Chapter 18: The Shovel of Freedom and the Elite Monster

The figure disintegrated into a handful of flying ash, and a rusted key fell from within it. At this moment, a prompt from the God’s Game appeared in Xiao Yang’s ears:

【Items in your inventory have changed. Please check them yourself!】

Xiao Yang picked up the rusted key rolling on the ground; this must be the key that could open the doors he had previously been unable to unlock. By all accounts, a blue-grade weapon should have fallen into his hands, yet for some reason, he felt inexplicably unsettled.

He quickly located the item that had changed in his inventory: the murky ale. Of course, it now looked entirely different.

【Courageous Ale
Quality: Fine
Type: Consumable
Effect: Dispels fear from the heart.
Description: Grandpa Mike told me that as long as you drink this, you won't be afraid anymore.】

Everything felt too real—or perhaps, it was simply reality itself. Xiao Yang shook his head.

Time to open the treasure chest. In the prison guard’s lounge, Xiao Yang found an iron box. As he pushed it open, a soothing, lustrous blue light mingled with the green glow, bringing a sense of satisfaction. It was harvest time once again.

There were three items inside—a bountiful haul! A black baton, a small black manual, and a warning badge.

【Justice’s Consolation
Quality: Fine
Type: Weapon
Damage: 8
Requirement: 5 Strength
Effect: Each heavy strike and heavy strike skill has a chance to cause intelligent enemies to flinch. The greater the level gap, the higher the probability of flinching.
Description: Kid, this is Justice’s Consolation! Kid, taste the consolation of justice!】

【Blackstone Prison Martial Manual
Quality: Fine
Requirement: 5 Strength, proficiency with baton-type weapons.
Effect: For every two points of Strength above five, increase damage by one and boost the probability of causing enemy flinching and fear.
Description: Hey kid, come over here! Let me teach you how to exercise the justice in your hands!】

【Blackstone Prison Guard Badge
Quality: Superior
Requirement: Blackstone Prison Guard
Effect: If an enemy is in a state of fear or flinching, inflict the "Prisoner" status on them: +10 damage, -10 enemy defense.
Description: Did you see the badge on my chest clearly? Did you see the clothes on your body clearly!】

These three items made Xiao Yang’s eyes widen. A simple iron box had dropped an entire set of top-tier gear! They were indeed top-tier; despite being two green items and one blue, their effects complemented each other perfectly. Combined, they created a synergy greater than the sum of their parts, forming a solid mini-loop system. Even more valuable was the thin Blackstone Prison Martial Manual—an excellent item that typically adapted to one's profession, whether as a cultivation technique for martial artists, a combat skill for knights, or a meditation ritual for others.

Unfortunately, Xiao Yang was still a few points short of the five Strength required to fully utilize them. He stowed the items away. Hidden maps certainly lived up to their reputation—even a random iron box yielded such treasures!

The harvest was not over yet. Shortly after, Xiao Yang used the rusted key to open the tightly sealed room. Stagnant air rushed out, forcing him to cover his nose. Lifting his Dark-Repelling Lantern high, he checked the room’s safety. There were no enemies; it appeared to be a storeroom for contraband. Xiao Yang found a note left behind:

【Damn it, how did those bastards manage to sneak a shovel this big into the cell block!】

The main event had arrived. Xiao Yang grabbed the shovel, which radiated a blue light.

【Shovel of Longing for Freedom
Quality: Superior
Effect: Allows for additional digging actions in any environment.
Description: This was the key the prisoners used to open the door to freedom. Of course, they failed, but you can try digging something up with it. You might find treasures, trouble, or perhaps even something peculiar!】

It wasn't a weapon, but a rather interesting item. For some reason, the description felt ominous. Should he try digging? He decided to give it a go.

Xiao Yang raised the iron shovel and made a digging motion. Immediately, the situation changed. A stone slab shattered where he struck the ground in the contraband room. Clearly, he had unearthed something. Sometimes, however, one really ought to restrain their curiosity.

A massive mushroom-man crawled out of the small hole.

【Corpse Mushroom
Race: Undead Fungus
Level: 15
Rank: Elite
HP: 1000
Attack: 30
Defense: 15
Agility: 8
Traits: Rapid Regeneration, Fungal Constitution, Viscous Fluid, Tough Skin
Description: This is a mushroom. Yes, he is a mushroom—a little mushroom that was sleeping soundly until someone rudely disturbed him and now he wants to eat people!】

Xiao Yang’s mouth hung open. Was this the "little trouble" the description mentioned? Damn it! He had dug up an Elite monster from underground!

There was no room for hesitation. The course of action was clear: Run! He would be a fool to fight a mushroom with morning sickness. Run! Run fast!

Xiao Yang scrambled out of the room, barely keeping his footing, still clutching the culprit of this mess—that damnable shovel. He escaped in a pathetic state, but fortunately, the Corpse Mushroom did not pursue him out of the room. After thrashing the walls in a fit of rage, the deadly, ill-tempered mushroom slowly retreated back into the shattered hole. It didn't fully submerge, however; a small, pointed tip remained exposed in the dirt.

Xiao Yang decided he would never use this cursed shovel again. It had nearly cost him his life, and he was still gasping for air. This sudden "surprise" was even more intense than the time he was almost crushed by the Skeleton Ball.

His resolve wavered from "never" to "not unless absolutely necessary." As he caught his breath, his mind began to drift toward a dangerous question: Just what would an Elite monster drop if he managed to kill it?