Chapter 1113: Valentine

Chapter 1113: Chapter 899: Valentine

“I originally planned to accumulate more points on the outskirts before leaving, but the patrols in the mining area have become increasingly strict. Several times I almost ran into Level 4 powerhouses, so I had to collect enough points to enter the third layer first,” Vera paused as she spoke, “As soon as I landed, I encountered the arrival of the gray mist. I endured it using the Thorn Domain for quite a while, barely managing to hold out.”

Duke nodded, not engaging in further discussion about the second layer mine veins.

He took out the parchment map from the Space Ring and unfolded it on the stone table. Using the faint golden light filtering in from the Safe House’s stone wall, he explained to Vera the patterns he’d figured out during his days on the third layer.

The duration of the gray mist is fixed at eight hours. About twenty minutes before its arrival, the ancient patterns on the stone wall begin to dim, and the concentration of Dark Attribute Energy Particles rapidly spikes. These signs are sufficient to anticipate the gray mist’s imminent arrival.

The gray mist is permeated with intense Death Energy, which significantly restricts the range of Spiritual Power perception; conventional methods only cover a few meters around, but Dark Attribute Elementalization can extend perception to dozens of meters.

There are swarms of Level 4 Undead Demons roaming in the gray mist; they attack all living creatures and drain Life Force.

The Safe House Key can be acquired from the maze. He currently holds two, one with a twelve-hour limit, suitable for emergency refuge during the gray mist’s arrival. The limit begins counting down upon activation, and unactivated keys can be retained indefinitely.

The entrance to the Safe House is any stone wall. The keyholder can directly pass through the wall to enter, while others cannot see or perceive the existence of the Safe House from the outside. The key can add an extra guest’s Spiritual Power imprint.

Vera fell silent for a moment after listening and then moved her gaze from the map to Duke’s face.

“So the Safe House you used to save me earlier was your only unactivated key?”

“Yes, now it’s activated with less than twelve hours remaining. We need to find another key before the limit expires.”

Vera contemplated, “If it wasn’t to save me, you probably wouldn’t have needed to use the key, so I owe you one key then…”

Duke interrupted her with a smile and gestured dismissively, “There’s no talk of owing or not owing; since we’ve encountered each other, naturally, we should help each other.”

Vera listened and then also smiled lightly, understandingly.

“There’s one more point: the conditions for acquiring the key to the fourth layer seem very high. At present, I’ve accumulated over five hundred thousand points in the third layer but still haven’t qualified for the fourth layer,” Duke supplemented.

The two then exchanged a few more words before calling up the leaderboard screen for a quick glance.

Leon’s points have steadily surpassed the threshold to enter the third layer, Morris’s point growth has consistently been stable, and Edmond and Adrian’s points are gradually climbing.

All members of the West Coast Squad are steadily progressing, which was to be expected.

With their strength, gaining qualification from the second layer to the third was only a matter of time.

The gray mist began to dissipate precisely at the eight-hour mark. The ancient patterns on the stone wall gradually lit up again, and the faint golden light emerged from the fissure depths, dispelling the gray-white particles lingering in the air layer by layer.

Duke folded the map and stowed it in his chest pocket, then, followed by Vera, passed through the stone wall to stand once more in the cold, dry stone corridors of the maze.

The two walked side by side down the main passage to explore, traversing several forks that Duke had not ventured into before.

With Vera’s Thorn Domain assistance, their exploration efficiency notably increased.

Vera’s thorny vines could extend throughout the maze as sensory tendrils to detect ambushes, allowing Duke to focus his energy on mapping and observing changes in the stone wall patterns.

They also made some scattered gains, which were distributed as needed.

After turning past several intersections, Duke suddenly halted his steps.

His Life Rule Perception detected three exceptionally powerful energy signals at the corner of the main passage ahead, each steadily at the Demigod Level, and one individual’s aura carried an unmistakable Dragon Might.

He immediately raised a hand to signal Vera to stop, and they both lowered their bodies, pressing close to the inside wall.

But the others had already noticed them, and at the corner, Valentine Bloodgold stepped out first.

He still wore that dark red Golden-Edged Robe, with intricate rose patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs. His appearance was somewhat similar to Audric’s, yet even more sinister.

Valentine’s steps were confident and assured, with a faint cold smile on his lips, and his pale golden vertical pupils glowed with an eerie, reptile-like light in the dim stone corridor.

The two Demigod Level guards following behind him wore the Bloodgold Family’s standard heavy armor, with the Dragon Claw Badge on their chest armor glinting with a cool dark golden sheen in the stone wall patterns’ faint light.

The trio’s aura was openly spread, the Demigod Level pressure almost tangible, pressing down the entire passage, dimming the light from the ancient wall patterns slightly.

“Duke.” Valentine halted his steps not far from the two, hands linked behind his back, examining Duke with a from-above gaze, “Hand over your gains from the Path of Divine Revelation, and I’ll allow you to leave. Otherwise, you’ll be killed on the spot.”

Duke didn’t respond, maintaining an expressionless stare at Valentine.

His right hand was already silently placed on the cuff, dark golden grains flowing quietly within, ready to burst forth at any moment.