Chapter 408: The Apprentices' Choice

The biting cold wind rolled with ice chips, whipping everyone's face on the snowfield.

In front of the entrance to the labyrinth, a huge pit opened uglily, and the rock layer at the bottom of the pit shone with stubborn cold light under the magic brilliance.

"Again!"

Moke's voice was distorted by the gale.

His mage robe danced in the wind and snow, and the scholarly demeanor that was usually meticulous had long been replaced by anxiety and exhaustion.

In front of him, several assistants stood side by side, their hands gripping their long staves and pointing far away.

They gathered the little mana they had left into a stream, gathered into an earthy yellow beam of light, and slammed into the bottom of the pit again, exploding a mass of chaotic snow mist!

"Boom—!!"

Kai Mi Di Er rushed to the front; he was almost overdrawing his mental power to cast spells, his pale face full of guilt.

It was he who suggested to the mentor to introduce undead from the Luo De Kingdom... if it weren't for his extra words, things would never have gotten out of control to this point.

However, when the light of mana dissipated, the scene at the bottom of the pit made everyone feel desperate.

"No, mentor!" An assistant's voice was hoarse due to exhaustion, "'Rock Dissolution' was bounced back! The situation here... seems a bit wrong!"

Only to see that at the bottom of the deep pit, eerie dark red crystals covered the entire bottom of the pit like a huge scab.

Magic hit it like a mud cow entering the sea, only splashing a few weak sparks, and didn't even leave a dent.

"Waste!" Moke roared, pushed away the exhausted Kai Mi Di Er, and personally stood on the edge of the deep pit, taking the main casting position of the spellcasting group.

He must not fail!

Professor A Li Si Te handed the entire trial to him to be responsible for, which was the greatest trust given to him by the professor and even the Tower of the Great Sage!

If three thousand apprentices had an accident under his supervision, and it was because of his work negligence, his academic career would be completely ended!

"In the name of dust and mountains, listen to my command and dance, turn into an invincible spear, and shatter the earth barrier!"

Moke raised his wand high, and the obscure and impassioned incantations were rapidly chanted from his mouth.

The air twisted in a visible form, surging mana gathered at the tip of the wand, and the light was so strong that the assistants around him subconsciously closed their eyes.

He slammed the spell that gathered all his power toward that piece of ominous dark red!

"Boom—!!!"

The deafening roar almost tore the eardrums, and the strong shockwave lifted the accumulated snow around for several meters, like a tide rolling on the snowfield.

However, when the smoke and dust dissipated, the red crystal at the bottom of the pit... didn't even have a trace of cracks.

Moke's breathing stopped.

'This... how is it possible?!'

He stumbled forward, a stormy sea surging in his heart.

This was a Silver Tier destruction spell!

A blow enough to collapse a fortress wall!

Several assistants who provided him with mana support could no longer hold on, their eyes went black and they fell backward, thanks to the support of apprentices on the side, they didn't fall into the snow pit.

Moke walked to the edge of the pit in a daze, staring fixedly at the crystal, and finally saw the full picture of the rock layer in the pit.

It was smooth and dense, as if it were the shell of some creature.

Just as he stared, the surface of the crystal suddenly pulsed with a faint light of ominousness at a slow rhythm... as if it were the heartbeat of a giant beast.

At the same time, a dull and long low hum came from the depths of the earth vein, like the cry of a giant whale in the deep sea!

Horror appeared on the faces of all the assistants, and they were helpless in the face of the situation in front of them.

"What is this thing?!"

"Wait..."

"It seems to be alive!"

"Saint Xisi is above... hurry and invite the Sage of the Holy Energy School!"

Listening to the screams and shouts of the assistants not far away, Moke's pupils shrank, and a drop of cold sweat slid across his forehead.

This piece of land under his feet, together with the labyrinth that imprisoned thousands of apprentices, seemed to have turned into a...

Living monster.

In a corridor on the first layer of the labyrinth, a ridiculous "interrogation" was going on.

"Speak! Where is the key to the treasure chest hidden?"

Player 【Mei Chuan Meichuan Qiuku】 was shaking a leg bone he picked up from the ground, threatening the magic apprentice hanging upside down in the net bag in front of him.

The translation crystal hanging on his chest highlighted his status as a local tyrant player, so he didn't have to communicate with gestures like other players.

"I... I don't know any key!" The apprentice was about to cry, because his face, congested from being hung upside down, was flushed red.

"Still stiff-lipped?" 【Wang Chuan Nei Ku】 searched the apprentice's pocket, only touching a few pitiful copper coins, and couldn't help but despise, "With just this little money, you have the nerve to come and participate in the trial?"

The apprentice's face flushed red, and his lips trembled with anger.

Who brings money when participating in a labyrinth trial!

This little copper coin was picked up by him from the monsters in the labyrinth, and now it was all looted by this group of undead who didn't play by the rules.

【Chuan Le Yi Fu】 was studying the wand confiscated from the apprentice on the side, touching his rough jawbone and commenting.

"The workmanship is rough, the material is inferior, and it wouldn't be wanted even if thrown into the shop of 'Beep—'."

The so-called "Beep—" was actually "The Graveyard," but this word, like many words including the Netherworld, was automatically muted by the translation crystal.

That wasn't an important matter anyway.

Just as the three were enjoying the fun of "recycling" loot, the ground under their feet suddenly came with a low hum.

"Hmm?" Mei Chuan Meichuan Qiuku stopped his movements and looked around suspiciously, "What sound?"

Before the voice fell, countless dark red patterns appeared on the stone walls on both sides of the corridor without warning. The patterns were like the blood vessels of living things, pulsing slowly, exuding a decaying aura.

Strands of ominous red fog seeped out from the stone cracks, spreading rapidly, like the hot breath spit out between the fangs of a beast!

"Damn, triggered a hidden plot?"

"Could it be that the event BOSS is about to refresh!?"

All three players were excited.

Only the apprentice hanging upside down was confused, unable to understand what strange things these three weird skeleton soldiers were muttering about.

Plot?

Event?

Is this also part of Master Moke's plan?

He didn't understand.

Just at this time, a majestic system prompt suddenly sounded in the consciousness of the three players, but the content was completely different from their guess.

【Emergency Task Update: Chaos Invasion!】

【Demon King: The scum of Chaos has polluted my hunting ground. Plan changed, my servants, prioritize clearing the claws of Chaos! Erase them completely from the labyrinth!】

【Main Task (Update): Cooperate with Xuebang magic apprentices to jointly resist the servants of Chaos and retreat to the temporary refuge!】

"Cooperate?" The three players looked at each other, their faces full of astonishment.

Just at this time, from the depths of that viscous red fog, several twisted humanoid creatures walked out silently with staggering steps.

Their bodies were asymmetrical, their skin was dead gray, and the only organ on their faces was a mouth that was always wide open silently.

That mouth was used to eat people.

"Ah—!" The apprentice who was hung up saw those monsters and instantly let out a heart-piercing scream, "It's the Wailers! Servants of Chaos! Let me down quickly!"

"Wailers?" 【Mei Chuan Meichuan Qiuku】 moved his eyes.

This NPC knows quite a bit.

He no longer hesitated, waving the sharp bone stick to cut the rope.

The apprentice fell heavily to the ground, and before he could catch his breath, 【Chuan Le Yi Fu】 stuffed the cheap wand back into his hand.

"Hey, kid," 【Mei Chuan Meichuan Qiuku】 squatted down and patted his pale face, "You're lucky; it's us you met in the labyrinth, now you're our person. If you want to live, tell us everything about that thing."

Looking at the three "undead" whose attitudes had changed 180 degrees in front of him, and then looking at the monsters approaching not far away, the apprentice was completely stunned.

But he quickly made the only correct choice, gripped the wand tightly, and nodded tremblingly.

"It, they are servants of Chaos... it's recorded in forbidden books, they will swallow everything they encounter, and they will tear their souls along with their flesh and blood!"

For a world with abundant "spiritual energy," this was undoubtedly the most cruel way to die.

Not only the loss of power, but the fatal thing was that once a soul is missing a leg, it doesn't know how many lifetimes it will be a cripple.

If the soul is too incomplete, it is also possible to be reincarnated into an animal... this is the mainstream academic view of the Soul School at present.

The apprentice who vomited all the information swallowed a mouthful of saliva and continued with a trembling voice.

"I, my suggestion is... we must break out as soon as possible, go to the refuge first! Other apprentices and assistants should already be rushing there, we must meet up with them first!"

【Wang Chuan Nei Ku】 threw a few copper coins back into his arms, grinned his jawbone, and revealed a smile that was incomparably terrifying yet unexpectedly reassuring in the other's eyes.

"We will go with you; in exchange, I need you to forget the unpleasantness just now... can you do it?"

The apprentice nodded quickly, like a chicken pecking at rice.

Just kidding.

He wouldn't be stupid enough to say no at this time.

【Mei Chuan Meichuan Qiuku】 patted him on the shoulder with satisfaction.

"Very good."

"Now, lead the way."

A strange cooperation kicked off in the blood-colored labyrinth; Imperial magic apprentices fought side by side with evil undead, which was probably the first time in the history of the Xuebang.

"... They have no vision, rely on sensing the fluctuation of the soul to locate, and you are undead with relatively weak souls, they can't see you clearly!"

The apprentice Li Ao, who was saved, shouted loudly; that was the knowledge he saw from forbidden books. After catching his breath, he continued to command.

"Don't aim at the head, use physical attacks on their chests! They have no brains, but the crystal in the chest is the weakness!!"

"Aoooo!"

"Received!"

As soon as the voice fell, the player "Mei Chuan Meichuan Qiuku" used the leg bone in his hand as a javelin, throwing it accurately, piercing the chest of a Wailer.

The monster fell silently, turning into a pile of ashes.

"Wang Chuan Nei Ku" and "Chuan Le Yi Fu" were on the left and right, using the hardness of the bones and agile footwork, like two capable mercenaries, defeating the approaching Wailers one by one.

Apprentice Li Ao looked at all this in a daze.

The way these undead fought was completely different from what he knew!

They had no support from necromancers, but relied on combat intuition and tacit understanding far beyond ordinary people to suppress a group of Wailers firmly in place.

Under their cover, one after another, isolated apprentices were rescued and joined this strange team consisting of one human and three skeletons.

However, as everyone continued to go deeper, the number of Wailers became more and more. They were all evil ghosts attracted by the hot soul fire, eager to swallow those pure souls alive.

At a narrow fork in the road, dozens of monsters drilled out from the squirming walls, completely sealing their path to the refuge.

"Too many! We can't rush over!" A female apprentice who had just joined shouted in panic, the fireball condensed in her hand flickering due to fear.

"Tsk, really troublesome." Mei Chuan Meichuan Qiuku smacked his lips.

He looked at these trembling young men and women beside him, and then looked at his own skeleton frame that could be scrapped at any time.

Honestly—

Although he knew very well that he was playing a game, these flesh-and-blood NPCs really made it difficult for him to treat them as cold data.

Perhaps, this is also part of the "closed beta".

Dog planner, you win.

He sighed in his heart, and at the same time, a clear thought formed in his brain, and this thought also made the soul fire burning in his skull shine brighter.

Whether to choose to be a hero for a minute, or return to the cold tomb with the few rewards he had... this multiple-choice question didn't seem to need hesitation at all.

Anyway, it's just a temporary body.

He wanted to experience another kind of life that he hadn't considered for a second in reality.

"Hey, you guys!" He shouted with a hoarse bone friction sound, "I'll be responsible for luring them away, you guys take the opportunity to rush over!"

Li Ao was stunned.

"You... what did you say?"

Mei Chuan Meichuan Qiuku didn't answer, just left a sentence.

"My name is Mei Chuan Meichuan Qiuku!"

He picked up a thick rib, let out a strange, unintelligible cry, and took the initiative to charge into that gray ocean composed of monsters.

He was like a wild horse that had broken its reins, using his body to crash out a path, and also startled the Wailers surrounding him.

They didn't understand why a soul fire as weak as a firefly would erupt with such unimaginable ripples at this moment.

All the magic apprentices who witnessed this scene were stunned.

They couldn't understand why an undead defined by the church as "evil" and "chaotic" would make such a decisive sacrifice to protect humans they didn't know at all.

"Don't be dazed!" Wang Chuan Nei Ku's roar pulled them back to reality, "Don't let Meichuan Qiuku's sacrifice be in vain!"

Li Ao gritted his teeth, a flash of complex emotion in his eyes.

He no longer hesitated, led the apprentices behind him, and rushed through the path exchanged by the "life" of a skeleton.

On the way to retreat, heroic sacrifices were staged continuously.

Players didn't spare their temporary bodies at all.

Whenever they encountered difficulties that couldn't be broken through, they didn't spare their flickering soul fire, using the most direct and barbaric way to open paths for the fragile mages behind them, fighting for time for them to cast spells.

The withered white bones paved this bloody road, and the Chaos labyrinth that tried to swallow them was actually "indigestion" for a while.

Of course, this also had to do with A Li Si Te needing to divert a large amount of power to suppress Prince Prince Prince Kelin.

After all, as long as he was slightly slack, he would be broken through the blockade by Prince Prince Kelin, who was also a Diamond Tier, and killed to the floor where the labyrinth core was located.

In the situation of being attacked from both sides, he could only drive the lowest-level Wailers to hunt those apprentices, and even had no time to bewitch new "Fanatics".

When the last batch of survivors finally arrived at the refuge in the East District, the three undead who had followed the apprentices initially were no longer standing.

Inside the refuge, the survivors gathered together silently, their hearts mixed with five flavors, and the atmosphere was oppressive and heavy.

If they were ordinary undead, even if they saved them in times of danger, they would definitely not be as complicated as they were now.

But unfortunately, those undead didn't look like undead at all, but like living people...

A female apprentice finally couldn't help but speak, her voice trembling slightly.

"They... why did they save us?"

Li Ao gripped the wand that "Chuan Le Yi Fu" returned to him and answered in a low voice: "I don't know... but the way they fought, they didn't look like monsters without consciousness."

After a pause, he raised his head, trying to explain this phenomenon with his immature knowledge.

"Perhaps... they are also a kind of living thing, just that we can't understand it for the time being?"

Another saved mage also nodded, his voice hoarse: "That's right, they even joked... although I didn't understand what was funny at all."

The female apprentice looked at a skeleton in the distance that had just reorganized its body and rushed to the battlefield again, her complex eyes full of confusion.

Whether it was the priest of the church or the mage of the Xuebang, they told her that the undead were evil existences and the enemies of every citizen of Saint Xisi.

But...

Is that really the case?

The history of a thousand years ago was a deep and obscure memory for the believers of Saint Xisi, but there was only one thing that even the most extreme believers couldn't deny.

Whether it was because they were not pious enough to go to heaven, or because of the bewitchment of necromancers or because they listened to the slander of hell, these undead didn't appear out of thin air.

They were also people once.

They naturally also had their own sins.

But this didn't mean that Saint Xisi was holy and flawless.

Under the cover of the players, most of the magic apprentices retreated to the evacuation point on the first layer of the labyrinth and obtained temporary safety under the cover of the assistants.

However—

Not everyone escaped unscathed.

A small portion of apprentices still wandered in the labyrinth, neither having the cover of players nor encountering patrolling assistants, isolated and helpless in fear.

For example, Ku Er Si was one of them.

He never thought that he, who was wise and martial and had a bright future, would be so miserable; not only did he lose his trial qualification on the first layer of the labyrinth, but even living became a luxury.

Just now, because of the siege of the Wailers, he was separated from the assistants and teammates in the chaos.

Those damn acid Shi Laimu in the trap before destroyed everything he had, including that mage robe symbolizing honor and his beloved wand.

At this moment, the only covering on his body was a rough blanket thrown to him by the patrolling assistant.

Red fog permeated the corridor, and uneasy hissing came from afar. He curled up in the corner, cold and scared.

The only thing to be thankful for was that there was still a gold coin on him that hadn't been eaten by the Shi Laimu.

This was the last property he picked up from the labyrinth.

Although at this moment, he infinitely hoped that what he held in his hand was not a gold coin, but a magic crystal or a wand.

That would at least bring him a little bit of safety.

'Must find a way to get a wand...' he gritted his teeth, thinking silently in his heart, while anxiously looking around.

Continuing to wait here was not a solution after all.

Holding this last hope, he wrapped the blanket tightly and got up, starting to wander aimlessly in the labyrinth cautiously.

Perhaps Saint Xisi heard his prayer.

I don't know how long it took, but at a corner of the labyrinth, he actually saw a simple stall with an "Official Supply Point" sign hanging on it.

Three skeletons were looking around, muttering to each other, seemingly discussing whether to run away.

Saint Xisi is above!

He had never seen such a weird scene; the lowest-level skeleton soldiers were actually doing business!

"Should we retreat..."

"I think so too... the atmosphere here gives me a bad feeling."

"Close the stall, close the stall!"

Hearing the conversation of the three skeleton soldiers vaguely, Ku Er Si was overjoyed, and didn't care how weird the scene was, and rushed over immediately.

The three skeleton soldiers were startled by the living person who suddenly rushed out.

But when they saw his miserable shape, they couldn't help but laugh again.

【Zhi Shi Xue Bao】: "Buddy, were you robbed?"

【Qu Ma Tou Zheng Dian Hai Ou】: "Hahahaha! Didn't even leave you a piece of clothing? Which dog coin is so bad, tell us, we'll mock him for you."

Ku Er Si flushed red and couldn't speak, and couldn't understand what they were saying, so he could only bite the bullet and ask.

"Are you... really the supply point set by Master Moke?"

【Ge Tan Hao Shi Min】 replied impatiently.

"Of course! Doesn't it say so on the sign, can't you read?"

"I, I just can't imagine it," Ku Er Si flushed red, and then asked hurriedly, "What do you sell?"

【Zhi Shi Xue Bao】 said happily: "Anything, you have to tell us what your needs are first."

Ku Er Si said immediately, his voice excited and sincere.

"Wand! I need a wand! Do you have a wand?!!"

"Wand? Ah, of course... let me find it."

Player "Qu Ma Tou Zheng Dian Hai Ou" rummaged under the stall and really found a crooked wooden stick.

This was looted from some unlucky apprentice; anyway, they had no use for it, it didn't look valuable, so it was better to sell it cheaply.

"Hey, seeing you're pitiful, this 'Ancient Rune Staff', I'll give it to you cheaply! But then again, do you have money? I declare in advance, we don't accept credit!"

"I, I have! Who said I don't have money!"

Ku Er Si looked at the "antique" that was about to fall apart, his mouth twitched, but he still gritted his teeth and handed over a gold coin.

"Is this enough?"

【Qu Ma Tou Zheng Dian Hai Ou】 eyes lit up and grabbed it.

"Enough! Just right! You're lucky, kid!"

"..."

Ku Er Si didn't want to stay here for a second, holding the new weapon, and left this group of shameless profiteers in a hurry.

But no matter what, Saint Xisi was still merciful, and the wish in his heart to exchange a gold coin for a wand was finally realized.

Ku Er Si, who had gathered his courage, ran wildly all the way, not caring about his appearance; anyway, there was no one else here.

Coincidentally.

Just at this time, a shrill scream came from ahead, breaking the silence in the labyrinth corridor.

Ku Er Si was startled, instinctively wanting to hide, but the sound made him unable to move his feet, and besides moving forward, he had nowhere to go.

He poked his head out quietly and saw several mages wearing blue mage robes being forced into a dead end by a group of Wailers, their faces full of despair.

Although they had been promoted to mages, they were probably just promoted this year, and their combat experience and spellcasting experience were quite weak.

These rookies probably regarded this labyrinth trial as a treasure hunt, but didn't expect to encounter such terrifying monsters on the first layer.

Run?

Or not run?

Ku Er Si's brain worked at high speed.

He remembered the "theory of the strong" he had boasted to Fen En, and also remembered the arrogance he had "disdained" toward Yi La Na.

He had lost the qualification to continue challenging the labyrinth, but if he chose to run away here, then he would really just be a coward who only knew how to talk.

Ku Er Si gritted his teeth, and a courage he hadn't even noticed himself surged from the bottom of his cowardly heart.

Perhaps—

The meaning of Saint Xisi returning the wand to him was right here.

For a moment, he suddenly realized what true strength was.

"Hey! You faceless things! Look here!"

Ku Er Si roared and rushed out, the only blanket on his body fluttering in the run like a ridiculous battle flag.

The Wailers smelled the scent on him and turned to look at this prey that had suddenly broken into the hunting ground.

Grabbing the momentary pause of the Wailers, Ku Er Si took a deep breath and poured all his mental power into the inferior wand in his hand.

"... The blazing flame that burns everything, may you burn the sins that linger in the mortal world with incomparable heat!"

The hot flame sprayed from the tip of the wand, like a flying arrow shot by a crossbow, accurately hitting a Wailer.

The burned Wailer fell silently in pain.

And the other Wailers rushed toward him, deciding to solve this bigger trouble before enjoying the delicious meal.

Ku Er Si retreated while casting spells, and at the same time shouted loudly to the younger students who were scared silly: "Hide! What are you still standing there for!"

The apprentices woke up like a dream and fled toward the other end of the corridor.

Confirming that they had gone far, Ku Er Si felt relieved in his heart.

Facing the approaching gray monsters, he simply threw away the blanket that was in the way. On that pale face due to fear, he actually squeezed out a smile uglier than crying.

He raised the wand that could fall apart at any time high, and used all his strength to make his first and most pious prayer in his life.

"Saint Xisi is above... please grant me the flame to purify evil!"

Integrating the power of holy light into the flame was an attempt he had on the spur of the moment; he would never take such a risk in normal times, but he could only bet on this only spellcasting opportunity.

Ordinary flames could never eliminate such a number of chaotic evil spirits!

A holy flame sprayed from the tip of the wand; it had no hot temperature, but carried unquestionable majesty.

The flame turned into a wave that purified everything, instantly sweeping through the corridor ahead.

Those ten or so Wailers dissolved silently the moment they touched the flame, not even leaving a trace of ash!

Ku Er Si felt his body sway, his head dizzy, and he almost fell to the ground.

Pale, he supported the wall, breathing heavily, and also looked at his slightly trembling hands in astonishment.

This is...

Broken through??

The holy flame gradually extinguished, and the corridor returned to silence.

Before Ku Er Si could think about what had happened to him, he felt a dizzy spell, as if all the strength in his body had been drained.

The wand that was tottering in his hand fell to the ground with a "clatter" first, and then his knees were soft, and he was about to fall.

However, just at the moment he was about to fall, several thin but powerful hands supported him in time from behind.

They were the younger students he had saved.

These young magic apprentices didn't run far, and had been watching him worriedly from a corner not far away.

At this moment, they were looking at him with eyes mixed with guilt, awe, and worry, as

A junior student ran up, picked up the blanket he had dropped on the ground, and carefully draped it back over his bare body.

"Thank you..." she looked at Kules and said with a sincere tone, "... Hero, for wearing the blanket!"

The hero wearing a blanket...

Hero?

This title made Kules's heart skip a beat.

He looked at those faces filled with gratitude, and a strange emotion surged within his chest, leaving him momentarily choked up.

Praise Saint Xisi...

He vaguely seemed to understand what it was that he truly wanted... or rather, what he longed for.

Supported by the junior students, Kules finally arrived at the temporary shelter in the East District.

The moment he stepped into this temporarily safe area, he heard the "legend" about himself from the people's discussions.

"... Did you hear? A guy saved a whole team of rookies!"

"Who?"

"I don't know... but I think I heard it's called something..."

"The Bare-Butt Hero!"

"Right! That's the name!"

"Hahaha! Is that for real?"

This outrageous nickname caused the faint flush that had finally returned to Kules's face to "boom" and burn all the way to his earlobes.

He was so ashamed he wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into right then and there!

However, thinking of those heartfelt looks of worship, a smile of secret delight and pride still appeared on his mortified face.

An inconspicuous seed was taking root and sprouting, bit by bit, in the shadows where the sunlight could not reach...

(End of chapter)