Chapter Twenty-Five

Just as Cheng Yuan was about to settle in and enjoy his fishing, a familiar dragon’s roar echoed across the river—the dungeon boss had barely refreshed before it was about to disappear again. Cheng Ze Long was relentless, wringing every last drop out of this dungeon boss. Cheng Yuan sighed, knowing only a handful of people even knew about this boss, and among them, only Cheng Ze Long had the strength to swiftly dispatch it face-to-face.

It didn’t bother his fishing, though. The distance was enough that it wouldn’t affect him much. Just then, a flying vessel shot past, unmistakably signaling that Tao Jiao Jiao had also been lurking in the shadows, waiting for the boss to refresh.

The Giant Marsh Lizard crawled ashore, having swum for more than half an hour. Its body was chilled to the bone, and it had noticed something peculiar—a monster motionless at the riverbed. It decided to report this to its trainer.

Cheng Yuan took out a towel to dry the Giant Marsh Lizard. A few more casts, and they would head back for rest; he’d return at dawn to fish under the sun. The lizard let out several calls, which Cheng Yuan understood: “There’s a monster in the water, not moving at all? Is it a turtle or something?” He paused, “No, even a turtle needs to come up to breathe.” Another hiss. “It has two long legs? Is its body shape similar to mine?” Another hiss.

Cheng Yuan was stunned—a humanoid monster, unmoving in the water? He pressed for more details. Gradually, he pieced together an image: at the riverbed, a figure dressed in tattered gray cloth, seaweed clinging to its body, seated motionless on the river floor, devoid of flesh—a skeleton unmoving, a chilling vision conjured in his mind.

It seemed more like a corpse. Cheng Yuan wondered if the lizard had simply mistaken an ordinary body for something else. Just then, he noticed a white gleam in the Giant Marsh Lizard’s eyes. Opening its status panel, he saw night vision had reached its peak level, replaced by a new skill: Day-Night Eyes LV2. It could sense time and adjust its vision according to the environment. Additionally, a new talent, Night Vision, had appeared in the talent column.

At first glance, Day-Night Eyes seemed unremarkable, but in this world, many monsters possessed such versatile eye techniques. Though not as potent as the true master-level vision skills, Day-Night Eyes could still detect unusual circumstances, its adaptability broad according to current research. In certain supernatural dungeons, it could even approach the abilities of Yin-Yang Eyes.

Yin-Yang Eyes could reveal the ghost’s true form; Day-Night Eyes could at best outline their silhouette. Yet, Day-Night Eyes was rare in having multiple potential advanced evolutions.

Cheng Yuan stroked his chin. If the Giant Marsh Lizard was correct, and the monster remained utterly motionless, then according to the world’s research, if it were an ordinary skeleton-type creature, this area should have been a wasteland by now. Skeleton monsters, especially early on, were notoriously brutal and mindless; their trainers often lived in constant peril before reaching the king rank.

A renowned scholar of this world, Vadorg, once said, “Whenever a monster behaves abnormally, there must be something powerful enough to influence the dungeon’s progress.”

Cheng Yuan pondered: What kind of skeleton could this be? He thought for a moment, then took out a rope, stuffing one end into the Giant Marsh Lizard’s mouth. “Later, swing this rope in front of the monster’s eyes. If it doesn’t attack you, thread the rope through its nose and eye socket, then return.”

The Giant Marsh Lizard raised its forelimb to indicate understanding, then plunged into the water with the rope. Ten minutes later, it brought the rope back. Cheng Yuan immediately gripped both ends and began to pull. He felt slight resistance—not much. With a bit of force, the resistance faded.

A few minutes later, Cheng Yuan saw something glowing red in the water. Hauling it up, he found a skull, eyes blazing with a crimson light, its surface coated in moss. The skull was endlessly chomping, making a rattling sound. As soon as Cheng Yuan looked at it, his head spun.

It felt as if someone had struck him from behind with a heavy hammer, an assault directly on his mind. He staggered a few steps, unable to keep his balance, and fell. Minutes later, he sat up, realizing what had happened: he’d been attacked, and the assault was mental.

He retreated several steps to regain his composure, shaking his head until he felt somewhat better. Psychic attacks were intangible and had no obvious warning signs. Yet, Cheng Yuan smiled, widened the distance, found a long stick, and smashed it down with force. Instantly, the skull emitted a crisp cracking sound. Cheng Yuan understood why it hadn’t moved. “It’s not motionless—it simply can’t move.”

After several blows, the skull shattered, the red soul fire flared up briefly, then dissipated. At that moment, three glowing orbs appeared in the sky. “Is this a hidden boss?” The system chimed in, “Solo kill achieved: dungeon target—adult Bladeclaw Skeleton. Simulated dungeon ‘The Fisherman’s Secret’ generated.” “Dungeon clue acquired: fisherman.” “Clue collection complete; hunt target beacon generated.”

Cheng Yuan realized he’d slain a hidden boss on his own. “Seriously? That mutated plesiosaur can play the sneak, but you—a mindless skeleton monster—what are you up to?”

He claimed the three airborne rewards, watching as they fell like shooting stars toward the river’s center. Clearly, Cheng Ze Long had finished off the mutated plesiosaur as well.

He opened the three rewards: a skill book titled “Bladeclaw,” a photograph, and a peculiar bead. As Cheng Yuan touched each item, the system sounded three distinct tones.

Skill ‘Bladeclaw’ discovered—add to collection?
Dungeon clue discovered—Sanctuary*1.
Special elixir discovered—Soul Purification Pill—use now?

After recording “Bladeclaw,” he looked at the photograph. It depicted a man holding a massive shield, a great sword at his waist, clad in heavy, immaculate white armor, with a white horse behind him. The background seemed to be the entrance of a church. Though the man’s face was hidden by his helmet, his thumbs-up gesture indicated a good mood.

Nothing much could be gleaned from the photo. Next, he examined the Soul Purification Pill: “After use, purifies the soul. Note: undead monsters forbidden; will be purified.”

Cheng Yuan held the bead named Soul Purification Pill, thought for a moment, and swallowed it. It tasted faintly of icy mint. Not long after, he heard a rumbling in his head, like waves echoing in his mind. Soon, his mind felt empty, entering a brief state of total relaxation.

Minutes later, Cheng Yuan came to, feeling an ease as if lying on a vast plain, a gentle breeze blowing, gazing at the blue sky and free-flying birds.

The comfort came from his soul, spreading through the contract to both his partners. The little tiger, climbing a tree, yawned and descended easily, rubbing against Cheng Yuan before settling beside him and closing its eyes. The Giant Marsh Lizard crawled onto Cheng Yuan’s body. Man and beasts alike succumbed to this tranquil bliss.