Chapter 62: This Wave Is a Free Loss
The more miserable the defeat.
The more exhilarating the victory!
Precisely because they had been crushed and suffered a tragic defeat.
At this moment, it only felt like a great revenge had been exacted, and the fruits of victory were exceptionally sweet!
"Chenxi-jie! Wraith-jie! Is this real?" Little Bell widened her eyes as she looked at the fallen enemies covering the ground, "We actually won! And it was so easy!"
They only lost a dozen people?
That was nothing to the Fourth Calamity Army!
After all, the main force had not suffered significant casualties.
This starkly contrasted with the disastrous defeat just an hour or two ago, so it was no wonder that Little Bell and the others could hardly believe it.
Chenxi smiled and said, "Although the enemies were strong, everyone cooperated very well. I believe that as long as the Fourth Calamity Army stays united, we can overcome all difficulties and be invincible."
"Well said!"
"How could we possibly be stopped by such a scattered rabble!"
At this stage, the Fourth Calamity Army was not large, and every member was a high-quality Player carefully selected by Xiao Ba, with strong obedience and coordination skills.
Each Player trusted their partners, so in battle, they could confidently entrust their backs to one another.
It was precisely this unity that allowed the Fourth Calamity Army to defeat powerful enemies.
"Don't celebrate too soon!"
"This is just the outskirts of the polluted area!"
"The real challenge lies ahead!"
"That's true, hurry up and check the loot, there must be plenty of good stuff dropped this time too!"
"......"
The Players temporarily withdrew a short distance, partly to wait for the fallen Players to return, and partly to check the loot and quickly recover spent mana and stamina.
This harvest was exceptionally rich!
【You have obtained loot: Essence +500, Abyssal Magic Stone Fragment +800, Taiping Blood Sacrifice Talisman +5!】
【You have obtained loot: Essence +500, Abyssal Magic Stone Fragment +800, Taiping Talisman +5!】
【You have obtained loot… Yellow Turban War Bow +1!】
【You have obtained loot… Yellow Turban Army Spear +1!】
【……】
In total, twenty-six Yellow Turban Headless Fiend Soldiers were eliminated.
If including those from Heting Township, the total would be forty-four.
Although humanoid monsters did not drop materials or food, they had a fair chance of dropping equipment or special consumables.
In total, the forty-four Yellow Turban monsters dropped over a hundred talismans and nineteen pieces of white-quality inferior equipment!
【You have looted: Essence +800, Abyssal Magic Stone Fragment +1300, Taiping Dao Robe +1!】
【You have looted: Essence +800, Abyssal Magic Stone Fragment +1300, Wolf Summon Talisman +10!】
【You have looted… Warlock’s Ring +1!】
【You have looted… Taiping Dao Necklace +1!】
The above were the loot from the Warlock.
In total, ten talismans and three pieces of white-grade equipment were dropped.
【Wolf Summon Talisman】, Tier-One consumable, white medium-grade, consumes 30 mana, can summon a Talisman Demon Wolf to assist in battle.
The Demon Wolf’s level and strength correspond to the summoner’s level, Spirit, and Will, lasting 15 minutes with a 60-minute cooldown.
【Taiping Dao Robe】, Tier-One equipment, white medium-grade, Spell Damage Resistance +5, Independent Defense +2, Will +2, Spirit +1, Durability 8/25.
【Warlock’s Ring】, Tier-One equipment, white medium-grade, Spirit +2, Fire Spell Amplification +4, Lightning Spell Amplification +4, Durability 5/25.
【Taiping Dao Necklace】, Tier-One equipment, white medium-grade, Will +2, Mana Cap +10, Healing Spell Amplification +5, Durability 6/25.
When they saw the Warlock’s loot.
The Warlocks represented by Wraith and Little Bell, as well as Monks represented by Midnight Pig Slayer and Chenxi, all had their eyes light up.
These pieces of equipment obviously favored their classes.
At this stage, equipment that increased spell resistance or boosted Spirit and Will attributes was extremely rare, making these few items even more valuable.
Next was the loot from the Luo River Demon Cavalry.
【You have obtained loot: Essence +1100, Essence +1600, Cold Iron Lance +1!】
【You have obtained loot… Ring-Handled Saber +1!】
【You have obtained loot… Xiyuan Guard Helmet +1!】
【You have obtained loot… Xiyuan Guard Leg Armor +1!】
【You have obtained loot… Xiyuan Guard Chestplate +1!】
【……】
The loot dropped by Luo River Demon Cavalry mainly included long and short weapons like lances and sabers, as well as high-quality armor from the Xiyuan Guard series, all white medium-grade and of considerable quality.
In terms of single equipment attributes, the Xiyuan Guard armor was slightly better than the Skeletal Wild Bull's equipment, although the former lacked set bonuses, making the Skeletal Wild Bull Set better overall.
Aside from drops.
A total of 21,800 Essence was collected.
About 35,000 Abyssal Magic Stone Fragments were harvested.
Including the minor monsters cleared along the way and the fiend soldiers hunted at Heting Township, the total Essence gain surely exceeded 30,000, and the total Abyssal Magic Stone Fragments should reach around 50,000.
Not bad!
For Players at this stage.
It was absolutely a very generous reward.
Even if distributed absolutely evenly, each Player could get at least 700–800 Essence, enough not only to cover death losses but also to have a big surplus.
The Players did not rush to divide the loot.
Because the mission was not over yet.
Dividing the spoils now would be like popping champagne at halftime!
After about fifteen minutes.
Sixteen fallen Players rejoined the team.
The Fourth Calamity Army quickly replenished its strength.
At this time, the scout Lone Boat returned to report: "There's a camp not far ahead, probably the place we're looking for."
"Great!"
"Finally found it!"
"In that case, no time to lose, let's move out!"
"Hopefully no more unexpected problems, let's strike straight at the heart!"
Forty Players avoided potentially dangerous areas and reached the destination along the scouted route.
It was a camp shrouded in the densest blood-red mist, fairly large yet dilapidated and mysterious, with all buildings and facilities covered in vine-like flesh and blood matter.
Twisted! Squirming!
The scene was extremely bizarre!
Upon closer inspection, one could see that the flesh and blood seemed to originate from a certain center, which was likely the core area of the entire pollution zone.
"Why aren't there any monsters guarding?"
"Shouldn’t it be heavily guarded?"
"Doesn’t matter! Everyone be prepared to die once!"
"Anyway, the loot is temporarily sealed and stored in the Contract."
"Yeah, even if we get wiped out, we just lose a bit of Essence. The urgent matter is to figure out the situation here, especially to locate the Boss to facilitate the next actions!"
"……"
Players were not afraid of death.
They were only afraid of dying meaninglessly.
As long as they completed the mission and found the target.
Then even if the whole army was wiped out, it would be worth it.
When the Fourth Calamity Soldiers advanced toward the center for about ten minutes, a blood-colored lake suddenly appeared before them.
The vine-like flesh that covered the entire camp grew from this lake.
The Players involuntarily stopped in their tracks.
Because a scene so shocking it left them dumbfounded appeared before their eyes.
Around the thick, blood-like lake, a massive crowd of Yellow Turban Headless Fiend Soldiers, Yellow Turban Headless Warlocks, Luo River Demon Cavalry, Luo River Butchers—every elite monster they had encountered so far—were all gathered here.
Not just present!
But present in massive numbers!
Visually estimated to be several hundred!
Several hundred elite monsters—what did that mean?
The Players knew this place would be hard to attack, but they never imagined it would be this insane.
And if it were only a gathering of elite monsters, that would be one thing.
Even stranger was.
These mindless Abyssal monsters, despite noticing the approach of the Fourth Calamity Army, did not attack instinctively, but instead stood still like statues, maintaining an eerie silence.
Only one possibility.
Some will was controlling them!
At that moment, four different figures emerged from the mist.
Their bodies bore obvious signs of magical distortion, but they could still be recognized as human.
【Jian Shuo】, Level 7 Elite Unit……Description: Once the Han Emperor Ling's most loyal eunuch, commander of the Xiyuan Imperial Guards in Luoyang, now fallen into the Abyss and severely corrupted.
【Feng Xu】, Level 6 Elite Unit……Description: Once a trusted Palace Attendant beside Emperor Ling of Han, now fully surrendered to the Will of the Abyss.
【Zhou Bin】, Level 6 Elite Unit……Description: Former Commander of the Hook Shield Guards trusted by Emperor Ling of Han, once ordered to investigate the Yellow Turban Rebellion, now completely surrendered to the Will of the Abyss.
【Bao Hong】, Level 6 Elite Unit……Description: A general of the Luoyang Imperial Guards, now completely surrendered to the Will of the Abyss.
"Holy crap!"
"No way!"
"All four are corrupted elites?"
"Something’s coming out of that lake!"
The Players could clearly feel a crushing pressure, as heavy as Mount Tai, emanating from the Blood Lake.
This pressure was stronger than the combined aura of the four corrupted elites and the hundreds of surrounding elite monsters.
After seeing this despair-inducing scene, there was only one thought left in the Players’ minds!
"Oh no!"
"We're doomed!"
"This wave is a free loss!"
"Quick, quick, take a group photo!"
"At least we didn’t come here for nothing!"