Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Hidden Map Instance

Hua Xia Myth Technology Network Co., Ltd., located in the top floor rooftop of the Hua Xia Technology Park in Qingcheng City.

A helicopter slowly descended, its blades slicing the air as a young man with a buzz cut, dressed in a sharp black suit, stood with both hands gripping a dark-colored folder, watching its arrival.

The helicopter door opened, and a man in a black suit stepped out, his attire accentuating his upright posture from head to toe. His gaze was unwavering, his features cold and chiseled, beautiful yet stern, exuding a chill that instinctively made others step back.

“President Feng.”

The buzz-cut youth nodded slightly, his stern face breaking into a slight smile as he spoke.

“Hm?”

The man addressed as President Feng responded, his voice as cold as winter frost, keeping others at arm’s length.

He glanced at the dark folder in the youth’s hands, a flicker of surprise flashing through his icy eyes.

“A hidden instance?”

“Yes, the hidden instance was discovered on the Novice Server, Xuan Tian. The player who found it has recently been the subject of much buzz.”

The youth nodded as he spoke.

“It’s just a hidden instance discovery. There’s no need to come all the way here to tell me.”

His tone was still frigid, but the youth’s next words made the man’s cold gaze blaze with intensity.

“But the instance discovered is the Ancient Heaven Continent, the hidden mechanism you personally oversaw. This is the first time it’s been found.”

“Hm? After so long, someone finally discovered it? Interesting. Take me to see the data. Have they entered the instance yet?”

“They’ve been inside for thirteen minutes. Please follow me, President Feng.”

The buzz-cut youth checked the time on his watch, made a gesture for President Feng to proceed, and handed the dark folder to a woman with a black ponytail, clad in a tight black suit.

“Sakura, review the folder's information for me and give me a comprehensive evaluation later.”

“Yes, boss.”

Boom.

After Night Feather and his five companions entered the hidden instance, they soon encountered a red wolf and engaged in battle.

The red wolf was level thirty-seven, with agile and high-attack attributes. Only Night Feather’s control skills had a noticeable effect; the others’ attacks or support were easily dodged by the wolf.

“Third brother, this red wolf is tough to handle.”

Luo Wei stared at the massive, crimson wolf before him, his eyes showing a grim expression.

The six had fought for nearly ten minutes without fully identifying the blood-red demon wolf’s weakness, managing to reduce its health by only ten percent.

Night Feather’s face darkened; no matter how he calculated, any attack against the wolf was eighty percent dodged, most of them completely avoided. Even the remaining twenty percent inflicted negligible damage.

Night Feather repeatedly used Light String to bind the wolf, but the restraint never lasted long. Only while the wolf was bound could its health be reduced; otherwise, it would dodge everything.

He repeatedly analyzed the wolf’s dodging motions, focusing on the subtle details, and finally discovered a crucial point.

Whenever the wolf dodged perfectly, its hind legs would spring powerfully, whereas the front legs barely exerted force. Only when attacking did the front legs emit a dazzling red glow, the claws slashing out.

“I’ve found its weakness.”

Night Feather narrowed his eyes and spoke in a low voice, raising his left hand and pointing at the wolf’s hind legs.

“When I use Light String, attack its hind legs directly.”

His words were pivotal. As soon as he finished, he unleashed Light String, two purple-glowing chains shooting out and binding the demon wolf.

“Now it’s our turn to counterattack.”

Huang Hong spoke up, his long spear erupting with blue light as a cross-shaped spear strike blasted toward the wolf.

Luo Wei commanded his bronze puppet, fists ablaze with crimson flames, to strike fiercely at the wolf’s hind legs.

“Qu Zheng, aim for the hind leg joints!”

A cold gleam shone in Night Feather’s eyes, numbers seemingly cascading through his mind, mapping out every counterattack the wolf might attempt.

No matter how the wolf reacted, Night Feather’s calculations anticipated each move, and under such flawless predictions, the wolf’s health plummeted rapidly.

Eighty.

Fifty.

Forty.

Hua Xia Myth Technology Network Co., Ltd. – Game Technology Intelligence Department, Hua Xia Technology Park, Qingcheng City.

President Feng’s eyes narrowed as he watched the huge screen, where Night Feather and his companions battled the blood-red demon wolf.

“The six who should have been unable to defeat the wolf have taken the lead and pulled themselves out of disadvantage. What’s going on?”

The staff seated before the screen were equally stunned at the unfolding events.

“The demon wolf’s intelligence far surpasses the novice adaptation level, and it should dodge all attacks unless bound by a player specializing in the music system.”

The buzz-cut youth in a black suit standing beside President Feng spoke, his face showing a hint of shock. “This player team is impressive.”

“How so?” President Feng inquired, a trace of a smile at the corner of his mouth.

“The player specializing in the music system has apparently pinpointed the wolf’s weakness and predicts all its actions once it escapes the binding.”

President Feng nodded. “Sharp observation. What’s your name?”

“Guo Yuan.”

The woman called Sakura behind President Feng looked up, glanced at Guo Yuan, and said, “Guo Yuan, active in the game Divine Sorrow from 2010 to 2017. Joined Hua Xia Myth due to outstanding gaming experience and computer talent.”

Guo Yuan was momentarily taken aback, surprised his history was so readily known. He smiled awkwardly. “I joined Hua Xia Myth because I loved Divine Sorrow. Now I’m in charge of President Feng’s Game Technology Intelligence Department.”

“Hm, when this gameplay structure was approved, the department was officially established. My design is challenging, so the discovery of a hidden instance proves they’re lucky—or skilled.”

“Yes, President Feng. Their team had a fifty percent chance of unlocking the hidden instance, half luck, half skill. According to your design, once a hidden instance is unlocked, subsequent ones will be hinted by tasks. Each server’s hidden instance method is different, so official guides are useless. The new instance will become a corresponding map, and the discoverers’ names will be recorded.”

Sakura spoke softly; President Feng’s expression remained calm, but as he watched the six lively figures on the screen, he smiled meaningfully.

At last, someone had opened the hidden map of Ancient Heaven Continent.

Thud.

After a tragic howl, the demon wolf collapsed in a pool of blood, and the surrounding experience points were absorbed by Night Feather and his companions.

“The experience is substantial. Just one demon wolf increased my experience by ten percent. Even with bonuses, it shouldn’t be this much.”

Luo Feng frowned, surprised by the experience boost.

“This is an unknown-type new instance. We receive unknown-type bonuses—double rewards.”

Night Feather explained, though he felt something was amiss; the instance felt like the opening of a new map.

He recalled an old forum post by a veteran player, who had once discovered an unknown hidden instance but abandoned it after failing to clear it. The player sensed it was a new map, and if cleared, the map would appear on the world map, with the server updating accordingly with new activities and tasks.

The six pressed onward; visibility remained unclear, and even the mini-map only showed their path, with everything else in gray.

Suddenly, a powerful gust swept toward them from the front, followed by a roar that shook heaven and earth. A single stomp made the ground tremble violently.