82: Chapter 82 The Noise of a Small Town and the Flowing Labyrinth

On the fifth day since the appearance of the [Numerology Maze], the central plaza of Adventurers Town was even noisier than usual. The light gate rotated steadily, as teams emerged from time to time, carrying both fatigue and spoils, while others regrouped and stepped inside with high expectations.

At this moment, a four-person team emerged from the light gate looking somewhat disheveled. Their clothes were torn, and they bore the marks of battle, but every face was brimming with uncontrollable excitement.

"We succeeded! We really did it!" The youngest-looking member of the team, a brown-haired young boy of about fifteen or sixteen, waved his arms excitedly. His name was Xiaojie, and his Talent was originally Rank E [Shimmering Illumination], which could only produce an unstable small light ball for lighting.

But now, what he held in his palm was no longer a weak light ball, but a stable, soft, and larger-range [Fluorescent Shield Rank D], emitting a reassuring glow. His Dream Spirit, which was originally just a shimmering [Firefly], had also evolved into a [Morning Light Butterfly] with broader wings and more concentrated light, flying joyfully around him.

"Look! My Talent has evolved! It went from Rank E to Rank D!" Xiaojie excitedly showed his teammates. "It's all thanks to that last room. If I hadn't been desperate to protect everyone, I might not have achieved a Breakthrough!"

The big man carrying a shield in the team patted him on the shoulder and laughed heartily, "Well done, Xiaojie! From now on, you're our team's mobile lighthouse and shield!"

The young girl holding a longbow also added with a smile, "And your light seems to have an extra restraining effect on those shadow monsters. You were a huge help this time."

The leader, a young swordsman, didn't speak, but his eyes were full of gratification. The team was immersed in the joy of success and the happiness of a comrade's progress; this sense of collective honor and camaraderie was also a strong positive emotion.

The four didn't linger and went straight to the town's [Shop]. They placed all the spoils they had obtained in the maze—several Rank E weapons emitting weak energy fluctuations, some strange minerals, and a few potions of unknown effect—onto the counter.

The Shop owner, a shrewd Middle-aged Man wearing a monocle, skillfully counted and evaluated the items.

"Hmm... the quality is quite good; these are goods from 'Numerology'. As per usual, I'll give you... 1,200 [dream coins] in total. How about it?"

"Deal!" the young captain nodded curtly.

[dream coins], the common currency of this mission world, are said to be condensed from pure Dream Power. Hosts can not only use them for consumption in this world but also, after the mission ends, exchange them for Dream Power for their own use at a certain ratio through specific channels. This undoubtedly greatly increased the Hosts' enthusiasm for exploring the maze.

After receiving the money, the team first went to restock on essential exploration supplies such as healing potions, antidotes, and ropes, and then plunged into the bustling [Adventurers Tavern].

Ordering several fragrant, stamina-restoring specialty dishes and large mugs of ale, the four sat around a table, feasting while pricking up their ears.

In the tavern, almost everyone's conversation revolved around that mysterious [Numerology Maze].

"Have you heard? 'Lone Wolf' Karl's Talent evolved in the maze the day before yesterday!"

"For real? Which Karl? That solitary Rock man?"

"Yes! That's the one! Now his defense is even stronger, and it even has a damage reflection effect!"

"This maze is uncanny. It feels like anyone who goes in, as long as they don't die, comes out with more or less some progress..."

Xiaojie's team listened to the surrounding discussions, feeling a sense of pride. At this point, a bearded man from the next table leaned over and asked in a low voice, "Hey, brothers, just came out? Did you run into that trap flower that suddenly sprays acid? Our team almost got wiped out there last time!"

The young captain shook his head, "We took the western path this time and didn't encounter any acid flowers. But we ran into them when we took the eastern path last time, so we deliberately avoided them this time."

"Avoided them?" The bearded man was stunned for a moment, then, as if remembering something, he suddenly slapped the table. "I knew it! This damn maze is alive! Our team too—last time we met a Rolling Stone Trap in a corridor and were scared to death. This time we specifically prepared countermeasures, and what happened? That corridor was perfectly fine, but instead, a treasure chest spawned in a corner! Even though it only had junk inside, this terrain... it changes!"

His words resonated with many people around them.

"Exactly! That recess I hid in last time was actually blocked by a Rock when I went to look this time!"

"Not just the terrain! I feel like the monsters' patrol routes aren't completely fixed either..."

"The treasure locations also seem to change, although the general area is correct..."

The tavern was suddenly filled with complaints, speculations, and marvels regarding the "flowing nature" of the maze. This continuous sense of freshness, challenge, and faint unease brought by the unknown and uncertainty was exactly part of Zhang Hao's careful design and an important source of continuous emotion point production.

Listening to everyone's discussion and watching the Morning Light Butterfly flying beside him, Xiaojie clenched his fists, his eyes flashing with anticipation for the next maze exploration.

At the core of the maze, Zhang Hao calmly watched the numbers jumping on the [maze builder panel], listening to the bustle coming from the tavern (via the rules).

[maze builder panel - Real-time Update]

[Maze Rank]: Rank D

[Maze Entrance]: Opened (Location: Adventurers Town Center)

[maze construction points]: 18,755 (continuously growing slowly)

[Cumulative number of adventurers entered]: 127

[Number of adventurer Talent upgrades]: 3 (2 new cases!)

[Maze Size]: 100 / 100 maze tiles (Basement Level 1, reached limit)

[Expandable]: Basement Level 2 (Max maze tiles: 200) (Not opened)

[Maze Layers]: 1 Basement Layer

[Maze Monsters]: 38 maze tiles (Rank D ratio increased)

[Maze Treasures]: 26 maze tiles (Rank D ratio increased)

[Maze Traps]: 30 maze tiles (Rank D ratio increased)

[Other (Environment/Special)]: 6 maze tiles (Used for dynamic layout adjustment)

[Notes]: Able to generate/manufacture/set Rank D monsters, treasures, and traps.

Looking at the significantly increased points, number of entries, and that satisfying "Talent upgrade count" on the panel, Zhang Hao knew that his "Numerology Maze" had successfully taken root in the hearts of these Hosts. Its "sense of life" and "variability" were precisely the results of him using his Talent to fine-tune the fate trajectory and Karmic connections.

"Flowing nature... that's where the fun lies," he whispered to himself, his gaze turning once again to the unlit option representing the second basement floor. It was time to build a grander stage for this increasingly lively performance.