Online Game: Crazy Skeleton-Chapter 1659 - 1456: The Cost of Unsealing the Ice Orb (Two in One)_2

Chapter 1659: Chapter 1456: The Cost of Unsealing the Ice Orb (Two in One)_2

"This should teach them a lesson. Just because you’re in the Elf Forest doesn’t mean you can let your guard down completely. Once they’re out in the wider world, they’ll pay a hefty price for it!"

Luta’s expression grew somewhat complicated, as though recalling experiences from his youth. He couldn’t help but sigh, "It’s been so long since I’ve come down the mountain. Stretching my legs a bit is actually not bad."

"Senior, your guidance is invaluable. I, as your junior, will commit it to heart."

Su Ran followed Luta’s lead in his response. Only by doing so could he avoid saying the wrong thing. After all, he still needed Luta to unseal the Ice Orb—offending him wasn’t an option!

"If those few could be half as capable as you, they wouldn’t be suffering this punishment now."

"Senior, you flatter me too much. I’m truly unworthy of such praise."

Su Ran beamed from ear to ear, finding a rare sense of superiority in front of an NPC. It proved that with enough money, even someone as hopeless as an "Armless Idiot" could become exceedingly excellent.

"Too much modesty isn’t good. Being ’close to genius among the masses’—now that’s truly exceptional."

Luta finished his cryptic remark and said no more, leaping halfway down the mountain toward the three elves.

"Close to genius among the masses?"

For some reason, Su Ran’s mind conjured the image of an elder with the surname Ma, his expression serene and detached from material desires, all radiating kindness.

"Sigh, if only I could reach that level in my lifetime, that would be enough."

Su Ran’s heart brimmed with longing. He couldn’t help but wonder if attaining that kind of realm would bring the feeling of isolation at great heights...

"Move aside!"

Luta’s expression changed as quickly as the weather in June. Moments ago, he was chatting and laughing with Su Ran; now, upon seeing Xue Wuqing and the others, his face instantly darkened. He didn’t even bother saying much and walked straight past them.

It was easy to tell that Ling Wei and Banana’s antics had deeply displeased Luta. If not for the allure of money, he wouldn’t have come down to save them at all. Even though Luta didn’t explicitly say so, Su Ran understood this well.

"Overturning Water, you’ve outdone yourself—getting an NPC to come down!"

Xue Wuqing joyfully walked up to Su Ran, curiosity lighting up her face. "How’d you manage that? This guy’s temper is notoriously weird, yet you persuaded him. That’s impressive!"

"Heh, a mountain man always has his tricks. No need to lift a single finger; it just costs a bit more money."

Su Ran laughed heartily. As long as this NPC was involved, things would definitely work out. Xue Wuqing seemed to think so too, as the worry on her face had disappeared the moment the NPC showed up.

"You’ve really gone all out."

Xue Wuqing shot a playful glare at Su Ran and then whispered, "Once Banana’s rescued, I’ll have him cook you a table full of delicious food as thanks!"

"A whole table of dishes? I can’t eat that much alone."

"Ling Wei and I will help out. Otherwise, it’d be wasted. You agree, don’t you?"

"That’s a brilliant idea."

Su Ran grinned and shifted his focus back to Luta, curious to see how this guy would manage to free Banana and Ling Wei.

As for Banana and Ling Wei, they didn’t even dare to take a single breath. Seeing the stern-faced Luta approach, they obediently stayed nestled in the rock, not daring to utter a single word.

"You two are just ridiculous!"

Luta pointed at the enormous stone and scolded the two heads sticking out from it. "Do you even know what this is? How dare you mess with the Lifeline Stone Heart—you’re courting death!"

"Senior, I didn’t touch it on purpose! I was flying around the mountain just fine when this stupid... Stone Heart suddenly appeared in front of me. I couldn’t stop myself in time and crashed right into it—it’s so unfair!"

Ling Wei pouted, her eyes brimming with grievance as she nearly started crying out of sheer injustice.

"Oh? So that’s how it happened. I must’ve misunderstood you."

Luta’s face softened as though he’d recalled something. He then turned his gaze to Banana. "And what about you? What’s your excuse?"

"I... It was a beautiful accident, Senior. Please don’t probe further."

Banana broke into a cold sweat, too afraid to tell the truth. He even threw a meaningful glance at Ling Wei, warning her not to spill anything more.

Ling Wei chuckled through her tears, amused by Banana’s expression.

"What are you laughing at? What’s so funny? If this were the God-Demon Continent, the only thing waiting for the two of you would be death!"

Luta’s face grew even darker, so much so that he felt a sudden urge to walk away. But for the sake of the gold coins, he decided to let it slide.

"Senior, I didn’t mean it—it’s all his fault!"

Ling Wei quickly turned to point fingers at Banana, exposing him completely.

"Enough!"

Luta didn’t want to hear another word from them. He placed his hand atop the Lifeline Stone Heart, and a brownish glow emanated from his palm, enveloping the giant rock. Moments later, the stone began to shrink rapidly. Ling Wei and Banana tumbled out the moment the rock loosened its hold, scrambling away from the ominous object as quickly as they could, frightened of being sealed inside again.

The Lifeline Stone Heart eventually shrank to the size of a peanut and rested quietly in Luta’s hand. However, instead of pocketing it, he pressed it back into the mountain. Not even the faintest sound was made as it merged seamlessly with the Blood Vessel Peak.

"Senior, that’s a valuable treasure! Just like that... you’re tossing it away?"

Banana blinked in disbelief, stunned by the sight. This couldn’t possibly be an ordinary artifact. If he’d managed to claim it, he wouldn’t have handed it over even if beaten to death!

"Tossing it away? Haha, I’m merely returning it to its rightful place!"

Luta’s gaze carried a hint of mockery. "The Blood Vessel Stone Heart was born of this mountain. Without it, this peak would lose its very essence and quickly meet its end. For the elves, that’d be a terrible omen. As a Blood Vessel Protector, it’s my life’s duty to ensure the Stone Heart never leaves this peak."

"I see now... Senior, your dedication is truly admirable."

Banana humbly accepted the lesson, his thoughts of stealing the Stone Heart promptly extinguished—not out of love for the elves, but because he simply couldn’t beat Luta. His greed died a quiet death.

"Follow me."

Uninterested in lingering on the mountainside, Luta led the group back to his domain—the summit of Blood Vessel Peak.

"Senior, may I ask a question?"

Xue Wuqing hesitated, curiosity gleaming in her eyes.

"Speak."

"Why did the Elf Queen send the Guardian of Abyss Lake to this Lifeline Space? Does it mean there’s about to be some kind of upheaval?"

"That question will cost you one hundred gold coins."

"..."

For the first time, Xue Wuqing felt the sting of her own inquisitive nature. Why did she have to ask that? Now, thanks to her curiosity, her wallet was about to suffer.

"Senior, I’ll cover the cost for her. I’d like to know the answer too."

Banana stepped forward at this moment, catching the conflicted look on Xue Wuqing’s face. For him, one hundred gold coins wasn’t difficult to manage. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

Xue Wuqing cast a grateful glance at Banana. It wasn’t that she couldn’t afford the price but that wasting coins on a single question felt unbearably extravagant—it pricked her conscience.

"Doesn’t matter who pays."

Luta didn’t stand on ceremony. He collected the coins with ease, and his mood visibly improved after raking in cash three times in a row. Even his tone grew lighter. "Word has it the treasure in Abyss Lake was stolen, making it pointless for the Guardian to remain there. The Elf Queen sent it here because of the Lifeline Stone Heart. Recently, the Stone Heart’s energy has been abnormally active, generating instincts that shouldn’t exist and attempting to break free of the mountain’s hold."

"Turns out the big guy couldn’t even guard the Blood Vessel Stone Heart properly. It almost escaped! Fortunately, you, Fire Spirit, crashed right into it; otherwise, things would’ve gotten complicated."

"W-Wait, I contributed to the Elf Tribe’s stability?"

Ling Wei’s eyes widened with surprise, her face caught between laughter and tears as she tried to process what Luta had just explained. It almost felt as though the Stone Heart’s actions had been deliberate.

Sometimes, coincidences weave the fabric of fate in uncanny ways.

"In a certain sense, yes—it’s thanks to you."

Luta nodded and turned his gaze to Su Ran. "Warrior, now’s your chance. If there’s anything you’d like to ask, go ahead."

"Senior, I’d like to request your help in unsealing the Ice Orb."

Su Ran didn’t hesitate, stating his purpose directly. He even pried the Ice Orb off his skeletal scythe, hoping the NPC wouldn’t make things too difficult for him.

"Unseal it? It’s not impossible—ten thousand gold coins."

"Hiss..."