Chapter 446: 《A Chinese Ghost Story》: The Scholar Side-Quest

"It's actually not a battle... is it a trap?"

Akainu's arm showed a flame Magic Rune, his expression hesitant as he considered whether to make a move.

Can Pollution Monsters communicate? Of course they can; the Underworld Wanderers and Vampire Barons killed in the past had all engaged in dialogue with players.

It's just that most players refuse to communicate, opting for brute force to smash the Pollution Monsters into game items.

But in the current situation, the strength of the boss Shuyao Laomu is too great; if they don't make contact with the dark monsters and scout for information, it will be difficult for them to complete the mission.

Therefore...

"Let's go in and take a look; perhaps there will be a harvest?"

Orochimaru stared closely at the old woman welcoming them, feeling that she radiated a very strange aura, but the threat level was low.

Moreover, his means of self-preservation were strong, and he could escape quickly if he encountered danger.

So he did not fear what seemed like a trap-like scene.

"Hmph..."

After Akainu, Smoker, and Borsalino exchanged glances, they also agreed to Orochimaru's proposal.

Tiequan Kapu?

As long as he followed the squad and acted as a brute, there was no need to let him waste his brain on matters involving operational plans.

The group stepped over the threshold one after another.

The old woman maintained her welcoming posture until they had all walked into the Ning Fu, then she straightened up like a manipulated puppet, her mouth split open, and she closed the gate tightly.

"Master Ning is in the innermost room, follow me..."

The old woman's body was light and airy, and she soon walked to the front of the group to lead the way, her twisting gait very strange.

Orochimaru turned his head to the side.

He saw the Necrotic Curse Snake that had been let in earlier hanging from a branch extending from a thick Taoshu in the center of the courtyard.

Its internal flesh and necrotic energy had been sucked dry, turning it into nothing more than snake skin.

"Apologies, Master Ning does not like outsiders prying into the residence."

The old woman did not look back, yet she noticed Orochimaru's gaze and spoke to explain.

Orochimaru grinned, licked his chin with his tongue, and said, "It's fine."

The Ning Fu was very large.

After the old woman led them through two courtyards as wide as football fields and then through two corridors, she slowly stopped outside a gate locked by iron chains.

Upon reaching the deepest courtyard, the surrounding temperature suddenly dropped, and the cold, biting demonic aura was so thick that it was drawn into their lungs with every breath.

"Hoo..."

Smoker inhaled deeply, finishing his thick cigar in one breath, and exhaled purple-red mist.

The Poison mist acted like a membrane, covering the surroundings of the Navy Alliance squad and repelling the thick demonic aura.

【Nerve Poison Mist Lv. max】.

A type of super Poison capable of eroding biological nerves; a single wisp could kill a strong prehistoric Tyrannosaurus Rex.

At the same time, it could also stimulate neural functions according to Smoker's will, providing Reinforcement to himself and his teammates.

"Very good Poison..."

His Agility and spirit attributes were actually temporarily enhanced; Orochimaru's old habit of hoarding began to surface again, and after greedily glancing at Smoker, he quickly withdrew his gaze.

If he were to ambush and kill Smoker and turn him into a necrotic poison creature, he should be able to serve as the Captain-Commander of the Undead Legion.

It was just that he also knew now was not the time for infighting, so he suppressed the impulse in his heart.

Clatter, clatter...

The chains were undone by the old woman, and the mottled courtyard gate slowly opened.

Compared to the grand courtyards they had passed through earlier, this courtyard was narrow, with bare old trees and decaying courtyard walls.

The 【Magic-Clad Scholar】 was sitting in the center of the courtyard.

He wore no mask; judging his age by his appearance, he must have been near seventy. His dry, gray-white hair was like an old tree in autumn; one could see the furrowed scalp of the old man through the sparse, withered strands at a glance.

His entire face was like a dead Taoshu, devoid of any vitality, with layers of skin wrinkles piled up, almost burying his eyes.

They knew he was the Magic-Clad Scholar because of the cloth robe the old man wore, which was identical to that of the Magic-Clad Monks.

Even though he looked like a candle in the wind,

everyone in the Navy Alliance squad was breaking out in cold sweat.

The soaring demonic aura that shrouded the entire mansion was emanating from this aging old man, no weaker than the Abyss Evil God from before.

It's just that...

Although the Abyss Evil God was powerful, it was a deformed lifeform born of forced growth, possessing no intelligence.

Even so, players from both worlds had expended great effort to hunt it down.

Yet the 【Master Ning】 before them was a dark boss with intelligence, making the difficulty of the hunt multiply.

Even the strongest, Orochimaru, was full of wariness, lacking the confidence to withstand the other's aura.

"Do not be nervous, guests from another world; as long as you do not reveal killing intent first, I will not make a move against you."

Master Ning, who seemed to have been dozing, raised his head, his turbid gaze landing on them.

"If you are looking to kill Shuyao Laomu, I can actually cooperate with you."

Master Ning's scrutinizing gaze wandered over the faces of the five.

As expected...

Orochimaru's eyes flickered; he had dared to accept the old woman's invitation to step into the Magic-Clad Scholar's territory precisely because he guessed that these dark bosses were not as close as family.

Now it seemed they were indeed in conflict with one another.

"We are here to kill..."

Before Iron Fist Garp could finish his sentence, Smoker covered his mouth.

The previous situation had clearly undergone a subtle change, and they could not let Vice Admiral Garp directly provoke a battle.

Smoker explained, "We want to kill Shuyao Laomu; if you can help us, cooperation is not a problem."

Shuyao Laomu is the final boss.

They came to this special space wanting to kill Moyi Xiushi to weaken the strength of Shuyao Laomu.

But if Moyi Xiushi is willing to help, that is a different matter; with the assistance of a Dark Gold-tier boss, the hunt will definitely go very smoothly.

As for what happens afterward...

If Moyi Xiushi hasn't left yet, it won't be too late to kill him and loot game items.

"Clearly, you can also see my current state; I am fundamentally unable to leave this residence."

Master Ning rolled up his wide sleeves, revealing arms like withered trees.

The skin and flesh of his arms were covered in dense holes, with tree vines passing through the holes, connecting to the earth beneath his feet and extending all the way to the nearly withered Taoshu.

The Navy Alliance squad looked at each other.

They were all judging the true state of Moyi Xiushi and the probability of killing him if they attacked now.

In the end, they abandoned the plan to attack.

Master Ning was able to reveal his weakness without any scruples, so he had likely long since considered the possibility that they would attack.

"Back then, I accidentally entered a ghost temple and luckily escaped with my life, but Shuyao Laomu planted a demonic seed in my heart, causing me to become this ghostly mess."

"I need you to help me collect two hundred hearts of ghost trees; this will allow me to briefly seal the power of the demonic seed, and then I will be able to leave this Taoshu and help you deal with Shuyao Laomu together!"

【Triggered Side Quest: "A Chinese Ghost Story (Scholar Chapter)"】

Quest Content: Help Moyi Xiushi collect two hundred ghost tree hearts.

Quest Reward:??? (End of chapter)