Chapter 31: The Emerald Fire-Spirit Fruit!

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The grassland lay hushed in the early morning. The rising sun was a vivid crimson, tender and bright, like a golden gong set where the Western River Grasslands met the sky, jutting abruptly above the horizon. Morning dew shimmered, each droplet reflecting the splendid dawn clouds as it trembled and rolled, like the sorrowful pearl tears of a mermaid. Mammoths, woolly elephants, and black-hoofed beasts wandered peacefully nearby, searching for food. From time to time, birds flapped into the air, slicing across the sky before vanishing from sight.

What harmonious beauty. What harmonious nature!

Scenes of nature untouched by slaughter have become rare in the real world. Ever since humanity first appeared, I have often wondered whether people and nature have ever truly coexisted in harmony. In primitive times, humans had no choice but to struggle constantly against nature in order to survive and reproduce. In the modern age, our battle with nature has become more intense than ever as we plunder resources and develop industry. In the distance, I saw Da Shan and Ah Wei just as a massive mammoth toppled to the ground. It seemed that even the game held no true harmony. When it came to leveling up and hunting for treasure, compassion had no place.

“Boss!”

Ah Wei came sprinting toward me in excitement. It was rare to see him reveal such genuine emotion with such solemnity. But when he saw the two girls behind me, he abruptly halted. Otherwise, the tremendous momentum from his charge of several dozen meters would have ended in a bear hug, and my bones would probably have been crushed.

Ah Wei gripped my shoulders tightly. Between brothers, sincere affection needed no words.

“Bat, you really are a miracle! The raging storm bore witness to your strength and terrifying skill. You truly deserve the title of the greatest expert!”

Da Shan praised me from the bottom of his heart.

“No way. When did he become the greatest expert?” Xiao Xue asked in confusion.

“Hey, Sister-in-law, there’s something you don’t know. After Fantasy’s official investigation into the player-killing incident revealed the truth, the players who had blindly joined the uproar that day were filled with deep remorse toward Big Brother. They held a public poll among the millions of players on the forum, and more than ninety percent unanimously agreed that Big Brother was unquestionably the ‘Greatest Expert in the Chinese Region.’”

Ah Wei spoke with smug pride. He had always been proud of me—perhaps even more pleased to spread my glory as if it were his own.

Heh heh… He was in trouble now. Without understanding the situation, he had rashly called this witch his sister-in-law. After witnessing her terrifying methods, it was already too late.

Amen. You’re on your own.

“I seem to remember that quite a few players jointly demanded that Fantasy’s officials delete my account. I wonder what use they have for conferring the title of ‘Greatest Expert’ on me now. Are they trying to recruit me?”

I mocked myself.

“Ah Wei, don’t take such empty and illusory things seriously. Since they can give me the title of ‘Greatest Expert,’ next time they can just as easily call me the ‘Greatest Liar.’ Oh, right. I forgot to introduce everyone. This elegant and beautiful young lady is Snowflake Dancing, a level-twenty-two Holy Witch. You can call her Xiao Xue. This hunter of despicable character and wretched appearance is someone you must already know from Xiao Yue—he is Ah Wei. And this broad-shouldered, dignified man is the elder brother of our pure and adorable Xiao Yue: Da Shan!”

I slowly introduced them to one another, secretly waiting for Xiao Xue to explode and enjoying the spectacle in advance. Strangely, she was as demure as a refined young lady. It was truly uncanny.

“Boss, how can you insult me in front of Sister-in-law? That’s really heartless of you. Poor me—I spent the last two days longing for the stars and the moon, burning incense, praying to Buddha, and reciting scripture every day, begging for your safe return. And yet…”

He put on a wronged expression, as though he were about to burst into tears.

Xiao Xue suddenly laughed, her smile blossoming like a flower and refreshing the heart.

“No wonder Xiao Yue said you were never serious. Meeting you is even more impressive than hearing about you. But you’ve gotten one thing wrong. I’m not his girlfriend, so don’t call me that again!”

Da Shan had worn a faint shadow of gloom ever since Xiao Xue appeared. Hearing her deny that she was my girlfriend, his face instantly brightened.

“Ah Wei is our source of amusement. He has no sense of propriety at all. If he ever annoys you, feel free to complain to Bat.”

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“Hee hee, I’m not afraid. I have Xiao Yue to help me!”

Xiao Xue cast me a smug glance, as if to say: He can barely protect himself, so where would he find the time to care about anyone else?

Xiao Yue waved her pink hammer arrogantly in front of Ah Wei and laughed.

“If he dares bully Sister Xiao Xue, I definitely won’t forgive him!”

Good heavens! All of you have been deceived by this cunning witch’s appearance. You have my sympathy!

…

Mammoths and woolly elephants were around level fifty, beyond the detection range of Advanced Appraisal, so I could not obtain detailed information. Mammoths had chestnut-colored fur and stood upon the grassland like enormous boulders. They would not attack players of their own accord, retaliating only when provoked. Their hill-sized bodies, paired with bayonet-sharp tusks, made them living tanks. With their thick hides and massive flesh, they charged recklessly, and no one dared confront them head-on.

At this rate of leveling, returning to the Character Rankings was nothing more than a pipe dream. Da Shan and I were the main attackers in the party, so we received comparatively more experience, but with three stragglers sharing it as well, our leveling speed could never be fast.

With a casual sidestep, I evaded the long trunk that came whistling toward me. The Crocodile-Bone Sword, infused with the Vast-Heaven Mind Method, blazed with searing white light. Like twin moons shooting down the sun, it cleaved straight into the woolly elephant’s pillar-like leg. The blade cut through its thick hide and plunged deep into the flesh until the hilt disappeared, sending blood and tissue flying.

The wounded woolly elephant was thrown into a panic. Its enormous head swung wildly, but its sharpest weapons—its tusks—could not turn around to attack. It could only lash out with its trunk. Before I could withdraw my sword, the trunk struck with tremendous force and knocked me aside. Riding that violent blow, the Crocodile-Bone Sword tore unwillingly from the elephant’s leg in a spray of blood.

“Roar!”

The sword had injured the elephant’s leg bone. The instant the blade came free, excruciating pain left the beast unable to support its enormous body. It staggered, then crashed heavily to the ground with a pitiful howl.

Xiao Xue’s Holy Light and Xiao Yue’s Rejuvenation Spell descended upon me almost simultaneously. Da Shan followed up at once, swinging his axe and finishing off the woolly elephant, which had lost the ability to move and was helplessly struggling on the ground. Ah Wei, who had been firing arrows from the side all along, lowered his bow and began collecting the spoils. Our coordination was clean and efficient.

“Wait, Da Shan!”

I called out to Da Shan, who was about to go and draw another monster. The process of killing the elephant had stirred something in me. I seemed to have an idea, but I could not quite grasp it.

“What is it, Bat? Did your internal organs get injured just now, leaving you unable to move properly?”

Da Shan asked in confusion.

“We can’t go on like this. Our leveling speed is far too slow.”

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“Could it be that you’ve thought of a better method?” Da Shan asked.

I watched the woolly elephant gradually disappear beneath Ah Wei’s skinning knife, and a flash of inspiration struck me.

That’s right! Animals as large and clumsy as elephants had almost no ability to fight back once they were knocked down. All we had to do was bring one to the ground and wait to harvest it.

“Ah Wei, return to your old profession and set some traps!”

The idea instantly took shape.

“Boss, you can’t be serious. Setting traps here? An elephant weighs several tons and is enormous. How big would the pit have to be to hold it? It would take at least two or three days to finish!”

Ah Wei complained bitterly.

“That’s right, Brother Bat. A little trap probably won’t work against an elephant.”

Xiao Yue agreed.

“If you have an idea, hurry up and tell us. Stop keeping us in suspense!”

Seeing me smile without saying anything, Xiao Xue urged me on.

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