52: Chapter 52 Final Boss: Let me finish my lines!

The entrance to the Wailing Valley.

Everyone's gaze was focused on the man dressed in a Daoist robe, possessing an extraordinary temperament.

Chen You.

Amidst countless gazes filled with worship, jealousy, or doubt, Chen You finally made a move.

He ignored everyone else, merely walking calmly toward the dungeon entrance.

[Do you wish to enter the dungeon: Wailing Valley?]

[Yes.]

With a flash of light, Chen You's figure vanished before the crowd.

"He went in! He really went in alone!"

"Is he crazy? Does he really think he's invincible just because he's rich?"

"Quick, quick, quick! Who has an item to observe the situation inside the dungeon? I want to watch the live stream!"

The crowd completely erupted.

Yue Ying took a deep breath and pulled out an ancient silver small mirror from her storage space.

[Moon Gods Radiance's Gaze (Rare)]: Can glimpse a portion of the scene of a designated player inside the dungeon. Once per day, lasts for ten minutes.

This was one of the secret treasures of the Moon Gods Radiance guild.

The mirror's surface shimmered with flowing light, and soon, a clear picture emerged.

...

Cold and damp.

The moment he stepped into the Wailing Valley, Chen You felt a wave of malice rush toward him.

The surrounding air seemed to become viscous, and sounds of ghostly wails and wolf howls lingered incessantly by his ears, attempting to drill into his mind and disrupt his focus.

[Ding! You are affected by 'Grievance Erosion'; your Spirit is slowly decreasing!]

Chen You didn't even frown.

The Nine Revolutions Primordial Chaos Art automatically circulated, and a gentle stream of spiritual power flowed throughout his body, instantly driving away all the cold, uncomfortable sensation.

At the same time, he slapped a substitute talisman onto himself.

Safety first!

"Hiss—"

A sharp shriek echoed, and a semi-transparent shadow suddenly lunged out from the stone wall beside him!

It was a Level 10 [Valley Wraith].

Its body was ethereal, with only a pair of scarlet eyes burning with frenzied hatred.

It had no physical form; ordinary swords and blades could not harm it in the slightest.

The players watching the live stream outside the entrance immediately let out gasps of surprise.

"It's here! The first monster!"

"Such fast speed! If his reaction had been a little slower, he would have been hit by the mental shock!"

Yue Ying clenched her fist even tighter. She knew clearly how great the threat these wraiths posed to a solo player was.

Once they got close, under the mental confusion, subsequent monsters would instantly tear you apart.

She wanted to see how Chen You would respond.

Would he use some kind of immensely powerful spell?

Or would he use a special professional weapon?

However, Chen You's action exceeded everyone's expectations.

Facing the wraith lunging toward him, he didn't even draw his ascension dao sword.

He just... slowly pulled out a yellow talisman.

Then, he flicked it with his finger.

The seemingly ordinary talisman suddenly erupted with blinding golden light the moment it left his hand!

"Chii—"

The golden light, like a small sun, instantly illuminated the entire dark passage as bright as day!

A sacred aura of absolute firmness and purity burst forth!

The fierce wraith couldn't even let out a complete scream before emitting a piercing, scorching sound within the golden light.

In an instant, it turned to ash, not even a trace of black energy remaining.

[Ding! You have slain a Level 10 Valley Wraith, gaining 200 experience points!]

The entire world fell silent.

At the dungeon entrance, all the players who were craning their necks to 'watch the battle' through various items were instantly petrified.

"W-what just happened?"

An Orc Warrior rubbed his eyes, his face blank with shock.

"Insta... instantly killed?"

The Human Mage beside him had his mouth wide enough to fit an egg.

"One move? No, can that even count as a move? He just flicked his finger..."

"It's an Exorcism Talisman! I recognize it! That's the Exorcism Talisman sold in the Mall!"

A player suddenly shrieked, his voice completely distorted, "One... one costs one Gold Coin!"

One Gold Coin!

Just like that... with one flick, it was gone?

Everyone collectively sucked in a cold breath, feeling as if their hearts had been fiercely squeezed.

Using one Gold Coin to kill a small monster that only gives 200 experience?

What an insane act of extravagance!

Yue Ying almost dropped the Moon Gods Radiance's Gaze in her hand.

For the first time, an expression of 'bewilderment' appeared on her beautiful face.

She had imagined countless possibilities, but never this one.

Now she finally understood.

It wasn't about 'fighting' monsters.

He was 'blasting' fish!

The scene in the mirror continued.

Chen You acted as if he had done something trivial, brushing off nonexistent dust from his sleeve and continuing to step forward.

His pace was not fast; one could even say it was somewhat leisurely, as if he were strolling in his own backyard.

"Hiss—"

Three wraiths simultaneously crawled out from the corner ahead, pouncing from three different directions in a pincer formation.

"Let's see what he does this time! Three of them! The mental shock will stack!" a player shouted nervously.

Chen You did not stop.

He casually waved his right hand.

Three Exorcism Talismans flew out in a triangle formation, blooming into three balls of scorching golden light mid-air.

"Chii! Chii! Chii!"

The three wraiths turned to dust at the same time.

[Ding! You have slain 3 Level 10 Valley Wraiths, gaining 600 experience points!]

Chen You didn't even look at the system prompt and continued walking forward.

Five wraiths... five talismans.

A patrol team of ten Elite Wraiths... he pulled out a small stack in return and scattered them casually.

Golden light flashed, and experience points were credited.

From beginning to end, he hadn't even drawn his sword.

At the dungeon entrance, a dead silence had fallen.

All the players stared blankly at the broadcast screens, watching with the eyes one reserves for immortals (or perhaps madmen).

The thrilling battles, the extreme maneuvers, the life-or-death moments they had imagined... none of it was there.

What was there was just a man walking through a gloomy and terrifying death passage, setting off fireworks while he strolled.

Golden fireworks, each worth a million.

"Are... are his Exorcism Talismans infinite?"

A Catkin girl muttered to herself, feeling that her worldview had been impacted like never before.

"I did the math... from entering the dungeon until now, in less than two hundred meters, he has used at least... thirty talismans."

A player reported the number in a dry voice.

Thirty!

Thirty Gold Coins!

Just to clear a few dozen small monsters?

Yue Ying's breathing became somewhat rapid. She stared intently at the composed figure in the mirror.

Under Chen You's cost-ignoring 'carpet bombing' clearing, the outer areas of the Wailing Valley were swept clean at an unprecedented speed.

Soon, he arrived at an open area deep within the valley.

This was a huge circular basin, in the center of which stood a dilapidated altar.

Thick, inpenetrable black mist enveloped the altar, and countless vengeful spirits floated and wailed within it, presenting a terrifying sight.

The location of the Final BOSS.

[Wailing Lord · Barton (LV12 - Lord Rank)]

Chen You's arrival alerted the entity on the altar.

The black mist churned violently, and a terrifying figure, over five meters tall, clad in tattered general's armor and wielding a giant black sword, slowly rose from the altar.

It had no face; beneath the helmet were only two eye sockets burning with faint blue soul fire.

A terrifying pressure instantly swept across the entire basin!

[Ding! You are affected by 'Lord's Pressure'; all attributes are reduced by 10%!]

"Mortal..."

A grand voice filled with resentment echoed throughout the entire space, seeming to resound directly in the depths of the soul.

"You dare step into the place of My slumber, awakening that which should not be awakened..."

At the dungeon entrance, the hearts of all watching players leaped into their throats.

It's here!

The Final BOSS!

A Level 12 Lord Rank BOSS, more than one tier stronger than ordinary monsters!

"How is he going to fight this? The Exorcism Talismans must have greatly reduced effectiveness against a Lord Rank BOSS, right?"

"He must be getting serious now! Look at his weapon, is he finally going to draw his sword?"

Yue Ying also held her breath. She knew this was the true test.

The previous extravagance might just have been a smokescreen; facing a true Lord, one must rely on raw strength!

On the altar, the Wailing Lord Barton raised its giant sword high.

Black death energy gathered on the blade as it prepared to pronounce the death sentence upon this intruder.

"...Your soul shall become..."

Barton's line had not finished speaking.

Because it saw the tiny human below the altar make a move that caused even its soul fire to freeze.

Chen You neither drew his sword nor chanted any spell.

He just... quietly pulled out a stack of talismans.

Not one, not a few.

It was a thick stack, at least several dozen, held in his hand like a deck of playing cards.

"I don't know if this is enough. If not, we'll talk later!"

Chen You muttered to himself, then, toward the Wailing Lord on the altar which had just taken up its pose, he fiercely threw the thick stack of Exorcism Talismans in his hand.

"The times have changed, my Lord!"

Buzz—!!!

Dozens of Exorcism Talismans detonated simultaneously mid-air!

In that instant, the entire Wailing Valley disappeared.

In everyone's vision, only a pure, dazzling, blinding golden ocean remained!

There was no earth-shattering explosion, only extreme light and heat purifying all darkness and evil.

The Wailing Lord Barton's imposing line was forever stuck in its throat.

Its massive body couldn't even last a single second under the scouring of the golden ocean.

It only managed to emit a short, almost indistinguishable shriek mixed with terror, astonishment, and incomprehension.

Then, along with the altar beneath it and all the black mist in the entire basin, it was completely, utterly, cleanly evaporated.

[Ding! You have slain the LV12 Lord Rank BOSS · Wailing Lord Barton!]

[Ding! You have successfully cleared the dungeon: Wailing Valley!]

[Ding! You have obtained the achievement 'First Solo Clear' for Wailing Valley!]

[Ding! You have obtained the achievement 'Flawless Clear' for Wailing Valley!]

[Ding! You have obtained the achievement 'Speed Clear' for Wailing Valley!]

[Ding! The destruction condition for Wailing Valley has been met!]

...