Chapter 76 - 73: Frenzied Farming of Noobs

When Wei Brigade and Demacia entered the Bronze Giant Gate, the imagined monsters everywhere did not appear. Other than the unusually cold air, there was no danger.

The players felt like they had walked into a haunted house, occasionally exclaiming at the sight of skeletons.

Some timid female players screamed when startled by the sudden appearance of phosphorus flames and the rustling of some mice, adding some fun to their journey.

"Something’s not right, something’s not right. Would an NPC really give out money directly? Two hundred gold coins, these coins are enough to set us apart from players in other cities. It wouldn’t feel right if we didn’t die three or four times."

Wei Brigade whispered, as if speaking to Demacia and also to the growing audience in the livestream.

Demacia thought for a moment and said, "Just be careful, but this is just a game. Isn’t death just a drop to Level 1? I’ve already hidden my equipment, I’m not afraid of dying."

"Yeah, it’s just a game..."

Wei Brigade said softly.

"Whoa, guys, look what I found? A Luminous Pearl as big as a fist! Do we have to give this to that Baiyi too? It looks really valuable."

"Don’t sneak it, it’s a task for ten thousand people. If you cause us to fail, you’re dead meat, I’ll find you offline!"

"Heh, just kidding. Big guy, do you still collect coins after the task is complete? If you do, I’ll sell them all to you."

"Don’t worry, I’ll buy as much as you have, but the price is down to three hundred per piece, take it or leave it."

"Heh, that’s cool with me, I’ll sell to you!"

"Me too, me too."

As the exploration continued, the eerie atmosphere inside the mountain was gradually dispelled by the lure of money.

Wei Brigade and Demacia also gradually relaxed, following the crowd further inside.

There were no traps, no dangers, and even opening some coffins revealed things that seemed off, but the items didn’t transform.

About two hours later, the players began to reach the main burial chamber, during which nothing strange happened, only that everyone covered their noses due to the awful smell.

One player casually picked up a scarlet scroll from the coffin in the main chamber: "What’s this? It’s just lying on the coffin top?"

"Maybe it’s a Corpse Suppression Talisman? Whatever, let’s get some people to pry open the coffin. Once we take everything inside, we’ll leave."

The player thought that made sense, casually put the contract into their pocket, and then joined others in prying open the coffin lid.

In the corner, a group of hardcore players gathered, perplexed by the current situation. Was the game really just giving them free coins?

Was there really no danger at all? Was it really... that good?

This isn’t scientific! It’s not like how the game should be operated at all!

"Whoa, check out this equipment, it’s all question marks!"

"Same here, why do I feel like we’re getting shortchanged?"

"Shortchanged by what? In these seven days, did your task reward you with a single gold coin?"

"Uh, yeah, right, we’re a team of ten thousand, two million gold coins, well, alright, Baiyi’s generous, no wonder they call it Black and White Moonlight."

"But considering the game’s level of AI, it’s understandable. Just think about it, if alien life was about to invade our city, what would we do?"

"Catch them first... Whoa, Baiyi, White Moonlight!"

"That guy called Sabo is also obviously a badass, why don’t you mention him?"

"Too ugly, no interest..."

"+1..."

The hardcore players looked at each other, watching as the players looted the burial chamber, almost clearing it out. If the coffins weren’t directly fused with the ground, they probably wouldn’t even leave the coffins behind.

"Brother Wei, what’s going on?"

Wei Brigade shook his head: "I don’t understand, I don’t understand any step of this game’s progression."

"Whatever, you can learn skills in the Knowledge Hall, have you decided on your path? That Baiyi is an Alchemy Technologist, I think they’re pretty powerful, is anyone interested in becoming an Alchemist?"

"Forget it, I’ve seen the traits of an Alchemist, players can only take it as a secondary profession, unless you’re willing to grind..."

"True, well, a free two hundred gold coins, delightful, let’s go, let’s go."

As the hardcore players started to leave, those looting the burial chamber reluctantly began to exit the chamber as well.

Although it was a shame there were no monsters, getting free money still gave them immense joy, a huge sum walking straight into their pockets!

The players hopped out of the chamber, leaving without encountering the slightest danger.

[You have exited the special area.]

The panel notification sounded, and the players fully relaxed. They still remembered Baiyi mentioning that only at the mountain’s foot could they contact him about something, so it was time to explore more of the map.

As they reached halfway down the mountain, Wei Brigade’s unease began to dissipate: "Perhaps it’s just a game feature."

He said softly, almost as if to reassure himself.

[Streamer, look behind!!!

Streamer...]

The barrage of comments made Wei Brigade’s heart jump, and he immediately turned his head. Between the mountain top and the players, a creature with scarlet glowing eyes, its face obscured by mist, occasionally bursting out with tentacles, was standing there, unnoticed until now.

"Damn! What’s that?"

A player inadvertently turned around and was startled, his exclamation alerting the other players while seemingly also disturbing the creature.

The creature slightly lowered its body, then disappeared from the players’ sight in an instant, a red line flashed before their eyes, and in a split second, the consciousness of every player who saw the red line vanished.

"Ahhh... Holy crap!"

"What is this thing? Damn it!"

"Damn monsters!"

From above, the players’ large battlefield was being constantly crossed by red lines, gradually getting covered.

About thirty seconds later, the red lines stopped, and there wasn’t a single player left in sight. Their panels only displayed the message: [You have been torn apart by the Silver Level boss, Alchemy Demon. You are dead.]

Baiyi stood at the original center where the players once were, looking at the large heap of items on the ground. A sense of joy appeared in his scarlet eyes, as his panel too was filled with notifications.

[You killed 9,953 players, Experience Value +99,530, Alchemy Demon’s favorability in the player camp permanently -50.]

Poof~

A soft sound emitted as a tentacle burst from Baiyi’s bloodied face, but he emotionlessly pushed it back.

This form was still too powerful, and he couldn’t quite control his Soul Power.

He didn’t even dare to continue modifying his form.

After searching through the pile of equipment and materials on the ground, he quickly found the contract he wanted and some high-value equipment, which he swiftly stored in his Space Ring.

Baiyi looked somewhat apologetically at the ground full of equipment, issuing quests to players to help find things, then killing them for experience after they found the items, ultimately leading to their mission failure and even causing their equipment to be looted.

This seemed a little too much like the work of a bastard!

Buzzz~

But soon after, as if the experience update was delayed, his level increased by one, reaching Level 39, and that slight feeling of guilt vanished.

He didn’t pick up the equipment from the ground but used his speed of over 400 to instantly make his way downhill. Once he entered a Teleportation Array, he unhesitatingly began teleporting.

The spatial fluctuations fiercely compressed Baiyi’s body, but his resistance had already reached a Silver Upper Tier Warrior, so he didn’t feel much discomfort.

As light once again appeared around him, Baiyi quickly switched his form, becoming "Hero of Glory" Baiyi.

He silently walked out of the small wooden house, just as the furiously charging players appeared on the horizon.

Their faces were filled with anger, anger over losing so much in front of their eyes.

As they got closer, just about to question him, Baiyi’s voice, laced with Magic Power, rang out, with a hint of sympathy:

"It seems the things inside are too strong. My fellow marvels, although you won’t die, dying meaninglessly like this is too worthless. If you give up now, I’ll give each of you a hundred Copper Coins as compensation, just like last time."

He seemed genuinely concerned for the players, and his manner was so natural that the angry players paused, though among the nine thousand-plus, some impulsive ones passionately spoke out.

"What kind of bullshit quest did you issue? Is that something we can beat now? This quest is simply impossible to complete!"

The surrounding players nodded repeatedly. The quest items were gone; they lost a level, and most people’s equipment was looted—it seemed like total loss no matter how you looked at it.

Baiyi pondered for a moment and explained, "The Power of Contract is merely ineffective for you marvels. If I were to proceed, it would lead to a forbidden area’s emergence. I mentioned earlier that this quest was one of nine deaths to one life. If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to go; I’m not forcing you. Compensations are still there, how about it?"

The players hesitated, but the high-level players seemed to understand, realizing that a quest with such high rewards couldn’t possibly be without danger.

Guard Brigade stepped forward and said, "Sorry, Mr. Baiyi, that monster was too strong, and some people are a bit upset. May I ask if we need to bring all those things here?"

"No need, you just need to bring the stuff to the foot of the mountain." Baiyi shook his head slightly, his voice, carried by Magic Power, spreading through the player group.

The players looked at each other but decided to give it a try—after all, two hundred Gold Coins were worth it even if their levels dropped to zero. Although it was a bit tough running each map, ten kilometers was doable.

They nodded, stopped talking.

The Guard Brigade, representing the players, said, "Mr. Baiyi, then please teleport us once more."

[Baiyi favorability +1.]

The panel’s notification sounded, Baiyi smiled and nodded, thirty Worker Bees lit up, and those special liquids spurted out again, turning the players into Spirit Bodies, then a flash of spatial fluctuation.

The players disappeared, and Baiyi smiled, walking back to the small wooden house, his eyes gradually turning scarlet again, pressing down the tentacle that had burst out of his face, Baiyi smiled and activated the Teleportation Array.

[You killed 9,860 players, Experience Value +98,600, Alchemy Demon’s favorability in the player camp permanently -10.]

Baiyi stood outside the small wooden house, looking at the players averaging Level 1 to Level 3, his face once again showing regret.

"Damn, just a bit more, just a bit more! Baiyi, hurry and teleport us, we already saw the communication devices!"

Baiyi nodded, with a hint of concealed killing intent, he smiled and activated the teleportation.

[You killed 9,533 players, Experience Value +95,330, Alchemy Demon’s favorability in the player camp permanently -10.]

[Your level has increased, reaching Level 40.]

"Damn, almost there, almost there, guys, remember to toss the equipment far away. Anyway, we’re already Level 1, what are we afraid of, think about those two hundred Gold Coins!"

Baiyi’s pupils had a hint of redness, he silently put on sunglasses, a hunting thrill faintly emerging, and activated the teleportation.

[You killed 9,214 players, Experience Value +92,140, Alchemy Demon’s favorability in the player camp permanently -10.]

As the Level 1 players, all furious again, ran ten kilometers to the cabin, Baiyi’s conscience once again pricked him slightly.

To ease his conscience, he said somewhat reluctantly, "Now for the participating marvels, compensation will be increased to fifty Silver Coins."

[Favorability in the player group +1.]

"Now guaranteed, charge, brothers, almost there, anyway already Level 1, use your lives to fill it! Somehow, get those two hundred Gold Coins to not count as a loss!"

"Throw it far away, don’t be afraid it’ll break, the quest only says to bring it to the foot of the mountain!"

"Exactly, don’t be afraid, Level 1 and still afraid of death? Today, if we don’t make it back, we’ll sue the game company tomorrow!"

"Quick, Baiyi, teleport us immediately, damn it, I refuse to believe it, ten thousand people can’t complete a quest!"

The players were teleported once again, and Baiyi touched his own conscience, silently walking into the wooden house behind him.

[You killed 9,008 players, Experience Value +90,080, Alchemy Demon’s favorability in the player camp permanently -10.]

[Your level increased, reaching Level: 41.]

[Alchemy Demon extremely disliked by players, received title: Hunter.]