Absolute Destiny Game.

Chapter 510 Mysterious Master, Simple Task

"Hello, little fox, out for a stroll?" Xiao Jie slowly approached the fox, activating his beast language spell as he spoke softly.

The shadowy fox seemed not to understand Xiao Jie's words, tilting its head and sizing up the uninvited guest before it.

When Xiao Jie got close, it suddenly bared its fangs, arched its body, and assumed a defensive posture.

Feed the wild animals!

Xiao Jie hurriedly tossed over a piece of his secret-recipe dog food.

The fox sniffed and licked the food suspiciously before taking a bite. As soon as it took the bite, its ethereal eyes suddenly lit up, and it began to wag its tail.

It finished the special dog food in a few bites, then beckoned to Xiao Jie with its paw, as if to say—have two more to try.

Xiao Jie thought to himself, "That's strange. Why can't this fox talk?"

Could it be because of the mutated beast?

He immediately threw two more of his special dog food over there.

After feeding it several doses of its secret-recipe dog food, the name above the Shadow Fox's head finally changed from hostile red to neutral yellow.

Xiao Jie seized the opportunity to try and get closer to him again.

"Little fox, do you know what's going on with this wind? Why are you unaffected? Since you have such an ability, could you teach me?"

The fox ignored him and slowly began licking its paws.

Damn, he's putting on an act. Xiao Jie was now absolutely certain that this guy understood.

If it truly couldn't understand, at least its own words would have attracted the other party's attention. The fox's seemingly deaf attitude only suggests that it was deliberately pretending not to understand.

"Look, isn't this meatball delicious? If I freeze to death, you won't have any meatballs to eat. Don't you want to eat some more?"

If you teach me this skill to withstand the wind, I'll give you all my meatballs, how about it?

After a series of gentle promptings from Xiao Jie, the Shadow Fox seemed amused. Suddenly, it gave a sly smile and said in a sinister tone, "Hehehe, you can't learn this skill. If you stay here, you will die sooner or later. When you die, all the meatballs on your body will be mine. Even your flesh and bones will become my food, allowing me to have a good meal."

After saying that, he licked his fangs.

Xiao Jie thought to himself, "This guy finally spoke, but his tone wasn't very friendly."

This fox is clearly a seasoned veteran; he's not someone to be fooled.

Since it's not easy to fool people, then let's just not fool them at all.

Xiao Jie smiled slightly: "Hehehe, you're overthinking it. Did you see the glow on my body? I can use this power to temporarily resist this yin wind. If I really can't find a way to resist the yin wind, then I'll just turn around and leave. Then you won't get anything."

The fox looked thoughtful. "That makes sense. Well then, I'll show you the way—and bring me two more meatballs."

"No, you go first." Xiao Jie wasn't going to fall for it. Dealing with this kind of old fox required a different approach—don't act until you see the benefits.

After several discussions, the fox saw that Xiao Jie had no reaction, so it had no choice but to say helplessly, "I don't know how to resist this cold wind. Back then, there were hundreds or thousands of wild beasts in this forest. Now, they are either dead or have fled. Those who survived are naturally not afraid of the cold wind."

Why don't you live here for a few hundred years, and spend your days walking in this chilly wind? Maybe if you're exposed to it enough, you won't be afraid anymore.

Holy crap, what kind of crazy idea is this?

"Little fox, you'd better not joke around. No matter how good the joke is, it won't get you meatballs. If you really have nothing to say, then I'm leaving."

After saying this, he pretended to leave.

The Shadow Fox hurriedly said, "No, no, no, you're really boring. I was just joking with you. Fine, I'll tell you then."

I don't know how to ward off this eerie wind, but there's an old man living in the mountains to the west. Maybe he knows. You might as well go and ask him.

"See that forest to the northwest? Walk west through it, and you'll see a towering tree. Under that tree is a manor, and that's where the old man lives."

Xiao Jie was stunned. The surrounding area was a vast, desolate forest and snowfield with no one around, and the wind was howling. He hadn't seen a single person along the way. How could there be a manor in this godforsaken place?

"You're not kidding me, are you?"

"How could that be? We fox demons are the most honest of all. I've already told you the method, so now you can give me the meatballs, right?"

Xiao Jie was skeptical, but he still casually tossed a few more meatballs over.

Let's go look for it first. If it really doesn't work, we'll have to retreat and try again tomorrow when our equipment and skills are off cooldown.

Xiao Jie used his lightness skill to fly towards the forest in the northwest.

After passing through the forest, we saw a giant tree that was much taller than the surrounding trees. It was a spruce, standing proudly in the wind and snow.

Xiao Jie sped towards the big tree, and when he got closer, he saw that there really was a manor gate under the tree.

The courtyard, with its three sections and high walls, is truly impressive, with its vermilion gates.

Two large red lanterns hung on either side of the gate, shining even in broad daylight, adding a rare touch of warmth to the icy landscape.

The presence of such a manor in this desolate wilderness, amidst ice and snow and raging winds, is truly eerie.

Xiao Jie didn't care about anything else. He stepped forward, right-clicked the brass ring on the door, and knocked on the door.

Bang bang bang!
"Who is it?" A young voice came from behind the door. As the door opened, a handsome, pale face appeared—it was a young servant.

Seeing Xiao Jie, I was immediately taken aback.

"Oh, indeed we have distinguished guests. Please come in, please come in."

Xiao Jie was taken aback. They just let him in like that? Without even asking what he was there for?
He even prepared a speech specifically for this purpose.

However, since he was allowed in, he naturally didn't stand on ceremony.

As Xiao Jie followed the servant inside, he explained, "I am a traveler heading north. I am passing through this place, and with the wind and snow raging, I would like to rest here for a while..."

"Honorable guest, there's no need for explanation. My master has been waiting for you for a long time. Please come in."

As Xiao Jie entered the manor, he was immediately taken aback. The interior of the manor was a completely different world. Carved beams and painted rafters, lush green trees, and exotic flowers and plants adorned the vast garden, which was nestled among pavilions and towers, making it even more elegant.

Looking around, it's like a paradise on earth.

The manor was even more enchanting than it appeared from the outside. Xiao Jie followed the servant inside, wandering around the corridors, where servants and maids greeted and waited for him.

Xiao Jie couldn't help but have the illusion that this was not a desolate and lonely northern wilderness, but a prosperous and beautiful garden in Jiangnan.

Deep within the manor, there is even a waterside pavilion situated on a smooth, mirror-like pool.

Behold a refined and elegant young man in white robes, holding a wine cup in one hand and a book in the other, reading and drinking at the same time.

Hearing footsteps, he turned around slightly, revealing a refined and handsome face.

Cangqiu Sheng (Master of Spring Mountain Villa): Level 52 reclusive master. Health: 4200.

"Our distinguished guest has finally arrived. I've been waiting for quite some time. You may all leave now." With that, he waved his hand, and the servants who had been attending him immediately withdrew. Xiao Jie walked into the waterside pavilion and saw that the round table was already set with wine and delicacies.

Xiao Jie probed, "Did you know I was coming?"

Cangqiu Sheng said, "Of course I know. This morning I had a premonition and cast a divination. It predicted that a distinguished guest would be visiting today, and I have been waiting for him for a long time."

Xiao Jie was slightly disappointed. He had thought that this person was also arranged by the nameless Taoist to welcome him, the "chosen one". However, according to his description, it was similar to the divination technique of Qimen Dunjia of Wentian Wuji, which is a randomly triggered mechanism skill.

Xiao Jie had initially thought the other party was mysterious and had a remarkable background, but that feeling had lessened somewhat.

"Invite you."

"Please, Master."

The two took their seats. Xiao Jie looked at the surrounding lake and mountain scenery, and then glanced at the fine wine and food on the table. These foods and drinks could be used by clicking on them, and their shapes were exceptionally exquisite and unique, making them look very tempting. Unfortunately, there was a screen between them, so no matter how delicious they were, they could only restore their stamina.

Xiao Jie didn't stand on ceremony and ate some snacks and cold dishes to fully restore his stamina.

He then clicked on a pot of wine on the table and drank it down in one gulp.

System notification: After drinking the [Pepper Palace Fire Essence Dew], your [Yin Wind Corrosion] equipment has been removed, and you have gained 30 points of freeze resistance.

"Great stuff!" Xiao Jie's eyes lit up, and he simply ordered all the different kinds of wine on the table.

In a short while, several buff statuses appeared above his head.

Cangqiu Sheng asked with a smile, "Is the honored guest satisfied with the food and drinks?"

Xiao Jie already had a plan in mind. This guy was being so polite to him, he probably wanted something from him.

He hurriedly replied, "I am very satisfied—but I wonder why the master is being so polite to me?"

"It is fate that we met. The fact that we two were able to meet in this desolate place where there is no one to see us shows that we are destined to meet."

(An opportunity? So there really is a mission.)
"The manor lord lives in seclusion here all by himself? The Nine Fiends Yin Wind kills without leaving a trace, yet the manor lord is able to remain unharmed. This is truly admirable."

"Hehe, honored guest, why beat around the bush? Just say what you have to say."

"As expected of the Master, you are a man of few words. Then I will not waste any more words. Does the Master know how to resist this Nine Fiend Yin Wind?"

"Of course I know."

"Then could you teach me? To be honest, I have important business to attend to in the north and must pass this test. If you can teach me a thing or two, I will be extremely grateful and will repay you handsomely in the future."

The manor lord didn't reply. He stood up, turned his back to Xiao Jie, and looked at the distant sky. "Does the honored guest know the origin of the Nine Fiends Yin Wind?"

"I don't know."

Cangqiu Sheng said eloquently, "Ten thousand years ago, extraterrestrial demons descended to earth. They came from beyond the heavens and tore a gap in the sky. The immortals joined forces to fight them and finally killed all the extraterrestrial demons. The few who escaped were no match for them."

However, the immortals were powerless against this rift in the sky and could only let it exist.

These Nine Fiends Yin Winds are evil winds from beyond the heavens, which mortals cannot resist. Only by struggling to survive under this power over many years can one gradually adapt to it.

However, in the end, only a tiny fraction survived, and most of the creatures that lived there perished.

I am able to live here peacefully thanks to the blessings left by my ancestors, and there is nothing I can do to help you in your current situation.

Xiao Jie wasn't in a hurry. Since the mission had come this far, there must be a way. Since Cang Qiusheng said that he had a connection with him, there must be a way.

Sure enough, the manor lord changed the subject, "However, I do have a way to help you. Go northeast from here, there is an unnamed desolate mountain, and at the foot of that mountain is a cave where a snow monster lives."

This Yeti is cruel, ruthless, and bloodthirsty. It often harasses me. Although I am not afraid of it, I am also unwilling to fight it.

If you can kill the snow monster and bring its pelt back to me, I can use the pelt to make you a cloak, which will naturally protect you from the Nine Fiends Yin Wind.

And I'll have some peace and quiet now, what do you think?

Xiao Jie asked in surprise, "It's that simple?"

He thought to himself that this quest process of killing monsters, getting quest items, and claiming rewards was too 'standard'.

In other games, this kind of task would be a standard template, but in Old Earth, a game of death, when have we ever encountered such a good thing?

Cang Qiusheng shook his head. "Of course it's not that simple. That snow monster is incredibly powerful. Ordinary people are no match for it, and a direct confrontation would be certain death."

"I have a talisman here. Carry it with you to conceal your presence. When the snow monster falls asleep, quietly approach it and stab it in the heart with your sword. Only then will you have a chance of victory."

System notification: The quest "Hunting the Yeti" has been triggered.

Mission objective: Cangqiu Sheng asks you to go to a cave in an unnamed desolate mountain to hunt down the snow monster living inside.

Quest Reward: Snowman Cloak

Xiao Jie thought to himself, "Wouldn't this make things even simpler?"

He had a feeling that something was wrong, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.

However, since there is a mission that can solve the current predicament, we should accept it.

"In that case, I will accept this task."

"Very good, very good," Cangqiu Sheng said happily, handing a talisman to Xiao Jie.

[System notification: Cangqiu Sheng has gifted you the item 'Spirit Talisman'.]

[Spirit Talisman (Quest Item)]

Item Description: A strange talisman unlike any seen before, faintly radiating an eerie power. It is said to conceal your human presence, preventing the Yeti from detecting you.

The special effects of Xiaju's equipment will only last for about ten minutes, so we need to act quickly.

Fortunately, I just drank several kinds of wine, which gave me several buffs. Even if the Xiaju special effect disappears, I should be able to hold out for a while.

With that thought in mind, Xiao Jie hurriedly left the manor.

Ten minutes later, Xiao Jie had already found the huge cave at the foot of the desolate mountain.

Looking at the dark and gloomy ice cave in front of him, even though everything was going smoothly, Xiao Jie still felt that something was wrong.

Kill a monster, get a quest item, and you can solve your biggest problem. The NPC who gives you the quest even thoughtfully provides items that can target the quest monster...

Although this kind of mission routine is very common in other games, in Old Earth, a death game, it always felt a bit too easy to Xiao Jie.

This is a forbidden northern land untouched by players. In Xiao Jie's view, the threats he would face would be unimaginably terrifying, with all sorts of horrific monsters and extremely difficult tasks.

Who would have thought it would be such a common mission routine?
But time waits for no one, and with Xiaju's time fast approaching, Xiao Jie could only cautiously enter the cave.

But in his heart he was thinking—he wanted to see what this mission was all about.

(End of this chapter)