99: Chapter 99 Strange Mutation: The Black Giant Rat King

The five hundred young ladies had all followed Mu Cheng from Xinning City, having experienced many great storms and waves.

Even without Tao Mumu's reminder, they kept it in mind and quickly began entering the Secret Realm from the Trader in five-person squads.

Soon, only Mu Cheng's group of four remained; the other young ladies had already entered the Secret Realm.

"Brother Cheng, the personal points from the Challenge Tournament are a bit higher. Why don't we participate in that instead?" Tao Mumu suddenly suggested.

The Challenge Tournament was actually quite similar to the Secret Realm, except it lasted longer, and killing seventh-tier entities midway also counted toward points.

"Let me see first." Mu Cheng operated his high-tech bracelet, studied it for a while, and then decided.

"This is indeed not bad. Let's go to the Challenge Tournament then."

"The difficulty is below the ninth tier, so it shouldn't be much of a problem," Peppa suddenly spoke up to remind them.

These words were indeed true. Setting aside Mu Cheng's strength, just Xiao Yao, Dun Dun, Er Ha, and the other three...

...could already hold their own against eighth-tier opponents. With Mu Cheng added to the mix, it would definitely be smooth sailing.

"Mm-hmm, then let's choose the Challenge Tournament below the ninth tier!" Gu Na operated her bracelet and quickly entered the Trader Space.

Mu Cheng, Tao Mumu, and Tao Shuishui followed closely behind... This mechanism was exactly like playing a game, and they could even choose their opponent's region.

"Guangshen region, start matching!" After Tao Mumu made her selection and confirmed the details, she clicked start.

Soon, a prompt page popped up in front of the four.

[Entering the 8th-tier Challenge Tournament in thirty seconds, please be prepared...]

As the countdown ended, the four were transported into a City Ruins... and a prompt appeared for everyone.

[8th-tier Challenge Tournament (Contention)]

[Number of Participants: 60]

[Challenge Time: 167 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds...]

...A long list of rules was laid out clearly.

"This Challenge Tournament is indeed not bad. Although I don't care much for the final rewards, there are quite a few seventh and eighth-tier monsters," Mu Cheng said after reading the rules.

So-called monsters was the collective term for wild animals, mutated plants, and so on, excluding zombies.

"It really is good. A ten-million-year-level thunder-attribute energy source is worth at least 1.5 billion star-glow crystals." Tao Shuishui's eyes gleamed with envy; she clearly looked like a little money-grubber.

Gu Na lightly tapped her forehead and said, "What's inside that head of yours? Our goal is seventh and eighth-tier monsters. As for the energy source, we'll see how things go."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go! Just let Er Ha do it; he can lead you to monsters above the seventh tier faster." As soon as Peppa said this...

...Er Ha, who had been in Tao Shuishui's arms, suddenly leaped down and became very excited, howling as he circled everyone.

"Then hurry up and lead the way!" Mu Cheng didn't waste words, clearly agreeing to let Er Ha take the lead.

Led by Er Ha, the four traversed the City Ruins, and before long, he started howling again.

"Something's happening." Gu Na noticed something was off and immediately became extremely cautious.

After a good while, Er Ha was still barking, but the surroundings remained deathly quiet without any abnormalities.

The atmosphere became a bit strange, so Mu Cheng had no choice but to ask.

"Little Piglet, what's the situation?"

"I don't know. If I did, why would we need Er Ha?" Peppa replied bluntly.

Tao Shuishui started to panic. "Brother Cheng... what should we do now? We can't just keep wasting time like this."

"A seventh-tier monster... how about we try luring it out with star-glow crystals?" Gu Na suggested after some thought.

Peppa: "Have some confidence; that's actually a pretty good idea."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's try it!" Mu Cheng said, throwing out a star-glow crystal.

Sure enough, after a short while, a massive figure leaped out from somewhere, its body size similar to that of an elephant.

It was indeed a Black Giant Rat King, but its appearance was terrifying. Not only was it missing a leg, but even its right ear was gone.

Neither rat nor ghost... it looked truly frightening.

Peppa suddenly became very serious and said, "How could there be a Mutated Black Giant Rat King in this place? Could something major have happened? No wonder we haven't encountered a single normal Black Giant Rat."

"This is a Black Giant Rat King? Are you sure?" Tao Mumu asked with a face full of disbelief.

"Just finish it off quickly! It's disgusting to look at. As for why it's here... that's not your concern," Peppa said, unable to watch any longer.

Tao Shuishui took the lead, a black gold sword suddenly appearing in her right hand as she charged at the Mutated Black Giant Rat King.

"Let me do it!"

However, something strange happened. Before Tao Shuishui could even touch the Mutated Black Giant Rat King, it had already collapsed in front of her.

"What's going on?" Tao Shuishui was very confused and checked her points.

She had indeed gained a point... so she didn't think too much about it. "Whatever... as long as I get the points."

"What exactly is the situation? Little Piglet, don't you plan to explain?" Mu Cheng felt that things weren't that simple and asked.

Peppa: "Didn't I already say? It's best if you don't know. Just do what you need to do."

"Er Ha, let's go! We'll continue."

Gu Na was unusually calm, acting as if nothing had happened.

"This... it seems this girl knows something." Mu Cheng already felt that the situation was unusual.

But for now, he followed Peppa's advice. "You guys hurry up and keep up too!"

Dongfang City, a simple office in the Dongfang Iron Tower.

"Sister Yunzi, a Mutated Black Giant Rat King has appeared over in Guangshen City. It seems that Old Man has made his move." A woman in a black military uniform suddenly burst in and reported the situation anxiously.

Currently wearing pink pajamas, Lu Yunzi suddenly stopped her work and fell into serious thought without speaking.

"What should we do now?" the woman asked again.

Lu Yunzi took out a golden Talisman Array, which automatically levitated in front of the woman.

"Let Xiao Xiao go! Calculating the days, that kid should have arrived in Guangshen City by now. With Lingling there, it shouldn't be a big problem."

"Lingling... is she coming out of seclusion? Is that for real?" The woman asked, sounding a bit incredulous.

Lu Yunzi: "Whether Lingling can come out of seclusion depends on whether that kid can break through to the seventh tier."

"True. The Devouring Bloodline has appeared, and ten thousand bloodlines are returning. It seems my guess was right; whether Lingling can awaken is related to the Devouring Bloodline." The woman took the golden Talisman Array and turned to leave after speaking.

"Lingling, oh Lingling, what exactly are you trying to do?" Lu Yunzi lamented before returning to her daily tasks.

Three hours later.

Mu Cheng finally couldn't help but speak. "It's really strange. These Mutated Black Giant Rat Kings... they're appearing in quite large numbers, but they seem to be injured. They're not hard to deal with at all."

"The Black Giant Rat Kings have been eroded by a berserk aura. I suspect the person behind this is not simple. Let's just keep doing what we're doing," Gu Na said slowly at this moment.