A Risky Gambit in the Goblin’s Nest

Deep within the cavern.

While often described as dark, the cavern’s depths weren’t truly impenetrable; the light was merely dimmer compared to other areas, allowing one to faintly discern the situation within by drawing closer.

Naturally, even with an eagerness to explore, Bai Xia harbored no foolish intention of directly barging in, for such an act would be indistinguishable from seeking death. After exchanging a glance with Tian Zheng, they both tacitly agreed to lighten their steps and approach with utmost caution.

In the faintly dim environment, the nest at the end of their vision resembled a gaping maw, poised to devour any who dared approach. The silence was so profound that Bai Xia even felt she could hear the beat of her own heart.

They cautiously approached the passage at the cavern’s end, then concealed themselves behind a prominent boulder to observe the interior.

“There seem to be quite a few monsters.”

Undoubtedly, the passage culminated in the goblins’ nest. The space within was astonishingly vast, and in the dim environment, Bai Xia’s rough count revealed over twenty monsters!

Tian Zheng offered no reply, instead staring at the blue crystal in his hand, lost in thought.

He had just collected it from the adjacent rock wall. Compared to the faintly glowing blue crystals found in the outer areas, these crystals on the nearby walls were perhaps more aptly termed ‘black crystals,’ as most of them had been stained an inky black.

[Contaminated Blue Crystal]: Originally an ordinary blue crystal, it was later corrupted by an unknown aura, rendering it worthless.

While ordinary blue crystals served as low-grade forging materials, these particular ones were described as contaminated, rendering them entirely unusable.

The information’s mention of an unknown aura made Bai Xia raise an eyebrow, as she recalled the mutated goblins and enraged goblins they had encountered earlier, which seemed to have undergone their transformations only after being corrupted by such an aura.

So, what exactly was this unknown aura?

“It seems this quest is even more interesting than we anticipated,” Tian Zheng murmured, setting the contaminated blue crystal aside.

A cavern unusually rich in blue crystals, mutated goblins, contaminated ore, and a goblin nest with a distinctly unsettling atmosphere…

The situation seemed to be growing more complex, yet Bai Xia only grew more excited.

Tian Zheng’s expression, however, remained largely unchanged. He gently pulled Bai Xia, carefully shifting forward again, adjusting their position for a clearer view of the goblin nest’s interior.

“Eight Level 7 ordinary goblins, six goblin guards, two enraged goblins, two mutated goblins, four goblin archers, two goblin mages, and…”

Tian Zheng’s gaze swept past all the other goblins, settling on the frail goblin securely guarded at their center.

“A Goblin Lord!”

And not just any ordinary Goblin Lord.

Following Tian Zheng’s gaze, Bai Xia quickly noticed the Goblin Lord’s unusual state.

The Goblin Lord, seated deep within the nest, was entirely a bizarre grayish-white, its skin covered in crimson markings, with wisps of ominous black energy even coiling around its body!

It sat motionless, eyes tightly shut, only occasionally emitting one or two cries that sounded like pained whimpers.

[Goblin Lord (Evolving)]: Level 10 Elite, Health 3800. Originally an ordinary goblin, it mistakenly entered this area, consumed an unknown substance, mutated, and is continuously evolving. While attracting a large number of goblins, it also constantly spreads an aura of contamination outwards. Current evolution stage: 60%. Upon completion of evolution, it will become a Level 20 Lord BOSS.

Skills: Unknown

Special: During evolution, it cannot move or attack. However, other goblins attracted by its aura will normally guard it continuously until its evolution is complete.

Bai Xia: “…”

What was this?

The information relayed by the system left Bai Xia stunned for a good while. A Level 10 Elite was still within acceptable bounds… but a Level 20 Lord?!

Gazing at the dense horde of monsters and the evolving Goblin Lord, Bai Xia couldn’t help but frown deeply. The danger level of this nest undoubtedly far exceeded both her and Tian Zheng’s imagination!

Setting aside the great BOSS—currently just a target, but one that would instantly transform from a Level 10 Elite to a Level 20 Lord upon completing its evolution—even the other lesser monsters were entirely beyond their current capability to handle.

For their numbers were truly overwhelming, and they were but two individuals.

How could they possibly fight this? It was simply unwinnable!

For a moment, Bai Xia couldn’t help but entertain the idea of retreating. After all, the village chief’s commission was already complete; there was absolutely no need to stir up this veritable ‘hornet’s nest’ before them.

However, Tian Zheng seemed to harbor a different idea. The next moment, as if seeing through Bai Xia’s intent to retreat, he suddenly leaned close to her ear and murmured, “Don’t rush. We might be able to fight them.”

“…How could we fight so many goblins?”

Bai Xia instinctively leaned away. It was then that she discovered a drawback of the highest-grade login device: its extreme realism, making the sensation of someone breathing on her ear incredibly vivid.

The warm breath tickled her earlobe, yet given the current situation, she couldn’t simply push Tian Zheng away. Helpless, Bai Xia could only force herself to endure, focusing all her attention on the monsters within the nest.

“We’re just trying our luck; there’s no guarantee of success.”

The man whispered another sentence into Bai Xia’s ear, then suddenly moved forward a short distance!

His proximity to the nest was extreme; just one more step would expose them, and at that point, all the monsters originally guarding the Goblin Lord would awaken.

Bai Xia was somewhat bewildered, but trusting Tian Zheng, she ultimately remained silent and watched.

Tian Zheng, however, clearly had no intention of recklessly charging directly into the nest. He stopped just short of exposing himself, and then… pulled out a stone.

It was a stone dropped after killing a goblin earlier, merely an ordinary throwable item. Its range was decent, but its power was almost negligible.

Then, in the next moment, Tian Zheng suddenly rose and accurately hurled the stone, striking a goblin in the nest squarely on its head!

The struck goblin paused in surprise, then roared and charged forward. The other goblins were also startled awake simultaneously, but as the man unhesitatingly retreated down the passage, they struggled for a moment yet ultimately remained in place, clearly unwilling to easily abandon the Goblin Lord’s vicinity.

The goblin that had been struck was about to return when it reached the edge of the nest. However, the next moment, Tian Zheng, who had pulled Bai Xia back a distance, struck it with a second stone.

With two lumps now forming on its head from the successive blows, the green-skinned runt’s inner rage finally seemed to reach its peak. Its hatred was completely fixated, causing it—though it shouldn’t have easily left the Goblin Lord’s vicinity—to unhesitatingly pounce towards the two individuals in the passage the next moment!

Watching the goblin charge forward, brandishing its tattered greatsword, Tian Zheng showed no fear; instead, a smile spread across his face.

“It’s done.”