Chapter 40 - Bewilderment and Guesses

“I think we should go deeper into the canyon to check whether the Wind Elemental is still there!” Someone suggested.

This idea quickly attracted the approval of the other players.

“Right! We have to go and take a look! Who knows, maybe the boss is gone!”

“F*ck, I ‘m worried that the third stage would be the same.”

“I don’t think so…”

“Quick, quick, quick, let’s go and take a look!”

The group advanced rapidly into the depths of the canyon.

They spread out a formation of hundreds of meters like an army marching to their battle.

The players who were recording videos, taking photos, and live-streaming also quickly followed.

Although the canyon was flat, it didn’t mean that there were no trees, rocks, and other objects that could block his vision.

On the contrary, it was filled with tiny shrubs, short trees, and tall stones, all scattered on the path, some even managing to block the view in the distance.

Unfortunately, no players in this group had flying or long-distance detection skills. Otherwise, they would have noticed it earlier—

That place where the Wind Maestro should have been was no longer occupied.

Though it didn’t take them long to notice.

About five minutes later, the players in the lead gradually caught sight of the scene in front of them.

At the canyon’s end, where the two hills meet, there are no monsters in sight.

“What? There’s no Boss or Elite monsters here!”

Zephyr Canyon was a place surrounded by two hills that were three to four hundred meters high. The space between the two hills forms a large “U” shape from afar.

Under normal circumstances, the players had to defeat the Wind Maestro to successfully climb up the mountain and proceed to the third checkpoint. With the monsters blocking their path, it would be difficult for the players to proceed to the next checkpoint.

But now, all they see is barren, semi-circular ground.

Just like the previous area, the ground seemed to have been soaked in water and a little moist. The cold white mist still lingers in the air.

At the end of this area is a curved path leading up to the lush green mountain, which will lead them to the entrance to the third area.

“What is going on?…”

It didn’t take long for the other players who were lacking behind to catch up to the rest of them. And once they were met with the same sight, they fell into a heated discussion.

“How did it become like this?”

“What exactly happened?”

Just when they thought it would turn into one of the many unsolved mysteries, a hint literally fell from the sky!

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

All of a sudden, a loud sound echoes overhead.

It was as if something heavy was falling, fast!

Upon hearing this, the thousands of people present quickly raised their heads.

Only to see hot-red spheres with their burning golden flames that they are familiar with, falling at high speed towards one of the mountain peaks ahead!

And everyone knew.

That the third trial is located on the top of the mountain!

Upon seeing this, the thousands of people present widened their eyes and exclaimed.

“What the–! It’s that guy again!!”

“The mysterious person who summoned the meteorites is at the third checkpoint right now!”

“How is that possible? It’s impossible! He’s just a newbie like us, it’s impossible!”

“So all the abnormality here was caused by him??”

“Is he the reason why there were no monsters at this stage? Did he just single-handedly eliminate all of them?”

“Are you hearing yourself? No way! I won’t believe it even if you beat me to death!”

“…”

The flame star that streaked across the sky made everyone throw everyone in a state of panic.

Many players had thought that maybe there’s an overlooked “bug” in God’s Path that probably existed long ago but is more prominent today.

They were excited about being part of this exciting “discovery”, but who would’ve thought it was just an anomaly caused by some newbie in the same batch as them?

As the realization sunk in, some people were shocked, some were jealous, some were resentful, and some were suspicious.

“I won’t believe it until I see it with my own eyes. Everyone, follow me up the mountain!”

“Yeah! Let’s go!”

The truth was right in front of them, and these thousand people could not wait.

Then they all ran up the mountain in a hurry.

…

Among these people, Luo Yao was also one of them.

After picking up the materials, she didn’t return to the main world and followed the other players into the canyon.

She had followed them all the way here.

She was also climbing the mountain with the rest of the group.

“It’s actually a player’s doing?” She furrowed her brows slightly, and her pale golden eyes were filled with deep doubt.

In the depths of her soul, Qin Mengya’s soul, who took the form of a “mini-person,” was lying on her side and floating leisurely in the void with one hand supporting her head.

Questions and thoughts such as “how strange”, “it just doesn’t make sense”, “how is this possible,” and so on quickly passed through her mind when she saw the lack of Wind Elementals in the area.

There were no monsters in the Zephyr Canyon, and Luo Yao had followed the group with no prompt from Qin Mengya. Both were curious and confused about the situation.

Luo Yao and Qin Mengya came to the same conclusion as most people around them; this must be an abnormality caused by God’s Path itself. It did not even cross their minds that someone could do such a thing.

Well, until they reach the clearing, that is.

The current situation was entirely out of their expectations.

“Mengya, it’s confirmed that there’s a player on the mountain, but that would raise many questions.” Luo Yao whispered and raised her fair fingers to count. “That person is now at the top of the mountain. Is he fighting the monsters in the third area? Was he the one who killed the monsters in the second area? Does the cold fog covering the canyon have anything to do with him? Does he have any accomplices?”

“Aish, I feel like my brain is in a mess.” Luo Yao’s face was filled with worry.

Qin Mengya only smiled and explained, “Actually, if you think of him as a high-level powerhouse who can use ice, summon meteorites, and teleport, everything could be explained.”

“We can assume that this ‘expert’ entered the second area and used the power of ice to kill the Wind Elementals here. Then, he entered the third area and used the meteorite skill. It looks like a fairly simple operation.”

Luo Yao shook her head. It still didn’t make sense. Just as she was about to retort, Qin Mengya continued, “Don’t be so quick to refute. Think about it. Since I can enter the beginner map by attaching myself to you as a soul, other strong people can theoretically use this way to enter too. I might not be able to use my power, but it doesn’t mean others can’t. Maybe a powerhouse expert resides in a new player?”

Qin Mengya’s words were a little outrageous.

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But after thinking about it carefully, it did make some sense.

However, Luo Yao still refused to believe it.

“But that’s impossible. How could such an ability appear on God’s Path?”

“Do you have a better explanation for all of this then? Don’t tell me you’re trying to say that a new player has that kind of ability from the get-go?” Qin Mengya asked. “Please. That is a hundred times more ridiculous than my theory.”

Luo Yao pursed her lips and fell silent.

She thought about it seriously for a moment and realized that Qin Mengya does have a point.

After all, she herself had already been possessed by an expert.

If any other tools could allow the possessor to display their strength in their “vessel”, then it wouldn’t be strange for them to be able to do this too.