Chapter 165: Team Progress
Lin Huai checked the replies in the squad chat and did a quick calculation. Including Sister Cai, six of them were ready to go. That was more than enough to handle the trial.
She could finally put the full power of her Level 7 vehicle to the test.
First, she transferred a healthy sum of underworld coins and Yin energy crystals over to Sister Cai, telling her to clean out the gas station’s inventory.
By the time Sister Cai finished paying for the supplies and stepped out of the station, Dragon Emerging from the Sea had wrapped up his ritual at the roadside altar.
The six squad members met on Lin Huai’s lane, gathering around the floating spirit carriage with wide eyes and open mouths.
Lin Huai invited them aboard, guiding them through the expanded layout until they reached the largest room on the main floor.
“As the journey goes on, the weather and terrain will only get worse,” she explained, gesturing across the open space. “There will be fewer and fewer safe chances to step outside our vehicles, and the towns along the way are far from secure.”
“My plan is to turn this room into a communal living area. Whenever we need to hold briefings, share a meal, or unwind together, this will be our squad hub.”
Cute and Sparkling beamed, bouncing on her heels. “Boss, if our vehicles ever hit Level 7, will they look this stunning too?”
Old Wang clicked his tongue with a teasing smirk. “Keep dreaming, kid. Every vehicle has its own specialization. How could they all look like an ancient immortal’s carriage? If we’re talking about pure comfort, nobody beats the Young Miss and her motorhome.”
He crossed his arms, admiration written all over his face. “But for sheer intimidation and style, Boss takes the crown every single time.”
Walking over to the panoramic window, Old Wang leaned on the sill, staring down at the Star Coffin gliding smoothly alongside the chassis, flanked by the four hooded spirit bearers.
“This setup is downright terrifying. Imagine seeing an ancient carriage ride in from the clouds while four towering evil spirits carry a glowing coffin behind it. The enemy would drop dead of fright before you even fired a shot!”
Milk Tea nodded eagerly, her eyes sparkling. “Right?! Sister Bone Ash, you should install a carved throne on top of the coffin lid! Put a grand silk canopy over it and sit right there while the spirits carry you into battle. The entrance would drop everyone’s jaws!”
She puffed out her chest with a dramatic flourish. “Make way for the Underworld Sovereign! The living must bow!”
Shudao Mountain chimed in with a bright laugh. “Boss, can you recruit even more spirits to march behind you? If you lead a hundred-ghost parade down the highway, the entire server will bow down to you!”
Lin Huai rubbed her temples with a wry grin. Her squad was far more dramatic than she could ever be. “Alright, that’s enough joking around. Now that the tour is over, let’s open these chests.”
Opening two Profound Stone Chests at the same time triggered a pleasant surprise: the trial only summoned a single wave of monsters rather than a double spawn. With six seasoned fighters present, they had more than enough firepower.
Lin Huai opened the throttle on her new weapons. The automated crossbow batteries hummed, raining down a storm of deep blue spirit bolts. Wherever the volley landed, the incoming horde dissolved into sparkling motes of light.
Right after, the heavy golden cannons mounted on the front and rear opened fire together. Glowing Yang flame circles materialized over the barrels, catching the beams of golden light and amplifying them into an explosive volley of fireballs. The fiery rain carpeted the road, wiping out an entire flank of monsters in seconds.
The others stood frozen in shock. Old Wang shook his head, thoroughly amazed. “Brutal, Boss. Absolutely brutal. At this rate, you could take on the entire horde solo. We don’t even need to raise a hand…”
Having tested the destructive power of her new installations, Lin Huai stepped back from the console. “I still need everyone to pitch in. These guns burn through Yang crystals like water—it hurts my wallet just pulling the trigger.”
The squad laughed, drew their weapons, and charged into the fray.
In team combat, Shudao Mountain’s value was impossible to miss.
Her knowledge of mystical formations was exceptional. Dropping several offensive and defensive diagrams onto the road, she instantly doubled the attack power of everyone inside the circle. Her practical utility was the main reason she had earned everyone’s trust so quickly.
Fighting beside her felt effortless. A good formation master could turn the tide of battle on a whim, giving her tactical potential that rivaled Lin Huai’s own. Her only real limitation was her small repertoire; she had only mastered a handful of basic arrays so far.
Meanwhile, Cute and Sparkling’s food truck had received a complete overhaul under Old Wang’s craftsmanship.
Using the kitchen’s built-in fuel lines, Old Wang had converted the burners into an industrial-grade flamethrower, while adapting the propane tanks into an explosive gas canister launcher. The food truck packed a surprisingly lethal punch.
Milk Tea’s ambulance was fundamentally locked out of offensive upgrades, but Old Wang had worked his magic there as well. He had welded serrated harvesting saw-blades to her wheel hubs and bolted a directional golden beam projector above the windshield, finally giving the squad’s medic a way to defend herself.
With their gear upgraded, clearing the rest of the trial was a breeze. Lin Huai took the opportunity to observe her teammates’ growth.
Milk Tea and Shudao Mountain had made the most remarkable strides. Neither of them had known how to hold a firearm when they first arrived on the survival road. Now, both women could swap out submachine gun magazines so quickly their fingers blurred, a clear testament to their tireless practice.
Knowing she wasn’t built for frontline combat, Milk Tea had put all her stats into survivability, wrapping herself in heavy protective gear from head to toe. Even if a stray ghoul slipped through the perimeter and tackled her, the armor absorbed the blow completely.
Shudao Mountain was naturally taller and had built solid muscle from her regular sparring sessions with Sister Cai. Her hard work paid off in every fluid strike.
In contrast, the squad’s two heaviest hitters, Dragon Emerging from the Sea and Sister Cai, had not shown explosive growth. Their strength and agility had improved only slightly. Then again, both veterans had started near the absolute peak of human athletic potential, leaving little room for dramatic jumps.
Of the two Profound Stone Chests, only one spawned a boss encounter.
Facing down the Ghost Bride, Lin Huai executed her proven tactics, putting the phantom to rest without taking a scratch before popping both latches.
The loot distribution followed their usual guild rules: the massive pile of energy crystals was divided equally among the party, while Lin Huai claimed the rare catalysts. Anyone who needed a specific ingredient for an upcoming craft was free to trade for it.
To everyone’s delight, the two chests dropped five missing fragments for the Nine Revolutions Soul-Returning Pill. Adding those to the three fragments Lin Huai had gathered earlier, their collection rose to eight.
They only needed ten more fragments to complete the ancient recipe.
Milk Tea was practically walking on air. “This is wonderful! Once the scroll is whole, I can finally brew miracle medicines for everyone! My journey to becoming the server’s top physician is officially underway!”
She clasped her hands together in excitement. “Oh, and the spirit herbs in my greenhouse plot are ready for harvest. I can start practicing on basic Soul-Restoring Pills very soon!”
Lin Huai nodded warmly. “That’s fantastic news. Once you have a steady supply, you can sell the surplus on the open market.”
“Starting next month, the seasonal disasters will become far more dangerous. Resource crates will drop less frequently, and the trials will get stingier with loot. Medical supplies are already worth their weight in gold, and their value will only skyrocket.”
She patted the girl’s shoulder. “When that day comes, our Little Sweetie will be the most sought-after healer on the entire server.”
Old Wang rubbed his chin, his eyes gleaming with pride. “Does that make me the undisputed master blacksmith of the server?”
Shudao Mountain sighed softly, her shoulders slumping. “I can’t match Master Cloud Cliff’s power yet, so I guess the title of top Daoist is out of my reach…”
Lin Huai smiled, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t sell yourself short. Your specializations are completely different. You’re on track to become the greatest formation master in the game. Besides, you walk the orthodox path of the Dao, while he’s nothing more than a ruthless rogue cultivator. Your foundation is far purer than his.”
Her voice turned firm. “I look forward to the day you surpass him completely.”
Dragon Emerging from the Sea raised an eyebrow, easily catching the tactical thread in her words. “So… our next step is to play along and form a temporary truce with Master Cloud Cliff and Old Mo of Western Hunan?”
He gave her a knowing look. “And the moment we’re strong enough to wipe them out, we put an end to them for good?”
