World of Insanity

Chapter-five: Greed

The Task Panel appeared before him.

[Novice Task 1: Escape from Cell No. 19.] 

Task Difficulty: Rank-2 

Task Reward: Mortal-Level Bloodline, 5 Dao-points. 

[Novice Task 2: Kill a Guard.] 

Task Difficulty: Rank-3 

Task Reward: Mortal-Level Bloodline, Mortal-Level Demon Sutra, 15 Dao-Points. 

[Novice Task 3: Kill the Uncontrolled Cultivator.] 

Task Difficulty: Rank-5

Task Reward: Unknown Inheritance 

These three tasks were listed with nothing but their names, lacking detailed introductions—likely because he hadn't selected a task yet.

Faced with the necessity of choosing one of the novice tasks, Zander knew only after selecting a task would its full details be revealed.

"Although I don't know the specifics of the task, I'm certain that this Rank-5 task is related to the uncontrolled white-robed youth right in front of us."

The white-robed youth had completely lost control, and the soul demon immediately abandoned Zander to focus on this new, unpredictable threat.

With a powerful swing of its sharp claws, the soul demon aimed a deadly blow, one that could have easily killed Zander, attempting to seriously injure the white-robed youth instead.

Sensing the impending danger, the white-robed youth, consumed by the chaotic energy of his bloodline, didn't attempt to evade. Instead, his rage intensified, and he counterattacked with a ferocious strike of his own.

The collision of their arms sounded like two massive pieces of metal slamming into each other, creating a dull, reverberating boom. 

Moments later, the fierce soul demon was sent flying through the air, crashing heavily against the stone wall of the cell. 

"This guy is unbelievably strong! No wonder he's connected to the Rank-5 task," Zander thought, his pupils contracting in astonishment. He had believed the soul demon was already a significant threat, but the white-robed youth's strength far exceeded anything he had imagined.

Roar! 

Enraged by the intense pain, the soul demon let out a piercing roar. Its body tensed as it pushed off the ground with its powerful legs, launching itself toward the white-robed youth like a bolt of lightning.

Undeterred, the white-robed youth retaliated, delivering another devastating strike in an attempt to finish off the soul demon.

Inside the cramped cell, the man and the demon clashed violently, while outside, a second soul demon stood guard. 

The second soul demon seemed determined to prevent any of the prisoners from escaping, which explained why it hadn't yet entered the cell. However, that situation didn't last much longer.

With another brutal hit, the out-of-control white-robed youth struck the soul demon inside the cell, causing it to cough up fresh blood. 

In just a few breathless moments, the first soul demon was gravely injured and struggled to even stand.

Unable to hold back any longer, the second soul demon let out an earth-shaking roar and charged into the cell. 

"Chance!" 

"This is my chance to escape!" 

Zander's heart raced with excitement rather than fear. Earlier, with the second soul demon guarding the door, he had no chance to make a break for it. But now the dynamics had shifted.

With both soul demons engaged in battle with the white-robed youth, Zander saw a narrow window of opportunity.

His eyes darted back to the task panel, where his focus landed on the first novice task: 

[Novice Task 1: Escape from Cell No. 19.] 

It was clear that Cell No. 19 referred to his current prison cell. Completing the task didn't require him to escape the entire prison, only the confines of the cell itself. Escaping further would be a matter for another time.

As for the risk of being caught or killed after escaping the cell—that was a concern for later. 

Quickly making up his mind, Zander chose to pursue this task. 

"Just in case, I'd better use foresight first." 

The cooldown on "Foreseeing the Future" had ended during the white-robed youth's loss of control, so Zander activated it immediately. 

The third foresight began. 

[The second soul demon rushes into the prison cell, flanking the white-robed youth with the first soul demon in a pincer attack, aiming to bring him down.] 

[Unbeknownst to them, the white-robed youth's strength has grown exponentially after losing control, far beyond their ability to handle.] 

[As predicted, within mere moments of struggle, both soul demons are gravely injured and collapse to the ground, unable to rise. The first soul demon hovers on the brink of death.] 

[Seizing the opportunity, you make a break for it with unmatched speed, dashing out of the prison cell without hesitation.] 

[Congratulations! You have successfully escaped Cell No. 19!] 

"I really did it!" 

Zander's chest swelled with relief and excitement. Escaping the cell meant completing his novice task.

A Rank-2 novice task wasn't particularly challenging in the grand scheme of things, but even achieving this was more than most players could manage.

As new information continued appearing on the panel, Zander scanned through it quickly. 

[The white-robed youth relentlessly attacks the two soul demons, eventually delivering the fatal blow to the first, leaving it helplessly struggling before succumbing to death.] 

[You are suddenly startled to see that the moment the Soul Demon dies, its power seems to be drained from its corpse, causing it to shrivel and dry up instantly—a strange and unsettling sight unfolds.] 

[An invisible force descends upon the prison cell, rendering the White-robed Youth and the remaining Soul Demon powerless. Their bodies collapse to the ground, limp and immobile. Their bloodline energy has been completely suppressed!] 

[You realize that this is the power of the prison cell—or more accurately, the power of the entire prison.] 

[This force is immensely potent, strong enough to subdue the uncontrolled White-robed Youth entirely. However, it only lasts for a single breath of time.] 

[Finally, the other guards who oversee the prison sense the anomaly. Four powerful demons rush into the prison, their leader locking eyes on you instantly.] 

[Without hesitation, the leading demon attacks you.] 

[You died.] 

From start to finish, the premonition reveals that only a fleeting moment passes between the second Soul Demon joining the fight and the unfolding chaos within the cell. 

"This prison has the power to suppress martial artists. Unbelievable!" 

Zander's gaze lingered on the information displayed on the panel, his eyes wide with astonishment. 

If his deductions were correct, this entire prison operated with a unique suppressive force capable of stifling bloodline powers. Normally, this suppression wasn't particularly strong, but when a demon perished within its confines, the prison absorbed its energy, dramatically amplifying its suppressive force for a moment. 

A prison with such extraordinary properties was undoubtedly far from ordinary. 

"No wonder my novice tasks all start at Rank-2 difficulty." 

"I'm certain now—this isn't a novice map. This is an advanced zone." 

Zander closely observed the battle within the cell, his body tense, ready to burst into action at the opportune moment. 

Escaping the confines of the cell would mean completing his novice task. That was his priority. 

However, before taking any action, he needed to formally accept the novice task. 

His attention shifted to the first task: *Escape the Prison Cell.* He was just about to claim it when he hesitated. 

Instead, his gaze drifted toward the Rank-5 task on the panel, a daring idea beginning to take shape in his mind. 

"Could I actually try to complete this Rank-5 task?" 

Once a task was chosen, it couldn't be changed. 

Until now, Zander had refrained from selecting a task because he wasn't certain which of the three he might realistically complete. 

Initially, he'd dismissed the Rank-5 task outright, intending to opt for the safer Rank-2 task. After all, the Rank-5 task seemed far beyond his current abilities. 

But now, things were different. He saw a glimmer of opportunity. 

According to the foresight, the prison's suppressive force would activate momentarily, rendering the uncontrolled White-robed Youth and the Soul Demon powerless. If he seized this brief moment, he might be able to kill the White-robed Youth. 

Zander's eyes fell on the dagger in his grasp, his thoughts racing with temptation and resolve.