Possible Cheaters and the Cave of the Dead
[Xia Feng, top of the World Ranking, has a combat ability much higher than that of the others. Is he a cheater, or someone from the closed beta test?]
[It's well-known that every game has a closed beta test and an open beta test. My guts tell me that Xia Feng as well as the other people on top of the World Ranking have played the game earlier. Why else could they be so better than others?]
That was the content of the entire threat, posted by a guy named Zhen
The threat was so heated that tens of thousands of people replied to it in a couple of minutes.
First floor: Shoot, so I'm not the only one who doesn't feel right about it? Those in the top of the World Ranking all have crazy combat ability.
Second floor: I don't think playing the game early can make them so awesome. I believe they're cheaters.
Third floor: In my opinion, Xia Feng might have traveled here from the future. He's gaining advantages because he knows what will happen.
Fourth floor: You all made good points.
***
Xia Feng checked all the replies, and found that almost everybody thought that those in the top of the World Ranking had uncanny combat ability.
Xia Feng didn't know what to say. After all, he did have a cheat.
I do wonder if the second place and behind on the ranking have any cheats.
Closing the thread that was full of jealousy, Xia Feng continued reading, only to find that it was similar to any online forum on the Blue Planet.
Xia Feng found a lot of threads that requested help.
Although he intended to show off and enjoy the vanity of being admired, he decided to wait for a few days until people were less interested in him.
Turning off the forum, Xia Feng returned to the shelter, only to find that the pregnant Spear Swallowing Fish had laid eggs.
There were a lot of eggs, but it was hard to tell how many of them would survive.
To prevent the Spear Swallowing Fish from starving, Xia Feng summoned Big Black, and tricked it into feeding the Spear Swallowing Fish with two pieces of beast meat.
Xia Feng took out the mid-sized map, and read it carefully.
The mid-sized map illustrated one more island than the small map did.
The small map only showed the two islands to come, whereas the mid-sized one showed three.
Xia Feng calculated the optimal route according to the map.
A view of three islands meant 100 possible routes. Also, he had to investigate the creatures on them.
It took him an hour before he finally picked the best route.
On this route, the 21st island had a Silver Chest, as well as two Poop Beasts.
The Poop Beasts loved pooping. They were like large versions of toads. Their way of attack was to spew out stinky smoke.
They were not strong, but they were very disgusting. It was best to finish them off before they let out the smoke.
Making preparations, Xia Feng came to the shelter.
Xia Feng patted Big Black's head, and gave it a reminder.
Then, while Big Black watched affectionately, he put the bucket into his shelter.
Xia Feng intended to let the five Spear Swallowing Fish produce more fish for him. He wouldn't sell them yet.
Besides, other players were still too poor to pay a good price. He might as well wait a few days.
After putting away everything, Xia Feng put the Gas Masks on himself and Big Black before he went to Channel No.3.
[A real warrior dares to face a place full of excrements. There's a Silver Chest and two disgusting Poop Beasts. Kill them for the environment!]
The hint was basically the same as the information on the mid-sized map, except that it was more elaborate.
Crossing the glittering membrane on the channel, Xia Feng reached the 21st island.
All that he could see was wet waste, which had resulted in a vague layer of yellow gas across the island.
Xia Feng could almost smell the stench behind the Gas Mask.
More importantly, Xia Feng found himself standing right on the top of some ordure.
He did not want to spend any more time in this place. Taking out the Lightning Crossbow, he fired at a Poop Beast at the center of the island.
Swoosh!
It went quite well. The first Poop Beast was instantly killed.
Before Xia Feng could shoot again, the second Poop beast had leaped, and reached Xia Feng with its decaying and festering body.
Xia Feng instantly switched his weapon, and grabbed the Frost Blade. When the Poop Beast was about to spout smoke, he pierced its head.
The two Poop Beasts dropped four Source Crystals as well as two Smelly Bladders.
[Smelly Bladders: The bladders of the Poop Beasts that contain abundant smelly smoke.]
[It may be very useful if you throw those things at an enemy.]
Killing the two Poop Beasts, Xia Feng found the Silver Chest. He didn't open it immediately, but stored it into his Shelter Ring.
Then, Xia Feng found the channel to the 21nd island on the route that he had decided, and continued the journey.
Big Black followed him closely, although it looked rather dizzy.
Crossing the glittering membrane again, Xia Feng came to the 22nd island, which had no chests, but had a Cave of the Dead, a special terrain that Xia Feng had never seen before.
The entrance to the Cave of the Dead lay in the center of the 22nd island. It was absolutely dark, and there was no telling what was behind it.
[System notification: Special Terrain: Cave of the Dead has been detected. There are a lot of undead creatures in it. Defeat them and reach the end of the cave for rewards.]
[This Cave of the Dead has more than one floor. You can try your luck if you're brave enough.]
Standing outside the Cave of the Dead, Xia Feng read the note and the hint without entering in a hurry.
He took out the Silver Chest and opened it.
[System notification: Silver Chest +1]
[System notification: Source Crystal +3]
[System notification: Fire Spiritual Rune +2]
[System notification: Recipe of Rare Silver Thread Gloves +1]
He decomposed the Silver Chest, learned the recipe, and opened the craft menu.
[Silver Thread Gloves: Silver 21/4, Iron 146/8, Spiritual Silk 0/2, Fire Spiritual Rune 121/5, Water Spiritual Rune, 152/5, Earth Spiritual Rune 96/5, Wind Spiritual Rune 158/5]
He was short of the Spiritual Silk. He searched for it on the trade menu.
Out of his expectation, the only person who was selling that was Lin Xiaowan, Xia Feng's old acquaintance.
She was selling six pieces of Spiritual Silk for 30 Source Crystals. Also, the buyer had to be approved by her first.
Seeing that, Xia Feng thought for a moment, and sent a private message to Lin Xiaowan.
Several minutes passed. He didn't receive a reply.
Without waiting anymore, Xia Feng closed the game menu, and entered the Cave of the Dead.
[System notification: You've entered Special Terrain: Cave of the Dead.]