Yu Ying chatted with Mo Tan for a while before quickly leaving; she needed to seize the time to confirm the identities of those 'suspected players', try her best to trick them into accepting quests and joining the special task force, and then go find those method actors who were indistinguishable from NPCs, expose them, trick them into accepting quests and joining the special task force, all to achieve the ultimate goal of making a fortune.
This was not an easy task, as there wasn't much difference between players and NPCs in Innocent World, and the system wouldn't kindly tell you who was a native of Innocent World and who was a fellow Earthling. Everything required players to distinguish for themselves, and in the current environment, many players disguised themselves so perfectly that, although they occasionally revealed some 'real person' characteristics, they were by no means easy to find.
On one hand, the extreme humanization of NPCs encouraged everyone's enthusiasm for cosplaying locals; on the other hand, acting too out of place could easily get one killed…
Well, although the phrase 'easily get one killed' might seem a bit exaggerated, it was truly a struggle.
After all, most people don't want to interact with those who don't fit in, right?
So, even if the clever and astute Miss Yu Ying risked her life to complete this task, it would still take a lot of time to fill the special task force to a certain number.
"However, there should still be enough time for this. If it's just the area around Mida City, there should be people available to dispatch now…"
Mo Tan looked up at the lifeless sky and subconsciously walked towards the city gates, but then he stopped, scratching his head and muttering, "No, Yu Cheng should be able to perform healing work by herself now. She seemed to have triggered Dark Interference several times last night… and that perverted version of Luminescence hasn't shown any side effects…"
So, she no longer needed a wooden dummy.
"Tsk tsk, have I awakened some strange attribute? Hmm, this is not good, very not good…"
"Let's go discuss it with Tairo first."
Mo Tan stood in place and chuckled twice, then walked in the opposite direction of the Paladin's station.
…
Game Time: 3:18 PM
Mount Sumir, Echoing Path
This was a small path located halfway up Sumir Main Peak, adjacent to two smaller ancient ley lines. Due to the terrain, a faint humming sound echoed here all day long. Some said it was the dream murmurs of the Earth Spirit, others said it was the calls of ancestors, and still others said it was the ancient and modern guardians of Mount Sumir quietly conversing in another dimension. In short, it was a place of great significance, yet no one knew exactly where that significance lay.
The guardians stationed here didn't know, nor did the crazy followers of the Whisper Sect, but that didn't stop them from fighting with all their might to bash each other's brains out in this place.
"Stone Fist!" A scrawny Orc Shaman threw a punch at two Whisper Cultists from a distance, then shakily slammed the wooden totem pole on his shoulder to the ground: "Vortex!"
Bang!
A giant fist, condensed from countless clumps of earth and solid rocks, smashed down from the air, flattening the two long-eared Tree Elf Evil Cultists. Immediately after, several gusts of wind, crackling with electric arcs, whipped up from the ground, instantly throwing them high into the air.
"It's up to you, Ta Ji! I can't hold on much longer!" The Orc, pressing his hands tightly on the totem pole to maintain the whirlwind, grunted and roared with bloodshot eyes, "Kill those villains who desecrate the Mount Sumir!"
The young Shaman Priest next to him, whose arms were wreathed in several flames, nodded and quickly chanted, "Spirit of Flame, hear my call, transform into… I forgot the rest, Lava Burst!"
A furiously burning crimson boulder quickly condensed in front of him, then trailed a long tail of fire as it soared into the air, smashing violently into the vortex of flashing lightning, exploding with a roar!
The next second, two charred bodies fell limply from mid-air, crashing heavily onto the ground.
"Well done."
Another female Shaman Priest standing behind the two gave Ta Ji a thumbs-up and chuckled, "Though you still haven't memorized the incantation~"
"Don't just stand there, Water Thorn." Ta Ji grimaced, clutching his still-burning arm, and turned his head, drenched in sweat, "My Fire Tongue Entanglement hasn't stopped yet!"
The Orc girl named Water Thorn smiled wryly and spread her hands, shaking her head, "Stop it, I don't have enough magic power left…"
"Is that so?" A pale-faced Evil Cultists appeared behind her without a sound, smiling sinisterly.
Pfft!
"Ugh!" Although Water Thorn immediately performed an iron bridge with a difficulty coefficient of 9.3, she was still easily pierced through both ribs, stumbling and falling at the opponent's feet, curling up in pain.
Ta Ji cried out in alarm. Just as he was about to rush over to save her, he was firmly pinned in place by two other Evil Cultists wielding long spears. His eyes bloodshot, he let out a shriek like a tail being stepped on, and the flames on his arm, which had extinguished, reignited: "Blazing Nova!"
A burst of scorching flames exploded from him, instantly engulfing the two people in front of him, but…
"Not hot! Not scalding!"
"No pain! No itch!"
This move had little effect when the opponents were prepared. The two chanting Evil Cultists were completely unaffected. Instead, they took the opportunity to swing their spears and open two gashes on Ta Ji's body.
And the Half-Dragon Evil Cultists who had been muttering 'You can't see me, you can't see me' for the past ten minutes and successfully flanked them, kicked Water Thorn in the back, raised his twin blades high, and laughed, "Do you see? Scum, this is the consequence of resisting the God of Whisper!"
"Damn it, let her go!"
Ta Ji roared in despair, enduring the uncontrollable burning sensation in his arm while bellowing, "Come kill me! If you have the guts, come kill me!"
"Oh~ You care about her that much, huh?" The Half-Dragon Evil Cultists holding twin blades blinked, then smiled maliciously, "Then I'll be merciful and… dismember her piece by piece before I kill you!"
The other two Evil Cultists, who were holding long spears and pressing Ta Ji down, also burst into laughter.
After half an hour of fierce battle and the sacrifice of two companions, this rogue Evil Cultists squad finally gained the upper hand. Although the three Shaman Priests stationed at Echoing Path were quite powerful, they were still pushed to the brink of despair by their 'divine arts,' which were almost like cheating…
The only healer was severely wounded and near death, Ta Ji, who had extremely strong combat power and seemed particularly compatible with the Spirit of Flame, had also reached his limit, and the old Shaman Priest who looked on the verge of collapse nearby hadn't cast another spell after helping to kill two Evil Cultists…
"Killing three Shaman Priests and occupying Echoing Path, this merit should be enough to earn me another 'Divine Grace', right~"
An Yi Gong Jue (Duke Darkwing) thought gleefully, then wasted no more time, raising his blade… but it didn't fall!
Numerous stones appeared out of thin air, binding him and his two companions.
"Quick, take Water Thorn and run." The Old Orc, struggling to lean on the weathered totem pole in front of him, smiled weakly at Ta Ji nearby, "I'll hold them off~"
The latter was stunned for a moment, then ran towards Water Thorn while looking back and asking, "What about you, Teacher?"
"I'll figure it out." The Old Shaman Priest blinked and said gently, "In short, I won't let them catch up to you…"
"You old man, what did you do? What are you going to do?!" An Yi Gong Jue (Duke Darkwing), firmly restrained in place, cried out. He had a very strong, ominous Premonition.
The Old Shaman Priest struggled to stand up, slowly tidying his old robe: "I intend to sacrifice my life and take you all with me to death."
"Teacher is amazing!" Ta Ji, who was running back while holding Water Thorn, subconsciously flattered him, then exclaimed, "Teacher, what did you say?!"
The Old Shaman Priest smiled bitterly at him, gently spread his hands, and in an instant, the surrounding elements became restless. An invisible sense of oppression instantly swept over everyone present.
"I didn't say anything." He pouted and snorted at Ta Ji, who was frozen in place, "Hurry up and go, I'll catch up with you later."
Ta Ji nodded blankly, then continued to run up the mountain, waving back as he ran, "Then hurry up, Teacher, we're waiting for you to eat!"
"Got it." The Old Shaman Priest nodded, looking at Ta Ji's receding figure with a face full of relief.
…
"Bastard…"
Water Thorn, held in Ta Ji's arms, struggled vaguely and laboriously opened her eyes: "Teacher, he… ugh…"
A tear interrupted her words and wet her face.
"Don't say anything." Ta Ji lowered his head, revealing a smile uglier than crying, and ran even harder: "I know, so, don't say anything."
…
"Alright, they've gone far." The Old Shaman Priest sighed reluctantly, then turned to look at the three Evil Cultists nearby who couldn't break free from the pile of rocks on them. He sat down weakly on the ground and said in a deep voice, "I'm at my limit too. Let's go together."
In an instant, Thunder exploded in the sky, and winds and clouds surged. That was the sign, the sign of an elder who had been immersed in the Shamanic Way for decades about to sacrifice his life.
The rocks on An Yi Gong Jue (Duke Darkwing) and the others disappeared, but…
"It's too late!" The Old Shaman Priest laughed heartily, then forcefully raised his hands: "Accompany me…"
"Waa-da!!!"
Bang!
"Ouch!" The Old Orc was suddenly trampled to the ground by a strong man, and the constantly surging clouds in the sky instantly returned to silence.
【Enthusiastic Flying Kick】
Active Skill
Mastery Requirement: War Priest Level 10
Cost/Restriction: 150 Stamina
Effect: Perform a flying kick on an allied unit within 5 to 15 meters of your line of sight, dealing 1% of their current health as damage, forcibly interrupting any skill they are currently casting, and reducing their stamina cost to 0 for the next 10 seconds, while increasing their damage by 10%.
【Note: Hey, brother! Long time no see, where have you been! Hey, friend, I… I'm just saying hello, calm down, damn it!!!】
"Ahem, sorry, old man, I saw you seemed to be trying to commit suicide, so I couldn't help but kick you…"
The handsome Orc with long red hair scratched his head with an awkward smile, bowing his head and apologizing sincerely: "Sorry, sorry!"
"N-no, nothing, ahem!" The Old Shaman Priest shook his head with difficulty, generously forgiving the other party: "Young War Priest, please get off me first."
Huo Yan Yang quickly back-hopped: "…I was wrong!"
"Evil Cultists, those Evil Cultists." The Old Shaman Priest coughed twice, struggling to look up at the three restless figures nearby, and whispered to Huo Yan Yang, "Be careful, be very careful… Their strength is very… ahem!"
Huo Yan Yang quickly patted his back: "Don't worry, old man, none of them will escape."
"Oh?"
An Yi Gong Jue (Duke Darkwing), who had decent combat awareness, sneered coldly and took a tentative step towards Huo Yan Yang: "Just you?"
"No." Huo Yan Yang immediately shook his head, solemnly stating, "Not me."
An Yi Gong Jue (Duke Darkwing) raised an eyebrow, lifted his twin blades, and slightly bent his body: "Then who is it…?"
A 'tall' 'shadow' suddenly enveloped him.
A faint voice came from behind An Yi Gong Jue (Duke Darkwing): "It's me."
"Who?!"
One of the Evil Cultists reacted quickly, subconsciously swinging the long spear in his hand.
"Hmm, let me introduce myself." Carrying a huge, sharpened staff, a humanoid creature that was seven parts human and three parts… well, not human, gently 'pinched' the long spear, then pulled and grabbed: "My name is…"
"Your attacks are meaningless to me!" The Evil Cultists whose arm was firmly gripped shouted loudly.
Crack!
"Cordova."
Cordova dropped the corpse whose neck had been twisted seven hundred and twenty degrees and said lightly, "Please guide me."
"Monster! Monster!" The other spear-wielding Evil Cultists lost his composure immediately, letting out a howl as he turned and ran, running while… well, he didn't scream, he was just running.
"You're being very impolite." Cordova sighed, then backhanded his hundred-pound halberd… punisher staff M2K: "Normal Attack…"
"You won't hit! You won't hit me! God of Whisper above, that monster can't hit me!"
"Hitting the cow from across the mountain~"
Splat!!!
Pfft…
A large puddle of blood appeared on the ground.
"Hey, hey, hey." Huo Yan Yang stared at Cordova, chuckling, "You just threw your weapon! What kind of 'hitting the cow from across the mountain' is that?!"
Cordova nodded: "Hmm, so should it be called 'hitting the cow across the mountain'?"
"You damn well threw a mountain at the cow, didn't you?! Have some consideration for the cow, hey!"
An Yi Gong Jue (Duke Darkwing), who had been frozen in place, not daring to move, suddenly stopped trembling, his face flushed as he pointed at the two and said, "You're players too!"
Cordova glared at him, then subtly pointed at the Old Shaman Priest not far away: "Shh, don't speak so loudly."
"I know, I know!" An Yi Gong Jue (Duke Darkwing) quickly nodded, rubbing his hands and whispering, "It's truly a flood washing away the dragon…"
"That's right." Cordova, however, waved his hand to interrupt him, leaning in and saying with a chuckle, "Come, I'll show you a great treasure."
"Show wha…"
Splat! Bang!! Pfft!
Another puddle of blood…
Chapter 211: End
