Chapter 324: Trap

The next morning.

The group left the abandoned maze and left some supplies as a reward.

The half-elf old woman Helena was very straightforward in character, showed no politeness at all, and then laughed loudly, telling everyone to come visit more often.

For now, she would coordinate with the mages to send the ordinary people in the base to safe areas nearby.

However, Helena did not intend to leave.

She would stay here for a long time to come, receiving ordinary civilians in the Koshi Plain who had not yet managed to flee.

This old woman had also overturned the image of half-elves in Rod's mind.

After all, he had encountered a mad scientist half-elf in the open-air maze last time; that fellow was obsessed with studying the genetic defects of elves and tried every means to turn elves into inferior slaves.

The group arrived again at the branch channel of the Hansen River.

After waiting for about thirty minutes.

The Svar fish-woman from last night arrived as promised.

Good luck.

She indeed obtained some clues; some fish-people saw this group of waterlogged mushroom-people being swept all the way to Lake Suk in the northern part of the Koshi Plain, where they went ashore.

Lake Suk, huh.

Rod actually knew it; he had passed through it several times while operating in the Koshi Plain before.

It was even not too far from the Claw Valley Mountains.

Now that the group had found their target, they immediately set off.

Given that they had almost reached the southernmost edge of the Koshi Plain, they flew back for more than three hours.

This was the time spent even after Rod used a treasure's group flight technique, further enhanced by the 【Cloud Wing Technique】 to increase flight speed.

Afterwards, they explored the surroundings of Lake Suk.

The mushroom-person Noah successfully found residual spore information, pointing to a cave on the edge of the Claw Valley Mountains.

This time, the information spores were very fresh and had not been placed for long.

"Looks like you don't need to spend points to find someone to prophesy."

Rod said to Oona with a smile.

The rabbit-girl Zheng Shi Fa was summoning 【Simulacrum】; her mood was already good, and hearing Rod's joke, she couldn't help but give a bright smile.

Rod's eyes brightened slightly.

Healthy wheat-colored skin, snow-white fur, and a pair of beautiful red pupils.

He suppressed the thoughts in his heart.

He secretly told himself not to rush; when facing believers of the Ascetic Faction, one must never take the initiative to strike.

Haley, the star-spirit person on the side, saw the same 【Simulacrum】 as Rod and felt a sudden toothache.

Then she glanced at the forest warden staring blankly at the petite Bai Pao Fa mage and was slightly stunned herself.

She inexplicably felt a hint of danger.

Is my servant about to be snatched away?!

Thinking this, she decided to tighten her grip on the pace of the operation.

Given the accident that occurred during the previous cave exploration.

The group decided to proceed in the same formation as last time.

Quickly walking deeper into the cave that gradually sloped downward.

This cave was much more spacious than the previous one, but the ground and cave walls were mostly rock; cultivating plants or spores would likely be difficult, clearly not the most ideal home conditions for mushroom-people.

After traveling for about twenty minutes.

When passing through a relatively narrow section of the path, Rod suddenly stopped, blocking the others.

"There's a trap."

But when the others looked forward, the Simulacrum at the very front had already passed through this section without triggering anything.

Oona directly cast a 【Trap Detection】.

No reaction.

She continued chanting the 【Dispelling Concealment】 spell.

Still no reaction.

But she trusted Rod.

She immediately cast the higher-level 【Beholder Observation Technique】.

A magic-constructed eyeball appeared, its red magical light sweeping across the passage ahead.

In an instant, unusual magic and spores appeared on the ground, on both cave walls, and on the ceiling.

"A combination of spell traps and spores; it has both the high controllability of spells and the secrecy of spores. I've never seen this type of trap before; no wonder ordinary trap detection couldn't find it."

Haley looked amazed.

Then she looked forward at Rod.

But what right did a mere spiritual warrior have to discover it? That so-called warrior's intuition?

"The familiar technique is Scarlett's."

Oona said happily.

Scarlett, that is, the child of her old friend.

Judging by the name, she should be a girl.

Rod didn't pay much attention.

Mushroom-people, after all; who would be interested in a humanoid race made of a huge chunk of mushrooms?

"Noah, can you spore over and notify the mushroom people inside? We don't want to start a conflict or destroy anything."

Haily suggested.

Noah shrank back, glancing at the spore traps all around, looking somewhat afraid:

"The spores here are completely different from those at the cave entrance; they are warning me not to approach."

"It seems the mushroom people of the Mycelium Clan are terrified."

Haily frowned.

She looked down in thought, whether unintentionally or on purpose, and suddenly stumbled, falling into Rod's arms.

A pair of soft breasts pressed against his chest.

At the same time, a semi-transparent long leg leaped out from the mage's robe, landing perfectly between Rod's legs.

As if teasing, it even hooked him with its toe.

"."

"Sorry, I slipped."

Haily stood up expressionless: "Then we can only force our way through."

Oona nodded, indicating agreement.

At this moment, Tally sent Rod a private message via the Chain of Long Distance:

【Tally: Master, I think she's flirting with you.】

【Rod: Not necessarily. I think Star Spirits are born exhibitionists; people like that have some psychological issues. I'm not too keen on provoking them.】

【Tally: A casual fling is fine~ Don't be afraid, Master~~ I want to taste the essence of your spirit when you play with her~~】

"."

Tally began saying all sorts of love words that couldn't pass censorship.

Especially when she secretly extended a pink, tender tongue from the shadow of Rod's clothes and started causing trouble everywhere.

Alright.

Rod felt a bit tempted.

Anyway, this Young Lady Haily seemed quite promiscuous; perhaps he could find an opportunity to try.

"I'll do it."

Thus, to demonstrate his own power.

Rod volunteered first to deal with the traps.

"Do you have a way to dispel magical traps?"

Haily asked in confusion.

"Spiritual Warriors naturally have Spiritual Warriors' methods. Watch closely."

Rod activated the Dragon Scale Technique.

He strode boldly into the range of the traps.

Buzz—

The sound of magical friction as the traps activated rang out.

In the next instant, acid mist, chain lightning, purifying fire, bursting rot sacs, Moon Bow Technique, Fire Brand Technique

Various flames, acid mist, and poison poured down onto Rod.

The magical traps here were far more numerous than they appeared.

Oona, Haily, and Noah, even standing five meters behind, were forced to use defensive spells to block the aftermath of the spells.

Watching Rod, who was trapped amidst various colors of magic.

Haily hesitated: "Is he okay?"

"Please trust Rod; he doesn't do things without certainty."

"By the way, Oona, what is your relationship with Mr. Rod? Lovers?"

"Of course not! I am of the Chastity Sect and Rod is a good friend!"

The Chastity Sect, huh?

That really means there's no need to worry about him being led away by this woman... right?

In recent years, losing one's chastity within the Chastity Sect hasn't been a rare occurrence.

Haily was not willing to lower her guard.

(End of this chapter)