CHAPTER 231: CHAPTER 229: HIDDEN MAP (73/159)

A skeleton learned Holy Light Slash?

What’s happening to this world?

However, Gu Xi quickly got used to such situations. In the Chaoyang Radiance Guild, Gu Xi had seen many Undead Mages and Death Knights playing with light magic or skills.

Now it seems that a skeleton learning Holy Light Slash isn’t a big deal.

But Gu Xi was somewhat curious about this Holy Knight’s situation.

"Investigate!"

Under Gu Xi’s orders, the entire Undead Corps charged down the street.

This time, Gu Xi’s exploration finally bore fruit.

On this street, Gu Xi found more than a dozen fallen Holy Knight corpses, along with three severed vine roots.

On top of one of the vine roots, the Black Apple Blossoms hadn’t been scattered yet.

Seeing the Holy Knights die clinging to the vine roots, Gu Xi sighed.

"A few skeletons, take these Holy Knights’ bodies to the Route 19 bus stop."

Hearing Gu Xi’s command, Luna didn’t say anything, even though these corpses were level six or above during their lives, and even though they could be used to create stronger and better Undead, she didn’t stop Gu Xi.

After sending off the Holy Knights’ bodies, Gu Xi then approached the three vine roots.

Pulling up the vine root still with Black Apple Blossoms, a message rang in Gu Xi’s ear.

[You obtained 1 Black Apple Blossom, task progress updated (1/20).]

But Gu Xi wasn’t focused on that. When he pulled up the vine root, he noticed that the severed end of the vine root had dried green liquid.

Following the trail left by the liquid, Gu Xi could see where these vine roots emerged from the ground.

On this street, there were three pits, indicating that there were only three vine roots attacking the street initially.

If all three vine roots were cut down by the Holy Knights, what possessed the Holy Knight just now, and why did the other Holy Knights die?

An idea formed in Gu Xi’s mind.

Before Gu Xi could figure it out, Luna floated over.

"Lord, everything has been cleaned up."

Gu Xi was about to order the advance to the next street block but, as he issued the command, his eyes fell once again on the pit where the vine root emerged.

He hesitated for a moment, then said, "Luna, call the Ghosts and Corpse Poison Flies, and let them check down the three pits."

Receiving Gu Xi’s command, Luna didn’t ask why. She swiftly returned to Yalidu City, beginning to mobilize the troops Gu Xi needed.

Gu Xi still had quite a few Ghosts, but there weren’t many Corpse Poison Flies left.

On the previous sewer expedition, many Corpse Poison Flies were taken, and a batch was later given to Shaya.

Now, the number of Corpse Poison Flies left available in Yalidu City was quite limited.

Gu Xi didn’t have any source for Corpse Poison Flies; once they died, they were gone.

But this was not the time to consider such matters. After releasing the Corpse Poison Flies and Ghosts, they automatically entered the pits.

And Gu Xi stood atop a pit, waiting. Shortly after, several Ghosts flew up from the pit, gesturing to Luna as they spoke.

Unlike Gu Xi, as a Ghost, Luna could converse directly with the Ghosts.

After listening, she turned to Gu Xi and said, "Lord, they found another section of the vine root beneath."

Upon hearing this, Gu Xi’s eyes lit up.

"Let’s go have a look."

With that, Gu Xi jumped into the pit, followed by the rapid descent of his soldiers, nearly filling the pit.

Fortunately, Luna noticed the issue immediately, instructing the Undead attempting to jump in to split up. The sluggish Zombies guarded outside the pit, while the Skeleton Gunners needed for battle didn’t come down.

Descending were the Bone-Slaying Camp’s Skeleton Two-Handed Swordsmen and Skeleton Mages.

These Undead advanced through the three pits simultaneously, and Gu Xi was already leading Luna at the forefront.

The pit’s depth wasn’t significant, about three meters underground.

Entering the passage from the pit, Gu Xi touched the pit’s soil, then disdainfully remarked, "Disgusting bloody scent."

Gu Xi then pressed his arm heavily against the pit edge, revealing signs of artificial excavation.

It was obvious without much observation that the vine roots from the apple tree were led here by someone.

To accurately attack every street surrounding Westminster Cathedral, they had set up at least one node on every street and alley.

They used blood mixed with special energy to attract the apple tree’s roots.

Finally, the Cultists on the ground activated the ritual, agitating the roots and vine, using local pedestrians as sacrifices to guide the mutation of the apple tree.

They succeeded quite effectively. Judging by the apple tree’s canopy covering half of Westminster Cathedral, the operation was nearly flawless.

They even calculated the final retreat route, anticipating the mutated apple tree would retract the roots, destroying the underground guiding passage.

Thus, even if someone discovered the roots emerged from underground, they couldn’t trace the passage back to the apple tree roots’ location.

They would only find collapsed tunnels, making it easier to fight directly in Westminster Cathedral Square than excavate the tunnels.

But the Cultists never anticipated encountering an unexpected situation.

On this street, a group of about ten Holy Knights had gathered, sacrificing their lives to sever the apple tree roots.

The severely injured roots didn’t retract but rather jammed within the tunnel.

Hence, the three tunnels didn’t collapse.

Gu Xi was certain of these conclusions because, after traversing one of the three tunnels, a message appeared before him.

[Discovered a hidden dungeon map, Underground Tomb, find the core location, Holy Tree Crown, within twelve hours!]

[Note: This is the first time this hidden dungeon map has been discovered. If the exploration task is not completed within twelve hours, the dungeon will erase this hidden map in future runs.]

Looking at the information in front of him, Gu Xi couldn’t help but cheer inwardly.

I said the first round of dungeon exploration was crucial.

If they had gone straight to Westminster Cathedral, this hidden map would have been missed.

An additional hidden map means one more area for combat.

Gu Xi didn’t bother to question why the core location of the Underground Tomb was named Holy Tree Crown.

He was considering how to remove the apple tree roots without collapsing the tunnels.