Chapter 51
"You've noticed it too — the BOSS's corpse doesn't vanish like regular monsters."
As she spoke, Xiao Wu pulled out a book-shaped item from behind her. It gave off a faint white glow.
"This is a skill book called Gathering Technique. It only drops after defeating a BOSS. There's no requirement to learn it, and it lets you collect materials from monster corpses. Certain professions can turn those materials into equipment. It's basically part of the full loot you get from killing a BOSS."
Lin Bai took the book and checked the description — it was just as Xiao Wu had explained.
Without hesitation, he clapped his hands together and learned the skill on the spot. "Let's give this a try."
He walked over to the Icefire Demonic Wolf's corpse and activated the gathering technique. A faint glow appeared in his palm, and the next moment, two shimmering gems materialized — one fiery red, the other icy blue. They were crystal clear, gleaming brightly.
Lin Bai glanced at their details. Both gems had formed from the elemental essence of the Icefire Demonic Wolf's eyes and could be embedded into weapons and armor.
After storing the gems, he used the gathering technique again. This time, he obtained the wolf's fur, which was clean of blood after being processed by the technique, followed by sharp wolf fangs and a haul of wolf meat.
The fangs were suitable for forging equipment, and the meat — once cooked — granted temporary resistance to fire and frost. Prolonged consumption could even permanently raise a character's attributes by one to three points.
"Not bad. Let's bring it back and have a barbecue."
Lin Bai methodically gathered the Icefire Demonic Wolf's remains. Thanks to the gathering technique, the materials were immediately usable, saving them from extra processing work.
On the blackened ground, only the wolf's skeleton remained, which wasn't worth much. Lin Bai loaded the meat into his storage ring and backpack. Anything he couldn't fit, he had Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu carry.
He was still concerned about Ying Tian's growing appetite, but for now, he had enough to last a while.
"You've all done well today. Do you want to keep exploring the dungeon or head back to the surface for the night?"
They hadn't spent too long in the dungeon — it wasn't even afternoon yet. They had cleared monsters as they went, and if they left now, they'd be back on the surface by evening.
Xiao Wu fiddled with a piece of newly acquired gear. "I say we head back. We've gotten a ton of equipment — I need a proper place to test it out."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded in agreement. She'd picked up five or six new items herself, and her stats had jumped significantly. She also wanted to get a feel for her improved combat power.
"Alright," Lin Bai made the call, "we'll head to the sixth floor and farm monsters there. You can get used to your new gear on the way."
With that, he led them to the passage heading for the sixth floor.
Now properly equipped, Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu were both easily stronger than typical three-ring Soul Masters. Monsters on the lower floors posed no challenge at all. After getting a good feel for their new strength, the three of them advanced to the eighth floor.
The eighth floor was different. It required entering through a teleportation array, and inside, the space seemed endless.
Lin Bai's ears twitched as he picked up sounds from far off. Frowning, he used his telekinesis to scout ahead. Through his unique vision, he saw a strange scene.
Ahead, the rough stone ground had been smoothed over. A market had been set up, crowded with spirit masters whose auras marked them as elites. Hawkers called out in every direction.
"Buying intel on the Terrain Dragon — one hundred gold coins!"
"Forming a team for the thirteenth floor BOSS! Need an auxiliary-type Soul King, or at least a weaker level-30 auxiliary!"
"The authentic Dilong-brand aphrodisiac elixir! Boosts cultivation, strengthens the body — you can't afford to miss out!"
Lin Bai was briefly stunned, then told Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu what he was seeing.
Pressing his temples, he muttered, "Looks like the eighth-floor dungeon is connected to the whole continent. We'd better keep a low profile here. There's bound to be experts from the two empires and the Spirit Hall."
At the mention of Spirit Hall, Xiao Wu froze for a second. She hadn't forgotten that her mother had died at their hands. She clenched her small fists, suppressing the hatred in her eyes.
Luckily, her soul beast aura was concealed by the Mountain God Seal. Without it, she might never have made it this deep into the dungeon. She silently grabbed Lin Bai's arm, pushing aside the turbulent thoughts in her heart.
Zhu Zhuqing noticed her odd behavior but, being naturally reserved and indifferent, didn't pry.
Lin Bai gently patted Xiao Wu on the head, then stepped forward, leading them out of the passage. The teleportation array beneath their feet glimmered with intricate patterns, crafted like a work of art.
The market was about five hundred meters ahead, separated from the teleportation point by towering, jagged rock pillars covered in grayish-green vines. The deeper they ventured, the more the underground city resembled the surface world.
"It's so busy!" Xiao Wu, carefree as ever, quickly let go of her worries. Her eyes sparkled as she took in the bustling market. If Lin Bai hadn't held her back, she would have rushed straight in.
Ying Tian, their imposing presence, naturally attracted attention.
"Is that a dragon? Who's the powerhouse walking around with a dragon as a pet? Man, when's it gonna be my turn to get that lucky?"
Not far away, a tall, hefty man in red spoke in a low voice to his companions.
One of them — a handsome young man with peach blossom eyes — glanced toward Ying Tian. His eyes lit up, and he nudged the fat man beside him. "What're you gawking at, Fatty? Look over there — two gorgeous girls!"
Hearing that, the fat man in red and two other teammates turned to look. When their eyes landed on Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu, they were visibly stunned.
A teenager with heterochromatic eyes raised an eyebrow. "Not bad. Judging by their age, they're probably new to the eighth floor. Xiao Ao, give me a hand later."
"Ah, Boss Dai, can you leave some for the rest of us?"
The peach-eyed man was Oscar, while the middle-aged man beside him was Zhao Wuji. He kept his gaze on Lin Bai's group, especially Ying Tian, then wordlessly reached out and flicked each of the three young men on the head.
Smack! Smack! Smack!
The crisp sound of palm against skull echoed. Zhao Wuji's voice was deep and steady, carrying a hint of menace. "We're here to level up — not to play around or pick up girls. Sell your extra gear, then find a spot to grind."
"I got it, I got it. Geez, can't even admire the scenery a little," Ma Hongjun grumbled, rubbing his head. Zhao Wuji's hand was like a bear's paw, and getting smacked by it left his head buzzing.
Their movements and stares were anything but subtle, and Lin Bai naturally noticed.
His gaze swept over the four of them, and he instantly recognized them as members of Shrek Academy. He hadn't expected to run into them here.
Before he could say anything, he noticed Zhu Zhuqing had already stopped, earlier than him. Dai Mubai didn't recognize her, but she knew those heterochromatic eyes anywhere.
Lin Bai sighed to himself. He'd just finished comforting Xiao Wu, and now it seemed he might have to comfort Zhu Zhuqing too.
But Zhu Zhuqing didn't seem to need it. She stood there quietly, gazing at Dai Mubai like he was a stranger — which, in a way, he was. Their engagement had long been broken off, and they were no longer connected.
In truth, after being driven out by the Dai family and sent to the Heaven Dou Empire because of her talent, Zhu Zhuqing had cut all ties with Dai Mubai. There was no reason for their paths to cross again.
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