Chapter Forty-One: The Majestic Power of the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow

"This one isn't bad," Fang Tang mused, fiddling with the red clown nose. "After the clown died, he was twisted by the rules of the cavern and became like this. If I encounter the twisted rules, will I change as well?"

[Wuhu! You've discovered a path to becoming stronger. In the cavern world, there are several extremely powerful factions, such as the cavern shop you've visited, and the Tech Divine Cult that makes newspaper tents. Among them is a group called the Gate of Evolution. Beyond its threshold lie the twisted rules—if you aren't twisted yourself, you'll gain levels and achieve a leap in life.]

"A leap in life?" Fang Tang paused, murmuring, "That sounds like biological evolution."

"But this also shows me a way out of the caverns, which I couldn't find before." He stopped, suspicion creeping into his expression. "How come you can talk about this now? Before, you couldn't say anything."

[Because you've guessed that the twisted rules can make humans evolve. I'm simply clarifying your doubts, not breaking any rules.]

Fang Tang: "..."

You win!

He walked over to the blueprint for the bulletproof vest and tucked it into the newspaper.

Bulletproof vest: Cloth ×10, Fiber ×5.

"So, that's twenty fibers and twenty cotton. Not bad. But I wonder how effective it is."

Three minutes later, a thick vest appeared on the table.

"This is the bulletproof vest? It's so thin!" Fang Tang touched it—it was soft, the fabric comfortable, even when worn against the skin.

It was thick for a vest, but thin for a bulletproof one.

He wrapped a piece of meat with the vest.

**** fitted the flame muzzle, took aim.

Bang!

The burning bullet struck the vest and bounced off effortlessly. The meat beneath remained untouched.

"...Even the flame muzzle can't penetrate? I wonder about the explosive bow." Fang Tang was a little surprised, but didn't bother to test it with the explosive bow.

No need!

If the flame muzzle was crude, the explosive bow was a masterpiece—its power was on another level entirely.

Fang Tang donned the bulletproof vest, satisfied, and looked at the surrounding walls.

"Don't mess with me again. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. I'm not ready to face cavern creatures close to my level yet."

[Our luck has run dry. Whether good or bad, it's left us. Among the surrounding caverns, only the bronze chest ahead is worth your attention—the others are junk!]

"Thank goodness..." Fang Tang breathed out, heading for Cavern 84.

The bronze chest needed no explanation. Having seen a golden chest before, the bronze felt bland—neither here nor there, but still worth taking.

A transitional point, nothing more.

He gained three copper ingots, and his eyes lit up.

[Want to hone your skills? The left side offers just that. Our old friends—two Dogheads. Take your blade, and don't use elemental weapons.]

Fang Tang's eyes sparkled. He drew the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow and entered Cavern 85.

Two Dogheads stood guard by a silver chest.

Seeing Fang Tang enter, the Dogheads grew furious—as if their territory was being invaded.

With two-meter-long legs, they rushed him.

Fang Tang gripped the Dragon Sparrow tightly, locking his gaze on the charging Dogheads.

His ranged abilities were strong, but in close combat, he was still a novice. After acquiring the Longwind Hunting Knife, he soon obtained ****, so the learning curve had been too short—he hadn't had time to practice.

With his improved skills, most cavern creatures were weak before him.

Only creatures like the Dogheads—mini-bosses of the novice stage, strong and powerful, specializing in close combat—made suitable sparring partners.

When the Doghead was four or five meters away, Fang Tang moved.

The Dragon Sparrow swept out in a perfect arc, slashing toward the Doghead.

The height difference was significant—Fang Tang and his sword barely reached the Doghead's ribs.

But it was enough.

Clang!

The Dragon Sparrow clashed with the spiked club.

A powerful shock ran up the hilt. The Dragon Sparrow nearly flew from his hands, but Fang Tang gritted his teeth, face contorted.

"Today I'll show you—I don't need a bow or gun to deal with you."

A fierce determination welled up inside him. Fang Tang rolled aside, dodging the other Doghead's attack, and with a horizontal slash, aimed at its ankle.

Thud!

The blade bit into flesh.

A round head tumbled from four meters high.

Fang Tang: "..."

So a decapitation really is a decapitation?

The Dragon Sparrow delivers!

The companion died in bizarre fashion—even the emotionless Doghead felt fear.

Fang Tang steadied himself, pushed off with his legs, and sprang forward.

Squelch!

The Dragon Sparrow stabbed deep into the Doghead's thigh.

No decapitation this time—a relief for Fang Tang.

If it kept triggering, the exercise would be pointless. He might as well use ****—simple and easy.

The Doghead felt no pain. Seeing Fang Tang nearby, it raised the spiked club and smashed down.

Fang Tang reacted swiftly, drawing the Dragon Sparrow across to block.

The force again surged through the blade, but Fang Tang was ready, using it to retreat out of reach.

He retreated four meters before shaking off the force, feeling a sense of awe.

Cavern creatures, indeed!

He’d had advantages with the flame muzzle before.

He flexed his numb wrist, then charged at the Doghead once more.

Just before the spiked club landed, Fang Tang slid under its crotch.

Fang Tang: "..."

The humiliation of crawling under a crotch struck him again. Gritting his teeth, he gripped the Dragon Sparrow and aimed for the crease behind the Doghead.

Thud!

The Doghead froze, its head arcing through the air and landing on the ground.

[...This is the Dragon Sparrow, famed for its elegance, and you’re using it for a backdoor strike? Twice now—twice the backdoor, both times decapitation triggered... I must say, the Dragon Sparrow is an odd one, fond of backdoors. You two really are a pair!]

Fang Tang: "...Well, actually, I don’t like the humiliation of crawling under someone. I prefer to be above, or behind. If I’m underneath, I get angry—like this..."

He showed an embarrassed smile.

Whether facing the Night Sentinel or the Dogheads, his methods weren’t exactly dignified.

But results matter most, don’t they?

He survived. That’s enough.

He obtained two beads and a moderate amount of supplies from the silver chest.

"Five chances left. We need to pick up the pace."

Fang Tang rolled his neck, cracking it.

[Do you know what I like?]

What do you like?

No need to ask—big waves and high-level dwellings.

The dwelling was advancing to level four. He wasn’t likely to find a level five dwelling now—his luck wasn’t that good.

That leaves big waves.

Fang Tang’s eyes narrowed, his expression gradually chilling.

"I don’t want to waste another chance to search for treasure because of you, understood?"

[Heh heh heh... Old pal, clearly you don’t know me well. Big waves are a passion, but this is just a liking. Do you know what liking is? No! You don’t, because you’ve been single since birth.

Up ahead is a cute little fellow. If you can tame it, it’ll be a great helper for us.]