How Do We Play If This Boss Isn't Nerfed?

Chapter 230 - 139: Taotie Upgrade, Shadow Scale Max Level

"Normally, on the final day of the selection trial, after the list of the ten finalists is confirmed, we would escort you directly to the training camp to report for duty."

Wang Lingchuan glanced at the time.

"But there’s still over a day until the selection officially ends."

"You’ve already secured first place in a completely dominant fashion. There’s not much point in you staying here any longer."

His tone shifted as he continued.

"Do you want to make a trip home?"

"If you do, I can arrange a private plane right now to take you back to Dongjiang City. We’ll send someone to pick you up the morning after tomorrow and take you straight to the training camp."

’Home?’

Lin Ye thought for a moment.

Then, he shook his head.

"If it’s possible," Lin Ye said, looking up to meet Wang Lingchuan’s gaze, "could you send me to the forest west of the Fallen Zone?"

"I want to continue my combat training."

Lin Ye’s reasoning was simple. For him, there was no need to go home for just one day.

Uncertain of what kind of monsters the other participants in the Qiming General Star Training Camp might be, the only thing he could do was seize every opportunity to get stronger.

Even if it wasn’t for the experience points.

The entire Fallen Zone was littered with vast amounts of Source Crystals, which were necessary materials for strengthening his newly acquired temporary skill, Shadow Scale.

Besides that, a portion of the Qi and Blood in his body had yet to be refined.

Lin Ye’s demand for Source Crystals was still far too great.

More importantly, the map Lin Ye got from Chan Tianhao clearly marked that the strange, dark forest to the west also showed signs of Celestial Abyss Race activity.

If there were other races there, it meant a chance to obtain more racial traits and temporary skills, and he didn’t want to miss it.

Lin Ye set a small goal for himself.

’Speedrun the Black Silk Forest in one day!’

Hearing Lin Ye’s answer, the air in the office froze for a split second.

Wang Lingchuan and Shi Ruifeng, who was standing to the side, were both stunned.

They had imagined all sorts of reactions from Lin Ye, but this was the one thing they hadn’t considered.

’After surviving the insect tide and the great battle with the Shadow Scale Race, and having already secured first place, this young man isn’t thinking about resting? He’s actively requesting to enter another, even more unknown, dangerous area?’

After a moment of astonishment, a smile brighter than any he had shown before blossomed on Wang Lingchuan’s face.

"Good!"

"Good!"

He said "Good!" twice in a row, his tone practically overflowing with admiration.

"To have such a will, to never forget to temper yourself—it’s truly a rare and commendable quality!"

He turned his head and said.

"Shi!"

"Sir!"

Shi Ruifeng immediately straightened his back.

"You will personally lead a team. Requisition a transport and take him to the Black Silk Forest, west of the Fallen Zone!"

"During the mission, you will remain nearby to provide support. You must guarantee his safety!"

"Yes, sir!"

Shi Ruifeng accepted the order.

Lin Ye found it hard to keep a straight face.

He felt an incredibly strong urge to mock the name "Black Silk Forest."

’What kind of ridiculous name is that?’

But in such a serious and solemn atmosphere, he could only force himself to remain composed and not let any strange expression show on his face.

...

With Shi Ruifeng and his team providing a private escort, Lin Ye saved a great deal of travel time.

The military helicopter flew at high speed over the vast wilderness. After just over ten minutes, an immense forest appeared on the distant horizon, sprawling across the land like an inky shadow.

As they drew closer, Shi Ruifeng began to brief Lin Ye on the intelligence regarding this area.

"Lin Ye, you’re no longer part of the selection trial, so I can tell you some of the internal intelligence about this forest without holding anything back."

Shi Ruifeng pointed at the forest ahead, which was coming into sharper focus.

"You see, the sky above that forest is perpetually shrouded in a strange, black, silk-like substance. We still haven’t been able to analyze what it is."

"These black silks block out the sun year-round, making the environment inside dark and damp."

"As a result, mutated beasts are exceptionally rare in the forest."

"According to our probes, there are high concentrations of Source Crystal radiation inside the forest. Coupled with the extremely complex environment and low visibility, this makes large-scale human exploration exceptionally difficult."

"So far, our instruments have only detected the life-energy fluctuations of other races within, but we haven’t been able to pinpoint their numbers or types."

Shi Ruifeng’s expression grew a little more solemn.

"In my personal judgment, the danger level of this entire forest may be no lower than the Northern Great Rift Valley you explored earlier. You need to be careful."

As he spoke, the helicopter was already slowing to a hover at the edge of the forest.

The helicopter descended, and the cabin door opened.

Holding his Star-Piercing Spear, Lin Ye leaped down.

A gust of cold, damp wind, mixed with the smell of rotting vegetation, blew against his face.

He looked up.

The sight before him made his pupils contract.

The entire forest seemed to be enveloped by a colossal black spiderweb.

Countless black threads, finer than strands of hair, hung down from the branches of misshapen and twisted giant trees. They intertwined, forming a web so dense it seemed airtight, blocking out most of the daylight.

Inside the forest, it was a profound darkness, so deep you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face. It looked like the maw of a man-eating beast.

Standing at the edge of the forest, Lin Ye couldn’t sense any sign of life. He couldn’t even hear the chirp of an insect or the call of a bird.

A deathly silence.

"We’ll be on standby just outside the forest."

Shi Ruifeng’s voice came from behind him.

"If you encounter a danger you can’t handle, send a distress signal through your wristband immediately. We’ll provide support at a moment’s notice."