novelraw Chapter 235: To enter the instance of Cangshan City
Chapter 235: To enter the instance of Cangshan City
"Once you go in, you must maintain a low profile and be cautious. Even if you don’t achieve anything, you can’t expose yourself. Make sure to maintain the identity that the Mist System has given you," Kassadin instructed, sparing no room for elaboration.
He moved on, "Now, let’s talk about the second point—Ghost energy!"
With a flourish, Kassadin stretched out his hand. Ghostly energy swirled between his right-hand fingers, and he gently touched the back of his left hand. Instantly, a long string of numbers appeared, making Alexander’s eyes widen in disbelief.
One hundred and ninety-three billion? Could this be a measure of Ghost energy?
According to levels, Alexander’s soldier rank needed only one hundred thousand; a million would elevate him to general, ten million to prince, a hundred million to king, and a billion to imperial level. And Kassadin’s number was 193 billion!
Could it be that Kassadin had already reached the Emperor level, a prowess comparable to Alice?
"It’s a reserve value!" Noticing Alexander’s bewilderment, Kassadin explained, "Once you enter the instance, the Mist System will activate the Ghost energy feature for you. Inside the instance, or even on this steamship, you’ll find almost everywhere accepts Ghost energy.
Besides directly using the energy from your body, you can also store it as reserve value. These reserves can’t replenish your energy directly but can be used as currency."
Kassadin’s words suddenly made everything click into place for Alexander.
No wonder the Ghost Energy value on Kassadin was so astronomical. One should understand that the accumulation of a single unit of Ghost Energy involves a lengthy process.
Kassadin’s true rank is indeed Imperial, and in another identity, he’s the landlord of the Happiness Apartment, having existed for who knows how many years. So, having tens of billions in Ghost Energy reserves is entirely expected.
"Ghost Energy is extremely important within the Mist Instance. This resource can’t be transferred, traded among each other, or even retained after death.
Given it’s your first time, you won’t have much of it, so remember—don’t be reckless! For this instance, forget about any rewards; focus on accumulating more Ghost Energy," Kassadin solemnly advised the trio.
Selena’s eyes were fixated on Alexander. She looked entranced, her gaze filled with undefined thoughts. Edward nodded gravely, clearly taking the advice to heart. As for Alexander, he seemed utterly nonchalant.
He had Ghost Energy reserves—plenty of them! While not as exaggerated as Kassadin’s, Alexander had a significant amount of ghost food.
During the Ghost Street Battle, all the ghost corpses above the Ferocious and Fierce ranks had been collected. Thanks to Edward’s Frost Talent, they were perfectly preserved. Although the battle ended quickly due to Alexander, it was a fierce, brutal struggle.
He possessed a thousand soldier-rank ghost corpses, thirty thousand Fierce-level ones, and an astonishing four hundred thousand at the Ferocious level. To facilitate quick conversion, Alexander initially created just basic candies.
For this Mist Instance, unclear on what to expect, he brought half his inventory—enough to produce an estimated ten billion in Ghost Energy reserves.
"What’s the last thing we should be aware of? What does ’breaking the deadlock’ mean?" Now effectively holding a treasury of ten billion in Ghost Energy reserves, Alexander, his worries allayed, was eager to hear the remaining details.
"You’re all newcomers to the Mist Instance, so ’breaking the deadlock’ is probably a bit ahead of the game for you. However, smaller loops are worth exploring. Before we talk about breaking the deadlock, let’s first discuss the rules of the Mist Instance," Kassadin stated.
He took a cup from the table and poured himself some pale-red ghost tea, draining it in a single gulp before continuing.
"The unifying feature of all Mist Instances is the loop. Events loop, people loop, even death loops."
"To illustrate, imagine an old man stumbling and being flung by a car as he crosses the road. The next moment, he might reappear in his home or materialize on the opposite side of the road, ready to relive the loop again."
"Similarly, a school might teach the same things every day or every month. A supermarket might face the same customers buying the same items every day, ignited by the same occurrence. A bus might traverse the same route, encountering the same accident at the same spot."
"What we aim to do is to break these loops. Each loop can be shattered in different ways. Once you find the flaw and break the loop, the dispersed ghost energy forms abyssal ghost crystals, and you receive rewards from the Mist System."
"The rewards differ based on the number of people caught in the loop, the duration of the loop, and other variables. We call this ’breaking the deadlock!’
For instance, if you break the loop of a solider-level elderly ghost, you might only get basic ghost currency. But if you break a loop lasting a week or even a month across an entire city, you could accumulate dozens of Imperial-level ghost crystals and phenomenal rewards. Of course, no one has managed to do this yet."
"But heed this: No matter the type of loop, they all pose extreme dangers to us. Even the weakest beings can kill you if they strike you, even if you’re a Ghost Emperor."
"Outside, the Chosen one are referred to as insects. But here, everyone participating is but a humble ant."
The term "ant" seems simple but carries an undertone of boundless desolation. For even if one is a Ghost Emperor, the horror world beyond serves as the grave of the real world—making this place the funeral ground for ghosts.
"Cangshan City is a massive Mist Instance, originally one of the seventeen ghost domains. It was later consumed by the mist, evolving into a Mist Instance," Kassadin mused.
His gaze seemed to penetrate the floor, as if he could see the terrifying city veiled in mist beneath him. He seemed to be speaking to Alexander, but also as if he was lost in his own reflections.
"Here, numerous loops of various sizes exist. This place is both a treasure trove and a colossal graveyard!"
Astonishing! Even Edward, who had some understanding of Mist Instances, was visibly shaken, a shade of horror accompanying his awe.
Alexander was even more stunned. He hadn’t imagined that Cangshan City would be so vast—a complete ghost city turned into an instance! What made it even more terrifying was that the city was full of beings wielding forbidden powers.
However...
A glint of keen interest flashed across Alexander’s eyes. This ghost city might offer unexpected benefits he had not yet fathomed.
After all, he had encountered the white mist on the outskirts of the Motorcycle Instance one night, and it seemed to have had little effect on him.
He wondered whether the forbidden powers wielded by the ghosts in the city would also be ineffective against him. If so, things would become very interesting indeed.
"Cangshan City Instance is approaching. All participants, please proceed to the deck and prepare to enter Cangshan City."
Just as Alexander was pondering, a cold, mechanical voice resounded. The sound was eerily jarring, resembling the meshing of gears in grinding dissonance.
"Let’s go! To the deck!" Kassadin rose to his feet, addressing Alexander and his companions.
As they exited the compartment, Kassadin suddenly paused next to another room, pointing at it as he spoke, "Mist Instances are perilous, and despite my countless visits, I can’t guarantee safe return.
If anything happens... this compartment, number 69, is reserved for you. I’ve already paid off the ghost energy required for it. Remember, head here the moment you return. Otherwise, the relentless Desert from the endless abyss won’t let you off so easily."
"Thank you," Alexander felt genuinely touched. Kassadin had thought of every possible contingency, even potential accidents.
However, this seemed a lot like a ’death flag.’ It’s like in movies when the protagonist talks about getting married after the war, only to face a tragic end. What Kassadin had just said was hardly a good omen.
"Don’t worry," Kassadin sensed Alexander’s concern as they continued walking. "I’ve been to Cangshan City Instance countless times. The likelihood of an accident is quite low. It’s just a precaution. Killing me isn’t that easy, I assure you!"
Buoyed by Kassadin’s confidence, Alexander said no more. It wasn’t as if they could just advise Kassadin to abandon the mission and return. This was no leisurely stroll in a park where one could come and go at will.
Soon, the group reached the deck. Other ghosts passed by, casting puzzled glances at Alexander and Selena before quickly averting their eyes.
Clearly, no one wanted to stir up trouble in this situation. Each individual remained silent, heads bowed, as they all moved across the deck.
The sky above was a tapestry of perennial gloom, its emptiness paradoxically failing to deliver the lightness of a cloudless expanse. Even the feeble rays of sunshine, tinged with an unforgiving cold, did little to warm the soul or illuminate the world below.
In the distance, massive swaths of mist rose like impenetrable walls, barricading the horizon and imprisoning the world in an expansive, eerie cage.
The wail of the steamboat’s horn pierced through the air as plumes of gray mist billowed from its funnel, forming a nebulous curtain that enveloped the surroundings.
The boat seemed to move at a languid pace, but the scenes outside shifted as if through some manner of teleportation. In the blink of an eye, the steamboat plunged headlong into the foreboding fog.
As they ventured deeper, the mist grew denser. At first, one could still glimpse the desolate, charred earth beneath. But soon, even the ground was obscured by the burgeoning fog, and the already gray curtain of mist was further enveloped in an even thicker layer.
Moments later, Alexander felt as if he had collided with a thin veil of water. Then suddenly, his vision cleared, revealing a sprawling city beyond human comprehension—grandiose and awe-inspiring.
Gargantuan walls, pockmarked and moss-ridden, soared a hundred meters high. Any human standing atop them would seem as insignificant as an ant.
Sections of the walls had collapsed, resembling natural hillocks that stretched far into the distance. Even from a great height, the boundaries remained elusive.
These walls of blue stone seemed impervious to the ravages of time, their weathered, crumbled appearance bearing witness to countless eons.
Inside, the city was a revelation. In stark contrast to the dark, desolate hellscapes one might have expected, the city was bereft of wild, untamed mountains or derelict neighborhoods. Instead, it was a metropolis of towering buildings and bustling avenues.
This image of urban prosperity stood in jarring contrast to the surrounding wastelands shrouded in mist. If not for the confining fog wrapped around the city walls, one might be lulled into a surreal delusion of having returned to reality.
"The Cangshan City instance has arrived. Countdown to teleportation begins: 10, 9, 8..."
The mechanized voice echoed once more. On the deck, numerous ghost kings, ghost imperials, and even ghost Emperors tensed up, their faces etched with solemnity.
"Body contact will ensure you’re teleported to the same location. But if the group exceeds five, the risk of immediate exposure increases. My presence, given my power level, may lead us into a particularly challenging cycle. So, you’re on your own!"
"Remember my warnings—be cautious and discreet. Do not break cover. Also, if the cycle you find yourself in is not especially perilous, try to stay put. Entering a new cycle would require special items to reconstruct your identities!"
As Kassadin’s voice faded away, a blinding light enveloped everyone on the deck.
The teleportation began.
In a swift motion, Selena clung to Alexander’s arm while Alexander placed his hand on Edward’s shoulder beside him. Clearly, Kassadin had forgotten to mention this earlier and had only just remembered.
Fortunately, their reactions were quick enough. Just as they completed these arrangements, the light commenced its teleporting work. In the next instant, the trio vanished from the deck. When they opened their eyes amidst the blinding luminance, they found themselves in a room—alone, just the three of them.
Exchanging glances, they collectively exhaled in relief.
It was fortunate they hadn’t appeared in the middle of a busy street, sparing them a potentially calamitous arrival.
Then, the cold, mechanical voice resonated in their ears once more.