Shadow Battle Axe (Weapon) (Blue): Crafted with Shadow Stone as the primary material, this axe offers the following effects: Brute Force (Increases Strength by 10 points while wielding this weapon, and enhances your Strength attribute by 5%); Bloodlust (Increases Stamina by 10 points while wielding this weapon, and enhances your Stamina attribute by 5%); Cripple (For the first target hit, reduces their movement speed by 50% for 7 seconds).
A blue quality weapon, it appears ordinary at first glance.
10 points of Strength and Stamina...
This isn't the early days of entering the world battlefield when every point of physical attribute was incredibly precious. Even with an additional 5% increase, for every 100 points, it's only an extra 5. The additional bonus percentage is far too low.
This level of physical attribute amplification, calling it blue quality is truly overestimating it.
But...
Cripple!
Bai Ye quickly discovered the weapon's core essence: reducing movement speed by 50% for 7 seconds!
"Amazing!"
Bai Ye couldn't help but praise it. The Shadow Battle Axe deserves its blue quality primarily for this attribute; halving movement speed is an utterly game-changing effect.
Whether for escaping, pursuing, or kiting, it is incredibly useful.
Most importantly...
This reduction isn't a fixed value, but a direct 50% decrease, meaning the higher the speed attribute, the greater the reduction.
This is a weapon that, when used in specific situations, could last a lifetime!
What is there to hesitate about?
"Devour!"
Bai Ye decisively tossed it to the Steel Slime.
"The Steel Slime devoured the Shadow Battle Axe and gained Devour Growth."
"Steel Slime Devour Growth, current growth value: 2185/100000."
Meanwhile...
Just as Bai Ye had the Steel Slime devour the Shadow Battle Axe, Mu Lan lifted the curtain and returned, saying, "Bai Ye, get ready, we're heading to Honor Valley immediately."
The next instant...
"You have obtained a hidden quest."
"Successfully reach Honor Valley. Quest rewards: Rations Pill x1, Swift Boots x1."
Bai Ye's eyes immediately lit up.
It's here, it's here, it's finally here!
This hidden quest, just like the one in the Monster Kingdom last time, is indeed a chain of quests, and the second part has now begun.
Bai Ye immediately replied, "I don't need to prepare anything, I can depart at once."
Mu Lan nodded. "Gather outside, I'll go find the others."
Bai Ye agreed and came out of the tent.
Soon, Mu Lan woke everyone else from their sleep and dragged them to the open space in the camp.
"Everyone, wake up," Mu Lan said, tapping the ground with her greatsword. "We have a mission, and we need to reach Honor Valley as quickly as possible."
"Kai, Yue, Dun Shan, you three come with me," Mu Lan pointed at the three with her sword, then added, "Bomb Cat, you stay and guard the base."
"Why?" Bomb Cat protested. "I want to go too."
Mu Lan explained, "The demons have just retreated, and we don't know if they'll come back. Your role is crucial when dealing with them."
Indeed, a single bomb thrown down could wipe out a large area.
Bomb Cat wanted to argue further, but Mu Lan didn't give him the chance, directly waving 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 their journey along the ancient road.
The moon was bright, and the stars were sparse. The entire area beyond the Great Wall exuded a stern, desolate atmosphere.
Heading east...
It would take three to five days to travel from the Great Wall to Honor Valley. After traveling all night, Mu Lan made a decision.
"We need to split up!" Mu Lan declared. "This pace is too slow. Someone needs to reach Honor Valley quickly to scout the situation. If things aren't right, they can stall for time while awaiting reinforcements."
Yue nodded in agreement. "That makes sense."
Mu Lan continued, "In that case, I'll be with Dun Shan. Yue will be with Bai Ye. Kai, your strength is reassuring..."
Bai Ye raised his hand. "I think I can go alone."
Mu Lan looked at Bai Ye. "Oh?"
Bai Ye explained, "I'm the fastest, and I should be able to reach Honor Valley the quickest."
Bai Ye understood Mu Lan's grouping method.
Kai was going alone because...
Kai was the strongest!
He was the mighty Kai, the father. How could he be a father without sufficient strength? Did they really think Kai only knew how to flirt?
Based on Bai Ye's speculation, among the heroes of the Great Wall, the Commander Li Xin could certainly possess a golden quality awakened ability.
Another was Kai. Although Kai appeared to be at a lower level on a daily basis, Bai Ye had a strange feeling that Kai's strength was far beyond what was apparent. Whether he was hiding his strength or due to some other reason, it was unclear.
However, it was evident that Mu Lan also knew Kai was strong, which is why she planned to let Kai go ahead alone.
As for Yue, he was a sniper and needed protection, so he had to be paired with someone. Thus, Mu Lan thought of Bai Ye.
Dun Shan was also strong, but his movement speed was too slow, which would hinder their travel. Mu Lan didn't want Dun Shan to feel like he was holding them back, so she decided to pair with him herself.
It was a reasonable allocation, but not perfect. Moreover, Bai Ye had a quest to complete. To prevent any unforeseen circumstances, he naturally wanted to be the first to reach Honor Valley and understand the situation. This would give him more time to strategize before the others arrived.
Mu Lan thought for a moment. "Can you do it?"
Bai Ye smiled but didn't speak. Instead, he waved his hand forward.
"Demon Garb!"
In the next instant, the Steel Slime on Bai Ye's body quickly writhed, transforming into a large pool of mud that covered Bai Ye's entire body.
In a flash, a mechanical armor as black as ink appeared on Bai Ye.
The body adopted a medieval armor design, with the helmet resembling a devil's head with long horns.
On its back were a pair of black, featherless wings, supported by twelve steel struts. Upon closer inspection, these twelve steel struts were actually twelve steel blades.
There was also a black tail at the waist, constructed from a series of black, triangular segments.
Instead of directly answering Mu Lan, Bai Ye demonstrated his capabilities through his actions.
Supersonic Movement (Utilizes nuclear-powered burst propulsion in the legs, capable of instantaneous supersonic movement, sustained for 18 seconds, requiring a 6-hour cooldown for the power unit after each use).
The sound of mechanical rotation echoed. Immediately after, on Bai Ye's back, the pair of featherless wings slowly unfurled, and a bulge appeared on his back, revealing two thruster turbines.
Following this, the sound of mechanical rotation continued, and azure flames spewed out. Then...
Bang!
Bai Ye stomped his foot forcefully, cracking a piece of the ground. Kicking up a whirlwind of dust...
Bai Ye vanished without a trace!
...