Chapter 105 - 103: Wind Thunder Tower

Chapter 105: Chapter 103: Wind Thunder Tower

Everyone held their breath, not daring to make a peep.

Feng Ling scanned the area, then had the Cat Spider and Cat Owl fall back down the mountain. She told them to keep their distance so they wouldn’t get in the way.

She also gestured for Pei Xianjue to put her phone on silent, even though they couldn’t get any outside signal from within the Maze.

With all preparations complete, Feng Ling led them cautiously up the mountain.

The Minotaur was sprawled out on the mountain path. Its build was similar to the Horse-faced Monster’s, but the pair of horns on its head made it look even more robust and terrifying—like a Devil straight out of Hell.

They carefully skirted around the Minotaur.

Above them was a large tree laden with purple fruit. The tree stood right next to a tower, its trunk so thick that it completely obscured the structure. You would have to reach the summit to notice anything was here at all.

Feng Ling slowly walked to the base of the tree and examined the tower before her.

It was extremely dilapidated and caked in gray dust, giving off a very unsettling feeling.

’But it was hard to pinpoint what was so unsettling. If she had to describe it... it was as if the tower was alive, watching them with a pair of invisible eyes.’

A plaque hung above the tower’s main entrance, but the characters on it were mottled and illegible.

Feng Ling whispered to Li Qing beside her, "Do you recognize this tower?"

Li Qing whispered back, "There is a tower on Sanqing Mountain called the Wind Thunder Tower, but this one is bigger, and it’s in the wrong place."

’This tower doesn’t seem that big,’ Feng Ling thought. ’It’s not even as tall as the tree next to it.’

"Could the Wind Thunder Tower really be smaller than this one?" she asked.

Li Qing nodded and replied seriously, "The Wind Thunder Tower is 1.96 meters tall."

Feng Ling: "..."

’Barely the height of a basketball player.’

’Once they got out of the Maze, she would have to go see this exquisite little tower for herself.’

Just then, Huangfu Miaomiao squeezed forward from behind them, forcefully pushing the two apart. With a serious expression, she held up her children’s watch for Feng Ling to see.

The smart watch’s screen displayed a number: 7%

Huangfu Miaomiao jabbed a finger insistently at the large tree with the purple fruit.

Feng Ling understood.

’It meant their Exploration Value had increased by 7% after discovering this tree. This must be a key location.’

’Discovering the safe house had increased their Exploration Value, and that was a place for players to rest.’

’Discovering Fox Village had increased their Exploration Value, and the Divine Statue in the village could remove Pollution Value.’

’Discovering the lake and the giant python had also increased their Exploration Value, though its specific purpose was still unknown.’

’As for this tree, it must be useful for something, too.’

Pei Xianjue, copying Huangfu Miaomiao, stayed silent and typed two words on her phone for Feng Ling to see: *Go in?*

Feng Ling thought for a moment, then whispered to Pei Xianjue, "The two of us will go in. The others will stand guard outside, just in case."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Feng Ling looked at the nameless Ancient Tower. She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but the instant she decided to enter, the feeling of being watched grew even more intense...

Her heart began to race. An uncontrollable sense of unease welled up from deep inside her. This was unusual; she had always been bold and reckless, and rarely felt the sting of fear.

Feng Ling silently glanced at Pei Xianjue and saw that her expression had also turned grim.

’There’s definitely something strange about this tower...’

’But the only way to find out what it is is to go inside.’

Feng Ling’s heart sank. She took a slow breath and stepped into the tower—

The air suddenly turned frigid.

The hairs on her arms stood on end. She immediately sensed danger and looked up to see a clay Divine Statue on an altar inside the tower!

The Divine Statue was of a graceful, noblewoman. Her features were dignified and beautiful, and she wore a five-colored, cloud-patterned robe. She stood amidst auspicious clouds with a benevolent smile on her face!

The Queen Mother of the West!

The name flashed through Feng Ling’s mind, and an immense terror immediately enveloped her. She couldn’t even look directly at the Divine Statue!

An invisible pressure, like a guillotine blade at the back of her neck, forced her to bow her head. Her knees buckled, and she fell, forced to kneel!

THUD!

Feng Ling’s eyes widened. She stared at her own knees in disbelief. ’I’m kneeling?’

’I’m actually kneeling to a clay doll!!!’

’What kind of ability is this?’

’Hypnosis?’

’Spiritual Control?’

’Or have I been taken over by a parasite???’

Feng Ling’s mind was in chaos. She had never encountered a situation like this! No matter how strong the opponent, she had always dared to fight them with her life on the line, but now! Now—

She couldn’t even stand up!

’Why?!’

Feng Ling refused to accept it. She tried to steady her racing heart and stop her hands from trembling. Taking a deep breath, she pressed her hands against the floor and struggled to stand up.

But as soon as she put strength into her knees, the oppressive force grew even stronger!

Her head was forced lower, her upper body almost prostrated on the ground!

Cold sweat soaked through her clothes. The simple act of trying to stand up had her drenched in sweat.

Feng Ling nearly ground her teeth to dust.

It was the feeling of a lamb meeting a wolf, or a rabbit encountering a snake—a primal fear written into one’s very genes, stripping a creature of all ability to resist its natural predator, leaving it only to kneel and beg for mercy!

’What do I do?’

’What do I do?’

’I can’t just wait here to die!’

Feng Ling did her best to calm down and think of a countermeasure. ’I’m not facing a real predator. I don’t need to be this afraid. I’ve just run into a Card with a tricky ability.’

’The ability’s activation clearly has a limited range, or I would have been forced to my knees outside the tower.’

’Thinking about it more carefully, maybe it’s not just a range limit. There might be other conditions, like... you have to be directly in front of the Queen Mother of the West?’

’If that’s the case, I could summon the Cat Spider and Cat Owl into the tower. If they can just block the clay Divine Statue’s eyes, even for two seconds, it might be enough for me to get out of here!’

"Stay calm..."

Baozi’s voice suddenly came from behind her.

His voice wasn’t far, seeming to come from the doorway. The end of his words trembled slightly; he was also under the influence of the oppressive aura.

’Feng Ling thought of his Card, Lucky Heaven, a goddess from Indian Mythology. Her abilities leaned toward Spiritual Control. Maybe she could counter the Queen Mother of the West?’

"Listen to me," Baozi said, speaking very slowly. "Your fear has been amplified to its maximum threshold, so you can’t control your bodies anymore. I’ll try to calm your fear and release pheromones of peace and joy... The energy of fear here is too strong, so I’m not sure if I have enough energy of my own, but I’ll give it my all... Seize the opportunity. The moment you can move, get out of this tower immediately."

Feng Ling and Pei Xianjue remained prostrate on the ground, holding their breath and waiting for the right moment.

’It was too oppressive.’

’Too humiliating.’

Fear was like a giant hand, squeezing their hearts and throttling their throats!

As an atmosphere of peace and joy began to push back against the surrounding terror, Feng Ling immediately felt the pressure on her heart lighten!

It was like dry, hardened cement suddenly mixed with water and began to flow again. Even the slightest movement brought a spark of life.

Feng Ling bit down hard on her lower lip, the taste of blood spreading in her mouth. With a surge of fierce determination and Baozi’s help, she shot to her feet, yanked Pei Xianjue up, and scrambled back several meters!

Baozi also scrambled out of the tower—

The three of them had retreated in such a hurry that they stumbled for a few steps before regaining their balance. When they looked up again at the Ancient Tower, only a lingering fear remained.

Huangfu Miaomiao ran over anxiously, grabbing Feng Ling with one hand and pointing at the large tree with the other—

Two Fox Demons had climbed the tree at some point and were now precariously picking its fruit.

And directly below them, the Minotaur was about to wake up.