Shadow Battle Axe (Weapon) (Blue): Crafted primarily from Shadowstone, this axe boasts the effects of Brute Force, increasing Strength by 10 points and its percentage by 5% when wielded. Blood Rage adds 10 points to Stamina and boosts its percentage by 5%. Cripple, upon first hit, reduces the target's movement speed by 50% for 7 seconds.
A blue-quality weapon, it seemed ordinary at first glance.
A mere 10 points in Strength and Stamina...
This wasn't the early stages of the World Battlefield when every point of physical attribute was precious. Even with an additional 5% increase, for every 100 points, it only amounted to 5 more. The additional boost was too insignificant.
Such a modest increase in physical attributes felt like an overestimation for blue quality.
But...
Cripple!
Bai Ye quickly discovered the weapon's true essence: reducing movement speed by 50% for 7 seconds!
"Amazing!"
Bai Ye couldn't help but praise. The core value of the Shadow Battle Axe for its blue quality was this attribute. Halving movement speed was a game-changing effect.
Whether for escaping, pursuing, or kiting, it was incredibly useful.
Most importantly...
The reduction wasn't a fixed value, but a direct 50% decrease. This meant the higher the speed attribute, the greater the reduction.
This was a weapon that, used in specific situations, could potentially last a lifetime!
So why hesitate?
"Devour!"
Bai Ye decisively tossed it to the Steel Slime.
"Steel Slime devoured the Shadow Battle Axe, gaining Devour Growth."
"Steel Slime's Devour Growth: Current growth value: 2185/100000"
Meanwhile...
Just as Bai Ye had the Steel Slime devour the Shadow Battle Axe, Mulan pushed aside the tent flap and returned, "Bai Ye, pack up. We're heading to Glory Gorge immediately."
The next moment...
"You have received a hidden quest."
"Successfully arrive at Glory Gorge. Quest Reward: Rations Pill x1, Swift Boots x1"
Bai Ye's eyes immediately lit up.
Here it comes, it's finally here!
This hidden quest, just like the one in the Monster Kingdom, was indeed a chain, and the second part had now begun.
Bai Ye immediately said, "I don't need to prepare anything. I can depart right away."
Mulan nodded, "Gather outside. I'll go find the others."
Bai Ye agreed and stepped out of the tent.
Soon, Mulan roused everyone else from their sleep and dragged them to the open space in the camp.
"Everyone, wake up," Mulan said, tapping the ground with her greatsword. "There's a mission. We need to reach Glory Gorge as fast as possible."
"Kai, Shouyue, Dunshan, you three come with me," Mulan pointed at the three with her sword, then said, "Bomb Cat, you stay and guard the base."
"Why?" Bomb Cat grumbled. "I want to go too."
Mulan explained, "The demon race has just retreated. We don't know if they'll return. When dealing with the demon race, your role is most crucial."
Indeed, a single bomb could wipe out a large group.
Bomb Cat wanted to argue, but Mulan didn't give him the chance and waved her hand, "Including Bai Ye, let's go!"
Everyone agreed and headed towards the city gate.
Soon, they were out of the city and began to follow the ancient road.
The moon was bright and stars were sparse, lending a stern and desolate aura to everything beyond the Great Wall.
Heading east...
The journey from the Great Wall to Glory Gorge would take three to five days. So, after traveling all night, Mulan made a decision.
"We need to split up!" Mulan declared. "Moving like this is too slow. Someone needs to reach Glory Gorge quickly to scout the situation. If things go wrong, they can stall for time and await reinforcements."
Shouyue nodded in agreement. "Makes sense."
Mulan continued, "In that case, I'll be with Dunshan. Shouyue and Bai Ye will be a pair. Kai, your strength is reassuring..."
Bai Ye raised his hand. "I think I can go alone."
Mulan looked at Bai Ye. "Oh?"
Bai Ye stated, "I'm the fastest. I should be able to reach Glory Gorge the quickest."
Bai Ye understood Mulan's grouping method.
Kai was going alone because...
Kai was the strongest!
He was the formidable Kai, after all. How could he be a 'dad' without sufficient strength? Did they really think Kai only knew how to flirt?
Based on Bai Ye's estimations, among the heroes of the Great Wall, Commander Li Xin could definitely possess golden-quality embodiment abilities.
Another was Kai. Although Kai usually didn't seem to be at that level, Bai Ye had a strange feeling that Kai's strength was far beyond what was apparent, whether it was hidden strength or some other reason, it remained unknown.
However, it was clear that Mulan also knew Kai was very strong, which was why she intended to let him go ahead alone.
And Shouyue, being a sniper, needed protection, so someone had to be paired with him. Thus, Mulan thought of Bai Ye.
Dunshan was also strong, but his movement speed was too slow and would be a drag on their journey. Mulan didn't want Dunshan to feel like he was holding them back, so she planned to team up with him herself.
A reasonable allocation, but not perfect. And Bai Ye had a mission to complete. To avoid any unforeseen circumstances, he naturally wished to be the first to arrive at Glory Gorge to understand the situation, thus giving himself more time to strategize before the others arrived.
Mulan pondered, "Can you do it?"
Bai Ye smiled without answering, instead waving his hand forward.
"Armor of the Demon!"
The next instant, the Steel Slime on Bai Ye's body rapidly wriggled, transforming into a large pool of mud that enveloped Bai Ye's entire form.
In a flash, a mechanical armor as black as ink appeared on Bai Ye.
The body adopted a medieval armor style, with a helmet shaped like a demon's head, complete with long horns.
Behind him, a pair of black, featherless wings, supported by twelve steel struts. Upon closer inspection, these twelve steel struts were actually twelve steel blades.
A black tail hung from his waist, composed of segmented, large black triangular plates.
Instead of directly answering Mulan, Bai Ye demonstrated his capabilities through action.
Super Sonic Movement (Utilizes nuclear-powered boost legs for instantaneous supersonic movement, sustained for 18 seconds, requires a 6-hour cooldown for the power unit after each use).
The sound of mechanical gears whirring arose, and then, behind Bai Ye, the pair of featherless wings slowly unfolded. A bulge appeared on his back, revealing two thruster turbines.
Following that, the mechanical sounds continued to ring out as azure flames erupted, and then...
Bang!
Bai Ye stomped his foot forcefully, cracking a section of the ground, kicking up a whirlwind...
Bai Ye then vanished without a trace!
...