Chapter 132: Closed Beta Phase Four

It can only be said that Death God truly has talent; the map he made is unexpectedly thorough, with every detail of each area meticulously noted and explained.

Referencing the above introduction and analysis, Ji Ming first toured the Kobold outer defensive works, then covered his mouth and nose to enter their main base.

Although this bunch of little creatures are ugly and squalid, extremely xenophobic, love to oppress the weak, and many other creatures' skeletons can be found in the caves.

But.

It must be said that, in trap‑making, each of them is a talent.

Even though their race's intelligence is not high and their technology is underdeveloped, even with an iron mine they cannot forge true ironware, let alone produce advanced traps like animal snares.

Nevertheless, after cleverly incorporating the terrain, these traps—made from very simple raw materials, whose principles are not complex upon close study—still generate a powerful chain reaction.

Disarming a trap here may trigger a trap over there, and the visible trap may merely conceal the real trap hidden behind it.

Thus, there is even a hint of a game of strategy; layer upon layer of hidden moves make defense impossible, making handling them extremely tricky.

No wonder Xi Er Wei Ya and Hok independently gave the answer "mindlessly kill everything without leaving a trace."

—That's really disgusting.

If Death God hadn't rushed in to force a toxic gas blast, players might have fought the Kobolds until the closed beta ended without breaking them, wasting countless manpower and resources instead.

But at this moment, all that wisdom will be absorbed by Ji Ming.

He selected some traps suitable for placement in the Clinic, obtained some ready‑made raw materials, and escaped the Kobold cave amid the terrifying toxic gas that had already begun to ferment.

"Cough, cough, this smell is too harsh…"

He looked back; the pitch‑black cave resembled a gigantic mouth that selects its prey, though now it also carried a hint of bad breath.

No wonder it's a perfect‑grade life skill; so the toxic bomb can keep increasing damage in a sealed space?

No surprise that no player or Kobold attempted to explore or develop the cave; who could endure that?

After walking a long way out and taking deep breaths of fresh air for a while, he finally felt his nasal passages return to some normalcy.

However, a perfectly good iron mine cave being abandoned like this is just too wasteful…

Professional issues still require professionals; Ji Ming found Xi Er Wei Ya patrolling the armory.

"My lord, the magic that can purify air does indeed exist!"

Xi Er Wei Ya gave a definite answer, then shook her head.

"Unfortunately, I'm in the combat division and don't know that magic."

She thought for a moment.

"Why don't you ask Bu Long Fei Er De? I recall the Silver Dragon race is very hygienic."

Thus, the adaptable Ji Ming again found Bu Long Fei Er De sleeping on the attic.

Xi Er Wei Ya was right; although this lazy dog lounges up there all day and never comes down, her lair is not a mess at all, but remarkably clean.

Neat and bright, not a speck of dust, and even exudes a scent of rainwater.

Considering her personal logic, it's probably that she uses a cloud‑rain technique once a day to wash it simply and crudely…

Ji Ming inspected the dormitory hygiene for a long time, but Bu Long Fei Er De gave no reaction.

Helpless, he had to

"Bu Long Fei Er De, could you get up and talk with me? I have something for you."

The great dragon seemed not to hear at all, remaining motionless, still curled on the ground sleeping.

For a long while.

"I'm dead."

Ji Ming instantly felt his blood pressure skyrocket.

Xi Er Wei Ya, a dignified six‑winged archangel, patrols daily in a tiny dungeon.

Hok, a brave orc warrior, teaches at high intensity on a modest square each day.

Gresen, a professional treant druid, both farms on Sacred Tree Lake and oversees surveillance of the Northern Realm.

Even Cloi, that guilty‑yet‑meritorious dog, knows to patrol the North Line seventy to eighty times daily, at least earning herself a meal each time.

Huh?

"At your age, how can you even fall asleep?"

You're the most useless in the whole team!

But he still didn't have the nerve to utter such a hurtful line to the dragon, and simply pulled out

"Oppressing the higher god, watch me not give you any extra strength!"

…

"Ah↑"

In an instant, wind and rain erupted, and Bu Long Fei Er De, screaming, almost leapt up on the spot.

Fortunately, the Great Holy Seat's interior had a formation that promptly contained the escaping energy, preventing Ji Ming from being blown away.

"You're over the line, you really are over the line!"

She leaned on the edge, dry‑heaving continuously, so distressed she began to sob.

"I'm done playing with you, get out!"

She flicked her tail plaintively, sweeping him off from above.

But in the end another gust of wind canceled the impact of the fall, allowing Ji Ming to land smoothly.

Such a commotion, even a deaf person could sense something was wrong.

Fortunately, today's players log in directly at Dog Village, and the chapel that has become Madam Niu's has no one inside.

Watching the relentless gale from the attic, Ji Ming had Yang Yue raise a protective shield and activated hot wind to evaporate the moisture on his body.

Sitting in the cathedral under the torrential rain, he held a candy in his mouth and pondered for a moment.

At this point, there is only one solution.

In the next second, he appeared on the small island at the center of Sacred Tree Lake.

After a few days of development, Ge Ruisen had successfully built a wooden bridge, connecting the shore and the island.

As the most stable source of protein inside the dungeon at present, many players, after grinding monsters, bring their dog apprentices (literally) here to fish.

The dogs have no other strengths; they only value being eager to learn and heed advice.

In just a few short days, each of them was already holding a fishing rod, fishing with flair.

"It's getting fierce, I see a pack of black‑back dogs sitting in rows fishing…"

Of course, besides fishing, the players naturally also have the customary live streams.

"Everyone Wu Yanzu, today we must catch a hundred‑jin big fish!"

Ji Ming heard the voice and glanced; it was the guy with the 'Sakurajima Mai' ID, who looked like an FPS player.

After hopping between several teams, he finally found his niche: every night he does nothing else but sit here and livestream his fishing.

"Do we need to set a nest? Do we need a nest to fish here? The fish just jump up gloriously, right."

For anglers, fish are a man's courage.

Several days of big wins have given him unimaginable confidence.

He bragged into the camera for a while, then casually tossed his hook.

"I'll count to three, three… hey‑yo!"

He immediately felt the fishing rod in his hand being yanked by something, with considerable force.

"Hey, pull hard! I told you, fishing in the game is awesome, I'm about to…"

Before he could finish his excited words, he felt a huge force; the rod slipped from his grasp and was directly pulled into the water.

"Ah?"

In the next second, a fish weighing several hundred jin, its mouth full of knife‑like fangs, broke the surface and sprayed a high‑pressure water jet at him.

"I'm copying!"

If the little stool hadn't been stable, I could have used myself as a nest today.

People improve, dogs improve, why wouldn't fish improve as well?

Having let the players and dogs reel away so many fish eggs and fry, they finally realized that what hangs down from the endless void isn't a heavenly delicacy but a murder weapon.

From this day onward, the pastoral era of Sacred Tree Lake ended.

What follows is another endless tug‑of‑war between anglers and fish.

Watching the barrage of laughter fill the screen, Ma Yi crouched on the ground, his heart ashen.

"No way… I'm going to be an air‑force again!?"

Ji Ming, joining the commotion, walked toward Ge Ruisen's core.

"Lord Supreme, regarding air purification, I, as a plant, indeed possess that ability."

Just like last time, he immediately produced a solution to the problem.

"How about this: once it's done, I'll send a few clones over to take root."

"While occupying the entire mine, we'll purify the air from inside out and reinforce the structure, also eliminating some potential hazards."

Brilliant!

Although genderless, I must say the gruff‑voiced tree‑folk elder is incredibly reliable.

Ji Ming then asked immediately.

"How long would that roughly take?"

Ge Ruisen thought for a moment.

"It depends on the cave's specifics; since a pack of goblin‑dogs can live there, it must be sizable."

"Broadly speaking… at least three days!"

It's the tenth day of the closed beta; three days later…

Ji Ming did the math and saw that the iron‑mine map won't open until the open beta.

But conveniently, neither the players nor the dogs currently know how to smelt iron or forge weapons.

To make good use of this iron mine and quickly unlock smelting, they still need to recruit talent from outside for a eureka acquisition.

Then.

Should they recruit talent directly from Sunlight City, or pull some professionals from the internet into the game to work?

Two figures immediately flashed in Ji Ming's mind.

One was the blacksmith Mo Dun, with whom he'd collaborated many times; the other was the hereditary forge master who had reviewed the new gunner weapon in the livestream that day.

He's a respectable person; he wouldn't force anyone into the dungeon and drag them into the group.

So.

【Little Boss, remember to keep an eye on that guy later; he'll probably make a reservation.】

Having resolved the mine issue, he shifted his focus back to the defensive battle.

After a moment's thought, he simply told Ge Ruisen about his experiences in Sunlight City.

"In short, I need some scouts who can stay awake twenty‑four hours a day to ease the workload."

"No problem!"

When the boss has a need, Ge Ruisen naturally doesn't delay; he immediately drops two branches, sprouting two potted plants.

"Since the Clinic and the dungeon are interconnected, I can contact them at any time, keeping them continuously online and activating all functions."

"Thus, if there's any wind or rustle, I'll know and can promptly support you."

Simply perfect!

Although the most effort in the startup team now comes from Xi Er Wei Ya, truly, to solve problems you still have to rely on Ge Ruisen.

He placed the potted plant on the clinic's windowsill, and Ji Ming began studying how to arrange the traps.

Even a trap must fit the character design, so he doesn't intend to make things overly exaggerated or violent.

As long as it serves to drive them away, preserves face, and gets the point across, that's good enough.

After setting all the traps, since a gentleman does not stand beneath a dangerous wall, he didn't stay in the clinic any longer and slipped back into the dungeon.

The closed beta has only four days left; after the three mini‑versions featuring Goblins, Slimes, and Kobolds, it's time for a big finale for the players.

Sitting on the sofa behind the curtain, Ji Ming first pulled up a short video he had prepared before the closed beta, then began typing.

【The armory has turned into ruins, the training ground into a mess, and in the east of the Holy Seat, the once pristine Garrison Camp has been seized by a massive Goblin Tribe】

The camera glides through the air, and from above countless Goblins are scurrying among the structures.

【Although they have been infected by demonic aura into feral beasts, their innate hierarchy remains unchanged, loyally guarding their own camps】

It's only a fleeting glimpse, yet within the tower stands a figure several meters tall, truly a giant.

【And in the towering ruined castle, the powerful Goblin Mad King still sits upon the throne】

The scene freezes at the deepest part of the castle, revealing a being whose proportions are almost entirely human.

【Defeating him with unity and courage is the ultimate goal of this closed beta!】

Ji Ming thought it was still a bit flat, so he added a final line.

【To spur the brave Pioneers onward and reward the strongest Pioneers with merit, the team that first slays the Goblin Mad King will receive an extra internal‑test slot】

Then came the update announcement.

【Tomorrow (11.15) at 10 p. m., this closed beta will enter Phase 4】

【Unlock advanced map: Garrison Camp】

【Release elite wild monster: Goblin Warrior】

【Release closed‑beta final boss: Goblin Mad King】

【Players, please prepare early, and enjoy the game】

Ji Ming double‑checked the copy and sent it out, dozed on the sofa for a while, when the system suddenly pushed a notification.

What met his eyes was a string of exclamation marks.

【The big one is coming! Wai Shu! The big one is coming!】

He glanced at the clock and saw it was already the late night.

Playing with the cat, feeling unwell yet not sleeping properly—what the heck is happening at this hour?

【The kid is three this year, even reporting his poop to dad, right?】

【Damn】

Bai Yesheng sent over a few screenshots.

【Look yourself, the player codenamed 'Yangyue' who flashed in the middle of the night has already trended on hot searches!】

I'm not some fresh meat; why does everything I do end up trending…

Ji Ming had no choice but to jump back to the real world, turn on his computer and scan the major websites.

His eyeballs twitched, and he slapped his own forehead.

"It's over, the big one is really coming!"

The season has changed, the author's throat is sore and head a bit dizzy; today I'll post four thousand first, the missing two thousand will be added later. Everyone, be sure to bundle up and watch your health.