Chapter 13 – Whispers in the Verdant Wilds
The Verdant Wilds stretched endlessly before Qin Sheng, a tapestry of towering trees, shimmering flora, and unseen dangers lurking beneath the dense foliage. His minions flanked him—Gorath, Velnar, the Forest Guardian, and now the spectral Grove Sentinel. Above, the Silverwind Hatchling circled, its keen eyes scanning for threats.
"Let's push deeper," Qin Sheng murmured.
Navigating through the undergrowth, he eyed the newly unlocked quests on his interface. One, in particular, caught his attention: "The Corruption Within"—a mission to cleanse a corrupted shrine deeper within the woods.
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Verdant Wilds – Deeper Forest
The atmosphere thickened as they advanced. The air grew heavier, saturated with an unnatural energy. Twisted roots snaked across the forest floor, and blackened tendrils crept up the trunks of ancient trees.
Suddenly, the Silverwind Hatchling shrieked—a warning.
From the shadows, corrupted creatures lunged—Blight Wolves, their bodies warped by dark energy. Their eyes glowed crimson, and their fangs dripped with venom.
"Formation! Velnar, shield wall. Gorath, with me. Grove Sentinel, control the field!"
Velnar slammed his shield into the ground, forming a barrier as the wolves attacked. Gorath's axe cleaved through the first, its corrupted form disintegrating. The Grove Sentinel summoned binding roots, entangling several wolves and immobilizing them.
Qin Sheng weaved between his minions, his blade striking with precision. Each kill brought a system notification:
[Blight Wolf defeated. EXP +450]
The Silverwind Hatchling dove, releasing gusts of wind that scattered the remaining wolves.
Moments later, the clearing was silent, littered with the remains of the fallen.
[System Notification: Level Up! You are now Level 9.]
Qin Sheng distributed his stat points, enhancing his agility and endurance.
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Corrupted Shrine
Following the quest marker, Qin Sheng arrived at the corrupted shrine. Once a place of reverence, it now oozed malevolent energy. A twisted figure stood guard—the Blight Warden, a C-Rank corrupted spirit.
The Warden's hollow voice echoed, "You shall not cleanse this place."
"Watch me," Qin Sheng replied, raising his blade.
The battle was fierce. The Warden wielded dark magic, summoning tendrils that lashed out. Qin Sheng's minions countered—Velnar blocked the tendrils, Gorath engaged the Warden directly, and the Grove Sentinel used purifying roots to weaken the corruption.
The Silverwind Hatchling provided aerial support, disrupting the Warden's spells.
Qin Sheng found an opening and charged, activating his Eclipse Reaver ability. Shadows coiled around his blade as he struck the Warden's core.
[System Notification: Blight Warden defeated. EXP +2,000]
The shrine pulsed, its dark aura dissipating. A radiant light replaced it.
[Quest Complete: The Corruption Within. Rewards: EXP +3,000, Shrine Token x1, Verdant Cloak (C-Rank)]
[System Notification: Level Up! You are now Level 10.]
A surge of energy coursed through Qin Sheng. He grinned—Level 10 was a major milestone.
[System Notification: Leaderboards Unlocked. You are now visible on the Global Rankings.]
[System Notification: Skill Extraction Unlocked. You can now extract abilities and skills.]
He quickly distributed his new stat points, focusing on strength and vitality.
He donned the Verdant Cloak, its green fabric shimmering. (+5% movement speed, +10% poison resistance)
As he pocketed the Shrine Token, the ground trembled.
A hidden alcove opened nearby, revealing a pedestal with a glowing stone.
[System Notification: Discovered Hidden Lore – Heart of the Verdant Wilds.]
The stone whispered forgotten tales—of ancient spirits and a looming corruption threatening the entire region.
Qin Sheng's resolve hardened. He knew this was only the beginning.
He turned to his minions, "We head to the Heart next. There's more to uncover."
The Verdant Wilds had revealed its secrets, but even greater challenges awaited deeper within.