100: Chapter 100: The Big Boss is Giving Away Perks!

Massive, crimson fonts exploded across the entire sky of the Source Realm!

[World Announcement (Zhao City Region): Hidden Quest 'Disturbed Rest' has been triggered! The Tide of Vengeful Spirits has awakened, and the Wrath of the Dead shall sweep through the cities of the living!]

[Zhao City Region Public Quest 'Wrath of the Dead' has begun!]

[Quest Objective: Defend Zhao City and repel the invasion of the Vengeful Spirit Army!]

[Quest Rewards: Massive experience points and Zhao City reputation rewards will be distributed based on contribution!]

...

"Holy crap? Another world announcement?"

"A Vengeful Spirit Army is attacking the city? What's going on? Is something big about to happen in Zhao City?"

"Look at the quest list! A public quest! The rewards are huge! We're gonna be rich, brothers!"

In an instant, the entire Zhao City was in an uproar.

Countless Adventurers, who were bragging in taverns, hammering iron in blacksmith shops, or strolling through the streets, all saw the quest notification pop up before their eyes.

After a brief moment of shock, there was uncontrollable ecstasy!

In this day and age, besides the tedious grind of killing monsters, where else could you find such a great benefit?

This was simply a windfall from the heavens!

"Toward the northern suburbs cemetery! Quick! Assemble at the North Gate!"

"Party up, party up! We need a strong Warrior to tank in the front, Mages and Priests join quickly!"

"Hahaha, I don't know which big boss triggered this hidden quest, but they're practically a living Buddha!"

The Adventurers excitedly called out to their friends, acting as if they had been injected with adrenaline.

The clanging of weapons merged into streams of people, frantically surging toward Zhao City's North Gate.

In their eyes, what was coming was not a disaster, but a carnival—a feast of collective monster grinding.

However, the person who had initiated this "feast" currently had a look of utter despair on his face.

Inside the graveyard.

[Warning: The quest area has been sealed. You have entered a 'No-Fly' state.]

Along with the notification, an invisible force descended and enveloped the area.

Chen You was completely stunned.

I... I just wanted to save an NPC!

This monster's framing tactic is way too high-end, isn't it? It's literally calling for reinforcements to siege the city?

He abruptly looked up at the small figure.

He saw Meng Xiao slowly standing up from the ground. Her eyes, which were originally red from crying, were now a pitch-black void of death.

Not a single trace of human emotion could be seen.

Wisps of black resentment seeped out from the ground beneath her feet, coiling around her body and converging into a simple black dress.

Her small body was now emitting a terrifying aura that made one's heart skip a beat.

Chen You understood instantly.

This little girl has been possessed!

Or rather, because of her bloodline and hatred, she had become a temporary host for some powerful entity!

This graveyard was like a long-buried time bomb!

And the "whooshing" sounds of him flying around on his sword earlier were the new fuse!

"Wait... let me straighten this out."

Chen You rubbed his chin.

Quest Objective: [Survive for ten minutes under Meng Xiao's revenge].

Quest Hints: [Cannot leave the graveyard], [Cannot cause any damage to Meng Xiao].

This is... isn't this just being a target standing there to be hit?

What made his skin crawl even more was that out of the corner of his eye, he saw that in the southern part of the graveyard...

Which was the direction toward Zhao City, the ground began to churn like mud.

One after another, rotting, pale arms burst through the soil. Following them were various vengeful spirits surrounded by black mist.

They let out silent roars, their hollow eye sockets all turning toward Zhao City. They were densely packed, stretching as far as the eye could see!

The Vengeful Spirit Army has spawned!

Moreover, their target wasn't him at all, but... Zhao City!

"Holy crap!"

Chen You finally understood everything.

His hidden quest was the "trigger."

The real killing move was the "public quest" given to all the players in the city!

Meng Xiao was meant to keep him occupied, while the actual Vengeful Spirit Army went to attack the city!

Thinking about that group of players who treated the city siege as a bonus and were happily rushing toward the city gates, Chen You felt a twinge of phantom pain.

No, I have to find a way!

Am I supposed to just watch this massive amount of experience points slip away?

With a thought, he extended a finger and pointed.

"jade brilliance! Go!"

The narrow and long innate spiritual treasure, 'jade brilliance,' let out a clear sword chime and transformed into a streak of light, soaring into the sky.

It attempted to fly over the graveyard walls to intercept the endless army of vengeful spirits.

However, just as jade brilliance was about to fly out of the graveyard's range!

"Buzz—!"

A layer of invisible, transparent barrier suddenly lit up, like an indestructible wall of air.

Clang!!

With a loud crash, jade brilliance was violently bounced back. It tumbled several times in the air before hovering beside Chen You again, its blade emitting a continuous, aggrieved humming sound.

Chen You's heart sank along with it.

Completely restricted.

Both he and his sword were locked tight within this cage called the Tranquil Graveyard.

"Big... Bro... ther..."

A raspy, cold, and eerie call, mixed with the voices of countless men, women, young, and old, came from ahead.

Chen You looked up and saw "Meng Xiao" walking toward him step by step.

Her pace was very slow, but every step felt like it was treading on one's heart—heavy and oppressive.

Those pure black eyes were locked onto Chen You, and within them swirled the malice and hatred of countless dead souls.

"You... woke... us... up..."

The corner of Chen You's mouth twitched.

He really wanted to rush up and shake the little girl awake right now.

But logic told him it was useless.

The person before him was no longer the poor little girl who had lost her father.

This was a "humanoid quest monster" controlled by a collective of resentment—invincible and specifically designed to punish him.

Ten minutes.

He had to face an unkillable enemy in this narrow space and endure for a full ten minutes.

Although based on the quest level, this "quest monster" probably couldn't even break through his defense.

But only being allowed to take hits was just too unreasonable!

Wait!

Cannot attack [Meng Xiao]?

So what!

The system didn't say I couldn't hit the things attached to her body!

Exorcism Talisman!

Specifically targeted at spiritual entities!

Maybe I can directly "purify" the vengeful spirits possessing Meng Xiao!

"I'll know once I try!"

Seeing "Meng Xiao" getting closer and closer, less than twenty meters away.

Chen You no longer hesitated. With a flick of his wrist, an Exorcism Talisman appeared in his hand.

With a flick of his finger, a streak of golden light shot toward "Meng Xiao."

"Meng Xiao" instinctively raised her hand to shield her eyes and stopped in her tracks.

However, the golden light flashed by without causing her any harm.

She slowly raised her head, and on that delicate, youthful face of a child, black mist surged frantically.

Finally, the corners of her mouth pulled back into a terrifying arc.

"You... must... die!"

Amidst a sharp screech, she abruptly raised her right hand!

In an instant, the resentment of the entire graveyard gathered toward her palm like a summoned tide.

In the blink of an eye, it condensed into a two-meter-long black scythe!

It wasn't a physical object, but an energy weapon composed of the purest hatred and aura of death!

[Warning! BOSS 'Incarnation of Resentment · Meng Xiao' has entered combat stance!]

[Skill 'Malice Harvest' is charging!]

Meanwhile, at Zhao City's North Gate.

Countless players had already crowded the city walls, each craning their necks and looking into the distance with excitement.

"They're coming, they're coming! I see them! A huge black mass!"

"My god, that number... there must be thousands, maybe even ten thousand? We're really striking it rich this time!"

Amidst the excited chatter of the crowd, that black tide composed of vengeful spirits let out earth-shaking roars and suddenly accelerated.

Like a black tsunami, it swept toward Zhao City under the setting sun!