Chapter 32: Feeding Instance! Goblin Farm!

Although I don’t know what that woman, Mise Kujo, is thinking, as long as he dares to join the team, half the goal is already achieved.

As for the other half...

That is to completely eradicate this guy once we are inside the dungeon!

Yang Junfei walked at the front of the group, his expression cold and grim. As the young master of the Yang family in Sangyu City, coming to this backwater town was solely for the sake of the newly opened Purgatory-grade dungeon. As the one who triggered the dungeon, Li Yao held the priority right to challenge it; even the Yang family had to abide by this rule. Therefore, he needed Li Yao to disappear—to vanish completely before he reached level 20!

From the start, he had never underestimated Li Yao. Clearing a Nightmare-grade dungeon solo—even as a Summoner—meant he was the strongest of his class, and no one could afford to look down on him. His original plan was to find an opportunity to invite Li Yao to participate in the raid and then, joining forces with his two companions, eliminate him inside. Now, this suddenly opened Primal-grade dungeon was like a gift from the heavens.

Yang Junfei had arrived early to buy up the entry slots at a high price, feigning disdain for Li Yao and refusing to let him join the raid party. That way, if Li Yao met with an ‘accident’ inside, no one could reasonably suspect him. A solo Summoner clearing a Nightmare-grade dungeon? A trash Summoner wanting to join a raid? Young people are inevitably arrogant, and top-tier professionals like Li Yao were even more so. Coupled with the allure of a Primal-grade dungeon, Yang Junfei was full of confidence in his scheme.

Who would have thought this kid wouldn't take the bait? Fortunately, that woman, Mise Kujo, had assisted. If Li Yao met his end, the higher-ups would suspect her instead. Thinking of this, Yang Junfei couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile. A peasant is still a peasant; even if it grows wings, it has no right to become a phoenix!

The entrance to the Primal-grade dungeon was a rock formation beneath a small stone hill. Kicking it aside revealed a vortex leading into the dungeon. The closer they got to the entrance, the more military soldiers were present. After verifying their identities, the group touched the vortex.

In the next second, their vision blurred. When Li Yao opened his eyes again, he found himself in a dark, damp cave. A foul, fishy wind blew, and the air was thick with the stench of rotting corpses, as if he had stepped into a massive slaughterhouse.

Lines of blood-red text appeared before him:

【Current Dungeon: Feeding Cave (Level 20)】
【Dungeon Restrictions: Level 10–25; 1–5 players】
【Difficulty: Unknown】
【Clear Condition: An unknown creature has occupied the Goblin tribe’s cave, keeping the Goblins as livestock and raising them in the Feeding Cave. To ensure a delicious flavor, the feed provided to the Goblins contains additives that cause their flesh to become succulent and their strength to increase significantly. Defeat the unknown creature to clear the dungeon.】

"A random-teleport dungeon?" Li Yao scanned his surroundings; he was alone. He muttered to himself softly. Newbie dungeons were always random-teleport types, with no fixed spawn point, choosing a random location upon entry. Li Yao didn't dwell on it and commanded, "Predator, take the lead and scout."

Simultaneously, an orange light barrier coated the Predator’s body. The 【Shelter】 skill was now in effect.

***

Li Yao and his two chess pieces followed about ten meters behind the Predator. The cave was narrow with many corners, and a ten-meter distance was just enough for Li Yao to keep the Predator in sight.

Unexpectedly, they hadn't gone far before a short, dark silhouette appeared in front of the Predator, stumbling. A pungent, fishy odor hit them! Li Yao cast an appraisal.

【Goblin Flesh-Chunk】
【Level 20 (Enhanced Elite)】
【HP: 22,650】
【Strength: 475】
【Spirit: 21】
【Agility: 386】
【Stamina: 453】
【Skills: None】

Li Yao furrowed his brows. These stats were almost on par with a Goblin Chieftain. And this was just a common mob in the dungeon? A sense of unease welled up in him—not because of the monster before him, but because of the "unknown creature" mentioned in the dungeon description. To keep creatures like this as livestock and raise them implied that the creature possessed the power to crush them with a wave of its hand. It was like humans raising poultry, selecting chickens and ducks rather than tigers and bears.

The stumbling figure was now right before him. Judging by its silhouette, Li Yao could loosely identify it as a Goblin, but its deep red, pus-filled flesh made him glad he hadn't eaten breakfast.

"Bluebird."

At Li Yao’s soft call, a snowy light enveloped the monster. An icicle shot out.
【-642】
【-1284】

"Single-target damage is still far inferior to the Void Mantis," Li Yao remarked, just as the Void Mantis suddenly appeared.
【-8421】
【-15246】
【Killed Goblin Flesh-Chunk, XP +0.4%】
【Combat Training triggered, Void Mantis Strength +1】

After several Nightmare-grade runs, the Void Mantis’s strength had reached 2,100; killing such a monster took only a split second. "The XP is decent; I'll level up in about two hundred kills," Li Yao thought, continuing deeper into the cave.

The unfortunate thing was that the monsters he encountered mostly appeared alone. Although the individual XP was high, the lack of quantity meant his leveling speed was even slower than it had been in the Goblin Nest.

"Wait."

"Since it’s a farm, there must be a place like a chicken coop where they feed collectively." Li Yao put himself in the farmer's shoes. Would he really feed them one by one in a free-range setup? His eyes lit up at the thought.

***

He immediately sped up, letting his chess pieces clear the mobs while he went to find the "chicken coop."

Meanwhile, about twenty minutes had passed since entering the dungeon. Yang Junfei and his two teammates had reunited using a specific item. Before them stood two Goblin Flesh-Chunks. Deep crimson flesh oozed with pus as they attacked the trio without consciousness.

"Damn it!" Yang Junfei cursed, his spear dancing in his hands.
【-321】
【-217】
【-284】
【......】

"What the hell is this thing? It's only level 20, why is its stamina so high?" With Yang Junfei's strength, the Goblin Flesh-Chunks couldn't touch him. His spear struck with incredible speed, yet each hit only shaved off a sliver of health.

The Sacrifice Paladin also held back one of the monsters. His muscles bulged and red light surged from his body; every time he attacked, his own health bar ticked down slightly. His damage was significantly higher than Yang Junfei's.

Behind them, the somewhat ditzy-looking girl was accustomed to Yang Feng's combat style. She cast healing spells while frowning in thought.

"Brother Junfei."

"This is the first time we've encountered two monsters together, right?"

"Yeah," Yang Junfei replied irritably.

"That’s a bit troublesome..." The girl knit her brows, speaking seriously. "You should have read the dungeon description. We can treat single monsters as free-range, but if multiple appear at once..."

"It means we are not far from the feeding area."

"Our strength can handle at most four of these monsters at once."

"What do you mean?" Yang Junfei asked directly without pondering. Whenever they were deep in a dungeon, their three-person team was commanded by Song Anqing.

"So..."

"We have to get away from here."

At this point, the previously silent Yang Feng spoke up: "That unknown creature should be in the feeding area you mentioned, right?"

"Exactly, but we can't beat it," the girl said calmly. The two flesh-chunks had already turned into experience points on the ground.

"Let's wait until we gather Mise Kujo and Li Yao," Yang Junfei suggested.

"Li Yao? Did you forget our plan?"

"I didn't, but in the current situation, we must prioritize clearing the dungeon. This place isn't simple, and Li Yao's strength is still useful for now."

"However," Song Anqing touched her lips, her eyes dim. "I'm more worried now about whether Li Yao is... still alive."