Chapter 66: The Unreliable Player Crowd

The idle chat didn't last long.

After night fell, everyone went over the recent news, then each returned home to rest and gather strength for tomorrow's Heavenly Palace matters.

Chen Shicheng, after shooing away Shuigu Tang who tried to run a tab on friendship, found a secluded spot and tallied his evening loot.

Of course, the haul was far from ideal; aside from a damaged version of the Heavenly Gang Thirty‑six Methods that Hui Siye pointed out, there was only a questionable Golden Light Divine Spell.

"Siye, this Finger Earth to Steel may have a grand name, but I don't think it's useful."

Chen Shicheng casually learned the Skill without upgrading it, then released Finger Earth to Steel toward the ground a short distance away.

"."

No light, no sound.

The patch of ground where the Skill was cast showed no visible change; he could only tell it worked by the True Essence he expended.

La Tiao, which had been hidden in his pouch, poked its head out, glanced at the frowning Chen Shicheng, then leapt onto the area where the Skill took effect, its front paws digging incessantly.

When La Tiao's sharp claws touched the ground, a harsh scraping sound rang out and sparks flew, as if the soil truly turned to steel.

"See? Isn't this quite useful."

Hui Siye circled within the Skill's radius, sensed for a while, then settled back onto Chen Shicheng's shoulder.

"Where would you use it?"

Chen Shicheng racked his brain, still unsure where such a Skill could be applied—perhaps only to prevent earth‑dodge practitioners from fleeing?

"Your Skill is incomplete," Hui Siye explained, "A fully refined Finger Earth to Steel, cultivated to a high realm, can seal the ground and also nullify all earth‑based spells and hardened energy within its radius."

Chen Shicheng's eyes lit up as he realized, "So, once Finger Earth to Steel is cultivated to the Perfect level, it can grant partial Immunity to earth‑type damage, one of the Five Elements!"

"However, your Skill is only a fragment, retaining just the basic function," Hui Siye said regretfully, "To unleash the full power of the Heavenly Gang Thirty‑six Methods, you'll need to be lucky enough to complete it."

Complete!

Chen Shicheng is seasoned! Even the mysterious Cut‑Immortal Formation, whose tier is unknown and stems from an innate treasure, he grasped by spending Merit Points; Finger Earth to Steel will be no problem.

Nevertheless, since this Skill is still a fragment of the Heavenly Gang Thirty‑six Methods, the 960 Merit Points he earmarked for emergency use might not suffice, so after a moment's thought he abandoned the plan, intending to try again after the dungeon's opening is finished.

It was about nine at night now; Chen Shicheng returned to where he had met Shuigu Tang, rode a pack ox into the mining area.

Although it couldn't compare to Iron‑Forging Town, the sheer number of miners had grown it to a decent size—like a small sparrow with all its organs, nothing essential missing.

What displeased Chen Shicheng was that there were no Cloud‑Roll Tower annexes, only a few modest inns.

To avoid camping on the street, after returning the ox and reclaiming his deposit, he found a decent inn in the settlement and rented an upper room for the night.

It was his first time sleeping in the game; it felt no different from reality, and he drifted off as soon as his eyes closed.

However, his first night was far from peaceful; around five in the morning, the street rang with the thunder of hooves, startling Chen Shicheng and La Tiao awake, and the two of them—him and his ferret—stood at the window, looking out with displeasure.

"Is this a raid on the players' den?" Outside, more than twenty horses thundered by, their riders all hiding their faces; it was obvious they were all players.

Chen Shicheng sighed, feeling a bit helpless; it was only a few o'clock, yet they were already rushing off to the dungeon.

He knows it's the age of competition, but even in the game this level of hustle feels odd.

Moreover, these people probably don't know that the dungeon has been booked exclusively by the Cultural Tourism Bureau Logistics Department; arriving early means just a sip of soup. Since he was already awake, Chen Shicheng didn't plan to nap again; he had the innkeeper bring some water, freshened up, and set out toward Mine No. B, where the dungeon lay.

Mine No. B was not far from the makeshift settlement—at most about an hour on foot—so Chen Shicheng didn't rent another mount, opting to stroll leisurely on foot.

He also remembered to release the Evil Ghost Pill, letting it hover above and keep a high‑ground watch over the surroundings.

An hour's journey isn't far; the road was just a bit rough, and Chen Shicheng soon approached his destination.

The scenery grew increasingly desolate; upon entering the mine area, vegetation vanished, replaced by jagged cliffs and orderly exposed boulders.

At this moment, Chen Shicheng, via the Evil Ghost Pill's perspective, saw the full layout of Mine No. B.

Mine No. B lay among several small hills, with concentric excavation marks trailing from the summit down to an unknown depth.

At the bottom flat area, about the size of a football field, a waterlogged pit remained, where hundreds of laborers were laboriously pumping the water out.

Around the pond, dozens of players in uniform gear firmly sealed it; their coordinated movement and discipline made it clear they were the Cultural Tourism Bureau Logistics Department.

Compared to these state teams, the player side seemed like a chaotic horde.

"Raise the flag for PK, hit the point and stop, recruit disciples, recruit mounts!"

"Artifact‑grade gear, cheap at five hundred taels of gold, essential for opening, once you pass this village there's no shop left!"

"Dungeon missing one of five, need a violent DPS, Lightning Spell users first, monks out!"

"Girls looking for a group, flexible waist, sweet voice, and cute baby sounds!"

Chen Shicheng stood at the edge of the mine, looking down, and immediately heard the clamor of players—a cacophony of everything imaginable.

The strangest were some players who seemed to have played many PC games, hopping up the mine's edge steps layer by layer, then leaping down from a height, repeating the cycle with relish.

"Truly the Fourth Heavenly Calamity,"

Chen Shicheng's eyes twitched; he wasn't sure whether to descend and join these players, feeling none of them were reliable.

Just as he was mentally ranting, Hui Siye perched on his shoulder seemed to spot something, gazing far at the surrounding mountain ridges, his little paws constantly calculating; his eyes brightened as he prepared to tell Chen Shicheng something.

But before it could speak, a woman's voice came from behind Chen Shicheng, silencing it.

"Hey, not bad, kid, you came early."

(End of Chapter)