Chapter 797: A Maze of Traps

Translator: alyschu

"Attack!"

Charging forward, I activated God Binding Art and bound a Bronze Beast while my Phantom Wolf King drew the attention of another one. As for the third one, I worked together with Cute Little Naughty and the other assassins to get rid of it.

"Ggrrrrr!"

The Bronze Beast was extremely violent as it clamped its jaws down on the arm of an assassin. The assassin cried out in pain as the Bronze Beast activated Bite and a damage number of 30000 floated above his head. Fortunately for that assassin, he was not one-shot because he had good equipment.

"Stun that Bronze Beast!"

However, it was too late. In the next instant, that Bronze Beast stomped its legs violently and the steel spears on its body stood erect, then shot into the air with a whistling sound, enveloping a group of assassins. They cried out and collapsed instantly, unable to withstand the attacks of the Bronze Beast. This dread-rank monster had finally revealed its abilities. It was so terrifyingly powerful that it might as well be passed off as a boss monster!

Grabbing hold of Cute Little Naughty, I pulled her behind me and held my sword up. The clanging of metals rang out as the steel spears from the Bronze Beast bounced off my sword. However, my sword did not block off all of them and I was pierced by quite a few of them. I was closest to the Bronze Beast and thus took the most damage. Fortunately, I had high Defense and each spear only managed to shave off a thousand HP. I had only lost a total of 40000 HP and was not in any life-threatening danger.

"Vice leader big bro..."

Little Naughty clutched my wrist as her face turned pale and said, "Let’s not fight this monster, it’s too dangerous..."

I nodded my head and shouted, "Everyone, retreat! Leave these monsters to me! Move twenty yards back!"

"Yessir!"

As a group of players retreated swiftly, I worked together with the Phantom Wolf King and my apparition to slaughter the Bronze Beasts. After nearly five minutes, I managed to kill all three Bronze Beasts. The three of them dropped a few rocks and two pieces of equipment, one of which was a pair of leather boots and the other was some 1-star Outstanding Purple Gold–grade item. Since I had no use for any of those items, I gave them to some assassin.

At this moment, a ping sound rang out. It was He Yi who sent me a message: "Lu Chen, what’s going on inside? Can we come in?"

"Mn."

I replied quickly, "Take the fourth path to your right. Little Naughty and I are over here."

"Alright!"

......

Soon after, a large group of players came rushing toward us. Countless Ancient Sword Dreaming Souls players started to swarm into the first floor of Nine Tigers Soul Suppressing Tower. There were so many of us that we looked like a flock of birds!

"So, what’s the plan?" Murong Mingyue asked as she glanced at the crowd of players.

He Yi stepped forward and shouted, "There are a total of eight paths. Everyone scatter and grind on your own. No matter which path you take, the end of your path will lead you to the boss! Core force, with me! We will charge our way through!"

The main force of Ancient Sword Dreaming Souls split into two groups. One group followed He Yi, Beiming Xue, Murong Mingyue, Gui Guzi, Chaos Moon and I. The other group which consisted mostly of Cyan Tiger Cavalrymen was led by Li Chengfeng. Each group was further split into four other groups, each taking a different path to grind. Rather than sticking together, splitting up to grind was a better option so that everyone could have a chance to gain EXP.

......

After splitting up, we were left with three thousand players. It was still a rather large number for a grinding party, so we could make do with it.

Having Beiming Xue, He Yi, Chaos Moon, Gui Guzi and the others in the party made our lives so much easier. We killed countless Bronze Beasts and swept the area clean at breakneck speeds.

After travelling halfway through the path, a blue curtain appeared in front of us. Whenever a player came near to it, the curtain would ripple and the player would be thrown back. We had absolutely no idea what was happening.

......

"Everyone, stay where you are!"

Beiming Xue who was at the front, raised her hand and signaled for us to stop. Her beautiful eyes continued to stare in front of us as she said, "Big bro, there’s a trap over there!"

"Trap?" I asked in shock. "Is there one? Nothing looks out of the ordinary to me!"

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"I can sense it!" Beiming Xue pouted and folded her arms.

I immediately turned behind and said, "You, summon your pet. Let it scout that area for a bit!"

High Fighting Spirits summoned a blue praying mantis eagerly. Brandishing a large sword, the mantis started to move forward with no fear or reluctance.

All of a sudden, a piece of stone slab sunk down. A loud bang rang out as an icy spike exploded from the ground, cruelly piercing through that blue praying mantis.

"God damn!" Everyone’s jaws dropped simultaneously in shock.

"Eternal Moon Cooperation is so shameless! How do they expect us to move forward with these traps in place?" Chaos Moon exclaimed in exasperation.

I summoned my apparition and said, "Sis Murong, focus on healing my apparition. I’ll go and scout the area ahead of us. There must be a way to avoid the traps! Once we understand the mechanics of these traps, moving forward will not be a difficult feat."

Murong Mingyue nodded her head.

A bard behind me added a full buff to my apparition instantly. I took control of the apparition and started to test the waters.

The path in front of me was filled with rows of stone slabs. Both sides of the path were lined by iron fences which were impossible to jump over. Each slab was about a meter wide, and they were all arranged in tidy and uniform rows.

After testing the waters continuously, I was sure that the fourth slab on the first row was safe. The other nine slabs would activate the icy spikes.

I continued on to the second row and as my apparition took a step on to a slab, the sharp spike exploding from the ground and piercing its chest. Murong Mingyue quickly cast her healing spells on my apparition, saving it from certain death. Goddammit, those spikes deal ridiculous damage! A single spike shaved off more than 30000 HP!

After triggering the mechanism nine times, I was finally certain that the fifth slab on the second row was safe.

For the subsequent three rows, I was greeted by frost magic formations instead. I could barely watch as my apparition was frozen repeatedly. After those three rows, the icy magical formation was replaced by a flaming magical formation. It was one of those annoying traps that spat out flames every other second.

I finally managed to figure a way out after running and jumping around for nearly half an hour. Taking in a deep breath, I slumped against a corner for a quick break.

"How was it? Did you find a way to pass through the maze of traps?" He Yi asked with great concern.

I nodded and began my explanation. “Alright, pay attention. There are fifteen rows of slabs and you need to step on them in order. In each sequence, only one slab is safe to step on. The first five rows and their safe slabs are: 1-4, 2-5, 3-6, 4-4 and 5-5. Once you reach the fifth row, you’ll need to pause for 1.5 seconds and wait for the frost magic formation to cool down. Following it will be flame traps, spouting flames at 2.5-second intervals. You’ll need to jump through 5 rows within that time frame. The order for these is 6, 7, 4, 5, 6 respectively. Your jumps need to be precise not to get burned, but quick enough to get to safety within 2.5 seconds. Plan ahead, and prepare for the next jump in the air. This will be an ultimate test of your mechanical skills!

I cleared my throat to make sure that everyone was paying attention. “Now this is where things get tricky. Next up, wind and thunder formation. You start with the first slab, then the second, then the fourth. Then you jump back to the third slab of the twelfth row and immediately lunge forward through the last three rows in 345 order. Slightest misstep and the formation will turn you into a roasted duck...”

As I finished my long speech, I shared the directions with them via chat.

Xu Yang’s mouth twitched for a moment before he asked, "This... this is too complicated. Are you sure that a human is able to pass through?"

I waved a hand and laughed. "This maze of traps was put in this spot to impede the progress of the players in this map at a critical juncture. This will prevent most players from entering the core of Nine Tigers Soul Suppressing Tower. We’ll just have to bite this bullet and clear this hurdle if we want the treasures that lie ahead."

Chaos Moon licked her lips and giggled. "These traps seem rather complicated and it’ll take a lot of skill to follow your steps. If that’s the case, can we really get past these traps with ease? Lu Chen, why don’t you give us a demonstration first?"

I laughed and said, "Alright, watch and learn..."

Clang!

I sheathed my Cyan Netherworld Sword and sent my mount back to its space. My eyes turned focused as I stepped onto the first slab and agilely skipped across the next four slabs. When I stepped on the fifth slab, I waited for the frost magic formation to begin its cooldown before charging out once again. Once I reached the tenth slab, I sucked in a quick breath before swiftly hopping across the next three slabs. After that, I jumped back to the twelfth row before dashing across the next three slabs in the correct order. I looked as if I was dancing across a sea of clouds as I cleared the death trap with ease!

Bang!

I stood on the other side of the maze of traps without a single scratch on my body. I grinned at everyone on the other side as I said, "Just do what I did! There are treasures waiting on the other side..."

Heaven’s Rain gripped her sword in one hand and her eyes glittered like the stars above. "Wow, you actually managed to pass through in a single move! Big bro Lu Chen, you truly live up to your name as Little Heavenly King! You’re too OP!"

Chaos Moon pouted and said, "It still looks really difficult. One wrong move and we may become roasted pigs..."

He Yi’s eyes were filled with excitement and nervousness. Letting out a giggle, she said, "If a few more manage to cross over, I too will give it a try..."

Xu Yang’s hands trembled in nervousness as he said, "So...who wants to go next?"

Beiming Xue raised her bow and giggled. "Big bro already made it across, so it’s my turn now!"

"Mn, be careful Beiming!"

Beiming Xue giggled as her boots glowed radiantly. She deftly leaped onto the slabs like a pixie, matching my movements perfectly. Her movements, turns and timing were precise and exact. Leaping off the last slab a few seconds later, she stood beside me and laughed, "Big bro, how's my mechanical skill?"

Filled with joy, I laughed and said, "Very good! Haha! Who’s next?"

He Yi raised her Blade of the Earthen Soul and laughed. "I’ll go!"

Anxiously, I said, "Eve, be careful. Plan your moves in advance before you try to clear these traps."

"Mn."

He Yi nodded her head. She gripped her sword and stepped onto the first slab. Unlike Beiming Xue, she had to stop quite a few times. She would only start moving again when she was confident of her next step. Our beautiful guild leader’s judgement was outstanding indeed. When He Yi finally leaped off the last slab, there wasn’t a single scratch on her either. She looked at me with a sweet smile on her face, and I could tell that her confidence had increased by leaps and bounds...

......

"This maze of traps is such a scam..." Chaos Moon pouted before saying, "Alright! It’s big sister’s turn to make an entrance! Cheer for me everyone!"

Xu Yang, Gui Guzi and the rest quickly started clapping rhythmically as they chanted, "Trip! Trip! Trip!"

"Get lost, assholes..."

Chaos Moon pouted playfully before hopping onto the first slab. The pitter-patter of her feet filled the air as she skipped from one stone slab to the other. She moved with such ease that it made He Yi look like a rank amateur in comparison. Damn it, this girl had been hiding her true potential! Not many players in our guild could mimic her calm judgement or her precise movements.

Murong Mingyue went next. She looked as skittish as a lamb as she carefully crossed from one stone slab to the next. She finally cleared the maze after what felt like an eternity. It was time for the guys to have a go!

Gui Guzi and Eighteen Steeds of You and Yun went up first, and both of them managed to successfully rush through the maze of traps.

"Here I come!"

High Fighting Spirits gripped his warhammer in one hand and took a step forward with a resolved look on his face. He perfectly hopped across the first five slabs. However, he stepped on the wrong slab on the sixth row, and an icy spike pierced his thigh!

"Shit! Fighting Spirits, you’re gonna die!" Everyone gasped in shock.

Fortunately, High Fighting Spirits remained calm and crawled back to the fifth row. His high HP had prevented him from getting one-shot by that ice spike. After recovering to full health, he continued forward. A few steps later, he was burned by flames, making him look like a roasted pig.

At last, after several ordeals, High Fighting Spirits managed to pass through the series of traps with a sliver of his health left. Crawling toward Murong Mingyue on all fours, he grabbed her milky thighs with his charred hands and pleaded, "Sis Mingyue, please save me..."

Murong Mingyue did not know if she should laugh or cry at the pitiful High Fighting Spirits. She shrugged helplessly and waved her staff in the air. Healing spells instantly enveloped the charred warrior, instantly saving him from the brink of death.

I had to say that High Fighting Spirits was really quite impressive. Anyone who could pass through this series of traps with brute force was not to be taken lightly!

......

In the next hour, nearly two hundred players had successfully crossed over the maze of traps. However, the rest of the group was too scared to even give it a try. After all, not everyone was as skillful as we were.

"Guild leader, go on without us! We’ll stay on this side and continue grinding. Don’t miss us too much alright! Goddammit, this stupid scam of a tower! We hate you, Nine Tigers Soul Suppressing Tower!"

A bunch of Ancient Sword Dreaming Souls wept as they turned around resentfully. It was better for them to return and slaughter those Scavenger Imps than to get killed by these traps. They would, at the very least, gain a lot of EXP from grinding. Life was like that sometimes. A person needed to know when to give up in order to succeed in life!