This was also a new magic trick Ethan had recently discovered.
That was changing the form of magic itself. Normally, magic like Soft and Squishy or Hard as Rock would spread out in a large area when cast, using the point where the magic landed as the center and expanding outward.
But many times, Ethan didn't need that kind of form, especially when using Hard as Rock to build roads.
What he wanted was naturally a long strip shape, the longer the better.
So this time, he tried changing the form of Hard as Rock in his mind, changing it into a long and narrow form. He didn't expect it to actually work.
"He actually created a road directly?"
Nana was shocked by Ethan's magic.
And Logan, standing not far behind Ethan, was also shaken when he saw Ethan create a road out of nowhere.
This man was much stronger than he had imagined. Ordinary plants were probably no match for him. If Logan wanted to take back the map and make Nana change her mind, now was the best chance.
Because this place was closest to the edge of the botanical garden, and this man also had a scarecrow that could scout ahead.
If he acted now and caused that man to die unexpectedly, then not only could he get Kas's bag back, he could also take all of that man's equipment.
And on top of that, he could use the scarecrow's scouting ability to leave this hellhole.
'Heh! Heh!'
'It is like heaven is helping me!'
"Bait!"
After figuring it out, Logan immediately and without hesitation splashed a tube of bait toward Ethan.
The moment the pale red blood scattered into the air, it turned into a thin red mist. It silently drifted toward the target, then attached itself to Ethan's back.
If someone hadn't happened to see it, nobody would have noticed the bait Logan released.
But Idris, the owner of the blood, saw it.
Idris's eyes suddenly went wide. Just as he was about to ask Logan why he did that, Logan covered his mouth and said, "Don't say anything! Otherwise, when the time comes, the one who dies won't just be me. You, the source of the bait, won't escape either!"
"Sigh!"
Idris saw things had already reached this point. Saying more was useless.
He could only stay silent and quietly watch the faint red mist spreading from the white coat on the man's back.
Only the person who cast this skill could see that mist. Nobody else could see it at all.
Now, Idris also didn't dare risk warning him. He could only hope the man would be alright.
Tap!
Tap! Tap!
Ethan's footsteps landed on the cement road, making clear sounds.
Because the entire botanical garden was too quiet, even the people behind him were holding their breath as they watched Ethan walk step by step toward the center of the danger zone.
However, what Logan didn't expect was that Ethan had already walked nearly halfway, yet not a single one of the strange vines underground had appeared.
'This still can't kill the man?'
Logan felt unwilling to accept it.
"He actually really walked near the silver treasure chest?"
Nana also looked at Ethan in disbelief as he walked step by step to the location of the silver treasure chest. She had seen that place many times on the map.
But she truly hadn't had the courage to go there. Yet every time she passed by, Nana still couldn't help taking a look.
Because that place had a treasure chest that represented either a skill book or an equipment blueprint.
That was exactly what their Azure City Sect needed most right now.
Based on the analysis from countless expeditions by their seniors, Nana also learned the characteristics of each kind of treasure chest.
For example, wooden treasure chests usually only contained the most basic resources, generally water or food, plus some ordinary weapons or tools. They belonged to the basic treasure chest category.
Bronze treasure chests, one level above wooden treasure chests, contained basic survival supplies and some fairly good weapons.
If luck was good, sometimes weapon or equipment blueprints could also be obtained from bronze treasure chests.
But the chances were very low, around only ten percent.
Silver treasure chests were different.
According to the statistics gathered by their seniors, silver treasure chests almost had a one hundred percent chance of containing skill books or crafting blueprints.
If it was a crafting blueprint, then as long as they had enough materials, it would be enough to raise the entire Azure City Sect by one level. It was definitely a treasure among treasures.
And even if the blueprint wasn't for weapons or equipment, it would still absolutely be something urgently needed in this world.
So it could still be traded in the trading channel for plenty of good things. Either way, it was definitely profitable.
Even if what came out of the silver treasure chest wasn't a blueprint, but a skill book instead.
Then that meant the Azure City Sect could gain another expert, like Nini's Healing Art, Idris's Hunter Tracking Art, and their deceased teammate's Explorer skill. All of them were absolutely important talents for exploring this world.
But unfortunately, the location of the silver treasure chest they found this time was far too dangerous.
Several times Nana had wanted to open that treasure chest, but in the end reason stopped her. What she didn't expect was that this man could actually safely reach the area near the treasure chest.
How could she not feel jealous and bitter about that.
She really wondered which region this man's expert came from. As long as he wasn't from Region Seven, it was fine.
Right now, the Azure City Sect's biggest enemy was the strangely fast-rising Region Seven.
So, Nana hoped that the man obtaining this treasure chest absolutely, absolutely wasn't from Region Seven.
———
Ethan arrived at the location marked as the silver treasure chest on the map, then tapped the silver treasure chest symbol on the map.
The next second, a silver treasure chest strangely appeared again.
[Discovered one Silver Treasure Chest. Collect?]
'Collect!'
[Very Cola +6]
[Stone Mason Job Change Book +1]
[Strength Necklace Blueprint +1]
[Canned Beef +2]
[Red Scarf +1]
"That's it?"
Ethan looked at the extra items in his backpack, then glanced at the silver treasure chest still left where it was. Only then did he finally confirm that these treasure chests indeed would not be automatically dismantled.
This was most likely because they were forcibly extracted using the map.
'Could it be...'
'That this map is actually a treasure capable of bringing out hidden treasure chests from this game?'
Based on some clues Ethan had gathered before, it seemed that every time someone encountered monsters or treasure chests, the results varied depending on the person.
For example, when Ethan's level had been low, the treasure chests appearing around him were mostly bronze or silver treasure chests. Even gold treasure chests rarely appeared.
But ever since his strength increased, even gold treasure chests had become rare around him.
Now the ones appearing were platinum treasure chests, or even diamond treasure chests.