Survival in an apartment, starting with a stroke of luck on a plane

The effects of "Divine Blessing" are becoming apparent.

laugh--!

Like a red-hot iron plunged into ice water, the ghoul's wounds emitted a violent sizzling sound and billowed out large amounts of white smoke. It let out a shrill scream and its movements instantly froze.

"It's him!"

"That expert!"

One of the human players recognized Lin Yu and exclaimed in surprise.

The ghouls showed wariness and fear, especially the sunny young man. When he saw Lin Yu, a complex emotion flashed in his crimson eyes, a mixture of fear and resentment.

[Title Quest: Demon Hunter: Progress 6/5]

Sold out instantly!

Lin Yu's powerful entry instantly turned the tide of the local battle!

Without pausing, he turned and swept his trident across, forcing back another ghoul that pounced on him. The force of the water flow attached to the trident made it stagger backward.

On the other side, Hawkeye seized the opportunity and fired a flaming arrow that clung to its chest like a leech, instantly engulfing its body in a burst of flames.

boom!

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Lin Yu fired a shot that struck the ghoul on the head, the terrifying power of the Azure Rose blasting its skull apart.

[Title Quest: Demon Hunter: Progress 7/5]

In the blink of an eye, the two ghouls were wiped out, and the morale of the human players soared.

"kill!"

"Follow the boss and kill them all!"

On the other side, the sunny young man let out an angry roar, abandoned his opponent, and pounced on Lin Yu like a streak of blood-red lightning.

He knew that if this variable wasn't resolved, the ghouls would undoubtedly be defeated.

His speed was astonishing, and his sharp claws went straight for Lin Yu's throat.

Lin Yu's eyes narrowed, and he used the Trident of Poseidon to block.

clang!!

Sparks flew everywhere.

A tremendous force emanated from the halberd, causing Lin Yu's arm to go numb. The power of the transformed young man far surpassed that of an ordinary ghoul.

The two clashed instantly, their swords flashing and claws swirling, their speed dazzling to behold.

On the other side, Hawkeye led the other players in a fierce battle, holding off the remaining two ordinary ghouls.

The battle between Lin Yu and the sunny young man was the focus of the arena.

The young man was incredibly fast and strong, his claw strikes were ruthless and cunning, and he had a wealth of combat experience.

In terms of attributes, it has the advantage.

Lin Yu's advantage lay in his superior weaponry. The Poseidon Trident was both offensive and defensive, and combined with the occasional sneak attacks from [Azure Rose], he gradually gained the upper hand!

puff!

Poseidon's trident seized an opening, slashing a deep, bone-revealing wound into the sunlit youth's arm. The divine power corroded the wound, causing him to groan in pain and slow his movements slightly.

Lin Yu seized the opportunity and unleashed a powerful attack with [Azure Rose].

boom!

The powerful bullet, imbued with demonic power, slammed into Xu Ri's chest, causing him to stagger backward.

Just then, Hawkeye seemed to have also dealt with his opponent, and the burning longbow was once again aimed at the sunny young man.

Surprisingly, her arrow tip deflected slightly, not aiming at the young man's vitals, but instead striking his thigh!

puff!

The sunny young man let out a painful groan, his body fully exposed, his movements stiff.

opportunity!

Lin Yu pounced like a cheetah, his left hand holding the Azure Rose pointing at the opponent's knee, while his right hand wielded the trident, aiming straight for the opponent's non-lethal shoulder!

At almost the same time, Hawkeye drew his bow again, condensing a flaming arrow but not releasing it, locking onto the sunny young man from afar, forming a powerful deterrent.

The two seemed to have rehearsed their teamwork countless times, displaying perfect chemistry.

Bang! Sizzle!

Two sounds of flesh being pierced rang out almost simultaneously.

The young man's knees were shattered, and his right shoulder was pierced by a trident. The power of the sea god surged into his body, instantly suppressing all his resistance and bringing him intense pain.

He screamed and fell to his knees, whereupon Lin Yu struck him hard on the back of the neck with the halberd shaft, knocking him unconscious.

Almost simultaneously, Lin Yu also understood the situation. Instead of taking the opportunity to kill, he quickly turned around and, together with the other players, completely eliminated the last ordinary ghoul that was still putting up a last-ditch effort.

[Title Quest: Demon Hunter: Progress 8/5]

The battle has temporarily come to an end.

Only the incapacitated young man remained on the field. He had now regained consciousness, kneeling on the ground, panting heavily, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Lin Yu and [Hawkeye], filled with resentment.

There were still a dozen or so human players left, all wounded. They gathered around and looked at the captured young man with complex emotions in their eyes, including anger, fear, and a hint of pleasure.

Lin Yu and Eagle Eye's gazes met in mid-air.

Though they couldn't see each other's expressions through their masks, they both understood each other's intentions from their actions—capturing the last ghoul alive wasn't out of mercy, but to delay the game's end and obtain more divinely blessed equipment.

They all yearn for more power.

A tacit understanding was reached between the two.

"Tie him up," [Hawkeye] ordered the players around her. Her voice came through the mask, carrying a hint of coldness and unquestionable authority.

The players immediately found various ropes and tied the sunny young man up tightly.

The square fell silent for a time, with only the suppressed groans of the wounded and the crackling of the burning torches.

Lin Yu put away his weapon and walked up to [Eagle Eye].

The two exchanged a glance, but neither spoke first.

The atmosphere in the square was subtle and tense.

The human players, still shaken, tended to their wounds and gathered up the bodies of their companions, their eyes occasionally glancing at the two most threatening figures in the arena—Lin Yu and [Eagle Eye].

There was no verbal exchange between Lin Yu and Eagle Eye; they were both aware of each other's intentions.

Delaying the end of the game in order to seek more blessings is an unspoken consensus.

As for whether it will lead to cooperation, competition, or even a bloodbath, that's a matter for later.

The two began clearing the battlefield in perfect unison, quickly collecting valuable items from the fallen players (including humans and ghouls)—game currency, some decent-looking equipment, consumables, and so on.

Other players were doing the same thing, but they weren't stupid; they didn't approach Lin Yu and Eagle Eye, but instead collected their own items.

As for the only surviving ghoul, the sunny young man, he was bound tightly by the players with the strongest ropes and chains made of metal scraps they could find, his mouth gagged, and he was thrown into a relatively open and easily guarded area in the center of the town.

It is guarded by the remaining human players.

With Eagle Eye's flaming arrows and Lin Yu's terrifying combat power as a deterrent, no one dared to have any wicked thoughts, and no one thought that this crippled ghoul could still cause trouble.

After finishing these tasks, Lin Yu nodded slightly to [Eagle Eye] as a farewell, then turned around without hesitation, his figure quickly disappearing into the thick fog and ruins.

[Hawkeye] watched the direction he left in, his eyes flashing beneath the bronze mask, and he too turned and left in another direction.

She clearly has her own goals and plans.

Now that the known ghoul threat has been almost completely eliminated, the game environment has temporarily become "safe".

Lin Yu's goal was crystal clear—to seize this precious time and do everything in his power to search for the last two deities: the moon goddess Selenea and the earth goddess Gaiaros, along with their statues and offerings.

Based on previously obtained fragmented information and analysis of the town's environment, clues about the Earth God are more likely related to forests, ancient trees, and mines, while the Moon God is more likely to be associated with highlands, stargazing points, or places related to night and seclusion.

Lin Yu decided to head to the vast forest on the edge of the town first.

There you are more likely to find "plump acorns" and traces of the earth god.

He went all out, and although the Trident of Poseidon wasn't in a watery environment, the basic +2 bonus to all attributes still made him as light as a feather. He quickly crossed the town and entered the silent forest again.

The forest was dimly lit, and the fog was thinner than in the town, but it added to the eeriness of the place.

Finding century-old oak trees is no easy task; most of the trees in this forest have strange shapes and are difficult to identify.

He spent a lot of time, with the help of Liu Xiangxiang and Liu Yue'er, venturing deep into the forest, before finally, based on a rough judgment of the tree's texture and shape, he located an extremely tall tree whose trunk required several people to encircle.

It grows stubbornly in a relatively open forest clearing. Although its branches and leaves are somewhat unnaturally twisted, it exudes a tenacious vitality compared to the other trees around it.

[Ancient Oak Tree]

Description: An oak tree that has endured the long years seems to have resisted some kind of erosion, still containing the vibrant life deep within the earth.

Lin Yu looked up and, sure enough, saw several heavy acorns with shiny, hard shells among the higher branches.

He easily climbed the tree trunk and carefully picked three or four of the plumpest acorns, the ones richest in energy.

Plump acorns

Category: Quest Items/Materials

Description: A precious fruit from an ancient oak tree, imbued with the earth's nutrients and life essence accumulated over many years, making it an excellent offering for certain ancient ceremonies.

One of the goals has been achieved.

Lin Yu carefully put it away.

He leaped down from the tree trunk, preparing to expand his search area around the ancient oak tree in search of the possible remains of the statue of the Earth God, when his gaze was drawn to an unusual area not far behind the ancient oak tree.

The ground there rises slightly, forming a small mound, on which are scattered a large number of broken stones. These stones seem to have been carved by human hands, with faint, fern-like or mountain-like patterns remaining on them.

Pushing aside the tangled vines and shrubs, a low, half-buried stone gate remnant is revealed.

Most of the stone gate has collapsed, but you can see that behind it is a narrow underground passage, which is dark and smells of earth and ancient.

Lin Yu's heart skipped a beat, and he summoned Liu Xiangxiang. "Xiangxiang, go in and investigate. Be careful."

Liu Xiangxiang transformed into a wisp of green smoke and slipped inside. A moment later, she returned: "My benefactor, inside is a very small, ancient stone chamber. In the center is... a clay statue, remarkably well-preserved."

After confirming there was no danger, Lin Yu crouched down and crawled into the tunnel without hesitation.

The passageway extends downwards for a short distance, ending at a small, circular stone chamber that can only accommodate three to five people standing at a time.

In the center of the stone chamber stands a statue of a deity.

This statue is unlike any I've ever seen before. It is not made of stone or metal, but rather of a dark brown, extremely tough clay mixed with tiny crystal particles, giving it a warm and weighty texture.

The statue depicts a plump female figure with a benevolent yet majestic expression, her hands clasped to her chest as if supporting all things. Her dress is carved with patterns of mountains, rivers, forests, and fields.

Although there was no radiance, it exuded a calm and nourishing aura, as solid as a mountain, that nurtured all things.

The statue of Gaiaros, the goddess of the earth.

Category: Quest Items

Description: A statue symbolizing Gaiaros, the Earth Mother Goddess, allowing you to feel Her peace and power.

Having found it, Lin Yu quickly cleared a small space and placed the statue upright.

Then, he took out the plump acorn, held it in both hands, and placed it before the idol.

He calmed himself again and began to recite the hymn recorded in the Bible, dedicated to Mother Earth: "Rich and heavy earth, abundant mother, protector of the foundation of all things! Your embrace nurtures life, bearing the weight of all things..."

The chanting echoed in the narrow stone chamber, creating a peculiar resonance with the soil and rocks.

The plump acorn in his hand emitted a gentle, golden glow, like waves of ripe wheat, and the life energy within it was quietly stirred.

A vast, profound, incredibly stable, and vibrant will slowly descended.

This will is not as majestic and fierce as the sky, nor as vast and ever-changing as the ocean; it is more like the boundless earth itself beneath our feet, silent and generous, yet containing unparalleled power.

The stone chamber trembled slightly, and fine dust fell from the ceiling.

The surface of the statue shone with a soft, yellowish-brown light, like the earth at dawn.

As the hymn finished, Lin Yu clearly called out the name of God: "Gaia Rose!"

Om-!

The tawny divine light, like surging mud, instantly filled the stone chamber, making it warm and heavy.

The acorn in Lin Yu's hand transformed into a pure stream of life light, merging into the statue.

"Bearer, choose your vessel, to receive the power of nurturing and perseverance." The familiar thought process resurfaced once more.

Lin Yu was prepared. He quickly took out the [Demon Sword], ready to grant it a blessing.

After all, this is the only silver-level equipment he currently possesses.

However, at that moment, an unexpected event occurred. Lin Yu discovered that the [Ghost-Slaying Willow Branch] in his backpack was emitting a faint green light, as if guiding him.

Lin Yu was slightly surprised. After obtaining the Demon Sword, and since he hadn't entered any supernatural games, he hadn't paid much attention to the equipment. He had even considered selling it before, but kept it for various reasons.

Lin Yu thought for a moment, then reached out and took it out.

The moment he took out the willow branch, he could clearly feel that this seemingly withered branch resonated strongly and positively with the divine power of the earth around it, as if it was born to receive this power.

Furthermore, the golden-brown divine light emanating from the acorn seemed to have found the most suitable soil, actively flowing towards the withered willow branch.

It seems that this blessing is selective. Lin Yu thought about it carefully and did not refuse the divine power's action. In fact, he could have forcibly stopped it, but he did not do so.

After all, what's suitable is the best.

Enveloped in divine power, the willow branches underwent a dramatic transformation. The withered branches instantly burst forth with astonishing vitality, becoming lush and verdant, supple yet resilient.

Countless tender green buds quickly sprouted from the branches, and these buds grew at a speed visible to the naked eye, turning into leaves that were as green as jade and contained enormous life energy.

In the blink of an eye, a withered branch transformed into a willow branch about 1.5 meters long, shimmering with iridescent light, lush with branches and verdant leaves.

【Blessings of the Earth - Willow Branches】

Category: Weapons

Attribute: Physical/Special

Grade: Silver

Attack: 100

Durability: 100/100

effect:

Constitution +5

Exorcising ghosts: This ability can attack the physical form of ghosts and forcibly remove ghosts or ghostly energy attached to a person.

Willow Shadow: Consumes a leaf from a branch; the next attack summons hundreds of willow branch phantoms for an area-of-effect attack. (Current Leaves: 100/100) (Note: Inserting willow branches into the soil restores the number of leaves.)

Blessed by the Earth (Passive): Creatures wielding this equipment will continuously regenerate small amounts of health and mana, and will be full of energy, as long as their feet are on the ground.

Earth Offering (Active): Insert a willow branch into the ground and infuse it with magic power. It will absorb the power of the earth and grow rapidly into a giant willow tree.

The willow tree possesses the stats of a silver-level creature, allowing it to manipulate its branches for mid-range attacks, but it cannot move.

Friendly creatures standing within the willow tree's canopy experience a significant increase in their health and mana regeneration rates, along with a temporary boost in their comprehension, allowing them to learn and cultivate skills at an accelerated pace.

Once actively canceled, this skill enters a cooldown period of 24 hours.

Blessing of the Gods (Passive): The blessing power bestowed by Gaiaros, the goddess of the earth, grants the attack of willow branches a special attack effect against ghouls, enabling them to be killed, and increases damage against dark creatures.

Description: A willow branch bathed in the blessings of Mother Earth represents life, nourishment, and protection. Hold it tightly, and you will establish a connection with the boundless earth.

The third divinely blessed weapon has been obtained.

Lin Yu grasped the willow branch, and a warm, vast, and vibrant power instantly surged into his body, greatly strengthening his physique (+5). At the same time, he felt as if the ground beneath his feet had become one with him, and a continuous stream of weak energy was flowing in from the soles of his feet, replenishing his energy consumption.

The willow branch's ability to assist and control the situation is quite good, so it's not a bad deal.

"Very good." Lin Yu nodded in satisfaction and put the willow branch away.

Now, only the last moon goddess is missing.

He quickly left the underground stone chamber, returned to the forest, and then sped back towards the town.

The moon goddess's offerings, "moonstones" or "night dew flowers," require moonlight, and the moon goddess's statue is likely located in some place within the town associated with night, seclusion, or height.

……

Lin Yu quickly left the forest.

However, just as he stepped out of the forest and back into the ruins of the town, something unexpected happened.

Whoosh whoosh!

Several sharp attacks burst forth from the ruins on both sides without warning: arrows, fireballs, wind blades, and even two nets of foul-smelling green slime.

Lin Yu frowned slightly; his exceptional agility and reflexes allowed him to react instantly.

With a sudden burst of power from his feet, his figure retreated rapidly like a ghost, while the Trident of Poseidon danced in front of him, creating a blur of azure shadows.

Boom! Clang!

Most of the ranged attacks were swept away or parried by the halberd's shadow, and the two slime nets were also torn apart by the torrents attached to the halberd blades.

But the attacks were too intense, and a stray arrow and a fireball still grazed his body, taking away a small piece of skin and flesh from his arm. The scorching heat even caused the air to distort slightly.

"Hmph!" Lin Yu grunted, his eyes instantly turning icy cold.

He steadied himself, his sharp gaze sweeping towards the direction from which the attack originated.

From behind the surrounding broken walls and ruins, a dozen or so figures slowly emerged—the surviving human players from before.

The shared hatred they displayed when fighting the enemy together was gone from their faces; instead, they showed greed, tension, and a hint of insane killing intent.

Further away, atop a high, broken wall, stood that familiar figure—[Eagle Eye].

The Rising Sun Bow in her hand was already drawn, and an arrow burning with blazing white flames was firmly locked onto Lin Yu. The most powerful cold arrow from before was obviously from her hand.

Lin Yu's heart sank, but he wasn't too surprised.

There's no way around it; that's just how humans are. Once the external threat is removed, internal greed and malice immediately breed and spread.

They were clearly after the divinely blessed weapon, equipment, and skill cards he possessed, and wanted to kill him to steal them.

"You're courting death." Lin Yu's voice was icy cold and devoid of any emotion.

"Enough with the nonsense!" a burly player sneered.

"Hand over all your equipment, and maybe we might consider leaving you a decent corpse!"

"Why waste your breath on him! Kill him! Loot his gear!" another player with a pointed face shouted, his hands glowing red.

Hawkeye didn't speak, but her ready-to-fire flaming arrow made her stance clear.

Like a mantis stalking a cicada, unaware of the oriole behind, she clearly wanted to use these players to wear down Lin Yu before she could reap the rewards.

"Since you want to die, then I'll grant your wish."

Lin Yu no longer hesitated. Faced with the siege, he had to strike first, especially to eliminate the biggest threat, [Eagle Eye].

With a thought, he activated his skill.

"Summon the soul!"

The [Demon Sword] at her waist trembled violently, unleashing a torrent of Yin energy! Liu Xiangxiang's soul instantly appeared, and a terrifying phantom of a ten-meter-tall demon with a blue face and fangs rose from the ground, letting out a soul-shaking roar.

"roar--!"

The enormous phantom of the demon swung its claws and slashed down fiercely towards the area where the players were most concentrated.

A terrifying, eerie wind swept away.

The players were thrown into chaos and terrified, frantically dodging or using defensive skills.

The ghostly claw descended, and although most players dodged it, two players who couldn't dodge in time were still hit by the yin energy. Their faces turned pale instantly, their souls seemed to be frozen, and their movements became sluggish.

At the same time, Lin Yu flipped his left hand, and the [Azure Rose] appeared, and began to frantically pour mana into it.