Cang Lang, who was arranged on the outer perimeter, had no choice but to go all out under everyone's watchful eyes.
Together with Ye Cangtian and Dugu Wan, they were like three harvesting machines, continuously reaping the puppet guards.
The team members behind them were responsible for cleaning up the stragglers.
For a time, everyone attacked with full force, their coordination quite tacit, and they slowly advanced.
Thus, they successfully killed all the puppets on the first level, along with a puppet general, and obtained a considerable number of medium-sized crystal stones.
...
They officially entered the second level.
Compared to the first level, the guards on the second level were clearly halved.
However, their armor was more imposing, and their blades were sharper.
Even the gems inlaid on their chests had increased from one to two, clearly indicating a significant overall increase in strength.
Everyone continued to advance slowly using the same method as before.
But the speed had slowed considerably.
The most crucial point was that as the guards' strength increased, so did the number of stragglers.
Ye Cangtian's side was doing better, but Dugu Ling and Cang Lang were clearly struggling more.
And those stragglers were absolutely terrifying existences in front of the team members.
After all, the team members only had Yellow-grade strength, while these guards, strictly speaking, had at least mid-stage Black-grade strength, a considerable gap.
The team members also suffered casualties as a result.
The situation became critical. Ye Cangtian saw it but had no way to help. He could only grit his teeth and persevere. Fortunately, the number of guards was not too large.
"Those who dare to trespass into the castle will be killed without mercy!"
As the guards were cleared one by one, a low growl finally came through.
In the blink of an eye, a puppet wearing general's armor and with four crystal stones embedded in its chest appeared in everyone's vision and immediately joined the battle.
As fate would have it, the puppet general's first target was Cang Lang.
After a few rounds of combat with the puppet general, Cang Lang found himself struggling and retreated to the side.
This left his position open, and the puppet general charged directly at the team members.
"Cang Lang, you scoundrel!"
"I won't let you go even as a ghost..."
For a time, curses and screams echoed.
How could these team members be a match for the puppet general!
Their situation was already perilous, and with the addition of a puppet general, they were instantly reduced to meat on a chopping board, ready to be slaughtered.
It was also for this reason that their resentment towards Cang Lang intensified.
On the other side, Ye Cangtian's expression darkened. He was not surprised by Cang Lang's actions. This guy was selfish and unreliable at critical moments.
So he said nothing and turned to rescue the team members who were in danger.
"Foolish!"
"Since these people have already resigned themselves to death, why bother saving them?"
"Forget it, good luck to yourselves. I'm leaving first..."
Cang Lang's voice came through. He took advantage of the team members attracting the guards and forcefully carved out a bloody path, breaking through the encirclement.
There was no other way. He had created an opening just now, and he was sure to have offended everyone. In that case, the team would not tolerate him, and they might even attack him.
Therefore, the best course of action now was to leave voluntarily.
"Cang Lang, we will meet again. You just wait!"
Looking at Cang Lang's departing back, Ye Cangtian said coldly.
Although he knew in his heart that Cang Lang was unreliable, he did not expect Cang Lang to betray his teammates so thoroughly. It was simply unbearable.
"Cang Lang, you wait! This heroine will not let you off either!"
Dugu Ling was also extremely indignant, roaring.
Originally, the three of them formed a pincer formation. Now that Cang Lang had left and Ye Cangtian had to return to defend the team members in danger,
Her pressure instantly doubled, and she was forced to retreat. She felt extremely stifled.
This situation only eased after Ye Cangtian killed the puppet general. Gradually, they coordinated with Ye Cangtian to eliminate the remaining guards.
However, the team members had already suffered more than half their casualties, with only about ten remaining.
"It's all my fault. I believed Cang Lang too easily, which led to such severe consequences..."
During a break, Dugu Ling sat on the ground with a face full of regret, muttering to herself.
Ye Cangtian glanced at Dugu Ling, stepped forward, and patted her shoulder, saying, "Human hearts are treacherous. It's not your fault, but you must remember the lesson..."
With simple comfort, Dugu Ling did not argue or show impatience this time. Instead, she nodded obediently.
Then she glanced at Ye Cangtian, hesitated for a long time, and finally spoke, "Ye... Brother Ye, are we still going to the third level?"
Ye Cangtian's strength was formidable, and he took the lead in the face of danger. Calling him 'coward' again felt deeply inappropriate to Dugu Ling.
However, this first attempt to change his address felt a bit awkward for her.
Upon hearing this, a smile appeared on Ye Cangtian's face, and he muttered to himself, This girl finally recognizes me. It was not easy.
"Yes, of course, we are. But it will only be you and me. It's safer for them to stay on the second level."
Ye Cangtian made the decision. He couldn't let Cang Lang benefit for nothing.
This was because after Cang Lang broke through the encirclement, he had gone straight to the third level.
Dugu Ling had no objection to this. In this second level, the team members had already suffered heavy casualties. If they went to the third level, their survival rate would be too low.
"Haha, we've struck gold this time."
"We actually found so many elixirs and miraculous medicines..."
Just then, taking advantage of the short break, the guards who went to search the rooms returned excitedly.
On the second level, there were some broken armors and weapons, which had corroded into junk over countless years.
However, in one of the rooms, they found a Qiankun bag.
Inside the Qiankun bag, there were quite a few pills. There were dozens of Lesser Rejuvenation Pills and Foundation Establishment Pills alone, including the more precious Greater Rejuvenation Pills.
It was known that these pills were very valuable, and for those who often performed missions, they were as precious as a second life.
However, when they reached Ye Cangtian and Dugu Ling, they generously produced all the pills, intending to distribute them equally.
After all, without the two of them, they would not have been able to obtain these.
"I don't need it. I said I only take what I need, and I have all these pills."
"By the way, you should stay here from now on. The third level is probably even more dangerous, and with our abilities, it will be difficult to protect you all."
Dugu Ling did not take her share. Firstly, she had stated her position before.
Secondly, she truly felt ashamed of the mission team and was too embarrassed to accept them.
It was for this reason that she voluntarily brought up this matter, taking on the role of offending people.
"Thank you, Lady Ling."
The remaining team members did not object. Instead, they bowed slightly to Dugu Ling.
In fact, due to the dangers of the second level, they had already decided to give up on the third level. They just hadn't had a chance to say it before Dugu Ling took the initiative.
...