Chapter 48: Pink Mist Stench

“Crap, this Elite Tier Pink-winged Butterfly got so many levels higher!”

Ye Rong wasn’t stupid. That Pink-winged Butterfly several hundred meters away was enormous, impossible for him to handle alone.

But the team of about a hundred Players before him was forming a formation, tightly locking the Pink-winged Butterfly within it. Its Health Points were falling rapidly. Ye Rong hadn’t expected a team effort could show such power, suppressing the much higher-level butterfly without letting it fight back.

Still, he guessed this impressive result relied on that strange formation.

Otherwise, a bunch of scattered Players, no matter how many, couldn’t dream of performing so well.

“Young Master Wei, ah, Young Master Wei! Back in the Starter Village, I swore I’d kill you every time we meet! If it were anyone else, snatching this monster wouldn’t feel so satisfying!”

The leading Young Master Wei waved a white jade folding fan, shouting commands, standing out prominently among the crowd.

Without a word, Ye Rong threw the Black Dog Nail to chip away at the butterfly’s Health Points. In Far Shore, Experience Distribution depended on personal damage dealt to monsters. Only the one who delivered the final blow got an extra 10% experience.

Ye Rong wanted the pollen carried by the Pink-winged Butterfly. Only those with the quest got this item. He needed the final strike; then the Green Snail Pouch would automatically collect the pollen.

He aimed to get the pollen, steal the monster kill and equipment, and ruin Young Master Wei’s plan entirely!

Nobody would believe a large force was gathered against this BOSS in the early game unless massive profits were involved. Ruining the annoying Young Master Wei’s plan would definitely lift Ye Rong’s spirits.

Glancing at the few names in his friend list, Ye Rong sighed. He had so few friends. Three or five Players around his Level helping him now would boost the mission’s success rate.

During his Shushan Sword Heroes period, Ye Rong formed a faction with seven like-minded friends. No Guild Stronghold, no faction tasks, no new members—just a pure exploration party banded together for fun and mutual aid.

Helping each other complete missions, drawing swords together against enemies, exploring overseas Immortal Manors.

Ye Rong included, all seven were top-tier Players then. Their small exploration team flourished, gaining some renown in the game.

“I wonder if Danqing and the others joined Far Shore… Even by myself, I can make them jump around!”

Wudang’s Tai Chi Sword Art Form was unique. Mastered deeply, it created two Yin-Yang fish eyes, black and white, sucking in all enemy Flying Swords and Magic Treasures, rendering them uncontrollable.

But these Registered Disciples obviously couldn’t reach such heights; they only swung simple sword rays.

Under the Zhenwu Formation, nearly everyone’s strength nearly doubled. Pink-winged Butterflies were known for weak attacks; even Elite Monsters didn’t gain much power. At least, they couldn’t one-shot kill a Player.

Therefore, the Pink-winged Butterfly King’s defeat was inevitable, just a matter of time.

Ye Rong wouldn’t let that happen. He thought for a moment, then moved closer to the battle, keeping about fifty paces away.

That distance marked the limit where Flying Swords and Magic Treasures worked best. He narrowed his eyes, targeting one Wudang Registered Disciple.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Three Water Talismans shot forth, hitting the chosen Disciple. Immediately, the butterfly’s wings swiped him.

Two huge damage numbers popped above his head. A white light flashed within the Zhenwu Formation—the first Player to die since the battle began.

“Yeah! Guess skills from playing those bee-smashing games as a kid are still useful!”

Ye Rong pumped his fist excitedly. His long observation had pinpointed the next Player the wings would strike. To avoid detection and Karma Points loss, he only meant to wound the Disciple, letting the butterfly deliver the final blow.

“Young Master Wei, someone’s targeting us!”

Two more screams rang out. Another two white lights flashed. Three Players total were sent to rebirth by Ye Rong this way.

He faced no punishment. The butterfly did the killing. He got one System Notification when attacking the Disciple: “Slaying a Righteous Path Disciple doubles Karma Point loss.”

“Ignore it, focus on killing the Pink-winged Butterfly King! It’s just a minor pest!”

Young Master Wei’s face turned livid. He raised a bronze plaque, a thin bronze light beam scanning wildly.

A sudden sense of alert hit Ye Rong. Even unsure what the plaque did, he retreated dozens of meters. Anyway, the Water Lord Talisman used all Water Talismans; it wouldn’t work again soon.

“Curses! This Minor Derivation Wonder Disc is just a fake. It must shine directly on the target to break stealth methods! The real one shows all Players within ten miles! Ugh, that designer—such a thin beam?! How’s it supposed to find anyone?”

Veins bulged on Young Master Wei’s forehead. The plaque swung randomly, not really hoping to uncover the hidden foe.

“Looks like I must learn the Minor Divination Art or Seven Avian Divine Art for divination Dao Spells someday. Hunt anyone easily later. No ambushes could touch me then.”

Lost in thought, Young Master Wei suddenly saw trouble in the Zhenwu Formation. A red mist blew by the wind, scattering out. The air filled with a sickly sweetness.

System Notification: You are within Pink Mist Stench. Attack power reduced by 30%. Lose 5 Health Points per second.

This Pink Mist Stench wrapped everyone, including Young Master Wei and Luan Yidao. The system message threw many into panic. Constant loss of 5 Health Points per second mounted quickly.

Rows of neat “-5” numbers floated up within the Zhenwu Formation—a spectacular sight. The formation couldn’t block the Pink Mist Stench either.

“Wow, truly a Level 25 Elite Monster! Knew it wouldn’t die easily; must have a fallback spell!”

Ye Rong stood far enough outside the Pink Mist Stench. From his view, a pink bubble covered the Players. Streaks of shimmering colors snaked across the bubble surface, swirling pink vapor inside.