Chapter 262: The Quality Isn’t Guaranteed

Chapter 262: Chapter 262: The Quality Isn’t Guaranteed

Huangfu Miaomiao quickly pulled a rope from a compartment in her backpack. It was a professional-grade outdoor exploration rope—long and sturdy.

"What do you need the rope for?" Ye Zheng asked, her brow furrowed.

"I want to tie up the Black Flood Dragon and drag it out," Feng Ling replied.

"That’s assuming we can even get through the outer layer of flesh," Ye Zheng said, confused. "Every time we try to dig, it just absorbs the energy. How are we supposed to tie up the Black Flood Dragon inside?"

Feng Ling discussed it with her very seriously. "Actually, this ability to absorb flesh and blood... in a way, I can do it too. My Card has a nesting ability. To put it simply, you use a Card and fresh flesh and blood to hatch a new lifeform. Both my Pets were hatched that way."

Ye Zheng asked her, exceptionally serious, "Are you saying you can turn that pile of flesh into your own Pet?"

"I’m not sure." Feng Ling glanced at the giant snail in the distance. While they had been talking, it had crept another ten meters closer.

She said, "When I hatched the Cat Spider and Cat Owl, I used the bodies of recently deceased kittens. The Card requires fresh flesh and blood, so I think living creatures should count, too. But I’ve never tried it on a living thing, let alone one this massive. All I can do is try. If it fails, it won’t be too late to leave the Maze and get some explosives."

Ye Zheng mulled it over for a moment before saying in a low voice, "A dead thing is completely different from a living one. A corpse won’t fight back when you’re absorbing it, but a living creature might try to escape, counterattack, or even harm you. We have to take these risks into account."

Huangfu Miaomiao looked up, her gaze shifting from Ye Zheng to Feng Ling, and asked worriedly, "And after we drag the Black Flood Dragon out? What do we do then? There are so many Mouse Monsters in the Maze. Won’t the Black Flood Dragon attract them?"

Ye Zheng nodded. "She’s right. We not only have to figure out how to pull it out, but also how to deal with it afterward. Its scales look incredibly tough, so killing it quickly will be difficult. Plus, we’ll have to fend off the Mouse Monsters."

"So, here’s my plan," Feng Ling said, stretching the rope in her hands before passing it to Ye Zheng. "I’ll lure the monster near the safe house and then use my hatching ability. If I succeed in absorbing its flesh, you’ll be in charge of getting the rope around the Black Flood Dragon and dragging it into the safe house as quickly as you can. If I fail..."

Ye Zheng’s eyes burned as she looked at her, finishing the thought. "...Then we run into the safe house as fast as we can. Once the monster leaves, we’ll figure out a way to get out of the Maze."

A smile touched the corners of Feng Ling’s lips. "Exactly."

They quickly finalized the plan and decided to execute it immediately.

The Little Skeleton went ahead to tell Xu Yiming to return to the safe house with them.

Ye Zheng stayed by Feng Ling’s side, ready to coordinate with her at a moment’s notice.

The massive monster, once a fair distance away, was now imperceptibly close. Dozens of arms shot out from its mixed-flesh body, attempting to grab Feng Ling’s snake tail.

Feng Ling lifted her tail and slithered toward the safe house, creating more distance.

Snails were always like that. At first glance, they moved so slowly they seemed to be standing still. But when you looked again, you’d find they had already crawled right up to you.

Feng Ling’s pace was also slow, but still significantly faster than the snail’s.

"By the way..."

Ye Zheng suddenly thought of something and asked Feng Ling, "What do you think the new Pet you hatch will look like?"

The question caught Feng Ling off guard. "...Who knows."

’If she hadn’t run into such a tricky situation, she wouldn’t be willing to hatch a new Pet right now at all.’

’The quality feels... unguaranteed.’

...

On the way back, Ye Zheng used her Spiritual Suppression to clear a path of Mouse Monsters. They made it back without any major incidents, despite the constant threat.

Huangfu Miaomiao, Xu Yiming, and Li Qing stood before the safe house door, waiting anxiously for their return.

Li Qing was desperately awaiting Feng Ling’s return.

He had already heard the entire plan from Huangfu Miaomiao.

For him, this was an event of extraordinary significance.

If they could successfully kill the Maze Master, it would not only prove Feng Ling’s strength to the administrator community but also earn their trust, leading to more opportunities for collaboration and the chance to rally more support.

Li Qing’s heart pounded with excitement.

But Feng Ling and Ye Zheng were taking a long time to get back.

To be precise, they were still fifty meters away—and for some reason, the two had stopped at the intersection ahead.

"Why aren’t they moving?" Xu Yiming asked, growing impatient.

"It’s probably because they’re too close to the safe house," Li Qing said with a frown. "According to the system rules, the Maze Master’s path of movement can’t get too close to a safe house. Feng Ling is trying to lure it over, but I doubt it will go smoothly."

"I’ll go see what’s happening." Xu Yiming shouldered his gun and ran toward the intersection.

Huangfu Miaomiao frowned and ran after him.

Li Qing was utterly weak, but he desperately wanted to witness their victory firsthand. After a moment’s hesitation, he too ran toward the intersection.

Ye Zheng, standing guard by the roadside, saw them all approaching and asked, wide-eyed, "Why did you all come?"

Feng Ling said, "It’s fine. We’ll need everyone to pull later. The more people, the more strength we have."

Xu Yiming asked hurriedly, "What’s the situation?"

Ye Zheng jutted her chin toward the snail not far off. "That monster was chasing Feng Ling the whole way, but once it got near here, it’s like it went blind and lost its way."

Li Qing began to explain. "It doesn’t have eyes. That fake Buddha face is just a form of mimicry, like the patterns on some insects’ wings that imitate other creatures. It was able to follow you this far because it can sense the mark on Feng Ling. However, the safe house has a special barrier function. As long as you’re near it, the monster can’t ’see’ the mark’s location clearly."

After explaining, Li Qing couldn’t help but ask, "Why does Feng Ling have another mark on her?"

"One more or one less, it doesn’t matter. Since it won’t come any closer, we’ll just have to start the plan now." Feng Ling glanced at Huangfu Miaomiao and the others. "Get a good grip on the rope. When I yell ’Pull!’, I need you all to pull with everything you’ve got."

Huangfu Miaomiao nodded, her expression serious.

Xu Yiming grew tense as well and immediately gripped the rope.

Feng Ling gave Ye Zheng a quick wave. Then, without a shred of hesitation, she whipped her snake tail around and lashed out violently at the monster behind her!

CRACK!!!

A deep gash appeared on the chaotic amalgam of flesh, but the monster seemed to feel no pain, greedily lunging after her snake tail.

Feng Ling quickly flung a silver ring from her wrist!

The ring instantly transformed into a silver streak of light, materializing in midair as a floating Card—

Silver light flickered across the Card, its pattern shifting ceaselessly.

Feng Ling’s brow furrowed, her eyes reflecting the cold, sharp silver glow. She raised her hand and forcibly pressed the Card onto the gash, barking out a single, cold command: "Hatch!"

Light erupted, and a powerful current of air swept through the area!

Beneath her hand, every line of the Card’s pattern became like a silver thread, embedding itself into the monster’s flesh. Every cell it absorbed underwent a cataclysmic transformation!

Countless black crows burst forth from her hand as the monster’s flesh began to disappear at an alarming rate!

The monster began to struggle and retreat, letting out a terrifying, grief-stricken cry!

Every Mouse Monster in the entire Maze heard its cry!

And at last, Feng Ling could see them again—the black scales within the flesh!