Chapter Eighty-One: What a Headache!

Platinum ×3.

Fang Tang furrowed his brows and sighed softly. “A bit disappointing.”

Still, this could be sold in the Underworld shop—it was better than nothing. After scouring the cave, Fang Tang glanced at the wall.

[Your Guiding Lamp—Eye: Here it comes! In the cave to the left, there’s an Elemental Stone and a blueprint. I think you’ll fancy the blueprint.]

Fang Tang was a little surprised. He picked up his pickaxe and entered Cave 152, where a rotund, lumbering Fallen One was wandering about.

The moment Fang Tang stepped inside, the Fallen One hurried over. But instead of attacking, he enthusiastically grabbed Fang Tang’s hand and exclaimed, “I’ve finally met someone! Brother, my name is Liang Feifan, but you can call me Feifan Bro. I lost my pickaxe—could you take me along to explore?”

Fang Tang’s expression turned odd. This Feifan Bro was clearly unaware he’d become a Fallen One.

After a moment’s thought, Fang Tang asked, “Do you remember how you lost your pickaxe?”

Liang Feifan shook his head. “No clue! Have you seen my things? My newspaper, pickaxe, and tent?”

“I haven’t,” Fang Tang narrowed his eyes and said, “Try to sense carefully—maybe they’re inside you.”

“Inside me?” Liang Feifan looked confused, staring at Fang Tang for a long time before muttering doubtfully, “I can’t feel them… But…”

“Why do I have a special ability now? And it’s a strange one.”

Liang Feifan’s eyes grew hollow, his face gradually clouded with panic.

Fang Tang patted his shoulder and stepped past him to the blue water stone and blueprint.

He stored the blueprint on his phone and saw exactly what the Eye had hinted at.

Combat Doll: Intelligent Mainboard ×1, Eco Copper Liquid ×20, Silica Gel ×10, Lightning Stone ×1, Gale Stone ×1.

A doll—quite a good one. Level 5 technology, but Fang Tang fell silent as he stared at the illustration.

“This doll… is it realistic?” His eyes brightened; if it was, it would be in great demand.

A level-five combat assistant could easily handle even a Tier-3 Fallen One. The only troublesome thing was finding enough silica gel!

Fang Tang quietly put away his phone and glanced at the absent-minded Liang Feifan.

“Do you remember anything now?”

Liang Feifan stared with empty eyes and slowly shook his head. “Did I become a ghost?”

“You’re far more powerful than a ghost now,” Fang Tang chuckled, glancing at the Eye’s prompt.

[This Fallen One is a bit special. He’s trapped in chaotic confusion. You can say a single phrase to help him break free: ‘Eat shit, Liang Feifan!’ You must shout it urgently and with a red face for it to work. That will awaken his abilities. Tier-3 Fallen One, rare mutation: Forgetfulness, Superpowered Rage—hurts enemies but also himself.]

Oh, three abilities!

Fang Tang raised an eyebrow but didn’t do as the Eye suggested. Perhaps letting the Fallen One forget his true nature was for the best—otherwise, recalling it might only cause more trouble.

“I have to go. You can only stay in this cave—if you follow me, you might die. Take care, Feifan Bro. It’s not easy being a good man, even for a while.”

With a laugh, Fang Tang left for Cave 153.

Upon entering, he finally understood what a resource upgrade truly meant.

Two golden chests!

Guarding them was a snake—pitch black, with a massive belly, even larger than the desert python.

[Tsk tsk, what a greed-driven Fallen One. Overwhelmed by endless avarice, he transformed into a snake—the very embodiment of greed—and he’s no weakling. Tier-4 Fallen One. Rare mutation: Reinforced Scales. Perfect mutation: Life Drain.]

Seeing these abilities, Fang Tang’s first reaction was: troublesome.

In truth, neither Fallen Ones nor Evolvers were inherently strong. Their power came from mutations and sequence talents, making them formidable in specific ways.

Some mutations were simply a nightmare—like Life Drain.

Super vampirism—who wouldn’t be afraid?

Fang Tang hated such abilities. Worse, you couldn’t defeat them quickly, and if the fight dragged on, you’d be sucked dry.

He moved with lightning speed, tracing a long afterimage as he circled the Fallen One, seeking its weak spot.

Strike the snake at its seven-inch mark—Fang Tang was searching for it.

When he spotted a patch of reverse scales on the Fallen One, his eyes lit up.

“There it is!”

In a flash, Fang Tang closed in, and his Great Xia Dragon Sparrow pierced straight through the reverse scale and into the creature’s body, but he didn’t trigger a decapitation.

“This is tricky!”

He frowned, locked eyes with the Fallen One, and suddenly felt waves of weakness surging inside him.

Perfect mutation—Life Drain!

Fang Tang retreated swiftly to the corner, but the weakness only deepened.

Distance was useless?

Full of doubt, Fang Tang caught a mocking glint in the snake’s eyes. His eyelids drooped, legs bent, and he accelerated, appearing before the Fallen One in a blink. The Dragon Sparrow stabbed the reverse scale again.

No use!

Gritting his teeth, Fang Tang stabbed again.

The sixth time has to work—surely he’d kill it!

Four consecutive stabs had no effect; his face grew paler, eye sockets sunken, looking as if he’d been utterly drained.

With a wet sound, he drew his blade and stabbed the reverse scale once more.

The sixth time’s the charm—plus Decapitation—triggered!

The massive snake’s head suddenly flew into the air, a look of confusion still plastered across its face.

How did I die just like that?

The Fallen One’s corpse collapsed limply.

Fang Tang slumped to the ground, face ashen, panting heavily.

All he felt now was utter weakness, limbs like jelly.

Thankfully, with rapid recovery and impressive endurance, he didn’t die at the hands of the Fallen One.

Vampiric abilities were simply revolting.

Cursing inwardly, Fang Tang rested on the ground until his complexion regained some color, then rose and approached the golden chests.

After looting them thoroughly, he fixed his gaze on the wall.

[Onward, onward! Charge ahead! The next Fallen One is just as tough, but inside is a platinum chest!]

Fang Tang twitched at the corner of his mouth, but silently proceeded to Cave 154.

Difficult or not, he couldn’t pass up a platinum chest.

Pushing through the black mist, Fang Tang saw the Fallen One inside Cave 154.

A mountainous red figure, as though about to pierce the ceiling.

A rough estimate put this Fallen One at about 9.6 meters tall.

Only forty centimeters from the ceiling.

[Remember that fitness fanatic? This one’s quite similar, though even more pathetic. Mocked for his frail body all his life, he yearned desperately for strength. Tier-5 Fallen One. Mutation: Gigantic Impact, High-Density Muscles. Rare mutation: Earthshaker.]

“Hiss… This is going to be tough!”