used by the Great Yan Dynasty's city defense forces and with an arm span of several meters, appeared directly in front of the three.

"." Bai Muxi.

"." Li Qingyan.

Seeing this, Li Qingyan stared at the dozen or so Sumeru Ring in the mustard seed box, her red lips slightly parted.

She discovered that this guy had more money than she had imagined.

Moreover, this military-grade crossbow with array patterns

Seemingly noticing Li Qingyan's gaze, Xu Yuan immediately turned around and chuckled:

"Don't be surprised, these were sold to me by the sect. I'll also prepare some other military- Source Crystal bombs in advance. I'll give you a batch later, and I'll also set them up in some places beforehand. We just need to lure that thing over, and maybe we can blow it up without even fighting."

As he spoke,

Xu Yuan looked at Bai Muxi, pointed to the military-grade crossbow with array patterns, and said with a smile:

"Come on, Mu Xi, let me teach you how to use this. If you can use it to hit that Ink Snake, it might be much easier for us to hunt it down."