Chapter Thirty-Four: Recovery and the Devil’s Hand

Xie Ling said, "I found a blueprint for a Doppelganger Compass."

Fang Tang asked, "Doppelganger Compass? What's that?"

Xie Ling replied, "It's similar to a holographic projector. When you throw it out, it creates an optical projection to confuse enemies. The projection disappears if it's attacked."

"What materials does it require?" Fang Tang inquired.

Xie Ling answered, "Five iron ingots, five copper ingots, one pane of glass, one Lightning Stone, and one Azure Water Stone."

"Two elemental stones?" Fang Tang was a little surprised.

After pondering for a moment, Fang Tang said, "I'll give you the materials. Make one for me first so I can see how it works."

"Alright," Xie Ling agreed.

After sending the materials to Xie Ling and waiting a while, Xie Ling sent him a link.

The Doppelganger Compass was entirely metallic, about the size of a palm, and felt excellent in the hand.

When Fang Tang activated the compass, a beam of light scanned him. Immediately, his likeness appeared atop the compass.

He reached out to touch the doppelganger, but his hand passed right through its body.

Cupping the compass in both hands, the projection remained.

He placed the compass on the ground, drew his pistol, and aimed at the doppelganger.

Bang!

The bullet passed through the illusion instantly, and the projection vanished at once.

Fang Tang picked up the compass and found it completely unharmed, meaning it could be reused.

After a moment’s thought, Fang Tang summoned the doppelganger again and tossed the compass into the darkness.

The compass disappeared from sight, and the light from the projection failed to dispel the surrounding darkness.

Hmm… That sounds strange.

Light that produces no illumination—such a thing had indeed occurred.

After fumbling in the dark to retrieve the compass, Fang Tang contacted Xie Ling once more.

"This is great. I want you to make three more."

"Wow, this is what it means to be a big shot—eight elemental stones in total!" Xie Ling exclaimed.

Fang Tang smiled faintly.

When it came to elemental stone reserves, no one in the entire cavern had more than he did.

He sent Xie Ling the materials and included an extra elemental stone as a commission.

He could not break the rules he had set for himself!

Receiving three more Doppelganger Compasses, Fang Tang’s face took on a foxlike grin.

He could go fishing for trouble again.

He placed one compass at the entrance as a guard.

After enjoying a delicious barbecue, Fang Tang returned to his tent.

Still injured, he couldn’t engage in strenuous activity, so exercise was out of the question.

After changing the bandages on his chest, Fang Tang lay down on the camp bed and gradually drifted off to sleep.

...

Daylight—or rather, cave-light—flooded the chamber.

Fang Tang slowly drifted awake from his dreams.

He instinctively touched his chest and discovered the wound had healed.

Looking down, he noticed some black residue on the bandages.

"What’s this?" Fang Tang unwrapped the bandages, revealing streaks of black and purple intermingled. If aligned properly, one could even make out the shape of his chest.

"Are the bandages really this effective? Do they need sleep to work? Why didn’t my injuries heal when I passed out—was it because I ate?"

A series of questions swirled in his mind.

Still, he learned one thing: the bandages were a good thing.

"Seems I’ll need to pay Xie Ling a commission if I want more bandages in the future," Fang Tang muttered to himself as he rose and began to exercise his newly recovered body.

He only stopped when a thin sheen of sweat covered his skin.

After a quick wash, he had milk and a ham sandwich for breakfast.

And so, a new day began with this simple meal.

[After a day of recuperation, young Fang Tang embarks once more on his wondrous journey of exploration. Let’s see where his path will take him next. In the cave ahead sits a wooden chest, which Fang Tang will surely disregard.

To the left, there’s an iron chest guarded by two mongrel hounds.

Oh my, on the right side, there’s a marvelous stone. Will Fang Tang choose this path? Let’s wait and see!]

Fang Tang: "..."

Is the Eye going dramatic again?

He silently walked toward the right passage.

Cavern 72 contained an Azure Water Stone.

He replenished what he had spent the previous day, then paused and spoke, "Only eighteen uses left on the cross pickaxe. It’s precious, you understand what I mean, Eye?"

[Of course! I always do things this way!]

Fang Tang curled his lip. "No, I mean, if we come across any more women, I advise you to ignore them. Don’t waste my chances."

This time, the Eye didn’t reply.

Fang Tang was used to that.

He glanced at the other caverns, and golden text unfurled before him.

[Below is a silver chest. This time, it’s different—no cave creatures guarding it.]

Fang Tang nodded silently, dug a hole at his feet, and jumped down.

Truthfully, after the caves changed, this was his first time descending.

Ten meters is a considerable height; the most obvious sensation was the length of the fall.

But he had shock-absorbing soles.

Ten meters, and still unscathed.

The silver chest stood in a corner, and its supplies were as abundant as ever.

Having stocked up, he looked up at the surrounding caverns.

[We have discovered a new cavern creature—the Demon Hand.

Its body is a single, enormous hand growing from the earth, unable to move but freely able to extend and retract. It can strike at enemies with its arm. Its speed is not great, but its defenses are formidable. As for strength, it utterly crushes the Sand Python.]

Fang Tang’s sword-like brows arched as he looked toward the cavern where the Demon Hand waited.

Stronger than the Sand Python—meaning the orb it would yield was of a higher grade.

Well worth the effort!

He broke through the wall, but didn’t rush in.

Instead, he took out four Doppelganger Compasses and tossed them in one by one.

Then he charged in himself.

As soon as he pierced the black mist, Fang Tang saw an enormous arm.

It was over four meters tall, joined to the ground at its base.

In the center of its palm grew an eye. The moment Fang Tang entered, the eye swiveled toward him.

Immediately, the Demon Hand struck down at him.

Fang Tang quickly raised his AKM and aimed at the palm.

Ratatat...

Flames spat from the muzzle as bullets ripped into the Demon Hand, splintering it and severing two thick fingers.

It looked badly damaged.

But its movements showed no sign of slowing.

Fang Tang rolled to the side, dodging the attack, then steadied himself and fired again.

Ratatat...

Bullets shrieked out, rendering the Demon Hand more and more tattered. The eye in its palm glared with fury.

[Its eye is its weakness... Why do I feel like it’s talking about me? Never mind, aim for the eye.]

Fang Tang quickly took aim.

Sensing danger, the Demon Hand curled its remaining three fingers into a fist and smashed down at Fang Tang.

He stood his ground, emptied his AKM, then drew the explosive bow from his back.

He nocked an arrow, aiming at the gap between the fingers.

There, the last five bullets from his AKM had blown a bowl-sized hole, just large enough to see the eye within.

Whoosh!

The arrow flew even faster than a bullet, and with Fang Tang’s practiced archery, it struck precisely into the pit.

A white electric net exploded outward, as if enchanting the Demon Hand.

But the scene lasted only an instant.

With a thunderous crash, the giant arm collapsed, a head-sized eye pierced by a black metal arrow.