Ancient Ark: A Dark-Themed Historical Survival Game

Chapter 142 The Six Secrets Unite

When the news spread that the four great evils of Xue Liang had been eradicated, all the chosen ones wore expressions as if they had seen a ghost.

"How did you do that?"

"impossible!"

"Zhu Yougui and Li Hua should be the corrupted cores of the other two routes. According to the pollution mechanism of Blood Beam City, it is impossible for anyone to have gone this far."

"This has nothing to do with strength or weakness."

"Even a level 100 Chosen One cannot be immune to the rules of the deep sea; once the pollution accumulates to the point of certain annihilation, they will be wiped out!"

'

""

Everyone was completely baffled.

Ye Heshan, Lin Siwei, and others were also shocked when they learned of this news.

Lin Siwei said, "Yu Xiao's team stayed in the nightmare for an unusually long time, and he also wiped out the other two core corrupted factions. Could it be that—"

Ye Heshan analyzed, "Just as we found special props to reduce pollution, Yu Xiao and his team must have found related items as well. This is the key to both teams passing the level."

This is the only answer!

"Heaven will not open a nightmare challenge with a 100% failure rate. The basic configuration for the Bloodstained Bianliang Nightmare is four teams, and the minimum configuration is two teams."

"Since Heaven allows two teams to enter the Nightmare Realm, there must be a way for both teams to clear it. However, based on our experience, clearing it is almost impossible as long as the great formation remains intact!"

"This means we're using the wrong method!"

The biggest difference between the two Chosen One teams during their advance lies in the first area.

Ye Heshan's team followed the instinctive approach of racing against time, since the longer they stayed, the more pollution they would generate.

However, precisely because of this, the team may have missed some important purification items, which made progress in the mid-to-late game extremely difficult and ultimately led to failure.

This explains why, despite Yu Xiao's immense strength, his initial expansion progress was so slow.

"Although reviewing the proceedings and analyzing the situation makes it easy to identify the problems, Yu Xiao, like us, is taking on the Bloodstained Bianliang challenge for the first time —"

Lin Siwei couldn't help but exclaim in amazement, "How did he discover that? It's unbelievable! This person is terrifyingly strong!"

Ye Heshan thought about it more deeply.

Two small teams might be able to challenge Bloodstained Bianliang, but the margin for error with such a minimum configuration is bound to be extremely low.

Despite his own team's failure and misjudgment of the situation, Yu Xiao was able to take on the task of cracking the other two routes all by himself.

This is the scariest place!

Is he hiding something?

This person is too mysterious.

This was the first time Ye Heshan had encountered someone who made him feel oppressed, and he had to admit that he had underestimated the heroes of the world.

When the early leaders such as Yang Jiye and Guo Chonghai learned of the latest developments in the nightmare, they were also surprised and incredulous.

"There's still hope this time!"

This was undoubtedly a pleasant surprise for the two of them.

Although the chosen ones have four days to continue trying the challenge, no one knows if anything will happen in those four days.

This place is only a temporary occupation, not the heavily fortified and well-defended Taikang City.

Even if Yang Jiye personally oversees the situation and a large army of monsters were to invade, he might not be able to guarantee absolute safety.

At the very least, they would be forced into a passive position, resulting in a significant increase in casualties. Therefore, if Yu Xiao's team could miraculously achieve victory in one battle...

This achievement is immense!

now.

Bloodstained Bianliang.

Xiao Yu has already left the "Palace of Sorrow" with Xi Shi and Zheng Dan, the latter being the residence of Emperor Zhaozong of Tang, Li Hua, one of the four great evils.

The overall strength of "Hateful Dragon Prisoner Li Hua" is similar to that of Jing Xiang and Li Zhen, but its different mechanism makes it quite troublesome.

The Screaming Palace is not only filled with numerous Bloodbeam Demon Soldiers and various forbidden traps, but also spawns summoned monsters periodically like tides.

These monsters are not very strong, but they are numerous and do not drop loot, making them a huge threat to any chosen one who comes to challenge them.

Without other elite chosen ones or heroic spirits to restrain them, and with the strongest fighters Sun Wu and Li Cunxiao not by their side.

Even though Xiao Yu is very powerful.

It's not easy to fight alone.

Fortunately, Xi Shi's wide-ranging control of the battlefield, coupled with Zheng Dan's precise assassination attempt, reduced the difficulty for Xiao Yu, allowing him to win easily in the end.

Xi Shi asked, "Master, now that the key evil has been eradicated, shouldn't we return the way we came and reunite with the others?"

Xiao Yu: "The pollution in Blood Beam City is only related to the distance traveled; returning via the same route will not reduce the pollution."

"In that case..."

"Why not try a new route?"

"This way, we can eliminate more monsters and hide more corrupted beings along the way."

He glanced at his energy reserves.

Current vital energy level is 22!

This was achieved after Xi Shi and Zheng Dan had some of their essence taken away during their battle, and it did not include the gains obtained by Sun Wu and Li Cunxiao along the way from killing monsters.

The Bloodstained Bianliang Secret Realm is extremely large in scale and has a large number of monsters. With the added bonus of clearing out new areas, the income generated is particularly astonishing!

This challenge involved eliminating all four key corruptions, and each of them was a first kill with significant bonuses.

In addition, there were first kills of more than a dozen or twenty evil bosses, including Wang Yanzhang and the corrupted ghost.

How big of a cake would that add up to? This challenge is a do-or-die situation!

After all, as long as one can successfully pass the level in one go, the reward will be extremely generous, which is very tempting even for Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu still has three Hearts of Purity left. His current contamination level is over 60%, so he can still make the prize pool even bigger.

The three continued their advance.

Xi Shi unleashes a massive mental interference skill, effectively taunting and drawing monsters across a wide area.

This would allow Xiao Yu to move as little as possible.

Kill as many monsters as possible at the same time.

[You have collected the following loot: Soul Essence +1550, Demon Soldier Heart +1, Blood-Transformed Scale +5, Bloodbeam Spear +1, White Soul Stone +24!]

[You have collected the following loot: Soul Essence +1614, Demonic Soldier Heart +1, Bloodstained Scale +5, White Forging Stone +3, White Soul Stone +24!]

【————】

The harvest was plentiful.

They killed dozens more elite monsters.

"It's a pity that Xia isn't here, otherwise the income and loss of essence would have received an additional bonus."

Xiao Yu thought to himself.

Jiang Xiaxia's "Lucky Aura" talent takes effect on a team basis, but both the team contract and the talent's effective range are subject to distance limitations.

Xiao Yu is too far from the other team members and is currently temporarily separated from the team, so Xia Xia's lucky talent will not take effect.

Even so, after defeating forty or fifty monsters, he still gained over fifty thousand units of essence, bringing his essence reserves to 27.

A staggering ten thousand!

"Owner!"

A green figure flashed before my eyes.

"We've discovered another monster-infested area ahead, but something seems off compared to the other places."

Zheng Dan returned from his reconnaissance and reported, "The monsters there seem to be impossible to kill."

Unkillable?

Xiao Yu was somewhat surprised.

The roles of the two beauties washing silk in this operation cannot be ignored: Xi Shi can lure and control monsters, while Zheng Dan can scout and assassinate.

Both can reduce Xiao Yu's movement.

This will reduce the rate of pollution growth.

Although Heroic Spirits are also affected by deep-sea pollution, due to their protective aura, the rate of pollution increase is much lower than that of the Chosen Ones.

And because all along the way.

Xiao Yu always exercised great restraint in using Heroic Spirits.

This allowed the two beautiful heroines to maintain sufficient redundancy. After all the actions, Xi Shi's pollution level is currently only 60%, while Zheng Dan's pollution level is even higher, reaching 75%.

Although it may sound like a lot, it is the result of a long period of time and a large-scale movement, and heroic spirits cannot use the Heart of Purity.

We must hurry!

Xiao Yu personally went to the special area that Zheng Dan had investigated to understand the situation, and he found that the area was indeed significantly different.

Whether it's on the ground or in buildings.

All of them showed abnormal proliferation of flesh and blood.

These newly formed flesh and blood covered the building like a foul-smelling fungal carpet, its surface covered with tiny tentacles, giving it an eerie feel.

You have entered the "Bloodstained Demon Mansion"!

Hear the prompt and combine it with what you see.

Xiao Yu immediately understood.

"So that's how it is. This is a hidden area, where a corrupted individual named 'Zhang Quanyi' is concealed."

Who is Zhang Quanyi?

Xi Shi was interested in all the historical figures and stories she didn't know, so she subconsciously asked questions.

"Zhang Quanyi was the most core, most important, and most easily underestimated figure under Zhu Wen, the emperor of the Later Liang Dynasty."

Xiao Yu explained.

"If Jing Xiang is a strategic mastermind, and Ge Congzhou and Yang Shihou are core commanders, then Zhang Quanyi is equivalent to Guan Zhong and Xiao He for Zhu Wen."

"This man was in charge of the Central Plains, grain, population, and the protection of the people. He was exceptionally capable. He played a key role in the fact that the Later Liang army was able to wage war year after year and that the people of Later Liang were able to live in relative peace."

"Zhu Wen was extremely cruel and bloodthirsty, and enjoyed slaughtering famous scholars, but he was exceptionally tolerant of Zhang Quanyi, because Zhang Quanyi was the cornerstone of his hegemony."

""

Xiao Yu patiently explained.

A warm feeling welled up in Xi Shi's heart.

Despite holding a supreme position, the master always explains and elaborates on his own little curiosities with great care.

This deeply moved Xi Shi, who felt that her master did not truly treat her as a servant, but rather as a companion and friend.

Zheng Dan: "Zhu Wen, such a licentious, cruel, and inhumane ruler, actually had a group of capable ministers and generals under his command!"

"The two are not in conflict."

Xiao Yu nodded slightly: "An emperor's debauchery and cruelty are not fatal flaws. There are reasons why Zhu Wen was able to seize the world. He was a true hero of a chaotic era, not a muddle-headed and incompetent person. We cannot only see one side of historical figures."

The two women couldn't help but think to themselves.

Despite being such a cruel, ruthless, and bloodthirsty ruler as Zhu Wen, he was able to achieve great things by gathering capable ministers and generals.

Their master, a wise and powerful ruler with a broad vision and a kingly demeanor, has won the loyalty and devotion of figures like Sun Tzu and Li Cunxiao, as well as other top chosen ones.

How strong will its future achievements be?

The two maidens washing clothes are increasingly looking forward to the future, hoping to stay by their master's side, contribute their own strength, and play their own role.

"Owner!"

"A monster has appeared!"

"That's the kind of monster!"

As Zheng Dan gave his warning, the mycelium on the ground ahead changed, and countless tiny tentacles rapidly grew, eventually creating six or seven burly Bloodbeam Demon Soldiers.

These Bloodbeam Demon Soldiers were no different from ordinary Bloodbeam Demon Soldiers, but Xiao Yu could see the difference through his Omniscient Eye.

He explained, "These demonic soldiers have been assimilated and absorbed by the 'Bloodstained Demon Mansion,' and they have formed a symbiotic relationship with their environment."

"It's almost impossible to kill them without severing this connection. Every time they are killed, they quickly resurrect, and they continuously absorb attack energy, becoming even more troublesome."

in other words.

These monsters cannot be killed indiscriminately.

Xi Shi did not need Xiao Yu's orders. The moment the seven Blood Liang demon soldiers attacked, she unleashed a powerful spiritual force.

next moment.

The Bloodbeam Demon Soldiers stopped moving.

They were subjected to powerful mental interference, which led to serious cognitive errors, and they ended up killing each other on the spot.

"Let's go!"

Xiao Yu led Xi Shi and Zheng Dan into the depths of the special area as if it were empty, with new demon soldiers constantly emerging around them.

But as soon as these immortal demon soldiers appeared...

They were controlled by Xi Shi's spiritual power.

Xi Shi also specially selected two of the strongest and most powerful demon soldiers, each with the combat power of a rare elite at level 13, and bewitched them into puppets.

In this way...

It was originally a very dangerous area.

Xiao Yu got through without lifting a finger.

This is the power and terror of Xi Shi. Her direct combat strength is not strong, but she is still a red-quality heroic spirit.

In terms of the rarity of the ability.

More than 90% of them are red-tier heroes.

The three of them successfully reached the very center of the hidden area, where a strangely shaped monster appeared before them.

[Bloodstained Slaughter - Zhang Quanyi], Level 13 Rare Lord —

He was bloated and five meters tall, with skin the color of withered leaves, yellowish-brown, and his skin was covered with ravines like shaped fields. He wore a robe made of withered rice and wheat ears.

His four tendrils transformed into tree root-like tentacles, the ends of which branched into countless fine roots that burrowed deep into the ground, making him appear to have limited mobility.

Unsurprisingly.

It's Zhang Quanyi.

This hidden evil combat power is similar to that of Jing Xiang, Yang Shihou, Zhu Yougui, and Li Hua. The main difficulty lies in the dozens of undead demon soldiers surrounding him.

These demon soldiers, after being assimilated and transformed by the corrupted Zhang Quanyi, can not only quickly recover their lives, but are also very difficult to kill.

If we don't fight them, we'll be surrounded and attacked.

At this stage, it is difficult for the Chosen Ones squad to withstand an attack from twenty or thirty demon soldiers at the same time.

But what if we attack them?

That would be completely ineffective.

Not only will it be difficult to eliminate these immortal demon soldiers, but it will also continuously enhance Zhang Quanyi's strength in the battle.

The most correct way to play.

Just like right now.

Use superior control abilities or sealing techniques to subdue all the demon soldiers, then bypass the outer battles and directly enter to challenge the corrupted and quickly end the battle.

"Cultivate deeply, cultivate deeply—this land is too barren—borrow flesh and blood—to add more fertilizer to this piece of land—"

The corrupted Zhang Quanyi let out a hoarse growl, his voice indistinct, indicating that he was a corrupted being who had lost his mind in the deep sea.

Although Zhang Quanyi has lost his mind, it doesn't mean he's easy to deal with. Despite his poor mobility, he possesses a strong summoning ability.

In an instant.

Dozens, even hundreds, of tentacle-like roots emerged from the ground, each covered with twisted human faces and emitting piercing screams.

This move possesses both a considerable mental attack and strong direct offensive power.

"Raikage's surprise attack!"

Zheng Dan stood in front of Xiao Yu.

Lightning suddenly appeared on her body, each bolt of lightning transforming into a clone, and each clone unleashing only one sword strike.

It was the ultimate technique of the "Peerless Sword Dance," the "Peerless Sword," that instantly unleashed a sky full of interwoven sword lights, like a net that wiped out all the tentacles.

"Sacrificing one's life for righteousness"

Xiao Yu directly burned a portion of his life force, and a violent sword light tore Zhang Quanyi's body in half.

Once Zhang Quanyi's body lost contact with the ground, the surrounding fleshy fungal carpet immediately lost its activity.

Before Zhang Quanyi could retaliate.

"Soul-destroying!"

With black malevolent energy swirling around his left hand, Xiao Yu unleashed a deadly strike on Zhang Quanyi, instantly inflicting astonishing damage.

[The Chosen One "Yu Xiao" has achieved the first kill against the historical villain "Bloodstained Corrupt Slayer Zhang Quanyi," gaining 80 points of world luck!]

This battle was not difficult for Xiao Yu.

[You have collected the following loot: Soul Essence +26893, Blood Essence +20, Filthy Wheat +80, Blue Forging Stone +4, Blue Deep Sea Stone +2, Blue Soul Stone +30!]

This drop seemed average; there were no named equipment, heroes, soul crystals, or other valuable or rare items.

Even the production of blue-quality forging stones and deep-sea stones is lower than that of the four evils.

However, this does not mean that the drop will be bad. In fact, as a hidden corrupted being, Zhang Quanyi can drop some special resources.

For example, 20 portions of Blood Essence.

This material may look like a regular material, but it is actually of rare quality, meaning it is as rare as forging stone and deep-sea stone.

Conventional materials are generally used as auxiliary materials, or simply recycled and transformed into material essence for reuse.

Only a very small number can be used directly as the main material for refining weapons and medicines.

Blood Essence is a top-grade alchemy material. It contains strong spiritual energy and can be used to produce the rare Blood Essence Pill.

Bloodstone's effects are simple and direct.

It permanently increases maximum health by 50 points. Each person can only take Bloodstone once, or in other words, it can only take effect once.

A second dose will not restore maximum health; instead, its potency will be converted into a potent health restoration effect.

It can quickly restore 500 health.

It's easy to see that whether it's a pill that increases attributes or a strategic recovery pill, its value is immense!

This is the value of Zhang Quanyi, the hidden boss; the drop rate of Blood Essence is very high, and the output is also quite good.

If we can develop Hemovodan.

It is enough to be a key specialty of the territory.

It can increase the strength of the territory's citizens, army, and chosen ones, and can also be exported in bulk to obtain a large amount of wealth and resources.

Not bad!

Another major depravity has been eradicated.

In this way, the Bloodstained Bianliang Nightmare was ravaged by killing the vast majority of corrupted beings and almost all those with real merit.

The Nightmare Chest prize pool has accumulated to an astonishing level.

Xiao Yu continued to eliminate the nearby demon soldiers.

His current accumulated vital energy reserves have exceeded 33.

"That's about it!"

Xiao Yu had to go back and rejoin his team members; otherwise, even if he could hold out for a while longer, Su Qingmeng, Wang Yang, and their subordinates would soon be unable to hold on.

The summoning of the Heroic Spirit has been dispelled.

All four heroic spirits returned to their bodies.

【Soul Essence - 92000!】

[Your "Sage of War Yin Yang Technique" has broken through; the current skill level is 3!]

[Permanent Arcane Mastery +5, Permanent Spirit Power +150, Permanent Spirit Attribute +25.]

Xiao Yu first spent over 90,000 units of essence to upgrade the level 2 Military Saint Yin Yang Technique to level 3, and immediately gained a large amount of spiritual power and attribute boost.

In addition, I gained 5 points of permanent arcane mastery, which may not seem like much, but is actually very valuable.

This kind of expertise is far more valuable than expertise in any single attribute or field.

Xiao Yu can enhance any secret technique skill, whether it is an attack, defense, support, or other type, thus producing additional effects.

of course.

This is just the appetizer!

After this training, Xiao Yu's Six Secrets of Military Strategy, specifically the first part "Four Symbols of Military Strategy" and the second part "Yin and Yang of Military Strategy," both reached level 3.

This means having the ability to continue integrating and comprehending, thereby mastering the complete epic-level technique, "The Six Secrets of the Military Saint"!

Xiao Yu did not hesitate.

[Soul Essence - 22!]

[You have mastered the "Six Secrets of Military Strategy," and your current skill level is 1!]

[Permanent Arcane Mastery +10, Wind, Fire, Water, and Earth Magic Mastery +30, Permanent Spirit Power +300, Permanent Vitality +150, Permanent All Attributes +20!]

[All skill costs within the Six Secrets of Military Strategy reduced by 50%!]

【————】

When Xiao Yu felt the powerful force surging within his body, he could clearly sense the increase in his strength.