Chapter 35
With the help of his mind power, Lin Bai moved quickly, precisely locating the acupuncture points on Zhu Zhuqing's body. In just two minutes, the soul power fluctuations around her grew more active. Her cold expression softened, replaced by a hint of excitement.
"Perfect."
Lin Bai withdrew his martial spirit. He was becoming more proficient with the Thirteen Needles of the Ghost Gate.
"How do you feel, Zhuqing?"
Zhu Zhuqing focused inwardly for a moment before replying.
"It's… strange. Like when an auxiliary soul skill boosts you — but this time, it's my own soul power driving the increase."
Though grateful, she felt a little awkward. Lin Bai was no longer just a senior, but now a peer, and she wasn't sure how to treat him.
"That's good. Xiao Wu, your turn. You've already reached the second level. Activating more of your potential now will make a difference."
Lin Bai checked her physique as well and confirmed it — the structures of transformed soul beasts and humans were nearly identical. Only blood and soul essence differed.
"Of course!" Xiao Wu's eyes lit up. She didn't want to fall behind.
Lin Bai made his move. In two minutes, he activated Xiao Wu's potential too. As for himself, with his trump card telekinesis, he didn't need to do the same.
"The time window for your unlocked potential is limited," Lin Bai reminded them. "Let's not waste it — we're entering the dungeon together."
The three of them inevitably felt tense. Lin Bai and Zhu Zhuqing, in particular, showed a flicker of excitement. They stepped onto the dark brown ground and approached their respective doors.
Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu stopped before a bronze door, glancing at one another. A hesitation crossed both their faces.
"What's wrong?" Lin Bai caught the subtle change.
"The promotion message said our talents are the same rank. It's giving us the option to team up for this dungeon. The difficulty will increase, but the rewards won't."
Lin Bai thought for a moment.
"If the difficulty goes up while the rewards stay the same, it means teaming up improves your chances of surviving. You should consider it. Working together gives you a higher probability of clearing it."
His reasoning was purely practical.
Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu exchanged another look. Ordinarily, strangers wouldn't be comfortable entering an unknown dungeon together, but with Lin Bai connecting them, a foundation of trust already existed.
Seeing them still hesitating, Lin Bai urged, "Time's short. Form a team. You can get familiar with each other once you're inside."
His words tipped the scale. The two finally nodded. A light flashed, an illusory chain linking them. A system prompt sounded in their minds.
[Team formed successfully. The captain now has permission to open the dungeon.]
Without hesitation, Zhu Zhuqing stepped forward and pushed open the bronze door. White light flared from within, and in the next instant, she and Xiao Wu vanished into it.
At the same time, Lin Bai opened the door to the SSS-level dungeon.
A wave of light swept over him. When he opened his eyes again, he was in a vast underground cavern. Crystals clung to the ceiling, shedding faint light. A heavy, oppressive atmosphere filled the air.
The system prompt sounded.
[Entered SSS-level Dungeon: The End of Time and Space]
[Dungeon Background: The life of the universe has reached its end. Not even the God of Time and Space could escape. His godhead, born alongside the cosmos, has shattered and scattered across the new universe.]
[Mission Objective: Find and kill the lucky Piccolo Dragon Blood Caesar.]
[Clearance Reward: Choose one of three hidden professions. One career sublimation (rare).]
A game-like panel appeared before him, framed in black and gray with yellow text. The writing resembled the Douluo Continent's script, so Lin Bai easily understood it.
After reading the mission details and rewards, he gauged the dungeon's difficulty.
"I hope it's not what I'm thinking," Lin Bai muttered. "If it is, even a Titled Douluo might not survive."
Looking ahead, he realized how massive the cavern was. The ceiling soared over a hundred meters high, and in the distance was what looked like a town. It would be wise to gather information first.
He swapped into low-profile clothing, flew using telekinesis, and arrived at the town gates unhindered.
Two human soldiers guarded the entrance. Lin Bai's heart settled. At least they weren't another race — that would make communicating easier.
When they noticed him, one of the guards stiffened, his previously lazy posture replaced by tension. The man on the left hesitated before speaking.
"Outsider? Welcome to Hope Town. What's your strength?"
When he asked that last part, a trace of anticipation flickered in his gaze.
"Not bad," Lin Bai answered casually.
"What kind of answer is that? Which tests have you passed? What's your profession?" the guard pressed eagerly — not interrogating, but more like a drowning man clinging to the last straw.
His companion quickly pulled him back to his senses. The older guard gave a wry smile and nodded at Lin Bai.
"Sorry about that. No one's beaten Caesar yet. Paul's been trapped here three years. He's worried about his wife back home."
Lin Bai's expression shifted slightly.
Caesar. Finally, a lead.
"Who is this Caesar you're talking about?"
The middle-aged guard gave a bitter laugh before answering.
"Full name's Piccolo Dragon Blood Caesar. A dragon-veined kobold. This dungeon was just crawling with ordinary kobold monsters years ago — then Caesar stumbled upon some treasure. Fifteen years back, everything changed. The dungeon sealed itself off, no one in or out."
"Adventurers who wandered in later, and a few other races, built this town hoping to overthrow Caesar and his kobold horde. But after all these years, no progress. Everyone sent after Caesar either dies or disappears. If it weren't for the rare supply runs with heavy protection, we wouldn't even be able to gather mushrooms to survive."
He sighed, his eyes flashing with desperate hope.
"You're young, but you seem capable. Maybe you're the one who can finally kill Caesar… and give Hope Town its name back."
Lin Bai's thoughts stirred.
The people here didn't seem aware this was a copy. Did the dungeon itself have a will, or was it a difference in how Douluo Continent's world mechanics worked? Either way, it didn't matter.
"I understand. Where's the kobold's lair?"
He had no intention of delaying. The sooner he found Caesar, the sooner he could complete the mission and leave. As for the adventurers of Hope Town — if they hadn't managed anything in fifteen years, there was no point in dealing with them again.
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