Xiao Hua felt both alarmed and secretly relieved. The task given by the Old Woodcutter was too devious. Had it been him, he might have overlooked the detail and met the same fate as the priest.

Wind Traceless, upon hearing the Old Woodcutter's words, realized this dungeon was beyond their current level! The emerald gemstone that opened the Maze Forest was obtained during a guild expedition to a mysterious stone altar. After being surrounded by a horde of level 60 monsters, the entire team perished except for Wind Traceless, who managed to retrieve the gemstone.

Realizing its potential as a key to an outdoor dungeon, Wind Traceless, enticed by the rumored rewards, secretly pocketed the gemstone despite knowing it belonged to the guild.

The gemstone's description emphasized the dangers of the Maze Forest, and the level 60 monsters at the altar made Wind Traceless aware of the risks. However, believing his equipment was top-notch and tempted by the rewards, he decided to enter the dungeon immediately rather than wait to reach level 60.

To assemble a reliable team, Wind Traceless chose friends like Momo, Cannon, and One Blow, who were scattered across different cities and guilds but shared a deep bond. Moreover, their equipment was solid.

Unexpectedly, after entering the dungeon and before reaching the main area, the priest Momo died. Without a healer, the team faced insurmountable challenges.

"F*ck! Let's kill this old man to avenge Momo!" The Fire Mage, enraged by the Old Woodcutter's words, launched a spell without waiting for agreement.

Stupid! How could the Old Woodcutter be easily defeated? Xiao Hua, controlling the illusion, watched gleefully as the Fire Mage acted recklessly, anticipating another teammate's demise.

"Stop!" Wind Traceless and One Blow shouted, but it was too late. A fireball streaked towards the Old Woodcutter!

With a flash of malice, the Old Woodcutter split the fireball with his axe, unscathed. In two strides, he appeared before the Fire Mage, his axe poised at the mage's throat!

"Cut him!" Xiao Hua gloated inwardly.

However, the Old Woodcutter merely held the axe there, causing Wind Traceless and the others to freeze, fearing any sudden move would result in the Fire Mage's death.

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"Head along the lake to the Maze Forest. If you can retrieve something to prove your strength, I'll entrust you with the task," the Old Woodcutter said, sheathing his axe and resuming his work, ignoring the team.

"What do you need?" Despite his anger, Wind Traceless inquired, unwilling to abandon the quest. Losing Momo would be futile otherwise.

"The Maze Forest holds something unique. You'll understand once you get there," the Old Woodcutter replied indifferently.

Wind Traceless silently led the remaining three towards the lake, Xiao Hua's illusion following closely. He wouldn't miss this opportunity to observe the ominous Maze Forest.

Passing the tranquil lake, the team reached a dense forest of towering pines. Six green pathways, formed by intertwined vines, led into the forest, blocking all other routes.

"I think this Maze Forest is a labyrinth," One Blow observed, feeling uneasy.

"Should we go together or separately?" The Fire Mage, now calm, pondered aloud.

"Cannon, you go first. Be cautious," Wind Traceless said, acknowledging the Knight's highest defense.

"Which path?" The Knight hesitated.

"Any will do," Wind Traceless shrugged.

The Knight entered the second-left pathway. After a short distance, Wind Traceless and the others followed. Xiao Hua's illusion trailed behind, maintaining a safe distance.

As the illusion entered the second pathway, Xiao Hua witnessed a sudden change!

The Knight, carefully advancing, triggered a mechanism. Thick green vines whipped out, wrapping around him like snakes, piercing his body with thorns. Hundreds of -500 poison damage appeared above his head!

"Cannon!" Wind Traceless shot an arrow, but it had no effect. One Blow's strike severed a vine, saving the Knight momentarily.

One Blow continued hacking, but the Knight succumbed to the poison, dying and dropping his armor.

After the Knight's death, the vines retreated, leaving a quiet atmosphere. Only severed vines and the dropped armor proved the event was real.

One Blow cautiously retrieved the armor, avoiding further attacks. Xiao Hua, witnessing the horrific death, felt chills. Unlike the priest's swift end, the Knight suffered a prolonged, painful death.

Seeing the warrior safely retrieve the armor, Xiao Hua wondered about the cause. The team regrouped, deciding to exit the forest.

"Let's leave. It's too dangerous," despite having previously cleared the path, they now felt unsafe.

"What should we do, Traceless?" One Blow asked, leading the team back. Losing Momo and Cannon meant they couldn't handle stronger enemies.

"Maybe we should give up," the Fire Mage suggested, sharing One Blow's sentiment.

"Give up, Traceless. Death in the Maze Forest incurs double penalties and high drop rates. Losing your gear isn't worth it," One Blow warned, seeing Wind Traceless hesitate.

"Alright, let's quit. I was too hasty. With a Master True Vision, we might've navigated the forest," Wind Traceless conceded, realizing the risks outweighed the rewards.

Xiao Hua overheard their conversation, noting the importance of high-level skills. Master Stealth might be useful against the unpredictable vines!