C16 Blood Mage Secret Realm

[Guardian of Glory]: Requirements: Strength 5, Agility 4, Constitution 5; Quality: Green; A cutting-edge sniper rifle secretly developed by the nation of Z, with an effective range of 1 kilometer and a power rating of 120. Features include +10 to accuracy and a +5 critical hit bonus. Armor Piercing (E): Ignores 30% of the target's armor. Explosive Sniper Shot: Accumulates an explosive bullet every 12 hours, up to a maximum of 3 bullets. Within an effective range of 20 meters, each bullet inflicts 500 points of fire damage upon impact and sends out a shockwave causing 200 points of physical damage within a 30-meter radius. The significant recoil propels the shooter back 10 meters in a straight line. Redeem for 3500 Merit Points.

[Mutant Gene Replenishment Potion Experiment II]: Quality: Green; Developed to compensate for inherent genetic defects, this potion aims to reduce the incidence of congenital diseases, though its effects are less potent than anticipated. Upon consumption, it randomly increases one of the user's attributes—strength, agility, or constitution—that is below 5 points up to 5. If all three attributes are already above 5, there is a 20% chance of randomly gaining an additional point in one attribute. Due to its severe side effects, the potion can only be used once by anyone under any circumstances. Redeem for 4000 Merit Points.

[Guardian of the Nation] Model 3 Protective Suit: Requirements: Strength 5, Constitution 6; Quality: Green; The most successful item from the "Guardian of the Nation" military gear program, designed for individuals with high qualifications and not intended for widespread combat use. Durability: 160. Bulletproof (D): Reduces incoming kinetic attacks by 20. Flame Aura: Outfitted with a special fuel that, once activated, inflicts 10 points of fire damage per second to anyone within a 0.5-meter radius for 5 minutes (fuel cannot be replenished). Grappling Throw: Cooldown of 12 hours. Engages in a throw maneuver against a single enemy unit. If the enemy's strength exceeds the user's strength plus half their constitution, the attempt fails, resulting in a 3-second stun for the user. If successful, the throw inflicts 200 plus strength times three in physical damage and knocks down the opponent. Wrestling Hold: If the Grappling Throw is successful, the user can opt to enter a wrestling state, silencing and immobilizing both parties, with each losing 5 health points per second. The first to fall below 10% health loses, and the victor stuns the fallen for 5 seconds. Redeem for 5000 Merit Points.

"Body Strengthening Potion Experiment I: Silver Grade. Upon use, a Constitution check is performed. If the user's Constitution is over 7 points, they randomly gain 2 additional points (not Constitution); otherwise, they gain 1 Constitution point. This can be exchanged for 10,000 Merit Points."

Buddha Points can be exchanged at a rate of 1:10 for Merit Points.

Chen Ye reviewed his stats, noting he had only 2,300 Merit Points and 376 Buddha Points, likely rewards from completing the second main storyline mission and the fourth side mission. It was clear that his current resources weren't enough to reap all possible benefits. He pondered whether to save his Merit Points for top-tier items or to exchange them for the supplies necessary to tackle the increasingly imminent third main storyline mission.

While browsing the list, Chen Ye stumbled upon an intriguing item.

Candy (Sack): White Grade. An early casual snack; each piece can boost physical strength by 1 to 3 points, with 100 candies per sack. Exchangeable for 50 Merit Points.

Chen Ye's interest was piqued. This seemed to be precisely what he needed at the moment. After trading for a sack of candy, he converted 175 Buddha Points, amassing a total of 4,000 Merit Points, which he used to acquire the "Genetic Defect Compensation Potion Experiment II." Although he coveted the "Guardian's Glory" weapon, which would pair perfectly with his recently acquired "Coldo's Aiming Scope," he lacked the 5 Strength points necessary to wield it. Thus, he prioritized the "Genetic Defect Compensation Potion Experiment II."

For Chen Ye, buying the "Genetic Defect Compensation Potion Experiment II" was a strategic move, offering a value that was just as significant as the silver-grade "Developer" potion. Using it immediately would grant him a solid increase of 2 Strength points, just enough to meet the requirements for the "Guardian's Glory."

Afterward, Chen Ye took a shower and secluded himself in the barracks for a prayer session. Then, he took out the green treasure chest. Rather than opening it right away, he ate a candy and, upon seeing the notification of a 3-point increase in physical strength, he frowned. He continued eating candies until he experienced four consecutive notifications of a 1-point increase in physical strength. Sensing the perfect moment had arrived, Chen Ye, filled with anticipation, opened the green treasure chest without a second thought.

Upon opening the green treasure chest, you've acquired the "Bloodthirster" and the "Red Scorpion's Inheritance."

Bloodthirster: A silver-grade dagger and primary short weapon. Requires 5 Dexterity; adds +2 Strength, +2 Agility, and +10 Critical Hit. It inflicts a bleeding effect for 3 seconds upon hitting an opponent, with a 10-second cooldown. "Slit Throat" ensures critical damage when hitting an opponent's throat, with a 50% chance of an additional critical strike. The passive ability "Bloodthirst" increases your life by 30% of all damage dealt to living creatures in close combat.

Red Scorpion's Inheritance: A green-grade special item. It represents the collective wealth of the Red Scorpion Mercenary Group, buried on a private island. Carrying this item allows you to return to this world for three days. Alternatively, you can hand it over to your faction in exchange for 3,000 Merit Points.

Chen Ye was nearly overwhelmed by an immense sense of joy, taking quite some time to regain his composure before swiftly equipping the "Bloodthirster," which significantly boosted his attributes.

Reincarnate 98537: HP: 110/110, Stamina: 350/350, Strength: 5+3, Vitality: 5, Agility: 5+3, Spirit: 2/3.

Chen Ye realized that equipment requirements pertain to base attributes, and additional attributes only enhance the effectiveness of related skills. For instance, while using the Lightness Technique, he could feel a tangible change in his body, yet his 8 points of Agility didn't impart the same sensation of lightness.

After much deliberation, Chen Ye decided to exchange the "Red Scorpion's Inheritance" for 3,000 Merit Points. This would allow him to redeem the coveted "Glorious Guardians." He reasoned that the immediate value of the item in hand outweighed its potential worth, as failing to survive the main quest would render any future value moot.

In fact, if Chen Ye hadn't been just one point short in physical strength, he would have preferred to exchange for the "Guardian's Country No. 3" protective suit. He already possessed the silver-grade "Bloodthirster" weapon, after all.

Having secured the "Glorious Guardians" title, Chen Ye redeemed 50 sniper bullets, depleting his 4,000 merit points. This left him with a mere 101 Buddha Points, and he couldn't bring himself to spend on any additional supplies. Reviewing the objectives of main missions one and three, Chen Ye estimated that Morla's large-scale assault would come on the final day. With 36 hours until the decisive battle, he couldn't afford to sit idle. His attention turned to the "Blood Mage Jade," a unique item that could unlock a secret realm and was not permitted to leave this world. If he didn't use it now, it would be useless after the final battle. Moreover, if he perished in the climactic fight, the item would be utterly squandered. With that in mind, Chen Ye activated the "Blood Mage Jade."

Upon activation, the "Blood Mage Secret Cavern" was revealed: Following the map inscribed on the Blood Mage Jade, one could reach the secret realm and obtain the "Golden Seed," after which the realm would close. Entry was restricted to a single person and limited to 24 hours.

The Blood Mage Jade emitted a crimson glow, its avian pattern shifting slowly to reveal a map, with the secret realm's location at its center. Chen Ye's position was marked by a green dot. Comparing it to the map he had acquired from the scarred man's car, he discovered the secret realm was a mere 10 kilometers from the checkpoint. He could reach it in under an hour with his speed, which set his mind at ease.

Despite the checkpoint being on high alert, Chen Ye managed to slip away under the guise of "scouting for Morla's movements." Yunfei even privately provided him with several emergency bandages. Although Chen Ye didn't have a pressing need for life-saving supplies since acquiring the Bloodthirster, they were nonetheless welcome.

Chen Ye encountered no delays en route to the secret realm, a mountain wall shrouded in thick vegetation. Without the Blood Mage Jade's guidance, the ancient ruins nestled against the cliffside would have remained undiscovered. Cleaving through the overgrowth with his dagger, Chen Ye uncovered a cave entrance half his height. As the Blood Mage Jade neared, the cave's entrance shimmered with a red luminescence. Touching it felt like pressing against an impenetrable wall. Bringing the Blood Mage Jade closer, the red barrier vanished along with the jade itself. After a moment's hesitation, Chen Ye steeled himself and stepped into the cave.

You have entered the Blood Mage Secret Cave. The secret realm is now active, and you cannot exit during its activation. If you do not acquire the "Golden Seed" within the time limit, the Blood Mage Curse will turn you into a pool of pus and blood.

Upon seeing this warning, Chen Ye truly wanted to turn tail and flee, if it were possible. But clearly, it was not an option. With a heavy heart, he continued to move forward, even activating "Stealth" to avoid any unforeseen dangers.

Chen Ye promptly equipped "Glorious Guardians" and "Coldo's Aiming Mirror." Looking through the scope, his vision expanded significantly. The cave, which should have been pitch-dark, was instead bathed in a red glow from the Blood Mage Secret Cave. The occasional sounds of breathing and moaning from unseen creatures added to the horror. Swallowing hard, Chen Ye pressed on, not knowing the depth of the cave and anxious not to waste time, he quickened his pace.

After about a hundred meters, the path split. Chen Ye let out a sigh and placed a Type 56 bullet at the entrance on the left. Since he had switched firearms and couldn't fit the original standard-issue gun into the Celestial Vault, he had kept the bullets because they could still be traded for other items within his team. Now, they served as markers at the crossroads.

Chen Ye had learned from his "Reading Notes" that markers are essential tools in unfamiliar environments. He used the bullet tip to draw a circle, then buried the tip pointing in the direction of one o'clock. The reason for leaving a bullet instead of just drawing a symbol was due to the unpredictable conditions of light, humidity, and air currents. A simple drawing could easily be lost.

Chen Ye hadn't gone much further when he encountered another fork. Following his method of marking the path, he continued deeper. At the fourth junction, something changed. From a distance, Chen Ye saw a humanoid figure standing still. As he approached, the intermittent red light revealed it to be a strangely dressed human. He couldn't resist sending out a scout to investigate.

The Bloody Warrior: This undead creature was created by wizards using a secret spell from the Blood Mage. Like the totem they revered, the Bloody Warrior lacked human consciousness and was driven solely by a thirst for blood and carnage. These monsters were eternally sealed in the Land of Sin, with a life force of 300/300, capable of biting, pouncing, and engaging in bloody slaughter.

Perhaps it was the "Coldo's Aiming Mirror" he was equipped with, or maybe the unique conditions within the secret realm, but Chen Ye's reconnaissance was exceptionally thorough this time. His scouting skills seemed to have roused the Bloody Warrior. Its vacant eyes opened and slowly turned towards Chen Ye's location. It was then that Chen Ye received an ominous alert:

You are within the "Blood Mage Secret Spell" zone. All skills for concealing presence are nullified, and aggro attraction is increased by 100%. You are now in combat mode...

"Damn it!" Chen Ye blurted out an expletive and, without a moment's hesitation, pulled the trigger. At less than a hundred meters, with the formidable "Glorious Guardians" firearm at his disposal, he obliterated more than half of the Bloody Warrior's health in a single shot. The downside was the "Glorious Guardians" had a long 15-second firing interval. As Chen Ye reloaded, he retreated swiftly.

Despite being an undead, the Bloody Warrior was quick on its feet. Its towering two-meter stature charged forward, giving the impression of an unstoppable force bearing down. The 15 seconds flew by, and the Bloody Warrior closed in to just ten meters from Chen Ye. It launched itself into a pounce, but "Boom!"—in the nick of time, Chen Ye fired. The immense kinetic force instantly vanquished the Bloody Warrior, sending its body flying backward as if it were a home-run baseball.

Chen Ye gasped for air, his nerves on edge. Without the powerful "Glorious Guardians," it would have taken at least ten shots from his old rifle to bring down the zombie. In the time it would take to fire ten shots, the Bloody Warrior could have simply walked up to him. The difficulty had indeed escalated; any random creature in this secret realm proved to be a formidable opponent.

Chen Ye's attention was caught by the notification that his Buddha points had increased by 10. His spirits lifted—this was equivalent to 100 points of merit! The prospect of acquiring the "Developer" series of potions suddenly seemed within reach. Regrettably, no treasure chest had dropped. As he reveled in his success, heavy breathing echoed from a fork in the path, followed by the sight of more than a dozen pairs of hollow, bloodthirsty eyes glowing red in the darkness. Chen Ye didn't even have time to utter another curse before he turned tail and ran. Against a single Bloody Warrior, he might stand his ground with his powerful weapon, but against a dozen? It was time to see who could run faster.