67: The Secret of the Red Moon and the Catacombs

Path of Exile.

Less than 20 minutes remain until the end of the first stage.

At this moment, within one of the projection channels.

"Quick! You two hold the Skeleton Commander, Bai Xiaoxiao, give me buffs!!!"

At one end of the channel, Zhao Peng stared at the Skeleton Commander in front of him, his voice hoarse as he shouted.

Bai Xiaoxiao, behind him, also knew this was the most crucial moment.

Ignoring her dislike for Zhao Peng's commands, she waved her staff, and a large amount of sacred energy swiftly flowed into Zhao Peng and the other surrounding team members' bodies.

Instantly, everyone's spirits lifted.

Immediately after, Wang Cheng gritted his teeth and charged forward with his greatsword.

Zhao Peng, behind him, also unleashed his few remaining spells without reservation at this moment, attempting to completely finish off the Level 60 elite in front of them.

Concurrently, Lin Yong, hidden in the shadows, also unleashed his strongest killing move.

After nearly 24 hours of frantic monster grinding.

After Zhao Peng, with the help of experience bonuses, was the first to reach Level 60, Bai Xiaoxiao and the others finally reached Level 60 just before encountering the Skeleton Commander.

Increasing 20 levels in one day.

Even for these privileged children of heaven with prominent backgrounds, it was a huge challenge.

In the past few decades, fewer than 10,000 people have achieved this feat.

This alone was enough for them to be proud.

However, neither Zhao Peng nor Bai Xiaoxiao, nor any other member of the team, seemed satisfied with this achievement.

They wanted to prove themselves with an even better result.

And this Level 60 Skeleton Commander in front of them was the perfect stepping stone.

In the past, very few newcomers had been able to defeat this Level 60 Skeleton Commander.

Zhao Hao and his team members at the time were the only ones who had succeeded in the past decade.

It was clear how strong this Level 60 Skeleton Commander elite was.

Therefore, as long as they defeated this Level 60 Skeleton Commander.

Then, in this first stage, they would undoubtedly be the first in this novice zone.

Because of this, after an hour-long struggle.

Everyone now saw the dawn of victory.

How could Zhao Peng and the others resist such a huge temptation?

Naturally, everyone was as if injected with stimulants, giving their utmost attention.

This was why Zhao Peng had shouted so hoarsely earlier, and why Bai Xiaoxiao was willing to cooperate unconditionally.

The Skeleton Commander had little health left, and they were almost out of resources.

This was their last chance.

Of course, it was also a combined attack in which they were extremely confident.

However, in the next second.

The anticipated situation did not occur.

The Skeleton Commander did not fall; instead, stimulated by such fierce attacks, it erupted with an extremely oppressive aura.

This scene caused Bai Xiaoxiao and the others' expressions to change.

"Not good! We dragged it out too long, the Skeleton Commander activated its berserk mechanism, all its attributes have increased."

Zhao Peng's expression darkened upon hearing this.

They had spent a whole hour, yet they still couldn't completely defeat the Skeleton Commander.

At this moment, Wang Cheng shook his head.

"Forget it, this Skeleton Commander can probably only be defeated after the second advancement."

Although the others felt it was a pity, they truly had no strength left to fight.

Bai Xiaoxiao's eyes held a hint of unwillingness, but she still consoled them:

"Although we couldn't defeat it, there's probably no other newcomer this year who could achieve what we did."

Everyone nodded, accepting the comfort.

Immediately after, the few of them retreated to the safe zone at the end of the channel.

"Counting the time, it's almost over. The first place in this first stage should, without a doubt, belong to us."

"Haha! Indeed, we almost took down a Level 60 elite; it's impossible for anyone to reach our level."

"This is all thanks to Xiao Xiao, this SSS-rank Holy Priest. Without her blessings, we probably wouldn't have lasted this long."

The others echoed their agreement.

Bai Xiaoxiao, hearing this, calmly accepted their compliments, then said indifferently:

"Taking first place in the first stage is nothing. I imagine other novice zones also have experts who can achieve this. My goal has always been to be in the top fifty of the points ranking."

"Haha! Xiao Xiao is being modest. With your abilities, plus our cooperation, even top thirty in the second stage isn't a problem."

"More than that, I feel that if everyone works hard, helping Xiao Xiao strive for a top ten spot is even possible."

"According to what I know, there aren't many SSS-rank Talents among the newcomers this year. If Xiao Xiao works hard, she might have a chance to aim for rank one."

Seeing everyone's increasingly exaggerated remarks, Bai Xiaoxiao smiled faintly and shook her head, not responding.

However, at this moment, her heart was filled with immense pride.

Rank one?

It wasn't entirely impossible.

--- ---

Concurrently, within the underground palace where they were located.

"Buzz!"

Ye Xiao's figure had already returned to the underground palace.

At this moment, the restricted space behind the original gate had vanished.

And Ye Xiao was still somewhat dazed by the information in his mind that he hadn't yet had time to digest.

The red moon eye and the crypt, just as he had previously guessed.

They had a very close relationship.

The crimson moon token and the red moon eye all came from the crypt.

Thousands of years ago.

The Eternal World was merely a desolate land, inhabited only by some technologically backward natives, who are now the NPCs.

And beneath this land, there existed a crypt, but due to a powerful forbidden seal, the two were completely isolated.

Thus, for thousands of years, no one knew of the crypt's existence.

But a thousand years ago, the crypt's seal unexpectedly loosened.

Leading to a large number of crypt creatures pouring into the Eternal World.

After centuries of changes, these crypt creatures gradually evolved into the demons of today.

This was why Ye Xiao had a sense of déjà vu when he encountered crypt creatures in the crypt earlier.

As for the original natives, they also, over these centuries, learned methods to enhance their strength by killing demons.

Slowly, the primitive NPC civilization rapidly iterated through several "versions," becoming the form familiar to humans today.

And that initial loosening of the crypt seal was called the "Calamity's Advent" by the NPCs.

According to the red moon eye, the crypt was actually the tomb of an existence more powerful than a god.

The body of this powerful existence after its death was buried somewhere in the crypt.

And the red moon eye was a forbidden artifact, forged by this existence during its lifetime by melting down all the divine artifacts it possessed.

Its purpose was to ensure the safety of the crypt and to prevent the large number of crypt creatures, derived from its energy after death, from causing widespread destruction.

However, during that Calamity's Advent, due to the severe damage to the crypt's seal, the red moon eye, having exhausted all its energy, could only barely manage to temporarily isolate the crypt and the Eternal World.

But this isolation was not permanent.

As a supreme divine artifact, after calculations, the red moon eye eventually split its carrier into several parts and sent them into the Eternal World.

The crimson moon token and the red moon eye were two of these red moon eye fragments.

Also known as carriers.

Anyone who obtained any one of these carriers would be regarded as a conscript by the red moon eye.

Conscripts could obtain the opportunity to transfer to a hidden Profession through the internal space of the red moon eye carrier.

According to the data recorded by the red moon eye.

The so-called hidden Professions were actually ancient rare Professions from the era of that powerful existence.

However, later, for some reason unknown to the red moon eye, the Professionals of that era became extinct.

The existence buried in the crypt was also severely wounded at that time, leading to its demise.

The reason the red moon eye did this was in hopes that someone would complete the red moon eye carrier's trial, and after gaining sufficient power, enter the crypt to repair the broken seal.

(I'm stuck on writing, and there have been some changes at home. The author has been squeezing out time to write updates these past two days. I'm not trying to gain sympathy, but to clarify that I'm not going to stop writing. Everyone can rest assured. Finally, I humbly ask all esteemed readers, in consideration of the author's hard work, to please give a free five-star rating. I am immensely grateful.)