Chapter 179: Fame in a Single Battle
“So-called ‘finding life in a desperate situation’—Huazhang, let’s go down from here.”
Standing behind the iron chain railing, Mu Lantu looked at the cliff below. His brows glowed with confidence.
The jutting rocks below were strangely shaped. If one looked closely, they resembled a spiraling staircase. Yet, because the depths were bottomless, one’s subconscious refused to believe there could be a path to survival.
“Baby, I’ll lead the way, you cover the rear.” Xu Huazhang tied his shoelaces and rolled up his sleeves.
“Fine, but tie a rope around your waist,” Mu Lantu insisted. If Xu Huazhang missed a step, he could pull him up—after all, he had divine strength.
To put him at ease, Xu Huazhang obediently fastened the rope around his waist. The other end was tied to Mu Lantu, who also held it firmly in one hand.
They climbed over the railing. Xu Huazhang leapt onto a rock first, confirming it was stable and could bear his weight. He nodded at Mu Lantu before jumping to the next rock.
Mu Lantu then landed on the first rock.
Step by step, they descended this way.
The natives above were fixated on climbing upward, completely ignoring them.
But two players in the crowd noticed their actions.
“Could the way out be down there?” the tall, skinny player muttered. Looking at the sea of bodies blocking every path up and down, he hesitated.
“No way!” the short, chubby player declared. “That’s a cliff—how could there be an exit? If there isn’t, do you think we’ll have time to climb back up? Believe me, the way out must be tied to the Holy Light at the summit! Hurry up, don’t waste time!”
Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang’s figures grew smaller, soon blocked from sight by the rocks.
The tall player took two steps forward, then gritted his teeth, turned back, vaulted the railing, and jumped.
“Hey!” the chubby one tried to stop him, shaking his head. “No advice can save a fool courting death. Mercy cannot redeem a man bent on self-destruction!”
After descending about 500 meters, Xu Huazhang suddenly smiled and called upward: “Baby, I found the exit.”
Before him stretched a wide, straight passage, glowing brightly at the end.
“Coming.”
Mu Lantu leapt down lightly, landing without the slightest wobble—his stability was remarkable.
Embedded in the wall were night pearls, each the size of a grape. Xu Huazhang calmly plucked one, unfazed when the prompt appeared:
[Holy Light Stone: Permanent item. Can discern good and evil. Emits green light for good, red for evil.]
He picked another pearl and handed it to Mu Lantu.
“Not bad.” Mu Lantu played with it. “Could be made into an accessory.”
“I’ll make you a bracelet once we’re back.” Xu Huazhang smiled.
They untied the rope, stored it in their game backpacks, and walked along the passage.
Footsteps echoed behind them—another beam of light flickered.
A male voice called out, “Friends ahead, wait up!”
Neither Mu Lantu nor Xu Huazhang stopped. Whoever it was, they could talk after leaving this place.
Half an hour later, they emerged from the tunnel, back under the sky.
[Congratulations, players. Mission complete. Reward: 2 credits, 1200 gold coins. You may remain in this world for 1 hour. Exit now? [Yes][No]]
“Should we wait for that guy?” Mu Lantu asked.
“Sure.” Xu Huazhang pulled out two cups of milk tea, and they waited while drinking.
The tall player soon caught up, panting heavily but elated to see them still there.
The Holy Light Stone glowed faintly green.
“Bosses, hello! I’m Luo Han, freshman at Capital University.”
Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang also introduced themselves.
In awe, Luo Han said, “I only followed you because I had no choice—took a gamble. Didn’t expect it to work! You saved my life. Let me transfer you some gold coins!”
“No need,” Mu Lantu refused. As long as others didn’t hinder him and Huazhang, he didn’t mind them tagging along. A life saved was still a life. Strictly speaking, other players weren’t their enemies—the true enemy was Infinite University.
Luo Han felt a pang of disappointment. His gratitude was genuine, but so was his desire to form connections. Not wanting to part ways so quickly, he tried, “Bosses, how did you know the way out was down there?”
Mu Lantu thought ruefully that if only his first published book had been printed already—Luo Han would’ve made a perfect customer.
“Just a matter of thinking it through. If you really want to thank us, share some intel we might not know.”
His confidence hadn’t just come from intuition. He’d noticed when the natives threw the first player down, their movements weren’t rough, and the rock below was broad. It could well have been guidance, not murder. That player’s panic had doomed him.
On top of that, Mu Lantu’s daily divination had also pointed downward—but that was his own secret.
“Intel you might not know?” Luo Han pondered. “Students can take courses outside their major for credits and gold coins. Does that count?”
“Of course. Thanks. We’re leaving—until next time.” Mu Lantu waved.
“Until next time,” Luo Han answered wistfully.
Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang exited the dungeon world.
Not far away, Xu Huazhang spotted Song Bochao. “Baby, I’ll have Song Bochao find out who targeted us.”
Mu Lantu chuckled. “Good idea. But those people probably won’t end well.”
“What did you do?” Xu Huazhang asked.
“Word-spell rebound,” Mu Lantu smirked. “If I guessed right, the ones who set us up also got thrown into a Forced Dungeon.”
Xu Huazhang pinched his nose fondly before going over to Song Bochao. If their enemies had died inside, all the better. If not, they needed to investigate and retaliate to eliminate future threats. Confidence was good, arrogance was deadly.
“Any leads?” Xu Huazhang offered 300 gold coins as bounty. Song Bochao gladly accepted but admitted he needed clues to start.
Xu Huazhang, calm and sure, said, “We never make enemies lightly. The only ones against us are those who think we threatened their interests.”
Song Bochao nodded slowly.
Mu Lantu added, “Before Huazhang’s lectures, only the bold and cautious dared attempt dungeons. Afterward, even timid students gained courage and skills to succeed. With limited dungeon resources, especially items, those who once had an edge lost it. They’ll surely resent Huazhang.”
“I see,” Song Bochao said. “Shouldn’t be hard—it must be someone prominent in school.”
“Bring us good news.”
“OK.”
A handsome youth leaned against a tree, watching Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang until they disappeared into the cafeteria.
“So jealous… when will the heavens gift me a beautiful boyfriend?”
Beside him, a long-haired youth twitched. “Brother Ming, aren’t you into girls?”
Liang Jianming drawled, “That’s why I said beautiful. If he’s pretty enough, I can accept a guy too.”
Lin Qinglang knew he couldn’t win in wordplay against Brother Ming, so he quickly changed the subject. “Brother Ming, Li Dian and Zhao Qingfeng’s whole crew is missing. Could they be dead?”
Liang Jianming yawned. “Most likely taken care of by those two just now.”
“Huh?” Lin Qinglang didn’t get it.
“Xu Huazhang’s lectures cut into many people’s cake, got it? Li Dian was just the most impatient. But both Xu Huazhang and Mu Lantu are not to be trifled with.”
Liang Jianming disliked Xu Huazhang too, but since he couldn’t beat him, he chose to avoid him.
“Huh?”
“Stop with the huh’s.” Liang Jianming said flatly, “Focus on grinding your dungeon. I only need 1000 more gold coins to level up. Figure it out.”
“Nooo, Brother Ming, wait for me!”
Just then, a burly man strode over with seven or eight followers.
“Brother Liang.”
Liang Jianming gave him a glance, ignored him, and said to Lin Qinglang, “Come on, breakfast.”
“Don’t!” The burly man blocked their way. “Let’s talk.”
“Not interested.”
Liang Jianming tried to walk around but was blocked again.
“I haven’t even said anything, and you already say not interested? No respect, huh?” The man smirked, exhaling smoke in Liang’s face.
“You!” Lin Qinglang bristled.
Liang Jianming waved him down. “Ma Biao, cut the crap. Spit it out.”
Ma Biao’s smile twitched. “We plan to team up against Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang. You in?”
Liang Jianming laughed coldly. “Haven’t you heard the news?”
Ma Biao’s eyes narrowed. “What news?”
“Li Dian’s crew is dead.” Liang leaned back on the tree. “Guess how.”
Ma Biao froze. The news was shocking—Li Dian’s six-man squad was notorious across campus.
“How?”
“Li Dian tried to trap them in a Forced Dungeon. Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang walked out. Li Dian’s whole crew vanished. If I’m right, they were dragged into the same Forced Dungeon.”
Li Dian’s team was strong. If it had been just an early-morning dungeon like everyone else, they wouldn’t all vanish together. That left only one explanation.
Ma Biao’s hand trembled. The implication was terrifying: Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang had anticipated Li Dian’s move and turned it against him. That was the only way it made sense.
“Let’s go.” Ma Biao left with his men.
Lin Qinglang whispered, “Brother Ming, how did you know Li Dian set that trap?”
Liang Jianming gave him a look of exasperation. “Hard to guess? The only way to deal with those two is inside a dungeon. A Forced Dungeon is perfect—deadly, and no need to dirty your own hands.”
“Eat more walnuts.”
![After Waking Up I Inherited the Earth [Interstellar]](https://i1.wp.com/panda-translations.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20220822190944_300_420.jpg?resize=151,215 "After Waking Up I Inherited the Earth [Interstellar]")