The weapon refiner is not doing her job properly

Chapter 260 Blood Sun (7)

However, it is precisely such people who stand out in the brutal game "Blood Sun".

After all, the easier it is for people to lower their guard, the more dangerous it often is.

Old Gu smiled calmly, a hint of self-deprecation in his smile: "Nothing special. After graduation, I first went to that variety show that Lei Zong spearheaded, barely managing to become a familiar face and gain some connections in the entertainment industry. You know, once you leave the Star Alliance, it's impossible to go back. Later... I joined the Star Glory Alliance, thinking things would be a little different."

He paused, his tone revealing little disappointment, as if he were recounting a trivial matter unrelated to himself, "In the end, as you can see, nothing really happened."

"Being adventurous and daring, and enriching your life experiences, is not a bad thing in itself. Perhaps these seemingly tortuous experiences will become the solid foundation for your future success."

"Thank you for your comfort." Old Gu coughed twice, sighed softly, and his gaze became distant. "Whether it succeeds or not, I don't care that much. The purpose of doing this is very simple: to make money."

“Everyone is just trying to make a living; it’s very down-to-earth,” Su Ninglong said sincerely, her eyes full of agreement.

Old Gu relaxed even more and started chatting with Su Ninglong.

As he spoke, he drifted into a memory. "Actually, I'm glad you didn't distance yourself from me because of my current status. I hesitated for a long time before finally choosing to leave the Star Alliance. It wasn't until after I left that I truly understood how good those days were. The Star Alliance provided not only stability but also a sense of belonging that made me feel at ease."

It's just that I don't earn much money.

In fact, Star Alliance didn't earn much. Because of his experience in Star Alliance and the entertainment industry, he not only learned more about human relationships, but also knew the law of the jungle, which gave him some extra pocket money.

Su Ninglong's eyes flickered almost imperceptibly, her tongue unconsciously pressing against her teeth. A question lingered in her mind: should she ask it, or not?

"You've been in the Star Alliance all this time, have you met a Vice Principal Wu?"

Upon hearing this, Lao Gu instinctively straightened his body. This slight movement immediately aggravated all the wounds on his body, and the intense pain made his already pale face turn ashen, with fine beads of cold sweat seeping from his forehead.

Seeing this, Shen Zhaoming, who had been standing quietly to the side, stepped forward and silently handed over a blood-replenishing potion and an antidote.

Although the venomous snake's abilities are insidious and cunning, fortunately, its venom is not special and can be neutralized by ordinary antidotes.

"Thank you." Old Gu didn't have time to think about where these medicines came from. His current situation was crystal clear: if he didn't treat his injuries in time, death would be the only thing waiting for him. He took them without hesitation and inserted the tiny needles into his skin.

As the medicine was injected, a trace of color finally returned to his pale cheeks.

“Vice Principal Wu…” He caught his breath and pondered, “I did have contact with her. She was very low-key in the academy; most people only knew the principal and had almost no impression of this vice principal.”

The Star Alliance has a unique system with only one principal. All those who hold the position of 'vice-principal' have other job titles in their actual work.

Su Ninglong's sudden suggestion must have had a special purpose.

Old Gu had no loyalty to the Star Alliance and revealed the truth almost without reservation: "The reason I had some contact with her was because not long ago, she personally instructed us to enter the Blood Sun, try to build a force there, and at a certain time, accept the command of the Star Alliance's four-star hunters."

Hearing the other person's calm and honest narration, Su Ninglong suddenly felt a pang of guilt.

She had only tentatively inquired about Vice Principal Wu's character, never expecting Old Gu to be so open and honest. This unguarded trust made her deeply aware that her presumptuous question seemed extremely inappropriate.

"I... I didn't actually intend to ask such in-depth questions." Su Ninglong's bright eyes blinked, revealing a hint of embarrassment and helplessness.

Seeing her like this, Lao Gu couldn't help but laugh. Su Ninglong still had some youthful spirit after all.

“It’s alright.” He said gently. “Actually, after seeing you, I could roughly guess their intentions.”

The hunters sent by the Star Alliance to Blood Sun must be the elite of the elite.

The best way to deal with such elites is naturally through sheer numbers, waiting until they are exhausted before delivering a fatal blow.

Shen Zhaoming raised a question at the opportune moment: "Shouldn't a mission like yours be kept strictly confidential?"

Upon hearing this, Old Gu's lips curled into a self-deprecating smile. "From the moment I was forced to accept this mission, I knew that the Star Glory Alliance would never let me leave unscathed. In that case, what difference does it make whether it's kept secret or not?"

He looked up at the two of them, his gaze frank. "Helping you offers a glimmer of hope; continuing to work for the venomous snake is truly courting death. I'm not trying to gain your trust; this is the truth. You might as well abandon the darkness and embrace the light now."

Only the dead can truly keep a secret about murder.

Old Gu wasn't a top-tier hunter to begin with; he was recruited from outside the area.

All it takes is to paint a tempting picture to motivate him to work for you. Even if he is at risk of betrayal, as long as a high-level hunter is present, the "pawn" will ultimately become a stepping stone and won't cause any trouble.

Vice Principal Wu's ability to understand and manipulate people's hearts is truly masterful.

Su Ninglong and Shen Zhaoming exchanged a glance, neither of them expecting the reason behind it to be so straightforward and cruel.

Is the Star Alliance really acting in such a despicable way?
Su Ninglong didn't entirely believe Lao Gu's story, but she had witnessed the scene of the venomous snake's ruthless attack firsthand, and it couldn't be faked.

At this moment, Shen Zhaoming had already taken out the equipment to conduct a full-body examination on Lao Gu. The various data on the screen kept changing, indicating that his physical condition was worrying.

“Malnutrition, internal organ damage, excessive blood loss from wounds, low body temperature, and multiple frostbite injuries.” Shen Zhaoming frowned slightly; this body could be described as riddled with holes.

He looked up and asked, "What is your current level of erosion?"

Old Gu knew he couldn't hide his condition from the two of them, so he answered truthfully, "80."

The venomous snake's attack was not only fierce, but also carried a terrifying corrosive force. Anyone unaware of the situation might think that the venomous snake itself was a monster from "Blood Sun".

He took a deep breath, enduring the stinging pain all over his body, and pleaded in a low voice, "An erosion level of 50 or higher is a hurdle; once it's exceeded, it's very difficult to lower it again. I've run out of purification crystals; could I borrow two from you to tide me over?"

The monsters outside died swiftly and decisively, killed with a single blow. It must have been Su Ninglong's doing; she must have had purification crystals.

In order to save his men's lives, Lao Gu had already given away most of his purification crystals.

But he himself also longed to survive, and for that he had to compete for resources from others.

At this moment, he felt a sense of detachment from life and death. Since everyone had entered the "Blood Sun," they were all prepared to die at any time.

This contradictory mindset of struggling to survive yet accepting the end seems so natural here. "I don't want to become a monster," he said in a hoarse voice. "If I am ever completely transformed, I hope you can give me a quick death."

“Since you’ve met us, you won’t end up like that.” Su Ninglong originally planned to give some of the purification crystals she had to Lao Gu. She didn’t rely on purification crystals, and Shen Zhaoming, with her by his side, naturally had no need for them.

But then I thought about it again. There are so many people struggling to survive outside. Even a small leader like Lao Gu is suffering from the effects of corruption. It is clear that relying solely on purification crystals cannot fundamentally solve the problem.

She had other uses for these spirit stones.

Su Ninglong got up and walked towards Lao Gu.

Shen Zhaoming frowned slightly, clearly not entirely agreeing with her actions; the pros and cons and risks involved were difficult to weigh.

However, once Su Ninglong has made up her mind, he can't stop her.

Under Lao Gu's dazed gaze, those slender yet firm and powerful fingers gently touched the back of his hand, which was covered in dark shadows.

The next moment, a gentle yet powerful divine sense, like the most precise probe, quietly flowed into his body.

In her divine vision, those frenzied corrosive energies were like countless dark thorns, taking root and spreading wildly in his flesh and energy veins.

Her power transformed into countless soft points of light, like the most patient gardener, gently entwining those "thorns." Instead of brutally severing them, she guided them slowly from their deep roots, then subtly transferred them through their intertwined fingertips.

Time seemed to be infinitely stretched at this moment.

Old Gu's eyes were wide open, his mouth slightly agape, but he couldn't utter a sound.

His brain went completely "on standby" because it was unable to process the scene, which was entirely beyond his cognitive range.

All existing common sense and logic crumbled in an instant, leaving only a blank stare.

He had seen purification of spiritual pollution before, but this was the first time he had witnessed purification of erosion.

When the last trace of corrosive energy was completely removed, the chilling cold that had been lurking in his internal organs suddenly dissipated.

As if an iceberg that had been crushing his spine had melted away in an instant, he went limp and collapsed to the ground, utterly exhausted.

A feeling of weightlessness flowed through my body, and every cell let out a long sigh of relief.

A tear involuntarily welled up in the corner of his eye; the feeling was so wonderful that it seemed unreal.

Indeed, choosing to help Su Ninglong was the right decision. She would never stand idly by while her friend was in danger.

At the same time, the stripped-off cold power was being rapidly absorbed by Su Ninglong's dantian.

A chill ran through her again, but this chill could no longer affect her movements.

"Can you purify the erosion?"

Su Ninglong smiled and said, "My ability isn't called purification; it's more like mutual restraint."

Is that so? Old Gu didn't delve into it further, but he became very interested in the environment here.

He couldn't help but ask, "Are there safe houses in this game? Why can't the snakes find this place?"

“This is a modified subspace.” Shen Zhaoming didn’t elaborate. “You’ve lost too much blood and won’t recover quickly. Rest here.”

The modified space does exist in the game, but it is a hidden program vulnerability that is extremely difficult to detect.

If the venomous snake knew that there was a safe zone here, it could completely break down the spatial barrier through continuous energy attacks.

Once Su Ninglong makes a move, it's like the sky is falling and the earth is splitting apart. Shen Zhaoming is really worried that he won't be able to withstand the commotion.

The most urgent task is naturally to reunite with Lei Qingya and Tong Zi as soon as possible, and then make further plans.

Su Ninglong took out all the items from her spatial ring. She handed a thick blanket to Lao Gu, but gave the portable bed to Shen Zhaoming. In this game full of dangers, Shen Zhaoming, who was a "walking bug", could not afford to fall ill.

“You sound weak and listless. Take a good rest.” Su Ninglong even gave Shen Zhaoming a brand new down comforter to make sure he wouldn’t get cold while he slept.

Faced with such a stark contrast in treatment, Lao Gu's eyes became very strange, and a faint, elusive light seemed to flicker deep within his pupils.

He chuckled softly, then obediently wrapped himself tighter in the blanket, closed his eyes, and fell asleep.

Shen Zhaoming knew that his physical condition was not good, and the gap was obvious compared to Su Ninglong, so he didn't make a fuss and obediently lay down on the small bed to rest.

He was taller than Su Ninglong, and the makeshift bed was a bit too short for him, so he could only make do by slightly curling up his long legs.

This awkward posture caused him to wake up with sore muscles all over his body and a stiff neck. He couldn't help but smile bitterly to himself, feeling that he was really a bit "delicate".

However, Shen Zhaoming did indeed sleep very soundly, and Lao Gu's sleep quality was also surprisingly good. His dark circles under his eyes had become much clearer after resting.

He stretched and exclaimed, "I haven't slept as soundly as I have in the past six months." The sense of security provided by the environment is indeed more effective than any sleeping pill.

After the three of them had a simple but delicious bowl of instant noodles, Lao Gu began to explain the situation in "Blood Sun" to Su Ninglong in detail.

"There is no day and night during the Blood Sun; the blood-red sun hangs forever overhead. But there is a solar eclipse once a month, and that is when the monster is at its weakest."

Old Gu speculated that a certain monster was one of the key factors in the destruction of the Blood Sun world. "I originally planned to discuss with other players the possibility of joining forces to deal with a level 60 monster during the eclipse; it's currently the highest-level monster in the game. Unfortunately, the venomous snake has disrupted the situation, and the cooperation may be difficult to continue. I wonder if any of you are interested?"

"Aren't you only level 30? Why don't you level up first before challenging it?" Shen Zhaoming felt this approach was putting the cart before the horse. After a moment's thought, he asked, "Is there some kind of restriction?"

Old Gu thought to himself that Shen Zhaoming was really smart; he understood things immediately and could get straight to the heart of the problem.

"That's right. After level 30, not only does the experience required to level up increase significantly, but you also only get a fixed ten experience points for killing any monster. If the monster's level is lower than your own, you get no experience at all."

No matter what monster you kill, you only get ten experience points. I don't know when it will take to fill that ridiculously long experience bar.