Chapter 183 - 137: Art Is an Explosion

When Li Miao mentioned that the well had collapsed from an explosion when he first encountered it, Niuniu suddenly had an idea. Perhaps Fecal Corpse Adhesive had the potential for some unique strategies.

So, he wanted to test if the stuff could actually be "ignited" by the Explosive Flame Skill.

If there really was a connection between Explosive Flame and Foul-smelling Feces Qi, then the strategic possibilities would be enormous.

For example, if a boss appeared and started spouting a bunch of nonsense, you could just surround it with Foul-smelling Feces Qi and then ignite it with Explosive Flame...

Or if a certain monster on the map was particularly tricky, you could use this to set a trap in advance...

All in all, in Niuniu’s eyes, this strategy had massive potential!

If Xiaoma’s test was a success, Niuniu would, without a second thought, save up Wax Oil to respec his character.

Of course, all of this depended on it actually working in practice.

"Have you learned it yet?"

As this thought crossed his mind, Niuniu asked again, his voice filled with urgency.

"Not yet! Brother Niu, stop rushing me!"

Xiaoma was speechless. He wasn’t even anxious, so why was Niuniu in such a hurry?

"Keep it up."

Hearing this, Niuniu could only offer a sheepish reply and wait patiently.

***

Inside the Spirit Candle’s World Channel.

Brother Miao Won’t Fail the Exam: "Hey guys, the boss on the peninsula map, the Dark Soul Witch, drops a Fire Seed for the Faith Stream."

He even helpfully posted the information for the Dark Soul Witch’s Fire Seed.

My hamster’s name is Guagua: "...Brother Miao, Faraway Lord already posted it."

Iced Lemon Tea: "Brother Miao, your heart was in the right place, but you’re a little late to the party."

Eagle’s Fierce Flame: "LMAO."

Brother Miao Won’t Fail the Exam: "..."

My Son Failed, But I’m On Shore: "Just got lost on my way from the Bottom of the Well to the sea, finally made it into the city, and now I’m lost again. Can someone make a map?"

Battle Bliss: "ARGHHHHHH, what is with this stupid terrain?! I’m lost again! This is so annoying!"

Battle Bliss: "Also, which asshole left the wax marks ’Surprise to the right’ in front of the Spirit Candle? It was a fucking cesspool! FUCK! (enraged)"

Storyteller: "@I do Bull’s Push-ups, Brother Niu, it looks like this Dark Soul Witch can use Soul Emergence to directly attack Souls! It has a lot of potential!"

I do Bull’s Push-ups: "Thanks, but I’m on Candle Island and busy."

Seeing someone @ him in the World Channel, Niuniu could only reply helplessly that he was busy.

Since the game *Spirit Candle* didn’t have a map function, simple terrains were fine. But slightly more complex areas posed a significant challenge for players like Brother Mangzi, who had smaller... brain capacities.

That’s why Niuniu also had a side gig making maps on the forums.

But he didn’t have the energy to make maps right now.

"Brother Niu, I’m ready!"

Just then, Xiaoma’s voice suddenly called out.

To Niuniu’s ears, it was music to his ears.

He turned around, overjoyed and extremely excited. "You learned both of them?"

Xiaoma nodded, a hint of exhaustion on his face.

Generally, it took players anywhere from half a day to a full day to learn a new Skill. Of course, practicing it continuously would speed up the process.

However, most players chose to learn through practice while fighting, so that neither Skill acquisition nor exploration would be delayed.

But Xiaoma, in order to cooperate with Niuniu’s experiment, had been practicing nonstop. He had really given it his all.

"Great, great, great! Now, let’s test it out according to my instructions!" Niuniu excitedly pulled him along, and they used the Spirit Candle to enter the two-person dungeon, Seaside Town.

"First, release the Feces Qi a few times to fill this area up, then use Explosive Flame," Niuniu urged.

Xiaoma naturally agreed. Fighting back his nausea, he began emitting a yellowish-green, eye-watering gas from the pores on his body. He did this again and again, and before long, the entire street had changed color...

Niuniu wasn’t idle, either.

After a moment’s thought, he went straight to the tavern and lured out several Mad Meatballs.

"Xiaoma, light it up!" Niuniu shouted after successfully luring the Mad Meatballs into the Foul-smelling Feces Qi.

Xiaoma was shocked to see how ruthless Niuniu was. He then lifted his Magic Staff and cast Explosive Flame at the surrounding, still-lingering Foul-smelling Feces Qi.

WHOOSH—

The moment the concentrated Explosive Flame appeared, the Foul-smelling Feces Qi throughout the street instantly spread at a terrifying speed, its power amplifying!

BOOM—

A massive fiery explosion erupted across the entire street, unleashing scorching heat.

Niuniu’s pupils contracted. Amidst his excitement, he hurriedly raised his Shield to block, only to be sent flying onto a rooftop by the aftershock with a loud BANG.

Unfortunately, the terrifyingly powerful flames only lasted for a moment.

But even so, the power it displayed was still astounding.

The entire street was now charred black and in complete disarray.

The Mad Meatballs that Niuniu had lured out to test the damage were also severely injured. They had turned from meatballs into charcoal briquettes, their skin burnt to a crisp. They sizzled, emitting the smell of barbecue and rendered fat.

The Mad Meatballs had actually been blasted to within an inch of their lives!

And he himself wasn’t much better off. He was covered in soot, with less than half his health remaining, looking like a charcoal briquette himself.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHA, it worked!"

Niuniu’s eyes lit up. Without a second thought for anything else, he burst out laughing.

"Uhh... Brother Niu..."

It wasn’t until a weak voice reached his ears that Niuniu snapped out of it. He tossed two Wax Blocks over, finished off the Mad Meatballs, and then pulled Xiaoma to his feet.

"This Skill’s damage... it also affects the user..." Xiaoma said, a bit depressed, after eating two Recovery Wax Blocks.

That last blast had almost killed him instantly.

"That’s true," Niuniu nodded in agreement.

Explosive Flame could indeed ignite Foul-smelling Feces Qi, which confirmed Niuniu’s theory. The experiment was a success.

But the damage produced by igniting the Feces Qi was indiscriminate, making it easy to get caught in your own blast.

Then, Niuniu thought for a moment, rummaged through his inventory, and took out a piece of equipment that looked like it reeked.

[Corpse Shell (Excellence)]

The Fire Seed from the Fecal Corpse Adhesive was disdainfully nicknamed "Ba Ba Fire" by players. Similarly, this piece of equipment, which also dropped from the Fecal Corpse Adhesive, was called the "Ba Ba Armor" and was just as despised...

Although it provided a large amount of Defense, it also increased the fire damage the wearer received. For players using the Fire Ignition Fecal Corpse Adhesive, it was basically a tailor-made weakness...

So, the moment Xiaoma saw the equipment, his pupils contracted. "Brother Niu, what are you doing with that? That thing is terrible against fire!"

"I’m not giving it to you for fire protection," Niuniu chuckled. "I want you to put it on so we can continue experimenting with the true power of this Combined Skill."

"By the way, you didn’t use the Talent Effect from Ba Ba Fire for that last Explosive Flame, did you?"

"What? The charging one?" Xiaoma paused, then nodded. "Right. That Talent Effect requires time to charge."

"Good." Hearing this, Niuniu rubbed his hands together. He still hadn’t taken down the S&M couple in this dungeon. "Perfect! We’ll use this to take down the dungeon’s bosses!"

Xiaoma also nodded, incredibly excited and full of confidence.

Whether he had gotten used to it or it was an after-effect of the Explosive Flame, he no longer seemed to notice the foul stench clinging to him.

***

「The Underground Space.」

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

The Mad Fallen Lord was frantically slashing at Xiaoma.

The latter was dodging while releasing Foul-smelling Feces Qi. If it weren’t for the Corpse Shell he was wearing, he probably would have died on the spot long ago.

"Brother Niu! Are you ready yet?!" Xiaoma couldn’t help but shout.

SQUELCH! SQUELCH!

SLURP! SLURP!

Niuniu was currently locked in a fierce battle with the Lady of Tyranny. Her high-heeled boots seemed to have an extremely powerful armor-piercing Ability, and she kept managing to stomp on Niuniu with surprising accuracy.

Hearing Xiaoma’s call, Niuniu snapped back to reality. He glanced around and then spoke, a hint of reluctance in his voice.

"Alright, light it up."

Xiaoma, who had been waiting for this moment, immediately stopped dodging upon hearing Niuniu’s words. He raised both hands and unleashed an Explosive Flame.

By now, the underground space was already filled with the yellowish-green Foul-smelling Feces Qi.

And when the Explosive Flame appeared, it was like igniting a gas tank—it erupted with a deafening roar!

Watching the yellowish-green feces qi transform into a splendid inferno, Niuniu raised his Shield, feeling intoxicated.

’Art... is an explosion!’

BOOM—

A tremendous explosion rang out, shaking the entire underground space. A large section of it collapsed with a deafening RUMBLE.

In the midst of the violent aftershock, the Mad Fallen Lord and the Lady of Tyranny were naturally given a one-way ticket to the afterlife, not even getting the chance to say any last words.

The power... was undeniable!

[You have slain the Mad Fallen Lord]

[You have slain the Lady of Tyranny]

[...]