Chapter 636: Higher Instance Tier, What Secrets Lie Beneath

Jiang Chen walked at ease, each step seemed to land on the snow yet did not actually touch the snow.

The path he walked left no footprints.

He could have flown, but he did not.

He measured the peaks of Tianshan, and his soul power spread again, following the fine threads of life force, reaching beyond the formation.

He is not a formation master and does not know how to set a formation.

But that does not prevent him from inspecting the formation.

His soul power repeatedly tries to enter the formation, to see what lies inside and why it absorbs life force.

Although the absorption is small—only a tiny bit—accumulated day after day, year after year, the total amount becomes quite astonishing.

Jiang Chen discovers that a strand of his own life force is drawn into the formation and vanishes.

The minuscule strand completely ignores his defensive skills and innate talents.

This discovery further shocks Jiang Chen.

It shows that the rule level within the formation is extremely high, beyond what ordinary Level 96 rules can achieve.

"What exactly is hidden!"

Jiang Chen feels curious, yet also wary.

If, like the Wind and Thunder Continent, it hides a powerful being, that would be trouble.

But that is unlikely; if it were so, the Human Race does have Half-step Super Gods, and they would have eliminated it long ago.

After all, this is a world of the Human Race, not the Wind and Thunder Continent.

Jiang Chen tried various methods, but could not penetrate the formation and finally had to give up.

Unwittingly, he has passed the Initial Stage Dungeon and entered the Middle Stage Dungeon area.

Intangible pressure assaults him, lands on Jiang Chen, but has no effect.

The closer he gets to the Middle Stage Dungeon, the less the wind and snow, eventually disappearing.

A bustling scene appears before him: many Human Race teams have been stationed here for years, forming a sizable settlement.

The last time Jiang Chen came, he was in a hurry to grind instances and then to leave, never having seen this place.

Now it seems the atmosphere of life is strong; everyone gathers to drink wine and eat meat, peacefully lively.

A thousand years ago, such a life was almost unimaginable.

At that time wars raged constantly, and professionals rushed onto the battlefield, staining rivers and mountains with blood.

If the ancestors had not struggled desperately, the Human Race would have fallen under the iron hooves of Demons and Dragon Race long ago.

Jiang Chen does not linger, but passes the settlement and continues upward.

The wind and snow rise again.

The road from the Middle Stage Dungeon to the High Stage Dungeon is even more difficult.

The wind and snow are like blades, taking on an aggressive edge.

Climbing the mountain is a single action.

Under the massive pressure, although there is no Forbidden Void, flying is still hard.

The pressure is more than ten times greater than before.

It is another trial road, weeding out a batch of unqualified ones.

Such a trial has no effect on Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen still treads the snow without a trace, with clouds light and wind gentle.

The wind and snow grow larger, and Jiang Chen, through them, sees the Instance Entrance from afar.

The Instance Vortex spins slickly atop the Mountain peak.

It appears the Instance is already at the summit, where there is a flat area.

Jiang Chen compares his soul power's position and finds the Instance actually lies several hundred meters below the summit.

But to the naked eye, beyond the Instance there is no road.

Jiang Chen knows someone has concealed the true path by special means.

There is still a road after the Instance, still a way to go upward.

One must surpass the formation's height continuously before reaching the true summit.

"If I'm not mistaken, the High Stage Dungeon is not the end."

"Perhaps there is also a Fourth Stage Instance."

Jiang Chen speculates in his mind and strides toward the Instance.

Whether his guess is correct, a single strike will tell.

The wind and snow are pushed aside, and a clamor comes from behind.

A group of professionals breaks through the wind and snow, bearing the intangible pressure as they surge forward.

They move swiftly, pausing not at all on the path.

The nearer to the Instance Entrance, the greater the pressure to resist, the less time spent on the road the better.

Jiang Chen understands this, looks at the newcomers, mutters to himself, "What a coincidence!"

There are virtually no people on the road to the High Stage Dungeon.

Only occasionally does a team arrive, and they usually rush up the mountain at top speed.

The external pressure is too strong; staying too long is unbearable for anyone.

Mainly the Middle Stage Dungeon's requirements are too high; few can qualify.

Also the High Stage Dungeon is too hard; Level 70 teams basically cannot beat it, and Level 80 teams face equally great pressure.

Once above Level 80, it no longer meets the Instance requirements; they cannot even enter, let alone fight.

So most of those who come to challenge high-level instances are teams of Level 79 or 80 professionals.

Moreover, Level 80 teams are in the majority.

At Level 80, attributes are once again greatly enhanced, and new skills are mastered, so only then can one have a better chance of clearing the instance.

While Jiang Chen was looking at them, they also looked at Jiang Chen.

Someone like Jiang Chen, who came up the mountain alone, strolling leisurely as if on a casual walk, was absolutely unique.

Seeing Jiang Chen stop and not move forward, they all found it strange.

But they did not pause even half a step because of this, swiftly passing by and charging toward the instance.

After they passed, Jiang Chen also smiled slightly and continued walking forward.

Although he couldn't see their levels, his soul sense told Jiang Chen that these people were roughly between Level 79 and 80.

This team, composed of 24 people, moved with extremely tacit compatibility, their steps in perfect unison, giving Jiang Chen a military-like feeling.

However, they weren't wearing military uniforms, nor did they have Military Badges on them, so he couldn't tell for sure.

Some well-trained guild teams might also achieve this level of coordination.

This team quickly overtook Jiang Chen, rushed to the instance entrance at top speed, and then sat down to the side.

Someone took out an item and propped up a protective barrier within the team, blocking the wind, snow, and pressure.

They began to rest and reorganize.

Perhaps the rapid ascent had consumed too much of their strength, and they needed to recover before entering the instance.

Whether in motion or during this rest, their actions were perfectly uniform.

Moreover, the leader commanded with strict discipline.

Jiang Chen felt that this team was likely from the military.

If not the military, then they were professionals trained in the military style.

Such a team of professionals would have formidable combat power, capable of unleashing strong force whether on the battlefield or in an instance.

While they were resting, Jiang Chen also arrived at the instance entrance.

Some people noticed Jiang Chen and showed expressions of surprise.

What was a person doing here alone, sightseeing?

But everywhere here was wind and snow, a vast expanse of white—what was there to see?

And bearing the immense invisible pressure, who would be in the mood to enjoy the scenery under such circumstances?

Jiang Chen stood before the instance, looking at them. "Military?"

The leader of this team looked at Jiang Chen with confusion. "Is there something?"

Jiang Chen smiled and shook his head. "Just curious, asking casually."

As he spoke, he reached out and pressed his hand against the Instance Entrance.

The next second, his figure vanished.

Everyone was stunned—he had actually entered the instance.

"You've got to be kidding, going into an instance alone? Is he looking for death?"

"Doesn't he know that inside the instance, all teleportation items become invalid? You only get the right to choose to leave after surviving the first wave of attacks."

"He'll die in there. What an idiot."

"He doesn't look stupid, so how could he do something so foolish?"

Everyone was shocked by Jiang Chen's action.

Everyone knew the Difficulty of high-level instances; a Solo Run was absolutely impossible.

And being able to make it this far already proved his extraordinary strength.

Yet he went and did something so suicidal—it was incomprehensible.

"Mind your own business. Focus on resting; we enter the instance in ten minutes."

The leader barked, and everyone immediately shut their mouths.

The leader stared at the instance, muttering in a voice only he could hear, "Could it be him?"

If there was anyone in this world who might be able to solo the high-level instance of Tianshan Divine Palace, only one person could possibly do it.

Whether it was age or appearance, everything seemed to match.

The leader felt he had guessed Jiang Chen's identity.

"It must be Divine General Jiang. He might really be able to solo it."

"It can only be him."

Inside the instance, Jiang Chen's vision had just recovered, and before he could even take a look at the situation inside the instance, a riot of colorful light had already enveloped him.

Elemental energy churned violently with a roar.

All kinds of Elemental Attacks instantly slammed into him.

The Bone Armor glowed brightly but shattered with a bang after just two seconds.

Now at Level 74, with his talent factored in, the Bone Armor, equivalent to 590,000 Constitution, had only lasted two seconds.

In other words, if a professional with 590,000 Constitution, not counting equipment or defensive Skills, were in his place, they would only last two seconds.

However, two seconds was enough time for Jiang Chen to do many things.

The Undead Legion appeared, and the Headless Knights charged and slaughtered in all directions, carving a bloody path for Jiang Chen.

Without needing his physical eyes, his soul force swept across, and he almost instantly understood what had happened.