67: Chapter 67 I have to go back to reality to undergo a tribulation and open everyone's eyes.

One human and four elves concentrated their attention and moved gently, creeping around the corner.

Vag poked his head out first to observe for a moment, then pulled back and whispered, "Seven Goblins, no leader in sight."

Goblins—non-magical beasts, trainee-level humanoid monsters. They are hairless with green skin and tusks, using crude wooden weapons and relying on their strong physiques to fight.

Basic information about the monsters flashed through her mind, and Frederica nodded. "Then it's the same as usual. Zhang Mu just needs to stay by my side and pour out magic."

"Okay."

The four elves had traveled the continent for years and had long ago developed a tacit understanding. As a member of the Adventurer Group who joined halfway, Zhang Mu didn't say much.

Besides, these were only trainee-level monsters; clearing them out step-by-step would be enough.

Having settled on a strategy, Vag drew the longsword from his back and rushed around the corner with a loud shout.

Frederica held her bow and followed closely with Alice. Seeing this, Zhang Mu also ran to keep up.

Saldari, bringing up the rear, stopped as soon as he reached the corner, seemingly on guard for anything behind them.

"Ya!"

Discovering the enemies, the seven Goblins shrieked and rushed forward, waving their wooden clubs.

Vag didn't engage them in close quarters but held his longsword horizontally to block the path in front of the other three.

Frederica's toes tapped the ground as she leaped up, her right hand pulling three arrows from the quiver on her back, nocking them to the bow.

Swoosh—

"Ha!" Alice raised her staff and gave a light shout. The speed of the arrows suddenly surged, piercing through the foreheads of the first three Goblins.

The three corpses were carried backward by the immense force of the arrows, while the remaining four Goblins nimbly dodged and continued their charge.

What greeted them were four Ice Cones that accurately pierced through their throats.

The battle was resolved in an instant. Vag lowered his longsword and walked toward the corpses, as did Frederica and Alice.

Saldari also walked over from the corner.

Only Zhang Mu stood in place, unmoving.

Seeing this, Alice turned back and asked curiously, "What's wrong? Hurry up and see if the Goblins are carrying any trea—"

"Watch out!" the two shouted.

Zhang Mu and Frederica shouted at the same time.

Boom—

The dirt wall to Alice's right seemed to be struck by a massive force. Earth and stone splattered as dust filled the air. Frederica reacted extremely quickly, grabbing Alice's shoulder and pulling her back.

A wooden club as thick as a thigh broke through the dust, grazing Alice's toes and smashing a large pit into the ground.

"Ya!"

The gale whipped up by the wooden club scattered the dust clouds, and a powerful Goblin, whose head almost reached the ceiling of the tunnel, appeared before everyone.

Behind it, a doorway had collapsed into the cave wall, and more than a dozen Goblins were rushing out with shrieks.

"Hold the line!" Frederica threw Alice behind her and drew her bowstring while shouting orders.

While Vag and Saldari swung their swords to move forward, Zhang Mu frowned and scanned left and right.

The tunnel was too narrow; a prolonged battle would be disadvantageous. It would be very troublesome if other magical beasts or monsters were attracted by the commotion.

Thinking of this, Zhang Mu raised his staff. Magic surged frantically, to the point that his entire body emitted a faint blue halo.

"Don't move!" Having never coordinated with the two elven warriors, he had to speak up to warn them.

They sensed the frantic surge of magic fluctuations behind them and decisively dodged to the sides.

In the next second, Wind Blades and Ice Cones manifested one after another in front of Zhang Mu, like bullets fired from a machine gun. They flew forward head-to-tail, overwhelming the large Goblin and the minions behind it.

The dust clouds that had just dissipated rose again, making it impossible to see what was happening inside; only the severed limbs of the smaller Goblins were thrown out.

"Roar—"

The large Goblin was still alive. Zhang Mu took a magic potion from the cloth bag at his waist, bit off the wooden cork, and chugged it down.

Immediately, he channeled the magic that was rapidly filling his body and threw out ten Ice Cones, which pierced into the dust cloud.

Boom—

The sound of a massive object crashing to the ground echoed through the tunnel, and the resulting wind blew away the dust.

With the cave entrance now clear, the corpse of the large Goblin—which had mediocre attack power and methods but was thick-skinned and durable—lay on its back, covered in holes and thin slashes.

The ordinary Goblins weren't so lucky; almost none of the dozen or so were left in one piece. Scattered limbs were strewn across the floor of the corridor behind the hole.

"Phew..." Zhang Mu downed another bottle of magic potion, let out a soft breath, and said with a smile to the four stunned people, "There shouldn't be any more monsters."

"No... Mr. Zhang Mu." Alice subconsciously used a respectful title. "Even though they were all apprentice-level spells,

your casting speed and quantity..."

She opened her mouth, and only after a long pause did she continue to ask:

"I can't sense your magic fluctuations. Um, are you really not a High-level Magician?

At the very least, one would need the Mental Energy of a High-level Magician to control so many individual spells at once, right?"

He was certainly not a High-level Magician. Even with the panel's amplification, he currently only had the magic and Mental Energy of an Apprentice Magician level.

The reason he could achieve the level of a "spell machine gun" was because of the "Great" versions of the spells, which not only increased power,

but also significantly reduced the Mental Energy required for casting and control.

"Uh, I'm a Magic Apprentice. As for those just now, it's just a matter of being well-practiced."

"What do you mean?" Frederica, having come to her senses, asked curiously.

"It means I've practiced them until they're very familiar, no other reason."

"Is that so."

Alice had a skeptical "Really? I don't believe it" expression on her face.

"Alright." Frederica, with high emotional intelligence, interrupted Alice who wanted to keep questioning. "This was a small Goblin tribe with a leader.

There should be a treasure chest. Let's go in and take a look."

Hearing this, Saldari, who seemed like he wanted to ask something, stopped and signaled Vag with his eyes to lead the way.

The three followed into the hole, while he himself brought up the rear.

Walking in the corridor, Alice took a few quick steps to get close to Zhang Mu. "Mr. Zhang Mu, what is your magic attribute?"

"Why do you ask?"

"I'm curious. The Ice Cones and Wind Blades you cast were both very powerful. Are you dual-attributed with Wind and the rare Ice Element?"

"I haven't awakened a magic attribute yet."

Mistaking his answer for a refusal to tell, Alice touched the tip of her ear and asked again, "Where do you plan to go next?"

"I'm not sure for now. I'll probably go wherever a labyrinth opens up."

"That's great!" Alice hopped excitedly. "Do you want to travel the continent with us?

With a magician like you helping, entering labyrinths will be much easier, and we can deal with stronger monsters and magical beasts.

That's the only way to have a chance at getting precious treasure chests."

"Hmm... I'll consider it."

"Don't be like that!"

"Won't you be very lonely traveling a long journey by yourself?

I can perform the dances of the Elf Clan for Mr. Zhang Mu!"

To be honest, Zhang Mu really did want to see what the dances of the Elf Clan were like, but... he had too many secrets; it really wasn't convenient.

"Alice." The Frederica in front helplessly interrupted her enthusiasm. "Don't make things difficult for Mr. Zhang Mu."

"Oh..."

"Haha." Saldari at the very back smiled. "I think Mr. Zhang Mu can consider Alice's suggestion.

Mr. Zhang Mu is very different from the humans I've met before. I'm also quite curious and hope to travel with you for a while to deepen our understanding of each other.

Perhaps we can develop deep feelings."

Holy crap, he's into guys!

Zhang Mu, who had been looking down in deep thought, almost cried out. Then he realized the man probably meant as friends and smiled awkwardly. "I really will consider it."

"Then, Saldari looks forward to gaining your friendship."

"We're here." Vag suddenly spoke up, interrupting their chatter.

The group walked out of the corridor one by one and arrived at a small cave.

The left side seemed to be where the Goblins rested, covered with some hay. Against the innermost corner, there was a wooden chest.

Vag stepped forward, flipped the lid open, and dumped everything inside onto the dirt floor.

"Be careful, Vag. If there are potions, they'll break."

With that reminder, Alice skipped over and crouched down to rummage through the pile of miscellaneous items.

Most were useless things like teeth of unknown animals and shells covered in dry sand.

After a bit of searching, Alice suddenly jumped up and ran to Zhang Mu, holding up a magic book with both hands. "Look, an apprentice-level spell, Lightning Spell."

None of them could use this thing, so Zhang Mu wasn't polite. He took the book and said, "If there are no treasures of equal value later,

I can compensate you with some Blessing Potions."

Zhang Mu had learned many potion recipes from Potter; he just hadn't brewed them yet because he didn't need them for the time being.

"Please treat us as companions," Alice said, a bit upset. "Even if we part ways after the labyrinth ends."

Stunned for a moment, Zhang Mu smiled. "Sorry."

After apologizing, he pretended to flip through the magic book while confirming the learning in his heart.

A stream of information poured into his mind. After absorbing it, his eyes lit up.

The effect was to release lightning in a controllable shape to attack a target. Magic formed from one's own mana would not harm the caster.

If I fly into the clouds above the city, with lightning flickering all over me...

Wouldn't I have to go back to reality and undergo a tribulation to show everyone?