Chapter 63: Flooding the spider cave!

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The Great Hall covered in blood, filled with white bones and spider silk, today the Demon King's palace is as gloomy as ever.

Two large lizardmen stood on both sides, and in the middle lay a spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider spider

Hearing the Demon King's footsteps, Arakdo immediately scurried over on his eight legs, as docile as a pug.

Mixi prostrated herself on the ground, trembling.

She first recited that long-winded opening in a drawn-out tone, then expressed Queen Xixi's greetings to the Necropolis and the Demon King himself.

Honestly, she suspected the Demon King wasn't listening at all.

Because halfway through, she accidentally hiccuped from nervousness, and that lord didn't even notice.

If the same thing happened with Queen Xixi, it usually meant the latter had been hypnotized by their chattering reports.

Usually at this time, she and Youxi would tacitly slow down their speech.

If they weren't scolded or urged by the Queen, they would simply stop to slack off, secretly admiring Queen Xixi's cute sleeping face until she woke up looking dazed, then they would bury their heads and loudly add, "Report finished."

That would count as the report being done.

This trick for slacking off worked every time; since Queen Xixi was too embarrassed to admit she had fallen asleep, she would even pretend to be majestic and praise them a couple of times.

However, facing the Demon King right now, Mixi didn't dare to be the slightest bit lax, let alone test if he was asleep.

The aura radiating from that guy was simply too terrifying!

And she didn't know if it was her imagination, but she felt like those skeleton soldiers making disgusting noises had increased in number?

Just as she was letting her mind wander, a majestic, light cough suddenly came from above.

Mixi was startled, realizing she had actually spaced out and had no memory of what she had just said, so she hurriedly prostrated herself on the ground, trembling.

"D-Demon King! This humble one meant no offense, it's just... just..."

"Enough, no need to force yourself," Luo Yan said, looking down at the imp with a majestic voice. "I understand your Queen's sincerity, but my answer remains the same. Please convey my greetings to her; there is no need to mention anything else."

Speaking of which, did this guy really convey his meaning accurately every time she passed on a message?

Was he trusting the efficiency of these "local demons" too much...

"Y-yes..." Mixi squeezed her legs together, her nervous expression looking exactly like a student who had made a mistake.

Not wanting to push her too hard, Luo Yan softened his tone and continued.

"Additionally, I need you to help me produce a batch of cross-shaped ornaments sealed with the Soul-Releasing Art. They must weigh under 30 grams, have a hole for a string, and can be made of granite or obsidian. As for the quantity... you should make 10,000 pieces first."

To prevent the imp from forgetting, he specifically wrote the requirements on a letter and had "Okdo" hand it to her.

After hearing the Demon King's instructions, Mixi, who had taken the envelope, showed a confused expression.

"Produce crosses sealed with the Soul-Releasing Art... Demon King, what is the use of making this?"

The Nightmare Realm had made similar things before, and quite a lot of them.

For example, they had previously stuffed crosses engraved with the "Undead Summoning" magic circle into treasure chests on various floors of the labyrinth, secretly engraving words like 【Resurrection Stone】 inside.

Experienced adventurers naturally wouldn't fall for it and usually ignored them directly.

However, some green newcomers would treat them like treasures, carry them on their person, or even mail them back home as souvenirs.

This kind of ornament wouldn't take effect normally, but once the wearer died, it would immediately transform them into an undead of the same rank, which would then indiscriminately attack surrounding teammates.

For a novice adventurer squad, one wave was almost enough to wipe them out.

This belonged to the top tier of pranks.

Besides this hellish joke, their creativity also included, but was not limited to, biting treasure chests, potions that dissolved clothes, armor with tentacles, helmets that made heads look strange, paralysis rings that couldn't be taken off once worn and would discharge electricity intermittently, and so on.

"This Demon King has his own uses; you just need to follow instructions. I will use it to ruthlessly squeeze the adventurers' pockets dry. By the way, remember not to do anything extra! I told you to engrave the spell for releasing souls, not the spell for devouring souls; you must not get them mixed up."

Considering the nature of imps, Luo Yan had to add this sentence at the end.

"Y-yes!"

Hearing the Demon King's warning, Mixi was so scared she stiffened and nodded repeatedly.

Anything extra...

She felt guilty just hearing that.

After a moment's pause, Luo Yan continued.

"As I said before, I will help you solve the food crisis. From today on, for every amulet you produce that contains the Soul-Releasing Art, this King will pay you... 900 Nether Coins."

After much thought, he finally pegged the Nether Coin to the copper coins of the Os Empire.

Let's set it at 1:1 for now; a loaf of bread is priced at 10-20 Nether Coins.

After all, this place was too far from the Underworld, and even pegging it to Kaila would be meaningless, purely making things difficult for himself.

Mixi tilted her head, puzzled.

"Nether Coins?"

"It is the currency of the Necropolis," Luo Yan said, knowing she wouldn't understand, and patiently explained. "Nether Coins only circulate in the Necropolis; you can use them to purchase extra supplies from me. For example, roasted sausages, roasted meat, roasted lizard, and Big Plate Chicken!"

Although she didn't know what Big Plate Chicken was, Mixi, hearing that she could exchange them for food, already had drool at the corners of her mouth and couldn't help but swallow several times.

"U-understood! This humble one will definitely convey your instructions to Queen Xixi accurately and without error! I w-will absolutely not add anything extra!" Mixi's voice got quieter as she spoke.

Luo Yan nodded with satisfaction.

"Very good. Besides the kind of amulet I mentioned, if you have other novel little gadgets, you can send them over; I can help you take a look. Finally, don't misremember my words. You may go."

The last half of the sentence was purely out of well-intentioned advice, but it couldn't stop someone with a guilty conscience from feeling nervous.

Mixi stood up straight as if electrocuted, like a startled groundhog, her voice even going out of tune.

"Y-yes!"

Having received the order, she didn't dare linger for a second, flapping her wings to take off and flying shakily toward the cave entrance.

However, perhaps she used too much force and didn't control her height, bumping her head into the ceiling of the cave entrance, letting out a sad "ouch" and covering her head.

Arakdo, standing proudly in the shadows, couldn't help but let out a brazen laugh.

"Hahahaha, how embarrassing!"

"Woo-woo..." Mixi, slumped on the ground with tears in the corners of her eyes, glared angrily in Arakdo's direction, daring to be angry but not to speak.

Damn it!

This stinky spider!

A mere Black Iron-tier low-level monster, daring to be disrespectful to this Demon (imps are demons too!)!

If it weren't for the Demon King's sake, she would definitely chop this guy into eight pieces and stew it in mushroom soup!

"Presumptuous!"

Seeing the grievance in the imp's eyes, Luo Yan reprimanded with a majestic voice.

"Arakdo, show some respect. She is one of my subjects, just like you."

"Yes, Demon King." Arakdo respectfully lowered his head, tucking in his eight legs and prostrating on the ground.

"It's okay, Demon King. Mixi just bumped herself; rubbing it will be fine..."

Mixi hurriedly stood up and bowed respectfully toward the shadows, hiding her bullying-the-weak-and-fearing-the-strong hostility.

However, Arakdo wasn't afraid of her; the apology was for the Demon King's sake.

Although he was only Black Iron, as the Demon King's mount, he could be considered the Demon King's shadow.

Just as Mixi was about to withdraw, a small cave spider suddenly rushed in from outside the great hall.

The spider waved its eight legs while shouting in a panic.

"B-b-big trouble!"

"Presumptuous!" Before the Demon King could speak, Arakdo reprimanded him haughtily. "What are you panicking about!"

"It's—"

Arakdo: "Kneel down and speak!"

The small spider quickly tucked in its eight legs, its round belly hitting the ground with a *thud*, and it chirped.

"Home! The home of the Shadow-Weaver clan! Big trouble! Queen Arachnos's palace has been flooded!"

Arakdo was struck as if by lightning, his brain crashing for a good while before he could squeeze out a sentence.

"... Ah!?"

A labyrinth corridor about five or six hundred meters from the Shadow-Weaver nest.

Three Black Iron-tier skeleton soldiers riding on the backs of cave spiders were fighting bloody battles against wild cave spiders, bringing along a dozen newbies with "Dragon" in their IDs.

One of the Black Iron-tier skeleton soldiers charged at the very front, a horizontal sweep directly cutting two surrounding cave spiders into two pieces!

"Hahahaha! Satisfying, satisfying! Truly satisfying!"

The leading player laughed loudly, the soul fire in his skull burning fiercely; a Black Iron-tier skeleton soldier was being played by him with the spirit of a Death Knight.

The brother he was riding on was also the "Red Hare" among spiders, his momentum not losing to him at all; seeing the flying juices, he shouted excitedly.

"Brother is awesome!!!"

The cheering was as spirited as seeing the national football team score a goal.

The brother riding on the spider's back was a bit embarrassed by the flattery, rubbing his index finger under his nasal bone like a scholar.

"Haha, keep a low profile!"

That's what he said, but his operation was not low-profile at all; the little brothers in the back were thrown more than ten meters behind him, unable to catch up.

This person was none other than the guild leader of the Dragon-Walking World guild, 【Dragon-Walking Ten Thousand Li】!

And the brother he was riding on was his good brother rented for five hundred yuan—【Brother Brother Guofu's First Pig】.

After a few days of training, the two had mastered each other's rhythm and combined combat skills!

Specifically, when Brother Ten Thousand Li raised his arm, Brother Brother Brother Guofu would arch forward; when Brother Ten Thousand Li swung his axe forward, Brother Brother Brother Guofu would arch forward again.

Although on the surface Brother Brother Brother Guofu was only responsible for arching forward, there was actually a lot of knowledge in this, and it was all about the technique when detailed.

For example, when the boss successfully cut off a spider's head, he would seize the opportunity to shout, "Well done, brother!" And if the boss took out two in one move, he would excitedly shout, "Awesome, holy crap!"

If the boss missed or swung crookedly, he would quickly take the blame—"My bad, my bad, this wave is on me."

However, having said that, Brother Dragon's technique was actually quite good, and he was a good person too; although his desire to win was a bit strong, he would at most sulk in silence when he suffered a loss, unlike other bosses who were hard to serve.

It could be said that thanks to this Brother Dragon, 【Brother Brother Guofu's First Pig】 had indeed become the only Black Iron-tier spider in the entire server.

As for the two clowns, Failed Eel and Failed Dirty Eel, because the boss they followed had a more "cowardly" playstyle, their leveling speed was actually weaker than his, who was charging at the front.

Seeing these two isolated guys, the surrounding cave spiders all surrounded them murderously, preparing to teach these two intruders a lesson.

Looking at the monsters surrounding them, Dragon-Walking Ten Thousand Li was not afraid at all; instead, the soul fire in his skull burned with a fighting spirit as boiling as a raging fire!

"Brother, we're going in!"

"Oww! Going in, brother!" Although Brother Brother Brother Guofu was panicking inside, seeing the cannon fodder behind him almost there, he wasn't panicking anymore.

"Holy crap—brother! Don't run so far ahead, I can't shoot anymore!"

Brother Longxing Baili, riding on a spider, complained while drawing his bow and shooting, *whoosh*, taking down a spider rushing toward his big brother.

At the same time, Brother Thousand Li, also riding on a spider, gave calm commands, finally saving the boss before he was surrounded by monsters.

"Group A, move up and pull aggro! Group B, pay attention to support! Group C, aim at the spiders in the distance! Remember! Wait until they get close before shooting!"

*Whoosh whoosh whoosh*, a wave of arrows fell on the front row of the spider swarm, and the skeleton sword-and-shield soldiers, howling, killed their way up under the cover of the archers, hacking the wounded cave spiders to the ground.

Wild monsters were wild monsters after all.

Even if the cave spiders' stats were a big chunk higher than the skeleton soldiers, they still couldn't withstand the organized PK of these guild guys and quickly retreated.

"Chirp chirp chirp—"

Seeing their clansmen suffering heavy casualties, the remaining cave spiders immediately scattered and fled, not even wanting the nest they had just built.

However, it was also at this moment that the group, who were killing happily, stopped their unstoppable offensive and did not continue to push forward.

Although this labyrinth was ridiculously large, it wasn't easy to find a monster-grinding spot with stable returns suitable for group fighting.

According to posts on the official website, this game had the concept of "ecological balance"; once a nest was completely cleared, no new monsters would be generated in the area for a long time, unless they waited for nearby monsters to migrate over.

If they were casual players, they naturally wouldn't need to consider so much, but they were playing with guild tactics after all, so they had to try to avoid fishing in a drained pond even for their own sake.

Dragon-Walking Ten Thousand Li's decision was—

Unless the Necropolis issued a bounty for clearing monster nests, treat the nests they encountered as monster-grinding spots that continuously exploded with gold coins.

Looking at the nest that had already been harvested, Dragon-Walking Ten Thousand Li carried his double-handed axe on his shoulder and said, still unsatisfied.

"Let's go, next area."

Current level LV6.

He didn't expect to catch up to that kid Ye Zhiqiu directly, but he felt there was still hope to chase after the second place in the entire server.

After all, he was the third to reach Black Iron.

Just as the group was about to leave this area, a rumbling sound suddenly came from the distant cave.

The sound came from far to near, like war drums gradually being played, like muffled thunder!

A player standing next to Thousand Li had a slight change in expression and looked at her.

"Listening to the sound, it looks like a flood is coming."

Thousand Li looked at him quickly.

"Are you sure?"

The player nodded hurriedly.

"Sure!"

He had been on the front line when rushing to deal with emergencies before; he was too familiar with this sound.

Dragon-Walking Longxing Baili was shocked as a skeleton.

"Holy crap... how could water get into the labyrinth?!"

"God knows! Retreat to high ground first!"

Thousand Li roared, kicked the spider under her, but saw the brothers around her standing still, and the spiders under them didn't move either.

Seeing this, she became anxious.

"What are you all standing there for?!"

Dragon-Walking Ten Thousand Li looked around with a subtle expression and rubbed the back of his head with an awkward smile.

"I'm thinking... where is high ground around here."

And he forgot who he heard it from.

Hearing the sound, basically you can't run away, try to find something to hold onto...

"Theoretically, skeletons are not afraid of drowning. Anyway, everyone stand together first and see if we can rush to one place."

While speaking, Dragon-Walking Ten Thousand Li had already climbed down from his mount and held his double-handed axe tightly in his arms.

Everyone also protected their equipment in front of their chests one after another and gathered around Brother Ten Thousand Li.

Brother Brother Guofu's First Pig: "Holy crap, brother, what about me?!"

Dragon-Walking Ten Thousand Li: "Count it as a work-related injury."

Brother Brother Guofu's First Pig: "Damn!"

While they were talking, the rolling flood had already rushed over, instantly washing everyone in the labyrinth downstream.

At the same time, at the edge of the Silver Pine Forest, a labyrinth entrance less than one hundred meters from the river, hidden behind reeds.

I saw a crudely made water channel dug crookedly, which had connected the river to the cave entrance at some point!

The rushing river water, like a wild horse that had broken its reins, was pouring inside *ton-ton-ton*!

Because there was too much, it couldn't all be poured in, and the overflowing river water even formed a large pond in the nearby forest!

Hundreds of mermen and Earth Dragon-clan lizardmen were standing next to the labyrinth entrance, and the Earth Dragon-clan patriarch, Sanu, let out a happy laugh.

"Hahahaha! Satisfying! Truly damn satisfying!"

It was impossible to fill the entire labyrinth by relying on this river water, and it would be a stretch to even wet the floor of the Beifeng mine area.

However, it was no problem at all to flood the Shadow-Weaver nest, even if it couldn't flood the Necropolis!

As for why flood the Shadow-Weaver nest?

Who asked these eight-legged bugs to be accomplices of the Necropolis!

The frozen fragments sent to the Earth Dragon clan had cave spider silk on them, and the only organized cave spiders on the first floor of the entire labyrinth were the Shadow-Weaver clan.

Thinking of the way those stinky bugs struggled in the flood, Sanu felt an indescribable satisfaction all over his body, wishing he could let out a dragon roar on the spot to add to the fun.

Satisfying!

Simply too satisfying!

Looking at the proud appearance of this so-called Earth Dragon-clan patriarch, Sodo, who was carrying a harpoon on his back, curled his lips in boredom, a trace of faint disdain hidden behind his unruly eyes.

Too weak.

Whether it was these geckos calling themselves the Earth Dragon clan, or the little spiders fighting inextricably with a group of geckos, they were all like bugs in front of him.

Especially this so-called patriarch.

A mere Steel-tier strength could become a patriarch of a clan.

Truly, shallow water has many turtles!

"Speaking of which, your trick is really vicious; why didn't I think of it?" Looking at Sodo carrying the harpoon, Sanu couldn't hide the joy on his face.

Sodo smiled.

"This is nothing; we have many things we can do... it's just that most of the tricks don't work well on shore."

Sanu grinned, his eyes shining as he said.

"Our Earth Dragon clan can just make up for your shortcomings on shore!"

If the Stone Lizard clan had said this, he might have been furious, but hearing this group of overestimating guys say this, he didn't even have the slightest intention of being angry.

"Hahahaha! Let's solve the trouble here first!"

Sodo laughed loudly, put down the harpoon he was carrying on his shoulder, and touched the rushing water flow with the sharp tip facing down.

He closed his eyes and said after a moment.

"Yo, this labyrinth is quite deep; I can't find the bottom after so long."

Sanu said proudly.

"After all, the area of this labyrinth covers more than half of Lei Ming County, and even the Silver Pine Forest cannot compare to it."

"Is that so... but in this way, the strategy of forcing the other party out won't work." Sodo rubbed his cheek with his index finger and said thoughtfully.

Sanu frowned.

"I don't believe that Demon King will sit idly by and watch his vassals, unless he doesn't want to mix in this labyrinth anymore!"

"That's not the problem," Sodo shook his head and pointed his index finger at his own head. "Think about it with this for a moment; if you were the Demon King, what would you do?"

Sanu: "Block the source!"

Sodo laughed *hehe*.

"This is the most dangerous, because the enemy will inevitably ambush there."

When they wanted to rob a ship at sea, they wouldn't chase it straight on, and it wasn't that easy to swim past human steamships.

They would first use the waves to make the other party deviate from the course, and then surround and intercept them, forcing the human ship to sail into the storm.

When that time came, it would be their dining time.

If it were an experienced captain, he would definitely predict their hunting plan, and at this time they would have to make some changes... such as using the other party's self-righteous "familiarity with the sea."

Looking at the Earth Dragon-clan patriarch with a blank face, Sodo no longer held any hope for this guy's brain, carrying the harpoon and walking toward the labyrinth entrance flooded by the big water.

"You guys wait here; I'll wait at the 'intersection' of the flood."

It hasn't reached the bottom after flooding for so long, which means there is a flood discharge design in the labyrinth.

In this way, the other party can actually completely ignore the source of the flood, and directly build a few walls at the intersection of the flood to discharge the flood water rushing into the Shadow-Weaver nest to other places.

But he wouldn't let that guy succeed.

"Do you know where that 'intersection' is?" Sanu looked at Sodo's back and said with a frown. "Or I'll send a guide for you."

This guy is clearly an outsider lizard, but he acts as if he knows the labyrinth very well.

Sodo curled his lips and said disdainfully.

"The water flow will guide me in the direction."

Looking at the merman warriors disappearing into the labyrinth entrance, a trace of displeasure finally appeared on Sanu's face.

This guy...

From beginning to end, he didn't put him, a patriarch of a clan, in his eyes!

A homeless fish, a rootless duckweed... I don't know what he's showing off for?

Nils walked to the patriarch's side and said in a low voice.

"What about us? Should we follow... or continue to guard here?"

Sanu snorted coldly.

"Since this guy is so confident, let them go; we just need to guard here and don't let the water stop."

Looking at the displeased patriarch, Nils smiled bitterly but had no way.

He knew the patriarch was dissatisfied with this group of gill-bearing guys.

But he really couldn't find other helpers...