Goblin Dependency-Chapter 673 - 338: Make It End a Little Faster (Part 2)
The blue-white fluorescent light flickered briefly, and Xia Nan only felt a faint spiritual power emanating from the center of the garden. It carried a slight hint of information while hiding a deep temptation-type control effect that touched his consciousness.
The specialty [Gaze into the Abyss] immediately triggered, instantly neutralizing the faint spiritual control effect.
Perhaps due to the weakness of the effect, the chilling counter-effect of the specialty did not activate, instead isolating its negative impact, allowing the information within to transmit normally.
Then, a few short texts along with clear images emerged in Xia Nan’s mind.
They were the introduction of a battle skill, the description of a piece of equipment, and the efficacy description of a potion:
[Fog Concealment Light Step]: Utilize the smoke in the air to significantly increase movement speed in a short time, with a certain stealth effect;
[Green Grass Wood Ring]: When the bearer is in a forest or grassland environment, it slightly increases wound healing speed;
[Fog Lamp Grass Concentrated Essence Potion]: After consumption, it temporarily enhances Constitution and Strength Attribute, but once the effect ends, the user enters a three-day weakened state.
This was what the Druid offered to tempt Xia Nan with so-called rewards.
Despite his current poor condition, in terms of observation ability, he barely maintained his level before sleep.
Therefore, he could roughly judge that the adventurer who broke into the garden likely didn’t have a high professional level, estimated to be just promoted, around Level 1 or Level 2, precisely the most difficult stage on the professional road.
In such a situation, a battle skill, a piece of magic equipment, plus a potion formula, almost perfectly grasped the crucial points, making it irresistible.
Considering this, the Druid actually had no problem.
For ninety-nine percent of the adventurers in the world with no background, just after completing professional advancement, they stood at the pinnacle of ordinary low-level adventurers, yet at the base of the professional pyramid.
They looked down on the standard equipment in the blacksmith shop but couldn’t afford enchanted equipment; their few battle skills were insufficient, yet redeeming battle skill points on the Association’s Second Floor was still far off...
If the one standing here was truly an ordinary, just advanced adventurer, whose willpower was slightly less firm, they might have believed the other party’s lies.
But Xia Nan happened to be in that "one percent" outside the ninety-nine percent.
[Fog Concealment Light Step]—with [Teeth Hunting], his mobility and explosive power were already sufficient. He couldn’t waste a precious battle skill slot on such an obviously low-quality type, not to mention its release restrictions, requiring a smoke environment to use;
[Green Grass Wood Ring]—a weakened, youthful version of [Tear of Spring Breath]. Xia Nan rarely used the "Secondary Healing Technique" that came with the pendant itself, and even if he got this ring, its existence would become marginal, the first to be sold for cash when short on funds;
As for [Fog Lamp Grass Concentrated Essence Potion]... compared to the above two, it’s slightly more useful, but its actual utility to Xia Nan is far less than imagined, especially after the [Embers Resonance] two-stage explosion type battle skill entry.
In summary, from Xia Nan’s perspective, the three rewards given by the Druid might be even less attractive than a freshly made, steaming hot cream mushroom soup.
Of course, if he could really get these things without risk and without breaking his value principles, he wouldn’t refuse.
After all, even if he used them to convert to Gold Coins, it would probably be a considerable income.
Seeing Xia Nan stop, he mistakenly assumed he was convinced.
The Druid’s previously slightly anxious tone immediately calmed down, adopting a pretentious profundity:
"These... are just part of the reward."
"Once the ceremony is completed, all my knowledge... and control of this garden... will be yours."
That was somewhat unbelievable.
Xia Nan’s expression remained unchanged, but in his heart, he silently criticized.
Now, originally agitated by the other party’s revival, his heart instead gradually calmed down.
On one hand, he could feel that the energy from the surrounding Fog Lamp Grass pouring into the Druid was too weak, likely far from restoring his combat power;
On the other hand, he also keenly sensed the other’s attitude.
If the Druid in front of him still had the lv5 strength of the past, how could he lower himself as he did now, explaining and offering rewards to sweet-talk him, when he would have taken action long ago.
The initiative... was on his side!
Perhaps he could probe a little, extracting some useful information from him.
So he opened his mouth and slowly asked:
"So what do you need me to do?"
Seeing Xia Nan fall for it, the Druid’s lips curved slightly upward, deliberately displaying an air of solemnity, as if assigning an important mission, solemnly said:
"Only one step away from transformation and sublimation... I need energy, Life Energy."
"The village outside... those ignorant sacrifices, their lives... are inefficacious impurities, but gathered together... are enough to loosen the shackles."
In layman’s terms, he wanted Xia Nan to help slaughter the village and collect Life Energy to continue his so-called advancement ceremony.
This seriously violated his bottom line, so naturally, he couldn’t do it.
However, Xia Nan did not directly refuse but instead diverted the topic, asking about the whereabouts of the Molton family young master, who seemed to be carrying the [Dream Weaving Corridor] key in the journal.
"Why are you asking this?"
The Druid wasn’t concerned about his experiment log being discovered, merely frowning as he replied.
"It has been many years since our team disbanded, and he said he went to the Southern Islands to recuperate, but who knows if he later changed his mind."
"This has nothing to do with us... but if you really want to know, once the ceremony is complete, perhaps the sublimated version of me can help you."
Still lying!
Knowing that this was just the other party’s rhetoric to entice him to help collect Life Energy, Xia Nan gave up on gaining information about the Molton family relics from him.
With a thought, he turned to the main topic.
Stepping forward, as if attracted by the other’s rewards, he showed hesitation on his face:
"Sounds good indeed, but how do you guarantee that after I help you, I won’t be absorbed as Life Energy as well?"
"Can you pay some deposit, like the specific formula of the potion you mentioned earlier, or bring out that Enchanted Ring first."
"This way, I can be more at ease in helping you."
Upon hearing this, the Druid’s eyes flickered, and he opened his mouth but said nothing.
Also born an adventurer, he of course knew the cunning of these comrades.
If he truly listened to this kid and handed over the rewards as a deposit, the other party might just run off with it.
After pondering briefly, he squinted and slowly said:
"Rest assured, what should be yours will not be missing once the ceremony is complete."
"If not, we can sign a contract."
A contract?
Having just recently witnessed Abi leaving a handprint under a Devil’s temptation on a contract, Xia Nan knew well that in this fantasy world with supernatural power, there were countless ways to manipulate a contract.
One careless move, and he might sell his soul to the other party.
This was a highly dangerous operation requiring great caution, so how could he make such an agreement with him?
Promises were merely castles in the air, the so-called rewards were low-value items dispensable to him, and he wasn’t willing to disclose even a bit of reliable information.
All the Druid did was to entice Xia Nan into helping him complete the ceremony.
Of course, he could continue to feign accord, extracting potential benefits.
But the risks he faced were much higher than the expected gains.
And honestly, he felt he didn’t have the eloquence or the ability to grasp people’s hearts.
It would indeed be simpler after all...
In an instant, the Druid only saw the entire presence of the young adventurer with jet-black hair in front of him suddenly change.
The previously hesitant expression vanished in a moment.
On that exceedingly calm face, only a chilling coldness and sharpness remained.
Buzz—
The dusky gray-black straight sword reflected the fluorescence of the fog lamp grass on both sides, with a fleeting sharp cold light across the blade’s surface.
Deep eyes, like a secluded forest pool, reflected the twisted towering figure ahead.
Emotionless words echoed in the deathly still air:
"Hand over all the things you just mentioned."
"Let’s see... to end this sooner."
