Chapter 263: Natural Affinity! Mastery and Subjugation
Beyond the 40th floor of the dungeon secret realm.
The frequency of small monster layers decreases significantly.
Most levels are guarded by purple-named elite monsters.
After the 80th floor, almost every level is guarded by a gold-named BOSS.
Moreover, the BOSS's skills come with specific mechanisms.
For example, some skills can forcibly drag challengers into a closed space, where they must meet certain conditions to break out.
Otherwise, they will be permanently trapped in that space.
Fortunately, with the efforts of the Holy Light Empire and the world's top powerhouses, many of the special mechanisms of the previous BOSSes have been figured out.
These have been compiled into manuals for adventurers to study, so they can be prepared when encountering certain gold-named BOSSes.
This is why Li Chaoge asked the "Eden" guild to fix the camera on the screen after the 40th floor.
No matter who reaches the 40th floor, they must navigate a highly complex maze.
Small monsters will randomly appear around you.
These small monsters are summons of the elite guards or BOSSes of that level.
Killing them yields no experience.
Only by killing the real gatekeepers can you gain real experience.
Meanwhile.
Ling Zhan, without any hesitation, stepped directly into the area of the 40th floor secret realm.
Buzz!!
The moment his body fully entered the secret realm area, Ling Zhan felt his attributes rapidly decrease.
A sinister, decaying scent hit his nose, and he felt like he was plunged into a dark, icy pool, with the chilling cold penetrating his bones.
At this moment.
All of Ling Zhan's senses, except for vision, were greatly suppressed, as if someone had forcibly blocked his other senses.
"Here it comes..."
"The familiar dungeon debuff..."
High-difficulty dungeon instances almost always have debuffs that suppress challengers.
If nothing unexpected happens...
The monster guarding this level will certainly also have some passive buff granted by the secret realm.
Ling Zhan's eyes were now completely tinged with a ghostly purple, as the "Demon Eyes" innate talent of the Lord of Demons ignored the 40th floor's debuffs.
Allowing Ling Zhan to see as clearly as day in this pitch-black environment.
This level was a massive labyrinth cave.
Not only did it severely suppress challengers' attributes, but the environment was also extremely harsh.
The bone-chilling cold made people feel like they were in an ice cave.
All the roads were muddy, damp, narrow, and steep.
Various smelly fungal mats and plants grew on the cave walls and the ground.
More importantly, these plants and fungal mats reacted with certain elements in the air, forming dense poisonous miasma in some areas.
If you accidentally got scratched by these plants or wandered into a miasma area, you had better take an antidote immediately, or you might die instantly.
Ling Zhan changed his previous rapid pace; instead of stepping forward, he gently knelt on one knee.
Then, to the shock of all the spectators in the "Eden" guild...
He actually reached out to touch those toxic fungal mats and plants!
Those fungal mats and plants seemed to sense the approach of prey, as the small purple-patterned poisonous mushrooms split open their jagged mouths!
Inside these mouths, there were terrifyingly deadly toxins!
"Huh? What's he doing? Committing suicide?"
"The fungal mats and plants on the 40th floor contain extremely dangerous toxins, only a level 40 second-turn priest can dispel and purify them. Even with antidotes, you need at least a B-grade antidote!"
"Why is he actively touching these poisonous things?"
Unsurprisingly.
When the spectators in the guild saw Ling Zhan actively touching these toxic substances, they immediately erupted in incomprehensible clamor.
Even the Nine-Tailed Sky Fox and the elite contestants from various countries couldn't understand Ling Zhan's actions!
However...
In the next second.
Ling Zhan gave all the spectators a shocking answer!
Buzz!!
In the focused screen locked on Ling Zhan's figure.
A series of extremely mysterious magical waves, like sound waves, spread out from Ling Zhan!
Gurgle gurgle...
Then everyone was astonished to see that the previously vicious-looking poisonous plants closed their mouths after being affected by these special waves!
Not only that, but some of the highly toxic flowers even bent their stems towards this human, as if showing submission and friendliness!
"What! This is..."
"The basic skill of the Druid class, 'Natural Affinity'?"
"No, 'Natural Affinity' only allows Druids to communicate with plants and animals, but it doesn't make them submit!"
"Moreover, 'Natural Affinity' is just a basic skill and can't control these level 40 and above fungal mats and plants!"
"Then what skill did he use?"
"How should I know? I'm just as puzzled!"
"..."
When the spectators in the "Eden" guild saw all the fungal mats and plants showing submission to Ling Zhan.
It instantly sparked intense discussion.
Everyone's face was filled with confusion and bewilderment.
They couldn't understand!
Simply couldn't understand!
Could a non-specialist possess advanced Druid skills?
Amidst the puzzled and confused gazes.
The Ling Zhan on the screen began to move forward!
All the plants started wriggling their stems after he passed, acting like signposts guiding Ling Zhan in the dark, complex underground labyrinth.
At this moment.
Ling Zhan walked calmly and steadily.
Even with clear directions from the plants, he did not rush towards the gate like an impatient boy.
In fact...
The initial guess from the outside was correct.
Ling Zhan did use the Druid's basic skill 'Natural Affinity.'
Only under the enhancement of 'Almighty,' it became so exaggerated.
[Natural Affinity (B): This skill transforms from a single-target skill to an area aura skill. Upon activation, it continuously consumes mana, forming a 'Natural Mastery' aura with a 100-meter radius centered on the caster.]
Notes:
1. 'Natural Mastery' effect: All plants and animals within the aura, up to 30 levels lower than the caster, will submit (spiritual beasts and divine beasts are unaffected).
2. The caster can communicate telepathically with subdued plants and animals.
This skill allowed Ling Zhan to communicate with the plants.
It also enabled him to quickly determine the gatekeeper's location in the cold, damp, muddy, and decayed underground maze.
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