My Misfortune Crushed Instances-Chapter 167: Someone Got Arrested Before Entering the Main Quest

Chirp, chirp.

When Li Rui woke up from the Secret Realm, he hadn't even opened his eyes yet and could already hear the crisp sound of birds calling.

This is the west side of Liangting Country, a settlement for Forest Spirits, known to people as Peach Blossom Spring.

If an elementary school student were to travel here, their diary entry would start with: Sunny skies, bird calls, and the scent of flowers.

But these two expressions are indeed spot-on.

Above his head were peach blossoms, around him were the sights of grass and trees, sunlight filtered through the gaps in the foliage, directing a path forward.

Beside the path, there were a few spirit monsters with humanoid forms, their bodies were made of vines, complete with hands and feet, and they had a patch of lush "hair" on their heads. These were the Vine Spirits of the Peach Blossom Spring.

A few of these spirits were holding weapons and looking at Li Rui cautiously.

"You there, why did you cross through the market to come up the mountain? Do you not know this is the Holy Land of our race and should not be trespassed upon?"

[Main Quest Updated: Enter the Peach Blossom Spring.]

Li Rui thought for a moment; the market below was a place where the Human Race and spirit monsters traded.

The spirit monsters of the mountain would bring medicinal herbs and wood to trade for items with the Human Race, such as the swords and knives in their hands, and of course, more everyday supplies.

Such harmonious coexistence was due to the goodwill established with these Forest Spirits at the founding of Liangting.

Normally, this is the first checkpoint, which requires utilizing communication and negotiation skills or talents, whether through stealth, combat, or intimidation by looking fierce.

However....

The best method is still proper negotiation, because either stealth or combat would lower the favorability of the Forest Spirits here and hence reduce future avenues to earn experience.

Li Rui glanced around, not seeing any sign of Hea Yang, and realized he could only rely on himself to negotiate, despite the fierce look he might have.

"Please do not take offense, I, uh, a wandering Daoist, happened to travel here and noticed some evil aura brewing in the mountain, specifically came to inquire if assistance is needed."

The strategy guide clearly stated that the main quest here is to help the Forest Spirits dispel evil spirits.

The Vine Spirit leader, holding a waist knife, scrutinized him suspiciously for a while, unable to resist feeling a bit frightened.

Scare value +20.

"You.....are a Daoist?"

The opponent could perceive the evil aura in the mountain, indicating he had some skills, but being so intimidating, could he be a legitimate Daoist?

Li Rui, full of confidence: "Genuinely so, I am a disciple of Shenxiao Palace, willing to relieve your worries."

Upon hearing the name, the leader's greenish face slightly improved, for Shenxiao Palace was an emblem of righteousness, naturally lending credibility.

It asked, "May I know your name?"

Li Rui felt it inappropriate to leave his real name while concocting false stories here, so he casually said, "I am Zhang San."

Upon hearing such a casual name, the leader's slightly improved expression became serious once more.

Li Rui chuckled awkwardly: ".....Feng, I am Zhang Sanfeng."

The leader's expression eased slightly: "Daoist Sanfeng, who is your master?"

"My master is Chongxu."

The leader's expression became solemn again.

Translation: Daoist Chongxu is one of Shenxiao's Four Disciples, ranking just below the Palace Master; you being so young, how could you have such a revered old immortal as your master?

Li Rui coughed again: "I have a token with me."

He presented a jade badge that had a function of rescuing the master once.

The leader's expression eased slightly, then became solemn again: "Isn't this Daoist Zhenyue's name?"

In any isolated place, anyone who practices cultivation (spirit), would certainly know Shenxiao's Four Disciples.

Li Rui remained unfazed: "As an accident befell, I lost my master's token, my uncle then bestowed me this one."

The Forest Spirit leader had no idea what expression to make towards this person anymore.

Saying he was a villain, yet he spoke with politeness and presented something seemingly legitimate; calling him a good person, but what good person loses their master's token? Could this item be fake?

It sized up that somewhat intimidating face, only to see it full of smiles, yet it looked fierce and foolish.

"Come with me to meet the elder, let it decide."

Li Rui expressed his gratitude repeatedly, knowing he had passed the first checkpoint, which was quite normal since most people pass simply by talking properly, as the Forest Spirits tend to trust easily, but more challenges lay ahead.

He did not act rashly, carefully followed the Forest Spirit leader inward, finding behind the path a great wooden fortress, filled with Forest Spirits possessing relatively high combat power, securing the gateway leading into the depths of the mountain.

Li Rui saw many Forest Spirits that looked similar, armed with vine spears and javelins, vigilantly staring at the outsider.

"May I ask, have you seen other humans?"

He was referring to Hea Yang.

The leader answered: "Seen one, just now someone tried sneakily to infiltrate, but we've captured him."

"....."

"Caught right from the start, huh!"

Li Rui reckoned that person to be Hea Yang since that was the only entrance to the Secret Realm just now, seemed like there were only two who entered this time.

Climbing along the towering tree trunk, he followed the Vine Spirit leader to the enormous cavity in the middle, akin to a huge air-raid shelter.

According to the main quest, after passing the first checkpoint, agents of the Secret Realm meet the Tree Spirit elder overseeing the fortress in this cavity. He had envisioned thousands of scenarios of this so-called elder, always a giant war tree reaching over ten meters, requiring several people to wrap around it.

But upon meeting, he was dumbfounded.

Who is this little shorty?

Before him was a section of gray dead wood at most one and a half meters tall, most of the wood was a large face, below were several short leg-like roots.

The leader stepped forward, said a few words to the little stump, which nodded, then said, "Daoist, please sit."

Li Rui felt even worse, this voice lacked any imposing grandeur, sounding rather like Donald Duck.

He cupped his hands, sat on a wooden stump beside him.

"I have heard, Daoist is from Shenxiao Palace, perceives wicked aura arising in the mountain, specially came to assist, is it true?" The Tree Spirit elder's speech was courteous.

"Indeed."

Li Rui replied.

"Daoist is truly a righteous man, but....but the mountain is the sacred land of our Forest Spirit clan, unsuitable for outsiders to enter, moreover we are neither familiar nor related, dare not trouble, Daoist please take a brief rest and then descend the mountain."

[Main Quest Updated, Stage One: Turned Away.]

[Quest Objective: Obtain the Tree Spirit elder's permission.]

[Quest Reward: Experience Points +25000, High-Quality Consumables x1, Random Quality Enhancement Materials x3.]

The elder spoke halfway, suddenly an individual resembling a ginseng ran in hurriedly.

"It's bad! It's bad!!"

"Elder, you must save Teng Yao, it's been tainted by the evil spirit!"

The Ginseng Spirit's small nose and eyes were all squeezed together from crying.

Behind it, lay a spirit similar to the Forest Spirit leader, engulfed in swirling blackness thick as substance, estimating before long, this creature would be entirely swallowed by the darkness.

[Optional Quest: Exorcise the Evil.]

[Quest Objective: Remove the negative state from Teng Yao.]

[Quest Reward: Permission from the Tree Spirit elder, Experience Points +15000.]

This is the second checkpoint of the Peach Blossom Spring Secret Realm, passing through the fortress to enter the Forest Spirit residence internally. There are many ways to clear just like entrance, as long as the objective is achieved, it's considered cleared.

Facing this optional quest, Li Rui of course immediately took action, directly standing up for justice.

"Hold on, let me!"

He strode forward to stand in front of the Tree Spirit elder and Ginseng Spirit, glanced swiftly and said, "The evil spirit has invaded the body, the situation is dire, but I have a method to save him."

The previous Forest Spirit leader frowned: "The elder requested you descend the mountain."

He was afraid this person might suddenly cause trouble, delaying their rescue.

However, Li Rui said: "Elder, it's a matter of life and death, why not allow me to attempt, it might as well dispel any doubts?"

The elder hesitated: "You may not know, this evil spirit originates from the Five-Colored Cave on North Mountain, if you wish to banish it, unless you find ways to lure it out from outside the cave, otherwise saving Teng Yao's life would be difficult."

Its words hadn't finished when they saw Li Rui's body flash with golden light, suddenly appearing beside the unconscious Teng Yao.

"Stop!"

"What are you trying to do!"

The surrounding Forest Spirits were both anxious and angry. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Li Rui had grown tired of arguing with them, raised his hand, and let the Divine Thunder wrap around him, targeting the black aura with a big blast.