The Nightmare Train took a few minutes to return to where they had parted earlier. Robin Lo crouched on the ground, examining the traces of battle.
–How is it?– He stood up and asked Yang Zicang.
The young man, hands in his pockets, shook his head and recounted what they had encountered in the mountains.
Hearing about the mysterious apparition that appeared, Robin Lo narrowed his eyes and chuckled:
–Let’s analyze the information first.–
Yang Zicang chuckled, knowing full well that Robin Lo was itching to show off his QuadMoxel. As a Moxel designed for intelligence analysis, it was only before someone like himself that Robin could flaunt it—everyone else was strictly kept in the dark. He could almost picture it: after successfully upgrading his Moxel, this paunchy fellow must have been practically clawing at the walls, desperate to spill the beans.
Man and vehicle stood side by side at the edge of the forest, when Robin Lo remarked, –That thing in the mountains, the moment it laid eyes on you, it flaunted some pretty fierce intimidation, didn’t it?–
–Intimidation wasn’t so bad—just that it stood in midair to warn me off. Anything that can take to the sky must mean serious business, right?–
At least Zhao Anlong and the Defenders can’t fly; thinking of this, a peculiar expression appeared on Yang Zicang’s face.
Could there truly exist such a powerful being in the Shibin Wastes?
–Able to fly?–
Robin Lo thought for a moment, his brows instantly knotting into a tight rope as the initial thrill of using Moxel faded. If he were truly facing something capable of flight, the enemy’s strength would likely be terrifying.
In other words, the danger coefficient of staying here had rapidly escalated.
Yang Zicang hummed in agreement, rubbing his chin. –He said he’d act like he didn’t see you this time, basically giving you a pass, then he said someone was coming over there.–
Robin Lo casually sketched a map with a stick on the ground, marking their position in the northeast of the mountain, while the other group was to the southwest, just opposite these mountains.
–Next, after you used the reconnaissance secret technique, they attacked you directly and showed a pentagonal symbol. Hmm, it appeared from the eyes, pretty much identical to the Moon Shadow mark.–
–I’ll go see who those people over there are.–
Yang Zicang stood up and prepared to leave, but this time Robin Lo insisted on going along, afraid that the shadowy figure’s words were a ploy to split them up. Yang Zicang nodded in agreement, and after nearly twenty minutes of circling around, the train reappeared from the other end.
On the horizon, a group of people was indeed heading their way.
–They weren’t lying to us after all.–
Robin Lo frowned, the suspicion that the monster was bluffing now hard to cling to.
Under the dim light, a group of people holding torches soon approached while chatting.
Suddenly catching sight of two figures at the edge of the dark, shadowy woods ahead, they instantly became vigilant.
–You two over there, can you speak human language?–
–Your ancestor’s granny, can you speak human language?–
Hearing Robin Lo’s reply, the few across from him nodded with considerable satisfaction. The questioner grinned and reported to the leader beside him, who looked much like Mr. Tree: –Boss, confirmed—they’re fellow townsfolk, not monsters turned from the mountains.–
–Hmm, but let’s all still stay cautious.–
Among those people, the gaunt and unkempt man who had just spoken stepped forward. As he walked, a golden-white residual phantom of Chronos enhancement appeared on his skin, his entire body shimmering brightly, adding a semblance of nobility.
–You folks over there, my name is Jiazi Term. May I ask where you’re from?–
–I’m Zhou Liren, from the nearby Peng Zone. Are you two planning to head into the mountains?–
–Exactly.–
–The extra peaks behind here belong to the Crimson Moon Zone. Lately, several of our people from the shed have gone missing inside. I urge you two not to rush in recklessly and lose your lives for nothing.–
Robin Lo stepped forward: –So, what are you all planning to do?–
The group of about a dozen people noisily raised their torches and spread out in formation.
Zhou Liren let out a faint smile and said,
–We’re going into the mountains to find treasure, of course. We have a method to ward off miasma, so we’re nothing like ordinary teams, let alone with so many people.–
–We’ve got folks who came out alive from the mountains, haha, that’s our capital for venturing in. If you want in, swap a hundred years of life for one Miasma-Repelling Incense Pellet.–
One person in the team held up a sachet. Indeed, Yang Zicang and his companion could smell the strong medicinal herbs on these people.
Yang Zicang sized up the group, while the others stared back at them warily.
–Relying on those can you avoid danger?–
–Looks like these two don’t believe us. Let’s move on.–
The team of about a dozen bypassed Yang Zicang and his companion and headed forward. As he caught the scent of the spices on them, Yang Zicang felt his mind and body calm down considerably.
These weren’t pellets to ward off miasma; they were pellets to focus the mind and soothe the spirit.
–Hold on, a hundred years I can buy a pellet, but you have to give me the recipe,– Yang Zicang said.
One person in the team turned around:
–A hundred? Ridiculous. Friend, I can see you know your goods. If you’re sincere, I can give it to you for five hundred years.–
Robin Lo leaned in close to his shoulder and whispered, –I know you’ve got plenty of Chronos, but don’t waste it. Other than boosting mental clarity a bit in the illusion realm, what the hell is this stuff even good for?–
–Find me another item besides these incense pellets that can deal with the illusion realm.–
Robin Lo opened his mouth, then let out a stifled –Heh– from his throat.
–Fine, fine, fine, fine. Honestly, sometimes I feel you’re more cut out for my Moxel role than I am. But I still say spending Chronos on this is a total ripoff.–
At the sound of Robin Lo’s words, the group spun around nervously and rushed back.
–Are you guys seriously gonna buy it?– one of them asked frantically.
The leader, Zhou Liren, slapped the hand the man had extended, then turned to look Yang ZiCang straight in the eye:
–Five hundred years—yes or no? Say the word, and I’ll write you the recipe right now.–
If he could really sell a spice recipe for five hundred years, Zhou Liren felt that whether or not he went into the mountains this time, he’d have already hit the jackpot.
–I don’t know if it’s real or fake. Write it, and make a batch on the spot for me. If it works, I’ll give you the Chronos.–
–How can that work? If you look at it and claim it’s fake, the recipe’s just gone and you’ve seen it all for free.–
Yang ZiCang stood perfectly still, yet a deep, ancient aura instantly emanated from his body.
[Chime Night!]
Zhou Liren and his companions, who had just spoken, immediately felt a suffocating pressure closing in on them.
Those with weaker mental fortitude felt as if they were submerged deep in the ocean, abandoned by the world.
–You have… a psychic…–
–Ill, illusion skills!–
With a swoosh, Yang Zicang dispelled Chime Night, and the group gasped for air as if pulled from water.
–Judging by your reactions…– Yang Zicang nodded in approval, –You are indeed a bit stronger than others. But with resistance at this level, five hundred is too steep. At most three hundred, or I’m leaving.–
The dozen or so people opposite exchanged stunned glances. Their opponent possessed the ability to create mental illusions—it was practically a live demonstration!
–Three hundred… may I ask who you are, sir?– Captain Zhou Liren asked cautiously. The young man before them was undoubtedly a master from some major faction, likely here to investigate the existence of this Crimson-Moon Grade mountain lair.
Yang Zicang said flatly, –Jiazi Term.–
–Jiazi Term…– the group muttered the name.
None of them had heard of it before, but that didn’t stop them from beginning to get acquainted with this young man right now.
Zhou Liren glanced at the incense pellet in his pocket.
Currently, this incense pellet could only be used in this perilous A-level zone; elsewhere, it was just ordinary spice.
–Fine, three hundred it is.–
Faced with two people whose true capabilities were unknown, the team leader didn’t continue to raise the price. He quickly wrote down the formula and, using the medicinal herbs he carried with him, made one on the spot as a complimentary gift.
–Does it have a name?–
–No, we just call it the Big Aroma Pill. If you want it to be more refined, you can name it yourself.–
–Then let’s call it the Big Jia Fang Pill from now on.–
Robin Lo spoke without hesitation, but then he felt a sharp gaze falling on him from beside.
–Let’s call it the Clear Spirit Pill.– Yang ZiCang said with his eyes narrowed.
The team leader conducted a Pro-Invest for Yang ZiCang, and Yang ZiCang returned 300N to him.
After sending off the group of over a dozen people, the two discussed for a while and set up a tent on the spot. By the afternoon of the next day, that team actually came out, with only two injured.
–Did you encounter any danger?–
Robin Lo stood up and said to the crowd who were carrying the bodies of several wild beasts. They had also collected quite a few plants and minerals, looking as if they had made a bountiful harvest.
–You two are still here. This time, we got lucky inside and didn’t see that terrifying mountain guardian phantom. We only encountered some mental interference, but with those aroma pills, we had nothing to fear from them.–
–What kind of mental interference is inside?–
–The people we sent in before felt like they had turned into monsters, or that their arms had become monsters, and they ended up killing themselves. But with the incense pellets, although they still experience that intense sensation, they can at least tell apart reality.–
So that’s how it is, Yang Zicang nodded inwardly. Even with a team of about ten people, stabilizing this area was an extremely difficult task—truly worthy of an A-class zone.
For ordinary owners of Moxels, it is indeed a massive death trap.
–Uh… you two, how about stopping by our Peng Zone for a bit? It’s just twenty or thirty miles away, not too far—half a day’s journey.–
Zhou Liren, wanting to leave but unable to do so directly, deliberately feigned reluctance in his invitation.
–No need—we’re about to head into the mountains ourselves. Your safe return is a great relief.–
The team departed in high spirits. They had no desire to interact excessively with these two strangers, whose true strength was uncertain; their earlier words were merely polite formalities for customers who had earned three hundred years of Chronos.
After they left, Robin Lo, combining the information gathered from last night and today about this location, began deploying Moxel to collect additional intelligence.
[I will consume 1N of principal to unveil hidden information about the target.]
[I discovered that the phantom seen in Yang Zicang’s description seemed to be constrained by an unknown force, and most of his attacks were just a bluff.]
Robin Lo opened his eyes, his face beaming with joy.
–Hell of it—that thing really was just trying to scare us. But don’t get me wrong, that mental attack on you last night could have genuinely hurt, just nowhere near as bad as you imagined.–
The crushing weight of the mountain phantom’s menace suddenly lightened in Yang Zicang’s heart.
–With that being the case.– Yang Zicang grinned, –Brother Lo, I think the ghostly power here is a lot weaker than we thought. Why don’t we branch out a bit? You know how much resentment Ju Yin Chase has toward me.–
Robin Lo’s face stiffened as he stared at him. –What are you getting at?–
–With a mountain this big, for just the two of us to explore it all would take forever. So, why not bring in some more people?–
Robin Lo shot back, wary: –We had a deal—the power in this mountain is mine.–
–We’re still far from sealing that deal, and I never said I was backing out.–
–This…–
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