Chapter 34: Arcane Missile, Heading to the Second Floor

"Oh ho!"

"I didn't expect there to be a hidden item here!"

Looking at the content displayed on the back of the oil painting, Su Hao raised his eyebrows, feeling quite surprised.

He originally just thought that the old man in the portrait was likely the owner of this castle, and maybe he could be of some use in the exploration of the second and third floors.

Even if this is just an ordinary portrait that offers no help for later exploration, just moving a ladder to take this painting down from the wall would incur no loss.

As it turned out, who would have thought that behind this painting there would be such an unexpected gain; Su Hao faintly felt that this might still be a considerable gain.

The person who left this message is very likely the necromancer who created the Stitching Monster, someone with at least Supernatural Third Tier strength.

Such a reward left by an expert couldn't possibly be trash, right?

With a feeling of anticipation, Su Hao stored the portrait in his Storage Bag, following the map on the back of the portrait.

He then destroyed all the wall lamps in the four rooms and the three stone slabs on the floor of the Hall.

Immediately after.

The chandelier atop the Hall suddenly lit up, emitting a pale beam of light that fell onto the floor below.

Under the light's illumination, the floor tiles shifted to the sides, revealing a wooden box about twenty to thirty centimeters long, somewhat rotten, appearing before Su Hao's eyes.

"Couldn't a better material have been used to make this box?"

Smelling that moldy, rotten odor, Su Hao was somewhat speechless.

In order to prevent anyone from finding this box, you made the place where it was placed extremely concealed.

But the box itself is made of ordinary wood, and it's almost rotting away……

"Hopefully the things inside the box won't rot along with it."

Su Hao let out a sigh, walked to the center of the Hall, opened the lid of the wooden box, and a stronger rotten smell rushed at him, filling his nasal cavity.

"Phew! Thank goodness, there's still something left."

Under the erosion of time and ill-omened curses, most of the items in the wooden box have already rotted, turning to dust at the slightest touch.

Fortunately, amid this pile of dust, two items remained intact, so Su Hao's efforts weren't in vain.

These two items are respectively a black block resembling a hard drive, and a scroll made of ox hide rolled up.

After taking these two items out, Su Hao first looked at the black block.

【Trade Module】

Supernatural Grade: First Rank

Effect: After being integrated into the Communication Bracelet, it unlocks the trading function between friends; as long as both friends possess a Trade Module, they can conduct remote trading by consuming mental energy or energy crystals.

……

"Nice!"

Su Hao had no hesitation; he immediately used the Trade Module, unlocking the trading function of the Communication Bracelet.

This way, in the future, some things useless to him can be taken to the group chat to trade with others for things useful to him.

However, this matter isn't urgent; it can be discussed after returning to the sanctuary.

Next, Su Hao unfolded the scroll.

【Arcane Missile Skill Scroll】

Learning Requirement: Mage-type Supernatural Being

Effect: After use, one learns the Arcane Missile skill.

……

"Hahaha, it's actually a skill scroll—this is like getting a pillow when you're sleepy; perfect timing!"

Looking at the content recorded on the scroll, Su Hao's face showed ecstatic joy.

For mage-type Supernatural Beings, Arcane Missile can be said to be the most practical basic skill.

Although Arcane Missile's damage cannot compare to skills like Fireball.

However, the mental energy consumed to launch Arcane Missile is very low; basically, as long as one isn't a completely useless Supernatural Being, using it continuously for three to five minutes is still fine.

Moreover, even at entry-level proficiency, Arcane Missile can be cast instantly.

If Arcane Missile's proficiency can be raised to mastery, then even when using Arcane Missile, no mental energy needs to be consumed.

One can launch Arcane Missile to interfere with enemies while preparing other skills, making one's combat style more varied.

These past few days, Su Hao has felt annoyed due to having too few skills and a monotonous combat style; now that he has Arcane Missile, he can reduce that annoyance.

Without much hesitation, Su Hao immediately directed the mental energy deep in his mind to activate the skill scroll in his hand.

The next moment.

The text on the ox hide emitted a dazzling white light, floating up from the ox hide.

In midair they formed a white rune, which flew toward Su Hao's brow, entered his mind, and appeared beside the Blood Flame Technique rune.

【You have learned the skill——Arcane Missile!】

【Arcane Missile】

Proficiency: Entry

Supernatural Grade: First Rank

Effect: Consume mental energy to condense a magic missile and attack a designated target.

……

"Is that all?"

Su Hao blinked slightly; in his previous life, he was just an ordinary person, this also being his first time using a skill scroll, and he hadn't expected the process to be so simple.

Afterwards, he slightly moved his thought, mobilizing mental energy to flow toward the Arcane Missile rune in his mind.

Almost at the moment Su Hao communicated with the Arcane Missile rune, a white spherical magic bullet appeared at his fingertip.

"Go!"

As Su Hao's thoughts turned, the white magic bullet at his fingertip flew toward the wall lamp on the opposite wall.

Boom—!

Accompanied by a dull thud, the magic bullet struck the wall lamp, producing an explosion not overly violent, blasting the wall lamp away and leaving a small pit in the wall.

"Not bad."

Su Hao nodded, quite pleased with the Arcane Missile.

Although this magic bullet only left a small pit in the wall, its destructive power is far inferior to that of the Blood Flame Technique.

However, the Arcane Missile has no casting delay; basically, as soon as a thought occurs, not even a second is needed before or after, to launch a magic missile, which is perfect for disturbing enemies.

Most importantly, it's true that the Arcane Missile's damage is low, but Su Hao still has the Synthesis Heart.

If suitable materials are found and combined, perhaps this instantly cast but low-damage Arcane Missile could become an instantly cast new skill with considerable damage!

You should know that before synthesis, the Blood Flame Technique was merely a Blood Control Technique that could control blood; after combining with the 【Blood-stained Divine Fire】, it became a Blood Flame Technique capable of igniting the blood within the body, increasing its power severalfold!

Well! There's yet another thing to synthesize, and the number of syntheses is insufficient……

Su Hao shook his head and gave a bitter laugh.

Afterward, he once again searched the first-floor hall and all four rooms thoroughly, making sure nothing was missed and there were no hidden mechanisms, then he headed for the stairs to go up to the second floor.

After coming out of the stairs, ahead was only a long passage, about three meters wide and at least three hundred meters long.

If nothing unexpected happens, this passage is also filled with traps.

"Let's go in and take a look!"

Without further hesitation, Su Hao stepped over the last step and walked toward the entrance of the passage.

But just then, his footsteps paused slightly, and he stood in place, lowering his head to ponder.

"Phew! Safety first, better to be steady like this."

Su Hao took a deep breath, held the serrated longsword upside down in his right hand, stabbed it into his heart, dug out a small piece of heart fragment, and threw it beneath the stairs.

As long as a fragment of his heart remains, he will not die completely; keeping a heart fragment in the relatively safe first floor undoubtedly adds a layer of security to his own safety.

Having left himself a backup, Su Hao no longer had any worries and strode into the passage.

After walking about one hundred fifty meters or so, just like the passage on the first floor, Su Hao again felt something sweep past him.

The next moment.

On the left and right walls, the bricks staggered, revealing a series of round openings.

But that wasn't the end; immediately, the bricks on the ceiling and floor also staggered like the walls, exposing a series of round openings.

Up, down, left, and right—everything was surrounded by the openings, leaving absolutely no way out!