Qin Chuan glanced around and his eyes finally landed on a bizarre mask on the ground that seemed neither crying nor laughing.
After he had successfully killed Cursed Remnant·Lanso, the mask seemed to have lost its restraint, sliding off Lanso's face and revealing his distinct deep green visage belonging to the Dwarf Demon Clan.
From the remnants of Lelian's memory, Qin Chuan knew that this mask was the source of the tragedy of the Dwarf Demon Clan and a crucial factor in the creation of the Mysterious Tower.
Looking at the mask, he seemed to hear the hopeful cries of countless Dwarf Demons who had perished within the Mysterious Tower.
Qin Chuan raised his hand, and a sweeping flow of water grabbed the mask through the air.
If this was indeed the last requirement for the advancement strategy...
He clenched his fist fiercely, and the ominous and bizarre mask shattered in response.
A phantom figure rapidly emerged, that of the Mysterious Shadow·Lelian whom he had already eradicated.
At this moment, the face of Lelian no longer showed madness but had become calm, and from its huge and twisted body, different looking Dwarf Demons split off, casting grateful glances at Qin Chuan before dissolving into countless points of light.
By the time the last Dwarf Demon had dissipated, the twisted and fierce body of Lelian had returned to normal, transforming into a female of the Dwarf Demon Clan.
The woman looked affectionately at Lanso, who lay on the ground, then followed in the footsteps of her kin.
Suddenly, Qin Chuan realized what the Mysterious Shadow·Lelian truly was.
It was a creation born from the fusion of all the clan members of the Dwarf Demon Clan in despair.
[Congratulations Player for meeting the advancement strategy requirement: Destroy the ominous laughing and crying mask, Dungeon Clearance Rating upgraded to: SSS]
[Current Dungeon Clearance Rating: SSS]
[Current Strategy Reward: [Red] Lanso's Battle Axe, [Red] High Rank Dwarf Demon Forging Essence, [Red] Title·Fearless Conqueror]
[Additional Strategy Rewards: +2 Strategy Attempts Today]
[Receive Strategy Reward]
Looking at the lines of text that had appeared before him, Qin Chuan ended the Spirit Descent state, relaxing his expression slightly.
The Battle Axe and the red title were already part of the SS rating, whereas the High Rank Dwarf Demon Forging Essence in red was a new addition for obtaining the SSS rating.
Besides, obtaining the SSS rating in the S-level Dungeon, and the additional two attempts, also delighted Qin Chuan.
Without delay, let's see what the S-level dungeon rewards are.
[[Red] Lanso's Battle Axe: The weapon of Lanso, a brave and skillful warrior of the Dwarf Demon Clan. The wielder can channel the belief of the strong, significantly enhancing resistance to adverse conditions and increasing attack by 70%]
[[Red] High Rank Dwarf Demon Forging Essence: The essence of the creation powers of the Dwarf Demon Clan. Applying it to any purple equipment can upgrade the equipment to red]
[[Red] Title·Fearless Conqueror: Wearing it increases attack by 40%, and when facing multiple opponents, the effect doubles]
Qin Chuan fell silent for a moment, then picked up the battle axe that Lanso had used.
It was good equipment, though not particularly suited for him.
The other two items, however, were treasures.
The High Rank Dwarf Demon Forging Essence was a small bottle of liquid flickering with brilliant light, which needed only to be sprinkled over equipment for enhancement.
Without much hesitation, Qin Chuan poured it over the Dragon Slayer Blade of Salas.
This piece of equipment was the one he found most handy at the moment.
The purple glow on the surface of the Dragon Slayer Blade gradually brightened, then quickly transformed into red.
[[Red] Salas's Dragon Slayer Blade: Increases attack by 35%, ignores 35% of the target's defense, reduces the target's recovery by 50%, and the effect doubles against dragon species]
Looking at the greatly enhanced effects of the Dragon Slayer Blade, Qin Chuan nodded in satisfaction, replaced his old purple title with the newly obtained red title, and prepared to click [Exit Dungeon].
The next instant, his expression underwent a drastic change.
What should have been a "Quit Instance" button was now covered with a dark gray sheen and unresponsive to Qin Chuan's touch.
Qin Chuan was shocked and abruptly looked toward the shattered mask fragments on the ground.
These mask fragments were swirling with a foreboding aura so thick it nearly turned liquid.
As Qin Chuan gazed at them, the ominous aura transformed into an indescribable monster that violently lunged towards him.
Every surrounding thing instantly froze.
Facing the sudden crisis, Qin Chuan didn't hesitate to activate Time Stop.
Then the next instant, his pupils contracted drastically, and a tumultuous wave surged in his heart.
In Time Stop, the ominous aura moved as if it was mired in mud, its originally swift movements, now only leaving afterimages, slowed considerably, the ferocity of its attack faltered.
This was the first time Qin Chuan had seen something that Time Stop couldn't completely halt.
"Quit Instance" was still gray, and Qin Chuan's expression grew solemn.
The ominous aura seemed startled by Time Stop, senselessly perceiving its surroundings; then it appeared to realize something, and the mouth it had formed opened as if it wanted to say something.
The halted world trembled violently at that moment, and the next instant, Qin Chuan's world was engulfed in a dazzling array of multicolored lights.
When the brilliance dimmed, one second of Time Stop had ended.
There was no trace of the ominous aura left in the scene, and even the shattered mask had disappeared.
Looking at the now glowing "Quit Instance," Qin Chuan's expression shifted constantly.
Outside the entrance to a Grade-A instance, Silent Poison Lake.
Apart from the officials of Indonesia and the members of Yanhuang Country's Special Affairs Group who had come to lend assistance, figures from other powers and countries were also present.
After realizing their inferiority, Indonesia's pleas for help were not directed solely at Yanhuang.
Regardless of whether the intentions behind these pleas were to assist, they at least had all arrived.
At this moment, a large group of transcendent beings, each at least of Elite Level, were closely watching the entrance to the instance, their expressions grave and cautious.
"Chang, are you sure your Special Affairs Group's weapon fanatic can handle it?" a transcendent from The Sun Never Sets Country inquired, casting a glance towards the Special Affairs Group.
"If he can't, do you think you can?" Chang Jinze furrowed his brow, already worried about Ji Huai's safety, "Isn't Zefina one of yours from The Sun Never Sets? Why didn't she come?"
"You should know, half an hour ago, a Grade-C instance descended in The Sun Never Sets," the team leader from The Sun Never Sets shrugged, "Zefina is dealing with that."
"Besides, this place is too far from The Sun Never Sets, even the few of us had to use transcendent methods to hasten our arrival."
Chang Jinze fell silent for a moment.
He hadn't been aware of the Grade-C instance occurring in The Sun Never Sets.
It seemed the only hope rested on...
Inside the instance channel, Ji Huai was blasted out, falling heavily into the ocean, creating towering waves.
Chang Jinze was stunned for a moment, then his expression turned uglier than ever.
Under the astonished gazes of everyone, Dalaisai emerged, carrying the White Bone Long Spear, his body's bloodstains healing at a visibly rapid rate.
A jet of water shot up, fishing Ji Huai out from the ocean, tightly binding him.
"My servant, your resistance ends here."