Chapter Fifteen: Shattering the Barrier

Staring at the hulking giant silhouette, its once-blurred form gradually became clearer. Towering several hundred meters high, its skin bore patches of decay and rot, remnants of shattered armor. Beneath the helmet, hollow eyes flickered with a chilling light, cold and piercing.

“What the hell…”

“What is that?” Nightfeather’s brow furrowed slightly as his black eyes fixed on the silhouette coming into focus, its outline now revealed in full detail.

“According to the Nine Hills Ridge map and its story background, this is supposed to be the national defense robot developed by a small kingdom. The kingdom once had a master of mechanical arts who spent sixty years of effort to create it, successfully animating and deploying the machine. But after the incident with the mineral vein, this colossal puppet was evidently ruined by something from deep within the mines.” Nightfeather explained, his gaze unwavering as he watched the giant puppet that had guarded the area until now, evidently reactivated.

The six pressed forward, clearing the perimeter of thirty-level corpse puppets one by one. The monsters’ levels gave them an advantage, making the battle far from easy. Yet thanks to buffs and enhancements, the task was somewhat more manageable. The outskirts were littered with stone block obstacles, formed by the explosion from the old incident.

Thus, Nightfeather’s group was forced to split up and navigate around the debris. As they rounded the obstacles, their faces suddenly shifted, expressions of shock and alarm, for beyond the ruins waited yet another horde of corpse puppets. The oppressive atmosphere, paired with the monstrous forms, weighed heavily on their hearts, the terror almost suffocating.

Nightfeather’s party was the first from the Xuantian server to reach the Nine Hills Ridge map. Only by advancing the main storyline could the entrance from Hero Town to Nine Hills Ridge be unlocked; otherwise, the map’s entrance appeared gray and inaccessible.

Half an hour later, other players began to filter into Nine Hills Ridge, but their levels still lagged behind Nightfeather’s group. Among them was a fixed party known as “Three Years’ Difference,” who had a history of conflict with Nightfeather.

Three Years’ Difference: “I think Liang Night’s fixed team has already started the main quest.”

Autumn Apart: “With their current leveling speed, they might hit level 40 before midnight. It’s four in the afternoon now; if they reach level 30 by five, level 40 is within reach.”

Distinct: “The grudge we formed back then will surely be repaid double.”

Fairy Sweetheart: “Enough talk—let’s hurry and level up. Being overtaken by regular players would be disgraceful.”

Rogue Old Youth: “Tonight at nine, the Yellow War. We’re not the weaker side.”

No Need for Pleasantries: “Our gear is all refined and enhanced to level 7. The overall stats aren’t inferior to the starter sets, just lacking some extra buffs. Those extra buffs won’t matter in the Yellow War anyway.”

The fixed party, Three Years’ Difference, had all reached level 25, with equipment at level 7. Their total stats rivaled Nightfeather’s group, save for the advantage in levels. Unless Nightfeather’s team held the edge in the Yellow Name War, the outcome would depend on skill.

Most importantly, the six members of Three Years’ Difference now played while wearing the Divine Desolation VR headset, experiencing the game with unprecedented immersion.

No Need for Pleasantries: “Why does the environment here feel so eerie? The map’s story is disgusting—corpse people, just like the walking dead.”

Autumn Apart’s expression shifted slightly; being a woman, she felt uncomfortable. With the VR headset, every detail felt lifelike. She suddenly snapped, “Anger, stop saying things like that!”

After completing the main quest to slay the level 30 corpse puppets, Nightfeather’s team returned to report to Gongyang Liangbi, receiving their experience reward and the next quest.

Nine Hills Army Leader Gongyang Liangbi: “You heroes are remarkable. In these matters, we soldiers pale before wandering chivalrous souls such as yourselves. I salute you. Next, you must venture deeper, behind the kingdom’s walls. It is said that during the cataclysm, the entire kingdom sank below ground and merged with the minerals in the vein. Beyond the walls, you’ll find a vortex passage leading inside.”

Main Storyline: Martial Dawn – Nine Hills Ridge Chapter – Ruins of Nine Hills Kingdom

Quest Level: 26

Quest Giver: Nine Hills Army Leader Gongyang Liangbi

Quest Description: After entering the area behind the walls, locate a special entrance. A stationed officer from the Nine Hills Army will be waiting for you there, to guide you into the mineral vein.

Quest Objective: Find the stationed officer at the entrance.

Quest Submission: Stationed Entrance Officer

Nightfeather’s group set out once more. This time, Qu Zheng, feeling especially fearful, walked in the middle. As they passed the outer area, the monsters’ levels began to rise, and before reaching the walls, the corpse puppets had already reached level 35.

Passing several ruined ancient towers, the group could see, through the gloom, corpse puppets climbing like spiders. Though their eyes were hollow and sightless, provoking them would mean a difficult fight—their level was already 40.

“Damn!” Qu Zheng let out a shriek, hugging Abyssal Nightmare tightly, his terrified demeanor making the others laugh.

“What are you laughing at? Don’t you find this terrifying?” Qu Zheng glanced at the five with irritation, still stealing nervous glances at the puppets crawling atop the ancient ruins.

“You’re hilarious. How old are you, still scared of this? Sure, it feels realistic, but this is a virtual martial world. Get a grip, will you?” Luo Feng shot Qu Zheng a look of disdain, tempted to smack him.

“Alright, let’s head behind the walls and find the stationed officer. The monsters here are beyond our ability. The stationed officer should be the entrance to a dungeon.” Nightfeather quickened his pace; since the monsters weren’t aggressive, there was no need to move so slowly.

The other five hurried to keep up. Qu Zheng was fastest, almost clinging to Nightfeather, his face pale.

The surroundings were stunningly realistic. Qu Zheng was the first to show fear, yet Nightfeather, with his prior strategy knowledge, handled the immersion well—the monsters’ exquisite design was simply unnerving.

“This is it.” Nightfeather’s group arrived at a massive pit behind the walls. At the edge, a hidden officer was stationed, with several tents pitched nearby.

Upon clicking the stationed officer, a story scene unfolded: a grand city built atop Nine Hills Ridge. The animation was brief, but the six learned that the king of Nine Hills discovered a mysterious power, bringing everything into the mineral vein and unleashing a force that transformed the kingdom and the ridge.

Within the mineral vein lay the king’s palace. To find it, one had to delve deep into the vein, which was fraught with unknown monsters. Though they never left the vein, their existence was undeniable; the stationed officer had probed the area and found inexplicable, extremely dangerous creatures.

“The mineral vein is now sealed by a force from within. To enter, the seal must be broken. We are powerless to break such a barrier,” said the stationed officer, his expression apologetic.

Main Storyline: Martial Dawn – Nine Hills Ridge Chapter – Ruins of Nine Hills Kingdom

Quest Level: 26

Quest Giver: Stationed Entrance Officer

Quest Description: Break the seal at the entrance to the mineral vein.

Quest Objective: The sealed barrier at the mineral vein entrance.

Quest Submission: Stationed Entrance Officer

Nightfeather’s team began to unravel the glowing patterns flowing across the surface of the massive pit. Though the light was dim, when the six touched it, the pattern suddenly shone brilliantly.

An intelligent voice prompted, “Break the seal barrier?”

The six exchanged glances, then simultaneously confirmed in their minds. Their vision changed; though the barrier’s light was dazzling, a golden line shimmered faintly. Each placed a hand on the golden line, channeling power. Cracks began to spread across the barrier, webbing like spider silk.