Chapter 37: The Moonlit Cup Secured

Taking the drone from his backpack, Zhang Ji launched it into the air and began searching for the location of the karst cave. He had previously scouted the area via satellite imagery and was certain of the general vicinity, but he wasn't sure if the cave actually existed there. After all, the version of the game he played was set much later in the timeline.

Soon, the drone’s overhead view appeared on his screen. Zhang Ji cross-referenced the terrain with his memories from the game. Many things were different, particularly the density of the vegetation; there were many massive trees here that definitely did not exist in his memory of the game. Before long, he spotted a small canyon near a waterfall, with a narrow stream flowing out and a somewhat restricted entrance.

"Moonlight Valley, found it!"

Moonlight Valley was the name of this location on the game’s map. Zhang Ji retracted the drone, shouldered his backpack, and hurried toward the site. Within five minutes, he arrived at the entrance of the valley. While it looked narrow from the drone’s perspective, it was actually wide enough for a truck to pass through.

The sky was already dim, so Zhang Ji activated his lighting equipment and stepped inside. He moved with caution, given that he was exploring an unknown territory. To be honest, if he didn't feel it would be difficult to explain or lead to unnecessary complications, he would have preferred to use the influence of the Five Elements Sect to retrieve the item. However, even within a sect, he couldn't fully trust anyone. With so many people, could they all be of one mind? If someone among them were blinded by greed and kept the item, it would never reach his hands, and that would be a headache. Therefore, he preferred to handle important tasks himself rather than relying on others.

As Zhang Ji walked through the valley, he heard only the sound of murmuring water. Following the flow, he felt as if he were walking in circles.

"A maze? I don't remember this being a maze!" Zhang Ji frowned. He pulled a navigator from his backpack to check his path. "I'm not going in circles; I'm walking in a spiral..."

A realization dawned on him, and he continued forward. He didn't know how long he had been walking, but when he checked his phone, it was already eleven o'clock at night. He was on the verge of turning back when he caught a faint glimmer of light ahead. He quickened his pace, moving rapidly toward the source.

Soon, he stood beneath Lake Guest. Moonlight filtered through the clear water above, converging into a single beam that focused on a large natural crystal, which then concentrated the light onto a stone pedestal. Or, more accurately, into a wine goblet resting on that pedestal.

The goblet was only the size of a baby’s fist, embedded in a groove on the stone. It was golden, engraved with exquisite patterns, and inlaid with two blue gemstones on either side. As the moonlight hit the gems, the goblet automatically began to fill with drops of a faintly glowing liquid. This was Moon Essence. A full cup of it could restore half the health and the entire stamina bar of even a C-rank fighter.

Zhang Ji suppressed his excitement and scanned the area; there were no signs of any guardian beasts. He guessed the creature must have gone out to hunt. This was reality, not a game; even exotic beasts needed to eat and couldn't wait 24/7 for players to challenge them.

He stepped forward, leaped onto the three-meter-high pedestal, and reached for the goblet. Suddenly, he heard the sound of wind.

"I knew it!"

Zhang Ji spun around and threw a punch.

"Bang! Boom!"

After a massive collision, it was Zhang Ji who went flying. Beneath the pedestal, coiled in the moonlight, was a giant purple-black centipede over six meters long. Its mandibles were as thick as bull horns, and it was larger than three men combined. Zhang Ji had been sent crashing into the cave wall, shattering several stones, though his body remained unharmed. The centipede, however, had a sunken fist-print on its forehead, from which strange fluids leaked.

The giant centipede lowered its head, extended a tentacle-like tongue, and began licking the Moon Essence from the goblet. Almost immediately, its injuries began to heal.

Zhang Ji, of course, wouldn't let it recover. He dropped his backpack and exerted his internal energy, his body popping like a coiled spring pushed to its limit before exploding outward.

"Boom!"

The giant centipede was struck by Zhang Ji’s sudden charge and knocked off the pedestal.

"Did I say you could drink that? You dare take a sip? Don't you know it's mine now?" Zhang Ji stood on the stone platform, loosened his joints, and beckoned to the centipede. "Come on, let’s see how strong you really are!"

"Hiss-hiss-hiss!" The giant centipede reared its upper body, letting out a hiss of warning and rage.

"Whoosh!"

With a thousand legs scurrying, the centipede lunged, its massive mandibles snapping toward Zhang Ji. He activated his breathing technique, his skin shimmering with a metallic luster under the moonlight, making him look like an iron man. He ducked the bite and shoved back with his palms.

"Bang!"

His palms felt as if they had struck heavy steel, knocking the mutated centipede to the side. While the creature’s overall strength was only D+, its defense and raw power were closing in on C-rank. As Zhang Ji knocked its upper body aside, the centipede’s lower half whipped around.

"Bang!"

Zhang Ji took the hit on his shoulder, sliding backward as his custom mountaineering boots plowed grooves into the stone floor.

"Impressive. First time I've heard of a centipede being able to whip its tail!"

Zhang Ji muttered a complaint, his body humming as he charged again. The centipede scrambled up the cave wall and leaped at him. They collided in an instant. The next moment, Zhang Ji punched its head aside, grabbed one of its segments, and pulled with all his might.

"Rip!"

Strange fluids and flesh were torn away. The creature looked imposing, but against a Grandmaster-level expert, it was far from enough.

"Hiss-hiss-hiss!" The centipede shrieked in pain. Zhang Ji pressed his advantage, kicking its belly and leaving a deep indentation. The centipede, clearly terrified, turned to flee.

"Trying to run?"

Zhang Ji caught its tail and yanked it back.

"Bang! Boom!"

He slammed the centipede into the cave wall, dislodging a rain of rubble. In its agony, it whipped around to bite him. Zhang Ji reached out and gripped both of its mandibles. The horn-like jaws were strong enough to snap steel, but against Zhang Ji’s arms, they couldn't close.

"Creak, creak, creak!" Zhang Ji’s muscles strained, the sound like a compressed spring.

"Hum!"

With his strength fully accumulated, he released his muscular control, unleashing his full power.

"Crack! Rip!"

The giant centipede’s mandibles were torn apart, along with a significant portion of its flesh. It curled into a ball, rolling on the ground in a sickening display of agony. Zhang Ji stepped forward and stomped down on the junction of its neck.

"Snap!"

The shell shattered, foul-smelling liquid spilled everywhere, and the creature’s nervous system was severed. Its movements slowed drastically. However, the fluid only looked disgusting; it was actually non-toxic and rather beneficial. In truth, this centipede was non-venomous. Having consumed Moon Essence for so long, it had mutated beyond a common pest. Its body was saturated with the energy of the Moon Essence; roasting and eating it would likely restore a lot of health and stamina. That was how it worked in the game, at least—Zhang Ji wasn't entirely sure about reality. He decided to take the goblet first, then bring back some centipede meat to study before considering eating it.

Zhang Ji walked to the pedestal. This time, there was no resistance. He grabbed the goblet, gave it a gentle twist, and the base detached from the groove. He pulled it free. There was still a small amount of Moon Essence left. He sniffed it—it was odorless.

He hesitated, then took a small sip.

"Whoa!"

A refreshing, stimulating sensation rushed from his throat to his spine and then spread to his brain, making him shudder. What followed was a surge of exhilaration throughout his entire body. It felt like he was back at full capacity. It was similar to a Vitality Pill, but more potent, and it even seemed to have a restorative effect on his spirit.

"What a treasure!" Zhang Ji beamed. He drank the rest in one gulp. The Moon Essence could only be stored in this goblet; it would dissipate if poured out, so he had no choice but to drink it all.

After finishing the remaining half-cup, Zhang Ji felt his condition was fully restored, almost to the point of overflowing. He tucked the goblet away and was just wondering which part of the centipede to harvest when his ears twitched. He heard the sound of rushing water—getting louder and more violent by the second. He looked toward the depths of the cave, his expression puzzled.

A moment later, Zhang Ji realized something was wrong. He abandoned the centipede, shouldered his bag, and sprinted back the way he came. However, his running speed was no match for the water.

"Rumble!"

The raging torrent hammered against the cave walls with a thunderous roar. Zhang Ji’s expression turned to one of shock. There was absolutely no such event in the game. You get flooded just for taking the cup?

He ran faster, but he couldn't outrun the incoming surge. In a split second, the accumulated force of the water slammed into him, pinning him against the cave wall. The current then swept back, smashing him into the opposite side. With no surface to leverage, he was battered back and forth, and breathing became a desperate struggle. If his body-tempering techniques hadn't been so advanced, he would have been dead long ago.

"Bang! Bang! Thud!"

Zhang Ji was tossed against the walls, occasionally colliding with jagged rocks. He could only protect his head to avoid fatal injury. He was in pain, and his breath grew shorter; in the narrow sections of the cave, he was completely submerged, unable to even surface for air.

*If this continues, I'm a dead man!* he thought. He felt he had been too reckless, placing too much trust in the game's information. Was this the arrogance that came after becoming a Grandmaster? But damn it, who could have imagined that once reality shifted, there would be such a trap behind a simple goblet?

He calmed his mind and began to think of a solution. In the next moment, he stopped resisting and allowed himself to be swept along by the current.

"Hum!"

His body struck the wall, and like a rubber ball, he used the momentum to bounce off, surging forward with the flow.

"No injuries! It works!"

Zhang Ji felt a surge of joy and began applying the technique of "Overlapping Waves."

"Hum! Hum! Hum!"

Gradually, he felt as if he were merging with the water, becoming a part of the current itself. Suddenly, an image flashed in his mind: the sight of a waterfall crashing down. It was the visualization diagram for the Flowing Water Style combat technique known as "Waterfall Drop."

Zhang Ji realized he had reached an epiphany!

The next moment, the water around him began to flow downward rapidly, following his will. About ten minutes later, Zhang Ji was washed out from a canyon. A stream of water swirled around him and deposited him on the bank.

Zhang Ji lay on the ground and immediately patted his pocket—the goblet was still there. He couldn't suppress his joy; the thrill of obtaining a treasure and escaping death was overwhelming.

"Hahahaha! I really am a genius!!!"