Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Peace and Safety Year After Year
Half a month later, upon re-entering Mist Plaza, Wu Chang had transformed from a newcomer who couldn’t even distinguish directions into someone as familiar with it as if it were home.
The more he learned about the Abyssal Game these days, the more fearful he became of it.
According to many speculations on the forum, the first large-scale recruitment of players by the Abyssal Game occurred twenty years ago.
Information from earlier times is heavily secured by various major forces; only a very few might know how long the Abyssal Game has existed.
When facing the Abyssal Game, one can never be too cautious. Previously, he had no choice; this time, he had to make thorough preparations before entering the dungeon.
He first went to the official trading depository area to retrieve a set of custom-made full-body soft leather armor.
"Item Name: Earth Lizard Hide Armor."
"Artifact Level: D."
"Item Skills: Thick Hide."
"Skill Description: Increases defense after equipping, effectively defending against sharp weapon attacks. When the wearer stands on the ground, gains partial elemental resistance."
Earth Lizard Hide Armor is one of the highest cost-effective armors in the early stage; ordinary players can use it until the B-Level dungeons.
This item can be crafted by players themselves, with easily obtainable raw materials. A full set of five-piece leather armor costs only 6,000 Rotten Silver Coins.
After the leather armor, there were three inhalable potions.
The Blood Bottles in the Abyssal Game differ from the essential Blood Bottles in MOBA games or those in single-player games that automatically refill upon saving.
The Abyssal Game has no resurrection; life is the most precious thing. Items that can quickly restore life value, or even restore life value in combat, have extremely high priority.
"Item Name: Healing Type I."
"Item Type: Consumables."
"Artifact Level: E."
"Item Description: Restores 30% life value after use, maximum not exceeding 15. Effect is halved if used continuously within half an hour."
Even E-level healing potions, usable in combat, cost 2,400 Rotten Silver Coins.
Thinking about it like this, the "Whisper of the Nameless" obtained from the Doctor’s resentment was more precious than he imagined.
That’s high-grade stuff you can’t see in the trading house.
He spent 5,000 Rotten Silver Coins to upgrade the space backpack to a cubic meter in size.
In the past game experiences, he always prioritized expanding the backpack slots.
If the backpack slots are sufficient, not only can you carry enough supplies, but when used properly, the effect is as good as Space Magic.
15,000 Rotten Silver Coins, for a newcomer just entering the Abyssal Game, is definitely a huge sum, but once used, it doesn’t last long.
A set of Earth Lizard Hide Armor, three Healing Type I bottles, plus ten paid articles full of valuable content, and a hundred bullets that can be brought into the dungeon cleared out his account.
Looking at the "Rotten Silver Coins: 0" in the attribute panel, Wu Chang took a deep breath, secretly vowing to make a big haul this time.
With everything ready, he chose to enter the dungeon.
"Matching a dungeon for the player, current player level: 8, dungeon difficulty match probability: F-Level: 10%; E-Level: 50%; D-Level: 40%; C-Level: 0.1%."
"Matching complete!"
Wu Chang’s vision blurred, and he found himself in an unfamiliar forest.
"Successfully entered ’Aria—Plane 76271’."
"Dungeon Name: Peaceful Year After Year."
"Dungeon Type: Single Player Survival Dungeon."
"Dungeon Difficulty: C."
"Official suggested minimum level for dungeon exploration: 10, please proceed with caution."
"Dungeon Status: On the brink of losing control!"
"Main Task One: Head to Huai Valley Village to participate in the Year-End Festival."
"Main Task Two: Protect Huai Valley Village and complete the Year-End Ritual."
Wu Chang clicked his tongue, knowing full well this damned game wouldn’t let him off easy.
The paid articles he purchased mentioned that F-Level dungeons are recommended for levels 0-5, E-Level dungeons for levels 0-10, D-Level dungeons for levels 5-15, and C-Level dungeons for levels 10-20.
Generally speaking, a level 8 player is rarely matched with a C-Level dungeon, and even if they randomly get a C-Level dungeon, it would usually be an unpolluted projection dungeon.
However, the system directly matched him with a true dungeon, a C-Level dungeon on the verge of losing control.
This is definitely the Abyssal Game’s "favor" to him.
Taking advantage of the invulnerability period just after entering the plane, he quickly assessed the surrounding situation.
He was dressed in Xia Country’s ancient style clothing, with a cinched waist and sleeves, a jade-set silver crown on his head, thick-soled leather boots, wearing a lightweight and warm fur coat, a long sword slanted across his waist, looking every bit like a young hero from a great sect.
Player Nickname: Doesn’t Eat Beef.
Player Level: 8 (500/1900)
Title: Perfectionism
Life: 20
Power: 20
Agility: 15
Endurance: 15
Energy: 0
Inspiration: 84
Will: 62
Free Attribute Points: 0
Rotten Silver Coins: 0
Skills: Mamba Iron Elbow, Firearms Use (Proficient).
Items: Silver Dawn, Favor of the Goddess of Fortune, Whisperer’s Echo ×1, Mortal Poison, Secret Magic Knight Order Newcomer’s Guide, Earth Lizard Hide Armor, Healing Type I ×3.
Talent: Exorcism.
Just like only the money spent is called money, only the attribute points added are considered attribute points.
After a few days of research, Wu Chang distributed all 35 free Attribute Points.
Completing resentment can increase Inspiration and Will, and since he currently has no Energy-consuming skills, he distributed the attribute points entirely to Life, Power, and Agility.
With life force equivalent to four times that of an ordinary person, as long as he doesn’t suffer a death blow, he can still manage a sip of Healing Type I to save his life.
The high Power and Agility make his Mamba Iron Elbow swing with great momentum.
The performance within the dungeon is hard to say, but at least on the field, when he stands in the center, no one dares approach within two meters.
Such physical fitness should match his identity as a Young Hero.
He shook his head, dismissing distracting thoughts and focused on the present moment.
Surrounded by desolate mountains, with no human traces besides himself, it was clear there was still some distance to Huai Valley Village, the main mission.
As the sky darkened, it was not wise to camp in the wilderness of the dungeon plane.
The priority was to find a place to stay for the night, and resume the search for Huai Valley Village tomorrow.
As the surrounding fog dissipated, the dungeon formally began.
Following the footprints on the ground, Wu Chang returned from the woods to the mountain road, and upon emerging, he saw a horse tied to a tree not far away.
Walking up to it, the horse affectionately nuzzled his hand.
That’s right, he, a Young Hero from a renowned family, appearing alone in the wilderness, how could he possibly be without a horse?
At the year’s end, the snow in the forest made footprints easy to trace.
He rode the horse, following the tracks, until seven-tenths of the sky had darkened, when he saw a two-story inn by the roadside.
As he approached, an attendant proactively came over.
Though the inn was small, it had complete facilities, including a dedicated stable in the courtyard and rooms divided into three classes.
Wu Chang stood in the inn’s hall, the interior dim and deathly still, only the sound of chopping bones coming from the kitchen.
The attendant tied up the horse, came out holding an oil lamp with a smile on his face and said, "Honored guest, after such a journey, you must be worn out. Would you like to try our inn’s specialty dish?"
Wu Chang raised an eyebrow and asked, "What’s the specialty dish?"
"Our homemade smoked bacon, stored up in the beams, please wait a moment, honored guest."
As the attendant spoke, he took a bamboo pole and lifted it towards the ceiling beam.
A figure with a rope around its neck fell from the beam, swaying in the air with the rope.
"A person?" Wu Chang frowned, immediately drawing his sword from the sheath.
"Take it slow! Honored guest, look closely, it’s a mountain pig!" The attendant’s face turned pale with fright, and he stepped back a few paces, hiding behind the table and shining the lamp at the shadow.
By the lamp’s light, it became clear that the figure resembling a human was actually a lean pig, its hair singed off. The dried and smoked pig meat gleamed with an amber-like sheen.
Wu Chang sheathed his sword, his tone relaxing slightly, and asked, "Is this meat legitimate?"
"Legitimate, of course! We get it from mountain hunters. Wild game is different from domestic pigs, absolutely delicious, I’m sure you haven’t tried it before, honored guest."
"Alright, serve it up then."
"All right, please wait a moment, honored guest!"
While busy in the kitchen, Wu Chang waved to call over the attendant and asked;
"Let me ask you, in this deserted wilderness, with no signs of life, can you really make a profit with an inn here? Or is there another agenda?"
The phrase ’another agenda’ was uttered deliberately, and as soon as he finished speaking, the chopping sounds in the kitchen doubled, clearly displeased with his insinuation.
The attendant hurriedly explained, "Honored guest, you may not know, but a few years ago, the Huai Mountain region was bustling. Five villages in the mountain each had different specialties, and traders came year-round to trade mountain goods. Otherwise, how could we support such a large inn?"
"It’s quiet now because a few years ago there was a mountain bandit problem. The bandit force was strong, and merchants were afraid to enter the mountain, so it gradually became desolate."
Afraid Wu Chang wouldn’t believe him, the attendant pointed to the wall inside the store.
On the wall hung a row of wanted posters, depicting the big heads of "Black Mountain Bandits," with the official seal of Jingyuan County stamped on the notices.
Wu Chang tapped his finger on the table and asked, "Merchants fear bandits, and you don’t?"
The attendant said with a wry smile, "There are only two of us in the inn, myself and the owner. There’s no wealth to take from killing us, and those merchants who pay the tolls need us, so we’ve been allowed to stay. Besides, even bandits need to eat, and getting supplies down the mountain is inconvenient, so they need someone to help."
While speaking, a muffled voice from the kitchen shouted, "Too much talking! Get back to work!"
The attendant shrank back, ran back to the kitchen, and came out with a steaming basket of buns, placing them in front of Wu Chang, "Please try them while they’re hot."
Looking into the hopeful eyes of the attendant, Wu Chang was just about to pick up his chopsticks when a nameless wind blew from the second floor, causing his eyes to twitch at the corners and a chill to rise up on his skin.
Something is wrong.
He used the chopsticks to split open the bun’s skin, revealing a filling full of smoked bacon, juicy and rich in oils.
Taking a deep breath, he squinted for a closer look, and with the influence of 84 points of Inspiration, the oiliness receded and the juice dried up.
The tender, plump mountain pig turned into shriveled, moldy jerky, within which he vaguely saw clumps of hair and chopped human phalanges.
Looking up, the swaying mountain pig hanging from the beam, when cast in the shadows away from the lamp’s light, distinctly bore an eight-part human semblance.
The attendant still wore a wide, grinning smile, bowing at the table’s edge, his eyes unblinking and fixated on Wu Chang.
"Honored guest, the buns are getting cold, please try them quickly."