Chapter 21: Nine-Layer Demon Tower Trial, and You Chose Purgatory Difficulty!?

"Why can't you see my level?" Lu Zheng found it a bit funny hearing that. You're a mere piece of trash at LV. 27, what makes you think you can see through the level of a magnificent triple-element mage, dark assassin, all-around warrior, and ordinary LV. 48 Divine Pet Summoner? As a former competitor, Lu Zheng still worried about discouraging this female classmate.

After all, the other party had come to inform him about the Trial Tower — that was a favor. Someone had helped him, so how could he fire back with mockery? He immediately equipped the Dark Mask and said with a smile, "This is equipment I obtained by chance. It can conceal my level. Let's hurry to the Trial Tower — I really love opening treasure chests."

There's equipment like that?

Mu Yunlan glanced at Lu Zheng's mask and didn't say much. The two then arrived together at Ice Bird City.

Ice Bird City was very close to Liyang City. They hadn't even used a teleportation array, but came directly by car. Within this "enclosed zone" protected by the main city, there were no roaming magical beasts — the monsters were all inside dungeons, so travel was very safe.

Half an hour later, they arrived outside the Trial Tower dungeon of Ice Bird City.

After walking just a few steps, Lu Zheng suddenly heard a familiar voice.

"Huh? It's you. You're also here to participate in the dungeon trial?"

Turning his head to look, he saw a woman riding a griffin looking down at them from above. It was the girl who had stolen his monster kill in Black Pine Forest that day.

Mu Yunlan noticed Dong Fangniaoniao and inexplicably felt a trace of hostility. She blurted out, "Who is she?"

Lu Zheng answered casually, "A boring person. I've met her once."

Hearing that the two had only met once, and judging from Lu Zheng's tone that he didn't care about this person at all, Mu Yunlan felt much more relaxed. She looked at Dong Fangniaoniao and replied, "We're participating in the trial together."

Dong Fangniaoniao saw that Lu Zheng was ignoring her, and that it was a girl who spoke up in response, as if not letting the two of them talk. A competitive impulse immediately arose in her heart.

Seeing Mu Yunlan's level, she smiled and said, "Level twenty-seven, only one level below me. Your strength is quite impressive! But bringing him along, you might not be able to clear it. Be careful not to lose your life! Back then, if I hadn't stepped in to save him, he would have died in Black Pine Forest."

Hearing this, Lu Zheng directly rolled his eyes.

"No, that day you stole my monster and I didn't hold it against you. Why are you still being so unreasonable today? Sigh, never mind. Class president, let's hurry and go participate in the trial. I have other things to do today and don't want to waste time."

Saying that, Lu Zheng directly grabbed Mu Yunlan's wrist and walked toward the Trial Tower. The latter had originally wanted to retort at Dong Fangniaoniao a few times, but after being grabbed by the wrist by Lu Zheng, her face immediately turned completely red. For a moment she couldn't say a word, and just stared blankly as she was pulled into the Trial Tower.

Watching the two walk in together, Dong Fangniaoniao gritted her teeth and said:

"How infuriating! I clearly saved you, yet you slander me for stealing your monster! When you come out, I'm definitely going to beat you up to vent my anger!"

Uncle Fu beside her suddenly spoke up to remind her:

"Miss, that young man just now was a bit strange. I couldn't see through his strength. The mask on his face is no ordinary equipment. He may have had some extraordinary encounters during this time. Do not act impulsively."

"Hmph! I am the granddaughter of the City Lord of Ice Bird City — how can I let someone slander me? No matter what, Uncle Fu, before I come out, you absolutely must not let him leave!"

Dong Fangniaoniao said this and directly entered the Trial Tower.

Lu Zheng pulled Mu Yunlan by the arm and walked into the Trial Tower. The two appeared within a white space, and a panel suddenly appeared before their eyes.

【You have entered the dungeon "Nine-Layer Demon Tower." Clear the trial to receive rewards. The nine-layer trial — after each layer's trial ends, you may choose to return.】

【Basic attribute detection complete. Detected as "Two-Person Trial Mode." You may choose from the following difficulties to conduct the trial:】

【Difficult: 1-5 Stars】 【Dangerous: 1-5 Stars】 【Abyss】 【Purgatory】 According to Mu Yunlan's understanding, the Trial Tower's difficulties were divided into six tiers: Simple, Normal, Elite, Difficult, Dangerous, and Abyss. The first five levels were each divided into one to five stars, while the Abyss difficulty had been cleared by no more than ten people so far.

And trial-takers below level 30 would normally be given three trial difficulties: "Simple," "Normal," and "Elite." Now, not only had the three difficulties of Difficult, Dangerous, and Abyss — which only appeared for those above level 30 — been given, but a "Purgatory" tier had also popped up. This made Mu Yunlan, who had been a bit dazed from having her wrist grabbed by Lu Zheng, instantly snap back to attention.

"How can this be? If it were Elite difficulty, I'd still have confidence in carrying you through. But at Difficult level, even I would have trouble clearing it alone. It's too dangerous."

Mu Yunlan accidentally spoke her thoughts aloud, but then immediately saw a scene that terrified her even more.

Because Lu Zheng directly chose "Purgatory" difficulty! The next moment, the two were teleported away. When they recovered their vision, a prompt sounded in their ears.

【Attention: You have opened the first layer of the Nine-Layer Demon Tower Trial Purgatory difficulty. In 30 seconds, the protective barrier will disappear. Kill all targets to pass this layer's trial. Countdown: 29, 28, 27…】

The two were protected behind a semi-transparent light screen. Through the screen, they could see a black panther with a shoulder height of over six meters glaring menacingly at them from just ten meters away.

【LV. 52: Demon Shadow Panther Demon】

Monster levels were unlike player levels — no matter what level, as long as it wasn't deliberately concealed, it could be seen.

Mu Yunlan scanned the area, and her face turned incomparably pale, because she saw that there were fully ten panther demons, all at level 52!

This was Purgatory difficulty. Participating in the trial below level 60, just the first layer alone required dealing with ten monsters above level 50 simultaneously.

She stood in front of Lu Zheng and said in a trembling voice:

"You're a summoner. Hide behind me and let your summoned beasts protect the rear. As long as — as long as we survive this layer's trial, we can escape."

She had not yet completed her first class advancement. At only level 27, facing ten monsters whose levels were nearly double hers, she had absolutely no chance of winning.

At this moment, these words were meant to put Lu Zheng at ease, and also to soothe her own fear!

Her words had barely fallen when the countdown ended. The next moment she was about to charge forward, only to find herself pulled by the shoulder by Lu Zheng. His strength was so great that she couldn't break free for a moment.

"Class president, don't act impulsively. Let my summoned beasts go first!"

Right at this moment, the Demon Shadow Panther Demons pounced. Lu Zheng used the skill 【Treading Moon】, wrapped his arm around Mu Yunlan's waist, and swiftly rose into midair. Then, he summoned the Crescent Moon Condor, and the two stood on top of it.

A gentleman does not stand beneath a crumbling wall.

These things clearly couldn't fly. As long as they were in midair, at the very least they wouldn't be hurt.

And the next moment, the level 46 Cave-Dwelling Azure Serpent and Howling Moon Azure Wolf were summoned together.

Their levels were both inferior to the Demon Shadow Panther Demon, but these Demon Shadow Panther Demons were only ordinary-quality monsters — it could be seen from their body size. As soon as the two summoned beasts appeared, they directly suppressed all ten Demon Shadow Panther Demons!

The Cave-Dwelling Azure Serpent's body length now reached a terrifying thirty-eight meters. Its lower body coiled up, its head right beneath the Crescent Moon Condor, a pair of dark red large eyes as if connecting to the netherworld hell. The Howling Moon Azure Wolf's silvery-white fur was like silver armor. With a shoulder height of over thirteen meters, it was not only mighty and domineering but also looked very handsome.

Mu Yunlan stared at the two terrifying giant beasts before her and asked in astonishment, "These — are these all your summoned beasts!?"

(End of this chapter)