Chapter 400: Chapter 396: Flower Messenger

"Did you hear? That Zhang Guan was killed in the Nightmare Forest!"

"Zhang Guan? Is it that ninth-level lord from the Lingyun Kingdom?"

"That’s right, it’s him. Today, a few brothers went to explore the Nightmare Forest and found his corpse just lying in the forest."

"Damn! A ninth-level lord dead just like that? Who’s so fierce?"

"Of course, it must have been another ninth-level lord who did it."

"Serves him right, that guy didn’t have good character. I’ve never liked him."

There aren’t many ninth-level lords on the continent.

So basically most lords know each other.

Even if they don’t know him, they must have heard of him.

So when the news of Zhang Guan’s death spread, it caused quite a stir, with everyone speculating about who the killer might be.

Some were openly cursing, apparently having been bullied by Zhang Guan often.

Although the death of a ninth-level lord would affect the realm’s fortune, few sympathized with someone like Zhang Guan who harmed his own kind.

Truly deserved.

Serves him right!

While everyone was discussing the incident.

Lin You, the person involved, ignored the outside world and continued mutating his species within the territory.

After more than half an hour had passed, he finally replenished the lost species.

As for Magic Energy, there was still 270 million left, most of which was consumed by mutating Symbiotic Moss.

But this consumption was nothing for him now.

After completing the mutations, Lin You stood up, dusted off himself, and approached the Hero Transformation Pool.

Recently, he had been thinking about who to give the remaining hero slot.

After careful consideration, he decided to use the slot to enhance Royal Species.

So his choice was among Symbiotic Moss, Purple Orchid Staff, Calamity Sword Bamboo, and Wood Shield Profound Turtle, these four Equipment Species.

Considering Cyan Gang had already equipped Sword Bamboo and Turtle Shield.

He finally set his eyes on the Purple Orchid Staff in Lingxi’s hand.

Being a Rare Species, the potential of Purple Orchid Staff is certainly greater than that of an ordinary species.

Plus, its skill form is excellent, perfectly matching with Lingxi’s long-range spell attack.

"Alright, it’ll be you."

Lin You decisively made the decision, instructing Lingxi to place the Purple Orchid Staff onto the Hero Pool.

[Transforming a tier-eight species requires consuming 80,000 Magic Energy. Would you like to transform?]

"Yes!"

As his voice fell, a gentle aura of life enveloped the Purple Orchid Staff, and clusters of flowers bloomed.

When the transformation success prompt sounded, its attributes underwent a significant change.

[Name: Purple Orchid Staff (Rare)]

[Race: Plant]

[Level: Tier Eight (490/5000)]

[Power: 2050]

[Constitution: 2110]

[Agility: 1850]

[Spirit: 2318]

[Skills: Violet Garden, Life and Death, Flower Staff]

[Flower Messenger: The wearer gains "Life and Death" effect, non-stackable.]

[Introduction: A very beautiful flower, with endless killing intent hidden beneath its gentle appearance, one of the Equipment Species.]

Hmm?

The wearer gains Life and Death?

After reading the attributes, Lin You was stunned.

This means that when using the Purple Orchid Staff to kill enemies, Lingxi can obtain 10% of the opponent’s attributes?

This effect is excellent.

Because even if it’s the most ordinary tier-eight species killed, it will yield at least 200 points in all attributes on average.

The higher the opponent’s attributes, the greater the boost.

And it lasts until the Violet Garden disappears.

As long as enemies are consistently killed, it’s equivalent to a permanent attribute buff, providing a massive boost.

"Not bad, just perfect for testing the effects in the Secret Realm tomorrow."

Satisfied, Lin You closed the interface and let Lingxi re-equip the Flower Staff.

Then he left the territory to go to Yellow Sand City and discuss some territory development matters with Xue Changgui.

He kept busy like this until nightfall before returning to the territory to rest.

...

Early the next morning.

As soon as it got light, Lin You got up and crossed the Teleportation Gate to enter the Holy Sanctuary.

After a day of fermenting, the news of Zhang Guan’s death had gradually spread.

Today, he didn’t plan to explore the Nightmare Forest.

Instead, he went to the platform’s Secret Realm Gate, intending to clear a Tier Eight Secret Realm a few times and raise the experience of the old species to full.

If he’s lucky enough to get a Sacred Artifact Secret Treasure, that would be ideal.

"Hey, brother, want to join us in clearing a tier-eight A-level Secret Realm? We happen to need a healer."

While pondering, suddenly a voice asked from nearby.

A few lords gathering a Secret Realm team immediately noticed Lingxi beside Lin You and invited him.

"No need, I prefer clearing Secret Realms alone."

Lin You smiled slightly and declined their invitation.

Unexpectedly.

A big man in the opponent’s team suddenly stepped forward, looking at him with displeasure.

"Kid, rejecting without even considering, are you looking down on us?"

As he spoke, he summoned two tier-eight winged tigers, blocking Lin You’s path.

"Old Niu! Don’t mess around!"

The middle-aged man who seemed to be the team leader’s expression changed, wanting to intervene.

But the next moment, a glint of cold light flashed in Lin You’s eyes.

The two winged tigers suddenly let out a tragic cry, and a large area of wooden thorns exploded within their bodies, killing them instantly.

Lingxi beside Lin You maintained the stance of casting a skill.

"So fast!"

The middle-aged man and his teammates were aghast, unable to believe the sight of the two corpses, not even noticing how Lingxi had acted.

Before they could react.

Purple orchids suddenly bloomed from the two corpses, rapidly spreading in all directions, transforming into a huge garden on the platform in an instant.

Next, the roots and flower bunches twisted and grew, soon turning into several duplicate plants that closely resembled them and their surrounding species.

The bizarre scene startled the other Lords nearby, making each one back away in shock from the garden’s location.

"What’s going on?"

"Why has a garden suddenly appeared here?"

"It seems to be a Plant Type Skill!"

"Such a strange skill! I was standing at the edge earlier, and now a monster that looks just like me has appeared!"

"Everyone, be careful!"

The crowd exclaimed repeatedly, not daring to approach any closer to the garden’s boundary.

The middle-aged man and his teammates within the garden had also been scared by the scene, tightening their grip on their weapons.

"It’s done."

At this time, Lin You’s voice sounded.

Lingxi canceled the Skill, and the dazzling purple garden instantly dissipated, transforming into energy and disappearing from the platform as if it had never appeared.

Lin You ignored the stunned crowd.

He led Lingxi directly towards the Secret Realm Gate nearby, disappearing in an instant.

After a while.

The man known as Old Niu finally wobbled, collapsing on the ground, sweat covering his forehead.

His collar soaked unknowingly!

"Gulp..."

His teammates swallowed hard, staring in shock at the direction Lin You had vanished.

They were well aware of Old Niu’s power, at least mid-level strength among Tier Eight.

In just one strike, his two species were effortlessly wiped out; few Tier Eight Lords could achieve that.

His power alone was enough to move them.

Luckily, the opponent didn’t pursue contention with them, or else they would have had no choice but to flee back to their territory.

They wouldn’t dare stay here.

Exchanging glances, they hurriedly moved to another platform, fearing Lin You might change his mind and come back to cause trouble.

...

This episode didn’t affect Lin You much.

After entering the Secret Realm Gate, he quickly arrived at the difficulty selection interface.

[Please select Dungeon Rating Difficulty.]

"SSS-level, 1999 rating."

Lin You answered without hesitation.

The Tier Eight Secret Realm rating ranges from 1001-2000, with the highest difficulty being 2000 rating, which means encountering Tier Nine Lord Demon.

Other ratings would involve encountering Tier Nine Leader.

Though Lin You was very confident in his abilities, he wasn’t confident enough to face a Tier Nine Lord Demon with just a Tier Eight body.

Not to mention the various effects nullified by level suppression.

Even the average 20,000 attributes are enough to be daunting.

Especially Agility.

No matter how high his Big Cannon and Shadowless single-target damage is, he couldn’t keep up with such terrifying speed.

If targeted, he would have to flee immediately.

[Difficulty selection complete, allocating Secret Realm...]

Swoosh!

Light flashed.

Standing firm again, Lin You found himself on a vast wasteland.

As far as the eye could see, enormous ant nests protruded from the ground, almost covering the entire wasteland.

[Secret Realm allocation complete, Current Secret Realm: Marching Ant Calamity]

[This Secret Realm is quite difficult, please proceed with caution.]

Insect Type Secret Realm?

Lin You looked astonished; if he had the Venus Flytrap Predator Skill now, it would likely be much easier. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

But it’s not a big problem, as they are merely Tier Eight Demons after all.

As he was thinking.

From afar in the wasteland, a rustling sound suddenly came forth.

As if sensing his arrival.

Countless shadows emerged from various ant nests, gathering into a vast black mass on the wasteland in an instant.

In the sky, a large swarm of winged flying ants joined.

Like a black tide, they surged towards him.

This...

This is a huge problem!

Lin You was startled.

He didn’t expect so many ant demons to appear right at the start, almost covering the entire sky and ground, numbering at least three thousand.

And each one was larger and sturdier than a bulldog!

[Name: Tooth-Eating Marching Ant (Ordinary)]

[Race: Insect]

[Level: Tier Eight (SSS-level)]

[Power: 2800 (+2800)]

[Constitution: 2200 (+2200)]

[Agility: 2300 (+2300)]

[Spirit: 2260 (+2260)]

[Skills: Giant Strength, Biting, Unity Power]

[Chaos: All Attributes enhanced by 100%]

[Introduction: Extremely powerful ants, prefer to appear in swarms, a very challenging Tier Eight Demon.]

No wonder it’s close to the highest difficulty Secret Realm; the Power Attribute directly broke through the Tier Eight limit, reaching 2800.

Lin You didn’t dare be careless, summoning all the species immediately.

"Defensive formation!"

With a single command, the Ancient Tree Legion lined up outside the Cyan Rattan’s Vine Forest, forming a defensive formation.

In an instant.

The two forces collided fiercely amidst the buzzing of wings.